Chapter 164 Going All In
Despite the low salary, heavy workload, and being treated like a beast of burden all day long, Wang Baoyu never thought of quitting his job and changing his career.
To be honest, he felt that he really liked Chinese medicine and wanted to learn from a master, hoping that one day he would be able to take people's pulses, diagnose illnesses and solve their problems.
But that day is so far away from him.
The Chinese medicine clinic where Wang Baoyu works is called Jingfutang. It has two floors and seven or eight doctors who work part-time from local Chinese medicine hospitals. Many people come to see the doctors every day, and most of them are elderly people.
Older people have great trust in traditional Chinese medicine. If they have back pain, leg pain, or trouble sleeping and have nightmares, they will come to take their pulse and talk about their condition. Then they will get some medicine, buy some health products, or do cupping or moxibustion.
Wang Baoyu was extremely busy.
When there are not so many patients at noon, he has to help boil the medicine. Nowadays, all the medicines in the pharmacy are boiled by machines, which seems a bit contrary to the imagined traditional Chinese medicine industry.
Wang Baoyu is a small person with little influence and can't change anything. What's more, he is busy every day and has no time to think.
It was just after he got his salary that day and it was already past nine o'clock when he got off work. Wang Baoyu was riding the ladies' electric bike that he bought for three hundred yuan. He was riding the electric bike of a thief, like an adult stealing a child's bike.
Passing the neon lights of the city along the way, and not until he reached the rental house in the suburbs did Wang Baoyu feel that he had breathed a little fresh air.
He shared a two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment in the suburbs, and the monthly rent was 500 yuan. Adding the water and electricity bills, it would cost 600 to 700 yuan no matter how frugal he was. Now it was summer, and the temperature was extremely high, often reaching 40 degrees Celsius. If he didn't turn on the air conditioner, he would definitely wake up several times at night because of the heat. If he turned on the air conditioner, the electricity bill would be beyond the ability of a poor guy like Wang Baoyu to afford.
Sometimes Wang Baoyu also thought that if he gave up this industry, even if he went to a construction site to move bricks for others, he probably wouldn’t be so stretched.
He is already twenty-two years old and can see the end of the future at a glance. What's the point?
After lying in bed for half a day and enjoying the air conditioning for half an hour, Wang Baoyu decided to take a shower and turn off the air conditioning before going to bed. The rent will be due next month and he has to pay another quarter's rent. He has to spend money frugally so that he can save some to send home and save his family from worrying about him.
After he finished taking a shower and washing his clothes, he changed into pajamas and lay on the bed in the waking position, then started playing with his mobile phone.
Wang Baoyu has a traditional Chinese medicine forum on his mobile phone. This is his favorite app to visit. There are many young people who are interested in traditional Chinese medicine like him. Most of them are self-taught, and there are also a few who have real talents and knowledge, but they don’t show up often.
The forum is often filled with metaphysics that leans towards folk science of traditional Chinese medicine. Every time Wang Baoyu sees it, he can't help but frown. In his opinion, traditional Chinese medicine is actually a science, not those mysterious things at all.
It’s just that people nowadays cannot understand the treasures left by our ancestors, and add their own imagination when interpreting them, which leads to the uneven quality in the traditional Chinese medicine industry.
He wanted to change the current situation, but he didn't have the ability and couldn't even get started.
Wang Baoyu still insists on visiting the forum because he can find resonance in the occasional expressions of confusion expressed by many people here.
Today, Wang Baoyu saw a strange post in the forum.
[An experienced Chinese medicine practitioner is looking for an apprentice. He's very reliable and offers a monthly salary of 1,800 yuan, including food and lodging. Are there any like-minded individuals who would like to become his apprentice? Let's go together!]
Wang Baoyu's heart moved, and he quickly clicked in to see the details. Unexpectedly, the comments under the post were all sarcastic.
"Eighteen thousand a month? How can someone who offers such a low salary be truly talented? They're definitely looking for cheap labor. You'll just be there to work. Don't expect to learn any real skills. You might as well buy a few books and read them at home. I've said it before, Chinese medicine isn't difficult at all. As long as you know how to read, you can learn it on your own. Those who always dream of becoming a disciple are either short-sighted or weak-kneed and like to kowtow to others!"
This brother with the ID "Where have all the good teachers gone?" has gone through a lot of hardships. He often posts in the forum, emphasizing that everyone should learn Chinese medicine on their own and never find a master. None of those Chinese medicine practitioners who take in apprentices are good people. Every one of them wants to take advantage of the apprentices.
They charge exorbitant tuition fees but don't teach anything, offer low wages, and work like slaves in a pharmacy. In the end, you lose all your money and time, and still don't learn any skills.
Wang Baoyu felt that he was very violent, but some of his words made sense.
"What the poster said is too absolute. If it's a young person who's just entered the industry, with free food and accommodation, and a monthly salary of 1,800 yuan, and if they can learn something, then the conditions are indeed quite good. But I don't know if this person has real skills. Where did the poster get this information? Is it reliable?"
The original poster quickly replied: "The news is true and reliable. This doctor is absolutely reliable and his medical skills are very good. Local people all seek him out for treatment. He is in his seventies and eighties, and he is still treating patients."
"It's so famous, what's its name? Tell us so we can see it."
"Mr. Yang Hongen, you probably don't know that he lives in a relatively remote village."
"That's ridiculous! He's gone to a mountain village. How can he be a good Chinese medicine practitioner? What era is this still a hermit? Do you think young people would believe it? If he really could bring people back to life, he would have been invited out of seclusion by the rich and powerful long ago. Stop posting here to deceive people. Are you trying to trick people into going to Southeast Asia?"
"If I lied, I'd die a miserable death. Believe it or not, I was planning to go. Seeing you all sighing and groaning here, I thought I'd give you a hand. It's up to you to go or not. I feel the decline of the traditional Chinese medicine industry is because of you, a bunch of insects."
Faced with so many aggressive questions, the bad-tempered poster started a group attack without mercy, which really stirred up a hornet's nest.
Wang Baoyu has a gentle temperament. To put it bluntly, he doesn't like conflicts with others. He did not reply in the post, but sent a private message to the poster to inquire.
"Hello, I'm quite interested in what you said in your post. Can I get in touch with you to learn more? This is my WeChat."
Before receiving a reply, Wang Baoyu could only send one message. As soon as he finished sending it, he wanted to add two more sentences, but he couldn't send it at all.
I don’t know if the poster was busy arguing with someone and had no time to read private messages. He didn’t receive a reply until Wang Baoyu turned off the air conditioner and went to sleep.
Early the next morning, at just six o'clock, Wang Baoyu was woken up by the alarm clock.
The Chinese medicine clinic opens at 7:30 every day, and there will always be a bunch of sleepless old men and women waiting there at the door.
He had to arrive before 7:30, otherwise even if he was late, he would be deducted 50 yuan for each time he was late. With his salary, he couldn't survive even if the deduction was even a little bit.
Wang Baoyu didn't even bother to look at his phone. He quickly washed, changed his clothes, and rode his electric scooter to the Chinese medicine clinic at full throttle.
Half an hour later, he arrived at the Chinese medicine clinic at 7:20, took out the buns and soy milk he bought on the road, and ate them while looking at his mobile phone.
Only then did Wang Baoyu see that someone had added him on WeChat. He probably thought it was the poster from yesterday.
He was a little excited and quickly passed the application. He thought the other party had not yet woken up, but who knew that as soon as he passed, the other party sent him a message.
"My name is Dong Rui. What's your name? Let's introduce ourselves to each other."
Wang Baoyu hurriedly introduced himself and explained his situation.
Dong Rui's situation was surprisingly similar to his. The two were two hundred or three hundred kilometers apart, but it was like two different lives following the same trajectory, meeting at this moment.
Dong Rui was also very interested in traditional Chinese medicine, but his grades were better than Wang Baoyu's. He went to a key university and studied a major related to traditional Chinese medicine. However, what he learned in university was not practical at all. After graduating from university, he worked in a traditional Chinese medicine hospital. He was able to see patients right after he started working, but unfortunately, he made the patients' health worse and he was almost sued. Later, he paid compensation privately, and the traditional Chinese medicine hospital kicked him out. Dong Rui then began to work in various traditional Chinese medicine clinics.
For so many years, he has been trapped in his own medical accident and unable to let it go. However, when he saw the rough methods used by many of his colleagues in treating patients, he was shocked to realize that the problem was not with him alone, but that most people in this industry were walking on a tightrope.
When people prescribe medicine for patients, they just hope that the patients won't die. They don't expect the medicine to cure the patients' illness. Then, just like opening a blind box, they prescribe medicine for the patients and then see how the patients are doing after seven or eight days. Some people may be in better physical condition, which is just a lucky chance.
Some people feel that the treatment is ineffective and will not go back to seek medical treatment. After all, Chinese medicine will not kill you, nor will it guarantee a cure.
Dong Rui, who saw through all this, felt disheartened. He wanted to change the situation, but like Wang Baoyu, he was powerless.
When an industry is full of bad money, it is extremely difficult for good money to make a difference.
Unlike Wang Baoyu, Dong Rui still has some free time to pursue other hobbies. He loves health preservation and has been ordering green vegetable packages from Xia Wu's shop to cook his own meals a long time ago. He is a long-time fan of Xia Xia.
He also saw the news on the forum, and he immediately made the decision to quit his current job at a traditional Chinese medicine clinic and go to Yanggou Village to study.
He had a premonition that this might be his last chance to change his current life situation. If he gave up this opportunity, in a few years, he might become like his callous colleagues.
As long as the patient is not dead, just treat him casually. It's like a blind cat catching a dead mouse, so if you can catch one, it's a good one.
In the post that Dong Rui posted on the Traditional Chinese Medicine Forum, only Wang Baoyu left his contact information without hesitation.
He was waiting for Wang Baoyu's reply.
Wang Baoyu still had to go to work. After communicating with Dong Rui intermittently, he was deeply touched. He also wanted to give up everything and follow Dong Rui, but what about his belongings?
The lease wasn't due yet, and he didn't have much money. If he went there, they wouldn't want him...
Wang Baoyu was absent-minded the whole morning and failed to perform cupping on the customer properly, and then he was scolded by the pharmacy manager.
During the lunch break, Wang Baoyu still found it difficult to make a decision.
"I rent a place on my own. If I go with you, I don't know what to do with my things. I don't have the money to pay for rent in two places."
Wang Baoyu honestly told his troubles, he was really conflicted.
Dong Rui, who was still just an online friend, asked him: "Brother, tell me the truth, do you want to learn real skills? If you are determined to learn real skills, I can help you, just like helping my younger self."
"You have to think carefully. You are only 22 years old now, almost ten years younger than me. Look at me, then look at yourself. Shouldn't you have more courage than me to start over?"
Wang Baoyu has always been indecisive and had difficulty making decisions, but this time, he was inspired by Dong Rui's words and courage surged in his heart again.
He gritted his teeth and made a decision: "Okay, I believe you, I'll go with you!"
Dong Rui asked for his address and said he would drive over to pick him up and take his belongings with him. Anyway, the rent was due next month, so he could just not renew it. Besides, he had just received his salary yesterday, so he could just quit the pharmacy.
After a while, Dong Rui sent him a photo of the car and navigation, and said, "I will be there in five hours."
Wang Baoyu's heart was pounding as he realized what he had done.
He is going to resign.
The manager still didn't let him go. He came over and told him that he would deduct fifty yuan from him next month because he made the customer wait too long during cupping at noon. He also said that he was playing with his mobile phone while cupping and did not bring slippers to the customer or help the customer to bed.
It just sounds ridiculous.
Wang Baoyu said naturally, "I'm done. You can do whatever you want. I'll work for you for free this morning."
He said, took off his hat and was about to leave.
The manager was a little stunned. "Are you crazy? You should have told me in advance if you weren't going to work here, didn't you?!"
Wang Baoyu ignored him completely. It just so happened that he didn't know what to say. After all, he was not good at quarreling.
After riding away on his electric bike, Wang Baoyu went straight home to pack up his things.
He was excited, just like when he left his hometown to go to college many years ago, full of expectations for the unknown, fantasizing that he could learn skills and be respected by others.
He didn't know whether his choice was right or wrong, but as Dong Rui said, he was still young and the worst that could happen was he could start over.
Five hours later, Dong Rui arrived as promised and arrived downstairs of Wang Baoyu's rental house.
Half an hour later, he helped Wang Baoyu move all of his meager belongings into the car. The two had lunch and drove back to Dong Rui's home.
His parents bought him a house, which was old, dilapidated and small, but at least he had a place to stay.
After everything was arranged, the two bought tickets to Tong City and set off the next day.
After Xia Wu posted the message to recruit Chinese medicine apprentices, the popularity was not as high as she had imagined. After all, most of the people in the forum were young people, some were still in college and their majors were not suitable, and some were already office workers. Although working from nine to five was hard, most people did not have the courage to give up their current jobs and abandon everything to study Chinese medicine from scratch.
What's more, the salary Xia Wu offered was not high.
Only eighteen thousand.
Without food and accommodation, I can't survive on this salary.
Even if food and accommodation are provided, this salary is only suitable for single people and not for those with families.
Time passed day by day, and just when Xia Wu thought that the plan of recruiting Chinese medicine apprentices was about to fail, two young men suddenly came to the village entrance.
One was in his thirties and the other in his early twenties. Both of them were carrying backpacks and pulling suitcases. They claimed that they were here to become disciples.
The two of them came in a bullock cart. The villagers had heard that Yang Hongen was going to take in an apprentice, so they knew who they were looking for as soon as they asked. So after sending them to the village entrance, they called Xia Wu.
Finally someone came, and Xia Wu hurried to the village entrance to pick him up.
Dong Rui introduced himself and shook hands with Xia Wu somewhat awkwardly. "Xia Xia, I'm your fan. I saw your post on the forum and came here just for this."
"This is Wang Baoyu, my brother. He wants to be an apprentice just like me."
Xia Wu warmly welcomed them, shook their hands, and on the way home asked, "You all have relevant experience and are interested in Chinese medicine, so you came here specifically, right? My grandfather may need to ask you some questions in a while, so just answer truthfully. If not, I'll invite you to stay here for a while and pay for your round-trip travel expenses as compensation."
Wang Baoyu had little experience with young girls, especially one as beautiful as Xia Wu.
He was very nervous and hardly spoke a word. He just listened to what Dong Rui said. When he heard that there was a possibility of being eliminated, Wang Baoyu's hands trembled with nervousness.
Dong Rui readily agreed, thinking this was a very normal thing.
Xia Wu brought them home. Yang Hongen had just finished giving someone acupuncture and was washing his hands. When he saw Xia Wu bringing the person back, he dried his hands and invited the person in.
Dong Rui and Wang Baoyu put their luggage outside the door. They were impressed by Yang Hongen at first sight.
Dong Rui was extremely shocked and asked cautiously, "Are you Mr. Yang?"
Yang Hongen looked at the two young men. One seemed very courageous, while the other seemed gentle and docile. Both looked good.
There were three other patients in the room, two lying in bed receiving acupuncture, and one sitting there receiving an IV. Seeing two unfamiliar young men come in, the old man receiving the IV asked Yang Hongen, "Is this the disciple you want to take in?"
While they were chatting, Xia Wu went to prepare tea and a fruit plate. When she returned, she heard Yang Hongen say, "If you two aren't afraid of hard work, then stay. I don't know if I'm capable enough to help you realize your dreams, but I will do my best to teach you what I know, and it should be of some help to you."
Dong Rui and Wang Baoyu were so excited that they couldn't speak clearly. "We will definitely work hard to learn from an elder like you."
Xia Wu walked over and asked curiously, "Master, are you accepting it now?"
"Yes," Old Man Yang Hongen smiled and nodded. "I just tested them with a few questions, and they all answered well. They have a good foundation and are determined. They are the ones."
"Okay, then I'll go clean up the house for them and buy more dishes."
Xia Wu doesn't know Chinese medicine either. She is only responsible for providing support. She just needs to listen to her grandfather on other matters.
Dong Rui and Wang Baoyu couldn't calm down for a long time. Seeing that they were so restrained and didn't know what to do, Mr. Yang asked Qi Wei to take them around the village and put their things away.
The Chinese medicine clinic had not been cleaned up yet and there was no extra room in the house, so Dong Rui and Wang Baoyu were placed in an empty house in the village. Not long ago, while the road was being built, Yang Guofeng called on the villagers to renovate the old houses and provide water and electricity.
There is definitely no problem with living here, the conditions are not bad, and all the necessary modern facilities are available.
"You can live here. It's not far from my house, so it's convenient for you to come here every day. You can use everything in the house. I'll have someone bring you blankets later. Even though it's hot in the village during the day, it's actually very cool at night. You need to cover yourself with a blanket."
"As for meals, if you have any dietary restrictions, you can cook for yourself. If you can't cook, don't worry. You can go to the Shuijing Courtyard on Yantou Mountain for dinner. You can eat there for three meals a day."
"I'll pay you a monthly salary, but you just have to listen to me when it comes to studying Chinese medicine. I posted on the forum that the salary is 1,800 yuan, and that's just the base salary. If you decide to stay here and continue studying after working here for three months, I'll let you join my company and provide you with five insurances and one fund."
"As for the salary, the Chinese medicine clinic hasn't opened yet. You might have to go up the mountain to collect herbs with my grandfather. I also plan to grow Chinese herbal medicine. If you're interested and want to learn how to grow and process herbs, you'll get extra salary on top of the base salary. All in all, it shouldn't be less than 4,000 yuan."
Xia Wu smiled and pointed at Qi Wei standing beside him, saying, "He came here earlier than you. He's considered your senior. If you don't know anything about salary, benefits, and bonuses, you can ask him."
After explaining all this, Xia Wu didn't stay any longer and turned around and left.
Qi Wei pushed open the wooden door and walked into the courtyard with Dong Rui and Wang Baoyu. The courtyard was square and only had one floor. The yard was kept clean and had a cement floor. There was also a pear tree planted in the yard. It was quite tall and full of pears.
There is a well in the yard with a water pump installed. Every room has running water and electricity, but there is no internet, so they need to go to the town to find someone to install it.
It’s really great to have such a big courtyard for the two of them to live in for free.
Wang Baoyu's originally uneasy mood was soothed at this moment. Looking at the mountains in the distance, the blue sky and white clouds were so beautiful that they seemed out of this world. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, he felt that this was a good place for him to study Chinese medicine.
Dong Rui kept asking Qi Wei questions, and what he cared about most was whether all this was true.
How is the master's medical skills? Are the benefits here really that good? How does Xia Wu make a profit? And so on.
Dong Rui knows more about Yanggou Village than Wang Baoyu, but his understanding is superficial and he has never actually been here.
When he actually came here and was about to enjoy the benefits that he had only envied online, he could hardly believe his good luck.
Qi Wei answered patiently and even revealed his family background. He said that he came here to recuperate because he had a serious kidney disease. Unexpectedly, he met his master by chance. Now his disease has almost healed. He went to the city hospital for a check-up last month and was found to no longer need a kidney transplant. If he recuperates for a while, it is not impossible for him to recover completely.
Dong Rui was stunned: "Is this true? Uremia can be cured?"
Qi Wei was afraid that they wouldn't believe him, so he took photos of all his past medical records and showed them to them.
There are also Qi Wei’s previous selfies, in which his face is yellow and swollen, and he looks completely different from now!
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