Liu Shiwen is the only son in his family, which is relatively well-off. He studied at her family's academy for a few years before.
Tang Xiucai was not the kind of pedantic person. He personally taught his daughter to read and write. At that time, Tang Xuan was still young, so he took her to and from school with him, hoping that she could learn more by being influenced by what she saw and heard.
It was around that time that Tang Xuan met the troublemaker Liu Shiwen.
Liu Shiwen was different from other students. While other students would bury themselves in their studies, Liu Shiwen would often take her out to play, giving her a good childhood.
As Tang Xuan grew older, Master Tang stopped taking her to the academy. Meanwhile, the mischievous Liu Shiwen became increasingly naughty, and Tang Xiucai would hit his palms with a ruler every day.
At that time, they met secretly without the knowledge of Tang Xiucai and Madam Tang.
Liu Shiwen still liked to take her out to play, but he never said anything like he liked her.
On the contrary, she was already deeply in love at the age when she was just beginning to experience romantic feelings.
She thought that as long as she was willing to wait, he would eventually speak first.
But things shouldn't have been like that. Both of them were clearly not young, but Liu Shiwen still acted like a child, spending his days playing cricket fighting and watching cockfighting, never mentioning their marriage.
Later, her family arranged a marriage for Tang Xuan, and she began to get anxious, so she couldn't help but speak up first.
She asked him if he liked her, and Liu Shiwen replied, "Of course I like you. If I didn't, why would I take you out to play every day?"
Tang Xuan was thrilled. Although she was the one who asked first, she had finally heard this question.
"Then why don't you come to my house to propose marriage?"
She still remembers Liu Shiwen's expression at the time. He looked at her with a shocked expression and said, "Propose marriage? I must be crazy to dare to propose to your family! Your parents don't like me. Your father even fainted from anger because of me. If I go to propose, won't I be beaten out by your parents? Besides, aren't you already engaged? How can I propose?"
Tang Xuan was stunned by his question and didn't know how to answer for a moment. Then Liu Shiwen continued, "Why don't you break off the engagement? I can just study hard for two more years and then find someone else to arrange the marriage."
He spoke very casually, as if reading was a very simple thing.
But he only said that; for a long time, he was never seen going to the academy to study, but instead wandered around the streets.
Tang Xuan was somewhat skeptical, but since he rarely said such things, she was touched and decided to believe him this once.
So she said, "Young Master Kang is a good man. What can I do to cancel this marriage without hurting the feelings of both families?"
"That's easy! I know a friend who always has some weird medicines on him. I'll ask around and buy you one. That'll solve the problem easily!"
Liu Shiwen readily agreed, and Tang Xuan also thought it was a good idea, so she nodded in agreement.
Unexpectedly, the medicine he gave her turned out to be poisonous.
He didn't even bother to find out what food was for her.
Or perhaps, he simply doesn't care.
At that moment, Tang Xuan felt that perhaps she should let go.
Forgive that childish brat, and forgive yourself too.
Therefore, she wanted to live a good life.
Mrs. Tang saw that she was clenching her hands tightly, as if she was forcing herself to make a choice.
Seeing her daughter in such pain, Madam Tang felt a pang of heartache. But they both knew that Liu Shiwen was truly not a good match for their daughter. If their daughter were to marry him, her life would be ruined.
"It's good that you understand now. You're still your parents' good daughter."
Madam Tang patted her daughter's hand with satisfaction, then said to He Jiuniang, "We would be grateful if Doctor He could examine my Xuan'er. The Tang family will repay you handsomely!"
As she spoke, she curtsied to He Jiuniang, her attitude very serious and earnest.
He Jiuniang nodded and then said, "Prepare paper and pen for me, I'll write down the prescription."
Madam Tang immediately instructed her maid to do so.
Once Tang Xuan figures things out and completely cuts off ties with that young master Liu, Madam Tang will not pursue the maid's responsibility.
Mrs. Chen sighed, feeling that her son was really unlucky. Why did he always seem to run into all sorts of bad luck?
But since this was still within the Tang family's household, there were some things that couldn't be said in the meantime, so she waited silently to the side.
He Jiuniang quickly wrote out the prescription and said, "Take this medicine three times a day for forty-nine days."
Actually, it didn't have to take this long, but He Jiuniang felt that Tang Xuan's approach was wrong and wanted to teach her a lesson.
Prescribe her the most bitter medicine, and make her drink it for a long time, so that she will remember what happens when she encounters the wrong person.
When they left the Tang family, Madam Tang gave He Jiuniang eighty taels of silver for her consultation fee and another ten taels to Chen Shi as an apology fee and a thank-you fee. Then, she personally saw them off with great gratitude.
This amount of money wasn't much for He Jiuniang, but it was a considerable sum for a schoolteacher's family, so she didn't dwell on it too much.
Chen hadn't originally intended to accept it, but Madam Tang was determined to give it to her and kept pushing her away, so she had no choice but to accept it.
As they boarded the carriage to return to the Kang family home, Madam Chen took He Jiu Niang's hand and said, "Dr. He, I'm so sorry. I made you laugh tonight. I never expected things to turn out this way..."
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