This doctor is already middle-aged, and he's only just started practicing medicine.

Chapter 122 Ordinary Life of Ordinary People

"Not bad, you're even more skilled at bargaining than me. Do you often buy groceries when you're at home?" Mu Nanshu sat in the passenger seat, staring intently at Lu Cheng.

Lu Cheng wasn't particularly handsome; he had a fair complexion and a slightly tanned, dark skin.

However, if you look closely at Lu Cheng's eyebrows and eyes, you will see a kind of resolute confidence and tenacity. Compared with Lu Cheng many years ago, the current Lu Cheng has less of a sharp edge and more of a weathered look.

“I don’t buy them often. I only buy some meat and vegetables and non-leafy vegetables when I have free time. My mom sells vegetables, and she usually keeps some for herself.”

Lu Cheng tilted his head: "You don't think I've done market research, do you? It's my mom who often buys and sells vegetables. When she talks about these prices at home, I hear some of it."

Even if Lu Cheng, who has a general understanding of the purchase price, is overcharged, the amount won't be excessive, since vegetable vendors also need to make a profit.

For example, with chili peppers, the owner definitely makes a profit of one dollar.

Mu Nanshu suddenly realized: "Oh right, I forgot that Auntie sells vegetables."

“I didn’t tell you about this last time. My mother started selling vegetables after I finished my residency training. She used to be my father’s assistant, but she got old and moving is hard work, so she couldn’t do it anymore.”

"Earning some spare change is enough to support the family's daily expenses," Lu Cheng said, then turned the steering wheel to the right and pulled into a parking space.

Do you still enjoy eating duck necks now?

“I remember you used to love this,” Lu Cheng said, pointing to the Zhou Hei Ya brand.

"Are there still any loose ones?" Mu Nanshu also remembered clearly that Zhou Hei Ya duck necks used to be sold for six yuan a piece, and that's when the taste was authentic.

Moreover, Mu Nanshu was picky about the braised duck in Han City. For example, he loved Zhou Hei Ya's duck neck, Jue Wei's duck intestines, and Xiao Hu Ya's lotus root slices...

"I'll go ask... I guess they don't have any left... Since the industry became so commercialized, you can't find those long duck necks anymore." Lu Cheng looked in the rearview mirror, opened the car door, but didn't turn off the engine.

……

Lu Cheng helped wash and chop the vegetables, while Mu Nanshu started cooking. The two little ones worked in the kitchen for a full half hour until the vegetables were cooked, but the rice was not.

It was still September, so they weren't afraid of the cold. After washing their hands, the two of them took off their aprons and walked out of the kitchen.

Lu Cheng looked at Mu Nanshu's fingers again and asked, "Is it that your fingers aren't strong enough, or that they're not flexible enough?"

Mu Nanshu replied professionally, "The index and middle fingers' distal phalanges lack flexibility. The range of motion is fine, though."

The index finger is what we commonly refer to as the index finger.

Mu Nanshu can clench his fist, but he's a little slow to clench it.

Cooking and daily activities are fine, but invasive procedures on patients are not an option.

Of course, they might not be very good at holding a kitchen knife either.

"Is studying abroad very tough?" Lu Cheng asked.

Mu Nanshu sighed: "The main problem is the severe xenophobia."

Then she smoothed her hair and said, "If you're not good enough, you'll be looked down upon, and you'll be left to fend for yourself."

"Survival of the fittest. Some local students also fail to graduate and are treated as dropouts."

Mu Nanshu did not mention any details.

Medical studies, no matter which country, are never easy. Doctors abroad are well-paid, and the competition is even fiercer. Only the most outstanding undergraduates are qualified to study medicine.

They are qualified to study it, unlike in China where even junior colleges offer clinical medicine programs.

High income and high status naturally attract many elites to the medical field. Doctors abroad who graduate from these fields are definitely among the high-income earners.

"Could you explain in detail?" Lu Cheng asked.

Mu Nanshu pouted, her expression tense, her eyes bulging. "Can we not talk about it? I don't even dare to contact you anymore." "The main thing is, I've run into problems myself. I have to switch from an MD to a PhD, which is extremely troublesome..."

"Is it because your hand is injured?" Lu Cheng asked.

Mu Nanshu nodded: "MD is more clinical, while PhD is more research-oriented. I followed the MD path before."

"After my advisor found out about my hand injury, he immediately suggested that I switch to a PhD program, which is a very realistic approach."

"Chasing MD earlier nearly killed me, and with the remaining time, I was practically on my last legs."

Mu Nanshu still didn't go into details, but Xie Yuan'an did say that Mu Nanshu's study abroad experience was really tough.

Mu Nanshu's study abroad experience differed from Xie Yuan'an's. Xie Yuan'an's study abroad was a "joint training" program, which involved two years of study in China and one year of study abroad.

Mu Nanshu applied full-time to Stanford University for a PhD and obtained a Doctor of Medical Science degree from Stanford University.

It's not that Mu Nanshu is vastly superior to Xie Yuan'an; it's just that the two of them have taken completely different paths.

"There were many times when I wanted to give up and go back to China to start over, but after thinking about it, I realized that since I had already gone abroad, it would be too embarrassing to come back in such a sorry state."

"I guess this is a blessing in disguise. Compared to my roommate, Sister Xie, I'm starting from a slightly higher point. At least I'm more valued in the research group," Mu Nanshu comforted herself.

Her fingers were very white, with a rosy tint, but not very delicate; rather, they were a bit rough, clearly the result of working with gloves on frequently and being soaked in sweat.

Lu Cheng, on the other hand, rarely performs surgeries, so his hands don't look as 'weathered' as Mu Nanshu's. However, Lu Cheng's fingers also have calluses, which he developed through practicing his skills.

"Let's talk about you. Sister Xie complained to me that you gave up a great opportunity because you were in a relationship."

"Here... this is Professor Lan Hualuo's resume that Sister Xie sent me."

“Lu Cheng, Lu Cheng, a 35-year-old level-three chief physician, level-three researcher, and level-three associate professor, someone like that invited you to dinner, and you refused?” Mu Nanshu stared at Lu Cheng.

Professors, chief physicians, and researchers are all categorized into different levels.

The lowest level is level four.

Although the three levels of chief physician and three levels of researcher may seem to follow the same model to outsiders, the three levels of chief physician are generally not something that chief physicians in prefecture-level city hospitals can be evaluated for.

"Going there would be pointless. I just promised Professor Zhong Junyun a while ago, why would I immediately switch to a business?"

“Being a traitor to three masters isn’t so easy,” Lu Cheng said in a low voice.

Mu Nanshu said, "I didn't ask you to switch to a business. You can learn the technology with Professor Lan, right?"

"What others desperately want, you choose to discard?"

Lu Cheng said, "Bookworm, we're just ordinary people. We can't be so shrewd and successful in everything we do."

"When you don't have much influence, it's best to be sincere and not half-hearted."

"Sincerity may not be reciprocated, but insincerity will certainly not be reciprocated."

Lu Cheng scratched his index fingers together and continued, "At least if it weren't for this kind of attitude, I don't think I would have gotten to where I am now."

Lu Cheng stared at Mu Nanshu, who felt uneasy under his gaze. She lowered her head slightly and hurriedly hummed in agreement.

"I'll go check how much longer we have for dinner." Mu Nanshu stood up.

Lu Cheng pointed to the right sleeve of Mu Nanshu's yellow dress and said, "You have some oil stains here, go wash them quickly."

"Oh! It's soy sauce." She hurriedly ran to the bedroom.

(End of this chapter)