Chapter 21 (Three Chapters Combined)
It is also said that when Xu Erpeng found Cheng Dashe, he thought it would be difficult, but to his surprise, things went very smoothly. Cheng Dashe did not ask any questions and directly gave him a letter, saying, "The local governor is my father's classmate."
Xu Erpeng was extremely grateful. Hearing that the Ru and Tao families had both come to him personally to recommend people, but he had not agreed to any of them, Xu Erpeng felt a sense of gratitude that he would repay them even at the cost of his life. After leaving their place, he thought about it again with great fear, realizing that wealthy families really knew how to recruit talent.
Regardless, he still instructed Miaozhen: "You must work hard in the Cheng family in the future. Here, this is the closing document, please keep it safe."
The letter was only used when hiring a tutor or advisor, which shows that the Cheng family valued talent. She opened the letter and saw that it read: "To Dr. Xu: My mother is in urgent need of treatment. I have long heard that you are a disciple of Madam Yang from Wuxi. You are exceptionally intelligent and have a skillful and kind heart. I hereby specially hire you as my tutor, with a monthly salary of three taels and six mace."
Three taels and six mace was quite a good amount. Madam Mei was happy for her daughter, but she was also worried when she thought about Xu Dalang's situation.
Those who threatened Xu Dalang saw that Xu Erlang not only didn't react but also ignored them. Xu Sanlang was even worse. After they came to their door, he abandoned the shop the next day, and his whole family packed up and left overnight. No one knew where they went.
The person who orchestrated the scheme was speechless and slapped Xu Dalang twice: "Look at you, you're just a stinking bug that everyone hates."
Xu Dalang sobbed and cried, feeling that his brothers were heartless. People saw that his neighborhood was full of poor laborers and that his wife and children were nowhere to be found. They then went to the Huang family and Uncle Huang's house. Hearing this, they couldn't help but curse Xu Dalang for being useless and having no money at all.
Finally, Uncle Huang took out ten taels of silver and told them to go find the Xu family.
The man had worked hard, but only managed to get ten taels of silver. He was very unwilling to accept this, so he sent Xu Dalang to the yamen. The yamen officials beat him twenty times before he was released, without implicating anyone else.
Xu Erpeng breathed a sigh of relief, and Mei Shi also had a smile on her face. However, the third branch of the Xu family had returned from who-knows-where. It was only said that Xu Yiming disappeared after being beaten, probably because he was too ashamed to face anyone and had gone to hide somewhere.
Once this matter was settled, the second branch of the Xu family began preparing Miaozhen's belongings. Madam Mei had a tailor make three new outfits for her: moon white, pale yellow, and pea green. Miaozhen herself asked Wang and Xiaoxi to go to a nearby handkerchief shop to buy several pieces of white silk or white lake silk handkerchiefs to give as gifts. She also had some straw paper cut to prepare for daily expenses, and went to the red and green fine silk thread shop to buy various colored silk threads.
Her maternal grandfather, Scholar Mei, sent her five hundred coins for travel expenses. Aunt Qiao's family sent two bolts of red and green silk and invited Miaozhen to their farewell party, but she declined. Her third uncle also sent a string of cash and two boxes of steamed fruit cakes. The neighboring Ma and Tao families also gave gifts.
Xiao Xi packed tea leaves in a jar. It seemed that Songluo tea was for entertaining distinguished guests. Miao Zhen usually drank local Suzhou tea, which she couldn't name, but it was cheap and delicious, costing fifty coins for a full jar.
Not to mention the rose soap for washing hair, a few eggs, five-spice powder for bathing, and all sorts of other things, as well as his own medical books, various medical records and prescriptions, which filled almost three boxes.
This is already a simplified version; otherwise, it would be even longer.
Looking at the mess, Madam Mei couldn't help but say, "You've only been back for a short time, and you're leaving again. I really hate to see you go. It's all your uncle's fault, otherwise our family would be so much better off."
"In any case, this matter has helped us get through a difficult time. I just didn't expect my uncle to be so dishonest." Miaozhen recalled the first time she met her uncle, who had always been so upright and honest, and felt quite sad.
Madam Mei waved her hand: "Your father said he played a good hand terribly. Forget it, none of that matters anymore. But you, you'll be of marriageable age in a year or two. Your father said that although Jinling is a first-class prosperous place and the Cheng family is a powerful and wealthy family, you must not be blinded by it. In a year or two, we'll find you a suitable husband. Don't be shy, you're a grown woman now, and we'll bring you back then."
"That's what I think too. The only thing is, I don't want any marriage between relatives." It's not that Miaozhen doesn't want to choose her own partner, but women from ordinary families like hers have strict rules about their household and are not usually allowed to see men outside the family.
Judging people by their appearance is not good either. Xu Erpeng is more knowledgeable, cautious, and shrewd.
Therefore, she could only let her father choose.
However, marriage between relatives is her bottom line; that's unacceptable.
Madam Mei chuckled: "Your uncle's family members can't even imagine it. They haven't read as many books as you."
“That’s true.” Miaozhen smiled as well.
Then she added, "Tell Father not to work too hard. I can save some money this time when I go to the Cheng family."
As Madam Mei styling her daughter's hair, she said, "As you know, people in Jiangnan value dowries highly. Your father and I are both looking for a good family for you, so how could we not prepare a dowry?"
"Father has really had a tough time. When he was young, my grandparents treated him a little better, and he still sacrificed a lot for the family. Now that he's with his daughter, he's doing the same thing." Miaozhen thought that she would definitely repay her parents when she achieved something in the future.
Madam Mei said, "It was no use in your father being good to your grandfather and third uncle. Your grandparents always favored your third uncle."
Miaozhen sighed, thinking how fortunate she was to have been born into such a family.
The mother and daughter spoke many more private words, reluctant to part. On the first day of the eighth lunar month, the Cheng family sent a servant over. Xu Erpeng had originally thought of sending his servant Laiwang along, but he was afraid that the Cheng family might also be lying, and his daughter might be kidnapped. Wouldn't he be devastated?
Therefore, they had no choice but to have two bundles packed, along with a servant and a shop assistant, and to hire two thugs as guards.
He also wanted to visit the bookstores in Nanjing, specifically those on Sanshan Street and in front of the Imperial Academy, to see how his own bookstore differed from others. Since he was a scholar, it would be cheap for him to go anywhere.
With her father accompanying her, Miao Zhen felt much more at ease, but she was also worried that people would say she had brought so many family members with her. However, she did not expect that the female doctor Li Yao'e who went with her also had her mother and brother with her.
This Li Yao'e was about eighteen years old, of medium height, with light makeup. Her appearance was ordinary, but her skin was very fair, and when she smiled, she was quite charming. The two were arranged to stay together. Miaozhen asked Xiaoxi and Xiaotao to make the beds first. The Cheng family provided three boats: one for luggage, one for women, and one for men.
Li Yao'e's mother even gave her some lotus seeds to eat, and Miao Zhen quickly thanked her and also gave them some rose-flavored pastries that she had brought.
"Is Miss Xu from a wealthy family?" Old Lady Li asked.
Miaozhen shook her head: "My father does some small business, he can't be considered a wealthy family."
Seeing that this Miss Xu was not very old, with a petite figure, an oval face, delicate and fair skin, and average looks, but with a cinnabar mole between her eyebrows and thick earlobes, she seemed to have a very fortunate appearance. Old Lady Li wanted to ask her a few more questions, but Li Yao'e said, "Mother, why don't you go out for a walk first? We still need to pack things up inside."
After that, Old Lady Li went out, and Li Yao'e said to Miaozhen with some apology, "My mother is old and talkative, please don't take offense."
Miaozhen quickly smiled and said, "From now on, we'll be working together, so I'm sure your aunt is concerned about you. By the way, what do you study, sister?"
Li Yao'e said, "I studied the Minor Pulse Diagnosis Department."
Xiao Fangmai is a pediatrician. Upon hearing this, Miaozhen praised, "Sister must have excellent medical skills."
Li Yao'e said a few words of modesty, then asked Miaozhen, "What is your studies, little sister?"
“Oh, I study gynecology and acupuncture,” Miaozhen said with a smile.
Li Yao'e then asked, "Did Sister Xu learn medicine from her family?"
“No one in my family does this. My father found a master for me to learn it. What about my sister?” Miaozhen asked curiously.
Li Yao'e smiled and said, "Madam Cheng is my godmother, and our two families are related by marriage. However, she is not from our master's Cheng family, but from the Cheng family in Anhui. We are not related by marriage."
"Oh, I see. I just wonder how long this offering will take? My mother said that if it takes too long, she'll have my father come and take me back soon." Miaozhen first created the persona that she wasn't planning to do this for long, so that others wouldn't be wary of her.
But Li Yao'e shook her head: "I don't know either, but I hope it can last a long time. After all, it's not easy for others to get into a family like the Cheng family, which is full of officials."
Miaozhen said, "Then I wish you a bright future, sister. We are going together, and I hope you will take good care of me in the future."
“Sister Xu, what are you saying? We’re on the same side.” Li Yao’e said.
After the two talked for a while, Xiao Xi and Xiao Tao made up their beds. Miao Zhen said, "There is also a box of hot steamed fruit cakes. You can eat some to fill your stomachs first."
After saying that, she started reading. Fortunately, Li Yao'e was not a talkative person and was quiet. When she had nothing to do, she only did needlework.
Since the Li family had been on the ship for several days, the two mothers of the Cheng family personally brought over food boxes. When Miaozhen heard from Li Yao'e that she had given a reward, she also had someone bring out twenty coins to show for the reward.
Both mothers asked, "I heard that Miss is a disciple of the Tan family, is that true?"
“Yes, I went to Wuxi specifically to learn. Are you two mothers from the Cheng family?” Miaozhen asked.
Both women nodded. Miaozhen saw Li Yao'e go to Li Laoniang's for dinner and then said, "We are completely clueless. We don't know if you women can tell me about the Cheng family and their taboos."
Xiao Xi immediately poured tea, and the two mothers simply said, "Actually, we don't know much either."
"I see that both of you mothers have such an air about you. Are you serving the old ladies?" Miaozhen praised them, but didn't offer them anything indiscriminately.
Seeing Miaozhen praising them and drinking tea, the two mothers said, "I'm just a helper in the kitchen, and she's just a laundry worker. We both came out with Third Master."
Miaozhen nodded slightly, and then one of the mothers said, "Miss Xu, don't panic. Our old lady is very compassionate towards the poor and weak. Otherwise, she wouldn't have such good fortune."
After a short while, she finally understood that the older generation of the Cheng family consisted of two brothers, whose families lived next to each other. The elder brother's side was called the East Mansion. The patriarch of the East Mansion had once served as a Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall, but he passed away after only one year in the cabinet. He had three sons. The eldest son was now in his fifties and served as the governor of Shandong. The second son was forty-eight years old and served as the Left Councilor of the Jiangxi Provincial Administration Commission. The youngest son had entered officialdom through imperial favor and was serving as the Vice Director of the Imperial Seal Office in Nanjing.
The old master of the West Mansion is now serving as the Left Sima (Vice Minister of War) in the capital. His son died early, leaving behind only a posthumous child, who is now in his twenties and married.
The eldest son of the Cheng family in the East Mansion, whose first wife had passed away, left behind a son who was very diligent and studious. He passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty and is now an editor in the Hanlin Academy. He has a daughter named Qinfang. The eldest son's second wife, Madam Zeng, only gave birth to two daughters, one named Shan Yuan and the other Shan Shu, who are not yet of marriageable age. However, there is a concubine named Zhu—
Mentioning Aunt Zhu, the gossipy face of the woman called Lai Mama couldn't hide her words: "This is the cousin of the first wife, Madam Zhu. It's just a pity that she was unlucky. By the time she arrived, our old lady had already betrothed to the Zeng family."
"So, does this Aunt Zhu have any children?" Miaozhen asked.
"Of course there is! Aunt Zhu's son is the fourth in line to be born. He is seventeen years old this year and is very smart and studious. He also gave birth to a daughter named Bin Jie, who is very favored by the old lady. She is even better than the two legitimate children." Mama Lai gave a thumbs up.
Then she said, "The master and mistress of the second branch are very loving, and they have given birth to the eldest daughter and the fifth master."
Perhaps because they were from the second branch of the family, they were somewhat restrained when mentioning it. Miaozhen said, "Oh? Isn't your Third Master also from the second branch?"
Madam Lai said vaguely, "He was born out of wedlock. The second master and the second mistress were betrothed when they were still babies. They were eight years apart in age. This third young master was born to the second master's concubine at that time."
As for the third wife, there's not much to say; the couple has no children.
The old lady also had a daughter who I heard passed away last year. She raised her granddaughter, who I heard was quite young but a beautiful young woman.
Miaozhen gave each of the two mothers a handkerchief, which she had just written down while her memory was still good. Xiaotao asked, puzzled, "Miss, you're going to be a doctor, why do you care about these relationships? I was so confused after listening to them for a while."
“Wrong. To survive well in one place, you can’t rely solely on medical skills.” Miaozhen realized this deeply; even legal principles are not without human compassion.
As they rested that evening, Li Yao'e looked at Miao Zhen's loose hair and couldn't help but exclaim, "Sister, your hair is so beautiful, it's like satin!"
Miaozhen smiled.
Having just changed sleeping locations, she still couldn't fall asleep. Li Yao'e, on the other hand, had her eyes closed, though it was unclear whether she was asleep or not. She was thinking about how the Cheng family wanted her entire family to come to Nanjing, probably because they wanted to take her younger brother for themselves. Her mother, due to poverty, had been sold by her father to the childless Second Master Cheng as a concubine. She had gone to the Cheng family around that time, but because her mother had given birth to a son, she was kicked out early. Fearing gossip, they only recognized her as their godparent and made her study medicine under Madam Cheng, considering it a great favor.
After her younger brother grew up, the Cheng family, fearing she might reveal something, always wanted to marry her off to a distant place. Unfortunately, the arranged marriage fell through. Now that Nanjing needed someone, they seemed to have given them many benefits and asked her to come and serve them.
This was different from the newly acquainted Miss Xu. Although Miss Xu didn't come from a wealthy family, she was probably from a well-off middle-class family. Her father was a businessman, and she had two maids to serve her. Her father would drop off the child and then go home, but her mother and brother had to stay in Nanjing.
But the more this is the case, the less she can afford to be careless.
Meanwhile, Li Yao'e took good care of Miao Zhen along the way and never shirked her responsibilities, so the two got along quite well. However, Miao Zhen was also well aware that being a servant was not like attending a girls' school, where there was really no conflict of interest and everyone would go home on weekdays. But now that several female doctors were living and eating together, there would inevitably be some competition for interests, so she didn't reveal her secrets right away.
Five days later, the ship arrived in Nanjing. Miaozhen wanted to meet up with her father first, but the Cheng family quickly hired a sedan chair and horses, so she had to get into a sedan chair first.
Nanjing was a first-class, prosperous and bustling place, with silver shops exchanging gold and silver everywhere, as well as rows of streets and grand restaurants. Fortunately, Miaozhen came from Suzhou, which was also an extremely prosperous place, and she was not looked down upon.
However, the weather was not very good at this time, and a sudden downpour began. But when they arrived at Chengxiang, the sky cleared up. They entered from the west gate and along the way, they saw lake rocks and artificial hills, flower fences, winding bridges, and four-cornered pavilions. Weeping willows and pines were planted by the lake. It was truly a hidden paradise.
Miaozhen thought to herself that she was finally like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden, and seeing that Li Yao'e, who had come in with her, was also just as dumbfounded, Miaozhen felt relieved. Everyone's the same!
The two of them were led through the long corridor behind the artificial hill to their residence. Upon entering, there were no side rooms on either side, only three main rooms and two side rooms.
Miaozhen wanted to live in the west because it was too sunny, but she was thinking of living in the east. She was just about to discuss it with Li Yao'e when a girl came out of the house. She was very beautiful, with a charming face and graceful figure.
Li Yao'e and Miao Zhen both asked, "Are you also here to work as a female doctor at the Cheng family, young lady?"
Unexpectedly, the girl said, "I am a little different from you. I am the niece of the First Madam of the West Mansion. It's just that the old lady had a headache last time, and I happen to know about this, so the old lady of the West Mansion asked me to come and take care of her."
Miao Zhen thought to herself, "Isn't it all the same?" Besides, she had already found out on the way that the First Madam of the West Mansion had been dead for more than twenty years. If she were really a relative's daughter, she wouldn't be able to live here like them.
But on the surface, she said, "So you must be the cousin of this family?"
"My surname is Yu, and my given name is Zhou Jin. Since we're all together, you can call me by my name." Yu Zhou Jin glanced at Li Yao'e and Miao Zhen, not wanting to say more, and stepped aside to let them in.
Seeing that the east room had already been occupied by Yu Zhoujin, Miaozhen said, "The west room is too sunny..."
"Sister Xu, you can stay in the middle, and I'll stay on the west side. It's fine for me," Li Yao'e said hurriedly.
Seeing Li Yao'e's humble attitude, Miaozhen felt quite embarrassed and asked Xiaoxi to cut two feet off the ruler she had brought and send it over. As everyone was tidying up, the Cheng family sent an old woman named Gu to guard the door and take care of their daily needs.
Over there, Li Yao'e also had a maid named Cuiyu, whose eyes were always darting around. She didn't usually listen to Li Yao'e's orders, which made Xiao Xi say when she came back: "Miss Li still has to make the bed herself, but Cuiyu is just sitting there with her legs crossed, eating melon seeds."
“I heard that the girl wasn’t originally meant to serve her; she was given to her by the Cheng family. Unlike you, we’ve grown up together since childhood, so our bond is naturally different,” Miaozhen said with a smile.
Xiao Tao exclaimed in surprise, "What will happen to Master if we come in?"
Miaozhen smiled and said, "My father recognized the place and took me there. He then went back home without worry. Don't worry."
After saying that, she looked around her room. The room was divided into three sections by two large painted screens. There was a beechwood bed on the east side and a square wardrobe on the west side. The area east of the bed was empty, and in front of it was a dressing table. Miaozhen asked someone to put her trunk and basket on the east side of the bed.
In the middle of the partitioned area, there was a daybed, with several embroidered stools on the left and right sides. On the far west side, there was a washstand, a wooden basin, and a clothes rack.
As Madam Gu came in, she asked, "Miss Xu, if you see anything you need, just tell me."
Miaozhen thought to herself that one of the two maids could sleep on the couch, and the other could sleep with her or on the foot couch. The most urgent thing was to get a long desk so that she could write medical records. She could ask for one for the maids when she had some skills in the future.
Therefore, she smiled and said, "I think this place is quite nice, but I need to write medical records every day, so I'll have to trouble you, Mother."
After saying this, he gave two handkerchiefs embroidered with osmanthus flowers, a box of Suzhou pastries, and twenty coins as a gift to Madam Gu.
After accepting her gifts, Gu Mama said, "Miss Xu, you don't want to cause trouble, but your neighbor, Miss Yu, keeps asking for embroidery frames, flower dew, and complaining that the silk thread we sent is not good enough. Whatever she says, the ladies have instructed the steward to get it. You shouldn't be too honest."
“In that case, I’ll ask for another bench so my girl can sleep comfortably,” Miaozhen said.
Mother Gu made a note of it first, and then went to ask Li Yao'e.
By the afternoon, several maids had brought the things over. Miaozhen had the long table placed in the east room and the bench placed by her bedside. After everything was tidied up, she and her two maids went to bed early.
Li Yao'e next door was busy and dizzy. That Cuiyu had been having an affair with her master, which displeased the mistress. Since she couldn't get rid of her easily, she took the opportunity to send her to her place.
But the more she did this, the clearer she became about what she wanted. When she took a bath, she didn't even use hot water, but splashed cold water on her face. She was determined to keep working hard.
Yu Zhoujin, on the other hand, was painting her nails under the gauze lamp when her maid, Xiaolingdang, asked, "Miss, what do you think of the two young ladies who came today?"
If this little bell hadn't been given to her by the old lady of the West Mansion, she would have chased the girl away long ago. The girl was inarticulate and often quite clumsy; for example, the question she asked was rather foolish. She was, after all, a young lady of the Yu family. Even if the Yu family was in dire straits, she was still different from those two.
That woman surnamed Li comes from a family of doctors, while the woman surnamed Xu is said to have a small bookstore. They are all merchants and miscellaneous people. I am the daughter of an official. How can we compare?
Besides, the old lady of the East Mansion likes her very much, so why should she make a fool of herself?
The next morning, Miaozhen didn't dare to sleep in as much as she did at home and got up very early. Two maids also came in with hot water and food. They were familiarizing themselves with the route with Granny Gu.
Upon opening the food box, Miaozhen found it to be better than the food on the ship. There were two main dishes: small wontons and barley porridge. Surprisingly, the wontons were filled with wild vegetables. They were served with duck fat sesame cakes, oily salted duck eggs, a dish of pickled cucumbers and eggplants, and two delicately fried small yellow croakers.
"We're in for a treat!" Miaozhen urged the two of them to eat.
The three of them, head to head and foot to foot, ate until they were stuffed.
Thinking that Li Yao'e and Yu Zhoujin both came from medical families and probably knew more than she did, she couldn't slack off. After finishing her meal, she started looking at her old medical records and books.
They had originally thought that when they came to the Cheng family, they would definitely meet the old ladies here first, so as to leave an impression. But now they couldn't see any of them, and they couldn't even go out.
The more this is the case, the more you need to stay calm, just like when she became Tan Yunxian's apprentice. Even if you have to sit on the sidelines, you can't give up.
Just as they finished eating, Li Yao'e came over for a visit. Miaozhen quickly got up and asked, "Sister Li, how did you sleep last night?"
"I'm fine, how about you? Oh, you've tidied up here." Li Yao'e saw that there was a green satin pillow on her daybed, a set of plum blossom porcelain on the crescent table, and a bamboo incense burner on the small kang table. Looking up, she saw two paintings hanging behind the daybed, one was a portrait of Sun Simiao, and the other was a landscape painting, which looked quite elegant.
Miaozhen took her hand and sat her down, then said, "I just tidied up a bit, but I should thank you, sister, for letting me stay in the middle room."
Li Yao'e said, "It's nothing, it's nothing."
“That’s not how it works. As the saying goes, at home you rely on your parents, but when you’re out in the world you rely on your friends,” Miaozhen said.
Li Yao'e smiled and said, "That's true. Although we have a few maids and people to help us, I'm still worried about how we'll proceed in the future."
"Yes, but we can only wait. Sigh, I just don't know how my father is doing," Miaozhen sighed.
After his daughter entered the Cheng family, Xu Erpeng found an inn nearby to stay in. He inquired around and found that the Cheng family was one of the most prominent families in the area, so he felt relieved. He asked Laiwang to show him the way, went to the bookstore in Jinling, and then went back.
In his view, parents love their children and plan far ahead for them. Girls should be even stronger because they will eventually get married and live in someone else's home, unlike boys who, even when they grow up, still live with their families.
Some people keep their daughters hidden away, spoiling and indulging them excessively. Once the daughters go to other people's homes, they become difficult to manage. He, on the other hand, wants to raise his daughters to be strong, so that he will definitely help them if they encounter difficulties after marriage.
Speaking of this trip to Nanjing, he even had a burst of inspiration on the ship, and he couldn't wait to go back and write it down.
Miaozhen understood her father. Although she missed him, she was more focused on her own affairs. However, on the third day, she still couldn't leave the courtyard.
Xiao Xi found out: "I went to the kitchen just now and saw them making mooncakes. I guess they're preparing them for the Mid-Autumn Festival."
"Sigh, I won't be able to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival at home again this year." Miaozhen said, resting her chin on her hand.
Xiao Tao quickly stretched out her arm: "Miss, please take a look at my illness, then I won't be bored."
"Nonsense, why would someone who isn't sick need to see a doctor?" Miaozhen knew they were just teasing her, so she took out some silk thread and started doing some needlework with them.
She was a servant who kept herself in check; aside from accompanying Gu to fetch meals, she was not allowed to wander around aimlessly, otherwise she might cause trouble.
The three chatted and laughed for a while, which was quite amusing. However, in the afternoon, Madam Gu hurriedly led a maid over. The maid wore a silver-striped gauze shirt with a peach-colored vest over it. She said, "Our young lady just returned from her maternal home and developed a high fever. Not only that, she also has diarrhea. Please send some people over quickly."
Miao Zhen reached the door and asked, "Excuse me, sister, how old is the girl you mentioned?"
The girl replied, "Five years old."
Miaozhen pointed to the west: "Sister Li who lives to the west is skilled in pediatrics. Go to her place."
The maid immediately went to Li Yao'e's place, and Li Yao'e hurriedly went there with her medical kit. Pediatrics is different from other departments; medicines that adults can take may not be suitable for children.
Clearly, Li Yao'e had done a good job. She was very attentive and careful, personally watching over her all night. Although she looked tired the next day, she seemed to be walking on clouds. Miao Zhen was not jealous, but happy for her.
Xiao Xi replied, "Miss, you are too humble, letting others take the lead for you."
In modern times, people often say "lying flat" (meaning to lie down and relax), but in a group, if you always lie flat, you'll have nothing to do, which isn't a good thing. Miaozhen understood the servants' anxiety and comforted them, saying, "Do you think we should just sit around doing nothing since they paid us to come here? I'm not good at pediatrics anyway, so why should I always take the lead? Just wait and see. After this, more people will know about us, and I'll have more work to do."
The two of them agreed that it made sense.
The little girl Li Yao'e went to see a doctor for was the daughter of Cheng Junxian, the third master of the Cheng family who brought them to Nanjing. Her name was Yu Jie, and she and her brother Bi Ge'er were twins. The wife of this third master was also the niece of his stepmother Ruan Shi's family and now managed the entire Cheng family.
“Now that the eldest mistress, Madam Ji, is in the capital with her husband, and the second mistress is the head mistress of the West Mansion and can't manage the affairs of the East Mansion, it's the third mistress's turn. The third master manages the outside business dealings, and the third mistress manages the internal affairs of the household. The couple works well together, supporting each other both inside and out.” Once Gu Mama got to know them, she chatted with them about the affairs of the mansion.
Miaozhen asked her, "I was just about to ask you, why did you suddenly invite several of us female doctors over?"
Madam Gu said, "Miss Xu, you're good with your mouth. If I tell you, don't tell anyone else."
Normally, everyone would know who said this, but then Gu's mother said, "Our Nanjing general's daughter was diagnosed through a curtain, and the diagnosis was unclear. She was rashly operated on, and her abdomen was full of pus for six or seven years before she passed away at the beginning of this year. Because of this, the old lady said that she wanted to find some female doctors so that there would be no misdiagnosis."
"So that's how it is. Actually, I studied medicine for this very reason. When my mother gave birth to my younger brother, it was difficult to diagnose and treat him because of the strict separation between men and women, which almost delayed his treatment." Miaozhen never expected there to be such a story.
Madam Gu often stayed up all night, and her body ached terribly. Miaozhen would give her moxibustion and often treated her with great courtesy. Madam Gu couldn't help but remind her, "Miss Xu, you are so kind-hearted. Last time when Third Madam sent someone, you recommended that Sister Li. You can't let her go next time. Now that Third Madam has given birth to the family's eldest grandson and is in charge of the household, she is not a good match."
Miaozhen smiled and wrote it down.
But she didn't resort to any random methods; one shouldn't seek treatment haphazardly when one is desperate.
Li Yao'e went to Xiaoyu's place for several days in a row until the child was completely healed before returning home. She didn't take credit for it, but just looked very tired. Miaozhen had two pills of benzoin sent over, and spent the rest of her time either rubbing moxa or doing needlework and reading medical books, and didn't go out much.
On the fifteenth of August, Li Yao'e received mooncakes and fruits from her third grandmother, Xiao Ruan. She personally shared some with Miaozhen and Yu Zhoujin. Miaozhen was overjoyed to receive them and said, "Thanks to my sister for thinking of me."
Yu Zhoujin pushed it away, saying, "You only have so much, you should eat it yourself. Besides, this is your reward, so I don't need it. The old lady gave it to me before."
She simply felt that Li Yao'e was showing off. Li Yao'e bit her lip and went back to her room.
Miaozhen then cut the small cakes with a knife, giving them to the two maids to enjoy, and said, "In a few days, you might be able to eat my thank-you gift too."
When we see someone virtuous, we should think of emulating them. Li Yao'e is diligent and hardworking, and she is someone we should learn from.
Mid-Autumn Festival passed by in a blur. Soon after, Miaozhen heard someone come to fetch a doctor at night, saying that the eldest wife had diarrhea and that several pills of over-the-counter medicine had not helped. She was thinking of them.
Li Yao'e was the kind of person who would eat meat herself and also share some meat broth with others. Besides, it was Miaozhen who recommended her last time, so she was returning the favor.
Of course, even without her, Miaozhen would have been more than capable of taking on the role herself.
The first wife, Zeng, was the eldest master's second wife. She did not go to Shandong with her husband. According to Gu Mama's gossip, her family was prominent, but she was not as good at dealing with people as the second wife. She was at odds with Concubine Zhu and could not win against Concubine Zhu. She was not even well received by her mother-in-law.
"Xiao Xi, you went out to fetch food a few times today, so rest here. Xiao Tao, come with me," Miao Zhen said.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Xi said, "Miss, Xiao Tao is an honest person, but she is also timid. I'll go instead. Let her stay home and watch over things. She can go next time."
Miaozhen looked at Xiaotao: "What do you think?"
Xiao Tao nodded quickly.
She and her servant followed a mother carrying a lantern and two maids. The mother, surnamed Zhao, asked Miaozhen, "How long have you been studying medicine, young lady?"
“It’s been almost six years. When I was learning to read, I had already memorized the Ling Shu, Nan Jing, and Mai Jue.” Miao Zhen said.
Seeing how young she was, Zhao Mama was still a little worried, but after learning that she was Tan Yunxian's disciple, she felt somewhat relieved. The main house was in the inner courtyard of the third courtyard, while the first madam lived in the main courtyard. When Miaozhen came in, she saw the maids of the main house carrying out a chamber pot, and she went in without looking at them.
Since they were all women, there was no need to separate them by a curtain. This first wife was about thirty years old and was quite pretty, except for a pit between her eyebrows, which she had gotten from frowning all the time.
“Madam, please extend your hand so I can take your pulse,” Miaozhen said.
Seeing that Miaozhen was composed and steady, Zeng Shi, although she thought she was too young, decided to give it a shot. Since the Mid-Autumn Festival, Miaozhen's diarrhea had persisted despite taking many medications. However, she was extremely concerned about her reputation and kept quiet in front of others, refusing to admit her illness.
"Your right pulse is deep and thready, indicating a slight deficiency in the spleen. Can you stick out your tongue so I can take a look?" Miaozhen said.
Zeng stuck out her tongue, and Miaozhen noticed that it was pale with a white, slippery coating. She then asked, "How long have you had this diarrhea? When did it start?"
“I’ve had diarrhea before, but it usually stopped after taking a few pills. This time it started after the Mid-Autumn Festival,” Zeng said.
Miaozhen then asked, "What did you eat during the Mid-Autumn Festival?"
"It's nothing more than crabs. I love crabs the most. Then there are fruits and snacks. I eat the same things as everyone else." Zeng didn't think she was greedy.
Miaozhen quickly came up with a solution: "Your spleen and stomach have been weak for a long time, so you are different from normal people. When you eat too much, your spleen and stomach cannot function properly, which will cause diarrhea. I will first apply moxibustion to five acupoints, and then have the pharmacy prepare a stomach-soothing atractylodes pill to stop the diarrhea for now. I will come back for a follow-up moxibustion in a few days."
When Zeng saw that she had written a prescription first, she glanced at it and noticed that the handwriting was very neat, unlike the handwriting of other doctors which she could not read at all. She felt a bit of goodwill towards her and asked Zhao Mama to quickly have the pharmacy make the medicine.
Miaozhen took out the moxa she had prepared earlier from the brocade box and first applied moxa to her Shangwan, Zhongwan, Xiawan, and Tianshu acupoints. Shangwan, Zhongwan, and Xiawan are acupoints of the Ren meridian, while Tianshu acupoint is an acupoint of the Stomach meridian of Foot Yangming. Applying moxa to these acupoints has the effect of warming the spleen.
Her movements during moxibustion were fluid and graceful. She was originally a professional in acupuncture and moxibustion, and later learned from the Ru and Tan families. It was quite a coincidence that this method came from "Miscellaneous Sayings of a Female Physician," which she had just read the day before yesterday. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so calm.
Because the First Madam's spleen and stomach were too cold, each moxibustion stick needed to be used for about 15 to 25 minutes, which took about two hours to recover. By this time, Madam Zeng had fallen asleep. Miaozhen instructed Zhao Mama: "You should buy the Atractylodes macrocephala pills for stomach relief and take them as soon as possible. If anything happens, just come to me."
She was a doctor hired by the family, so there was no need to pay for the consultation. After returning home, Miaozhen immediately changed her clothes, washed up casually, and then fell asleep.
It is also said that when Zeng woke up in the morning, she took a stomach-soothing atractylodes pill, and the diarrhea stopped immediately after taking just one dose. She herself could not believe it.
Miaozhen also hurried over in the morning. She wouldn't do anything in vain. She took Zeng's pulse again and saw that Zeng was safe and sound. Both of her daughters came to visit and thank her. She quickly said, "You're too kind."
After the moxibustion treatment, Zeng's old ailment was completely cured, and she felt much more refreshed. She then boasted to Xiao Ruan, "The young doctor that Junxian found is truly skilled."
Madam Ruan was also very proud to hear this, especially since it came from the mouth of the First Madam, which made it even more precious. You see, the First Madam was somewhat dissatisfied with her in charge of the household and often said behind her back that the aunt and niece were in cahoots.
Miaozhen received two sets of clothes from Zeng Shi. One set was a red satin robe with chrysanthemum, lotus and camellia patterns, paired with a dark green satin skirt. The other set was a brocade jacket with willow yellow patterns, paired with a white silk skirt.
In ancient times, clothing and fabrics, especially valuable garments, were hard currency, sometimes even more valuable than money. Miaozhen put away the red brocade robe: "I'll take this home for my mother to wear."
Xiao Xi and Xiao Tao Ye were overjoyed.
But Yu Zhoujin was standing at the door. Seeing their reaction, he said, "You're all so excited about such a small amount of stuff. You're too short-sighted. Besides, it's not brand new. It's not presentable to wear it out. If it were me, I definitely wouldn't want it."
Miaozhen simply smiled and said, "Sister Yu is the daughter of an official, unlike us. I'm happy that Madam is willing to reward me with such fine clothes. It wouldn't matter if she didn't reward me, but it's still a good omen."
Only those who haven't received a reward make sarcastic remarks. If you're so capable, why don't you stay here? What's with the arrogance?
"I was just saying this out of fear that the old women and maids outside would look down on you if you act like this." Yu Zhoujin shook his fan and smiled slightly, seemingly trying to defend himself.
Miaozhen didn't care about any of that. If she could bring back a few boxes of clothes and jewelry, it would be a huge profit for her. What was there to complain about?
Are workers not working hard for money, but for that vague and illusory sense of self-esteem?
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