Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1719: Chapter 1719: Knowing People and Using Them Well

”Old brother, you’ve misunderstood Bai Family’s girl. We have few female physicians around here, so naturally you’re not aware. It’s difficult for pregnant women to treat injuries and prescribe medicine. Some medicines are too potent, even smelling them could cause a miscarriage. If she were to treat your injuries and harm her child, could your conscience bear it? Moreover, if she lets her disciple treat you, it’s surely no ordinary child. Look at Bai Ruozhu, she was already skilled in medical arts at just a teenage age.” Doctor Li said loudly.

”Besides, with such minor injuries, wouldn’t it be enough to let me bandage them for you? Are you perhaps dissatisfied with my medical skills?” He sighed heavily, saying, ”I’ve treated patients my whole life, yet now at this old age, people are looking down on me.”

Old man Li felt a bit embarrassed upon hearing this and quickly said, ”What are you thinking? I just heard that she’s a female officer in the Palace and wanted to see if she’s really that remarkable, not realizing there are such considerations involved.”

By now, the onlookers realized that Old man Li was being somewhat unreasonable, but considering his seniority and age, they pacified him with a few comforting words and dispersed.

Doctor Li, on the other hand, treated Old man Li’s wound right there on the roadside. It turned out that the blood from the wound had already clotted, and there was nothing serious. Doctor Li applied some healing ointment and did a simple bandaging, sending him home.

Later, many people noticed Doctor Li heading towards Bai Yihong’s home without seeing any patients, guessing that he went to discuss and exchange knowledge with Bai Ruozhu.

But in reality, in the Bai Family’s Yard, Doctor Li was trading medical expertise with Guoguo. He wasn’t like those ignorant villagers. Bai Ruozhu was a female Chief Doctor in the Palace; how could her medical skills be compared to his? Competing with the young disciple was more his speed.

Of course, he was more interested in broadening his horizons. Although he was older, he couldn’t resist the love for medicine.

After much discussion, Doctor Li realized he still couldn’t match Guoguo, the little child. Though it troubled him quite a bit, he humbly asked Guoguo for advice and ended up learning quite a bit.

”Indeed, heroes arise from the young. Even an old man like me can’t compare to this little child.” Doctor Li mused.

Guoguo offered a modest smile, saying, ”It’s thanks to the master’s good teaching, but I’ve only learned a fraction of my master’s skills. I need to work harder.”

Bai Ruozhu happened to walk out and said with a smile, ”What’s this fraction talk? It’s too exaggerated; there’s definitely a tenth of it, but you still need to continue striving. The sea of learning is boundless.”

Doctor Li bowed towards her with a smile, ”A pleasure to meet you, Miss Bai.”

Bai Ruozhu hurriedly supported him with her hand, complained, ”Doctor Li, are you distancing yourself from me?”

”Haha, I truly admire your medical skills,” Doctor Li praised generously.

Bai Ruozhu took out a small booklet from her sleeve and handed it to Doctor Li, saying, ”Here, let me give this to Doctor Li. It’s study material I wrote for the Medical Alliance. If Doctor Li could join the Medical Alliance, it would be even better.”

Doctor Li glanced over the booklet, his face showing an expression of fervor, ”This, this is too precious!”

”The purpose of founding the Medical Alliance was to provide doctors nationwide the opportunity to learn from each other, to prevent precious medical arts from being lost, and so more common folk could receive good treatment.” Bai Ruozhu explained.

Doctor Li widened his eyes, ”I heard mention of the Medical Alliance when I went to Beiyu City before; turns out it was founded by you!”

Seeing Bai Ruozhu’s confident smile, he knew he hadn’t heard wrong. He promptly slapped his thigh and exclaimed, ”Wonderful! Ruozhu, this is a great service!”

”So are you willing to join?” Bai Ruozhu asked with a smile.

”How could I not be willing? You must let me join!” Doctor Li, despite his age, hadn’t felt this excited in a long time.

In the days following, whenever Doctor Li went out to see patients, he would bring Guoguo along. The villagers assumed Doctor Li was helping you mentor Bai Ruozhu’s disciple, but soon everyone realized Doctor Li often asked Guoguo questions and discussed with him, which was more like a humble learning from the little child.

Eventually, someone couldn’t help but ask, ”Doctor Li, why do you keep asking for that little child’s opinion?”

Doctor Li burst into laughter, ”He’s better at medical skills than I am. Isn’t it natural for me to ask him? It’s a pity Ruozhu doesn’t accept me as a disciple; otherwise, I would have to call him master brother.”

Guoguo silently added in his heart: ”That’s senior master brother.”

He had seen some patients by now, his experience enriched. The confidence he had lost previously was regained, and he became more cheerful.

Listening to Doctor Li, many people were dumbfounded. Did they hear that correctly? Doctor Li, with his hair almost completely white, wanting to be apprenticed to Bai Ruozhu, a girl under twenty, and calling a seven or eight-year-old child, master brother? Had he lost his mind?

But due to this affair, there was much less gossip about the Bai Family in the village. There was both respect and curiosity towards the Bai Family, but many found it inconvenient to ask Bai Family directly. They went to inquire with Bai Family’s in-laws, the Wan Family. Wan Susie naturally praised the Bai Family and others, and earlier rumors that were unfavorable towards Bai Family gradually dissipated.

Days went by in a bustling commotion, before Bai Ruozhu realized it had been a month since she returned to Mountain Village. On this day, Sui Ge brought the recent account book for her to review; as she flipped through it, she suddenly felt a headache coming on.

Perhaps due to pregnancy, she couldn’t sit still, and she completely lost the patience she used to have for account books.

At this moment, Rendong came in, saying that Bai Zeji had brought Bai Zebo to pay a visit.

Previously, when Bai Ruozhu went to Fengye Village, Bai Zebo had been busy with affairs at the shop in town and wasn’t around, so today, having some free time, he specially came to visit.

Bai Ruozhu’s eyes lit up; isn’t it said that Bai Zebo is good at accounting? She was quite interested in this business-savvy cousin. Maybe she could have him help check the accounts? It’s important to know how to use people wisely; of course, she would absolutely not admit she wanted to slack off.

”Rendong, take the account books with you and accompany me to the front hall.” Bai Ruozhu said cheerfully.

Upon reaching the front hall, she finally saw Bai Zebo. She originally hadn’t very deep impressions of this cousin; for one, they hadn’t shared much interaction, for another, before she left Mountain Village, Bai Zebo was quite young, and many matters were beyond his capacity to manage.

Bai Zebo wasn’t tall, his facial features reminiscent of Bai Lu’s, with a square and honest appearance, but his eyes were black and bright, lively and spirited, indeed a clever one.

He rose and bowed to Bai Ruozhu with a respectful attitude, even his eyes expressing admiration.

”Everyone says cousin is a genius at business; I’ve always wanted to take the opportunity to ask cousin for guidance, though I’m quite clumsy, cousin mustn’t dislike me.” Bai Zebo said with a wide grin.

Bai Zeji laughed and said to Bai Ruozhu, ”In your absence, he often asked about you, wondering when you’d return to guide him a bit.”

”Zebo, the patriarch grandpa mentioned that you’re really good at accounting. How about helping me look through these account books, see if there’s any issue?” Bai Ruozhu motioned Rendong to pass the account books over.