Chapter 221

Around four in the afternoon, the last exam ended.

Considering that most of these twenty-plus people came from outside the Sea Island, it was not suitable to stay long.

Thus the examiners announced that the admission notices would be posted in an hour; during that time the candidates could rest in the lounge, replenish their strength, and have something to eat.

The hospital provided some steamed buns, baozi, and a simple kelp soup.

After everything is completely finished, the military will arrange to send the candidates to the pier to board ships, making proper arrangements to safely send them back to the main unit and home.

As for the military wives taking the exam, it's not so troublesome; once the exam results are announced, they can return to the family quarters.

Zhou Hongyu walked over feeling light-headed and heavy-footed, plopped down beside Shen Man, and said with a frightened expression:

"Shen Man, I'm really nervous; just now while suturing, I seemed to have tied an extra knot."

"It's fine; an extra knot isn't a big deal. As long as your suturing technique is correct and can withstand the examiners' inspection, you'll pass—don't scare yourself."

Shen Man thought for a moment, took out a fruit hard candy from her handbag, and said gently:

"Eat a candy to relieve the tension."

"Wow, thank you."

Zhou Hongyu, even as an adult, had never received candy from a friend before; she was truly flattered and astonished.

"Such a tiny profit can win people's hearts; Zhou Hongyu, you're too easily fooled, aren't you?"

Dahai Ba had been keeping an eye on Shen Man's movements; for some reason, since morning he had been, paying attention to this woman's movements.

Unable to resist his instinct, he moved closer, wanting to make his presence felt.

"Dahai Ba, you're just saying grapes are sour because you can't eat them, aren't you?"

After Zhou Hongyu tasted the sweetness, her mood instantly became less uneasy and tense.

She felt grateful to Shen Man inside, so when Dahai Ba stepped forward again to provoke Shen Man, she stood in front of Shen Man like a firecracker.

"Say whatever you want; anyway the exam is over—wait and see, I will definitely be first!"

Dahai Ba said proudly, his score would certainly be the best!

By then, Shen Man will have to admit in front of everyone that she is inferior to him!

For some reason, a feeling of excitement welled up inside her, and her competitive desire reached its peak.

"You? Still want to be first? Dream on—I'm telling you, Dahai Ba, pride goes before a fall!"

Zhou Hongyu inexplicably just trusted her intuition; she felt Shen Man would definitely be admitted.

As for Dahai Ba, he's going too far—would the military medical corps admit someone arrogant and complacent who, during the exam, shoves others aside for his own score?

She had a vague suspicion in her heart, but not being certain, she remained silent.

"Zhou Hongyu, you—"

Just as Dahai Ba was about to say something, someone pushed a food cart in.

Many people had eaten up their dry rations, and after such a long exam their strength was exhausted.

Upon seeing the food, they naturally lined up to receive it.

Seeing this, Dahai Ba stopped talking and went to line up to get food.

Anyway, once the results are out, Zhou Hongyu will be waiting to see Shen Man admit to him that she's not as good as him!

"Shen Man, there's food; let's go line up."

Zhou Hongyu licked her lips; actually, at noon at Shen Man's house she had eaten quite a bit, but now she's hungry again.

"I'm not hungry; you go line up, I'll wait for the results and then go home to eat."

Shen Man shook her head, deciding not to fight them for food.

Given her understanding of her man, after work he would return home to prepare something tasty for her.

If she fills up on steamed buns now, what will she eat when she gets home?

Wouldn't that be wasting her man's hard work?

"Alright, then I'll go line up."

Zhou Hongyu thought of Shen Man's lover and realized there was no point in urging her further.

Shen Man's lover is truly intimidating!

But toward Shen Man he's really good—he won't even let her peel shrimp shells, doing everything himself personally.

At noon, however long she ate noodles, that's how long she watched that couple flaunt their love!

To be honest, just watching them made her envious!

If a man treated her that well, she might really marry him without a second thought!

Oh no, can't think like that.

Grandma and her aunts raised her to this age without letting her marry early, so that she would have room to make her own choices later!

She mustn't let love addle her brain—her mind would go crazy!

Shen Man is kind and lucky, so she lives well; that's just her good fate.

Her life from childhood hasn't been that good; her confidence comes from herself, not from relying on family to prop her up, nor from using marriage to escape reality.

"Manman, are you tired?"

Outside the window, Pei Yan Ting called out, summoning her sister; she had prepared fruit slices, eating fruit is good for pregnant women.

"It's fine, not tired; it's going more smoothly than I imagined."

Seeing her sister-in-law, Shen Man gave a knowing smile, walked out of the lounge, and sat with her on the hallway bench, eating the fruit slices with a toothpick.

"This mango is really sweet."

"Right, it was sent by fellow villagers; there's also this guava—try it, but don't eat it if it's sour."

"It's okay."

"Have another piece of banana; this one is ripe through and through."

"Mm, sweet."

The aunt-in-law and sister-in-law chatted and laughed, and before long they had finished the whole box of sliced fruit.

"All right, in half an hour the results will be out; no matter what the outcome, you're the best."

Pei Yan Ting didn't finish her sentence; instead, she gave her sister a preventive shot ahead of time.

"I know, sis-in-law, don't worry; if I don't pass this time, I'll try again next year."

Shen Man took it in stride; if she didn't succeed once, she'd try again.

But having made a bet with Bao Dahai beforehand, she was determined to win this time!

Pei Yan Ting nodded, saying little, for many words lead to loss.

The tense, exciting moment was about to be revealed; the more such a moment, the calmer Shen Man's mood became.

The invigilators held up a red sheet and posted it on the wall.

They announced the exam results, each person's subject scores, and the total score.

Finally, the list of the top three was made public——

"First place, Shen Man."

"Second place, Liu Jiaotong."

"Third place, Zhou Hongyu, Zhang Yibing."

The scene instantly erupted in chatter and bustle.

"I'm second?"

"I tied for third with another candidate?"

"Shen Man, how is that possible? How could you possibly be first place!"

"What's unfair about it? You didn't see that I had the highest total score, right?"

"Exactly, Bao Dahai, aren't you being unreasonable? How come you didn't even make the top three?"

"Could it be that you can't bear to lose?"

For a moment, the chatter drowned out Bao Dahai's doubts.

The chief invigilator, who was also the director physician of the Military Region Hospital, gestured for everyone to be quiet and said he would answer any questions.

"Chief invigilator, I tied for third with another candidate—so who between us gets admitted?"

Zhou Hongyu looked anxious; she was happy to have passed, but with another person tied for third, she feared the admission result might not be hers.

"Given that this year's candidates are exceptionally strong, after our discussion we decided to admit them all."

"Great, Shen Man, I got in!"

"Mm, congratulations."

"Hahaha, I got in too—great!"

Zhang Yibing was a tall, slim young man.

Upon hearing the result, he couldn't help but tear up with joy.