Jiang Ci took the packet of herbal medicine.
Back home, she studied it repeatedly.
If the hospital’s medicine was ineffective, then even with extraordinary skills, she wouldn’t be able to cure patients.
Her clinic absolutely could not source medicinal herbs from Nancheng Hospital anymore.
Without access to Nancheng Hospital’s medical resources, how would her clinic operate? Was she supposed to personally gather and process the herbs herself?
That was too much to ask—opening a clinic and having to gather and process herbs herself.
No, she had to think of a solution.
Putting away the herbal medicine, she casually tossed it into her Space, then left the military dependents’ compound and headed toward Nancheng Hospital.
She arrived just at noon, and Director Cai had gone to the cafeteria for lunch.
Jiang Ci waited for an hour before finally seeing Director Cai.
Director Cai was quite surprised to see Jiang Ci at the hospital. “What is it? Did you not finish the procedures, or did you leave something behind?”
“Neither, Director. I have something to discuss with you.”
As she spoke, she rummaged in her crossbody bag, retrieved the packet of Chinese medicine from her Space, and placed it on the table in front of Director Cai.
“This is our hospital’s Chinese medicine. Please take a look.”
“Hmm! It’s Chinese medicine. What about it?”
Director Cai picked up the herbal medicine inside and examined it but found nothing amiss.
Jiang Ci: …
“Don’t you think there’s something off? The smell of this medicinal herb isn’t right.”
Jiang Ci didn’t believe that Director Cai, coming from a family of Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners, wouldn’t be able to detect it.
Sure enough, Director Cai put down the herbal medicine in his hand, looked up at Jiang Ci, and smiled faintly. “Xiao Jiang! Some things shouldn’t be spoken so bluntly, lest others overhear and misunderstand your intentions.
Since you’ve already left the hospital, don’t concern yourself with these matters anymore.”
Director Cai’s meaning was clear: he knew about the issue with the medicinal herbs, but he wouldn’t intervene and didn’t want Jiang Ci to either.
Jiang Ci didn’t want to get involved either, but if she were to open a clinic, how could she possibly source such medicine from the hospital?
“Director…”
“Alright, let’s go! I’ve taken the afternoon off. Take me to see how your clinic is coming along.”
Director Cai didn’t want to discuss it further.
He stood up, collected the herbal medicine from the table, handed it to Jiang Ci, and walked out first.
Jiang Ci: …
Sigh!
On the way, Jiang Ci rode Director Cai’s bicycle, pedaling toward her clinic with him seated behind.
Along the way, Director Cai spoke earnestly, “Over these turbulent years, many methods of processing medicinal herbs have been lost. Coupled with the recent rise of Western medicine suppressing the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, many skilled practitioners have switched careers.
This isn’t the hospital’s fault.”
It was the result of the current social situation, and Director Cai understood the underlying reasons well.
But Jiang Ci didn’t.
In this world from the book, she only knew about the male and female protagonists and had little understanding of the broader social context.
At that moment, Jiang Ci suddenly realized that the world in this book felt overly real, shifting her from the role of a mere observer to sensing a touch of reality.
She didn’t say anything, silently pedaling with Director Cai until they reached the clinic’s location.
It had to be said, Auntie was truly Auntie. In just one day, the clinic had been renovated almost exactly as Jiang Ci had described.
She had even managed to acquire medicine cabinets, examination beds, tables, chairs, and benches.
Though they looked somewhat aged, they were all well-preserved, especially the Chinese medicine cabinet, which was actually made of high-quality nanmu wood.
Nanmu wood was moisture-proof and insect-resistant, making it the best material for crafting medicine cabinets, and it wasn’t cheap.
Who would have thought Auntie had managed to get her such a treasure?
This?
Jiang Ci was deeply shocked. “Auntie, these belongings must have cost a lot of money. Where did you get them?”
This auntie probably isn’t just an ordinary auntie!
“Ah! My maternal ancestors used to run a medical hall. A few years ago, during the movement, it was investigated, and my parents were sent to labor reform—they never came back.
Only some old items remained, which I hid away. They were just sitting there gathering dust, but since you’re opening a clinic,
I thought I’d bring them out, so you wouldn’t have to buy them.”
Auntie chuckled, her eyes wrinkled with deep nostalgia.
When looking at these belongings, she even shed a tear.
“Auntie,” Jiang Ci went over and hugged Auntie. “It’s over now. Everything will get better.”
“Ah! When you get old, you start reminiscing about the past.” Auntie wiped the tears from her eyes.
She smiled again. “So, Comrade Jiang, are you satisfied?”
“Satisfied! Very satisfied! But this… this is too precious. I can’t use it for free. I have to give you…”
Jiang Ci released Auntie and reached into her cross-body cloth bag, preparing to take out some money.
But Auntie pressed her hand down and said, “Alright, don’t be polite with me, old lady. Consider these belongings as rented to you, five yuan a month.”
This?
Auntie is too kind.
Jiang Ci was moved.
Director Cai patted Jiang Ci’s shoulder. “Little Jiang! Just accept her heartfelt gesture!
Good! This clinic is quite well done!”
Director Cai walked around inside and nodded repeatedly—it was indeed well done.
Jiang Ci was also very satisfied, though she felt Auntie had worked hard. “By the way, Auntie, you said your ancestors ran a medical hall, so your family must know how to process medicinal materials, right?”
“We do, but my brother… after going to the countryside, he stayed there. His skill in processing medicinal materials might have been lost long ago.”
Speaking of this, Auntie looked wistful. “Life in the countryside is tough. Every day, you exhaust all your energy just to get enough food—how can you have the mind to ponder skills?
A few years ago, when my brother came back, I…” Here, Auntie choked up, her eyes moist. “I didn’t even recognize him. When he left, he was full of vigor, but when he returned, he was already old and frail.
So old and thin… his children were all emaciated, starving. It broke my heart!”
Jiang Ci:…
“Sorry, Auntie…”
My awful mouth—why does it always make Auntie recall sad things?
I really deserve a beating.
Auntie sniffed and wiped away her tears. “Look at me, why am I telling you this?
Comrade Jiang, don’t take it to heart. I’m not crying poor to you. Over the past two years, I sold some belongings and sent some money to my brother—life has finally gotten a bit better.”
Auntie, afraid Jiang Ci might misunderstand, quickly explained further.
This made Jiang Ci feel rather uncomfortable.
She lingered at the clinic all afternoon.
When leaving with Director Cai, the sky was already somewhat dark.
Director Cai needed to return to the hospital, and Jiang Ci’s way home also passed by the hospital, so she drove Director Cai there.
But today, Jiang Ci was a bit unlucky—she hadn’t calculated her fortune before leaving.
She unluckily encountered Mother Jiang picking up Jiang Wanwan from the hospital, accompanied by Zhao Jianguo, who constantly emitted a cold aura.
Who knows how the male and female protagonists reconciled, but currently, they seemed quite harmonious.
“Jiang Ci, stop right there…”
After sending Director Cai into the hospital, Jiang Ci tried to pretend she hadn’t seen Mother Jiang, but she was called out by Mother Jiang, who was wrapped in a thick scarf.
“You little ungrateful wretch, how could you take care of Wanwan like this? You didn’t even know she was being discharged from the hospital today. What use are you anyway?”
“Get over here right now and apologize to Wanwan.”
Jiang Ci was speechless. “Mother, you’ve got it all wrong! Why should I take care of her? Does she not have hands or feet of her own?”
“Pah!”
“Mom, forget it. I know my sister has never liked me. Don’t make things difficult for her.”
With Zhao Jianguo present, Jiang Wanwan put on an act of being delicate and gentle, understanding and considerate.
“Wanwan, you’re just too kind. Shouldn’t she, as the older sister, take care of you?”
“Jianguo, you have no idea. Our Wanwan really wanted to keep this child. It was all because Jiang Ci went around ruining Wanwan’s reputation, forcing her to have the abortion surgery…”
Damn!
Mother Jiang, that old hag, really knows how to twist the truth.