Chapter 738: Chapter 738: Shoveling Snow

At seven in the morning, the little boy’s fever finally broke, and his grandparents took him home.

After breakfast, everyone grabbed their shovels and cleared the snow piled up by the entrance. Since they had nowhere to move it, they gathered it in the courtyard for Evelyn to absorb into her space.

"I’ve noticed we’ve all gained some weight. Ever since it started snowing in Eldoria, no one’s been exercising much. Instead, we’re eating four meals a day, and every meal is a feast. Winter really is the perfect season for packing on the pounds. By the time it warms up, we’ll all be huge."

"What’s so bad about that? You need to put on a little weight in the winter to stay warm. Besides, gaining weight just means we’re eating well. We’re lucky."

"It’s not just us. A lot of people at the base have gained weight. Compared to the last couple of years, life has been pretty decent for everyone. Most people can even afford to eat meat every day now."

Just as they finished shoveling and were about to close the main gate, someone else arrived, carrying a child with a high fever. Wendy was overwhelmed, so Evelyn went to help.

"The community clinic has doctors on duty, but everyone knows you treat patients for free, so they all come swarming to you. Wendy, I really admire your dedication, but you need to start telling people they have to pay for treatment. You’re a doctor, not a charity. If you don’t charge, you’re not just breaking the base’s medical regulations, you’re making things hard on yourself for the future. Everyone will start to think your free services are a given."

Evelyn had been watching for several days and noticed that Wendy wasn’t charging anyone. Worse, the patients showed no intention of paying.

’If everyone is going to be this inconsiderate, what’s the point of even running this temporary clinic?’

"Evelyn, everyone who comes here is so worried. Wouldn’t it be wrong for me to bring up money at a time like that?"

"What’s wrong with it? It’s always been true that healing people deserves compensation. Wendy, medical supplies aren’t cheap. Even at the hospital, you have to pay for specialized medicine. If you were just diagnosing them and sending them to the hospital for treatment, then fine, you don’t have to charge. But as long as we’re putting in our own time and resources, we should be compensated for it. What do you get out of being the ’good guy’? A nice reputation? Or do you get people thinking your clinic is a bargain, swarming you, and leaving you no time to eat or rest? Do you really get a sense of accomplishment from that, some kind of satisfaction from saving the world?"

Wendy seemed confused.

"When I worked at the hospital and the community center, I felt a real sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. But treating people here at home... I just feel exhausted. It’s the same work—healing people—so why do I feel so differently about it? I just don’t get it."

"First, the hospital and the community center are institutions. Doctors and nurses have a division of labor, each with their own duties. You were busy at the hospital, sure, but you only had to do your specific job. You didn’t have to listen to the families weeping and wailing. Another thing is that you put too much pressure on yourself. At the hospital, you saw yourself as just a doctor. But here, you’re overthinking everything, even worrying about everyone’s feelings. Wendy, don’t let yourself be chained by useless emotions, and don’t let people guilt-trip you."

The community clinic had kept three doctors on duty while the rest went home. Wendy was scheduled to be home resting this month. Next month, she would take a shift at the clinic to relieve one of the other doctors. The clinic operated on a rotational basis: one month on, one month off.

Evelyn patted Wendy’s shoulder. "Don’t agonize over this too much. Just think about how a hospital operates and run your little clinic the same way. The problem will solve itself."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.