CHAPTER 341: 341 SPOKE OUT OF TURN AGAIN

"I’ve mostly sobered up now, so I can drive. What do you guys want to eat?" Liu Banxia asked from the driver’s seat.

"How about fish hot pot? We didn’t get enough fish at lunch," Qiaoqiao said with a smile.

"Sure, they have other stir-fried dishes there too. Qing Kewa, how do you find the fish? It’s quite different from the fish back in your country, though these are all freshwater fish," Liu Banxia said.

"I’m easy. I’ll enjoy whatever you guys enjoy," Qing Kewa answered simply.

"Sister Li, Old Wang has suddenly become so busy at work. Is everything still manageable at home?" Liu Banxia asked.

"It wasn’t much easier before either. When we move into our new house, you all must come over and visit. I’ll throw a proper housewarming feast, a real spread, and I’ll stew a huge pot of bones," Zhou Li replied.

"Alright! Let me know early, and I can drive for the move," Qiaoqiao replied eagerly.

For her, bustling events were her favorite. Apart from managing Lang Taosha and Jinbao, she usually hung out with Wang Xiaoyan. Now, with Liu Banxia as her boyfriend, she had even more places to go.

It was also partly because of Qing Kewa that they rarely had fish for meals. People in China enjoy freshwater fish, and while delicious, they are often bony.

Still, the restaurant Liu Banxia chose was doing excellent business. When they arrived, there were only three empty tables left; by the time they finished ordering, the place was completely full.

There were private rooms available, but Liu Banxia felt that for a meal, especially when not discussing serious matters, the main dining hall had a better atmosphere.

Qing Kewa was very curious about the stone pot fish today. Just as Liu Banxia had said, Qing Kewa had now become a genuine foodie.

It’s unclear how her medical skills will turn out in the future, but when it comes to food, she’ll definitely have plenty to boast about when she returns home. She’s eaten so much recently, and she’s determined to continue down this path.

"Banxia," Zhou Li began, "this situation you’re dealing with, is Director Qin involved at all?"

Liu Banxia shook his head. "That’s hard to figure out. The cause of the outburst itself was quite simple: it stemmed from the dissatisfaction of patients at Jinshui District Hospital, who were waiting for a visiting expert surgeon, directed towards that particular patient, which then escalated into a conflict."

"But that’s all in the past now. My cooking skills are pretty good these days, much better than before. I’ll try to improve even more. I can’t stay at home all the time in the future, but when I go back, at least I can make Qiaoqiao something delicious."

"Sigh... you guys really have it tough, especially with you being chief resident. The days ahead will be grueling," Zhou Li sighed.

"It’s okay. If I miss him, I’ll just go see him. Actually, seeing him too much can get annoying," Qiaoqiao said with a perfectly straight face.

However, her eyes betrayed her. Did she think Zhou Li was that easy to fool? While Zhou Li didn’t have X-ray vision, she wasn’t far off.

"Feel free to drink as much as you like today; I’ll be responsible for driving you all back," Liu Banxia mentioned.

That settled it. The best drinkers were Qiaoqiao and Qing Kewa, and both enjoyed a good drink. Qing Kewa, especially, needed a bit of red wine before bed after work.

"Qing Kewa, be careful when you eat," Liu Banxia reminded after the food was served. "The grass carp we ordered doesn’t have too many bones, but there might still be some occasionally. Don’t be too greedy."

"Okay, no problem," Qing Kewa answered happily, her eyes never leaving the fish.

It looked really appetizing, and the cooking method was very interesting.

Liu Banxia didn’t fuss over her anymore; she was old enough to be careful while eating.

The taste was indeed excellent. The fish was fresh, tender, and delicious, especially when eaten with the rich broth from the pot, which made it even more flavorful. Qing Kewa, clearly a connoisseur, recognized its quality and got so engrossed in the meal that she even forgot to drink.

"Good thing we ordered a large fish. I was worried we wouldn’t be able to finish it," Liang Xiaolin joked.

"You don’t have to worry about that. When are there ever leftovers when he’s around? At home, even Tang Dou looks at him with such envy when he eats," Qiaoqiao said.

"Why are you stating such an obvious truth?" Liu Banxia said with a straight face.

Who took him seriously anyway? In the hospital, Qing Kewa would respectfully call him Dr. Liu, but now that they were familiar with each other, she usually just called him "Liu" when they were out.

"Qing Kewa, don’t just focus on the fish. These side dishes are also very distinctive. Try this king oyster mushroom in chili oil; it’s very refreshing," Liu Banxia reminded her.

Qing Kewa nodded, skillfully picked up a piece with her chopsticks, and steadily placed it in her mouth.

"Qing Kewa, your chopstick skills have gotten so good!" Zhou Li asked curiously.

Qing Kewa nodded happily. "I’ve been constantly practicing my finger dexterity; it’s quite good now."

"You two should intensify your suture practice next," Liu Banxia said. "I’ve been thinking I should practice at home when I’m free too, or my hands will get rusty."

"Your hands are so fast, what’s there to worry about? Dr. Wei even said yesterday that your suturing skills are far superior to his. He’s really envious of your hands," Liang Xiaolin said.

"Hehe, that’s because I’m naturally talented," Liu Banxia said proudly.

Zhou Li gave him an amused look, finding the whole thing quite interesting.

At first, she thought Liu Banxia might end up with Liang Xiaolin, but then Qiaoqiao appeared out of nowhere. And now, the three of them had become genuinely good friends.

Anyway, she felt that Qiaoqiao and Liu Banxia made a great couple. Qiaoqiao came from a well-off family yet had none of the common bad habits; she didn’t act bossy or entitled like some other young ladies from wealthy families.

Just look at Liu Banxia’s outfit now; Qiaoqiao probably picked it out for him. Even if you gave him money and sent him to buy clothes, could he choose anything decent?

They chatted while they ate, and the delicious fish and refreshing side dishes received unanimous praise. Just as they were in the liveliest part of their meal, a child at the next table started crying.

"Baby, what’s wrong?" the child’s mother asked anxiously.

"A fishbone! It’s stuck in my throat!" the child cried.

"Eat some flatbread; this is coarse grain flatbread. It can help push the bone down," an older woman at their table said.

"Baby, don’t cry, Mommy will figure something out. Mom, will that work?" the child’s mother asked, a bit hesitant.

"Of course, it’ll work! Your older brother got a fishbone stuck once when he was little, a crucian carp bone at that, and two bites of steamed bun pushed it right down," the older woman said, breaking off a small piece of the flatbread.

Seeing the child was really about to eat the flatbread to dislodge the fishbone, Liu Banxia couldn’t hold back. "Stop, don’t do that! You can’t let the child eat like that."

His abrupt interjection stunned the people at the next table.

"I’m a doctor," Liu Banxia explained. "Although using flatbread to push a fishbone down might work, there’s a high chance it could make the bone lodge even deeper."

"The best thing to do is go to a hospital. Have an ENT doctor or an emergency doctor use proper tools to remove it. It won’t cost much, and it’s much safer," he added.

"Even if it doesn’t cost much, that’s still dozens of yuan. Why go all the way to the hospital for something a bite of flatbread can fix?" the older woman retorted.

"If it gets lodged too deep, sometimes even tools can’t get it out, and surgery might be required. Anyway, I’ve said what I needed to. It’s up to you to decide," Liu Banxia said, sounding helpless.

This is an illness; it needs to be treated. He sees it, he wants to say something, but saying it isn’t always welcomed.

Out of a hundred people who swallow a fishbone, maybe drinking vinegar or eating steamed buns or flatbread to push it down works for most. But if it doesn’t go down, then you have a problem.

Forced down by these foods, the bone might not only lodge deeper but could also puncture vital tissues and cause an infection. If that happens, it’s definitely not something a few dozen yuan can fix.

No matter what you do, it’s always that "what if" you fear. Once those two words become a reality, the outcome is rarely good.

But what could he do? He was currently suspended. Even if he weren’t, he could at most offer a reminder; he couldn’t force them to go to the hospital for treatment. It was their own decision. Even at the hospital, people have the right to refuse treatment.

"Thank you very much," the child’s mother said politely after a moment’s hesitation.

"You’re welcome. Just find any hospital; as long as they have the tools, they can handle it," Liu Banxia quickly replied.

He felt quite relieved in his heart; at least they had listened to his advice. Even if the woman who was likely the child’s maternal grandmother gave him a scrutinizing look before leaving, he didn’t care.

"Hehe, it’s true. Wherever you go, medical cases follow," Qiaoqiao chuckled.

"Ah, I just can’t keep my mouth shut. Maybe a bite of flatbread really would have solved it," Liu Banxia said with a wry smile.

"That was probably the child’s grandma. You can’t blame older people for thinking that way. Years ago, didn’t everyone handle it like this? It was the common method; it’s just not always suitable now."

"What’s the big deal? You gave them a warning out of good conscience. Whether they listen or not is their business. I think it’s a good thing; at least it shows you have a kind heart," Qiaoqiao said.

"My girlfriend is the most thoughtful. Here, have a piece of this braised beef," Liu Banxia said, placing a slice in her bowl.

"Are you two always like this? Sometimes you act just like children," Zhou Li said with a chuckle.

"Sister Li, how else should we be?" Qiaoqiao asked curiously, chewing on the braised beef.

"Hmm... just be however you’re comfortable. It’s quite nice," Zhou Li managed to say after a pause.

She really didn’t know what to say. It was obvious this was Qiaoqiao’s first relationship. And Liu Banxia? He didn’t have much experience either, but being older than Qiaoqiao, he sometimes liked to tease her, making it look like he was babysitting.

That little "meddling" was just a small interlude; it didn’t affect the mood at their table. As for the other tables? People didn’t give it much thought.

Some people knew enough common sense to realize Liu Banxia’s warning was indeed necessary. Others? They just thought he was meddling in things that weren’t his concern, truly having nothing better to do.