Chapter 17 Indigestion in Children
The ferry crossing in early autumn was shrouded in mist, which dispelled much of the restlessness.
On a small boat, Miaozhen sat in the cabin with Tan Yunxian, while Xu Erpeng and Tao Erlang could be heard talking outside. She had ultimately decided to go to Wuxi with Tan Yunxian, but Xu Erpeng was still worried and insisted on personally escorting her to the Yang family.
He was a writer of detective stories, and naturally distrusted everyone, even those who were highly respected.
Last night, her father told her that he would send a servant named Laiwang over once a month. She should try to get used to things as much as possible, but if anything bad happens, she should write a letter and have Laiwang bring it back so he can come and get her.
"Madam, would you like to lie down for a while?" Miaozhen asked.
Tan Yunxian waved her hand: "Lying down for too long is bad for your health. This is probably your first time traveling so far. When I was little, I also grew up with my parents while they were on duty."
The Tan family had been officials for generations, as had the Ru family. Ru Luan, who wrote the preface to "Miscellaneous Sayings of a Female Physician," had even served as the Fujian Provincial Administration Commissioner and was Tan Yunxian's cousin. However, her grandson Yang Qiao was implicated in the affair, but Tan Yunxian took it all in stride and was a very magnanimous person.
"This is my first time going out, and I'm only doing this because of you. Actually, my parents don't really agree with me going so far away, but I think if I don't go out and see the world while I'm still young, I might not have the chance in the future," Miaozhen said with a hint of emotion.
Tan Yunxian smiled and said, "It's rare for someone so young to have such a strong sense of self-reliance. That's a good thing."
At noon, the boatman delivered food, including stuffed snails, stir-fried Taihu white shrimp, steamed Taihu knife fish, eight-treasure duck, watermelon chicken, and several other refreshing dishes. Xu Erpeng had ordered these dishes to be made, as he was determined to make his daughter proud when they were out in public.
Young people always have good appetites. Miaozhen ate one bowl and then had another half bowl, which made Tan Yunxian click her tongue and say, "Watching you eat like this makes me hungry."
"Let me peel the shrimp for you," Miaozhen said.
Although Tan Yunxian is quite old, she is still very sharp-minded and can talk about both ancient and modern topics with ease. She said that it would only take less than a day to get from Suzhou to Wuxi if the journey went smoothly, and she also talked about the local customs and culture along the way.
Xu Erpeng was having dinner with Tao Erlang outside. Luckily, he finished his manuscript early, otherwise he would have been in a rush and worried about everything. It was a rare opportunity for him to rest his hands. After years of writing, his hands were sore he could barely lift them, and he would sleep with aches all over his body. In a few more years, when he earned more money, he wouldn't have to write day and night like this anymore.
As dusk fell, they reached the shore. Miaozhen saw vendors selling iced drinks nearby and couldn't help but swallow. The people on the boat were almost dried out by the sun, and drinking regular tea was no longer enough to quench their thirst. However, she was afraid that Tan Yunxian would scold her, so she hesitated for a long time before Tan Yunxian said, "If you are thirsty, just have someone buy some for you."
Miaozhen was a little embarrassed when she heard this: "I thought you would tell me not to eat anything cold."
"It's true that it's not good to eat less raw and cold food, but it's also easier to get sick when you're in a bad mood. The most important thing for a person is their mood." Tan Yunxian recalled that she was like this when she was young.
Miaozhen, who was originally uneasy, suddenly felt relaxed because of these words.
Xu Erpeng had already hired a carriage from a nearby caravan shop to take them back. He was a very capable person at managing household affairs and also cared a lot about his reputation. He was usually incredibly lazy at home, but his diligence when he was out and about surprised Miaozhen.
After helping Tan Yunxian onto the mule cart, he didn't dare let go of her hand for the rest of the way, afraid that the old lady would stumble and fall. Half an hour later, they arrived at a mansion. There was no plaque on the stone archway at the entrance. The house had double eaves and animal-shaped ridges, and the courtyard was as wide as three rooms.
Before they even got out of the car, the old steward at the gate hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Madam, the patient who came to the gate has been waiting here for two days. She is a six-year-old girl and they say she is about to die."
Upon hearing this, Tan Yunxian immediately took Miaozhen inside. There was no time to tidy up, and they saw a couple carrying a little girl who was on the verge of death.
The young parents looked worried, but Miaozhen, seeing that her master was very calm, asked them, "What's wrong with the child? How long has this been going on?"
“We didn’t let her go out during the Qixi Festival, so we coaxed her to eat a lot of sweet dumplings. But we didn’t expect that her illness would get worse every day. We’ve consulted many doctors and tried many medicines, but nothing has worked.”
Miaozhen then saw her press her hand on the little girl's abdomen and ask the girl, "Does it hurt?"
The girl nodded slightly, and then Tan Yunxian asked her parents, "What does this child usually like to eat?"
"She eats everything; we buy her whatever she wants to eat." This couple dotes on their daughter.
Miao Zhenzhen thought that the "Danxi Heart Method" did have a Baohe Pill, and she heard that the pill could cure all kinds of food stagnation. The child's abdominal pain was also evidence of this, but she wouldn't say it directly, since she wasn't very good at small pulse diagnosis.
But Tan Yunxian said, "I prescribed Zhuiji Pills. Have her take them and see."
After saying this, she wrote down the prescription for Zhuiji Pill. Upon seeing the prescription, the couple quickly took their child to a pharmacy outside to buy the medicine. After they left, Miaozhen asked about her doubts: "Based on my limited knowledge, I thought this illness would be treated with Baohe Pill."
“Look at that child, so pale and thin, with worm spots on his face, and his family’s diet is not moderate. That’s why I prescribed this Zhuiji Pill, which can not only aid digestion, relieve stagnation, and soothe the stomach, but also kill parasites,” Tan Yunxian said.
Miaozhen suddenly realized that she had gone from only knowing acupuncture to gynecology, and now she was involved in everything. She had a feeling that her life was about to change.
That night, she slept in the courtyard next to Tan Yunxian's, tidied up quickly, and then went to bed.
The Tan family was known as "Half of the City" in Wuxi, and they were very powerful. However, Tan Yunxian still lived in the Yang family's house, which was filled with various medical books. Even at his age, he was still constantly improving his medical skills. This is truly a blessing for future generations.
Lost in thought, she actually fell asleep.
She was asleep, but Xu Erpeng was not. He had been asking the old servant who brought him food for a long time. He learned about the Tan family's status in Wuxi, and that Tan Yunxian used to frequently travel to the capital to treat the Empress Dowager, Empress, and concubines in the palace, but now that she was too old, she lived peacefully in the countryside.
It's definitely worth it for my daughter to be able to study medicine with her.
Furthermore, the Yang family's meals included both vegetables and meat, and although they didn't have many servants, they were very capable, which was enough.
Families like theirs, without any connections, have built their success step by step through their own efforts, so they have to be extra cautious. Many people who spout platitudes about morality and righteousness may not be good people behind the scenes, which is why he sends someone to check on them once a month.
After much thought, it was already dawn.
He got up and changed into a brand-new silk robe. At home, his family members always wore cloth. They only dressed nicely when they went out, so as not to be laughed at. He had arranged everything for the trip. There were expenses, but they were limited. Money should be spent wisely. If something happens to the family in the future, having savings in hand is better than anything else.
Early this morning, the parents of the girl who came to see the doctor yesterday arrived. They were not a wealthy family, but they brought seven or eight kinds of gifts, saying that after the girl took the Zhuiji Pill yesterday, she had diarrhea and felt much better.
Miaozhen, who was standing nearby, was also happy to see this. She seemed to have found the meaning of a doctor's existence: to save a person's life was truly gratifying.
After having breakfast at the Yang family's house, Tao Er Gongzi was going to visit relatives and friends at the Ru family's house. Xu Erpeng was about to take his leave when Miaozhen came out to see him off: "Father, please be careful on your journey."
"Don't worry, I'll be fine going back during the day. But you, I gave you ten taels of silver, don't spend it all like a money-spending angel. Be careful, don't just listen to a few nice words and think you're at home. If you have any troubles, tell me and your mother, okay?" Xu Erpeng instructed.
Miaozhen nodded emphatically.
Xu Erpeng walked out the door and waved his hand behind him: "Don't bother seeing me off, go back."
"Please take good care of yourselves and my mother." Miaozhen waved vigorously.
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