Lu Beiting’s face was tense, his stern expression revealing nothing unusual.  

Li Jianguo snorted coldly and began shooing them away. “Alright, if there’s nothing else, get out. I need to properly find a good match for our little Dr. Xia.”  

Zhang Yi pushed Lu Beiting’s wheelchair toward the dormitory building. Along the way, Zhang Yi opened his mouth several times, wanting to offer some advice, but after hesitating, he ultimately said nothing. In the end, he wisely kept his mouth shut—some things were better left unsaid.  

For several days afterward, Xia Zhi and Lu Beiting didn’t see each other. After being discharged from the hospital, Xia Zhi, with her heavily bandaged hand, went to help at Chen Yang’s traditional Chinese medicine clinic.  

This made Chen Yang’s temples throb in frustration.  

“Xiao Xia, you’re injured. Can’t you just rest properly? The hospital won’t abandon you,” Chen Yang said helplessly, watching Xia Zhi drying herbs in the courtyard.  

This girl really couldn’t stay idle. On the third day, she stubbornly insisted on leaving the hospital, and since he wouldn’t let her go up the mountain, she came to the clinic to help instead. Her careless movements made his eyelids twitch, afraid she might accidentally bump her hand.  

“Uncle Chen, don’t worry. I know my limits,” Xia Zhi said, carrying a basket with one hand to sun the herbs.  

“You… ah.” Chen Yang sighed helplessly. Both Xiao Xia and Beiting were stubborn as mules, refusing to listen to advice.  

Xia Zhi was still preoccupied with Chen Yan’s situation. After arriving at the clinic, she learned that Uncle Chen was actually Chen Yan’s older brother.  

The moment she found out, her heart ached. To have a skilled doctor as a brother but still be unable to save oneself—anyone would feel suffocated by that.  

Fortunately, compared to others, Chen Yan was remarkably strong-willed. As for her health, there had to be a way.  

At mealtime, Chen Yan brought food over for Xia Zhi.  

“Xiao Xia, come eat.”  

Hearing Chen Yan’s voice, Xia Zhi quickly put down what she was doing and ran over.  

Chen Yan looked at her, drenched in sweat from work, and reached out to wipe her forehead. “I told you not to help in the cafeteria, so you came here instead. Aren’t you afraid of bumping or hurting yourself?”  

“It’s fine, Sister Chen. I’m tough—nothing will happen to me.”  

As she spoke, Xia Zhi curiously peeked into Chen Yan’s basket. There were several large white steamed buns and even meat soup!  

“Sister Chen, why is the food so good today?” She remembered that meat rations in the team were strictly regulated.  

Once she made enough money in the future, she’d make sure they ate meat with every meal!  

Only with good food would they have the strength to defend their country.  

“Eat up,” Chen Yan said, handing her the food before turning to share some pickled vegetables with Chen Yang.  

Xia Zhi paused for a moment but eventually ate, though the food didn’t seem as delicious as before.  

After the meal, Xia Zhi looked at Chen Yan earnestly. “Sister Chen, let me examine you.”  

Chen Yan froze, then glanced at Chen Yang. Over the years, her brother had suggested the same, but she had always resisted, afraid of hearing the same hopeless diagnosis again.  

Chen Yang, seeing his younger sister’s eyes redden again, waved his hand and persuaded her, “Let Xiao Xia take a look. What if there really is a way? She even treated Beiting—you should trust her.”  

Chen Yan’s eyes flickered with hesitation and pain, but when she met Xia Zhi’s sincere, bright gaze, she finally extended her hand.

Xia Zhi placed her fingers on Chen Yan’s wrist, feeling her pulse. The root cause was simply years of hardship that had drained her body. While the condition was serious, it wasn’t incurable. It was just that, given the current lack of medical resources, it was normal for the issue to go undetected.  

“Sister Chen, did you have a miscarriage in the past?” Xia Zhi asked as she took out her acupuncture kit and set it aside.  

Chen Yan froze at the question, her lips trembling as she replied, “N-no… I don’t remember anything like that.”  

But if it were true… then she wasn’t some “barren hen” after all.  

What did all the insults and scorn she’d endured over the years even mean, then?  

After the initial shock, joy surged in Chen Yan’s heart. All these years, she had pretended not to care, but deep down, she had always longed to be able to have children.  

Xia Zhi smiled reassuringly at her. “Sister Chen, your body is actually in good condition—there’s no major issue. When you bring me dinner tonight, I’ll prepare some medicine for you.”  

She could roughly guess the cause. Married off at a naive, ignorant age, it was normal not to realize she was pregnant. As for the miscarriage, it was likely due to beatings during that time, followed by a lack of timely medical care.  

“R-really?” Chen Yan stared at her in disbelief.  

Beside them, Chen Yang, seeing that she wasn’t paying attention, also took her pulse for a moment. His entire body stiffened, and his wrinkled eyes instantly reddened.  

His younger sister’s condition was far worse than he had imagined. If left untreated any longer, she might have been beyond saving.  

“Xiao Xia, you really have a way to treat her?” Chen Yang let go of Chen Yan’s wrist, turning away to wipe his tears. In the end, this was his own negligence over the years. His sister had always said she was fine, and he had believed her.  

“Mm-hmm, Uncle Chen, don’t worry.” Xia Zhi’s face was radiant with a bright smile, warm as a little sun shining on them.  

“Good, good, that’s good.” Chen Yang’s eyes were filled with guilt as he glanced back at Chen Yan. “Little sister, it’s my fault.”  

Chen Yan snapped out of her daze, tears welling in her eyes as she shook her head. “No, big brother. Just bringing me to the army and away from that place was enough to make me happy.”  

Xia Zhi watched them quietly, then lowered her gaze to her injured hand. In a few days, she’d find an excuse to remove the bandages—they were just getting in the way.  

But for now, she needed to think about earning more system points. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have enough to exchange for the medicine Chen Yan needed.  

Treating animals also counted as medical treatment, and it was faster. Maybe she could start by healing a few little creatures to build up her points. As for the 10,000 points she owed…  

Once Lu Beiting and Chen Yan were fully treated, she’d naturally pay it back.  

With her plan set, Xia Zhi stood up, ready to find a few “fortunate patients” to treat.  

“Uncle Chen, Sister Chen, I’ll head back first.” Slinging her small bag over her shoulder, she bid them goodbye.  

“Ah, be careful on your way.”  

As Xia Zhi wandered along the road, passing soldiers greeted her one after another.  

She returned each greeting cheerfully. Walking past the hospital, she watched the steady stream of patients coming and going. Honestly, the hospital was the best place to earn points—if only it weren’t for her injured hand…  

Meanwhile, inside the hospital, Gu Chonglin—who had been unconscious for so long—finally woke up. For a moment, he was disoriented. Was he dead or alive?  

“Husband! You’re finally awake!”  

The moment Zhang Xiao saw his eyes open, her tears spilled uncontrollably.  

Hearing her cries, Gu Chonglin finally felt a sense of reality. He was still alive.  

“Zh-Zhang Xiao… I-I’m alive.” A flicker of joy crossed his face. He had been certain he was going to die.  

“Wuwuwu… Husband, you scared me to death!”  

After crying for a while, Zhang Xiao suddenly remembered something important. She grabbed his hand, her eyes burning with hatred.  

“Husband, tell me—was it that little bitch Xia Zhi who caused your injuries?  

“You have no idea how terrified I was when I saw you covered in blood! If it really was her, we can’t let her get away with this!”