278 Chicken Broth Jelly (2/2)

He Zhong was reluctant to admit it though. He snorted a few times and said, ”Everyone who has participated in the revolution knows that those with even the slightest injury shouldn't participate in battles. My daughter's just finicky.”

The coach could only chuckle apologetically. He could not tell He Zhong the hardships that 176-pound He Xiufang had to endure throughout the recuperation process and how difficult it was for her to start practicing again over the last few months.

The next day...

He Xiufang and the others headed to the Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center for an examination.

He Xiufang was specifically asked to undergo a series of follow-up examinations.

The leaders of the track and field team watched the scene happily with relieved expressions on their faces. Nowadays, the city track and field team received relatively sufficient funding, and they could choose to use those funds to their liking. They were willing to pay for such physical examinations with specific goals and treatments as well as proven effects.

Ling Ran only showed up in the afternoon. He took the examination report and read it carefully.

”According to your recent report, your Achilles tendon has recovered completely.” Ling Ran glanced at He Xiufang and said, ”How do you feel right now?”

”Amazing. My body's filled with so much strength that I can't finish using it.” He Xiufang tried to show how strong her 176-pound body was.

Ling Ran pursed his mouth. That was not what he meant. However, it did not matter in the grand scheme of things.

Ling Ran then carried out a physical examination on He Xiufang while he was at it, and the follow-up examination was completed.

Nonetheless, He Xiufang's condition was as clear as day even before the follow-up examination. Her Achilles tendon was not completely ruptured, and there were no more problems because it healed after it was sutured. If the healing process had not gone well, she would not have been able to get a medal. The reason being that an Achilles tendon that was sutured in a problematic manner would not even be able to withstand high-intensity training, let alone allow the person to participate in a competition so soon.

Ji Tianlu also took the scans and looked at them out of curiosity after Ling Ran was done with the physical examination.

He was an actual orthopedist and one of the most skilled surgeons in the country when it came to joint replacement. However, he was extremely astonished as he looked at the scans right then.

”It has truly recovered completely.” Ji Tianlu clicked his tongue in bewilderment. It had only been three or four months, and if the surgery had been carried out by someone with ordinary skills, he did not even know if the patient would have been able to start training yet.

The leaders of the track and field team held more trust in Chief Physician Ji Tianlu's words. When they heard Ji Tianlu's verdict, they became very happy. ”It's great that she's fine now. Now that the veteran has returned, we have another great fighter again!”

In the city's track and field team, members who could win medals in national competitions were already considered first-string members. Not only would they not be laid off, they would be entrusted with a lot of important responsibilities. Of course, if second-string members were unable to prove themselves, they would have no choice but to leave the team when they reached a certain age. There was no right or wrong in the matter.

When He Zhong saw that everyone was in a joyous mood, he whipped out a stack of aluminium lunch boxes from his backpack and said with a smile, ”Leaders and doctors, I'm He Xiufang's father. I made our local specialty for all of you to try when I came over this time. It's to thank all of you for taking care of my daughter all these years and for treating my daughter's injury…”

As he spoke, he took out a thermos and said, ”There are pieces of jelly in the lunch boxes, and there's some chicken broth in this thermos. Chicken broth jelly is our local specialty…”`

He Xiufang was in a joyous mood when her father suddenly pulled that stunt. It was not appropriate for her to stop him or say anything, and for a moment, He Xiufang was extremely panicked.

However, it was not the first time the leaders of the track and field team had encountered something like that. The associate director who had the highest position among all the leaders suddenly smiled and said, ”He Xiufang's father brought us their local specialty from so far away. How could we not give it a try? He Xiufang, sit down and have some too. Everyone, come over and have some, doctors included. It's good to replenish your energy. It'll allow you to perform even better. Let's eat and drink before we continue with the examination. Oh, by the way, we can eat in the office, right?”

The treatment room was obviously not an appropriate place for people to eat. But in that situation, unless Ji Tianlu had become stupid because his head was hit by a tendon, he definitely would not follow the rules.

”Hey, you-what'syourname, bring some chairs over and get some bowls as well as chopsticks from the canteen on the surgical floor.” Ji Tianlu did not remember the names of most of the resident doctors. He simply pointed at one of them and ordered the person.

The resident doctor quickly left to do as he was told.

”I've brought a lot of lunch boxes,” He Zhong shouted at the resident doctor who ran out of the treatment room. He then opened some of the lunch boxes and showed everyone the chicken broth jelly he made.

Ling Ran sat beside He Zhong too and looked at the contents of the lunch box curiously.

There was a green jelly. which had been cut into four, in one of the lunch boxes. He Zhong took out one of the pieces and placed it inside an empty lunch box before he opened the thermos and poured the still-boiling-hot chicken broth into the lunch box. He then added some spices, and the dish was ready to serve.

All of them did not say much. They each took a piece and ate in silence.

He Xiufang got the last piece. The green jelly was a little cracked, and when she placed it in her mouth, it had a glutinous texture. However, it was refreshing.

Without realizing, He Xiufang started crying. Tears rolled out of her eyes into the chicken broth, which was already a little cold.

Translator's notes:

”Green train” is a nickname for old-style trains that went out of service in China in July, 2012.

One of the most prominent figures in the Chinese history, as a founder of Neo-Confucianism and a great statesman, philosopher, writer, educator, military strategist, and philanthropist.

In ancient China, the poor leave their porridge out to harden before cutting them into pieces and eating them with salted vegetables. It is a metaphor for poverty.