Zhang Peijin couldn’t treat Chang Xiaogang’s leg; even the county hospital said it would be crippled, so naturally, he couldn’t do anything about it.

He was just asking out of familial concern.

Old Chang chatted with him for a bit, smoked a cigarette, and then left, feeling a sense of superiority from not having to pay for the medicine.

He went straight to the brigade leader’s house.

It was still before dinner, and the brigade leader was sitting in the courtyard, enjoying the breeze and sipping a small drink with some peanuts.

He took a sip, making a satisfied sound, and then saw Old Chang approaching. “What brings you here?”

Old Chang walked over and sat down with a sigh.

The brigade leader poured him a small cup, lifting the cover of the bottle, “What’s wrong? Is your boy not doing well?”

Old Chang wiped his face and said, “…”

“The leg is definitely going to have a lasting problem.”

The brigade leader sighed, “The child suffered, but it’s good that he’s back.”

Old Chang said, “Yes, it’s good that he’s back.”

Thinking his life was tough, he felt a bit better seeing others who had it worse.

Their most promising son was gone, while his grandson just had a lame leg. What’s that in comparison?

Compared to families raising a mentally disabled or insane child, what’s that?

Nothing.

It’s just a lame leg.

The brigade leader clinked glasses with him and took another sip.

Old Chang took a sip too and brought up the matter of delivering awards, “This isn’t right. It’s our child who suffered. Why not give something to our child as a gesture of condolence?”

The brigade leader was taken aback. “That’s a commendation from the Public Security Bureau.”

“So, our Gangzi suffered for nothing?”

“The criminal has been caught. He’ll likely get… a bullet in the head.”

In those days, sentencing was very strict.

Even for hooliganism, one could be executed.

For imprisoning women and children, death was certain.

The commune held public trials and executions for everyone to witness.

Old Chang said, “Brother, his execution doesn’t benefit our Gangzi. His leg is still lame.”

The brigade leader was unsure. “So, what do you mean?”

Old Chang said, “I think it should be counted this way: the criminal should pay for our Gangzi’s medical expenses, and for the losses he’ll face in earning work because of his lame leg.”

He figured it’d be about three to five thousand yuan.

The brigade leader opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say. “The criminal’s entire worth isn’t even ten yuan. Besides the deterrent effect of his execution, there doesn’t seem to be a better solution.”

Old Chang said, “No, let him go to the coal mine to earn money to compensate our Gangzi. Once he’s paid off the debt, then he can be executed.”

The brigade leader said, “There are seven victims in total.”

Old Chang got anxious. “Our Gangzi is the worst off. They don’t have lame legs.”

He urged the brigade leader to discuss this with the party secretary and suggest it to the commune, which would then call the county and the Public Security Bureau in Huang County to demand that the criminal not be executed yet and instead pay compensation first.

The brigade leader was stunned.

He really didn’t know how to make such a request to the commune and the Public Security Bureau.

In the end, he suggested, “How about you go to the commune yourself…”

Old Chang said, “Brother, you’re a brigade cadre.”

At that moment, the brigade security director returned from the commune.

The security director was a retired…

Wu Bing, a man in his thirties, used to be a bugler.

He had such a loud voice that he could shout with the force of a loudspeaker without actually using one, earning him the nickname “Deng Loudspeaker.”

“Everyone, listen up! I have some great news to announce.”

“Comrade Second Master Lu Laodiefrom Lu Village has been appointed as an unofficial doctor by the county hospital!”

“The county hospital issued him a certificate, allowing him to practice medicine in the brigade!”

“If anyone needs acupuncture, massage, scraping, cupping, or treatment for sprains and injuries, you can go to him.”

Lu Laodie had just returned from the county.

There were many matters at the hospital today, so he missed the bus, but luckily he caught a tractor from the commune that was transporting coal.

As soon as he entered the village, he heard Deng Loudspeaker’s voice shouting energetically.

Lu Laodie thought to himself, “…Isn’t this a bit too high-profile?”

The villagers, seeing him return, began congratulating him.

“Second Master Lu, you really have some skills! Quietly becoming a barefoot doctor, a job that others beg for but can’t get. This is real talent!”

“From now on, it’ll be convenient for us to see a doctor, and we’ll have to trouble you, Second Master.”

Old Lu nodded repeatedly, “I’m flattered by everyone’s kindness.”

Not long after, Old Chang and the brigade leader also heard the news.

Old Chang thought there was something wrong with his hearing and dug at his ears. “Brother, what did you hear?”

The brigade leader, pleased, replied, “Second Master Lu has been appointed as our village’s barefoot doctor by the county hospital.”

Old Chang suddenly felt a wicked wind rush from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. “What? No, no, no!”

He immediately started shouting, “Our brigade already has a male barefoot doctor. Why bring in another old man? If we’re getting someone, it should be a woman, right?”

The brigade leader motioned for him to calm down, “There’s no conflict. Second Master Lu is handling traditional Chinese medicine, while your nephew handles Western medicine, injections, and dispensing drugs.”

Old Chang still wasn’t convinced. “He hasn’t even received any training. What does he know about traditional Chinese medicine?”

Just then, the sound of a child crying came from the direction of the chicken coop.

The brigade leader’s young grandson, who was being mischievous, had climbed on top of the chicken coop to reach for pomegranate flowers but slipped and fell headfirst off the top.

Old Zhang’s wife, who was nearby mixing chicken feed, hurriedly rushed over to pick up the boy.

She found that his arm was limp and immediately screamed, “Old man, the boy’s arm won’t move! Could it be broken?”

The brigade leader dropped his wine cup and dashed over in a flash.

Old Chang quickly said, “Call my nephew over to take a look.”

But Old Zhang’s wife shook her head, “No, no, Zhang Peijin can’t set bones. We need to quickly hitch a ride to the commune health center!”

Old Chang was left in an awkward spot.

The brigade leader, however, scooped up his grandson and said, “I’ll take him to see Second Master Lu first. He’s trained in massage and bone-setting. If he can’t treat it, then we’ll go to the commune health center.”

Without another word, he ran off with his grandson, and Old Chang chased after him, shouting, “What does he know? He hasn’t even gone to the hospital for training! Call my nephew!”

But Old Lu Laodie really did know what he was doing.

Learning acupuncture and massage naturally also involved learning some skills in treating injuries and setting bones, especially since there were so many workers and children at home.

You never knew when someone might get hurt.

When Lu Shaotang was young, he was quite naughty.

He never lost a fight but often got into trouble climbing walls and trees.

Those were all injuries that Lu Laodie treated himself.

Lu Laodie had just entered the house and was about to take a sip from the small purple clay teapot that Tiantian and Panpan had handed him when he heard the brigade leader’s loud voice, “Second Brother, help!”

Lu Laodie was so startled that his hand shook, nearly dropping the small teapot.