Han Xi, who had been approved by his superiors, had no objection to this. Anyway, the scenery here was so beautiful that he also wanted to take the opportunity to visit it. For them, this was welfare in disguise.
After seeing the miraculous skill of the feign death of Ding Ning, Han Xi had no doubts about his medical abilities. In order to express his gratitude to the Simao Military Region, he was willing to provide medical support without compensation.
The Simao Military District was a border defense military region organized as a regiment. The premier commander was a senior colonel.
Maybe it was because of the reason for the oriented reception, the officer who received them was a military doctor named Zhou Yaozu, whose face was full of fortitude and resolution, which gave them a good impression at first sight.
The difference between Zhou Yaozu and Han Xi was that Zhou Yaozu was not only a clerical military doctor but also an officer with a formal rank of captain.
That made Han Xi quite envious, but he could understand. After all, the border area was very dangerous. The border guards not only had to be stationed in the border but also inspect the business groups that came and went strictly to prevent the proliferation of arms, drugs and smuggled goods.
The circulation of drugs was a forever existence on the southwestern border. In countless border inspections, precedent examples that the drug dealers who got caught put up a stubborn resistance were often seen. And many border guards had sacrificed their lives. Therefore, even for the clerical personnel, they needed to prepare for times that they needed to grab weapons and confront enemies. And it was nothing surprising that Zhou Yaozu was with a formal military rank.
Because Zhou Yaozu was in Diannan, he certainly knew how horrible the Antiaris Toxicaria Lesch was. When he learned that Ding Ning was a traditional Chinese physician, who managed to delay the onset time of the Antiaris Toxicaria Lesch which was extremely deadly and went into the primeval forest into which even the locals didn’t dare to go deep with that attractive policewoman to bring back the Triostar successfully, he got shocked.
His hospitality to Ding Ning and the others was simply too much. However, because Xiao Nuo was in a bad mood and Ding Ning looked tired, Zhou Yaozu felt awkward to bother. Otherwise, he would certainly have had a long talk with Ding Ning.
On the early morning of the next day, Zhou Yaozu went to Monkey’s room to invite Ding Ning for breakfast. Ding Ning shared the room with Monkey in order to prevent accidents.
In the early hours of the morning, Monkey once woke up for a short time and had a brief talk with Ding Ning. But because the functions of his body had not returned to normal and were extremely weak, after a few words, he fell asleep.
Ding Ning used True Qi again to heal his body to speed up his recovery. After all, there were still many things to do in Ninghai.
Although he stayed up for the whole night, Ding Ning cultivated for two hours. Therefore when he got up, he had a good spirit without a simple sign of tiredness.
But Xiao Nuo didn’t sleep well all night. When she went out, she yawned a lot with two dark circles, which made Ding Ning quite worried.
It was a pity that Xiao Nuo clearly wanted to make a clean break with him. Other than necessary conversations, she turned a blind eye to him with a rigid expression the rest of the time. Now she was an icy beauty like always.
“Doctor Han, Doctor Ding, Captain Xiao, the condition here is poor. Let’s have some breakfast in the cafeteria. I asked the cook of the cafeteria to make us some special rice noodles in Diannan.”
Zhou Yaozu said with a hospitable voice.
“Well, there are a lot of rice noodle restaurants in Ninghai, but I have never eaten the authentic ones. I have to taste them today.”
Obviously, Han Xi was also a foodie. When he heard about the rice noodles, his mouth started to water.
“Yeah, I haven’t eaten the authentic Diannan rice noodles for many years. I will eat until I get full today.”
Ding Ning showed a nostalgic look and said with a smile.
Xiao Nuo didn’t express any opinion or objection or much expectation. The two young soldiers who followed Zhou Yaozu at the behind and took a peep at her felt quite disappointed.
They had breakfast with pleasant conversations and appreciation. Zhou Yaozu was like an eager student keeping a humble attitude. He brought out all medical problems that he considered difficult and consulted Han Xi and Ding Ning.
At this time, Han Xi showed his profound medical skills and answered most of the questions by Zhou Yaozu in a satisfactory way.
Ding Ning seldom interrupted. Only when there came a few questions that Han Xi couldn’t answer would he gave answers, of each was concise and comprehensive to the point.
Han Xi and Zhou Yaozu all felt enlightened and clapped to praise. They admired him so much as if they were beholding a high mountain with awe.
Ding Ning took a sneaky glance at Xiao Nuo, who just minded eating but nothing else. He smiled bitterly and stopped showing off. After eating three bowls of Diannan rice noodles, he rubbed at his slightly raised belly and looked happy. “It is still the taste of hometown. I am full.”
Zhou Yaozu’s eyes lit up and said, “Doctor Ding’s family is also in Weinan?”
“Yeah, I am from Luochuan Town.” Ding Ning replied with a smile. He was very impressed with this straightforward and modest captain.
“Ah, Luochuan Town, I have been there once. It was a beautiful place surrounded by mountains and rivers with fantastic scenery. And now it was developed into a 5A-level tourist attraction by the country. What a good place it is.”
Zhou Yaozu was very generous to give his praise, “How long have you been away from home? Don’t you plan to go home this time?”
“Five years. I haven’t gone back since I went to Ninghai University. I am on a tight schedule this now, so I am not going back.”
Ding Ning replied casually but unconsciously revealed a sorrowful expression. Although he was homesick, he didn’t want to go back to a home without his dad and the masters.
“It’s only a few hundred kilometers away from here. It would be a pity not to go back and have a visit. I can report to the leader and ask them to send a car for you to visit home. It will just take a day to go and return. There would be time.”
Zhou Yaozu said very enthusiastically.
Xiao Nu looked at Ding Ning subconsciously with faint expectations in her eyes and seemed to be eager to see Ding Ning’s hometown.
Ding Ning waved his hand, “Forget it. We have more important things to do. I can go back later when I have a chance. Don’t bother the leader.”
Xiao Nuo bowed her head and continued to drink rice noodle soup with no expression.
Zhou Yaozu did not insist and asked in spirits, “Where do you want to go? I would love to be your tour guide. Heading south from here is Xishuangbanna. The scenery there is beautiful, and there are many customs of ethnic minorities worthing seeing. I am sure you will find it unforgettable.”
Han Xi’s eyes lit up and looked at Ding Ning smiling, “I haven’t been to Xishuangbanna, and maybe we should go see it together.”
Ding Ning shook his head, “You guys go, and I am a little tired. I am staying to have a rest.”
Han Xi felt a bit disappointed and turned to Xiao Nuo, “Do you want to go together, Captain Xiao?”
Xiao Nuo shook her head with her lips puckered, “You guys go, I didn’t sleep well, and I will take a nap soon.”
Han Xi looked at Ding Ning with a sneaky smile and said, “Well, I will not insist. You have a good rest. It was too much work yesterday.”
Xiao Nuo blushed unexplainably and wondered why his word was so ambiguous. She looked at Ding Ning and found that he also looked at her.
She turned her head rattled when they made eye contacts. Her heart started to beat faster again. She blamed herself in mind, “How could you be so obsessed since you have already decided to give up?”
Although Zhou Yaozu felt a bit upset that he couldn’t consult more from Ding Ning on medical problems, he didn’t insist considering that they were tired after coming back from the primeval forest yesterday and needed rest. Then he accompanied Han Xi and the others to go to Xishuangbanna for sightseeing.
After going back to Monkey’s room, there was nothing to say between the two avoiding to have eye contacts. The atmosphere was getting more and more awkward.
Although Xiao Nuo wanted to go back to her room and take a nap, for some reason, she couldn’t move her legs sitting on the sofa.
Suddenly, a pair of warm hands pressed on her temples. She subconsciously wanted to struggle, but the unquestionable voice of Ding Ning came through her ears, “Don’t move, I will help you soothe your nerves. You haven’t had a good rest for a few days. If you go on like this, you will get neurosis.”
Ding Ning’s voice seemed to contain a kind of magic power that made Xiao Nuo give up struggling subconsciously and bit her lower lip with an ungrateful look.
Soon, as Ding Ning massaged her, she felt a fresh breath running in her body, just like lying on the beach and bathing in the sun in the sea breeze, covered in warmth. Then her eyelids grew heavy and fell asleep sound before long with light snores.
Having not known how long, Xiao Nuo woke up from her sleep and found that it was already in the afternoon. She felt that she was full of energy, and all the tiredness was swept away.
Monkey was the only one who was still sleeping in the room. Ding Ning already left without a trace. There were three plates and a bowl of rice on the tea table, all of which were thoughtfully covered with empty bowls.
Xiao Nuo’s beautiful eyes were full of emotions. She silently opened the bowls, and there were three dishes—a dish of sweet and sour pork ribs, a dish of fried yam, and a dish of tomato egg soup.
She touched the plate with hands and found that the dishes were still warm. The color, aroma, and taste of the dishes all seemed so good that she felt a good appetite.
After sleeping, she already got quite hungry. Xiao Nuo didn’t hesitate, picked up the chopsticks and sandwiched a piece of the sweet and sour pork ribs.
After the first bite, Xiao Nuo lit up her eyes and said in mind, “Delicious, really delicious. I had never eaten such delicious sweet and sour pork ribs. I did not know the cook of the cafeteria has such good cooking skill.
Xiao Nuo didn’t restrain, gobbled to glut herself with delicacies, and ate up all the dishes like the autumn wind sweeping away the withered.
Because she started to take training among other soldiers brothers from a young age, Xiao Nuo didn’t have the effeminacy like ordinary girls. She took up the empty dishes and bowls and started bringing them back to the cafeteria wanting to say thanks to the cook.
The chef of the cafeteria was a chubby military cook. When he saw Xiao Nuo bring back the empty bowls, he smiled with his small eyes lined up as a seam,
“You didn’t need to bring the dishes back. Call me, and I will go collect them.”
“I don’t want to bother you, chef. What’s your name? Your cooking skills are not inferior to the five-star chef. The dishes were very delicious.”
Xiao Nuo finally smiled and expressed her gratitude to the chef.
“Well, I don’t deserve that. My surname is Pang. My cooking skills are a lot worse than Doctor Ding’s. These dishes were not made by me. Doctor Ding came and cooked for you by himself. I also learned some skills watching at the side. His cutting skills and cooking skills were perfect. Hey. My mouth even watered by just smelling the aroma of his cooking.”
Apparently, Chef Pang was very talkative. He said with his face full of admiration, “I am surprised that Doctor Ding has not only excellent medical skills but also excellent cooking skills. The girl who marries him will be really blessed…”
Xiao Nuo trembled, and she didn’t listen to what Chef Pang said last. Her ears were haunted by the word “Doctor Ding cooked for you by himself…”
“Why? Why is he so good to me? Does he feel that he is compensating out of guilt? Or can he not let me down either?”
Xiao Nuo’s heart was pounding. Although she had not yet thought about how to deal with the relationship between them, she felt a strong desire to see him.
Then she interrupted Chef Pang impolitely, “Chef Pang, do you know where he is now?”
“You mean Doctor Ding? Doctor Ding is not only an amazing cook but also a good doctor. I just heard that he went to the military hospital to treat the wounded soldiers. Do you know? I just heard that he is treating Wang Guoliang, a soldier who was earlier announced by the other doctors to take an amputation. I don’t know if that’s true or not. If Doctor Ding could really cure Wang Guoliang, that would be big news.”
