Chapter 326: Chapter 323 Reluctant to Part
The morning rounds went as usual, but in the afternoon, Zhang Hao was called into the office by the leadership.
He thought it was because of the Wu Zhirou incident and that he was about to be criticized again.
Zhang Hao had mentally prepared himself for a scolding.
Upon entering the office, he realized that it was not only him who had been summoned, but also the Director of Surgery and the head nurse among others.
Even the Director of Internal Medicine was there.
With all these people gathered here at once, things did not bode well.
As the youngest among them, Zhang Hao stood at the back, silent.
"Now that everyone is here, the reason I’ve summoned you all is that we’ve received orders from the Ministry of Health."
"In collaboration with the City Hospital, we are to select medical staff with strong comprehensive skills to form a medical team and provide support in another region for a period."
The room fell silent upon the announcement.
"You are some of the best in our hospital, but of course, you may choose not to go."
Although the leadership said they could choose not to go, how could they back down at such a time?
"Zhang Hao, why are you standing so far back?"
Zhang Hao hadn’t expected to be singled out by the leadership and had no choice but to step forward.
"Leader, I’m a practitioner of Chinese medicine. What support can I provide? With the Director of Surgery here, there is nothing we can’t treat."
Upon hearing this, the Director of Surgery retorted, "Your skills in Chinese medicine are in no way inferior to surgery. You must join this medical aid team."
"Leader, with things being so sudden, we need some time to prepare," the head nurse said.
Compared to others, the head nurse seemed the most emotionally stable and willing to follow the leadership’s arrangements.
"We don’t have much information at the hospital at the moment, but make your decisions as quickly as possible. We cannot afford to delay," the leadership repeatedly stressed.
If even the female head nurse was not afraid, Zhang Hao and the others had even less reason to falter.
"Alright, I’ll go, just don’t send me to some backwoods place."
To his dismay, Zhang Hao’s words were prophetic.
"This time, you really are going to a backwoods place."
Zhang Hao told He Qianhui about the situation, and instead of opposing his decision to go and provide support, she simply told him to be careful and ensure his safety.
Who knew what potential dangers lay in such a remote and impoverished area?
After expressing care and instructions, He Qianhui didn’t forget to ask when he would be back.
Zhang Hao didn’t know the exact return date himself; it depended on the local disease control situation.
If he could provide effective treatment promptly, perhaps he could be back in a week or two.
If the disease proved formidable, however, that was another matter.
"I’ll go home now and pack my bags. Where have you put my clothes?"
Zhang Hao said this as he walked out of the hospital.
He then heard He Qianhui on the other end of the phone saying, "I’m going back now too, to help you pack."
The two of them arrived at home almost simultaneously, and when He Qianhui walked through the door, Zhang Hao noticed her eyes were slightly red, clearly having cried.
"What’s wrong, did someone bully you at work?"
He Qianhui hugged Zhang Hao tightly. Before this, it was always she who traveled for work, leaving Zhang Hao alone in the empty house.
Now, for the first time, the roles were reversed, and He Qianhui could understand the feeling of loneliness as overwhelming as a tsunami.
"When do you leave?"
"At seven o’clock tonight. I should arrive by dawn."
He Qianhui’s tears fell drop by drop, her head buried in Zhang Hao’s chest like a little kitten.
It took her a long time to regain her composure.
"Is there any danger this time? Can you come back safe and sound?"
Zhang Hao thought He Qianhui’s words were a bit exaggerated; he was going on a medical support mission, not to a battlefield to fight enemies.
To contract an illness strong enough to lose a limb during medical treatment, what kind of disease would that be, possessing such destructive power?
"I’m not a doctor, so how could I know whether those diseases are serious? And you still make fun of me," she said.
Zhang Hao ruffled her hair and said with a smile, "It’s alright, I’ll call you every day from there, okay?"
Arriving in the bedroom, He Qianhui saw that Zhang Hao had already packed his everyday clothes into the suitcase, leaving only his underwear and socks.
"Once you’re there, make absolutely sure you look after your own safety and hygiene. You doctors are always supposed to wash your hands often, so don’t forget."
Zhang Hao agreed repeatedly, then suddenly noticed the tears on He Qianhui’s face, resembling flowers touched by morning dew.
She looked even more beautiful.
The moment this thought crossed his mind, Zhang Hao felt an involuntary reaction down there.
He Qianhui was still anxious when suddenly Zhang Hao pulled her up and pinned her down on the bed.
"Hey, what are you doing? I still have to pack your things."
"Wait a bit, there’s no rush. Before I go, I have to make sure you’re well fed, in case you can’t help yourself."
Perhaps it was the unknown dangers that contributed to He Qianhui being exceptionally engaged this time.
In almost an instant, she was flowing like a river there.
Even Zhang Hao was surprised by her response this time.
"What’s the matter, so worried about me that you’re reacting so strongly?"
"That’s not it. I wish you’d just go and never come back."
Zhang Hao hmmed in confusion, pressing his hand on her softness.
"Say that again, think carefully before you speak, or else I might just get up."
He Qianhui didn’t reply, instead she wrapped her legs around Zhang Hao’s waist.
Actions are always more reliable than words.
After their passionate encounter, He Qianhui grabbed a piece of clothing and wrapped it around herself.
Considering the flight, there wasn’t much time to spare.
After finishing packing, He Qianhui reluctantly saw Zhang Hao to the door.
"Be careful at home. If you get scared, go and stay at my parents’ for a couple of days. I’ll talk to them in a minute."
For He Qianhui, having her own home meant she didn’t want to spend her days in someone else’s house.
"It’s fine, I’ll wait for you at home."
The two of them stood at the door, their gazes intertwined.
Zhang Hao couldn’t resist and gave He Qianhui a fierce kiss.
Just then, the neighbor across the hall opened the door and witnessed the entire scene.
"Oh my, Doctor Zhang, you two are so affectionate."
The female neighbor was about He Qianhui’s age, and Zhang Hao wasn’t clear whether she lived alone or was married.
They didn’t interact much on regular days.
"I’m leaving for a trip, so I’m a bit reluctant to part with her."
The neighbor chuckled and sighed, "Men need to do big things; how can they be home all the time?"
"Take my husband, for instance, he’s away from home for ten months out of the year. If we want to have a child, we have to plan our time carefully."
Comforted by the neighbor’s words, He Qianhui’s mood eased a bit.
"Alright, alright, you should hurry up now, or you’ll miss your flight."
"When you get there, remember to call me."
Under He Qianhui’s gaze, Zhang Hao entered the elevator with his suitcase.
The neighbor also needed to go down. Since the other elevator was in use, she had to take the same one as Zhang Hao.
"Doctor Zhang, where are you heading?"
"The city has assembled a medical team, and we’re going to give support elsewhere."
The neighbor uttered an "Oh," without saying much more.
Until the elevator doors opened, the only sound was that of the elevator in motion.
Driving to the hospital for the rendezvous, everyone was waiting for Zhang Hao.
But Zhang Hao arrived just in time.
The original plan was for Zhang Hao, the chief surgeon, the head nurse, and the chief of internal medicine, four people in total, to set off together.
But now there was an additional person—Qin Miaoke!
