Su Mi had just finished eating and was about to wash the dishes when the brigade leader arrived. His timing was perfect, saving her the trouble of having to find him.
“What’s the issue? Tell me.”
Xu Weiguo walked over and sat down on a nearby chair with a backrest. It was meant for patients, but since no one was using it at the moment, anyone could sit there.
“Since I came to the countryside, I’ve noticed many problems. The biggest one is that our fellow villagers really don’t take good care of their health. For example, when it comes to hygiene, it’s not just a matter of personal habits. As the old saying goes, ‘illness enters through the mouth,’ so many illnesses are essentially caused by people’s own eating habits. For instance, children getting roundworms in their stomachs is because they don’t understand the importance of washing their hands and maintaining hygiene. And it’s not just children—adults too! Everyone knows you should wash your hands before and after meals, after using the toilet, and whenever your hands are dirty, but how many people actually do it?
Then there’s the issue of drinking boiled water. Many people just scoop water from the jar with a ladle and drink it whenever they’re thirsty. But you need to understand that water contains many microorganisms, some so small they’re invisible to the naked eye. In medical terms, we call this ‘raw water.’ By boiling the water, we can effectively kill all the pathogens, including invisible eggs and larvae. I’d like to organize a meeting to explain the seriousness of drinking raw water. Also, I’ve noticed that some people’s toilets, whether in front of or behind their houses, are problematic. To have a healthy body, it’s not enough just to have enough to eat. At the very least, we need a clean and healthy living environment…”
Su Mi chattered on and on.
Xu Weiguo listened and nodded. He didn’t understand all of it, but he knew about washing hands before meals. After all, if your hands were dirty from mud or dust, you had to wash them—otherwise, it was just too filthy.
“Xiao Su, the issues you’ve raised are indeed very relevant. Here’s what we’ll do: since the fields aren’t too busy these days, we’ll finish work early in the afternoon. Then you can give a talk to everyone, explaining how to maintain hygiene and avoid preventable diseases. I’ll go talk to the village chief and the others.”
After saying this, Xu Weiguo stood up, ready to inform the village chief and the others. After all, they didn’t have electric loudspeakers yet, so any announcements had to be passed on by word of mouth or delivered in person.
“Alright, go ahead. I’ll stay here and prepare a bit more.”
Su Mi naturally agreed wholeheartedly. She felt that just talking and giving examples wouldn’t be enough—some people’s mindsets were too deeply ingrained. It would be best if they could see the evidence with their own eyes.
Xu Weiguo was highly efficient. Once something was arranged, he never delayed until the next day. So when he returned to the clinic, it was time for Su Mi to go to the threshing ground to hold the meeting and give her talk.
Su Mi had thought the meeting would start after everyone finished work and had dinner, but it began right after work ended. Since everyone was already gathered, Su Mi didn’t hesitate. She took the materials she had prepared and headed to the threshing ground.
By the time Su Mi and the brigade leader arrived, the place was already packed with people. Some were chatting in groups of three or two, while others, with sharper ears, knew that the newly appointed barefoot doctor, Su the educated youth, had requested the meeting. Deep down, everyone felt at least a hint of resentment.
After working all afternoon, everyone was thirsty and hungry. They had planned to go home to rest and eat after finishing work, but ended up being called over by the brigade leader, delaying their plans.
Su Mi looked at the curious or unfriendly gazes around her. Although she felt somewhat uncomfortable under such scrutiny, she understood their feelings.
Blame the brigade leader? Not really—after all, he was acting for the good of the villagers, though perhaps a bit too hastily.
“I’ve gathered everyone here to announce that our village now has its own clinic and its own doctor—Su Mi, the educated youth. Look at this young woman. How long has she been in the countryside, yet she’s already discovered the root cause of why so many people in our village fall ill? She didn’t even have time to eat, wanting to share the solution with all of you. Don’t be ungrateful—listen carefully. From now on, if anyone gets sick, or if the elderly or children in your families fall ill because you didn’t heed the advice, don’t blame others… Now, let’s have Doctor Su tell us what problems she’s discovered.”
Xu Weiguo spoke with a firm, deliberate tone, his voice booming and carrying far into the distance.
Su Mi winced, feeling sorry for his throat.
“Everyone is tired today, so I won’t waste time with unnecessary words. As the saying goes, seeing is believing, hearing is doubting. Let’s first select a few people to line up. I’ll show you something. Could someone please go home and fetch a basin of water from your water vat? Not too much—just a bowlful using the vegetable-washing basin from the kitchen. Any household will do. We won’t mind if it’s ten or eight basins—the more, the better.”
Su Mi placed the box she had brought on the table, which the village leaders had prepared earlier.
Then, everyone watched as Su Mi finished speaking, opened the small wooden box she had brought, and took out something they had never seen before, fiddling with it.
“What are you all standing around for? Whose house is closest? Hurry up and fetch a basin of water!”
Xu Weiguo’s shout snapped the murmuring crowd out of their speculation. Those who lived nearby sent their sons home to fetch water.
“What is she trying to do?”
“This educated youth Su really has a way about her. Could that be a microscope used in a laboratory?”
“I think so too.”
“I think I know what she’s going to do.”
The educated youth had all come from the city. Although not all of them had studied, those who had recognized the thing Su Mi was tinkering with on the table.
They naturally began to guess. Of course, they knew water should be boiled before drinking. They had reminded the villagers before, but these people never listened to young folks like them.
They simply didn’t take it seriously. After all, in the villagers’ minds, they had always lived this way. How could there be bugs in such clean water? Even if there were, they weren’t blind—they’d see them. Could they really drink them?
At this time, transportation mostly relied on walking, so those who went back to fetch things returned quickly.
Su Mi adjusted the microscope, and before long, someone brought a basin of water.
The water was carried in a wooden basin. The young man specifically mentioned that this basin was used in their kitchen for washing vegetables.
Soon, more people arrived with clear water carried in various containers—small basins or large bowls—and placed them one by one on another long bench. It took two benches to arrange all the basins and bowls of water.
“All of you saw it, right! This water comes from your respective homes—I haven’t tampered with it. Now, can you few who fetched the water guarantee that it was scooped from the water jars you use for drinking at home?”