Vol.2 Chap.35 A true and understanding friend in atrocities
After what seemed like an eternity, there was a gentle knock on the door.
“May-Ling?”
“Please come in, Doctor Wu.”
Quietly, he came in and stood silently by her side.
“If you are ready, why don’t we go back to my office? We can sit down and talk there.”
She nodded her head.
As he gently held her arm, she said, “Thank you. I think I can walk by myself. I am OK.”
He opened the door for her as they were walking out. Back at the office, he motioned for her to sit down. After asking his assistant to pour some tea, he pulled up a chair next to her.
“The first thing we need to do is to take care of the funeral arrangements. I have taken the liberty to contact Haw-Ting’s parents and they will arrive later today. There is a small funeral home close to here. They have a good relationship with the hospital. I suggest we have a small memorial service there…”
May-Ling held up her hand.
“Thank you, Doctor Wu. Thank you very much indeed for contacting Haw-Ting’s parents for me. You are too kind. Regarding the funeral arrangement, I would prefer a funeral procession for Haw-Ting in Xilon. Tomorrow morning, I will go to the Temple of Heaven there, seek the blessings of the head monk, as well as inquire about a funeral march carrying his body from the temple to our home, then to the clinic, and then up the temple to be buried there.”
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“That is fine. I will have my assistant make the arrangements for the funeral musicians. We can have the funeral march tomorrow afternoon if it is acceptable to you?”
“Yes. Thank you so much for your kindness.”
“It is no trouble at all. Please wait a few minutes while I give some instructions to my assistant.”
“Of course.”
He went out and uttered some instructions to his assistant. After a few minutes, he came back and poured another cup of tea for her.
“Since the incident, I have spoken to the hospital administration, and we have sent two doctors to the clinic to take care of the patients during the past week.”
“Oh, thank you. Doctor Wu. That meant so much to me that our patients are taken care of.”
“If you have a minute, I would like to talk to you some more about the clinic.”
“I am fine. Please go ahead.”
“I have done a lot of thinking about your clinic and have spoken to the hospital administration on several occasions. With your permission, I would like to suggest that the hospital incorporates the clinic as an extension of our hospital services. We have yet to work out the details, of course. But I thought we would keep the existing staff and maybe expand the operation slightly with more doctors and orderlies. We will, of course, pay you the usual salary. This way, the clinic will remain in operation and all your staff will be taken care of as well.”
“Your proposal is too good. You are too kind, Doctor Wu.”
“It is the least that I can do.”
“I like to think about this for a day and consult my staff also. This should be their decision as well. Perhaps we will talk more about this tomorrow?”
“Take your time.”
There was a knock at the door. The assistant came in and whispered to Doctor Wu that the musicians have been hired for the funeral march tomorrow afternoon.
“Is there anything else you want me to do right now?” Doctor Wu turned to her.
“No, thank you. You have done more than enough. I like to go home and rest up a little.”
“Of course. Let me walk you to the door and get a taxi for you.”
“I am fine.”
“It’s my pleasure. Come.”
They walked quietly to the front entrance of the Medical School and Doctor Wu got a taxi for her.