freenovelworld Chapter 2000: Leaving Something for Future Generations
Chapter 2000: Leaving Something for Future Generations
The room was so quiet that you could hear the faint crackling of the kerosene lamp wick burning.
Li Xiangnan held the "Barefoot Doctor's Manual" in his hands, which were trembling slightly.
The yellowed pages looked particularly heavy under the light, and the two lines of inscription spanning two years were like a key, unlocking a long-sealed memory.
“Uncle…” He raised his head, his voice choked as he recalled the simple and beautiful past.
Shen Qianzhong waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more.
This man, who usually speaks with composure at important meetings and signs documents with authority, showed a rare hint of tenderness in his eyes at this moment.
"The book is yours, it should be returned to you!" He picked up the book again, his tone regaining its usual composure. "But Xiang Nan, I'm not returning it for nothing!"
Li Xiangnan was stunned.
The others in the room also perked up their ears.
Shen Qianzhong gently stroked the rim of the teacup, pondered for a few seconds, glanced around the room, and finally fixed his gaze on Song Cijiu. He asked softly, "Cijiu, I remember your third uncle was a medic in the Jinzhong Military Region back then. He used folk remedies to save many wounded soldiers, right?"
Song Cijiu was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting Shen Qianzhong to bring this up at this time, and quickly nodded: "Yes, but... Third Uncle... passed away the winter before last!"
"What a pity!" Shen Qianzhong sighed. "Back in the old days, I often went to his place for tea. But after I got busy with work... sigh, those old man's folk remedies were treasures, but unfortunately many of them weren't passed down!"
He paused here, then looked at Li Xiangnan: "So, besides offering my congratulations, I have another request to make!"
“Uncle, please speak freely!” Li Xiangnan said solemnly.
"I would like to ask you to continue writing this book!" Shen Qianzhong looked at the "Barefoot Doctor's Handbook" with utmost seriousness. "Not an expansion or copy, but a continuation! Record all your experiences practicing medicine at the grassroots level over the years, the difficult and complicated cases you've encountered, including the cases and methods you've used since you established your hospital, even the folk remedies and traditional methods that have worked for Grandpa Li and your father over the years! Even the special skills of those old Chinese medicine doctors in Beijing, collect everything you can!"
With a whoosh.
A low murmur of discussion immediately filled the room.
Most of the people sitting in this room are people related to the medical and health care industry, including doctors, nurses, hospital directors, and even medical students like Lin Chuqiao and Lin Youwei. Who doesn't understand the weight of Shen Qianzhong's words?
To continue writing "The Barefoot Doctor's Manual"!
This is a big project.
Li Xiangnan also understood the deeper meaning in Shen Qianzhong's words.
This is not just a simple book compilation; it's about rescuing the essence of folk medicine, with a focus on traditional Chinese medicine, and accumulating valuable experience for grassroots healthcare.
He was outnumbered and outgunned, and completing such a large project would be quite a challenge, so he spoke frankly: "Uncle, it's not that I'm being arrogant, but this workload is considerable!"
He also knew that Shen Qianzhong was a meticulous person when it came to work. He always said that he had to be upfront about the worst things beforehand, and even if he had taken on the job, he would still make sure to explain certain things clearly.
“So there’s no rush,” Shen Qianzhong laughed. “Three to five years, ten to eight years, it’s all fine! The important thing is that doing this will leave something for future generations!”
He spoke very casually, but everyone in the room felt the weight of his words.
Leave something for future generations.
These few words are more powerful than any grand pronouncements.
Li Xiangnan nodded solemnly: Okay, I promise you, I will definitely continue this book!
"Alright!" Shen Qianzhong smiled with satisfaction, picked up his teacup, and said, "Then I'll toast the future Editor-in-Chief Li with tea instead of wine!"
Everyone raised their glasses, and the atmosphere immediately became lively.
Seeing this, Song Cijiu seized the opportunity and said, "Brother Shen, since you're here, please eat something! I know you'll be working overtime again when you get back! Look, this cabbage stew with tofu is Sister Zhu's specialty, and there's also braised pork, a specialty of southern Anhui. Try it, it's so chewy..."
Upon hearing this, Wang Defa immediately brought over a jar of pickled vegetables, excitedly saying, "Captain Shen, when was the last time we drank together? I told you then that Xiao Li's pickled vegetables were absolutely amazing, you absolutely had to try them. Look, it's the occasion for Xiao Xitang's one-month celebration..."
If Song Cijiu's words were meant to be a starting point, then Wang Defa's words really struck a chord with Shen Qianzhong. He glanced at his watch, hesitated for a moment, looked at Defa's expectant eyes, and then at the comrades around him who had once worked together in the medical support team in Sanduhe. Finally, he picked up his chopsticks and said, "Seeing all these familiar faces, these old friends, today I'll still be the Shen you all know. Let's eat!"
"Hahaha!"
Everyone burst into laughter, as if they could see again the team leader Shen, with his trousers rolled up on the edge of the field, explaining to the villagers how to pick leeches.
Shen Qianzhong also picked up a piece of tofu at the right time, tasted it carefully, and nodded, saying, "It's really good, very flavorful. Your cooking skills are quite good!"
Zhu Qiuju couldn't stop smiling. "I'm glad Captain Shen likes it. You should come often!"
What happened next was unexpected: Shen Qianzhong, a big shot who was usually only seen in newspapers and on television, actually sat down and ate this simple "helping drink" with everyone.
He ate very slowly and attentively, tasting each dish and asking about its preparation and origin. He even inquired in detail about how to make the pickled vegetables, and took out paper and pen to write it down, saying he would ask his mother to learn how to make them when he got home.
Li Xiangnan exchanged a glance with his mother and quietly noted down the detail, thinking he would send a few more jars to Captain Shen later.
He knew that the cabbage was grown by Aunt Wu in the neighboring yard, the tofu was ground by Old Ge's family at the entrance of the alley, and the potatoes were brought by Cui Xingjian's father-in-law. His eyes showed an approving look.
"That's right!" he said appreciatively. "These kinds of things are more down-to-earth, and when you have them at a banquet, you won't lose your roots!"
He then looked at the other people at the table and asked them questions one by one.
They asked Defa if being the dean was difficult, inquired about Song Yi's studies at school, asked if Wei Dong's relationship was going well, and asked if Ding Yuqiu's aunt had recovered her health...
He remembers everyone's name, the things they talked about when they last met, and every detail since the Sanduhe Brigade started providing medical support.
That meticulousness and thoughtfulness surprised everyone and warmed their hearts.
It turns out that even high-ranking leaders are just ordinary people.
They also care about daily necessities and are concerned about family matters.
Shen Qianzhong was the highest-ranking leader they had ever met, but also the most tangible one!
The meal took more than half an hour.
Shen Qianzhong finally put down his chopsticks, glanced at his watch, and stood up apologetically: "It's getting late, I really have to go! I still have a few documents to process when I get back! I won't stay any longer!"
Everyone stood up to see him off, and Li Xiangnan helped him put on his military overcoat and saw him out.
The snow had stopped, and the moon peeked out from behind the clouds, coldly illuminating the white alleyway.
The snow reflected the moonlight, illuminating the night in a half-light, half-darkness.
The two left the courtyard. Shen Qianzhong stopped at the gate, turned around, and looked at Li Xiangnan.
Under the moonlight, his face was half in light and half in shadow, making him appear exceptionally profound.
"Xiang Nan," he lowered his voice, "you'd better be prepared for tomorrow's banquet!"
Li Xiangnan's heart tightened. "Uncle, have you heard something?"
Shen Qianzhong did not answer directly: "The waters of Yanjing have never been clear. I come from the Lower Shen family and know very well that Yanjing is a mixed bag! This winter is particularly cold, but some things at the bottom of the water cannot freeze and are about to float to the surface!"
The words were spoken in a very veiled way, but Li Xiangnan understood them.
"Is it the Shangguan family?" Li Xiangnan asked immediately.
“It’s not just the Shangguan family!” Shen Qianzhong shook his head: “Some old scores will always be settled when the time comes!”
He quickly pulled a small notebook from his coat pocket, tore off a page, wrote down a phone number, and handed it over: "If you encounter any problems you can't solve tomorrow, call this number! The person who answers is surnamed Zheng. Just tell him that I told you to contact him! Don't mention this to anyone else!"
Li Xiangnan took the note; it only had a phone number on it, no signature, and no address.
"Comrade Zheng is..."
"The Yanjing Garrison!"
"???"