Chapter 11: I Am Sorry, I Am a Medical Student
“Testament of an Old Poor Farmer,” “Living Ghost Shao Zhancheng,” “The Evils of Landlords,” “Vampire Yang Zhanggao” — No, these books are too thin.
“Complete Works of Gorky,” “The Golden Bowl of Batemir,” “Little Things and Infectious Diseases” — Cough, these books are too thick.
Li Aiguo’s eyes slowly scanned the bookshelf, his hand outstretched, ready to grab a book, but in the end, he could only scratch his head and let his hand slide past the books.
If a book is too thick, the dog system won’t grant many skill points.
If it’s too thin, the dog system will definitely deduct skill points.
To maximize benefits, it’s best to choose books of moderate thickness.
Li Aiguo was now selecting books based on the thickness of the few textbooks his family owned.
Philosophy and history books were all hefty volumes. He turned around and headed to the professional skills textbook section.
This time, he had come to the right place.
Pushing through the crowd, he found a book on the shelf titled “Stories of Production Struggles and Scientific Experiments.”
It was just the right thickness.
Li Aiguo hugged the book to his chest and continued searching for the next target.
“Land Surveyors of the Earth,” “Selected Short Stories on Agricultural Cooperativization,” “Broadcast Song Collection”...
Not bad at all, can keep.
Soon, Li Aiguo’s arms were filled with seven or eight books.
His gaze fell on a red-covered book ahead; if he took this one too, he’d have enough for today.
He reached out and grabbed the book, ready to turn back.
The book slipped back.
Reach back.
Slip back.
Reach.
Slip.
…
“Hey, I’ve invented a perpetual motion machine, hey!”
Li Aiguo applied more force.
The person opposite seemed to have given up.
He pulled the book free and hugged it to his chest, when a pair of beautiful eyes flashed from between the shelves.
But the gaze those eyes shot was strange—no anger, but something else…
Li Aiguo had once seen that look before, but that was directed at patients in the Sixth Mental Hospital.
The person fled onto the street, shouting loudly.
…
It’s just a book. Is it really necessary to look at me like I’m crazy?
In this era, tough girls were not uncommon. Li Aiguo was prepared for a friendly tussle over the book’s ownership.
The girl stepped out from behind the bookshelf, sizing him up from head to toe, her brows furrowed tightly.
“Comrade, I didn’t expect you to be reading ‘The Chinese Female Pelvis’ too?”
???
Li Aiguo glanced down. The gold-embossed title on the grayish-brown cover shimmered in the sunlight.
“…”
He fell silent for a moment and then looked up, meeting the girl’s eyes evenly.
“Sorry, I’m a medical student.”
“What a coincidence! Me too, I’m studying at the medical college next door. Which school are you from?” The girl’s big black eyes widened.
“...I’m a student who loves medicine.”
Li Aiguo studied her fair, rosy cheeks, sensing a faint familiarity, as if he had met her before, but couldn’t recall where or who she was.
“…”
The girl was silent.
She took a deep breath, extended her hand, and pursed her lips.
“Hello, comrade, my name is Ding Qiunan. I’m a medical student currently interning at Nantongluo Alley Community Hospital. I urgently need this book. Could you please let me have it first?”
Fearing Li Aiguo would refuse, she quickly added, “Don’t worry, I only need it to look up some information. Just two days.”
Li Aiguo knew of Nantongluo Alley Community Hospital.
It was a small community hospital with only three or four doctors, treating minor ailments like headaches and diarrhea.
Because residents had easy reimbursement, it never lacked patients.
When he was a child, Li Aiguo’s health was poor; he often received injections there.
But he had never seen Ding Qiunan before—probably a newcomer.
Wait, what did she say her name was?
Ding Qiunan?
Li Aiguo’s eyes widened.
Wasn’t she the female protagonist of “People Are Iron, Rice Is Steel”?
Li Aiguo instinctively scrutinized her: a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl, beautiful and elegant.
She wore a commonly seen pale red short-sleeved blouse with floral patterns.
Her short twin ponytails were adorable, her face oval-shaped with delicate features and bright eyes.
Her blue Terylene pants fit tightly, accentuating her figure, radiating youthful energy.
At that moment, she was staring at him with those bright, lively eyes.
“Hello, I’m Li Aiguo. You can have this book first.”
To Li Aiguo, the content of the book was unimportant; thickness mattered most.
There were plenty of other books on the shelf of similar thickness.
After handing the book to Ding Qiunan, he quickly found another book with a blue cover, perfectly moderate in thickness.
Ding Qiunan hugged the book, intending to thank Li Aiguo, but her eyes caught sight of the book he had just picked up.
“Compilation of Veterinary Acupuncture”...
Her mouth twitched slightly, but the thanks dissolved before it could escape.
…
“People of the world, unite to oppose all imperialism! Comrade, I want to borrow these books.”
The female clerk looked at the thick stack on the table and frowned.
“Resolutely, thoroughly, and completely annihilate all invaders; comrade, according to regulations, you can only borrow three books at a time. Also, where is your library card?”
Li Aiguo was dumbfounded.
He’d never borrowed books before in his entire life; he didn’t even have a library card.
“Can I get one here?”
“Fee is fifty cents. Do you have an introduction letter?” the clerk held out her hand.
“An introduction letter for a library card?” Li Aiguo was surprised.
The clerk was a bit annoyed. How could someone not know such basic things? She suspected he was here to cause trouble.
Her tone grew sterner:
“How novel. Without an introduction letter, how do I know who you are or where you live? If you borrow books and don’t return them, where do we find you?”
Li Aiguo began to understand.
In this era, there was no ID card. The household registration page proving identity was stored in the archives at the street office.
To prove identity, one had to go to the street office for an introduction letter.
Fine, then no borrowing today.
Anyway, the bookstore had a few long benches where he could sit and read.
“Can I read here then?”
“Sure, just don’t take the books out.”
The clerk said this and ignored him, lowering her head to knit a sweater.
In this season, knitting a sweater meant it was for a lover.
Li Aiguo smiled faintly to himself and found a seat, arms full of books.
“Skill points +1”
“Skill points +1”
“Skill points +!”
...
After spending the entire morning, he finished seven books and gained seven skill points.
Level up!
He manipulated the panel, putting all seven skill points into Steam Engine Operation.
Steam Engine Operation: 23 → 30
A familiar dizziness swept through his mind, and Li Aiguo squinted slightly.
Internal structure of steam engines: A train driver who can’t repair trains is not a good driver.
This section covered the internal structure of all trains currently on the market.
The system even humanely highlighted common fault points on trains and their solutions.
It could be said that Li Aiguo’s skill level was now close to a first-class mechanic.
He nodded in satisfaction.
Indeed, a person who relies on their own efforts can rise above others anywhere in the world.
Closing the book, he checked the time—half an hour before noon.
He could squeeze in a low-value book.
Every little bit counts; Li Aiguo was a down-to-earth man.
This time, he chose a few comic books to both gain points and relax.
...