Chapter 33 Spicy Slice: May everything you do go smoothly, may all your wishes be fulfilled, may you live a long and healthy life, and may your home be peaceful.
Before arriving at the Yao family today, Wupan believed that the most delicious thing in the world was the tofu and silver thread steamed bun made by the master chef of Xingguo Temple.
It's his favorite food!
The head chef prepares the filling for the steamed buns by wrapping diced tofu, which has been pan-fried in vegetable oil, with soaked vermicelli that has become soft and translucent. He then mixes it with soy sauce, Sichuan peppercorn water, salt, and sesame oil. Finely chopped green garlic shoots are stir-fried in hot oil until fragrant, and then added to the mixture. Before the buns are even wrapped, the entire temple is filled with a warm and steaming aroma.
The dough for steamed buns must be kneaded thoroughly. The master chef will roll the dough in circles to make a wrapper that is thicker in the middle and thinner at the edges. The skill of pinching pleats is also important. The thumb presses down on the filling without moving, while the index finger pushes and pinches like splashing water, and the pleats of the steamed bun will gradually close up like lotus petals, making it round and plump. After steaming, the dough puffs up and becomes translucent with oil.
It's best eaten hot, but be careful when biting into it, as the scalding oil will drip down your fingers. The tofu is soaked in the savory sauce, and the glass noodles are smooth yet chewy. The noodles have absorbed all the oil, making them salty and delicious, mixed with the pungent aroma of green garlic sprouts. Oh, it's delicious no matter how you eat it!
Brother Fajun always says that the head chef's dumplings are not as good as those made by Chenji Restaurant in Jinliangqiao. He says that the head chef likes to add vegetable oil, and that eating two of them is too greasy. But Wupan thinks from the bottom of his heart that they taste better with oil!
In the past, he would drool just thinking about it.
But after arriving at the Yao family's house today, he suddenly stopped craving the tofu and silver thread buns.
Wupan grew up in the temple, from a young age. He didn't know what parents were. His master was his parents, and his fellow disciples were all his elder brothers. When many older female bodhisattvas came to the temple and heard about his background, they would always rub his bald head and say, "Poor child."
But Wupan felt he was living a pretty comfortable life.
Every month, the temple hosts a trade fair for all sorts of people, and he'd seen all kinds of good things since he was a child. As a kid, he envied the older monks who could help out at the front, since they didn't have to chant sutras or sweep the floor and could even sneak some treats. But later, after he got his turn to help at the temple gate, he saw and tasted so much that he stopped craving it.
He therefore felt that although he was young, he was quite shrewd and a very clever and knowledgeable little monk.
So this mixed vegetable soup is really delicious!
He held the mixed vegetable soup that the female bodhisattva had ladled for him in his hands, and drank a bowl of it with boundless warmth, sip by sip, gradually becoming so enticed by its deliciousness that it seemed to steal his soul away.
According to the woman from the Yao family, this soup was made by stewing shiitake mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, tofu, cabbage, radish, and bamboo fungus together in one pot. Originally, she wanted to add some chicken bones to make the broth, but they had run out of chicken and it was raining, so she was too lazy to go out and buy some. That's why she made a completely vegetarian soup. She was just in the right place at the right time.
The first taste was the freshness of the shiitake mushrooms; the soaked dried shiitake mushrooms were even more fragrant and flavorful than the fresh ones, with a slightly refreshing taste. The bamboo fungus, having absorbed the broth, was slippery and juicy, bursting with flavor when bitten. This was followed by the crisp and tender bamboo shoots and the smooth, tender tofu. He found this light and refreshing mixed vegetable soup both comforting and warming.
Wupan licked his lips; he had finished his drink. Meanwhile, the rest of the Yao family, along with the dogs and cats, were also drinking soup and gnawing on a large bowl of fragrant braised pork bones. He had never eaten meat before, and although the rich aroma of meat wafted through the Yao family's air, he didn't find it particularly tempting; he just thought it smelled especially delicious.
He bowed slightly to the others, then turned his gaze away.
On the small table in front of him lay six strings of brand-new copper coins, each strung together with a red string. Yao Ruyi had him count them to confirm that there was not a single coin missing before wrapping them in red cloth. Wupan murmured Amitabha, beaming with joy, and tucked the heavy copper coins into his pocket.
He hadn't even finished his soup yet, and before he could even bring it up, this young lady Yao offered to pay him the interest.
Wupan was deeply moved and overjoyed. He recalled that just a month ago, his fellow disciples had laughed at him for being so small and foolish that he would never be able to collect the debts and might even be scammed.
Now... heh heh, collecting debts is a piece of cake!
But Wupan knew that this was all thanks to Yao Xiaoniangzi keeping her promise; otherwise, he wouldn't have had such a smooth experience if he had encountered a difficult person. So he stood up, took off the phoenix-eye bodhi beaded pendant from his lapel, and bowed to Yao Ruyi with palms raised, imitating his master's manner. He sincerely recited a few words of blessing for her: "May the Bodhisattva bless you, may all your endeavors be successful, may all your wishes be fulfilled, may you be free from illness and live a long life, and may your home be peaceful. Namo Amitabha Buddha."
After saying this, he touched Yao Ruyi's hand with the old Buddhist prayer beads that he had been handling until they were shiny and worn, and said very sincerely, "These are prayer beads that my master gave to me. My master used to use this string of beads to chant sutras and pray in front of the Buddha every morning and evening. When I was young, I was seriously ill, and my master tied this string of prayer beads to me. Since then, I have rarely been sick. Today, I wish to bestow the Buddha's compassion and wisdom upon you as well."
Yao Ruyi was very surprised. She never expected Wupan to do such a thing. He was such a kind and gentle little monk.
Previously, neither my grandmother nor she believed in these things, but they had seen many people who, after reaching a dead end, tried to grasp at something, but even their lives were slipping away. It seemed that the only thing they could hold onto was the word "god" or "Buddha." In hospitals, when patients are critically ill and bedridden, there is no shortage of cries of prayer, and it is rare to find atheists.
Especially after transmigrating into the book, Yao Ruyi sometimes wondered if this was the result of her grandmother's prayers, which allowed her to have a new beginning. So when she heard Wupan's blessing, she was deeply grateful. Who wouldn't want to hear auspicious blessings? She quickly put her hands together and sincerely returned the greeting: "Thank you, little master."
Wupan then hung the Bodhi beads back on his clothes, pocketed the money, and transformed back into the simple and cheerful boy he once was, smiling as he said, "This humble monk also thanks the female Bodhisattva! Today went so smoothly, my master will surely praise me for my growing abilities when I get back! It's getting late, so this humble monk will head back now. I'll come again at this time next month."
Yao Ruyi quickly pulled him back, saying, "Little Master, please wait."
Wupan turned around in confusion.
Yao Ruyi smiled and said, "Little Master, come with me. I also have something to give you."
At this moment, Wupan, who knew nothing about "Ruyi Grocery Store," was full of curiosity. He just looked around and followed Yao Ruyi, who had brought an oil lamp and inexplicably had a large basket hanging on his arm, into her store.
If Wupan had known that he would come often in the future, and each time he would spend all his allowance on lots and lots of things, he would have warned himself at this moment:
Don't go in, don't go in, don't go in!
Upon entering, Wupan's first reaction wasn't to see anything, but rather to smell a strong, spicy aroma, somewhat pungent yet also very fragrant. Before he could figure out what it was, the young lady from the Yao family led him to a large winnowing basket. The basket was lined with two or three layers of oiled paper, on which lay thin bean curd sheets cut into neat squares, like Xuan paper. The bean curd sheets were soaking in a bright red, sesame-scented chili oil, each piece coated with coarse spices. It smelled like ginger, cumin, and other spices, indicating a considerable amount of seasoning. However, Wupan's mouth was already watering, and he couldn't smell anything else.
Yao Ruyi bent down, picked up a piece with her chopsticks, and then used another pair of chopsticks to twist off a small piece from the edge. She smiled at Wupan and said, "Little Master, these are spicy chips I made. Take some back and try them. They're made by wrapping bean curd skin with my own homemade dogwood sauce, and the oil is soybean oil. They're vegetarian, but they taste even better than meat! Have a piece when you're tired from chanting scriptures, have a piece when you're tired from carrying water, have a piece when you're hungry while preaching Buddhism to believers. They'll make you feel less hungry and give you energy. Try them, they're free."
While Lin Wen'an was discussing matters with Lord Wang, Yao Ruyi and Uncle Cong were tinkering with these spicy chips in the kitchen. Her leg was almost fully healed; today, even the bandages from the medicine dressing had been removed. She was thinking about the important matter of supplying snacks to her little shop when, unexpectedly, Wupan arrived just as she had finished making a basket of spicy chips!
This was like a godsend, saving Yao Ruyi the trouble of making a trip!
Wupan wanted to refuse, but she stuffed a mouthful into his mouth. The aroma of bean curd and the spicy sauce burst in his mouth at the same time. Every fold and texture of the bean curd skin was covered with plenty of sauce, leaving him speechless for a moment.
This was a taste he had never experienced before.
So unique, so delicious!
Yao Ruyi ate with a look that went from hesitation to surprise to delight, and finally licked the sauce off her lips before smiling.
Spicy chips used to be the best-selling snack in corner stores, consistently holding the top spot for years. Later, only Little Raccoon Crispy Noodles, which used the Water Margin card trick, was able to defeat it!
But actually, spicy chips are really easy to make. Although the small shops used to sell commercially available spicy chips, my grandma would occasionally make them herself because she liked them spicier. She could add a lot of chili powder when she made them herself, because she thought the factory-made ones weren't spicy enough.
Although there were no chili peppers in the Song Dynasty, people at that time still had many ways to eat spicy food. Although they could not reach the spiciness and aroma of later generations, they were still passable. Moreover, the spicy chips that Yao Ruyi made this time were the kind with a sweet and spicy honey flavor. They were not very spicy. The main thing was to use various spices to enhance the aroma so that the spicy chips could taste as good as those of later generations.
All you need to prepare are wide bean curd sheets, star anise, and homemade chili oil.
Yao Ruyi bought dozens of wide bean curd sheets from Liu's Tofu Shop in Jinliangqiao. She cut them in half, washed them, drained them, and steamed them for 15 minutes.
Normally, during this break in the process, one would prepare the frying oil. However, Yao Ruyi always had the frying oil prepared in advance, so there was no need to fry it on the spot.
Many of her habits were inherited from her grandmother. Her grandmother's kitchen always had a special oil made by frying scallions, ginger, onions, and celery over low heat. This oil could be used to mix cold dishes or to make steamed buns, and it was very fragrant. If it was fried in advance and stored properly, it would not spoil.
Since there were no onions available, Yao Ruyi's oil recipe consisted of scallions, ginger, celery, and shallots, with the celery leaves added to the oil before frying.
The aroma wasn't as overpowering as it would be in later generations, but it was still acceptable.
Heat the oil over low heat, while in another bowl, prepare the sauce for the spicy slices: salt, sesame seeds, cumin, Sichuan peppercorn powder, a mixture of various spices such as bay leaves and cinnamon, dogwood powder, and a small amount of mustard powder.
The mixture should contain more cumin and star anise powder, and less evodia and mustard. Some of these spices should be ground coarsely, and some finely, so that they can adhere well when coated on the bean curd skin.
Then she poured all the prepared sauce powder directly into the hot oil. The heat had to be low, and she slowly stir-fried it until fragrant. If the heat was too high, it would burn and become bitter. Although she knew the theory, Yao Ruyi timidly left this step to Uncle Cong.
She's not quite skilled at controlling the heat yet; she can burn the bottom of the pot when making porridge, and she burned the oil several times when frying spices last time. Now, she doesn't dare to start frying such delicate spices so carelessly, so she quickly called for help.
Uncle Cong looks like a rough-looking middle-aged man, but he is exceptionally skilled at these delicate tasks in the kitchen.
When the mixture is almost done cooking, you can add sugar. Then, pour out the steamed bean curd sheets and use clean hands to thoroughly squeeze the bean curd sheets and filling together. When it's slightly warm, add some honey. The honey is thick and has a fruity aroma, which will give the spicy slices a "honey-like" texture.
The finished spicy chips are all coated with seasoning, especially the bottom layer, where every fold is filled with sesame seeds and spices. Stuffing one into your mouth is incredibly satisfying.
It felt like going back to childhood, when students would rush over to buy spicy chips during breaks, one cent a chip, and a Want Want shaved ice, and break them in half with their classmates, one half for you and one half for me.
The hot wind was blowing, and I was sweating from the spiciness. I took a sip of crushed ice to relieve the heat, and then I bit into it with my teeth, squeezing out the crushed ice that was slowly melting into slush.
When Yao Ruyi tasted it today, she was almost moved to tears. It was just the right taste! It would be even more perfect if it were a little spicier. She kept praising Uncle Cong, "Uncle Cong, the seasoning you fried is so fragrant, it's really delicious."
He also stuffed a mouthful of spicy chips into Uncle Cong's mouth.
Uncle Cong chuckled as he chewed: "Back in Fuzhou, Erlang's mother was in poor health. After she passed away, my lord was devastated and wished he could go with her. But Erlang was injured, and Yueyue was still young, so there was no one to manage the household. Although there were tenant farmers and laborers in Fuzhou, and two cooks, sometimes Yueyue and Erlang missed their mother and wanted to eat some northern dishes, so I had to take charge of the cooking. That's how I got the skills. Don't laugh at me, young lady, for a grown man like me spending all day buried in pots and pans."
Yao Ruyi quickly shook her head: "When? I admire people who can cook delicious food the most!"
But as she pondered those words, her spirits sank.
So it turns out my second uncle also misses his mother.
He seemed to have overcome many hardships, and now, standing in front of Yao Ruyi, Lin Wen'an looked like an invincible adult.
But Uncle Cong said that he would also make excuses to eat some northern dishes because he missed his mother.
These words were like a chisel, allowing Yao Ruyi to see the warm interior beneath her second uncle's cold exterior, a crack that had been pried open, and making Yao Ruyi feel sorry for him.
She lost her mother before she could remember anything, and she has no memories of her mother. But did she never miss her after that?
No, every year, every day, no matter how old she is, when she sees other people with mothers, she misses her and even imagines what it would be like if she were still here.
As for my mother... it may take a lifetime to forget her.
Sometimes she felt that she and her second uncle were quite similar in their past lives. They both lost their mothers, both suffered from life-threatening illnesses, and both were...very lonely. Lin Wen'an always appeared calm or even indifferent, but she seemed to be able to understand and perceive his emotions better than others.
She herself noticed it, and in just a few days, she became increasingly close to him.
While reading the book, she greatly admired the female protagonist, Madam Shen. She envied not only her independence and intelligence, but also the open-minded and happy family she grew up in. Love was her strongest armor, enabling her to handle anything well, no matter where she was. However, this envy also made her not want to disturb her. Even after entering the book, Yao Ruyi felt inexplicably awkward, as if she didn't dare to look directly at the sunlight and wanted to hide away.
She had often fantasized about becoming someone like the female protagonist, Shen Niangzi, but she knew she couldn't do it. How could the same flower bloom in different soil?
But after meeting Lin Wen'an and learning about his past experiences, even though she only knew bits and pieces of these things, she secretly and quietly included her second uncle in her circle of "comrades".
The instant Yao Ruyi inexplicably began to space out, Wupan was already hissing and sticking out his tongue, swallowing the spicy chip with lingering relish. Although his nose turned red from the spiciness, he still found it delicious.
It's spicy with a hint of sweetness, and sweet with a touch of fragrance—such a delicious and flavorful dish, and it's even vegetarian!
"Miss Yao, are these spicy chips for sale? Can I buy some?" Wupan couldn't hold back any longer. He touched the money pouch hidden in his belt and stared intently at the spicy chip with a missing corner in Yao Ruyi's hand. "How much are these?"
Yao Ruyi snapped out of her daze, smiled with narrowed eyes, and said, "If you like it, little master, I can give you some, but I still need your help."
The temples of the Song Dynasty were completely different from what Yao Ruyi had imagined. Ever since she learned that the Yao family owed Xingguo Temple hundreds of strings of cash, Yao Ruyi would often ask her aunts how temples were managed at that time when they were doing odd jobs and chatting together.
You wouldn't believe it until you asked!
During the Song Dynasty, temples not only acquired vast amounts of land through imperial rewards, donations from believers, or their own purchases, making them not only the largest landowners in Bianjing (Kaifeng) besides the emperor, but they also established longevity treasuries for lending and collecting interest. With interest compounding and money multiplying, they further utilized tax-free privileges to operate shops and workshops, and even had fleets of ships sailing overseas under the guise of spreading Buddhism, engaging in long-term large-scale trade in tea and spices with foreign countries such as Japan.
In addition to these "supporting main businesses," Xingguo Temple also set up several workshops for printing Buddhist scriptures and casting Buddhist statues, as well as textile and embroidery workshops for making silk fabrics such as robes, banners, and sutra covers. In fact, because the textile craftsmanship was so exquisite, "Buddha satin" was a popular material in Bianjing for several years, and it was even bestowed by the emperor upon foreign envoys.
Furthermore, the imperial court permitted temples to brew wine and produce food, and the "Buddhist wine" and "Buddhist cakes" brewed in several workshops under Xingguo Temple thus became widely renowned. [Note]
Aunt Yu even said that some shady temples and monasteries in the south actually run brothels?! She was so shocked that she couldn't speak.
She used to think that temples relied solely on donations from worshippers who offered incense and prayers to make a living. Little did she know that those donations were actually the least significant part of the temple's operation.
After learning that Xingguo Temple had many "food factories", Yao Ruyi was tempted. She also wanted to use Wupan's connection to see if she could get in touch with Xingguo Temple to make some snacks.
They have existing workshops; she provides some recipes and ideas, they produce the goods, she gives them a share of the profits, and when they supply goods in the future, she gives them an absolutely advantageous purchase price.
But this is currently just wishful thinking on her part, and it's still unknown whether it will come to fruition.
So Yao Ruyi wasn't in a hurry. She packed a lot of spicy chips for Wupan and told him to take them back and have his master try them. She said there was no need to say more, and that she would come to pay back the debt and interest next month. She asked Wupan to introduce his master to her at that time.
Having grown up in a temple and seen many people, Wupan gave a knowing "oh" without agreeing or disagreeing. He simply scratched his head and said, "Master has a rather bad temper. If he doesn't want to in the future, there's nothing this humble monk can do."
"It's alright. If you don't want to, that's fine too. Even if it doesn't work out, I won't charge you for these spicy chips, so don't worry," Yao Ruyi said with a smile as she turned around. "I have quite a few fun and delicious things in my shop. Would you like to take a look?"
Wupan was already curious when he ate the spicy snacks. He had never seen a general store like this before! Everything was neatly arranged on the shelves. Although there were many items, the store looked clean and tidy.
Sure enough, he went out for a stroll with a basket in his hand.
He first saw a row of candy jars, some large and some small, and they could be mixed together and sold loose. He smacked his lips at the sight, weighed out a little of each flavor of candy and mixed them into the same jar, about half a pound, for a few dozen coins, which wasn't expensive.
Wupan continued browsing and saw all kinds of dried fruits and candied fruits, and even dried vegetables? Yao Ruyi leaned against the counter and called out from afar, "Little master, don't be shy, you can try some."
He tried a dried okra, and it was surprisingly salty! Crispy and salty, delicious! Let's weigh it! This has to be weighed by the pound; Master and his senior brother have never tried it before! After that, he weighed yam and taro strips. The taro strips were coated with salted egg yolk—so fragrant! The taro strips must be ordered by the pound separately!
Wupan was completely absorbed in the stroll, and the basket on his arm was getting heavier and heavier.
Further ahead, there are sachets and herbal packs of mugwort and ginger for foot baths. They smell nice. I'll bring one for my master; he often complains of leg pain.
Unbelievable! There are wind-up wooden frogs that bounce and dogs that spin around in front of him! They're so much fun! He's never played with anything like this before! He wants them, he's determined to have them!
What's that? What a small and exquisite kitchen set! It's made of wood, with a stove, wok, spatula, and various painted and carved wooden vegetables and fruits, even wooden eggs! One hundred and twenty-eight coins? It's not cheap, but it's exquisitely crafted. He wants it.
I bought it!
There's even a Malaysian general! Beautifully carved, I'll buy it!
When Wupan carried a huge stack of things to Yao Ruyi to pay, she was shocked. How could this child have bought so much?
Because there was so much, not only was the countertop piled up, but Yao Ruyi even took out her abacus for the first time to start calculating. After doing the calculation, she glanced at Wupan and whispered, "Little Master, this will cost more than four hundred coins in total. Do you...do you have that much money with you? Maybe you should put some back. If your master finds out you're wasting money, don't get scolded."
As Wupan stood at the counter watching Yao Ruyi do the accounting, he realized that he had indeed bought too much. He couldn't carry all these things, and he would have to hire a car to get back later.
But hearing Yao Xiaoniangzi's cautious tone, as if she was worried that he hadn't brought any money, Wupan, being both proud and concerned with his image, puffed out his chest and said, "I have money! It's all my own money. My master won't interfere with how I spend this little bit of money."
What's four hundred coins?
He was young, but he was not short of money. He was the youngest monk in the temple. Every year during the Lunar New Year, his master and fellow monks would lead him to various monasteries to ask for lucky money. He would ask the abbot, the head monk, the supervisor, the treasurer, and so on. Everyone would laugh and scold him all the way, saying that his master was a Pixiu spirit, while stuffing lucky money into his hands.
The master wouldn't accept these New Year's money; instead, he would exchange them for coins or gold and silver, storing them in the temple's longevity vault so that the money would earn interest every year.
Not only that, his master would also give him extra money to buy cakes when he went out. He currently had more than four hundred coins on him, all of which were his master's "pocket money" for the month.
I spent it all at once.
Seeing Wupan's wealthy and arrogant demeanor, Yao Ruyi knew she had worried for nothing. Thinking of the children in the alley who came to buy candy for a penny or two, it was a world of difference.
"Alright, then I'll charge you three hundred and sixty-seven coins." Yao Ruyi smiled, never expecting that she could actually make such a lucrative deal!
Wupan happily paid the bill and sat down in An Ruyi's shop to wait, while also petting the little dog in Yao Ruyi's shop.
It was raining outside, so he asked an idle man to hire a carriage for him.
The rain outside was pattering, gradually subsiding. Yao Ruyi was talking to him casually when she saw Sister You lift the curtain, close her umbrella, and hurriedly call out to her, "Ruyi, the wooden doll house in your shop hasn't been sold yet, has it?"
Yao Ruyi noticed that Sister-in-law You's hair was a little messy and her face was full of worry. She could tell at a glance that something was wrong, so she asked, "Are you still here, sister-in-law? What's wrong?"
Sister-in-law You breathed a sigh of relief and forced a smile: "A few days ago, Jasmine said she wanted to buy one, but I didn't buy it for her. She came back today and said that the shop had already sold two. Your sister-in-law Guan bought one for her niece Rongrong, and Dr. Jiang bought one for his daughter. The child cried so hard that the sky was falling, saying that there was only one left in the shop, and if she didn't buy it, it would be gone! Her father said today, 'Buy it for her, don't let the child be sad about a few hundred coins.'"
So that's what it was about. Yao Ruyi quickly waved her hand and said, "It's alright, sister-in-law. Carpenter Zhou will make more in the future. I ask him to make two or three every month. Tell Jasmine that there will be more in the future."
Sister-in-law You shook her head: "Let's buy it today."
Seeing that something was wrong with her expression, Yao Ruyi came out from behind the counter and helped her to the side. The two stood in a quieter corner, where the shelves would shield them from view. Yao Ruyi asked softly with concern, "What's wrong, sister-in-law? Why are you crying?"
Sister-in-law You could no longer hold back, covering her face with trembling hands: "This year there's been little snow and the weather is warm; in the south, you can even wear a single layer of clothing. The mild climate has made the epidemic in Guizhou even more severe in winter. The Emperor received an urgent report today and has already issued an edict to send another fifty ships of medicine and grain to Lingnan, and to select over a hundred medical officers and physicians from among the medical doctors and students of the Imperial Academy to go to Lingnan. Jasmine's father, that heartless bastard, she actually volunteered behind my back, without telling me, to take all his students with her, and they're leaving in five days..."
Yao Ruyi was taken aback. She remembered that she rarely saw Sister You's husband. Her husband was not only a doctoral lecturer in the medical field, but also the "Grand Physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau". In addition to teaching medical skills to his students, he often had to go to the Imperial Medical Bureau to report for duty. He left early and returned late every day, and sometimes he had to stay overnight in the palace when he was on duty at night.
Sister-in-law You wiped away her tears, and after crying for a while, she calmed down and said with a bitter smile, "Such a big thing, and before he left, he still had the mind to think about the wooden house that Jasmine wanted and asked me to come and buy it."
Yao Ruyi put her arm around Sister-in-law You's shoulder and gently comforted her, "Sister-in-law, don't worry too much. Doctor You has been studying and practicing medicine for so many years. He knows what he's doing. He'll definitely be fine on this trip."
Sister-in-law You shook her head and sighed worriedly, "It's right for him to go. He's a physician, and it's his duty to save lives. But I'm worried about the fact that he took so many students with him. What if something happens? How will we face the children's families?"
After she blurted everything out, Sister You felt better. She was silent for a while, then wiped away her tears, tucked her hair behind her ear, as if she had made up her mind. She whispered her thanks to Yao Ruyi, who had been comforting her, and went home after buying the dollhouse.
Unexpectedly, the next morning, Sister You came again, followed by an old woman with white hair. She introduced her to Yao Ruyi, saying, "Ruyi, this is my mother. She will be taking care of Jasmine for my husband and me for the next few days. Please also take good care of them for my sister-in-law."
Yao Ruyi thought of a possibility and her eyes widened: "Sister-in-law You...you..."
Today, Sister You combed all her hair up into a neat and stylish bun, revealing her clean face. She no longer had the worries and sadness she had yesterday.
On the contrary, her eyes shone brightly as if they were burning with fire:
“I’m going too.”
“I heard that the female doctors at Zhang Niangzi’s clinic have already accepted the imperial proclamation for recruiting physicians. If they can go, why can’t I? My husband looks down on me. He’s forgotten that before I married him, I was also the daughter of an old imperial physician. My father taught me that, and I haven’t forgotten it!”
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Wishing everyone success in all your endeavors, fulfillment of all your wishes, good health and longevity, and peace and tranquility in your homes! [Sprinkling flowers]
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