Liu Hongmei was also stunned. She had been cursing with great momentum when suddenly someone cut her off, leaving her breath caught in her throat.
She widened her eyes, sizing up Shen Yu from head to toe.
Her clothes weren’t much to look at, but her face was exceptionally pretty, like a seductress from a pictorial magazine, and she looked unfamiliar.
"Let go! Which department’s family member are you? Do you even know the rules? This is the medicine dispensing room, no unauthorized personnel allowed!"
She tried to pull her hand back but found that despite Shen Yu’s slender appearance, her grip was surprisingly strong.
Shen Yu had no intention of wasting energy on someone like this. With a twist of her wrist, she pushed outward.
"Ouch!"
Liu Hongmei lost her balance, staggering back several steps before colliding with the medicine cabinet, grimacing in pain.
Before she could regain her composure, Shen Yu had already snatched up the brown medicine bottle on the counter. She rubbed her thumb across the label, and a layer of yellowed, dried paste crumbs fluttered down.
"This label was glued on with paste, wasn’t it? It’s already peeling, and the date on it is from last year. Giving soldiers this kind of outdated stock—is this the medical team’s rule?"
Liu Hongmei’s face turned pale.
That batch was leftover from the last inventory check and had been sitting at the bottom of the box ever since.
She had planned to take advantage of the busy, chaotic day to pin the blame on that soft, tearful pushover, but she never expected someone to intervene halfway.
"What nonsense are you spouting! It got damp! The label was replaced because it got damp!"
Shen Yu slammed the medicine bottle onto the counter, making Liu Hongmei’s heart skip a beat.
"I don’t think the medicine got damp. I think your conscience is the one that’s moldy."
She then pointed at the remarks section below the prescription.
"This prescription is marked with ‘contraindications for combination.’ You’re a seasoned professional, aren’t you? Don’t you know that regular licorice tablets are different from the compound ones?"
"The compound ones contain opium shell components. Prescribing this dosage with regular licorice tablets—are you trying to treat the soldiers or send them to their graves?"
Upon hearing this, the eyes of several soldiers waiting for treatment nearby instantly changed.
They didn’t understand pharmacology, but they knew what opium was.
Too much of that stuff could kill you or get you addicted.
Liu Hongmei, humiliated and enraged, snapped, "What do you, an amateur, know? Are you here to cause trouble? Security section! Get this crazy woman out of here!"
Shen Yu completely ignored her bluster. She had seen plenty of people like this—all bark and no bite. The louder they yelled, the more uneasy they were inside.
She turned to look at Deng Qin, who was still huddled in the corner wiping her tears.
"What are you crying for?"
She pulled out a newly bought handkerchief and stuffed it into Deng Qin’s hand, her tone tinged with frustration.
"If tears could be used as medicine, what would we need doctors for? Did the country train you just so you could come here and be bullied?"
Deng Qin clutched the handkerchief, her tears falling even harder.
"Stand up straight!"
Shen Yu scolded her with authority, giving Deng Qin’s hunched back a firm pat.
"From now on, if anyone dares to pin this kind of blame on you, take this medicine bottle and slam it on the director’s desk! Ask him whether he or you will take the blame if the soldiers get sick from it!"
Deng Qin hiccupped from the pat.
The education she had received since childhood was to endure and obey.
Her family’s background made her feel inferior in this collective environment.
Where had she ever heard such unorthodox methods?
"Slam… slam the table?" Deng Qin whispered.
"Yes, slam the table. If you’re afraid your hand will hurt, flip the table over."
Shen Yu wiped her face for her. "Remember, in this world, soft persimmons only get squished to a pulp. If you don't stand up for yourself, even a god can't save you."
This was the first time someone had protected her like this, standing up for her.
Deng Qin looked at this beautiful woman who was only a few years older than her, her heart pounding wildly.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Liu Hongmei was furious. Just as she was about to charge forward and make a scene, a low shout suddenly came from the doorway.
"What's going on? What's all the noise?"
Turning around, they saw Cheng Yiqiu standing at the door.
He was holding a notebook in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed, looking serious and stern.
Oh, the big shot has arrived.
Shen Yu's eyes darted around, and her arrogant and domineering demeanor vanished completely.
Her body went limp, one hand pressed against her forehead as she leaned weakly against the counter, swaying unsteadily.
"Ouch, my head hurts, I'm so angry my chest aches…"
Shen Yu moaned weakly, resting one hand on Deng Qin's shoulder for support.
Cheng Yiqiu saw it was the regimental commander's delicate sister-in-law and his expression changed drastically. "Sister-in-law! What's wrong with you?"
He remembered how protective the regimental commander was of his own. If something happened to this ancestor under his watch, the regimental commander would skin him alive and use his hide as a drum!
"It's nothing, I was just startled by this older sister's loud voice."
Shen Yu pointed at Liu Hongmei, her tone frail. "Squad Leader Cheng, I just wanted to get some medicine to reduce inflammation, but I never expected the medical team to be scarier than a marketplace. They even tried to chase me away…"
Liu Hongmei pointed angrily at Shen Yu. "Stop pretending! What about the strength you used to squeeze my wrist earlier? You almost broke it!"
Cheng Yiqiu glanced at Liu Hongmei.
He had long heard about Liu Hongmei bullying newcomers but had never caught her in the act.
He was a man of principle. Although he hadn't heard everything clearly from the doorway, he had distinctly caught the phrases "opium husk" and "expired medicine."
"Nurse Liu, this is a medical clinic. Please watch your words and actions. I will report the issues regarding expired medicine and contraindicated drug combinations truthfully to the political instructor."
At the mention of a report, Liu Hongmei immediately fell silent.
Although Cheng Yiqiu was young and only a squad leader, he was a top performer in the regiment and a key candidate for cultivation.
His words carried weight, and if things went wrong, it could end up in her file!
Cheng Yiqiu turned to look at Shen Yu. Seeing her frowning and looking uncomfortable, he grew even more anxious.
"Sister-in-law, should I take you to the emergency room?"
Shen Yu waved her hand and leaned against Deng Qin. "No need, I'm just dizzy. This young comrade can help me sit for a while."
She winked at Deng Qin.
Although Deng Qin was still confused, she instinctively reached out to support Shen Yu.
Seeing that she could barely stand, Cheng Yiqiu didn't dare to neglect her.
He turned and shouted at the young soldier watching the commotion by the door: "Quick! Go to the training ground and get the regimental commander! Tell him sister-in-law fainted in the medical team! Someone made her angry!"
The young soldier took off running.
Shen Yu: "…"
That really wasn't necessary.
She had wanted to make an impression in front of the future big shot and establish a delicate persona, not summon Gu Huai'an over.
But as they say, fear attracts what you dread.
Before long, hurried and heavy footsteps sounded from outside, like a wild bull stampeding through.
"Which blind fool made my wife faint from anger?"
The door of the medical team was kicked open.
Gu Huai'an was covered in mud stains on his training uniform, sweat still on his face, his eyes fierce enough to devour someone.
Liu Hongmei was so frightened she dropped the medicine bottle in her hand.
Gu Huai'an's gaze swept across and settled on Shen Yu sitting on the bench.
Her complexion was rosy, her breathing even—she was just putting on an act, rubbing her temples while leaning against a young nurse.
He strode over in a few steps, grabbed Shen Yu's wrist, and pressed his fingers against her pulse to check.
The pulse was strong, beating more vigorously than a rabbit's.
Faking it.
Gu Huai'an breathed a sigh of relief, then couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.
She just couldn't go a day without stirring up trouble.
Earlier, when he heard the young soldier shout, "Sister-in-law fainted," he was doing giant swings on the horizontal bar and nearly slipped, almost falling to his death.
His heart was still pounding wildly.
"Where does it hurt?"
Gu Huai'an asked with a stern face.
Shen Yu weakly opened her eyes, threw herself into his arms, and complained in a delicate tone.
"My head hurts, my chest hurts too—I've been wronged."
"Wronged, my foot." Gu Huai'an pushed her hand away, his words sharp as ever. "Who in this place would dare to upset you? You'd be doing well if you didn't tear the roof off."
He glanced at Liu Hongmei, who was shrinking back like a turtle, and understood the situation.
His own cat had sharp claws.
She had finished scratching someone and was now playing innocent again.