Chapter 79: After three and a half years 5

What’s even more alarming is that the university student expansion plan of ’99, which was supposed to increase the enrollment for the eight-year program, didn’t actually expand; it reduced instead. The school claimed it was due to plans to reform the eight-year program, but who knows whether that’s a good or a bad thing. The reality is that, since Xie Wanying, no more female students have been admitted into the eight-year clinical program over the past few years. It’s extraordinarily difficult for female medical students to find employment in good hospitals.

For someone like Lau Jingyun, a diploma from Guoxie is highly prized in itself; except for Guoxie Affiliated Hospital, it shouldn’t be difficult to secure a position in other hospitals. However, having graduated from Guoxie, one would naturally prefer to stay there.

“Now the graduates from the eight-year program might not be as sought after as other regular master’s and doctoral graduates because, they say, the eight-year program offers too few hands-on opportunities.” Senior Sister He Xiangyu also appeared to be deeply concerned, facing the same job issues in a year’s time.

Lau Jingyun didn’t utter a word, not knowing what to say.

“How about this?” He Xiangyu suggested, “Isn’t Senior Cao coming back to the country? When he does, go and ask him about the situation. His word might be able to help you stay at the hospital.”

The name Handsome Cao seemed to have been absent for a few years. Xie Wanying thought that the fact she could quickly remember who he was upon hearing his name again spoke volumes about the charm of this man.

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“I’ll ask when the time comes,” Lau Jingyun nodded, having no other choice given the circumstances.

We’re all from the eight-year program, and the senior brothers and sisters are really nice people.

Turning back, the two seniors asked about their junior sister’s study plans: “You’re about to start your internships. How is that arranged?”

“We’ll study and intern simultaneously. The class advisor has already set up the schedule, which will be published after the New Year. The class representative should know,” Xie Wanying said.

“You can take a break for the Spring Festival. What are your plans?” the two seniors asked her, their tone faintly betraying a hint of “envy.” There’s no helping it. Once you start clinical internships, it’s a given that interns will be scheduled to work during the New Year. The hospital claims it’s to provide medical students with more practice opportunities.

In the past few years, the Spring Festival has really been spent alone, sometimes even working at McDonald’s to get by. This year might be a little different.

Teacher Zhuang, having received filial piety from her son, now had her own new house and could invite her to have a meal at her new place. It was an opportunity for the teacher and student to catch up.

Another matter was that a childhood friend from her hometown was coming to Beijing for a visit.

Xie Wanying, of course, couldn’t possibly be without any friends back home. Her closest friend was named Wu Lixuan, with whom she attended the same primary school, being classmates for two years.

Unlike Xie Wanying, who later went to high school, Wu Lixuan didn’t continue her studies after primary school due to economic hardships, helping her family with work instead. Later, as her family’s business grew, she started her own small company and became a tea distributor, taking on the role of a business owner.

The two seniors were surprised to hear about her peer being a business owner.

It wouldn’t have been easy for a girl to be her own boss, especially in her hometown where gender inequality was a significant issue. Xie Wanying also felt that her childhood friend was unique and much stronger than the average girl.

A few years ago, when Xie Wanying was admitted to the university, Wu Lixuan was traveling with her family. After they got back in touch, Wu Lixuan would go out of her way to visit Sun Rongfang, Xie Wanying’s mother, on her behalf. After all, Sun Rongfang had always treated her daughter’s good friend like her own.

This year, since Sun Rongfang couldn’t make it, Wu Lixuan brought some local specialties from their hometown and planned to visit her best friend after the Spring Festival, traveling thousands of miles.

“Where are you going to study by yourself during the day later?”

“The anatomy room.”