Chapter 58: Reward

A reward?

Zhou Yichen felt a slight stir in his heart.

Money? He had enough of that.

Food ration coupons? He wasn't lacking those at the moment either.

What he truly lacked was a mode of transportation that could dramatically improve his work efficiency.

"Secretary Liang," Zhou Yichen said after a moment of contemplation, sounding somewhat embarrassed, "I don't really want anything else."

"It's just that once I become a village medic, I'll have to visit households all across the surrounding miles whenever someone falls ill with a headache or a fever. Relying solely on these two legs sometimes makes me worry I might delay treatment."

"So... I've been wanting to buy a bicycle, but I've never been able to get my hands on a bicycle purchase ticket..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was crystal clear.

In this era, a bicycle was one of the "three major luxury items." They were immensely precious, and having money didn't guarantee you could buy one—you had to have the official ticket to acquire it.

Hearing this, Gao Jianjun immediately felt the request was entirely reasonable and chimed in from the side, "Indeed, indeed, Secretary Liang! Having a bicycle would make things so much more convenient!"

Upon hearing Zhou Yichen's request, Secretary Liang was slightly taken aback, and then he burst into hearty laughter.

"Hahaha! I was wondering what major thing it might be!"

"Isn't it just a bicycle ticket? A mere trifle!"

He waved his hand broadly, appearing exceptionally magnanimous.

"After you finish the paperwork later, come straight to the commune courtyard and find me. I'll sign off on the slip for you!"

Secretary Liang looked at Zhou Yichen, and the more he looked, the more satisfied he became.

This kid was neither greedy for wealth nor obsessed with fame. Every request he made was purely to facilitate his work. He was a down-to-earth, hardworking sapling with great potential!

If it had been anything else, he might not have been able to secure it immediately.

But a single bicycle ticket? For him, it was just a matter of a single word.

Hearing this, Zhou Yichen felt a warmth well up inside his chest.

"Thank you, Secretary Liang!"

A trace of excitement, one he hadn't even noticed himself, lingered in his voice.

In this era, a bicycle represented far more than mere convenience—it was a symbol of status and capability.

Secretary Liang waved his hand, the smile on his face growing even more benevolent.

"Don't thank me just yet. Once you have that bicycle, treating our commune members more diligently and making greater contributions will be the best way to thank me!"

Like an elder, he gave Zhou Yichen's shoulder a heavy pat, his eyes filled with high expectations.

"Alright, I still have some matters to attend to. You two go ahead and take care of the paperwork! I'll be waiting for you in my office."

With that, Secretary Liang turned around, hands clasped behind his back, and strode steadily out of the ward.

***

After Secretary Liang left, Director Zhou looked at Zhou Yichen and said, "Yichen, let's go. Come sit in my office for a moment and we'll process your paperwork as a medic."

"Alright." Zhou Yichen nodded, following closely behind alongside Gao Jianjun.

Along the way, Director Zhou and Zhou Yichen discussed the medical case from earlier, which conveniently earned Zhou Yichen a few more points of medical skill proficiency.

In fact, back when he was treating Wang Guixiang, Zhou Yichen's proficiency had already increased significantly.

Zhou Yichen took a moment to check quietly: his medical skill had already reached Level 2 (15/2000).

Returning to the office, Director Zhou turned and called out toward the doorway.

"Xiao Wang! Dr. Wang! Come in for a moment!"

Shortly after, a female doctor in her twenties walked in briskly—she was none other than the one who had previously taken Zhou Yichen to buy silver needles.

"Director, did you call for me?"

Director Zhou pointed at Zhou Yichen, a smile hanging on his face.

"Take Comrade Xiao Zhou to get all his paperwork processed for the village medic position."

"His credentials, his allowance booklet, this month's subsidy, and the medical supplies allocated by our clinic to village medics—make sure everything is fully assembled and provided!"

Hearing this, Dr. Wang froze for a moment, and then a flash of surprise crossed her eyes.

She hadn't expected that the young man who had come to buy silver needles earlier would now actually become a village medic.

"Understood, Director! I'm on it!"

"Comrade Zhou, please follow me."

"Sorry to trouble you." Zhou Yichen nodded courteously.

Meanwhile, Gao Jianjun stood to the side grinning widely, rubbing his hands together continuously. His excitement was even greater than if he had been named an exemplary worker himself.

Following Dr. Wang, the two men walked down the corridor and arrived at a room bearing a sign that read "Logistics."

Inside the office, there was a faint scent of ink and paper.

Dr. Wang solemnly retrieved several brand-new booklets from a locked steel cabinet.

One was a red hardbound booklet with the four large characters "Village Medic Certificate" stamped in gold on the cover.

Another was the "Allowance Booklet" used to record the distribution of subsidies.

Dr. Wang skillfully filled in Zhou Yichen's name, native place, and affiliated production brigade, and then stamped the bright red seal of the "Xiangyang Commune Clinic" under the issuing authority column.

"Comrade Yichen, these are your credentials and allowance booklet. Please keep them safe."

Zhou Yichen took them, feeling a slight weight in his hand, as if the red ink of the seal still carried warmth.

Next, Dr. Wang counted out three yuan and fifty cents from her drawer, handing it over along with several food ration coupons.

"This is your village medic subsidy for this month. You'll receive it every month from now on."

In an era where a few cents could buy an egg, three yuan and fifty cents was by no means a small income.

"Thank you." Zhou Yichen carefully tucked the money and coupons away.

Gao Jianjun watched from the side, his heart blooming with joy.

With the paperwork completed, Dr. Wang led them to the pharmacy and the instrument room.

A stethoscope, a sphygmomanometer, a clinical thermometer...

Gauze, cotton swabs, iodine tincture, silver needles for acupuncture, along with several boxes of commonly used anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications...

A large, comprehensive pile of items was neatly packed into a canvas medical kit.

While checking off the items, Dr. Wang explained, "These are all standard supplies. Once you use them up, you can bring the requisition slips to the commune to get more."

Gao Jianjun's eyes shone as he looked at the tightly packed medical kit.

These were absolute treasures!

With these items, their Xiangyang Production Brigade could finally be considered to have a genuine village medic!

With all the procedures completed, the two returned to Director Zhou's office to express their sincere gratitude.

Director Zhou offered a few parting words of advice, which essentially boiled down to telling him to work hard and to come to the clinic anytime he encountered difficult problems he couldn't solve.

After some polite conversation, the two bade farewell and left.

Stepping out through the front gates of the clinic, the afternoon sunlight was just right.

Gao Jianjun pushed the semi-vintage bicycle, his face radiant with a brilliant smile.

"Yichen, let's go! We're heading back to the commune courtyard to get that ticket from Secretary Liang!"

The two quickly returned to the commune courtyard.

Secretary Liang's office door was open, and he was inside writing something.

Seeing them, Secretary Liang put down his pen and took a pre-prepared ticket from his drawer.

"Take this. You can buy it right at the supply and marketing cooperative." Secretary Liang handed the ticket over.

Zhou Yichen took it with both hands and said, "Thank you, Secretary Liang. I've caused you trouble."

"No trouble at all!" Secretary Liang laughed. "You're a talent, and clearing the path for talents is only right!"

After offering a few more words of encouragement, Zhou Yichen and Gao Jianjun tactfully took their leave.

Emerging from the office, Gao Jianjun patted the back seat of the bicycle.
"Yichen, hop on! Let's go home!"

Their objective for the trip today had been fully accomplished, even exceeding their expectations, and both men felt an eager longing to return home.