Zhan Mingzhao
Zhan Aiping’s younger brother’s village where he’s sent to is not far from the base, but there are still several hours of mountain roads, making transportation inconvenient with frequent stops and exits.
There isn’t a train that connects here yet. If one were to take the train, they’d have to go all the way to Spring City. So, when her brother wants to return home, he has to take a ten-hour bus ride to Spring City and then switch to a train, which is quite troublesome.
The mountain roads are rugged, making it even more difficult for them to visit relatives. In the mountains, the forests are dense, occasionally interspersed with villages of various sizes where many ethnic minorities reside. Along the way, one can see men and women dressed in ethnic costumes.
Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping hitched a ride to the commune, squatting in the rear compartment along with several other educated youth, all bouncing along the mountain road together.
One of the educated youth, seeing Zhan Aiping’s beauty, couldn’t help but keep his eyes on her, thinking she was also a new educated youth sent to the countryside. The man beside her, probably a discharged soldier going to support construction in the border commune.
Maybe they hadn’t gotten married yet, just living together.
At this time, it’s when young educated youths in the countryside are longing for love, with their youthful vigour and adolescent thoughts. Many educated youths find partners in the commune, living together like a couple, but without a marriage certificate, fearing it would affect their return to the city in the future. In their villages, many villagers also don’t bother with such formalities. To them, holding a wedding feast is enough to legitimize their marriage, and they don’t care about gossip.
“Wife, come sit beside me,” Gu Sheng said to Zhan Aiping, gesturing to the seat next to him, where there was a barrier allowing them to see the scenery outside the back of the car, despite the strong wind.
He half-turned to shield her, blocking the gaze of several men and asserting his dominance.
“You, you…” Gu Sheng didn’t finish his sentence. Now, he fondly remembers his wife’s heroic figure in military uniform back in the day; now she looks fair and tender, which makes her quite charming.
Zhan Aiping leaned against him without saying a word. Her mind was occupied with thoughts of her younger brother whom she was about to meet. She was very excited. After such a long time, she worried about how he had been faring. Before, her brother, Zhan Mingzhao, was naive and a bit timid, though he was kind-hearted, he also had a stubborn streak and a temper. After being sent to the countryside, he must have become darker and thinner. How much hardship had he endured?
“Gu Sheng, how has my brother changed?”
Gu Sheng was very patient. “At this point, when you two meet, you’ll find out.”
Gu Sheng thought to himself that when the siblings meet, they probably won’t even recognize each other.
Zhan Aiping: “…”
Zhan Aiping fell asleep on Gu Sheng’s shoulder, thinking about the long mountain road and not dwelling on these thoughts. Once they reached their destination, they would naturally see each other.
After falling asleep for a while, Zhan Aiping woke up to find they were nearing their destination. Gu Sheng gave her a pastry to eat, but Zhan Aiping ate it absentmindedly as she leaned against the barrier, gazing around. She saw people in the distance, rubber trees on one side, and green mountains and farmland on the other. There were people working in the fields, and she thought they must be approaching a populated area.
Finally, they arrived. The couple got off the vehicle with their bags of gifts for the visit. Gu Sheng carried everything, insisting that Zhan Aiping go empty-handed. They stood on the gravel road leading to the commune, walking inside together.
Gu Sheng mentioned knowing the farm manager and went off to speak with him. Meanwhile, Zhan Aiping couldn’t resist asking around about her younger brother, Zhan Mingzhao.
She happened upon a Dai ethnic girl wearing a tube skirt. She was beautiful, with a bright smile and white teeth, and she carried a bamboo basket. When the girl saw Zhan Aiping, her eyes lit up, and she asked eagerly, “Are you the new educated youth?”
**Nomad: The Dai ethnic group, also known as the Tai, is an ethnic minority primarily residing in the southern and southwestern regions of China, particularly in Yunnan Province.
Thinking the girl must be friendly, Zhan Aiping replied, “Comrade, do you know Zhan Mingzhao?”
Upon hearing her brother’s name, the girl immediately frowned and gave Zhan Aiping a guarded look.
Zhan Aiping hesitated, noticing the girl’s sudden change in demeanour. Even someone as oblivious as her could tell that something was wrong. Why did the girl’s expression change the moment she mentioned her brother’s name?
Zhan Aiping introduced herself, “I’m Zhan Mingzhao’s sister, Zhan Aiping. I’ve come to visit him.”
“You… you’re his sister?” The girl’s face transformed again, dropping her guard completely. Unexpected warmth replaced her earlier caution. Holding her bamboo basket, she approached and took Zhan Aiping’s hand warmly, saying, “Dear sister, welcome! Let’s go around and see everything here.”
Zhan Aiping was bewildered. What was going on?
Could it be that this girl liked her brother and mistook her for a rival just now?
Was she talking to her brother about dating?
The girl held Zhan Aiping’s hand and led her inside. She was incredibly warm, passing by old-fashioned waterwheels with men pounding sticky rice nearby.
The air was fresh with a pleasant fragrance. Zhan Aiping found herself holding a bunch of bananas and wearing a flower wreath on her head.
“Sister, have some bananas!”
“Sister, isn’t this flower beautiful?”
“She’s Zhan Mingzhao’s sister…”
“Sister, try some leaf cakes.”
Zhan Aiping: “!” The warmth and hospitality were truly overwhelming. After this round, she felt like she had gained many little sisters.
There were even seven or eight-year-old girls dancing peacock dances in front of her, calling her “big sister” as they followed her closely. She even received a peacock feather.
A middle-aged aunt, upon hearing she was Zhan Mingzhao’s sister, also showed a warm and hearty smile, “Come to my house today for a drink…”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
This was like a volcanic eruption of warmth.
“Ah Zhao injured his leg and is resting up ahead.”
“Many people have come to visit him these days.”
Upon hearing that her younger brother was injured, Zhan Aiping grew worried, afraid of the severity of his injury. By now, she was leading a large group of people, and together they walked towards a big tree.
From afar, she could see several people gathered under the tree, and as they drew closer, they could hear the melodious sound of a mouth organ. The music was beautiful, and a young girl with a blue tube skirt, beautiful feathers, and fresh flowers was smiling brightly.
At the centre of the crowd sat a young man in a blue short jacket, wearing a flower crown on his head and holding a mouth organ. He played the instrument with a graceful and exquisite demeanour, his handsome features highlighted by his dark and glossy skin, making him unforgettable at first sight.
His eyes were bright, shimmering like spring water.
Zhan Aiping stared in disbelief: “?!?!”
Is this my brother??? Is this my naive little brother…?
During the journey just now, Zhan Aiping had been wondering all along, suspecting:
——Did her own brother become someone’s son-in-law.
But now, she saw seven or eight young girls surrounding the young man, some clearly locals, and others young educated youths. They all surrounded him, laughing and chatting.
His leg didn’t look like it was hurt at all.
Clearly, he was still attracting attention, but had her brother always been this popular with girls?
Zhan Mingzhao had been immersed in the music, enjoying the attention of the crowd. Little did he know, when he looked up and saw a beautiful woman.
She was too beautiful, fair-skinned and beautiful, shining in the crowd, impossible to ignore.
Beautiful girls always put people in a good mood, but this girl seemed vaguely familiar.
The mouth organ in the young man’s hand shook, and he saw Zhan Aiping, beautifully dressed, with her long hair. His mouth dropped open, nearly dislocating his jaw.
Zhan Mingzhao: “!!!!” Was this his sister?!! Could he have been seeing things?
“Ugh!” The mouth organ slipped from his hands, landing squarely on his foot. Zhan Mingzhao winced in pain, taking a sharp breath but managing to hold back tears and preserve his dignity in front of the girls.
“Sis… Sis, Aiping, you’ve really come to visit me?” Zhan Mingzhao was dumbfounded, shocked, and filled with disbelief about the world before him. “Sis, how did you change like this?”
Where was his tough and capable older sister?
Zhan Aiping’s lips twitched. “…I was about to ask you the same thing.”
How did her timid and shy little brother turn into this slim and handsome heartthrob, attracting girls from six to seventy years old?
Right then, a warm aunt nearby interjected, “Oh, I heard Azhao, your sister’s here to visit. Don’t just stand outside, come in and have some tea.”
“Yeah, come inside.”
“Azhao, your sister is so pretty.”
“You two really look alike…”
With everyone chiming in like a bustling marketplace, they ushered the siblings inside, pouring hot tea and serving various cakes and snacks—there was jelly, roasted rice cakes, sticky rice cakes…
The bamboo house had two floors, the creaky floorboards announcing their presence as they walked along the corridor. They ascended to the second floor, not very high, with the first floor unoccupied and a bamboo shed erected on top, with bamboo tables, chairs, and benches. The fresh breeze blew in from outside.
Zhan Aiping and her brother Zhan Mingzhao sat together. She took a sip of tea and looked at the enthusiastic women surrounding them, feeling like she had stepped into a land of daughters, and her brother was the coveted Tang monk.
The young Dai girl in the tube skirt brought a basket of fresh fruits to the table, eagerly urging Zhan Aiping to try some.
Zhan Aiping said, “I finally understand…”
Zhan Mingzhao looked puzzled, “Sis, understand what?”
Zhan Aiping fell silent. “…”
At that moment, she suddenly began to understand the cause of her brother’s death in his previous life. She had always been puzzled about why her timid brother had gotten into fights and ended up accidentally killed…
Coming here and becoming a heartthrob like Tang monk, Zhan Mingzhao had attracted countless admirers, injured his foot, and received countless visitors. He had managed to keep a group of girls happy, with none of them jealous or upset. He was truly a master at pleasing women and a friend to all women.
When they entered the house just now, Zhan Aiping saw several men looking at her brother with envy and jealousy—not because they envied her, but because they envied her brother, Zhan Mingzhao, who stood out too much.
Women loved him, but men wanted to beat him up—all because Zhan Mingzhao was too eye-catching.
Perhaps it was because of this that someone took advantage of the situation to teach him a lesson in a dark and unexpected manner.
In his previous life, the assailant was named Zhang Qi. It was confirmed that there was no grudge between him and her brother, and they had never had any conflicts or arguments. Therefore, this incident was deemed an accidental mishap.
Zhan Aiping asked Gu Sheng for help, explaining that she was approached by Zhang Qi’s relatives, requesting that Zhang Qi be transferred from this farm to another area as a youth volunteer. Zhan Aiping believed that this might avoid the accident in the future and warned her brother not to get involved in fights or brawls. She hoped that this would completely avoid any mishaps.
Now it seemed that this plan wouldn’t work. If her brother continued in this way, he might still be targeted for a beating.
She had to get her brother out of here. Otherwise, if he stayed and became someone’s son-in-law, it could lead to trouble if several families were competing for him.
Zhan Aiping warned him in a low voice, “Don’t mess around with relationships!”
Zhan Mingzhao frowned, “I haven’t messed around with relationships! Who said I’ve messed around with relationships? I’m just good friends with them. We have a pure friendship, right, Lili? We’re friends regardless of gender.”
The girls nearby chuckled gently, “Yes, we’re good friends with Azhao.”
“We’re kindred spirits.”
“Azhao has never messed around with relationships…”
Zhan Aiping sighed inwardly.
He’s bound to get into trouble sooner or later!
Even if he didn’t mean to, he had already created a pond full of fish, and if those fish were nurtured, they would all turn into sharks.
“Sister, didn’t you say you’d bring brother-in-law to see me? Why are you alone? Where’s brother-in-law? I don’t even know what kind of brother-in-law you’ve found for me…”
Zhan Aiping set down her tea cup, “Your brother-in-law is here too. Remember what you said before. When you meet your brother-in-law, don’t be too shocked.”
Zhan Mingzhao raised his tea cup and took a sip, “Why would I be shocked? My brother-in-law can’t possibly be Fifth Brother Gu.”
As if on cue, Gu Sheng poked his head out. He was tall and stood out immediately, his handsome appearance combined with a commanding presence that was intimidating. Ordinary girls seeing him might feel a flutter of fear before any admiration. Upon closer inspection, they would realise he was truly handsome!
Zhan Aiping glanced calmly, “Here, look, your brother-in-law is here.”
Zhan Mingzhao choked on his own saliva, “Cough, cough, cough…”
Seeing him like this, Zhan Aiping coolly said, “That’s right, Gu Sheng, he is now your brother-in-law, absolutely genuine.”
Zhan Mingzhao felt absurd, “I don’t believe it! Unless you show me your marriage certificate!”
He couldn’t believe that his own sister would stage such a play with Fifth Brother Gu just to get him to join the army. His sister must have gone mad to resort to such absurd tactics.
Zhan Aiping waved her hand, “Fifth Brother, show your little brother-in-law our marriage certificate, and also the wedding photos.”
This trip, Zhan Aiping had prepared well knowing her brother wouldn’t believe they were married. So they had brought their marriage certificate and photos from the wedding day.
Zhan Mingzhao stared at the marriage certificate, utterly dumbfounded.
It was indeed his own sister!
His own sister must have gone mad. Zhan Mingzhao glared at her, “Are you telling me you married Fifth Brother Gu just to get me to join the army? Have you lost your mind?!”
Before Zhan Aiping could respond, Gu Sheng exploded, “You brat, you’re too full of yourself. Your sister married me because she likes me.”
Absurd. It was all too absurd!
Zhan Mingzhao retorted, “I don’t believe it! Unless my sister tells me herself.”
Zhan Aiping calmly said, “I like you, Gu Sheng, I’ve liked you for a long time.”
Zhan Mingzhao was speechless.
He felt either he was going crazy or his sister was. How could his sister possibly marry Fifth Brother!
As the tension mounted among them, they were ushered to a long banquet table. The locals here were indeed hospitable, and Zhan Mingzhao was well-liked. Hearing that his family had come from afar to visit, they naturally warmly welcomed them.
Thus, every household pitched in, with one dish from this family and another from that, setting up tables and chairs to form a long banquet, hosting their guests from afar.
Zhan Mingzhao sat there stiffly, his eyes twitching. He watched helplessly as Fifth Brother Gu served his own sister, refilling her wine and serving her food, occasionally leaning in to ask after her, making her smile.
His sister even handed Gu Sheng a handkerchief. Good heavens, his sister actually carried a handkerchief with her!
Zhan Mingzhao sighed inwardly.
If this was all an act, then both of them should join a theatre troupe.
Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng’s naturally intimate interactions, born from their time together, made Zhan Mingzhao unable to eat.
He found it hard to believe, but Gu Sheng’s display of possessiveness towards his sister painfully revealed to Zhan Mingzhao that his sister was now another man’s woman.
His own sister had been taken away by someone else.
His sister had been deceived, and he had even helped by counting the money. Zhan Mingzhao remembered all the good things he had said about Gu Sheng in front of Zhan Aiping, and he felt like slapping himself.
He had been blind, allowing the wolf into the house…
He gritted his teeth and glared at Gu Sheng, “So it turns out you’ve been scheming against my sister all along.”
Gu Sheng admitted to it, blinking casually. “Kid, all’s fair in love and war.”
Zhan Mingzhao was speechless! If he weren’t outmatched by Gu Sheng, he would have rolled up his sleeves and thrown a punch already.
Zhan Aiping was his own sister, the dearest person to him in this world. Their mother had passed away early, and their father remarried. In his heart, his sister was the most admired, beloved person.
Knowing she was going to marry made Zhan Mingzhao feel sad for a long time.
Now that Zhan Aiping was married to Gu Sheng and still treating him well in front of him, Zhan Mingzhao was jealous, incredibly jealous, so jealous that his mouth and stomach felt sour.
After finishing the meal, Zhan Mingzhao hugged Zhan Aiping tightly, refusing to let go. He stared at Gu Sheng arrogantly, “Even if my sister marries you, she is still my sister! If you dare to treat her badly, I’ll make sure she divorces you!”
Gu Sheng patted his shoulder, “Rest assured, I will definitely treat your sister well.”
Zhan Mingzhao: …
If another man had said that, Zhan Mingzhao would have doubted it, but hearing it from Gu Sheng, he believed it deep down. At least his own sister hadn’t married some wild man.
Their parents-in-law were easy to get along with and both liked his sister.
Zhan Mingzhao reluctantly accepted this cruel reality, “In the future, you two, don’t fight, don’t be impulsive.”
Gu Sheng: …
Zhan Aiping: …
Zhan Mingzhao continued to remind them with a furrowed brow, “If you can avoid quarrels, then don’t quarrel. It’s not good for the children in the future.”
He really felt heartbroken for his sister and brother-in-law.
Gu Sheng blushed, unable to resist touching his nose. In the past, when he argued with Zhan Aiping, his younger brother, Gu Xiaodi, indeed came to mediate.
And as for having children…
Zhan Aiping coughed, touching her little brother’s head, “Now that your Fifth Brother Gu is your brother-in-law, as you wished, you should join the army.”
Zhan Mingzhao stared at her, “What do you mean ‘as you wished’? I refuse to go. I don’t want to be with those smelly men.”
“I just found out from someone that the cultural troupe will be recruiting next month. I’ve signed you up. You better obediently pass the exam and join the cultural troupe. You should be willing to go to the cultural troupe, right? Your sister thinks you’d be good at ballet.”
Zhan Mingzhao’s eyes widened, “Bal… ballet?”
Gu Sheng suppressed a laugh, “Your sister is right.”
Zhan Aiping nodded, “See, even your brother-in-law supports it. Go ahead and join the cultural troupe.”
Zhan Mingzhao retorted firmly, “I’m not going. Not even if you beat me to death. I want to stay here and be a rural youth.”
Zhan Aiping raised her hand, “Gu Lao Wu, help me educate him!”
“You go teach him some self-defence skills.”
Gu Sheng took Zhan Mingzhao away. Zhan Aiping wanted him to teach her brother some self-defence moves. She knew that no matter when, he needed to learn how to protect himself, having grown up fighting with Gu Sheng. People who knew how to fight were usually the best at self-preservation.
Zhan Aiping knew she couldn’t let him stay here. If he continued to stay, all those flirty girls would turn into “big sharks”. Even if he thought it was just innocent relationships between men and women, if someone caught them sneaking into bed…
Zhan Aiping rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
At least the cultural troupe had strict management. It wouldn’t get too out of hand. Her brother, however, needed to avoid attracting any “spicy female soldiers.”
Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng spent a day there and hitchhiked back the next day. They had arrived with bags and left with even more bags…
Because her brother was a heartthrob and popular with the ladies, many people had sent things to her, often just leaving them nearby before running off. The packages contained all sorts of local and dried goods, like dried mushrooms and other delicacies, as well as fruits and tea.
“This tea is excellent. Did my brother stuff it in here or someone else?” Zhan Aiping picked up a handful of tea and sniffed it, confirming it was top-quality Pu-er.
Gu Sheng commented, “No idea. Things are a bit of a mess.”
Zhan Aiping chuckled, “Do you think we look like bandits? We’re carrying so much stuff back.”
Gu Sheng replied hesitantly, “Uh, do you like tea? My buddies might have some more…”
“No, no, that’s not it.” Zhan Aiping sniffed again. The tea was indeed good. In the future, she planned to get some Dian Hong tea. It would be great for making milk tea. Since there were plenty of water buffaloes here, their milk was richer and creamier compared to regular cows’ milk, with a slightly stronger flavour.
Neither Zhan Aiping nor Gu Sheng were patient tea drinkers. They would gulp down tea like chewing cud. No matter how good the tea was, they wouldn’t savour it.
Zhan Aiping quite liked the creamy taste. Rather than just tea, she preferred milk tea. She planned to get some water buffalo milk for boiling, which would be perfect for making milk tea. If she had to admit, using this milk and tea to make milk tea would be quite extravagant.
When thoughts turned to food, her mind inevitably wandered. In the courtyard, there were scallions and greens planted, and she could add some edible roses, which could also be called roses abroad. In China, they were divided into roses, garden roses, and Chinese roses, although they all belonged to the same family and could be grafted onto each other, just like oranges, tangerines, and pomelos can all be grafted onto the same tree, allowing them to grow oranges, tangerines, and pomelos on one tree at the same time.
The roses sold in flower shops are actually garden roses, and many edible roses are actually garden roses. It is difficult to tell the difference between garden roses and roses, but they are all flowers.
Zhan Aiping liked planting garden roses. It was not just because garden roses were beautiful, colourful, and came in many varieties, but more importantly—garden roses bloom every month, flowering all year round.
She was not a patient person. She used to even have a bit of a reputation as a plant killer, and had also planted the once-popular succulents. However, growing succulents did not give her much sense of accomplishment, and she felt the same after growing them.
Garden roses were different. Planting a garden rose seedling would quickly yield flower buds. Through topping and pruning, it could quickly grow into a medium to large seedling. It grew fast, bloomed diligently, and was like chives—blooming and growing continuously. As long as she pruned it after flowering each time, it would soon grow new branches and bloom again.
Such beautiful garden roses, actually growing as fast as chives, were indeed touching.
Of course, it was precisely because of this that flower shops could have a permanent presence.
Because it bloomed diligently, it was easy to get a sense of accomplishment when planting garden roses.
However, planting garden roses also had many troubles. Garden roses were delicate and susceptible to diseases. Some people who planted garden roses turned themselves into seasoned experts in red spider mite management.
The red spider mite was a common pest in flower gardening. Many flower growers joked, “We can’t grow anything else, but we are experts at raising red spider mites.”
Gu Sheng saw her daze and asked her, “What are you thinking about?”
“Thinking about gardening,” Zhan Aiping replied, and as she thought about it, she became immersed in the spirit of gardening.
“Then plant some. I see other families planting flowers in the courtyard too.”
“Then I have to pick a few good mother plants first, trim them back, and then come back to propagate them.” When the time came, she would let Gu Sheng help her propagate them. Some people were a bit superstitious; insert one live branch, and it would take root, going on endlessly for generations.
The room Gu Sheng had been assigned was not large, nor was the courtyard outside. So, she had to carefully plan what to plant in the courtyard; she couldn’t act rashly.
Anyway, there was no distinction between seasons here, so there was no hurry.
Coming to this flourishing flower planting area, it was a waste not to plant flowers.
Back at the family courtyard, Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping took a bath and went to bed early. The next day, they would send some of the mountain goods to their neighbours, as they couldn’t finish them all themselves.
The two of them even started drinking morning tea early in the morning. Gu Sheng drank tea as easily as drinking water, “Now you’re not worried about your brother anymore, right?”
Zhan Aiping held her teacup, “I still have to get him to join the cultural troupe.”
Otherwise, she wouldn’t feel at ease. Her brother was like in a kingdom of women, in the spider cave. It would be fine if he really got taken away as a son-in-law, but she was afraid that if he took the wrong path, he might also hurt a girl.
Gu Sheng smiled, “Really make him join the army?”
Zhan Aiping: “Make him try it, both of you have a talent for the cultural troupe.”
Gu Sheng said, “Same here, same here, Comrade Xiao Zhan, you too. The drama troupe is missing someone like you.”
Zhan Aiping kicked him lightly, “You should join the acrobatics troupe.”
Gu Sheng’s vacation ended, and he had to return to his unit for training. Zhan Aiping packed up and also prepared to report to the township hospital early. Her organisational transfer had come through, and she was advised to go early to acclimatise.
“Director Hao welcomes you to join the health clinic!”
“But Director Hao is currently away at the cadre school for training. You can go to the hospital first and have a look. It’s true that it’s beneath your qualifications to work at a township hospital…”
Li Yuxia came over again to discuss her thoughts, “Xiao Zhan, if you have any problems, just let me know. The organisation will help you solve any troubles.”
“Director Li, don’t worry. I don’t have any issues.” Zhan Aiping was ready to go to work at the township hospital with a cheerful heart.
Zhan Aiping waved goodbye to Li Yuxia and boarded the regular camp bus for family members. Several other family members were already on board, and she exchanged greetings with the few familiar faces. They weren’t close, but it was cordial enough. Zhan Aiping sat comfortably; the bus made its regular round trip to the city every day, offering convenient transportation for family members.
Zhan Aiping needed about twenty-five to thirty minutes on the bus, followed by a ten-minute walk to reach the township health clinic.
Yanxin Health Clinic.
It was less of a hospital and more like a run-down pharmacy, soon to be upgraded to a small clinic. Located in a small town, the township was tiny, with just one main street. Local villagers gathered there on designated days for markets. The shops included agricultural supply stores, grocery stores, a school, a state-run restaurant, food stalls, a grain station, and the clinic.
Standing at the entrance of the health clinic, one could see distant mountains. There were few pedestrians on the street; occasionally, someone on a bicycle would ring their bell as they passed by. Turning around, one could catch a glimpse of farmland and farmers leading water buffalo along the ridges.
The clinic consisted of a two-story building, a row of brick-and-tile bungalows, vegetable plots, a few wooden sheds with pigs, and a public restroom, comprising the entire “hospital.”
Above the small building was a Red Cross sign.
In the clinic, there were a total of ten staff members, though not all were doctors. Apart from the five doctors, there were others responsible for sweeping, managing finances, registering patients, dispensing medications, and sterilizing lab coats and bedsheets.
The township hospital didn’t have specialized departments; it simply had a Chinese medicine room, a Western medicine room, a few traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, and a few Western doctors. They collaborated in treating patients. As for an operating room? Naturally, there wasn’t one. Any surgery needed would be beyond what a small township hospital could handle.
The number of patients coming to the township hospital for treatment each day wasn’t high. Sometimes, most of the day was quiet. There weren’t proper wards, but night shifts were necessary, rotating among the staff. However, night shifts weren’t troublesome; being on night duty didn’t mean you couldn’t sleep—you just slept at the hospital and opened up to dispense medicine when patients arrived.
Usually, there weren’t many emergency cases at night, but it wasn’t guaranteed. With poor medical conditions, many people travelled long distances, arriving at the township hospital in the evening or even later at night, which wasn’t easy.
Treating patients during ordinary shifts was relatively simple. It mainly involved standard procedures: Western medicine was straightforward, mostly involving common drugs like Analgin, while treatment for injuries included red or purple medicinal solutions. The Chinese medicine cabinet was larger, filled with rows of large red cabinets emitting a strong herbal scent.
**Nomad: Analgin or metamizole is a pain killer/fever reducer. Used frequently in the past but has been phased out**
Next to the cabinets were paper packets, weighing scales, sieves, baskets, medicinal wine, and on the wall, a chart of acupuncture points in traditional Chinese medicine. There was also a massage chair, a massage bed covered with yellowed white sheets, and even the doctors’ white coats were somewhat yellowed in places.
The Western medicine room contained needles for intravenous injections, syringes, and two brown leather medical bags by the door, each with a white circle in the centre bearing a red cross.
Medical conditions in the township were indeed rudimentary at this time.
When Zhan Aiping entered the clinic, she knew she wasn’t there as a patient but as a new doctor. A young female accountant warmly welcomed her, but the other doctors showed little interest. Many of these doctors had started out as grassroots practitioners. In township hospitals, graduating from a vocational school was already considered quite impressive.
For someone like Zhan Aiping, who had come all the way from Shanghai, she was seen as a fantastical presence.
Several doctors felt that Zhan Aiping was just here for a “short visit” to the township hospital and would disappear soon enough. They didn’t pay her much attention for fear that she would stir up trouble. Many young doctors with a bit of skill tended to think of themselves as miracle workers, causing a fuss about treating patients and saving lives.
However, after spending a long time in the township hospital, they would come to realise that there weren’t many serious illnesses to treat. Most cases were minor ailments, and treatment mostly involved prescribing the same set of medicines. Even in traditional Chinese medicine, it was often the same old routine. If someone did have a serious illness, they either waited to die at home or were transferred to a larger hospital. The doctors didn’t need to exert much effort.
In a sense, it was a paradise for loafers.
Of course, this “idleness” was relative. Compared to working in the fields, it was truly idle. Compared to being a teacher, the work was a bit dirty but not physically exhausting. On days with few patients, they had nothing much to do for half the day.
If they encountered several patients consecutively late at night, then they truly had bad luck.
Accountant Qin Yanfang was curious and excited to see the young and beautiful new doctor, Zhan Aiping. She enthusiastically introduced her to the situation at the hospital: “We only have Chinese medicine and Western medicine rooms here. It’s very basic, and there aren’t many patients at night… We also have vegetable plots and chickens and ducks raised by the hospital. That pig is almost ready for slaughter; if you’re here at the right time, we could have some meat…”
“We eat lunch together at the hospital. I live right here in the hospital, in that bungalow. Haven’t found a partner yet… Are you married?”
“Yes, I’m a military spouse, came here with the army.”
“Really? Your man must be very handsome, otherwise, how could he have such a beautiful wife like you…”
“Dr. Zhan, there’s still a vacant bed in my room. Why don’t you come live with me? You don’t have to go home for lunch; you can rest there at noon.”
Zhan Aiping chatted with Qin Yanfang for a while, learning a lot about the clinic. When she found out about the salary and benefits, she suddenly regretted one thing:
—Giving that person too much pocket money.
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