Standing beside her, Wen Zhiyu froze for a moment.
She thought that she would be leaving soon anyway, so there was no need to explain further. Otherwise, given the military’s usual habits, a women’s director or political officer would probably come to her for ideological counseling.
“Zhiyu, shall I send you back?” Shen Lifeng offered as they were leaving, since it was already dark outside.
Wen Zhiyu nodded.
The two got into the car. The ride was very quiet, and they seemed to have nothing to say to each other.
It wasn’t until Shen Lifeng’s voice suddenly broke the silence.
“Comrade Wen, regarding me taking care of you, you don’t need to overthink it. I just don’t want any national talent to be exposed to danger. If… you really don’t want it, I can apply to the leadership to replace me.”
Shen Lifeng spoke sincerely and seriously.
Wen Zhiyu simply shook her head. “No need. Since it won’t disturb Comrade Shen, then I believe you can take good care of me.”
Shen Lifeng felt a surge of joy.
Was Comrade Wen allowing him to get close to her?
Wen Zhiyu, however, looked out at the pitch-black night outside the window, thinking that avoiding it all the time wasn’t a solution. She was a very stubborn person with her own ideas; perhaps after spending more time with her, Shen Lifeng would lose interest in her.
Besides, once she left, she didn’t believe Shen Lifeng could follow her.
When they got out of the car, Shen Lifeng helped Wen Zhiyu carry all her purchases upstairs, including the things he had bought.
He had bought two large tins of milk powder, beef jerky, and dried nuts as snacks.
In another large bag were sour plum powder, hawthorn fruit strips, and even some candy sticks—each item in large quantities.
In addition, there were daily necessities.
The area was windy and sandy, so Wen Zhiyu usually washed up using her spatial storage ability, keeping only a few things in the dorm. Shen Lifeng must have noticed this, so he bought her some supplies.
He brought everything upstairs and naturally placed it in her dormitory.
“I’ll head back first. If I really need to protect you, I might move to live near the hospital. Then I’ll have to ask Comrade Wen to take care of me.”
Shen Lifeng said with a smile.
The next morning, Shen Lifeng returned the car in town, while Wen Zhiyu suddenly learned that Xiao Jiang and the others were going to the countryside for a free medical clinic (medical outreach).
The hospital director personally invited Wen Zhiyu, hoping she could guide the hospital doctors. After thinking it over, she didn’t refuse.
When Shen Lifeng returned, he learned that Wen Zhiyu had gone on the medical outreach and would be gone for three or four days.
Wen Zhiyu had also left him a message saying she would only be gone a few days and would ensure her own safety.
Shen Lifeng thought about it and decided to use this time to hand over his military duties to his deputy commander, then returned to his unit.
He liked Wen Zhiyu, but not to the point of denying her any personal space.
He realized that Wen Zhiyu was someone who kept a strong distance from others—she neither over-cared about people nor liked others to overly focus on her.
Meanwhile, Shen’s mother was anxious.
Knowing her son’s feelings for Zhizhi, she desperately wanted them to get married. After two days of nothing happening, she was so worried she couldn’t sleep.
The next day, some women around her asked about Wen Zhiyu and Shen Lifeng.
Shen’s mother sighed and said, “That’s the children’s business, but Zhizhi… she’s very outstanding…”
Wen Zhiyu’s life in the countryside was even harder.
No wonder few people went to the hospital—the villagers here truly lived a difficult life!
Many people endured illness without treatment because going to the hospital cost money.
When the medical team first arrived, the villagers didn’t even dare approach them.
“Free clinics are like this. People are afraid of illness and avoid doctors. Don’t worry too much, we just need to do some persuasion work,” Dr. Song explained to Wen Zhiyu and Xiao Jiang.
Village cadres also went door to door to persuade people, and gradually more villagers came for treatment.
Six doctors worked all day, drenched in sweat.
At night, Wen Zhiyu, Xiao Jiang, and Dr. Song stayed together. Xiao Jiang took out three pieces of chocolate from his pocket and gave one each to Dr. Song and Wen Zhiyu.
“My parents sent it to me.”
Although in his twenties, he was still like a child.
Wen Zhiyu quietly took out three large chicken legs from her space, pretending they came from her bag.
When the wax-paper-wrapped chicken was opened, both of them swallowed hard—it smelled incredibly good.
“Wen, where did you get this?” Xiao Jiang stared wide-eyed, eagerly taking it.
Wen Zhiyu casually lied, “We bought it in town that day, when I went with Comrade Shen.”
“I didn’t see it, otherwise I would’ve bought everything.”
Xiao Jiang muttered.
Of course, Wen Zhiyu didn’t respond, because the food actually came from her space and had been brought from Beijing.
The three of them ate happily.
The next day they worked another full day. This was the last day of the clinic, and they would leave afterward.
Wen Zhiyu examined a young man in his early twenties and immediately realized something was wrong—it seemed to be an epidemic.
She confirmed it in her mind but still called the other doctors over.
After checking, they all agreed.
Dr. Song immediately contacted the hospital. The exact handling would depend on higher authorities.
However, the elderly woman who brought the patient was unwilling to accept it.
When she heard that the doctors were not allowing her grandson to leave and that he was being isolated, she sat down at the village committee entrance and wailed.
“Such misfortune! Truly misfortune! Heaven is watching! Where are you taking my grandson? He’s the only heir of our Chen family!”
She cried and beat the ground, dust rising all around her.
Beside her stood the village head, looking helpless.
“Ignore her, isolate the patient first. We’ll likely need a full village quarantine and inspection. We’ll wait for higher-level instructions!”
Unlike the other panicked doctors, Wen Zhiyu remained very calm.