Chapter 283: Success

Chapter 283 Success

While Chinese medicine takes longer to show results, precise medication can deliver results after just one dose.

After the fever subsided, Ye Xiaoxiao prescribed a modified blend of Xiangsha Liujunzi and Linggui Zhugan decoctions. "This needs to be taken long-term—one dose per day for twelve doses, and the lung condition will return to normal."

Since Ye Xiaoxiao's first prescription worked so quickly, any skepticism was quashed before it could surface.

Apart from the doctors who had previously discussed the condition, even the Commander now came over to have Ye Xiaoxiao take his pulse.

"You’re in good health, but your nighttime sleep could be better. Let me prescribe a calming decoction for you."

The decoction Ye Xiaoxiao prescribed was Gegen Tianma Lianzao, with adjusted dosages according to the Commander's condition.

The Commander kept nodding while holding the prescription. "Exactly, exactly. When you reach a certain age, sleep does become less restful."

Ye Xiaoxiao was ready to head back to base with Lu Hanchuan the next day.

However, the Commander and Political Commissar Xu still needed observation, so they pressed her to stay a few more days.

This place was more convenient than the Nalan Base, and water was more accessible.

Though conditions were better here, Ye Xiaoxiao was eager to return to the base.

"Xiao Ye, why not get reassigned here? Staying at the Nalan Base is truly a waste of your talent."

Seeing Political Commissar Xu gradually recover—transforming from a listless patient to someone full of vitality—the Commander was thoroughly impressed by Ye Xiaoxiao's medical skills.

"I’m just an intern," Ye Xiaoxiao shook her head. "I’ll be returning to school next year."

The Commander asked, "Where do you study, Xiao Ye?"

"Jinghua University," Ye Xiaoxiao replied.

Like everyone else, upon hearing that Ye Xiaoxiao was a student at Jinghua University, the Commander’s voice jumped an octave in surprise.

"Xiao Ye, why did you come all the way here from the capital?"

Ye Xiaoxiao glanced around—there was no one else in the Commander’s office.

So she told the truth directly, "My boyfriend is at the Nalan Base."

The Commander gave a knowing look. Young people—always so lovesick.

"What’s your boyfriend’s name?"

Ye Xiaoxiao had come with Lu Hanchuan, but neither of them had openly disclosed their relationship, so the Commander wasn’t privy to that detail.

"My boyfriend is Lu Hanchuan," Ye Xiaoxiao answered.

"Cough, cough…" The Commander almost did a spit-take.

That caught him completely off guard.

But upon reflection, it made sense. "No wonder Lu Hanchuan knows your medical skills so well and pushed so hard for you to treat Political Commissar Xu."

"Does that mean I can go back to the Nalan Base today?" Ye Xiaoxiao asked.

The Commander chuckled warmly. "I’ll call Lu Hanchuan and have him come get you."

"Thank you, Commander."

Ye Xiaoxiao's confident and composed manner made the commander like her even more.

She was still a college student but had plenty of guts.

Upon receiving the call, Lu Hanchuan immediately went to pick up Ye Xiaoxiao. If they returned today, the two could still ring in the New Year together.

By the time Ye Xiaoxiao left, Political Commissar Xu was already able to get out of bed and walk.

"Miss Ye, thank you. If it weren't for you, I don't know how much suffering I'd still be enduring. In a couple of days, I'll make sure to properly thank you," he said.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "You're too kind. This is just what I should do."

No matter what Ye Xiaoxiao said, Xu Zilin was determined to remember this kindness—after all, she pretty much saved his life.

On the way back, Lu Hanchuan studied Xiao Xiao closely.

"Did you manage okay staying away these past couple of days?"

"It was fine. Everyone was quite polite to me. Besides mixing and brewing remedies, I didn’t have much else to do," she said.

Lu Hanchuan: "That’s because our Xiao Xiao is amazing."

When Lu Hanchuan initially wanted Ye Xiaoxiao to come and give it a try, he had his doubts.

If she couldn’t cure Political Commissar Xu, people might laugh at them.

But Ye Xiaoxiao’s no-nonsense attitude had given him confidence.

In fact, he should reflect on himself.

He ought to trust Xiao Xiao more—his Xiao Xiao was truly remarkable.

Flushed with pride at her boyfriend's praise, Ye Xiaoxiao tilted her chin up proudly. "Of course! I've got my master's reputation to uphold," she said.

Ye Xiaoxiao had been gone for a whole week.

Li Zhen wasn’t used to life without her.

"Where did you go? With you gone these past couple of days, so many people at the Base were saying you’d given up, just like the previous intern doctor," she said.

Ye Xiaoxiao brushed off the rumors. "I went to treat someone," she said.

Li Zhen seemed thoughtful. "Was it some big shot?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Political Commissar Xu."

Li Zhen didn’t press further—there was no benefit in poking into officers' business.

"Wanna guess what's on the mess hall menu tomorrow for New Year's Day?" Li Zhen quickly changed the subject.

"Dumplings?"

That was all Ye Xiaoxiao could come up with.

"Maybe. But New Year's isn't that big a deal here. We get the day off, but there’s nothing special—but they'll spring for meat for sure," Li Zhen said.

Having spent many years at the Base, Li Zhen knew the drill.

Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t care much for meat, as she still had plenty of jerky among her snacks.

Although they had known in advance that the base would offer holiday perks for New Year’s, they hadn’t expected the canteen to slaughter several sheep and prepare braised lamb.

Even before the meal started, the smell from the canteen carried for miles.

Ye Xiaoxiao and Li Zhen brought their food back to eat, as the weather had grown colder and their room was warmer.

While eating, Li Zhen suddenly asked Ye Xiaoxiao, "What’s Beijing like, anyway?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Warmer than here, with taller buildings, more cars, and less sand."

More importantly, Beijing’s development far outpaced that of the northwest.

Saying it changes overnight wouldn’t be far off.

"I’ve never been out there, but seeing how everyone else wants to leave, I’d like to go out and see for myself. But I’m still short on cash—gotta fix that well first." Li Zhen’s dream of fixing the well remained unchanged.

Ye Xiaoxiao asked curiously, "Why do you want to repair the well?"

Li Zhen told her a story.

Li Zhen’s father was a soldier who later sacrificed himself during a mission, leaving only her mother and grandmother at home.

One year, during a severe drought, water from the well became priceless.

Her mother got into a fight over water and, after falling, bled out.

Though many people were around at the time, nobody helped her—they just scrambled for the water instead.

After Li Zhen’s grandmother passed away, Li Zhen, as the family of a fallen soldier, got special treatment and was assigned a job at the medical clinic.

That was why Li Zhen, despite not being a medical professional, could work as a nurse here.

After hearing Li Zhen’s story, Ye Xiaoxiao felt admiration for this tough young girl.

"How much more do you need?"

From what she knew, repairing a well here would cost at least a few grand, maybe even ten.

Experts would need to be hired to survey the local environment. If the groundwater was insufficient and the area lacked the conditions for well construction, Li Zhen’s dream might never happen.