Chapter 40: The Secret of Boss Ma Hui

"I know," Ma Hui began, "you have all likely been curious: my ex-husband had wealth and a successful career, and we had such a grown daughter, so why was I so insistent on a divorce?"

"Let me state first: it was absolutely not because of an affair. He was incredibly busy—too busy to spend even a moment caring for his family. After all, keeping a mistress requires time and energy, not just money. On that point, I can vouch for him; it definitely didn't happen."

"Of course, it’s not that I resented him for neglecting the family. In fact, I admire men with drive. A man should prioritize his career; that was the main reason I chose to marry him in the first place."

"There is also the matter of Xiao Jing. I know Old Huang has always harbored some resentment over my decision to hire him. I understand that Old Huang’s motives weren't selfish; he simply felt that Xiao Jing was fresh out of school with no clinical experience. Mingde Hall has been operating at a loss, and he thought there was no need to rush into supporting someone who might be dead weight."

"On that note, I must commend Old Huang. Regardless of anything else, he was acting in the best interest of Mingde Hall—or rather, looking out for me, the clinic owner."

"But at the time, Old Huang didn't know what I truly wanted. I don't lack money; I don't care about losing a little more. After the divorce, my ex-husband gave me a large sum of money. Even if the clinic didn't make a single cent, that money would be enough to keep Mingde Hall running for a hundred years."

"So, the question remains: if that’s the case, why was I so determined to open this Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic?"

"Yes, Big Sister, why was that?" This time, it was Wang Sen who picked up the thread.

"In truth, it was all because of one person," Ma Hui said, her tone suddenly heavy.

"Who?" Wang Sen couldn't help but ask.

"My younger brother," Ma Hui said, enunciating every word.

"Your brother? But didn't you just say earlier that you have no one left in your birth family?" Wang Sen asked in surprise.

"They are gone. My brother passed away shortly before my divorce. It was because of him that I made the resolute decision to leave my ex-husband."

"And why is that?" Wang Sen’s curiosity, long suppressed by Zhang Jing’s presence, ignited, turning him into a fountain of questions.

"Because my brother fell gravely ill with terminal stomach cancer. The Western medicine experts said there was no hope for a cure. I wanted him to try Traditional Chinese Medicine—at least it might have extended his life a little and been less painful."

"But my brother used to entertain clients with my ex-husband at the company; they were closer than he and I were. So, when my ex-husband suggested surgery and chemotherapy, he agreed without a second thought. No matter how hard I tried to persuade him, it was in vain."

"In the end, we faced the worst possible outcome. After the surgery and several rounds of chemotherapy, he was gone in less than half a year. And in his final days, he couldn't even keep down a sip of water, let alone food."

As she spoke, Ma Hui’s eyes turned red, and tears welled up. Gui Cui quickly stepped forward and handed her some tissues. Ma Hui took them, murmuring a choked "thank you."

Before the meeting, no one had expected things to turn out this way—including Ma Hui herself. The atmosphere in the office grew increasingly heavy, and Gui Cui couldn't help but sob quietly.

***

After a moment, Ma Hui suddenly brightened. "Although my brother is gone, perhaps heaven wanted to comfort me by bringing Xiao Jing into my life. You have no idea how much they look alike—it’s as if they were cast from the same mold."

As she spoke, she opened her phone, pulled up a photo of her brother, and passed it around.

"That’s why, when Xiao Jing came for his interview, I was incredibly surprised. It wasn't just his dedication to TCM, but that he looked so much like my brother. So, I hired him without a second thought."

By now, everyone present had seen the photo. Truth be told, all four, including Zhang Jing himself, felt they didn't look that much alike; if anything, there was only a slight resemblance in the brows. Of course, everyone was tactful enough not to say so and risk hurting Ma Hui further.

Except for Zhang Jing, the other three nodded in succession.

"Looks like him, really does."
"Yes, quite similar."
"I think so too."

When it was Zhang Jing’s turn, he said, "So, is that why you especially like for everyone to call you 'Big Sister'?"

Ma Hui nodded vigorously. "Especially you! Every time you call me 'Big Sister,' it makes me feel so warm inside."

*Oh!* So that was it! Many of the group's previous questions were answered in that moment.

"You see, most things can be resolved if we just talk them out and avoid unnecessary misunderstandings," Ma Hui said, sensing the time was right to conclude the meeting.

"From today on, I hope we can all be honest with each other. If there is any conflict, come to me. We will sit down and talk face-to-face. I firmly believe there is nothing that cannot be solved with a hot pot meal. If there is, then we’ll have two!"

Everyone had been listening intently to the boss’s lecture, but what was that last part? Was she joking, or was she serious? Before they could figure it out, Ma Hui revealed the punchline with a grin.

"I’m serious. I’ve taken up a lot of your time with this emergency meeting. It’s well past closing time, so let’s head to a nearby hot pot restaurant and have a feast. It’s on me—think of it as a team dinner where we can keep chatting while we eat."

***

Gui Cui, the little foodie, perked up immediately. She raised her hand excitedly, "Big Sister, I found this hot pot place a few days ago called 'Xiang Tianxia.' The taste is incredible, though it’s a bit far from our clinic."

"Distance doesn't matter as long as the taste is authentic. I have a car—it’s a bit small, but it should fit five of us if we squeeze. No objections, right? Old Huang, you go first."

Huang Biao hadn't really wanted to go, as he had been suffering from a cold and fever for the last two days and had no appetite. However, he couldn't refuse the boss’s invitation, so he feigned enthusiasm. "Sounds great. Xiang Tianxia is actually a brand from my hometown; the flavors are truly authentic."

Wang Sen then said, "I have no problem with it, but I’m not sure if Dr. Zhang is used to hot pot. In the dorms, I’ve noticed he eats very lightly."

Gui Cui quickly jumped in. "It’s fine! If Dr. Zhang doesn't like spicy food, we can get a split pot—spicy on one side, mushroom broth on the other. It’s the best of both worlds! Plus, the mushroom broth there is delicious on its own and very healthy."

Zhang Jing smiled slightly. "My stomach isn't that delicate. Having hot pot once in a while is fine. Besides, you might have forgotten—I’m from Zhanggong; there’s no way I can’t handle spicy food."

Seeing Zhang Jing crack a little joke, Wang Sen’s gossip instinct flared up again. He directed a double entendre at Gui Cui: "Xiao Cui, you heard him. A split pot might not be the perfect solution after all."

The others didn't quite catch the underlying meaning, but Gui Cui, being the one involved, understood instantly. She pretended to spit in his direction and said, "Dr. Wang, you talk too much!"

"Alright, alright! Since everyone is on board, let's get going!"

At Ma Hui’s command, the entire staff of Mingde Hall stood up and headed toward the exit. However, there was a small hiccup when it came to the seating. Ma Hui had intended for Gui Cui to sit in the front passenger seat so she wouldn't have to squeeze in with the men.

But Gui Cui insisted on giving that prime spot to the "highly respected" Director Huang Biao. It was a reason no one could argue with. Consequently, Gui Cui waited until everyone else was in the car, then happily sat right next to Zhang Jing for the entire ride.