Chapter 042

The two girls behind Yu Sitian exchanged confused glances. From what they could see, the girl in front of them didn’t have any of the rebellious qualities of a troublemaker. After three months of new recruit training, her skin wasn’t tanned to a dark shade, and her eyes and tone were soft.

They weren’t from Beijing; they had come from out of town to enlist.

They didn’t fully understand what Yu Sitian was talking about.

But seeing that Yu Sitian wasn’t friendly toward the new recruit, they naturally sided with her.

Yu Sitian didn’t formally introduce herself to Meng Li, and the two girls behind her didn’t speak up either.

However, after two days, Meng Li still learned their names—one was named Lu Fangfang, and the other was Jiang Yunmian.

Meng Li hadn’t expected that she would be isolated by her roommates even before exchanging two words with them in the dormitory.

However, since it was Yu Sitian who was isolating her, Meng Li didn’t take it to heart.

Yu Sitian had grown up in a well-off family, and she looked down on people from the alleys like them.

Moreover, Meng Li’s past reputation did have a certain impact, and it seemed understandable that Yu Sitian would reject her.

What Meng Li didn’t know was that the main reason Yu Sitian was isolating her was due to a specific incident—when they went to see a performance of The Red Women’s Army, Ji Chen had bought ice cream for Meng Li, which made Yu Sitian feel humiliated and upset.

At first, Yu Sitian had only seen Meng Li as a boy, so she had focused her frustration on Ji Chen, feeling that he had undermined her. But now that she knew Meng Li was a girl, her feelings of resentment became more personal and directed at Meng Li.

Meng Li, however, didn’t care. During the day, she focused on learning everything she needed to know as a medic. In the evenings, she quietly read books in the dorm.

Yu Sitian didn’t have the power to make everyone in the military district hospital isolate Meng Li, so Meng Li still made some friends.

Meng Li wasn’t bothered by Yu Sitian’s rejection. What mattered more was that Yu Sitian didn’t dare truly provoke her.

Her previous reputation wasn’t earned for nothing. With a fearsome name like hers, who would be foolish enough to pick a fight with someone like her?

In the end, although Yu Sitian didn’t like her, she instinctively feared Meng Li.

As for Meng Li, she preferred to avoid conflict, and beyond that, she didn’t care.

She didn’t expect to make a name for herself in the military. As long as she could get through her two years of compulsory service without making any mistakes, that was enough.

Meng Li soon realized that her ability to adapt to new environments was stronger than she had expected. Within just a few days at the military district hospital, she had settled in. Every day, she stayed busy with her tasks and learned quickly.

Of course, what she was learning was all related to nursing—administering injections, preparing medications, and bandaging wounds.

One day, after lunch, she returned to her dorm for a rest. She had just read a couple of pages of her book and was about to put it down and fall asleep when someone came into the dorm to tell her that her “parents” were here to visit.

Upon hearing the words “parents’ visit,” Meng Li froze for a moment. She wondered who could possibly be visiting her as a parent.

The four of them—Zhuo Xi and the others—had already left. Even if they came to see her, they wouldn’t be classified as a “parental visit.”

Gu Huijuan and Cheng Chunliang would never come to the military district to see her. They’d probably be happy to never see her again in their lives.

After thinking it through, the most likely visitor was Grandma Cheng.

But it seemed unlikely that Grandma Cheng, at her age, would come all the way to the military district to visit her.

After all, she wasn’t even her real granddaughter.

With a head full of questions, Meng Li left the dorm and headed toward the reception room.

As soon as she left, Yu Sitian and the other two girls started gossiping about her.

Jiang Yunmian sat at the desk under the window and turned back with a smile, “What do you think? What’s she always reading? What’s her deal?”

Yu Sitian snorted from her bed, “Who knows? Maybe she’s got something wrong with her head.”

Lu Fangfang pondered for a moment. “Is she trying to get into university or something?”

Yu Sitian scoffed. “University? As if. After her compulsory service, she might not even get promoted. What’s the point of reading so many books? It’s just a waste of time. Plenty of people in the hospital are doing better than her.”

At that time, the college entrance exam had yet to be reinstated, and the only way to enter university was through recommendations.

To be recommended, one had to earn a promotion and maintain an exceptional military record.

Reading more books wouldn’t change that.

Besides, thanks to Yu Sitian’s influence, Meng Li’s reputation in the hospital wasn’t exactly favorable.

Yu Sitian came from an influential background, and many of the new female soldiers were eager to flatter her. Any criticism she voiced about Meng Li quickly spread.

Over time, Meng Li’s reputation in the hospital wasn’t the best.

As for Meng Li herself, she hadn’t heard anything that was intolerably offensive.

Occasionally, passing whispers reached her ears—

“Really? She looks so delicate and cute, but she actually has such a strong personality. People can’t help but be intrigued by her…”

Of course, someone would always add with a chuckle—

“Trust me, once you end up on the receiving end of her wrath, you won’t be so curious anymore!”

And with that, the conversation would end, leaving behind a quiet sense of admiration.

…

When Meng Li left the dorm, she didn’t hear what Yu Sitian and the others were saying behind her back.

She went to the reception room, her mind full of questions. As she pushed open the door, she saw an elderly man sitting at the long table.

The moment the man saw her enter, he immediately stood up from the table.

Meng Li felt a bit dazed, thinking that the man looked strangely familiar, but she couldn’t quite place where she had seen him before.

As the man spoke first, calling her name, “Meng Li.”

The moment she heard it, her brain was jolted, and her memories scrambled and reorganized. Meng Li suddenly remembered—this was her biological father, Meng Xucheng!

When she realized this, she was so stunned that she couldn’t speak.

Compared to the image in her memories, Meng Xucheng had aged significantly, his face full of wear and tear, and his hair at the temples was now graying.

She stood there, frozen, for a long time before finally managing to squeeze out a word, “Dad…”

Upon hearing that, Meng Xucheng’s tears started falling uncontrollably.

Meng Li snapped back to reality, quickly pulling out a handkerchief to hand it to him so he could wipe his tears.

Once he dried his eyes, she asked again, “How did you manage to come here?”

Meng Xucheng set the handkerchief down, sniffing, and sat at the long table. “I was released. I came back a few months ago. At first, I couldn’t find the time to look for you. Then you joined the new recruit camp, and it didn’t seem right to disturb you, so I waited for another three months.”

Her eyes became misty, and Meng Li wasn’t sure whether the emotions flooding her were her own or the ones of the original person.

Meng Li sat down at the table, sniffing as she spoke, “I knew this day would come.”

After saying that, she thought of something else and looked at Meng Xucheng. “So, the reason I could join the army is because you’ve been cleared of your past.”

Meng Xucheng sighed. “Child, I’ve burdened you.”

Meng Li shook her head, not wanting to blame him for anything.

After all, he had suffered the most in this matter. The hardships he endured during his reformation process were something only he could truly understand. How he managed to get through those years was something only he knew.

After adjusting her emotions, Meng Li said, “It’s not about burdening me. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to stay in the Beijing military district.”

Meng Xucheng thought for a moment, then looked at Meng Li. “Staying in the Beijing military district wasn’t something your father achieved. I just didn’t drag you down. I thought it was your mother and your stepfather who helped you enlist.”

Mentioning Cheng Chunliang and Gu Huijuan, Meng Li couldn’t help but sneer.

Anyone else in the world might have helped her, but those two never would. When she proudly showed off her military uniform after joining, their faces had been as dark as could be.

But if it wasn’t for Meng Xucheng, then who else could it have been?

After thinking for a moment, Meng Li looked at Meng Xucheng and said, “It might be because of my exceptional abilities. They just can’t bear to part with such a good prospect like me.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Xucheng’s mood lightened, and he finally smiled.

His smile was full of affection as he looked at Meng Li and said, “Meng Li has grown up and become more and more outstanding.”

Meng Li smiled as well. “Things will keep getting better in the future.”

Meng Xucheng patted her head. “Dad will work hard to make up for the years I’ve missed with you.”

Meng Li looked at Meng Xucheng seriously, unable to stop herself from thinking—did she truly have her own family in this world? People who unconditionally liked her, cared for her, and gently called her name, never letting her suffer.

After Meng Xucheng left, he left Meng Li a large bag of snacks.

When Meng Li returned to the dorm, she opened the bag. Inside were malt milk, honey, and some expensive-looking candies and chocolates.

Because her relationship with the other three roommates was not good, Meng Li didn’t share any of these things.

She kept the snacks in her locker and would occasionally take some out to change the taste in her mouth.

The food at the military canteen wasn’t exactly bad, but after eating it for a while, it became tiresome.

Other people’s families would send things to them, but she had never received anything.

Now, she had something of her own.

…

Because Meng Xucheng had returned to his original workplace, Meng Li felt more at ease, and her days became increasingly fulfilling.

She hardly had any worries now. She had cut ties with Gu Huijuan and no longer had to endure any grievances.

Before she had crossed over, Meng Li hadn’t thought much about the major she was studying in university.

Now, as a medic, she found that studying medicine wasn’t so bad after all.

She was doing well in her nursing duties and soon started working full-time. Wearing a military uniform with a white lab coat over it and a white cap on her head, she moved between the wards and the beds, helping patients with injections, removing needles, and doing some basic tasks.

Since it was a military hospital, most of the patients were soldiers recovering from injuries or illnesses.

With more men than women in the army, the majority of patients were male, and behind the scenes, they often commented on the appearance of Meng Li and the other female soldiers.

Aside from the performing arts troupe, the hospital had the highest number of female soldiers.

Though the women in the hospital didn’t have the same striking looks or refined temperament as those in the performing arts troupe, they were still attractive in their own right.

After completing her rounds, Meng Li, as usual, returned to the outpatient department.

There were scattered patients sitting on the benches in the hallway, but Meng Li didn’t pay much attention.

As she was approaching her department, someone suddenly grabbed the corner of her white lab coat.

At first, Meng Li thought her coat had caught on a chair, but when she turned around, she was surprised to see that it was Ji Chen who had grabbed her.

It had been quite some time since they last met, and it was both unexpected and a pleasant surprise. Meng Li couldn’t help but smile, her eyes bright, “What brings you here?”

Ji Chen was also happy to see her. He let go of the corner of her white lab coat and said, “Of course, I came to see a doctor.”

Meng Li took a closer look at his complexion. “What’s wrong with you?”

Ji Chen cleared his throat twice. “It seems like I’ve caught a cold and have a fever. It shouldn’t be anything serious.”

Just as Meng Li was about to speak again, the door to the nearby office opened, and Yu Sitian walked out.

When Yu Sitian saw Meng Li, she paused for a moment, then acted as if she hadn’t seen her, walking straight up to Ji Chen and speaking to him gently and with a hint of affection, “Go inside.”

Ji Chen stood up from the chair, and before going in, he remembered to greet Meng Li.

After watching him go in, Meng Li turned around and continued back to her department.

As she walked, Meng Li glanced back over her shoulder and suddenly had a moment of realization.

She suddenly thought that Yu Sitian’s dislike for her might not be because of her past at all. Yu Sitian liked Ji Chen, and Ji Chen… well, Ji Chen seemed to have some feelings for her.

A warm sensation spread across her ears as she thought about it, and Meng Li took a deep breath before heading back to her department.

Once back in her office, she sat down and couldn’t help but drift into thought.

She remembered the time when they had met on the training field during basic training. Ji Chen had told her he liked her.

Since the military didn’t allow relationships, it hadn’t caused her much trouble at the time.

But now, she couldn’t help but wonder—if the military allowed relationships, would she have gotten together with Ji Chen?

Thinking about it, she realized that Ji Chen and Yu Sitian were more suited for each other, both coming from similar backgrounds.

If she wasn’t mistaken, both Ji Chen and Yu Sitian’s goal was to rise to the ranks of officers in the military.

Their families, too, made their paths to success in this area much easier.

She was different. The path she had planned for herself wasn’t within the military.

For ordinary people, making a name for themselves in the military was almost as difficult as reaching the sky. Most people would serve a few years, then retire and return home.

Those who became officers and had some abilities might be able to transition into local government jobs.

But those without much ability could only be demobilized and go back home to find another job.

As Meng Li pondered everything, it felt as though an entire galaxy stretched between her and Ji Chen.

The future was uncertain, vast, and unknowable—no one could predict where it would lead.

With that in mind, she took a deep breath and chose not to dwell on it any longer.

It was true that she needed to serve her two years properly, and it was also true that she didn’t want to hinder Ji Chen’s promotion or affect his future. Everything else was irrelevant.

As for what would happen in the future, that was something time would sort out.

For now, she didn’t need to think about anything else. She just needed to focus on living each day well.