Chapter 167: Asking for Death Themselves

Their surprise and praise were the best testament to the clinic's new appearance.

"How is it? Does this hospital not match your dreams quite well?"

He Ling'er's eyes sparkled with cunning, her lips curving upward as she looked at Seeing Jun Jun Zijin with a half-smile.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin glanced around, her eyes full of delight; she cleared her throat and said with feigned seriousness:

"Mm, indeed not bad, barely meeting the standard!"

He Ling'er's eyes rolled, and she muttered in pretended dissatisfaction:

"Barely meeting the standard? How can you be so ungrateful?"

No sooner had the words left her lips than both of them burst out laughing.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin looked at He Ling'er, then nodded repeatedly, offering praise without holding back:

"I'm extremely satisfied! Ling'er, if not for you, I wouldn't know when this hospital could ever be built."

He Ling'er's proud smile grew even brighter, yet she humbly said, which was rare for her:

"Oh, stop putting me on a pedestal. But truly, the success of this clinic is also the result of everyone's joint efforts. I merely did my part."

Suddenly, He Ling'er's expression turned serious, and she said:

"By the way, Jun Zijin, the clinic is built; we must begin preparing for the recruitment and onboarding training of doctors and nurses. This is a huge project and needs careful planning."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin nodded, showing a mischievous side as well:

"Then let's hold an open audition, just like the Emperor selecting concubines."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin's metaphor made everyone laugh, and Jun Chengcai finally spoke up:

"Haha, that metaphor is fresh, but we dare not 'select concubines like the Emperor'; this is selecting doctors and nurses, so it must be serious and earnest."

After the group had laughed and joked for a while, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin formally arranged the upcoming work.

"Ling'er, you will handle the recruitment and training of nurses; borrow Xiao He from Tong'an Hall for a few days. Staff selection will disregard status and family background, prioritizing character instead. Additionally, there is a group of people who have been learning beside Xiao He; Ling'er, you will vet them. The matter of doctors is left to me, with Brother and Jun Shuyan assisting. We will divide the labor and cooperate."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin then turned her head toward Miao Zhu:

"Miao Zhu, you will handle the other miscellaneous tasks; prioritize refugees and the impoverished in Jingcheng. Furthermore, Miao Zhu, issue the recruitment notices today, hold interviews on the spot tomorrow, conduct a one-hour trial training lecture in the afternoon, and open a free clinic the day after. Miao Zhu, you will promote this matter."

After Seeing Jun Jun Zijin had arranged the work, He Ling'er immediately took her arm and said with a grin:

"Let's go to Bi Bo Ting for a meal to treat ourselves!"

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin then remembered she hadn't even eaten lunch; the small amount of plain porridge she had drunk in the morning had long since been digested. She was indeed starving now. She smiled helplessly and nodded in agreement.

Jun Jun Shuyan, standing nearby, also chimed in:

"Exactly, exactly. It's been ages since we ate at Second Sister's Bi Bo Ting; I've been craving it terribly."

Upon hearing they were going to eat at Bi Bo Ting, everyone's eyes immediately lit up.

The group walked toward Bi Bo Ting, chatting and laughing. Sunlight fell upon them, carrying a touch of winter laziness.

Just as they reached the entrance, Quan Quan Qingle arrived; before the person even appeared, the voice came first:

"Jun Zijin, you are still such a good friend; you never forget me when there's good food."

She then turned her head to look at He Ling'er, pouted her lips, and said with some dissatisfaction:

"As for you, Ling'er, you haven't been very friendly lately. How long has it been since you came to find me? You went to find Jun Zijin without even inviting me."

He Ling'er and Seeing Jun Jun Zijin exchanged a glance; both saw in the other's eyes that they would need to be cautious in future actions to avoid exposing any cracks.

He Ling'er felt somewhat helpless; she was not the real He Ling'er, so naturally, she did not possess such deep feelings for Quan Quan Qingle.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin smiled lightly and explained on He Ling'er's behalf:

"Quan Qingle, Ling'er has been studying nursing these past days. Today she came to find me regarding the clinic matters; now that the business is done, she's immediately come to treat you to a grand meal."

In reality, He Ling'er's job in her previous life had been a nurse; these days of studying nursing were merely to cover her tracks, preventing people from treating her like a monster when she worked at the clinic in the future, since the real He Ling'er did not know nursing.

Upon hearing this, Quan Quan Qingle's face bloomed with a smile; she stepped forward a few paces and took He Ling'er's arm:

"Alright, I forgive you."

After this little interlude, the group, led warmly by Shopkeeper Zhang, entered Xian Ying Pavilion.

As soon as Quan Quan Qingle pulled the curtain open a crack, she saw with surprise that Jun Jun Zhidie and Princess Wen Jiahe were sitting in the tea house opposite; she whispered:

"Look, isn't that Jun Jun Zhidie and Wen Jiahe? They are acting sneakily over there, as if plotting some grand scheme!"

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin and He Ling'er exchanged a glance; Jun Jun Zhidie and Wen Jiahe had never had any connection before, so the fact that these two were now together likely meant nothing good.

The group approached the window and peered through that crack; they saw that at the window-side seat in the tea house, Jun Jun Zhidie and Princess Jiahe sat facing each other, their expressions serious, speaking occasionally, not even bothering to touch the teacups in their hands.

Others did not know what those two were saying, but Seeing Jun Jun Zijin and He Ling'er had learned lip-reading at school.

They carefully deciphered the words of those two, and a cold smile curled their lips; indeed, some people, if you do not seek them out, will insist on seeking their own doom.

Soon, those two left the tea house.

Quan Quan Qingle plopped herself down in the seat of honor, putting on the air of a master:

"Jun Zijin, you must prepare some good dishes for me; otherwise, I won't do it."

The group burst into laughter. Seeing Jun Jun Zijin smiled helplessly and personally poured a cup of tea for Quan Quan Qingle.

"Rest assured; today I guarantee you will eat well and drink your fill."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin and her companions laughed and joked while feasting heartily. The matter at the tea house opposite did not affect their appetices in the slightest.

After the meal, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin, as usual, packed food for the Old Lady to take back.

Early the next morning, the first light of dawn appeared, the sky just turning fish-belly white; the hospital had not yet opened, yet the area before the normally quiet hospital entrance was already crowded with heads, as many medical practitioners had gathered there.

Carrying their aspirations and expectations for this job, they had gathered here early, hoping only to stand out in this interview.

Perhaps some among them had received news that the Emperor held shares in this hospital; this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and being able to practice medicine here would undoubtedly be a great honor in a medical career.

"I heard this hospital will surely become a leader in the medical world; if selected, that would be truly glorious!"

A young medical practitioner in the crowd said quietly, his eyes full of eagerness.

"Yes, I have practiced medicine diligently for many years, only hoping for a place where I can fully display my skills."

Beside him, an old Physician with snow-white hair stroked his beard and replied with full confidence.

As time passed, the interviews proceeded in an orderly fashion.

The physicians who came for the interviews also displayed their signature skills, each showcasing their strengths. The entire process was tense yet organized, and the recruitment work advanced very smoothly.

However, the smooth momentum did not last the whole day. In the afternoon, just as the trial training lectures were about to begin, trouble came one after another.