Mingxi crossed her arms and tilted her head, glancing at him sideways. “What does it matter to you if I stay here? We have no relationship now. What right do you have to question me?”
“Do you really think you’re such a prize? You probably assume I stayed here because I can’t forget our past, right? Well, you’re wrong.”
“As for staying here to annoy you—that part is true. But my main reason for staying is work. Annoying you is just a bonus. As long as you don’t provoke me, I won’t bother you either.”
Just looking at this person now made Mingxi feel disgusted.
There was nothing wrong with someone having ambition and wanting to climb higher, but Lin Jianguo’s way of dealing with people was truly nauseating.
Lin Jianguo couldn’t outargue Mingxi and was trembling with anger.
Mingxi gave him a sidelong glance and said, “If you’re going to have a seizure, don’t do it here. Go back to your own place and have it there. Don’t dirty my space.”
Doctors Liao and Xu watched the confrontation between the two, not daring to even breathe loudly.
But their sparkling eyes revealed how much they were enjoying the spectacle.
They knew Mingxi was sharp-tongued, but they never expected her to be this formidable—able to render Lin Jianguo completely speechless.
Lin Jianguo eventually left with his hand pressed against his chest. Mingxi even called after his retreating figure that he was imitating Xizi’s heart-clutching pose—a case of “Dongshi copying Xizi’s frown.”
Lin Jianguo couldn’t take it anymore and turned back to shout, “Who cares if I’m copying a frown? Mind your own business!”
It was truly infuriating. How did women’s mouths even work? Did she have knives attached to hers?
No sooner had Lin Jianguo been scolded and humiliated by Mingxi than rumors about him began circulating again.
Some said he regretted his actions, others claimed he went to Mingxi to win her back—there were all sorts of versions.
People in those days had few entertainment options, so they loved gossiping. A story would completely change after passing through their mouths.
Before long, Lin Jianguo was dragged into Director Zhao’s office and given a stern scolding. After the reprimand, he still had to coax Zhao Qingling. One thing after another kept him endlessly busy.
“Qingling, I really didn’t go to win her back. I just wanted to ask why she stayed. Don’t listen to those nonsense rumors. You’re the only one I love.”
Lin Jianguo poured out his affectionate confession to Zhao Qingling.
Zhao Qingling shyly pounded his chest with her fist. Actually, she wasn’t as angry anymore, but she still felt somewhat wronged.
“Jianguo, from now on, don’t go looking for your ex-wife anymore. From now on, well water does not interfere with river water. You do your work, she does hers. That way, there will be fewer rumors about you two.”
Actually, Zhao Qingling didn’t just want to avoid hearing these rumors—what she feared more was that Lin Jianguo might actually develop feelings for Mingxi.
Lin Jianguo previously didn’t understand Mingxi and held prejudices against her, thinking she was uneducated. But now that he knew how cultured and strong-willed she was, he might actually fall for her.
Even she herself found that kind of girl likable, let alone men.
Whenever Lin Jianguo thought of Mingxi, her scolding words automatically echoed in his ears. Gritting his teeth, he said, “I won’t go looking for her anymore.”
He wasn’t crazy—why would he keep going back just to get scolded every time?
Besides, she was already here to stay, and there was nothing he could do to make her leave.
A while ago, he had also written a letter home to inquire about his family’s situation and, by the way, mention Mingxi’s matter.
Over the past two years, he had sent very few letters home and had no idea how his mother and elder sister were doing.
When Liu Cuihua and Lin Hongmei in the countryside received Lin Jianguo’s letter, they were absolutely overjoyed.
“My son has written a letter! He finally wrote a letter! I need to find someone to read it to me.”
Liu Cuihua went to the brigade leader. She had offended many people, and even the parents of children who knew a little literacy had conflicts with her.
The brigade leader read the letter aloud. It mainly expressed concern for the health of the two at home, briefly described his own situation outside, and finally discussed Mingxi’s matter.
He had written a whole page about Mingxi.
When Liu Cuihua and Lin Hongmei heard that Mingxi was working as a doctor there, the smiles on their faces instantly vanished.
Liu Cuihua grabbed the brigade leader’s hand and asked in disbelief, “Did I hear wrong? Is that little wretch really working as a doctor there?”
The brigade leader shook off her hand and replied expressionlessly, “What’s so strange about that? The Ming family has been doctors for generations. Mingxi grew up by her father’s side and learned a thing or two, though she never showed it before.”
The brigade leader felt relieved deep down. It was good that she stayed there—better if she never came back.
With Liu Cuihua and her daughter here, if Mingxi returned, the two of them would surely cause trouble and likely harass her constantly.
Lin Hongmei muttered blankly, “How could she stay there? What right does she have to stay there?”
She had never traveled so far or visited her brother—why should Mingxi get to stay there? Doctor or not, how could she possibly know any medical skills?
But whether they believed it or not, the matter was already settled and unchangeable.
The daughter-in-law they had looked down upon was now a doctor outside, with a promising future.
When Liu Cuihua came to her senses, her legs gave way, and she slumped to the ground, wailing and slapping her thighs.
“What a sin! This is truly a sin! How could that wretched girl become a doctor? Heaven has no eyes!”
“Back at home, when I sprained my leg, she never said a word. So she was hiding it from me all along! What kind of daughter-in-law behaves like this?”
Liu Cuihua’s cries attracted a crowd. Everyone looked at her and asked the brigade leader what had happened.
After the brigade leader explained the situation, the way people looked at Liu Cuihua changed.
What sin? It was clearly her own doing—she had driven away a daughter-in-law through her own actions.
Mingxi was a high school graduate. Though she had been quiet before, she truly had substance.
If Liu Cuihua hadn’t treated her poorly, why would Mingxi have kept it a secret? If she had been kind, Mingxi would surely have told her about her medical skills.
“See? You reap what you sow. From now on, you must be good people—never be wicked, or you’ll suffer for it later.”
A few elderly women pointed at Liu Cuihua as an example for their grandchildren.
The people in their village were already decent enough, unwilling to fuss over trivial matters. Though they liked to gossip a little, nothing major had ever come of it.
Take Liu Cuihua, for instance. If she wasn’t having a conflict with one person today, she was stirring up trouble with another. If it weren’t for her accomplished son, who would even bother with her?
There’s nothing wrong with a widow being a bit fierce, but when it reaches her level, it’s definitely a problem.