Chapter 122: The First Secret Admirer Gets Scared Away
Ning Xiyue frowned slightly when she saw Zhang Jianjun standing awkwardly in front of her, looking at her but saying nothing. She asked again,
“Comrade Zhang Jianjun, do you need something?”
“Doctor Ning, I…”
Zhang Jianjun’s face flushed red as he gathered his courage to speak — but before he could finish, someone interrupted.
“Sis, come here!” Ning Qingzhi called from the window, waving at her while shooting a fierce glare at Zhang Jianjun, who was standing beside her.
“Coming, Brother.” Ning Xiyue waved happily when she saw her brother and Comrade Ji standing there.
Seeing that Zhang Jianjun still hadn’t said anything, she added, “Comrade Jianjun, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going. My brother is waiting for me.”
“W–wait…” Zhang Jianjun shouted anxiously as he saw her about to leave.
Ji Yanming patted Ning Qingzhi’s shoulder, signaling him to go out and meet her. Then he turned and shot Zhang Jianjun a few cold, knife-like glares, scaring him so much that the words he had been about to say stuck in his throat.
“Hmm?” Ning Xiyue waited for him to speak.
Just as Zhang Jianjun opened his mouth and reached into his bag, Ning Qingzhi and Ji Yanming arrived. They stood on either side of him, completely cutting him off.
“Sis, let’s go inside. We’re here to request leave for you.”
Ning Xiyue nodded. As she turned to leave, she said to Zhang Jianjun, “Comrade Jianjun, I’ll be going now. If you’re here to see a doctor, you can go to the clinic and find Li Xiuxiu. I’ve already packaged the medicines for different types of colds into individual doses — you can just pick one up.”
Zhang Jianjun’s lips trembled. He shoved the hairpin he had been planning to give her back into his bag and managed to squeeze out a faint “Okay.”
Ning Xiyue followed Ji Yanming inside. Ji exchanged a knowing glance with his comrade, and Ning Qingzhi, walking behind them with a dark expression, leaned close to Zhang Jianjun and warned with hostility,
“Kid, don’t even think about chasing my sister. Anyone who likes her has to beat me first. With your skinny body, you wouldn’t survive a single punch.”
He flashed his fist before turning and walking away.
Zhang Jianjun’s thoughts had been completely exposed. His face flushed bright red, but along with the warning, his feelings for Ning Xiyue faded a little. When he turned his head, he just so happened to meet Ji Yanming’s icy, piercing gaze through the window. Whatever feelings he had left were completely scared off.
Oh dear, Dr. Ning has two living demons guarding her. I’m terrified.
Inside the meeting hall, Aunt Liu, having just basked in all the praise from the villagers, came out cheerfully and dragged Zhang Jianjun home. She didn’t notice the sadness in her son’s heart at all.
“Jianjun, let’s go. Today we’ll host a family dinner, invite the relatives over, celebrate properly — and then tell our ancestors. This is a great day!”
And so, the first man who secretly liked Ning Xiyue was successfully scared away by Ning Qingzhi and Ji Yanming — all without Ning Xiyue ever realizing it.
She happily followed Ji Yanming and Ning Qingzhi, carrying the introduction letter from the team leader, on her way to the county seat for a meeting.
When they reached the town, a vehicle from the county armed forces department came to pick them up, and they quickly arrived in the city.
When Ning Xiyue saw that the person she was going to meet was the same old comrade she had treated before, she wasn’t surprised — she had suspected all along that his identity was unusual.
Ji Yanming introduced him, “Xiyue, this is the leader of our military district, Chief Sun.”
Ning Xiyue greeted him with a bright smile, “Old Comrade, long time no see.”
The old man laughed heartily, showing no airs before her. “Comrade Ning, long time no see. Thank you again for your help back then.”
Ning Xiyue remained composed and graceful. “It was nothing — just my duty. And I should be the one thanking you for recognizing the value of my medicines. It’s an honor to meet again under these circumstances.”
“Haha! I like your personality, Comrade Ning. I won’t beat around the bush — let’s get straight to business.”
“Of course.” Ning Xiyue pulled a bundle of medicines from her bag. “This is a little gift I brought for you — some of the new medicines I’ve developed. They’re effective for both internal and external injuries and work quite quickly.”
“Hmm, Comrade Ning, after careful evaluation by the organization, we would like to formally invite you to serve as the medical advisor for our military district. Your only responsibility will be to focus on developing medicines. You won’t have to worry about anything else. For each new medicine you develop, you’ll receive a bonus. Additionally, you’ll earn a monthly salary of 30 yuan. Would you be willing to accept?”
Ning Xiyue didn’t hesitate for even a second. “I’m willing.”
Chief Sun chuckled when he saw how quickly she agreed. “Aren’t you going to think it over? Or maybe discuss it with your family?”
Ning Xiyue flashed a brilliant smile. “No need. My family will support me. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have dedicated my brother to serve the country as a proud member of the people’s service. And I believe the country won’t treat me unfairly. It’s an honor to contribute my part.”
The truth was, she was completely drawn to the “iron rice bowl” of a stable 30-yuan monthly salary. In her past life, she had dreamed of having such a secure job. Now that the opportunity was right in front of her, how could she pass it up? Thirty yuan was more than even her brother’s basic salary.
Besides, developing those medicines didn’t cost her much. Rather than letting the formulas sit unused, she might as well let the state use them — she’d earn money and contribute. That was far better than keeping them to herself.
“People’s service… yes, I like that phrase.” Chief Sun smiled broadly, pulling a red appointment letter from a drawer and handing it to Ning Xiyue.
“Welcome aboard, Comrade Ning.”
