"Lijian, what did Aunt Hua say to you just now?" Huo Xiaolong scurried into the house, asking gossipy questions.
"It's nothing, the gentleman just wanted to ask how my studies are going lately."
"Oh, shall we go play? The snacks made at Aunt Hua's house are delicious."
"Walk!"
Perhaps Huo Panlijian had too much fun playing with her girlfriends during the day, because she had a stomachache when she got home in the evening, but it was nothing serious and within her tolerance.
"Big sister, are you feeling unwell?"
"It's nothing, it'll be fine in a bit. It's probably from eating something in the cold air outside today."
"Oh, then get up and eat, big sister. The food is ready."
The little girl didn't see the red stain on the bed when she got up, but her younger sister, who had called her over for dinner, did. The little girl trembled as she spoke to her sister...
"Blood... Big sister, you're bleeding... Waaaaaah, big sister's going to die..."
"..."
Huo Panlijian was certain that she was in excellent physical condition and that her period must have started. Although no one had ever taught her these things, she knew a thing or two about everything after running around on the streets for so many years.
"Stop crying, go to the brothel and call Sister Er Ya over for me."
She knows this, but she's still not quite sure how to handle it.
Seeing the two people, one big and one small, rushing over in a panic outside the door, the little girl had a headache. It must have been her younger sister who exaggerated the situation, otherwise why would Huo Xiaolong have followed them?
What's wrong with you?
"It's alright, Miss Huo, would you please step out for a moment?"
"ah?"
The little dumpling didn't quite understand why she went out on her own, and why Er Ya was allowed to stay.
The little girl subtly shifted her position, allowing the round-faced girl to catch a glimpse of the bloodstains on her bed. Er Ya immediately understood and hurried over to Huo Xiaolong as well.
"Long'er, be good and go out first. I'll call you in when you're done."
"What's wrong? Do I have to go out? Is there anything I can't see?"
Huo Xiaolong's stubborn temper flared up again. What could be so important that she couldn't know? The little girl walked straight ahead, and the two tried to stop her, but they couldn't.
"I thought it was something serious! It's just your period, you know. Wait a minute, I'm going home for a bit. I made something really useful for my mom these past few days, but she hasn't had a chance to use it yet. You can use it first!"
In Huo Panlijian's heart, Huo Xiaolong held a position somewhat like her little master, which was why she didn't let Huo Xiaolong see it—how unlucky! It's just that the little dumpling didn't realize this, and besides, she didn't want to be the master; they were all sisters, just playing together.
"for you!"
"What's this, Long'er?"
The little dumpling took out a pair of briefs from her arms, with a small white cotton pad tied to them with a string. There was no way to stick them together without double-sided tape, but tying them with a string would work.
"Wearing it!"
"How am I supposed to wear this?! This...this is too much!..."
Er Ya was rambling a bit incoherently; this was a little too open.
"What's wrong? Wear it inside, nobody can see it, and it's super comfortable. You should try it!"
Huo Panlijian would not refuse Huo Xiaolong's request, so he turned it around and put it on.
"You have to take all your pants off and put them on!" Huo Xiaolong shouted from outside.
Upon hearing this, the girl paused in putting on her underwear, then silently took off her undershirt and put on her underwear.
"How was it? Feeling good?"
"Feels great!"
"Then don't wear your outer pants yet, let me see them! Let me see if they fit!"
Huo Xiaolong wanted the little girl to go out wearing the underwear so he could see how good his handiwork was. He thought she had figured out the elastic band and all that little bit of work herself!
Huo Panlijian can agree to anything, but this is absolutely unacceptable. To use an idiom he's learned these past few days: This is utterly disgraceful!
"I won't let you see it!"
"???"
"Why are you so stingy! Let me see it~ It's not like I'm losing a single piece of meat!"
"No!"
"How does it feel to wear it? Does it feel stuffy? Is it too tight around the waist?"
"It's fine, I don't feel anything."
"Okay, if that little white mat on your head gets dirty, just throw it away. I brought you more than ten of them, use them! If you run out, just tell me and I'll get you more."
"You really don't mind getting dirty at all!" Huo Panlijian said to Huo Xiaolong as he came out after putting on his clothes.
She just couldn't understand it. She was a young lady from a wealthy family, so why didn't she have any taboos about this kind of thing?
"What's so dirty about it! Every woman has one, doesn't she?"
Er Ya was already numb. The ashes she brought seemed to be of no use at all. Besides, were Cen's mother and He's mother starting her education in this area a bit too early? She's only five years old, yet she knows so much. She even took some brown sugar back with her.
And when was this thing ever developed?
The other day, when Little Dumpling saw He Yi changing the wood ash, her mouth practically stretched to her chin in a wide grin. She couldn't stand it, not even a little bit. She could tolerate not having enough to eat, but she absolutely couldn't tolerate such filth!
Therefore, underwear and sanitary napkins were made together.
The costs are indeed quite high. Cotton is still quite expensive, and so is oil paper, which is not cheap either.
"Long'er, we can't say these things outside."
"What's wrong?" the little dumpling asked, puzzled.
"Since ancient times, women's menstruation has been... considered rather unclean, and taboo, so... um... you know what I mean, right?"
Er Ya spoke haltingly, hoping that the little potato from Fengyuelou could think quickly enough to understand what she meant.
“But sister, I don’t think this is a taboo. It’s been a taboo since ancient times, so it’s been wrong since ancient times! Wrong is wrong, even this saying passed down from my ancestors is wrong!”
"When a woman starts menstruating, it means she is fertile. What a wonderful thing! The survival of the Great Yan depends on us. Shouldn't we set off some firecrackers to celebrate?"
"Anyone who thinks it's dirty or taboo should not get married or have children, because this thing will bring them bad luck. Don't you think he's a bit incompetent?"
Huo Xiaolong's little mouth chattered on and on, leaving Huo Panlijian and Er Ya stunned by what he said. Tsk, it really makes sense!
"right!"
"yes!"
"Lijian, you should get some rest. You don't have to go to school tomorrow if you don't want to; I'll cover for you. And don't skimp on that little white pad; make sure to change it frequently, otherwise it'll be more expensive to see a doctor later, understand?"
The little dumpling had hit the nail on the head for Huo Panlijian. That's exactly what the little girl was thinking. Those were all made of good cotton, so she would use them sparingly and wash them if they got too wet.
Upon hearing that seeing a doctor would be more expensive, the little girl nodded rapidly, her head bobbing like a pestle being pounded.
"Okay! Don't worry, I'll definitely change it frequently."
Throughout history, countless texts have described menstrual blood as unclean, a foul fluid that corrupts one's spirit. But it is clearly the body's blood flowing to protect itself. Therefore, as a woman, I face it squarely and accept it with equanimity.
May all women in the world be like this.
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