Song Tan's Notes

The three cobblers huddled together and chattered away.

One person said, "Aren't there fewer mosquitoes in apartment buildings? Isn't it safer?"

One person said, "I don't know how to light a stove in winter! Turning on the air conditioner works just as well, doesn't it?"

Only Dr. Wu had a plan in mind: "I'll vote for the hospital!"

He recites his lessons in a well-organized manner, and he persuades people in a very organized way.

“If we choose the upstairs apartment, with only two units per floor, Liu Wenwu and I will have to live together—brother, that would be a real test of our personal morality.”

"Let me say this first: I'm a bit of a clean freak, I have to sweep and mop the floor every day."

Male nurse Liu Wenwu: ...

It's not like I'm home every day!
He silently raised his hand: "Then I'll vote for the courtyard too."

Xiao Xiao, being a girl, was conflicted: "Then I...then I..."

Dr. Wu quickly added two more points: "I used to live in Ningcheng, where there is central heating in winter, but not here. In temperatures of minus six or seven degrees Celsius, burning a stove and turning on the air conditioner are two completely different experiences."

He gestured and described how the stove had large iron pipes that ran from the side room to the bathroom, and then all the way to the living room and bedroom. Although the total area was probably only 30 square meters, it was warm!

"This big courtyard is great for drying blankets and sunbathing in winter, and sunbathing your back in summer. It's so good for killing germs and keeping you healthy!"

"What's the big deal if you don't know how to light a stove? The people who light stoves here all live in separate small side rooms. Once we get to know our neighbors, we can pay them a hundred or two yuan a month to help us light the stove every day."

When I come home from get off work, the house is warm and cozy. How much money could it cost?

Besides, they know how to give injections and apply medicine, so how could they not know how to operate a stove?
Dr. Guo, who was standing nearby, overheard a few words and couldn't help but laugh.

If city kids don't know how to light a stove, there's a simple method: place one piece of firewood horizontally, then two more pieces vertically, stuffing dry leaves, pine needles, and thin twigs in between. Once you light it, it'll definitely start.

In physics, flames need oxygen and air circulation, so isn't that how you set them up?

If all else fails, shovel a shovelful of coal and exchange it with your neighbor for one of those burning coals; just throw it into the stove and you don't have to worry about it anymore.

It's really not difficult.

But Dr. Wu's description made it sound like a comfortable life of being waited on hand and foot. Xiao Xiao couldn't help but waver—

Whether it's warm or not, she hasn't fully grasped it yet, but she loves airing out her blankets the most.

Liu Wenwu then raised another hand:

"Then I'll cast my vote again."

Three people, six votes—that's fair.

The three of them will be living in the same courtyard, and conflicts could disrupt harmony. Therefore, Dr. Wu will do his best to dispel all their doubts:

"As for mosquitoes, it's only the third floor upstairs. Do you think mosquitoes can't get up there?"

"When I came here, I don't know if you noticed, but although there aren't many people or much business in this town, there are quite a few cars parked on the roadside. I'm planning to buy a used car for commuting, and I'll have a yard to park it in..."

He didn't have much money, but taking the bus along this route wasn't particularly comfortable, so he figured he might as well spend ten or twenty thousand yuan to buy a beat-up used car...

Putting everything else aside, if the two neighbors each contributed a little to cover their transportation costs, wouldn't that cover their gas money?
The abacus beads clicked loudly as he turned to look at him, thinking to himself: How did this talented person end up studying medicine?
But buying a car is indeed a good idea.

When the three of them came to unanimously decide which courtyard to choose, she casually mentioned:
"If you can afford it, buy a car as soon as possible. I'll cover your transportation costs by 150 yuan."

The bus fare to town is two yuan, and four yuan round trip. It costs 120 yuan per person per month, so the difference isn't significant.

Dr. Wu quickly asked, "Is it because the public transportation is in poor condition?" Dr. Guo smiled mysteriously, "I'm afraid that after you work here for a while, you'll voluntarily work overtime in the evenings to wait for that dinner."

"You know, Chef Jiang from the canteen on the mountain used to earn a million-dollar annual salary."

Everyone: ?!

But no matter what, voluntary overtime work is not acceptable.

The boss's ruthless nature was beginning to show, and the three of them exchanged glances and decided to put the car purchase on hold for now.

Dr. Guo: ...

With Chef Jiang's culinary skills and the quality of the ingredients, she doesn't have to pay cheaply for each meal!
……

Although she was secretly thinking that the three newcomers didn't know their stuff, Dr. Guo was in a great mood, knowing that they would be proven wrong sooner or later anyway.

Not long after I returned to the clinic, Song Tan arrived again on his electric scooter: "Give me a box of Huoxiang Zhengqi Water."

Dr. Guo: ?
"I only walked for a short while, and someone already has heatstroke?"

"No," Song Tan said helplessly.

"Didn't Qiaoqiao say she was going to take them to collect duck eggs and make salted duck eggs this afternoon? We need to go up the mountain to dig up yellow mud first."

But there's no rush. We can collect the duck eggs this evening and dig the mud tomorrow morning.

As a result, in the middle of the day, several men who had fallen asleep during cupping and acupuncture in the morning were now wide awake, having a misjudgment of their abilities in the air-conditioned room.

Lu Chuan, that mischievous fellow, stopped the old man, but he didn't stop his three brothers at all. Now we have to prepare some Huoxiang Zhengqi Water (a traditional Chinese medicine for treating ailments).
Dr. Guo was speechless at this kind of self-awareness: "There are 10 tubes in a box. Why don't you lead them up the mountain first?"

In the city, you can drive around, sit in a car, and have air conditioning in your room 24 hours a day, so you always feel like you can manage.

Why not let it sit in the sun for at least 5 minutes before doing anything else?
Song Tan laughed and said, "I'm just planning to give each of us a straw hat, and let the three of us men go up the mountain for a walk."

To dig for yellow mud, you have to go to an undeveloped, barren mountain area. The paths there are all narrow, making cycling inconvenient. And because there are few trees, the path is rugged and uphill, with no shade at all. You have to go there at one or two in the morning under the blazing sun to dig mud…

Without having some Huoxiang Zhengqi Water (a traditional Chinese medicine for treating ailments), she was truly afraid that three strokes of the hoe would kill the person.

Back at the guesthouse, Lu Chuan, as expected, put on a hat and sun-protective clothing, waiting patiently for everyone.

Qiaoqiao glanced at them but remained silent.

He already knows that adults are very concerned about saving face, so if they insist on doing something, just let them do it.

You can't learn by being taught, but you can learn by doing.

He is reasonable.

He picked up the empty bucket and strode off, saying, "Let's go!"

As I stepped out of the guesthouse, the air was thick with heat. Walking along the long flower-lined corridor, the moment the sun shone down, I felt hot all over and instantly broke out in a sweat.

It was alright, though. Although it was a bit hot, we were all wearing sun-protective clothing, so it was manageable and we even felt more comfortable sweating.

Lu Chuan silently calculated the time—well, it's been quite a while since they had cupping and acupuncture. Sweating now might have a slight impact, but it's not a big problem.

"Let's go."

He decided to let these city folks know the harsh realities of rural life: "Your buckets are all a bit smaller than Qiaoqiao's. Surely you can carry a bucket full of yellow mud back home?" (End of Chapter)