In the morning, Shen Anning was woken up by the sound of the gong signaling the start of work. He took out his watch and checked the time. It was five o'clock!!!
Before she could recover from the early hour, Shen Anning heard Shen Anxuan calling her, "Sister, I want to go to the toilet." Shen Anxuan was still a little confused when she spoke. In the past ten days in the village, she had somehow developed a habit. When the gong sounded in the morning, it was time for her to go to the toilet.
Shen Anning got up and helped her sister put on her clothes. Because the family hadn't bought a toilet yet, they still had to go to the toilet outside the yard.
Since she was already up, Shen An Ning couldn't sleep anymore. She took An Xuan to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. The pot had been opened in the space, so it could be used directly. She cooked rice porridge in a small pot and took out some meat buns. She told the twins that they were leftovers from the train, and they wouldn't suspect anything.
Each person had a bowl of rice porridge and a fire-baked bread. After eating, Shen Anning wondered whether she should go to the county today. She had a lot of things to arrange and would start working tomorrow. Before she became a village doctor, it was inconvenient for her to go anywhere else.
Having made up her mind, Shen Anning looked at her younger brother and sister and said, "Anyu, Anxuan, sister has to go to the county to do some things today. I will send you to the educated youth site today. Can you stay there for lunch?"
The twins also knew that their eldest sister was busy with something, so they were very sensible. Shen Anning put some snacks and candies in a small bag for Shen Anxuan to carry, and then took a military water bottle and half a pound of white flour as rations for the two of them for lunch.
Sure enough, as she expected, several people at the educated youth site were also preparing to go to the county. Now was the time for farm work. Two old educated youth had told them last night that after starting work tomorrow, they would not be able to take a holiday for one or two months because of the busy farming season. So everyone wanted to take this opportunity to go to the county, go shopping, eat something good, and buy some necessary things.
Wang Xinrong and Wang Xinhua had almost finished buying things in the town yesterday, so they didn't go to the county today and stayed at the educated youth site to sort out their things.
Shen Anning put the twins' rations in the kitchen and said, "Xinrong, Xinhua, I'm going to trouble you today."
"An Yu and An Xuan are both very obedient. Besides, we should help each other."
Shen Anning smiled and said, “Do you have anything you need me to bring back for you in the county? It’s on the way anyway.”
Wang Xinhua remembered that he hadn't bought any soap for bathing and washing hair in town yesterday, so he went inside and got some money. "An Ning, if the supply and marketing cooperative has soap, please bring me a couple. We only bought the kind for washing clothes in town yesterday."
"Okay, leave it to me."
Because they got up early, the group arrived in town just in time to catch the bus to the county. The road had not yet been paved with cement, and there were some bumps and potholes, so they were shaking all the way. They finally arrived at the county town at ten o'clock.
Shen Anning thought that she had to put buying a bicycle on the agenda. This bus had to stop at several communes every time, so she had to take a detour. It would be better for her to ride a bicycle herself.
When they arrived at the county town, everyone separated on their own accord. Shen Anning went directly to the entrance of the armed forces department to find Geng Chengyi. Last time, they had agreed at his house that he would be in class except for Sundays.
It was dinner time, so Geng Chengyi took Shen Anning directly to the state-owned restaurant and ordered a few dishes. While waiting for the dishes, he told Shen Anning the news he had inquired about.
"An Ning, ordinary barefoot doctors don't get paid. As long as the commune and the village approve them, they can become doctors. Regarding the county exam you mentioned, if you pass, you'll be issued a certificate and be affiliated with the commune hospital. You'll be assigned to the village as a village doctor, working two days a month at the commune hospital, and the commune will also provide a five-yuan subsidy each month."
Shen Anning understood. In this case, it would be best to pass the exam with a certificate.
Knowing that May 10th was the last assessment for the first half of this year, Geng Chengyi also gave Shen Anning the internal information he had found.
After dinner, Shen Anning took out the bicycle ticket and said, "Uncle Geng, I need your help with something. Please buy me a women's bicycle. When I pass the exam and get the certificate, I will have to ask you to help me send this bicycle to the village."
This was also what Shen An Ning had thought of. If she bought a bicycle quietly, no matter how simple the villagers were, they would be jealous and there would be a lot of gossip. But when she became a doctor affiliated with the commune hospital and received subsidies, it would not be so prejudicial if her relatives in the armed forces gave her a bicycle. After all, there is a big difference between her own excellence and that of her relatives.
Geng Chengyi smiled and took the bicycle ticket, but he didn't ask for money. He just said he would talk about it when the bicycle was delivered.
After finishing the most important thing, Shen Anning went to the supply and marketing cooperative. The soaps sold there smelled pretty good, but she had so much in her space that she couldn't use it all, so she didn't buy any. She planned to take two out of the space and say they were from other places. She would find a secluded place with no one around and take out a package. Then she would take the bus back. The bus arrived at the platform at 2:30. Several people from the educated youth point were sitting at the back. From everyone's expressions, it could be seen that this trip to the city should be a full return.
Because they had agreed to get together in the evening, including the male educated youth, Shen Anning first sent the things home, wrapped the soap in newspaper, took a piece of bacon, and picked half a basket of vegetables sent by Aunt Li and took them over.
When the new educated youth first arrived in the countryside, their families would bring them some food, such as bacon, sausages, and canned food. The old educated youth had no meat, so they gave them some extra food. No one cared much about the first meal.
After giving two bars of soap to Wang Xinhua, Shen Anning explained, "This soap is from other places. The supply is low this time, and the supply and marketing cooperative has digested a lot of it. I happened to be lucky enough to buy these bars."
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
