As the words fell, a man who appeared to be in his fifties stepped out from the house.
He was extremely tall and thin, with grey hair and a rosy complexion. His vibrant spirit made him stand out from the average person. His face was stern and serious, devoid of any trace of a smile.
"Who among you is looking for me?" Wu Zheng looked at Feng Qingxue and Lu Jiang.
"Good day, Dr. Wu!" Feng Qingxue pushed the wheelchair forward as Lu Jiang sat up straight. "My wife and I have dared to intrude uninvited; please accept our apologies," he respectfully bowed to Wu Zheng.
Upon hearing the word "wife," Feng Qingxue’s heartstrings were plucked, she didn’t even realize how radiant the smile on her face had become.
Lu Jiang, dressed in his uniform, easily won everyone’s favor.
Wu Zheng stepped aside, "Come in, let’s talk."
Feng Qingxue, pushing Lu Jiang, entered the main room where a woman close in age to Wu Zheng, his wife, sat sewing clothes. She looked up, her gaze falling on Feng Qingxue, she couldn’t help but smile warmly, "Ah, such a handsome child! Are you here for Dr. Wu’s consult?"
As Feng Qingxue handed over the gifts and letter, she replied, "Good day, Madam. We’ve come uninvited and firstly seek the help of Dr. Wu in examining my husband’s condition for any precautions needed. Secondly, Dr. Guo entrusted us with a letter for Doctor Wu; we also have something to request from him."
"Your visiting is enough; why bring gifts?" Mrs. Wu accepted the letter and handed it to Wu Zheng.
"How can we come seeking help empty-handed?"
At Feng Qingxue’s words, Mrs. Wu burst out laughing, "Rest assured, whether your hands are empty or not, we wouldn’t chase you away!"
Wu Zheng finished reading the letter and looked at Feng Qingxue, "You want to learn medicine?"
Why? Feng Qingxue pondered for a moment and seriously replied: "Do you want a polite answer or an honest one?"
A faint smile appeared on Wu Zheng’s serious face, "Of course, an honest one. I’ve heard enough polite talk and am quite fed up with it."
"My honest answer is that I want to learn medicine—not for the glorious fame of healing the world—but to ensure the health of my family and friends on top of taking care of them." Feng Qingxue’s expression was very serious. "We live in the countryside, where I understand firsthand the lack of medical care. No matter if it’s a major illness or a minor injury, our neighbors and friends all suffer. Small injuries and diseases are endured with resilience, and if one survives them, they are considered lucky. But when confronted with serious illnesses and injuries that can’t be endured, there’s nothing left to do but wait for death."
Thinking back to Hongling’s child, who died soon after birth, Feng Qingxue’s serious expression turned into one of sadness "Often, serious illnesses are the consequence of minor ailments being neglected. If treatment was administered at the onset of sickness, they wouldn’t have had to lose their lives! Infant mortality rates in the countryside are extremely high due to improper midwifery and postnatal care, which also leaves many children motherless. Dr. Wu, I have no grand ambitions; I just want to start by learning how to treat minor ailments and injuries. This way, at least our families and friends will receive proper and correct treatment when they fall ill, preventing minor diseases from progressing into serious ones."
Wu Zheng listened quietly, his expression unchanging.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Wu was deeply moved; holding onto Feng Qingxue’s hand, she said, "Your dedication is truly commendable, regardless of whether you possess any innate aptitude for medicine. Your dedication alone qualifies you to be a physician."
A doctor’s heart must be one of benevolence; only those with benevolence can truly become good doctors.