Li Guifen handed her a steamed bun and said in a low voice, “The porridge you brought has already been given to several injured elderly people and children. We saved a bun for you—eat up.”

Gu Xiaoxi looked up and asked, “Did you eat?”

Li Guifen nodded. “We had a bun too.”

At that moment, Feng Xia also walked over and handed Gu Xiaoxi a bowl of freshly mixed malted milk.

“I heard that in a brigade close to the reservoir, many people’s houses were washed away.”

Li Guifen sighed. “More than that. I heard some people were swept away by the flood and still haven’t been found. Most of the people injured tonight were either crushed by collapsed houses or got hurt in the water.”

Gu Xiaoxi silently nibbled on the bun, feeling very emotional.

This era was already poor, and when a sudden natural disaster struck, life became even harder for ordinary people.

After finishing her bun, she noticed that her accumulated merit points had increased to 12. She immediately learned the Level 1 Suturing Skill from the Skill Store.

She soon realized that Level 1 Suturing was much simpler and quicker than Level 2. However, Level 2 had the advantage of pain relief, making it a better experience for the patients.

As she was contemplating this, the Skill Store suddenly updated with new options:

Skill 1: Perfect-Level Suturing (Costs 5 Merit Points)

Skill 2: Advanced Precision Suturing (Costs 5 Merit Points)

Gu Xiaoxi was briefly surprised but ultimately spent 10 merit points to learn both skills.

Just as she was about to save one merit point, another skill notification popped up:

Painless Stitch Removal (Costs 1 Merit Point)

Gu Xiaoxi closed her eyes briefly and reluctantly spent her last merit point.

She had a strong feeling that the Skill Store was determined to drain all her merit points.

“Xiaoxi, are you tired?” Feng Xia noticed Gu Xiaoxi closing her eyes with a sleepy look and couldn’t help but ask.

Gu Xiaoxi finished the last sip of malted milk and nodded slightly. “A little. Around this time, I usually go to bed.”

Feng Xia smiled. “Of course. But tonight, we might not get any sleep—there are too many people who need resettling.”

A military wife standing by the tent entrance overheard their conversation and shook her head. “I just saw people from the military hospital arrive. Now that they’re here, we probably won’t have much to do.”

Since they were only temporary helpers and not professionals, it was natural for them to step back once more experienced personnel arrived.

Just as they were speaking, a bespectacled man approached.

He glanced at them and, without any preamble, said, “You’re the military wives helping with cooking, right? Please prepare some food. Our military hospital staff rushed over as soon as we got the notice and haven’t even had a meal yet!”

Gu Xiaoxi: “…”

Feng Xia: “…”

The military wife at the door: “…”

The straightforward Li Guifen couldn’t stand his tone and immediately retorted, “If you haven’t eaten, go find your hospital’s logistics department. You all took your time getting here, while we’ve been busy treating the injured—and we haven’t eaten either!”

Coming empty-handed to ask for food—what was he thinking?

The bespectacled man was momentarily stunned, looking a bit embarrassed.

His gaze shifted, suddenly landing on Gu Xiaoxi.

Seeing how young and attractive she was, he abruptly changed his tune. “Sorry! I must have made a mistake. You’re nurses, not military wives. If you haven’t eaten either, I’ll go find the women responsible for cooking.”

Gu Xiaoxi: “…”

Feng Xia: “…”

Li Guifen: “…”

Just as all the military wives were thinking this man had poor eyesight, a female voice suddenly rang out from outside.

“Li Ming, why are you here? I just heard someone say they saw Battalion Commander Lu. Did you see him?”

Gu Xiaoxi froze for a moment. Battalion Commander Lu?

Could they be talking about Lu Jiansen?

Li Ming frowned slightly, but when he turned around, his expression returned to normal. “No, I haven’t seen him.”

Gu Xiaoxi glanced outside and saw a woman wearing a white shirt and green military trousers walking over with a flashlight.

Behind her were a man and a woman, both carrying medical kits.

The woman holding the flashlight entered the tent, took a quick look around, and then turned to an older military wife, asking, “Excuse me, is this the tent where the logistics distribute meals?”

The military wife replied flatly, “No.”

“Then where is it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Have you seen Commander Lu?”

The military wife looked at the woman suspiciously. “Which Commander Lu?”

The woman curled her lips into a smile. “Battalion Commander Lu Jiansen of the First Battalion of the Military District. Have you seen him?”

The military wife was dumbfounded and turned to look at Gu Xiaoxi.

At the same time, Li Guifen and Feng Xia also looked at Gu Xiaoxi.

Gu Xiaoxi lowered her head, poked her fingers, and looked speechless.

Lu Jiansen seemed to have plenty of admirers!

Seeing that no one was answering her and that they were all looking at Gu Xiaoxi, the woman also turned to look at her.

Upon seeing Gu Xiaoxi’s face, a flicker of jealousy flashed in her eyes before she turned to Li Ming.

This man liked to flirt with pretty girls—was he standing here because he had taken a liking to her?

Just as she was thinking about this, a deep and pleasant male voice came from outside the tent.

“Dean Chen, is my wife in the tent there?”

Dean Chen laughed heartily. “So that little girl is your wife? You’ve got a good eye!”

“Yes, I have good taste.” Lu Jiansen replied very seriously.

Dean Chen couldn’t help but laugh again. “Go on, she’s there!”

Hearing Lu Jiansen’s voice, Gu Xiaoxi had already unconsciously taken a step outside.

But someone was even faster than her and rushed out ahead.

Then, she saw Lu Jiansen, holding a meal box in his hand, being blocked by the woman with the flashlight.

Gu Xiaoxi couldn’t quite describe how she felt. In any case, she simply stopped moving and quietly watched them.

Lu Jiansen had excellent night vision, and at this moment, he had already spotted his little wife. Seeing someone blocking his way, he shifted his step and walked around her without hesitation.

However, the ignored woman once again stopped him. Her voice carried both anger and heartbreak as she shouted, “What did you just say? You have a wife? Who is she?”

Lu Jiansen’s eyes darkened, his tone chillingly cold. “Who are you? Do I need to report my marriage to you?”

The woman froze for a moment, then broke down in tears. “I’m Fu Yao! I’m Fu Yao! Did you just deliberately humiliate me? I saved you so many times, and you don’t even remember me? Lu Jiansen, do you have no heart?”

Hearing this, Gu Xiaoxi narrowed her eyes slightly.

This woman had saved Lu Jiansen?

Many times?

Did they have such a deep connection?

From a distance, Lu Jiansen could sense the change in his little wife’s emotions, and he felt a wave of frustration. His dislike for the woman in front of him deepened.

“Dr. Fu, the doctors at the military hospital treat so many people every day. Do you ask all the men whether they have a heart? Most of the injured soldiers from our battalion were personally treated by Dean Chen. When exactly did you save me many times?”

Fu Yao’s face turned pale, and she was at a complete loss for words.

Gu Xiaoxi sighed inwardly. Language truly is an art—she had almost believed that woman’s words!