Sheng Keyi - Northern Girls - Life Goes On

‘Doctor, I am very sorry. If you’ll just give me twenty minutes, I’ll give it my best effort.’ He was very embarrassed. Dr Chen stared at him a moment, eyes protruding, then turned her fat rump and went out. Dachang simply turned off the video. He sat stewing, and after several minutes, Xiaohong’s face popped into his mind. He immediately picked up his mobile phone and called. When she answered, it was obvious she had been napping in the office, but she quickly perked up when she heard Dachang’s voice.

‘I’m at your hospital.’

‘No. Don’t tell me you’re expecting again.’

Dachang fell silent for a while. Finally overcoming the difficulty, he poured out the story in a rushed whisper, telling her everything.

‘I… what can I do to help?’

‘Xiaohong, your voice is so nice. Use your voice…’

‘Really?’

‘Really.’

‘…’

‘You like me, don’t you?’

‘Yes.’

‘That time… that time… I almost…’

‘You almost took me…’

‘I couldn’t…’

‘I know. You’re the best man I’ve ever known.’

‘Xiaohong, talk to me. Talk dirty to me.’

‘I… you… it…’

‘Yeah…’

After a few minutes, like a tide coming in from the sea, it poured out like the pounding of hooves from a herd of wild horses, silently galloping across the great expanse of the universe, free and unbridled. All the clouds in the sky rolled up into a heap, white and billowing. His breath was like a torrent, coming in waves, then suddenly her ear was filled with the sound of wind. Xiaohong, unable to contain herself, groaned. Then, laying her head on the table, she wept uncontrollably.

When Dr Chen returned, she only saw the retreating figure of Zhu Dachang leaving the video room nonchalantly. Suspicious, she went in and looked around, then followed Dachang out and went to the lab. She stood looking at the contents of the plastic cup, trying to judge whether or not it was the real thing. Her eyes protruded even more than usual.

The test results were normal, showing no traces of sperm in his specimen. Stunned, he found himself in a wash of mixed emotions. He did not know whether to burst into laughter or drown himself in tears.

He had no idea how he would manage things at home.

I

Who’d have thought that Mr Liao would be leaving? The 35-year-old top surgeon Dr Lei Yigang was promoted to take his place as chairman. He was from Guangdong, practically a native of Shenzhen. People from Guangdong usually gave one the impression of leanness that bordered on flimsiness, but Dr Lei was not like that at all. On the contrary, both his stature and his family background were quite solid. He was not too short and his weight was well proportioned to his height, with just a small surplus. His chubby face was always a picture of the good life, someone who enjoyed a lifestyle of ease. He had not the slightest sign of a beard on his face. This was not because he shaved himself closely but because his beard would not grow anymore. It was often said that this was closely connected with a breakthrough in his research. Contributing to the advancement of gynaecological medicine, he had successfully developed a new type of blade that could lessen the suffering of a woman undergoing a sterilisation procedure by forty per cent, shortening the time required for the operation to fifteen minutes and speeding the recovery time to a mere five days. As for medical expenses, of course, it would save a fortune. This matter would have a great social impact, especially for women, much like the release from the tradition of foot-binding. So, Dr Lei always wore a smile on a face shaved beardless by that blade. Some said it was a humble face, some said it was the gaping grin of a tiger, and some said it was a cunning look. Only Lei Yigang could know for certain what it hid.

With the hospital’s personnel changes, all the departments were shuffled and this meant promotions in the publicity room. Staffed with just two employees, Xia Jifeng was the obvious one to promote to Publicity Director, which opened up a vacancy for a very lucrative post. To use a negative example, this lucrative post was like an enemy bunker, with countless elite forces all eyeing it, preparing themselves for the noise of battle. Many lurked in the dark, waiting to see who would finally capture it.

Xiaohong’s propaganda work had been impeccable. Of course, this was credited to Xia, according to an unwritten rule. When one person stands a step higher than another, it’s only natural that he will be the taller of the two.

When Dr Lei took over his new post, he wasted no time in placing great emphasis on publicity. There was always room for more publicity in his office and thus he needed to have more contact with his PR people. That is to say, he had plenty of reason to be frequently in touch with Qian Xiaohong.

‘Hi, Xiaohong. Why don’t you come over to my office and sit down and talk for while.’ Dr Lei said to Xiaohong on the phone. When she arrived, he opened a small window and a leafy branch began tapping gently against the blinds. His beard had still not grown, which always made Xiaohong feel a twinge of regret.

‘I’m here, Dr Lei, sir.’ Seeing his posture, she knew this was not just another casual chat. It made her a little anxious.

‘You’ve been doing publicity work for quite a while now.’

‘Over a year, sir.’

‘Then you should understand the hospital’s situation quite well.’

‘Um, I guess so.’

‘Recently the hospital has decided to introduce some reproductive health services and the publicity needs to be handled well. I’ve assigned some specific work to Mr Xia and I want you to cooperate closely with him on this.’

Xiaohong nodded, feeling Dr Lei was being rather vague. Ever since that one night, she and Xia had seldom been in the office together. It was like they were following each other through a revolving door. When Xiaohong came in, Xia went out. When Xiaohong went out, Xia came in. A bit like their love-making, in fact.

Dr Lei smiled, looking like he was hiding some scheme.

‘Also, I need to give a report at the board meeting next Friday. I want you to help me do the summary. Just get the materials together for me. If you have any questions, you can call my mobile phone any time.’ The same innocent smile emerged on his baby face.

Xiaohong answered nervously, heart pounding as she pondered. This sort of thing had always been written by Xia. How had it suddenly fallen on her head? Was Dr Lei just trying to make things difficult, or was he trying to get something out of her?

Dr Lei’s beardless smile had no regularity to it. It was so smooth that he looked pitiful, and it made his smile so sinister that it sent chills down her spine. Xiaohong saw the folds and wrinkles of his face as ditches and gullies. His lips were not red, but glistened as if they had been dipped in oil.

This matter weighed heavily on Xiaohong’s mind. She thought, Fuck! Obviously Dr Lei is screwing me over. If I screw up this article, it’s going to come to a bad end. How the hell am I going to get a report of more than five thousand words done?

‘ Xia Ge , can you lend me the original materials to refer to for my report? I’ll use that material in my write up.’

Xia was a little stunned when Xiaohong asked him this. He thought, How is it that the report is to be done by her? If she does it, what’s left for me to do? What is Dr Lei up to with that girl?

‘What are you doing?’

‘The summary report for Dr Lei’s meeting next week.’

‘What did he say about it?’

‘That’s all he said.’

Things were definitely not that simple. Xia felt Xiaohong must be hiding something big. She was obviously wary of him. She must be playing her own political games, secretly scheming to obstruct him. Xia’s good will towards Xiaohong and the passion he had felt that night made him ashamed. He reluctantly dug out some materials, like a farmer grudgingly parting with some of his seed crop to share a few sprouts with someone else.