Chapter 54: The Assessment

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Gao Jianjun rubbed his hands together, a hint of ingratiation in his smile.

“This is what I was thinking. Xiao Zhou has real ability. Do you think we might… secure him a position as an officially appointed health worker in our commune?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the office fell silent.

Secretary Liang did not answer at once. His long fingers tapped lightly against the desktop, producing a steady “knock, knock.”

Zhou Yichen’s heart tightened as well.

He knew that everything depended on this moment.

After a while, Secretary Liang stopped tapping and raised his eyes to Gao Jianjun, his gaze calm and measured.

“Old Gao, what you said makes sense. The commune is indeed short of people with medical expertise.”

Gao Jianjun’s eyes lit up at once.

“But… becoming a health worker isn’t something I can decide on my own.”

Secretary Liang changed tack and turned to Zhou Yichen.

“Comrade Xiao Zhou’s achievements certainly deserve recognition. But the position of health worker carries enormous responsibility. It concerns the health of all our commune members, so we cannot afford to be careless.”

“Here is what we’ll do.” Secretary Liang gave his final decision. “According to regulations, he must pass an assessment administered by the commune clinic. Director Zhou will have to conduct it personally. Only after confirming that he possesses the necessary medical knowledge and practical ability can I approve the position.”

This outcome was within Gao Jianjun’s expectations.

He was just about to speak when Secretary Liang waved a hand and continued.

“However, in view of the great service he rendered to the production team, I can give him another opportunity.”

“If he fails this assessment, the commune can arrange for him to attend the next health-worker training course.”

“Once he completes the training successfully, he can still become an officially appointed health worker in our commune and receive all the corresponding subsidies and benefits.”

This was already an extraordinary favor.

It was essentially a double safeguard for Zhou Yichen.

Gao Jianjun slapped his thigh in delight.

“Thank you, Secretary Liang! Thank you, Secretary Liang!”

Secretary Liang smiled. His gaze finally settled on Zhou Yichen, carrying a trace of scrutiny and expectation.

“Of course, if he still fails after the training…”

He left the sentence unfinished, but everyone present understood what he meant.

The opportunity had been given, and the road had been laid out before him. If he still could not prove himself, no one would be able to help him.

The moment Secretary Liang finished speaking, the smile on Gao Jianjun’s face froze.

There really was going to be training?

And a real examination?

When he had previously mentioned an assessment to Zhou Yichen, he had only been making preparations in case it became necessary. He had never expected Secretary Liang to take it seriously.

Zhou Yichen, however, remained composed. In his view, an assessment was only right. Medicine was different from other fields—it concerned human lives.

If something went wrong, who would take responsibility?

As for the examination, Zhou Yichen was confident. His medical skill had already reached the second level.

Although he was still somewhat behind Director Zhou, an old expert who had devoted decades to the medical arts, Zhou Yichen was certain that compared with the other doctors at the commune clinic, his overall ability was no lower—and was probably higher.

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Because diligence had brought its rewards, his medical knowledge was remarkably comprehensive. It could be said that he had mastered every branch of the field.

An ordinary doctor might spend an entire lifetime mastering one or two specialties, and that alone would be considered impressive.

That was where his greatest confidence came from.

Seeing Zhou Yichen’s calm composure, the little worry in Gao Jianjun’s heart vanished instantly.

He thumped his chest and gave Secretary Liang his solemn assurance.

“Secretary Liang, just you wait and see!”

“I’ll stake my reputation on Xiao Zhou’s abilities! There’s absolutely no problem!”

His reasoning was simple.

Zhou Yichen had managed to deliver a difficult calf when even Doctor Sun had been helpless. His medical skills were therefore certainly superior to Doctor Sun’s.

If Doctor Sun could become an officially appointed health worker, why couldn’t Zhou Yichen?

“Oh?”

Looking at this confident pair—one steady as a mountain, the other passionate as fire—Secretary Liang’s interest deepened.

He rose decisively from his chair.

“Very well!”

“Since you are both so confident, then it’s settled.”

With a broad sweep of his hand, Secretary Liang made his decision.

“Come on. I’ll take you to the clinic right now and have Director Zhou assess him personally!”

“I’ll follow your arrangements, Secretary.” Zhou Yichen smiled calmly.

With that, the three of them left the office together and walked toward the commune clinic nearby.

The commune clinic consisted of a row of brick buildings with large tiled roofs. On the whitewashed walls, red paint proclaimed the slogan: “Save the dying and heal the wounded; practice revolutionary humanitarianism.”

The faint smell of disinfectant hung in the air.

Before the three men even entered, they heard a muffled discussion coming from the inner room.

Secretary Liang led the two others straight to a wooden door bearing a sign that read “Director’s Office” and pushed it open.

Inside, Director Zhou and several doctors in white coats were gathered around a table, all of them frowning deeply.

When they saw Secretary Liang enter without warning, the doctors were startled and hurriedly rose to their feet.

“Secretary Liang!”

Director Zhou was taken aback as well, but he immediately came forward to greet them.

Then his gaze passed over Secretary Liang and fell on Zhou Yichen behind him, and clear surprise appeared on his face.

“Oh? Comrade Xiao Zhou?”

Secretary Liang waved a hand, signaling everyone to relax.

“Old Zhou, were you… holding a meeting?”

He glanced at the medical records on the table.

“We hope we haven’t interrupted anything important.”

Director Zhou sighed, a trace of worry clouding his face.

“Ah, Secretary Liang, don’t ask.”

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“We were discussing a patient.”

“Oh? What sort of patient? Is the case difficult?” Secretary Liang asked casually.

Director Zhou shook his head, his expression grave.

“Not difficult. Strange.”

“The patient is a female commune member in her thirties. Three days ago, she suddenly began suffering from dizziness—the world spinning around her—and she could not even stand.”

“She vomits up everything she eats, and even a sip of water comes right back up.”

“We tried various medicines to stop the dizziness and vomiting, but none of them had any effect. She has been growing weaker by the hour and is on the verge of collapse.”

Director Zhou pointed to the medical records on the table.

“We were discussing whether to send her to the county hospital, but in her condition, she may not survive the jolting journey.”

His words cast an even heavier pall over the office.

The doctors present were clearly at a loss before this illness.

After listening, Secretary Liang furrowed his brow as well.

He nodded and asked no further questions about the patient. Instead, he explained the reason for his visit.

“Old Zhou, I came today because of this young man.”

He patted Zhou Yichen on the shoulder and briefly recounted what Gao Jianjun had said earlier.

From treating facial paralysis, to giving emergency aid during an attack of angina, to delivering a calf from a large yellow ox.

Finally, he stated the matter directly.

“Gao Jianjun of Xiangyang Brigade wants to apply for an officially appointed health-worker position for him.”

“I thought this matter should be reviewed by you, the director, so I brought him here.”

After hearing Secretary Liang, the eyes of the other doctors in the office turned in unison toward Zhou Yichen.

There was surprise in their gazes, and scrutiny—but more than anything, doubt.

A youngster barely out of his teens, and a sent-down youth at that—what did he know about medicine?

And he had delivered a cow? Wasn’t that just boasting?

Director Zhou, however, showed no sign of doubt.

As he looked at Zhou Yichen, a faint smile of approval appeared on his face.

“Oh? So it’s Comrade Xiao Zhou!”

He turned to Secretary Liang and said,

“Secretary Liang, Comrade Xiao Zhou and I have met once before.”

“He came to buy acupuncture needles last time, and we discussed medicine.”

“My impression was that this young man has a very solid theoretical foundation and excellent understanding. He is a promising talent.”