Chapter 64: New Arrangements

In the town’s training class, everyone gathered in the classroom after the New Year, with no one absent.

In the morning, several doctors began by distributing the exam papers from last year, already marked in red ink. The results reflected how well the students had grasped the knowledge they learned at the end of last year. Since they were no longer students, there was no need for rankings; each person knew their own standing and could gauge themselves against their peers.

Some felt ashamed, others were proud, some remained modest, and a few appeared indifferent.

Huang Zhihao, who thought he had done quite well, leaned over to check Shen Zhuo’s paper and exclaimed, “You didn’t get a single question wrong?!”

Shen Zhuo nodded.

Huang Zhihao then turned to see how his teammates from the same brigade fared and was stunned to find they had all performed better than him, leaving him feeling utterly deflated.

The members of the Fengshui Brigade exchanged glances, comparing their scores. All four did fairly well, managing to answer about seventy percent correctly, but Shen Zhuo stood out with the highest marks—nearly perfect in every subject, with only one mistake in Western medicine. His score was outstanding.

These papers had been crafted by the instructors to specifically assess how well the students had absorbed what they’d learned. Overall, the results were commendable; after all, these young individuals had been handpicked by their brigade and held in high regard. Most were dedicated and hardworking, with only a few lacking seriousness, resulting in poor scores.

Since there were no classes that day, the instructors quickly reviewed the papers to help the students solidify their knowledge. Once the review was complete, the papers were collected.

However, the students couldn’t leave just yet; Director Zhou was scheduled to speak later, so they had to remain in the classroom to study.

The brigade leaders from various teams also attended a meeting at the commune to discuss the barefoot doctor training program. The teaching doctors were present to report on the results of the first training session. During the report, the highest, lowest, and average scores were clearly presented, along with the performance of each brigade, providing a comprehensive analysis of the overall results.

When a brigade’s students excelled, their leader stood tall with pride. Conversely, if the students performed poorly, the leader felt embarrassed and restless.

The oldest among the doctors, Dr. Yu, had come from the county hospital to lend support. As the group leader for this training program, he began speaking: “In this first training session, two students stood out: Shen Zhuo from the Fengshui Brigade and Lin Xiu Wan from the Changlin Brigade. Shen Zhuo excelled particularly in traditional Chinese medicine, while he showed some weaknesses in Western medicine; on the other hand, Lin Xiu Wan demonstrated strong knowledge in Western medicine but lacked in traditional remedies. Overall, Shen Zhuo achieved the highest score. I recommend focusing on nurturing these two students.”

Instantly, Li Xingguo from the Fengshui Brigade and Lin Xiande from the Changlin Brigade straightened up, feeling the eyes of the room upon them.

After praising the top performers, Dr. Yu shifted to the negative feedback: “Unfortunately, three students performed particularly poorly. According to the test results, they seem not to have dedicated themselves to studying. These three are Xiao Tianbao from the Changlin Brigade…”

Lin Xiande felt his face flush and lowered his head. The highs and lows of this moment left him feeling overwhelmed. Inwardly, he cursed Xiao Tianbao: You little rascal! I knew you’d be no good, dragging me down!

Li Xingguo was also anxious but felt relieved when he realized none from the Fengshui Brigade had been mentioned. Their honor remained intact, and he thought to himself that his own students were performing quite well and deserved praise.

After the report, Director Zhou took the floor, addressing the issue at hand: “The brigade leaders of the mentioned students should speak with them today to find out why they weren’t focused on their studies. Was it family matters holding them back? This training program isn’t a joke; if they truly have no interest in learning, we should encourage them to withdraw so they can return to work and avoid wasting time and resources here.”

Director Zhou approached the situation with rationality and objectivity, intending no ridicule or criticism. After all, the goal of the training program was to cultivate rural doctors, and those uninterested in the profession had no reason to be there.

However, the brigade leaders of the students mentioned couldn’t help but feel the heat rising in their cheeks, suppressing their frustrations and eagerly waiting for the meeting to conclude so they could reprimand those students later.

Once the discussion about the previous training results concluded, Director Zhou moved on to the next steps.

Clearly, the doctor training couldn’t just wrap up in a month. Even with dedicated teachers and eager students, this wouldn’t be a simple endeavor…

It was clear that training a doctor in such a short time was impossible. Thus, a second training session was necessary.

Now, everyone gathered to discuss the timing for the next training period. Director Zhou raised the topic, and the doctors, along with the brigade leaders, began deliberating. They needed to consider the doctors’ work schedules while also accounting for the production teams’ tasks. The latter was of utmost importance—after all, food production was the foundation for all endeavors.

In the end, they prioritized production, avoiding the busy farming season and settling on February and March for a two-month training session. By April, the farmers would be busy, and May would usher in the intense “double harvest” period, lasting until June. They planned to have one or two final weeks of training in early July, after the harvest wrapped up, marking the completion of the program.

Director Zhou concluded, “For now, that’s our preliminary arrangement. Alright, let’s go check on those young people and relay the new plans!”

With that, the meeting adjourned. The doctors returned to their work, while the brigade leaders, led by Director Zhou, made their way to the training classroom.

On the way, Director Zhou inquired about Shen Zhuo and Lin Xiu Wan, given their potential and the need for focused attention on their circumstances, especially their family situations.

Lin Xiande spoke first: “Lin Xiu Wan’s father left the village to seek his fortune in the city after the founding of New China. He fell in love, got married, and that’s how she came to be. Her mother is a doctor who studied abroad. Influenced by her mother, she aspires to become a doctor herself and has learned quite a bit about medicine. She returned last year as a sent-down youth, coming back to her family, just in time to help the villagers with their health issues. But she’s still inexperienced, so I enrolled her in this training program. She has knowledge in both traditional and Western medicine, though her mother specializes in the latter, so she’s more adept in that area.”

Director Zhou raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Oh? A sent-down youth, no wonder she’s so impressive.”

Lin Xiande beamed with pride. After all, with Lin Xiu Wan’s talent, the villagers would have reliable medical care, which was the most practical outcome.

Director Zhou then turned to Li Xingguo, “What about Shen Zhuo? What’s his family situation?”

Having listened to Lin Xiande’s earlier comments, Li Xingguo felt an unexpected sense of pride, thinking that despite Lin Xiu Wan’s strong family background, Shen Zhuo outshone her. He sighed and said, “Shen Zhuo’s family situation is tough. His mother died during childbirth, and his father broke his leg while foraging for medicine in the mountains last year and passed away too. Now he’s all alone—so pitiful.”

Director Zhou’s expression softened. “Such a background makes his efforts even more commendable. We must nurture him well!”

Li Xingguo replied earnestly, “Don’t worry, Director. Whenever he attends training, if anything comes up at home, the team ensures he has the support he needs, so he won’t have any worries!”

Director Zhou nodded. “I’d like to meet these two young people later.”

As they approached the classroom, the brigade leaders stopped outside while Director Zhou entered.

He stepped up to the podium, looking out over the group of young trainees with a gentle demeanor. “Happy New Year, everyone! I know it’s been tough with all the back-and-forth during the past month. But this is part of our commitment to the national policy to address healthcare in rural areas. I’m sure you all understand that diligently studying and mastering these skills will help you serve your fellow villagers well!”

Seeing the attentive faces before him, Director Zhou smiled. “The first training session has concluded, and the test results are in. However, don’t let the results define you—if you did well, don’t become complacent, and if you didn’t, don’t be discouraged. Being a doctor requires lifelong learning and continuous improvement. Now is the time to fill in any gaps in your knowledge and keep studying. A new year brings new efforts; wouldn’t you all agree?”

The trainees nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

Director Zhou smiled and continued, detailing the arrangements for the second training session. While the courses would change, the schedule remained the same—nine classes a day from nine in the morning to five in the evening, so they should prepare themselves mentally.

Reactions to this schedule were mixed.

Most felt that attending the training was far easier than working in the fields, so they were willing to endure the daily commute, even if it was tiring; it was a small price to pay compared to the opportunities that awaited them.

However, a few found the distance too taxing, worrying that their families might resent them for spending so much time away, leading to some anxiety.

Others felt that the extended training time…

Feeling the pressure of home responsibilities, Shen Zhuo furrowed his brow.

After outlining the arrangements, Director Zhou spoke earnestly, “Being a barefoot doctor is a blend of farming and medicine. You’ll not only provide medical care for the villagers but also participate in production tasks, which is no easier than just farming. Now that we’ve completed the first training session, if anyone feels they can’t keep up or encounter difficulties, talk to your brigade leader so we can find a solution. Alright, that’s it for today; everyone is dismissed!”

As soon as Director Zhou left, the trainees began packing up and moved towards their brigade leaders, ready to listen to their advice or admonitions.

Clusters formed around the leaders.

Li Xingguo looked at the four young people from his brigade, all vibrant and full of energy, and felt a sense of satisfaction. “I learned in the meeting that our brigade performed quite well in the exams, ranking among the best. Especially you, Shen Zhuo, who scored the highest and received praise from Doctor Yu—fantastic! As we move into the second training session, I expect everyone to maintain this momentum and strive for excellence. We cannot fall behind the other brigades!”

The group beamed at the compliments, and there were no signs of jealousy towards Shen Zhuo; they were all determined to keep pushing themselves in their studies.

Following Director Zhou’s instructions, Li Xingguo asked if they had any concerns about the upcoming training. Even though his team members were all performing well, he still wanted to show his care.

Meng Chunlan, Li Guangyao, and Huang Zhihao all assured him there were no issues. Coming from families with both parents and many siblings, their absence wouldn’t significantly affect their household. Plus, the town wasn’t too far away, so they felt confident they could manage.

Only Shen Zhuo remained troubled.

Li Xingguo immediately inquired, “Shen Zhuo, do you have any difficulties?”

After hesitating, Shen Zhuo said, “I have fewer family members. Last month was already tough; we were short on labor, and many tasks were left unattended. In the upcoming two months, the burden will only increase…”

The others were already aware of his situation, and the sympathy and understanding in their gazes were palpable.

Li Xingguo quickly reassured him, “Your family situation is indeed challenging. With you training, your household relies entirely on Ye Xin now, but the brigade understands. Don’t worry too much; last year was the busy season with many complications. In February and March, there won’t be any major events, just regular work. If Ye Xin gets overwhelmed, she can take some time off.”

He leaned in to whisper, “Once you graduate in the second half of the year, you’ll be able to see patients and receive a monthly subsidy. So, there’s really no need for you to worry. If, by the end of the year, your work points are insufficient and you don’t have enough grain, the brigade will consider helping you with some funds.”

The moment those words were spoken, the other three perked up.

In truth, that was their motivation—receiving money each month was akin to earning a salary like workers. Compared to farming, where they only received dividends at year-end, this was far easier.

With the brigade leader’s encouragement, everyone’s determination to participate in the training to become doctors strengthened.

Yet Shen Zhuo still wore a frown. He realized that he could make money gathering herbs or buying vegetables, enough for his own expenses. His main concern was that Ye Xin would struggle at home all alone.

Li Xingguo continued to encourage him, “Shen Zhuo, you have the talent and the drive, and Director Zhou recognizes that. You mustn’t give up! If you find anything overwhelming at home, just let us know—we’re here to help! The brigade has high hopes for you, so you need to persevere!”

With the brigade leader’s support so firmly stated, Shen Zhuo finally nodded, “I understand, Brigade Leader. I won’t give up midway.”

Li Xingguo felt relieved and satisfied, nodding in approval. He was genuinely worried that Shen Zhuo’s quiet stubbornness might lead him to abandon his studies.

Just then, a staff member approached Director Zhou with a smile, asking for Shen Zhuo, saying the director wanted to have a word.

Shen Zhuo looked perplexed.

But Li Xingguo chuckled, “It’s nothing. Director Zhou probably just wants to encourage you. Go on.”

Reluctantly, Shen Zhuo went over, finding himself in an office at the school.

Upon entering, he was surprised to see Lin Xiu Wan there too.

She frowned silently.

When Lin Xiu Wan saw him, a glimmer of happiness flickered in her eyes. He looked even more handsome and tall than he did before the New Year, and she couldn’t help but admire him more. It was clear that both of them were excelling academically, which was why Director Zhou had summoned them for a meeting.

Lin Xiu Wan felt justified in her judgment; Shen Zhuo was not only good-looking but also outstanding in his studies. Even though she knew he had a fiancée and wouldn’t return her feelings, the mere opportunity to stand alongside someone so accomplished brought her joy.

Shen Zhuo pretended not to notice her gaze and stepped inside, maintaining some distance from her as he greeted Director Zhou.

Director Zhou looked at the two young people and was pleasantly surprised. Not only were they diligent students ranked at the top of their class, but they were also quite the attractive pair. He chuckled, “I called you here because of your excellent performance in the first training session. I have a small token of recognition for you both.”

With that, a staff member brought over two new towels and two shiny enamel mugs.

Director Zhou handed each of them a gift, smiling, “Our training program has limited funding, so this is just a personal gesture from me. It’s nothing grand, but I hope it motivates you to continue studying hard and contribute to rural healthcare in the future.”

They both accepted the gifts, respectfully thanking Director Zhou.

As he looked at them again, the more he felt they were a perfect match. He said with a smile, “One of you lacks traditional Chinese medicine skills, and the other lacks Western medicine knowledge. You could complement each other well! Make sure to exchange ideas during your free time and help each other grow!”

Shen Zhuo frowned at the suggestion, lowering his head to put his belongings into his bag without responding.

Lin Xiu Wan was open to the idea, but seeing Shen Zhuo’s unwillingness, she could only sigh inwardly.

Director Zhou’s intention in summoning them was purely to offer encouragement and rewards; once that was done, he dismissed them.

As they stepped outside together, Lin Xiu Wan couldn’t help but ask, “Shen Zhuo, I really want to meet your fiancée.”

Shen Zhuo’s brow furrowed tighter. “What do you want to do?”

His guarded demeanor made Lin Xiu Wan’s heart sink, and she could only respond helplessly, “I’m just curious. I heard she’s also a sent-down youth.”

What she didn’t voice was her desire to see just how wonderful and beautiful his fiancée must be to capture his affection.

She was a proud woman, confident in her appearance and knowledge. She had volunteered to go down to the countryside, eager to participate in rural development. For the first time in her life, she felt a twinge of insecurity, wondering what it was about her that made Shen Zhuo keep his distance.

Shen Zhuo didn’t engage further and walked ahead in silence.

They hadn’t gone far when they spotted Xiao Tianbao.

Xiao Tianbao wore a sullen expression as he watched them.

Earlier, he had been reprimanded by the brigade leader for taking up a spot without putting in the effort to study, placing last in the exams and dragging others down with him. The leader had told him that if he didn’t want to learn in the second session, he should just stay away to avoid embarrassing himself. He even praised Lin Xiu Wan for her excellence and diligence…

Xiao Tianbao shrugged it off; he had faced criticism before and didn’t feel ashamed. He had only joined the training to pursue Lin Xiu Wan, not because he genuinely wanted to become a doctor.

However, when he heard that Shen Zhuo from Fengshui Brigade was outperforming Lin Xiu Wan, his indifferent demeanor shifted. Especially when he learned that Director Zhou had called them in for praise, his expression darkened, and he marched over, desperate to avoid letting Lin Xiu Wan and Shen Zhuo stand together for even a moment.

Now, as he watched the two emerge from the office, he had to admit, no matter how reluctant he felt, they made a striking pair—handsome and beautiful together.

Not only did they look the part, but their accomplishments matched as well; they were both exceptionally talented.

This only deepened Xiao Tianbao’s resentment!

Jealousy, anger, and humiliation churned within him!

As soon as Xiu Wan saw Xiao Tianbao, she frowned. “What are you doing here?”

In stark contrast, Shen Zhuo felt a wave of relief upon seeing Xiao Tianbao’s lingering affection for Lin Xiu Wan, prompting him to quicken his pace and walk away.

Xiao Tianbao, however, was taken aback. Why did he suddenly feel even more suffocated?

He stepped in front of Lin Xiu Wan, his expression dark. “I saw how happy you looked just now. It’s obvious he doesn’t like you at all.”

Lin Xiu Wan snapped back, her tone sharp, “Xiao Tianbao, are you sick? Whether he likes me or not has nothing to do with you! I don’t like you, either!” With that, she turned on her heel to leave.

Naturally, Xiao Tianbao followed her, a hint of despair in his voice. “I’m the one who’s sick, or why would I still like you?”

Lin Xiu Wan felt anger rising within her. What did he mean by that? Was liking her a sign of sickness?

She dismissed him with a huff, striding ahead, and he fell silent, trailing behind her.

Glancing back at him with irritation, Lin Xiu Wan noticed his unusual quietness and recalled how he had been reprimanded by the brigade leader. Curious, she asked, “What’s your plan? You’re not studying properly and just wasting time. Are you planning to skip the next session?”

Xiao Tianbao raised his dark eyes to meet hers and paused for a moment before gritting his teeth. “Of course, I’m coming! What’s so hard about studying? If others can do well, why can’t I?”

Lin Xiu Wan felt a wave of disappointment. She had hoped he wouldn’t show up, allowing her some peace without his watchful presence.

Seeing her expression, Xiao Tianbao sneered, “Lin Xiu Wan, don’t think you can get rid of me that easily. Just you wait! I’ll catch up in the next session and outperform everyone. I, Xiao Tianbao, am not a useless nobody!”

Lin Xiu Wan scoffed in response, “Anyone can talk. Let’s see if you can back it up with results!”

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Shen Zhuo rode his bike back to Liangshuitang around two in the afternoon.

At that moment, Ye Xin was sitting in the yard, enjoying the warm spring sun on a stool. The early spring warmth was quite pleasant, and soon it would be too hot to bask outside.

As she soaked in the sun, she continued reading a book from her space and occasionally glanced over at the chicken coop to check on the chicks hatching.

When she heard the noise, she quickly closed her book and smiled at the door. “You’re back!”

Seeing her cheerful face made Shen Zhuo’s heart soften. He nodded and pushed his bike inside, sharing the new training arrangements with her.

Ye Xin listened intently while closing the courtyard gate. “That sounds good. Spring is neither too hot nor too cold, much better than going out in winter.”

Shen Zhuo returned the bike to the house and stepped out to look at her. “I’ll be gone for two months.”

“Two months is just two months,” she replied, enjoying the leisurely pace at home.

Shen Zhuo felt a bit gloomy as he reached for her hand. “You’ll be busy at home all alone again.”

Ye Xin saw through him. It wasn’t about her being busy at home; he was the one who was clingy and reluctant to part ways. Enough was enough!

She withdrew her hand, shooting him a pointed look. “Don’t tell me you don’t want to go. You have to endure some hardship before you can enjoy the sweetness. If you don’t study hard, how can you become a doctor? How will you make money in the future?”

Shen Zhuo frowned. “I never said I didn’t want to go… I already promised the brigade leader I would.”

Ye Xin sighed in relief. “That’s good.”

Shen Zhuo then pulled out the towel and enamel mug from his bag, saying, “This is a reward from the commune director. They’re both new and unused—use them!”

Ye Xin glanced at the plain white towel and the mug that read “Serve the People,” shaking her head. “Those are your rewards; you should keep them. Your old enamel mug is getting worn out anyway.” She remembered he had borrowed that old mug from her to drink water.

Seeing that she didn’t want the towel and mug, Shen Zhuo had no choice but to pack them away.

Ye Xin quickly took charge, “You’ll be leaving next month, so get your chores done at home. The weather’s warming up, and it’s time for spring plowing. Get that vegetable garden behind the house ready; I want to start planting soon. Also, I asked Uncle Jianggong to buy some bags of cement. You’ll need to haul them back to solidify the little pond… There’s a lot to do! Hurry up and put your things away; we need to get to work!”

Shen Zhuo nodded, “Oh,” and got up to head back into the house.

Ye Xin rolled her eyes at his retreating figure. He was always so lazy!

She had already done some preliminary work on the vegetable patch before the New Year, so now Shen Zhuo focused on turning the soil. By dinner time, he had almost finished. The next afternoon, he completed the last bit, neatly organizing the rows and breaking up the clumps of dirt. The garden was now tidy, just waiting for planting.

But Ye Xin wasn’t in a hurry to sow the seeds. She wanted to wait for the next spring rain.

Since the New Year, the weather had been clear and warm, but it hadn’t rained, and the ground was starting to dry out.

Just then, Li Jianggong returned with the cement, and Shen Zhuo used his bike to help haul it back.

The two of them worked on the pond. Although they had never done this before, Ye Xin had observed Li Jianggong previously and thought it didn’t look too difficult. With Shen Zhuo’s help, they smeared the cement around the bottom and sides of the small pond. After all, they weren’t building a house; it didn’t need to be perfect, just watertight.

Ye Xin had considered buying plastic sheeting, but back then, it was still rarely used, likely expensive, and not very durable. Remembering how Li Jianggong knew where to buy cement, she asked him to help procure some.

After two days of drying, they tested the pond with water, and it held perfectly with no leaks!

The little pond was finally ready. Unable to wait for the rain, Ye Xin asked Shen Zhuo to fetch several buckets of water to put the ducks in. They also set up the widened bamboo fence around it, and just like that, the ducks were settled in. Now, she only needed to come by daily to feed them.

For the next few days, they worked in the morning, then busied themselves with their own chores in the afternoon.

The weather remained warm, but the rain still hadn’t come.

One day, Shen Zhuo pulled out a basket and said, “While it’s still dry, let’s head into the mountains to gather herbs.”

Ye Xin nodded enthusiastically. “Great! We need to kick off our money-making plans for the New Year!”

“Yeah!” Shen Zhuo agreed, his mind racing. He figured he could get more work done at home while also gathering herbs. Before February arrived, he wanted to complete all the necessary tasks and hopefully fill a basket with medicinal materials to sell for some extra cash. That way, he could attend the training sessions with more peace of mind.