The other two squadron leaders also said, “Yes, otherwise, with Jiang Xi’s medical skills, it would be a waste not to have her in a formal position. If there’s an official title, everyone will know there’s a good doctor in our village, and more people will come here for treatment.”

“And if it’s official, we can also use any leftover resources from the town.”

Pei’s parents looked happy. When they saw these three men looking for Jiang Xi, they guessed it was related to the team doctor issue.

They also thought maybe Doctor Li was removed because he did something wrong.

But as Pei Shengcai was talking, they became disappointed. They didn’t expect a sudden change. If they couldn’t have a team doctor, they could still have a village doctor!

The two of them almost agreed right away.

Fortunately, they stayed rational. They both looked at Jiang Xi with hope. Father Pei, who usually made decisions on important matters at home, coughed lightly and said seriously, “Xiaoxi, what the captain said is a good thing. If the team supports it, it will definitely be much more convenient.”

Back then, people couldn’t work for themselves. Even carpenters couldn’t take private orders unless they traded goods.

Although there were loopholes, if someone accidentally got caught and reported it, they could end up in jail. So not many people dared to take the risk, and there were many restrictions.

When Jiang Xi sees patients now, she charges in eggs and various vegetables. The prices aren’t fixed, and she just accepts whatever people give. Some people, who are stingy, only give one egg each time they come, even if it takes her a long time to treat them.

Jiang Xi didn’t mind because her goal wasn’t those goods, but the points in the merit system.

But Pei’s parents were very concerned and just wanted their daughter to have a stable job. Now that there was an opportunity, they wanted to seize it.

Jiang Xi smiled politely: “Of course, I’m willing to do it.”

Pei Shengcai and the other two squadron leaders also smiled. They didn’t think Jiang Xi would reject this proposal, but they were a bit worried about what would happen next.

Hearing her agreement, Pei Shengcai said, “But our village isn’t as well-off as the brigade. If we give work points every day, the villagers won’t be willing to give more, and I think you’d lose out if we give less. So I thought of giving money, like a salary. How much would be acceptable to you? Then we can convince others.”

It turned out to be a question of cost.

Jiang Xi nodded in understanding and said, “Captain, I don’t want a salary, but if people from the village come to see me, they will pay one work point per visit, and if they need acupuncture, they will pay three work points per visit. If I prescribe medicine, they will pay the same amount as I paid for it in town. If people from other villages come to see me, they will pay extra, which is twice as much as our villagers. How does that sound?”

Work points can now be exchanged for money at the end of the year. One work point is currently worth three cents. After being exchanged for money, a visit to the doctor costs only five or six cents, which is affordable for the villagers.

The two squadron leaders almost nodded.

This arrangement sounded great—the village didn’t have to pay, and even if they paid with work points, it was very little and everyone could afford it.

But Pei Shengcai frowned: “So you’ll be working alone?”

To be honest, he wanted to bring some benefits to the village and show Zhou Xin and the others that they were wrong in choosing such a team doctor. If she worked alone, it wouldn’t help.

Jiang Xi smiled and said, “Of course not. The money earned by treating patients from other villages is shared equally with the village. However, I can’t treat patients at home. Otherwise, if someone sneaky comes along, it could cause trouble. I’d like to ask the villagers to help build a small house next door. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just windproof and rainproof, so everyone can go there for treatment.”

Pei Shengcai’s eyes lit up, and after thinking for a moment, he nodded enthusiastically: “That’s fine, then it’s decided.”

After discussing the matter, the three of them planned to leave.

At this time, a squadron leader cautiously asked: “Doctor Jiang, your medical skills are really good. I wonder if you are interested in taking an apprentice? I have a grandson who is very smart. The teacher praises him. If my family had the means, I would have sent him to high school in town.”

Pei Shengcai and the other squadron leader were also interested, but they looked at her without saying anything.

It’s good to study medicine.

Unfortunately, for many years, this profession has been inherited within families, and there are very few traditional Chinese medicine doctors.

Although there have been reforms recently and medical schools have been established, training many doctors, there are still not enough for such a huge country.

If their children could learn something, they could become barefoot doctors and make a living.

Jiang Xi did not refuse, but said: “You can have me as a mentor, but I only accept girls.”

The three men were stunned and felt a bit disappointed. There wasn’t a suitable girl among them. Those who were too young couldn’t do much, and those who were older were either waiting to get married or already married.

Where could they find time to study medicine?

The three of them shook their heads, went home for dinner, and planned to announce the decision to everyone the next day.

_

The next day

Jiang Xi hadn’t woken up yet when there was a commotion outside the house.

A group of men and women were chatting loudly in the yard, which made her unable to sleep. She lay in bed listening and found out that it was about her work as a village doctor.

Before the morning was over, the entire Peijia Village knew that their village was going to have a doctor!

Moreover, this doctor would not require them to give up their work points. They would only need to use the work points when seeing patients. Everyone was even happier. It was simply the best of both worlds.

As for the work points, a woman could earn more than a thousand a year. A visit to the doctor only required one work point, and something like acupuncture only cost three work points. They were perfectly willing to spend that much.

This time, most people expressed their support, except for a few who liked to take advantage and were used to getting away with it. They were upset when eggs were sold for three cents each, but now that the prices were clearly marked, they refused to accept it.

However, such shameless people were a minority, so the matter was settled. Early in the morning, the villagers couldn’t contain themselves and came to the Pei family to congratulate them.

Pei’s parents were even more delighted and spoke loudly with joy.

The frustrating morning passed, and Jiang Xi got up.

Yesterday, she had been thinking about getting some teaching materials and buying a dictionary for her two younger sisters, who were about to start studying. But today’s events had given her official recognition in the village. Her reputation as a doctor had greatly increased, and more people came to her for treatment.

Even if they didn’t have any obvious illness, they would come over and have her check their pulse and examine them. It only cost one work point anyway.

So, Jiang Xi suddenly became as busy as a dog. If she wore a fitness tracker, her step count for the day would probably be over ten thousand, going back and forth from patient to patient.

Pei Shengcai was determined, and taking advantage of the slow season, he gathered a few skilled house builders and started transporting wood and building a simple clinic that afternoon.

Everyone in the village came over to watch, and each person was extremely envious.

They opened another door on the side of their house, this time facing the outside, and built a spacious room. A carpenter from the neighboring village also came to take measurements, saying they wanted to build a bench.

Although they couldn’t fully equip the clinic with medical equipment, Pei Shengcai made sure to provide the other basic necessities for her.

The people around were so surprised that they exclaimed one after another.

Aunt Lanhua pulled Pei’s mother aside and said with envy, “I say your family is really lucky! Your daughter-in-law has become a village doctor, and you don’t have to worry about no one taking care of He Jun if you two pass away.”

An aunt next to her shook her head and smiled, “Doctor Jiang didn’t have a good life at her mother’s house before, otherwise why would she come to the Pei family and be allowed to show her talents? This is a good turn of events for both of them. Maybe it’s like they say in the opera, a match made in heaven…”

Mother Pei was used to hearing envious words, and when she heard this, she was so happy that she couldn’t stop smiling: “I think so too. My son’s complexion is better now. He opens his eyes and moves his hands from time to time. This happened after Xiaoxi got married. She is really meant to be with our family.”

“Really?” Aunt’s eyes widened when she heard this, and she said seriously, “Then he will probably get well soon. I’ve heard from the old folks that bringing good luck is really effective. With so many happy events happening one after another in your family, he must be reluctant to go back to sleep.”

Pei’s mother didn’t believe in gods at first, but after her son fell ill, she secretly prayed to them. After hearing this, she nodded vigorously: “Isn’t it? These two are good children. God won’t be so cruel.”

Her son never waking up made her feel guilty, watching her daughter-in-law live like a widow day by day.

Suddenly, someone came over on a bicycle. When he got closer, he called out, “He Jun’s wife, Doctor Jiang, your mother is sick! Your uncle asked you to bring some money back to treat her.”