“Is the money enough? If not, I can go borrow more. Mo Dacheng’s illness can’t be delayed.”
Father Jiang said worriedly.
Although he looked down on Mo Dacheng, he was still his brother-in-law after all.
And since this matter was related to Jiang Ci, he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.
Mother Jiang had no time to pay attention to Father Jiang. After the initial shock, she frantically searched under the cabinet for her wooden box.
She seemed almost crazed, half her body leaning into the search.
It wasn’t there. It wasn’t there.
How could it not be there?
Mother Jiang was going insane—that was a whole box of small gold bars!
“What’s wrong?”
Father Jiang didn’t understand and pulled at Mother Jiang.
Mother Jiang immediately shook him off, her sharp voice piercing their ears, “Where is the wooden box under Jiang Zhan’s cabinet?”
“What wooden box?”
Father Jiang looked at the frantic Mother Jiang. “Can’t you speak properly? Do you have to shout and scream?”
“Speak properly my foot! Wanwan’s father left…”
Huh?
Mother Jiang had blurted out half a sentence in her panic, and Father Jiang immediately frowned. “What did you say?”
Fortunately, Mother Jiang hadn’t completely lost her mind.
A flicker of panic flashed in her eyes, and she quickly turned her head away, calming down as she said, “It’s nothing. I… I wanted to ask you where the scarf I put under the cabinet went.”
Father Jiang stared at Mother Jiang for a long moment before saying, “When did you buy a scarf?”
Listening to their conversation, Jiang Ci guessed that Mother Jiang must have discovered the wooden box was missing.
But Father Jiang didn’t seem to know about the box.
From this, it seemed the wooden box belonged to Mother Jiang.
But where did she get so many small gold bars?
Wait.
Just now, Mother Jiang had said, “Wanwan’s father.” But Mother Jiang always called Father Jiang “Old Jiang,” so that “Wanwan’s father” might not be referring to Father Jiang.
Hiss!
At this thought, Jiang Ci couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.
She didn’t dare think any further.
These things weren’t in the original book at all. How could her arrival have changed the plot?
Mother Jiang didn’t dare make a scene. After brushing off Father Jiang with a few words, she tucked the money away and hurriedly left.
She was probably rushing to give the money to Mo Dacheng.
After all, Mo Dacheng’s illness was strange—the hospital couldn’t figure it out, and even if he went to Jingdu Hospital, they might not be able to diagnose it either.
A slight smile curled at the corner of Jiang Ci’s lips. She was quite satisfied with her own handiwork.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Does Jiang Ci live here?”
Someone was knocking on the door again.
Father Jiang, who had just relaxed his brow, frowned once more.
Jiang Ci blinked innocently at Father Jiang.
Father Jiang had no choice but to go open the door.
“Hello, Chief Jiang. We’re from the Educated Youth Office. We received a report that your daughter, Jiang Ci, has been evading the national policy of going to the countryside and hasn’t gone down yet.
We’re here to check.”
The Educated Youth Office?
Jiang Ci’s heart sank.
She had just been thinking the plot had changed. Damn it! She was being naive.
What was coming had still come.
That damned male lead, Zhao Jianguo.
“A report? My Jiang Ci is a doctor at Nancheng Hospital. She has a formal job. Why would she go to the countryside?”
Father Jiang’s face darkened.
“Chief Jiang, from what we understand, your daughter Jiang Ci has been dismissed from Nancheng Hospital. She currently has no job and meets the conditions for going to the countryside.
As a cadre, we hope you’ll set an example for the people and encourage Comrade Jiang to actively participate in policy activities.”
The other party spoke with conviction.
Father Jiang was never good with words, and after hearing this, he was momentarily at a loss for what to say.
Jiang Ci walked over and smiled, “Hello comrades from the Youth Office, you’ve come a long way and must be tired. Please come inside, have a cup of tea, and we can talk slowly. It’s quite cold outside.”
“No need. You are Jiang Ci, right? We came to notify you. Please prepare yourself.”
The other party clearly came prepared, appearing completely unyielding.
“No need to prepare. I won’t go to the countryside.”
“What? You… don’t think you can disregard higher-level policies just because you’re a family member of a senior officer…”
The young man from the Youth Office couldn’t hold back. Hearing Jiang Ci say she wouldn’t go, he stiffened his neck and accused her.
Jiang Ci’s smile remained unchanged. She calmly took out a certificate from inside the house and handed it over. “Sorry, this is the certificate for the clinic I’m about to open. It’s already approved. So, I don’t meet the condition of having no job for going to the countryside.”
Hehe.
Luckily she was prepared beforehand, otherwise Zhao Jianguo would have succeeded.
This?
The people from the Youth Office were silenced, each looking displeased.
Father Jiang nodded approvingly at Jiang Ci. Young people really think fast! He had forgotten about this.
Immediately straightening his back, he said, “Go back and tell the bastard who reported our family that he didn’t succeed. If he’s brave enough, come again…”
“Dad.”
Jiang Ci tugged at Father Jiang. She couldn’t let Father Jiang make threats. If Zhao Jianguo really tried again, what would they do?
“Sorry comrades, maybe have a cup of tea before leaving?”
Hmph!
“No need. Since the conditions aren’t met, forget it.”
The Youth Office people left with dark faces.
Father Jiang said, “Little Ci, you really have foresight, arranging a backup plan for yourself early. Ah! I just don’t know which bastard reported you. Wait, I’ll find someone to investigate.”
Father Jiang acted immediately, taking his coat and hat and going out to find someone.
On the other side.
At the textile factory workers’ compound.
Jiang Wanwan, who was staying with her uncle’s family with Mother Jiang, exclaimed, “What? Jiang Ci has a clinic certificate? She’s going to open a clinic?”
The jealousy in her eyes was almost overflowing.
Zhao Jianguo nodded, his lips tightly pressed, also surprised that Jiang Ci had this move.
“Jianguo, forget it. Don’t trouble yourself over my matters. Since sister is opening a clinic, she’ll probably be busy and won’t bully me anymore. I should go back to live there.”
Jiang Wanwan squeezed out two tears to hide her inner jealousy.
“Wanwan, don’t worry. I won’t let those who bully you get away with it.”
“Jianguo, sister also has her difficulties. Let’s forget it.”
Jiang Wanwan leaned into Zhao Jianguo’s embrace, her tone full of reluctant compromise.
“Wanwan, don’t you believe me?”
“I do believe you, but she is still my sister.”
“This sister isn’t worth keeping.”
Jiang Wanwan smiled, her eyes full of venom where Zhao Jianguo couldn’t see.
“Jianguo, uncle is such a good person. How could sister harm him like that! This morning, Mom and aunt took uncle to Jingdu. I don’t know if he can be cured. I’m so worried about uncle.”
“It’s alright Wanwan, everything will get better. Commander Jin has already arranged things. In a few days, I’ll report to the military unit. Before I join the unit, I’ll first propose marriage at your home and also help you deal with those bullying you at home.”
“Jianguo, don’t work too hard. No matter if my dad agrees or not, I’ve decided on you for this lifetime.”
“Wanwan…”
Zhao Jianguo stared at the beautiful face so close, his throat tightened, and he suddenly pressed down.
The next day.
Jiang Ci went early to deliver water to Pei Jiran.
After handing the water bottle to Service Soldier Xiao Tian, she prepared to leave.
“Good morning, Doctor Jiang.”
“Huh?”
Jiang Ci looked up and met Pei Jiran’s unusually intense gaze within his calm eyes.
Xiao Tian chuckled and said, “Doctor Jiang, our Commander Pei woke up at five o’clock just to wait for you.
Last time, he even mentioned inviting you…”
“Xiao Tian.”
Pei Jiran hurriedly cut off Xiao Tian’s words, turning his gaze to meet Jiang Ci’s curious eyes, feeling his ears grow warm.
“Doctor Jiang, don’t listen to Xiao Tian’s nonsense. I… I had something to attend to today and left early, that’s why I woke up early.”
Ahem.
Yes, that’s exactly it.
“Haha, Commander Pei, no need to explain. I understand.”
Hehehe.
Pei Jiran: ?
What does she understand?