Chapter 35: What Do You Gain by Spreading Rumors and Slandering Me?
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“More than know him!”
Wen Ran was simply a little puzzled.
As far as she knew, Shen Nanzheng and He Changshan were not particularly close at present. So how had he come to associate her with Shen Nanzheng?
The thought inevitably made her speculate.
To be honest, admitting that she knew him would not cause any trouble. If she denied it, asking Shen Nanzheng would expose the lie anyway. After hesitating for a moment, she said, “I know him.”
He Changshan had no idea what sort of relationship existed between the two of them. But Wen Ran was clean and pretty, and it was entirely possible that there was something between her and Shen Nanzheng. Instantly, he grew interested in the gossip.
“How did you meet?”
“It was more or less an accident. I bumped into him by mistake, and that’s how we got acquainted.” Wen Ran said no more. She also deliberately left out the matter of Director Wei and his wife trying to set them up. Then, pretending to be cautious, she asked, “He hasn’t done anything wrong, has he?”
“No. If there’s one person who would never commit an offense, it’s him.” He Changshan gave her a firm answer.
At the same time, he suddenly realized that Shen Nanzheng’s request that he look after her was exactly what it seemed: simple concern, nothing more.
Good grief. He had nearly made a mess of things.
If he had really treated Wen Ran as an enemy agent, his stepson probably would have turned against him on the spot.
Fortunately, his questioning had been fairly gentle.
Wen Ran, of course, knew that Shen Nanzheng would never commit an offense. She had only asked in order to make He Changshan stop pressing her.
He Changshan indeed did not pursue the subject. Instead, he asked her several questions about medical knowledge and her ideals in life.
When she left the director’s office, she understood the situation more or less. The director had simply been testing her.
Her conscience was clear, and she would never betray her country for personal gain.
Once she passed the director’s test, the road ahead would probably become much easier.
She had made quite a sensation at the hospital that day, and the other nurses now looked at her differently.
In particular, when the on-duty nurse Li Hongxing, who had been disciplined, saw Wen Ran emerge from the director’s office, she nearly crushed the medicine bottle in her hand.
Turning to Kang Mei, who had entered the hospital from the same nursing school, she said, “See that? Making a spectacle of herself today wasn’t enough. She must have gone to seduce the director too!”
“Your mouth is vicious. How can you say things like that without any proof?” Kang Mei was not that childish. “The director is a genuinely good man. It wouldn’t be good if such rumors got out.”
Li Hongxing curled her lip. “I’m not making this up. Just look at her face. She’s got the looks of a temptress. Maybe she’s trying to take advantage of today’s success and get made permanent ahead of schedule.”
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Kang Mei felt that Li Hongxing’s thinking had become warped. Frowning, she said, “She has the skill to back it up. Even if she becomes a permanent employee, she’ll have earned it.”
Unable to get the agreement she wanted, Li Hongxing turned and walked away.
But once such an idea had taken root, it could not be suppressed.
The next day, not only did the old lady specifically ask Wen Ran to administer her infusion, but Xiao Zhi also insisted that Wen Ran give him his injection.
Several patients who had personally seen Wen Ran administer injections began asking for her as well.
In just one day, Wen Ran had become the favorite among the patients.
Li Hongxing was consumed by jealousy and began spreading malicious rumors about her everywhere.
As the saying went, a rumor repeated often enough became accepted as truth. Something that had never happened at all was exaggerated beyond recognition by people with ulterior motives.
The vicious gossip reached Jin Baoli first.
Although Jin Baoli envied Wen Ran’s skill and good fortune, she still felt that the rumors had gone too far.
Those who rarely came into contact with Wen Ran could say whatever nonsense they pleased, but Jin Baoli saw her every day.
She had witnessed Wen Ran’s diligence, and she had witnessed Wen Ran’s excellence.
Though she did not want to admit it, Wen Ran truly possessed talent.
If even a talented person worked so hard, Jin Baoli simply could not bring herself to speak against Wen Ran with a guilty conscience.
She seized one of the people spreading the rumors and said, “What nonsense are you talking about? Wen Ran is nothing like the person you’re describing.”
“I’m not the only one saying it. If you have a problem, go find them!” the gossipmonger said disdainfully.
Jin Baoli refused to let it go. “Who said it? Find every one of them for me. I’d like to see who’s been wagging their tongues.”
The woman complained that Jin Baoli was hurting her and shoved her. “It’s not even about you. Why are you getting so worked up? Let go of me!”
“I won’t let go until you find them!”
Jin Baoli benefited from her greater height, but the other woman had no intention of submitting to her. Before long, the two of them were grappling with each other, both ending up with scratches and bruises on their faces.
A busybody immediately reported the fight to the head nurse, and both women were summoned for a reprimand.
When Wen Ran heard what had happened and came over, she was astonished to learn that Jin Baoli had fought for her sake.
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The moment she heard how the rumor had been twisted through repetition, her blood pressure shot up.
The latest version claimed that she had seduced the director in order to become a permanent employee, only to be thrown out by him. She had remained at the hospital solely because of his generosity.
In other words, the gossip targeted her alone; no one dared offend the director.
Besides, she had only met the director once. The story had become so exaggerated that no one would believe it.
A hospital was a small society in its own way. Since the rumors had originated within its walls, investigating them was not difficult.
Wen Ran immediately demanded that the head nurse conduct a thorough inquiry.
The head nurse knew perfectly well that Wen Ran had been falsely accused. She herself had arranged for Wen Ran to meet the director. Without even stopping for a meal, she spent the entire afternoon investigating and eventually traced the rumor back to Li Hongxing.
Wen Ran recognized her as the on-duty nurse who had tried to embarrass her that day. Hearing her name also brought another memory to mind: Li Hongxing was the nurse in the novel who had framed Ruan Ling.
Such a menace had no sense of responsibility and no moral boundaries.
In a cold voice, Wen Ran demanded, “Did I kill your parents or ruin your livelihood? What exactly do you hope to gain by slandering me with lies?”
Li Hongxing had merely been showing off with her tongue at first. She had never expected the rumor to grow so outrageous. Showing weakness now was impossible. She lifted her chin and said, “What do you mean, I slandered you? I’m telling the truth. You did those things, so why can’t anyone else talk about them?”
“Then, in front of the head nurse, tell everyone exactly what I did,” Wen Ran said coldly.
Li Hongxing glared back. “You secretly went to see the director. Doesn’t that count as something? Who doesn’t know you went to exhausting lengths just to become permanent?”
“I was the one who sent Song Wenran to see the director. Are you planning to drag me into your accusations as well?” the head nurse said, her face darkening. “Li Hongxing, you have neither the necessary skill nor a sense of responsibility. Even while under disciplinary action, you still refuse to behave. I think you should give up nursing altogether!”
Li Hongxing had no idea that the head nurse had sent Wen Ran to see the director. But the words were already out, and there was no taking them back. She forced herself to continue.
“I would never dare accuse the head nurse. Song Wenran is the one with no self-respect. The head nurse told her to see the director, but perhaps she used the opportunity to seduce him! The director is a good man, but even he can’t defend himself against people with filthy hearts!”
Smack!
Smack!
Wen Ran slapped one side of her face, while Ruan Ling, who had hurried over after hearing the news, struck the other.
The two women acted with remarkable understanding. Both of them would have been delighted to slap her to death.
After being hit, Li Hongxing began shrieking like a madwoman. “Head nurse, look! She’s lashing out because she’s ashamed. That proves I struck a nerve! She has no self-respect and now she’s attacking people too. Head nurse, you have to stand up for me! Fire this disgrace and don’t let one rotten apple spoil the whole barrel. Otherwise, what will become of our hospital’s reputation?”
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