Volume One, Chapter Twelve: Work at the Clinic

In front of outsiders, Su Tingxue dressed herself up like a little princess, trying to win everyone's affection.

But she chose the wrong place.

This was the clinic, a place bustling with people coming and going, everyone busy beyond measure. No one had the time to pay attention to Su Tingxue; in fact, they found her a nuisance and moved her out of the way.

The woman in the pharmacy shouted loudly, "Where's Little Su? She usually comes to help with chores and take out the trash at this time. How come she hasn't shown up these past few days?"

"Does she have a problem with our clinic?"

Seeing the woman's overbearing demeanor, Su Tingxue instinctively spoke up, "I—I'm here."

"You're Little Su?"

"Then hurry up and get to work! What we lack most in this clinic is manpower!"

The woman couldn't care less, grabbing Su Tingxue and dragging her by the arm toward the pile of trash.

Su Tingxue's little dress was instantly soiled.

Her face turned pale and she instinctively tried to leave, but the woman pressed her, "Finish helping me first, then you have to help out in every department!"

Hearing this, Su Tingxue wanted to die.

It wasn't until evening that it ended.

Su Ningxia had just finished buying supplies for her upcoming trip to the countryside when Aunt Chunyang rushed over in a panic. "Ningxia, something's happened at your house. You'd better go home and take a look!"

"Your second brother was here just now—he had a huge fit and almost broke your door down!"

Su Ningxia frowned.

She didn't want to go back, but to prevent the Su family from making further trouble for her, she had no choice but to return.

As soon as she reached the door, she heard the familiar sound of crying from inside.

"It was sister who made me go. She said she wanted to help brother with his work, but she didn't want to, so she threatened me to go instead. My dress got dirty, and when I didn't do a good job, they scolded me and even want second brother to lose his job. I didn't mean to!"

"If I'd known sister wanted me to do something like this, I never would've gone!"

Second Brother Su's eyes were full of anger.

Su Tingxue had gone to the director's office and thrown away all the director's expensive tea cakes, thinking they were trash. The director was so furious he nearly needed resuscitation on the spot.

When he realized what had happened, he demanded compensation and wanted Second Brother Su suspended. Furious, Second Brother wanted to ask Su Tingxue what happened, only for her to say it was Su Ningxia's doing. In that instant, he understood—it was Su Ningxia deliberately setting him up!

"Weren't you the one who volunteered to go?" Su Ningxia raised her eyebrows as she entered. "You insisted on helping Second Brother, and I couldn't stop you. Now you want to blame it all on me?"

Second Brother Su rushed over to Ningxia, his usually composed face twisting with agitation.

"Ningxia, you know this job is meant for you—you're the only one who can do it. Why didn't you go yourself?"

"You just wanted to slack off and make Little Xue do it for you, didn't you? Now that something's happened and I'm about to lose my job, how can you do this to me?"

Su Ningxia chuckled.

"Second Brother, I was the one who got you this job in the first place. I worked myself to the bone at the clinic, nearly to the point of collapse, just to secure it for you. Have you already forgotten? I thought you'd be grateful, but I never imagined you'd treat me like this."

She lowered her gaze.

Second Brother Su gritted his teeth. "It's because of my outstanding abilities that the clinic wanted me. How could it be thanks to you?"

"Just being able to work at the clinic puts you ahead of many people, yet you're still not satisfied!"

"If it's such a good thing, why shouldn't Su Tingxue go? Isn't it for her own good that I sent her?"

Su Ningxia retorted.

Second Brother Su was momentarily lost for words.

Behind them, Father Su slammed the table hard.

"When did you become so sharp-tongued? At your age, you argue at every turn. With that attitude, what kind of family do you think will want you as a daughter-in-law?"

"Hurry up and apologize to your brother and sister. Tomorrow, go to the clinic and explain everything!"

"Saving your second brother's job is the priority. Who knows, maybe the clinic will even open up another position for Little Xue!"

Su Ningxia laughed inwardly. "She offended the director. How could she possibly work at the clinic?"

"Even if we apologized, we’d still have to compensate for those tea cakes the director lost. All together, that’s over a hundred yuan. Can our family afford that?"

The whole Su family was stunned.

Second Brother Su looked both embarrassed and awkward.

Only Su Tingxue’s eyes flashed with venom.

Every word of Su Ningxia's felt like a slap in the face, making her cheeks burn.

"Aren't you on good terms with the director's wife? You used to help her look after her children. Please, talk to her for me. If you put in a good word, I’m sure I can go back."

Second Brother Su pleaded softly.

He depended on this respectable job for his livelihood. During the holidays, relatives always looked at him with approval and praise.

If he lost the job, he'd lose all face.

He was someone who cared most about appearances and couldn't stand being ridiculed behind his back.

Su Tingxue pricked up her ears.

So Su Ningxia actually knew the director's wife. Could she really pull this off?

Absolutely not.

If Su Ningxia could do it, so could she!

She snorted coldly, "Sister, I know the director's wife too. We've even talked together before!"

"When the time comes, I'll go and beg for Second Brother. He’ll definitely get his job back."

Bluster, more bluster.

What a liar!

Second Brother Su was overjoyed. "Little Xue, is that true?"

"You really are our family's lucky star!"

Mother Su chimed in with a smile, "That's right, as long as we have Little Xue, our family's days will keep getting better!"

Father Su beamed kindly. "No wonder you’re our daughter—so capable, so clever. Not like someone else, who just eats and drinks at home and does nothing but cause trouble!"

He might as well have written Su Ningxia’s name on his face.

Su Ningxia just smiled.

At that moment, Third Brother Su, who had been silent, suddenly spoke. "Ningxia, have you still not found a job?"

Mother Su frowned. What she feared most was Su Ningxia asking the family for money. How could she not be working? So thoughtless!

She spoke directly to Su Ningxia, "Just in time. Your neighbor’s aunt introduced you to a good job sorting vegetables at the farmers’ market. It pays five yuan a month. You should take it for now and at least earn something."

She made it sound so nice.

That job, sorting vegetables, was backbreaking and thankless, bent over for fifteen hours a day, enough to break your back.

Do it for two days and it would wring the life out of you.

Yet Mother Su actually thought it was a good job.

Why not let Su Tingxue do it?

"Of course, it should go to Little Sister. Even before he left home, Big Brother said everything should go to her," Su Ningxia remarked.

Su Tingxue’s face went pale. "I’m not going!"

"But Mom said it’s a good job, so how could it not be for you?" Su Ningxia raised her brows.

Mother Su's face darkened. "Little Xue isn’t some idle slouch. She already has a job. You're the only one in the family without work."