Rebirth: My Dear Little Wife Is So Scheming

Chapter 994: Chapter 994 The Town

"Why did I find that all these houses are two-story?"

Bai Xiao also didn’t understand why, despite not being wealthy, every household here had two-story wooden or bamboo houses.

Though they were dilapidated, they were still two-story.

Xiaoyu laughed, "This is our local tradition, and these houses are called stilt houses.

Don’t be fooled by the two stories. The first floor is never used for living; it’s for livestock. The second floor is where people live. Because of the damp climate here, these houses are better ventilated and get more sunlight. Otherwise, people living here would get moldy."

Only then did Bai Xiao realize that this unique house structure was due to the geographical and climatic conditions here.

Upon closer inspection, the lower level consisted mostly of just a few columns, with railings instead of walls. Through the railings, you could see the interior divided into several square compartments—one for pigs, another for tools and sundries, one for firewood, and one empty one, but outside you could see chickens and ducks foraging, so that must be their coop.

"But why does the hospital use the first floor for the clinic?"

As they walked out of the hospital, they saw more clearly this time that the hospital indeed had the clinic on the first floor and living quarters on the second floor.

"Don’t think it’s odd that the clinic is on the first floor; the hospital has been elevated. There’s actually half a floor left open beneath the clinic for ventilation. Since there’s no need to keep livestock, the first floor of the hospital is only for moisture protection, so the hospital appears taller.

This hospital was built with specially allocated government funds during a poverty alleviation program years ago. It’s the only township hospital around for miles." The pride in the voice was unmistakable.

Her father spent months lobbying the government poverty alleviation task force in the county to get the funding to build a hospital for the local community. But to call it a hospital today, it’s still just a small, shabby shed. Emergency patients can’t even be admitted.

Let alone talking about the equipment and medications.

Her father had to plead and beg to get the hospital its only set of ultrasound equipment and to establish their inpatient department.

Although very few would be hospitalized, as none could afford the hospital fees. noveldrama

Yet, this is the largest hospital with the most advanced equipment in the surrounding villages, and it’s her father’s pride.

Listening to Xiaoyu recount her father’s experiences, Bai Xiao had true admiration for this dean who had stayed rooted in this village for decades.

It requires not only medical ethics but also immense perseverance and a love for the local land.

Otherwise, survival in this remote area would be impossible.

Looking at the surrounding mountains, with their lush greens and clear waters, the environment is undeniably beautiful.

Yet, the poverty of the people here is evident.

Even though this is a renowned town, it still lacks paved roads, with streets merely covered in greenstone, and over the years, many stones have cracked, leaving the road bumpy and uneven.

But even for an outsider like Bai Xiao, this road felt luxurious.

Yes, compared to the muddy path we took last night, this road is indeed quite extravagant.

A quick lap would take less than half an hour, and you’d reach the end of the street, which also hosted the only local marketplace. Farmers came from the villages with baskets on their backs, setting them down to sell their goods by unveiling an oilcloth—mostly just vegetables, eggs, occasional wild game from the mountains, or home-raised chickens and ducks. The variety wasn’t rich, and the offerings seemed quite meager.

Yet, Bai Xiao enthusiastically bought a bunch of bamboo shoots, plus a chicken and some dried mushrooms. These were rare good finds, considering these were the only items Bai Xiao knew among others. She couldn’t even recognize, let alone prepare, the wild vegetables they had.

Xiaoyu looked at what Bai Xiao had bought, slightly embarrassed because her father had instructed her to host the guests from the big city well, even if they couldn’t offer luxurious food. But Bai Xiao buying a chicken after they just had stir-fried pork with sauerkraut for lunch seemed extravagant.

Besides, they still hadn’t finished the stir-fried pork with sauerkraut from the morning, and the leftovers could be enough for two more meals.

Even during festive times, families here rarely ate chicken. Most people raised chickens for either egg production to exchange for essential supplies or to sell them at the end of the year for money rather than for home consumption.

Probably, only some wealthier villages around here could afford to eat chicken.

Xiaoyu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, thinking perhaps her father was right—these city folks were really pampered. They were offered the best local dishes, yet they still struggled to adapt.

But little did Xiaoyu know, Bai Xiao didn’t buy the chicken for their indulgence.

From yesterday to today, Bai Xiao had understood that despite being called the dean, the hospital wasn’t wealthy, and the reception they received might have been the best available, likely better than what the dean enjoyed himself.

Just by looking at the rooms and bedding they were given, one could tell the conditions weren’t great. The hosts had used their best means to welcome them, likely stretching their resources to accommodate guests.

Furthermore, Bai Xiao overheard Xiaoyu saying they’ll be collecting rice from the countryside in the coming days.

If the five of them ate rice for every meal, Dean Lu might end up spending a substantial sum.

The things Bai Xiao bought today were meant to repay Dean Lu’s hospitality and to discuss the situation over this dinner. They came with their own rations, each having not just salaries but food stamps as well, so there was no need to burden the hospital’s resources.

They were here for poverty alleviation, not to make people go bankrupt. They intended to clarify the matter over dinner with Dean Lu.

Xiaoyu indeed misunderstood Bai Xiao.

Given Bai Xiao’s own experience in rural life, how could she not withstand the hardships? Moreover, if it weren’t for the changes brought about in her own family through her rebirth, her family would likely have had to endure corn mush and sweet potatoes.

Being able to enjoy rice and white flour in the countryside isn’t common. Despite nearing the 1990s, rural areas still struggled financially.

Especially in this rural part of the country.