kvmb Chapter 682 Observations (2)
Chapter 682 Observations (2)
With five children in total, this old man can be considered blessed with many children.
In addition, what Li Mingyuan found most concerning was the proud look on the old man's face when he talked about his two daughters.
In the Xia Kingdom, there is a common phenomenon: people tend to value sons much more than daughters.
The reason is simple: in the Xia Kingdom, where manual labor was the main occupation, boys could provide far more labor capacity than girls, so people were more willing to have boys because of their interests.
However, the sex of a child is often determined by fate, not by human will. Therefore, many people are very disappointed when they have a girl, and they may even dislike her. In addition, the fact that girls will get married when they grow up further exacerbates people's dislike for girls. Some people even regard girls in their families as a financial burden.
This is what Li Mingyuan knew about the awkward situation of women in the Xia Kingdom.
However, the situation in Chenjia Village was completely different from what he had learned. Because both men and women could work and earn wages in Chenjia Village, people valued girls far more than in other places. Perhaps not to the same extent as boys, but at least they would not call their daughters "money-losing goods".
"Old man."
Li Mingyuan looked at the old man and asked, "You're so old, your daughter must be married by now, right?"
"of course."
The old man nodded: "My daughter got married a long time ago and now has several children. But they married not far away, in Xiahe Village, which is across from the farmland in this village, so they can come back to visit me often."
As he said this, the old man's face was full of a happy smile. Compared to people from other places, he was extremely lucky to be born in Chenjia Village and to have been born during Chen Dao's time travel. His three sons were able to earn money, allowing him to live a life free from worries about food and clothing. Although his daughter was married, she was still filial and would often bring gifts and visit him in Chenjia Village with her grandchildren.
It can be said that the old man's life has been quite fulfilling; his only regret is...
His wife passed away early and didn't get to enjoy the good life he has now.
"Grandpa, you're living a really good life."
Li Mingyuan said with a smile.
"It's alright, it's alright."
The old man grinned and asked in return, "Sir, are you here for a medical checkup too?"
"Me? I'm not here for medical treatment, I just came in to take a look around."
"You don't look like someone from our village. Are you from out of town?"
"Old man, you have a good eye. I am indeed from out of town."
"Where did it come from?"
"Liangzhou".
"..."
The two continued chatting, and from the old man, Li Mingyuan learned more about Chenjia Village.
According to the old man, Chenjia Village was no different from other poor villages. The villagers also lived a life of hunger until a year ago when their lives gradually improved.
The person who brought about this change was Chen Dao, whom everyone in Chenjia Village revered. He enabled all the villagers of Chenjia Village to live a good life, and he also benefited countless people who came to work in Chenjia Village.
"Old man, I'm not talking to you anymore, it's my turn to see the doctor!"
About half an hour later, it was finally the old man's turn to see a doctor. He said something to Li Mingyuan, then got up and went to the counter to have Su Shihua take his pulse and examine him.
Li Mingyuan sat in place, his bright eyes watching the elderly people coming and going in the lobby, seemingly never getting tired of it.
The scene inside Baicaotang can be said to be one of the visions that Li Mingyuan wanted to realize.
In his view, a clinic, a place for treating and saving lives, should never be aloof or exclusive to the wealthy and powerful; rather, it should benefit all ordinary people.
However, imagination is just imagination. In reality, clinics exist specifically to serve the powerful and wealthy. Only the rich can enjoy treatment from renowned doctors and afford the high costs of treatment.
As for ordinary people... they are lucky if they can find a barefoot doctor or a quack to help them with their illness. In reality, most people can only rely on their own physical strength to get through the illness. If they can pull through, that's fine, but if they can't... they can only wait to die, or spend all their money to find a doctor.
But in Chenjia Village, Li Mingyuan saw the vision he had always wanted to realize: here, medical resources were no longer out of reach, no longer only serving the powerful and wealthy, but benefiting every ordinary person.
Even an elderly person who is unable to work can receive treatment at the clinic and enjoy the health benefits it provides.
This was a sight Li Mingyuan had never seen before, even after traveling all over the land, and it was also the reason why he never tired of seeing it.
…………
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Time passed quickly, and soon it was noon when the sun was high in the sky.
At this time, the number of patients in Baicaotang gradually decreased.
It wasn't until the last patient left that Su Shihua noticed Li Mingyuan and the other two who had been sitting in the lobby the whole time.
"Who are these two?"
Su Shihua asked with a puzzled look in his eyes.
"Grandpa, you should know Sister Zheng Qiuyan. The other two are her elders, Grandpa Li Mingyuan and Uncle Li Qiao."
Su Qiaoxi quickly introduced Su Shihua.
Upon hearing that the two were Zheng Qiuyan's elders, Su Shihua quickly came out from behind the counter and greeted them warmly, saying, "Welcome, both of you."
"Hello, Dr. Su."
Li Mingyuan and his companion also quickly exchanged greetings.
Su Shihua, still enthusiastic, said, "You two and Miss Zheng have come all this way, why don't you have a simple meal at the restaurant?"
Li Mingyuan hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "Then I'll trouble you."
So, the group of five went to the backyard of Baicaotang, where Su Qiaoxi personally cooked a simple lunch, and then they sat in the backyard eating and chatting.
"Is Mr. Li from out of town?"
Su Shihua glanced at Li Mingyuan and asked curiously.
For some reason, he felt that the name Li Mingyuan sounded familiar.
"Exactly!"
Li Mingyuan nodded: "Li Qiao and I came from Liangzhou. We went to the county town first, and then came to Chenjia Village from there."
"So you came from Liangzhou."
Su Shihua suddenly realized, "Liangzhou must be in a very unstable situation, right?"
Upon hearing Liangzhou, Su Shihua couldn't help but recall the chaos that erupted in Taiping County due to the Liangzhou refugees. That night, countless people died in the county, and a large number of innocent people perished because of the Liangzhou refugees.
The starving refugees, upon seeing blood, seemed to transform into the most ferocious beasts, inflicting wounds on the people of the county that were difficult to heal for a long time.
It was precisely because of the impact of that wave of migrants entering the city that Su Shihua accepted Chen Dao's invitation and settled down in Chenjia Village.