The Enhanced Doctor-Chapter 671: Difference between the old fox and the lamb

"Silly goose, do you think we should discuss this with Comrade Old Qiao? See how this should be handled?" Qiaoqiao asked on their way home.

"I actually wanted to ask our dad for advice as well, but I'm afraid he'll make a big fuss and fly over as soon as he hears about it," Liu Banxia said.

"Let's first consult with Old Qiu. He's an old hand in the martial world, after all, and definitely more experienced than us young folks. We don't need to rush. Personally, I don't care whether or not I get the role; I have plenty of other options anyway."

"Why the rush? It would be better if you just stayed a regular doctor. You could get off work on time every day and accompany me and the child," Qiaoqiao said, giving him a sidelong glance.

"It's only because you enjoy this job. Otherwise, we could open our own clinic and even have time for fun. When we feel like it, we can treat patients. When we get bored, we can just close the shop and go out to have fun. Isn't that great?"

"Hehe, I know you care about me. Just hang in there a while longer. At least I only need to be on duty one day a week, and I can come home the rest of the time," Liu Banxia quickly replied.

I can't let Qiaoqiao's imagination run wild anymore. If this keeps going, she might actually manage to drag me home from the hospital. It's best to just go along with her for now. I should be grateful she's not using her pregnancy to pressure me.

"Sigh… What exactly did Wang Chao's mom mean?" Qiaoqiao asked again.

"People like them tend to be indirect when they speak; they never lay everything out plainly. They just hint at things, and we have to slowly figure out the meaning," Liu Banxia said with a smile.

"It's such a simple little thing, yet it involves so many people and issues. If I'd known it would be like this, I wouldn't have worked so hard."

"But it's no big deal. Since the opportunity has come up, let's give it a shot. Although the path through the hospital administration office is also good, it means I'd be detached from the Emergency Center."

"I still prefer it here. After all, I did most of the initial work. If I left just like that, it would feel a bit like a strong start with a weak finish."

"Then let's see what Brother Qiu says. Anyway, being happy is what's most important. If we're not happy, we just won't bother with them anymore," Qiaoqiao said.

"Mm-hmm, I'll listen to you. We can have a good meal tonight, and Tang Dou can join in too," Liu Banxia said.

Qiaoqiao chuckled; it was quite amusing. Whenever she was on vacation, she always seemed to find someone to treat her to meals. It felt like there were very few times she actually cooked a proper meal at home.

When they returned home, Tang Dou came hopping out as soon as they stepped through the main gate.

"Good boy, we'll take you to play with Tiggie in a bit." Qiaoqiao patted Tang Dou on the forehead.

Tang Dou immediately turned and ran into the house. By the time Liu Banxia and Qiaoqiao entered, Tang Dou had already run back down, carrying his leash in his mouth.

"You, are you getting cabin fever too? We need to rest a bit, you know," Liu Banxia said helplessly.

Tang Dou placed the leash on the ground and sat there, just looking at them.

"Sigh… Why must one pregnant woman make things difficult for another? I give up! Let's go," Qiaoqiao sighed, resigned.

Liu Banxia couldn't help but be amused. Tang Dou could be quite stubborn sometimes.

"What are you laughing at? Put his leash on," Qiaoqiao glared at him.

"Right away," Liu Banxia quickly nodded.

They were very familiar with the way to the Qiu Family's home. Tang Dou was fixated on playing with his little buddy, even seeming a bit impatient with the two "poop scoopers" walking too slowly behind him.

"WOOF, WOOF…"

Arriving at the Qiu Family's gate, Tang Dou barked a few times.

"WOOF, WOOF…"

Tiggie barked back a couple of times from behind the gate.

"Good heavens, we've become your entourage for visiting friends," Liu Banxia said helplessly.

It had to be said, even though Tang Dou and Tiggie had become friends relatively recently, they played together every day and had already formed a deep bond. It was just a pity they weren't the same breed, a friendship fated but not destined for more.

The gate opened, and Tiggie ran out. He first greeted Tang Dou, then jumped up on Liu Banxia before wagging his tail and nudging up against Tang Dou again.

"We just got home, and Tang Dou was already getting a bit impatient," Liu Banxia said.

"That makes sense. You came out late today, so they didn't get enough playtime. How about it? Want to hold my daughter for a bit? Get a feel for it in advance?" Qiu Huaili said with a smile.

"Haha, that would be great," Liu Banxia said, reaching to take Doudou.

"Oh dear, don't you hold her. What if I have a boy, and he ends up marrying Doudou? When they're older, it would be awkward if people said her father-in-law once held her as a baby. What kind of situation would that be!" Qiaoqiao spoke up, taking Doudou herself.

Qiaoqiao's reasoning was quite compelling; neither Liu Banxia nor Qiu Huaili could find a rebuttal.

"Has it started already?" Qiu Huaili asked after Qiaoqiao went inside with Doudou, leading the dogs.

"I suppose so. I can barely keep up with her train of thought these days," Liu Banxia said with a wry smile.

"Keep at it. Hang in there. It'll be at most a year or so; it'll be fine," Qiu Huaili patted him on the shoulder, his eyes full of sympathy.

"Brother Qiu, I had lunch today with a colleague's mother. She works at the Municipal Propaganda Department and is a leader there. She also gave me a heads-up that my application for promotion this time might involve significant complications," Liu Banxia said.

"Alright, let's sit out here in the sun. Tell me the details," Qiu Huaili nodded.

"Originally, it was a small matter. Even if I were promoted to deputy director, it wouldn't cause much of a stir. But now, a new Deputy Hospital Director has arrived, and he also wants to install a deputy director in the Emergency Center to increase his influence there."

"My friend's mother implied that while it's standard procedure for our Chief Director to protect his own turf, in this particular matter, he's been a bit too hasty, which could easily provoke counter-plans from others."

"After all, Second Hospital isn't a private hospital; one person can't just call all the shots, right? She must have heard some rumors outside and was giving me a hint."

"Now I don't know what I should choose: should I strive for this deputy director position, or should I proactively consider the bigger picture and take a different path?"

"The other path would be simpler: leave the Emergency Center and join the hospital's main administration. After all, my mentor is a Deputy Hospital Director, and I could easily work as his assistant."

"The administrative work would be what comes after my tenure as chief resident ends, mainly focused on teaching and training. However, from a promotion perspective, this path would be faster."

"There are more opportunities to stand out. You do a little work, and if people think you deserve recognition, you get a commendation. Once you've accumulated enough accolades, you can basically rise through the ranks step by step."

Qiu Huaili nodded. "Understood. So, you yourself still want to stay in the Emergency Center, right? Even if it's more tiring, you like the work there."

Liu Banxia nodded sheepishly. "I've been in the Emergency Center ever since I finished my residency. I'm very familiar with it there, and I really don't want to leave."

"Besides, if I take the hospital administration route, management tasks will undoubtedly make up a larger part of my job. But deep down, I still love diagnosing and treating patients."

"That's what I gathered from what you said," Qiu Huaili said with a smile. "Otherwise, you wouldn't list so many advantages of the other path and still be hesitating."

"Actually, if you ask me, you have to fight for it now. By a strange twist of fate, you've been pushed into the limelight, and you'll have to get your hands dirty."

"Brother Qiu, why is that?" Liu Banxia asked, frowning.

"Firstly, from your personal standpoint, you enjoy working in the Emergency Center and are somewhat resistant to moving to the main hospital administration," Qiu Huaili said.

"We work to earn a living, that's one thing, but we also need to be happy. If you leave the Emergency Center, it would take two to three, or even three to four years, to get back."

"I suspect another reason for your indecision is this: was your colleague's mother actually suggesting you move to the hospital administration to sidestep this conflict?"

Liu Banxia nodded honestly again. This was the difference between an old fox and a young lamb. Qiu Huaili could analyze so much from just a few of his words. Even if Liu Banxia improved significantly, he couldn't reach that level of insight yet.

"I think, for now, you're in a bind, a real dilemma," Qiu Huaili continued.

"So, I think since things are already this way, you might as well be the one to break the deadlock. Turn this passive situation into an active one. Doing so has two advantages."

"First, if you succeed in the selection process, you'll be promoted and can continue working in the Emergency Center. For you, this is a rare benefit, considering you want to stay even without a promotion."

"Second, it would also help your Chief Director Chen resolve the current predicament. If you take a more proactive stance, people will pay less attention to him."

"You mentioned in our last chat that your Chief Director Chen has big ambitions, so he's a bit anxious to show results now. But he's not adept at political maneuvering. This time, his actions were indeed too rash, or perhaps a bit arrogant."

"For him, regardless of how this matter unfolds, the impact has already been made. You're the only one who can break this deadlock. Not only must you strive to win this deputy director position, but your performance in your future work must be even more outstanding."

"Only then can you prove that Chief Director Chen chose you not for personal gain, but for the development of the Emergency Center. That's the only way to turn the situation around."

"However, this path carries immense pressure for you. Your friend's mother recognized this, which is why she subtly advised you to move to the hospital administration and avoid getting entangled in these messy affairs."

Liu Banxia's eyebrows knitted into a tight knot. He wasn't just a little lamb; at best, he was a newborn lamb.

He had thought he fully understood Zheng Yali's words, but it turned out he had only grasped the superficial meaning. He hadn't seen the crucial underlying implications at all.

According to Qiu Huaili's analysis, his current situation was indeed difficult to break out of. It wasn't just being caught between a rock and a hard place; he was already being roasted over the coals, sizzling with pressure.