Military Family Compound.
Mother Jiang wasn’t home—who knew if she had really gone back to her maiden home to reflect on her mistakes.
Father Jiang hadn’t returned yet either.
The entire house was empty except for Jiang Ci, which made it the perfect time to do something good.
She only had two hundred yuan in her Space. If she opened a clinic, aside from rent, there were expenses everywhere.
Was it too much for her to take back the wages she had earned over the past few years?
With that thought, Jiang Ci headed to Father Jiang and Mother Jiang’s room.
According to the original owner’s memory, Mother Jiang liked to hide money under the cabinet.
She opened the large wardrobe and reached underneath it. In the innermost corner, she indeed felt a rectangular wooden box.
She carefully pulled it out.
It was quite heavy—looked like it contained quite a bit of money.
The only problem was that the wooden box was locked with a small, delicate copper lock.
Seriously?
As expected, cannon fodder was cannon fodder—even taking back what rightfully belonged to her was fraught with difficulties.
“Old Jiang! If your wife makes a mistake, just teach her properly. You’ve been married for so long—driving her back to her maiden home really isn’t the way to go.”
Suddenly, the Political Commissar’s voice came from outside the door, followed by Father Jiang’s voice, “I know all that, but what she did to Xiao Ci was just too much.
If I didn’t do this, how could I face Xiao Ci? Wouldn’t that just make the child feel heartbroken?”
As the two of them talked, their voices grew closer.
This was Jiang Ci’s first time doing something like a thief, and her heart tightened. She casually tossed the wooden box into her Space.
Then she hurriedly slipped out of Father Jiang and Mother Jiang’s room.
“Dad, you’re back!”
At the door, the Political Commissar was about to say something else when he heard Jiang Ci’s voice. He opened his mouth, glanced at Jiang Ci, and then closed it again.
“Hello, Uncle Political Commissar.”
“Oh, hello, Xiao Ci! You’re back! Well, it’s getting late. Old Jiang, I’ll head back now.”
The Political Commissar patted Father Jiang on the shoulder and turned to walk toward the direction of his own small building.
Father Jiang watched the Political Commissar leave before turning his gaze back to Jiang Ci.
He sighed and said, “You had a tough day today.”
“It’s fine!”
Jiang Ci smiled slightly.
Father Jiang felt a mix of emotions and changed the subject. “By the way, the matter of you opening a clinic is settled.”
“Really? Thank you, Dad.”
Haha!
Finally, some good news today.
Now, let’s see what excuse Zhao Jianguo could come up with to scheme her into going to the countryside.
In the book, Zhao Jianguo got rid of the original owner’s job and brought relevant authorities to the house to pressure her.
The reason was that as a cadre’s family member, she should go to the countryside to temper her will and set a good example for the people.
Father Jiang was a cadre and couldn’t bend the rules—he had to lead by example.
So the original owner had no choice but to go to the countryside.
But now that Jiang Ci was here, let’s see who could outplay whom.
“Hahaha! No need to thank your dad.” Father Jiang laughed heartily.
A moment later, he added, “Xiao Ci, take some time off tomorrow afternoon. Dad will take you to meet Ji Ran. If neither of you has any objections, we’ll finalize the marriage.
Make sure to tidy yourself up and look your best, okay?”
Ah!
So soon!
Jiang Ci wasn’t prepared at all.
“Oh, okay, Dad. I understand.”
Early the next morning.
Jiang Ci went to the hospital early.
Something felt off at the hospital today!
From the moment she entered, everyone was looking at her strangely, especially in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department. Some looked at her with schadenfreude, while others wore worried expressions.
“What’s going on?”
Jiang Ci asked, puzzled.
But no one answered her. Instead, they all kept their distance.
Jiang Ci: ?
What’s happening?
“Director, what’s going on? Everyone is looking at me strangely.”
Director Cai shot her a glare. “When do they ever look at you normally?”
Jiang Ci: ?
Is that so?
“Director, you really know how to put things.”
“Here, take a look for yourself. The notice has come down from above—this is the list of personnel reductions in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, and you’re ranked first.”
Director Cai’s brows were furrowed with worry.
Jiang Ci’s heart sank. “Director, wasn’t it supposed to come down at the end of the month?”
Why did it come so quickly? It’s only the first ten days of winter, still twenty days away from the end of the month!
“I’m not sure. Take a look yourself!”
He needed to go out for a cigarette.
To calm himself down.
Jiang Ci opened the list and immediately saw her name at the very top.
For some reason, looking at the ranking, Jiang Ci instantly thought of Zhao Jianguo.
In the original book, even after the original host was transferred to the surgical department, her name was still on the list. It was later revealed in the book that Zhao Jianguo had pressured Chief Jin to exert influence on the higher-ups.
This was likely the case here too.
Thinking back to her conversation with the male lead yesterday, Jiang Ci was certain he was behind it.
Fortunately, Father Jiang had helped her secure the clinic license, so she wouldn’t end up unemployed and forced to go to the countryside.
But she couldn’t swallow this injustice.
Immediately, she put down the list and headed to Jiang Wanwan’s ward.
Just as she reached the door, Jiang Ci caught a glimpse of Zhao Jianguo standing by the hospital bed through the slightly ajar door.
Jiang Wanwan had her back to him, wiping away tears and sobbing softly. “Do you think I wanted to abort our child? I had no choice. You left without a word, without telling me. What was I supposed to do?”
“Wanwan.”
Zhao Jianguo’s voice carried a hint of heartache, but he couldn’t forget what she had said to Jiang Ci on the day of the abortion.
“Do you want me to suffer in the countryside? Is he even worthy…”
These were Jiang Wanwan’s own words to Jiang Ci.
He had heard them, and they had stuck in his heart like a thorn, making him deeply uncomfortable.
“Wanwan, do you know why I was able to return to the city?”
“How would I know if you don’t tell me?” Jiang Wanwan replied petulantly, refusing to look at Zhao Jianguo.
Zhao Jianguo’s voice turned cold. “I saved a chief named Jin…”
What?
Jiang Wanwan suddenly remembered what her mother had said—Chief Jin wanted to adopt his lifesaver as a godson and help him join the military unit.
His future would be limitless.
The more she thought about it, the brighter her eyes became. “Jianguo, you… you really saved Chief Jin? Then we… we can be together, can’t we?”
Facing Jiang Wanwan’s suddenly joyful smile, Zhao Jianguo recalled Jiang Ci’s words from yesterday—that Jiang Wanwan had aborted the child to marry someone else.
Instantly, his lips tightened, and his eyes filled with conflict as he looked at Jiang Wanwan.
“Be together? Ha! Jiang Wanwan, do you truly love me?”
If she did, how could she have been so heartless as to abort their child just to marry someone else?
“Jianguo, what are you saying? How dare you question my feelings for you? Have you forgotten how I fought with my parents to be with you? How could you say something so hurtful?”
Jiang Wanwan’s tears fell instantly, her face streaked with sorrow, a pitiful sight.
Zhao Jianguo’s heart softened.
He reached out and pulled her into his arms, his voice low. “But Wanwan, to save that person, I’ve… I’ve lost my ability to have children. Will you look down on me…”
What?
Jiang Wanwan pushed Zhao Jianguo away in shock.
What?
Zhao Jianguo stared incredulously at Jiang Wanwan, emotions swirling uncontrollably in his eyes as he clenched his fists.