Surgery Godfather

Chapter 108: Chapter 0106: Eighteen Bends in the Mountain Road

In the early morning, the sky was shrouded in a thin layer of fog.

After Yang Ping had breakfast, he went over the plan for the village outreach activity in his mind, even though he had prepared thoroughly the night before, he still wanted to check if there was anything he missed.

He then called Director Zeng, reminding him to contact him at any time with any issues in the department and not to be afraid of being a bother.

Everyone’s spirits were high for this deep village outreach activity, and they gathered at the hospital entrance earlier than necessary.

The Bureau of Health sent six vehicles, all of which were minivans, parked at the side of the road in front of the hospital, with a loudspeaker installed on the roof of the first vehicle.

Dean Pan, representatives from the Bureau of Health, and Director Tian each gave a brief speech.

Everyone got into the vehicles according to their numbers. The group and vehicle arrangements had been posted in the group the day before, it was clear and straightforward.

The Bureau of Health had assigned a liaison officer to each group, and they were standing by the door of the vehicles, waiting.

Director Tian rode in the first vehicle with Dean Pan, everyone else was to find their own vehicles as assigned, and if they couldn’t figure out where to go, they would ask Zhang Lin.

As for the minivans, the interior was not that spacious. When Fat Liang tried to squeeze into the back, he seemed stuck.

Zhang Lin, worried, shouted: “those on the side, stop watching and give him a push.”

Yang Ping was grouped with Xiao Su again, he had a bag on his back and carried another in his hand, and he helped Xiao Su onto the bus.

Once everyone had boarded, Zhang Lin and Little Five began to roll-call and when they finished, Zhang Lin swung his hand and shouted “Depart!”

People who didn’t know him might think he was a bureau leader.

“Get on the bus!” Little Five waved at him.

Zhang Lin poked his head in, there was only one seat left, beside Fatty.

“Stop searching, there’s only one seat left.” Little Five had boarded the car earlier.

“Fatty, move in a bit.” Zhang Lin couldn’t really fit in.

“I am already leaning to the side, half of my butt is hanging off the seat, and you can’t sit down, it’s time for you to lose weight.” Fatty squeezed as much as he could to the side.

Zhang Lin glared at him, took the seat by force. He wanted to curse, how could such a person exist, he thought to himself.

The convoy set off, winding its way along the village’s cement road, with occasional cars passing by.

If the oncoming vehicle was big, it would be inconvenient to pass them. The oncoming car would have to reverse until they reached a fork in the road or a specifically widened passing area.

Gradually, the vehicles branched off, and soon only the vehicle Yang Ping was riding in remained.

Xiao Su was very curious about the scenery seen from the window and frequently asked questions.

Yang Ping patiently answered her, occasionally including amusing countryside stories that were new to Xiao Su.

The two of them chatted with interest and enjoyment. After finishing their conversation, they suddenly fell silent, glanced at each other, immediately shifted their gazes, and blushed simultaneously.

The minivan started climbing the slope, with the driver constantly shifting gears and maneuvering the steering wheel dextrously.

At the sharp corners, it felt as if one would be flung out of the vehicle by the centrifugal force.

Those not accustomed to it would become anxious, but the driver did not seem to mind, perhaps he had gotten used to such roads.

Slowly, the minivan came to a stop. The other group on the minivan had reached their village and it was time for them to disembark. Yang Ping looked out, the entrance to the village was a staircase paved with stones leading up the mountain.

Four people disembarked, one liaison officer, three doctors, and nurses. There were some people waiting at the junction, they were likely there to receive them.

The minivan continued onward, winding and twisting, going deeper and deeper, an abundance of gigantic trees that were seldom seen were visible everywhere.

When the cement road finally led to a dead end, the liaison officer announced, “Doctors, we have arrived!”

“We’ve arrived!” Yang Ping reminded Xiao Su.

“Hmm,” Xiao Su softly agreed.

She felt confused. She had been thrown off balance by the mountain road earlier and had been on edge the whole time.

Yang Ping carried the luggage while Xiao Su offered, “I’ll carry some.”

“It’s fine, I had three eggs for breakfast.” Yang Ping laughed.

Some medical supplies had been moved to the health outpost in the village earlier, so all they were carrying now was their personal luggage.

The liaison officer had a big camera hanging around his neck, the kind that seemed very professional.

There were a few people waiting at the entrance of the village, and they came towards us as we got off.

“This is Village Chief Fang, this is Mago from the health station. We couldn’t pull out more manpower from the township hospital, so only Mago can assist us,” the liaison officer introduced.

An older man and a middle-aged woman came forward to shake hands with everyone.

There were also several young men, each carrying a pole. They looked at everyone with friendly smiles.

“Give all the luggage to them. These young lads came specially to help carry the luggage, the road ahead is not easy.” The liaison officer advised.

Yang Ping handed the backpack over to them. They hung it at the ends of their poles, and one man section handled the luggage.

The rest, with nothing to do, wanted to help the liaison officer carry his camera, but the liaison officer instinctively turned aside, “I can manage it myself.”

The group climbed up the steps. The young man carrying the luggage was lively, carrying the load rhythmically, and leading the way.

They were all dressed in the traditional cloth garments of the Yao Ethnic Group. Mago spoke Fluent Mandarin, while the village chief’s Mandarin was rather poor. He spoke a few sentences, but no one understood him.

The Village Chief laughed, and so did Yang Ping.

Mago translated for him: “He says, thank you all, thank you to the government.”

After climbing the steps, they entered a mountain path almost clinging to the rock cliff, about wide enough for two people side by side. There was a deep valley on one side, with a guardrail similar to those on highways running along the edge of the road.

The valley was filled with water, but it was unclear what to call it, a lake?

A motorcycle came from the opposite direction, and everyone made way for it.

People dared to ride motorcycles on such a road? Weren’t they afraid of falling off?

To read ten thousand books, and travel ten thousand miles.

The village chief said a few more words, seemingly about the guardrail.

Mago explained, “He said the railings were built by the government. They weren’t here before.”

Mago was very lively and introduced as they walked, “The reservoir is down below, it’s full of fish. Our whole village depends on this reservoir. There are fish buyers every day. They would park at the entrance of the village and come to the dam ahead.”

Seeing this reservoir, Yang Ping felt a natural fear.

But he still took Xiao Su to the inside and guarded her from the outside.

“The government had planned to build houses along the cement road and let everyone move out, but everyone disagreed. They were used to living here, generation after generation.” Mago said.

Mago graduated from a health school and had worked in coastal areas before, working in both pharmacies and clinics.

Later, when the village planned to build a health clinic, she, being a medical professional, returned to become the village doctor.

The cliff gradually became less steep, no longer perpendicular but slanting, and the rocks turned into earthen hills.

The road widened, the reservoir got bigger, and a boat moved across the water. The sound of its diesel engine was loud.

There was a bare hillside along the road, scattered with large and small stones, completely out of place with the lush surroundings.

A flat area was dug out halfway up the mountain, seemingly ready for construction.

There was a huge rock on the flat area, which looked to be several tons in weight.

“The former township chief cut down all the trees in this area without the villagers’ consent. The trees have already been cut down and there’s nothing we can do. The village chief plans to build a fish station on top of the hill to sell fish. That huge rock was originally at the top of the mountain, but it fell to the hillside during a landslide last year.” With Mago’s commentary, the mountain walk was not boring.

The young man carrying the luggage strode quickly. Mago told him to slow down.

He gave a simple and honest smile over his shoulder and slowed down.

The Village Chief said a few more words, and Mago helped translate, “He said that rock is very dangerous. It was planned to be blasted, but the blasting needs to be applied for through the township government. He has applied, but the township government hasn’t sent anyone to blast it. If they don’t come soon, he will get someone to roll the rock down into the reservoir.”

After nearly forty minutes, they finally saw the village.

The houses were old-fashioned, made of green bricks and tiles, three-storied, with overhanging eaves, very distinctive.

At the entrance of the village sat an old lady under a big tree by the front door of a similar house, puffing on a long pipe.

The clouds in the sky didn’t disperse, it seemed as if the sun was trapped, it showed a little face and then got covered by the clouds again.

“This is the village health clinic and also my home. Don’t stand on ceremony, please come in. This is my grandmother, she’s ninety-nine.”

Mago quickly invited everyone in.

The sign for the health clinic was hanging on the side of the house.

A middle-aged man walked out of the house, chuckling, “Everyone, please come in and sit.”

“Why not sit outside and enjoy the scenery?” the liaison officer suggested, seeking Yang Ping’s opinion.

“This is my husband. He works on the reservoir.” said Mago.

Mago’s husband brought out long benches, while Mago brought out a bamboo chair for Xiao Su to sit on.

“Our medical outreach will be held here soon. Everyone heard the doctors from the city were coming, so they decided to stay and wait for the outreach.”

Old lady asked Mago something in dialect. Mago responded to her, then turned to them and said, “She asked if the city officials have arrived. She told me to make tea and pour water for you all. She said not to just stand there.”

Everyone laughed, the old lady was ninety-nine but still so sturdy.

Yang Ping looked at the old lady. Although her facial wrinkles were as deep as orange peel, her body was sturdy, her eyes were bright, and her hearing was sharp. Mago had spoken to her in a regular tone.

“Doctor Yang, people say that smoking is bad for health, but granny smokes and she’s ninety-nine but still so healthy?” The liaison officer said while fiddling with his camera.

“Granny has longevity genes, ordinary people shouldn’t compare with her.” Yang Ping laughed.

Those young men had already started to get busy.

They were setting up sun umbrellas at the entrance and arranging tables and chairs.