Chapter 418, Lecture 3: Conception

According to the agreed-upon ratio, after handing over the silver to the medical clinic, Li San Niang would still receive nearly one hundred taels of silver herself.

This is the first time I've received such a large sum of money for a consultation after sitting in the clinic for so long.

Li San Niang understood that this was hush money, money given by Liu Ruyi to keep quiet.

Even without the money, Li San Niang wouldn't say much, but Liu Ruyi wouldn't feel at ease if she didn't take it.

Tomorrow is Li San Niang's day off again, and she has already asked someone to inform the students that the Midwife School will resume normal classes tomorrow.

There were still two assignments left to grade and comment on. After finishing her dinner, she used the candlelight to finish grading the last two assignments that had been collected last time.

The next morning, after getting up, Li San Niang didn't even wash up before going to the yard and running laps around it with Li Er Lang and the others.

I stopped this exercise activity a while ago because of the cold weather.

Although it's still a bit cold lately, it's much better than the biting cold of winter, so the Li family has picked up their morning exercise routine again.

Not only did she run laps, but Li San Niang also practiced with the stone weights given to her by her elder brother Li for a while.

Of course, Li San Niang used the smallest size stone lock, while Li Er Lang used the largest size.

After finishing her breakfast, Li San Niang estimated that it was about time, so she planned to take the corrected and commented homework to the school next door.

Before they had even stepped out of the Li Family Medical Hall, Chen Yanfu walked right in.

"Sister Afu, you're here!"

I'm on my way to school, let's go together.

Chen Yanfu responded, but pulled Li Sanniang inside, saying as they walked, "I came early today because I have something to discuss with you."

After sitting down and listening to Chen Yanfu's detailed explanation, Li Sanniang realized that she had come to inquire about the exchange hall.

"Sister Afu, that's right, that's how you exchange them."

The more people enter this exchange hall and contribute more, the more they benefit.

It depends on whether you think it's worth it. If you think it is, then it's best to join. If you're afraid that your unique skills will be discovered and feel that you've suffered a loss, then it's best not to join.

Otherwise, you'll definitely regret it terribly afterwards, and there's no going back.

Chen Yanfu smiled, and after understanding the situation, she said directly, "I don't know about the Tang family's situation with Mingyue, but my Chen family, my father, will be very happy with this exchange."

My father used to trade ancestral recipes with others years ago. Wait while I write to him and get his permission. Once I get it, I'll just bring my Chen family's recipes into the deal!

The two chatted about this topic for a few more minutes before Li's mother urged them to go to the Women's Assistance Association.

When they arrived at the school, everyone who was supposed to be there had already arrived, and Song Fuling had already put away the homework assigned last time.

As usual, Li San Niang first reviewed what she had taught last time and then called on several people to answer questions.

Li San Niang was very satisfied because those who were asked questions answered very well, proving that they had taken notes diligently and were going back to study.

"Very good. I think our enthusiasm for learning is excellent. I have high hopes for each and every one of you here. I believe that if you maintain this attitude towards learning, you will definitely be able to pass the assessment and become qualified modern midwives in a year or two!"

After saying all this, Li San Niang hung up the painting she had drawn earlier.

Li San Niang pointed to the picture and asked, "Gentlemen, can you guess what I've drawn?"

The picture hanging up is actually a piece of paper divided into nine equal parts by four lines. Each part has a circle, and each part is larger than the one before it.

The women below the platform looked at the picture and pondered what Li San Niang meant.

Those with experience, like Li's mother, had already guessed what Li San Niang meant.

Some are clever, like Yu Xuelian, who immediately understood what the picture represented when she saw it.

However, neither Li's mother nor Yu Xuelian were the type to enjoy the limelight. Li San Niang's eyes scanned the audience, and in the end, she pointed to Jin Zhenbao, who was watching her intently.

"Mr. Li, is this a drawing of a fetus growing in the womb as the months go by?"

Li San Niang clapped enthusiastically, "That's right, Jin Niangzi is right. This is a simplified diagram showing the size of the fetus in the mother's womb each month."

"Look," Li Sanniang said, pointing to the picture with a jujube branch, "it takes about a month to detect a slippery pulse, when the fetus is only this small." Li Sanniang then used her thumb and forefinger to make a circle to show the women.

"By the time it was two months old, the fetus was about the size of a grape."

The grapes were sold by merchants from the Western Regions. A bunch of them wasn't cheap, and they were about the size shown in the picture.

When I'm able to buy grapes again, I'll treat you all to some.

Okay, by the third month, the fetus will be about the size of a plum.

Plums are a common fruit here, and I'm sure you've all eaten them.

By the fourth month, the belly is about the size of a peach, and it will be slightly protruding, showing its outline.

By the fifth month, it will be the size of a cucumber.

As she spoke, Li San Niang took out the cucumbers that she had asked Li Da Sao to prepare earlier from the basket beside her.

"And by the sixth month, it will be like this eggplant, long and oval in shape."

Li San Niang took out a long, oval-shaped purple eggplant and showed it to the women below.

These eggplants aren't as durable as cucumbers, and they're easy to find. They were stored in someone else's ice cellar a long time ago, thanks to Sister-in-law Li's help. Although they're a bit shriveled, you can still tell their size.

"It was about the size of this little pumpkin by the seventh month," said Li Ersao, whose family had sent it as a gift during the last New Year's celebration.

“By the eighth month, the fetus is about the same size as the honeydew melons sold by merchants from the Western Regions,” Li San Niang said, placing the honeydew melon she had bought from the West Market on the table. “After lunch, we’ll share this melon.”

"By the ninth month, it will be as big as a cabbage," Li San Niang said, placing one of her winter-stored cabbages on the table.

"Finally, in the tenth month, it will be as big as a watermelon from the Western Regions, and it will be almost time to produce it."

She couldn't buy a watermelon, of course. Watermelons were available, but they were only supplied to high-ranking officials and nobles; people like Li San Niang couldn't buy them.

But you can tell the size by looking at the picture.

Then, Li San Niang explained to them how to use the time of their last menstrual period to calculate their due date and estimate the size of the fetus in their womb.

So, after talking for half the morning, no one treated everyone to lunch this time; everyone went out to eat separately.

When everyone returned to the school, Sister-in-law Li cut the melon into strips and gave each person a piece.

"I, an old woman, have actually had the chance to eat honeydew melons from the Western Regions."

Sun, the midwife, savored the sweetness in her mouth and exclaimed in admiration.