Jiang Li, unaware of Ding Shichen’s thoughts, reapplied medicine and bandaged his wound again, but still wasn’t satisfied. She planned to take him to the health clinic in the neighboring village the next day.
Early the next morning, fearing that Ding Shichen would refuse, Jiang Li had already discussed it with Ding Shijun in advance. She even used telling Chen Xiang as a “threat” to persuade Ding Shichen to agree to treat his leg.
“Let’s be clear—if the village doctor can’t fix it, that’s the end of it. No more mentions,” Ding Shichen said firmly. He knew exactly the condition of his leg.
Originally, the military doctors had said he needed a second surgery, but he had declined, using going home to recuperate as an excuse. The subsidy from the army was enough to cover his three younger brothers’ schooling expenses, and the surgery fees were far too high.
His life had already taken this path, and he didn’t want his brothers’ education delayed because of medical bills.
His father had always said that no matter how poor the Ding family was, they must get an education. Even if it meant eating less, they had to go to school.
Jiang Li, however, had no idea about Ding Shichen’s complicated mindset. She was thinking about the neighboring village’s Dr. Liu, who had been looking for a medicine assistant. Maybe she could try that?
If possible, she even wanted to attend university. Unfortunately, she was overage and had never attended school systematically, in either her past life or the present.
Now, getting into university wasn’t as easy as the early years after the college entrance exams resumed. If she wanted to study, she’d have to find another way.
Jiang Li took two of the Ding brothers to the neighboring village for medical treatment, leaving the third and fourth brothers at home to care for their mother.
Although it was called the neighboring village, it was actually quite far, and they didn’t arrive until near noon.
A simple two-story wooden house stood behind a small fenced courtyard, with a wooden gate at the entrance.
Before Jiang Li could knock, the door swung open.
“Get out, get out! Who do you think you are, wanting to apprentice under my old man? Don’t even know your place!”
Liu Xu, holding a broom, shouted and chased the two visitors out of the yard.
“Hey, why are you acting like a shrew? We came to see Professor Jiang. He hasn’t said anything—what business is it of yours?” Wu Huani, furious, pointed at Liu Xu’s nose.
“I’ll tell you, old lady, Jiang Jianda is the only one in ten miles to pass university. Even the big factories in town are fighting to hire him.”
“He wants to be your student because he knows your skills are real. Otherwise, no one would associate with people of your ‘background.’”
These words hit Liu Xu’s sore spot. She swung her broom at Wu Huani’s shoulder.
“I don’t need you touching me. Get out of my sight! You dare even approach our old Jiang?”
Wu Huani grabbed Jiang Jianguo:
“Big brother, tell her what university you got into. Say it and scare them. If they refuse to teach you, they’ll regret it later!”
“If they admit their mistake now and teach you properly, when you graduate and succeed, you can bring them back to the city and set things right for them.”
“Otherwise, they’ll rot in this mountain valley forever!”
Jiang Jianguo didn’t understand why Wu Huani was so determined to drag him to Jiang Ting for an apprenticeship.
Jiang Ting and Liu Xu had been sent down to their village as “troublesome elements.” Their backgrounds were problematic, and when they first arrived, no one dared approach them.
Later, people heard Liu Xu knew medicine, and the kind-hearted mayor allowed them to treat villagers for some food.
After the movement ended, educated youth returned to the city one by one, but they were never allowed to leave. Apparently, their backgrounds were very problematic and they had offended the authorities.
To Jiang Jianguo, with such a background, the further away he stayed, the better. There was no need to associate with them.
But since he wanted to marry Wu Huani, he had to go along before marriage, which is why he came with her.
Upon stating their purpose, they were met with cold faces—the Jiang-Liu couple were so unreasonable, they even looked down on him.
Jiang Jianguo rolled up his sleeves and snatched the broom from Liu Xu.
“I’m going to university in the future. If Mr. Jiang teaches me, when I go to the city later, I might even clear your names and bring you back.”
“You’re ungrateful and miss out on a student like me, your lives will be spent in this village, and no one will even look after you in your old age.”
He threw the broom to the ground and turned to leave, holding Wu Huani.
“Huani, let’s go. These old folks don’t know better. No master is fine.”
Liu Xu was so angry she could barely breathe, clutching her chest.
“Where did these brats come from…”
“Be careful, Dr. Liu,” Jiang Li hurried to support her, seeing her almost faint. “They’re just two foolish kids. Are they worth your anger?”
“Calm down. Later, I’ll have my younger brother hunt a rabbit and cook it braised for you, alright?”
The Jiang-Ting couple had actually been rehabilitated two years ago and had already received permission to return to the city. In the previous life, Jiang Li didn’t know initially—it was Jiang Jianguo who first apprenticed under Jiang Ting.
Soon after, Jiang Baoguo also got into medical university. Jiang Li wanted to help him adjust to college life, so she begged Liu Xu to start teaching him early.
Liu Xu was a responsible teacher. After the summer, fearing that Jiang Baoguo, a rural kid, might struggle in university, she even wrote him a recommendation letter.
Only then did Jiang Li realize that the couple had connections in many prestigious universities, and were themselves specially appointed professors.
They had chosen to stay in the village after the movement ended because they were tired of the power struggles among intellectuals.
Moreover, their only son had gone abroad before the movement and had never returned, so they didn’t want to go back to the city.
Wu Huani and Jiang Jianguo’s words struck a nerve for Liu Xu, especially the comment about dying without anyone to care for them—it felt like a curse on her son.
Even intellectuals wouldn’t believe such things, but who would want to hear such malicious words?
Jiang Li’s heart skipped a beat when she saw Wu Huani and Jiang Jianguo. She wondered if they had learned that she had previously asked Jiang Ting to take Jiang Jianguo as a student.
Otherwise, why would they be here?
If Jiang Jianguo again apprenticed under Jiang Ting, he could succeed once more, and her future path would become much harder.
But as it seemed now, things were not following the trajectory of her previous life. After today’s incident, Jiang Ting would not take Jiang Jianguo as a student.
Seeing Jiang Li, Liu Xu’s expression softened a little, though she was still angry:
“You’re right. I don’t need to waste my anger on two fools. Jiang Li, if the student you recommend behaves as arrogantly as this one, then don’t bother sending him here.”
“Our Mr. Jiang can’t teach students like that. If he goes to university thinking he’s invincible before even starting, how will he survive?”
“Such bad luck.”
Liu Xu spat and walked back into the yard.
“What student did you recommend, Jiang Li?” Jiang Jianguo asked, surprised. Seeing Jiang Li with the Ding family, he couldn’t help but think more deeply.