Wang Hanzhang treated Gao-Yuan's notebook as a treasured possession, stowing it carefully away. He had no idea how to start implementing preventive measures and guessed the other counties were likely just as lost. But with this notebook in hand, Wang Hanzhang knew that their county was about to make a big impression.
Elated, Wang Hanzhang dragged Gao-Yuan out for a meal at a local restaurant.
The others watched enviously, though they could hardly complain. If they didn’t have the smarts to make it to university, who could they blame but themselves?
Yan Qiao and Li Runyu both looked rather sour, exchanging a glance. Yan Qiao let out a cold snort and stormed off, while Li Runyu’s brow furrowed in irritation.
At the restaurant, Gao-Yuan once again stressed to Wang Hanzhang the importance of training health workers. Wang Hanzhang assured him he would mobilise every production team.
However, when Gao-Yuan returned, he found that the production teams weren’t enthusiastic about the initiative, especially the ones near Zhang Village.
"Why is that?" he asked Yang Degui, puzzled.
Yang Degui crossed his arms, looking around disgruntled. “How should I know? Weren’t we supposed to send one person from each team? So why am I the only one here?”
The other staff at the clinic watched, intrigued.
Gao-Yuan scratched his head, still baffled. He remembered clearly from his previous life that, aside from the villages closest to town, all the villages had sent people. How could it be different this time, with only Yang Degui showing up?
Li Shengli joined in, asking, “It’s clearly a good thing—why isn’t anyone interested?”
Yang Degui replied, “Good thing? They said training would take a month! For that long, will the village give you work credits or not? If they don’t, how am I supposed to eat? And even if they do, they’ll still be mad about feeding me for free. People fight like cats and dogs over credits every night; imagine what it would be like if I just sat here doing nothing. And the village has to buy medicine now too, which costs even more!”
Gao-Yuan was taken aback.
Yang Degui glanced at Gao-Yuan. “My village wasn’t even going to send anyone. They figured since you’re one of us and around often enough, it’d be fine. But my dad and... and my sister insisted I come, even forfeiting my work credits.”
Gao-Yuan was speechless, unsure how to respond to such an attitude.
“What about the other townships? Aren’t any of them willing to train health workers?” he asked Zhao Huanzhang.
Zhao Huanzhang had just returned from a meeting and took a sip of water before replying, “The other townships are fine; all the villages aside from the ones near us have been pretty enthusiastic.”
Everyone looked puzzled.
Veteran doctor Shen Congyun muttered, “Why else? It’s because we exhausted ourselves treating the flu, working nonstop for hundreds of miles. We’ve already shown our dedication, so they see no need to go through the trouble of training someone.”
It dawned on Gao-Yuan; no wonder things were different this time. In his past life, the clinic had only four doctors. Zhao Huanzhang was hesitant to treat, Liu Sanquan didn’t know how, Shen Congyun was too lazy, and Li Shengli just made things worse. The local people had suffered and therefore eagerly joined the training later.
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This time, however, Gao-Yuan had done too good a job. Ironically, their success had led to a lack of motivation among the villagers.
The shortsightedness of the farmers left Gao-Yuan with a pounding headache.
Seeing his rejected expression, Yang Degui grew more frustrated. “What are you sighing for? If my family hadn’t forced me to come support you, I’d be gone by now. You don’t want me here anyway, so I’ll head back and earn some work credits instead of starving!”
With that, Yang Degui turned to leave.
“Hey, Degui, where are you going?” Yang Xiuying appeared in the doorway.
“I’m leaving, Sis,” said Yang Degui, full of resentment. “They don’t need me here.”
Yang Xiuying grabbed him, saying, “Stop being childish. Remember what Dad told you? If you go back now, he’ll beat you.”
Recalling his father’s leather sandal, Yang Degui reluctantly returned.
Yang Xiuying, carrying a woven basket, glanced at Gao-Yuan.
Gao-Yuan nodded slightly to her in greeting. “Xiuying.”
She nodded back, a little shy, and pulled out a parcel from her basket. “Grandpa asked me to bring you some buns.”
Surprised, Yang Degui asked, “Sis, did you wake up early just to make those for him?”
Yang Xiuying’s face turned red, and she immediately twisted Yang Degui’s arm in embarrassed.
Gao-Yuan was embarrassed too, unsure whether he should accept the buns.
At that moment, a voice sounded from the door. “Excuse me, is Dr. Zhao Huanzhang or Dr. Gao-Yuan here?”
Gao-Yuan turned towards the voice, and his heart skipped a beat.
Wen Hui!
“It’s you.” Zhao Huanzhang stepped out to greet her.
Wen Hui wiped the sweat from her forehead and said to the young man behind her, “Bro, bring down those two jars of wine.”
She stepped inside, smiling. “Hello, Dr. Zhao, Dr. Gao. I’m here to thank you personally. Dr. Tan Yun said, If not for your timely help, my mother wouldn’t have made it.”
“My mother wanted to thank you both in person, but she’s still recovering. I heard you like Zixiang sorghum wine, so my father sent these two jars. Just a little token—please don’t refuse.”
While Zhao Huanzhang exchanged pleasantries, Gao-Yuan found himself mesmerised by Wen Hui’s bright smile, recalling how it had once been the only light in his bleak life.
Yang Xiuying, whose face was already flushed, glanced nervously at Gao-Yuan. She noticed his gaze fixed on the new girl, and her hand instinctively clenched the bag she was holding.
Wen Hui took one of the wine jars from her brother and held it out to Gao-Yuan. “Dr. Gao, please don’t turn it down.”
Yang Xiuying glanced between Gao-Yuan and Wen Hui, finally whispering to him, “Who is she?”
For a moment, Gao-Yuan didn’t know how to respond.
Wen Hui kindly offered an answer: “I’m Wen Hui, and you are...”
She glanced at Yang Xiuying, then turned her gaze back to Gao-Yuan.
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At the County Hospital
Wang Hanzhang, Director Li, the county hospital’s doctors, Li Runyu, and Yan Qiao all waited anxiously at the hospital entrance, glancing around.
“There they are,” said Wang Hanzhang, stepping forward as a convoy of ambulances and military vehicles arrived.
The hospital’s doctors rushed to assist, carefully carrying out a patient who was barely conscious and transporting him to the ward.
A high-ranking officer stepped out of the military vehicle.
Wang Hanzhang quickly stepped up to greet him. “Hello, Sir. I’m Wang Hanzhang, in charge of the county’s healthcare services.”
The officer nodded. “Comrade Hanzhang, I’m entrusting Comrade Su Pingchuan to your care. He’s a decorated hero, and I hope you’ll do your utmost to treat him.”
Wang Hanzhang stood at attention and replied, “Rest assured, sir. We have the best doctors here and will do everything possible to help Comrade Su Pingchuan.”
While Wang spoke confidently, the doctors behind him exchanged anxious looks.
The officer didn’t press with unrealistic expectations. “I understand the severity of Su Pingchuan’s condition. The provincial hospital couldn’t help him either, and he simply wants to return home rather than passing away in a hospital. Just do your best, so he feels cared for.”
“Yes, sir,” Wang Hanzhang replied loudly.
The officer then saluted the medical team, saying, “On behalf of Comrade Su Pingchuan, I thank you all for your dedication.”
The doctors, feeling honoured, returned the salute.
As they walked inside, Wang Hanzhang asked, “Sir, how did Comrade Su’s health deteriorate so severely?”
The officer sighed, his expression solemn. “Su Pingchuan’s condition stems from the frostbitten battlefields in Korea, where the harsh conditions worsened his illness beyond recovery.”
Hearing this, Wang Hanzhang suddenly stopped in his tracks.
The officer turned, puzzled. “What’s the matter?”
Wang Hanzhang looked up. “Would this be considered a cold affliction?”
“A what?”