Chapter 199: On Newspapers All Over the Country, Now a Celebrity

“I never would have thought that Dr. Gu is actually from our county! That’s such an honor.”

“She’s the doctor who can cure tuberculosis! And now I’ve actually met her parents—what a privilege.”

“Oh my, how did you two raise her? To have such an accomplished daughter as Dr. Gu!”

Before they knew it, Father Gu and Yao Chunhua were surrounded by a crowd, everyone full of praise.

At first, the couple felt a bit flustered at being the center of attention, but when they realized everyone was complimenting their daughter, they couldn’t help but beam with joy.

“That’s right, that’s my daughter!”

“She’s so beautiful—beautiful and capable.”

“Yes, our Ningning is also very filial. She married an officer from Beijing, and she’s an excellent doctor…”

“She’s even been in the newspapers! She’s the pride of our county.”

…

It was the first time Father Gu and Yao Chunhua had been surrounded and celebrated because of their daughter’s achievements. The pride and happiness they felt was written all over their faces.

The couple exchanged a glance, both thinking to themselves: See, loving our daughter was the right thing to do. Just look at how successful Ningning is.

The village chief looked at the happy couple, then at the newspaper in his hand, his own face glowing with excitement.

A child from Huaishu Village had made it big!

She’d been featured in newspapers all over the country and become a celebrity.

He’d always thought highly of Gu Jianing—she was beautiful and capable. Ah, if only his own son had been more promising, maybe he could have pursued Gu Jianing and made her his daughter-in-law.

How enviable, to have a daughter like that.

Of course, the village chief would never admit that, back when he saw Gu Jianing chasing after Wen Zhuqing, he was so exasperated with her. He’d repeatedly warned his son not to fall for Gu Jianing—a girl with her heart set on another man, who, aside from her looks, wasn’t much good at farm work, was not daughter-in-law material.

Now, with someone from Huaishu Village making the national news, he had to let the whole village know.

It was a matter of pride for Huaishu Village.

In fact, he’d bought up every newspaper that mentioned Gu Jianing.

He planned to read out the news about Gu Jianing on the village loudspeaker three times a day for a whole month.

He wanted everyone in the village to look up to Gu Jianing as a role model.

He also wanted the Gu family to know how much Huaishu Village valued her.

Who knows—maybe as Gu Jianing became even more accomplished, she’d give back to Huaishu Village.

After all, this was her hometown, where she grew up, where her parents and siblings still lived.

But just as the village chief was hurrying back, he was stopped.

He and the Gu couple were invited by the county leaders for tea.

There was nothing more to it—just tea.

The county officials were extremely warm, especially toward Yao Chunhua and Father Gu, as Gu Jianing’s parents.

When the county leaders first saw the newspaper, they were amazed by Gu Jianing.

They’d even sighed, wishing someone like her could come from their county.

Then, as they read on, they realized—wait, Dr. Gu Jianing really was from their county, from Huaishu Village!

The official was instantly thrilled.

Having someone like her come from his county was a political achievement.

Someone like her—and her family—deserved special attention.

If Dr. Gu Jianing became even more accomplished, she might give back to Qingshan County.

And there was another reason.

Gu Jianing was a doctor—a highly skilled doctor who could cure tuberculosis.

He knew how hard TB was to treat.

He also knew how many people died from it in those days.

So Gu Jianing’s medical skills spoke for themselves.

And in life, who doesn’t get sick? At times like that, a skilled doctor is invaluable.

So, he had to build a good relationship with Gu Jianing and her family.

When he heard Gu Jianing’s parents were in town, he immediately had them invited over.

As for the village chief—well, he was just brought along.

After chatting with Yao Chunhua and Father Gu, the official learned that not only was Gu Jianing an outstanding doctor, but her husband was a young officer, just in his twenties, already at the deputy regimental level.

What did that mean?

It meant her husband had a bright future, too.

Both husband and wife were talented and promising—definitely worth befriending!

The official also realized that although Gu Jianing had married out, she was still very close to her family.

He couldn’t really help Gu Jianing and her husband directly.

But he could help the Gu family.

If he supported the Gu family, Gu Jianing and her husband would surely remember the favor.

He happened to have a few “iron rice bowl” (secure government job) positions to allocate, so he decided to give two to the Gu family.

So, when Yao Chunhua and Father Gu left the county office, they had been granted one job at the grain station and another at the supply and marketing cooperative.

The couple were in a daze.

“Old man, pinch me—am I dreaming?” Yao Chunhua said.

“No, you pinch me instead,” Father Gu replied.

So, the next second, Yao Chunhua pinched him hard on the waist.

Father Gu yelped, but instead of complaining, his face lit up with joy. “It hurts, so it’s real! The county leaders really gave us two iron rice bowl jobs.”

“Yes, at the grain station and the supply co-op!”

Either one was a cushy, well-paid job.

And in these times, you couldn’t buy such jobs even if you had money.

Now, the county leaders had just given them two, for free.

How could they not be overjoyed?

But soon, they sobered up.

Father Gu said first, “We have to tell Ningning about these two jobs.” They knew very well that it was because of Ningning that the county leaders had given their family these opportunities.

“That’s right, we have to tell her.”

“No matter who gets these jobs, we have to make sure our three sons and daughters-in-law know that it’s all thanks to Ningning. They need to remember how good she’s been to the family.”

“Of course. But our three sons, plus Manman and Su Miao, we know they’re not ungrateful. Before Ningning got married, they all doted on her so much.”"