Chapter 122: This Girl Is Truly a Genius!

Lin Xiaodou was unaware of Zhang Guihua’s thoughts. If she had known, she would have simply remarked that she deserved it. Since becoming an apprentice at the veterinary station, Lin Xiaodou had been busy running errands behind Sister Chen. After three days of training, she had already gained a firm grasp of all the standard procedures.

Early that morning, Sister Chen said, "Follow me to learn for one more day. Starting tomorrow, Doctor He will be guiding you, so make sure you study hard."

"Understood," replied Lin Xiaodou.

The two arrived at the western livestock farm, where they encountered several sows in labor simultaneously. Sister Chen instructed, "Go check on that pen over there; there’s only one sow farrowing. I’ll handle the three sows here."

Lin Xiaodou hurried over. The person in charge, looking anxious, asked, "Doctor Lin, where is Doctor Chen? Something is wrong with this sow—she stopped midway through the delivery."

"Let me see," Lin Xiaodou said, crouching down to perform a quick examination. "The sow has too little amniotic fluid; she’s exhausted and has no strength left to push."

The man panicked, "What should we do? She looks like she’s about to give up." As this was public property of the pig farm, he would be held responsible for any losses.

"It’s fine, the situation isn't as dire as you think." Lin Xiaodou directed him to assist. She took oxytocin from her wooden kit, gave the sow an injection, and quickly used a nylon tube to inject lubricant into the birth canal. Finally, she sterilized her hands and began manual dilation.

Following this series of actions, the sow successfully delivered the rest of the piglets. There were sixteen in total, which explained why the mother had been so exhausted. Seeing her skilled technique, the person in charge asked in amazement, "Doctor Lin, have you delivered piglets often before?"

"No," she replied. "I only watched Sister Chen do it once."

The man was stunned. He recalled that she had only been at the station for four days—could she really be that talented? Truly, the younger generation was formidable. When Sister Chen finished her work and heard the news, she was equally shocked. A few days prior, when Lin Xiaodou claimed to have mastered the procedure after watching it once, she had dismissed it as a joke. She hadn't expected the girl to be a natural. That evening, after work, Sister Chen shared the story with Doctor He, continuing her daily reports on Lin Xiaodou's progress.

"Comrade Lin Xiaodou is truly remarkable; I’ve never seen anyone so clever..."

As Sister Chen continued to praise her, Doctor He’s impression of Lin Xiaodou grew increasingly favorable. Hearing that she had successfully delivered a litter of piglets with perfect technique, Doctor He was initially skeptical. However, over the next few days, as she personally supervised Lin Xiaodou, she became a true believer. No matter what was taught, Lin Xiaodou could draw inferences and master it quickly. She was a natural talent for veterinary medicine.

Having such a gifted team member brought Doctor He great joy. She had previously resisted having Lin Xiaodou join, assuming she was just someone using connections, but now she was delighted. She felt she had struck gold. If the gossipy Doctor Zhang found out, she would surely be filled with regret.

In truth, Doctor He and Doctor Zhang had once been on decent terms. However, their relationship soured after the arrival of Elder Wang a year ago. Doctor He respected Elder Wang for his profound medical skills, while Doctor Zhang, who curried favor with Doctor Hu, often joined him in criticizing the elder. Doctor He had eventually stopped trying to mediate, and their relationship had grown cold. After being mocked by Doctor Zhang regarding her personal affairs, Doctor He had remained stern—until today, when Lin Xiaodou’s success finally brought a smile back to her face.

At the next morning meeting, Doctor He formally proposed that Lin Xiaodou begin working independently. "I have taught her everything I know; she is capable of handling tasks on her own."

Typically, a veterinary apprentice required at least a month of training before an assessment. For Lin Xiaodou to be cleared for work after only ten days was remarkably fast. By bypassing the assessment, Doctor He was essentially promoting her from a probationary status to a full-time position—a move unprecedented at the station. The announcement caused a stir. Doctor Hu looked disapproving, while Doctor Zhang began to make sarcastic remarks, questioning if Doctor He had lost her mind. The other apprentices were equally skeptical, save for Sister Chen.

Elder Wang was also present at the meeting. Upon hearing Doctor He’s proposal, he showed no surprise. During the first few days, he had been busy in the lab, but later he had returned to his quarters, where Lin Xiaodou would seek him out every evening to ask questions. She was diligent, bright, and understood complex concepts instantly. He fully supported Doctor He’s decision. To silence any dissent, he suggested that Lin Xiaodou undergo a public assessment.

Lin Xiaodou had no objections. As it happened, another sow was in labor at a nearby farm, and the entire staff hurried over. After witnessing Lin Xiaodou expertly deliver the piglets and handle the aftermath, everyone was convinced—except for the jealous Doctor Zhang. The men in Zhang’s group were clumsy and had been working for over half a year without reaching Lin Xiaodou’s level of proficiency. Seeing Doctor He’s team thrive with a new star was galling. She regretted not accepting the trainee when Director Hu had first offered.

"Delivering a litter is nothing; it's just one aspect of being a vet. Treating diseases is the real test," Doctor Zhang said with a sour tone.

Doctor He frowned. "Isn't that a bit much, Doctor Zhang? She’s only been learning for a few days. Even those of us with years of experience can’t guarantee a perfect outcome for every complex case."

The other apprentices nodded in agreement, acknowledging that Lin Xiaodou’s practical skills were truly impressive. Elder Wang added coldly, "Doctor Zhang, you are being narrow-minded. If you fear being surpassed by a young girl, you should focus on your own improvement."

Chastened and furious, Doctor Zhang had no choice but to apologize. And so, Lin Xiaodou became the first person in the history of the veterinary station to be promoted to a full position after only ten days. When Director Hu received the news, he sprayed his tea across the room. Good heavens, that old man Liu hadn't been lying—the girl was a true genius!