Since the “prescription that could sell for a lot of money” was real, then the matter of “your kidney can save my life” should also be true.
But how could one person’s kidney save another’s life?
Bei Qinghuan had started learning to identify medicinal herbs and study acupuncture with her maternal grandfather at the age of six. During her time in the countryside, she had even become a barefoot doctor by a stroke of luck.
Over the years, she had been secretly studying various medical arts. Although the conditions in the countryside were poor, with her foundation in traditional Chinese medicine, her studies had gone quite smoothly.
So, the moment she heard Mei Suqin’s inner thought, organ transplant was the first thing that came to her mind.
For a person’s body to require an organ transplant, their condition must be very serious. Yet, Mei Suqin didn’t look terminally ill at all; on the contrary, her face was rosy.
Could it be that someone else in the Qin family was gravely ill?
Or… were they planning to kill her, Bei Qinghuan, for her kidney and sell it for money?
The more Bei Qinghuan thought about it, the more uneasy she became.
She waited until the morning rush of workers heading to the factory had passed, then immediately ran to the factory clinic to find someone.
The 3508 Factory’s clinic was located in a relatively quiet spot behind the side of the factory’s office building.
There were two permanent medical staff members: Dr. Chen, who was in his forties, and Ye Xiaoyun, who was in her twenties.
Ye Xiaoyun was Bei Qinghuan’s childhood friend.
Their fathers had both been cadres in the factory before.
Unfortunately, after Bei Qinghuan’s father passed away, their fates diverged.
Ye Xiaoyun, relying on her father’s connections, stayed at the factory to work as a nurse—no, people called her a doctor, too.
As for Bei Qinghuan, because her older sister had already taken over their father’s position, she had no choice but to be sent down to the countryside.
At this moment, Bei Qinghuan peeked through the clinic doorway. She didn’t see Dr. Chen, only Ye Xiaoyun swaying her hips and humming a tune as she wiped a table, looking very relaxed and carefree.
Bei Qinghuan called out in a gruff voice, “How dare you wiggle your butt during work hours!”
Ye Xiaoyun jumped in fright. When she turned and saw it was Bei Qinghuan, she rushed out happily. “Aiya, Huanhuan! You’re back in the city? How long have you been back? Why did it take you so long to come find me!”
The reunion of childhood friends was a joyous occasion.
The two stood and chatted for a few moments before Bei Qinghuan asked, “Do you know about Mei Suqin’s physical condition?”
“Your mother-in-law? What’s wrong with her? Why are you suddenly asking?”
Ye Xiaoyun was naturally aware of the arranged engagement between Bei Qinghuan and Qin Zhenghua.
In fact, all the families of the mid-level cadres in the factory knew, as did the children who had grown up together.
Bei Qinghuan pursed her lips. “It’s nothing. Their family just came to discuss the marriage, so I wanted to know if everyone in their family is in good health. Just tell me if you’re willing to or not.”
Ye Xiaoyun clicked her tongue and nudged her with an elbow. “Ooh, so you’re getting married to Qin Zhenghua, huh? Alright, alright, I know you’re a virtuous wife-to-be. Are you thinking of getting them some Chinese medicine or something to boost their health?”
Boost their health?
That family was lacking in virtue, and that was something she couldn’t mend.
But for now, Bei Qinghuan could only nod vaguely.
Ye Xiaoyun was happy to help. “If you want to know about Qin Zhenghua’s condition, I don’t have his records here. But Qin Dagang and Mei Suqin come for check-ups often. I’ll go look up their records for you.”
She turned and rummaged through a row of cabinets, quickly returning with an update.
“They’re both pretty good. Qin Dagang just has slightly high blood pressure and frozen shoulder. Aiya, all the workers in the big workshop have frozen shoulder, you could call it an occupational hazard.
“As for Mei Suqin, she just has frequent oral ulcers and always comes to get Watermelon Frost. But her oral ulcers aren’t the painful kind, so I suspect she’s secretly taking the medicine to sell it outside. Otherwise, who has oral ulcers for three hundred days a year!”
Bei Qinghuan bit her lip without comment. She just peeked around left and right and asked, “Is Dr. Chen not here?”
Ye Xiaoyun shrugged nonchalantly. “He’s at home with his grandson. He won’t be in until after ten.”
Bei Qinghuan took out the lunch box where she kept her needles. “Well then, could you get me some alcohol?”
This wasn’t a difficult request.
Ye Xiaoyun led Bei Qinghuan into the small room where instruments and medicine were stored. “Do it in here, in case someone sees and starts gossiping.”
That was exactly what she wanted to hear.
Bei Qinghuan first filled a bottle she had brought with a good amount of alcohol, then patiently disinfected and wiped all her acupuncture needles in the small room.
Occasionally, someone came to get medicine from outside, but they left quickly.
Ye Xiaoyun sauntered in, her white coat swaying. Seeing Bei Qinghuan carefully putting away her needles, she slowly sidled up and bumped her with her hip. “Your needling technique… must be getting more and more amazing, right?”
Bei Qinghuan shot her a sidelong glance. “Want to try? I can stick one needle in you and make your butt go stiff!”
Ye Xiaoyun giggled. “Well, do me a favor, then.”
Bei Qinghuan said, “The moment you wiggled your butt, I knew you were going to ask. What do you need me to do? Spit it out.”
Ye Xiaoyun’s eyes instantly lit up. “Can you get your grandfather to treat someone for me?”
Bei Qinghuan’s gaze remained fixed. “Sure. It’s just that getting to my grandfather is a bit troublesome.”
“No problem, the person has a car.”
“A car won’t work either. It’s not very convenient.”
“Ah, where did he move to? Do we have to take a train?”
Bei Qinghuan said with a straight face, “You have to die first. My grandfather passed away two years ago.”
It finally dawned on Ye Xiaoyun, and she slapped Bei Qinghuan playfully. “You’re teasing me again!”
Bei Qinghuan sighed. “If I don’t tease you, I’m afraid I’ll cry.”
Ye Xiaoyun’s hand, poised to hit her again, froze and turned into a gentle hug.
But the warmth lasted only a few seconds before Ye Xiaoyun started shaking Bei Qinghuan. “Then you have to help me!”
Bei Qinghuan pushed her away. “What are you up to… I’m just a barefoot doctor from the countryside who can’t even find a job after returning to the city. You’re in the factory clinic, and people even call you Dr. Ye, yet you’re asking me to treat someone. Isn’t that a joke?”
But Ye Xiaoyun grabbed her arm and wouldn’t let go.
“Other people might not know your skills, but I saw it with my own eyes. You were only fourteen at the time, playing at my house, and my grandpa suddenly fainted. You took out your needles from your schoolbag, jabbed him here and there, and hey, he was fine! Later, my grandpa said your grandfather used to be really famous, even the former mayor had sought his help. So your acupuncture is amazing. Stop being so modest and help me.”
Bei Qinghuan scratched her head.
When she came, she never imagined she’d have to repay a favor right after cashing one in.
And it was for her incredibly close childhood friend.
She couldn’t refuse.
“It’s not that I won’t help you. If you were one of the aunties from the village where I worked, I would’ve gone with you without you even having to ask. But I just got back to the city. The people in the factory don’t know I have this skill. Who would believe me? Are you sure you want me to do it?”
Ye Xiaoyun said, “I’m sure, I’m sure! I’ve known since we were little that you’re smart and capable. Besides you, I don’t know who else I can ask for help.”
Mainly, Bei Qinghuan was a soon-to-be-married woman and wouldn’t be competition for her.
Ye Xiaoyun had her own little calculations. At this moment, she batted her eyes at Bei Qinghuan, both pleading and coaxing.
As for Bei Qinghuan, she hadn’t heard such praise in a long time since returning to the city. She hesitated before nodding. “…Alright. Only for you. Tell me, who in your family is it?”