Chapter 6: Becoming a Barefoot Doctor

“You—you’re going to drive your mother-in-law to an early grave!” Old Madam Lu slapped her thigh and wailed. But with her husband and sons gone, her crying was useless. She quickly stopped, unwilling to clash with Lin Wan head-on, and began plotting revenge in silence.

In just one day, Old Madam Lu felt as though Lin Wan had pushed her to her limits.

By now, Lin Wan had pieced together the old woman’s nature from both the story’s plot and her own experiences: a bully who preyed on the weak. When met with resistance, she would run to her husband or sons. If that failed, she would suddenly turn meek, even smiling sweetly as she pretended to reason.

That night, Lin Wan had played the fool in front of Old Man Lu and the others, catching Old Madam Lu off guard. But when left alone with her, Lin Wan had no reason to be polite. The old woman couldn’t overpower her physically, and Lu Zhengting would never stand by while his wife was mistreated.

What did she have to fear?

As for Lu Zhengting, Lin Wan already considered him an ally. He wouldn’t raise his hand against his own mother, but he certainly wouldn’t allow himself—or his wife—to be manipulated.

Humming a cheerful tune, Lin Wan stepped outside, only to bump into Lu Zhengting entering from the alley.

The village roads were uneven, but his wheelchair was specially designed: wide, heavy, and stable. Only someone with his strong arms could move it smoothly.

Fresh from her clash with Old Madam Lu, Lin Wan felt lighthearted. She smiled at him, this time warmly—less teasing than in the morning, more genuine.

Sensing her change, Lu Zhengting studied her in silence. Then he stretched out a closed fist toward her.

His hand was large and pale, faint blue veins visible across the back.

Lin Wan reached for it. His palm opened, and a red-skinned chicken egg rolled into hers.

System: Waaah, a love egg! Lu Zhengting is so sweet! Xiao Jiu has to work harder to heal him faster!

Lin Wan’s eyes crinkled in delight. “An egg!”

Her childlike joy deepened his gaze. He didn’t speak, but his eyes lingered on her bandaged forehead.

Lin Wan touched it and gave him a sweet smile. “It’s nothing. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Thank you for the egg.”

Normal people say whatever comes to mind, whether anyone is listening or not.

She tucked the egg into her pocket, patted her basket, and said, “I’m going to dig herbs now.”

She needed to collect more for Xiao Jiu. In some ways, the System was just like Lu Zhengting—pitiful, fragile, and in need of care.

Lu Zhengting watched her skip away, lively and unburdened. Could she really not hold a grudge? Then why had she agreed to marry him?

—

Lin Wan spent the entire morning digging herbs—Qiqi Mao, Ququ Ya, bitter herbs, white thatch grass, hemostatic herbs, Dihuang, wild Sichuan pepper, wolfberries, and more. 999 absorbed them all eagerly. Perennial herbs with strong medicinal properties were especially useful.

At the same time, Lin Wan used the System to learn herb identification, medicinal properties, and treatments for common ailments.

Still, her individual efforts felt limited. She needed to become a barefoot doctor as soon as possible, mobilize the villagers to gather herbs, and process them for the System.

—

At noon, when everyone came home for lunch, Old Madam Lu tried again to expose Lin Wan’s shrewish side. But with her head bandaged and her unsteady steps as she insisted on feeding pigs and carrying water, others assumed Old Madam Lu was deliberately tormenting her.

Even Lu Zhengze told her, “Stay home and rest. Don’t faint while cutting grass.”

Old Madam Lu was furious, glaring daggers at Lin Wan. But for now, she held back, waiting until her wound healed to strike again.

—

The next morning, instead of herb gathering, Lin Wan went straight to the Brigade Headquarters during the pre-breakfast meeting.

The team leader, accountant, work point recorder, and others were already gathered.

Her snow-white skin and striking beauty turned every head as she appeared in the doorway.

The meeting ground to a halt.

Lin Wan knocked politely. “I’m from Lu Zhengting’s household. I’ve come to ask about my work assignment.”

Lu Zhenggao had told her to rest for a few days. Since she’d already rested one, asking now felt reasonable.

Usually, a new daughter-in-law simply followed her mother-in-law to work, having her points recorded without question.

But her looks drew a mocking comment from a young cadre: “Little bride, what can you even do?”

The whole village knew by now that Lu Zhengqi had fled his arranged marriage, leaving Lin Wan to wed the crippled Lu Zhengting.

They were curious—had the marriage been consummated?

Some even envied Lu Zhengting, twisting that envy into scorn.

—

As a boy, Lu Zhengting had been praised as a prodigy. But after losing his hearing, people sneered: If you’re not destined for greatness, stop boasting. Yet he later entered the military, earning dozens of yuan monthly. Now crippled again, he was once more pitied—or mocked.

His subsidies from the army, higher even than many active officers’, fueled speculation. Some even called him the richest man in Dawan Village.

Others muttered that wealth meant nothing: disabled and childless, he’d die alone.

Now, with such a beautiful wife, jealousy flared. Still, since she’d been cast off by Lu Zhengqi, they comforted themselves that she was a “spoiled flower.”

Among the mockers, Lu Zhengjin was the boldest.

—

Lin Wan’s serene smile betrayed no shame for being abandoned, no resentment. She carried herself with calm dignity, as though the scandal had nothing to do with her.

“I can do quite a lot,” she said clearly. “I completed elementary school, can read and write, and studied under our village’s Barefoot Doctor. I know herbs and common treatments. I could work as a doctor.”

With the System’s help, she would soon surpass even the Barefoot Doctor, so her claim wasn’t empty.

The room erupted in laughter—mocking, incredulous.

Lu Changfa, the production team leader of Dawan Village, said, “All the cadre positions are filled. Each village already has its own Barefoot Doctor. Becoming one isn’t as easy as you think. Better to work diligently with your team.”

Lu Zhengjin, the team leader of the Third Squad sneered. “Uncle, don’t be like that. Learning to read isn’t easy.” His eyes slid over Lin Wan disrespectfully. “Can you even read better than someone from a literacy class?”

His contempt wasn’t just for Lin Wan—it was for Lu Zhengting, whom he despised.

Lin Wan’s smile sharpened. “I can certainly read better than you.”

Furious, he slapped down an old Red Flag newspaper. “Prove it!”

Despite others urging him to stop, Lu Zhengjin pushed for a contest, his lewd gaze crawling over Lin Wan as he added a sinister, “And if you lose… we’ll have a private discussion about academic matters.”

Lin Wan’s eyes turned cold. “Academic matters? You’re hardly qualified to discuss those.”

The accountant, the most literate, was appointed referee. A crowd quickly gathered.

Lin Wan faced off against Lu Zhengjin with confidence. I’ll make you eat your words.

—

Meanwhile, at the Wiliu Brigade Headquarters, Lu Zhengting was doing his daily pull-ups, sweat pouring down as he fought numbness in his legs. Exercise was painful, but necessary to keep them from atrophying. He refused to surrender them completely—even useless, they were still part of him.

“Third Brother, your wife is competing with Lu Zhengjin!” Lu Zhengheng came running, waving wildly.

Reading his lips, Lu Zhengting wiped his sweat and pushed his wheelchair toward the commotion.

By the time he arrived, cheers rang out: “The young wife is amazing!”

“She knows so many characters!”

“She even understands medicine!”

“Lu Zhengjin lost!”

Indeed, Lin Wan’s victory was never in doubt.

Lu Zhengjin blustered, “You must have come prepared!”

Lin Wan retorted, “Do you expect me to have memorized everything in advance?”

Lu Changfa cut him off. “Enough, Zhengjin.”

“Comrade Lin has won,” Lu Zhenggao declared.

Humiliated, Lu Zhengjin spat, “What, you want my team leader position now? Fine, I’ll give you a yuan!”

Lin Wan scoffed. “Keep your money. Do you believe now that I’m literate and qualified to be a doctor?”

She had even recited medical principles while writing, something Lu Zhengjin couldn’t do.

Lu Changfa turned his head and looked at the barefoot doctor, Lu Zhengfu, beside him, “What do you think?”

Lu Zhengfu looked lost—he only knew simple treatments, nothing so advanced. His silence confirmed Lin Wan’s claim.

“Then let’s give her a try,” Lu Changfa said. “Our village desperately needs a female doctor.”

It was true—Lu Zhengfu was useless in matters of women’s health. Many suffered in silence until it was too late.

But Lu Zhengjin sneered, “Reading a newspaper doesn’t make her a doctor. Who would trust her? I won’t allow it—it’s irresponsible.”

His own sister dreamed of becoming a doctor, and with his uncle as brigade secretary, he was determined to block Lin Wan’s way.

Then, a deep voice cut through the crowd:

“Lu Zhengjin, a man should have some backbone. Don’t be a sore loser.”

Everyone turned.

Lu Zhengting sat in his wheelchair, expression icy, gaze sharp as a blade.

Beside him, Lu Zhengheng scribbled furiously, trying to explain.

“The mute is talking!” someone whispered.

“Not mute—just deaf. He’s always been able to speak.”

“Even his own mother calls him mute. But he finally opened his golden mouth—for his wife!”

Lu Zhengjin froze, then roared, “What do you want?”

Calmly, Lu Zhengting replied, “Since my wife is so capable, I propose she become the apprentice Barefoot Doctor for the Wiliu Brigade.”