Translator: imperfectluck Editor: Kurisu

  It was now past December, and it was freezing. Zhang Fan had never worn a cap in his life before, but even he was forced to purchase a warm fur cap to keep his head warm.

  It was just so damned cold. Over the past ten or so days, Zhang Fan had plenty of chances to enjoy driving. Every afternoon, he would drive to Chasu City and give Wang Qian a back massage. The skies would darken by the time he was finished, so he would stay the night at the hotel. The next morning, he would drive back to Kuake City Hospital for work there.

  It was almost New Year’s. While Kuake City Hospital’s internal medicine department still had some patients, there were almost no patients coming in for surgeries.

  The treatments for Wang Qian weren’t as effective as for Kang Hua. However, Wang Qian no longer felt any pain in her legs at all. She was really excited about this. Since she was in such a great mood, she seemed far more energetic than before. She kept forcing Zhang Fan to eat dinner at her home every night. Yet, Zhang Fan hadn’t met her husband a single time. As Wang Qian put it, “My husband serves the country. Someone who doesn’t die while working for the country isn’t a good servant to the people.”


  Over the past several days, Zhang Fan felt like Wang Qian was easier to get along with than Kang Hua. To him, Kang Hua had that type of indescribable political aura around her. In comparison, Wang Qian was much better.

  “Eat up! Back when my son was still in high school, he was also a really big eater. For someone who loves to cook like me, the best thing is to see all of my food being eaten by someone else!” Wang Qian’s son was currently in college, and her husband was really busy with work. She was always bored when she was at home. Over the past several days, she felt like this doctor, who was only slightly older than her son, was incredibly skilled and had an honest personality.

  Zhang Fan was the type who wouldn’t act reserved once he got to know someone better. “Mrs. Wang, since you probably can’t eat all this anyways, I’ll just take all the remaining meat buns and eat them for breakfast tomorrow.”


  “Sure! How about I also fry some eggs for you now!”


  “That would be great!”


  In Wang Qian’s family, since her husband was a politician, and she also had a good position at a bank, they didn’t lack money and led a comfortable life. As long as her back became better, they would basically be a perfect family.

  Since the snowfall sealed the mountain paths this year, when Kuake City Hospital finished its end-of-year accounting, the hospital’s overall profit actually exceeded last year’s profit significantly. This was money that was clearly on the accounts, so Batu couldn’t spend it as he wanted. Thus, he figured he could use it to purchase new equipment for the hospital. He gathered all the hospital department directors and head nurses for a meeting.

  “The year 2008 is almost finished now. Thanks to everyone’s hard work, we saw 40% more patients than last year, and doubled the number of surgeries. I hope that we’ll continue making everyone recognize how great our hospital is next year and rise even higher!

  “Now, we have some extra money in our account books. The hospital’s board of directors has discussed things, and agreed to purchase a new CT scanner.” CT scanners were large-scale medical equipment, and the top-quality ones could cost more than ten million yuan. Batu was intending to use this opportunity to take one final, large kickback for himself while he was still the hospital superintendent.

  In Kuake City which had so many minorities, the ethnic minority doctors would work whenever there was a Chinese holiday, and the Han Chinese doctors would work whenever there was an ethnic holiday. However, surgery department #2 was an exception. Director Nuar was completely unreliable, and Tu Xun was currently out on sick leave, saying that he had hemorrhoids.

  Vice Director Shi Lei couldn’t help the situation. He talked things over with Chen Qifa and Zhang Fan. Shi Lei already knew that the superintendent had sent Zhang Fan to nearby Chasu City to treat a patient there, although Shi Lei wasn’t clear on the details. Batu had told Shi Lei this as the reason why Zhang Fan was unable to work night shifts.

  “How about this, over the seven-day New Year’s holiday celebration, I won’t be doing anything except stay at the dormitory regardless. I’ll work the day shift on all seven days.” Zhang Fan hadn’t been on the night shift for quite some time now. Although nobody mentioned anything to him, he felt quite awkward about it.

  “I’ll take the night shift on the first three days, then. My grandfather’s birthday is at the end of the holiday celebration, so I have to return.” Li Liang immediately volunteered for some shifts after seeing Zhang Fan speak up. Shi Lei then glanced at Yang Chengming, but Yang Chengming remained silent.

  Since this was the first year that all these recent college graduates were working here, Superintendent Batu had announced that they could all take the New Year’s seven-day holiday off and properly enjoy the holidays. Yang Chengming ignored Vice Director Shi Lei completely since the superintendent had said so.

  After noticing that Yang Chengming wasn’t going to say anything, Shi Lei then said, “Li Liang, you don’t need to take any night shifts. Get some good rest over the holidays, and make up for it with hard work after the next year starts. I’ll take the first three days’ night shifts. Old Chen, you take the next four days’ night shifts. Is that alright with you? We can also switch if you want.”


  “That’s fine, we can do as you suggested.” Chen Qifa had no objections to taking the later four night shifts.

  “We’ll be counting on Doctor Zhang over the holidays this year!” Shi Lei politely thanked Zhang Fan for offering to work all seven days of the New Year’s vacation holiday.

  Later in Batu’s office, Batu spoke to Zhang Fan, “Be my driver today. We’re going to visit Leader Kang Hua’s home. How is it, will you be allowed to enter?”


  “Probably.” Zhang Fan had no idea what Batu wanted to do.

  “Silly youngster, we’re going there to wish her a happy New Year’s. This will all depend on your face today. You should first check to see if she’s home or not right now.” Typically, Zhang Fan always left his car at the hospital dormitory unless there was an emergency. He rarely drove it to the hospital.

  Zhang Fan contacted Tang Jingjing, and confirmed that Kang Hua was indeed home. Zhang Fan and Batu then set out. Batu drove his own car over and opened up the trunk, taking out some objects from within. Zhang Fan looked there and saw two cartons of smokes, a box filled with wine, and a slaughtered animal that seemed larger than a sheep and smaller than a cow.

  “We’re going to go wish her an early happy New Year’s. If I get a chance, I’ll mention how the hospital wants to purchase a new CT scanner, and most importantly, that I’d like to become the leader of the Bureau of Public Health. At that time, try and help me out from the sidelines,” Batu told Zhang Fan as he sat down in the latter’s car.

  “Not a problem. But, Superintendent Batu, isn’t the head of the Bureau of Public Health equal in rank to your hospital superintendent position? Why go to the trouble of going there instead?”


  “Sigh! You have no idea. In our Kuake City, there’s three major industries supporting our city. Making bread, pasture grazing, and our Kuake City Hospital. I’ve already been a superintendent here for ten years. I’ve had to be so careful on top of being careful. Right now, there’s so many people both openly and secretly trying to cause me trouble. That’s why I want to go over there for something more reliable.”


  It was almost New Year’s. Kang Hua had been home every day over the past few days. She would lose a significant amount of money from potential bribes if she wasn’t at home.

  At the time that Zhang Fan had arranged with Tang Jingjing, he arrived and knocked on Kang Hua’s door together with Batu. Kang Hua was obviously treating Batu like a higher-up would a subordinate, but she was quite friendly with Zhang Fan.

  “We’re here to wish Leader Kang a happy New Year’s.” After Zhang Fan and Batu put down the presents, Kang Hua invited them to sit down. Zhang Fan had looked over the presents while moving them. They were quite expensive. The smokes were from the top-quality Zhonghua brand, and the wine was a local liquor that Zhang Fan knew to be relatively expensive.

  After sitting and chatting for ten or so minutes, Kang Hua mentioned that Batu could come visit her at her government office when she resumed working for the remaining specifics.

  “Is there any hope for you at all?” Zhang Fan was feeling confused, so he asked this question as he and Batu left. All they chatted about had been hospital construction, but Batu hadn’t mentioned a single thing about purchasing the CT scanner or wanting to become the leader of the Bureau of Public Health.

  “Of course there is. Didn’t you hear her telling me to visit her office after the New Year’s? You need to learn from this. This is how to negotiate.”


  Right after leaving Kang Hua’s residence, Zhang Fan and Batu ran into Wang Qian.

  “Zhang Fan! When did you arrive? Are you on vacation break from the hospital?”


  “Mrs. Wang, this is our hospital superintendent. I’m not on vacation break from the hospital.”


  “Oh, please wait here a moment for me. My home’s been rather messy the past few days, so I won’t invite you in. I have some things I’d like to give to you.” Wang Qian didn’t give Zhang Fan a chance to refuse as she hurriedly went back to her home.

  “This is the Mrs. Wang that Politician Kang wanted you to treat?” Batu whispered to Zhang Fan.

  “Yeah.”


  “Do you know more specifics on her yet?”


  “She works at a bank, and her name is Wang Qian. I haven’t asked her anything else, nor has she mentioned anything.”


  “You!” Batu sighed regretfully.

  Some time later, Wang Qian came back with several large black bags. “I know that you smoke, so I’m giving you some cartons of smokes, and some small presents from my workplace. Don’t refuse these, you know what I’m like.” She stuffed the bags into Zhang Fan’s hands, and then left after nodding politely at Batu.

  Zhang Fan and Batu didn’t stay long in Kaifa District. Almost everyone who lived in this district was a big shot. Batu was afraid of meeting someone he knew here. After leaving Kaifa Disctrict, Batu’s curiosity got to him as he flipped through the bags that Wang Qian gave to Zhang Fan. “These are all really nice! It’s such a waste of good resources on you!”


  Zhang Fan could tell that Batu’s voice sounded slightly sour, so he asked, “How come I couldn’t tell?”


  “What would you know?” Batu looked outside the car window, feeling somewhat gloomy.

  Wang Qian had given Zhang Fan two cartons of Zhonghua smokes, along with some gifts that others had given to her husband—an Apple phone, two leather belts, and several ties.

  Some while later, Batu spoke up again. “Cultivate a good relationship with that Mrs. Wang. Perhaps you’ll need her help with something one day.”


  “Sure, I’ll listen to you,” Zhang Fan agreed casually just to appease Batu.