Chapter 44: Going to the Countryside as Educated Youth in the 1970s
[This is a parallel fictional world. Please do not take any similarities between place names and people as they appear.]
Tomorrow is New Year's Day, and the educated youth are preparing in the educated youth compound to go to the Fourth Village tomorrow.
Suddenly, the team leader's voice was heard: "Comrades, tomorrow is New Year's Day. You must go to the elementary school classroom to perform for our village! Let's celebrate New Year's Day together and make the educated youth and villagers happy!"
This sudden news left the educated youth stunned.
Zhao Bin immediately said, "Okay, Captain, we will be ready."
Wang Qiqi complained, "Captain, we educated youth have made an appointment. All the educated youth in the county will go to the Fourth Village to celebrate together."
The team leader said with a smile, "Let's go get together next time. This year, we have arranged for the educated youth to spend New Year's Day with the villagers. The educated youth will perform for the villagers to let them see the world. Let's put on a good show tomorrow."
Wang Qiqi was about to speak when she was stopped by Qiao Xinyi, who said, "Captain, don't worry, we will be prepared."
The captain continued, "Remember to perform well, because someone from the newspaper is coming to report on this." After the captain said that, he left.
When the educated youth heard that someone from the newspaper would come to interview them, they said nothing.
Zhao Bin looked at everyone and said, "Everyone, be quiet!" Hearing Zhao Bin's words, the educated youth all quieted down.
He continued, "There are so many of us educated youth. I think we should sing a song together. What do you think?"
He turned to look at Qiao Xinyi and said to her gently, "Xinyi, go find Zhang Xiaojia and ask her if she is willing to participate."
Qiao Xinyi nodded and turned to find Zhang Xiaojia.
At this time, Su Yao couldn't help but widen her eyes and said in disbelief: "Brother Zhao, this is an activity that all the educated youth in the Ninth Village will participate in. How can Zhang Xiaojia, as an educated youth in the Ninth Village, not participate? Zhang Xiaojia doesn't live in the educated youth courtyard and doesn't have to work, so why can she have special privileges?"
Zhao Bin casually said, "Zhang Xiaojia said she's not feeling well, so she's not going to work and is staying home for the winter."
Su Yao frowned, hearing Zhao Bin's perfunctory response, she continued to ask: "What about the other educated youth? Don't we need to rest? We have to work in the fields every day and are exhausted. Why can't she go to work? This is unfair!"
Zhao Bin looked at Su Yao. She had just arrived and didn't know Zhang Xiaojia's background. She didn't explain Zhang Xiaojia's background and said, "It's winter now. You can go to work or not. If you don't work, you won't get any work points. If you don't want to work, just tell the team leader and you can go winter too."
Su Yao didn't expect Zhao Bin to say that. She lowered her head with an ugly look on her face. It must be her who prevented the gathering of educated youth from taking place.
He Miaomiao sneered. She hated Zhang Xiaojia, but she hated this new batch even more. They didn't want to work, but they wanted to earn work points. What a splendid thing! Zhang Xiaojia had the background and the skills. The doctor said they had to take care of the funeral, but she saved the patient with just one needle. It was a good thing she saved him, otherwise she would have to live with a guilty conscience for the rest of her life, a life worse than death.
Qiao Xinyi came to Zhang Xiaojia's door. When the gate opened, she saw a wooden sign hanging next to the door with the words "Health Center" written on it.
Qiao Xinyi knocked on the door and saw a little boy running over and said, "Are you looking for your sister? Come in."
Qiao Xinyi walked in and came to the west wing. The whole west wing was decorated like a traditional Chinese medicine clinic. The first treatment room was lined with rows of chairs as soon as you entered. A bamboo screen separated the two rooms. Inside, there were tables with traditional Chinese medicine equipment, pulse diagnosis pillows, acupuncture instruments, etc. Behind them was a Chinese medicine cabinet.
The second room is the treatment area. Qiao Xinyi did not go into the third room and could not see it clearly.
Zhang Xiaojia was giving acupuncture to someone, and she saw her inserting the needle into the person's head. She was so scared that she didn't dare to say a word, for fear of disturbing Zhang Xiaojia. What if her hands were shaking?
After a while, Zhang Xiaojia finished giving acupuncture to Xiaocao's grandmother. She just needed to wait for ten minutes.
Zhang Xiaojia asked, "Qiao Zhiqing, what do you want to talk to me about? Or are you feeling unwell?"
Qiao Xinyi quickly said, "Tomorrow is New Year's Day, and the educated youth are having a party. We've prepared a program: a chorus of educated youth! Brother Zhao asked me to ask you, do you want to join the chorus?"
Zhang Xiaojia couldn't help laughing when he heard this, and jokingly replied, "Alas, I'm tone-deaf and don't have any artistic talent at all. If you have to say what I'm good at, it's curing illnesses and saving lives. If you're fine, don't come to me. If you have any health problems, come to me anytime!"
Just as she thought, Qiao Xinyi said, "I understand. I'll go back and talk to Brother Zhao."
Zhang Xiaojia removed the needle from Grandma Xiaocao and said, "Grandma Xiaocao, you don't need to come tomorrow, but you still need to take the medicine."
"Thank you, Xiaojia. How much is it? I haven't paid yet."
Zhang Xiaojia was also confused. How could she know how much it would cost? She wasn't a doctor, so how could this clinic charge?
Zhang Xiaojia waved her hand and said, "Xiaocao calls me sister, and her grandmother is my grandmother. Why should I charge her money?"
Grandma Xiaocao laughed and said, "Xiaojia, you are in the He family now, and you are called uncle and aunt. How can you not charge money?"
Grandma Xiaocao took out 50 yuan and gave it to Zhang Xiaojia. Zhang Xiaojia took a look and refused to take it, and the two of them pushed it back and forth.
When He Wu came in and saw this scene, he said, "Third Aunt, just pay 30 yuan. You have to accept Xiao Jia's money."
Zhang Xiaojia took the money and Grandma Xiaocao went back.
Zhang Xiaojia hurriedly asked, "How much are the consultation fees? How much are the injections and cupping services?"
He Wu directly said, "We'll charge half of the hospital's price. The hospital registration fee is 0.2 yuan, acupuncture is 0.3 yuan per session, and cupping is 0.3 yuan. I asked my second son to copy down the regular hospital prices and give them to you in two days. For each Chinese medicine prescription, I'll add 0.02 yuan to the price of the Chinese medicine."
Zhang Xiaojia nodded and said, "There's no registration fee here. Acupuncture and cupping are 0.1 yuan."
"The He family pays you 10 yuan and 20 kilograms of grain coupons and 2 kilograms of meat coupons every month. We have already obtained all the scalpels you requested."
Zhang Xiaojia took the scalpel and looked at it. He was very satisfied with the work. He paid the money and said, "Uncle He, I will go to the county hospital to get some medicine tomorrow."
"Give me the prescription and I'll get it filled. It's a chaotic time right now, so please don't run around."
Zhang Xiaojia nodded and said, "Let's go to the post office and see if there's any letter, money, or package for me."
He Wu took the certificate handed to him by Zhang Xiaojia and left.
"Ping An, you're having dinner at my place today. What would you like to eat? Seafood noodles, please?"
"good."
While cooking, Zhang Xiaojia steamed and sterilized the scalpel.
After lunch, no one came to the clinic, and Zhang Xiaojia and Ping'an were playing checkers.
Fatty helped the blind grandmother over and shouted, "Sister, Uncle He Wu said that he has given you the scalpel. Can my grandmother's eyes be cured?"
Cataract treatments have existed since ancient times. The ancients used acupuncture to push the cloudy lens into the vitreous cavity, effectively resolving the cataract. However, this method can have many side effects. A lens that sinks into the vitreous cavity can cause a series of complications, including uveitis.
In her time, the master of traditional Chinese medicine, Dr. Tang, made innovative improvements to this method. He used the instrument he invented to remove, crush and remove the cloudy lens. Since then, the "golden needle removal technique" has evolved into the "needle removal technique" and the "needle aspiration technique".
The scalpel made by Zhang Xiaojia was improved based on Dr. Tang's innovation.
The blind grandmother said trustingly, "Xiao Jia, please perform an operation on me."
Zhang Xiaojia smiled and said, "Blind woman, come with me."
There is a room behind the Chinese medicine cabinet, which is ten square meters and has a bed and a chair. Zhang Xiaojia first asked the blind woman to use acupuncture to seal the acupuncture points to prevent the blind woman's eyes from moving. He then used the middle of the flat part of the ciliary body as an incision for the cataract surgery, and removed the lens, crushed it, and pulled it out with quick movements. The operation on both eyes was completed in less than 10 minutes.
The blind grandmother asked in surprise, "Is it all right now?"
"Blind woman, cataracts are just a minor surgery. Just come and change the dressing every day and you'll be able to see in three days. Don't eat spicy food and don't move your eyes around."
"Okay, okay."
Three days later, the blind grandmother had her eye stitches removed, and the entire He family gathered in the clinic and the courtyard.
It's minus twenty degrees during the day, isn't it cold?
Fatty said excitedly, "Grandma, did you see me?"
For those who have seen light, the pain and despair of falling into endless darkness are indescribable. It's like being mercilessly abandoned by fate, the world becomes pitch black, pitch dark, and the heart is filled with fear and anxiety. Having once enjoyed the warmth, joy, and hope brought by light, but now facing only boundless darkness, this disparity is incredibly painful. And upon seeing that familiar light again, the joy and excitement in my heart are indescribable. That light is like the ray of hope in life, illuminating the path forward and making everything seem brighter. At that moment, I feel like I've been reborn, filled with gratitude and cherishment.
The blind grandmother touched her granddaughter's face. She was so small, but now she has grown up and taller. If it weren't for the He family, she didn't know what kind of life they would live.
"Chubby has grown up."
The old patriarch said excitedly, "Sister-in-law, did you really see it? Point out He Qi."
The blind grandmother was speechless and said angrily, "Brother, Xiaoqi is not here."
"Hahaha~" The old patriarch laughed happily. The He clan had an excellent doctor, just like having a precious treasure.
They finally welcomed a skilled doctor. They were happy to think that they would no longer have to travel long distances to seek medical treatment when they were sick, but could receive timely and effective treatment at their doorstep.
After the blind grandmother's eyes were healed, more and more people came to see her, especially the elderly, who had experienced the baptism of war and felt uncomfortable all over in winter, especially their legs.
Zhang Xiaojia had to give massage, acupuncture and cupping to the group of elderly people every day. The old patriarch actually paid 6 yuan a month, saying that he had to receive acupuncture and cupping for a month. Zhang Xiaojia directly kicked him out.
Looking at the heavy snow outside, Zhang Xiaojia felt that this was not a good idea. Acupuncture only relieved pain, and the best way was ointment.
Looking at the medicines in the Chinese medicine cabinet, Zhang Xiaojia fell silent. Even a good wife cannot cook without rice.
There were not even enough cupping jars. I was wondering what was suitable for cupping. When I saw the pen holder on the table, my eyes lit up. It was bamboo cupping.
He immediately took out a backpack and a star knife, and went up the mountain to cut bamboo in the heavy snow. He worked quickly. When he got to the mountain, he saw bamboos and chose bamboos of different sizes. He cut 30 bamboos, discarded the leaves and cut off the unsuitable ones, tied them with a rope, and carried them on his shoulders back home.
Someone was waiting anxiously at the door. Seeing Zhang Xiaojia, they hurriedly called out, "Sister Xiaojia, please come home with me quickly. My mother can't give birth."
Zhang Xiaojia soothed her, "Xiaoshui, wait a moment. I'll go get the medicine box. Your mother's due date should be in fifteen days!"
Zhang Xiaojia also hurriedly brought all the bamboo into the yard, went into the house to wash and disinfect her hands, took the medicine box and left, running all the way to the delivery room.
When he went in, he took out his white coat and hat and put them on. Why was the smell of almonds so strong? Zhang Xiaojia was puzzled.
"Xiao Shui, your mother ate almonds yesterday."
"My aunt gave my mother some milk and almond porridge yesterday."
Zhang Xiaojia didn't hear the woman in labor, and her heart skipped a beat. She immediately took her pulse and was shocked. She knew she would not be wrong.
The pregnant woman was unconscious, Zhang Xiaojia immediately took out a needle and gave her an injection according to the acupuncture point, then she woke up. Zhang Xiaojia took out a bottle of nutrient solution to replenish her strength.
The amniotic fluid has broken. If the baby is not born as soon as possible, the consequences will be disastrous! At this critical moment, Zhang Xiaojia said calmly: "The baby's fetal position is not correct. You need to turn the fetus to the right position first, and then follow my instructions."
Zhang Xiaojia placed her hands on the pregnant woman's belly and began to massage it gently and rhythmically. As she moved, the fetus, which was originally in an abnormal position, was gradually adjusted to the correct position.
Zhang Xiaojia finally breathed a sigh of relief, but his face remained calm.
Because the next real challenge is to ensure the safe birth of the baby.
"Exhale..." Zhang Xiaojia gently guided the pregnant woman to help her relax her body.
"Breathe..." The pregnant woman woke up to Zhang Xiaojia's voice, and her frightened heart calmed down. She tried to cooperate.
"Push harder!" Zhang Xiaojia encouraged gently, "Yes, push harder..."
Time passed minute by minute, Zhang Xiaojia held her breath, looking forward to the arrival of new life.
"Wow..." With a clear cry, a little life finally came into this world.
Zhang Xiaojia took care of the woman after she had given birth, gave her a bottle of nutrient solution, and let her sleep first.
After doing all this, Zhang Xiaojia felt something was wrong. Apart from the mother and the girl, there was no one else in the delivery room. Where were her husband, mother-in-law, and midwife?
The girl wrapped the baby up, put it on the kang, took out the milk powder and started to make milk, saying, "Sister Xiaojia, please sit for a while, thank you."
Zhang Xiaojia frowned and said, "Why are you alone? Where is your father?"
The girl held back her tears and said, "My aunt was wronged at her husband's house yesterday. She came home, and my grandmother forced my father to seek justice. Then my mother suddenly went into labor, so I went to look for my mother-in-law, who was taken away by the Eighth Village. I went to look for you, and with luck you came back."
Zhang Xiaojia had no way to leave, so she had to stay with the pregnant woman. After an hour, she heard a noise coming from the door.
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