Chapter 8: Calling for Reinforcements

"Hold still, let me know if it hurts."

Qiao Yanhui held a cotton swab dipped in mercurochrome, carefully applying it to Hua Ning's face. Hua Ning did not refuse Qiao Yanhui's kindness. After the dream she had last night, she had finally come to terms with her situation. Her funeral had already been held in her previous modern life, so even if she wanted to go back, it was impossible.

What's done is done; she would just have to find peace where she was. Now that she had become Hua Ning, she had to fully integrate into this era. People in the late seventies were mostly simple and kind, just like Qiao Yanhui.

"Thank you, Sister Qiao."

Hua Ning pursed her lips into a shy, grateful smile, her clear eyes reflecting her sincerity as she thanked Qiao Yanhui. Hearing the way Hua Ning addressed her, Qiao Yanhui couldn't help but chuckle.

"You have such a sweet mouth, girl! But you should really call me Auntie."

Through their earlier conversation, Qiao Yanhui had learned about Hua Ning’s family situation and that she was only fifteen years old. Therefore, being called Auntie was quite appropriate. Hua Ning had guessed Qiao Yanhui’s approximate age, and since the woman had been kind to her, a little flattery didn't hurt. However, Hua Ning was very measured about what to say and when. As soon as Qiao Yanhui made the request, Hua Ning changed her tone sweetly: "Auntie Qiao."

Qiao Yanhui beamed, laughing as she replied, "Yes!"

She only had two sons at home and had always longed for a daughter. Unfortunately, she had suffered complications during the birth of her youngest son, making it impossible for her to have more children. Now, encountering a girl as sensible and well-behaved as Hua Ning triggered her maternal instincts, and she took an immediate liking to her.

Hua Ning could sense Qiao Yanhui’s genuine goodwill, so she made a mental note to prepare a small gift of appreciation for her later.

After Hua Ning left the nursing station, another woman who found the scene distasteful sidled up to Qiao Yanhui, rolled her eyes, and sneered, "Sister Qiao, aren't you being a bit too good to that brat? She’s not your relative; is she really worth all this effort?"

"Zhang Ting! What kind of way is that to speak?" Qiao Yanhui’s face darkened as she glared at her. "What I do is my own business. You’re overstepping your bounds!"

Qiao Yanhui truly disliked Zhang Ting. It was one thing that she was petty and always looking to take advantage of others, but she was also a gossip who loved to meddle in affairs that didn't concern her. If it weren't for the sake of maintaining harmony in the nursing station, she would have gone to speak with the director long ago.

"Hmph!" Zhang Ting scoffed at Qiao Yanhui, muttering in dissatisfaction, "Don't think I don't know why. You’re only paying so much attention to that brat because you can't have a daughter of your own, right? I don't know what you're thinking, ignoring your own sons to fawn over someone else's burden! If you like burdens so much, I’ll bring my own daughters next time so you can dote on them to your heart's content!"

The reason Zhang Ting couldn't stand Qiao Yanhui—aside from her being the head nurse—was that Qiao Yanhui had two sons. Unlike Zhang Ting, who had given birth to three daughters in a row without a single son in sight. Furthermore, Qiao Yanhui’s husband treated her with tenderness and care, and her in-laws were kind and virtuous. If not for her job as a nurse, Zhang Ting feared her own husband would have sent her back to her maiden home long ago. This disparity made Zhang Ting burn with extreme jealousy toward Qiao Yanhui.

Though Qiao Yanhui appeared gentle, she was far from weak. Hearing Zhang Ting's snide remarks, she was incensed. No longer caring about maintaining the facade of harmony in the nursing station, she stood up and walked out.

Zhang Ting initially thought Qiao Yanhui was just leaving to avoid further conflict and didn't pay it much mind. But half an hour later, she was stunned.

"Director, I don't accept this! Why am I being transferred?"

Yes, Zhang Ting had been transferred. If it weren't for the fact that employees couldn't be dismissed easily, the director would have fired her long ago. Beyond her gossiping, her attitude toward work and her lack of responsibility toward patients had caused widespread dissatisfaction in the hospital. As soon as Qiao Yanhui brought it up to the director, he seized the opportunity to transfer Zhang Ting to the cleaning staff.

"Zhang Ting, if you accept the transfer quietly, the hospital will keep you on. But if you keep shouting and acting like this, don't blame me for being heartless!" The director scanned Zhang Ting, who was acting like a madwoman, with disgust and spoke sternly.

Zhang Ting had relied on the fact that no one challenged her, offending everyone in the nursing station. But now that she was brought before the director, she instantly wilted. With the director hinting that he would indeed fire her if she continued to cause a scene, she shut her mouth, feeling deeply aggrieved.

However, her hatred for Qiao Yanhui only deepened. And not just Qiao Yanhui—that little harlot Hua Ning as well! Yes, Zhang Ting shifted her anger onto Hua Ning too.

Hua Ning had no idea that she had become a target of hatred simply for accepting Qiao Yanhui’s help. Even if she had known, she wouldn't have cared. At that moment, she was busy clashing with her father's sister in the hospital room.

"You brat! How dare you show such disrespect to your grandmother! I'll beat you to death!" With that, the aunt reached out to slap Hua Ning across the face.

*Smack!*

The sound of a slap echoed through the room, but it landed on the aunt's face instead.

"Aunt, if you are here to take care of Grandmother, I will take my mother and discharge her right now. If not, go see your mother and get out!"

Hua Ning was thoroughly sick of the malicious, ungrateful relatives of the Hua family constantly harassing them. She was done being patient. The scene she had already made meant that the family's business was likely the talk of the hospital anyway. Even if she struck her aunt, others would only say she was protecting her mother from being bullied.

The aunt hadn't expected to be the one struck back, especially by the niece she had always bullied. This infuriated her. She let out a shriek, cursing as she clawed at Hua Ning’s face. Watching the dirty, grime-filled fingernails coming toward her, Hua Ning reached out, grabbed her aunt's wrist, and applied pressure.

"Aah!"

A scream like a slaughtered pig echoed out of the room, drawing whispers from the hallway. But because Hua Ning had closed the door, no one came in to watch the spectacle.

"Aunt, I am no longer the child you can bully at will. If you don't learn your lesson, I don't mind snapping your wrist!"

Hua Ning stared at her with a fierce, cold intensity that made the older woman tremble. The aunt had never imagined that the niece who usually kept her head down and took abuse would turn into such a terrifying person.

"Y-y-you, let go first!"

The aunt was a bully who feared the strong. Seeing Hua Ning’s fierce display, her voice began to shake and stutter. Hua Ning didn't want to make too much of a scene in the hospital, so she flung the aunt's wrist away, her sharp eyes fixed coldly on her.

The aunt, no longer caring about her own mother, turned and scrambled out the door. As she reached the threshold, she threw back a shrill, empty threat: "You little brat, just you wait!"

As for what she was waiting for, it was clearly the aunt going home to rally reinforcements.