Chapter Thirty-Seven Temporary Hospital Worker

  The accommodation problem has been solved, and Zhou Hui is also taking care of our meals for the three of us. So we feel very embarrassed, after discussing it, we decided to let Sun Heng go back first, and I and Dongfang Yu will go to work at the hospital where Zhou Hui is located.

  After much consideration, Sun Heng left after receiving a phone call from Old Chen. Dongfang Yu and I didn't see him off because we had already started working at the school hospital on the day he left.

  The hospital is currently very short-staffed, and when we went for an interview, the hospital leader let us start work without saying much.

  Of course, we are not studying medicine, so we won't be allowed to work as doctors. What I and Dongfang Yu do is actually just odd jobs. All the miscellaneous tasks, we do them all, moving a hospital bed, fetching hot water, washing bed sheets, etc., whatever we can do, we have to do.

  The salary is still acceptable, the hospital said that they will give us 1,500 yuan per person every month. Although this salary is not high, at least it can solve our most practical problem - food and accommodation.

  We can't always live in Zhou Hui's home, after her parents come back, we have to move out.

  This is my first formal job and also the first time Dongfang Yu works outside, so we are very excited but also a little nervous because I am afraid that I will not do well in my work.

  However, this was completely gone three days later due to our hard work and fearlessness of hardship - in fact, rural children are not afraid of hardship. The hospital gave us a positive evaluation and also gave me and Dongfang Yu 100 yuan each as a reward. This made us more confident in our work while also making us very happy. After all, who wouldn't be happy when receiving their first bonus?

  Dongfang Yu, Zhou Hui and I work in the same hospital and live together. The three of us are getting more and more familiar with each other, and our relationship is becoming closer and closer. We basically go to work together in the morning and get off work together at night, and we can often see each other during the day, it's impossible not to be familiar.

  Other doctors and nurses in the hospital, including some temporary workers like me, are very envious of me, saying that I accidentally fell into a flower bed and almost enjoyed the blessings of everyone.

  Every time this happens, I can only smile helplessly, of course, it's a bitter smile. After Dongfang Yu and Zhou Hui lived together, their relationship improved dramatically, becoming as close as real sisters in just a few days. Then they completely forgot about me, as if I didn't exist at all.

  Time flies, and I've been working in the hospital for over a month. During this time, things have been very calm on the school side, as if it has returned to the state before the terrorist attack. Even Dongfang Yu and Zhou Hui, who didn't dare go out at night at first, have started going out for walks after work these days.

  I rush back home every day to take a bath and sleep, because no one talks to me or asks me to do anything. If I don't sleep, I'll just doze off, so it's better to go to bed early. Besides, the work in the hospital is really tiring, so getting some rest earlier is also good.

  Today was like this too, so as soon as I returned to Zhou Hui's home, I took a bath and then went back to my own room to sleep.

  It seems that I won't be able to rest early today after all. Dongfang Yu is calling me from outside the door: "Brother, come out for a moment, I have something to discuss with you!"

  I quickly opened the door and curiously asked: "What's up?"

  Dongfang Yu seemed taken aback: "Hui Jie said that tonight we'll go out and have some fun, and she wants you to come along too."

  I was stunned and didn't speak for a long time before saying: "You guys usually go by yourselves, why do you want me to go too today?"

  Dongfang Yuxiao smiled: "Because I know you've been feeling down lately, and no one has been talking to you, so I asked Hui Jie to take you out for a walk too."

  I feel like laughing, but I didn't laugh out loud. I'm indeed a bit bored, but it's not to the point where I need to go shopping with them: "I won't go, what's good about going for a walk? Now as soon as night falls, the streets are empty and cold, and there aren't many shops open either, so even if we do go for a walk, it'll be pointless!"

  Dongfang Yu shook her head: "You don't know, it's different now... Ah, you haven't been out for a month, so you wouldn't know. Let me tell you, the streets are lively again, and most businesses have started opening their doors. Haven't you noticed that there are fewer people in the hospital now? People have things to do, so they don't just stay in the hospital."

  I feel that the recent hospital events have decreased a lot compared to the beginning, but I absolutely didn't think it was because of this. It seems that there is a saying that goes very well: A person's physical condition and mental state are closely related. People with a good mood will definitely get sick less often, on the other hand, they will be frequent visitors to the hospital.

  Dongfang Yu saw me spacing out and continued to say: "You'll get moldy if you stay cooped up in the house, why don't you come out with us for a stroll? Besides, all the clothes on your body are worn out, it's time to buy some new ones."

  I took a glance at my jacket, and indeed it was torn in some places. Moreover, now is winter, a very cold season, I'm still wearing thin clothes, so it's really time to buy a new one. So I said: "Alright then, let's set off now and go buy a new one! By the way, you should get one too, this year's winter is very cold, let's go buy a down jacket."

  Dongfang Yu stuck out his tongue: "Down jackets? Can't afford them. We only got a total of 3,000 yuan, and if we buy two down jackets, there won't be enough left for our living expenses later on. No way, can't buy down jackets."

  I laughed: "I didn't say buy two, I said buy one for you. I can wear any clothes casually, I'm not afraid of the cold."

  Dongfang Yu looked at me, with something flashing in her eyes: "Don't lie to me, you're the most afraid of cold. I knew this since I was in elementary school. My mom told me that every winter, you would always blow air into your hands. She thought it was a bad habit and even scolded you. It wasn't until later that she realized you were just too cold, your hands were numb, you couldn't write, and had to blow air on them to warm them up..."

  I recall my own habit, which has been mentioned by many people and even scolded by some. Unfortunately, until now, as soon as winter arrives, I still unconsciously blow air onto my hands to prevent them from freezing. I don't know what the reason is, but my hands are indeed very prone to freezing.

  Seeing Dongfang Yu being so concerned about me, I was really touched and couldn't help but say: "So you're that worried about me..."

  Dongfang Yuxiao smiled: "That's right, who made us... siblings, hehe..."

  I also smiled: "Then let's set off and see if we can buy some cheap clothes. We need to prepare for winter."

  Dongfang Yu naturally reached out and grabbed my arm, striding towards Zhou Hui's room while loudly calling out: "Hui Jie, Hui Jie! Let's go!"

  Zhou Hui poked her head out of her room, took a glance at me and Dongfang Yu, and smiled: "A homebody like you is also going out, not bad!"

  I smiled and said: "I'm not a nerd, Hui Jie shouldn't say that." Paused for a moment: "Hui Jie, let's go shopping and buy some clothes along the way."

  Zhou Hui nodded and was about to speak when she suddenly looked at me with a strange expression. After a while, she said, "Come over here for a moment."

  I was taken aback: "Huh?!"

  Zhou Hui pulled me into her room and said, "What's there to be ashamed of? I haven't said anything. What are you being shy about?"

  I walked into her room and felt a warmth, nothing else in particular.

  Zhou Hui opened a large wardrobe in her room, rummaged through it for a while, and then threw one piece of clothing to me and Dongfang Yu each. She also said: "Try it on, if it fits, wear it first. Nowadays, businessmen are short of goods due to poor transportation, so they are all rushing to raise prices. If you want to buy clothes, don't be in a hurry."

  I looked at the down jacket in my hand, which looked very new and felt a bit embarrassed to wear it. Zhou Hui came over to help me put it on, so I had no choice but to try it on. This coat of mine is a little big, but wearing it feels warm and doesn't want to take it off again. The warmth of the down jacket is naturally much better than my old clothes before.

  Dongfang Yu very naturally put on the clothes in her hand, and after trying them on, she found that they were surprisingly well-fitting, just like they were tailor-made for her.

  Zhou Hui laughed happily: "Great, this dress was born for Yu'er, it fits perfectly. By the way, Yu'er, this dress is new, don't be disgusted, just consider it my birthday gift to you."

  Eastern Jade was taken aback: "New? Then I won't wear it, I..."

  Zhou Hui interrupted Dongfang Yu's words and said with feigned anger: "If you treat me as your sister, then wear it; otherwise, I won't have a younger sister like you."

  Dongfang Yu looked at me with difficulty and had no choice but to accept Zhou Hui's gift.

  But I secretly lamented in my heart: Today is Dongfang Yu's birthday, I originally knew it, but I actually forgot, alas... Now that's good, what should I do when Dongfang Yu asks me for a birthday gift later?

  Zhou Hui seemed to have noticed my embarrassment and smiled: "Later on, what gift is Jin Cang preparing to buy for Yu'er?"

  I glanced at Dongfang Yu: "I originally planned to buy her a down jacket, but it seems that's not necessary now. Let's do this, if we see something she likes later, we'll buy it then."

  Dongfang Yu's face immediately lit up with joy, and she smiled as she said: "That's great! I knew my brother was the best, he wouldn't forget my birthday. Hui Jie, you were just betting with me earlier, now you know what I said was right, don't you?"

  Zhou Hui smiled and looked at me with a strange expression, but didn't say anything else.

  The three of us walked out of Zhou Hui's house. Zhou Hui drove to a large supermarket, and we entered the supermarket together, strolling and chatting.

  Just then, my phone rang. I took a look and it was the hospital calling. I answered in a hurry and heard the person on the other end say: "Hurry back to the hospital, a building under construction at school has collapsed, injuring many people, come back and help."

  I exchanged a glance with Zhou Hui and Dongfang Yu, both of us were shocked and worried. Someone else was injured, we rushed to the hospital in a hurry, not daring to delay for a moment.

  When I arrived at the hospital, I saw a large crowd of people gathered outside, mostly workers and some nearby residents.

  We finally squeezed into the hospital and quickly changed our clothes before joining the rescue team.

  This time's accident is very serious, I heard from the hospital staff that at least over a hundred people were injured by the collapsed houses, and some were killed on the spot.

  Our hospital is close to the construction site, so those who were sent over were all seriously injured. I roughly counted and saw more than thirty wounded people.

  The hospital's operating rooms are far from enough, and several temporary operating rooms have been added, but it is still a drop in the bucket.

  So I was arranged by the hospital to follow the ambulance and send some wounded who couldn't receive timely surgery to other hospitals for treatment. This is a very hard job, mainly because many family members disagree, it's very difficult to do the work.

  I sent off a total of three batches of six people, and when the last batch was sent away, it was already late at night. The ambulance driver and I were originally planning to return to the hospital as soon as possible, but unexpectedly received a notification that the hospital wanted us to rush to a place thirty kilometers away from our current location to pick up patients.

  The driver and I didn't dare to delay, hastily got on the car and set off, heading for a place thirty miles away, not daring to speak or get distracted along the way.

  When we arrived at the school-turned-hospital, both I and the driver felt extremely tired, not even wanting to talk. It was only then that I realized Dongfang Yu and Zhou Hui were still busy in the hospital, without any time to rest. The entire hospital was brightly lit, with people coming and going, just like during the day, crowded and chaotic.

  That night we worked through the whole night, and after all the patients were arranged, I saw that the wall clock in the hospital showed 10:30 on the next day.

  We still haven't had breakfast until now, everyone is exhausted and parched. When I could temporarily leave, I quickly went to buy some food and water, packed them in a large cardboard box, and brought it back to distribute to all the doctors, nurses, and temporary workers in the hospital. Some patients, seeing me bring food and water, also asked me for some.

  Seeing everyone in the hospital's hall wolfing down their food, I couldn't care about anything else and started eating too.

  This meal cost me ten days' wages because there were too many people. Moreover, many people hadn't eaten their fill yet, but the food was already gone, so they had to wait for the next meal to eat again.

  Dongfang Yu, although also looking exhausted, was very excited, eating and saying to me: "Brother, I helped rescue many people last night, this... is the most meaningful birthday I've ever had in my life."

  I just thought of it and haven't given her a birthday gift yet, so I said: "After work today, I'll go buy you a birthday gift."

  Dongfang Yu shook her head and smiled: "No need, brother, you've already given me a birthday gift."

  "What? When did I ever give it to you?"

  Dongfang Yuxiao was very happy: "The birthday gift you gave me is what I just said, I saved many people, this is the birthday gift you gave me!" He had said that there was no more meaningful birthday gift than saving people, so he didn't let me buy her a birthday gift again.

  I was genuinely delighted: "You're absolutely right, we saved a lot of people last night, that's the most meaningful thing. However, I promised you, I'll definitely make up for your birthday gift."

  Dongfang Yutian smiled and said, "Then I want a laptop. But not that you have to buy it for me now, but when we have enough money, then buy one for me."

  I nodded: "No problem. However, this is not something that can be done in a short time, so you should ask for another gift first."

  "Dongfang Yu shook her head: 'I don't want it anymore, just remember that you promised me a laptop.'"

  I know she's worried that I don't have money to buy her a birthday gift, so she intentionally asked me to buy an unaffordable laptop, just in case I spend too much money. Anyway, if I couldn't afford it, then it's better not to buy one at all.

  We were busy in the hospital until six o'clock in the evening. When we returned to Zhou Hui's home, we were all exhausted and just wanted to go to sleep early.

  Things in the hospital are too complicated and trivial, I am a temporary worker, in short, I am a miscellaneous worker, every doctor and nurse can assign me tasks, so it's even busier.

  I still often go to school to take a look, seeing that many damaged facilities in the school are being restored, thinking that it won't be long before classes resume. But unexpectedly, something like this happened again, and I'm afraid the start of school will be postponed once more, feeling like it's uncertain when it will happen.

  It's also an unavoidable thing, I don't think about it too much anymore. Anyway, now I have a job to do, a salary to earn, and a place to live, nothing to be dissatisfied with.

  Sun Heng called at this time, he must have already known what happened on the school side, and asked as soon as he opened his mouth: "Have you started classes? I just received information that your school had an accident, are you and Yu'er okay?"

  I mentioned what's going on at school and also talked about our recent situation: "We're all doing fine, still working at the hospital. It's just that the start of school will probably be delayed, we won't be able to go back to school this year. I plan to keep working here until next year when school starts."

  Sun Heng said: "Okay, let's just consider it an early internship. By the way, there is something I want to tell you about, do you still remember Chen Jing?"

  I felt a stir in my heart and suddenly remembered that we hadn't heard from her since we parted ways at the train station, and I was really worried about her, so I quickly asked: "What's wrong with her?"

  "Hehe, she's fine, don't worry! She just told me yesterday that she'll be heading to your school's city soon for a mission."

  Knowing that Chen Jing was fine, I put down my mind: "Is that so! Then it has nothing to do with me, not coming to find me, and I can't go find her!"

  Sun Heng smiled and said: "That's hard to say!"

  I felt a great surprise: "You said she came looking for me? This... how is this possible? Are you hiding something from me? Tell me quickly."

  Sun Heng's next words were a blow to me: "I didn't say she was going to find you, don't be self-righteous! She is on a mission, you can see her for a moment, but she doesn't have time to accompany you!"

  I feel like crying: "What's with this self-pity? I... I just..."

  "Alright, if you like Chen Jing, then tell her. Don't secretly love someone and end up hurting both yourself and others."

  I'm even more inclined to cry: "What's with this unrequited love? I just like her, can't you understand?"

  Sun Heng said loudly: "I like it, of course I understand, what don't you understand?! How did you become so nagging?! Hurry up and clarify with Chen Jing, otherwise, if Chen Jing is poached by someone else, don't regret it!"

  I felt speechless, and a subtle emotion stirred in my heart, so I fell silent.

  Sun Heng continued, "Not saying anything means you agree. So, I'll tell you when Chen Jing is coming to your place. She's taking a flight tomorrow and will stay overnight in the provincial capital city. The next day, she'll leave at 8 am and should arrive at your school around 9 am. You little brat, remember to go pick her up at the train station!"

  I hadn't even responded, and Sun Heng had already hung up the phone. Putting down the receiver, I couldn't sleep anymore, so I got out of bed and carefully thought back over what Sun Heng had said, taking out a piece of paper to note down the time Chen Jing was coming.

  I really like Chen Jing, but I'm not sure if this kind of liking is the same as the one between boyfriend and girlfriend.

  Maybe it's just the same, maybe it's just a simple appreciation of Chen Jing's beauty, maybe... I don't know how to describe this feeling either.

  I couldn't help but recall Chen Jing's beautiful appearance and also the brief moments we spent together...