The fragrance of herbs is renowned.
Li Qingyan got off the oxcart and hoisted all the large packages on it onto his body—one in front of his chest, one on his back, and one around his neck.
After embracing her, he turned around and helped Aunt Tian down by the arm: "Mother, we've arrived."
Compared to Li Qingyan's usual demeanor, Aunt Tian looked pale and sickly. She couldn't withstand the jolting; all the tea she had been given was vomited up due to the convulsions. Having not eaten for days, she had reached her limit.
The two of them forced themselves to reach the city gate and joined the line of people entering the city.
The officers and soldiers, with blank expressions, inspected the people coming and going. They flipped through Li Qingyan's travel documents several times and confirmed that he was indeed a rather young scholar.
To pass the imperial examination at such a young age is a sure path to a bright future.
The officer finally managed a smile despite his impatience: "You're a scholar, sir. There's a tea stall to the right after you enter the city. You can take your mother to rest there."
Li Qingyan gave the soldiers a perfunctory bow: "Thank you!"
This tea stall wasn't a proper scholar's teahouse; it was more like a place for wandering travelers to rest and recuperate after arriving in the city. It offered tea, noodles, and flatbread.
Li Qingyan helped Aunt Tian find an empty seat, handed her a copper coin to get a bowl of hot water from the tea barrel, and thinking that his mother should not eat oily food after days of travel, he also asked the waiter to make her a bowl of plain noodles.
Half a spoonful of lard, a small piece of dark soy sauce, and a handful of chopped green onions, scalded with boiling water, and then added to the already blanched noodles, make a bowl of light and refreshing Yangchun noodles with a clear broth and fresh, light flavor.
Looking at the white, fine noodles, Aunt Tian gave her son an disapproving glance and pushed the plain noodles in front of him: "You're already being extravagant before you've even received your salary."
“Mother has a weak spleen and stomach, and refined rice and flour are hard to digest. Just eat it this once. I will study hard and pass the imperial examination as soon as possible so that I won’t let you live such a hard life again.”
The son's words were earnest, and the mother was deeply moved.
Aunt Tian was extremely hungry, and despite her son's repeated persuasion, she finally picked up her chopsticks.
Although the two wore patched clothes, their behavior was not vulgar. Aunt Tian swallowed the soft noodles one bite at a time, leaving a lingering fragrance in her mouth.
Seeing that her mother had started eating, Li Qingyan took out a coarse grain cake wrapped in oil paper from her bundle, and swallowed it with hot water.
Whole grain biscuits are dry and tough; if you eat them too quickly, they will scratch your throat and cause a painful ache.
Li Qingyan didn't like it either; he preferred his mother's cornbread, even though it made his cheeks ache from chewing. Unfortunately, cornbread didn't keep as well as coarse grain cakes, and they were afraid it would spoil on the road. They didn't want to waste food, so they ate coarse grain cakes to stave off hunger along the way.
There were still four coarse grain pancakes left, and they couldn't be wasted. This time, Li Qingyan ate them with hot water, which made them much softer, and most of the unpalatable feeling was gone.
Aunt Tian couldn't bear to finish the bowl of refined flour, leaving a small portion uneaten. She snatched a piece of bread from Li Qingyan's hand and said, "Refined flour isn't filling enough. We still need to eat some coarse grains. I'll eat this with the soup, and you can finish the rest."
"Mmm." Li Qingyan couldn't refuse, so he took the bowl and chopsticks, ate a couple of bites, and finished the meal. He couldn't bear to waste a single drop, so he drank the soup clean as well. When he put down the bowl, his eyes were full of soreness.
The excuse that refined flour isn't filling is just my mother's, like how she always says she loves fish heads and tails—she wants to save the best for her children. When my father was alive, we could eat meat every few days, paired with fine rice, it was incredibly delicious. But now…
He is now of marriageable age and could have shared the burden of the family, but his teacher always says he is a teachable talent. His mother couldn't bear to cut off his path to education, so she gritted her teeth and acted as both father and mother to continue supporting him to study at the private school.
After finishing his noodles, Li Qingyan had to go to the yamen to collect his salary; otherwise, without any money, he wouldn't even have a place to stay.
Scholars who passed the county-level imperial examinations were not qualified to be appointed as officials. Instead, the imperial court would issue them a monthly stipend of two taels of silver, which was called a stipend but was essentially a pension, intended as encouragement for the students.
Unfortunately, even in the most remote areas of Jinzhou Prefecture, a two-bedroom house with one courtyard costs 1,500 wen per month to rent, which is one and a half taels of silver.
Rice cost fifty coins per dou, and refined flour was an exorbitant eighty coins. After paying the rent, the remaining five hundred coins were barely enough for the mother and son to fill their stomachs with coarse grains and vegetarian meals, not to mention the tuition fees for the prefectural school and the expensive writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
During that period, it was considered immoral for women to show their faces in public. Almost all employers were unwilling to hire female employees, feeling that they were not easy to manage and that their strength was generally inferior to that of men.
In Da'an Town, Manager Yao kindly took her in to make a living. But when she came to Jinzhou Prefecture, it was incredibly difficult for Aunt Tian to find a job.
Aunt Tian was responsible for both the household and the outside world. Her hands were rough and she couldn't do needlework. Tailoring was a skill that required an apprentice to learn, so that was also out of the question. There were many women who wanted to make a living through weaving, but the price of ordinary fabrics was so low that it couldn't fill the bottomless pit of the cost of education.
There was no other way out except to work as a servant in a wealthy household.
Aunt Tian knocked on several doors, but was turned away each time. Some people even mistook her for a beggar and kindly offered her a bowl of thin porridge in their broken bowl to send her away.
Respectable families would go to the brokerage to select young maids and boys who had put their fingerprints on indentures. They preferred private servants who had been raised from childhood. When they reached the age of Aunt Tian, who was about to become a mother-in-law and get married, even if they were quick and efficient, no master was willing to hire them.
Aunt Tian was heartbroken and sat on the steps of a wealthy family's house, wiping away tears.
Li Qingyan couldn't bear to see her mother being humiliated by others for a job, so she pulled Aunt Tian away, saying, "Mother, why don't you let me copy books? I have good handwriting, and those bookstores will definitely accept my copies. I'll go to the bookstore and ask them to let me copy the Four Books and Five Classics, so I can review my studies at the same time. At that time, I won't be able to help you with housework, but you'll need to do all the cooking, cleaning, and household chores."
Fortunately, she still had a promising son, which was Tian Da Niang's last comfort. She wiped away her tears and said, "Let's leave it at that for now. Once we're completely settled, I'll visit the neighborhood and see if there are any other options."
Li Qingyan returned to the house that could only fit two beds and a dining table, took his writing brush and ink, and headed back towards the East Market.
The bookstore owner held up a small mirror and examined Li Qingyan's handwriting: "Scholar Li's handwriting is indeed good, but there are many students like you who only want to copy the Four Books and Five Classics. Our little bookstore doesn't lack these books."
Li Qingyan gritted his teeth. If he copied other books, it would definitely affect his learning progress. If he didn't copy them, he would face the dilemma of not being able to afford to go to school.
At worst, I'll just sleep one hour less each day.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, and was about to speak when he heard a clear female voice in his ear: "Yan-ge'er? It really is you!"
Li Qingyan turned around and saw a bright-eyed, toothy, and vibrant face.
He could hardly believe his eyes, and after confirming several times that the person in front of him was the young woman who ran a medicinal food stall in Da'an Town: "Second Miss Wang!"
Wang Xiaoyao placed a plate of books on the shopkeeper's counter and said, "It's me, it's me. Are you here to buy books too?"
Li Qingyan shook her head: "I want to copy books and sell them to supplement my family's income."
"Are you short of money to help with household expenses?"
Wang Xiaoyao was straightforward and didn't consider whether the other party would be embarrassed. Fortunately, Li Qingyan was poor but ambitious and didn't have the pedantic air of an intellectual. He didn't think that being poor was a shameful thing.
He replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "No, my mother has searched all over the prefecture but can't find any work. We have very little money left and are almost at our wits' end."
"Why? Your mother is efficient, hardworking and reliable."
"Perhaps it's because she's a woman, and her strength and age are not as good as others, so she can only run into obstacles everywhere."
Wang Xiaoyao could tell that Aunt Tian was a capable and skilled worker, but since her sister Pan'er hadn't started recruiting workers yet, it would be inappropriate to skip her sister and bring someone home directly.
Her eyes darted around a few times before she came up with a compromise.
She first placed the selected books on the counter. After the shopkeeper finished counting them and she paid readily, Wang Xiaoyao, holding the thick books, said to Li Qingyan, "My sister and I are unfamiliar with the place in Jinzhou Prefecture. Finally, I've met someone whose name I recognize. Why don't you bring your mother to our house for dinner tonight so we can catch up and become friends? That way, we can look after each other in Jinzhou Prefecture."
Li Qingyan was flattered and bowed to Wang Xiaoyao: "I should accept your generous invitation, but I am short of money and cannot prepare a decent gift. Today I learned that Miss Wang is literate. If Miss Wang does not mind, I can annotate your books. If there is anything that is difficult for you to understand, please feel free to ask, and I will answer to the best of my knowledge."
"I'd be honored to accept your offer." Having just seen off one master and worrying about her studies, Wang Xiaoyao was overjoyed to receive another. She boldly tossed the books into Li Qingyan's hands, saying, "Then I won't stand on ceremony!"
*
Taihe Hall in Xishi
Wang Pan'er was pestering the doctor, wanting to invite him to hold consultations at the medicinal cuisine restaurant on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month.
The doctor looked troubled. Unless a wealthy family offered a large sum of money to bribe him, they generally wouldn't leave the clinic to practice medicine.
Although the medicinal cuisine recipes that Wang Pan'er presented were all very sophisticated and the remuneration she offered was quite generous, it was undoubtedly beneath his status for a doctor from Taihe Hall, the top medical institution in Jinzhou Prefecture, to make a house call at such a medicinal cuisine restaurant.
Wang Pan'er was very sincere, and the shop she ran was from the same lineage as his. After thinking it over, the doctor came up with someone he could go to.
His junior sister.
His junior sister was his master's only child. Unfortunately, despite her high talent and master's skills, no clinic was willing to accept her. Now she could only make a living by processing medicinal herbs at home, and her medical skills were wasted.
The doctor felt a pang of regret, but thinking that Wang Pan'er and her junior sister were both women, it would be a good thing if they didn't mind. So he gave Wang Pan'er her junior sister's address.
My junior sister's name is Tao Shuo. She lives not far from Wang Pan'er's residence. Wang Pan'er can smell the bitter fragrance of processed medicinal herbs just by standing at the door.
Tao Shuo was slender and had a delicate face. Upon learning Wang Pan'er's purpose, she was very excited and filled a large jar with water to entertain her: "It's not mealtime yet, and we don't have anything else to offer our guests, but..."
Wang Pan'er accepted Tao Shuo's kindness, took a big gulp, and continued, "But this is Prunella vulgaris tea, which clears liver heat, reduces inflammation, brightens the eyes, and reduces swelling."
Tao Shuo's eyes widened with excitement: "So it's Miss Wang!"
Wang Pan'er shook her head: "My maternal grandfather practiced medicine, but he encountered some misfortunes. I inherited his medicinal diet recipes, but I only know a little about bandaging and applying medicine. I came here today hoping to find a doctor to take charge of my medicinal diet restaurant. It was Doctor Yu from Taihetang who recommended you to me."
Tao Shuo was a little embarrassed: "Don't you mind that I'm a woman?"
Wang Pan'er was puzzled: "What's the woman's identity?"
Tao Shuo explained: "At that time, it was considered immoral for women to show their faces in public, and it was feared that it would affect the livelihood of young women."
Wang Pan'er scoffed, "I'm also a woman. According to you, I'm afraid my medicinal cuisine restaurant won't be able to stay in business."
Upon hearing this, Tao Shuo put aside her concerns: "I am grateful that you have given me the opportunity to examine my pulse, and I will do my best to help."
"Since Dr. Tao is willing to come, I will definitely treat him as an honored guest. I am preparing hot pot at home tonight, so please come along as well, Dr. Tao, just to make a friend."
Tao Shuo was a straightforward person: "Then I won't stand on ceremony with you, young lady!"
On the way home, Wang Pan'er went to the market and bought a lot of vegetables and meat. When she got home, she and Wang Xiaoyao washed and cleaned up. First, they stir-fried a large pot of hot pot base, and then piled the dishes on the table full, preparing to entertain guests.
Wang Xiaoyao spoke of the situation of Li Qingyan and her son.
Wang Pan'er never expected to run into an old acquaintance in Jinzhou Prefecture, nor did she expect that women could be discriminated against so much in this world just to make a living.
Aunt Tian was definitely going to be able to be recruited, and Wang Xiaoyao's compromise of inviting them to his home impressed Wang Pan'er with her cleverness.
The base ingredients were almost ready, water was added, and it was all done once the water boiled.
She picked up the spatula and asked Wang Xiaoyao, "I have a question. That glimpse of Aunt Tian in Manager Yao's shop that day, her unassuming and modest demeanor, was what made me realize that she was a decent person. How did you determine that Aunt Tian was a skilled cook?"
"Yan Ge'er doesn't eat for free. Several times we've invited him to try new dishes, and he's always quietly helped us clean up the mess at the stall. A mother who can raise such a son must be of good character. Moreover, even with an orphan and a widow, Aunt Tian was able to send Yan Ge'er to school. Her courage and ability are truly admirable."
"Wow!" Wang Pan'er couldn't help but applaud this brilliant speech. "Our Pan'er is truly extremely intelligent. If I were to entrust the recruitment to you, would you be willing to do it? We can divide the work, you in charge of people, and I in charge of the tasks."
“We can give it a try.” Wang Xiaoyao smiled and threw herself into Wang Pan’er’s arms. “Pan’er’s praise makes me so shy. If it weren’t for Pan’er, I wouldn’t be who I am today. Pan’er is like my Aunt Tian, my second parents!”
"You're just trying to fool people!" Wang Pan'er tapped Wang Xiaoyao's head. "But when I'm hiring, I want to give priority to women and children. It's not easy for women to make a living, and they have to endure the strange looks from others. Why don't we stick together? The work at the medicinal cuisine restaurant isn't heavy. The two of us can do it, and other women can too. Hiring female workers is also a way for us to create a larger space for survival."
Wang Xiaoyao nodded emphatically: "Who says it isn't? Sister Pan'er, don't worry, I've already figured out what to do!"
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