Chapter 293 Literacy is the Foundation
Overjoyed at having taken on her first apprentice, Li San Niang, after seeing off the equally excited Song Da Lang and Song Fu Ling, held Lu Zhu'er and chatted with her mother, Li Da Sao, Li Er Sao, and Qiu Xiang who was standing to the side for almost half an hour, until Lu Zhu'er in her arms squinted her eyes.
Li Dasao took Luzhu'er from Li Sanniang's arms, and Li Ersao stepped forward to put the tiger-head hat on Luzhu'er. She then asked Li Dasao and Li's mother, "What's wrong with Sanniang?"
She used to never drink alcohol, no matter how happy she was, saying that alcohol would damage her nerves and make it difficult for her to hold a scalpel.
"I did have a small cup of peach blossom wine today. It seems she's really happy to have a disciple now?"
Li Ersao was surprised to see Li Sanniang slumped over the small table. Although Li Ersao hadn't watched Li Sanniang grow up like Li Dasao had, she had still had a lot of contact with this younger sister-in-law.
She had never seen Li San Niang break her own rules like this before, but Li Er Sao understood that for a doctor, having a disciple to pass on his skills was a great joy.
Just like how Li's father was overjoyed when he learned that Li San Niang had passed the exam for the Chang'an Medical Alliance.
"Alright, quickly help her back inside."
"I'll make her a hangover soup and feed it to her before letting her sleep, otherwise she'll definitely have a headache tomorrow morning and won't be able to go to work."
Before Li Ersao could even make a move, Qiu Xiang scooped up the unconscious Li Sanniang in a princess carry. Li's mother took the little dewdrop from Li Dasao's arms, Li Ersao led the way, and Li Dasao went to the kitchen to make a hangover soup.
The next day, Li Sanniang woke up on her own without Qiu Xiang calling her. She first touched herself and felt that Lu Zhu'er's body was warm. Then she gently patted her cheeks to drive away the drowsiness.
When she got up, she noticed the cups and saucers on the low table next to the bed. She bent down, picked up the teapot, and poured herself a cup of ice-cold water. It was so cold that she warmed it in her mouth before daring to swallow.
Looking at the clothes hanging on the clothes rack, Li San Niang knew that it was her mother and the others who had taken her back to her room last night.
After getting dressed and leaving the house, he ran into Qiu Xiang, who was also coming out from next door.
The two of them went to the kitchen together to fetch hot water. When they returned to the house, Li San Niang added two more pieces of charcoal to the charcoal brazier in the corner of the room, thinking that it was getting colder day by day and that it might snow earlier this year.
Thanks to Sister-in-law Li's hangover soup last night, and also because Li San Niang only drank a small cup.
As for Li Sanniang getting drunk last night, it was mostly because she was tired from the past two days, had a low alcohol tolerance, and was extremely happy.
"Does your head hurt?"
"Thank you, sister-in-law. It doesn't hurt. I'm just hungrier than usual."
"Then I'll give you another chicken. Eat more. You were so happy last night that you didn't eat much."
After eating breakfast, Li San Niang and Qiu Xiang, who was helping her carry her medical kit, took a carriage to go to their shifts.
After finishing their household chores, Li's mother and the others went to open the door of the Women's Assistance Association next door, intending to have a good discussion about the things that Li San Niang had told them to do.
The main issue concerns the first cohort of students at the Midwifery Academy.
Now that we've chosen the instructors, it's time to prepare to start teaching them.
But according to Li San Niang's plan, she first needed to hire a teacher so that most of the ten illiterate people could learn some common characters.
Then Li San Niang would explain the theory, and finally, she would lead each person in a six-month practice session. After that, they would be assessed and personally deliver babies. Only after reaching the level of a master could they graduate.
"Just as Third Sister said, hiring a doctor is a good thing."
Not only those who come to learn midwifery from Third Sister, but also Dewdrop, Song Xiaoniang, and Baoya can learn to read and write. It's a great opportunity.
Li Ersao thought that then the family wouldn't need to look after Luzhu'er's studies anymore, since everyone in the family was busy with their own affairs and had no time to take care of the child.
“But we are all women here, so it would be best to hire an older tutor, or even better, a female tutor.”
Sister-in-law Li was still worried that if they invited men to give lectures at the alliance, it would be inconvenient because some of the ten men were young women.
"I remember that the midwife Sun said that her granddaughter Chunlan was taught to read by a widowed woman in their neighborhood who could read and write, right?"
"We'll go and ask around later. If it's feasible, we can take the gifts and go to her door to invite her over."
“Mother is right. If we could hire a female tutor, that would be the best.”
Without further ado, Li's mother immediately asked Nineteen to drive the carriage to Yongpingfang to find Granny Sun.
Chunlan heard that it was Li's mother at the door, so she quickly opened the door, and sure enough, Li's mother was standing outside.
"Grandma, it's Grandma Li."
After Li's mother sat down with her teacup, she said to the midwife Sun, "I won't talk nonsense with you. Last time I heard you say that your granddaughter was taught by a widowed woman in the neighborhood who can read and write. The first thing my third sister-in-law's midwife school does is to teach women to read."
Since they are all women, it would be most convenient to hire a female tutor.
Tell me quickly, is this woman suitable?
The midwife, Sun, really didn't expect that Li's mother had come to visit for this reason, but it was a good thing that the girl was literate.
Although Sun the midwife herself was illiterate, she knew that anything a man pursued must be good.
This is also what happened when Chunlan's mother discovered that Chunlan was an imperforate woman while bathing her. She then informed the midwife, Sun, who immediately discussed with Sun's father that they must teach their granddaughter to read and write so that she could have a skill to support herself and survive in the world.
"Can I, an old woman, also learn to read?"
"What you're saying is ridiculous. Even though you were selected tenth, you still got in through the exam, so naturally you should be included."
However, with your granddaughter around, she might even do better than a girl who has no help and has to rely solely on herself.
The midwife, Sun, took what Li's mother said to heart, recalling the time when her family went to find this Qin lady's family.
Chunlan, however, grew anxious. Seeing that the midwife was still thinking, she spoke first.
"So that Grandma Li knows that the gentleman is truly a wonderful woman."
When I was young, my teacher never looked down on me and was very patient when teaching me to read.
Sometimes, he would even impart worldly wisdom to us, and when he had free time, he would make sweets for us himself.
Midwife Sun chimed in, "Lady Qin lives right behind my house on this street. I remember that Lady Qin has never remarried since she became a widow. Her only daughter got married a few years ago and moved to Chang'an."
She currently lives alone at home.
At this moment, Chunlan's mother also washed a few pears and brought them over, listening to Li's mother and the others talking.
“Mother, Granny Li, Qin Niangzi’s brother is an official outside the city, and he has a nephew who is studying at the Imperial Academy.”
Furthermore, because Madam Qin was literate and had a good temperament, although she never remarried, she was well-liked in the neighborhood.
Sun's mother added that, thinking of Qin Niangzi, who always spoke softly and never raised her voice, she felt it was a blessing to have such a woman teach her to read.
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