Chapter 358 - 357: Xiao Nian Wants to Be a Doctor

A few days later, they arrived in Beijing City.

Life seemed to be back on track. Students went to school and adults went to work. The only difference was that when they came home, there was no longer anyone waiting with a finished meal. Mr. He had taken over the task of picking up the children, leaving work a little early every afternoon to bring them home first.

June arrived, and with it came the annual college entrance exam.

He Nan and Wang Hui Fang saw Xiao Nian off at the testing center.

Once the two-day exam was over, Xiao Nian tossed his books aside completely. He spent his days wandering around and even went to hang out at He Nan’s transportation team.

"He Nan, is that your son?"

He Nan glanced at Xiao Nian, who was strolling around the fleet with his hands behind his back, and nodded.

"Yes. He just finished the college entrance exam, so he’s bored and at loose ends."

"Well, I heard your daughter is already a college student. It looks like your son is just as promising. You’re a lucky man, having two college students in the family."

He Nan laughed. "His scores aren’t out yet, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves."

At the end of July, Xiao Nian received his acceptance letter from Beijing Medical College.

"You really got in?" He Nan asked, astonished.

Xiao Nian smugly waved the acceptance letter in his hand. "What do you think? The acceptance letter is right here."

He Nan took it, and he and Wang Hui Fang looked at the words written on it.

"Beijing Medical College? You want to be a doctor?" He Nan mumbled.

Wang Hui Fang nudged him. "What’s wrong with being a doctor? It’s a great profession."

Xiao Nian nodded as well. "I want to be a doctor. Once I learn how, our family won’t have to rush to the hospital every time someone feels sick."

"I hear studying medicine is very difficult." He Nan was afraid his son would be exhausted from the workload.

Xiao Nian was unfazed. "What isn’t hard work? Is your driving easy? Is Aunt Wang’s cooking easy? Since everything is hard work, why not learn something useful? I’m going to be a doctor and save lives."

Wang Hui Fang clapped her hands. "I support you! Being a doctor is a wonderful thing. It sounds so honorable."

The acceptance letter had already arrived, so what could He Nan do? But he still felt the need to warn him beforehand. "When it comes to medicine, either you don’t study it at all, or you master it. Otherwise, you’ll graduate and just be trifling with people’s lives."

Xiao Nian nodded. "I know, Dad. I’m serious. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely study hard."

When He Nan called Beijing City with the news, everyone there was overjoyed, especially Mr. He, who was thrilled beyond words.

"That boy, Xiao Nian! I knew I wasn’t wrong about him. He actually got into Beijing Medical College. He’ll be a doctor when he graduates!"

Xue Yue was also surprised that Xiao Nian would study medicine. "I have to say, I wonder if those two siblings have some secret method, both getting into such good universities. He Nan sounded absolutely ecstatic on the phone."

"Of course he’s happy. It’s not like just anyone who wants to can get into college. But look at him, both of his children are college students. I must... The next time I go back, I have to tell your mother this good news. Maybe the He Family’s ancestral graves are finally sending up blessed smoke."

Several months had passed, and now, when they brought up Mrs. He, the mood was no longer somber. It seemed they had accepted the harsh reality and could speak of her calmly.

He Lang said, "Daya has graduated with her accounting degree now. I plan to have her come straight to the supermarket and handle the finances for me."

Mr. He sounded unconvinced. "She just graduated. Is she up to the task?"

He Lang raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn’t she be? In any case, she has to be better than an illiterate like me who didn’t even finish junior high, right?"

Mr. He glanced at him and nodded. "That’s a fair point."

Xue Yue said to Mr. He, "By the way, Daya told me last time that she wants to change her name. I agree, I think she should. She’s a young woman now. ’Daya’ can be her nickname, but her official name should be something nicer."

Mr. He had no objection. "You can all discuss it with her. Once you’ve decided on one, just go to the neighborhood office to get it changed."

"Okay."

Xue Yue brought up the name change with Daya. Daya looked at Xue Yue and asked, "Auntie, what name do you think would be good for me?"

Xue Yue asked, "Do you have any ideas yourself?"

Daya thought for a few seconds. "An Xin. How does An Xin sound?"

"An Xin? As in the ’xin’ from ’anxin,’ meaning peace of mind?"

"The ’xin’ from the phrase ’xinxin xiangrong,’ which means ’thriving and prosperous.’"

Xue Yue repeated the name and nodded. "Yes, let’s go with that one. It has a wonderful meaning. An Xin. Liu Anxin."

A smile touched the corners of Daya’s lips.

Xue Yue took her to the neighborhood office to change her name. From then on, ’Daya’ would be her nickname, and her official name was Liu Anxin.

The next day, Daya went with He Lang to the supermarket to take over the finances.

He Lang told her seriously, "Do a good job, and don’t feel pressured. Your uncle believes in you."

Daya nodded.

Youth, after all, brings a sharp mind and boundless energy. It only took Daya two days to sort through the supermarket’s transaction records for the past two years. When she presented them to He Lang, he nodded, gratified.

"As expected of my niece, you’ve got a sharp mind. Everything’s correct. It’s all in your hands now. Also, for the clothing store, Guan Wenwen comes every quarter to reconcile the statements. I’m handing that task over to you as well."

Daya nodded in agreement.

"You won’t be on your own. I hired an accountant before, and he’ll report to you now. You can delegate tasks to him as needed."

"Okay."

In early August, He Nan brought Xiao Nian to the capital.

School didn’t start until September, but the boy was too restless to stay at home. He insisted on coming early, saying he wanted to familiarize himself with Beijing City and see everyone.

He Nan took Xiao Nian to He Ziqing’s place. Ziqing was now over four months pregnant. Although she wore loose-fitting clothes, it was still obvious she was expecting.

"Sis!"

Xiao Nian ran over the moment he saw He Ziqing.

He Ziqing smiled at the sight of him. "Congratulations! You finally made it into a university in Beijing City, too."

Xiao Nian tilted his head and grunted proudly. "I told you I’d get into a school in Beijing City. This way, I can see you all the time. Oh, and my little nephew or niece, too."

He Nan walked over and glanced at Ziqing’s belly. "It’s gotten so big. Are you feeling okay? No discomfort?"

Ziqing caressed her belly. "I’m fine. I had some morning sickness earlier on, but that’s passed. My appetite is great now. Dad, didn’t Aunt Wang come with you?"

He Nan shook his head. "No, she had to work. I just came to drop off Xiao Nian and check out his school, so he doesn’t get lost finding it later."

He Ziqing said, "Alright then, let’s head home."

He Ziqing lived in an apartment building, on the third floor.

When they opened the door and went inside, Xiao Nian couldn’t help but gawk at the full suite of modern appliances.

"Sis, did Third Uncle buy all this for you?"

He Ziqing nodded.

"TSK, TSK. Third Uncle is so generous. I’m going to make big money in the future too and buy a house full of appliances."

He Nan said irritably, "Don’t you want to be a doctor? You won’t be making big money then. If you do, it means you’re corrupt and taking bribes."

Xiao Nian didn’t quite get it at first, so He Ziqing explained, "It’s true that a doctor’s salary isn’t particularly high. The people who earn the most are usually businessmen. However, if you become exceptionally skilled in medicine—an expert, as they say—then you might earn more."

Xiao Nian asked blankly, "Is that right?"