His heart had already changed!

Chen Yuting was about to launch into another tearful plea when Chief of Staff Xu snapped:

"Chen Yuting! You've disappointed me terribly! If you refuse to repent like this, even your father can't save you! Your conduct has made you unworthy of that uniform!"

Chen Yuting trembled in fright and collapsed to the ground, not daring to say another word.

Chief of Staff Xu stood and walked over to Song Ning.

"Comrade Song Ning! Rest assured! Since you're family to one of our servicemen, the army will stand up for you! Tell us what you want!"

Song Ning rubbed her eyes hard, then said with reddened eyes:

"Chief of Staff Xu! Comrade Lu Changqing and I really were promised to each other in an arranged marriage. Since Military Doctor Chen and Comrade Lu love each other, I can step aside. There's no need to make everyone unhappy..."

Chief of Staff Xu shook his head. "Right is right, and wrong is wrong! Whether you came looking for him or not, they must face disciplinary action for what they've done! Our rules don't favor anyone! Besides, this isn't the only thing they've done wrong!"

After a moment's thought, he said, "Here's what we'll do, Comrade Song Ning. I'll arrange for you to return to the Military District as soon as possible. We owe you a fair resolution to what happened over the past few days! Once we're back at the unit, we can sit down and discuss what comes next. Does that sound all right?"

Song Ning said nothing more and nodded.

Chen Yuting was sent away that very day.

Whether she was sent back to the Military District or transferred to another disaster relief site, no one knew.

That evening, Director Sun delightedly announced a string of good news to the medical team...

Thanks to the medical team's outstanding performance, doctors with permanent posts would receive merit recognition and promotions. Barefoot doctors without permanent posts would receive long-term allowances after returning to their villages, as well as priority opportunities to take the qualifying examinations for permanent positions at township hospitals.

These weren't merely honors in name, but real, tangible benefits!

In other words, those who were already doctors would be promoted, while barefoot doctors who had previously earned only work points would now receive allowances.

The allowances might not be large, but they would be paid long-term, making them a steady source of income!

The unexpected windfall instantly put smiles on everyone's faces.

Only at the end did Director Sun explain that there were two reasons they were receiving commendations before the disaster relief work was over.

First, the Military District had sent a telegram to the local government. Besides apologizing for the improper conduct of certain comrades, it had particularly thanked the Second Medical Team for its unity and seamless cooperation with the troops during the relief effort, and for its outstanding achievements.

The second reason came as something of a surprise to everyone.

The child Song Ning had saved, named Tiedan, had been covered throughout his hospital treatment by a reporter stationed there to report on the disaster.

When people learned that a member of the Second Medical Team had plunged into the debris flow without a thought for her own safety to save the child, the story caused a tremendous public stir.

Praise and donations poured in, and letters from the public had nearly piled into a mountain.

Only then did everyone realize that the biggest reason they were receiving commendations was Song Ning.

Doctor Feng was the first to speak. "But... we're receiving commendations, while Doctor Xiao Song hasn't gotten anything!"

They had only just learned that Song Ning was merely a traveler stranded on the road who had volunteered to help with disaster relief!

Allowances, merit recognition, and the like simply couldn't be awarded to her!

And she had come looking for her fiancé!

Yet now her fiancé was entangled with another woman, and the two had almost joined forces to bully her!

She really had it rough!

Everyone felt a pang of sympathy and guilt toward Comrade Song Ning. Suddenly, accepting their commendations didn't feel quite so comfortable...

Fortunately, Director Sun finally said that Chief of Staff Xu had assured him the army wouldn't let Song Ning go unrewarded. Only then did their unease subside somewhat.

Song Ning, meanwhile, had asked Doctor Feng for time off before Director Sun arrived, unable to bear everyone's stares brimming with "sympathy."

Doctor Feng had readily agreed, only reminding her repeatedly to seek treatment if she had any injuries.

She did have injuries. After being swept along for seven or eight kilometers, there was no avoiding a few knocks and scrapes.

But most were bruises around her joints and small abrasions, which she had dismissed as insignificant.

When she returned to the tent she had used before, however, Zheng Chang'an followed her without a word.

Song Ning was puzzled. "What's wrong? Why have you suddenly gone as silent as a clam?"

Zheng Chang'an looked at Song Ning, his eyes full of guilt.

"I'm sorry, Ning! I didn't realize that was your relationship with Lu Changqing. Before, I... I wasn't careful about what I said!"

Earlier, he had even gloated when Lu Changqing fell unconscious again, and he had brought up Lu Changqing's relationship with Chen Yuting in front of her several times. Thinking that Song Ning might have been secretly hurting at the time made him feel...

Sigh...

But Song Ning smiled at him and said:

"Actually, when I heard about them, I felt much the same as you! We may have been engaged, but we'd never met before, and there were no feelings between us! His involvement with another woman doesn't affect me at all. If I don't care, surely you don't need to look so miserable!"

"But... you were clearly so upset back then..." Zheng Chang'an struggled for words.

"I wasn't really upset. I just thought showing a little vulnerability at that moment wouldn't hurt! As someone who'd been wronged, I didn't need to act tough in that situation! The more upset I looked, the harsher their punishment would be! So why not? Can you understand that?"

Not only was Song Ning not upset, she actually thought she had been rather lucky.

Before meeting Lu Changqing, she had considered several possibilities.

The 7th Regiment of the 13th Army had been a renowned independent regiment during the war, with an illustrious combat record. And in the original owner's memories, her grandfather had always spoken of Lu Changqing with praise and approval.

So there was a possible reason he hadn't come to honor his promise in two years: he might have died in action.

If that were the case, it would certainly be appropriate for her, as his intended bride, to bring him a bouquet of flowers and fulfill her grandfather's wish.

Of course, the more likely possibility was that Lu Changqing was a faithless man who had simply ignored his promise to the old man and married someone else long ago while serving in the army.

If that were the case, she would make sure to seek justice for the old man and the original owner, and turn Lu Changqing's life upside down! A soldier who broke his promises didn't deserve a peaceful life!

As it turned out, she had met the man she was looking for before even reaching his unit, and had seen the "female lead" romantically involved with him...

That couldn't have worked out better! She didn't have to go to any trouble to uncover the truth, or put any effort into seeking justice!

Not only had the bystanders seen everything clearly, but the army's leaders and his comrades had also learned the truth right away.

And as the wronged party, all she needed to do now was quietly wait for an outcome!

An outcome that would do right by her late grandfather and the original owner, and leave her, Song Ning, fully satisfied!

It would be best if they cooperated.

If they didn't, she was prepared for a prolonged battle.

Now that she was here, she would settle in and see it through. She had come carrying the hopes of the original owner and her grandfather. Since he intended to be a faithless man, how could she let the matter rest without making him pay dearly?

Zheng Chang'an fell silent for a moment, seemingly understanding what Song Ning meant, but his expression barely relaxed:

"But, Ning! He... his heart has already changed. Are you still going to his unit?"

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