Chapter 8: Pie in the Sky

Seeing Wang Zhenshan’s smug expression, the other team leaders curiously crowded around.

"Oh? How miraculous was it? Tell us!" asked Zhang Jianshe, the leader of the Third Team, a man with a square face, in a muffled, gravelly voice.

"That's right! Old Wang, don't keep us in suspense!" urged Qian Dayong, the tall, thin leader of the Fourth Team.

Wang Zhenshan chuckled and cleared his throat, striking a pose that made him look just like a professional storyteller.

"You guys have no idea. Today, a patient with a stroke-induced facial paralysis was sent to Dr. Sun’s place. Half his face was twisted, he couldn't speak clearly, and drool was just pouring out!"

"Even Dr. Sun shook his head and said his acupuncture skills were limited; he could only give it a try, and whether the man would fully recover was entirely up to the heavens."

"Heh! And guess what happened?" Wang Zhenshan paused deliberately, whetting their appetites to the limit.

"This kid, Yichen, didn't say a word, just stood up and said he could cure it!"

"With a few silver needles, in less than a quarter of an hour, the patient’s eyelids could move! Even the corner of his mouth wasn't as crooked anymore!"

Zhang Jianshe’s eyes widened. "Really? You can even cure facial paralysis?"

"Would I lie to you?" Wang Zhenshan stiffened his neck. "I saw it with my own eyes! Old Sun even admitted himself that his own medical skills were nothing compared to Yichen’s!"

"Old Sun actually said that?" Gao Jianjun was moved, a flicker of astonishment flashing in his eyes.

Dr. Sun was quite well-known in their area; while not top-tier, he was decent at treating minor ailments and performing acupuncture. For him to admit he was inferior to a young newcomer who had just arrived in the countryside?

"Exactly!" Wang Zhenshan grew more animated as he spoke. "Old Sun even grabbed Yichen to humbly ask for advice on the follow-up treatment!"

As soon as these words were out, the surrounding production team leaders looked at Zhou Yichen with completely different eyes. They were filled with envy and jealousy toward Wang Zhenshan, along with a tiny pang of regret.

When they had been receiving the new educated youth yesterday, they had all taken an immediate liking to Zhou Yichen. He was tall and handsome, unlike the others who were either wearing glasses or looked frail; he clearly looked like a promising worker. Who would have thought that the old fox Wang Zhenshan would beat them to the punch!

Who could have expected that Zhou Yichen was not only spirited but also possessed such astonishing medical skills? This wasn't just finding a treasure; this was finding a gold nugget!

A sincere smile appeared on Gao Jianjun’s face, his gaze full of approval as he looked at Zhou Yichen.

"Good! Well done, Comrade Zhou Yichen!" Gao Jianjun patted Zhou Yichen on the shoulder firmly, his tone exceptionally warm.

"To have such skills at such a young age and to be willing to relieve the pain of the commune members—it's truly remarkable!"

Zhou Yichen felt a bit embarrassed by the praise and lowered his head slightly. "Captain Gao, you are too kind; I am just doing what I can."

"Being modest, are we?" Gao Jianjun laughed heartily. "Old Wang told me he wants you to serve as the health worker for the Fifth Team. I think it’s not just the Fifth Team—our entire Xiangyang Brigade needs technical talent like you!"

He turned to Wang Zhenshan. "Old Wang, have you arranged Yichen’s living quarters yet?"

"Rest assured, Old Gao!" Wang Zhenshan replied quickly. "I’ve already told Yichen. Not far from the educated youth dormitory, there’s a small, vacant courtyard with two main rooms. With a little tidying up, it’ll be ready to live in! I’ve decided to let him have it all to himself!"

"Good, that’s a good arrangement!" Gao Jianjun nodded with satisfaction. He turned back to Zhou Yichen. "Yichen, although you don't have an official appointment from the commune yet as a health worker—this is just recognized within our brigade—don't you worry!"

Gao Jianjun’s tone became solemn. "I’ve taken note of this! I’ll report it to the commune leadership shortly and strive to get you an official title as a health worker!"

"Once you have the official status, our brigade will find a way to scrape together some bricks, tiles, and lumber to build you a separate infirmary! Specifically for treating everyone!"

This promise carried significant weight! An official health worker was recognized by the commune, holding a much higher status than one self-appointed by a production brigade. And a dedicated infirmary! This was a remarkably generous offer.

Zhou Yichen thanked him immediately. "Thank you, Captain Gao! I will serve everyone with all my heart!"

In truth, Zhou Yichen didn't care much about becoming an official health worker or having a dedicated infirmary. For him, the most important thing right now was having a quiet, independent place to live, which would make his life easier and allow him to practice his skills.

The identity of a health worker, even if only recognized by the brigade, was enough. After all, in this era, especially in the countryside where medical resources were scarce, an official medical license wasn't the most critical thing. As long as you had genuine skill and could cure illnesses, the villagers would recognize and respect you.

Furthermore, while health workers still had to participate in labor during their free time, it was certainly much easier and offered far more freedom than the life of an ordinary commune member. This was undoubtedly beneficial for him as he sought to understand this era and rapidly improve himself using his "Diligence is Rewarded" talent.

After bidding farewell to Gao Jianjun and the others, Wang Zhenshan led Zhou Yichen toward the educated youth quarters. After walking for seven or eight minutes, Wang Zhenshan pointed to a somewhat lonely-looking small courtyard not far ahead. "Yichen, there it is."

Zhou Yichen looked in the direction he was pointing. It was a small courtyard enclosed by a low adobe wall, with parts of the wall having collapsed, exposing stones of various sizes. The gate consisted of two mottled wooden panels, one of which was crooked, looking as if it might fall off at any moment.

The entire courtyard radiated a sense of decay and desolation, clearly having been uninhabited for a long time.

"This used to be the home of an elderly person who was part of the 'Five Guarantees' support system. The old man passed away the year before last, and it's been empty ever since," Wang Zhenshan explained, fishing a rusty copper key from his pocket. "Let's go in and take a look."

He stepped forward, inserted the key into the equally rusty iron lock, and gave it a firm turn. The lock clicked open with a "creak." Pushing the crooked wooden door open, it let out a groan of protest.

Zhou Yichen followed Wang Zhenshan inside. The courtyard was small, the ground overgrown with weeds that reached mid-calf, and some broken firewood and shattered tiles were piled in a corner. Directly facing the gate were two adobe rooms; the thatch on the roof was sparse, and there were several cracks in the walls.

Wang Zhenshan used the key to open the door to the main room.

*Squeak—*

A stuffy, musty smell, mixed with dust and the scent of long-term neglect, rushed out to meet them. Zhou Yichen subconsciously held his breath.

Wang Zhenshan seemed a bit embarrassed and gave a dry, awkward laugh. "It’s a bit musty; it happens when nobody lives here for a long time. It’ll be better once you air it out."

Zhou Yichen nodded and stepped inside. The room was dim, and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust. The two rooms were open to each other with no partition in between. On the east side, a massive adobe *kang* (heated bed) was built against the wall, taking up nearly half the room, with a yellowing, worn-out straw mat spread across its surface. The end of the *kang* was connected to the kitchen stove, so it would heat up while cooking, keeping the bed warm at night.

The west side of the room was empty, save for a few pieces of broken, unrecognizable furniture piled haphazardly against the wall. The doors and windows were relatively intact, and while the paper on the window frames had several holes, they would still be enough to block the wind.

Zhou Yichen walked around the room, feeling quite satisfied. Although the place was dilapidated, it was at least an independent courtyard, and the two main rooms were more than enough for him. Most importantly, it was quiet and no one would disturb him! Compared to the educated youth dormitory where he would have been squeezed onto a bed with five or six other people, this place was paradise!