Chapter 166: Returning
In the following days, with no need to go to work and plenty of time on her hands, Su Ning made Jade Visage Paste for Xiao Lian, who came again for treatment, and then devoted herself entirely to the Discontinuous Paste for muscles and bones.
As for those few medical books issued by the training institution, she had already memorized them fluently in her spare time.
The result was, of course, successfully passing the two assessments and smoothly obtaining the graduation certificate. Now she just needed Brother Mao to help bring back the proof materials submitted for review, and her small health clinic could fully open.
Upon hearing that she was opening a health clinic here to be a barefoot doctor, the happiest besides the Yan Family members were the villagers of the entire brigade.
Now, for minor illnesses and pains, they finally didn’t have to endure them toughly; that was a great blessing.
So much so that what the brigade leader said about giving her full work points, not needing to work in the fields, and only gathering medicinal herbs on the mountain in her spare time—wasn’t that only right?
It concerned their own health; even the most troublesome few had no objections, and everyone naturally had even less opinion. The matter was thus settled openly.
On the day Mao Jinqian delivered the proof materials, Su Ning rode her own bicycle with him to the hospital for stamping and conveniently brought back the first batch of common medicines like pills and medicinal water.
Located in the center of the village, the simple health clinic that Su Qingshan had prepared in advance officially opened its doors.
From the very first patient who came, she was a bit nervous, but as she gradually discovered that most villagers who came had simple colds, fevers, or diarrhea that could be handled with a few pills, or at most an IV drip, her anxiety faded.
Upholding responsibility to patients and fulfilling the villagers’ hopes by treating with the least money or work points, Su Ning began gathering medicinal herbs on the mountain while proactively learning more traditional Chinese medicine knowledge from Old Man Liu.
……
“Xiao Lian, congratulations. After using this last dose of medicine on the scar on your body, it will be completely healed.”
“Great, great!”
“Thank you, Sister Ning.”
“Yes, thank you, Xiao Su.”
Although Gao Fen and Xiao Lian had known the result early, when this day arrived, they still couldn’t help but have tears welling up.
For Su Ning, who had essentially given Xiao Lian a second life, they didn’t know how to express their heartfelt gratitude.
“How about letting Xiao Lian kowtow to you!”
“No, no, Aunt Gao. Look at my yard—not counting the remuneration you’ve already given before, just these are enough!”
Gao Fen and her daughter were both restless types. Since coming to this ancestral home, except for evening treatments and rest, they hadn’t stopped for a moment at any other time.
During the day when she went to the health clinic, the two cleaned inside the room and outside the yard. Not only did they plant rows of vegetables in the backyard, but they also meticulously replicated it exactly like the small courtyard in the city.
Just the climbing roses on the yard wall were changed to common honeysuckle from the countryside hilltops, and the other fruit trees were all available and findable in the village.
Just this kindness moved her more than any thank-you gift.
“So, Aunt, let’s stop with all this thanking back and forth. Of course, if you could give me two of the last net of fish from winter when you go back, that would be even better!”
“Hahaha, you kid—deal, but two aren’t enough. Aunt will prepare several more for you then; they’ll come in handy for the New Year.”
Amid laughter and cheerful voices, the medicine for the last scar on Xiao Lian’s leg was also applied.
Seeing that the exposed skin on her now was all smooth and fair, she felt happy for her from the bottom of her heart and also a faint sense of inexplicable pride rising.
Xiao Lian was the first person she had healed with medicine she made herself. She hoped there would be many, many more in the future.
……
The next morning early, after seeing off the reluctant mother and daughter, Su Ning locked the door and prepared to go to the health clinic.
She hadn’t walked two steps when she ran into a large group of people coming head-on.
“Ning Bao Gai!” “Su Ning!”
Seeing her, the delighted and excited Luo Shuangshuang immediately dropped her partner and ran straight toward her.
“Shuang Shuang, slow down! Wait for me!”
Instinctively stretching out her arms to catch her, the momentum made her retreat several steps before stopping.
Looking at the one who pounced into her arms, buried her head in her chest, and even rubbed against it, Su Ning pinched her nape half-annoyed and half-amused, “Xi You, what are you doing?”
“Isn’t it because I missed you~”
“Speak normally.”
“Oh, alright~”
Helplessly shaking her head, ignoring her voice with its eighteen turns at the end, she turned her gaze to Fu Jiaming, who followed closely behind, “Everyone’s here? Tail handled?”
“Mm, if not for that, we would’ve come back earlier.”
Fu Jiaming followed her gaze to those behind him and gave a simple introduction of the family members to her.
Upon learning she was Su Ning, the three Fu Family members’ gratitude went without saying.
The group returned to the ancestral home, thanked the kind-hearted villagers who helped, and when seeing them out the gate, Su Ning called to the uncle she had seen twice before.
“Uncle Chang Teng!”
“What’s up, Xiao Su.”
“Please help me notify everyone— if there’s any urgent matter today, come to my home to find me. I’ll be late getting to the health clinic.”
“Got it. I’ll tell everyone when I get to the field later!”
“Thanks, Uncle Chang Teng.”
“Psh, such a tiny thing!”
After walking far from the old ancestral home and away from the back mountain, the young man’s face, tanned black from helping carry the patient along the way, couldn’t show the burning red as he hesitated half a day before speaking, “Doctor Su, you already have patients coming specifically to seek treatment?”
“I once overheard the brigade leader say that their Su Family ancestors once saved noble people in the palace with secret medicine!”
Secret medicine that could save nobles’ lives—how could it not be passed down as a heirloom?
“You think, is there secret medicine for having babies?”
The few big men looked at each other, recalling how his family had a single lineage with difficult heirs, and after over ten years of marriage, the couple was nearly driven mad wanting a child, suddenly not knowing how to speak up.
“Just ask. Some day have your wife go to quietly ask Doctor Su. What if.”
……
Still unaware that in the future she would be swarmed by women from villages and towns within a hundred miles seeking fertility medicine, Su Ning was now discussing the illness with the Fu Family members.
“Su Ning, the Teacher Ge you mentioned is that old doctor from Baiyang Commune Team Six last time?”
“Mm, yes.”
“Alright, got it. I’ll go invite him tomorrow.”
Hearing that the old man’s illness could be cured with Teacher Ge’s acupuncture plus Old Man Liu’s prescribed medicine, Fu Jiaming was so happy he nearly flew up.
This motionless old man who could only glare angrily when upset—he really wasn’t used to it and particularly disliked it.
So better get better—being beaten with a leather belt when angry was better than this half-dead state.
“Su Ning, that medicine you mentioned can really let my Jia Dan stand up again?”
“Yes, according to the description of its effects in the book, Discontinuous Paste can do it. It’s just… I can’t make it successfully yet. Sorry, Uncle Fu.”
“No problem, no problem. As long as there’s hope, there’s hope!”
Compared to his own body, Fu Rong cared more about his son. Only upon learning that this unreliable boy Jiaming hadn’t lied did he fully relax.
As for not being able to make the medicine, that was even less of an issue. Since they had come and planned to stay long-term, they could wait.
Unable to move but already able to sit upright against the back, he scanned around several times without seeing the person he wanted to see, “Su Ning, I heard from Jiaming that Yan Qi, Old Master, and old lady are all here?”
“Yes, but at this time they’re all at work. Have to wait until after dinner when work ends to come back.”
“At work?!”
Fu Jiaming shot up from the chair. At the time she had only said Grandpa Yan, Grandma Yan, and Yan Qi were arranged together in this Hongqi Commune.
These past days with the old man and big brother’s injuries, his mind had been in chaos until just now suddenly realizing: they were sent down, not here for rest and recuperation or vacation.
“Su Ning, where are they working? I’ll go help!”
“Calm down. You coming today already drew attention. Going there wouldn’t be helping.”
Reason told him she was right, but emotionally he couldn’t convince himself.
Upon learning that his good brother and the two elders who had always been very good to him were doing the dirtiest and most tiring work, and ultimately because of them.
He simply couldn’t sit still, couldn’t endure a moment.
“I’ll just sneak a peek from afar…”
“Enough, Jiaming. Don’t add more chaos or any possibility of danger to them.”
Fu Rong felt just as bad psychologically. As the main culprit, he was even more tormented, but for now had to endure it.
The atmosphere in the room quieted down with his words.
