Chapter 25: Arrangements (2)

Captain Mo looked at the three people in front of him, two composed and wise old men, and a soldier with a rather fierce bearing. Figuring out how to assign them was truly a thorny problem.

Captain Mo pulled out the tobacco pipe fastened to the belt around his waist, thinking to take a puff before deciding. This was a habit shared by all the men in Qingshan Village, whether something was on their minds or not, they’d have a smoke, feeling happier than a living immortal.

“There’s a child here. The smoke is strong, don’t choke the boy,” Grandpa Jiang quickly interjected. His precious little grandson was around. Ever since the child was born, he hadn’t dared smoke at home. When he really couldn’t stand the craving anymore, he’d sneak outside for a few puffs.

After saying this, Grandpa Jiang shot a glare at his eldest son for being so unreliable. Why bring the child here? It was cold, and the boy was hungry. They should have gone home first and left the little one and that girl there.

Jiang Dahai was puzzled by the glare, assuming his old father was being stubborn again. He didn’t think much of it.

“Uncle Jiang, you’re being too cautious. It’s just a bit of smoke, what’s there to be afraid of? When this little one grows up, he might be smoking better than me,” Captain Mo joked. But despite his words, he carefully put the pipe away.

“This gentleman is right, smoking isn’t a good thing,” Bai Chuoqing said from the side, agreeing completely with Grandpa Jiang. As a responsible old doctor, he also didn’t approve of adults smoking around children.

“Tobacco contains nicotine, which is no trivial matter. Excessive inhalation damages blood vessels, causes respiratory illness, and in severe cases leads to lung tumors. At that point, there’s no medicine that can help.”

Speaking about his area of expertise, Bai Chuoqing, who had been a bit quiet, became animated, explaining earnestly, “Don’t think that just because the smoke doesn’t go straight into a child’s mouth it’s harmless. Breathing it in is nearly the same as smoking it. Children are frailer than us adults and get sick more easily. So it’s best not to smoke pipe tobacco in front of them.”

Though no one present knew what nicotine really was, Bai Chuoqing’s lecture left them feeling vaguely awed. This was a doctor trusted to treat important people, surely he wouldn’t say something wrong. Captain Mo looked at the pipe at his waist, torn between wanting a smoke and feeling reluctant to part with it.

“I think Doctor Bai has a point. No wonder my eldest girl keeps coughing. It must be her father smoking that pipe all day in the house. When I get back, I’ll have words with him,” a woman beside them exclaimed, slapping her thigh. She finally felt she’d found the cause of her daughter’s lingering cough and was itching to go home and grab her husband by the ear to scold him.

Bai Chuoqing shook his head. “There are many reasons why children cough. It might not all be due to pipe smoke. If you trust me, you can bring the child to let me take a look. It’s just that I don’t have any ready-made medicine right now, I'll need to go into the mountains to gather herbs and prepare it.”

Bai Chuoqing had already surveyed the terrain on the way here. Even though it had been dark, he could roughly recognize the area. The mountains were vast, and common medicinal herbs would certainly be there to find.

Yang Xiu had no reason to refuse and was overjoyed. These days, if you didn’t have a serious illness, no one dared go to the hospital. One, the procedures were so cumbersome that getting the paperwork done nearly cost half your life, and two, the costs were exorbitant while medicines were scarce. The health station in Qingshan Village only had a barefoot doctor who, no matter what the illness was, could only prescribe whatever drugs he had on hand. If nothing was in stock, you were simply out of luck. So the villagers often gritted their teeth and waited for ailments to pass, and over time, chronic issues piled up.

An idea struck Yang Xiu, and she spoke up: “Captain, why don’t we have this elderly doctor stay at the health station? He can see patients every day, and when there are no patients, he can go into the mountains to collect herbs. Doesn’t the county procurement station also buy herbs? This way, no one from above can criticize, and the villagers will benefit.”

Bai Chuoqing was more than willing. At his age, going into the fields would cost him his life. Gathering herbs was also tiring, but it was something he enjoyed and could use as an opportunity to conduct research, a win-win.

Everyone agreed this was a good idea. They were eager to have such a doctor stay in the village.

As for the remaining two, Ruan Yuanjiang and Huo Wu, Captain Mo thought carefully.

Huo Wu was easy enough. One look at his build and you knew he was all brute strength, a good helper for farm work. But Ruan Yuanjiang was another matter: elderly, refined, a scholar, could that frail body handle manual labor? He wouldn’t be good at anything.

“I saw that the livestock shed was empty. Why don’t you assign us there? Though I’m old, I still have the strength to look after a few animals,” Ruan Yuanjiang proposed.

Jiang Yiliu was surprised. He hadn’t expected Ruan Yuanjiang to volunteer to stay in such a place. After all, with his grandfather around, they could surely have secured a better job and lodging.

But precisely because he understood, he felt even more respect for this old man.

Ruan Yuanjiang shot Grandpa Jiang a look to stop him from speaking. They naturally had their own considerations. While most villagers were good people, inevitably a few would resent outsiders.

Living in the livestock shed served two purposes. First, it gave the production team an official explanation. Second, he knew Jiang’s granddaughters brought feed there every morning. With regular comings and goings, their contact with the Jiang family wouldn’t stand out, leaving no opening for malicious gossip.

Bai Chuoqing and Huo Wu had no objection to this decision. Bai Chuoqing, at his age, knew exactly what Ruan Yuanjiang was thinking. Huo Wu didn’t fully understand but never opposed Elder Ruan’s wishes. Though his heart ached to see the old man living with livestock, he held back his protest.

He resolved that he would get up early each day to tidy the shed thoroughly, after all, he had strength to spare.

Captain Mo thought for a moment and nodded. “That’s fine. Our villagers are honest folk. We don’t play the games outsiders do. As long as you don’t cause any trouble, no one will make things difficult for you. Our place is remote anyway, no one likes to stir up trouble here. You can stay in peace.”

Captain Mo looked steadily at the three of them. “I can’t just hand out work points arbitrarily. I’ll have to follow regulations. The work points you get will only be enough to barely keep you from starving.”

By rights, tending livestock earned the highest work points since it was filthy and exhausting, no one with any means wanted to do it. But the rules stipulated that people sent down for reform through labor could only receive the minimum points, no matter what work they did.

They understood perfectly and didn’t mind.

Seeing their expressions, Captain Mo guessed they must still have some resources to fall back on, so he felt reassured.

“The roof over the livestock shed has been half torn off. I’ll have to find people to fix it tomorrow. As for tonight, ” Captain Mo glanced at their bundles. They clearly didn’t have thick quilts. His plan to let them sleep in the team headquarters seemed unworkable.

“And there’s no stove in that shed. The old caretaker used to eat with his brother’s family. Even if we built a stove right away, it wouldn’t be ready in time.”

Captain Mo worried about where they’d eat and sleep in the coming days. Fixing the roof was quick enough, just a day or two, but building a stove room could take half a month or more. Where would they get their meals in the meantime?

“No matter. Let them stay at my house. They can eat with us for now,” Grandpa Jiang decided firmly. “The village can advance them some grain rations, and we’ll deduct it from their work points at year’s end.”

Last year, the Jiang family had added two rooms to the old house. One was for the four granddaughters. The other was meant for Yiliu when he got older. Right now, he was still small, either sleeping with his parents or with his sisters. Though he’d protested many times, he was always overruled. Who would let a five-year-old sleep alone on the heated brick bed? What if he rolled off at night?

Since Yiliu’s room was empty but had a finished stove-bed, it was ready for guests. Those farmhouse beds were large and spacious, more than enough for three adults and a child.

Everyone present knew the Jiang family’s circumstances and agreed this was the best arrangement. Captain Mo was especially grateful, Uncle Jiang had solved a major problem for him. He said cheerfully, “Cheng Ming, tomorrow allocate them a month’s grain. We’ll deduct it from their work points at the end of the year.”

The accountant, Cheng Ming, nodded, making a note.

There was only about a month left before the year-end grain distribution. Grandpa Jiang had no objection to Captain Mo’s plan.

With everyone’s lodging and meals arranged, night had completely fallen.

“Dahai, Yiliu, you haven’t eaten this late, have you? Go on home, Aunt Miao is probably keeping the food warm,” Yang Xiu said, fondly patting Jiang Yiliu’s little head.

“Uncle Bai, tomorrow I’ll bring my girl for you to look at. Don’t worry, Uncle Jiang’s family are good people. There’s no better place for you to stay.”

Yang Xiu smiled. The Jiang family truly had no faults. If only the old couple could let go of their favoritism toward sons over daughters, it would be even better.

Bai Chuoqing smiled and nodded. As for the old commander’s choice, he had every confidence.

The Jiang family and the others weren’t headed in the same direction, so after exchanging farewells, everyone set off for their own homes.

Along the way, no one spoke a word. Only after they stepped into their small courtyard did Jiang Cheng finally breathe out, ushering them into the main room. He shut the door tight, and then, unable to hold back any longer, he threw his arms around Ruan Yuanjiang, weeping uncontrollably.

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Chapter 25: Arrangements (2)