Bai Shuhua had been entrusted by Father Bai with an important task, which was to help little girl Xiaobing become familiar with the production team and the children as quickly as possible.
To tell the truth, it was quite difficult.
The main reason was that the little girl was too introverted.
She also could not drag her along by force.
However, after listening to her tell Journey to the West, the little girl finally was willing to play with her, and she talked more as well.
Thanks to Monkey Brother’s boundless charm.
After that, she introduced the little girl to her own little brother and the two cousin sisters.
The little girl could also be considered to have opened up the front-lake production team’s “circle of friends.”
By then, the clinic had also been straightened up, and the grandparents and grandchild could move in.
As Song Xiaobing’s very best little friend, Bai Shuhua naturally had to help.
She even brought Bai Xiaojun.
She wanted him to go there and just add to the crowd.
In fact, she wanted to make his face familiar there, and she was also thinking of having Little Brother Bai recite the Tangtou song.
Right now only some people knew the old doctor’s identity, and there was no suitable candidate at the accountant’s house where they were temporarily staying.
Wasn’t that just an opening?
“Big sister, so many compartments.”
Bai Xiaojun pointed at the big cabinet in front of him, very surprised.
It was different from the kang cabinet at home.
Little girl Xiaobing was still quite proper as a host, and when she heard that, she explained, “This is a cabinet for storing medicinal herbs, each small compartment can hold one kind of medicinal herb.”
“I know medicinal herbs, they can treat sickness, and they taste bitter.” Bai Xiaojun nodded solemnly.
“Little one, medicinal herbs are not only bitter.” The old doctor, who was putting away the luggage, cut in.
Bai Xiaojun tilted his little head. “Then are there sweet ones?”
Maybe the old doctor was very satisfied with the clinic and was willing to say a few more words to this group of little kids. “There are quite a lot of sweet medicinal herbs. Goji berries can treat dry eyes, and they are sweet. Eucommia tastes sweet, and is warm in nature, entering the liver, kidney, and stomach meridians…”
The old doctor was knowledgeable, and in one breath he named seven or eight kinds.
Bai Xiaojun was persistent about food, and even more persistent about sweets. He actually remembered the medicinal herbs almost all the way through. “Goji berries, Eucommia…”
It made the old doctor pat his head and praise him, “Little one has a good memory.”
Bai Shuhua immediately helped Little Brother Bai build up his good image. “My little brother is very smart. He can tell picture stories after reading them twice.”
Father Bai, when it came to his two children, was the kind who would praise them whenever he could, very different from the modest parents of today.
In this way, the impression that Bai Xiaojun was smart and had a good memory became very deep.
After the move was finished, the old doctor would not let them leave, saying they should stay for a warm pot meal.
In the end, Father Bai, the production team leader, and the accountant stayed behind, while the rest, including Bai Shuhua’s group of children, all went home.
That night on the kang, Mother Bai could not wait to ask Father Bai whether the old doctor had agreed to take on a disciple.
Father Bai only said that this kind of thing could not be rushed, haste makes waste.
Mother Bai said that she was afraid someone else would snatch the opportunity away, but Father Bai was very confident, saying that they would not.
Bai Shuhua also felt that this matter could not be rushed.
The next evening, the Qianhu Production Team held another all-member meeting.
This time there were three matters. First, from now on there would be a clinic in the team, and anyone with headaches or fevers could go there to see a doctor. If they had money, they paid money, and if they did not have money, they could use work points instead.
Second, the clinic would purchase medicinal herbs and give work points for them.
The last matter was land reclamation.
Because the weather was too hot and they were afraid of heatstroke, after dinner they would work one more hour, to reclaim wasteland.
The production team leader explained in detail why they were reclaiming the land. Naturally, it was to grow medicinal herbs. Once the medicinal herbs were grown, everyone would have money to share.
He also explained why they were not planting them in the good fields, because if they failed, everyone would go hungry.
The team members still knew what was good and what was bad, so the vast majority were willing.
Just like that, the three matters were passed smoothly.
Bai Shuhua carried a small basket and brought Bai Xiaojun to find Sister Xiaobing to dig wild chives.
Xiaobing was already fully prepared too, just waiting for them. “What about Sister Shuhui and the others?”
Bai Shuhua answered, “They need to wash clothes, so they are not going.”
Xiaobing gave an oh. “I’ll tell Grandpa, and then we can go.”
Bai Shuhua nodded.
The three of them went into the clinic and saw several old people and educated youths.
“Grandpa, I’m going out to dig wild vegetables!”
The old doctor gave them a couple of reminders, then let them go.
On the way, Bai Shuhua kept feeling that something was off.
She knew why there were old people in the clinic, because the old man’s medicinal plaster was very effective and cheap, and many old people were willing to put it on.
One way or another, if they had nothing to do, they were willing to stay in the clinic.
But what about those educated youths? She had observed just now, and they did not seem to be sick.
“Xiaobing, do those educated youths always come to the clinic?”
She had someone on the inside, so she just asked directly.
Xiaobing nodded. “Ever since my grandpa and I moved into the clinic, they have been coming every few days.” Then she said in a very small voice, “I know why they come. They want to learn medicine from my grandpa, and they do not want to go down to the fields to work.”
Although Bai Shuhua had long suspected it, hearing Xiaobing’s words still made her tense up a little. “Then what does Grandpa Sun mean?”
Xiaobing shook her head. “My grandpa would never teach them.”
Bai Shuhua joked, “Could it be that Grandpa Sun’s medical skills are family secrets, with strict rules, passed to sons but not daughters?”
Xiaobing shook her head. “That is not it. My grandpa was just heartbroken and said they were ingrates.”
All right, Bai Shuhua felt that her ability to fish information out of people was getting better and better.
Just like that, she had accidentally discovered another secret.
It was not suitable to discuss this topic anymore. Just then, Bai Xiaojun, who was running ahead, picked a few sour berries. Bai Shuhua snatched them away and then gave them to Xiaobing as a borrowed offering. “Xiaobing, later let’s dig more wild chives. They taste good stir-fried, and they also taste good dipped in sauce.”
Xiaobing nodded. “Okay, I also want to dig some dandelions. Grandpa likes to eat them, and says they can reduce inflammation.”
Bai Shuhua vaguely remembered that quite a lot of wild vegetables were also Chinese medicinal herbs.
So she was not surprised at all that dandelions had medicinal properties.
“Xiaobing, are there still vegetables at home?”
Wild vegetables were nutritious, but in terms of taste, vegetables were still better.
Xiaobing nodded. “Uncle Bai, Team Leader Grandpa, and the others all sent vegetables over, there are still some.”
Bai Shuhua knew that Father Bai had secretly sent quite a lot of vegetables to the old doctor. “It’s too late this year. Next year, you will also have a private plot, and can grow more vegetables. Then let my dad and the others help.”
Xiaobing thanked her repeatedly. “Uncle Bai has already helped a lot.”
Bai Shuhua waved it off. “It’s fine, it’s fine, my dad is very willing.”
She really was not setting up her dad. Father Bai really was sincerely willing.
He was making little calculations of his own, wanting to learn how to grow medicinal herbs.
What he was thinking was that the old doctor was old and still had to treat patients, so he could not always go down to the fields. By then the team would be short one “technician.” If he learned it, then in the future he could guide other people to work, and wouldn’t he be able to slack off?