Hearing Lu Xiao say this, Su Tang didn’t react immediately.  

“Go to the hospital?”  

Didn’t he say before that someone with her background couldn’t be assigned a job?  

Lu Xiao knew what Su Tang wanted to ask and explained, “Hospitals are different from other places. To get in, you have to pass an exam. The rules are set by the hospital itself.”  

“They don’t need us to pay the salary, so the conditions are more flexible.”  

Besides, Su Tang wasn’t carrying any negative baggage now.  

The hospital hadn’t hired anyone in years. Now that they were opening up positions, it was likely an urgent recruitment.  

As long as Su Tang had the ability, the hospital wouldn’t refuse her.  

“I see. Don’t worry, I’ll go to the hospital tomorrow to check it out.”  

Su Tang smiled, but inside, she was overjoyed.  

In her modern life, she had been a top performer in her department—highly skilled, professional, and, most importantly, she had eight years of hospital experience.  

Now, with the original host’s memories of studying abroad, Su Tang was confident she could land the job.  

The next day, Su Tang arrived at the hospital early.  

Sunlight streamed through the glass windows into the hallway, and the smell of disinfectant filled her with a sense of familiarity.  

She wore well-tailored clothes, walked with light steps, and carried a faint, almost imperceptible smile on her lips.  

Last night, she had specifically asked Lu Xiao and learned that the head nurse at this hospital was Zheng Jinxin.  

What a small world. She wondered if Zheng Jinxin would try to sabotage the interview.  

Zheng Jinxin’s methods were far more sophisticated than Hu Lili’s—outwardly friendly, but who knew what she was really thinking behind the scenes?  

As soon as Su Tang entered the hospital lobby, she saw a meticulously made-up woman walking toward her.  

The woman wore a fitted nurse’s uniform, a gentle smile on her lips, but her eyes flashed with a barely detectable hostility the moment she saw Su Tang.  

“We meet again, Su Tang.”  

Zheng Jinxin extended her hand. “I heard you were coming for an interview, so I happened to pass by and thought I’d take you to the HR department.”  

Su Tang put on a grateful smile. “Then I’ll trouble Head Nurse Zheng.”  

Both women wore polite smiles, though Zheng Jinxin’s clearly carried a hint of disdain.  

She hadn’t gone looking for Su Tang, yet here Su Tang was, coming to her instead.  

Zheng Jinxin had no desire to work alongside Su Tang—it would only make people think they were on the same level.  

But Zheng Jinxin didn’t see her as an equal. Su Tang would only bring Lu Xiao endless trouble.  

She wouldn’t.  

As the two walked down the hallway, Zheng Jinxin moved at a leisurely pace, her smile never wavering.  

When they passed the nurse’s station, she suddenly stopped and turned to Su Tang.  

“Su Tang, you should know that working in a hospital isn’t like other places. What matters here is diligence and hard work. Superficial charm won’t get you far.”  

As she spoke, she glanced pointedly at Su Tang’s clothes.  

Su Tang naturally caught the implication but maintained her faint smile. Losing face wasn’t an option for her.  

“Head Nurse Zheng is absolutely right. I can’t speak for anything else, but I’m certainly willing to endure hardship. You don’t need to worry.”  

What kind of hardship hadn’t she experienced?  

Back when she was a resident, she had endured more than her fair share.  

Her words carried a hidden edge, a reminder to Zheng Jinxin that she wasn’t someone to be trifled with.  

When they reached the HR office door, Zheng Jinxin knocked. A voice inside called, “Come in.”

Pushing open the door, Su Tang saw three interviewers inside: the hospital’s deputy director and two department heads.  

Zheng Jinxin walked in with a smile and enthusiastically introduced, “Deputy Director Zhang, Director Li, Director Wang, this is Comrade Su Tang, here for the interview.”  

Then, putting on the demeanor of a caring older sister, she turned to Su Tang.  

“Su Tang, these leaders are all seasoned veterans of the hospital. You’d better give it your best.”  

Su Tang greeted the interviewers politely and took a seat in the chair across from them.  

The interview began with Deputy Director Zhang asking some basic questions, which Su Tang answered one by one, composed and confident.  

When it was Zheng Jinxin’s turn to ask questions, her smile widened.  

“Comrade Su Tang, I heard you studied advanced medical techniques abroad. But given that domestic medical conditions still lag behind, how do you plan to apply what you’ve learned in practice?”  

The question seemed to test Su Tang’s adaptability, but it subtly implied that her knowledge might not suit the local environment—a veiled attempt to pressure her into backing down.  

Su Tang saw through it but remained unfazed.  

“Head Nurse Zheng is right. Our hospital’s conditions indeed can’t compare to those abroad. But the core of medical practice is serving patients. No matter the limitations, with dedication, we can always find suitable methods.”  

“Even in the most rudimentary conditions, didn’t Dr. Norman Bethune save countless lives back then?”  

Her answer earned nods from the interviewers, while Zheng Jinxin’s expression stiffened slightly.  

Zheng Jinxin then asked several technical questions, all of which Su Tang answered fluently.  

She even drew from her experience working in a modern hospital to offer practical suggestions.  

Watching Su Tang’s confidence, Zheng Jinxin grew increasingly irritated.  

She hadn’t expected Su Tang to be so capable. She had hoped to embarrass her during the interview, but instead, Su Tang had stolen the spotlight.  

When the interview ended, Su Tang stood to leave. Zheng Jinxin rose as well. “Su Tang, let me walk you out.”  

As they reached a corner in the hallway, Zheng Jinxin turned, her expression softening.  

“Su Tang, once you start working here, if there’s anything you don’t understand, you can always ask me. Lu Xiao and I are friends—I’ll definitely look out for you.”  

Su Tang watched her act, inwardly scoffing, but her smile remained sweet.  

“Since this is a hospital, let’s keep things professional. Thank you, Head Nurse Zheng.”  

“Oh, I forgot to mention—I interned at a hospital in Shanghai before. My professional skills are passable. Some of the questions you asked today… well, they didn’t seem like something a true professional would ask.”  

With that, Su Tang stepped forward and took Zheng Jinxin’s hand.  

“You even got the medication names wrong. You should be more careful. If the director finds out, or if the wrong medicine is given to a patient… well, that could lead to serious trouble.”  

She released Zheng Jinxin’s hand and walked away, leaving the latter fuming.  

What did Su Tang mean by that? Was she mocking her for being all show and no substance?  

Back home, Su Tang recounted the interview to Lu Xiao, who had no doubt she’d aced it.  

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.  

“What’s this?”  

Su Tang took it and opened it, then smiled at what she saw.  

“White Rabbit milk candy.”  

Lu Xiao nodded, slightly embarrassed, and turned his face away.  

“Chang Jia has a relative in the county town who helped buy it.”  

In this era, there weren’t many gifts to choose from, and Lu Xiao wasn’t well-versed in such things.  

But in his mind, White Rabbit candy was the most precious thing he could offer.  

Giving it to Su Tang would surely make her happy.  

“Then I’ll gladly accept it. Wait here—I have a gift for you too.”  

Su Tang disappeared into the inner room, leaving Lu Xiao’s heart suspended.  

It wasn’t a holiday or special occasion—what could she possibly give him?