Lü Zhigang cursed under his breath. "just like Wang Fenglan's family. Selfish and vicious, the whole lot. This is attempted murder! Did he even consider the consequences?"

He refused to believe the Zhou family would protect Zhou Xiaoming once they found out.

Zhou Huai'an stayed silent. He wasn't interested in any of it, nor did he crave anything from the Zhou family. As for Zhou Xiaoming trying to harm him—well, that remained to be seen. Instead, he found himself distracted by a lingering warmth on his lips, a vivid reminder of the bite Lin Xiaoxiao had given him before he left.

I wonder if she's settling in okay at the hospital?

With her temper, will she end up making enemies?

Lü Zhigang talked for a while without getting a response. He glanced over and saw Zhou Huai'an lost in thought. "Hey, don't tell me you're actually thinking about your wife? You left her all alone in the city—weren't there rumors she had an old flame there? Aren't you worried they might reconnect?"

Though he said it jokingly, he was genuinely concerned for Zhou Huai'an. With his quiet, uncommunicative nature, who could ever tell what he was really thinking?

Zhou Huai'an still didn't respond, though it did cross his mind that Lin Xiaoxiao hadn't brought up divorce lately....By that afternoon, the other two dorm members had arrived. One was Zhang Jing, a soft-spoken nurse from a community health center who hoped to become a doctor after the training. She had delicate features and a gentle demeanor.

The other was Li Guiling, who had just returned from working in the countryside. With two thick dark braids and slightly tanned skin, she'd been sent here because no other work was available.

After a few months of training, she would become a factory medic.

Lin Xiaoxiao liked Li Guiling immediately, but she just couldn't warm up to Zhang Jing—sometimes you simply don't click with someone.

As for An Xiuyun, they'd already chatted a bit, but she kept steering the conversation back to her baby. They didn't have much in common.

In the afternoon, all the trainees gathered—over thirty in total. A hospital leader gave a speech encouraging everyone to study hard, treat healing as a mission, bring light and warmth to the people, and serve the community!

Lin Xiaoxiao looked around at all the excited faces and felt her own spirits lift. She sat up straight, inspired.

When she heard they'd even be dissecting cadavers over the next three months, she got even more excited.

Li Guiling whispered nervously, "We have to dissect dead bodies?"

Lin Xiaoxiao whispered back, "We need to understand the body's structure to diagnose better.

When we treat wounds, we'll know whether bones or organs are injured."

Li Guiling shivered. "I've only ever chopped chickens. I've never cut up a person. I'm scared."

Lin Xiaoxiao grinned. "Don't worry. It's not too different from cutting up a chicken."

The dean had been glancing in their direction several times and finally couldn't hold back.

"Comrade with the short hair and the red plaid shirt—since you like talking so much, why don't you come up and speak?"

Lin Xiaoxiao looked around, realized he meant her, and confidently stood up and walked to the podium.

The dean was taken aback. He'd only meant to quiet them down, not actually invite her on stage.

Lin Xiaoxiao bowed to the dean, then to the trainees below, and launched into an impassioned speech: "I was deeply moved by the dean's words. Being part of the medical profession is my pride and honor. I've studied a bit with my grandfather and often read medical books. I am determined to do all I can to ease human suffering, uphold the integrity of medicine, honor its traditions, and heal the wounded. I will strive tirelessly, dedicate myself to the medical cause, and devote my life to the health and well-being of the people!"

She paused, pleased with the applause that followed.

She'd memorized this oath back in her own medical training. It probably hadn't been written yet in this era, but it certainly sounded moving.

Lin Xiaoxiao knew exactly what the dean had meant, but she seized the opportunity to make a strong impression—on the dean, the doctors, everyone. She wanted to learn more, build connections, and maybe even secure a recommendation for future college entrance exams.

It never hurt to have more options.

The dean hadn't expected this young woman to be so articulate. Standing at the podium, she spoke with confidence and humility. She seemed bold yet thoughtful—and carried herself with the steadiness of a doctor.

He had to admit, she showed real promise.

Even Lu Yanda, listening from the back, was surprised by Lin Xiaoxiao's performance. Zhou Huai'an's little wife had spirit—and courage.

Just like that, Lin Xiaoxiao became known throughout the training program. Every trainee, hospital leader, and instructor now knew who she was.

They also learned she was Zhou Huai'an's wife—the city girl rumored to be difficult, dramatic, and spoiled.

But now, she didn't seem that way at all.

Unbothered by the attention, Lin Xiaoxiao happily went out to buy notebooks, a pen, and ink. If she was going to study, she'd do it properly.

On her way back, she picked up two steamed buns from the cafeteria. She needed to budget carefully—this was Zhou Huai'an's money, after all. Thinking of him made the training period feel even longer.

What a pity there were no phones or mobiles now. Truly, an era of slow letters and long distances, she sighed.

Back in the dorm, An Xiuyun was breastfeeding without much concern for modesty. Zhang Jing was leaning on her bed reading quietly, while Li Guiling had pulled up a stool to listen to An Xiuyun.

When she saw Lin Xiaoxiao, Li Guiling waved her over. "Come quick! Sister Xiuyun is telling us about a ghost in her village—a dead man who could still speak!"

Lin Xiaoxiao laughed. "That's superstitious nonsense!"

An Xiuyun insisted, "It's true! I saw it myself. His face was all disfigured. Our village doctor said he was dead. Since he was just a stranger who'd washed ashore, nobody cared—they left him by the river."

Remembering the scene gave her chills. It was terrifying.

Li Guiling was enthralled. "What happened then?"

An Xiuyun shuddered. "Later, some elders said we should do a good deed and bury him. So they dragged him up the hill. But when they got there, the body suddenly sat straight up! The men were so scared they all ran off. The next morning, when they went back, the body was gone—and there wasn't a trace left around. Strangest of all..."

Li Guiling gasped. "Really? That's so creepy!"

An Xiuyun nodded vigorously. "It's true. They say the corpse even said 'thank you' and asked what year it was. That's why everyone was so scared."

Lin Xiaoxiao figured the man hadn't actually been dead—maybe he was in a coma or shock, and woke up while being moved. What people called or false death.

Still, she had to admit—An Xiuyun knew how to tell a good story. Her dramatic tone and timing really set the mood.

As she patted her baby, An Xiuyun sighed. "This happened three years ago, but I still get goosebumps. I'm too scared to go to the toilet alone at night."

Li Guiling gasped again, playing along. "That is seriously scary! How did a body even drift there?"