Chapter 12 – The Female Military Doctor of the 1950s

Hushi City.

Second Military Medical University.

Night had fallen lightly over the campus. The lamps were just beginning to glow, and the wind gently rustled the shadows of the phoenix trees.

After giving a verbal report to his instructor, Cao Jingliang, covered in dust and exhaustion, made his way across the stone path through the grove, quickening his pace toward the dormitory building.

Unlike ordinary universities, the military medical school maintained strict military discipline in both academic and daily life. Even though it was summer break, most students stayed on campus in case of emergency assignments.

Li Xiang was one of them. He was memorizing study materials when the sound of the door opening made him turn around. Seeing his dusty, tired-looking roommate walk in, he grinned, revealing a little tiger tooth:
“Back already? I thought you wouldn’t be back for another couple of days.”

“Rescue mission’s over, so I came right back.”

Medical staff were in short supply. Although only 17 and still a freshman, Cao Jingliang had studied medicine from a young age, so his instructor frequently dragged him along as backup.

Like most med students, he had a fondness for cleanliness. While speaking, he’d already pulled out his toiletries from under the bed and headed straight for the shower.

By the time Li Xiang looked up again, the room was empty once more.

Amused, he shook his head, then pulled out an envelope from his drawer and placed it carefully on his roommate’s desk.

Cao Jingliang returned in about five minutes, now refreshed and clean.

Hearing him come back, Li Xiang looked up again—and then froze for a second.

The young man’s fair complexion and refined features, framed by damp short hair, looked exceptionally striking under the dorm’s yellow light. His calm, ordinary movements somehow carried an indescribable grace.

He was still a boy, shoulders narrow and figure lean, but already radiated the charm of a future gentleman.

Caught under the gaze, Cao Jingliang raised his eyes. His voice was clear and cool:
“What is it?”

Snapping out of it, Li Xiang pointed at his desk with a grin:
“There, you got a letter. I found it this morning and brought it back for you.”

A letter?

“Thanks.”

Surprise lit up Cao Jingliang’s eyes. He stopped drying his hair and slung the towel around his neck. Eagerly, he pulled out the chair and sat down at his desk.

Ever since he’d told his father over two months ago that he’d been recommended for the Military Medical University to study Western medicine, there hadn’t been a single word from the man. He still wasn’t sure when—or if—his father would ever calm down.

The letter was long—five full pages, filled with his mother’s tender words of concern and countless heartfelt reminders.

Warmth filled his chest, but there was also a tinge of disappointment.

His father… still hadn’t written.

Wait. No—hold on.

Suddenly, Cao Jingliang’s eyes widened. He stared hard at a small section at the bottom of the last page. It took several long seconds before he was sure he hadn’t imagined it.

His father had taken on a disciple?

And she was only eight years old?!

His mother had written that “Peach Blossom” (Tao Hua’er) was extraordinarily gifted and clever. His father had even called her a rare talent. High praise indeed, especially coming from a man like his father.

Cao Jingliang sat frozen for a moment, shocked—and intrigued.

His father was a man so upright and reserved that he often came off rigid. And yet now, he was praising an eight-year-old girl with such enthusiasm?

“What’s with the dazed look? Nothing bad happened at home, right?” Li Xiang asked, concerned.

Jolted from his thoughts, Cao Jingliang glanced at the letter again, then shook his head with a small laugh:
“No, nothing happened. Just… my father took in a student.”

Having lived together for over three months, Li Xiang knew a bit about his roommate’s complicated family situation. He grinned and said,
“That’s great! At least now your folks have someone to keep them company.”

True.

Cao Jingliang thought back on the letter, and a small, thoughtful smile formed on his face—

He suddenly noticed something—his mother’s tone and choice of words in the letter seemed much more cheerful than usual.

At this thought, he lifted a long, slender finger and tapped lightly on the words “Tao Hua.”

He really wanted to meet this little junior sister—just what kind of child was she, to earn such praise?

Back in the countryside, Xu Wanchun had no idea that her name had been written into a letter, traveled thousands of miles, and landed in Cao Jingliang’s hands.

Nor did she know that Uncle Cao had already quietly accepted her in his heart and was planning to formally take her in as a disciple.

Although both she and her adoptive mother had always worked toward that goal, apprenticeship in this era was very different from what it would be in the future. Here, being someone’s disciple truly meant “a teacher for a day, a father for life.” You were expected to serve and support your master into old age.

Naturally, Xu Wanchun figured she’d be under observation for at least a year or so before anything happened.

So even though she could sense that Uncle Cao was becoming more and more pleased with her, she still studied diligently every day—never daring to slack off, even a little.

—

It was mid-August. The sunlight was warm but not scorching.

At 10 a.m., the two teachers carried the tea set out into the courtyard and set it on a stone table. They also brought over two rattan chairs and placed them in the shade of the lush elm tree.

They sipped tea and chatted leisurely, truly enjoying a carefree morning.

Meanwhile, not far away, Xu Wanchun was still crouched over, busy processing some gastrodia—a stark contrast to their peace and quiet.

Half an hour passed.

Finally, Su Nan waved her over.
“Tao Hua’er, come rest a while!”

Xu Wanchun didn’t even look up.
“Okay, I’ll be right there!”

Of course, “right there” still meant she had to finish up what she was doing. After wrapping up, washing her hands, and walking over to the stone table, more than ten minutes had passed.

Su Nan pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from her little brow. She smiled with mock reproach:
“Just look at you—all sweaty. Why didn’t you take a break earlier?”

Xu Wanchun wasn’t really a child at heart, so she felt a little embarrassed being treated with such care. She didn’t reply—just grinned sheepishly.

Seeing this, Dr. Cao finally spoke, pushing the plate of chilled melon slices toward her:
“Eat up. Your aunt cut these just for you.”

Ever since her adoptive mother had started growing fruit trees and sweet melons and tomatoes, the two teachers had quickly realized this girl loved to eat.

These days, whenever she visited, there were always snacks or fruit waiting. And it showed—Xu Wanchun had grown fairer and rounder, looking even more adorable. Swallowing a piece of sweet melon, she joked:
“At this rate, I’m going to turn into a little fatty.”

“Nonsense! Who said that?” Su Nan was the first to object. She reached out and pinched the girl’s soft cheeks with a smile.
“Kids are supposed to have a bit of baby fat. That’s what makes them cute!”

She had put in a lot of effort helping raise Tao Hua’er to become such a healthy, sweet-looking child. How could she let anyone say otherwise?

Cao nodded in agreement.
“She’s not fat at all—just right.”

Then he turned the conversation.
“You’ll be starting school in half a month. Do you plan to begin in first grade?”

Xu Wanchun answered truthfully:
“We’ll see. Honestly, I don’t even know what they teach in first grade.”

It was true—she had never really paid attention to what the school curriculum was like in the 1950s.

Dr. Cao had just set his teacup down and opened his mouth to speak when—

The sound of urgent hooves echoed from outside.

Then came a sharp “Whoa!” as someone pulled their reins. Moments later, a man rushed through the courtyard entrance.

He looked to be in his forties, with sun-darkened skin and a worried expression:
“Doctor Cao! My eldest suddenly started vomiting and having diarrhea, and he’s crying from stomach pain. Please come take a look!”

Xu Wanchun recognized the man immediately. He was from the village—his name was Xu Qing, if she remembered correctly.

—

“Shan.”

Dr. Cao immediately rose from the rattan chair and hurried inside to grab his medicine kit.
“What other symptoms are there? Where exactly is the pain? Does he have a fever? How long has he been hurting?”

The rapid barrage of questions left Xu Qingshan, already panicked, even more flustered. His words tumbled out incoherently as if his tongue was all tied up.

Seeing this, Dr. Cao didn’t get upset. He simply switched tactics and asked more gently,
“Is the pain around the belly button?”

Xu Qingshan’s eyes lit up with relief.
“Yes, yes! Right around the belly button!”

Appendicitis or intestinal abscess, both Dr. Cao and Xu Wanchun instantly arrived at the same mental diagnosis.

With the probable cause in mind, Dr. Cao quickly listed the appropriate herbs and dosages. He and Xu Wanchun worked seamlessly, wrapping everything up at lightning speed, then grabbed the medicine box.
“Let’s go.”

Xu Qingshan was still marveling at how deft and calm the tiny little girl was, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it. He lifted his leg to start running.
“Dr. Cao, I came on Uncle Jingjun’s horse—do you want to ride it back for speed?”

Understanding his desperation, Cao just pointed to the bicycle leaned against the courtyard wall.
“I’ll take that instead.”

In this area, that was one of the only two-wheeled bicycles around. Xu Qingshan had seen Dr. Cao ride it before, so he knew it could move fast enough and didn’t insist further.

Dr. Cao wheeled the bicycle out of the courtyard, then straddled it. Just as he was about to leave, he looked back and waved.
“Tao Hua’er, come with me.”

Xu Wanchun blinked, stunned for a second. Then her whole face lit up as she burst into motion, her legs practically becoming a blur.
“I’m coming!”

Su Nan, following behind, shouted,
“Slow down! Don’t fall!”

But falling wasn’t a concern—Dr. Xu had already adapted to her young body long ago. She sprinted up to the bicycle, and with practiced ease, clambered onto the back seat.

By the time Su Nan reached the gate, the grown-up and child duo had already ridden far down the road.

The village wasn’t large.

Dr. Cao pedaled swiftly, and within five minutes, they arrived at Xu Qingshan’s home.

This area had a dense cluster of households, and with the commotion he’d caused, the courtyard and surrounding areas were already filled with curious onlookers.

Fortunately, once the crowd saw that the doctor had arrived, everyone automatically stepped aside to clear a path.

That’s when they noticed the little girl riding behind Dr. Cao.

Someone whispered in curiosity,
“Whose child is that? She’s so pretty.”

She was also dressed quite neatly, but the speaker held that part back—he didn’t want to sound like a country bumpkin.

Xu Wanchun rarely showed herself around the village. In the past month or two, she’d only been seen at her own home or the Cao household. Her current appearance—delicate and refined—wasn’t something most had seen before.

But a few villagers did recognize her.

“Isn’t that the girl Hehua picked up? I think her name’s… Tao Hua or something?”

“Tsk, I remember that kid didn’t look like this at all. The one Hehua found was downright scrawny and ugly.”

“Well, that was months ago! She was just starved back then. Put some meat on a child, and they’ll bloom.”

“Never thought she’d grow up this pretty.”

“What’s the big deal about being pretty? Still just a girl. What, she’s gonna take the imperial exam and become a top scholar?”

One person disagreed.
“Don’t you know? That little girl has been learning from Dr. Cao these past few months. With a mentor like him, I bet she’ll go far—way better than us who just farm.”

“What? I thought she was just learning to read. You’re saying she’s actually learning medicine?”

“Well, obviously. Dr. Cao wouldn’t teach her if she wasn’t smart…”

“Of course he’d take her in.”

“Psh, that Xu Hehua—divorced and still this lucky!”

That comment immediately stirred up another round of gossip.

Some people offered blessings, some showed envy, some let their jealousy seep into their tone. And all of them conveniently forgot how, just a few months ago, when Xu Hehua adopted a little girl with no blood ties and a face only a mother could love, they had worn nothing but disapproving scowls.

Back inside the house, the subject of their chatter—Xu Wanchun—pretended not to hear a word as she swiftly followed the others into the room.

Dr. Cao handed her a thermometer from the medicine kit.
“Take his temperature.”

She gave it a quick shake to ensure the mercury had dropped to baseline, then passed it to the boy on the bed.
“Tuck it under your armpit.”

After the patient did as told, Xu Wanchun walked over to observe how Dr. Cao conducted his exam.

There was significant tenderness in the lower right abdomen, along with vomiting and a fever. After completing the examination, Dr. Cao made the call:
“It’s an intestinal abscess.”

Xu Qingshan immediately tensed.
“Intestinal what? Is it treatable?”

In Western medicine, appendicitis—as Xu Wanchun also recognized—usually required surgery. But for villagers like these, the idea of opening someone’s belly was unthinkable. Even if they were willing, it would take going to the county or even the city.

Dr. Cao didn’t dismiss the question just because the man lacked medical knowledge. Instead, he handed the pre-packed herbs to the patient’s mother, carefully explaining how to brew and dose the medicine as he walked over to disinfect his silver needles.

But Xu Qingshan couldn’t follow a word and looked helplessly at Old Master Xu Jingjun, seeking help.

Xu Jingjun also looked lost.
“Dr. Cao, could you repeat that again? We didn’t really catch it.”

Dr. Cao inserted a needle into the Zusanli (ST36) acupuncture point and, half-joking, said,
“I’m performing acupuncture to relieve the pain. Let Tao Hua’er explain the rest.”

A test.

Xu Wanchun understood this instantly, but she didn’t flinch. Under the watchful gazes—some questioning, some doubtful—she clearly and calmly explained the diagnosis and treatment again.

Most still only grasped a little, but Dr. Cao’s lips curled into a smile.

Seeing this, Xu Jingjun narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. Back when Liu Dahe had been gored by a wild boar, he’d already suspected that the girl Hehua picked up was unusually sharp. Now, he was sure of it.

If the kid didn’t go astray, she might just end up working in the city as a nurse someday. That would be something to be proud of.

That thought made him quietly jealous—if only he’d found her first…

Thirty minutes later.

The acupuncture treatment and medicine had kicked in. The boy’s symptoms eased noticeably.

After collecting the consultation fee, Dr. Cao gave some final instructions on diet and rest.

Once Xu Wanchun finished tidying the medicine kit, the two of them stood to leave.

With his son clearly improving, Xu Qingshan finally relaxed. Though the expense still pained him, he nevertheless saw them off with a smile.

Outside, a group of kids had gathered around the bicycle, curious about the ride and the visitors. When the pair walked up, the children all scattered, blushing and awkward.

Xu Wanchun was used to this kind of attention by now. She followed Dr. Cao out of the courtyard and was about to climb onto the bike’s rear rack when a commotion in the distance caught her ear. She instinctively turned toward the crowd.

Dr. Cao followed her gaze and quickly explained,
“Looks like the Women’s Federation is here for a campaign.”

Xu Wanchun blinked.
“A campaign for what?”

Dr. Cao replied,
“For the liberation movement. Promoting gender equality, encouraging women to cut their hair…”

Xu Wanchun immediately perked up at the thought of her foster mother, who always wore that difficult-to-manage bun.
“I’m telling my mom about this as soon as we get home.”

—