During the New Year, the entire Xu family gathered at Xu Miaozhen’s house to celebrate.
When they learned that their cousin Xu Miaolian was still studying, they were a bit surprised—after all, Baomu was known to be extremely frugal.
Last year, when they went to her house for New Year’s Eve dinner, because they ate a little late, she was afraid of wasting candles and simply blew them all out, leaving the whole family to talk in complete darkness.
But soon, Baomu herself admitted, “Zhenzhen isn’t studying anymore, but our Lian-jie’er still has to. After all, she’s being taught by a proper Xiucai.”
So it turned out she just wanted to compare herself to them.
She had said before that Baomu wouldn’t let Xu Miaolian study, complaining that it was a waste of money.
Now, she even thought that them studying with Qiu Madam was just nonsense.
Summer insects cannot speak of ice; naturally, Xu Miaozhen had no desire to pay her any mind.
But Xu San Shu still discussed Xu Siniang’s dowry with Miaozhen’s Father.
“Second Brother, even I brought out twenty strings of coins. How can you just stand by and let your little sister have no dowry?”
Xu Erpeng was not one to be trifled with and said directly, “In this family, there are only two things—celebrations and funerals. When Grandfather passed away, I took out thirty taels, and I didn’t ask you for a single coin, did I? I even helped Si Niang buy a weaving machine worth fifty or sixty taels—aren’t those all contributions to the family?”
“Wear as big a hat as you have a head for. If you can’t afford a dowry, then break off the engagement or don’t marry at all, do as you please. Now you’ve already driven Eldest Brother away, and you’re coming after us? I really don’t understand where all this vanity comes from.”
This speech made Xu Miaozhen want to clap for her father in her heart—when it came to words, no one in the family could best her father.
Sure enough, the rest of them quieted down.
Mei Shi tried to smooth things over.
“Let’s eat quickly, the dishes will get cold soon, and they won’t taste as good then.”
Xu Laotai and Xu Laoguan rarely got to eat such good food.
They stuffed their cheeks until they bulged, Zhang Ge’er kept eating the large prawns nonstop, and even Xu Miaolian drank bowl after bowl of sweet soup—it was like a storm sweeping through the table.
Xu Miaozhen wondered, since San Shu made so much money, it’s not as if they couldn’t usually afford meat.
Why were they eating like this?
She didn’t realize that the third branch of the Xu family usually just boiled the dishes until cooked, unlike the second branch, which had a Maid to help in the kitchen, and Mei Shi, who was careful and skilled.
Even simple cabbage was tastier in their house.
That night, the third branch stayed over to keep watch.
Everyone was so full they didn’t even have the energy for tea.
No one brought up Xu Siniang’s dowry again.
In fact, the matter was resolved just like that.
Xu Miaozhen thought, to think the eldest uncle’s family would go all the way to Jinling for this—it really wasn’t worth it.
From this, one could see: as long as you don’t want to do something, no one can truly force you.
All difficulties, as long as you face them head-on, are not so hard after all.
On the First Day of the Second Month, they returned to the Mei Family for the customary visit.
The Mei Family lived outside the city.
Though their thatched house had a straw roof, the foundation walls were made of stone, with rugged rockeries inside the walls and groves of plum trees clustered around.
Inside the thatched house were tiled rooms, the walls white and smooth as snow.
Where Madam Mei lived, there was even a yellow rosewood screen, and several Maids stood in attendance.
This was Mei Shi’s stepmother, also Qiao Yimu’s own mother, who was now sending out seven or eight servants to welcome Qiao Yimu.
Qiao Yimu entered in grand fashion as always, surrounded by attendants, the center of attention, just like before.
Even her daughters were highly regarded.
In such occasions, Mei Shi and Xu Miaozhen simply watched quietly and ate in silence.
After the Lantern Festival, Xu Miaozhen and Ru Shi went out together to see patients—this time at the Qiao Family.
When their eyes met, Xu Miaozhen acted as if she didn’t recognize Qiao Yimu.
Ru Shi asked, “Qiao Madam, what’s the situation?”
Qiao Yimu had originally wanted to invite the old woman who usually treated her, but that Doctor had returned to the countryside, so she invited Ru Shi instead—never expecting to see her own niece, the daughter of the sister she always looked down on.
She felt as if she’d lost all face.
“Our Madam was very angry that day. Who would have thought—after her rage, she saw red, lost the fetus, and her lower abdomen still hurts,” said a Mama beside Qiao Yimu.
Ru Shi wanted to train Xu Miaozhen, so she said, “You take the pulse first, and then tell me your diagnosis.”
Xu Miaozhen did not address her as aunt, but said, “Please extend your hand, let me take a look.”
Qiao Yimu, seeing her so calm and composed, reached out her hand.
After taking her pulse, Xu Miaozhen slowly said, “In my opinion, this is not simply lingering liver fire, but blood failing to return to the meridians. As it’s said, the uterine vessels are linked to the kidneys, and the uterus connects to both the heart and kidneys. Previously, this lady’s anger hurt her liver, causing her qi and blood to become disordered.”
“Qi rising and blood stagnating easily blocks the connection between heart, kidney, and uterine vessels, leading to miscarriage. Now, after the miscarriage, the abdominal pain persists because the blockage remains. If it doesn’t flow, it hurts. To heal, the qi and blood must be regulated, guide the blood back to the meridians, and nourish the liver blood—only then will the illness be cured.”
“Very good, just so. But you mustn’t only guide the blood to the liver, you also need to calm the liver fire, so the liver’s qi and blood won’t be thrown into disorder,” Ru Shi added.
Xu Miaozhen asked, “In that case, Master, how would you prescribe?”
Ru Shi replied, “Bai Shao, five qian—Bai Shao nourishes the blood and softens the liver, relieving pain. Danggui, five qian—can tonify qi and promote blood circulation. White Atractylodes, three qian—no need to say more, it strengthens the spleen and boosts qi. Licorice, one qian—harmonizes the medicinal properties. Black Jiesui, three qian—it also has the effect of stopping bleeding. As for Ophiopogon Root and Moutan Bark, both can nourish yin and clear heat…”
Xu Miaozhen memorized it all, making notes on the side.
These herbs were for nourishing blood and softening the liver, soothing the liver and strengthening the spleen; adding Cyperus and Turmeric to soothe the liver and clear heat—an excellent prescription.
The prescription was handed to Qiao Yimu’s attendant, and Ru Shi instructed the Qiao Family on how to decoct and take the medicine before leaving.
The Qiao Family gave them a Diagnosis Fee of two coins and sent them home by sedan chair.
This was the client’s privacy, so she didn’t even tell Mei Shi.
Now that she no longer needed to attend the girls’ school, she spent every day leaving early and returning late at the Tao Family, sometimes spending half the day doing acupuncture for patients and even going hungry.
But no matter what, she was truly learning things.
From the moment she opened her eyes, it was all about seeing patients, not caring about anything else.
Now, not only did she have to study gynecology, she also had to read all kinds of books, medical cases, and compile her own experiences.
She was practically working as hard as two people.
She only knew that her father had given ten strings of coins, San Shu contributed twenty for Xu Siniang’s dowry, and Xu Laoxin brought out the unused seventy-five coins, barely scraping together a hundred.
Counting the weaving machine, they managed to make up a hundred and fifty.
At the start of the year, Xu Miaozhen turned eleven, and the family’s debts were finally paid off.
She felt her father wasn’t under as much pressure anymore.
He usually buried himself in the study writing, but now he could come out and talk to them from time to time.
During the Huachao Festival, Qiao Yimu invited them to the Qiao Family’s garden to enjoy the flowers.
Mei Shi said to her daughter, “You spend every day with medicinal herbs; it’s time to go and smell the flowers. Take a day to relax and your fatigue will melt away.”
“Alright, I’ll go with you, Mother,” Xu Miaozhen replied with a smile.
Mother and daughter rode together to the Qiao Family.
In just a month and a half, Qiao Yimu seemed to have recovered her spirits, but Mei Da Jiumu still told her, “Though you’re better now, you must take good care of yourself.”
Mei Shi couldn’t help but ask, “Sister, what happened?”
Qiao Yimu thought Mei Shi was being sarcastic and glanced at Xu Miaozhen.
“Didn’t you tell your mother?”
Xu Miaozhen said, “This is a patient’s private matter. How could I casually tell anyone? If aunt thinks so, she underestimates me.”
To be honest, Qiao Yimu had already been a little wary of Xu Miaozhen.
This girl rarely attended lively gatherings, no matter what red envelopes or feasts were offered—she just did her own thing.
As the saying goes, those who don’t rely on others walk tall; those who don’t ask for favors stand strong.
That was exactly her.
In the end, no matter how wealthy Qiao Yimu was, she wouldn’t give them a single coin.
Qiao Yimu had nothing to say, and soon several Yiniang from the Qiao Family came out to greet everyone.
Xu Miaozhen followed her mother to exchange pleasantries, but Mei Da Jiumu commented, “I think Zhenzhen is a little shy, a bit too quiet.”
Clearly, Xu Miaozhen socialized normally, yet she was said to be shy.
She knew Mei Da Jiumu was helping Qiao Yimu be sharp with her, so Xu Miaozhen smiled and said, “Aunt, that’s the first time I’ve heard anyone say that about me. I do socialize properly, you know.”
Mei Shi also spoke up for her daughter, “Our Zhenzhen is the most well-mannered. Whether it’s Qiu Madam or Lady Ru, they all think highly of her. Everyone who meets her praises her.”
With her Father and Mother backing her, she feared nothing.
Besides, she only spoke when there was something to say, never lashing out for no reason.
But Xu Miaozhen’s character was also something to admire—so capable at such a young age.
That’s what the Qiao Family’s Fifth Aunt thought.
She found a chance to call Xu Miaozhen over, saying that she often felt sore in her waist and back, her chest and lower abdomen were bloated, she was always sleepy, and couldn’t get pregnant.
“I’ve seen many Doctors. They all say I have weak kidneys and insufficient qi and blood. No matter how many tonics I take, nothing works,” Fifth Aunt said, hoping for a lucky miracle.
After all, there weren’t many female Doctors.
When Xu Miaozhen took her pulse, she also pressed on her abdomen.
“It’s not a kidney qi deficiency, but a zhengjia—meaning there’s a mass. From your pulse, the problem isn’t with your kidneys but with a deficiency in your Ren and Du meridians.”
“A mass? Miss Xu—no, Doctor Xu, is this going to kill me?”
Fifth Aunt was startled.
Male Doctors usually just took the pulse through a curtain—this was the advantage of being a female Doctor; she could press on the abdomen and such.
Hearing her panic, Xu Miaozhen quickly smiled and said, “No, no, it’s not that serious.”
Fifth Aunt sighed in relief and begged Xu Miaozhen, “You must help me, please.”
“I’m willing, but my aunt is your family’s Mistress, so I’ll only write a prescription. You mustn’t say it was from me. First, take thirty doses. If your Ren and Du meridians are restored, then take another thirty. If you agree, make a vow.”
Xu Miaozhen had started prescribing on her own for more than a month, so she wanted to try.
Fifth Aunt swore a solemn oath, and Xu Miaozhen prescribed Sheng Dai Tang.
After returning home, she told Mei Shi and then consulted Ru Shi.
Ru Shi said, “You’re too cautious. You’ve been studying for three years—this prescription for this condition is perfectly fine.”
So, while Xu Miaozhen continued her early-to-late routine at the Tao Family, she worried day and night.
On one hand, she feared Fifth Aunt would be harmed by the medicine and bring her trouble; on the other, she worried the medicine wouldn’t work.
But as it turned out, Qiao Family’s Fifth Aunt, who had always been favored, sent her Maid to fetch the medicine, took thirty doses and indeed felt much more energetic.
After another thirty, she stopped, shared a room with Qiao Yifu, and within a month became pregnant.
When Fifth Aunt got pregnant, Qiao Yimu was, of course, furious.
Outwardly, she told people to take care of her and praised her good fortune, but inside she was fuming.
Fifth Aunt confided to her trusted Maid, “That woman is blind to a jewel when she sees one.”
She then specially sent a Maid to deliver a five-tael Yuanbao to Xu Miaozhen, saying she was now pregnant and came to thank her.
Xu Miaozhen looked at the Yuanbao and finally breathed a sigh of relief, gradually gaining confidence in herself.