Chapter 24: Concern

Some lessons cannot be taught by others; one must experience them firsthand to truly learn. Through this illness, the old lady realized that her poor health was indeed placing a heavy burden on her two sons, and she finally understood that everything Li Yancheng had told her was for her own good.

After the old lady left with her younger son and daughter-in-law, Zhou Guotao, who had been watching from across the room, gave Li Yancheng a thumbs-up.

"Your medical skills have been growing incredibly fast lately."

"This place allows one to quiet the mind and truly settle in."

"You're absolutely right. While conditions in the countryside are tougher, compared to the restlessness of the city, the social environment here is far better. However, whether one can truly find that inner peace depends on the individual. Compared to you, I feel like I’ve wasted these past three months."

"Brother Zhou, you're making me feel embarrassed."

Li Yancheng was indeed humbled by Zhou Guotao’s words. He wasn't "quieting his mind" at all; if not for the traditional Chinese medicine legacy he inherited after his soul transmigrated into this body, his medical skills would be regressing, not improving.

Old Zhou’s words served as a reminder: even when he returned to the city, he could not stop studying. Although the inherited knowledge was imprinted in his mind, it wasn't something he had learned bit by bit, and he often had to pause and reflect before he could access it during treatment.

What if this knowledge were to suddenly vanish one day?

At the very least, he would have to rely on this craft to make a living for the next decade. Regardless of the circumstances, the profession of a doctor was a respectable one; it provided a livelihood in any era and earned the respect of others.

Every time he cured a patient, the sense of fulfillment he felt was indescribable—a feeling he had never experienced in his previous life, even when earning an annual salary of over a million and enjoying the perks of a deputy-bureau-level official. He realized he had grown fond of this feeling.

Whether out of passion or necessity, he had to persist. He needed to find a way to make this inheritance truly his own, rather than just treating it like data stored on a computer hard drive. Even though the act of soul transmigration was bizarre, he wanted to live like a real person, not a puppet controlled by some unknown entity.

"Da Cheng..."

"Oh? Uncle Duan, what brings you here?"

As Li Yancheng and Zhou Guotao were studying in the clinic during a lull in patients, the person who walked through the door caught him both by surprise and, upon reflection, as expected. It was Duan Xin’an, Xiao Juan’s father, the deputy director of the neighborhood office.

"Xiao Juan called me this morning, crying. She said she couldn't stay here for even another day and insisted on coming home. Your aunt and I didn't know what had happened, so we took leave to come and see."

Old Duan had received his daughter's letter last month and had been busy running around trying to arrange a job for her. He had almost secured a temporary position at a grain and oil store; everything was ready, waiting only for the bureau's stamp. If all went well, it would be settled by early next year. Who would have thought that he would receive such a distress call from his daughter this morning? Once he heard her crying, he couldn't sit still any longer.

"Is my aunt here too? Where is she?"

"She didn't come in; she's by the car at the edge of the street."

"Ah, today is market day; the car can't get through."

Old Duan had borrowed a jeep from another department to visit his daughter—a significant effort for his child.

"Da Cheng, do you know what happened?"

"I know a little. How about this, Uncle Duan: let’s walk and talk while I go meet my aunt."

"Alright." Old Duan nodded and turned to Zhou Guotao, offering a polite, apologetic bow. "Doctor, I’m terribly sorry for the intrusion."

"Oh, not at all, not at all," Zhou Guotao replied with a wave of his hand. He had already figured out who the man was.

"Uncle Duan, the situation is basically this: last night..."

As they walked through the crowded market toward the eastern street corner, Li Yancheng explained the circumstances to Old Duan. By the time they reached the car, Old Duan had a clear understanding of the situation.

Seeing them approach, Old Duan’s wife, Li Xinhong, opened the car door and stepped out.

"Auntie."

"Da Cheng, sorry to trouble you."

"Don't say that. A distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor. Besides, I haven't really been much help."

"Da Cheng, I won't stand on ceremony. Do you know exactly what's going on with Juan'er?"

"Auntie, I just briefed Uncle Duan. The root cause seems to be the suicide of a girl in her work team. Xiao Juan is likely terrified. The situation is a bit complicated; that girl and Xiao Juan seemed to be on good terms, so..."

Upon hearing this, the anxious expression on Old Duan’s wife turned grim. She was about to press for more details, but Old Duan nudged her arm.

"Alright, Da Cheng has already told me the gist of it. I'll explain it to you later. Let's go see our daughter first, let's not waste time. Da Cheng, is there a way to bypass this crowd?"

"Yes." Li Yancheng pointed north. "Follow this road north, turn east at the first village entrance, then continue until you hit the third or fourth small path. Turn south there, and you'll return to this road. You can ask for directions in the village."

"Got it. Then we'll head over."

"Uncle Duan, please drive slowly once you enter the village. The village children might chase after the car. Some are older boys, others are just toddlers. If you have to, just honk; the adults will chase them away."

The countryside was different from the city, where children were at least accustomed to seeing cars. In Mulin Town, there was only one decrepit jeep, which was frequently broken. The village children were fascinated by it and would often chase it; they weren't afraid, nor did they understand the danger of being hit by a hunk of metal. An accident would be a nightmare.

Hearing this, Old Duan’s hand, which was reaching for the door handle, froze. His driving skills were limited to simply moving the car forward. He only dared to drive today because the roads were empty, and he had been sweating profusely from the drive from the city. The village roads were already treacherous, and the thought of children chasing him made him even more nervous.

Seeing Old Duan’s hesitation, Li Yancheng stepped in: "How about this, Uncle Duan? You get in, and I’ll drive you over."

"Da Cheng, you know how to drive?" Old Duan was stunned.

Drivers weren't as common as they would be decades later. There were no driving schools; to learn, one had to apprentice under a master, and spots were assigned by units. It took years to earn a license. Old Duan himself didn't have one; he had only learned by shadowing others. He wouldn't have borrowed a car and driven it himself if not for his daughter’s tearful phone call.

"Er... I learned when I was in the army."

He wasn't lying. The original owner had learned out of boredom while serving in the military hospital and had even held a license, which he had transferred to the First Hospital after being demobilized.