Sent to the countryside, I turned the health center into a top-tier hospital.

Sun Xiaoyan didn't speak, but her gaze never left Su Meng.

Watching their reactions, Wang Tao scratched his head, wanting to say something witty, but after seeing Sun Xiaoyan's expression, he unusually kept quiet.

It's lunchtime.

Zhao Guosheng walked over carrying the jar and whispered to Chen Ping, "Dr. Chen, Director Su has come from a long way. Take Director Su to Lao Zhou Restaurant and treat him according to the hospital's standards. We'll use the hospital's bill."

Just as Chen Ping was about to nod, Su Meng heard him, turned around, and waved her hand. "Dean Zhao, no need to trouble yourself. Just eat in the cafeteria. I'd like to try your hospital's cafeteria."

She paused, smiled, and said, "I've been wanting to try the food at the community health center's canteen too."

Zhao Guosheng was taken aback for a moment, then looked at Chen Ping, who nodded.

Zhao Guosheng quickly turned and walked towards the kitchen, calling out as he went, "Sister Li! Cook two more dishes! Stew the chicken we bought yesterday, and stir-fry some shredded pork with garlic sprouts!"

Su Meng tried to stop him, but Zhao Guosheng had already gone to the backyard canteen, so she gave up.

In the cafeteria, large round tables were laden with dishes.

Aunt Li was quick; in addition to the usual dishes, she brought out a large bowl of braised chicken pieces and a large plate of stir-fried pork with garlic sprouts.

Everyone gradually arrived, but Cui Ying was not among them.

Zhou Xiaohe carried a tray as she walked out of the cafeteria, on which were two bowls of rice and several dishes.

"Xiao He, where are you going?" Chen Ping asked.

"Sister Cui Ying said she wanted to eat in the dormitory and asked me to bring it over." After saying that, Zhou Xiaohe left.

Chen Ping's gaze lingered on Cui Ying's empty seat for a moment, then he picked up his chopsticks and began to eat without saying anything.

Zhou Jie and Sun Xiaoyan were restless from the very beginning, pushing each other.

Finally, Zhou Jie stood up, took her water glass, and walked to Su Meng's side. Her voice was slightly nervous. "Director Su, hello. My name is Zhou Jie, and I'm a nurse who just started working at the health center. I listened to you speak at the health school last year."

Sun Xiaoyan also took the initiative to speak, which was rare for her. She stood up and walked to Su Meng, her tone as calm and decisive as ever, "Director Su, my name is Sun Xiaoyan. What you said about grassroots doctors being the capillaries and about medical workers being angels regardless of social status was so well said."

Su Meng paused for a moment, then smiled. This time, her smile was much more natural than before, and even the fine lines at the corners of her eyes appeared when she smiled.

She moved her chair aside and gestured for the two of them to sit next to her. "No need to call me Director Su. I'm just here for a visit, not for an inspection or a lecture. Just call me Sister Su Meng."

Zhou Jie and Sun Xiaoyan sat down on either side of Su Meng.

During the meal, Zhou Jie asked several questions, all about professional title exams and career development after graduation, and Su Meng answered them one by one in detail.

Sun Xiaoyan didn't talk much, but she would occasionally chime in with questions about policies. She would review Su Meng's answers in her mind and then nod slightly.

Halfway through the meal, Zhou Jie finally couldn't hold back any longer and cautiously took out her phone to ask for a photo. Su Meng smiled and agreed.

Zhou Jie handed her phone to Wang Tao and asked him to take a picture. Wang Tao took the phone and pointed the camera at the three people.

Sun Xiaoyan rarely showed a smile, though it was faint, it was indeed a smile.

In the instant the photo was captured, she stood to Su Meng's left, a slight upturn at the corners of her lips, and for the first time, the coldness in her eyes did not overshadow the light.

Chen Ping smiled slightly as he watched this scene. In fact, the position of director of the health bureau was more suitable for Su Meng.

Unfortunately, in officialdom, what matters is not suitability, nor ability, but connections.

After lunch, Su Meng put down her chopsticks, turned her head to look at Chen Ping, and said, "Where is your dormitory? Take me to see it, and we can rest for a while. We still have to drive back on the mountain road this afternoon, and I'm afraid I'll get sleepy if I don't rest."

Chen Ping paused for a moment, then looked up at Su Meng.

Su Meng's expression was natural, as if she were talking about something very ordinary, but her eyes didn't blink, she just stared straight at him, with a hint of insistence that left him no room to refuse.

"What's so interesting about the dormitory? It's just one room." Chen Ping put down his chopsticks.

Su Meng's lips curled up slightly, a smile that held an indescribable quality, like a probe. "What, are you hiding something in the house that you don't want me to see? Or are you afraid I'll go in and eat you up?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the people at the table varied.

Wang Tao buried his head in the bowl and pretended to eat rice, but his ears were perked up.

Li Fang's hand holding the water glass froze in mid-air. Her gaze swept between Chen Ping and Su Meng, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips.

Zhou Jie and Sun Xiaoyan exchanged a glance, then quickly lowered their heads to clear the dishes, pretending they hadn't heard anything.

Chen Ping didn't respond to that question. He stood up and walked out of the cafeteria, with Su Meng following behind him.

The two men walked across the yard, where Old Sun's ramming machine was still shaking the construction site in the backyard, causing the entire corridor to tremble slightly.

Chen Ping pushed open the door to his dormitory and stepped aside to let Su Meng go in first.

Su Meng stood at the doorway, glanced inside, and then walked in and took a small circle.

The dormitory was small, about ten square meters, with a bed, a desk, a chair, a wardrobe, and a potted green ivy on the windowsill. The leaves were lush and green, and the vines hung down from the windowsill, trailing long.

The bedding on the bed was folded neatly, the medical records and acupuncture books on the desk were stacked in an orderly fashion, and even the charger cord was secured to the side of the desk leg with a small clip so that it wouldn't drag or trip over anything.

There was no smell of smoke or smelly socks in the air; instead, there was a faint scent of soap mixed with the fresh, green aroma of pothos leaves.

"You've cleaned this house much better than I expected."

Su Meng sat down on the edge of the bed, her hand resting on the sheet. The sheet was light gray, made of cotton, and had faded slightly from washing, but it was clean and wrinkle-free.

She turned her head and glanced at a dark blue T-shirt folded neatly beside the pillow. It was the one Cui Ying had bought for him. The collar was already a little frayed, but it was folded with sharp edges.

"You weren't this good at tidying up when you were at home before."

As Su Meng spoke, her tone carried a faint sense of emotion, as if she were reminiscing or testing the waters.

Chen Ping opened the window a crack to let in some fresh air, then stood by the windowsill with his hands in his pockets. "When we were at home, didn't I do all the housework? Cooking, washing dishes, mopping the floor, doing laundry. You were busy with work back then, working overtime every day. When you got home, you would just collapse on the sofa, and I would even take off your shoes for you."

Su Meng removed her hands from the sheets and placed them on her knees, then lowered her head and remained silent for a while.

The leaves of the poplar trees outside the window rustled in the wind, and the sound of a tamping machine came from afar, muffled, like something jumping underground.