Du Juanjuan looked at her with some disdain, "So what if I’m talking about you? Aren’t you from the countryside anyway? Is the clothes you are wearing bought from this mall? If that were the case, you wouldn’t need to come here to buy a pair of ’earthy’ shoes."
Yang PeiMin smiled, "You actually got it right, this outfit I’m wearing is indeed from this mall. Look over there, there’s the same style in a different color."
Du Juanjuan’s colleague followed the direction Yang PeiMin pointed, and her eyes lit up instantly. Excitedly, she said to Du Juanjuan, "I saw several people on the street wearing this style two days ago, and after asking, they said it was made by some sewing society. I thought for sure it was a knockoff of the mall’s design, but there’s no way it could match the exquisiteness here... Look, they really do have it. I need to check it out... It’s really nice, they have blue too..."
Du Juanjuan’s complexion turned slightly ugly as her colleague, instead of following her, walked over on her own.
Yang PeiMin just watched her with a raised eyebrow.
Du Juanjuan glared at her, "What are you so smug about? Even if you wear a dragon robe, you won’t look like a crown prince. You country folk always have a certain rustic air about you!"
Yang PeiMin didn’t bother to reply. When this person didn’t speak, she almost seemed like a teacher, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she was like a rabid dog, and often didn’t have anything new to say. It was always the same few phrases, which Yang PeiMin had heard so much that she could practically recite them.
But Du Juanjuan was blocking her way, not allowing her to leave, "Stop right there! I heard you got into college? Look at yourself, not a bit like a college student from head to toe. A Military Wife not content with her situation, still wanting to study after marriage, completely clueless, I really don’t know what your man is thinking. No man would like a wife more educated and capable than himself."
Yang PeiMin turned around, somewhat amused, "You don’t need to worry about me; you should be more concerned about your own Camp Commander Shao instead. Other people think the nurse who looked after him is stronger than you as a wife."
Although Du Juanjuan was quite annoying, Yang PeiMin figured she hadn’t taken any advantage of her, so she might as well give her a tip.
While Shen Yiguang was hospitalized, that Nurse Ding’s tone and demeanor had been somewhat inappropriate, and Shen Yiguang had even troubled someone to swap shifts with her, just to have some peace during the last few days. For some reason, she and Shao Hui appeared here today, giving off a strange vibe. Yang PeiMin wondered if Nurse Ding had developed feelings and shifted her targets to Shao Hui.
However, Yang PeiMin’s reminder was just that, a single remark. If Du Juanjuan genuinely cared, she would naturally find out by paying attention to her husband. But if she was still carefree enough to hang out with friends even while her husband hadn’t been discharged from the hospital, then it was not Yang PeiMin’s concern.
So, Yang PeiMin left, unmindful of whatever snide remarks Du Juanjuan was making behind her, and went to pay for her items before heading back to campus.
It was particularly cold outside.
Upon returning to the dormitory and setting down her things, she hurried off to class.
Today was Gao Lingfeng’s class.
To everyone’s surprise, he actually generously took the whole class to the lab.
That was indeed something to be happy about.
While everyone was heading to the lab, Yang PeiMin quickly ran back to her dorm to pick up some herbs and other plants she needed.
When she arrived, everyone was already busy inside. She had planned to sneak in quietly, but the astute Mr. Gao stopped her at the entrance.
"What are you holding in your hand?" Gao Lingfeng asked, his brows unfurrowed, hands clasped behind his back, embodying the stern image of a teacher.
Yang Peimin smiled at him, "It’s nothing special, just some common plants I thought I’d like to research a bit..."
"Yang, your experimental materials are ready, and what I’m doing today isn’t this. Please put what you have aside and go in."
"Then, Mr. Gao, after I finish that operation, please let me work with these plants. You see, it won’t interfere with your work, and you’ve always been a reasonable and helpful teacher."
Gao Lingfeng glanced at her indifferently, "You don’t have to flatter me. However, you always seem rather erratic. Alright, let’s see what you’ve got. No fooling around."
"Not at all, it’s just some Chinese herbs, all pretty common. I was thinking about some people who don’t go to the hospital because they underestimate their illnesses, or those with minor colds or scrapes who don’t pay attention to them—like using monk fruit which might be brewed to treat a cough. But it works even better when paired with fishy-smell herb. However, some people don’t like the taste, especially kids. It’s pitiful to see a whole family forcing it down."
"So I was wondering if I could extract the essential elements from these and make them into other forms like juices or powders that are easier to consume. If you’re worried that I’m not professional enough, or that I’m not a doctor, don’t be, because I’m not actually looking to make medicine, but skincare products."
After hearing her long speech, Gao Lingfeng seemed somewhat lost for words but he kept his composure well. Yang Peimin just felt his facial expression grow a bit stiff.
Gao Lingfeng looked at her steadily, repeating his point, "You should learn to walk before you run. Your idea is good, but these are still beyond what you are capable of doing now..."
Seeing that he was going to continue, Yang Peimin hurriedly said, "Mr. Gao, if I don’t go in now, the class will end."
Gao Lingfeng looked at her expressionlessly and with a wave of his hand, let her in.
Yang Peimin took the opportunity to carry in what she was holding.
However, Gao Lingfeng followed behind her, ready to supervise from the sidelines.
On the other side, Li Yue curiously glanced over several times, and Yang Peimin secretly made a thumbs-down gesture to her.
Li Yue understood and squeezed her eyes at her, then she called Gao Lingfeng over to look at her own work.
Finally, Gao Lingfeng walked away.
Yang Peimin could then focus on her own stuff in peace.
She knew the composition of the commonly used raw materials, and as for how to combine them or the quantities to achieve the best effects, she had to retest all that again. And it’s not just about having the raw materials, other substances are needed too.
As she was engrossed in her work, Gao Lingfeng came to her side again. She was fussing with a microscope and a bunch of dried leaves; he held back.
Still, it was when Yang Peimin turned around and noticed him next to her that she got such a fright she almost dropped the knife she was holding onto her foot.
"Mr. Gao, when did you come over?" And you didn’t make any sound.
Gao Lingfeng said, "Well, you’ve got a good drive, but I’m curious about what conclusions you’ve drawn from all this stuff. Write me a lab report and hand it in to me tomorrow."
After saying that, he turned around and announced that the class was over.