Chapter 3: Admitted to Nursing School on Merit

Song Wenran quickened her pace to reach Ruan Ling’s side, her steps a little unsteady due to illness.

Ruan Ling’s mother was the director of the East City Hospital, and it was thanks to her that Song Wenran had the opportunity to secure a position through the hospital’s recruitment.

Yesterday, before the rain started, Ruan Ling had told her she wanted them to take the exam together.

At that time, though, Song Wenran hadn’t yet had that dream; she still held onto illusions about Fu Kaiyu and wanted to work at a garment factory.

How naïve she had been!

She glanced at the time and asked, “I’m not late, am I?”

“No, the written test won’t start for another thirty minutes. I thought you weren’t coming,” Ruan Ling said as she touched Song Wenran’s forehead. “Are you sick? You look pale and are sweating so much.”

“I’m fine. It’s just a bit warm because I rode my bike here,” Song Wenran said, fanning herself with her hand.

Indeed, it was a little hot, but the medicine from An Naiqin had already begun to take effect.

She even admired herself a little for riding such a long distance while ill.

Ruan Ling led the way. “I’ll take you to my mother to register first.”

“Alright.”

Song Wenran forced herself to stay alert and registered in a dizzy haze.

The written test was a breeze for her now. She was increasingly certain that it wasn’t just a dream but a sorrowful past life.

After being sent to the countryside, she was assigned to assist at a health station, and the most basic medical knowledge had been etched deeply in her mind.

Those harsh days were only bearable because she secretly read medical books for solace. She even learned many folk remedies for treating difficult illnesses from an old traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, and she was confident writing prescriptions and treating patients.

When the college entrance exam was reinstated, she had planned to apply to medical school. But after waiting in vain for the acceptance notice, she learned just before her death that the male educated youth who secretly admired her had torn up her acceptance letter—an idea concocted by Wenxin.

She didn’t get to attend school, and her dream of becoming a doctor was shattered.

In fact, she had no connection with Shen Nanzheng at first. The male educated youth had staged a heroic rescue just to be near her, but by chance, Shen Nanzheng ended up saving her instead.

She never knew if Shen Nanzheng took responsibility for her out of obligation or genuine affection. After marrying him, she never dared to ask.

Having been hurt too many times, she clung to every bit of warmth he gave her.

She dared not disrupt the status quo or allow herself to be disappointed.

Thanks to his connections, she worked as a nurse in the military hospital for several years, secured a formal position, and even became head nurse.

In terms of experience, she was far more seasoned than many nurses working here.

But that experience belonged to a past life; she wasn’t sure if she could handle things now.

Starting from scratch wasn’t so bad.

There were seven candidates in total for the written test including her, but only three would be selected.

Ruan Ling was not nervous at all. The test was merely a formality to avoid giving others grounds for gossip.

The other candidate was the child of a compound official. Whether they passed based on merit or by internal arrangement was unknown.

She was definitely chosen on merit—she scored full marks on the test.

Of course, this was also thanks to Ruan Ling and her mother. Without their help in getting her registered, she wouldn’t have had this chance to shine.

Her spirits lifted, and her illness improved significantly.

Within three days, after completing the onboarding procedures, she would officially begin work.

After parting with Ruan Ling, she happily rode her bicycle home.

Unexpectedly, just as she left the hospital, she saw Shen Nanzheng getting into a car and quickly changed direction.

Her heart pounded fiercely. His military uniform’s green stood out vividly, just as straight as he was the day he saved her.

His sharply defined profile exuded an unintentional resolve, stirring her heart once more.

Undeniably, she loved him.

The memories piece by piece could not be deceived.

But she couldn’t continue to be a burden to him. She had no intention of marrying again in this life. He deserved someone better.

Tears blurred her vision without her realizing it. She dared not look back.

But she sensed the jeep he was in driving away in the opposite direction.

At this moment, neither of them knew the other.

That was right—no one knew anyone else. What was there to hide from?

She was truly out of her mind.

She wanted to see him once more, just once.

Consider it a farewell.

She turned her head to look but saw no trace of the jeep.

She wondered what he was doing at East City Hospital.

If he were injured or ill, he should have gone to the military hospital.

Perhaps he was visiting someone.

She shook her head to stop herself from overthinking.

At home, Wenxin had already returned and enthusiastically handed her a roasted sweet potato. “Sister, I bought your favorite roasted sweet potato. Eat it, and I guarantee you’ll get better.”

“I’m not hungry,” Song Wenran said without reaching for it, turning back to her room.

She disliked Wenxin, but more than that, she was angry at the version of herself in the book.

Pitying her misfortune, angry at her lack of assertiveness—if she had only fought a little to not believe their father’s lies so naively, things wouldn’t have turned out so badly.

Wenxin was half a year younger than her, also just graduating from high school.

After the new policy in 1973, only children were exempt from being sent to the countryside.

If Wenxin had not been adopted, she would have been an only child.

But Wenxin’s name was on the household register, and she called their parents “mom and dad,” which couldn’t be changed.

Even if she wasn’t an only child, the eldest child was exempt from going to the countryside according to policy.

Moreover, Wenxin’s mother was the daughter of a capitalist, and her father had been labeled a “black category” enemy, so the authorities planned for Wenxin to be sent down for reeducation.

But all the hardship ultimately fell on Song Wenran.

Now, they were like two fresh flowers, each with her own strengths, counted among the most beautiful in the factory’s residential compound.

Many people liked to compare them. When they couldn’t decide who was more beautiful, they looked for other differences.

Beauty is subjective; both had their own merits.

Being more reserved, Song Wenran was overshadowed by Wenxin’s sweet, tactful speech, which was especially favored by the boys.

Several loyal admirers pined for Wenxin, obsessed with her, and repeatedly ran into walls for her.

Wenxin’s gesture of buying roasted sweet potatoes to appease her was not surprising.

That scene was etched in her memory.

She had suffered many worries because of this adopted cousin. After all, when Wenxin came, she took away more than half of everything—especially their father’s love.

The less one has, the more one craves.

That was why, for their father’s future and family harmony, she was sent to the countryside and even convinced their mother who had strongly opposed it.

They thought this would make their father treat their mother better, but it was all for nothing. Who was it harmonious for?

Their mother was still criticized by their father and grandmother for not bearing a son. After she was committed to a mental hospital, she had no family to turn to.

She used to think their mother’s bad temper and inability to have a son made grandmother dislike her. Later, she realized that even a good-tempered mother wouldn’t have been favored—grandmother only loved the second aunt who had given birth to a son in the cattle shed, and father would pour his heart out for the second uncle’s family.

After their mother was institutionalized, she was divorced, and father remarried, having a son who posed no threat to the second uncle’s family.

Any dissenting voice from her was labeled jealousy and immaturity.

Their father was a great fool and a great romantic, but his affections were not for their mother, which deeply poisoned her as well.

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This marriage between their parents had to end; only after the divorce would good days come!

Becoming strong was her primary goal—she wanted to be her mother’s support.

After looking around and not seeing her mother, she turned to Wenxin, who had followed her, and asked, “Where’s Mom?”

Previously, she had said “Our mom,” but saying “my mom” caught Wenxin off guard. After a pause, Wenxin said, “She went out to buy vegetables.”

Song Wenran simply replied, “Mhm,” without saying more.

Wenxin didn’t know that she had already passed the nurse exam. Usually, when Wenran was in a bad mood, she would be indifferent to her, so Wenxin thought she was just reluctantly agreeing to go to the countryside on her behalf. Feeling guilty, she said, “Sister, I’m really grateful you’re going down to the countryside for me. I’ll try to send you ten yuan every month so you can live comfortably there.”