Return to the City: The Strongest King
Chapter 403 - 404: You Are Not Worthy Yet

Chapter 403: Chapter 404: You Are Not Worthy Yet

About ten minutes later, Song Xiaodong and Miao Xuanxuan returned to where Miao Qingqing and the others were.

"It’s done already?" Miao Qingqing asked nervously.

Song Xiaodong cleared his throat and said, "For me, it was a minor issue that was taken care of quickly. It’s just that the area was a bit sensitive, which made it difficult to proceed."

Miao Xuanxuan pinched Song Xiaodong and said with a flush of embarrassment, "You stinker, brother-in-law, you said we wouldn’t talk about this again."

Miao Qingqing, seeing Miao Xuanxuan’s shy and awkward expression, immediately laughed and said, "You know, it’s just that I’m concerned about germs affecting your health. If he ever dared to bully you like this normally, I would definitely not let him off the hook."

Song Xiaodong gave a wry smile and said, "I knew it would be like this."

Miao Qingqing’s face broke into a smile again and said, "Okay, I was just joking. I didn’t mean to criticize you. As Xuanxuan’s brother-in-law, if you don’t take care of her health, who will?"

"That’s true," Song Xiaodong grinned.

Song Xiaoru’s mouth twitched slightly, feeling somewhat amused and helpless. She knew about Song Xiaodong and Miao Xuanxuan’s past relationship. Even though they had broken up, their current strange behavior suggested to her that they might still be entangled. It seemed she’d need to ask Song Xiaodong if he was still mixed up with Xuanxuan.

Xiao Yingying was chuckling silently to herself. She knew Song Xiaodong was just pretending, and of course, she dared not reveal this; she wouldn’t want to offend Miao Xuanxuan and risk her place in the family.

After playing a while longer, Song Xiaoru received a call from Second Auntie saying it was time for lunch. The meal included some local leaders, and Song Xiaodong was asked to entertain the guests as he held some status on his uncle’s side, unlike the others who were too ordinary to sit with the leaders.

Miao Xuanxuan and Xiao Yingying hadn’t had enough fun yet, and with plenty of snacks still in the tent, they weren’t hungry. Miao Qingqing hesitated momentarily and then decided to stay too. Even though the others were Song Xiaodong’s relatives, she didn’t enjoy such bustling occasions.

Song Xiaodong and Song Xiaoru, however, had to return. Song Xiaodong thought they would be back soon and asked the three to rest and eat something in the tent until he returned to join them for more fun.

The pair reached Second Uncle’s house, where many tables had already been set up in the courtyard, almost all filled. Song Xiaodong and Song Xiaoru were ushered into the house, where, in rural settings, an indoor invitation usually signified the guests’ high status.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is my nephew Song Xiaodong, a renowned doctor at City First Hospital," introduced Second Uncle as he led Song Xiaodong to a table with Song Deqing, Ding Yuelin, Song Yu, and a few middle-aged men who looked like leaders.

"Dongzi, all these gentlemen are local leaders. Make sure to keep them company," Second Uncle told Song Xiaodong.

At that moment, Song Yu huffed, "Just because he’s a doctor, he gets to dine with us?"

The comment was so abrupt that it took Second Uncle by surprise, who responded perturbedly, "Then... then who else is there to accompany them?"

Song Yu looked disdainfully at Song Xiaodong, "Second Uncle, everyone here is a leader from our township. A mere doctor has no right to be with us. Moreover, they are all our seniors. It’s only our family’s Yuelin who has the right qualifications. How can he, being a junior, have the right to dine with these leaders?"

Embarassed, Second Uncle said, "Dongzi, then... why not join the table in the west room?"

Song Xiaodong smiled lightly and said, "Alright." He couldn’t be bothered to argue with Song Yu and the others, especially since it was a celebration. Causing a scene would only make it difficult for Second Uncle’s family.

Ding Yuelin then said, "Song Yu, your cousin really won’t do. I’ll have to call their leadership. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll have to fire him to avoid future issues."

Song Yu giggled, "Yuelin, you’re right. We really need to inform their dean. Someone so lacking in consideration can’t be a good doctor; that’s a joke."

The other local leaders were a bit confused, but seeing Ding Yuelin’s pointed targeting of Song Xiaodong, one Deputy Township Chief called Sun Bing added, "That’s right. The most important quality for a doctor is medical ethics. Without ethics, he can’t be a good doctor. Given the intense doctor-patient conflicts these days, it’s surely doctors like him who tarnish the profession’s reputation. It’s better to fire him soon."

Hearing this, Song Xiaodong felt quite provoked. What kind of people were these?

Ding Yuelin was already taking out his phone and said, "Seeing that we’re relatives, I won’t make it too hard for you. Beg me now, and I might refrain from making this call, letting you keep your job at the hospital. If you really please me, I might even speak well of you to the dean and suggest a promotion."

Second Uncle looked quite distressed and said, "Deqing, if there’s any conflict between the young people, let’s discuss it over a drink. After all, we are relatives, and it’s not really appropriate like this."

Song Deqing sternly replied, "Listen, Second Brother, it’s not that I don’t want to respect you, but this youngster just offended Yuelin, who is a Ding family member. Offending him is like slapping the entire Ding family in the face. In our Tiannan City, ask around, who would dare disrespect the Ding family? Yuelin is already considering the familial ties; otherwise, he would have dealt with him directly. He’s now giving him a chance, and it’s already a favor considering our relationship. If he doesn’t realize his mistake, then it’s his own fault."

Seeing this, Second Uncle turned to Song Xiaodong, his own worries obvious, and suggested, "Dongzi, maybe we should just apologize."

Song Xiaodong patted Second Uncle’s shoulder and said, "Second Uncle, our old Song family might not be powerful, but we don’t need to live by others’ whims. Others might suck up to the Ding family, but in my eyes, he’s just a little flunky from the Ding family, not worth our concern."

"What? Who are you calling a little flunky?" Ding Yuelin slammed the table and stood up. Though not a core member of the Ding family, he was quite valued and always prided himself as a Ding.

"Who do you think?" Song Xiaodong said coolly, looking right at him.

"Alright! It seems you won’t cry until you see the coffin." Ding Yuelin pulled out his phone and said, "I’m calling City First Hospital right now. We’ll see if you can still hang around there."