Chapter 3: Identity Is Self-Granted

Zhou Yichen’s expression remained calm and composed.

When away from home, one’s identity is what one claims it to be.

With the innate talent of “Heaven rewards diligence” at his side, even though his medical skills were just at the beginner’s level, he was more than capable of handling the common ailments found in the countryside.

Wang Zhenshan was left a bit stunned by Zhou Yichen’s words, mainly because Zhou’s expression was so genuine, his gaze so open and unflinching—nothing like someone telling a lie.

“You… are you telling the truth?” His tone carried a hint of hope.

In these times, with a shortage of doctors and medicine, having someone on the team who actually understood medicine would be a tremendous blessing!

Not to mention, everyone has moments of illness or injury—having someone knowledgeable around would put people’s minds at ease.

“If you really have the skill, I’ll arrange a place for you to stay by yourself,” Wang Zhenshan said, gritting his teeth as if making a major decision. “You won’t have to squeeze in with the others at the youth barracks!”

Zhou Yichen’s eyes lit up.

A place to himself? That would be perfect!

“Captain, it’s a deal then!” he responded immediately, afraid Wang might change his mind.

“My word is good,” Wang replied with a wave of his large hand, though a trace of doubt lingered in his heart—he hoped this young man wasn’t just boasting.

But if it was true, it’d be like finding a treasure!

Wang Zhenshan grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth stained from years of smoking. “But let me be clear upfront,” he said, “I can’t just take your word for it.”

“What if you’re bluffing? Where would that leave my reputation?” He patted his weathered face with a cautious tone.

Zhou Yichen raised an eyebrow and replied readily, “You’re absolutely right, Captain. So what do you intend to do?”

His unflustered manner made Wang Zhenshan trust him all the more.

Wang exhaled heavily, as if coming to a decision. “Once we arrive, you’ll settle in first. Tomorrow morning, I’ll take you to the neighboring brigade to meet Old Man Sun.”

“He’s a barefoot doctor too, been working for nearly twenty years. He’ll talk with you, ask you a few questions, and we’ll know if you’re genuine or not.”

At these words, Jiang Xiaoman’s heart skipped a beat, her face turning pale in an instant.

Old Man Sun?

A face-to-face test?

It was over—she was sure Zhou Yichen would be exposed!

She knew perfectly well that Zhou had no real mentor from Xiehe Hospital—he had made that up out of thin air!

He’d spent the past couple of weeks poring over the barefoot doctor’s manual, but that was no substitute for real medical training.

If he were exposed on the spot, Captain Wang would surely explode with anger.

By then, forget about having a room to himself—he’d be lucky if he wasn’t marked out for hardship!

Jiang Xiaoman was beside herself with worry, but there was nothing she could do.

She snuck a glance at Zhou Yichen, who still looked as calm as ever, as if he wasn’t worried at all.

This guy’s nerves are something else!

Several times Jiang Xiaoman wanted to warn Zhou, but each time, the words caught in her throat.

If she made a fuss now, it might only make things worse.

All she could do was pray silently, hoping Zhou wouldn’t get caught in his own lie.

At the back, Zhao Weiguo and Lin Xiaoyue exchanged glances, their eyes filled with undisguised envy.

Look at him!

This is the advantage of having a skill!

They had worked so hard to get to this godforsaken place, only to end up packed in with strangers.

Yet Zhou Yichen, just by talking, might get his own room.

The difference was like night and day!

Zhao Weiguo pushed up his glasses, eyes flickering with calculations of his own.

Zhou Yichen, meanwhile, seemed completely unaffected by Jiang Xiaoman’s anxious gaze, maintaining his air of unruffled calm.

He nodded steadily, “Alright, Captain, I’ll go along with your arrangements.”

“Better to get it verified early and put your mind at ease.”

He was confident.

Assuming a false identity was just for convenience, but his medical skills were real.

Though only at the most basic level, for the headaches, fevers, and sprains common in the countryside of this era, he was more than capable.

True gold fears no fire.

Whether he was a horse or a mule, just take him out for a run and the truth would be known.

As they spoke, their steps didn’t falter.

After about ten minutes, a few lonely adobe huts appeared in the distance.

The walls were a dull yellow, the window frames crooked, the thatched roofs sparsely covered with straw, and thin wisps of smoke drifted weakly from the chimney—everything exuded a sense of desolation and decay.

Wang Zhenshan pointed ahead. “There, that’s the youth barracks.”

He raised his voice toward the houses. “Anyone home? Li Weidong, come out—the new arrivals are here!”

After a long pause, the battered wooden door creaked open.

A head poked out, then a second, and soon three or four young men emerged.

A few young women also stepped out from the neighboring house.

They didn’t look well—faces tired, eyes dull.

Wang Zhenshan pointed to one of the older youths. “Li Weidong, these are the newcomers. Help them settle in.”

Then he turned to introduce him, “This is Li Weidong, the group leader for your youth barracks.”

“Follow him inside, put your things down, get familiar with the place. Someone will bring your food rations later.”

He paused, adding, “The grain is just a loan from the team. From now on, it will be deducted from your work points.”

“That’s it, I have business to attend to.” He waved briskly and left without another word.

Li Weidong nodded to Zhou Yichen and the others. “Come in, it’s cold outside. Let’s talk inside.”

Zhou Yichen and Zhao Weiguo followed him into one of the earthen houses. As soon as they stepped in, a pungent, indescribable smell assailed them.

It was a mixture of sweat, foot odor, and perhaps a hint of mold—enough to make one’s scalp tingle.

Jiang Xiaoman, who had wanted to follow them in, stopped short at the threshold, her face going white as a sheet at the smell. She instinctively took a half-step back, covering her nose and mouth.

Beside her, Lin Xiaoyue’s delicate brows furrowed deeply, her pretty face scrunched up in discomfort.

Zhou Yichen braced himself and quickly scanned the room.

The light was dim. Against one wall was a massive earthen kang bed, taking up nearly half the room.

It was covered with dark straw and tattered quilts, piled haphazardly.

Zhou silently counted. The bed was empty for now, but from the arrangement of the bedding, he could tell that four people lived here.

Adding himself and Zhao Weiguo, that meant six people would be sleeping in a single room, on a single kang!

Six grown men squeezed onto one bed—it was almost unimaginable.

Just the thought of it made Zhou’s scalp prickle.

He was a soul from the twenty-first century, used to private bedrooms and spring mattresses. He had never envisioned anything like this.

It was a nightmare start.

At the door, Jiang Xiaoman glanced at Zhou Yichen and Zhao Weiguo’s strained faces, and the overwhelming stench. Her own expression of resistance was almost palpable.

Heavens, if the men’s barracks were like this, what awaited them on the women’s side…

She dared not even imagine.

Lin Xiaoyue’s face was pale as well, lips tightly pressed together. Any hope she’d had for her new life had now vanished completely.

Inside, Li Weidong addressed the older youths in the room. “Don’t just stand there. Tidy up and make space for the newcomers.”

The three old-timers’ faces immediately fell.

One, a tall, thin youth with narrow eyes, muttered, “It’s crowded enough as it is, now there are two more…”

He didn’t speak loudly, but in the silent room, every word was clear.

Another, whose face was dotted with pimples, let out a heavy sigh, his reluctance written all over him.

The third, who seemed a bit more honest, simply lowered his head without a word, but his tightly pressed lips betrayed his feelings.

Originally, the four of them had the run of this communal kang bed. Though it was crude, they’d grown used to their own ‘territory.’

Now, suddenly, they had to make room for two more. Who would be happy to give up their space?