Chapter 16: Unwilling to be Bled Dry

“Then I thank you.” Li Rui laughed bitterly. It was the first time he had heard of a discount on medical treatment.

The agreed-upon payment had already been discussed. Jiang Nian handed the basket of wild eggs to the old man. The old man’s son helped Li Rui load the cabinet and table onto the cart and tie them down.

“Jiang Zhiqing, when will you start seeing patients? Our villagers heard that there’s a doctor in Zhoujia Village. Many people want to see you about their old ailments.” As they were leaving, the old man asked her, “Also, about the deworming medicine you made, the parents of children in the village know you ordered furniture from me. They asked me to ask you about the price. We’re not rich here. You have to give us a discount.”

The news of the children in Zhoujia Village passing worms after drinking the deworming medicine had spread throughout the village. In those days, few people boiled their water. They drank spring water and well water directly when they were thirsty. There were quite a few people with worms in their stomachs.

At first, Jiang Nian thought she had gotten a great deal by exchanging a basket of eggs for these pieces of furniture. After all, the wood was provided by them. Although there was plenty of wood in the mountains, it took a lot of effort to cut it down, process it, and dry it.

It turned out the old man was waiting for her.

But Jiang Nian didn’t mind. She had plenty of gold and silver jewelry in her space. Besides the ones she had saved, her irresponsible father had saved a lot of dowry for her before he disappeared. Even though the silver notes were useless in this world, the remaining gold and silver jewelry were enough for her to live a luxurious life.

Not to mention the various rare medicinal herbs that had been accumulated by generations of Poison Doctor Valley. They were literally growing all over the valley. Jiang Nian could be rich beyond imagination without doing anything.

“I’ll start seeing patients the day after tomorrow when I finish tidying up my place. Don’t worry about the medical fees. When I first arrived, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to adapt. But I didn’t expect the villagers to be so welcoming. I’ve also received a lot of help. The herbs are from the mountains. It just takes a little time to collect and process them. When you come to see me, bring some grain, local specialties, or whatever. Just don’t let me starve.” Jiang Nian said half-jokingly.

The old man was overjoyed. He advised her, “Jiang Zhiqing is beautiful and kind to think of us, but don’t be too accommodating. Those who are always trying to take advantage will think they can get everything for free and end up delaying those who really need it. You should still charge for your services. You’re already doing a great deed by giving us a discount so that we poor people can afford to see a doctor.”

“I know, old man. When you have time, come to my place. I’ll prescribe some health-preserving medicine for you. It’ll make you feel younger by several years.” Jiang Nian raised her eyebrows. “I won’t charge you.”

“Then I’m getting a great deal!” The old man smiled kindly.

“If you say so, then I’ve also gotten a great deal on this cart full of cabinets and benches.”

The two of them smiled at each other, each understanding the other’s intentions.

On the way back, Li Rui suddenly became quiet.

Jiang Nian was a little unaccustomed to it. She asked him, “What are you thinking about?”

They were both exhausted after pushing the cart uphill.

Li Rui panted slightly. “I was thinking, how can I win over the beautiful and kind Doctor Jiang so you can give me an idea to escape the hardship of farm work.”

Jiang Nian smiled and listened to him. “Honestly, Jiang Nian, I always feel like you’re smarter than me. Help me think about it. How can I shine in this countryside and achieve something to show my father, who always looks down on me? I’m not bad without him!”

“You didn’t come to the countryside just for that, did you?”

Li Rui deflated.

The heavy farm work was exhausting both physically and mentally. It was impossible to say he didn’t regret it, but he was reluctant to give up.

He could imagine how his father would belittle him with his tone and expression if he went back to ask for help now.

Li Rui wasn’t unloved at home. On the contrary, he never lacked material things. It was just that his parents’ oppressive education made him suffocate. He always wanted to get away from them. In a fit of anger, he signed up to work as an educated youth and came to the furthest place possible.

Seeing his dejected look, and because he had helped her a lot today, Jiang Nian actually thought about it seriously.

“From what I’ve learned in the past few days, the nearest elementary school in the village is more than ten miles away. There are very few children around here who can go to school…”

Li Rui was like a puppy that had been doused with cold water. “I had this idea when you said you were opening a clinic, but it’s not very feasible. The villagers don’t really understand the concept of going to school. Plus, there are several ‘stinking old nines’ who have been sent down to the cowshed of the cooperative. Even fewer people are willing to let their children go to school.”

In their eyes, going to school would make them ‘stinking old nines’, and if they didn’t do well, they would still have to farm. So, going to school was meaningless.

“Who said you have to start a school right away?” Jiang Nian said impatiently. “People’s understanding can’t be changed overnight. They don’t let their children go to school because they think farming doesn’t require literacy. You have to use your wisdom to make them realize the benefits of being educated. And isn’t the city promoting literacy classes? That’s also an opportunity. You can start by teaching children to read and write in your spare time, and gradually change their thinking.”

After all, reading and writing are different from practicing medicine. Everyone gets sick, but not seeing a doctor might kill you. Not being literate won’t.

The more Li Rui thought about it, the more he realized that Jiang Nian was right. “Oh, how could I have forgotten that? Jiang Nian, you’re so smart. It’s a good thing you’ve already opened a clinic. You won’t be competing with me for this. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have found a better opportunity.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not interested in being a teacher.” She didn’t have the patience. She was afraid she would end up beating the children.

“Even if you can’t start a school later, starting a literacy class is a good thing for society. I heard that the commune has a quota for recommending people to go to university every year. I think you can also work on that.”

A commune is usually a rural cooperative made up of several villages. It is managed by the commune leader, who allocates resources. Then, each village has its own village chief who further allocates resources.

Jiang Nian’s opening of a clinic was also approved by the commune after being applied for by Village Chief Zhou.

This also shows that the medical resources in Bali Village are very scarce.

The more Li Rui talked to Jiang Nian, the more he admired her.

“No wonder you’re the only one who doesn’t have to work in the fields. Jiang Nian, you’re really lucky. You have such a sharp mind. Even without medical skills, you could still live a good life!”

Jiang Nian’s idea wasn’t in vain. She had gained a little fan.

Li Rui wasn’t in a hurry to go to work. He helped Jiang Nian put the table and cabinet in their places and cleaned them before leaving with a smile like a flower.

Jiang Nian was also satisfied. She didn’t have to exert much effort to decorate her home.

She put the things Jiang Qinghe had brought for her on the kang. It was full, representing her father’s reluctance to let her go.

There were many clothes alone, thin, thick, and medium-thick. The temperature here was a little lower, so the thick clothes were made by Zhu Xianglan overnight.

There were also gloves, rubber boots, face cream, hand cream, soap, toothpaste, a water basin, a water bottle, thin blankets, thick blankets, and various kinds of biscuits. He bought everything he could think of and buy, as if he was going to move his whole house.

After spending some time organizing everything, Jiang Nian took out paper and pen to write a letter.

She was going to town to buy a pot tomorrow. The village didn’t even have electricity, so she didn’t know if there were phones in town. She might as well write a letter just in case. If there were no phones, she could only send a letter. It would just be slower.

Li Rui also took out paper and pen and started planning his literacy class.

He had to work, so he didn’t have much energy. He was familiar with Niu Aixiang, so he thought he might as well get her involved. Maybe he could help her.

Zhao Heping was out of the question. He was too cunning. He wasn’t a fool like Niu Aixiang. He wasn’t willing to be bled dry.