Chapter 68 Oh my, why has everyone gathered here?

From the moment Xu Lin put pen to paper, Sun Huaisheng and his two companions did not take their eyes off the examination sheet.

They noticed that Xu Lin’s speed in answering was astonishing, as if thinking was unnecessary. She would glance at a question, and immediately write the answer, and the most shocking part was that while they were still reading the questions, Xu Lin was already filling in the answers.

At first, they suspected she might be scribbling nonsense, but once they looked closely at her responses, they were left speechless. Whether it was fill-in-the-blank or multiple-choice, not a single answer was wrong.

When it came to prescribing treatments for symptoms, the three were even more astounded, for Xu Lin managed to devise the simplest prescriptions with the best therapeutic effects. Moreover, her prescriptions ranged from those suitable for the wealthy to those affordable for the poor—not because she treated patients differently, but because she tailored the best treatment plan according to their financial capacity.

When Xu Lin finally put down her pen, Sun Huaisheng checked the time and remarked to his two old friends, “She’s only used half the time the other candidates needed.”

Liu Huairen stroked his beard and nodded, his face aglow with laughter. “Is it true, young friend, that you are self-taught?”

“Yes,” Xu Lin replied with a smile, for indeed, she had taught herself in Longguo.

As for other worlds, no one would believe the truth even if she told them.

“What medical books have you read?” Deng Yuxing asked, his eyes full of envy. If only Xu Lin were a relative of his own, he would spare no effort in nurturing her and would never let her be sent to the countryside.

When it came to medical books, Xu Lin had plenty to say. She had indeed read many volumes from Longguo, most of which she had seized from Brother Hu and the others—especially from the toy factory warehouse, where she acquired the largest stash: nearly twenty books, ranging from basic texts to rare editions.

After arriving in Qingshan County, she managed to get even more from Wu Chengguang and Ah Song, and every night before bed, she would read for two hours. Whenever time permitted, she would sneak in some reading during the day as well.

Faced with Deng Yuxing’s inquiry, she answered without a hint of guilt.

Soon, Sun Huaisheng and Liu Huairen joined in with their own questions, and the four of them conversed enthusiastically. The deeper their discussion of medical practice, the more astonished the trio became. Originally, Liu Huairen had considered taking Xu Lin as a disciple if she had no teacher, but after this exchange, he realized her medical skills surpassed his own.

If there had to be a mentor-student relationship, then Liu Huairen would be the pupil.

Xu Lin smoothly obtained her medical license, and gained two lifelong friends.

Liu Huairen and Deng Yuxing both expressed their hope that Xu Lin would visit them for a chat when she had free time, and they would treat her to a meal. If she ever had difficulties she couldn’t resolve, she could turn to them, and they would lend their utmost support.

Most importantly, if Xu Lin wanted to purchase medicinal herbs, she could seek them out. Liu Huairen consulted at Tongrentang, which not only sold but also collected herbs. If Xu Lin found herbs while foraging in the mountains, she could bring them there, opening up a new avenue for income.

Deng Yuxing, meanwhile, was in charge of managing traditional medicine at the county hospital, so his work was also closely tied to herbs.

Sun Huaisheng listened with a guarded expression, suspecting these two old foxes were trying to steal his protégé.

With the medical license in hand, Xu Lin no longer needed to worry about breaking the law when practicing medicine.

She bid farewell to Sun Huaisheng and the others, then rode her bicycle leisurely through Qingshan County. By a stroke of luck, Xu Lin encountered Ah Song near the county committee compound.

Ah Song looked dreadful, his dark eye circles rivaling those of a panda.

Xu Lin did not know why Ah Song was in the vicinity of the county committee compound, but it didn’t stop her from watching the unfolding drama.

Finding a deserted corner, Xu Lin put away her bicycle and stealthily followed Ah Song.

She saw Ah Song weave through several alleys, bypassing the compound and entering a household behind it.

Xu Lin glanced toward the compound, where only officials resided; then she looked at the house separated by a single alley—it was unlikely that ordinary people lived here.

Xu Lin was about to step forward and investigate when she heard faint footsteps and immediately darted into hiding.

Sixzi appeared, hurrying and scanning his surroundings before slipping into the yard.

Well, it seemed everyone was converging here. Was this their new rendezvous point?

Xu Lin wondered if Zhou Xuemei was present; recalling Zhou Xuemei’s identity, her gaze grew thoughtful.

She wondered whether Zhou Xuemei had connected with Qin Fang, and if so, whether Qin Fang would assign her a task.

With these doubts in mind, Xu Lin activated her spatial black hole to observe the situation in the yard.

The courtyard was over a hundred square meters, the main house had three rooms, the kitchen two, with no backyard, and a pile of firewood stacked in the northwest corner.

It looked simple enough, as if everything could be seen at a glance, but Xu Lin noted something unusual: Ah Song and Sixzi were nowhere to be found. The courtyard was not large, and if they weren’t in the rooms, there was only one explanation—they were inside a secret chamber.

Xu Lin considered her options, affixed an invisibility talisman to herself, and quietly climbed into the yard.

She carefully inspected the place but found nothing, then moved to the kitchen, where she found a large stash of grain—enough to feed a family for more than half a year.

Such a situation was uncommon in the village, let alone in the city, where everyone relied on monthly supply grain. Storing so much was even stranger.

Xu Lin discovered no secret mechanisms in the kitchen and turned her attention to the main house.

At the entrance sat an old woman, her eyesight poor; she struggled for ages to thread a needle without success.

With a long sigh, she set aside her sewing and swept her gaze around with apparent indifference, then after a rest, picked up her needle and thread once more, determined to win the battle.

Xu Lin didn’t enter the main hall, instead she used her mental power to scan the interior.

The hall was normal, the east room as well, but in the west room she found a piggy bank, filled with coins and change—not even two yuan in total.

With so little money, Xu Lin had no intention of touching it.

No anomalies in the courtyard, no anomalies in the house—so where had they gone? They couldn’t have vanished into thin air.

Xu Lin’s gaze fell on the side door; perhaps they left through the small entrance. She walked toward it, ready to open the door, when she suddenly halted, her eyes fixed on the firewood pile.

She examined it closely and finally noticed the oddity—the interior of the pile was hollow.

It appeared to be a massive stack of wood, but was empty inside.

Xu Lin immediately opened a spatial black hole beneath the firewood, and this time she made a discovery.

Beneath the pile was a deep, dark passage; following it for three or four meters, there was a turn, and beyond the corner a faint light shone.

A kerosene lamp hung on the wall, casting a dim glow.

As Xu Lin continued her surveillance, she heard a man’s agonized scream—was this a hidden prison?

She wondered which unfortunate soul was being held.

The unlucky Wu Chengguang was battered and bruised, his entire body wounded, his voice hoarse from crying.

Staring at Brother Song across from him, Wu Chengguang’s eyes were filled with confusion.