Chapter 33

Dr. Shen from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department was the hospital’s top expert, known for treating complex and difficult cases.

While many who had passed the barefoot doctor exam were envious of Lu Baiwei for getting the chance to intern with Dr. Shen, Lu Baiwei felt she was only benefiting from the favor of her grandfather.

As a renowned TCM expert, Dr. Shen had worked with her grandfather, Tang Zhongjing, in the past, collaborating on medical research.

After successfully passing the barefoot doctor exam, Lu Baiwei walked out of the hospital feeling relaxed and confident. That sense of ease and self-assurance was evident on her face, and when He Ting, waiting for her outside, saw her, he immediately guessed the outcome.

“The exam went well, huh? Looks like you did great,” he said as he walked toward her, gently tucking the stray locks of hair behind her ear.

This scene was witnessed by He Yan, who had failed the exam and walked out of the hospital looking disheveled and defeated.

Why was He Ting so kind to Lu Baiwei?

She was just a country girl from the village.

He Yan, an educated youth from Haicheng, couldn’t understand what made her inferior to Lu Baiwei.

Even though Lu Baiwei had passed the barefoot doctor exam and she hadn’t, He Yan, being from a big city, still looked down on Lu Baiwei and couldn’t bring herself to acknowledge her as superior.

In the past, He Yan had never openly sought attention in front of He Ting, as she had held onto the dignity of being an educated youth from a large city. However, because she was so reserved, He Ting had ended up marrying a village girl.

Realizing this, He Yan knew she couldn’t let any chance to get close to He Ting slip by.

Deep down, she was convinced that once He Ting returned to the city, he would ditch Lu Baiwei.

She believed she still had a chance.

Ignoring He Ting’s closeness to Lu Baiwei, He Yan approached them with a pitiful look.

“He Ting, can you give me a ride back to the Xiangyang Brigade?”

With a limp, her eyes filled with tears, she continued, “I got a blister on my foot and sprained my ankle on the way here.”

He Ting, still caught up in the joy of Lu Baiwei passing the exam, was more than happy to share in her happiness. However, their intimate moment was suddenly interrupted by He Yan.

He Ting, clearly annoyed, pointed toward the hospital.

He Yan, confused, asked, “What do you mean?”

“If you’ve sprained your foot, go see a doctor at the hospital,” He Ting replied, his tone dismissive, as if to say, *you’re not my wife, why should I care about your situation?*

He Ting’s expression said it all: “You’re not my wife, so why should I care about you?”

He Yan was livid: “He Ting, we’re both educated youth sent to the countryside. We should be united, working together!”

“You can’t just stand by and do nothing!”

He Ting tried to pull Lu Baiwei along, but He Yan blocked their way.

He Ting simply bypassed her, pulling Lu Baiwei with him, and threw over his shoulder, “Then we’ll talk when you’re dead.”

“He Ting…”

How could he treat her like this?

How dare he treat her like this?

He Yan was furious, and this time, she really did cry in anger: “He Ting, you bastard!”

It was a pity that He Ting neither understood how to be tender nor had any compassion for her. He didn’t even bother to respond, just pulled Lu Baiwei along and walked towards the state-run restaurant.

This was the first time since their marriage that He Ting held her hand.

His hands were large and calloused from hard work in the fields. The roughness of his hands scraped against Lu Baiwei’s palm, sending a slight tingling sensation that made her heart flutter.

His hands were also incredibly warm.

In such hot weather, holding his hand made Lu Baiwei’s palm sweat.

Their hands, intertwined, felt smooth and slippery.

Lu Baiwei couldn’t help but wish it were winter. She imagined how warm it would feel to hold such a hot hand during the colder months—it would be a comforting, even heartwarming sensation.

Despite the intense heat, strangely, Lu Baiwei’s heart raced, her palms sweated, but she still didn’t want to let go.

This wasn’t at all in line with her usual independent and clear-headed personality.

So, this was what marriage did—made one act like a lovesick fool?

Luckily, the state-run restaurant wasn’t far, just beside the county hospital. Otherwise, if they kept holding hands, not only would they attract attention from passersby, but in such hot weather, their palms would soon feel like they were burning through to their hearts.

He Yan had gotten her spot in the barefoot doctor exam thanks to Lu Jiaojiao.

Lu Jiaojiao was still hoping for the result of He Yan’s exam so she could use it to embarrass Lu Baiwei. Since early this morning, Lu Jiaojiao had been waiting at the entrance of the village, hoping to catch the moment of victory.

After Lu Baiwei finished her exam, she and He Ting were planning to stroll through the county’s department store.

After Lu Baiwei finished her exam, she and He Ting planned to visit the department store in the county town.

He Yan took the commune’s tractor back to the Xiangyang Brigade.

“He Qing, how did you do on the exam?”

As soon as He Yan arrived, Lu Jiaojiao hurriedly approached her.

He Yan felt ashamed that she didn’t pass while Lu Baiwei did. Even more so because He Ting had continuously slapped her in the face. She had no idea what kind of charm Lu Baiwei had cast on him.

It would’ve been fine if Lu Jiaojiao hadn’t mentioned it, but now that she had, He Yan replied in an irritated tone, “How could the results come out so quickly?”

This exam spot was something Lu Jiaojiao had helped her secure.

Yin Zhi and the other sisters had married well, so it wasn’t hard to imagine that Lu Jiaojiao would eventually need to use her connections.

Lu Jiaojiao was so simple-minded. She only needed to provoke He Yan with Lu Baiwei, and He Yan would get what she wanted.

Feeling that she had been too harsh with her tone, He Yan softened it: “Jiaojiao, I’m sorry, I’m just so tired. The results won’t be out so quickly, there’s still a comprehensive evaluation to consider.”

“I only know that I passed the theory exam, the results of the practical exam will be announced by the commune later.”

He Yan tried to soothe Lu Jiaojiao: “This time, the barefoot doctor exam has both theory and practical sections. You need to pass both to go to the county hospital for a half-month internship. Afterward, you’ll return to the brigade as a barefoot doctor. I’m still waiting for the practical exam results.”

Before going to the countryside, He Yan had worked as a temporary nurse in a hospital.

So the practical section should definitely be no problem.

She had passed the theory exam as well.

Only Lu Baiwei and He Yan from the brigade had taken the barefoot doctor exam this time.

Lu Jiaojiao, imagining the outcome, thought that the barefoot doctor position in the brigade had to belong to He Yan, considering she was an educated youth from a big city.

What she didn’t know was that the “nurse” He Yan mentioned was just someone who took care of patients’ daily needs. She wasn’t a real nurse from a hospital. Compared to Lu Baiwei, who had grown up accompanying her grandfather, Dr. Tang, on medical visits, collecting herbs, and treating patients, He Yan was far behind in both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Because of He Yan’s misdirection, Lu Jiaojiao was elated. Before Lu Baiwei and He Ting returned from the county, she hurried to share the news with Liu Chunhua.

“Jiaojiao, your sister really didn’t pass?”

Liu Chunhua intentionally asked in front of Lu Jianguo.

Lu Jiaojiao, with a face still swollen from the previous day’s events, smugly replied, “Mom, can I really be lying? He Yan is an educated youth from a big city, she has knowledge and culture. Before coming to the countryside, she even worked as a nurse. How could my sister compete with her?”

“He Yan said she passed the theory exam and is just waiting for the commune to announce the results of the practical exam. My sister definitely didn’t pass. You and Dad can rest easy now!”