Chapter 340: Storm on the Home Front

The Pediatrics Department was Director Tang Fei’s territory. She always seemed to know everything that happened there.

Even when Zhou Can just dropped by for a moment, she found out right away.

“Are you a graduate student or just interning?” Zhou Can asked as he walked with her toward Director Tang’s office.

“I’m an intern! The postgraduate entrance exam is just too tough, so I’m planning to start working right after I graduate.” The girl looked a bit shy and kept her head down.

“It’s not easy being a doctor with only a bachelor’s degree. If you can, I really suggest trying for postgrad first before working at a hospital,” Zhou Can advised, speaking from experience.

Because of his lower education, Zhou Can had suffered plenty of setbacks and grievances.

Even now, despite being quite skilled, he still couldn’t compete with someone like Du Leng, who held a doctorate from studying abroad.

Du Leng was already an attending physician, while Zhou Can was still working as a resident in training. That’s the difference a degree can make.

Some things, sure, you can compensate for with hard work. But there are gaps that, no matter how much effort you pour in, just can’t be closed.

“It’s just that I can’t pass! Anyway, Brother Zhou, you’ve set a great example for us undergrads. Loads of juniors at the school look up to you! We all believe that if we work hard enough, we can make it too—we’re not any less capable than those with a master’s.”

She finally found the courage to look up at Zhou Can.

He felt awkward under the gaze of such open admiration.

“So you’re a student from Tuyu Hospital, too?” Zhou Can looked her up and down, a little surprised.

She was about five foot two, with shoulder-length choppy hair, wearing light brown glasses, her eyes bright and lively.

“That’s right. I’m two years below you—a fifth-year now, so I’m both your junior and your fellow alum.” She flashed a sunny smile.

Zhou Can was struck by how much time had passed—it had been two years since he graduated.

He’d somehow become an idol his juniors admired. He’d never imagined that.

Most people, himself included, were overwhelmed by work right after graduation, with little energy left to pay attention to their alma mater.

“Seeing your fresh smile, I feel like I’m looking at my younger self. Since you call me senior, as your elder I have to be blunt: a degree isn’t everything, but it is important. If you have the chance, go for your master’s. Even I plan to apply for an in-service master’s once things settle down at work and I have more time and energy.”

His situation was unique—he had several chief physicians backing him at the hospital. When it was time, he’d have a much easier time getting into graduate school than most people.

Back in senior year, there was no way he could have passed the entrance exam.

Just because he had this chance after starting work didn’t mean others would.

If this junior didn’t try for grad school while still a student, it’d only get harder after starting work.

“Okay, I’ll give it some serious thought,” she nodded earnestly.

But getting a master’s degree was tough, both with the entrance exam and the financial pressure. With stakes this high, she naturally needed to think it through.

By now, Zhou Can had arrived at the department head’s office.

He knocked politely.

Knock, knock, knock!

“Come in!”

Director Tang was bent over some files. As department chief and academic leader, her plate was always full.

“Director Tang, you wanted to see me?”

“Dr. Zhou, please have a seat,” she greeted him warmly. “I heard you received a thank-you banner from a patient’s family?”

“Yes, after the patient who had the new Bunya virus recovered and was discharged, they insisted on giving me a thank-you banner.” Zhou Can lifted the rolled-up banner in his hand.

“That’s fantastic! I called you here to talk about this. Since you’re still in your residency and rotating through departments, I suggest you hang the banner in Clinic Room 17. After all, you do your Wednesday clinics there every week. Having the banner up will boost both patients’ and families’ confidence in you.”

She was giving him a genuinely helpful suggestion.

At this point, Zhou Can had already held two pediatric clinics and both had gone smoothly.

On clinic days, more than ten patients would sign up for his appointments alone.

“That’s a great idea, but would displaying my banner there make things uncomfortable for other doctors?” Zhou Can knew all too well that jealousy could rear its head anywhere.

Some people just couldn’t stand seeing others succeed.

If his banner were hung up in Clinic Room 17, he worried someone might get envious and stir up trouble.

“It won’t bother the others at all; in fact, it’ll only do good. Give the banner to me and I’ll have someone hang it up.” Director Tang made the decision with confidence, putting his mind at ease.

Who’d dare play tricks if the department head herself arranged to have it hung?

Clinic Room 17 was just a regular room, with most clinic doctors at the attending level.

He was pretty sure no one would be reckless enough to go against Director Tang.

Just then, Zhou Can’s phone rang.

He pulled it out and glanced down—his mom was calling.

“Director Tang, if there’s nothing else, I won’t take up more of your time.”

“Haha, is that your girlfriend calling? Go ahead and answer. Just remember to check on your patients every day and report any issues right away.” She smiled as she reminded him.

“Will do!”

Zhou Can didn’t explain further. He left the office and gently closed the door behind him.

He picked up the call.

“Mom, why are you calling at this hour?” He was instantly worried something might have happened at home.

“Everything’s fine, don’t worry! I just transferred fifty thousand yuan to you—use it wisely. The family needs to cover a big transaction soon, so it might be a while before we can send you pocket money again. Take care of yourself, and take care of that girl named Qianqian.”

As his mom spoke, Zhou Can couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling growing inside him.

Normally, his mom would chatter on during their calls, but today, something just felt off.

“Mom, the New Year’s coming soon. I might be able to take a few days off. How about I bring Qianqian home to visit you and Dad?” he probed.

His mom had been pestering him to bring his girlfriend home for the holidays, and with his rotation to the Endocrinology Department, he’d probably have a break.

“Hmm… your dad and I are both really busy these days. We probably won’t have time to celebrate the New Year. How about waiting until things quiet down, and you can bring Qianqian then?”

She still hadn’t learned how to lie to her son’s face.

Her excuse was so weak, Zhou Can could tell right away something was definitely wrong at home.

How could something go wrong at a perfectly good food processing plant?

Over the past two years, his mom was always bragging that their business had expanded overseas.

By all accounts, business should have been booming.

“Mom, is something happening at home?”

“Nonsense! Your dad and I are working at the factory every day. What could go wrong?”

She scolded him in a forced, steady tone.

“Okay, as long as everything’s fine. I’ll be back in a few days with your future daughter-in-law. No matter how busy you and Dad are, we can help you out at the factory!”

Once again, Zhou Can deliberately tested her.

“The factory’s so dirty! Don’t scare the girl away. If you’re coming home, just call me ahead of time so I can pick you up.”

This time, his mom didn’t refuse his visit.

Still, he could hear the strain underneath her words.

“Mom, I’m at work, so I’ll let you go for now. Take care of yourself, and I’ll come see you and Dad when I get a chance.”

“Alright!”

She hung up.

Zhou Can checked his call log and realized it’d been over three months since he last spoke to his family. He suddenly felt a wave of guilt. It was always his mom reaching out to him; he almost never took the initiative.

He’d grown used to his parents checking in and sending him pocket money right on time.

Only now did he realize just how little he cared for them in return.

Whether it’s family or love, it should never be a one-way street—it should always go both ways.

Zhou Can was almost certain now that something was wrong at home.

If his mom wouldn’t tell him, there were other ways to find out.

He called up his childhood friend Cheng Dazhuang.

“Zhou Can! It’s rare to get a call from you. I thought you’d left your old buddies behind now that you’re all successful!”

The second he answered, Cheng Dazhuang started complaining.

“Haha, as if! You know I’m not the type to ditch friends just because I’m doing better.”

And he certainly didn’t look down on Cheng Dazhuang for struggling.

“Hey Dazhuang, I wanted to ask you something.”

“Shoot! I’ll tell you anything I know—even if you want to know what color boxers I’m wearing.”

Cheng Dazhuang’s humor hadn’t changed a bit.

“Dr. Cheng, please watch your image. If a patient or family heard you, you’d get complaints.” Zhou Can warned him, feigning annoyance. The two of them had always poked fun at each other since childhood.

“You think our County People’s Hospital is as busy as Tuyu Hospital? On some days, my department barely sees any patients. I’m always in my office, yawning my head off.”

He actually let out a yawn as he said this.

Zhou Can frowned, picturing what Cheng Dazhuang’s workday must be like.

He couldn’t help but think about those students who failed to get into high school and just coasted through vocational school, as opposed to those studying nonstop for college entrance exams.

While Cheng Dazhuang snoozed away his days at the office, Zhou Can was often practicing medicine or reading into the night.

During the day, Zhou Can spun around like a top with all his duties.

Clearly, the gap between them now had grown into a chasm.

With his current skills, Zhou Can figured he could outclass most chief physicians at his hometown’s County People’s Hospital.

“Dazhuang, your attitude won’t get you anywhere. Instead of wasting time, read some medical books and study more cases. Over time, you’ll end up way ahead of other doctors.”

He tried to dissuade his friend from wasting his best years.

Once you’re past thirty-five, if you haven’t built up your abilities, it’s tough to move forward.

“Study for what? There aren’t even enough patients, and it’s always just routine stuff. Come on, Zhou Can, just tell me what you wanted to find out!”

Clearly, Cheng Dazhuang didn’t want to dwell on that topic.

“I just wanted to ask if you’ve heard anything about my family lately.” Zhou Can sighed to himself, knowing that fate was in his own hands. If he didn’t work hard, he couldn’t blame the world for being harsh.

“Haven’t heard anything. What’s up?” Cheng Dazhuang asked in return.

“My mom called earlier, and it just felt off. When you’re off work tonight, could you quietly check on things at my house? Don’t alert my parents, just let me know what you find out.”

He had complete faith in his old friend to handle this.

Cheng Dazhuang might have his flaws, but he was loyal and dependable.

“Sure, I’ll go over there later. Don’t stress yourself out—I bet it’s nothing and you’re just overthinking it.”

…

By around five in the evening, Cheng Dazhuang called him back.

“Zhou Can, you’re not in the middle of surgery, are you?”

“What do you mean? I just asked you to check on my family, didn’t I?”

Zhou Can was getting frustrated.

Was this guy’s brain waterlogged or what?

“I just want to make sure you don’t get too upset when you hear the news and cause a medical accident. I’d feel terrible if you got in trouble.” Cheng Dazhuang explained.

“So that’s it? Go on, I’m with my mentor running clinic today. When you called, I stepped outside to answer.” Zhou Can felt his heart sinking.

Things at home were clearly serious.

As long as his parents were safe, money losses didn’t matter much.

After all, Zhou Can was sitting on nearly a hundred million in assets. His family had plenty of security.

If he could topple the financial shark Hu Haikun, his and Su Qianqian’s ventures would flourish for years, and their wealth would keep growing.

“You mean you can just step out to take calls during clinic time? Impressive!”

Still avoiding the main topic, Cheng Dazhuang was driving Zhou Can up the wall.

For Zhou Can, forget about just stepping out—even leaving work early for something urgent wouldn’t be a big deal.

His position was really that solid.

In Tuyu, the Endocrinology Department was small, but the head treated him with warmth and respect.

“I asked around—your villa in the county’s been seized by the court. And your factory? Apparently there are a bunch of creditors surrounding it for payment. Things look really bad.”

That news hit Zhou Can like a bolt from the blue.

He couldn’t believe things at home had gone from great to disastrous overnight.

“Dazhuang, you sure you got that right?”

“Pretty sure. My medicine isn’t that impressive, but I have some contacts in town. I even double-checked with a friend who works at the court: your family filled a big overseas order and only got a small deposit—the customer disappeared, and your folks paid high prices for raw materials that they can’t sell now. The cash flow’s broken, and that’s how things fell apart.”

Cheng Dazhuang quickly filled him in on what happened.

“Are my parents safe?”

Zhou Can only knew the basics about business.

He was never interested in that world.

All he cared about right now was his parents’ safety.

“They’re trying to borrow money wherever they can. The bank heard what happened and immediately froze your villa for security. The suppliers are after their money, and now factory workers are afraid they won’t get paid, so they’re demanding wages.”

When things fall apart, everyone jumps in to push.

With trouble at home, suppliers feared not being paid, workers wanted their wages, and banks worried about loans. All at once. The pressure on his parents must have been unimaginable.

But even under all that pressure, his mom still managed to send him fifty thousand yuan in pocket money.

Out of nowhere, it hit him—his mom must have known the factory was about to go under and all the family’s savings would be lost. One last act as a mother was to help her son however she could.

That’s what you call a mother’s love.

“Mom, Dad… Your son’s grown up now. After all you’ve done for me, this time let me take on the storm for you.”

He had no idea how much they actually owed, but he figured his several tens of millions should get them out of trouble.

The only problem was, his money was tied up in stocks, mutual funds, and private equity—like those Mr. Li recommended—turning it all into cash right away wouldn’t be easy.

Zhou Can wasn’t familiar with business, but Mr. and Mrs. Cui were. They worked in international trade—he’d go ask them for advice. Maybe they’d have some ideas.