Chapter 44: Thoroughly Breaking Face

Li Shirou hated Su Ruo intensely, but she had to suppress that hatred because she knew it was not yet the time to break with Su Ruo.

Su Ruo trying to force her to give up studying medicine by this method was impossible; even a village girl could do it, so Li Shirou could certainly do it too, given some time and more practice, she would surely overcome her inner fear.

Thinking this, Li Shirou's confidence flared again; she looked at Su Ruo and said, "Give me some time, I will definitely meet your assessment standards; when the time comes, I hope you won't go back on your word and teach me medicine."

Li Shirou prepared full of confidence for the next assessment, but one sentence from Su Ruo shattered all her fantasies.

"Too bad, you have no chance, because I will never take you as my disciple!"

Li Shirou stared at Su Ruo in shock, her voice sharp as she asked, "Why, Su Ruo, on what grounds do you refuse to take me?"

"Just because I dislike you! Is that reason enough? Li Shirou, you think you're smart, but don't treat everyone as fools.

You think I don't know that the rumors about me in the village spread by Chen Wei were all instigated by you!

It's a pity you hid it well, I have no evidence; otherwise, I would definitely send you and Chen Wei to carry night soil together.

Although I can't move against you now, it doesn't mean I'll just let you off.

From the first time we met on the train, you've been targeting me, scheming against me.

Now you even want me to teach you medicine—I truly don't know whether you think I'm stupid or you yourself are stupid.

Why should I teach you, to train this poisonous snake only to have it bite me back?"

Li Shirou never expected Su Ruo to suddenly break with her; she stood stunned for a long while before regaining her senses, her face contorted as she said, "So you admit it—you've been targeting me from the start, you deliberately went after me.

You said that as long as I pass the assessment, I could study medicine with you, and I must do so! You even took in that village girl, so why won't you take me?"

"Just because this medicine is mine to teach—I take whoever I want, and refuse whoever I don't; no one can force me! I'm right, Battalion Commander." Su Ruo finished speaking and glanced toward the Battalion Commander standing aside.

The Battalion Commander came today solely for his daughter; now that his daughter has left, he naturally won't offend Su Ruo for Li Shirou's sake.

So he chuckled and said, "Of course, Doctor Su has the freedom to take disciples—she may take whom she wishes and refuse whom she wishes, entirely her own decision."

After speaking, the Battalion Commander gave Li Shirou a warning glance.

Li Shirou felt wronged, tears streaming down; she knew Su Ruo had the Battalion Commander's backing, so no matter how she protested, it would be useless.

Li Shirou thought of all her painstaking schemes, ending up with nothing and being humiliated by Su Ruo; resentful and unwilling, she glared at Su Ruo once, then burst into tears and ran away.

Wu Qingqing watched Li Shirou's retreating back and said to Su Ruo, "We are all educated youths from the same Zhiqing Dian; even if there are misunderstandings, talking it out would be fine—why must you be so aggressive, straining the relationship like this, what good does it do you?"

Su Ruo looked at her with a mocking gaze: "Wu Qingqing, you're so broad-minded; I hope that if someday you're accused of impropriety and divorced by your husband, you won't get angry either."

Wu Qingqing flushed with anger but could not retort; she could only chase after Li Shirou.

After the troublemakers left, the Battalion Commander also led the remaining girls away; the clinic was left with only Su Ruo and Li Zhaodi.

Li Zhaodi suddenly knelt before Su Ruo; seeing this, Su Ruo slightly frowned and said in a cold tone:

"If you have something to say, stand up and speak; otherwise I'll think you're using kneeling to blackmail me into agreeing to your demands."

Li Zhaidi's heart jumped; she hurriedly stood up and stammered, "Doctor Su, I'm not, I don't mean that..."

Su Ruo had spent a long time with Li Zhaodi and understood her personality to some extent; she simply disliked others kneeling before her.

Anything can be discussed among us; success or failure depends on personal willingness. Li Zhaodi's kneeling, if she herself hadn't agreed to her request, would appear to others as heartless and unrighteous.

Su Ruo disliked being forced into decisions, and even more disliked being morally blackmailed; seeing Li Zhaodi rise, she asked, "Say what you have to say!"

Li Zhaodi clenched the corner of her clothes tightly with her hand, and after a long while said, "Doctor Su, I truly want to study medicine with you, but I have no money, I can't afford the tuition..."

Li Zhaodi's voice grew almost inaudible at the end; her face flushed, she dared not lift her head to look into Su Ruo's eyes.

Su Ruo had long known Li Zhaodi had no money, so her words came as no surprise.

She said, "Since you can't produce money, you can make up for it with labor—from now on, you must go with me to the mountains every week to gather herbs, and also handle cooking and cleaning in the clinic; are you willing?"

Li Zhaodi had already braced herself for Su Ruo's refusal; upon hearing Su Ruo's words, her eyes lit up instantly.

Compared to the farm work she usually does, what Su Ruo asked for is nothing at all.

Li Zhaodi stepped forward excitedly, grabbed Su Ruo's hand and said, "Master, you really mean it—you really agree to take me as your disciple and teach me medicine?"

Su Ruo slipped her hand back without a trace, shook it slightly, and thought darkly: What has this child been eating to grow up like this? Her grip is really strong.

Then she put on a stern face and said, "Don't rush to call me Master; let's set a one-month period—whether to take you as a disciple will be decided after you pass the assessment."

"Master, rest assured I will work hard to satisfy you; it's getting late, I'll go make you a meal."

Li Zhaodi said that and rushed into the small kitchen to cook.

Su Ruo, seeing her laugh and shake her head, actually reduced Li Zhaodi's tuition not merely out of pity.

Li Zhaodi cooks well, is diligent and capable, has perseverance and grit, endures hardship, and is excellent material for studying medicine.

Su Ruo now has to see patients, prepare for the College Entrance Exam, and look after An'an.

She has too much to do, truly lacking time and energy to waste on cooking and cleaning.

Li Zhaodi is undoubtedly the best helper.

Li Zhaodi soon finished cooking the meal; Su Ruo saw her not coming to the table, instead gnawing on a dry bun in the corner, and said with a stern face:

"I'm not an ancient landlord who just makes you work without letting you eat; come over and eat together—from now on, your meal fees will be deducted from the money you earn gathering herbs."

Li Zhaodi instinctively wanted to refuse; Su Ruo being able to teach her medicine is already a huge favor to her—she can't keep eating and drinking for free here.

But Li Zhaodi also knew Su Ruo always means what she says and hates nagging; since she invited herself to eat together, it must be a genuine invitation.

Li Zhaodi hesitated a moment, then finally sat at the table and began eating with Su Ruo, though her eyes were filled with tears.

Li Zhaodi felt Su Ruo treated her better than her own parents; her parents only knew to make her work and give the good food to her younger brother.

From childhood to now, Su Ruo is the first person who didn't despise her and treated her so well.

So Li Zhaodi swore in her heart that she would surely study medicine hard and later repay Su Ruo well.

Because it was the clinic's opening day, few people came to see a doctor, but many came just to watch the excitement.

Su Ruo learned a shocking piece of gossip from the mouths of those onlookers.

Today, Chen Wei and Li Cuiping were carrying night soil when, for some unknown reason, they suddenly started fighting.

By ill luck, the night soil they were carrying tipped over, spilling a full bucket all over both of them; the two, covered in crawling insects, reeked so badly the stench could be smelled hundreds of meters away.

That auntie knew Su Ruo had a grudge against Chen Wei and Li Cuiping, and she chattered on with animated eyebrows; Su Ruo listened and felt waves of nausea—she was very glad she had already eaten, otherwise she would surely not be able to keep anything down now.

Su Ruo had thought this farce would end here, but she never expected the fire to reach the Youth Work Station; from then on the Youth Work Station was in turmoil every day, with no peace left.

100,000 words~ (~￣▽￣~)~