Reborn in 1977

Chapter 123: Regretfully Decline

Seeing Master Liu jump out of the vehicle and lead the mule inside, Chen Fan also called out to Jiang Lili to get out of the vehicle and follow behind, leading the donkey.

The courtyard of the veterinary station wasn't large, and there were several flatbed carts and wheelbarrows parked inside.

Chen Fan was about to pull the mule over when he saw Master Liu beckon him, "Bring it around to the back."

Chen Fan looked in the direction he was walking and saw that there was a passage beside the veterinary station's building.

Walking through the passage, there was another courtyard behind.

At this time, a group of people were busy in the courtyard, one of whom greeted Master Liu, "How is it? Were those books useful?"

Master Liu shouted loudly, "Useful, definitely useful! The prescriptions have all been written, and now I've come to get the medicine."

Hearing this, several of the busy people stopped what they were doing and hurried over.

They scanned Chen Fan and Jiang Lili's faces twice, then looked at the little foal lying on the flatbed cart, and finally settled on Chen Fan, "You're Master Chen? You can understand veterinary books?"

Chen Fan quickly responded politely, "I don't dare to be called 'Master,' just call me Little Chen."

Then he said, "It's not that I can understand them, it's just that the foal's condition seems a lot like acute gastroenteritis, and there are prescriptions for treatment in the book, so I wanted to try them out."

An old man, about the same age as Master Liu, walked quickly to him and asked anxiously, "I've examined this foal, and three doses of decoction haven't worked. What's the prescription you're talking about?"

Chen Fan immediately walked to Master Liu's mule cart, found a book, turned to the page on treating gastroenteritis, and handed it to the person who had come over with him, "It's this one. The book says that gastroenteritis in animals like mules and horses is a severe inflammation of the gastric and intestinal mucosa and its deeper tissues in equines, clinically presenting with severe gastrointestinal dysfunction and auto-intoxication."

After he finished reading, the man immediately nodded, "Yes, yes, this horse just can't eat and can't excrete. After giving it medicine, it can only excrete a little bit of horse manure, and it's dry and small, and the urine is also very little and dark, which is very abnormal. It's obvious that there's a problem with the stomach and intestines."

After a pause, he asked, "How should this be treated?"

Chen Fan's mouth twitched slightly. 'I've already put the book in front of you, and you're asking me how to treat it?'

However, he still said seriously, "The book gives four prescriptions. The first is Tongguan Powder, using 200 to 250 grams of magnesium sulfate and 1000 milliliters of liquid paraffin oil, mixed and administered by drenching; the second is to inject penicillin…; the third is to use glucose injection…; the fourth is Xiaoshi Jianwei Powder…"

The man listened carefully to what he said, then raised his head and thought for a moment. After a while, a look of realization appeared on his face, "I understand, I understand. I'll go get the medicine now."

Saying that, he ran towards the house.

At this time, a person who looked like an old farmer walked over and said with a bitter face, "Master Wang, we came first, and the mule is already on the rack…"

Chen Fan looked over and saw a mule not far away, clamped in a cage-like rack, and fixed by several wooden sticks and ropes, unable to move at all.

Before the person called Master Wang could speak, a young man suddenly rushed over, pointed at his nose, and scolded, "Are you trying to cut in line? I'm telling you, hurry up and see my mule first, or I'll report you to the commune and send you 'upstairs.'"

Chen Fan was immediately dumbfounded. Was it that fierce?

Wasn't it said that veterinarians had a very high status now?

Is this it?

Master Wang quickly said, "You don't know what kind of people we are? Doesn't your old man know?"

Hearing this, the young man immediately turned to look at his father.

The old farmer hesitated for a moment, then waved his hand at his son, "Master Wang and the others aren't that kind of people."

Hearing this, Master Wang's face looked a little better, and then he pointed to the little foal and said, "This horse was brought here for treatment five days ago and hasn't gotten better. This Master Chen found the prescription in a veterinary book, and Station Chief Zhou went to get the medicine.

Why did we ask Master Chen first? Because your mule, like this little foal, also has acute gastroenteritis, so when Station Chief Zhou heard Master Liu say it could be treated, of course, he had to ask for the prescription first, or your mule wouldn't get better either, understand?"

Hearing this, the young man's face immediately turned red, but he didn't apologize and just stood aside without saying a word.

On the other hand, his father's face showed great joy, "So, my mule can be saved?"

Master Wang patiently explained, "It still depends on whether the prescription works. If it does, it should be fine."

After a pause, he looked at the old farmer's nervous face and gave him a reassuring pill, "Our Station Chief Zhou has also taken classes at the prefectural committee training class. From the way he looked just now, there should still be some hope. Don't be too anxious, you'll see the results in a moment."

The old farmer thanked him again, then took his son to guard beside the wooden railing.

The people at the veterinary station weren't idle either. Some went into the house, probably to help Station Chief Zhou prepare the medicine, while others went to examine the little foal.

Chen Fan then whispered to Jiang Lili, "What does 'upstairs' mean?"

Jiang Lili glanced at him and said in an even lower voice, "It means that if someone files a report, the problematic cadres will be temporarily suspended to accept investigation. This situation is called 'upstairs' by the commune members.

When the problem is explained clearly and the commune members' forgiveness is obtained, it's 'downstairs.'"

Chen Fan blinked and asked with a hint of curiosity, "Will all reports be investigated?"

Jiang Lili nodded, "Since the end of last year, communes across the country have been carrying out the 'Learn from Dazhai' campaign. At this time, everyone from top to bottom is watching. If a report is received and not investigated, people will continue to report upwards, and all those traced down will be punished."

Chen Fan clicked his tongue. The small thoughts that had just floated up quickly sank down again.

Forget it, barefoot doctors and veterinarians aren't urgent. It's better to stay put than to move. It's better for me to be an announcer honestly, turning the machine on and off every day, and reading the notices. That's pretty good too.

After a while, Station Chief Zhou and the others ran out, holding enamel trays containing medicine and syringes, and then divided into two groups, one to see the mule and the other to come to the foal.

Under the veterinarian's direction, Chen Fan carried the foal to the livestock shed by the wall, then held its head and comforted it, "It's okay, it'll be fine after taking the medicine."

Station Chief Zhou personally came to treat the foal. Seeing Chen Fan communicating with the foal, he couldn't help but smile and said, "You're good material for being a veterinarian. Do you want to come and participate in the training class? As long as you train for two months, you can be issued a 'Rural Veterinarian Certificate,' and your brigade will also have a veterinarian."

If it hadn't been for what had just happened, Chen Fan would have mostly agreed.

But at this time, he quickly declined, "Thank you for the station chief's kindness. I'm now the brigade's announcer, and I want to do my job well first."

Station Chief Zhou didn't say anything. He prepared the medicine, took out a funnel-like thing, and was about to stuff it into the horse's mouth.

Chen Fan took it over again and easily let the foal hold it.

Station Chief Zhou was feeding the medicine into the horse's mouth while marveling, "The last time it came, it wasn't so cooperative. This horse is very obedient in your hands. It's really strange."