"Not bad, you're even more skilled at bargaining than I am. Do you often buy groceries when you're at home?" Mu Nanshu sat in the passenger seat, staring intently at Lu Cheng.

Lu Cheng wasn't extraordinarily handsome, more like a pretty boy; at first glance, his skin tone was somewhat bronzed and dark.

But if you look closely at Lu Cheng's eyebrows and eyes, there's a sense of resilient confidence and fortitude. Compared to several years ago, Lu Cheng now carries a bit more experience and less sharpness.

"Not often, only when I have some free time, I'll buy some meat and non-leafy vegetables. My mom sells vegetables, she usually reserves some."

Lu Cheng turned his head: "You wouldn't think I've done market research, right? It's my mom, she often talks about prices at home when buying and selling vegetables, so I hear some things."

Having a general idea of wholesale prices, even if Lu Cheng were to get overcharged, it wouldn't be excessive, as vegetable sellers also need to earn a bit.

For example, the seller definitely earns a profit of one yuan on peppers.

Mu Nanshu realized: "Right, I forgot your aunt sells vegetables."

"I haven't told you about this before, my mom started selling vegetables after I finished my residency training. She used to assist my dad, but as she got older, moving houses was hard labor she couldn't handle anymore."

"She earns a bit of pocket money, enough to cover daily household expenses." Lu Cheng finished and then steered into a parking space.

"Do you still like eating duck necks now?"

"I remember you used to love them." Lu Cheng pointed to the Zhou Hei Ya sign.

"Are there any unpackaged ones now?" Mu Nanshu also remembered clearly; Zhou Hei Ya's duck necks used to be sold at six yuan a piece, and that taste was authentic.

Moreover, Mu Nanshu is picky about Han City's marinated duck, preferring Zhou Hei Ya's duck necks, Juewei's duck intestines, and Xiao Hu's lotus root slices...

"I'll go ask... I guess there aren't any... Since commercialization, you can't find those long duck necks anymore." Lu Cheng looked at the rearview mirror, pushed open the car door, but didn't turn off the engine.

...

Lu Cheng helped wash and cut the vegetables, while Mu Nanshu started frying. The two busied themselves in the kitchen for half an hour, the food was ready but the rice wasn't.

Still, it's September, so there's no fear of cold. After washing their hands, they each took off their aprons and walked out of the kitchen. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Lu Cheng looked at Mu Nanshu's fingers again, asking: "Is it the strength in your fingers or their flexibility?"

Mu Nanshu professionally answered: "The mobility of the distal joints of the index and middle fingers isn't flexible, but the range of motion is okay."

The index finger refers to the everyday called forefinger.

Mu Nanshu can make a fist, but when she clenches it tight, it's slightly delayed.

Cooking and daily activities aren't a problem, but performing invasive procedures on patients isn't possible.

Of course, perhaps even handling a kitchen knife isn't very nimble.

"Was studying abroad tough?" Lu Cheng asked.

Mu Nanshu sighed: "The exclusion is quite serious."

She then combed her hair: "If you're not outstanding, you'll be looked down upon, almost like you're on your own."

"Survival of the fittest. Some locals can't graduate and face expulsion."

Mu Nanshu didn't elaborate further.

Studying medicine, regardless of the country, is never easy. Doctors abroad receive good treatment, but competition is also fiercer, only the most outstanding undergraduates qualify for medical studies.

It's qualifying to study, unlike domestic settings where even vocational schools offer clinical medicine.

High income and status naturally attract many elites to enter the medical circle; once foreign doctors graduate, they certainly belong to the high-income group.

"Can you tell me more?" Lu Cheng asked.

Mu Nanshu pouted, her expression tense, eyes tightened: "Can we not talk about it? I've been afraid to contact you."

"Mainly, I've also had issues, I must switch from MD to Ph.D.; this is very, very troublesome..."

"Is it because of the injury to your hand?" Lu Cheng asked.

Mu Nanshu nodded: "MD is more clinical, while Ph.D. leans towards research. Earlier, I was following the MD path."

"My mentor knew about my hand injury and immediately advised me to switch to a Ph.D., which is very pragmatic."

"Chasing MD before almost drained me, the remaining time was barely hanging by a thread."

Mu Nanshu still didn't mention the details, although Xie Yuan'an had said that Mu Nanshu's studying abroad was really tough.

Mu Nanshu's study abroad was different from Xie Yuan'an's, whose was 'joint training,' spending two years in the domestic, one year studying abroad.

Mu Nanshu, on the other hand, had applied full-time for a Ph.D. at Stanford University and obtained a Ph.D. in medical science from Stanford.

It's not that Mu Nanshu is vastly superior to Xie Yuan'an; they simply chose different paths.

"There were numerous times I wanted to give up and return to restart domestically, but then I thought, having gone abroad, returning in disgrace would be so embarrassing."

"I suppose it's a blessing in disguise now, compared to my roommate Sister Xie, my starting point is slightly higher; at least I'm relatively valued in the research group." Mu Nanshu comforted herself.

Her fingers are very fair, tinged with rosy, but not very smooth, rather somewhat rough, clear indicators of frequent glove usage at work, soaked in sweat to this state.

Whereas Lu Cheng, having rarely performed surgeries, doesn't possess hands as 'weathered' as Mu Nanshu's; nevertheless, Lu Cheng's fingers hold callouses earned from practicing techniques.

"Let's talk about you then; Sister Xie complained to me, saying you gave up a great opportunity for a relationship."

"Look... Sister Xie sent me Professor Lan Hualuo's resume."

"Lu Cheng, Lu Cheng, a thirty-five-year-old third-level Chief Physician, third-level researcher, third-level Associate Professor, a person like this invited you for a meal, and you rejected it?" Mu Nanshu stared at Lu Cheng.

Professors, Chief Physicians, Researchers, they're graded.

The lowest being fourth-level.

Even though third-level Chief Physicians, researchers may appear uniform to outsiders, third-level Chief Physicians generally aren't assessable within regional city hospitals.

"Joining would be pointless, recently I agreed to Professor Zhong Junyun, should I immediately shift?"

"Being loyal to three families isn't easy." Lu Cheng said softly.

Mu Nanshu replied: "Not asking you to shift allegiance, you could learn skills from Professor Lan?"

"Others are eager to, yet you discard it?"

Lu Cheng said: "Book Bag, we're just ordinary folks, can't master being omnipresent and always thriving everywhere."

"When lacking weight, it's best to be sincere and not waver."

"Sincerity may not yield sincerity, but insincerity definitely won't yield sincerity."

Lu Cheng's index fingers scratched each other as he continued: "At least, without such an approach, I reckon I wouldn't have made it this far."

Lu Cheng stared at Mu Nanshu, his gaze making her a bit uneasy, she slightly lowered her head, and hastily responded with a gentle 'hmm.'

"I'll go see how much longer the rice needs." Mu Nanshu stood up.

Lu Cheng pointed to the right sleeve of Mu Nanshu's yellow long skirt and said: "You've got a bit of oil stain here, better wash it quickly."

"Ah!~ It's soy sauce." She hurriedly ran to the bedroom.