Chapter 33 (Combined Chapter)

Miaozhen took the hundred taels given to her by the Second Madam, and still asked Mei to give them to Xu Erpeng. Her parents had worked so hard to prepare her dowry, and she couldn't just take it for granted. She kept two hundred taels for emergencies.

Because she brought back so much cloth, she picked out a few bolts and had a tailor come to her house to make summer clothes. Miaozhen made eight sets, her parents made four sets each, and her two younger brothers each made four sets. Not to mention the servants who were prominent, such as Fengniang, Jinchai, Yinhuan, Xiaoxi, Xiaotao, and Laiwang, each made one set. In total, there were thirty sets, and she was paid five taels of silver for her work.

When I was at the Cheng family home, I naturally wore only comfortable clothes to keep a low profile. But at home, I still had to dress nicely. As the saying goes, Suzhou style and Guangzhou craftsmanship are renowned. Suzhou style is famous throughout the world, and clothes made by Suzhou tailors are naturally famous throughout the world as well.

Miaozhen also paid these wages, which can be considered a small contribution to the family.

As for the handkerchiefs, towels, and perfumes she brought back from Nanjing, she had them delivered to Madam Ru, which was her way of showing her respect as a disciple.

By the time the clothes were finished, Qingming Festival had passed, and it was already Buddha's Birthday. Buddha's Birthday has always been a folk festival for recreation. Especially the elderly and women, who are old and have nothing to do, often worship nuns and Taoist nuns as godmothers and often mingle together. Even the female relatives of wealthy families would go to the temple to listen to sutras and burn incense.

Despite Xu Erpeng bribing Mo Gu Zi, he actually hated these things the most. However, he was still very willing to let his wife and daughter go out for a walk. He even said to Mei Shi, "Although you often go out with other people, it is not as good as going out with your own daughter. It is fine for her to go out for a walk before the engagement in June."

Madam Mei smiled and said, "I've already spoken with Mrs. Ma and Mrs. Wang, and we'll go together. The girl from the Ma family next door is also very close to our Zhenzhen, so it'll be perfect for us to go together."

"Well, just be careful not to let the thieves cut off your purses." Xu Erpeng joked for a few moments, then went back into his study to write his story. He had experienced thieves before, and the domestic power struggles that Miaozhen had told him could be used as material. He was currently bursting with inspiration.

In fact, Miaozhen was the kind of person who would panic if she stopped earning money. So, she asked Xiaoxi and Xiaotao to carry her medicine box so that she could earn some money if someone needed medical treatment.

The eighth day of the fourth lunar month arrived quickly. Because the weather was a bit hot, Miaozhen wore a waistcoat underneath, and a long, thin, lotus-silk front-opening shirt with floral and bird trim over it. Underneath, she wore a pleated floral and bird skirt.

She had fair skin, thick, glossy black hair, and a petite figure; these three features alone were enough to give her the air of a beauty. Madam Mei then bought a small box of pearl flowers for her from a flower seller. Xiao Xi helped her comb her hair and placed the pearl flowers in it, while Xiao Tao took three gold ornaments and a jade pendant, tying them to her collar and waist respectively.

Looking at her daughter, Madam Mei felt even happier than when she dressed herself up. She said, "Zhenzhen, why are your hands so smooth? When you come back, I'll have your father make you two pairs of bracelets."

"I was also thinking about what I'm lacking, and what you said has reminded me." Miaozhen shook her wrist. Her wrist was too round and plump; while others had a small protruding bone, she could hardly see it.

Upon hearing this, Madam Mei laughed and said, "This is what it means to be blessed. You're actually envious of me."

The mother and daughter prepared tea and snacks, packed them in a carrying box, and went to meet up with the Ma family. After recovering from her illness, Ma Yulan had become much calmer in the past year or two. She wore a pale yellow long gown with a tied collar, covered with a honey-colored gauze vest, and paired with a white skirt with gold accents, looking lively and lovely.

"It's a pity that Sister Wang got married in March this year, just a few days before you came back. Otherwise, the three of us could have gone together." Ma Yulan said with some regret.

Miaozhen smiled and asked, "Why isn't Pan'er here?"

Ma Yulan whispered, "You don't know yet?"

"Know what?" Miaozhen didn't understand.

Ma Yulan said, "Pan'er's father has been promoted to Prefect of Jiangzhou; he's an official now. How can he associate with us? Besides, I heard the Tong family wanted their daughter to marry into the Xiao family, but in the end, it was you who got engaged to the Xiao family. And Madam Tong has a strong personality, so that's how it ended—"

So that's what it was for. Miaozhen said, "I really didn't expect that."

"Think about it, even Pan'er wants to marry into the Li family, but you know the Li family, they're prestigious. The Xiao family has an uncle who's an official, and they're rich, who wouldn't want that? You're really lucky." The Ma family were local bigwigs, so of course they knew the stakes.

Miao Zhen was thinking that she was blessed, but it was all arranged by her father, and these things were not for outsiders to know.

Soon after, Mrs. Wang arrived, and the ladies each rode in a sedan chair. Miaozhen rode in a horse-drawn carriage with Ma Yulan. Their family's blue-and-white mule had been retired and replaced with a strong horse.

In the battle between Mrs. Wang and her daughter-in-law, a victor was finally decided. She arranged for her son to take a second wife. This second wife was not to be trifled with either. She went back and forth with Mrs. Wang, and Mrs. Wang's usual methods of crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide were completely ineffective. She was originally very domineering, but in the end, she was left with only a stubborn stubbornness.

Therefore, Mrs. Wang was in high spirits, and the family Wang Xie had married into was also quite good, making her look very different from her usual self.

Miaozhen, having studied at the Cheng family, found this kind of favoritism to be child's play. She clearly understood concepts like using someone else's strength against them and killing two birds with one stone.

Ma Yulan spoke with great enthusiasm, and Miaozhen laughed, "And you? You're getting married at the end of the year, how's it going?"

When the topic of her marriage came up, Ma Yulan became shy.

Playing with my girlfriends at home, I always had a smile on my face, and my brows were much more relaxed.

They are going to Yonghui Temple today. Yonghui Temple was rebuilt in the second year of Jiajing. It is located on Panchi Mountain by Taihu Lake. Panchi Mountain is commonly known as Nanshan because it is south of Tanshan Mountain.

When the carriages and horses reached the foot of the mountain, to show their piety, everyone climbed the steps instead of being carried. Of course, some even knelt down to go up.

This is often the peak season for street vendors, with all sorts of things for sale on the roadside, and their calls echoing everywhere.

"Lucky draw, lucky draw, one penny for one draw. If you win, you get a padded jacket; if you don't, you still get a piece of osmanthus candy!"

"A sandalwood fan, a sandalwood fan, its surface painted with the story of The Romance of the Western Chamber!"

Several talented men and beautiful women deliberately carried fans and gracefully walked past Miaozhen and Ma Yulan, just like online celebrities selling goods.

There were also vendors selling plasters and hawking miracle drugs. As for the food, it goes without saying that once the steamer was opened, the steaming hot food was incredibly fragrant, making my own food seem less appealing.

Neither Ma Yulan nor Miaozhen had bound feet. They were usually quite active at home, often swinging on swings. So they didn't feel tired climbing the mountain. When they reached the halfway point, Ma Yulan noticed that Miaozhen's fair face had turned a light pink from the climb and said, "Zhenzhen, you really have changed a lot as you grow up. I think you're quite pretty now."

"That's because my maid helped me apply powder and draw my eyebrows," Miaozhen chuckled.

Few are naturally beautiful. Although they are at an age where they are naturally beautiful without any makeup, girls always love beauty, and with a little touch-up, their faces look even more pleasing.

Ma Yulan said, "How come your powder adheres so well? What kind of cosmetics did you use? Don't keep it a secret."

“I wouldn’t keep anything from you. I first add four o’clock pearl powder to the lead powder, then mix it with water before applying the makeup. However, lead powder can easily cause skin ulcers, so I only use it occasionally.” Miaozhen said, while keeping an eye on the people around her. There were many people with their reins cut off in crowded places.

Sometimes Miaozhen wondered how thieves could run so fast. If she had stolen something and someone told her to stop, she would be too stiff to walk.

As we walked up, we didn't find it difficult to endure, but we were sweating a lot. Luckily, it was springtime; if it were summer, we would be drenched in sweat.

Upon reaching the mountaintop, the adults were exhausted, especially Mrs. Ma, who was panting heavily. Ma Yulan quickly went to support her mother. Miaozhen saw that Madam Mei was in relatively good spirits, though very thirsty, and said, "Why don't we go inside and find a place to rest before listening to the sermon?"

Everyone thought it was a good idea, and they followed a bhikkhuni inside. There is a big difference between bhikkhunis and nuns; bhikkhunis are generally more self-disciplined.

Miaozhen felt that she was born to be a working person. When she saw these nuns, her first thought was not to pray to Buddha or gods, but to wait until everyone else went in and then she had something to tell them: "I just came back from the Cheng family of the late Grand Secretary of Jinling. I studied under the female physician Ru of this mansion and Madam Yang of Wuxi. I am skilled in acupuncture and massage in gynecology. If anyone of you gets sick, you can come to me."

Upon hearing this, the nun glanced at Miaozhen. Seeing that she was dressed like a wealthy young lady, and although she was clever, she was too young, so she hesitated.

“Master, my family often comes here to donate incense. If you could introduce us, I can also do free clinics here in the future. This would also enhance the reputation of your Yonghui Temple,” Miaozhen said with a smile.

The nun then agreed.

Although she knew that there was little hope of getting through to her, Miaozhen didn't regret it. After Mrs. Ma had rested, everyone went to listen to a sermon. The adults listened very attentively, but Miaozhen and Ma Yulan felt bored and decided to wander around the temple.

Madam Mei didn't say anything, only saying, "You should take the maids with you, with Feng Niang leading them. Don't go too far, understand?"

"Okay, Mother, I'll come find you in a bit."

Miaozhen and Ma Yulan went out hand in hand. They stopped at the foot of the stone wall to look at the poems left by literati. Then they went to the Buddhist hall to kowtow like the adults in front of them. Miaozhen also prepared some loose change and put three to five coins into each donation box.

There was a lot of activity at a lottery stall ahead. Ma Yulan drew a lot first, and it turned out to be a bad one. The fortune slip read, "Like a phoenix leaving the Qin Tower, or clouds gathering over Wushan."

This is a line from "The Romance of the Western Chamber." Ma Yulan quickly found someone to interpret the divination slip, which roughly means that the two should not be together, their marriage will not be harmonious, and they should choose another suitable partner.

Ma Yulan was sullen, and the fortune teller said, "If you wish to change your luck, you can wear this."

After saying that, the fortune teller took out another bracelet. Ma Yulan was eager to try it, but she was afraid that Miaozhen would laugh at her. Miaozhen quickly pretended to draw a fortune as well, acting as if she hadn't seen it.

She had good luck and drew a lucky lot that read, "Again, that's enough."

The meaning doesn't need to be interpreted by a fortune teller; Miaozhen can understand it herself. It means that even if you are not successful at the moment, you must not be discouraged. Just try again. Never give up easily.

Miao Zhen was seeking advice on her career and marriage. The fortune slip told her not to give up easily, but she didn't know what it meant.

Because she drew a bad lot, Ma Yulan was clearly in a bad mood. Even though the vegetarian food at Yonghui Temple was delicious, she couldn't taste it. Mrs. Ma said awkwardly, "Let this girl be."

Behind Yonghui Temple there was an orchard where many people were picking fruit. The Xu family had prepared baskets long ago. It was the season for mulberries to ripen, and Miaozhen carried a wicker basket and picked a lot of mulberries. She then noticed loquats and green plums in front of her. It was said that there were originally cherries, but the nearby villagers had already picked them all.

Ms. Mei enthusiastically filled a small urn with spring water, exclaiming, "Zhenzhen, this is mountain spring water, it's so sweet!"

Adults seem to be very enthusiastic about filling bottles with spring water; if you didn't know better, you'd think it was some kind of water that grants immortality.

But it's always good to get out and about. Like now, her makeup has almost completely worn off, but her complexion looks better after exercising.

Back home, the sun was already setting. Fengniang had the picked fruit washed and placed on tall platters, and then set out six dishes. Xu Erpeng picked up a piece of fish maw for Mei Shi. Miaozhen just chuckled when she saw this. Xu Erpeng was also a little embarrassed and cleared his throat: "Recently, someone here wants to publish a medical book, so I stayed with you."

"Thank you, Father." After thanking him, Miaozhen brought up the matter of how people looked down on her for being young. "If it were an old man with a white beard, even if he knew nothing, people would definitely think he was a doctor with profound medical skills. But for us young people, people just think we're making a fool of ourselves."

Xu Erpeng tapped the ground a few times with his chopsticks before saying, "This is what it means to establish a career only after getting married. Generally speaking, people only recognize you as an adult after you get married. The Cheng family is an official family, so they are knowledgeable and experienced, but many families are not so knowledgeable and experienced."

Miaozhen thought there was some truth to what he said, but she didn't agree with it.

Miaozhen is always like this; she can understand why certain people say certain things because everyone's perspective and education are different. However, understanding does not mean agreeing.

The next morning, she found two books on her bedside table: "The Household Records of the Wu Family of Pujiang" and "The Medical Book of the Wu Family." She knew that besides wanting her to become an excellent female doctor, her father also hoped she would be a qualified matriarch. Just as he, with his scholar status, could also manage his business well.

Fortunately, she had learned to make pastries and vegetarian dishes from Lady Qiu, so she wasn't completely clueless about cooking. However, when she looked at this book, "Wu's Household Cooking Records," she found that it was almost entirely about pickling methods, whether for meat or vegetables.

But seeing crabs and fish gave her a headache because of their fishy smell, and fish were particularly restless. She remembered going to buy fish with Ms. Mei when she was a child. The fish wouldn't stay still on the ground, and they wouldn't stay still in the water either, getting water all over her face.

So she chose to cook chicken first, and went to the kitchen herself to ask Yu Xiang for advice.

Yu Xiang is said to be not very bright, but she is very good at making soups and cooking. Miao Zhen asked her for cooking tips, and she was a little flattered.

"I'd like to make a dish called oven-roasted chicken. Could you buy me a chicken tomorrow? I'll give you the money, and you can use it to buy whatever I need in the future." Miaozhen asked Xiaoxi to give her a string of coins.

Yu Xiang hurriedly said, "This is too much..."

"It's alright. I'll need your help with many more dishes in the future," Miaozhen said with a smile.

If you're talking about students with lots of stationery, Miao Zhen had already had an apron made for her before she even started cooking, specifically for when she went into the kitchen. She was all set to show off her skills, but once she got to the kitchen, the first thing stumped her: Yu Xiang had bought a live chicken, and Miao Zhen had absolutely no idea how to kill or pluck one.

Seeing Miaozhen's stunned expression, Xiaoxi said to Yuxiang, "Hurry up and clean the chicken. It's not right to let the young lady do these chores."

Taro Fragrance then realized, "You're so confused."

Seeing that Yu Xiang had neatly prepared the chicken, and it looked just like she usually did, Miao Zhen then followed the recipe she had copied down. First, she put the chicken in water to boil, and when it was about 80% cooked, she took it out and cut it into small pieces.

Yu Xiang is her mentor when it comes to cooking. For example, she just taught me to put the chicken in cold water to cut it, which not only makes it easier to cut but also makes the meat more tender. Also, when cutting chicken, the neck should be chopped off first, then the neck should be cut into small pieces for later use. Then, cut the chicken in half from the middle of the back, cut off the wings, and cut the chicken legs diagonally.

After cutting the chicken, heat some oil in a pan, then stir-fry the chicken for a short while. Cover the pan tightly with a lid and cook until the bottom of the pan is dry. Then, add a little bit of a sauce made of equal parts wine and vinegar. Repeat this process several times until the chicken is tender. Once the chicken is cooked through, it's ready to serve.

This was her first time making such a elaborate dish as chicken, and she was a little nervous, so she solemnly asked her parents for their feedback.

Mei had just returned from the Mei family. Unlike other mothers, Ma Yulan said that her mother was very good when she was in a good mood, but when she was upset, she would take it out on her family. But Mei would not do that. Even if she was not happy when she went to the Mei family, she would forget all her troubles when she saw her children.

"Father, Mother, please try it." Miaozhen pushed the plate forward.

Xu Erpeng ate it and said it was good: "Our daughter is very talented. She can cook a dish without much learning. It's delicious, delicious."

Dad said it was delicious, but Mom had some complaints, saying the heat was too high. She even taught her that if you put a clove of garlic in the oil and fry it over low heat until it turns golden brown, then remove the garlic before adding the chicken pieces, the chicken skin will be golden brown and crispy, making it both beautiful and delicious.

Cooking is a complex art!

Because the dish was quite good, Madam Mei decided to teach her how to cook herself, and said with a smile, "Your father was just giving you random advice. Your cookbook is from Pujiang, not Suzhou. Let me teach you instead."

Xu Erpeng smiled and shook his head: "Mrs. Xiao is from Zhejiang, which is why I chose her."

"Oh, I see." Madam Mei exclaimed in realization.

Today, Madam Mei seemed a little absent-minded. After the meal, Miaozhen went to the inner room and, sure enough, saw that her mother looked somewhat dejected. Miaozhen quickly asked, "Mother, what's wrong?"

Seeing her daughter's concern, Madam Mei said, "Don't worry about it. It's just that your aunt and uncle have divorced."

"Divorced?"

“Yes, your uncle lost a lot of money doing business with the Qiao family, and I heard he had other women outside. Your aunt and your grandmother often argued, and after a while, her family took her back. Your grandmother encouraged your uncle to divorce her. Your aunt's family made him change the divorce agreement to a settlement, and he kept half of his dowry. They still have three children, so your uncle agreed.” Madam Mei said, sounding exhausted.

Miaozhen was also exhausted from listening. She thought the real culprit was her uncle.

In mid-April, a light drizzle was falling. Miao Zhen was organizing medical records, and before she knew it, she had gained her own experience. Looking at each page of the records, she recalled the people she had treated, and they were all vividly remembered.

"Miss, someone has come to ask you to make a house call." The little maid Dong'er ran in to deliver the message.

Miaozhen was puzzled. Although she was quite famous in Nanjing, she had not made a name for herself in Suzhou. Now someone had asked her to make a house call. She wondered who it was.

So she went to the front hall and saw a maid wearing a light blue vest waiting there. Miaozhen asked carefully, "I don't know where your home is? Why don't you have her come to your house to treat you?"

The maid said, "My master is the owner of Songhe Restaurant, the Yao family. He is a friend of Master Qin. My mistress has fallen ill and learned about your medical skills from Mrs. Qin, so she would like to invite you over."

When Miaozhen heard that it was Mrs. Qin, she thought to herself that she was truly a benefactor and a kind person who had even helped her introduce patients. So she agreed, but she was worried about going alone, so she asked Madam Mei to accompany her.

Songhe Restaurant was a relatively local restaurant in Suzhou Prefecture, but the family did not live behind the restaurant. Instead, they lived in Tanqiu Lane, where there was an open space in front of them where many people who loved Cuju (ancient Chinese football) often played.

Miaozhen was much more adept at treating illnesses than cooking, especially since she had lived in a top-tier family like the Cheng family. So when she arrived at the Yao family, Madam Yao was younger than she had imagined, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. She first took her pulse, and after taking it, she frowned and said, "Your internal organs are weak, and your spleen and stomach are also weak. Do you usually have any stagnant blood?"

"There's no bad blood, but there's a lump in my abdomen that just won't go away," Mrs. Yao said, her brow furrowed with worry.

Miaozhen then asked, "How is your usual diet?"

"I eat very little and have lost a lot of weight."

Do you have any unusual habits?

Mrs. Yao thought for a moment, "Whenever I have my period, I crave cold things. I don't know why, but I especially want to eat raw or cold foods."

Miaozhen already had an idea in mind, but to be more specific, she still asked, "Do you have symptoms of pain in your heart or abdomen?"

Mrs. Yao shook her head.

"This illness should be a food-related ailment. I've prescribed a formula for you. Take five pills of ammoniac pills with a decoction of ginger and tangerine peel each time." Miaozhen had already finished writing the prescription while she was speaking.

Madam Yao hurriedly sent someone to bring Miaozhen and her daughter back in a sedan chair. Madam Mei quietly asked, "Why wasn't a consultation fee paid?"

Miao Zhen smiled and said, "You don't know that we have a rule in our profession: we generally don't ask for consultation fees in person. The patient's family will send someone to give me a thank-you gift afterward. This way, it shows that the doctor did not solicit bribes or take advantage of the patient's distress. When she is almost fully recovered, she will give me a generous gift, not only to express her gratitude but also to make a name for me."

Sure enough, before the Dragon Boat Festival, the Yao family sent five taels of silver, a piece of light gauze, a pair of silk stockings, and six gold fans.

Miaozhen became somewhat famous for curing Mrs. Yao's illness.