The United Clinic.

Liu Sanquan wiped the grease from his mouth. Usually, even during festivals, it was rare for him to eat meat. Thanks to the better conditions of Zhang Yuancai’s family today, he had the chance to enjoy it, all because of Gao-Yuan.

He quickly invited Gao-Yuan in, his tone also changing: “Come in, Doctor Gao, this is your first time at our United Clinic, right? Let me get you some water.”

Gao-Yuan looked around, feeling nostalgic. After so many years, he was back at this starting point.

Liu Sanquan rinsed his own enamel cup and then poured a cup of water, handing it to Gao-Yuan.

Gao-Yuan took out his small bag and said, “I'm here today to collect herbs for the villagers.”

“Alright.” Liu Sanquan called out to the back, “Hey Yu, come out and record; gather the herbs according to the prescription.”

“Yes.” A voice answered from inside, and out ran a young girl with a braid.

Her name was He Yu, the only helper at the United Clinic. Eighteen years old and unmarried, she was responsible for various tasks like gathering herbs, recording, collecting payments, cleaning, and drying medicinal materials.

He Yu came over and nodded at Gao-Yuan.

Gao-Yuan handed her his small bag, recalling how in his previous life, he had worked alongside He Yu at the clinic. He did the heavy work, while the female staff took care of the lighter tasks.

He Yu took out the treatment book and registered everything, charging an additional 20% of the prescription cost.

Since the founding of New China, the people, who had been at the bottom for thousands of years, had become masters of their own destiny, and their enthusiasm was exceptionally high.

This enthusiasm led to creativity. Starting in Gaoping Mishan Township in Shanxi Province, the masses spontaneously came up with a cooperative healthcare initiative, which was later promoted nationwide.

Each senior cooperative contributed different amounts. For Gao-Yuan's cooperative, each person paid one yuan per year, with another yuan coming from the cooperative’s public fund, making it two yuan per person.

These funds were pooled together to sign a contract with the United Clinic. From then on, for every medical treatment or prescription, the public funds would cover eighty percent, while the individual would pay the remaining twenty percent.

This was the cooperative healthcare system.

This model greatly solved the problem of not being able to afford medical treatment. For the first time in thousands of years, the common people no longer had to worry about not having money for healthcare.

It was a testament to the wisdom of the people and the power of the masses!

Gao-Yuan asked He Yu for some paper and a pen. He needed to write down the second prescription for Grandpa Yang, as he was responsible for that. Grandpa Yang’s edema had mostly subsided, but his spleen and kidney still needed treatment.

Gao-Yuan prescribed the Six Gentlemen Decoction, minus licorice, adding Atractylodes, Magnolia bark, dried ginger, and prepared aconite. After writing it down, he handed the prescription and Grandpa Yang's treatment book to Comrade He Yu.

At this moment, Liu Sanquan came out with his medicine box and said to Gao-Yuan, “Doctor Gao, I have to go on my village rounds this afternoon, so I can’t keep you company.”

“Okay.” Gao-Yuan nodded. The senior cooperative had an agreement with the doctors of the United Clinic to conduct regular village rounds. Usually, it was once every five days, and during the busy farming season, once every three days.

As Liu Sanquan packed his things, a man entered from outside, looking about twenty-five or twenty-six years old.

“Oh, Shengli, you’re here?” Liu Sanquan welcomed him.

The man replied with a stern face, “You should address me as Comrade when working.”

Liu Sanquan sighed, “Alright, Comrade Shengli.”

Li Shengli nodded, “Hello, Comrade Sanquan.”

Introducing him, Liu Sanquan said, “This is our clinic’s doctor, Li Shengli. He’ll be on duty this afternoon.”

Gao-Yuan extended his hand, “Hello.”

Li Shengli extended his hand and asked, “You are...”

“Gao-Yuan,” he replied.

Li Shengli’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he suddenly gripped Gao-Yuan’s hand tightly, as if afraid he might escape: “So, you’re Gao-Yuan? I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Feeling the pressure from Li Shengli’s grip, Gao-Yuan’s expression remained unchanged. He said, “Likewise.”

Li Shengli asked, puzzled, “You’ve heard a lot about me too?”

Gao-Yuan answered, “I just came back from Fucun and heard Grandpa Yang mention you.”

At this, Li Shengli’s expression stiffened a bit, and he released his grip. Gao-Yuan took the opportunity to pull his hand away.

Li Shengli turned to Liu Sanquan and asked, “How is the patient?”

“You should ask Doctor Gao; he took over afterward,” replied Liu Sanquan.

“Doctor Gao?” Li Shengli seemed surprised by the title.

Gao-Yuan explained, “Since last night, Grandpa Yang has urinated several times. His edema has mostly subsided now.”

“Did my medicine work?” Li Shengli asked immediately.

Liu Sanquan looked at him speechlessly. “What do you think?”

Li Shengli’s face flushed with embarrassment.

Liu Sanquan said, “You should really thank Doctor Gao. Yesterday, you didn’t see how swollen Grandpa Yang was; he was hardly human anymore. He couldn’t pass a drop of urine, and his mind wasn’t clear. It would have been really dangerous if we’d waited any longer.”

Li Shengli frowned and said, “Why should I thank a traitor?”

Liu Sanquan glanced at Gao-Yuan, but he didn’t see any reaction on his face.

At that moment, an elderly man came through the door.

“Is there a doctor here?” The old man groaned as he entered.

“Oh, it’s your patient.” Liu Sanquan quickly turned and went inside.

Li Shengli stepped forward to help the old man, saying, “Uncle Zhou, is your stomach still bothering you?”

Uncle Zhou looked up at Li Shengli and glanced inside, asking, “Is it you on duty today again?”

Li Shengli nodded.

Uncle Zhou couldn’t hide his disappointment. “Is there no one else?”

Li Shengli gestured inside with his lips. “Doctor Liu Sanquan is also here.”

Uncle Zhou held his stomach and asked in pain, “Isn't Doctor Shen on duty? When will Zhao Huanzhang be back?”

Li Shengli shook his head.

Uncle Zhou, clutching his stomach, sighed heavily and sat down.

“Uncle Zhou, why don’t I take another look?” Li Shengli offered.

“No, no,” Uncle Zhou waved his hands. “I’m afraid of your treatment of me again.”

It was an awkward moment, and Li Shengli let out an embarrassed chuckle. He then called inside, “Comrade Sanquan, could you come out and take a look?”

“It wouldn’t make any difference,” Uncle Zhou shook his head.

With a look of embarrassment, Liu Sanquan emerged. “Uncle Zhou, is your constipation still not resolved?”

“What do you think?” Uncle Zhou’s face twisted in pain. “I’m so constipated that I feel like dying.”

Both Liu Sanquan and Li Shengli rubbed their hands in embarrassment.

Liu Sanquan glanced at Gao-Yuan and asked, “Doctor Gao, could you help out?”

Before Gao-Yuan could respond, Li Shengli interjected, “Are you crazy? Do you want to entrust our people to this man?”

“What’s your alternative? Wait for Doctor Shen Congyun to return.” Liu Sanquan asked.

Li Shengli shook his head. “You can’t expect anything from an old fox who spends his days slacking off.”

“Then we’ll have to wait for Zhao Huanzhang,” Liu Sanquan suggested.

“Can you trust a landlord?” Li Shengli retorted.

“Well, then you do it,” Liu Sanquan shrugged.

Li Shengli was left speechless.

Gao-Yuan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Despite having only four doctors, the clinic was rife with conflicts and intricate relationships, lacking any sense of unity.

Gao-Yuan knew that his first real challenge would come in just half a month.

That challenge was the upcoming influenza outbreak.

Why did this incident leave such a deep impression on Gao-Yuan? Because many people would be affected, and rural medical resources were severely lacking. Many remote villages wouldn’t even have a chance to see a doctor, leading to the occurrence of superstitious practices, such as burning talismans and drinking ash water.

Not only would these methods fail to cure the illness, but they also claimed many lives.

In this lifetime, Gao-Yuan would never allow such things to happen again!

To prevent such superstitious practices, he had to ensure that people received medical care.

And to ensure medical care, the first issue to address was the unity within the United Clinic!

Uncle Zhou groaned, “Stop arguing, both of you. Whoever can help me pass my stool, I’ll even acknowledge him as my ancestor!”

“Hey, you shouldn’t speak like that. We’re all comrades, equals,” Li Shengli corrected.

“I don’t want equality!” Uncle Zhou nearly broke into tears. “I just want to defecate. Every day, I have to use my hands. My wife won’t even help me anymore, and no one else will do it for me. I... I…”

Tears welled up in Uncle Zhou's eyes as he spoke.

Gao-Yuan massaged his temples and said, “How about this? Let me take a look for you.”

“No way!” Li Shengli immediately rejected.

Uncle Zhou fumed, “This isn’t allowed; that isn’t allowed. Then what am I supposed to do? Are you going to help dig out my stool?”

To everyone's astonishment, Li Shengli nodded, rolled up his sleeves, and said, “Sure, no problem. Come on, Uncle Zhou, let's head to the outhouse. From now on, if you can't do it yourself, feel free to come find me. If your wife won’t do it, I will!”

Gao-Yuan and Liu Sanquan were both in shock.

Even Uncle Zhou himself was stunned.