Chapter 19: The Enthusiastic Villagers

Just a short distance from his own small courtyard, Zhou Yichen and Jiang Xiaoman ran into other educated youths who were also heading to the brigade office for assembly.

Besides Zhao Weiguo and Lin Xiaoyue, there were also the veteran educated youths at the designated point.

“Yichen, Xiaoman, you’re going to the brigade office too?” Zhao Weiguo greeted them proactively, though his eyes held a hint of complexity.

Zhou Yichen smiled faintly. “Yes, we’re starting work today. We’re heading to the brigade office to gather.”

A sharp-eyed veteran educated youth, appearing about twenty-three or twenty-four, with a lean face and a keen expression, spoke up: “Great, let’s walk together. It’s better to have company on the way.”

“Alright.” Zhou Yichen nodded.

In truth, apart from the team leader Li Weidong, Zhou Yichen hadn’t even learned the others’ names yet, but it didn’t matter—he would naturally get to know them over time.

The group set off together toward the brigade office.

Along the way, they encountered many villagers, carrying hoes or shouldering poles, also on their way to the brigade office for work assembly.

Most of these villagers hurried along, but when they saw Zhou Yichen’s group of educated youths, they couldn’t help but cast curious glances.

Especially when their eyes fell on Zhou Yichen, their gaze lingered noticeably longer.

There was no help for it—Zhou Yichen’s appearance was simply too striking.

His tall posture, handsome features, and the composed, serene aura he exuded made him stand out like a crane among chickens among the sunken faces and simple clothes of the villagers.

An old man in his fifties, smoking a dry tobacco pipe, looked Zhou Yichen over several times before finally asking, “Hey, young man, you’re one of the new educated youths, aren’t you?”

His voice bore a thick rural accent and sounded somewhat strained.

“Looks pretty unfamiliar!” chimed in a middle-aged woman carrying a basket nearby.

Zhou Yichen stopped and smiled politely. “Hello, sir, ma’am. We’re educated youths who arrived in the countryside the day before yesterday.”

The old man took another puff, squinting as he studied Zhou Yichen. “I heard among your new batch of educated youths, there’s a health worker? Are you the one?”

At this question, Zhao Weiguo’s face stiffened slightly, and he instinctively straightened his chest, as if wanting to say something.

However, the old man and the surrounding villagers all fixed their eyes directly on Zhou Yichen, clearly identifying the best-looking young man as the health worker.

Zhou Yichen maintained his smile calmly and replied with measured ease, “Yes, sir. My name is Zhou Yichen. From now on, I’ll be responsible for the health work in our brigade.”

“Wow—”

As soon as he said this, the curious villagers who had been merely observing suddenly swarmed around.

“Oh! So this is the new health worker in our brigade?”

“My goodness, he’s really handsome! Even better looking than those in the picture books!” a young daughter-in-law exclaimed, her cheeks slightly flushed.

“Looks young though. Is he any good with medicine?” some expressed doubts.

Immediately, someone retorted, “What do you know! Didn’t you hear from Zhang the butcher’s family? Yesterday, Old Zhang had a relapse on the road and was about to pass out. It was this health worker Zhou who saved him!”

“Really? Old Zhang’s condition is a chronic one. Even the commune clinic said there was no cure!”

“That’s true! Old Zhang said it himself! He called Zhou the health worker a blessing from heaven!”

For a moment, the villagers buzzed with chatter, their eyes filled with awe and curiosity as they looked at Zhou Yichen.

Facing the villagers’ overwhelming enthusiasm, Zhou Yichen kept a smile, responding calmly.

“Sir, ma’am, you flatter me. I only know some basic medical skills and will do my best.”

He paused, then continued clearly: “If anyone has a headache, fever, or minor injuries, feel free to come to me. If I can help, I will do so without hesitation.”

His words were neither humble nor arrogant but carried a confidence that inspired trust and goodwill.

That calm, poised demeanor hardly suited a youth who had only been in the countryside for two days; he seemed steadier than many who had seen the world in the city.

Jiang Xiaoman stood aside, watching Zhou Yichen surrounded by villagers’ warm attention, her mouth slightly open, eyes wide with astonishment.

She knew Zhou Yichen was talented but hadn’t expected that, just as a newly appointed health worker, he would stir such a strong reaction among the villagers!

A surge of pride swelled within her, making her straighten her chest, her smile growing even brighter.

Look, this is my buddy! How impressive!

Meanwhile, Zhao Weiguo, Lin Xiaoyue, and the other veteran educated youths were all envious.

Especially the older educated youths, who had been in the countryside anywhere from a year and a half to three or four years—never had they seen villagers show such warmth toward any educated youth.

Usually, these villagers looked at them with indifference or with some measure of scrutiny and distance. Never like today, when they treated one educated youth like a savior, surrounding him like a treasure.

Comparisons between people really could be infuriating!

Zhao Weiguo silently clenched his fists, feelings churning in his heart.

He considered himself somewhat talented; why didn’t he receive such treatment?

Could it really be, as some said, an era that judged by looks?

No, Zhou Yichen wasn’t just handsome—he truly had real skills!

Thinking this, Zhao Weiguo felt even more uncomfortable.

Amid the lively chatter and the villagers’ embrace, the group soon arrived at the headquarters of the Xiangyang Brigade.

By then, the courtyard of the brigade office was already packed, a dense, black mass of people.

The chill of the winter morning did nothing to dampen the villagers’ enthusiasm; at least several hundred people were gathered, grouped in threes and fours according to their production teams, the hum of their conversations blending into a lively buzz.

When Zhou Yichen and his companions, surrounded by villagers, entered the brigade office, they immediately sparked a fresh wave of commotion.

“Look, isn’t that Old Wang’s wife from the third team? Why is she surrounding that young man?” a man smoking nearby nudged another.

“Hey, don’t you know? That’s our new health worker, Zhou Yichen! Heard he’s amazing—just yesterday, he saved Old Zhang who was driving a horse cart right on the road!” Someone well-informed began to explain.

“Really? So young? Is that him?”

“Exactly! Look at his bearing, his looks—he’s not an ordinary person!”

In no time, more curious eyes turned toward Zhou Yichen, more people gathered around him, eager to see with their own eyes the health worker who had already become legendary on his first day.

As the dense crowd closed in tighter, curious and somewhat fervent faces nearly pressed against Zhou Yichen’s nose.

“Health worker Zhou, can you do anything for my old cold leg?”

“Doctor Zhou, my kid coughs a lot at night. Can you take a look?”

“Oh my, this young man really looks vigorous! Let me touch your arm and catch some luck!” A bold auntie reached out, trying to pinch Zhou Yichen’s arm.