Approaching Science
After the aunt with a hidden agenda left, Zhan Aiping found the situation both ridiculous and absurd. However, such things did happen, and there were people gossiping behind her back, calling her a “monster”.
Zhan Aiping: “…”
Perhaps quite a few people believed it?
It’s possible that future generations wouldn’t know, but people of this era were truly gullible, naive, and inexperienced, especially when it came to believing in superstitious nonsense. In the 1970s, despite efforts to eradicate feudal superstition and demolish temples and shrines, these beliefs still lingered, albeit hidden beneath the surface.
By the 1980s, superstition had made a comeback, especially with the “Qigong Fever”. Many claimed to be Qigong masters, some claiming to read with their ears, others diagnosing and treating illnesses remotely, and even some claiming to extinguish forest fires from afar. However, while some people fell for these claims hook, line, and sinker, others remained skeptical.
There were even Qigong masters who claimed they could intercept atomic bombs…
Despite the absurdity of these claims, there were always believers. In comparison, Zhan Aiping thought being labelled as a monster who eats “Purple River Cars” wasn’t too far-fetched.
There were indeed some peculiarities about her.
But this was a world of science, and scientific principles still had to be upheld.
Zhan Aiping thought to herself, “If I were really a spell-casting monster, I would die laughing…”
The rumours about Zhan Aiping spread to the hospital as well. When Qin Yanfang heard these rumours, her first reaction was to burst into uncontrollable laughter.
“Hahaha, this is hilarious! Who came up with this? Oh my goodness, this is too creative.” Qin Yanfang laughed so hard that tears welled up in her eyes. The new Dr. Zhan being a monster? After spending this much time with her, how did she not notice?
Zhan Aiping: “It’s just idle gossip.”
With limited entertainment activities in the countryside at the moment, even with the advent of television, smartphones, and computers in the future, the gossiping skills of rural folks remained undiminished. Zhan Aiping had heard stories about how some rumours were unbelievably absurd. For instance, a university student returning home to study for exams could be rumoured to be “confined at home and giving birth out of wedlock”, or a woman who divorced due to domestic violence could be turned into the villain, with rumours spreading that she had cheated first, leading to the divorce.
“Rumours spread like wildfire, but debunking them takes a marathon.”
Once a rumour starts, even if you explain till you’re blue in the face, ordinary folks remember the most outrageous impressions about you. They don’t really care about the truth; they just want something juicy to gossip about.
Dr. Zhou had first-hand experience with this: “Xiao Zhan, don’t take it too seriously. These kinds of rumours are obviously false. You could explain for ages, but people will just laugh and tease you on purpose.”
Zhou Zhonghua advised her, “Explanations are useless; time will reveal the truth.”
“When enough time passes, the rumours will naturally dissipate. At one point, I was rumoured to be a living deity, the reincarnation of Hua Tuo, like an immortal!” Dr. Zhou reminisced.
**Nomad: Hua Tuo (circa 140-208 AD) was a renowned Chinese physician during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He is considered one of the most skilled and innovative medical practitioners in ancient China, often compared to Hippocrates in the West. Hua Tuo is particularly famous for his surgical techniques and the development of anaesthesia.**
Qin Yanfang chimed in, “Just wait till they start calling you an old demon and see how you react!”
“But Xiao Zhan, this is a tough one to explain,” Dr. Zhou continued.
“We can’t let this rumour spread any further. I need to get an explanation from the village committee.”
Zhan Aiping could guess who might be spreading these rumours. Whose cheese did she move by coming here? Who would spread rumours about her having spell-casting abilities or eating Purple River Cars?
Dr. Zhou sighed, “You’re young and take things too seriously. My advice is to take it easy. Don’t hit a brick wall later.”
“Take care of yourself while you’re pregnant,” Qin Yanfang added. “Your health comes first, Dr. Zhan.”
“Don’t worry about me; I won’t act impulsively. I’ll go back and come up with a plan.” Zhan Aiping wouldn’t allow these rumours to persist. She couldn’t spend every day explaining that she wasn’t a monster, didn’t eat Purple River Cars, especially with a child on the way.
She couldn’t bear to have people later accuse her child of being some kind of cursed creature.
While rumours were rampant outside, back in the camp, there hadn’t been any circulating about her yet. As she fed the chickens in the yard, she pondered her plan. Before the sun had even set, Gu Sheng returned, dripping with sweat and his clothes soaked through.
The daytime temperature was now over thirty degrees, quite hot.
Gu Sheng called out to her as he entered the house, gulping down water in large mouthfuls. He unbuttoned his shirt, exposing a large swath of chest. With his muscles engorged and swollen from exertion, he looked especially robust and virile, dripping with sweat. Such a sweaty appearance made him seem particularly vigorous, exuding a strong masculine aura.
It’s likely that no evil spirits would dare to approach someone with such a strong yang energy.
Of course, there was also the possibility of rumours circulating, saying that she married Gu Sheng just to absorb his vitality. Besides Purple River Cars, she relied on his vitality to maintain her own beauty.
Zhan Aiping felt embarrassed by her own thoughts. “…”
She thought to herself that she had quite the imagination.
Approaching him, Zhan Aiping wiped away his sweat, and Gu Sheng smiled as he leaned in and kissed her cheek. Zhan Aiping couldn’t help but smile too, a slight blush creeping onto her face as the heat radiating from him enveloped her, giving her cheeks a rosy tint.
She patted his handsome face and asked, “Where did you go?”
“Just finished a five-kilometre armed march with others,” Gu Sheng replied.
Curious, Zhan Aiping asked, “Did you win or lose?”
“I won,” he answered proudly.
“Wow, impressive, impressive. Go take a shower now, don’t catch a cold. Change into dry clothes.” Zhan Aiping helped him take off his shirt, then couldn’t resist squeezing his back muscles a few times. They felt smooth and slippery, quite comfortable to the touch.
Gu Sheng felt a bit ticklish from her touch. “What are you doing?”
Zhan Aiping chuckled, “I’m absorbing your vitality, don’t you know?”
Your wife is rumoured to be a demon, so it’s only fair to absorb some vitality to live up to the rumour.
Gu Sheng paused for a moment. “Vitality?”
He chuckled, then suddenly realised what she meant. His gaze intensified as he looked at her, causing Zhan Aiping’s face to flush involuntarily. She pushed him towards the shower.
After Gu Sheng showered and changed into dry clothes, Zhan Aiping sat on a small wooden stool, sorting and washing vegetables. They had switched roles for household chores; now Zhan Aiping prepared the ingredients while Gu Sheng did the cooking.
Once he finished showering and changed into dry clothes, Gu Sheng walked over and effortlessly lifted her up, seating her on his lap before taking the vegetables from her hands.
Zhan Aiping always felt that being carried by him was as easy as picking up a large cabbage—very stable, making her feel light and airy. However, she wasn’t used to this feeling of losing her balance and control.
Being held in his arms felt like entrusting her entire being to him.
And Gu Sheng just loved holding her like this, unrepentant. Even before they found out about the pregnancy, he loved picking her up like this, holding her around the waist and carrying her, even at night. After learning that he was going to be a father, he became even more affectionate, always wanting to hold her and checking if she had gained weight every day.
As Zhan Aiping shifted slightly on his lap, she sensed a certain kind of threat. “…What are you up to?”
Gu Sheng chuckled softly in her ear. “Letting you absorb my vitality.”
Zhan Aiping replied expressionlessly, “You’re joking. Don’t you know that your wife has been rumoured to be a demon from the city?”
Gu Sheng looked surprised. “Absorbing men’s vitality specifically?”
Zhan Aiping deadpanned, “Yes, I eat Purple River Cars, and I specifically absorb men’s vitality to maintain my beauty.”
“How about I dig out your old photos and show them to people? I’m sure they won’t believe it then.”
“Don’t come up with such ridiculous ideas,” Zhan Aiping said indifferently. “Comrade Gu, don’t underestimate the people’s imagination. Who knows, there might be another rumour about me, saying that I can perform magic, change men into women, absorb vitality, and eat Purple River Cars.”
Gu Sheng frowned. “Who the hell spread these rumours?” Anyone would be furious to hear such gossip about their wife.
“Don’t be angry. I was just joking with you. I have a way to handle it, so don’t underestimate me,” Zhan Aiping leaned against him. There was a special bond between her and Gu Sheng, built on trust and mutual respect. If not for this, when she encountered that incident at the train station on her first day here, Gu Sheng didn’t comfort her like a fragile woman but would have gave her a thumbs-up instead.
Gu Sheng clicked his tongue twice. “If you ever get upset by rumours and feel like crying, you can come cry in my arms. I won’t laugh at you.”
“I’m not angry. It’s not worth getting angry over such absurd rumours,” Zhan Aiping said, gently stroking her abdomen with her right hand.
“Smart. That’s the way. Find the originator of the rumour and send them for reform. Spreading such rumours at this time is asking for trouble,” Gu Sheng kissed her cheek before standing up. He was ready to cook, but Zhan Aiping remained in his embrace.
Her hands were wrapped around his neck.
Gu Sheng held his wife close, admiring her lovely features, delicate eyebrows, and beautiful eyes. Sometimes, he felt like she was a pretty and charming little fox.
He whispered in her ear with a smile, “Still reluctant to let go? Want to stay in my arms? Don’t delay me from cooking.”
Zhan Aiping: “Ugh, some people really have no shame.”
Who exactly is reluctant to let go?
Zhan Aiping let go.
Gu Sheng smiled as he firmly placed her on the ground, advising, “Little fox spirit, wait for me to come over.”
Zhan Aiping kicked him: “You got it wrong.”
“Alright, alright,” Gu Sheng chuckled even more, “Cat demon, it’s a cat demon.”
“Little cat demon, wait for you, Master Gu, to come catch demons. I’ll go set up traps and enchantments first.”
Zhan Aiping: “…Comrade Gu, you must always remember that you are a party member.”
Don’t engage in feudal superstition role-playing and mislead people at home.
Gu Sheng went to cook, and not long after, the fragrance of the food wafted in. Zhan Aiping covered her nose and sneezed, feeling somewhat hopeless inside: Gu Sheng’s cooking is getting better and better.
Some people, indeed, have a bit of talent.
Zhan Aiping used to be very confident in her seasoned cooking skills, but now she felt quite discouraged. She used to brush off criticisms from old friends who mocked her for her mechanical cooking methods, saying it lacked soul.
“Have you ever seen a chef use measuring cups and spoons? Do they follow ratios every time they stir-fry? Only someone like you, with useless cooking skills, needs fixed proportions.”
“Do you think you’re cooking or dispensing medicine? You don’t need to measure every ingredient.”
Zhan Aiping confidently declared back then, “As long as it tastes good, that’s all that matters.”
But it’s only delicious, not exceptionally so.
As long as you remember enough recipes, you won’t mess up the cooking.
Gu Sheng isn’t like that at all. He doesn’t need to memorise recipes. After being guided by Zhan Aiping a few times, he figured out the nuances of various seasonings. Now, he can cook effortlessly, mastering the heat control perfectly, and his cooking skills are getting better and better.
Zhan Aiping, feeling envious, jealous, and resentful, teased him, “You should join the cooking team; everyone would fight over you.”
Gu Sheng, quite proud, replied, “Why can’t I become a chef at a state-run restaurant?”
Zhan Aiping said, “…You really have ambitions.”
“Of course, I must have ambitions,” Gu Sheng said with a cheeky smile. “I have to thank someone for their selfless dedication, diligently guiding me and acting as my stepping stone, helping me memorise recipes and master my cooking skills.”
“If I don’t become a top chef, I’d be letting my ‘stepping stone’ down, don’t you think?”
“Get lost, you workaholic, go cook.”
Gu Sheng cooked three dishes and brought them out for the couple to eat under the light. The dishes were not complicated: stir-fried dried tofu, stir-fried bean sprouts, and a bowl of fish soup. But his cooking was always appetizing.
Gu Sheng served her a bowl of fish soup. Zhan Aiping drank it happily; the fish soup was fragrant and delicious.
However, she would never praise Gu Sheng’s cooking skills out loud.
She also wouldn’t tell Gu Sheng that while at the hospital, she constantly missed his cooking—it was addictive. How could this man cook so well? After discovering his culinary talent, her taste became more discerning. Ordinary food tasted bland to her.
Not just cafeteria food, even her own cooking was becoming unappetizing compared to his.
Zhan Aiping gave up. Next time she cooked, she’d try randomly adding salt.
Seeing her quietly drinking the soup and eating, Gu Sheng felt a wave of satisfaction. It was worth using his good relationships to learn from several skilled cooks in the mess hall. Of course, when asking for advice, he never said he wanted to learn for himself; he always said, “My wife wants to know how to make the dishes taste better…”
The chefs genuinely shared their expertise with him. Three ordinary folks together can outsmart a genius. After asking many people and combining their knowledge with practical experience, plus having a “stepping stone” provide recipes, his cooking skills improved significantly.
He raised his eyebrows proudly and said, “Is it good?”
Zhan Aiping didn’t answer, continuing to eat silently. Some people shouldn’t be praised, as their ego would skyrocket.
Gu Sheng wasn’t in a hurry to eat. He reached out and pinched her cheek, saying, “Silly cat demon, you even eat traps like a greedy little mouse.”
Zhan Aiping liked soaking rice in fish soup: “Can’t help it, your skills are getting better and better.”
Gu Sheng laughed and picked up his bowl and chopsticks to eat. “You love fish, so I’ll cook more fish for you.”
“I’ll help you remove the bones.”
Zhan Aiping really wanted to cry for help.
—This annoying man had perfectly captured her taste.
Why couldn’t he cook radishes and potatoes every day? Why use such real skills?
Today, Zhan Aiping didn’t have much appetite at the hospital and didn’t eat much because her taste had been spoiled by him. She just looked forward to him coming home to cook delicious food for her.
Even though she was reluctant to admit Gu Sheng’s excellent cooking skills, her mouth couldn’t help it. Every time she ate, it was like feeding three people—she and the kids’ appetites were firmly grasped by this man. She and the two little ones didn’t want to eat anything else, eagerly waiting for Gu Sheng to come home and cook for them.
“Gu Sheng, your dad, your mom, your little sister, and your brothers have no idea how good your cooking is, right?” Zhan Aiping knew the food at the Gu family’s home was terrible but didn’t expect Gu Sheng to be such an exception.
Gu Sheng blinked in surprise, “Are you admitting my cooking is good?”
Zhan Aiping: “…You just like to pick on words.”
This annoying man really knew how to latch onto key words.
“Even if it’s good, I only cook for you, not for them. They only deserve to eat cafeteria food,” Gu Sheng said, indicating that he would never let outsiders taste his cooking skills, which were reserved for his wife.
Why should he cook for those people!
Zhan Aiping: “…” What a ruthless man.
“Comrade Zhan, this is exclusively for you.”
Though it sounded cheesy, Zhan Aiping did feel soothed. She was happy and tugged at Gu Sheng’s sleeve like a spoiled kitten scratching at its owner, “Help me remove the fish bones, I want to eat more.”
For a bite of delicious food, she was willing to act cute, because since ancient times, food has been the top priority for people.
Gu Sheng was very pleased. After he was full, he fed her, making her belly rounder. After washing the dishes, he even lifted her up in his arms.
Zhan Aiping nestled in his arms, unwilling to move. Being full made her sleepy, and being pregnant made her drowsier.
Holding her, Gu Sheng coaxed her in a low voice, “Let’s nourish you more…”
Zhan Aiping gently patted her belly, “What are you planning?”
“Once it’s ready and stable, the book says—”
Zhan Aiping raised her hand to cover his mouth; some people really should be taken away by the authorities for censorship.
“Is that why you read medical books?”
Gu Sheng sincerely said, “That’s the extent of my ambition.”
“And I also saw—”
Zhan Aiping continued to cover his mouth.
“Fine, if you won’t let me talk, I’ll just act. Actions speak louder than words.”
Zhan Aiping: “…If you believe the rumours, comrade, you are actually holding a demon that sucks human essence?”
“Then let you suck.”
Because of the rumours, Zhan Aiping proactively sought out several brigade leaders. The party secretary was very polite and apologised sincerely: “…When we find out the truth, we will make sure the person spreading rumours apologises to Dr. Zhan in public and reflects deeply. This incident will be used to educate the public…”
The militia captain and the security director were already investigating the source of the rumours. This matter needed to be handled seriously to educate the masses.
“Dr. Zhan, don’t worry. I will handle this matter strictly,” said the party secretary, Xu Yong, in an official tone that left Zhan Aiping unsatisfied. She could sense his perfunctory attitude, as he didn’t see the matter as a big deal and just wanted to dismiss her quickly to avoid further entanglement.
Once she was sent away, he would criticize briefly at a meeting, turning a big issue into a small one, and a small one into nothing.
Even if the villagers continued to gossip behind her back, he will claim that he had already dealt with it.
There was no way around it; they simply wouldn’t listen.
Explanations were useless.
“Secretary Xu, I hope we can hold a village meeting. I want to personally teach the members about science.”
Secretary Xu was taken aback, “Teach science? You? Our anti-superstition team has talked about science many times…”
You teach, but people believe what they want to believe.
“You’re a young girl; you don’t understand.” Secretary Xu thought Zhan Aiping was too serious, refusing to let go. This kind of obviously absurd rumour had been dragging on for too long.
Zhan Aiping said, “Secretary Xu, you might not know, but before I became a doctor here, I was a teacher at a medical school. Rest assured, my teaching skills won’t disappoint anyone.”
“I’ll give a science lecture to the members, a proper science seminar.”
“Secretary, you just need to organise a village meeting; I’ll handle the rest.”
Secretary Xu pondered for a moment, “Alright, you can do it yourself.”
“But let me remind you, young lady, this is the countryside, not the city you were in before. The situation here is very complicated. The members aren’t very educated. No matter how many principles you explain, they… won’t listen.”
Not only do they not understand, but they also don’t want to understand. They nod superficially but forget everything soon after.
The path to educating the public remains long and difficult.
“Then it’s settled. Don’t worry, Secretary, I am very good at explaining science.” Zhan Aiping patted her chest, thinking that she had watched many episodes of “Approaching Science” and was a “scientifically knowledgeable” party member.
Why did “Approaching Science” produce such bizarre and absurd episodes? Because serious science programs don’t get good ratings. Only by being weird and nonsensical can they attract an audience.
The cause behind the strange man vomiting blood was “gum bleeding”; the cause behind the zombie boy was “pretending”; the ancient tree making noises was “someone fell into a pit”; the terrifying lake monster was “a fish’s mouth was hit crooked by a boat”; and the electrified wall’s cause was even more ridiculous—a faulty electric tester from an elderly man’s house…
All these strange and terrifying events had such “heart-warming” truths, breaking the superstition.
Seeing Zhan Aiping so confident, Secretary Xu could only shake his head. After she left, he told the brigade’s women’s director, Zhou Xiaofang, “This young girl from the city is just stubborn, like those female educated youth, too serious.”
Zhou Xiaofang said, “Yeah, what’s the harm in a bit of gossip? Saying she’s a demon is also a compliment to her beauty.”
If she weren’t so good-looking, who would make up such a ridiculous story about her eating “Purple Heart Cars”?
“Young people can’t stand a bit of gossip. And now she wants to give a science lecture to the members. Let’s wait and see her hit a wall.”
“We’ll just watch the show.”
Secretary Xu said, “Xiao Zhou, you’re the women’s director. After all, she’s a military wife. If she gets upset, you should comfort her and tell her not to take it to heart.”
“Those spreading rumours will be dealt with appropriately.”
“It’s Zheng Tong’s sister and two midwives causing the trouble.” It was easy to find out the truth. Once Zhan Aiping arrived, she was young, beautiful, clean, from the big city, a college graduate, and a doctor. She was very responsible in delivering babies, thorough with sterilisation, respectful to the mothers, unlike the rough country midwives. Her gentle words won praise from those she assisted; even the umbilical cords were cut neatly. Any family that cared about the mothers preferred her to deliver their babies, which naturally reduced others’ earnings.
Even if delivering a baby only earned a few yuan and a few eggs, sometimes some brown sugar, and occasionally an invitation to a meal by the family, these small amounts could add up to a significant sum.
Some midwives earned a bit of extra money but still resented Zhan Aiping. Even delivering three or four babies a month could net ten yuan, which was quite a substantial amount considering many people’s wages were only ten to twenty yuan.
“It’s good that this rumour exists,” Secretary Xu thought. He also needed to give others a chance. Even though the rumour might harm Zhan Aiping, people would still choose her if they trusted her. Some would believe the rumours, while others would not.
In fact, the better the family’s conditions, the more they cherished their wives, and the more they wanted a clean and polite young female doctor like Zhan Aiping. These families were generous, giving brown sugar and eggs, and even killing a chicken to show their gratitude.
This naturally caused jealousy.
Secretary Xu called for a “Science Lecture Meeting” for the production team members. At Zhan Aiping’s request, the meeting would be held in several sessions, as it was difficult to gather people from distant production teams in one place.
Those living close would attend the same session.
Secretary Xu guessed that this so-called “Science Lecture Meeting” might only need to be held once before being stopped. He planned to have the militia captain clean up the mess afterward. The meeting would end quickly with some casual talks about science.
After finishing their farm work for the day, the team members and educated youths all gathered under the loudspeaker in the village square. Those with stools sat on them, while those without pulled some straw and branches to sit on.
Not only was the Party Secretary there, but also the Deputy Secretary, the Militia Captain, the Security Director, the Production Team Leader, the Political Team Leader, and other members. They stood aside, waiting to see how the young female doctor from the city would lecture the villagers about science.
At that moment, Zhan Aiping appeared. She was wearing her old military uniform, her hair tied up under her hat, with a pretty face like a flower, looking like a young literary soldier sent to the countryside to give a performance.
The villagers gave her face and applauded to welcome her. After all, a pretty face was always welcome, regardless of whether she was a demon or a spirit; listening to her talk wasn’t a bad thing.
This reflects a characteristic of Chinese people: though they are superstitious, they aren’t absolute in their beliefs. Stories about gods and ghosts don’t inspire absolute reverence or fear.
After all, in past mythological stories, the Cow herder dared to steal the clothes of a fairy with the help of an old cow; the White Snake repaid kindness but was trapped under Leifeng Pagoda; and in tales of ghostly romances, female ghosts were often quite affectionate.
Daring to steal a fairy’s clothes, marrying a snake, and affectionate female ghosts—these spirits harmed the bad but spared the good. As long as you did no wrong, there was nothing to fear from ghosts knocking at your door.
One woman who had given birth with Zhan Aiping’s help said, “Dr. Zhan doesn’t consume placenta.”
This indicated her family were good people who had done no evil.
Who knew, maybe Dr. Zhan was an affectionate female spirit who had descended to the mortal world.
“Hello everyone, my name is Zhan Aiping. I’m a new doctor at Yanxin Health Centre. Today, I’m here to give a science lecture to help everyone understand some scientific knowledge.”
The villagers listened to her clichéd words with blank expressions. Over the years, they had attended many meetings and were tired of them, preferring an outdoor movie instead.
Secretary Xu exchanged a glance with Women’s Director Zhou Xiaofang: “This is boring, just a one-woman show.”
The Militia Captain beside them shook his head, thinking about how he and the other militiamen had already heard Dr. Zhan’s “science” lecture once.
It was unforgettable.
“She looks young and easy to bully. Surely some hooligans will make trouble.”
Young and pretty girls often attracted teasing from hooligans.
Sure enough, a hooligan in the crowd immediately spoke up with a playful smile, “Dr. Zhan, what kind of science are you going to teach? Why don’t you come over here and whisper it in my ear?”
Zhan Aiping smiled slightly: “Comrade, if you want to hear my science lecture, then please stand up.”
“Alright, alright, I’m standing up,” the hooligan Zhou Jing said with a playful grin as he stood up shakily.
Zhan Aiping walked over to him but didn’t get too close. Suddenly, she waved her right hand in front of Zhou Jing, and a flame burst from her palm, startling Zhou Jing and everyone around him.
They had never seen anything like this.
“Fire! There’s fire!”
Zhan Aiping waved her hand again, and another flame shot out.
Then she shook her sleeve, and a small surgical knife fell out: “This gentleman who loves science, I hope you can cooperate with me and demonstrate a head-cutting and stitching technique in front of everyone.”
“I’ll cut off his head and sew it back on. Guaranteed to work.”
Zhou Jing was dumbfounded, and so were the villagers around him. Was this really a science lecture?
Zhan Aiping calmly said, “Our goal today is to talk about science.”
The militia captain, who had long been annoyed with Zhou Jing, said from below, “Zhou Jing, go up and cooperate with Dr. Zhan in demonstrating scientific techniques.”
Zhou Jing: “?!?!?!”
The villagers were also shocked: “!!!!” Was this really about science?
Once they recovered, the villagers immediately became eager to watch the spectacle. “Zhou Jing, go cooperate with Dr. Zhan. We want to hear about science!”
Whatever happened, it wasn’t their heads on the line.
“Yes, I want to hear about science too!”
“Me too!”
…
Now, everyone was intently waiting for the demonstration of “scientific techniques.” Everyone’s interest was piqued, even Secretary Xu, who couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
Zhou Jing clutched his neck, “No, I don’t believe in science, I don’t…”
He curled up on the ground, pretending to be dead, too scared to move.
“Since no one wants to cooperate with such a gruesome science, I’ll share something gentler.” Zhan Aiping took out a handkerchief and magically turned it into a flower, which she gave to a little girl sitting next to her mother.
Then she turned the flower into a live bird, causing everyone to gasp in amazement.
With a slight smile, Zhan Aiping said, “I’ll tell you a few stories from ‘Approaching Science.’”
These were stories that seemed spooky and mysterious on the surface but had heart-warming scientific explanations behind them.
…
Having been a teacher before, Zhan Aiping was quite adept at lecturing and persuading people. She captivated the villagers with her tales, leaving them both bewildered and enthralled.
They had never heard stories like these before. They were used to watching movies and listening to model operas, but they had never encountered such fascinating “scientific stories” and “science performances.”
“Ha, it must be fake,” one villager muttered.
“Will-o’-the-wisp in the cemetery is actually a chemical reaction…”
“Dr. Zhan’s palm fire trick was because she had fire paper hidden…”
“Why is it all physics and chemistry? What is chemistry, anyway?”
…
Even Secretary Xu was completely captivated by the “Approaching Science” stories; they were simply too fascinating.
“Alright, today’s science lecture meeting is over.”
“Dr. Zhan, please tell us more!” Their mundane lives were sorely lacking interesting scientific stories.
“It’s already very late. Everyone should go home now. There will be another science lecture in a couple of days.”
…
Afterwards, Zhan Aiping held several more “Approaching Science” lectures, each one packed with people. Some even walked for hours through the mountains just to hear the “science stories” and watch the “science demonstrations.”
The rumours about Zhan Aiping dissolved on their own, needing no further explanation. The most effective way to dispel rumours quickly was to let people remember something more sensational and interesting.
She was now known as the doctor who told the best science stories.
As for the originators of the rumours—Zheng Tong’s sister Zheng Yinmei, the woman who caused trouble when premature baby Zheng Xuemei was admitted to the hospital, and the two midwives Meng Youfeng and Sun Laimiao—they were all sent to labour education for reform.
This meant they had to do the most laborious, dirty, and exhausting work in the brigade.
The villagers pointed at Zheng Yinmei and whispered, “So stupid, she thought it was some immobilizing spell. It was just traditional Chinese medical techniques.”
“Exactly.”
“They don’t understand science.”
Zhan Aiping’s “Approaching Science” fever also spread to the barracks’ family compound. Several wives came to see her science performances and hear her science stories, listening with great interest.
Both families found some free time, and Wang Youli and his wife Shen Liqing mentioned wanting to have a meal at the Gu family’s house. Wang Youli even brought a good bottle of wine.
When they had a housewarming meal at his place, Gu Sheng had invited them over for a meal, and now Wang Youli wanted to take him up on the offer.
Wang Youli said to Shen Liqing, “Let’s see how his cooking skills compare.”
These days, Wang Youli was in high spirits, being newly married and sharing cultural and intellectual exchanges with his new wife, wanting to flaunt his happiness everywhere.
Although Shen Liqing was a bit lazy, she cooked well from time to time.
Wang Youli thought to himself that his wife’s cooking was surely better than Dr. Zhan’s.
“Old Gu, we must come to your house for a meal.”
Gu Sheng waved his hand, “Come on, come on, just don’t regret it later.”
“How could I regret it?”
Wang Youli and his wife, Shen Liqing, arrived with gifts, full of enthusiasm. As soon as they sat down, they saw Gu Sheng fully equipped, seemingly ready to take over the kitchen.
It looked like he was planning to cook himself.
Wang Youli was stunned. “Old Gu, what are you up to?”
Having known each other for years, he knew Gu Sheng couldn’t cook at all. What was he thinking?
“I’m going to cook for you and your wife. You’re in for a treat.”
Wang Youli replied, “…I don’t want this kind of treat.”
Even though he knew Dr. Zhan was pregnant and Gu Sheng had to help out, Wang Youli never imagined Gu Sheng would take on the entire cooking himself.
This guy doesn’t play fair. Was he using some kind of trick?
Wang Youli asked, “Do you really know how to cook?”
“How hard can it be to learn to cook? My wife will just give me a few pointers.”
“You can have your wife give you some pointers when you get back.”
Wang Youli: “…”
He suspected this might turn into a disaster.
Gu Sheng, wearing an apron, confidently walked into the kitchen. Zhan Aiping, his pregnant wife, sat nearby, occasionally giving instructions. Although he fumbled a bit, he was determined to make a good meal.
Shen Liqing whispered to Wang Youli, “This is going to be interesting.”
Wang Youli nodded, equally curious and concerned. They waited, the smell of food gradually filling the air, surprisingly pleasant.
After a while, Gu Sheng brought out several dishes. Although they didn’t look perfect, they smelled delicious. He placed them on the table with a triumphant smile.
“Alright, dig in!”
Everyone hesitated at first, but then they tried the food. To their surprise, it was quite good.
Wang Youli laughed, “Old Gu, not bad! Maybe I should get some cooking lessons from you!”
Gu Sheng grinned, “See, I told you. Just needed a few pointers from my wife.”
As they ate and chatted, the atmosphere lightened, and the evening turned out to be enjoyable. Even though Wang Youli had his doubts, the food and company made it a memorable night.
Later, as they were leaving, Wang Youli turned to Gu Sheng, “I have to admit, I was worried, but you did well. Next time, it’s our turn to host.”
Gu Sheng smiled, “I’ll hold you to that. And remember, practice makes perfect.”
As they walked away, Wang Youli couldn’t help but feel impressed. Maybe it wasn’t a disaster after all.
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