Jiang Wanwan listened to Mother Jiang’s scheme.
A flash of triumph crossed her eyes.
It wasn’t just her mother who disliked Jiang Ci—she hated Jiang Ci too.
Who asked her to steal their father’s affection away from her?
As long as she was gone, their father would surely treat her better.
Early the next morning.
As Jiang Ci opened her door, a figure lunged toward her.
Reacting swiftly, Jiang Ci executed a smooth turn and sidestepped, leaving Jiang Wanwan to stumble forward into empty air. Undeterred, Wanwan turned and lunged at Jiang Ci again.
Jiang Ci was dumbfounded.
Had the female lead gone mad?
Was she so determined to cause her own miscarriage and then pin the blame on her?
Jiang Ci couldn’t recall doing anything particularly heinous—why was she being punished like this?
She didn’t dare stay at home any longer. Without even stopping for breakfast, she dashed out the door.
From behind her, she heard Jiang Wanwan’s furious shout, “Jiang Ci, if you have any guts, don’t you dare come back!”
Fine, she wouldn’t.
As if she wanted to go back anyway!
Arriving at the hospital, she ran into Director Cai, who was cycling to work. “Xiao Jiang, wait… Have you thought about what I mentioned yesterday?
How about transferring to Internal Medicine? At least you’d still be working at the hospital—a secure job.”
“Director, actually, I’m thinking of leaving the hospital.”
“Why? I specifically saved this spot for you.”
Jiang Ci shook her head. “Thank you, Director, but I’m afraid I’ll have to let you down.”
She wanted to strike out on her own in Metaphysics, not stay at the hospital taking orders from others. More importantly, her medical skills were lacking, and it was only a matter of time before she was exposed.
“You silly girl, what am I going to do with you? Your medical skills are decent. If you don’t stay at the hospital, what do you plan to do?”
“I want to open my own clinic.”
What?
That was a bold idea.
In this era, all institutions were state-owned. For her to go independent—wasn’t that speculation and profiteering?
Director Cai grew anxious. “Have you lost your mind? Giving up a proper job to engage in speculation and profiteering? Do you know that could land you in the police station?”
In severe cases, it might even lead to execution.
“Don’t worry, Director. I won’t do anything illegal or engage in speculation.”
Although private clinics were rare in this era, they weren’t entirely nonexistent.
Some individual practitioners, especially in traditional Chinese medicine, such as barefoot doctors or small private clinics, did exist, though they were small in scale and not widespread.
Most medical institutions were public, and resources were prioritized for public healthcare.
If she wanted to open a traditional Chinese medicine clinic, she would first need to establish connections with the hospital and obtain resources through proper channels.
Jiang Ci’s idea sounded good, but she hadn’t put it into practice yet and wasn’t sure if it was feasible.
She would need to discuss it with the hospital director.
“Well, that’s good. If you’ve made up your mind and need any help, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Really? Thank you so much, Director. Actually, I need your help right now.”
Jiang Ci certainly didn’t stand on ceremony.
Director Cai’s lips twitched. He had only been making polite conversation, but she had taken him seriously.
Still, he couldn’t go back on his word. “Go ahead and tell me. But let me make it clear—my abilities are limited, and I can’t help with everything.”
“I understand, Director. Don’t worry, this is something you can help with. I’d like you to speak to the hospital director on my behalf about opening a clinic. I hope to establish a connection with the hospital in the future.
To obtain resources through the hospital.”
Director Cai looked at Jiang Ci in surprise. He hadn’t expected this young woman to have such ambition. It seemed she wasn’t just talking about opening a clinic—she meant it.
She’s really going to do it!
However, “I can mention it to the director, but I can’t guarantee he’ll agree. You know how tight medical resources are in our country, with supplies being scarce.
The director is very likely to refuse.”
Director Cai didn’t dare make any promises, as this was no small matter.
Entering the hospital.
Suddenly, a shout came from behind: “Doctor, where’s the doctor? Call a doctor quickly…”
Jiang Ci turned to look.
She saw a group of people carrying a man, rushing frantically into the hospital.
Following closely behind was an elderly man in military uniform, his face filled with anxiety.
Director Cai: ?
Jiang Ci: ?
What’s going on?
Before they could react, the director hurried over.
He was very respectful toward the elderly man in uniform. “Commander, what brings you here?”
“Director Wang, you came just in time. That comrade just saved my life. You must do everything you can to treat him.”
“Yes, yes, yes. Rest assured, Commander. I’ll have the best doctors in our hospital treat him.
Please wait a moment, Commander.”
“Alright, hurry, hurry.”
The commander anxiously urged Director Wang to make arrangements.
“Director Cai, and you, Doctor Jiang, come with me…”
Jiang Ci, who had been watching the commotion, was called out and froze in surprise.
“Let’s go! What are you spacing out for?”
Director Cai nudged Jiang Ci, who then followed Director Wang.
In less than ten minutes, all the key doctors in the hospital had gathered in the examination room.
But they were all Western medicine doctors; only Jiang Ci and Director Cai were from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department.
As expected, during the treatment, Director Cai and Jiang Ci were pushed aside by doctors from other departments and ended up at the doorway.
The two of them could only crane their necks, peering inside longingly.
“Director, since this has nothing to do with us, why did the director call us over? Just to make up the numbers?”
“Don’t talk nonsense.” Director Cai shot Jiang Ci a glare. “Maybe it’s to show how seriously we take the injured!”
Huh?
This?
Isn’t this pretty much the same as making up the numbers?
“Director, let’s arrange for surgery!”
Director Wang replied, “The location of the injury is too tricky. If we’re not careful, it could…”
“But the bullet has to be removed.”
Director Wang said, “It definitely needs to be removed, but how do we do it without damaging the patient’s root?”
Damaging the root?
Jiang Ci turned to Director Cai and whispered, “Where is the patient injured?”
“You, a single woman, shouldn’t ask about such things. Isn’t it embarrassing?”
With Director Cai’s remark, Jiang Ci’s earlier speculation was instantly confirmed.
The patient was injured in his family jewels.
His family jewels!
This was no joke.
Wait!
Injured in the family jewels? Could the patient be the male lead, Zhao Jianguo!
“Director Cai, come take a look. Do you have any good suggestions?”
Director Wang called for Director Cai.
Director Cai gave Jiang Ci a look to follow and approached the patient.
Jiang Ci followed closely and glanced at the patient’s face.
Hmm!
He was quite handsome, with upturned eyes, a straight nose, thin lips pressed tightly together, and faint frown lines between his brows.
This person had a domineering, cold, and ruthless temperament.
It was definitely the male lead.
He had been shot in the lower abdomen, just four inches away from his family jewels.
Why didn’t the bullet just finish him off?
Jiang Ci stroked her chin, lost in thought, when suddenly her view was blocked by Director Cai, who stood in front of her.
He glanced back at her with a meaningful look.
Then he said to Director Liu, “Removing the bullet is a surgical procedure. We in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department can’t really help, right, Xiao Jiang?”
Jiang Ci said, “Yes, we don’t have any good solutions. We still need you surgeons to perform the operation.”
Do it! Do it!
Cut off his family line with one slice, and best if all its proper functions are lost.
Director Wang glanced at Director Cai and waved him off, letting him take Jiang Ci away.
As they left, the commander was still waiting outside.
Jiang Ci faintly recalled that the book mentioned the male lead had originally gone to the countryside, where by chance he saved the commander from an assassination attempt by enemy spies.
He took a fatal bullet for the commander.