Chapter 500: The Bet
When the short-haired woman saw them, her eyes lit up slightly. She quickly draped her clothes casually over the clothesline and walked over with a smile.
She greeted them warmly, "Ladies, are you here to find someone?"
When faced with the woman who suddenly appeared in front of her, Shen Qian maintained a distant and polite attitude, saying, "No, that's not it."
"And who are you?" the short-haired woman asked curiously, staring at them expectantly.
Her gaze was fixed on Shen Qian.
They seem more interested in her identity.
Shen Qian frowned slightly, feeling uncomfortable as she met her elder sister's enthusiastic yet expectant gaze.
She gestured towards Bai Zhi and introduced her to the short-haired woman, "This is Lu Ye, the deputy battalion commander's wife. She just arrived here."
"Yeah?"
Upon hearing Shen Qian's words, the light in the short-haired woman's eyes quickly faded.
She looked Bai Zhi up and down, her eyes filled with surprise. "Deputy Battalion Commander Lu's wife is so young?"
Oh no, she misjudged him.
If Old Zhou loses the bet, his wife has to take one of his chickens away.
The short-haired woman's face fell.
Bai Zhi felt somewhat embarrassed by the incredulous look in the short-haired older woman's eyes.
But she was puzzled. What was that woman's expression after hearing that she was Lu Ye's lover?
They seem quite disappointed.
But since they would be neighbors from now on, she still greeted him with a smile, "Hello, my name is Bai Zhi, I am Lu Ye's wife. We just moved here, please take care of me."
The short-haired woman met the girl's confident and composed gaze and hurriedly introduced herself, "My name is Liu Guifang, and my husband is the political instructor of Deputy Battalion Commander Lu's battalion."
She quickly regained her warm and friendly attitude, saying, "From now on, you can just call me Sister Liu."
Liu Guifang looked kind and had a straightforward personality. She smiled and said, "Just let me know if you need anything. My house is the first one downstairs."
Bai Zhi sensed that the woman harbored no hostility towards her; she must have been mistaken earlier.
She smiled and replied, "Okay, thank you."
"Then we'll go up first."
"Okay, see you later."
She and Shen Qian went upstairs. Shen Qian said, "From now on, you should get along well with these neighbors so that we can help each other."
"Yes, I will."
As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Qian quietly reminded her, "However, don't get too close to them. They're always gossiping about family matters, which will affect your mindset."
Bai Zhi is a career-driven woman, and she must remind her not to waste her time and energy gossiping with the neighbors.
Where there are many women, there is much gossip.
Once a person gets caught up in trivial family matters, their perspective and mindset will change.
Bai Zhi nodded, "I know."
She's not one to gossip.
After returning to her room, Shen Qian began packing her toiletries, and also tore off the sheets and blankets she had slept on the night before and put them away.
"I have to go back to work."
She told Bai Zhi, "Take good care of yourself here."
In this unfamiliar place, Bai Zhi suddenly felt reluctant to see Shen Qian leave. She tried to persuade her to stay, "Aren't you still on vacation? Why are you going back so soon? Stay for a couple of days."
Shen Qian put her towel into her bag and said softly, "Aren't you going back to be a third wheel? Lu Ye will be back tonight. If he sees me in the way, he'll probably kick me out. I might as well be sensible and leave now."
"Then let's go back at noon. I'm so bored being alone. Can you take me around to familiarize myself with the surroundings first?" If Shen Qian leaves, she'll be completely lost and won't even be able to find her way to buy anything.
“I’m not familiar with this place either. Every time I come here, I’m always in the military base area. I’ve never explored the surrounding area,” Shen Qian said. “Why don’t you ask your cousin to show you around?”
Shen Qian quickly packed her things and saw Bai Zhi looking at her with a sullen expression, and she was very reluctant to let her leave.
She put down her things and sat down on the sofa with her, intending to chat for a while before continuing.
Just then, she remembered that there was something important we hadn't discussed yet.
"The military hospital said they would issue you a medical license and hire you as their medical partner. What are your plans after the New Year?" she asked Bai Zhi earnestly.
Shen Qian had asked this question more than once or twice, and Bai Zhi didn't hide it from her today. "To tell you the truth, I plan to open a traditional Chinese medicine clinic here, but we'll have to wait until Lu Ye comes back to discuss the specifics."
"Just a clinic?" Shen Qian asked tentatively.
Bai Zhi smiled and said, "Otherwise what?"
“I don’t think it’s that simple,” Shen Qian analyzed. “If you just open a clinic, you have to choose a location in the county town for patients to come to you. Soldiers here have medical clinics when they get sick, and if their condition is serious, they will go to our military hospital for treatment. They won’t seek medical treatment indiscriminately.”
She concluded, then countered, "Is your target audience the general public?"
"Yes, the common people."
Bai Zhi spoke with great seriousness, "This place is relatively remote, and the medical care is relatively backward. There are certain limitations to going to the military hospital for treatment. I think the people still need me quite a bit."
Hearing this, Shen Qian didn't press further. She shrugged and said, "Okay."
But she never believed that Angelica dahurica was not limited to treating ordinary people.
The soldiers in the military hospital need her even more.
Shen Qian knew she wouldn't get anything out of Bai Zhi.
Of course, it's also possible that Bai Zhi hasn't finalized any specific plans yet and is being cautious, so she's unwilling to reveal more.
After chatting with Bai Zhi for a while, Shen Qian packed her bags and prepared to return to her workplace.
Just as he reached the door, he bumped into Ye Qingbai.
Seeing her carrying luggage, Ye Qingbai asked, "Dr. Shen, are you leaving?"
Shen Qian replied, "Yes, I'm going back to my workplace."
Bai Zhi followed behind her, and when she saw Ye Qingbai arrive, she suggested, "Would you like my cousin to see you off?"
"No need, I can find a car as soon as I go out. I know this place well."
Shen Qian didn't linger. She waved her hand and said, "You two siblings chat, I'm leaving now."
Bai Zhi wanted to escort Shen Qian downstairs, but Shen Qian stopped her.
She's a soldier, used to being alone, and doesn't like the sentimental stuff of being sent around.
Bai Zhi didn't insist. She saw her to the door and waved to her, "Okay, then come visit me when you have time."
Shen Qian, carrying her luggage, left gracefully.
Then, Bai Zhi welcomed Ye Qingbai in.
Ye Qingbai sat down on the sofa and asked with concern, "Xiao Zhi, have you had breakfast this morning?"
Bai Zhi replied, "I ate. Doctor Shen took me to your canteen."
"I had some work to do this morning, so I went out at six o'clock and just got back."
Ye Qingbai was relieved to hear that she had eaten. He then chatted casually, "By the way, how are your uncles? Any news about your second grandfather?"
“My maternal grandfather hasn’t come back yet,” Bai Zhi said. “My uncle is opening a restaurant in Nancheng and is currently preparing for renovations.”
"Really? Uncle is so capable." He actually expanded his business to the southern part of the city.
He admired Ye Tiandong immensely, saying, "Then I can eat at my own restaurant when I go to Nancheng in the future."
Bai Zhi nodded, "Yes, that restaurant is quite large. It will be open for business normally next year after the renovation is completed."
"very nice."
Ye Qingbai chatted with Bai Zhi for a while, asking about her recent situation and news of her relatives, then seemed hesitant to speak.
Bai Zhi cracked open the sunflower seeds she took out of her bag, patiently waiting for him to continue.
She knew he must have more to say.
"Um," Ye Qingbai hesitated for a moment before asking, "How is Dr. Lu doing lately?"
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