Chapter 871 A Dream of Youth 403
Eunuch Ding was forbidden from leaving the palace without orders, while Xie Ning entered and exited the palace gates every day. After hearing that Eunuch Ding had built a Taoist temple to take in some eunuchs who had been released from the palace and had nowhere to go, Xie Ning gave him a word of advice.
They have no offspring, so they can adopt some orphans, both for themselves and to do good deeds.
Ding, the eunuch, did as Xie Ning had said. The number of boys who were abandoned and drowned was relatively smaller, but it did happen. After all, the poll tax was heavy and the people could not bear the burden, so there were many cases of newborns being drowned.
Another problem is the serious land consolidation. Those people who lost their land are living in dire straits. They can't even support themselves, let alone support new family members.
Therefore, the phenomena of "abandoning children and drowning infants" or "not raising children after birth" are particularly serious.
In addition to the previous wars...
Xie Ning also mentioned to Xia Xiang the establishment of government-run aid organizations for abandoned and impoverished children, as well as the regulation and registration of private charitable organizations. However, the policies still need improvement, so they have not yet been put into practice.
Eunuch Ding took in mostly elderly or disabled eunuchs like himself, so he only planned to adopt boys, since it would be inconvenient to adopt girls. After finding a girl, Eunuch Ding sent her to Xie Yunkai's charity hall.
The eunuch Ding listened with a smile on his face. Everyone likes to enjoy wealth and luxury. They have suffered for half their lives, just to save up more money so that they can live a more comfortable life in their later years.
If one can enjoy wealth and prosperity while also using a small amount of money to do good deeds and gain a good reputation, one will be happy.
So what if they have the same name? They've still done real work.
With this in mind, Eunuch Ding began to calculate the money he had saved, planning to give it to his godfather in a while and do something for him.
They learned how to survive and how to kill in the palace; they never imagined they could save people and teach others how to live.
This feeling is a bit strange, but inexplicably comforting.
Xu Hongying's transfer order came down quickly, which made Chen Wanniang feel a pang of heartache. Her child hadn't been settled in the capital for long before she had to leave again.
Xie Ning peeked in and saw Chen Wanniang was still giving Xu Hongying a long, rambling lecture, and she wasn't leaving anytime soon.
Calculating the time, there was enough time for her to make a trip to the Ordnance Bureau and then come back.
However, Xie Ning also saw Du Xin off at the city gate along the way.
Xie Ning mentioned the matter of Lingnan and submitted a memorial to discuss it because he learned that Du Xin had received a letter from Zheng's son from Lingnan, which contained a lot of information about Lingnan.
Then, even if Lord Zheng could be reinstated, he did not intend to return to the capital; he wanted to stay in Lingnan to teach and educate people.
After visiting some officials who had returned from Lingnan and gaining a thorough understanding of the situation, Xie Ning finally began to write his memorial.
Du Xin was a skilled doctor, and Xie Ning wanted to do his best to solve the problem of miasma in Lingnan. Almost every official who returned from Lingnan turned pale at the mention of "miasma".
In Xie Ning's view, the so-called miasma was more of a type of malaria transmitted by mosquito bites, so she prepared some prescriptions and medicines in advance for Du Xin to take for testing.
Lingnan is mountainous and rich in medicinal resources. She wants to develop that area, so she needs to first establish a pharmacy as a pilot project.
Then there's the story of the patient Xie Ning encountered at Dejitang when he was young who was superstitious about witchcraft.
The people of Lingnan were superstitious and liked to pray to gods and ghosts. These customs were always despised by the people of the Central Plains and were called "barbaric customs", "vulgar customs" or "foreign customs".
One of the proposals was to change customs and traditions, altering outdated practices in Lingnan, in order to improve local medical and health conditions.
Du Xin is undoubtedly one of the most suitable people.
In addition, Du Xin also had to keep his promise.
Du Xin volunteered to set up a pharmacy on Guangnan East Road, which angered Manager Du and his mother for several days. They tried to persuade Du Xin for several days, but they couldn't change his mind.
When Xie Ning arrived at the city gate to see Du Xin off, Du's head was red-faced, as if he had been hit by something, and Du's mother held Du Xin tightly and refused to let go.
"Alright, stop crying. Sister Xin is going there to become an official, and you've even assigned two guards to her. Who would dare to bully her?"
Manager Du touched his forehead. He had to admit, his wife was really strong.
"Thank you, sir."
Upon seeing Xie Ning riding over, Madam Du immediately stopped wailing and straightened her posture to bow to Xie Ning.
Xie Ning glanced at Du Xin and the physicians who accompanied her—two men and two women in total. They were the ones Xie Ning had fought over with the Imperial Physician, which made the Imperial Physician so angry that he snorted coldly whenever he saw Xie Ning.
In the eyes of the Imperial Physician, Xie Ning was a waste of talent. Those relatively wealthy and prosperous prefectures with large populations had not yet opened pharmacies, but Xie Ning went and sent people to places of exile.
If the Imperial Physician hadn't known Xie Ning's character, he would have seriously suspected that Xie Ning and Du Xin had a grudge against these bureaucrats.
Xie Ning carefully instructed the group on things to be careful about on the road and after arriving in Lingnan, and then had her guards hand over some gifts she had prepared to the accompanying people.
Du Xin stared intently at Xie Ning, then bowed deeply, "Teacher, I will certainly live up to your expectations."
Xie Ning's gaze softened, and she accepted the bow, saying, "I believe you."
Then, looking at the other students, he said, "Your journey will be arduous; please take care."
"Yes." The group greeted each other.
Du Xin sat in the carriage with another female doctor. The female doctor noticed that Du Xin had an extra box compared to them, but she wasn't jealous, since everyone knew that Du Xin was Xie Ning's disciple.
"What's this?"
Du Xin opened the box, and inside was a bronze mirror. No, this mirror was brighter and clearer than an ordinary bronze mirror.
The handheld mirror is also inlaid with gemstones and pearls, making it very luxurious.
"It's so beautiful!" The female doctor leaned closer to take a look, her eyes full of curiosity.
Du Xin paused, her eyes slightly moist. She understood the meaning behind Xie Ning's gift to her: the mirror represented completeness.
Xie Ning hopes her future will be fulfilling, and so will her marriage.
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