After Chu Xia submitted her application form, the next day she received her assignment.

She and Feng Xiaoyuan were both sent to a county south of the southern suburbs of Beijing.

Chu Xia felt that Director Lin must have taken her situation into account because, compared to other regions, this county was relatively close to the hospital.

If they had been assigned to counties in other directions, it would have meant a much longer distance from the hospital.

Feng Xiaoyuan was particularly excited and ran into Chu Xia’s office with her medical records. “Senior Sister! We’re going to the same place! With you here, I’m completely at ease!”

Chu Xia nodded while jotting down the items she needed to bring for the aid mission: medicinal herbs, medicines, and some medical equipment.

It would be inconvenient to return for these things later.

“Senior Sister, aren’t you happy?”

“I am,” Chu Xia finally looked up at her. “But I think you should start getting ready. We’re leaving tomorrow.”

“Right, right! I still need to say goodbye to Dr. Bai.”

Feng Xiaoyuan darted out again, and Chu Xia shook her head.

Feng Xiaoyuan needed to become more composed if she wanted to become a capable, independent doctor.

Nevertheless, Chu Xia found her carefree attitude refreshing, finding joy in the simplest things.

The next day, as Chu Xia was preparing to head to the hospital with her suitcase, Cen Zhengnian and Cen Huai’an were there to see her off.

“I’m leaving now.”

Chu Xia stood at the door, her eyes on the two of them.

The feeling of reluctance grew inside her, and her feet felt as if they were rooted to the spot.

Cen Zhengnian stepped forward, buttoning up her coat and adjusting the collar of her sweater.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of An’an. Once you’re settled, An’an and I will come to visit you.”

While working in the county, they might need to go to rural areas and wouldn’t know when they’d return.

There would be no time to come home.

Chu Xia released her suitcase and hugged Cen Zhengnian, whispering an “Mm” in response.

She let go and turned to Cen Huai’an, extending her arms. “An’an.”

Cen Huai’an walked over, his expression also showing sadness.

His mother would be away for a long time, and except for the previous time when his mother had to leave for her college entrance exams, he hadn’t been apart from her for this long.

Cen Huai’an lowered his head and hugged Chu Xia tightly, burying his face in her shoulder, his voice muffled. “Mom.”

Chu Xia patted his back. “If you need anything, talk to your dad. Mom will miss you.”

Then Chu Xia released him, fighting back tears and forcing a smile as she waved at Cen Zhengnian and Cen Huai’an. “I’m leaving now, don’t come see me off!”

Chu Xia didn’t want Cen Zhengnian and Cen Huai’an to see her off to the hospital; she was afraid she might cry on the bus.

On the bus to the county, Chu Xia placed her medical box on her lap, staring out the window.

She was still struggling to shake off the feelings of departure.

Feng Xiaoyuan, excitedly carrying her luggage, saw Chu Xia and waved enthusiastically. “Senior Sister! I’m here!”

Most of the doctors on the bus had calm expressions, with a few looking unwilling, probably pushed by the director.

Only Feng Xiaoyuan’s face was vividly animated, like a colorful bird appearing in a dull world.

Chu Xia looked at her approaching cheerfully, and the earlier feeling of parting was somewhat alleviated.

Feng Xiaoyuan sat next to Chu Xia, patting her chest. “I’m glad I made it! I was afraid someone else would be sitting next to you!”

Chu Xia glanced at her. “Only the two of us from the Chinese Medicine department are on this trip. Who else would sit next to me?”

Both Chu Xia and Feng Xiaoyuan had only been at the hospital for a little over six months and weren’t very familiar with the other doctors.

Feng Xiaoyuan laughed. “That’s true.”

With Feng Xiaoyuan around, Chu Xia’s side was lively. She couldn’t stop talking, asking Chu Xia if she wanted this or that, and mentioning two people outside.

“One man and a child. Wow! That man is even more handsome than Dr. Bai!”

Two people?

Chu Xia’s eyes widened in surprise, and she immediately turned to look out the window.

There stood Cen Zhengnian in a black trench coat, hands in pockets, at the roadside next to the bus.

He was wearing the deep blue shirt that she had picked out for him.

Cen Huai’an was standing beside him, wearing his middle school uniform and carrying a school bag.

Chu Xia was both surprised and delighted. She opened the window and waved to them. “An’an! Zhengnian!”

Cen Zhengnian and Cen Huai’an responded to her, and Chu Xia’s face lit up with a smile.

She stood up from her seat and headed toward them.

At that moment, a doctor, the head of their aid mission, approached with a list to call names.

Chu Xia quickly walked up to him and said, “I’m Luo Chuxia.”

Then she dashed out to Cen Zhengnian and Cen Huai’an, her joy evident. “How did you know which bus I was on?”

“I asked the security guard at the hospital gate.”

The security guard at the hospital knew the most.

Chu Xia’s smile widened as she held onto Cen Huai’an and Cen Zhengnian, chatting non-stop and reluctant to let them go.

The leader on the bus, who was preparing to call names, was stunned by Chu Xia’s actions.

He only understood what was happening when he saw her run to Cen Zhengnian.

He shook his head and continued calling names.

Once everyone was accounted for, the leader opened the window and shouted at Chu Xia, “Luo Chuxia, we’re leaving!”

Chu Xia’s smile froze, and she slowly let go of Cen Zhengnian and Cen Huai’an’s hands.

“Go now.”

Cen Zhengnian ruffled her hair.

Chu Xia reluctantly boarded the bus, turning back multiple times, as feelings of reluctance surged again.

On the bus, the leader called out again.

Chuxia couldn’t make everyone wait for her, so she hurried up the steps, took her seat, and continued to look out the window at Cen Zhengnian and Cen Huai’an.

“Go back!” Chuxia shouted to the two men, pressing her hands against the window.

Cen Zhengnian and Cen Huai’an didn’t move.

They continued to watch as the bus started and drove away, their eyes still on Chuxia’s seat.

Chuxia kept looking out the window at the father and son until the bus turned and they were no longer visible.

Only then did she sit back, her mood becoming somber again.

Feng Xiaoyuan turned around, her curiosity evident as she looked at Chuxia, clearly wanting to ask something.

However, Chuxia was too absorbed in her own emotions to notice Feng Xiaoyuan’s unspoken question.

Once Chuxia had managed to compose herself and regain her calm demeanor as she did during consultations, Feng Xiaoyuan bravely approached, her big eyes wide with curiosity. “Senior Sister, were those really your husband and son?”

Chuxia nodded. “Yes.”

Feng Xiaoyuan gasped, “Senior Sister, you really are amazing! Your husband and son are so impressive. You’re my role model now!”

Chuxia replied, “I’d prefer you admire me for my medical skills.”

“Same thing,” Feng Xiaoyuan said with a cheerful tilt of her head.

After nearly two hours of driving from the affiliated hospital, they arrived at the county town where Chuxia and her team were going to provide aid.

The buildings here were very old, with low, tiled houses surrounding the county hospital.

The hospital’s entrance was even more dilapidated, with marks clearly made by some sharp object.

“Could it have been vandalized back in the old days?” Feng Xiaoyuan guessed, looking at the door with wide eyes.

“Possible,” one of the doctors replied.

At that moment, a doctor wearing the same white coat as Chuxia’s team came out of the hospital, moving quickly and looking anxious.

“Is he from the research institute’s affiliated hospital?” the team leader asked.

“Yes, we…”

“Don’t talk, come with me!” the doctor interrupted, dragging the leader into the hospital.

The leader, being pulled along, shouted anxiously, “Hey, my luggage!”

“Lives are at stake; who cares about luggage!” the doctor retorted.

Left behind, Chuxia and the others exchanged confused glances, their faces showing their bewilderment.

Chuxia grabbed her luggage and ran into the hospital. “Xiaoyuan, keep up!”

The other doctors hurried after them, and one of them brought in the leader’s luggage.

Once inside, the doctors were quickly led by a nurse to the emergency room.

“Quick, quick! Luckily you arrived in time; we’re struggling to save a group of people with severe injuries,” the nurse said.

Chuxia and her team barely had time to catch their breath before being led into the emergency room, where several injured men lay or sat, groaning in pain.

Most were dressed in black, blue, or gray coarse fabric clothes, their shoes muddy, and their bodies covered in various wounds.

The doctors, including Chuxia and Feng Xiaoyuan, immediately began to treat the injuries.

Chuxia and Xiaoyuan focused on stopping bleeding and applying dressings, while the more severe cases required surgery, performed by the team leader and other Western doctors.

After finally treating all the injuries, Chuxia and Feng Xiaoyuan were exhausted and collapsed onto chairs in the hospital, not wanting to move.

A nurse brought a pot of water and served all the resting doctors, apologizing, “Sorry, our director didn’t expect such a large-scale emergency situation when you arrived. You’ve been thrown into the deep end.”

The leaders were still in the operating room. Chuxia took the water, shaking her head, too tired to say much.

Others assured the nurse it was no problem, as saving lives was their priority. They were there to help the hospital with patient care.

After drinking half a pot of water, Chuxia’s energy returned somewhat.

She heard Feng Xiaoyuan ask the nurse curiously, “It seems like the injuries were caused by a fight? What happened?”