The state-run system wasn’t bad in itself—the problem was the lack of talent. Everyone favored Western medicine, so the people assigned to the Chinese medicine clinic included barefoot village doctors who’d only picked up a smattering of knowledge, medical students who hadn’t even graduated yet and were shoved in for internships, and even people who knew nothing at all, placed there through connections.
They couldn’t even fully identify medicinal herbs, yet they were working in a Chinese medicine clinic. How could things possibly go well?
The clinic’s performance declined, and now it was growing at a negative rate.
Before, the state had supported them. But now that policies had changed and they had to calculate profits and losses, the higher-ups said they wanted to convert the place into a bathhouse. How could he tolerate that?
Qiangzi really wanted to take over the clinic and run it himself, but he was just an ordinary citizen—there was no way to turn a state-run enterprise into a private one.
He said bitterly, “My grandfather always said, wherever the person is, that’s where the shop is. I found a more discreet location and set up a space to work in secret. We won’t rely on big talk—we’ll rely on our reputation. My dad’s experience plus your skills, with me, Qiangzi, and Dongzi helping out—we can succeed!”
Han Jiaojiao suddenly understood. So he was talking about practicing medicine illegally!
Thinking about this point in time, she genuinely felt a headache coming on.
In 1979, private medical clinics still weren’t allowed. But this was a rural county town, and there were plenty of unlicensed practitioners around. While there were indeed some genuinely skilled doctors among them, there were far more so-called “miracle healers” and “immortals” who used the guise of medicine to swindle money from people.
Qiangzi’s intentions were good—at least their father had real skills and was a true doctor who could help people.
If he worked for four or five years first, accumulating experience, wealth, and popularity, then later taking the proper route to obtain a business license wouldn’t be a problem.
Han Jiaojiao seemed to see the future ahead, and her heart softened.
“If you just want to do Chinese medicine, my abilities are limited—I specialize in internal medicine.”
Hearing her relent, Qiangzi immediately smiled. “Western medicine and Chinese medicine each have their strengths—combining them gives the best results. That’s what my grandfather always said. And honestly, I do want to do this business, but more importantly, I want to prove ourselves and help the villagers who can’t easily see a doctor or can’t afford one. Please come help me—I’m begging you, boss!”
“Boss, I’m begging you too! You’re amazing—Western or Chinese medicine, no problem for you, right, boss?”
Dongzi grinned and bowed to her, not the least bit afraid of her, as if he was certain she would agree.
Han Jiaojiao said, “Two house calls per month, and everything follows my rules.”
“Deal!”
“No fourth person can know who I am. Whether to treat, and how to treat, is also up to me.”
“No problem!”
“I might cook up my own side projects, and you’re not allowed to complain about that either.”
“All fine! So, we’ve got a deal?”
“One more thing—don’t call me boss. It makes us sound like a street gang, and that’s a bad look.”
“Yes, boss!”
Qiangzi slipped up again with his quick tongue, then quickly covered his mouth and gave her a sheepish grin.
Han Jiaojiao laughed. She’d thought they were a bunch of flashy young punks and gangster types, but it turned out they were ambitious young men.
Qiangzi noticed it was almost noon and originally planned to invite everyone to eat together, but Li Ziqi was still quite weak, so he had Dongzi find a small three-wheeled coal cart.
They spread a clean cloth over it and placed a small stool for Li Ziqi to sit on.
Qiangzi urged repeatedly, “Dongzi, you make sure you get her home safe and sound—not a single mishap.”
“Don’t worry, big brother, I’ve got plenty of strength. Sister Jiaojiao, I’ll head off now.”
“Wait.”
Han Jiaojiao pulled two yuan from her pocket and pressed it into his hand.
Dongzi immediately withdrew his hand and tucked it behind his back.
“Sis, how could I take your money? Aren’t you trying to shame me?”
“How am I shaming you?”
“I already call you sis, so we’re family. If I took your money, what would that make me? I’m sixteen, after all—I’m a man now!”
A look of pride and stubbornness that didn’t match his age appeared on Dongzi’s boyish face.
Han Jiaojiao felt a pang of sympathy.
Sixteen—an age when he should be in school, yet here he was doing such dangerous work in Wanshi.
She couldn’t help but gently rub his head. “By the time you take her back, it’ll be noon. Take the money to buy yourself something to eat and drink. I’ll have your big brother treat me to a meal later to make it up to you.”
Li Ziqi nodded. “My home is on Nanjing Road—it’s pretty far. There’s no one home today anyway, and I already spent my allowance on Hongmotou, so I’m out of money now.”
Dongzi muttered a quiet “clueless,” and Han Jiaojiao seized the moment to slip the money into Li Ziqi’s hand.
“When you get home, have Dongzi go buy some food. I won’t give Dongzi a tip for his trouble, but you remember to have your family get you some medicine—you have to drink it.”
“I remember, Jiaojiao. Next time you should come to my place and play!”
“I’ll see if I have time later.”
She figured the county town, though not as big as a major city, was still sizable enough that the odds of running into an acquaintance were low.
So she casually sent them off.
Dongzi first rode the tricycle to take Li Ziqi home, while Qiangzi pedaled his bicycle with Han Jiaojiao on the back for two stops until they found a place to eat. He ordered two bowls of wontons and a cup of soy milk, plus a steamer basket of buns.
As they ate, they chatted about their families.
When he happened to mention how formidable his grandfather was in orthopedics—a veritable titan in the field—
Han Jiaojiao remembered something. “Which city was your grandfather practicing orthopedics in back then?”
“The capital. After he went to the capital with the army, he stayed there practicing until he was sixty-two, then came back to retire.”
“So your family should still have some connections at the hospitals in the capital, right?”
“A few of Grandpa’s old comrades and some of Dad’s friends are still there. Why, boss, you need to see a doctor?”
Han Jiaojiao covertly stepped on his foot to teach him a lesson.
Qiangzi scratched his head sheepishly. “Sis, is calling you that okay?”
Only then did Han Jiaojiao move her foot away. “I’m not sick. I just want to ask about someone. I heard there’s a very famous eye doctor in the capital—quite authoritative—who’s coming to our county next Tuesday. I think his surname is Zhang or Liu. Can you look into his background for me?”
“Sure. Your business is my business. I’ll get it done.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t be so formal with me—we’re family.”
With that, Qiangzi scooped the wontons from his own bowl into hers.
Han Jiaojiao was genuinely hungry. She’d had a single bun for breakfast and had been running around all morning—her stomach had long since been emptied.
When Qiangzi shared his wontons with her, she didn’t refuse and slurped them straight down.
Seeing how happily she ate, Qiangzi felt pleased and kept chattering away at her like beans spilling from a sack.
“Sister Jiaojiao, you’ve got a bit of scallion stuck!”
“Where? Did it fall off?”
Han Jiaojiao ran her tongue over her teeth and felt nothing.
Qiangzi reached out and wiped the scallion from the corner of her mouth.
Han Jiaojiao looked at him with disdain: “Did you wash your hands? So dirty.”
“Hehe, no… I’ll pay attention next time!”
Qiangzi let out a simple, honest laugh, scratching his head awkwardly, the tips of his ears turning red.
Just as the atmosphere between the two was bright and cheerful, a cold, piercing gaze shot over from the doorway.
Han Jiaojiao followed the chill and looked over—Shen Junshan stood upright at the entrance of the shabby little eatery, wearing his uniform.
Behind him, against the yellow earthen wall, the four red characters “Serve the People” formed his backdrop.
Han Jiaojiao suddenly felt that this man, paired with those four words, was absolutely perfect.