Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Chapter 128
The Su family certainly wouldn't ask Xiao Jingshi for help the first time they came to their door. Xiao Jingshi was enthusiastic, but he wasn't exactly easy to talk to. Even with his own brother and father-in-law, he would assess their situations before helping them, securing them official positions of the eighth rank through proper channels.
Even his brother-in-law, Xu Kun, is now only a clerk, because Xu Kun is just a student who has passed the imperial examination.
However, the Su family had arranged the marriage with the Xiao family because they believed the Xiao family was not only wealthy but also noble. When Su Tongpan saw that Xiao Jingshi did not respond to his words several times, Su felt a pang of unease.
After returning home, Judge Su instructed his wife, "Have your second son's wife visit the Xiao family more often. No matter what, the Xiao family has more connections than ours."
Su Tongpan was able to become a Tongpan in Suzhou back then, which naturally required connections. However, with his backer gone, the Xiao family would undoubtedly be a path to advancement for him.
Madam Su chimed in, "That's what I thought too. You don't know, the eldest son of the Xiao family is engaged to the Han family. We've been away from home for years and haven't been informed. We only know that Xiao Zhaozhong was the top scholar in the provincial examination, but we don't know any of this."
“I already know about this matter. Xiao Jingshi is a good person, but when I mentioned that the place I was renting was getting wet from the rain, he didn’t let us move to the Xiao family’s place. It’s clear that he’s not close to us.” Su Tongpan had been an official for several years and was quite experienced.
Madam Su understood, of course: "Although our daughter-in-law is also a member of the Xiao family, she is not Xiao Jingshi's biological daughter. The difference is not huge, but it is not insignificant either."
Judge Su stroked his beard: "That's why I told you to have your second son's wife visit the Xiao family more often. You should also prepare some gifts for her. Don't be stingy with these."
Madam Su immediately agreed.
A few days later, Miaozhen had just returned from prescribing medicine for a woman who had suffered miscarriage and was bleeding profusely. As soon as she got back, she heard that Sister Wei had come over. She quickly changed her clothes and invited her to come and meet her.
Wei-jie came over to pay her respects, then asked in surprise, "Auntie, you are now the wife of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, do you still need to go out and treat patients?"
“The wife of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review came from your uncle, but being a doctor is my profession. Yes, I have already sent someone to tell your eldest sister that you have arrived in the capital. She is very happy and will send you an invitation later.” Miaozhen felt that she had done a good job.
Back when her son Zhao Ge'er lived in their hometown, Lou Qiongyu didn't take such good care of him. Miao Zhen didn't want to hold a grudge against Lou Qiongyu, since Xiao Jingtang had gotten along very well with them when he lived in their mansion. So she also helped Wei Jie'er expand her network of contacts.
Wei Jie'er was deeply moved upon hearing this: "My elder sister and I grew up together since we were little. It's already wonderful that we can talk to each other." She was telling the truth. When Fu Jie'er got married, what a grand affair it was! All the relatives came to the capital to see her off. The wife of the Marquis of Yun Jian was a hereditary title. She had even given birth to a grandson and still remembered her. It was truly remarkable.
“You’re being too polite. Your older sister often talks to me about the things you did together when you were little. Didn’t Miao’er go to the capital last time? Oh, by the way, how is Miao’er?” Miao Zhen asked.
Speaking of her brother, Wei Jie'er said, "Since I got married, my brother has already obtained the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations). However, Mother told him to study more and wait until after the provincial examinations before considering marriage."
Miaozhen nodded slowly: "I see."
But Miao-ge'er is already twenty years old this year. Although Miao-zhen doesn't recommend that children get married too early, she has two sons herself. Zhao-ge'er is such a virtuous and upright person that he inevitably secretly reads erotic novels. Therefore, Miao-zhen sends away all the maids around him that she can, and even the servants are not allowed to go in to serve him at night.
Wei Jie'er, not seeing Zheng Ge'er, asked him, "Why can't I see Zheng Ge'er?"
“When I was studying at the academy, I used to get a day off every ten days, but now I only get two days off a month.” Speaking of which, Miaozhen was starting to miss Zhengge.
Wei Jie'er felt a bitter taste in her mouth as she listened: "Studying is so tiring."
"Indeed, how is the son-in-law doing now?" Miaozhen asked with a smile.
When this was mentioned, Sister Wei was quite happy: "He has already obtained the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations)."
"You seem to be all smiles when you talk about him, so he must treat you very well," Miaozhen said.
It's hard to say about Sister Wei. At first, she and her husband were also stirred up by that sister-in-law. Later, their relationship was good, but in front of the elders, she could only feel shy.
It was already noon, and Miaozhen invited her to stay for lunch. After finishing her meal, Wei-jie left.
After she left, Miaozhen heard from Xiaoxi that she had sent a generous gift, and then said, "Tomorrow, you should send some gifts to the women of their family in my name. I don't know how Jingshi has arranged this matter, so it's not good to take advantage of them now."
Xiao Xi thinks Miao Zhen is good in this respect: she has desires, but she is not greedy.
It is said that after Wei-jie returned from the Xiao family, she went to pay her respects to her mother-in-law. Of course, Madam Su would not be so explicit, and only asked, "Why did it take you so long?"
"When my daughter-in-law went there, my aunt was out on a house call. After she came back, we had a meal together. My aunt said that my eldest sister will also be sending us invitations in the next few days, inviting us to visit the Marquis's residence," Wei Jie'er said with a smile.
Upon hearing that she could go to the Marquis's residence, Madam Su immediately beamed. If it were an ordinary Marquis's residence, it would be fine, but the heir of the Marquis of Yunjian was the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Countless people wanted to curry favor with him but couldn't.
Madam Su told her to go and rest for a while, but Wei-jie shook her head repeatedly, remembering her mother's resentment. Her mother still didn't understand that in this world, those who know when to yield are the wise. One must be able to bend and stretch; no one cares how hard you've come to be. When she was complaining about her sister-in-law's instigation, her fourth aunt didn't even blink. She said she was very understanding, but in reality, she didn't think it was a big deal.
Either they've seen it all before and don't think it's a big deal, or they don't consider her one of their own and treat it as someone else's business, hence the sighs.
Whatever the reason, she was no longer a delicate young lady. Adults viewed her through adult eyes; they couldn't empathize with her. To gain respect, she had to prove herself through her abilities. She couldn't rely on family to expect help.
If you want to be aloof and put on airs, you at least have to get something in return first.
Wei Jie'er thought things through clearly. She made two sets of clothes for Fu Jie'er's son, Xuan Ge'er, overnight. Although her needlework was not as good as Fu Jie'er's, she had specially learned from a needlework master and was very skilled.
The emerald green bib was embroidered with large nectarines, and the bright red satin trousers were embroidered with crickets. Even Sister Fu couldn't put them down.
Madam Ming, being Fu Jie'er's cousin, also made a special trip to meet her. Madam Su was overjoyed. Seeing that Fu Jie'er looked dignified and was very kind to them, she became even kinder to Wei Jie'er.
Of course, Sister Fu also wanted to support Sister Wei, so she gave many generous gifts in public. They were sisters who were related by blood and had been companions in the capital. Later, they were raised together by their grandmother, and their relationship was different from that of others.
This deeply moved Sister Wei as well.
...
On the other side, Miao Zhen was making a house call. The patient was a fifty-year-old woman who was constantly vomiting and couldn't even eat rice porridge. She had no choice but to drink a few cups of wine before she could barely swallow.
This situation persisted for a year; the patient became extremely weak, taking in more air than exhaling.
Zhang Yuansu, a famous physician in the Jin Dynasty, classified vomiting into three types. Those who vomit in the evening after eating in the morning, or vomit in the morning after eating in the evening, like this woman, belong to the category of lower abdominal vomiting.
Miaozhen asked the patient's son and daughter-in-law, "Since the old lady can't swallow, her spleen and stomach must be weak. Why did you still let her drink alcohol? You should know that drinking alcohol in the morning harms the stomach, and drinking alcohol at night harms the spleen. Drinking like this every day damages the middle yang."
The old woman's son quickly said, "Dr. Xu, my mother can only drink alcohol, there's nothing we can do."
"Yes, Dr. Xu, we had to search for a long time to find out where you live. We consulted other doctors for a long time, but it was all to no avail."
Seeing her like this, Miaozhen said, "Even if we force-feed her medicine now, she will probably vomit it up. Since she is already vomiting, I will first warm her middle yang and dispel cold and dampness from the outside. Once the blockages are cleared, her condition will naturally heal."
The couple readily agreed, especially since their son was an official and they were most afraid of losing their mother and having to observe mourning. They immediately said, "If Doctor Xu can cure you, I will immediately present you with three gold ingots. I hope you will not find them too much."
“You’re a straightforward person, but we need to heal the person first.” Miaozhen didn’t mince words.
She had someone lift the old woman's clothes and then applied moxibustion to the upper, middle, and lower acupoints, as well as the esophageal sphincter. However, when she applied the moxa sticks, the moxa flames popped briefly and then suddenly went out.
The old woman's daughter-in-law, Madam Liu, was startled: "Dr. Xu, what's wrong?"
"It's because the illness has lasted for a long time, and the body has been lacking in yang energy." Miaozhen tried again, and it was the same. She was not discouraged and tried a third time, and only then was the moxibustion applied.
After the moxibustion, Madam Liu saw that her mother-in-law's spirits had improved and she could even eat a bowl of rice porridge without vomiting immediately. However, she vomited the next day and brought out something that turned out to be a long worm about seven inches long and more than two inches wide.
Seeing that her spleen and stomach were weak, Miaozhen prescribed her a stomach-soothing pill, and Madam Liu was as normal as usual.
The Liu family specially sent a plaque to the Xiao family. Zheng Ge'er happened to be home and directed people to hang it up. When the Liu family saw it, they actually intended to marry their daughter to them.
Madam Liu was an impatient person. Her life was saved by Miaozhen. Moreover, the head of the Xiao family is now the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, and his children are all successful. Their Liu family is no less successful. Her son is thirty-five years old this year. He passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty and is already the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.
"Madam, you're not joking, are you? My second son hasn't even achieved any official rank yet." Miaozhen wouldn't agree immediately just because the woman was a good match.
Some women have excessively high expectations of men. If it were someone like Zhao Ge'er, who appears gentle but is actually strong-willed and resourceful, he could marry any kind of woman. However, Zheng Ge'er is impulsive and loves military affairs. If the Liu family has too high expectations of him, and he fails to meet those expectations, it would be a mistaken marriage.
Lou Qiongyu felt the same way about Xiao Jingtang. Because she had such high expectations of him, once she was disappointed, their marital bond was difficult to maintain. Miaozhen was very worldly; she always felt sorry for her chubby-cheeked child, and she would feel bad if he was disliked by others.
Moreover, the temperament of this Miss Liu was still unknown, so Miaozhen did not readily agree.
Seeing Miaozhen's caution, Madam Liu became even more concerned: "I don't care about these things. Madam Xu is a highly skilled doctor, intelligent and kind-hearted, not an ordinary woman. When a woman marries, the most important thing is the family she comes from. Although my granddaughter is not a beauty of unparalleled grace, she is elegant and charming, well-educated and reasonable, and exceptionally intelligent."
"I am deeply grateful for your kind words. I will discuss this matter with my husband and then discuss it with you. What do you think?" Miaozhen said with a smile.
Seeing that Miaozhen hadn't agreed immediately but was considering it, Madam Liu naturally agreed as well.
Miaozhen then told Xiao Jingshi this, and Xiao Jingshi thought for a moment: "The Liu family is from Wuxi, and Liu Jijiu was a second-class scholar. In terms of social standing, they are a good match." After saying that, he glanced at Miaozhen again: "Of course, it would be best if they were compatible in temperament."
Miaozhen laughed and said, "That's the key point. If people's personalities don't match, even if their family backgrounds are compatible and they are both talented and beautiful, it won't work. In the future, it will be extremely painful. Alas, it's better for men, but it's even worse for women."
Xiao Jingshi looked at Miaozhen: "What if we hadn't gotten along back then?"
“If I treat you with utmost care, yet we still don’t get along, then I will definitely divorce you. The sea of suffering is boundless, but there is always a shore to return to…” Miaozhen replied without hesitation.
Knowing that Miao Zhen was the most disciplined yet also the most unconventional person, Xiao Jingshi immediately said, "I don't need you to be extremely attentive to me. Even if you only put in a little effort, I will treat you with all my heart."
"When did you become so good at sweet talk? I'm not used to it anymore. Please go back to the old Jing Shi." Miao Zhen tugged at his sleeve.
Xiao Jingshi chuckled.
Half a month has passed in the blink of an eye, and there has been no progress in the matter of Sister Wei's father-in-law. Su Erlang is reluctant to ask Sister Wei, as asking too much would make it seem as if his family is trying to curry favor with the Xiao family.
However, the Su family was still somewhat anxious. Su Tongpan hoped to become a prefect in a prosperous place or stay in the capital to serve as an official, especially staying in the capital would be the best option. At the dinner table, Madam Su hinted to Wei'er, "If your father can stay in the capital this time, or go to Yingtian Prefecture, then we won't have to go through all this trouble."
Wei Jie thought to herself that she had already gone to her parents' home, but it was difficult for her to see her fourth uncle, and her fourth aunt was very busy. Even if she asked her to have a meal with her, she wouldn't talk about those things. How could she bring it up?
She hesitated for a few days, but still went to the Xiao family. On that day, Fu Jie'er happened to be at her parents' home, and they were all discussing the Liu family's daughter. Fu Jie'er said, "I met her yesterday. She seemed poised and generous, unlike those timid girls."
"Even the most introverted person will show their true colors after meeting for the first time. In a few days, it's the birthday of the mother of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and I heard that the Liu family has been invited. I'll go with them and see what's going on." Miaozhen had to be extra careful.
Fu Jie'er smiled and said, "Mother, you really go to a lot of trouble."
"This is a lifelong matter, and it will affect the happiness of you siblings for the rest of your lives. I will definitely pay close attention to it."
Just as the two were talking, Wei Jie'er arrived. Miao Zhen looked at Wei Jie'er and remembered what Xiao Jingshi had said: that Su Tongpan's problem wasn't a lack of ability, but rather his constant fear of taking responsibility—in other words, he was overly cautious in his official duties, and such a person wouldn't have a good reputation. Ordinary people look at a person's character, while officials look at whether they can bring any benefits.
Xiao Jingshi had told her that even if they helped Su Tongpan now, he probably wouldn't repay them in the future. This was because after his mentor was dismissed from office due to his involvement with Yan's faction, the Su family had lost all contact with him.
In the Ministry of Personnel, a truly excellent position required substantial wealth or power to secure, and Xiao Jingshi felt the Su family wasn't worth the effort. However, since they were relatives, he inquired about available positions in the Ministry of Personnel and ultimately chose the position of Assistant Prefect of Dengzhou.
Although it wasn't particularly wealthy, it was considered one of the better places among the three western prefectures of Shandong.
As soon as Sister Wei sat down, Miaozhen began to speak.
“Your fourth uncle knows about your situation. He asked around a few days ago and heard that there’s a vacancy for the Assistant Prefect of Dengzhou in the Ministry of Personnel. Why don’t you go back and ask your family for their opinion?” Miaozhen said.
The Ministry of Personnel would give high regard to the talents recommended by high-ranking officials of the court and would generally not reject them.
Wei Jie'er had always thought she would have to use her words a lot today, but she didn't expect Miao Zhen to speak so quickly. However, Dengzhou... didn't seem to be her father-in-law's first choice. Her father-in-law had always wanted to choose the prefect of Hangzhou or an official in the capital.
But since her fourth aunt said that, she couldn't say what she really felt to her face, after all, she had married into the Su family.
As usual, Miaozhen invited Wei-jie to stay for a meal and then gave her some top-quality bird's nest before letting her go. After she left, Fu-jie said, "I think my second sister doesn't seem very satisfied with this official position."
"Whether you're satisfied or not, this is all we can do. Although we're all relatives, to be honest, your father will carefully consider even hiring famous teachers for your brothers. He won't casually use our interests to exchange for them, otherwise we might not be able to repay the favors," Miaozhen said.
Fu Jie'er said, "You're right. Our family has already helped Uncle Liu. We can't let Uncle Liu's in-laws do this to us."
“You don’t know that the more official positions you hold, the more constraints you face. Even your father, who is known for never showing favoritism, couldn’t escape it.” Miaozhen shrugged.
Fu Jie'er laughed and said, "But Father is quite cunning. The Su family probably wants to find someone to get them to this position. They definitely won't like what Father is saying. If they don't like it, they'll go find someone themselves."
Miaozhen waved her hand: "Let's talk about the Liu family. Zhengge'er looks like an adult, but he's still a child at heart. I'm really worried about him."
Compared to the Zhao Er Nai Nai that her daughter Fu Jie'er encountered, the minor conflicts between Wei Jie'er and her sister-in-law were nothing in Miao Zhen's eyes. After all, even when she married into the Xiao family, she had someone like Xia Xian Jie.
After Wei-jie returned home, she conveyed Miao-zhen's message to her mother-in-law. Madam Su was delighted to hear this. Although her family was also an official family, it was not as powerful as the Xiao family. Therefore, she was afraid that Wei-jie's status in the family would surpass hers.
Seeing that Wei-jie'er was not meeting expectations, Madam Su quickly said, "Mother, please don't blame your second sister-in-law. After all, Xiao Tingwei is only her uncle, not her biological father. She has already done her best."
Wei Jie lowered her eyes, thinking about how her mother was determined to marry her into an official family. But these officials, though they seemed respectable, kind and generous, were actually the most ruthless and ruthless. Her parents couldn't provide her with strong support, and her uncle and aunt could only offer so much.
Is it really a good idea to marry someone off without considering the differences between the two parties? It seems like I have completely lost control of the situation.
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