Chapter 59: Announcement

"Yichen, hop on! Let's go home!"

Gao Jianjun gave the bicycle's rear rack a firm slap, his voice brimming with irrepressible excitement.

Without standing on ceremony, Zhou Yichen swung his long leg over and seated himself steadily.

Screeech—

The vintage Phoenix bicycle, carrying two passengers, wobbled as it hit the dirt road leading back to the village.

The warm winter sun bathed them in a cozy glow.

Pedaling with brisk vigor, Gao Jianjun couldn't keep his mouth shut.

"Yichen, my boy, you really brought immense glory to the Xiangyang Production Brigade today!"

He turned his head back, his weathered, dark face etched with smiles in every crease.

"You should've seen it! When you were analyzing that illness, the faces of those doctors at the clinic turned completely green!"

"Especially that Vice President Li, his face went as white as a plastered wall!"

"Hahaha! Splendid! Absolutely splendid!"

The more Gao Jianjun talked, the more spirited he became, pressing down on the pedals with extra force.

"And Director Zhou, alongside Secretary Liang! The way they looked at you—tsk, tsk, just like you were their own precious treasure!"

"Yichen, you really have some serious talent, lad!"

Gao Jianjun's praise was utterly simple and direct.

In all his fifty odd years of living, he had never laid eyes on a young man as exceptional as Zhou Yichen!

"Our Xiangyang Brigade has truly struck gold this time!"

Gao Jianjun felt a wave of profound emotion.

He even began to ponder.

The next time educated youth were sent down to the countryside, he would definitely have to take the initiative!

Even if the newcomers weren't as formidable as Zhou Yichen, as long as they had half his skill—nay, even a tenth of it—their brigade would hit the jackpot!

Listening to Gao Jianjun's admiration, Zhou Yichen merely offered a faint smile.

He didn't resort to his usual modesty.

Excessive modesty was nothing more than hypocrisy.

Sometimes, accepting praise with calm composure inspired even greater trust.

"Uncle Gao, it really wasn't all that mystical."

His voice was calm, carried slightly by the wind, yet remaining distinct.

"I simply had a bit of an advantage, having learned this from the elders in our courtyard since I was a child."

Zhou Yichen casually tossed out the explanation he had prepared long ago.

When traveling far from home, one's identity was essentially self-defined.

With mountains high and the emperor far away, apart from Jiang Xiaoman, no one knew his true background.

Besides, his medical skills were the real deal.

Even if he claimed to have studied for less than a month, no one would likely believe him anyway.

This excuse hit the mark.

Hearing this, Gao Jianjun was suddenly enlightened, and then found it entirely logical.

"No wonder! So it runs in the family tradition!"

"That explains it! Otherwise, how could you possibly have reached this level!"

He nodded vigorously, swallowing Zhou Yichen's explanation hook, line, and sinker.

Seated on the back of the bicycle, Zhou Yichen watched the fields and trees flashing past on either side while turning over a plan in his mind.

The bicycle ticket was already in hand.

As for money, he lacked nothing.

As the most doted-on only son of the family, before he left for the countryside, his mother Li Xiulan had secretly slipped him a large sum of money, more than enough to buy a brand-new Permanent-brand bicycle.

Everything was fully prepared; he only lacked the east wind.

"Uncle Gao," Zhou Yichen asked, "when does our brigade usually head to the county town?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Jianjun instantly grasped what Zhou Yichen was thinking.

"What a coincidence!"

"Tomorrow is the first of the month, which happens to be the day of the big county market!"

Gao Jianjun turned his head, grinning broadly.

"The brigade's horse-drawn cart will leave before dawn to sell some mountain goods in the county and buy back some hard-to-get supplies."

"If you want to buy a bicycle, just wait at the entrance of the village bright and early tomorrow morning."

"Old Zhang will be driving the cart over then."

A flash of delight crossed Zhou Yichen's heart.

"That's just wonderful."

With a bicycle, traveling to the commune or making medical calls to various production brigades in the future would be vastly more convenient.

As they talked, the outline of the Xiangyang Production Brigade appeared on the distant horizon.

Wisps of kitchen smoke curled upward; dogs barked and chickens crowed.

The bicycle came to a halt beneath the old locust tree at the village entrance.

Gao Jianjun hopped off, his dark face glowing and beaming from ear to ear.

"Yichen, head on home first! Get your things put away!"

"I've got to go share this monumental piece of good news with everyone right away!"

Pushing the vintage bicycle, he moved with nimble steps, practically breaking into a jog as he rushed toward the small building of the brigade headquarters that served as the broadcasting room.

Watching his bustling, energetic figure, Zhou Yichen smiled helplessly.

He picked up the fully stuffed canvas medical kit; it carried a considerable weight.

It was currently the lunch hour.

Chimneys of every household were trailing wisps of blue smoke, and the air was filled with the mixed fragrance of firewood and home-cooked meals.

Before even reaching his doorstep, Zhou Yichen caught a familiar scent of food.

He pushed open the half-ajar courtyard gate.

Sure enough, Jiang Xiaoman was wearing an apron, busy beside the stove.

Her shoulder-length short hair was illuminated by the fire glowing from the hearth, and fine beads of sweat dotted her delicate doll-like face, making her look all the more endearing.

Hearing the movement, Jiang Xiaoman turned her head and spotted Zhou Yichen.

Her eyes lit up instantly, as if stars were twinkling within them.

"Yichen, you're back!"

She hurried over, her gaze immediately locking onto the brand-new medical kit in Zhou Yichen's hand.

"How did it go? Did it work out?"

A trace of nervousness and overwhelming anticipation tinged her voice.

Zhou Yichen opened his mouth, eager to give her a definitive affirmative.

Right at that moment—

"Screeech—"

A harsh, grating burst of static suddenly exploded from the village's giant loudspeaker, shattering the tranquility of the entire Xiangyang Production Brigade.

Immediately following that, Gao Jianjun's resonant and slightly triumphant booming voice echoed into every corner.

"Hello! Hello! All members of the Xiangyang Production Brigade, please pay attention! All members of the Xiangyang Production Brigade, please pay attention!"

As his voice fell, the entire production brigade fell into a momentary hush.

Members who had been eating put down their bowls and chopsticks.

Elderly folks soaking up the sun in their courtyards pricked up their ears as well.

At the educated youth dormitory.

Li Weidong, Wang Qiang, and Liu Jianhua were gathered around a battered table, sipping watery corn gruel.

Hearing the broadcast, everyone froze mid-action.

"I am here to announce some wonderful news!"

Gao Jianjun cleared his throat, the excitement in his voice practically spilling over through the loudspeaker.

"Our brigade's educated youth, Comrade Zhou Yichen!"

"Following a rigorous assessment by the commune leaders and the health clinic, based on his exceptional medical skills, he is officially appointed today as a regular, budgeted medical worker for the Xiangyang Commune Health Clinic!"

"Whoa—!"

The announcement from the loudspeaker struck like a boulder tossed into a calm lake, instantly stirring a thousand ripples across the entire Xiangyang Production Brigade.

"What? Official? Recognized by the commune?"

At the educated youth quarters, Wang Qiang's jaw dropped in astonishment, completely forgetting to push the corn bun in his hand into his mouth.

Sun Fang, Qian Hongxia, and the other female educated youth exchanged glances, their faces plastered with shock.

Previously, when Zhou Yichen became a medical worker, they had assumed it was merely a localized policy cooked up by the brigade just to keep him around.

But things were different now!

A formal, budgeted position at the commune health clinic!

This meant Zhou Yichen had shed the identity of an ordinary educated youth and secured a semi-iron rice bowl!

They were all educated youths of the same standing, having traveled from the city to this patch of black earth.

Yet how long had it been?

Not even half a month!

Zhou Yichen had already reached a height far beyond their reach!

How could this be?

Jealousy, incomprehension, envy... all sorts of complex emotions churned within the hearts of the educated youth.

Over at Zhou Yichen's small courtyard.

Jiang Xiaoman stood frozen in place, dazed as she listened to the broadcast.

Gao Jianjun's voice continued on.

"...Comrade Zhou Yichen possesses extraordinary medical skills and noble character! He saved Uncle Zhang Lao from an angina attack and even ensured the safe delivery of the brigade's mother ox and its calf!"

"This is the pride of our Xiangyang Production Brigade!"

"From now on, anyone suffering from headaches, fevers, or accidental injuries can go straight to Comrade Zhou Yichen! He is the Xiangyang Production Brigade's very own doctor!"

Once Gao Jianjun finished speaking, the entire Xiangyang Production Brigade erupted in沸腾 excitement.