Chapter 5: A Fortunate Find
The neighboring brigade wasn’t very far away—just over half an hour’s walk. Along the way, Zhou Yichen chatted with Wang Zhenshan and gained quite a bit of insight into the Xiangyang Brigade.
The entire brigade had over a thousand people, but after excluding the elderly and children, there were only about seven or eight hundred able-bodied workers. These were divided into six production teams, each with roughly a hundred people.
Though a thousand sounded like a large number, the actual labor force wasn’t as abundant as one might imagine.
Wang Zhenshan sighed and continued, “That’s why the work never ends. There’s always something to do; the whole year, there’s no downtime.”
Zhou Yichen nodded in understanding.
As they spoke, the two turned a corner and a few low adobe houses came into view. One chimney was sending up wisps of smoke.
“There’s Old Sun’s place,” Wang Zhenshan said, nodding toward one of the houses.
Zhou Yichen looked in the indicated direction. The yard was small but tidy.
Dr. Sun’s home bore no conspicuous sign like a city hospital; it looked like an ordinary farmhouse.
Wang Zhenshan explained, “Old Sun treats people here but doesn’t have a fixed clinic. Folks come straight to his house.”
“Of course, if someone can’t travel or it’s an emergency, he’ll go to them.”
They reached the yard gate. Wang Zhenshan called out loudly, “Old Sun! Are you home?”
A slightly hoarse voice came from inside, “Who is it? Come in, the door’s unlocked.”
Wang Zhenshan pushed open the creaky wooden gate and walked in with Zhou Yichen.
In the yard, a lean man in his fifties, with sharp eyes, was crouched on the ground sorting through a pile of dry herbs and roots that smelled medicinal.
He wore a patched, old cotton jacket. His hair was graying but neatly combed.
Hearing footsteps, Dr. Sun looked up, his gaze scanning Wang Zhenshan and Zhou Yichen.
When he saw Zhou Yichen’s unfamiliar face, his eyes lingered briefly. He set aside his work and stood up. “Zhenshan, what brings you here today?”
He then glanced at Zhou Yichen and asked, “And this young man… whose child is he? What’s wrong with him?”
It was clear he assumed Zhou Yichen had come seeking medical help.
Wang Zhenshan laughed heartily and waved his hand. “Old Sun, you’ve got it wrong.”
“This young man isn’t here for treatment.”
He pointed to Zhou Yichen and introduced him: “He’s a young educated youth who just came down to our Fifth Team yesterday. His name’s Zhou Yichen.”
“He told me he’s been studying medicine since he was young and knows a bit.”
“Oh?” Dr. Sun’s keen eyes flickered with surprise as he sized up Zhou Yichen again.
A freshly arrived inexperienced youth daring to claim he knew medicine?
He was skeptical but kept his expression neutral.
“Studied medicine since you were a kid?” Dr. Sun asked curiously. “What have you learned? What kinds of illnesses can you treat?”
Dr. Sun himself was a barefoot doctor with modest medical skills, mostly folk remedies and experience-based treatments for common ailments like headaches, colds, and minor injuries.
Formal medical education was a distant dream.
His skills had been honed through painstaking trial and error over the years, and he alone knew the hardships endured.
Zhou Yichen met Dr. Sun’s questions calmly, speaking with neither arrogance nor humility.
“Dr. Sun, I mainly learned to treat common conditions like headaches, colds caused by wind-cold, and simple wound care.”
He didn’t mention that his knowledge came from the Barefoot Doctor’s Manual, vaguely saying he learned from a master.
“Oh? Then tell me, how many types of wind-cold colds are there? And how do you treat each?”
Dr. Sun asked casually.
Zhou Yichen was prepared and spoke fluently: “Wind-cold colds are usually caused by exposure to wind-cold pathogens. The primary treatment is to release the exterior with pungent warmth, using ingredients like scallion white, fresh ginger, and fermented soybeans decocted into a soup…”
He recited the differential diagnosis and treatment methods for colds from the Barefoot Doctor’s Manual, combined with his enhanced understanding after leveling up his medical aptitude through diligent effort.
Though his current medical skill was roughly equivalent to a solid rural doctor, his theoretical grasp of common illnesses was thorough and profound.
At first, Dr. Sun listened with some doubt, but as Zhou Yichen spoke, his expression changed—from casualness to slight nodding, then to growing astonishment.
This young man spoke convincingly!
His explanations were clear and accurate, even more meticulous than Dr. Sun’s usual consultations!
Zhou Yichen observed Dr. Sun’s reactions discreetly.
From the questions and demeanor, he roughly gauged that Dr. Sun’s skill level was probably on par with his own.
In fact, due to his methodical training and talent, Zhou Yichen might even surpass Dr. Sun in some areas of theoretical comprehensiveness and systematization.
After all, his proficiency was systematically improved, whereas Dr. Sun’s was mainly from experience, inevitably leaving some gaps.
When Zhou Yichen finished, Dr. Sun looked at him in amazement. “You have a solid foundation. No wonder you’re from the city!”
Some points the youth made even enlightened this old folk doctor, giving him a sense of clarity.
Zhou Yichen modestly replied, “I only know a little. There’s still much to learn.”
Wang Zhenshan, who had been somewhat skeptical, now listened intently. Seeing Dr. Sun’s surprised expression, his eyes widened in disbelief.
Good grief!
This young man’s knowledge was genuine!
Wang Zhenshan knew well of Old Sun’s skill—he was well respected in the surrounding villages of Xiangyang Brigade.
For Old Sun to show this reaction meant Zhou Yichen was truly exceptional…
Wang Zhenshan’s heart skipped a beat, and an uncontrollable thought surged forth.
Good heavens, we’ve found a treasure!
His heart warmed.
In rural areas, medical care and medicine were scarce.
Among the thousand-plus residents of Xiangyang Brigade, there wasn’t a single qualified barefoot doctor.
When someone had a headache or fever, they either endured it or had to come to Old Sun.
Now that Zhou Yichen, who knew medicine, had arrived, it was truly a blessing in disguise!
Wang Zhenshan’s expectations for Zhou Yichen had been low.
As long as he could handle colds, fevers, and minor injuries, he’d be satisfied.
But seeing Zhou Yichen and Old Sun exchange knowledge so fluently, it was clear his skills went beyond just treating simple ailments!
At the very least, he was on par with Old Sun!
That was more than enough.
Wang Zhenshan grinned, the wrinkles on his face blossoming like a chrysanthemum. His sun-darkened skin almost gleamed.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yichen and Dr. Sun were engrossed in a lively discussion.
He found this face-to-face exchange far better than studying alone.
Especially with an experienced barefoot doctor like Dr. Sun.
“Dr. Sun, have you ever encountered a condition called ‘cold encasing heat’—where the exterior cold is unresolved but internal heat has already developed?” Zhou Yichen asked humbly.
Dr. Sun squinted, recalling, “Of course! Some strong young fellows catch cold, and their families worry they won’t endure it, so they give them ginger soup and try to induce sweating. But if the sweat doesn’t come out, the heat intensifies, lips crack dry—that’s what you call ‘cold encasing heat’!”
“How do you usually treat that?” Zhou Yichen pressed.
“What else? First release the exterior. I’m cautious about using Ephedra Decoction, so I use Jing Jie and Fang Feng with a bit of mint and Forsythia to clear internal heat and gradually adjust the condition,” Dr. Sun replied.
In Zhou Yichen’s mind, his gift for diligent effort was activating.
He noticed his medical skill proficiency rising visibly.
In just a short moment, it had increased by dozens of points.
[Medical Skill LV1 (625/1000)]