Chapter 18: Trying to Get a Bargain Even When Seeing a Doctor

It turned out that Zhao He-ping had learned about Li Rui’s plan from Niu Ai-xiang and went to tell the village head first. The village head was literate and knew the benefits of setting up a literacy class for the village, so he went directly to the cooperative to apply for a report with the team leader.

When Li Rui finished his morning work and went to find the village head, the matter had already been decided. Zhao He-ping was in charge and would naturally take the credit.

Li Rui, who had a hot temper and wasn’t very clever, went up and beat him up. Zhao He-ping, being magnanimous, said it didn’t matter who was in charge, as long as the literacy class was set up and the villagers benefited.

Compared to his selflessness and magnanimity, Li Rui naturally fell behind.

In the end, it turned into, “Li Rui, Zhao He-ping has already agreed to let you take the lead, he has already made such concessions, what else do you want?”

He was so angry that he felt like he was going to explode.

He had seen stupid people, but he had never seen anyone as stupid as this.

Even Jiang Nian was furious, “Are you an idiot? This is a clear opportunity for you to take credit, but you didn’t quietly take it for yourself, instead you went out and boasted about it, and now you’re blaming others for stealing your thunder? You’re so naive, you really think everyone in the world is good, don’t you?”

Li Rui was so embarrassed that he didn’t dare to look up, and he weakly defended himself, “I didn’t expect that stupid cow Ai-xiang would tell Zhao He-ping about it, and Zhao He-ping is so shameless.”

He had to admit that Jiang Nian was right, he was really stupid. His father had said the same thing, he was an idiot.

But there was nothing he could do about it now. Zhao He-ping had firmly established himself as the victim, and now everyone was siding with him. He, the one who was bullied, was now the one who was in the wrong.

“What would you do if you were in my situation?” Li Rui asked Jiang Nian for advice.

Jiang Nian snorted, “I wouldn’t be in this situation, I’m not as naive as you.”

Her naive age had passed, and she had grown up at the cost of her life.

Of course, the other party didn’t get any benefit either, they were killed by a fatal dose of poison.

Actually, thinking about it, who hasn’t been stupid when they were young? Everyone has to pay a price for growing up.

Li Rui’s voice became even lower, “I’m just saying what if!”

“If there was a chance, I would fight to the death, I would kill him.” Jiang Nian sneered, “Otherwise, I’ll give you some poison, and you two can die together?”

“No… no need for that?” He wasn’t ready to die yet, and although Zhao He-ping was excessive, he wouldn’t kill him, would he?

“Then you just accept your fate, unless you can find a way to expose Zhao He-ping.”

Li Rui was dejected, “I misjudged Niu Ai-xiang, even now, she’s still protecting that bitch.”

She refused to help him testify, in his eyes, she was Zhao He-ping’s accomplice, maybe even a co-conspirator, plotting against him together.

But it was hard to accept his fate!

Li Rui suddenly made up his mind and said, “There are countless paths in the world, I don’t believe there’s only one way to go. I’m going back to think about it carefully, I must suppress Zhao He-ping’s arrogance, let him know that even if he’s full of schemes, he’s no match for me!”

“So you have a good idea?”

“Not yet.”

Jiang Nian chuckled and comforted him, “Go for it, I believe in you, I’ll give you my moral support.”

Li Rui was still angry, but after this conversation, he wasn’t as angry as he was at first.

He took a big bite of watermelon and asked Jiang Nian with bright eyes, “This watermelon is so sweet, where did you get it?”

“I picked it from the mountains, I guess someone’s dropped watermelon seeds sprouted, and it grew quite well. One watermelon vine produced three watermelons, and I picked them all.”

At this time, the watermelons that were normally planted were already out of season. It was probably because the temperature in the mountains was high and hidden that she was able to pick up this bargain.

Li Rui, with his sharp tongue, said, “You’re still quite lucky. I guess someone ate watermelon and didn’t digest it well, and they pooped watermelon seeds in the mountains, which is why it grew so strong. After all, it’s not lacking in nutrients.”

In the end, Li Rui was kicked out by Jiang Nian, and she even gave him the two uncut watermelons.

He still didn’t know what he had done wrong.

Jiang Nian stayed in the room, looking coldly at the cut watermelon that hadn’t been finished yet, and the feeling of nausea wouldn’t go away.

Although the vegetables and grains they ate were also nourished by manure, it was still a bit disgusting to be told that.

The morning light began to appear, bringing a glimmer of light to the night.

The door outside was already being knocked on, “Doctor Jiang, didn’t you say you were going to see patients today? Are you up?”

Jiang Nian responded, and the knocking outside stopped.

She picked up the watch on the table and saw that it was only 4:30.

It was so early to see a doctor, it was a real pain!

She quickly got up, tidied herself up, and opened the door. The scene in the yard made her scalp tingle.

The small courtyard with its fence was not high, and one could step over it with a single stride. The spacious courtyard was now filled with people, and the bustling scene was quite lively.

“Are you all here to see a doctor?”

“Yes, we heard that there’s a doctor in Zhoujia Village whose medical skills are better than the doctors in the city, and the fees are cheaper, so we all came over. Doctor Jiang, can we start seeing the doctor? We still have to go to work after we’re done.”

Jiang Nian’s face turned black.

If she saw so many people, wouldn’t it kill her?

She wanted to avoid the hustle and bustle, not to be selfless.

“Everyone listen to me, after all, I’m just one person, and my manpower is limited. You’ve all come at once, even if I see you until dark, I won’t be able to finish. Besides, I have to go up the mountain to collect herbs, and I have to process them after I get back. All of this takes time, so I can only receive a limited number of patients each day. Please only come if you really feel unwell and are sick. Those who are not sick, please don’t come, okay?”

She had seen people who took advantage of others, but she had never seen people who took advantage of others even when it came to seeing a doctor.

Yesterday, Jiang Nian had said that the local customs were simple, but today she had a new understanding of this.

“Since we’ve come, it means we’re not feeling well. Are there people who come to see a doctor even if they’re not sick?”

A woman with her hand on her stomach walked to the front. It was clear that she was trying her best to endure the pain, and her forehead was covered in sweat.

Jiang Nian looked at the crowd and saw that no one was leaving, so she pointed, “That uncle, and that lady, that old man, and those children in the yard, you’re all jumping around, what are you doing here? Although medicine can cure diseases, medicine is three parts poison. If you’re sick, I’ll prescribe medicine for you, but if you’re not sick, taking medicine is not good for your body, is it?”

“Are there really people who come to see a doctor even if they’re not sick? I’ve learned something new today, some people will take advantage of anything.”

“If anyone wants to take advantage of being sick, I’m willing to give them my illness. This stinky problem has been bothering me for a long time, I wish I could get rid of it sooner.”

The few people who were named by Jiang Nian were not too shameless, and they knew that they were indeed not sick. They all lowered their heads in shame, trying to reduce their presence and quietly left.

In the blink of an eye, the yard was empty.

“Doctor Jiang, we’re here for your deworming medicine. We heard that the children in Zhoujia Village have all taken it, and it’s very effective. Can you prescribe some for our children too?”