Chapter 914: The Female Doctor [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
Why bring a whole group of people over as guests to watch the ceremony?
Naturally, it's because these people can't come for nothing.
As guests of honor, everyone was expected to present a gift to the main character of the day. The value of the gift depended on the closeness of the relationship between the two families. Closer relationships meant more substantial gifts, while less close ones meant less. Qi Shan's relationship with them was naturally not among the former, but they were all respectable people, and they couldn't let their grudges with Qi Yuanliang implicate an innocent young girl. Therefore, their gifts were never cheap.
The gifts were mostly writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, or calligraphy books.
At the very least, it should be a small personal accessory.
Qi Miao greeted and introduced each of the guests to the ceremony.
The young girl had lived a secluded life for a long time and had hardly ever met any strangers, let alone the important officials under Shen Tang.
She was a little nervous, but Qi Shan was there to support her.
He said, "This man is called Jiang Xiandeng. He knows a bit about fortune telling on the street. If you're having bad luck in the future, ask him to take a look."
"One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black." Jiang Sheng glanced at Qi Shan and said to Qi Miao, "Your uncle has several children around your age. If you get bored staying with your father, you can come and play with them."
The implication is that Qi Miao should stay away from Qi Shan.
Where had Qi Miao ever seen such a scene before?
She wasn't sure about the relationship between Jiang Sheng and her father, so she didn't dare to answer rashly. Jiang Sheng, however, didn't make things difficult for Qi Miao and gave her a set of pens and a jade pen holder, saying, "Work hard in the future."
Qi Miao bowed and said, "Thank you, Uncle."
Following this, Qi Shan greeted Xun Zhen on the side, while Qi Shan sarcastically remarked, "This is Xun Hanzhang. He has been incorruptible for many years. He is good in every other way, but there is one thing he doesn't need to learn..." He hadn't forgotten the comparison between Xun Zhen and Jiang Sheng before the ceremony.
Xun Zhen's face darkened when he heard the barbed words.
He gritted his teeth and said, "So what if I'm penniless?"
You get real skills by paying money; you get what you pay for!
It's much better than this guy stabbing people in the back every day.
Qi Miao vaguely sensed that something was not quite right.
Although Xun Zhen was "incorruptible," he had prepared a gift, which was more precious than anything else in some ways: three slightly worn notebooks tied with ropes. "These contain some of my cultivation insights. I hope your future will be smooth and upright!"
Don't follow Qi Shan's methods.
Qi Miao thanked her softly again.
Next was Luan Xin. He had no grudges against Qi Shan, and when Qi Miao greeted him, Qi Shan's mouth was unusually quiet.
"Diligent study and practice are the right path. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me." Luan Xin gave her a rare book, the contents of which were like a divine scripture to Qi Miao at this moment. "There are also children at home. If you have time, you can come and play with them..."
Qi Miao also had a good impression of this uncle.
The other person spoke calmly and unhurriedly, exuding an indescribable air of composure. Being gazed at by their eyes, my initial nervousness and anxiety gradually subsided.
Next came Ning Yan, a rare female scholar.
Even Ning Yan herself was unaware that she was the envy of many young ladies of her generation. She came from a respectable family, had a respectful husband, and a reasonable father-in-law. If it weren't for a series of misfortunes, her marriage would have been a model of perfect bliss.
Qi Miao had also heard of Ning Yan's name.
This is the first time I've ever seen the real person in person.
Ning Yan's gift was also unusual; it consisted of several rather large stones. Qi Miao didn't understand why, but she gratefully accepted them.
Qi Shan: "Yes, that saves me the trouble of searching for materials. Thank you, Tu Nan."
“Indeed, Shao Xuan likes it very much. It’s just a pity that my daughter has already prepared it and doesn’t need it.” Ning Yan then recommended to Qi Shan, “When your daughter grows a bit more, you can ask Shao Xuan to help you make one to her measurements. She will definitely agree.”
Qi Miao was completely confused.
Ning Yan smiled and said, "It's for forging swords."
Qi Miao had never even touched a scabbard, let alone used a sword. Seeing that the elders present were all carrying swords or knives, she guessed that this must be a very important etiquette, and thanked them repeatedly.
The seating arrangement was based on arrival order, and Cui Xiao was the last to arrive after the initial greetings. Cui Xiao's presence was so subtle that Qi Shan subconsciously placed him last. Qi Miao was also taken aback when she saw Cui Xiao, because she had noted the number of people present and didn't remember him being there... Fortunately, years of proper upbringing prevented Qi Miao from being impolite in any way.
Everyone: "..."
They did indeed forget about Cui Xiao.
Cui Xiao also brought a gift. Because he wasn't familiar with Qi Shan and time was short, the gift was prepared hastily and could only be described as decent and without any major flaws. Qi Miao received an exquisite long-handled fan with a design of waterside scenery different from that of the North.
Well, this was the only gift Qi Miao received today that was even remotely related to her status as a young lady. Other gifts in previous years had nothing to do with her. Just as she was about to thank him, she noticed Cui Xiao staring at her face: "Young lady, your face looks very familiar."
Qi Miao looked bewildered and subconsciously glanced at Qi Shan.
As if wondering if her face is really that common.
Qi Shan said, "Shanxiao, that's not a good thing to say."
Those who didn't know the situation might have thought the old man was harassing the young girl.
Qin Li also looked over with concern.
He was unaware of the details, simply worried that Cui Xiao's words might offend Qi Shan. Even if Qi Yuanliang didn't retaliate now, he would do so when Cui Xiao lowered his guard in the future. Cui Xiao, however, acted as if he hadn't noticed, saying, "Many years ago, I saw a young man who looked very much like you. His surname was Qu. Is there any such relative in the Kang family?"
Qi Miao recalled the Kang family's relatives in her mind.
She had been learning to manage the household affairs from her mother for several years, and one of the most important tasks of a matriarch of a prominent family was to manage the intricate interpersonal relationships and memorize the messy family genealogy. Qi Miao couldn't think of anyone with the surname Qu no matter how hard she tried.
Just as she was about to shake her head, Kang, her current uncle and former father, spoke up to help her out, saying, "The Kang family has no relatives with the surname Qu. There are countless similar cases in the world; perhaps it's just a coincidence. I wonder what connection Brother Cui has with that young man?"
Cui Xiaodao: "He almost became my son-in-law."
Although Cui Xiao spoke casually when mentioning that person, the people present were all shrewd enough to notice something fishy.
What exactly happened that caused the marriage to fall through?
Could he be a scumbag who's unfaithful in love?
In an instant, everyone's desire to watch the drama unfold intensified.
In a secluded corner, unnoticed by anyone, Kang Shi secretly observed Qi Shan's reaction. The latter wore a curious yet restrained expression, looking every bit like a bystander. Seeing this, Kang Shi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Because of his cheap cousin, he was now on edge over everything.
Well, as long as it's not about praying for good or causing harm, that's fine.
This minor setback did not affect the entire ceremony.
Having confirmed that the Kang family had no relatives with the surname Qu, Cui Xiao also shifted his attention away from Qi Miao—Qi Miao was just an ordinary young lady from a well-to-do family, only her face resembled that person's. He wouldn't have a negative opinion of Qi Miao just because of her appearance.
The ceremony was simple yet not sloppy.
The guests at the ceremony showed how much importance Qi Shan attached to this matter.
After a quick cup of tea, everyone dispersed.
Kang Nian had stayed at the main camp long enough. He briefly instructed Qi Miao to be filial to Qi Shan before taking his leave, and Kang Shi followed him. The camp, which had been bustling just a quarter of an hour ago, was now deserted. Qi Miao got up to pack her things, but was stopped.
Qi Shan said, "You don't need to do these things."
It made no sense that Kang Nian's pampered daughter would have to do chores after being adopted by him. He ordered someone to come in and tidy up, gesturing for Qi Miao to follow. All told, this was only the second time Qi Miao had spent time with Qi Shan. Because of their unfamiliarity, the latter put far more psychological pressure on her than on her biological father, Kang Nian. The newly formed father and daughter arrived at the small hall of the tent, where all the gifts Qi Miao had received were piled up.
Qi Shan said, "Sit down."
Qi Miao obediently sat down.
"Did Bo Sui tell you that you have a talent for cultivation?"
Qi Miao nodded: "My uncle did mention it."
"Do you want to pursue literature or martial arts?" Seeing her nervousness, Qi Shan tried to make her voice sound less harsh. "Don't have any other concerns, just tell me what you want to learn the most."
Although Qi Miao clearly wasn't cut out for martial arts, he still asked out of respect. However, Qi Miao's answer was unexpected: "Father, is it okay to learn anything?"
"Qi Yuanliang's daughter can study anything."
Qi Miao asked him, "Is there any way to cure illnesses and save lives? I've heard some of my cousins say that the power of words is mysterious and profound, capable of doing anything. Is there any power of words that can cure stubborn diseases?"
Qi Shan hadn't expected her to choose medicine over martial arts. She might have hesitated before, but now that the Temple of Medicine had opened, it wasn't impossible for Qi Miao to pursue this path. However, he wanted to know why Qi Miao had this idea.
Qi Miao comes from a distinguished family and should be aware of the status of doctors.
Why learn this kind of spiritual power?
Qi Miao didn't hide anything. If the person in front of her were her biological father, Kang Nian, she would never have dared to mention this. The Kang family could have a daughter curious about medicine, but not a young lady who would pursue this profession. Doctors deal with filth, and not only the gentlemen and ladies of the household, but even the servants who sweep and clean the house looked down on this profession. But she was Qi Miao now, not Kang Miao.
She whispered, "My daughter had a close friend in her youth, who was five years older than her. After she came of age, she got married and became pregnant a month after the wedding. When she was eight months pregnant, my daughter was invited to visit her home. Coincidentally, she went into labor that day, but the delivery was difficult, and she lost both the baby and herself."
Qi Shan listened attentively to her concerns.
Qi Miao lowered her head and murmured, "Actually, it could have been saved. The manor even invited a famous doctor to oversee the situation. If he could have gone in to administer acupuncture at that time, there would have been a chance. But it's not possible. The famous doctor is a man, and she is in labor... If he went in, it would ruin her reputation."
If it drags on until the very end, you can only choose to protect the larger or smaller one.
That family, from the parents-in-law to the husband, all chose the younger one.
Qi Miao continued, "...Under normal circumstances, the mother should be saved. After all, anyone can give birth to a child, but there aren't many who can become the matriarch. It's just that she was stuck with a good-for-nothing father and brothers who ruined the family business. That family valued the eldest son and cruelly chose the younger one."
Qi Shan understood somewhat and asked, "I heard Ji Shou say this morning that you don't want to get married too early. Is that why?"
If Qi Miao is adopted out, she will become a member of the Qi family.
Her marriage was arranged by Qi Shan.
Kang Shi felt sorry for his niece, so he deliberately gave Qi Shan a heads-up, believing that Qi Shan, being a good person, would not make things difficult for the girl.
Qi Miao shook her head and then nodded.
"Yes, but not entirely. I'm not afraid that my future husband's family will prioritize the younger sibling over the elder one. If my father and fourth uncle find out, they definitely won't let them off the hook. My mother... no, I mean my aunt, she also told me that the most important thing for a matriarch of a noble family is to manage the household. As for childbirth, it's best if she can have children, but if she can't, she can raise a son born out of wedlock. In any case, they will all have to call me their legal mother in the future."
Offspring are important, but not as important as one's own life.
Qi Miao remembered these words very well.
She said, "Besides, my daughter's best friend was in labor for too long and was too weak. The midwife was ordered to use some methods to force her to give birth... My daughter was thinking that if there were female doctors who were skilled in this area, perhaps she could have survived."
If a male doctor's examination of a pregnant woman's body would make her husband feel uncomfortable, what about a female doctor? Would her husband feel embarrassed or ashamed?
Of course, her desire to learn medical skills and the power of words was not limited to that.
This was just one of the triggers.
The other one is harder to say.
It wasn't that she didn't want to be honest with her father—her fourth uncle, Kang Shi, had repeatedly instructed her to be open with him, to say whatever she could, and Qi Miao had diligently followed his instructions. But another trigger was her birth mother. Discussing this with her father would damage her mother's reputation.
Her relationship with her biological father wasn't particularly strong, nor was it bad; there were no concubines or mistresses in the household. However, the result of their good marital relationship was frequent childbirth. The old nanny who served her biological mother told her that her mother used to be lively, cheerful, and playful.
[She's different from the mothers of today.]
At that time, Qi Miao was still very young.
The old nanny, thinking she couldn't remember things or understand what was being said, wasn't so tight-lipped: "Sigh, she's given birth to too many children."
Forget about laughing loudly, even a sneeze will cause me to leak urine.
To avoid such embarrassment, her birth mother gradually became accustomed to suppressing her emotions, growing increasingly dignified and gentle, treating everything with indifference. Outsiders said this was the epitome of a noblewoman's wife, but Qi Miao glimpsed the truth within: [Is this an illness?]
The old woman said, "It's an illness; all women have it."
Qi Miao: [Is it an illness, and can't it be cured?]
The old nanny chuckled, "How can this be treated? It's so embarrassing. Madam, this isn't actually that serious. There are much more serious cases..."
Qi Miao looked at her curiously: [More serious?]
The old nanny leaned closer to her: "The flesh is all falling out."
Qi Miao was bewildered: [Flesh? Mother said that Miao'er is a piece of flesh that fell from her body. How many babies would that mean?]
The old woman looked at her innocent appearance and chuckled awkwardly.
She dared not mention similar content again, fearing that Qi Miao, being young, would repeat what her parents said and cause her to be severely punished.
Qi Shan said, “Although there are skilled female doctors in the army, there are none specializing in childbirth. If you are interested in this, I will take you to find a famous doctor to be your apprentice tomorrow.”
Qi Miao's eyes lit up: "Is it okay?"
I couldn't help but confirm with Qishan again and again.
"But my daughter not only wants to learn, she also wants to treat gynecological diseases."
Qi Shan said, "Why not?"
Qi Yuanliang's daughter can study anything.
Qi Miao suppressed the joy in her heart.
Qi Shan added, “Study is important, but your literary education shouldn’t be neglected. It’s not that I don’t want you to become a physician, but the threshold for becoming a physician is too high. Fifteen years of study would take so long. If you start with literature, it won’t hinder your medical studies. If you can enter the medical field as a scholar, with the aid of your literary mind, you will be able to learn more efficiently, which will benefit your medical skills.”
He didn't have high expectations for Qi Miao.
To live a healthy and peaceful life.
May you live a long life, until the end of your natural life.
Qi Miao is different from Lin Feng. The latter was also a young lady from a sheltered family, but he experienced a devastating blow that shattered his previous understanding of life. Qi Miao, on the other hand, has been too well protected. Deceit and intrigue are not suitable for her. It would be better to let her do what she loves.
|ω`)
Qi Miao is a wonderful little girl.
P.S.: Breaking news! Wan'er's new book, "I Became a God in Another World," is now available! Hooray! ヽ(°▽°)ノ
(End of this chapter)
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