Seagulls flew low, skimming the waves and gliding across the deep blue sea. The morning breeze carried a cool freshness as White Sand Island welcome a new day.
A loud, clear bugle echoed through the sky.
Jiang Li was bent over, carrying breakfast out of the small kitchen. Hearing the bugle, she looked through the four-pane window and saw a group of people running laps around the island in the distance.
She asked in confusion, “There are actually soldiers on White Sand Island?”
Jiang Jiayun got up early and had already changed into a new outfit—a trendy khaki shirt of the time. Originally, he wanted to save it for later, but today was Jiang Li’s first day working at the clinic, and his clothes were all patched. He didn’t want Jiang Li to be looked down upon because of him.
He placed the thick red-sweet-potato porridge on the table and also leaned toward the window to look.
“Dad said the location of White Sand Island is very important. Since ancient times, there have always been troops stationed here.”
“Gege, what is the army?” a soft, sweet voice came from the bed.
Jiang Xiaoman climbed up with hands and feet, her fine hair messy from sleep, a single strand sticking up from the crown of her head. She tilted her head, her big eyes still full of sleepy confusion.
Jiang Li walked over and picked her up, planting a kiss on her soft cheek.
“It’s the People’s Liberation Army. No matter what happens, they always put the people first. They protect civilians, defend the country, and never allow any foreign powers to invade or take it away.”
“Wow!” Xiaoman’s eyes lit up. “Sister, the soldiers of the PLA are amazing!”
“Yes.” Jiang Li patted her head. “So Xiaoman, if you ever encounter trouble in the future, you can look for the PLA soldiers.”
Xiaoman understood and nodded seriously. “Mm! I will!”
After washing up, the three siblings sat down for breakfast.
Today’s meal was prepared early by Jiang Jiayun. The soft sweet potato porridge was fragrant and sweet, with only a small amount of rice, but it was rich in flavor.
Jiang Li put down her bowl and looked worriedly at Xiaoman, who was eating eagerly.
“Jiang Jiayun, you must take good care of Xiaoman today. Don’t let her go anywhere dangerous.”
Jiang Jiayun almost instinctively wanted to argue back, but when he saw the white rice porridge in the pot, he muttered an “mm.”
“Xiaoman is also my sister. I will take good care of her.”
Only then did Jiang Li feel reassured.
Although Jiang Jiayun was young, he was careful and reliable.
Otherwise, she was really worried something like a butterfly effect might happen and take Xiaoman away.
After breakfast, Jiang Jiayun cleaned up, but Jiang Li was urged out the door.
“Leave the dishes for me. You can’t be late on your first day at the clinic.”
Jiang Li thought about it and agreed.
The three siblings first moved the boat house to the shore. Jiang Jiayun pulled the rope, Jiang Li helped Xiaoman onto land first, then stepped over herself, and finally Jiang Jiayun came across.
Just then, they encountered the training team running their second lap around the island. Jiang Li immediately noticed the leading man wearing a white shirt and military trousers, his brows sharp and stern as he looked back and barked:
“Keep up! Those behind, follow!”
A refined-looking young man at the back noticed Jiang Li and excitedly waved at her.
Jiang Li blinked, trying to recall—did she know him?
While running, Wen Mingyuan kept glancing back at her reluctantly. He quickly caught up to the leader and said:
“Jingchuan, did you see that? That was the comrade who helped Sister-in-law on the boat.”
“She’s so beautiful, like she walked out of a movie poster. So she lives here.”
The man called Cheng Jingchuan gave him a cold glance.
“Can’t you shut up even while running? Return to formation!”
Wen Mingyuan scratched his nose and went back, but the whole group still kept sneaking glances.
In the back rows, someone got so distracted while turning their head that he stepped on the heel of the person in front. The front soldier nearly cried out in pain but didn’t dare make a sound.
Wen Mingyuan glanced at the team leader.
Only Cheng Jingchuan was an exception—completely unmoved.
At White Sand Island Clinic, Director Zhong was pacing anxiously in the consultation room, peering out the window from time to time.
“Director Zhong, is this Dr. Jiang really coming? You’re not joking, right?” said a colleague.
Zhong Yu got angry. “She personally agreed! How could it be fake?”
“Then I’ll wait a bit more,” the colleague chuckled awkwardly.
Director Zhong scanned the room and frowned. “Where is Dr. Cao?”
“Probably overslept again,” said another doctor disdainfully. “When has he ever been on time?”
They all disliked Cao Qi, who came from a prestigious university and acted arrogantly.
Just then, Zhong Lili by the window shouted:
“She’s here! Dr. Jiang is here!”
Everyone rushed to the window, crowding it completely.
“Is that really Dr. Jiang? Director Zhong, did you bring someone from the cultural troupe to fool us?”
Director Zhong laughed. “Do I have that kind of money?”
He went outside to greet her and said seriously before leaving:
“Let me warn you all—Dr. Jiang is the rescue I worked hard to bring here. Don’t look down on her just because she’s young.”
Continuing the translation:
“Of course not,” said Zhang Hongfu, patting his stethoscope. “I, Zhang Hongfu, respect nothing more than people with real medical skill. As long as Dr. Jiang has true ability, I’ll support her fully—how could I possibly bully her?”
Zhong Lili teased, “Uncle Zhang, you mean if Dr. Jiang has no ability, you’d bully her?”
Zhang Hongfu glared. “Nonsense! Even if she didn’t, as an elder I would never bully the weak.”
“Bleh.” Zhong Lili stuck out her tongue.
Director Zhong didn’t bother with their bickering and quickly went out to welcome Jiang Li.
“Dr. Jiang, let me introduce you. This is Dr. Zhang Hongfu. Like you, he learned traditional medicine from his family.”
The sixty-year-old doctor smiled kindly and joined his hands in greeting.
“And this is Nurse Zhong Lili. She’s only been on the job for less than two months, so she’s still unfamiliar with many things.”
Zhong Lili looked at Jiang Li closely and suddenly said in surprise:
“Dr. Jiang, you’re so fair! I’ve never seen anyone fairer than you on this island!”
Tears of envy filled her eyes.
Jiang Li smiled warmly. “In the mainland I didn’t get much sunlight. The island’s UV rays are really strong—I don’t know how I’ll end up later.”
Zhong Lili immediately felt a sense of shared grievance. “Exactly! One short walk under the sun and you get several shades darker!”
Director Zhong coughed. “Zhong Lili, be more serious.”
Zhong Lili pouted, “I’ll tell my mom you scolded me at work.”
Jiang Li couldn’t help but smile.
Next, Director Zhong introduced the last nurse.
“Zhao Lan has worked here for many years. Many patients trust her. If you need help, you can ask her.”
Zhao Lan, around forty years old, greeted her politely. “Hello, Dr. Jiang.”
“Hello,” Jiang Li nodded.
She hadn’t expected the clinic to have so few doctors.
Director Zhong then led her around the clinic.
“This is the pharmacy. Western medicine on the right, traditional medicine on the left.”
Under the dim light, the room contained only a large shelf with scattered medicines and basic medical equipment.
Jiang Li frowned. “Is this enough medicine?”
Director Zhong shook his head. “The naval medical supply ship only comes once every six months.”
“In that period, we must ration supplies. Antibiotics cannot be used casually unless absolutely necessary.”
Antibiotics were life-saving drugs used to control major infections.
Jiang Li nodded.
But then she frowned again. Rationing medicine meant dosage had to be tightly controlled—some patients would inevitably be under-treated.
Director Zhong sighed. “We have no choice. On White Sand Island, I’ve seen too many people die because they missed treatment.”
As a doctor, this was his deepest pain—knowing patients suffered and died because of limited resources.
“I understand,” Jiang Li said softly.
After finishing the tour, they returned to the clinic.
Just then, a sharp cry rang out from outside:
“Help! Is there any doctor who can save him?!”
A group rushed in carrying a stretcher.
A middle-aged woman wearing a straw hat cried as she ran to Zhang Hongfu’s desk.
“My husband went night fishing last night. When he came back, he just fell asleep. I thought he was just tired… but this morning he turned into this!”
Zhang Hongfu immediately checked the patient.
The man lay unconscious, breathing rapidly, face turning purple, unresponsive.
He lifted the eyelid and examined him, then found three puncture marks on his toe.
His expression turned grim. “Snakebite.”
Jiang Li also checked his pulse, her face serious.
“His condition is very bad.”
Zhang Hongfu asked urgently, “How long has it been like this?”
The woman sobbed uncontrollably. “At least five hours since last night…”
At that moment, Cao Qi walked over from the next room.
He examined the patient and sneered.
“If you had brought him earlier, there might’ve been a chance. But now? Just prepare for his funeral.”
The woman went pale and collapsed almost instantly.
Zhang Hongfu glared at him and quickly sent someone to check the pharmacy for antivenom. None was available.
He called the naval hospital—also none left.
His expression changed drastically.
Without antivenom, the man would definitely die.
“Send him to the city hospital immediately,” he said. “They have stock.”
But it would take five hours by sea.
The woman nearly fainted. That meant watching her husband die.
Her desperate cries filled the room.
Suddenly, Jiang Li spoke coldly:
“Quiet. You’re giving me a headache.”
Everyone turned.
The man’s clothes had already been removed, revealing his chest. Several silver needles had already been inserted into him.
Jiang Li checked his pulse at the neck, then quickly inserted more needles with sharp precision.
“Dr. Zhang, prepare the oxygen machine. I’ll prescribe medication—get it ready immediately.”
Zhang Hongfu froze.
This… this was a dying patient.
Could she really save him?
But meeting Jiang Li’s calm gaze, he suddenly snapped back.
“Save him! We must save him—even if it’s a dead horse treated as a living one!”
He rushed to the pharmacy.
Cao Qi coldly observed.
“Needles? Useless. He’s been poisoned for five hours—the nervous system is already shutting down. You’re just fighting the King of Hell for his life.”
But Jiang Li didn’t even look at him.
Cao Qi grew furious.
“If he dies here, the family will sue the clinic! Don’t drag us down with you!”
Jiang Li paused her hand.
The woman suddenly knelt down and slammed her head on the floor repeatedly.
“I swear! If he dies, I won’t blame anyone! Please, Doctor, save him!”
The room fell silent.
Everyone hesitated.
Then Jiang Li stood up sharply.
“Move him to the bed!”
Her voice was cold and commanding as she pointed at Cao Qi.
“Anyone who blocks the way—throw them out.”