Chapter 194: The Women's Assistance Association is Mentioned Again!
After Li San Niang saw her mother talking to the midwife about the alliance she had mentioned earlier, which was the Women's Helping Association, she first vented her anger to Yu Lian, and then headed to the kitchen.
Sure enough, I saw Sister-in-law Li and Sister-in-law Li sitting together in the kitchen, shelling beans and chatting.
"Sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, come with me quickly."
Li San Niang picked up Lu Zhu'er and explained to Li Da Sao and Li Er Sao that Sun the midwife had seen her use the episiotomy technique to deliver babies at the Yang family's house and had wanted to become her apprentice. That's why she asked Yu Lian to come to the Li family.
Li Ersao picked up the sleeping Xiao Wulang from a basket beside her and asked, "Third Sister, if you want to become an apprentice, what do you want me and my sister-in-law to do?"
Li San Niang agreed to Lu Zhu'er's request and put her down, letting Lu Zhu'er continue playing with shelling beans. She then took the much heavier Xiao Wu Lang from Li Er Sao's hands. Li San Niang hugged Xiao Wu Lang and patted his little bottom, listening to him whimpering as if he still wanted to sleep.
Li San Niang then said to Li Er Sao, "Second Sister-in-law, how could you forget? When I said I wanted to establish this Women's Assistance Association, I said that Mother would be the president, and that Eldest Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law would manage the association together."
Li Ersao was still confused and didn't react immediately. "I know, and I agreed, but what does this have to do with Granny Sun coming to become my apprentice?"
Li San Niang continued to explain: "Second sister-in-law, I originally wanted to spread my midwifery techniques. A woman's life is mostly about childbirth, and if I only have these techniques, how many people can I help?"
Even with my mother, the two of us couldn't possibly handle all the women in this Longevity Ward.
Therefore, this technique must be passed on to others.
Originally, I was thinking of having my mother share the benefits of my technique with the midwives and nurses when she went out to deliver babies. Anyone who wanted to learn could simply join the guild.
At this point, Sister-in-law Li understood.
Seeing that Li San Niang was tired after carrying Xiao Wu Lang for only a short while, Li Er Sao quickly took him from her. "Wu Lang has gotten quite heavy these past few months. Is it too heavy to carry?"
"It would be good if our Wulang grew up strong and healthy."
When Li San Niang led Lu Zhu'er, Li Da Sao, and Li Er Sao to the main hall, Li San Niang saw that the midwife Sun was beaming from ear to ear because of what Li's mother said.
As soon as Sun the midwife saw Li San Niang, she stood up and bowed to her, saying, "Li San Niangzi has done a great deed! I admire her very much."
Although Sun the midwife's behavior was somewhat of a show-off to learn her skills, it must be said that she genuinely admired Li San Niang.
According to what Li's mother said, as long as you join the Women's Aid Association established by Li San Niang, you will be considered a member.
Not only can you learn skills for free, but if a woman from a poor family is able to find work in the future, the alliance can also help her.
Furthermore, if the women in the family fall ill, they can come to Li San Niang for treatment, and she will not charge a consultation fee, only the cost of the medicine.
Moreover, Sun the midwife knew that Li San Niang was now a female doctor under the Chang'an Medical Alliance, just like Li's father and second brother.
She was a female physician, one of the best in Chang'an.
With Li San Niang's noble character, what good would these things do besides enhancing the reputation of Li San Niang and her family?
No, the only ones who benefited were the women who joined the association and their families.
"Don't worry, Third Sister. I will definitely promote this alliance to everyone in Yongpingfang. Once the alliance is established, I will be the first to join."
“That’s wonderful. When the time comes, my mother, as the president of this association, will definitely be the first to inform you, Midwife Sun. As for the technique you want to learn, Midwife Sun, once the association is established and has a group of members, I will definitely explain it to you midwives who want to learn it in detail. It’s free, and I guarantee you’ll learn it.”
When Li San Niang said that she wanted Li's mother to be the head of the association, Sun, the midwife, was a little suspicious. However, when Li San Niang said that it would be free and that she would teach her everything, she happily agreed, "Definitely, definitely."
Yu Lian, who had listened to the whole thing, was now feeling quite excited. She had only heard half of what Li San Niang was talking about, and she really didn't know what the midwifery technique Li San Niang was talking about was, or why Sun, the midwife, would spend money to become her apprentice.
However, Yulian did not expect that the Li family would set up an alliance. Although the government does not prohibit people from setting up alliances, as long as they register with the government and pay taxes on time, it is fine.
From what Li's mother said, it was clear that joining the Li family's so-called "Women's Support Association" didn't require any money. On the contrary, one could learn techniques for free, find work for women in the future, and even only need to pay for medicine when seeing a doctor.
Is there really anyone in the world who would do something so unprofitable?
Next, Li San Niang and the others discussed the purpose of this Women's Assistance Association, its plans, its operations, its future prospects, and what kind of women it wanted to recruit.
After listening for a while, Yulian and the midwife Sun both understood a little.
Li San Niang meant to give poor women a chance to survive.
As for teaching midwives how to deliver babies, Li San Niang herself said, "If I'm the only one who knows this technique, how many people can I save?"
It would be wonderful if we could teach it to all the midwives in Chang'an and even the entire Tang Dynasty.
In my Great Tang Dynasty, countless infants were born safely, and countless women survived.
Isn't it a good thing for a baby to be born with a mother?
At this moment, Yulian truly felt that what the midwife Sun had said was right; Li Sanniang was doing a great act of kindness!
By the time Li's mother and the others saw Yulian and the midwife Sun out of the Li family's house, it was almost time to prepare dinner.
As the weather changes, it gets dark earlier and earlier. If you want to save on lamp oil, you have to start preparing early while there is still daylight.
After dinner, the Li family, along with Qiu Xiang, Song Dalang, and Song Xiaoniang, ate the snacks that Li Sanniang had bought in the courtyard. They chatted about how in a few days it would be Emperor Wu's birthday celebration, and how Chang'an would be bustling with activity.
Li's mother also said that if Li San Niang was not on duty during the holiday, she must go to Xuandu Temple with them to pray.
No one mentioned or inquired about Li San Niang's assassination attempt in Yongpingfang yesterday, nor did anyone ask how she got the wound on her neck. Xiao Si Lang was specifically instructed by Li Er Xiong not to ask Li San Niang how she got the wound.
Just before going back to his room to sleep, Li's father brought out a bowl of herbal medicine.
Li San Niang knew immediately from the smell that calming herbs had been added to the product, and without saying a word, she downed it in one gulp.
After washing up and coaxing Lu Zhu'er to sleep, Li San Niang sat up in meditation again. This time, she deliberately recited the pharmacopoeia that her father had made her memorize since she was a child.
After about 15 minutes, Li Sanniang felt that her mind was free of distractions and she would not have any wild thoughts, so she lay down and hugged Luzhu'er to sleep.
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