Chapter 15: Hobbies, Veterinarian

Immersed in his studies, Li Aiguo unhesitatingly rejected Yan Bugui's request to introduce him to a potential match.

A woman.

Ha... nothing compares to the joy of learning.

He had forgotten to add coal again last night, and the coal stove had long since gone out.

Li Aiguo decided to head to a small restaurant on the street to sort out breakfast.

He scooped a ladle of cold water, squeezed out a dollop of Phoenix toothpaste, and went through the motions of washing his face and brushing his teeth, grooming himself until he was clean and tidy.

He changed into his school uniform and slung his canvas bag over his shoulder.

Glancing at himself in the mirror: *Hey, this kid looks exactly like a college student.*

He pushed the door open and stepped out.

Outside, the sun was bright, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and the songs of birds.

It was currently rush hour; the residents of the courtyard were moving out in small groups, carrying canvas bags, chatting and laughing as they walked.

After greeting some familiar neighbors, he passed through the crescent-shaped gate.

As Li Aiguo was wondering who to approach at the neighborhood committee to process his letter of introduction, he suddenly spotted a lovely figure.

Qin Huairu was wearing a blue floral print shirt with the sleeves rolled high, revealing snow-white arms, as she crouched by the water tank, "scrub-scrub-scrubbing" the laundry.

The hem of her shirt rose and fell with her movements, and at times, a patch of snow-white skin peeked out from her waistband, inviting much imagination.

Passing male workers couldn't help but slow their pace, their eyes wandering indecisively.

The female workers, on the other hand, couldn't resist spitting and cursing her for being "shameless," while simultaneously widening their eyes to pinch their own husbands' ears, threatening them with no bedtime that night.

This was considered a classic scene in the courtyard.

Li Aiguo found it a bit baffling—didn't Qin Huairu know that there was something in Beijing called a folding stool?

M-a-ma, zh-a-zha, ma, zha.

When other residents of the courtyard washed clothes, they would sit on a folding stool and place the washbasin on a flowerbed.

It saved effort, prevented back strain, and most importantly, didn't expose the lower back.

Qin Huairu, however, seemed to find nothing wrong with her posture. From time to time, she would tuck her hair back, lightly bite her red lips, and look up at her surroundings, her small face filled with a sense of bashfulness.

Just this time, she happened to catch Li Aiguo's eye.

"Aiguo, everything from the past is in the past. You don't need to hold a grudge against me. From today on, we are still good neighbors."

With a smile on her face, Qin Huairu stopped her work and said earnestly, "It's not easy for you to live on your own. If you have any dirty clothes that need washing, just say the word. Don't always trouble the Third Aunt. I saw it yesterday—after the Third Aunt helped you wash your clothes, she broke off more than half of your soap."

The soap was broken off by the Third Aunt?

He hadn't noticed that.

"No need. I made myself very clear that day—there is no relationship between us."

Li Aiguo's mouth twitched. He gave a perfunctory response and hurried away, leaving the middle courtyard.

Being well-versed in the plot, he had no interest in dealing with a vampire.

Furthermore, he had not forgotten the endless hatred in the original owner's heart before he died.

Watching Li Aiguo's retreating back, Qin Huairu's eyes darted around. Thinking of something, she pursed her lips and smiled radiantly.

In this world, there was no such thing as an enemy to Qin Huairu.

No matter how great the grudge, she had the means to resolve it.

It just depended on whether the person was worth the effort.

Reaching the front courtyard.

After greeting the Third Aunt, who was hanging clothes to dry, Li Aiguo exited the courtyard.

Turning a corner past Dongzhimen, he arrived at the famous Guijie.

This famous dining street in Beijing was already beginning to take shape in this era, with small restaurants lining both sides of the road.

Li Aiguo found a shop specializing in steamed buns and ordered two to line his stomach, then requested a cup of Douzhi (fermented mung bean milk) before leaving.

*Cough, Douzhi tastes like sour water...*

He forced it down. Walking a little further, he saw the neighborhood committee office.

The office was also a courtyard house with steps at the entrance, though there were no heavily armed security guards.

Li Aiguo entered the guardhouse at the entrance and offered a cigarette to the elderly guard: "Uncle, may I ask your surname?"

"My surname is Qin."

Old Man Qin took the cigarette, sniffed it under his nose, and tucked it behind his ear.

"Uncle Qin, I'm a resident of the courtyard. I want to apply for a letter of introduction. What's the procedure?" Li Aiguo asked with a smile.

"A letter of introduction?" Old Man Qin walked out of the room and pointed to the west wing. "See that room? Go in and find Old Wang."

"Old Huang?"

"Old Wang!"

"Thank you, Uncle. See you around."

Old Wang was a little old man in his fifties with patches on his knees and elbows, specifically in charge of household registration.

After understanding the situation, he didn't ask many questions. He took out a fountain pen, pulled out a sheet of paper, and scribbled for a while.

Then, he took out a seal, breathed on it, and stamped a red mark.

The entire process took less than two minutes.

Just as Li Aiguo stepped out with his letter of introduction, he ran into Yan Jiecheng.

Yan Jiecheng was there to process a travel permit.

Needless to say, he was going to the countryside to use national grain coupons to exchange them for local ones.

Li Aiguo actually felt a bit of admiration for Yan Bugui, the Third Uncle.

Yan Bugui had a high school education, started working in 1934, and had 22 years of seniority; his salary grade was at least a level six.

His monthly salary was 37.82 yuan.

The Third Aunt had no job, so the whole family relied on that 37.82 yuan to get by, which was quite difficult.

However, through his own calculations, Yan Bugui had not only raised several children but also acquired a bicycle and a radio.

Later on, he was even the first member of the working class in the courtyard to buy a television.

Xu Damao and Liu Haizhong held leadership positions at the time, so they couldn't be counted.

When the "spring breeze" blew, the money the Yan Jiecheng couple used to open their restaurant was also borrowed from the Third Uncle.

All of this money was calculated by Yan Bugui.

One had to admit, he was a capable man.

After exchanging greetings, Li Aiguo took his letter of introduction to the Women's Cultural and Sports Store and successfully obtained a library card.

However, with the library card, he could only borrow three books at a time, which was far from satisfying his need for study.

Thus.

Just like yesterday, he found seven or eight books of similar thickness and sat down on a long bench to read.

As time passed, more and more customers entered the store.

Li Aiguo looked up and saw that Ding Qiunan had arrived as well.

The girl was holding two medical books.

The job of an intern doctor was indeed quite leisurely.

After exchanging greetings, Li Aiguo immersed himself back into his studies.

*Postpartum Care for Sows...*

Catching a glimpse of the cover of the book in Li Aiguo's hand, Ding Qiunan's lip twitched.

This person was indeed a student with an interest in medicine, but his interest was in veterinary medicine.

"Thank you for yesterday."

"It was nothing."

At noon, Li Aiguo left the store, where Ding Qiunan was already waiting by the roadside.

She skipped over like a little white rabbit and handed him a book: "Here, I recommend you read this."

"*Veterinary Medicine Manual*?" Li Aiguo looked bewildered.

"Don't you want to learn veterinary medicine? Although I don't understand it, Doctor Liu at our hospital comes from a veterinary background, so I specifically asked him for advice."

Ding Qiunan's face flushed red. She tugged at the corner of her clothes and said with pursed lips, "Some books in bookstores are just amateurish. If you want to truly become a veterinarian who can stand on your own, you can't aim too high too fast; you have to start with the basics."

*Is that so? I didn't even know I wanted to be a vet.*

Smiling inwardly at his own thoughts, Li Aiguo took the manual, which was worth 0.01 skill points.

"Do you live in the back courtyard of the courtyard house?"

"Huh?"

Li Aiguo froze, saying in surprise, "Have we met before?"