Chapter 167: Courting Death

Their amazement and admiration were the best interpretation of the hospital's new look.

"How is it? This hospital, isn't it pretty much what you dreamed of?"

He Linger’s eyes twinkled with a cunning light, the corners of her mouth lifted, and she looked at Jun Zijin with a half-smile.

Jun Zijin looked around, her eyes full of pleasant surprise; she cleared her throat and said with deliberate seriousness:

"Hmm, it is indeed not bad, barely meets the standard!"

He Linger rolled her eyes and muttered in feigned dissatisfaction:

"Barely meets the standard? How can you be so hard to please!"

As soon as she finished speaking, both of them burst into laughter.

Jun Zijin looked at He Linger, then nodded repeatedly, offering praise without reservation:

"I'm so satisfied! Linger, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't know when this hospital would ever be built."

He Linger’s proud smile grew even brighter, though she said with rare modesty:

"Alright, stop buttering me up. But honestly, the success of this hospital is the result of everyone's joint efforts. I just did my part."

Suddenly, He Linger’s expression turned serious, and she said:

"By the way, Zijin, the hospital is built, we need to start preparing for the recruitment and on-the-job training of doctors and nurses. This is a huge project, it must be planned carefully."

Jun Zijin nodded, also becoming playful:

"Then let's hold an open audition, just like the Emperor choosing his consorts."

Jun Zijin’s analogy made everyone laugh, and Jun Chengcai finally managed to interject:

"Haha, that’s a novel comparison, but we wouldn't dare 'choose consorts like the Emperor.' This is selecting doctors and nurses; it must be serious and earnest."

After the group had a good laugh, Jun Zijin officially arranged the upcoming work.

"The recruitment and training of nurses will be left to Linger; you can borrow Xiao He from Tong'an Hall for a few days. For the staff, character is more important than status or family background. Also, there is a group of people who have been learning alongside Xiao He; Linger, please oversee them. The doctors are my responsibility, with Brother and Shu Yan assisting. We will divide the work and cooperate."

Jun Zijin then turned her head toward Miaozhu:

"Miaozhu will handle other miscellaneous chores; prioritize refugees and impoverished households in Jingcheng. Also, Miaozhu, send out the recruitment notice today, hold on-site interviews tomorrow, host a one-hour training trial class in the afternoon, and hold a free clinic the day after tomorrow. Miaozhu, go handle the publicity for this."

After Jun Zijin finished arranging the work, He Linger grabbed her arm and said with a grin:

"Let's go, let's go to Biboting for a meal to reward ourselves!"

Only then did Jun Zijin remember she hadn't even eaten lunch; the thin porridge she had in the morning had long since been digested. She was indeed starving now. She smiled helplessly and nodded in agreement.

Jun Shuyan, who was on the side, also chimed in:

"Exactly, exactly, it’s been so long since I’ve been to Second Sister’s Biboting to eat; I’ve been craving it."

Upon hearing they were going to eat at Biboting, everyone’s eyes lit up immediately.

The group walked toward Biboting, chatting and laughing. The sunlight spilled onto them, carrying a bit of winter’s laziness.

Just as they reached the entrance, Quan Qingle hurried over; her voice arrived before she did:

"Zijin, you are a true friend after all; you never forget me when there’s good food."

She then turned to look at He Linger, pouting with some dissatisfaction:

"And Linger, you haven't been much of a friend lately. How long has it been since you came to find me? You didn't even call me when you went to see Zijin."

He Linger and Jun Zijin exchanged a glance, both seeing in the other's eyes that they needed to be cautious in their future actions to prevent anyone from noticing any flaws.

He Linger felt a bit helpless; she was not the real He Linger, so naturally, she did not have such deep feelings for Quan Qingle.

Jun Zijin smiled lightly and explained for He Linger:

"Qingle, Linger has been studying nursing lately. She came to find me today for the hospital’s business, and look, as soon as things were finished, she came to treat you to a big meal."

In reality, He Linger’s job in her past life was a nurse; studying nursing these days was merely to deceive others and prevent being treated as a monster when working at the hospital in the future, because the real He Linger did not know nursing.

Upon hearing this, Quan Qingle’s face blossomed into a smile, and she stepped forward to take He Linger’s arm:

"Alright, I forgive you."

After this little interlude, the group walked into Xianying Pavilion under the warm guidance of Shopkeeper Zhang.

As soon as Quan Qingle pulled the curtain open a crack, she was surprised to see Jun Zhidie and Princess Jiahe sitting in the teahouse opposite, and she whispered:

"Look, isn't that Jun Zhidie and Wen Jiahe? They are acting so sneakily over there; it looks like they are plotting something big!"

Jun Zijin and He Linger exchanged a glance. Jun Zhidie and Wen Jiahe had never had any interaction; now that these two were together, it was likely nothing good.

The group went to the window and looked through the crack. They saw Jun Zhidie and Princess Jiahe sitting face-to-face at a window seat in the teahouse, their expressions serious, talking about something from time to time, not even bothering to touch the teacups in their hands.

Others didn't know what the two were saying, but Jun Zijin and He Linger had learned lip-reading at school.

They carefully discerned the two’s words, and a cold sneer curled the corners of their mouths. Sure enough, there are some people you don't go looking for, yet they insist on courting death themselves.

Soon, the two left the teahouse.

Quan Qingle sat down in the seat of honor and put on the air of a boss:

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

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

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

Jun Zijin’s group chatted and laughed while tucking into their meal. The events at the teahouse opposite did not affect their appetites in the slightest.

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

The next morning, at the first light of dawn, when the sky was just beginning to turn pale, the hospital hadn't even opened its doors yet, but the area in front of the hospital, which should have been quiet, was already bustling with people; many healers had already gathered there.

They harbored longing and anticipation for this job and had gathered here early, just to stand out in this interview.

Perhaps some of them had received news that the Emperor had invested in this hospital; this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and being able to practice medicine here was undoubtedly a great honor in a healer’s career.

"I heard that this hospital will surely become a leader in the medical world in the future. If one can be selected, it would be quite glorious!"

A young healer in the crowd said in a low voice, his eyes full of eagerness.

"Indeed, I have practiced medicine diligently for many years, just hoping for a place like this to show my skills."

A white-haired old physician nearby stroked his beard and responded confidently.

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

The healers who came for the interviews also brought out their best skills, each showing their strengths. The entire process was tense yet orderly, and the recruitment work progressed very smoothly.

However, the smooth momentum did not last the whole day. In the afternoon, when the training trial class was about to begin, trouble followed one after another.