DSMIS CH40

Chapter 40: Doctor Shen’s Return

Perhaps because he had crossed a certain threshold all at once, after Shen Xing nearly fainted from altitude sickness while performing CPR that day, he surprisingly didn’t suffer from altitude sickness again the next. Even after stopping the ibuprofen, his head didn’t ache anymore. This refreshing, clear-headed feeling was incredibly comfortable.

In the blink of an eye, he had been in this village for a week. He had almost visited all the households here and was scheduled to leave tomorrow. Feeling physically well, he also found himself in a leisurely mood. Wrapped in a thick down jacket, he sat on the steps at the entrance of the village committee building.

Although this village was remote and sat at a high altitude, the scenery was undeniably beautiful. It was just that the sunlight was too intense. Coupled with the snow from two days ago that hadn’t melted yet, the 1 PM sun was so glaring that even without looking up, Shen Xing felt he couldn’t open his eyes. But refusing to concede, he repeatedly opened and closed his eyes to adapt, taking a long time until he could finally squint them into narrow slits.

Opposite the village committee building was a small hillside topped with a massive prayer flag. Whenever the wind blew, the individual flags fluttered in the sunlight, scattering colorful spots of light. At the end of the hillside, a snow-capped mountain could be seen in the distance. The colorful prayer flags and the snow mountain created a serene and sacred feeling in this little slice of the world, reminding him of a Snow Top Coffee (a drink topped with soft serve ice cream). He couldn’t resist taking out his phone to capture the scene in front of him and casually sent it to Jiang Lin:

“Doesn’t this look like Snow King’s Snow Top Coffee? When I get back, I’m going to arrange to have one for my very first meal.”

Perhaps because it was the weekend, Jiang Lin’s reply came quickly:

“Who is Snow King?”

Seeing this reply, Shen Xing immediately burst into laughter. He felt as if Jiang Lin wasn’t just three years older than him, but thirty years older. No, maybe even more than thirty years, considering both his mom and his aunt knew who Snow King was. He held his phone and typed:

“Oh, just a pretty famous celebrity. You don’t know him?”

Jiang Lin had just stepped out of his apartment, planning to go to the market to buy some New Year’s goods, when he received Shen Xing’s message. A celebrity? Was it an ice cream brand endorsed by someone?

He opened Baidu and searched “Who is Snow King”, only to see a very familiar white snowman logo on a red background. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry—so it was Mixue Bingcheng…

He used his phone to navigate to a Mixue Bingcheng store, only to find business booming. The shop’s entrance played its catchy theme song on a continuous loop: “You love me, I love you, Mixue Bingcheng is sweet as can be.” Standing at the end of the line, he waited five or six minutes to buy a Snow Top Coffee. He held it up against the sunlight, took a close-up photo, and sent it to Director Shen:

“When you get back, I’ll take you to get one.”

The sunlight shone warmly on the black down jacket. Shen Xing was sitting on the steps, eyes closed and almost falling asleep, when Jiang Lin’s reply came through. The chubby white snowman looked adorably naive, and Shen Xing couldn’t help but smile:

“Oh, done your homework, have you?”

Jiang Lin took a bite of the ice cream on top and replied:

“I know Mixue Bingcheng.”

Seeing this reply made Shen Xing laugh even harder. He could vividly picture Captain Jiang’s deadpan expression as he solemnly declared, ‘I know Mixue Bingcheng’:

“Mm, Captain Jiang is so amazing. You know everything.”

Jiang Lin’s ears turned slightly red, and he lowered his head to take another bite of the ice cream.

“Director Shen.”

Someone called him from outside the courtyard. Shen Xing squinted his eyes again and saw the village doctor, Geli, approaching. Behind him were a few Tibetans dressed very formally. Shen Xing stood up from the steps.

Geli walked over with a smile:

“Doctor Shen, this is Sangge’s wife and children. Sangge survived this time all thanks to you. They came over to thank you.”

Shen Xing was taken aback for a moment before remembering that Sangge was the herdsman with the heart attack he had saved a couple of days ago. Sangge’s wife couldn’t speak Mandarin. Holding a pristine white khata (traditional ceremonial scarf) in her hands, she stepped forward gratefully and spoke at length. Shen Xing didn’t actually understand her words, but he could guess they were expressions of gratitude. He was just about to ask Geli to translate for him when he saw Sangge’s wife make several hand gestures he also didn’t understand, before raising the khata toward him. Shen Xing was a bit flustered by the grand formality.

Geli stepped forward with a smile:

“The Tibetan New Year is coming up soon. She’s wishing you auspiciousness and perfection in advance. Please accept it, Doctor Shen.”

Shen Xing quickly extended both hands and bent at the waist, thanking her profusely. The khata was draped directly around his neck, looking quite dazzling in the sunlight. Following that, Sangge’s children also presented the items in their hands: a delicate-looking wooden box and what looked like a ceramic sheep’s head, both exquisitely crafted. Shen Xing hurriedly waved his hands:

“No need, no need. Saving people is what a doctor should do. There’s really no need to be so polite.”

Sangge’s daughter could speak some Mandarin:

“Inside are khasai that my mother and I made, along with homemade yak jerky and dried fruit. It’s not worth much money, please keep it to eat.”

After she spoke, her younger brother presented the sheep’s head again. Geli leaned in to explain:

“The sheep’s head is called ‘Longguo’ in Tibetan, a homophone for ‘the beginning of the year’. It represents blessings and good wishes for the new year, so ‘Longguo’ is given during the New Year. They know you’re leaving tomorrow, so they’re giving you a New Year’s gift in advance.”

Ten minutes later, wearing the pristine white khata around his neck, Shen Xing carried the wooden box and the sheep’s head into his room. Only after going inside did he open the wooden food box. It was generously packed with khasai, yak jerky, and dried fruit. The so-called khasai was a type of Tibetan deep-fried pastry, but it was shaped very exquisitely and came in various colors. Remembering something, Shen Xing suddenly turned around, left the room, and found Geli next door:

“Geli, can that khasai keep for a week?”

Geli was momentarily stunned:

“If the temperature is low, yes, but it tastes much better fresh.”

Shen Xing flashed an “OK” gesture, then turned and went back to his room. He opened the food box, took a bunch of photos from a 360-degree angle without any blind spots, and sent them all to Jiang Lin.

“When I get back, I’ll bring you some delicious food. This is what I earned with my own skills.” Little bear proudly puffing out its chest jpg.

When Jiang Lin received this message, he was standing outside the window of a chain outdoor sports store. Well, he had been standing there for quite a while now, because a mannequin inside the store was wearing a brick-red mid-length windbreaker. The first time he saw this jacket, it reminded him of Shen Xing’s goose-yellow, custard-bun-like down jacket. Doctor Shen suited bright colors very well; he would definitely look fantastic wearing a windbreaker of this color.

He wanted to buy it for him. He had even been about to walk in the door, but hesitated at the threshold. Right now, they could probably only be considered ordinary friends; giving clothes felt a bit too intimate. But he really wanted to buy it, which led to him pacing back and forth at the entrance like a criminal casing the joint for three minutes. Feeling a vibration in his pocket, he opened his phone to see the barrage of photos sent by Doctor Shen, his eyes finally landing on the little bear proudly puffing out its chest.

Shen Xing remembered to bring him things back, so gifting him a piece of clothing shouldn’t be a big deal, right? Having successfully convinced himself, Captain Jiang finally gave up casing the joint and walked straight into the store.

With broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and standing at 1.85 meters, a handsome guy like him was naturally very eye-catching. The sales assistant had actually noticed Jiang Lin outside the store earlier. She wouldn’t be mistaken; he had been very hesitant. Initially, she thought he liked the clothes but was hesitating over their brand’s prices. But when she saw the brand of the windbreaker he was currently wearing, she realized that couldn’t be it—his brand was much more expensive than theirs.

“Sir, we have many new arrivals in store. Are you buying for yourself or as a gift?”

“A gift. That jacket right there.”

“Do you know the size?”

At the word “size”, Jiang Lin suddenly recalled that pair of disposable underwear that fit a bit too snugly. For a fleeting moment, an unnatural look crossed his face. Shen Xing was two or three centimeters shorter than him, and his frame was smaller too:

“180 (Large). Bring it over for me to take a look.”

He took the jacket from the sales assistant and looked at it:

“This one will do.”

Seeing how decisive he was, the sales assistant didn’t miss the upsell opportunity, immediately starting to mix and match pants, a hat, and a backpack to go with this signature windbreaker.

Fifteen minutes later, Jiang Lin walked out of the store carrying a pile of shopping bags, seen off by the saleswoman’s beaming smile!

Fuxing Street was the most bustling street in the county town. Both sides were lined with merchants, and the Shipa Road intersecting the middle was the small street full of handicraft shops that Shen Xing loved to browse. Jiang Lin subconsciously found himself walking down that road. This year, the Tibetan New Year coincided precisely with the first day of the Lunar New Year, only one day apart from the Spring Festival. At most, there were only eight days left until the New Year. The street was far livelier than when Shen Xing had left.

All the small shops along the entire street had set up stalls outside, selling xiangbu (pleated door curtains) needed for the New Year, colorful prayer flags for Buddhist shrines, Chema boxes, and peacock feathers symbolizing auspiciousness and good luck. There were also far more people than during their last visit. He held up his phone, snapped a picture of the street, and sent it to Doctor Shen.

Shen Xing’s reply came quickly:

“You went shopping?”

“Yeah, came out to buy some New Year’s goods and happened to walk over here. It’s much livelier than usual.”

Jiang Lin didn’t receive a text reply from Doctor Shen; instead, he received a direct video call. On the screen, Shen Xing was leaning against his bed, wearing a beige crewneck sweater, chewing on a piece of yak jerky. His other hand held a can of Cola. His clear, bright eyes were full of intense interest:

“I only have snow mountains and prayer flags here. Quick, Hero, take me cloud-shopping.”

For the next half hour, Jiang Lin acted like a dedicated mobile camera, pointing wherever he was told, taking the cabin-fever-stricken Doctor Shen on a cloud-shopping spree. Facts proved that Doctor Shen was not only a qualified doctor but also a highly qualified shopper. Because he didn’t just browse; he actually spent money.

And the “cameraman,” Captain Jiang, was not only a qualified police officer but also a highly qualified haggler. Over half an hour later, Jiang Lin’s hands were full of a Tibetan-style tableware set, two quill pens, and two Tibetan scarves. Seeing that the street was nearing its end, the “sugar daddy” on the other end of the line finally spoke up:

“Alright, that’s enough shopping for today.”

After hanging up, Shen Xing transferred the money to Jiang Lin, only to find that the person on the other end seemed to have vanished.

As the New Year drew nearer, the unit began drafting the duty roster for the holiday period. As a leader, and a solitary one without family around, Jiang Lin naturally had to take the New Year’s Eve night shift. Actually, back in Tianjin City, he had always worked shifts during holidays and never thought much of it. But this year, for the first time, he found himself wondering if, should he not be on duty on New Year’s Eve, he could have New Year’s Eve dinner with Shen Xing.

However, this thought vanished in a flash because he remembered what happened on New Year’s Day. Even if he wasn’t on duty, Doctor Shen would probably be battling on the front lines in the ER on New Year’s Eve anyway.

That evening, Jiang Lin opened the weight-loss small cans that had arrived during the day. Seeing Qianjin, who was wagging a tail that looked like a dandelion, he suddenly paused, remembering something. He went into the bedroom, fetched a weight scale, and went to pick up the fluffy furball. The Samoyed was very affectionate with him now; the moment he opened his arms, the plump, round body leaned right into his embrace, allowing itself to be picked up obediently. Jiang Lin stepped onto the scale holding him, then put him down and weighed himself. 67 jin (approx 33.5kg / 74lbs).

He poked the Samoyed’s head:

“You gained two jin. Your dad is coming back soon. I’m going to have to make you run more in the mornings these next two days.”

He had actually kept the Samoyed’s weight loss in mind all along. Even though the small cans he gave it were for weight loss, and he consciously walked it more in the mornings—sometimes coaxing and patting the furball when it refused to walk, usually getting it to finish the route—it had still gained two jin!

Jiang Lin cut off its small can for the day. Afraid Heibao might give up his own can for him, he even locked Heibao on the balcony to eat. The desperate furball inside whined and whimpered with a milky pitch, crying so pitifully that Heibao out on the balcony actually stopped eating. By the time Jiang Lin went to let him out, Heibao hadn’t even finished the can in front of him.

Jiang Lin rubbed Heibao’s head in amusement:

“How come you never surrendered your small cans to other dogs during training back in the day?”

Back then, Heibao was the undisputed champion of the training camp. Trying to eat his small can was no different from snatching food from a tiger’s jaws. Heibao ignored him, lay on the floor, and let out an “aowuu.” The fluffy ball inside immediately charged over at a hundred-meter-dash speed. Before Jiang Lin could even react, its head was already buried in the small can. He was just about to lift him out when his phone rang with a video call. It was Director Shen.

At a glance, Shen Xing spotted Qianjin lying on the floor eating a small can:

“Hero, you’re feeding him again.”

Jiang Lin rubbed his nose:

“I really didn’t do it on purpose. I even locked Heibao on the balcony so he could eat alone. Who knew that when I opened the door just now, Heibao hadn’t finished eating and called Qianjin over, so… so this happened…”

Looking at the “Samoyed pig” on the floor, wagging its tail while eating with relish, and then glancing at Heibao lying to the side with an undiminished aura, Shen Xing lamented in his heart ten thousand times: They are both dogs, why is the difference so massive?

For the next two days, Jiang Lin walked the Samoyed an extra two kilometers. Finally, two days before Shen Xing returned, Qianjin’s weight was back down to 65 jin, which could be considered returning the item intact to its owner. That day, holding Shen Xing’s house keys, he entered Shen Xing’s apartment. With only three days left until the New Year, he went in, opened the windows to air the place out, changed the bedding, washed the old sheets, dusted the surfaces, mopped the floor, and finally hung up the clean bedsheets to dry before leaving.

By the time Shen Xing arrived home, it was the evening of the second day before the New Year. Entering the house, he was stunned by how tidy it was. The house didn’t smell at all like it had been empty for days, and he couldn’t even find a speck of dust on the table. It went without saying who had cleaned it. Carrying the food box, he went next door. When Jiang Lin opened the door, he saw the familiar custard-bun-like Doctor Shen, who tilted his head, smiled, and said:

“Hero, did you moonlight as a fairy snail boy at my place?”

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Author’s Note:

Captain Jiang’s love is so pure, hahahaha. He can do chores, buy clothes, and even haggle [Eating Melon]