Healing Doctor

Chapter 264 Ride-hailing Drivers and Food Delivery Riders (Bonus Chapter by Alliance Leader CAA Spicy Hot Pot x1)

"Brother Zhao, where do you live?" Ji Xiang and Zhao Zhe asked casually as they were about to change their clothes.

"I rented a place nearby," Zhao Zhe said. "Renting a place in the provincial capital is really expensive, more than 800 yuan a month, and I have to share with someone. The guy next door is a drunkard who comes home drunk every day."

Every night when I come home, I either vomit into the toilet or sing loudly. Last night I sang "A Great River." While singing, I even started crying, sobbing uncontrollably. This is the first time I've ever heard someone sing "A Great River" so emotionally…

"It must be really tough. Do you want to come home with me?" Ji Xiang had gradually come to accept Zhao Zhe's rambling, and he interrupted Zhao Zhe to ask.

"No need, I'd feel uncomfortable going home. I'm fine where I am. The accommodations are a bit cramped, but it's only 800 a month, just 800!"

As Zhao Zhe spoke, he extended his right thumb and forefinger to make an "eight" shape.

"Where we live, 800 yuan a month for a small, slightly out-of-the-way bungalow with a front and back yard, and you can keep a big dog. Speaking of the big dog..."

"I'm going to the emergency room. You can go back first, Brother Zhao."

Ji Xiang interrupted Zhao Zhe and said.

"What are you going to the emergency room for?" Zhao Zhe asked in surprise.

Ji Xiang went to the urology hospital early in the morning for a circumcision. After the surgery, he returned home to organize the patient information for the next day's surgery, explain the condition to the patient's family, and do other tedious tasks.

These are all clinically necessary, and Zhao Zhe went through the same process back then, so he doesn't find it strange.

But after finishing his work, Ji Xiang didn't go home to rest; instead, he went to the emergency room, which made Zhao Zhe think that Ji Xiang had some mental issues.

"A particularly interesting doctor is on duty today, I'll go see him," Ji Xiang said.

"Let's go together, let's go together." Zhao Zhe didn't have anything to do when he got back, and he thought it would be more lively to be with Ji Xiang, so he said, "When I was young, I also went to the emergency room twice. Ever since then, I have an allergic reaction whenever I think of the emergency room. My respiratory tract has started to swell, and my body will turn red and develop maculopapular rashes."

Ji Xiang ignored Zhao Zhe's rambling. Today was the day that emergency room doctor Meng Qingfei was on duty, so he went to see him before going home.

During this time, Ji Xiang had developed a habit of getting along well with Meng Qingfei. He could learn more clinical experience from the senior doctor, and he didn't have to stay up all night or take responsibility. He only needed to help out, so he didn't feel that going to the emergency room was tiring.

Upon arriving at the emergency department, Meng Qingfei was busy at work.

On weekends, many people take their children to amusement parks. There are quite a few patients who come for checkups due to children playing around or accidentally falling down. So far, there haven't been any particularly serious cases.

Ji Xiang helped Meng Qingfei treat patients, and after seeing a few patients, Dr. Meng in the emergency department felt relieved. However, he was very interested in the "old" doctor following behind Ji Xiang.

Zhao Zhe could tell at a glance that he was an experienced senior doctor.

An hour and a half later, after finally finishing up, Meng Qingfei breathed a sigh of relief and asked with a smile, "Dr. Ji, why are you at the hospital on the weekend?"

"I've had a busy day," Ji Xiang said. "I'm going home for dinner, but I thought I'd drop by to see you."

"And this is...?" Meng Qingchuan asked Zhao Zhe.

"Teacher Meng, I am a visiting doctor from Yuanliao City, working in Xiaoji's medical team."

"..." Meng Qingchuan was taken aback.

The emergency department operates on a four-day day and night shift system. Since he is not usually at the hospital, he has no idea what Ji Xiang does on a regular basis.

In Meng Qingchuan's mind, Ji Xiang was just a junior resident trainee, quick and efficient, with no major problems changing dressings or suturing. His other skills seemed good as well, but he was still just a decent resident trainee.

But Zhao Zhe actually said that he worked in Ji Xiang's medical team.

"It must be just politeness, definitely," Meng Qingchuan smiled. "Take a break. I saw 112 patients over the weekend, I can't take it anymore."

"Teacher Meng, what do you do after get off work?" Ji Xiang asked.

"I drive for a ride-hailing service."

"Huh?" Ji Xiang was taken aback.

He asked the question casually, but he didn't expect to get an answer that he had no idea about.

"How much can you earn in the emergency department in a month?" Meng Qingchuan wasn't worried and said with a smile, "The biggest advantage here is that you can work 24 hours a day and rest for 3 days. You don't have to worry about patients, and there aren't many things to worry about."

Anyway, I'm just killing time. My son is already 17, and the little rascal probably has a girlfriend by now, spending money like water.

Emergency room doctor and ride-hailing service were two completely unrelated concepts in Ji Xiang's mind.

"Look at your expression," Meng Qingchuan said disdainfully. "Dr. Ji, it's all labor. Do you know what labor is? It's honorable."

"Hey, I understand." Ji Xiang said he understood, but Meng Qingchuan and Zhao Zhe both knew he didn't.

Zhao Zhe sighed, "I delivered takeout for a while when I was at home."

"You're in urology? That can't be right. Even if the department's income is low, they wouldn't be delivering food." Meng Qingchuan looked at the old attending physician with curiosity.

"Our chief surgeon is a miser; he'd show off even a penny slipping through his fingers," Zhao Zhe said. "The city owes hospitals wages based on performance. And you know how performance is—it's really not enough. Plus, the more surgeries we do, the more money we lose. In a month, I don't even earn as much as someone who's just lying around doing nothing. Where can I complain?"

"Can you make five thousand a month?" Meng Qingfei asked.

"At its peak, including performance bonuses, I earned five thousand; at its lowest, it was only two thousand seven or eight thousand."

"The cost of living in Yuanliao City isn't high, so it should be manageable. By the way, how much do you earn a day delivering food? If you only work after your regular job, it seems like you can't deliver many orders."

"Don't even mention it," Zhao Zhe waved his hand dismissively, "Delivering takeout is fucking inhuman work!"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't go against traffic, don't run red lights... basically, if you don't break the rules, you definitely won't meet the time limit set by the app. We doctors all know that riding a motorcycle is inherently a dangerous job. Two of my former high school classmates who rode motorcycles have already died, and the rest are all injured. I did it for two days, didn't earn much money, but it scared me so much that I almost died on the spot."

It's not easy for anyone. After that, I felt that wearing a lead apron during surgery was somewhat acceptable. It's all risking one's life, but at least the patients' families are more likely to smile and we are more respected, whether it's true or not.

Unlike those who order takeout and act all stubborn and unfriendly, treating everyone with disdain. People who pay money are treated like royalty, but in a hospital… well, ever since I delivered takeout for a few days, I've realized hospitals are actually pretty great; the one paying isn't the boss.

Zhao Zhe talked on and on about his experience delivering food. Meng Qingfei didn't know him, so out of politeness, he didn't interrupt Zhao Zhe.

but……

Zhao Zhe talked for almost ten minutes, and Meng Qingfei couldn't get a word in edgewise.

"Knock knock knock~"

A knock sounded at the door, and Meng Qingfei, as if granted a pardon, quickly sat up straight and said, "Please come in."

(End of this chapter)