That night, Qin Man checked on Tan Xiwen every hour. Seeing that her condition remained stable, she finally allowed herself to sleep when dawn began to break.
At eight o’clock the next morning, someone entered the dormitory, and Qin Man slowly woke up.
Perhaps because she had grown up an orphan, Qin Man never truly felt secure.
She couldn’t sleep soundly in a crowded, unfamiliar environment.
The nurse who had just entered looked embarrassed when she saw Qin Man sitting up.
“Comrade Qin Man, did my footsteps wake you?”
“No.”
Having stayed awake almost the entire night, Qin Man’s eyes were bloodshot.
She replied gently,
“I should be the one apologizing for borrowing your room and disturbing you.”
“Oh, please don’t say that!”
The young nurse’s cheeks turned red.
“I wasn’t on duty yesterday, but first thing this morning the whole hospital has been talking about how you saved someone’s life in an emergency!”
“It was simply what should have been done. Saving lives is the duty of medical staff.”
Qin Man wasn’t particularly good at socializing, so she exchanged only a few polite words.
After washing up, she suddenly felt a little lost.
The provincial capital was huge.
She was a stranger here, with nowhere to go.
She had no relatives, no friends, and no job.
Staying in the hospital temporarily already made her feel awkward, and she couldn’t keep relying on Yang Xiaoyun forever.
After some thought, Qin Man decided to move back into her hospital ward for the time being while she figured out her next step.
“Xiaoman!”
Yang Xiaoyun found some free time to come see her.
“You’ve only slept for a little while. Why are you already up?”
Everything was fine with Tan Xiwen.
Early that morning, practically the entire Tan family had arrived at her room.
Leading them was Old Master Tan, whose stern, imposing expression immediately made Yang Xiaoyun realize where Tan Zheng got his looks.
Though the old man was advanced in years, his commanding presence hadn’t diminished in the slightest.
After visiting Tan Xiwen, the Tan family deliberately refrained from disturbing Qin Man before leaving together.
Yang Xiaoyun wiggled her eyebrows as she gossiped,
“Commander Tan’s mother looks so young!”
“She’s elegant and refined in every way.”
“No wonder she grew up in the military compound.”
Qin Man didn’t respond.
Yang Xiaoyun continued talking to herself.
“I wonder which lucky girl will become her daughter-in-law.”
After chatting for a while, Yang Xiaoyun finally noticed the bag in Qin Man’s hand.
“Xiaoman, where are you going?”
“I’m moving back to the hospital ward.”
She had already discussed it with Tan Zheng, and the hospital fees had been paid for several extra days.
“The ward is much noisier than the dorm.”
Yang Xiaoyun took Qin Man’s bag before she could protest.
“You saved someone’s life. Nobody in the dorm will mind you staying. I’ve already asked everyone!”
Qin Man knew Yang Xiaoyun meant well.
“Xiaoyun, I just can’t sleep well in unfamiliar beds.”
She had only recently gotten used to sleeping in the hospital ward.
“Then how about this?”
Yang Xiaoyun suddenly thought of a compromise.
“Come stay at my house tonight.”
The only problem was that it was already the end of the month.
Her family’s meat ration coupons had been used up.
Her mother had already said that once they received next month’s ration coupons, she’d cook a huge feast to treat Qin Man.
The two of them were chatting when Song Qingsong walked over in his white coat.
“Comrade Qin Man, Director Zhang is back!”
Originally, Director Zhang had planned to remain in Beijing for several more days, but for some unknown reason had returned early.
The recommendation letter from the Tan family had already reached Director Zhang.
“Director Zhang is very strict. She absolutely won’t lower her standards during the evaluation.”
Song Qingsong pulled out several medical textbooks.
“I’ve got these books here. Would you like to review them first?”
Although he doubted cramming at the last minute would help much, if Qin Man were hired, she’d most likely join the Obstetrics Department.
The examination would probably focus on obstetrics.
“Thank you. I’d like to borrow them.”
Qin Man never looked down on doctors from the 1970s simply because medicine was more advanced decades later.
On the contrary, these medical professionals were hardworking, practical, and had accumulated an incredible amount of clinical experience.
Most importantly, they excelled at handling doctor-patient relationships.
During the past two days, she’d seen genuine trust and mutual respect between patients and medical staff.
After handing over the books, Song Qingsong asked,
“Comrade Qin Man, what are your plans after this?”
If Qin Man secured a position at the provincial hospital and later transferred her household registration, she’d officially become a city resident.
Yang Xiaoyun immediately planted her hands on her hips.
“Dr. Song, what exactly do you mean by that?”
“Are you asking whether Xiaoman plans to marry someone from the city?”
She believed the answer should be simple:
Work hard.
Live well.
As for finding a husband…
After what Zhou Huaimin had done, Qin Man definitely needed to keep her eyes wide open.
If Song Qingsong hadn’t already been engaged, Yang Xiaoyun thought he barely qualified to match Qin Man.
“Our Xiaoman just arrived in the provincial capital. She’s still unfamiliar with everything.”
Like a protective mother hen, Yang Xiaoyun stepped in front of Qin Man.
Her eyes narrowed at Song Qingsong.
“How about you introduce Xiaoman to someone?”
Since Song Qingsong and Tan Zheng had grown up together, it would be perfect if he introduced Commander Tan.
Song Qingsong: “…”
Was that what he meant?
Caught off guard, he calmly countered,
“Comrade Yang Xiaoyun, then why don’t you introduce someone to Comrade Qin Man?”
Yang Xiaoyun stared at him as though he were an idiot.
“All the people I know are factory workers.”
“But our Xiaoman has saved lives and has such outstanding moral character.”
“I think she should marry into the military compound.”
Song Qingsong: “…”
Well, well…
The fox had finally shown its tail.
Standing beside them, Qin Man laughed.
“Marry someone? I’ll only be twenty after the New Year.”
By modern standards, eighteen was adulthood.
At twenty, she’d only just be starting college.
A man would only get in the way of building her career.
Qin Man’s mind was already focused on launching herself into business.
She wanted to seize the opportunities that would come with Reform and Opening Up and make a fortune.
Once she achieved financial freedom, she’d enjoy life—but she’d also donate to elderly people living alone, orphanages, and poor families who couldn’t afford medical care.
Since Heaven had given her a second chance, she intended to give something meaningful back.
Only after speaking did Qin Man realize the room had gone unusually quiet.
Song Qingsong and Yang Xiaoyun exchanged glances.
Both looked as though they wanted to say something.
Finally, Song Qingsong couldn’t hold it in.
“Comrade Qin Man… actually… twenty isn’t that young anymore.”
In the countryside, girls were often engaged at seventeen or eighteen.
By twenty, many were already mothers.
City women married a little later, but not by much.
As if remembering something, he lowered his voice.
“Just don’t end up like Director Zhang from Obstetrics.”
“She’s already fifty.”
“She devoted her entire life to her work and never married.”
Hospital gossip was everywhere.
According to the most reliable version, Director Zhang had deliberately chosen not to marry because she didn’t want the responsibilities of caring for a husband and children to take time away from her work.
Pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum recovery, and nursing alone would consume at least half a year.
Her self-sacrifice deserved admiration.
Still, Song Qingsong felt that doctors were human too.
Not having children…
Leaving behind no descendants…
It seemed lonely.
Qin Man could tell he genuinely disapproved.
She couldn’t help speaking up for Director Zhang.
“Comrade Song Qingsong, do you believe a woman’s purpose is simply to marry and have children?”
“Everyone has different goals in life.”
“Compared to people who only pursue comfort and personal freedom, Director Zhang devoted her youth to the country and its people.”
“She’s quietly contributed her entire life.”
“That’s something worthy of admiration.”
Using childlessness to criticize a woman?
Qin Man couldn’t accept that.
Yang Xiaoyun immediately nodded in agreement.
“Comrade Song Qingsong, broaden your horizons.”
“You’re thinking far too narrowly.”
Meanwhile, in a corner of the hallway, Tan Zheng and Director Zhang—who had come to conduct Qin Man’s evaluation—stood silently, looking at each other.
Tan Zheng concealed the surprise in his eyes.
It seemed…
he had just overheard a conversation he probably wasn’t supposed to hear.