Chapter 8

Lu Nong did not expect that Father Lu and Mother Lu were involved in this situation.

What kind of parents would take advantage of their daughter, who had just lost her husband, and use her job for money while she was heartbroken and unaware?

Did they not realize that their eldest daughter would face difficulties in the future and would rely on her nursing job to support herself and her child?

They probably knew, yet they still went behind her back and sold the original owner’s job.

Lu Nong felt a chill run through her. It seemed they were determined to drain every last drop of blood from their eldest daughter.

The original owner had truly fallen into bad luck to be born into such a family.

She had no fondness for the original owner’s family and felt particularly disgusted by this opportunistic cousin. With a look of feigned innocence, she chose not to engage with her about their parents selling her job. Instead, she turned to the head nurse and said,

“Head nurse, I’m back today to collect the salaries the hospital has kept for me over the past few months. We agreed that the temporary worker would get half and the hospital would keep the other half. Can you please settle that for me? I will be back to work tomorrow.”

This statement had two implications. First, it emphasized that Lu Fang was merely a temporary worker doing her job, meaning she was entitled to only half the wages, while the other half rightfully belonged to Lu Nong.

The second implication was directed at Lu Fang, making it clear that she should return what belonged to Lu Nong without any fuss.

As for resigning, that could wait. She simply could not let Lu Fang take advantage of her.

“No!” Lu Fang quickly intervened, determined not to allow Lu Nong to return. If she came back, that would mean Lu Fang would have to return to menial work in the logistics department.

Logistics work is nowhere near as respectable as being a nurse. Besides, if she goes back now, who knows when she’ll get another chance for a permanent position? She had just told her new boyfriend that she was an official, full-time nurse at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Lu Fang couldn’t help but complain about her father in her heart. Wasn’t it said that Lu Nong’s family was a mess and that she wouldn’t be back to the hospital anytime soon?

It was agreed that after she worked in the hospital for a long time, things would be set in stone and the fake would become real. Lu Nong had a soft personality and couldn’t resist, so she could only obey in the end.

So why was she back at the hospital now?

The head nurse frowned upon hearing Lu Nong’s words and looked at Lu Fang. “Didn’t you say you would give Lu Nong her salary?”

Initially, it was Lu Fang who suggested that she could bring the salary to her cousin, Lu Nong, since they were family. The head nurse thought it made sense. They were all part of the same family, and it would be simpler to give the salary to Lu Fang.

Who would have thought that a case of impersonation would come up?

A flicker of guilt crossed Lu Fang’s flat face as she stammered, “I—I haven’t had a chance to give Nong Nong her salary yet.”

“Three months have passed, and you still haven’t found the time? It seems you never intended to give it at all,” a voice suddenly chimed in, revealing Lu Fang’s true intentions.

It turned out that earlier, Lu Fang had been reprimanded by the head nurse. Although it seemed no one was around, a group of young nurses had been eavesdropping from another room, secretly enjoying the spectacle of Lu Fang’s embarrassment.

Lu Nong and Lu Fang faced off, and the nurses couldn’t help but come out to watch the drama unfold.

The speaker was Zheng Yinhua, a temporary nurse who laughed the loudest at Lu Fang’s misfortune. Now she was boldly stripping away Lu Fang’s dignity in front of everyone.

Lu Nong glanced at the girl who seemed to have a grudge against Lu Fang, pulling her from memory.

No wonder she acted so boldly. Typically, temporary workers earn less than full-time employees and lack job security. They have always been at the bottom of the food chain and are even looked down upon in some companies.

Yet Zheng Yinhua showed no signs of being restrained by her temporary worker status. She mocked and criticized without fear, not concerned about any potential retaliation from Lu Fang or her father, the logistics director.

This was because Zheng Yinhua had influential connections. She was the niece of the hospital director, placed in the nurse station as a temporary worker a year ago.

Her interactions with the original owner were minimal. While other nurses excluded Lu Nong, Zheng Yinhua, being a temporary worker herself, lacked the confidence to join in on that exclusion. Thus, she became one of the few “middlemen” in the nurse station.

“You!” Lu Fang was infuriated by the public mockery, her face turning red with rage. She never imagined this group was watching; she knew they would gossip about her afterward.

“What about me?” Zheng Yinhua rolled her eyes. “Are you afraid to own up to your actions?”

Zheng Yinhua had disliked Lu Fang for a long time. Despite diligently working for a year without being promoted, Lu Fang had arrived and brazenly pushed out the previous temporary worker, claiming she had taken her cousin’s position. While that was understandable, considering family ties, Lu Fang’s character left much to be desired.

In her three months at the nurse station, Lu Fang had caused trouble, flirting with married officers and insulting Zheng Yinhua for getting hired through her connection to the hospital director, yet here she was, still just a temporary worker.

Now that she had the chance, how could she not take the opportunity to ridicule Lu Fang?

Lu Fang hated Zheng Yinhua for making her life difficult, but she couldn’t retaliate against someone with such a strong background.

Still, she couldn’t let go of her frustration, so she directed all her anger at Lu Nong.

It was all Lu Nong’s fault. If she hadn’t come today, she wouldn’t have been the target of ridicule. Why are they only laughing at her?

If you want to laugh, laugh at Lu Nong!

“If you think I wouldn’t give her the salary, you’re wrong. I know things have been tough for Nong Nong. With Commander Gu gone, it’s such a pity. Now, it’s just the two of you left—a widow raising a child. Life will be hard for you,” Lu Fang said, wiping her tears, pretending to mourn for Lu Nong while secretly feeling pleased. She emphasized words like “pity” and “widow” with a heavy tone.

As soon as she finished speaking, the atmosphere froze.

Before, Lu Nong had taken leave without explaining her reasons, and everyone assumed she was just resting due to poor health. However, the hospital was aware of her husband’s passing, which was why they were so accommodating with her long leave.

But because this involved a soldier’s family, the hospital had kept it confidential. So, aside from Lu Nong’s direct supervisor, the head nurse, no one else knew the truth.

Now that Lu Fang had revealed it, the news exploded in everyone’s minds.

Lu Nong had become a widow?!

Previously, Commander Gu, who had a bright future and was handsome, had devoted himself to marrying Lu Nong, rejecting all others. That had made the young nurses envious.

The reactions to the news of Commander Gu’s death varied; some were gloating, while others expressed sorrow, each person processing the information in their own way.

The shock on everyone’s faces filled Lu Fang with delight. She felt a sense of superiority, thinking, “So what if you were better than me before, now you are living worse than me.”.

Meanwhile, Lu Nong felt completely disgusted by Lu Fang.

“I am doing just fine,” Lu Nong interrupted Lu Fang’s faux sympathy, her voice sharp. “My husband sacrificed himself for our country. He died a hero on the battlefield. His death cannot be dismissed by your trivial ‘what a pity’ remark.”

“You have no right to judge him.”

“As for me, I have hands and feet, so I don’t need your worry. As long as you don’t take my job, I believe I will be just fine.”

As soon as she spoke, the surroundings fell silent, putting Lu Fang in the hot seat. The way everyone looked at Lu Fang had shifted.

Indeed, no one was foolish. It was clear that Lu Fang had taken pleasure in Lu Nong’s misfortune. Who wouldn’t have noticed?

But where was this?

This was a military hospital. Most patients were soldiers, and those in leadership positions were also military personnel. The staff had a special respect for soldiers and even more so for soldiers’ widows.

After Lu Nong spoke, more and more people gathered around, silently listening to her powerful words. The unspoken solidarity was deafening.

The hostility in the gazes directed at Lu Fang grew, even the head nurse looked at her with disdain. Lu Fang was thoroughly flustered and was about to explain herself when—

“Well said!” An elderly man in military uniform stepped forward from the crowd.

The head nurse quickly stepped forward to greet him, “Director, what brings you here?”

The director waved his hand, signaling the head nurse not to focus on trivial matters. Behind him were several department heads, including Lu Nong’s second uncle, who wore military uniform. His face resembled Lu Fang’s, marked by a tense expression mixed with anger.

Ma Xiaomei stood at the edge of the crowd and winked at Lu Nong. She worried that Lu Nong’s gentle nature would lead her to be bullied by the thick-skinned Lu Fang, so she planned to seek the department head’s support for Lu Nong. Unexpectedly, she ran into the director, who had come to see for himself after hearing the situation.

Once he arrived, it became clear that Lu Nong didn’t need anyone else to speak on her behalf. She could handle Lu Fang herself.

With just a single statement, she had dug countless pitfalls for Lu Fang.

The director squinted as he scanned Lu Fang, making her heart race. He then turned to Lu Nong, speaking kindly, “Comrade Lu Nong, don’t worry. If you face any injustice, the hospital will support you. No one will be allowed to bully you, no matter who they are.”

Lu Nong was quick-witted and immediately took advantage of the situation. “Thank you, Director. My request is simple. I just want Lu Fang to return the salary she owes me.”

“Also, I never said I would transfer my job to her. I’d appreciate it if everyone here could bear witness to that.”

The director nodded, finding her request quite reasonable. He looked at Lu Fang, “Comrade Lu, do you understand?”

Though Lu Fang felt reluctant, she didn’t dare to contradict the director and nodded repeatedly, “I understand, I understand.”

“Is that all? Don’t you think you need to apologize for your reckless words?” The director’s tone turned serious.

“I agree with Comrade Lu Nong. I believe you have no right to judge a soldier who sacrificed himself for his country, nor to mock the family of that hero. She has the nation behind her, and the country will never let her down. Her husband defended our homeland, which allows you to speak so freely here today. If you cannot grasp the severity of this situation, the hospital will consider firing you.”

Lu Fang felt her face flush with shame as the crowd watched. Terrified at the prospect of being fired, her face turned pale, and she nervously said to Lu Nong, “I’m sorry, Nong Nong. I was wrong. Please forgive me, I won’t do it again.”

Lu Nong simply nodded, “I don’t forgive you.”

Lu Fang: “…”

Perhaps Lu Nong’s straightforwardness shocked everyone, as they didn’t think there was anything wrong with her refusal to reconcile with Lu Fang.

It was only natural. Mocking someone over the death of their husband would leave anyone with a grudge for life, especially when it involved a soldier’s family. Asking them to be magnanimous would be too heartless.

“In that case, I’ll mark this as a major infraction in your file. You will return to your previous position, and if there’s another incident, you’ll be fired immediately!” The director issued the ultimatum.

Lu Fang shrank back, losing all her previous arrogance.

With that, the matter came to a close. Lu Fang, using the excuse of fetching Lu Nong’s money, hurriedly left with her father.

As she left, Lu Nong caught a glimpse of her second uncle’s cold and hidden gaze directed at her.

Lu Nong smiled slightly, realizing that her uncle didn’t know she had married Pei Ji’an. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have this attitude.

Now, she was more worried that her second uncle would come looking for trouble. Just imagining how he thought he could easily manipulate her, only to run into a solid wall was quite amusing.

With Pei Ji’an as her support, she wouldn’t let any opportunity go to waste.

As the crowd dispersed, Lu Nong called out to Zheng Yinhua, “Nurse Zheng, wait a moment.”

Zheng Yinhua looked surprised, “Me?”

“Yes,” Lu Nong replied. “I wanted to ask if you’re interested in buying my position.”

This was the best solution Lu Nong could come up with. It would earn her some money while leaving Lu Fang and her second uncle empty-handed.

“!”

Zheng Yinhua was almost speechless with excitement. Coming back to her senses, she hurriedly asked, “Really, Comrade Lu? Are you serious about selling it? You’re not joking, right?”

“You saw what happened,” Lu Nong shrugged. “I’ve completely offended Lu Fang and her father. If she ever has a bad idea again… I really don’t want to deal with them.”

Zheng Yinhua nodded in agreement, “Lu Fang is indeed quite malicious. How much do you want?”

Lu Nong thought for a moment, “How about eight hundred?”

“Deal!” Zheng Yinhua agreed immediately without haggling. “When do we handle the paperwork?”

Lu Nong pointed to the bag she was holding, saying, “I have my household registration here. We can do it now. Can you gather the money?”

Since she had come to resign today, she had brought her registration and documents.

Zheng Yinhua looked astonished, “Well, I could ask my uncle for a bit. Just wait for a moment.”

Zheng Yinhua’s uncle was the hospital director, and she didn’t shy away from mentioning it.

Lu Nong nodded. Since she had to wait for Lu Fang anyway, waiting a bit longer wouldn’t matter.

After a while, Lu Nong’s second uncle returned, but Lu Fang didn’t come back with him.

He handed an envelope to Lu Nong. Cautiously, she opened it and counted the money. Her uncle twitched his mouth and sighed, saying, “Nong Nong, your second uncle would never lie to you.”

Wow, a hint of tea flavor—turns out he was a real green tea old boy.

“That’s not certain. After all, I almost lost my job. Who knows what some people are capable of? You can never know a person’s true character, right, Uncle?”

Lu Nong smiled sweetly. “A total of sixty-seven yuan and fifty cents. Tell Lu Fang that the money is settled.”

Her second uncle finally dropped the fake benevolent expression and said sternly, “Nong Nong, there’s an old saying: ‘Leave some room for others, and you’ll meet again later.’ You will eventually rely on your maternal family.”

When soft persuasion fails, threats take their place. Clearly, Lu Fang didn’t inherit any of that cunning.

“Then I won’t trouble you with that.”

Lu Nong maintained her impenetrable demeanor, her expression conveying, “Do you have something to say? If not, goodbye.” This infuriated her second uncle, and he turned to leave.

Zheng Yinhua soon returned, panting. “Did I keep you waiting? I went back to the dorm to get my household registration and borrowed some money from my uncle. It took a bit of time on the way.”

Lu Nong replied, “No worries, let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Upon reaching the human resources department, Lu Nong explained her intention to transfer jobs. The staff member didn’t ask many questions. In this day and age, jobs were like iron rice bowls; a father could transfer his position to his son, and a mother could pass hers to her daughter, so selling a position wasn’t uncommon. However, since nurses were in technical positions, most transfers were internal.

Zheng Yinhua had worked at the hospital for a year, meeting the necessary criteria, and the staff quickly handled the paperwork for both of them.

Once they exited the HR office, Zheng Yin Hua handed the money to Lu Nong, who counted it in front of her, ensuring everything was clear.

“You… if you’re not going to be a nurse, how will you make a living?” Zheng Yinhua hesitated but finally asked.

Lu Nong winked at her, saying, “Don’t worry about me. My health doesn’t really suit a nursing career, and… actually, I’m an undergraduate student who hasn’t graduated yet. I’m just taking this time to go back to school and finish my studies.”

Zheng Yinhua was taken aback, but by the time she gathered her thoughts, Lu Nong had already walked away, leaving only a faint fragrance behind.

After leaving the hospital, Lu Nong headed to Li Garden to find Aunt Wu.

Li Garden was her uncle’s home, a garden-style villa surrounded by lush greenery lining the path. In the summer, the walls were adorned with white and pink roses, while a row of wisteria trees provided a screen of privacy. The wisteria cascaded down, giving the appearance of purple smoke enveloping the villa from a distance.

Lu Nong walked along the wall until she reached the front door and rang the doorbell.

After a short while, a woman in her fifties emerged from the villa.

“Young Lady, what brings you here?”

**

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