Chapter 48: Discovering the Wounded Soldier

As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, everyone in Zhong Xiao’s dormitory fell silent. After all, Hou Manling was the head nurse, and she was on especially close terms with Director Zuo. No one dared speak up in defense.

In the end, it was Yuan Tianqing, Hou Manling’s roommate, who stepped in to ease the situation. “Manling, whatever the issue is, can’t it wait until tomorrow? The rescue team has already been out for several hours. We can’t just call them back now. I’m sure the higher-ups have made their decisions, and us worrying here won’t change anything.”

After much persuasion, Yuan Tianqing finally managed to pull Hou Manling back to their dormitory. As she closed the door, she glanced at Zhong Xiao, a flicker of amazement in her eyes. But she soon shut the door without a word to Zhong Xiao.

That night, Hou Manling couldn’t sleep at all. Her mind was filled with the image of Zhong Xiao’s stunning face. The thought that this woman might be the legendary fiancée of Song Tingshen weighed on her like a heavy stone pressing down on her heart.

It wasn’t just discomfort—she was also anxious about Song Tingshen’s situation. If, because of that woman’s words, Tingshen’s rescue was delayed, Hou Manling would never forgive her.

Consumed by jealousy toward Zhong Xiao and anxiety for Song Tingshen, Hou Manling’s sleep was troubled and restless. When she appeared the next morning, the dark circles under her eyes were obvious.

Yuan Tianqing handed her a jar of cold cream. After absentmindedly dabbing some on her face, Hou Manling looked at herself in the mirror. She couldn’t help but think of Zhong Xiao’s fair, delicate skin—untouched by makeup, white as tofu, tender as if it would yield water at a touch.

She glanced again at her own reflection. Her skin wasn’t exactly dark, but it could hardly be called fair, and more importantly, it was rough. Years of living on the island, exposed to harsh ultraviolet rays, had left everyone’s skin much the same—coarse, with a reddish tinge.

There was simply no comparison to someone like Zhong Xiao, who had lived in the city, her skin smooth and pale. Hou Manling took a deep breath, closed the mirror so she wouldn’t have to see it, and put it away in the drawer before changing her clothes and heading to work.

She heard from others at the hospital that Director Zuo Lan had performed surgery well past three in the morning, only returning to her dormitory to rest at five.

Hou Manling waited at the hospital until after lunch, then took it upon herself to go to the command office, demanding to see the political commissar.

At the entrance, soldiers blocked her way. Hou Manling was furious. “Why was that new arrival from Yuecheng allowed in to see the commissar yesterday, but I can’t? I’m the head nurse at the General Hospital’s Emergency Surgery Center—I have urgent military information to report!”

The soldier replied, “The commissar isn’t here. If you want to see him, wait here.”

Hou Manling retorted, “The commissar is in this building every day. How could he not be here now?”

Just then, a voice came from the side. “Manling, what are you making a scene about here?”

She turned to see Zuo Lan and Liu Guangmin, the political commissar of the Taizhou Island Military District.

Zuo Lan frowned. “Manling, who told you to cause a disturbance at the entrance of the office building? What kind of behavior is this? Aren’t you on duty at the hospital today?”

Hou Manling pressed her lips together. “I asked Tianqing to cover for me. Director Zuo, Commissar Liu, I came to see you about something.”

Zuo Lan said, “If you have something to discuss, let’s talk in the office.”

But Hou Manling insisted, “Director Zuo, this isn’t a private matter. Let’s talk here. I want to know—who assigned last night’s rescue mission?”

Her question was so direct that Zuo Lan’s brow furrowed, and she was about to speak when Liu Guangmin intervened, saying, “I gave the order. Comrade, do you have an objection?”

Hou Manling replied, “I’d like to know what judgment led you to issue that order. Time is critical in a rescue operation—any mistake could have a huge impact on the outcome…”

Before she could finish, Zuo Lan interrupted her. “Manling, is this the tone you use to address the commissar?”

Zuo Lan’s harshness was understandable. Hou Manling was overstepping her bounds. Considering her own position versus that of the commissar, such a lack of discipline could jeopardize her future prospects, especially if others exploited her behavior. It could also affect her work allocation once she left the hospital.

It was the lunch break, and many people were passing by the office building. Though no one was openly staring, a small crowd had gathered, casting curious glances their way.

Liu Guangmin stopped Zuo Lan and smiled kindly at Hou Manling. “Comrade, I understand your concerns. I’m happy to discuss them with you. Do you have stronger evidence, or can you prove the rescue team acted inappropriately?”

Hou Manling thought of Zhong Xiao. “Commissar, please don’t misunderstand—I don’t mean to question your policies. My concern is about the person who raised this issue. As I understand it, a woman named Zhong Xiao only arrived on Taizhou Island yesterday. She knows almost nothing about the island or the front lines, so how can we trust her word alone?”

Zuo Lan looked at Hou Manling, understanding what was on her mind.

At that moment, Zhong Xiao had just finished eating in the canteen. She was on her way to the hospital to find Qin Dezheng when she passed by the office building and noticed the crowd. She glanced over and immediately caught sight of Hou Manling.

Hou Manling, just as combative as during their argument the previous day, was confronting Zuo Lan and Liu Guangmin. Zuo Lan’s brow was slightly furrowed with disapproval, while Liu Guangmin stood quietly, deep in thought.

Liu Guangmin said, “Comrade, I understand your concerns. But the decision was not mine alone. Before dispatching the team to Yuehu Island, I discussed it with the deputy commander and several division commanders, and we reported to higher authorities via telegram as well.”

“The front-line soldiers have been missing for almost five days. We couldn’t just do nothing. Our mission to Yuehu Island wasn’t limited to that location—if Song Commander and his men weren’t found there, the rescue team would continue searching the Western Sea Archipelago.”

But this wasn’t Hou Manling’s main concern. She said, “I’m not questioning your decision, Commissar, but why let a woman who only arrived on Taizhou Island yesterday influence the rescue team’s direction? If her judgment affects the front line…”

Before she could finish, urgent footsteps sounded nearby.

It was Jiang Delin, commander of the first regiment of the Flying Corps. Flushed from the sun and visibly excited, he clutched a telegram as he rushed up the stairs, nearly tripping in his haste.

“Found them! Commissar!” Jiang Delin exclaimed, handing the telegram to Liu Guangmin. “We found Commander Song and his men!”