Chapter 294 Visit

Hearing the three members of the Sun family praising Madam Qin, Li's mother felt a desire to visit her.

"How about this?"

I'll go back and buy some gifts first, and ask Chunlan to act as a go-between and speak to Qin Niangzi on my behalf. I'll personally visit her tomorrow morning with my wife, is that alright?

Chunlan readily agreed, thinking that she would change her clothes and then go find Madam Qin.

Mother Li always kept her word; if she said she would visit Madam Qin, she would definitely go.

After leaving the Sun family's house, Li's mother first went to Xiang Gui Ji and bought some pastries according to the four-item gift standard.

When they got home, they told Sister-in-law Li about Qin Niangzi.

"That's good. He sounds like a kind-hearted person. Tomorrow, Lanniang and I will go with Mother to visit him."

At this moment, Bao Ya came in carrying a tea tray. As soon as she entered, Li's mother praised her, "Good Bao Ya, you've been working so hard these past few days, helping out at home with your mother and daughter, and taking care of Lu Zhu and Xiao Wu Lang whenever you had a spare moment."

"You wait here. Grandma will invite the tutor tomorrow, and in a few days your team will be up and running."

Bao Ya responded with a smile, took the tea tray and walked to the kitchen to find Wu Chunlan, who was on the stove.

“Mother, that dark-skinned girl from the Song family was able to learn medicine from Doctor Li. She came to his door, and she only brought a few gifts, which was enough to persuade Doctor Li to accept her as his apprentice.”

Our family has become closer to Dr. Li. If we buy a few gifts, Mother, you can ask Granny Li for help. Perhaps I can learn medicine from Dr. Li too.”

As Wu Qiaolan listened to her mother's whispers, she turned to look at Bao Ya, whose face still held a hint of resentment, and felt a sharp pang of pain in her heart.

Wu Qiaolan stared intently at Baoya, who was frightened by the expression on Wu Qiaolan's face and dared not say anything more.

She lowered her head and whispered, "Mother, I'm no worse than that dark-skinned girl."

Wu Qiaolan closed her eyes, thinking about the past half of her life. When she opened her eyes again, she hugged Bao Ya tightly.

Suppressing her tears, Wu Qiaolan whispered in Bao Ya's ear, "My dear Bao Ya, it's because I'm busy with work all day, always thinking about how to make a good future for you and save more money, that I've neglected your upbringing."

It's all Mother's fault, it's all Mother's fault.

"Now that your mother knows, she will definitely talk to you properly and teach you carefully about these social interactions."

Wu Qiaolan held back her tears, her eyes red as she gripped Bao Ya's shoulders and looked into Bao Ya's eyes, saying each word clearly, "Bao Ya, the last bit of affection between our family and the Li family has been used up by your mother."

It was my mother who shamelessly took advantage of Aunt Li, so now we can eat and live in the Li family for free, waiting for the midwife's school to start.

When the time comes, if Mother goes to the school to audit classes and succeeds in her apprenticeship, Aunt Li will promise to find her a good job.

In a couple of days, the school will open. You and your mother will go in together to learn to read. After you finish learning to read, if you'd like, you can learn from Doctor Li how to be a good midwife. If you don't want to, your mother won't force you.

But I can't bring myself to shamelessly beg Aunt Li to take you on as her apprentice.

Bao Ya blurted out, "That dark-skinned girl is even younger than me. Even if she's clever, how clever can she be? Mother, I also..."

"Bao Ya!"

Wu Qiaolan raised her voice, but still kept it low, afraid that Li's mother and the others in the main hall would hear her.

“Mother knows! Mother knows everything!”

Mother knows that Bao Ya is intelligent, sensible, and considerate of Mother. Mother knows all of that!

But, Baoya, Aunt Li allowed me to come because of the friendship you had with your grandmother when she was still alive.

The Li family doesn't owe us anything!

Mother would never do something so heartless as to be grateful for a small favor but resentful of a large one.

If you really want to become Dr. Li's apprentice, then when you and your mother go to school, study hard. Your mother believes Dr. Li will see your talent.

Faced with Wu Qiaolan's red eyes, Bao Ya nodded silently.

The little argument that happened in the kitchen was unknown to Li's mother and the others. They were still discussing what gifts they should bring when they went to visit Qin Niangzi, in addition to the pastries that Li's mother had bought today.

When Li San Niang returned home from her shift today, she heard about this Qin Niangzi that her mother had mentioned.

“Mother, if you visit her tomorrow and find that Miss Qin is willing to become a long-term teacher at our Women’s Assistance Association, that would be a wonderful thing.”

This is what I think: besides my midwifery school needing a teacher, the members of the women's support association also need teachers.

Learning to read is ultimately a good thing. Whether it's recognizing characters and knowing etiquette, or simply reading official notices or writing letters to relatives and friends, it's all useful.

Especially since our business is so large, I've noticed that Madam Qiu has been coming quite frequently lately. I imagine the Department of Surgery at the Imperial Medical Academy is also in high demand. When Bai Ziyi's lamb business picks up, he'll definitely be even busier.

At that time, it might not be enough for you, Mother, to have just your eldest and second sisters-in-law help you. You'll definitely need to hire more people.

It's better to find someone directly from within the alliance than to hire someone; back then, anyone who could read was enough.

A "smack" was the sound of Li Ersao slapping her hands together.

"Third Sister is so thoughtful!"

Isn't that right?

Besides the surgical gowns and the lambs, the Imperial Medical Bureau recently had an official mention of wanting to set up a dedicated laundry factory in the suburbs of Beijing.

They say it's because of Third Sister that they're willing to give priority to recruiting women from our alliance.

However, although it's said that it won't be until next spring, if we start preparing now, by then they'll at least be able to recognize several hundred characters, which would be sufficient for a minor management position.

After thinking for a while, Li's mother nodded and said, "Good! My son and Lan Niang are right. Tomorrow we will formally invite Madam Qin to be the teacher of the alliance."

I had a good night's sleep.

After figuring out that all the shops had opened, Li's mother, along with her eldest and second sisters-in-law, took the pastries Li's mother had bought the day before and set off in a carriage numbered nineteen.

Yesterday, after the four little ones got out of school, Sister-in-law Li grabbed Li Dalang and Li Erlang and questioned them. She learned that nowadays, the apprenticeship gift should include six items: celery, lotus seeds, red beans, dates, longan, and dried lean meat strips.

"Then let's pay a visit first, and once Madam Qin agrees, we can bring those six gifts when we visit her."

Li's mother nodded, agreeing with what Li's sister-in-law said.

So, the group first went to the tea shop and the candy shop, and bought good tea and two bags of candy before they were satisfied.

Upon arriving at the Sun family's residence, Sister-in-law Li put down a box of pastries, and Sister-in-law Li Er put down a bag of sugar. Then, following behind Li's mother, they were led by Granny Sun, Chunlan's mother, and Chunlan herself to Qin Niangzi's residence.

Qin Niangzi's residence was just on the street behind the Sun family's house, not far at all, only a few steps away.