Song Ning nodded, "I will definitely go to the military unit!"
Zheng Changan became a little anxious, "Sister Ning! How about, how about you come with me to Bijie! Your medical skills are so good, if you take the exam to be a doctor at our hospital, you'll definitely pass! My mom is the hospital director, I'll have her specially recruit you! I'll have her help you transfer your household registration and everything!"
"Tsk!" Song Ning looked at Zheng Changan and smiled, "So I've accidentally made the acquaintance of a second-generation official!"
"Sister Ning! I'm serious! Please consider it!"
Seeing that Song Ning wasn't taking him seriously, Zheng Changan steeled himself and said:
"To be honest, even if they are all punished, Lu Changqing has already changed his mind. A man like that... you won't have a good outcome if you chase after him! You might as well find another way out!"
Song Ning looked at Zheng Changan like this and also stopped smiling, saying seriously:
"Zheng Changan! Thank you for saying these things to me! I will indeed end this marriage engagement, but I can't end it so hastily here!"
"My grandfather's engagement to Lu Changqing back then wasn't without reason! Moreover, this engagement is not simple. Lu Changqing... also made another promise to my grandfather! My grandfather was still worrying about that promise before he passed away... There are still some matters I need to clarify!"
"This is a disaster relief scene, I can't occupy everyone's energy with private matters. Furthermore, only by going to the military unit can I get what I want, and this matter can be resolved most fairly!"
Seeing that Song Ning's mind was made up, Zheng Changan sat down beside her and fell silent.
Song Ning didn't know what to say for a moment. She had only known Zheng Changan for a few days, yet he had shown her an unexpected amount of trust. Now, he even seemed a bit childish.
Just as she was thinking of saying something to comfort him, she saw Zheng Changan stand up with a "whoosh—"...
"Sister Ning! Then wait for me! At most a month! I'll come find you at the military unit!"
"Find, find me?" Song Ning was stunned, "At the military unit?"
"Yes!"
Zheng Changan seemed to have made some kind of decision, and said decisively:
"To tell you the truth! I've been an intern doctor at our hospital for two years! The doctors who interned with me have already started working, but I'm still stuck and can't get officially hired! My mom's strict requirements account for part of it, but the other part... is that I really can't muster any interest in this work!"
"But, but I've now discovered something I'm interested in! That is learning Traditional Chinese Medicine! It turns out I'm not unsuitable to be a doctor, but unsuitable to be a Western doctor! Sister Ning! I've decided! I want to be your apprentice! I want to learn Traditional Chinese Medicine!"
Song Ning reached out and felt his forehead, "You don't have a fever! Why are you talking nonsense?"
She cleared her throat and said helplessly:
"Zheng Changan! I'm a rootless duckweed right now, I can barely protect myself! Going to the military unit will be like living under someone else's roof! How I'll live in the future, I'll take it one step at a time. What do you mean by coming to find me? Are we going to wander together!"
"Wander together? That sounds like a challenge! We can..."
"Stop, stop— Zheng Changan! Work hard! Maybe you'll get officially hired when you go back this time! Stay at the hospital and don't overthink things!"
"Sister Ning! I'm serious! I couldn't be more serious!" Zheng Changan looked at her steadily, his eyes turning red.
Song Ning gazed at Zheng Changan, realizing that this young man wasn't acting on impulse, but had truly made some kind of decision...
She was silent for a moment, then held out a finger to him.
"One year! Give me one year! Once I've established myself! We can discuss learning Traditional Chinese Medicine!"
"A year is too long!"
Zheng Changan shook his head and said, "Half a year! Sister Ning! I believe with your abilities! You'll have your own world in just half a year! At that time, no matter where you are! I'll come find you!"
Then, Zheng Changan extended his hand to Song Ning, as if persistently asking for a promise.
Song Ning sighed and also extended her hand...
The two hands clasped and shook vigorously.
In the middle of the night, while Song Ning was asleep, Zheng Changan quietly slipped a roll of banknotes into Song Ning's bag.
Song Ning noticed but didn't touch it. By daybreak, she secretly put it back for him.
She had already received his precious trust, she couldn't ask for more.
The next day, Han Xiao and Chen Liang came to find Song Ning. They were ordered to take Song Ning back to the military unit.
The continuous rain had stopped, and the disaster relief work was nearing its end.
After this, there would be a long period of reconstruction.
More government leaders and grassroots cadres would dedicate their efforts to continue this long-term battle.
The comrades from the military unit would withdraw in batches.
It had to be said that it was a thoughtful arrangement by the leaders that the military unit did not arrange for Song Ning to return with Lu Changqing, but instead had her travel with Han Xiao and Chen Liang, with whom she had previously interacted.
Along the way, Chen Liang, who was already a man of few words, showed no apparent change, but Han Xiao, who was usually talkative, also seemed very reserved, as if afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Song Ning knew what they were being cautious about. The journey to the military region was three days long, which made everyone feel awkward.
Song Ning had to take the initiative to speak, "I actually don't mind the matter with Lu Changqing! It's just a marriage engagement arranged by elders. Whether the marriage happens or not, I can accept it! Nowadays, people get divorced even after getting married, so you don't need to be so hesitant about this topic!"
Seeing Song Ning bring it up herself, Han Xiao sighed and said:
"To be honest! Lu Changqing is a good person! A very steady and ambitious young man! He even received a major commendation last year! We, from his regiment headquarters, really haven't heard about his situation with Chen Yuting! If we had known, we would have warned you earlier!"
Song Ning said, "A warning wasn't necessary. It's already two years past the agreed-upon marriage date, I was mentally prepared! My going to the military unit is also to clarify the situation. This matter can't just be left unresolved like this!"
Seeing that Song Ning truly didn't mind, Han Xiao spoke more freely:
"That Chen Yuting is a famously pampered daughter of the military region, always having high standards. I heard Commander Chen even arranged blind dates for her, I didn't expect she would fall for Lu Changqing..."
Song Ning asked, "This Commander Chen, is he the commander of your Seventh Regiment?"
"He was! Commander Chen was injured on the battlefield many years ago, and his old injury relapsed last year, so he moved to the second line. Now the commander of the Seventh Regiment is our Commander Gu!"
Commander Gu?
Song Ning thought for a moment and asked, "But I saw Commander Gu's rank is deputy regiment level!"
Han Xiao gave her a thumbs up, "That's right! After Commander Chen moved to the second line, the higher-ups designated Commander Gu to temporarily act as regiment commander. But because he's too young, they said he still needs to be tested, so his rank has been held back and not promoted! I guess they'll only consider it after Boss Gu achieves another merit or something!"
"Marriage is what matters!" Chen Liang, who had been silent all along, said softly.
Han Xiao was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "That's right! The elders believe that marriage represents maturity and stability. Perhaps Boss Gu's rank will be promoted once he gets married!"
"So Comrade Song Ning..." Han Xiao turned to her and said:
"Once you get to the military unit, if you need any help, just say the word. If we can't help, Boss Gu will definitely be able to help you! After all, we're comrades in arms who have apprehended human traffickers together, right!"
Song Ning smiled, "Don't worry! I won't hesitate to trouble you!"
✦✦✦