Chapter 379: Another Year

After marriage, apart from having something to do at night in an era lacking entertainment, nothing else was different.

On Chen Jing's maternal side, he didn't need to worry; they lived quite well and basically didn't trouble him much. However, it is worth mentioning that Chen Jing's father was researched by him and had the "deputy" removed, promoted one level to become a division chief. Perhaps this was also one of the factors for Chen Jing's family to support dating him.

Time passed like this as he saw patients and brought apprentices every day.

In the Spring Festival of 1974, the people of the old Zhou family who were outside did not return, and they still passed on the longing of many years of separation through long letters. In October 1974, Chen Jing gave birth to a son. The happiest was Li Suhua. During the month of confinement, she moved to the family building of the City First Hospital to take care of everything.

As for the child's name, Wang Yan was too lazy to name him, so he simply handed this heavy responsibility to Zhou Zhigang in a letter. He soon received a reply, saying he was uncultured and it should be named by his educated father or Chen Jing's official father, but he still wrote the name "Jianye" in the letter.

Wang Yan could imagine that this was one of a series of names for the next generation of the old Zhou family that Zhou Zhigang thought about when Zhou Bingkun asked his father to name him last time, and it had long been prepared.

"Wang Jianye" was also quite good, with the characteristics of the era, and also had beautiful expectations for the next generation, as well as the sincere enthusiasm of the people for building the motherland.

It was also at the end of this year, after nearly two years of treatment and repeated changes in treatment plans, that Wang Yan finally cured Zheng Guangming's eyes, successfully restoring his sight. Because this child had been with Chinese medicine for the past two years and wanted to learn Chinese medicine from him, he brought him by his side. However, Zheng Guangming didn't know how to read, and the early learning was quite difficult. Fortunately, this child was willing to learn, holding the dictionary all day and learning against it, which was not bad.

In the Spring Festival of 1975, there was still no one back, and they were still mailing long family letters.

In April of this year, Zhou Zhigang took his annual leave and came back for five days. This was the first time he had returned since leaving home in 1969. Zheng Juan was pregnant again and would give birth in a few months. Regarding the previous matter, Zhou Zhigang didn't say a word when he came back, looking at his eldest grandson who could already speak, and Wang Yan's child, loving them dearly. After Zhou Zhigang took a large pile of things to Shancheng, Li Suhua nagged Wang Yan, saying that the old man cared most about family style and family reputation, and was still a bit uncomfortable, but this time seeing the child and Zheng Juan with a big belly, it was finally over.

In June, Zhou Bingyi wrote a letter saying that Hao Dongmei's parents had been rehabilitated and originally wanted to take leave to go home, but because of this reason, he went to the south to visit his father-in-law and mother-in-law who had just been rehabilitated, saying he would come back for the New Year. Li Suhua was a bit sad; after all, she hadn't seen them for more than five years. But thinking that she would see them in another half a year, she was also happy in her disappointment; having something to look forward to is good.

In July, Zheng Juan gave birth to a boy, named Jianbang by Zhou Zhigang. When giving birth in the hospital, knowing it was a boy, Zhou Bingkun let out a long breath. This was what Zhou Bingkun and Zheng Juan were thinking about; they wanted to give birth to a child of the old Zhou family.

In these two years or so, Zhou Bingkun's group of friends also got married one after another. Originally, they didn't need to consider too much, but now they all had children one by one, and every third day of the New Year, they complained a lot, sighing that life was not easy. These were all nagged by Zhou Bingkun to Wang Yan, wanting to get the guidance of a good brother and absorb some life insights.

As for Wang Yan himself, he is now the first miracle doctor in the Northeast. It is not self-proclaimed, but publicly recognized for his superb medical skills based on the word-of-mouth of countless patients with difficult and complicated diseases cured over the past three years.

But although he has such strength, he is not very recognized in the mainstream. Because his grandfather was a wild path, without inheritance, and he himself is a wild path passed down, relying purely on his own genius. Excellent doctors are all old, because whether it is Chinese or Western medicine, it is the accumulation of experience on a certain academic basis. Now that he is so young and has such good achievements, doesn't it make those other old men look very useless?

The current situation is that whenever there is a dispute between Chinese and Western medicine, his record is taken out to refute Western medicine, proving that what Western medicine cannot cure, Chinese medicine can cure. When there is no argument, it ends hastily. Then, except for a few big shots, others don't care about him at all. Where there are people, there are rivers and lakes, not to mention the big brother of a mountain with countless apprentices and grandchildren.

But Wang Yan doesn't care about those. From beginning to end, he has never left Jichun, always seeing patients and bringing apprentices at the City First Hospital. Of course, he also communicates with big shots in Beijing and several other places, exchanging medical experience, medical philosophy, and the future development of Chinese medicine, etc.

In the blink of an eye, time arrived in 1976. In this world, only Wang Yan knew that this was an important year. In January, July, and September, three important leaders passed away one after another, the Tang City earthquake occurred, and the movement that lasted for ten years ended.

Of course, he knew about these things, but there was no way. For the illness of the big leaders, he didn't have the opportunity to get his hands on it. Of course, even if he did, because of some irresistible forces, he didn't dare to move blindly. This is destined, he has no way. And the Tang City earthquake, which caused death, serious injury, minor injury, and affected a million people, is not something he can avoid just by saying it. What he can do is to lead a team to treat and rescue after the earthquake, and do his best...

On the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, the old Zhou family was full of laughter, Zhou Zhigang, Zhou Bingyi, and Hao Dongmei all returned home for the New Year.

In the outer room, Zheng Juan was tidying up the luggage in the bag and the New Year goods brought from far away: "I'll just tidy up, you go into the room and talk to Dad."

"It won't be long." Zhou Bingkun fiddled with the things and said: "Big Brother and Dad came back one after another, they must be starving. You don't have to be busy here, it's noon, hurry up and light the fire to cook."

"Mom and I cut all the dishes to be made in the morning, and the meat is stewing in the pot. We'll do it when Brother Yan and the others come over. You didn't see it, really..."

"I'm just happy, it's not easy to come back once, we who are at home must serve them well."

"Bingkun, come and pick it up." At this time, Wang Yan's voice sounded in the courtyard.

"Mom, Brother Yan is here." Zhou Bingkun greeted, and followed Zheng Juan out the door.

Wang Yan pedaled the bicycle with both legs, casually lifted his son from the seat modified on the middle beam to the ground, and with Zheng Juan supporting Chen Jing, who was carrying things in both hands, he stopped the bicycle, and then took down the big and small bags hanging on the handlebars with Zhou Bingkun.

"Brother, didn't you bring back a pile before? Why are you still bringing it?"

"They were all sent by others, I can't eat or use them all. Your sister-in-law's parents have already taken a lot, and there are still many at home. You help share some, so it's good to go out and walk around after the New Year."

Several people chatted and entered the room. Li Suhua was coming out, followed by Zhou Zhigang, who was peeking, and Hao Dongmei, who was standing on the ground. Looking at Wang Jianye, who was walking with difficulty, wearing three layers of clothes, and chubby, Li Suhua happily squatted down and hugged him: "Come, Little Jianye, let Auntie Grandma hug you, haven't seen you for a week, missed you to death."

Following Zhou Bingkun and the others, they put the things in the west room. Wang Yan took Chen Jing to the east room and called out: "Uncle, Big Brother, Sister-in-law. Oh, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, this is my wife Chen Jing, you haven't seen her yet."

Chen Jing on the side nodded: "Big Brother, Sister-in-law, how are you."

Wang Yan said: "Sorry, the hospital is too busy, I couldn't go to pick you up."

Zhou Zhigang, who was lying on the *kang*, sat up and pointed his rough fingers at his grandson's tender skin, teasing: "Look at what you're saying, saving lives is the most important thing. Besides, we are all family, what is there to pick up or not? Isn't Bingkun there? It's not that I'm saying you, Little Yan, you've been like this for so many years, this polite habit of yours has never changed, always talking about yourself like an outsider. You don't have the surname Zhou, so who else would pick on you?"

"Yes, yes, I will definitely change in the future." Wang Yan turned his head and looked at Li Suhua: "Auntie, hurry up and cook, Uncle and the others have traveled so long, hurry up and eat and drink, and rest early. Uncle just said he's not an outsider, so is he waiting for me to eat?"

"Hey, you child, this has become my fault." Zhou Zhigang waved his hand: "Hurry up and cook, hurry up and cook, in a while, we men should have a good drink."

"Jianye, go play with your brother, Auntie Grandma will make you something delicious." Li Suhua took off the child's shoes and let him play with Zhou Jianhua, who was sitting at the end of the *kang*: "Bingkun, you make some tea, take the pastries Little Yan brought back, you guys pad your stomachs first, I'll go cook."

Chen Jing hurriedly let Wang Yan help take off her coat: "Auntie, I'll help you."

"No need, no need, you talk to Dongmei, you haven't seen each other. Juan'er and I will be busy, everything is ready."

Hao Dongmei looked at Zhou Bingyi and hurriedly went out of the room: "Mom, I'll help too, let's talk together."

The women went out, leaving only four men in the room, plus the two little ones playing on the *kang*, and one who was just born half a year ago, playing with his mouth in swaddling clothes.

Waving his hand at Zhou Bingyi, signaling him to move aside, Wang Yan took off his shoes and got on the *kang*: "Uncle, you lie down, I'll massage you. Big Brother's massage is not useful, you still need my professional one."

"Forget it, you've been busy all morning, rest and let's talk."

"It's okay, I'm busy, but I'm not very tired, you just lie down."

"This child, fine, then I'll lie down." Zhou Zhigang complained, and then groaned and lay on the *kang*: "Little Yan, these years, the family owes it to you."

Wang Yan's movements didn't stop: "I've moved out for two years, this family is all managed by Bingkun and his wife."

"I don't know him yet, it's good enough if he can take care of himself."

Zhou Bingkun brought the enamel mug with big tea and the tray with several water cups: "Dad, you are wrong, I am quite capable now, I don't trouble Brother Yan usually."

Zhou Zhigang laughed: "Did you see it? Bingyi, Little Yan? This younger brother of yours, I didn't even praise him, and he said he was good himself. If I praised him twice, wouldn't his tail be up to the sky?"

"Bingkun and his wife are doing really well, managing our family in an orderly manner, and taking care of Mom healthily. It's only right for Bingkun to raise his tail." Zhou Bingyi smiled and took the pastries to open them for the two children to share, his eyes a bit unclear.

"Dad, did you hear that? My brother is speaking fairly."

Zhou Zhigang laughed, not speaking.

Although none of them made him worry, he was still very satisfied with the family now. The second daughter was doing quite well outside, married a poet, gave birth to a daughter, and was teaching and educating people. Although the matter of the youngest son's marriage was done even more ruthlessly than the second daughter, the wife he found was indeed good, diligent and thrifty, suffering and tired didn't matter, and she gave birth to two grandsons for the old Zhou family.

And there is this eldest nephew Wang Yan, who is a miracle doctor famous in the Northeast. He and his wife borrowed his light and were well conditioned. He helped this family a lot on weekdays. He was very at ease outside.

And the previous opinions and sayings of others that he cared about, it had been more than two years and nearly three years, and basically no one was saying how their family was anymore, and they had long changed to other people's fresh things. So until now, he could be considered to have let go.

Wang Yan looked at Zhou Bingyi: "Big Brother, didn't Sister-in-law's parents rehabilitate? Was work arranged?"

"Not yet, those positions are all one radish and one pit, there are no people down, how can they go up."

"That's true, you have to go see them during the New Year, right?"

Zhou Bingyi looked at his father and nodded: "Leaving on the first day."

"Why are you looking at me? Can I blame you? Aren't their parents also parents?" Zhou Zhigang enjoyed Wang Yan's massage, turned his head and looked at his eldest son: "It's good to see them now that they are allowed to see them. Oh, by the way, Little Yan, later you write another copy of the prescription you gave me before for your Big Brother. Dongmei's parents are not young anymore, they must have suffered a lot over the years, so condition them too. Bingyi, let me tell you, Little Yan's medicine is very useful, the workers on our side have basically all drunk it. They are all grateful to you, Little Yan."

"Uncle, you've said this more than ten times."

"Exactly, if not, you flip through the letters sent home before, look at which letter doesn't have it?" Zhou Bingkun nodded: "And Mom thought of it long ago. When you replied that the medicine Big Brother prescribed was useful, she thought of Dongmei's parents. She had already asked me to write a letter and tell my Big Brother."

Zhou Zhigang was stunned: "There is such a thing?"

Zhou Bingyi nodded: "Dongmei's parents also wrote a letter, asking me to thank you."

"That was my negligence, I didn't think of it at the time. Mom is still capable, considering so thoughtfully." Zhou Zhigang shook his head and smiled with relief: "In this way, when you leave, take more things with you. I see that pile of things at home, all good things Little Yan brought back, and just brought a big pile, our family can't finish eating, and no one to give, take some for Dongmei's parents."

"This is not good, Little Yan brought it for our family, I take it out..."

Wang Yan shook his head: "What's wrong with this, too polite, Big Brother."

His relationship with Zhou Bingyi and Zhou Rong was average. Of course, according to the system arrangement, they were a few years older, and he couldn't play with Zhou Bingkun, so he didn't lean up. Of course, that also depends on who you compare with. Compared to others, it was still quite close.

If you want to talk about it, the more selfish you are in this drama, the better you live. The three Zhou siblings, Zhou Bingyi and Zhou Rong, are very selfish, only Zhou Bingkun is dedicated to his family and friends. However, the selfishness of Zhou Bingyi and Zhou Rong is different. Zhou Rong is completely self-centered, only for her own comfort, while Zhou Bingyi is not; he is a good official, for the people. But in the end, both of them are quite unfilial, a bit lacking.

As for Zhou Bingyi's father-in-law and mother-in-law, he felt that they might not have taken the medicine seriously...

"If I tell you to take it, take it, why so many words. Right, Little Yan?"

"Exactly, if it were Bingkun, he wouldn't have two words."

Zhou Bingkun poured tea for several people: "You are wronging me, Brother, you say when did I not pretend to let it go?"

"If you want to talk about Bingkun doing sales these years, he really has traveled a lot. Saying no on his mouth, but his hand reached out to take it." After the few men laughed, Wang Yan urged: "By the way, Bingkun, speaking of this sales thing. After the New Year, don't forget to take things and send them to Old Lady Qu and the others."

"I know, Brother, you say it every year."

Zhou Zhigang asked: "What's going on? Is there anything I don't know?" Over the years, he hadn't asked about work. After all, no matter how he worked, he couldn't earn more than his eighth-level worker. During the few days he came back before, he only loved his eldest grandson, knowing that his youngest son had been working in the soy sauce factory all these years.

"It's the old secretary of our soy sauce factory. I saved her husband before and she has always taken care of me. Of course, saving her husband is a factor, but without it, she is usually quite good to other workers. When Jianhua was born, the old lady knew and transferred me to the sales section, let people take me to run business, and gave me a raise. Otherwise, I would still be doing hard labor in the slag workshop with Cao Debao."

"Then you must be grateful, this is really taking care of you. Then a secretary of a factory personally transferred you to the sales section, can others have no thoughts? That is also bearing pressure, you must thank people well."

"I go every year, and I also asked my Brother Yan to jump the queue and treat them."

"That's fine. A person must know how to be grateful and cannot forget their roots." Zhou Zhigang nodded, then turned to ask: "When is your sister coming back? Any news?"

"She said before she'd bring the kids back, but didn't give a specific time."

"Fine, then we won't worry about her; looks like it'll be after the New Year." Zhou Zhigang let out an 'oops': "Alright, Xiao Yan, that's about enough. I have to say, you really are the professional. Just these few moves are more comfortable than Bingyi pounding on me for half a day."

Wang Yan smiled and shifted his position, taking the tea handed over by Zhou Bingkun: "Without three parts of skill, how would I dare to accept this grand title of Hua Shen Yi?"

A few of the men chatted and laughed, waiting for the women in the outer room to finish cooking. The whole family set up two tables. On the kang, Zheng Juan and Chen Jing were looking after the children eating and drinking; off the kang, Wang Yan and the other three men sat with Li Suhua and Hao Dongmei, all pouring wine. It was lively, eating and drinking.

The happiest one was still Li Suhua; her mouth hadn't closed once, she was just smiling. Over these past few years, Zhou Zhigang had been very tired working away from home to support the family, but Li Suhua, as a woman at home raising children, living a comfortable life, thinking of the hardships and fatigue of her husband and children far away, had also been suffering. Whether Zhou Zhigang or Li Suhua had it harder was hard to say, because their responsibilities were different, but it was certain that neither had it easy.

Now, only the second daughter's family was missing for the whole family to be reunited, and Li Suhua was very happy.

Zheng Juan basically didn't speak much at home, and her presence was quite low. Every day, she was either taking care of the children or doing chores. Her reputation in the old Zhou house was quite high, though the past events had some influence. After all, what happened had happened, and it was normal not to be able to stop thinking about it. Zheng Juan herself knew this, and anyway, she didn't ask for anything; as long as she could live a steady life with Zhou Bingkun, that was enough.

As for Chen Jing, she had a bit of an intellectual's aloofness, but fortunately, she had been well-trained by Wang Yan over the past two years and got along quite well with the Zhou family. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to neatly take off her coat and help with the cooking.

At the dinner table, Wang Yan basically didn't speak much, mainly listening to the Zhou family; they hadn't seen each other for a long time, drinking a little wine, feeling a bit hazy, it was very lively.

Such scenes were playing out in thousands of households across the land of China; it was the reunion they had long looked forward to, another year...