Chapter 7: Even in Transcendence, One Should Not Aim Too High (Part 2)
In the gaze of the Countess's admiration and the envious eyes of Dr. Blonstein, Zhu Jishi felt a moment of pride. He suddenly realized that if he could convert even one-tenth of all the medical knowledge and the knowledge of chemistry and biology he possessed into wealth, recovering the silver lost by the Qing Dynasty during the Opium War would be a piece of cake.
On the first night after his time travel, it was certainly not a time for sleep, and Zhu Jishi was no exception. He was currently full of energy and had no intention of going to sleep in the guest room arranged for him by the Countess. Instead, he decided to wander around and take in the pastoral scenery of the 19th-century English countryside.
"Passport? Diploma?" Dr. Blonstein paused for a moment, then replied after some thought: "If the passport is lost, you can simply apply for a replacement in London. As for the diploma... uh, in the UK, it is not necessary to present a diploma to obtain a medical license, because that document is quite easy to forge. There are many places in the working-class districts of London where fake documents can be produced for just a few pounds. However, obtaining a medical license does require passing the examination set by the medical association. Although the exam is quite difficult, it should not pose a problem for you."
By the time dinner concluded, the sky outside had completely darkened. Zhu Jishi first went to check on his patient, Qiu Panzai. The patient was sound asleep and showed no signs of fever, which must be said to be quite fortunate for Zhu Jishi, as the first patient he encountered in this time and space was a robust individual capable of enduring some rough treatment.
Consultation fee? I will advance you £30 on behalf of Robert, and I believe the amount he pays you will certainly exceed this figure
It is not that the Countess is particularly gossipy; rather, in this era of Western Europe, it seems that there are exiles of all kinds everywhere, and the Countess herself can be considered one of them. The title of Count that she inherited from her former husband only became valid after the restoration of the Bonaparte dynasty, so she can barely be regarded as a Bonapartist exile in England.
Not knowing how much time had passed, Zhu Jishi, feeling somewhat fatigued, simply lay down on the grass, stretching out his limbs and savoring the gentle caress of the mild night breeze against his body. His entire being seemed to merge with the grass beneath him, extending far away towards the horizon.
Moreover, the concept of a passport in 1842 was essentially that of a "pass"; it was not a travel document issued by a government to its citizens, but rather a document issued by local authorities to foreign travelers. However, the management was quite lax, with no imposing immigration officials patrolling the streets to check passports. Furthermore, foreign nationals entering port cities in all European countries, such as London, did not require such documents.
Isabelle truly is the benefactor that Zhu Jishi encountered after his time travel. First, she agreed to let Zhu Jishi temporarily stay at her sister's residence in central London, and then she promised to help him arrange a position as a doctor at a "charity hospital". However, the weekly salary seems a bit low, only between 2 to 3 pounds
Suddenly, a gentle voice sounded in his ear, "Tatar, can't sleep? Do you miss your hometown on the grassland?"
The air is as cool as water, refreshing to the heart and lungs. There is grass, half the height of a calf, gently swaying in the night breeze, with moonlight and starlight seemingly sprinkled on the tips of the grass blades, shimmering in the wind, resembling a surface of water composed of countless pearls, vibrant and bright
... ...
At this thought, Zhu Jishi's brows gradually furrowed, and a pleading gaze gently swept over the Countess and Dr. Blonstein
Zhu Jishi sat up and turned his head to look. It turned out that the lady of the house, Countess Isabel, had somehow come to his side. He fell silent for a moment and nodded, "I can't go back, I can never go back..."
Only 30 pounds? This woman is quite stingy! Zhu Jishi, of course, expressed his gratitude repeatedly on the surface, but inwardly he was cursing her fiercely. In fact, he later learned that 30 pounds in 1842 was by no means a small sum; this amount was sufficient for Zhu Jishi to live comfortably in London for an entire year! Unaware that he already had enough money for a year's living expenses, Zhu Jishi continued to shamelessly approach the Countess and Dr. Blonstein for further assistance, hoping they could help him with housing and employment issues.
The Countess did not speak, but gently brushed Zhu Jishi's hair with her delicate hand. She was speculating about Zhu Jishi's true identity in her heart; the exceptionally unique aura he exhibited made her feel that he must be a Tatar with a story. ... Perhaps he was a noble Tatar prince who, in his childhood, escaped to Western Europe under the protection of his loyal servant to evade the evil Tsarist authorities (Bonapartist elements certainly had no fondness for the Tsar) who were pursuing him.
However, he also understands that the process of transforming knowledge into wealth is quite lengthy. Before the imagined streams of wealth come to fruition, he cannot rely on mere survival. At present, the most urgent and critical issue is to find a way to address his survival in 19th century England, after which he can consider matters of wealth accumulation
Is that so? That's wonderful. Zhu Jishi took another sip of red wine and looked at Countess Isabel, "Additionally, I have also lost my wallet. I wonder if I could advance the consultation fee for Mr. Churchill's treatment?"
"Tomorrow, I will accompany you to London," the Countess suddenly said with a smile to Zhu Jishi
"What’s wrong? Doctor Jason, have you encountered any trouble in the UK?" Countess Isabelle Deneuve was indeed perceptive; she could tell from Zhu Jishi's eyes that he was seeking help.
"Will you accompany me to London?" Zhu Jishi was taken aback, thinking that this French woman was quite enthusiastic. This is good, as he knew nothing about London in 1842, and having a guide would prevent him from getting lost
There is a bit of a problem, Zhu Jishi's brows have already knitted together. "There is a bit of a problem, I encountered a thief on my way to Oxford, and I lost all my luggage, passport, and academic credentials, so I am unable to obtain a medical license in the UK"
Is it sufficient to just perform the work of a doctor
Additionally, there were many exiles from the German Confederation in Britain, who formed a secret organization called the "League of Just" (later known as the Communist League, all revolutionary predecessors!). The exiles from Russia were even more numerous in Britain and Western Europe; this handsome Tatar prince (women tend to be romantic, especially French women) might just be one of them
However, there is always a gap between reality and ideals, and sometimes it can be quite significant. Just like now, Zhu Ji and the world of books have transcended, while Ye Yiren is likely destined to work her entire life in a large hospital in a big city. Hopefully, she can find another man who loves her as deeply as she loves herself
Go to London to apply for a passport! Zhu Jishi really does not understand how the passport system in Europe worked in 1842. In fact, during this era, there was no concept of illegal immigration, as even the laboring people of the most powerful European nations were living in dire conditions. Otherwise, how could the specter of communism have arisen in Europe? Therefore, there were no foreign poor people trying to sneak into the dire conditions of Britain; the impoverished who could not survive in Europe during this time (including the poor in Britain) were all yearning for the New World. Otherwise, how could the specter of communism have arisen in Europe? Therefore, there were no foreign poor people trying to sneak into the dire conditions of Britain; the impoverished who could not survive in Europe during this time (including the poor in Britain) were all yearning for the New World.
He then left the house and went out to the lawn, gazing up at the starry sky above. During his time at Mannheim Medical School, he often lay on the campus lawn with Ye Yiren, looking at the stars and discussing their life aspirations—though their dreams seemed quite different. Zhu Jishi's aspiration was to work in a large hospital in a big city after obtaining his master's degree, ideally marrying a wife who wouldn't require him to buy a house (like Miss Ye). In contrast, Ye Yiren always loved to fantasize about time travel and rebirth.
Zhu Jishi was thus immersed in the tranquil and serene night scene, his chaotic thoughts suddenly becoming calm, temporarily forgetting the confusion and worries about the future