Regarding where to work, Lu Xuan had no intention of hiding anything.

He said directly, "I graduated, graduated in the first half of the year. Initially, I planned to return to work in my hometown. But later, I got a position at a hospital in Yong City, so I stayed there."

"Yong City?"

Although Tao Xiuhua had never left Anjiang County from childhood to adulthood, she did go to school as a kid. Nowadays, with the internet being so accessible, she would often take videos of her farm and upload them online. She has a few followers, and her online streaming earns her about one to two thousand RMB a month. It’s not much, but it’s extra income while managing her farm, which makes Tao Xiuhua quite happy.

You should know, even now, the average salary in Anjiang County is about two thousand RMB.

Tao Xiuhua can make this much just by casually taking some videos, which naturally satisfies her.

It’s also because of her love for exploring the internet that she has some understanding of Yong City, and when she heard that Lu Xuan stayed there, she immediately smiled, "That’s a good place. It’s no less than our provincial capital, and in every aspect, Zhijiang is better than our hometown. Staying in Yong City has a better potential for development than returning home.

Initially, when your cousin graduated, I wanted him to apply to hospitals in Zhijiang or even Shanghai. But your cousin was so stubborn, insisting on staying in his hometown. He even wanted to work at Anjiang County Hospital. It was thanks to me and your uncle scolding him that he changed his mind.

What prospects are there for working at a county hospital?

You know the situation at our county hospital too—it’s mainly for minor ailments. For anything bigger, don’t expect them to diagnose it, let alone treat it."

Lu Xuan is rather noncommittal about Tao Xiuhua’s words.

Although he has been around the Zhijiang area in recent years, having lived in Anjiang for over ten years, he knows the county hospital somewhat.

For minor illnesses, it’s okay to visit the county hospital. But if there’s any problem, you have to go to the province; even city hospitals are often not considered an option.

However, being a medical student himself, Lu Xuan naturally understands that the current situation of the county hospital is not without reason.

Although the Anjiang County Hospital is a second-class grade-A comprehensive hospital and a national-level baby-friendly hospital, as well as one of the first county-level public hospital comprehensive reform pilot hospitals, Anjiang’s underdeveloped economy results in its chief physicians being vastly inferior compared to doctors in big city top-tier hospitals.

Not to mention top-tier hospitals—even among other second-class grade-A hospitals, the doctors at Anjiang County Hospital can’t compare to those in Yong City hospitals.

This disparity is not just in the overall quality of the doctors but also in terms of equipment and many other factors.

Of course, in recent years, the county hospital has indeed produced a few competent doctors. However, most of them have been poached by some big hospitals in the province once they showed potential.

The olive branch extended by the big provincial hospitals is hard for many to refuse.

Not only do these provincial hospitals have a great reputation, but they also have better equipment and, importantly, offers much better compensation, something the county hospital simply cannot compete with.

Without the ability to retain talent, the county hospital is left with mostly mediocre staff.

When a county hospital’s capabilities are inadequate, patients with significant illnesses won’t go there. Without patients, there’s no clinical experience, and without experience, improving medical skills is nearly impossible.

If medical skills are lacking, there will be fewer patients willing to visit the county hospital.

Eventually, it becomes a deadlock that is difficult to resolve.

Lu Xuan thinks his cousin Lin Yongzhen is quite capable. Developing in a big city hospital, as long as he works hard and someone is willing to guide him, within ten years, he could become an associate chief physician, and his medical skills wouldn’t be bad either. After all, the patients he engages with every day can’t compare to those at the county hospital.

If he stayed at the county hospital, his career might not advance much.

Here, it must be said, his uncle and aunt certainly have a broader perspective.

Also, returning from the provincial capital to his hometown takes only three hours. With weekends off, he could come back. With a car, he could come back after work and leave early in the morning the next day.

Unlike himself—in Zhijiang, although economically developed, the distance from Anjiang is still considerable. Driving takes at least over seven hours. Even by high-speed train, the entire journey would still take five to six hours.

Being far from home makes each visit a hassle.

"Indeed, the conditions at the county hospital are lacking; staying at the Second Provincial Hospital is better," Lu Xuan agreed, following along with his aunt’s words.

Seeing that her words were endorsed by Lu Xuan, Tao Xiuhua smiled and said, "Exactly, being close to home at the county hospital is no advantage if your future is just going to be confined to this small place. Your cousin was so stubborn. Had he not consulted us, things might have been irreversible."

It’s good that Lu is smart enough to stay in Zhijiang and Yong City for work."

Lu Xuan smiled.

Tao Xiuhua didn’t continue on this topic but returned to the main question, "By the way, Lu, you haven’t mentioned to your aunt which hospital you went to in Yong City."

"It’s not a major hospital, can’t be compared to my cousin’s. I’m the head of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at a Health Center," Lu Xuan said.

Hearing this, Tao Xiuhua was evidently taken aback, showing a look of surprise and couldn’t help but say, "Well, Lu, you’re so smart, how come you ended up at a Health Center?"

According to Tao Xiuhua’s thinking, even if Lu Xuan couldn’t work at the First Hospital, at the very least he should be at a major hospital in Yong City, and certainly not at a Health Center in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine.