The carefree life of Yang Shuisheng, the village miracle doctor

Yang Shuisheng helped Lin Wan into the main room, where Guo Cuihong quickly lit the kerosene lamp.

In the dim light, the two women sized each other up.

Although Lin Wan was in a sorry state, her nice floral dress and her innate delicate and pretty demeanor still caused a hint of surprise to flash in Guo Cuihong's eyes.

Although Guo Cuihong was dressed simply, even somewhat shabby, her gentle face and clear eyes reassured the still-shaken Lin Wan.

"This is Lin Wan, my friend. Please take care of her, sister-in-law," Yang Shuisheng introduced briefly, then turned to Lin Wan, "This is Sister Cuihong. She's a very nice person. You can rest assured and recover here."

"Sister-in-law Cuihong, thank you for your trouble," Lin Wan said quickly in a low voice, her tone filled with gratitude and unease.

"No trouble at all, Lin Wan, right?"

"Sit down quickly, don't stand up, I see your foot is still injured."

Guo Cuihong quickly gestured for Lin Wan to sit down on the bench by the table. Her gaze swept over Lin Wan's swollen ankles and bruises on her face, and she showed sympathy in her eyes, but wisely refrained from asking any further questions.

"Make yourself at home here, don't feel awkward."

"You can sleep in my inner room, and Xiaobao and I can squeeze in together."

"How can that be..." Lin Wan felt a little guilty.

"No problem at all, listen to your sister-in-law." Guo Cuihong's tone was gentle but firm, then she turned to Yang Shuisheng, "Brother Shuisheng, don't worry, Lin Wan is with me, I promise to take good care of her."

"As long as I have food and supplies, she won't go hungry."

"Is her injury serious? Should we get some herbal medicine?"

"It's a sprain, nothing serious, just need to rest."

"I'll find some herbs and bring them to you tomorrow," Yang Shuisheng said, then whispered a few more words of advice, "Sister-in-law, you absolutely mustn't tell anyone about Lin Wan's situation here, not even Xiao Bao, and tell him not to go around talking about it."

"Give her food and drinks, and try to keep her indoors as much as possible."

"If someone comes to visit, just say it's your distant cousin coming to visit, and she'll be staying for a few days."

"I understand, I understand! Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Guo Cuihong nodded repeatedly, her expression serious.

She was a smart woman and knew this was no small matter.

"Then, sister-in-law, I'm leaving the person in your care."

Yang Shuisheng glanced at Lin Wan one last time. Seeing that although her complexion was not good, her eyes were calmer than before, he said to Guo Cuihong, "I have to leave quickly. It's getting light, and it won't be good if someone sees us."

"Hey, be careful on the road," Guo Cuihong and Lin Wan said almost at the same time.

Yang Shuisheng didn't linger any longer. He nodded to the two of them and then turned and quietly left Guo Cuihong's house.

Back in his dilapidated house, he tidied up the messy room. Lin Wan wasn't there, and he was too lazy to fix the broken door, so he just lay down on the bed.

His mind replayed the night's perilous events, thinking about Zhao Hu's fate, Lin Wan's arrangements, and those ruthless city people... He only drifted off to sleep when the sky began to lighten.

Yang Shuisheng woke up very early the next morning.

He washed up, changed into clean clothes, took a deep breath to calm himself down, and then went out to walk towards the village office.

On the way, he deliberately took a detour, passing by Zhao Hu's house.

Zhao Hu's house was quiet. The old bicycle was still leaning against the wall in the yard, exactly the same as when he returned last night.

Judging from the looks of it, Zhao Hu hasn't come back all night.

Did they run away?

Or were they captured by those three people, or even silenced?

Yang Shuisheng sneered inwardly, thinking that they deserved it no matter what.

He ignored them and walked straight to the mud-brick house in the center of the village, which was slightly larger than an ordinary house. That was the village office of Taohua'ao.

Pushing open the door, the room was simply furnished, even somewhat shabby.

Two peeling desks, a few stools, and a filing cabinet were placed against the wall. Faded slogans and yellowed maps were pasted on the wall.

The air was filled with the smell of old paper and dust.

At this moment, only Zhao Youcai was sitting behind the table at the back, slowly drinking tea from a chipped enamel mug.

"Uncle Zhao, I'm here," Yang Shuisheng greeted.

"Oh, Shuisheng's here? Sit down, sit down." Zhao Youcai put down his teacup, a familiar smile on his face, and pointed to the stool opposite him.

Yang Shuisheng sat down, looked at the empty office, and asked with some confusion, "Uncle Zhao, weren't we supposed to have a meeting? Why is it just the two of us?"

"This meeting doesn't really concern anyone else."

Zhao Youcai picked up his teacup and took another sip, then said slowly, "I mainly want to talk to you about what you'll be doing in the village in the future."

He paused, looked at Yang Shuisheng, and his tone became more formal: "Shuisheng, you are now a village cadre. You were elected by the villagers because they trust you."

"However, you've just arrived and haven't made any significant contributions to the village yet."

"If I were to arrange something tangible for you directly, like the land deal in Liangshui Village that I mentioned before, I'm afraid some people would get jealous and gossip."

Yang Shuisheng listened quietly without interrupting.

"I've heard you seem to know a bit about medicine?"

Zhao Youcai leaned forward and lowered his voice, saying, "Last time, you took care of Guo Cuihong's little baby, and Bai Qinglian, and I heard that you were the one who looked after Kun Ge's old man in town?"

"I know a little bit. I learned from an old man who passed through the village a few days ago," Yang Shuisheng replied vaguely, but a thought stirred in his heart.

"A little knowledge is enough." Zhao Youcai slapped his thigh. "Our Taohua'ao village is lacking a proper village doctor."

"The town's health center is far away, and it's not easy for villagers to make a trip there if they have a headache, fever, or minor injury."

"I think I'll entrust the job of village doctor to you."

"You don't need to feel too much pressure. If you can watch it, then watch it. If you can't, then let them go to town. How about that?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Shuisheng thought it was a good arrangement.

This allows them to legitimately move around the village and meet more people, while also putting their inherited medical skills into practice and accumulating experience and reputation.

Moreover, with this contribution, there will be much less resistance when Zhao Youcai arranges land for him.

"Okay, Uncle Zhao, I'll follow your instructions."

"Treating the sick and saving lives is a virtuous act, and I will do my best," Yang Shuisheng nodded in agreement.

"Good! That's great!" Zhao Youcai's smile widened, showing great satisfaction.

However, as if suddenly remembering something, he tapped his fingers on the table, and asked with a seemingly casual but slightly questioning look, "By the way, Shuisheng, about what Zhao Erniu said at the threshing ground yesterday, do you have anything like that at home... um?"

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

"That's not true."

Yang Shuisheng was already prepared, and without changing his expression, he shook his head decisively: "Uncle Zhao, Zhao Erniu is just talking nonsense because he lost the election and is unwilling to accept it. He's deliberately trying to smear us."

"If you don't believe me, you can come to my house and see for yourself."

"Hey, I believe you, I believe you!" Zhao Youcai quickly waved his hand, giving an expression that said, "I understand," but his tone carried a reminder, "That's good, but Shuisheng, you're a cadre now, so you need to be mindful of your influence."

"Some things should be avoided if possible, and if they do happen, they should be dealt with cleanly so as not to leave any handle for others to catch them in the act."

"Your position as a cadre will be in jeopardy then, you know that?"

"I understand, thank you for reminding me, Uncle Zhao," Yang Shuisheng replied.

"Yes, as long as you know it." Zhao Youcai nodded, no longer mentioning it, and instead asked, "You said you know medicine, so what specific illnesses do you treat?"

"I should be able to take care of common headaches, colds, diarrhea, minor injuries, and... some minor gynecological problems, as well as things like conditioning the body," Yang Shuisheng said.

The medical skills he inherited were comprehensive, with particular expertise in conditioning and acupuncture.

This was just something he said casually; if you really counted, he could cure all diseases.

"Gynecology?" Zhao Youcai's eyes lit up, but he didn't ask any further questions, only saying, "Okay, as long as it's promising, that's fine..."

As he spoke, he opened a locked drawer in his desk, took out an old envelope, and pulled out two five-yuan bills from the envelope, making a total of ten yuan, which he then pushed in front of Yang Shuisheng.

"This is some public funds from our village. It's not much, but it's the start-up capital I specially approved for you."

"Take this and buy some commonly used medicinal herbs, gauze, alcohol, and other simple supplies."

"In the future, when treating patients, charge only the cost price if necessary, and don't charge anything that shouldn't be charged."

"When I have time later, I'll go to the town's health center and pull some strings to see if I can get you a medical practice certificate or something, then it will be more legitimate."

Looking at the crumpled ten yuan on the table, Yang Shuisheng understood that this was both Zhao Youcai's support for him and an investment and a form of binding.

He didn't stand on ceremony, reached out and took the money, putting it in his pocket: "Thank you, Uncle Zhao, I will use this money for good purposes."

"Okay, do a good job!" Zhao Youcai stood up, patted Yang Shuisheng on the shoulder, and said with a "I have high hopes for you" look, "Alright, that's all for today."

"Go back and get ready. From today onwards, you will be the village doctor of our Peach Blossom Village."

"If you encounter any difficulties, feel free to come to me anytime."

"Okay, then I'll head back now, Uncle Zhao."

Yang Shuisheng also stood up, said goodbye, and left the village office.

Stepping out of that somewhat oppressive mud-brick house, the morning sun had already bathed the village in its warmth.

Yang Shuisheng touched the ten yuan in his pocket. He knew that his identity as a village doctor and village cadre would probably not be peaceful.