They thought they had arrived early, but more than a dozen people were already there, gathered at the entrance, staring at the posted rankings.
This exam wasn’t meant to eliminate many candidates, so the passing line was set low—only those with extremely weak foundations or no medical knowledge at all were filtered out. In the end, only a dozen or so people failed to make the list.
But even among those who passed, the difference was huge.
First place: 196 points.
Second place: only 134.
Third place: just over 120.
Below that, more than a hundred people hadn’t even passed. Most scores clustered between 80 and 90.
Qin Jiao quickly analyzed that those who made the list must have solid medical foundations—especially in traditional medicine—otherwise they wouldn’t have scored so high with such tricky Western medicine questions.
People began whispering.
“I wonder who Qin Jiao is?”
“Maybe she has connections.”
“Or maybe she really studied medicine…”
Qin Jiao listened to the gossip about herself with great interest, even taking note of the middle-aged man who spoke maliciously.
Soon, more people arrived. A young cadre led them into a meeting room—it was the same voice from the phone before, known as Officer Liu.
“Is Comrade Qin Jiao here?” he asked.
“Present.”
All eyes turned to her again—this time in shock.
“You… you’re Qin Jiao?” the oily man exclaimed.
“Yes.”
Everyone fell silent. It felt as if all the advantages of the world had been given to her—beauty and ability combined.
The training was arranged into two phases: six months of theory, followed by six months of clinical practice.
There were dormitories provided, which relieved many people—they could save money.
Three months later.
On a Saturday afternoon, Qin Jiao hurried home on foot, reviewing notes as she walked. The knowledge of acupuncture points and meridians—taught by Elder He—was still fresh in her mind.
After more than an hour, she reached the village entrance.
“Laidi’s back!” children shouted.
“You’ve gotten fairer!”
“And prettier!”
She smiled and greeted everyone warmly.
At home, she handed her grandmother a piece of nougat candy.
“Sweet, right?”
“Of course it’s sweet—it cost money,” Qin Guihua muttered, savoring it carefully.
When her elder sister returned, Liao Zhixian also appeared, carrying water.
Since his recovery, he had been helping the Qin family—fetching water, chopping wood.
Qin Jiao smiled. “Just think of it as his exercise.”
The family also began raising rabbits more actively.
“They’re pure profit,” Qin Jiao said. “Let’s borrow a male rabbit and breed more.”
She also began teaching her sister how to process medicinal herbs, hoping to create a steady source of income for the family.
Meanwhile, the Liu household next door was bustling.
They were preparing a grand meal, waiting for an important guest.
But as time passed, hunger got the better of them. The family began eating before the guests arrived, turning the scene chaotic—food spilled everywhere, children fighting, crying.
At that moment, Liu Baozhu and Zhao Qingsong returned, escorting an elderly man.
The courtyard was a mess.
Zhao Qingsong’s face darkened immediately.
“This is embarrassing,” he thought.
Liu Baozhu was furious but forced a smile. “Elder Chen, please have something to eat.”
Only then did everyone notice the old man—thin, hunched, with a weathered face, but sharp eyes.
He said nothing.
In the kitchen, Liu Baozhu personally prepared a refined meal—noodles in chicken broth, vegetables arranged like flowers, eggs carefully added.
But the old man had no appetite.
His health had long been ruined, sustained only by sheer will.
Meanwhile, next door, Qin Jiao was busy teaching her sister how to process herbs.
It was delicate work, requiring constant stirring to avoid ruining the medicine.
Even as their arms ached, they continued.
Suddenly—
A loud crash came from the Liu household.
A stool overturned. A bowl shattered.
Then Zhao Qingsong’s voice: “Elder Chen, are you alright?”
A weak, trembling voice followed.
“I… I’m fine…”
Then, after a pause, the old man sniffed the air.
“There’s… a barefoot doctor here?”