Even if this old woman wasn’t Yang Ruren Tan Yunxian, Xu Miaozhen still used her own money to buy a few feet of brightly colored satin and some gifts, planning to give them to Ru Shi’s confidante at the Tao Family when the time came, so she could ask for her help.
A single word from these people was worth ten from anyone else.
Summer days were hot, and at home, they ate porridge for lunch and dinner.
For supper, the kitchen made soybean flour noodles, served with a plate of shredded cucumber and braised meat.
The whole family ate heartily.
After the meal, Xu Erpeng brought up a matter: “San Di came to the shop today and said Da Bo Fu wrote a letter asking both our families to put together one hundred taels each for him, or else disaster would strike. I looked at the letter—it’s in Da Bo Fu’s handwriting, neat and proper. I don’t know what’s going on. Surely he hasn’t been blackmailed?”
“What should we do?”
Mei Shi was unwilling to give money to this eldest brother.
It wasn’t easy for their family to save up, and their daughter would be twelve soon; in another year, she’d be of age for marriage.
Without a generous dowry, she’d have to marry down.
Xu Erpeng sipped his tea and said, “I had someone invite our sister-in-law’s uncle over to ask if they knew anything about Da Bo Fu’s situation, but they didn’t seem to know much either. So, I plan to send a letter first to ask about it. I’ll send it to his friend in Jinling, and if something’s wrong, have him report it to the authorities.”
Brotherly affection and filial piety?
Xu Erpeng didn’t care for such things.
He looked soft and plump, but he was not soft-hearted.
In his view, the brothers had established their own households years ago.
Da Bo Fu had taken over a thousand taels from others back then, not to mention the money the family provided, but he hadn’t contributed a single coin.
Last year, when he took shelter from the rain at their place, he stayed nearly ten days, treated his friends to good food and drink, yet never once treated his own family.
Say he’s heartless if you like, but he refused to hand over any money.
At worst, he’d help report it to the authorities.
If a Jiansheng sued, would the court ignore it?
Xu Miaozhen thought of her eldest sister Xu Miaoyun and sighed at how Da Bo Fu couldn’t manage the household.
Miss Tong Pan’er’s father was only a Tong Jiansheng, who managed to secure a post in the prefecture and thus married her off to an official’s family.
Meanwhile, Da Bomu strove desperately to raise her eldest sister, making her more accomplished than even the daughters of great families, yet they lived unsettled lives.
But that was just a sigh.
At the end of August, Xu Miaozhen heard that Tan Yunxian had arrived at the Tao Family, so she sent a few feet of satin and two tin bottles of Baijiu to Ru Shi’s Da Mama.
This Da Mama had originally been Ru Shi’s maid and never married.
Usually, Ru Shi was busy with her medical rounds and didn’t get along well with her mother-in-law, so all household matters, big and small, were managed by Da Mama.
She was not petty in her conduct, fair in her dealings, and always willing to help others. Her status in the Tao Family was quite high.
What was most impressive was that, despite Ru Shi’s poor relationship with her mother-in-law, Da Mama managed to maintain good relations with both sides.
Da Mama just smiled and said, “It’s not a festival or holiday—why are you bringing this, Miss?”
“You’ve always looked after me. It’s only right I bring you something,” Xu Miaozhen replied, not stating her true purpose at first.
Da Mama saw that it was Baijiu, and in tin bottles at that—clearly precious.
She also noticed there were dishes to accompany the wine: roast chicken, pork knuckle, preserved fruits, dried nuts, all packed in a food box.
She declined at first, but Xu Miaozhen insisted again and again until she finally accepted.
Xu Miaozhen left right after giving the gifts.
The next day, when she came to help prepare the shelled abalone, she happened to see that old woman she’d met before.
She really was lucky—she’d run into Tan Yunxian.
Ru Shi hurried to introduce them: “Aunt, this is my disciple.”
Xu Miaozhen quickly paid her respects.
Tan Yunxian smiled and said, “I’ve already met her at the Lotus Pond.”
With that, she recounted the incident where Xu Miaozhen had prescribed moxibustion for the boatwoman.
Although Ru Shi had asked Xu Miaozhen when she first accepted her as a disciple if she was afraid of needles, in practice, Ru Shi mainly focused on gynecological diagnosis and prescribed medicine directly.
She did some acupuncture, but not much.
Still, she taught Xu Miaozhen some basic knowledge about needling.
She then heard Xu Miaozhen say, “Yang Ruren flatters me. I merely did my best and could never compare to you or my teacher as true experts.”
Tan Yunxian only smiled and said nothing.
Xu Miaozhen didn’t speak much either.
She heard Ru Shi instruct, “In three days, come back to help again. I’ll be counting on you.”
“If Master has something to do, this disciple will naturally do her best,” Xu Miaozhen replied.
Then Ru Shi said to Xu Miaozhen, “Do you know who this is?”
Xu Miaozhen shook her head.
“This aunt of mine has entered the palace to treat the Empress and concubines—she’s deeply trusted. If you have any questions, just ask her.”
It was a polite remark, but Xu Miaozhen replied, “This disciple certainly will.”
That afternoon, Xu Miaozhen “happened” to run into Da Mama.
Knowing Xu Miaozhen had given her generous gifts before and saw her today carrying a bundle with several pairs of Dunbu Socks from Songjiang, Da Mama greeted her.
“I wonder how long Yang Ruren will be staying here?” Xu Miaozhen asked.
Da Mama replied, “She has no sons or grandsons, only three daughters, all married. Our Madam would like her to stay a bit longer.”
“Da Mama, is Yang Ruren’s medical skill really as good as Master says?” Xu Miaozhen asked.
Da Mama nodded, “Of course. To be frank, even our Madam can’t compare to her.”
“If only I could have her guidance, but I don’t have that kind of face and it’s hard to ask.”
Xu Miaozhen pretended to be troubled.
Having received her gifts, Da Mama naturally responded, “That’s nothing, Miss. Just go and ask her. Madam won’t mind, and even if she does, you have me.”
That was exactly what Xu Miaozhen wanted to hear.
She quickly said, “In that case, thank you, Mama. There’s still a plate of shelled abalone left—I’ll bring it to you later.”
She still had to proceed step by step and couldn’t rush things.
So, early the next morning, after visiting Ru Shi, she went to ask Tan Yunxian about acupuncture and moxibustion.
She already had the basics of acupuncture and tuina from modern times; now she just needed a reputable name.
If, in the future, she could say she’d been instructed by Tan Yunxian in acupuncture, no one would doubt her.
When she arrived, Tan Yunxian was already up, practicing the Five Animal Frolics in the courtyard.
Seeing Xu Miaozhen, she smiled, “Little girl, what brings you to me?”
“I wanted to seek your advice, especially about moxibustion,” Xu Miaozhen said sincerely.
Tan Yunxian smiled gently, “It seems we’re fated to meet. I’m old now, and my memory isn’t what it used to be. Always return to the basics—read the Ling Shu thoroughly and you won’t go wrong.”
Xu Miaozhen nodded slightly.
Tan Yunxian wiped her sweat with a towel and invited Xu Miaozhen in with her, not asking about acupuncture but instead about her family.
Xu Miaozhen answered truthfully, “My father was a local scholar, but he lost interest in officialdom and opened a bookstore. When my mother gave birth to my younger brother, the midwife they hired was illiterate and only knew how to stick needles randomly. After that, Father asked me to learn some medicine so I could care for the family in the future. Gradually, I came to love medicine myself.”
“Your father is farsighted. Have you studied?”
“Yes, I started reading at six and continued for five years, until the end of last year.”
Tan Yunxian nodded, “It’s not easy for women to learn medicine. We must distinguish ourselves from the common midwives, be extremely cautious in treating people, and, most importantly, diagnose accurately. I’ll be here for half a month; after that, I’ll return to Wuxi. Come at the hour of Mao in the morning and leave at the hour of You in the evening. If you’re late, I won’t wait.”
“Yes.”
Xu Miaozhen hadn’t expected Tan Yunxian to actually agree to teach her, so she immediately knelt and kowtowed three times.
Tan Yunxian’s reputation was illustrious.
When people in Wu region heard she was in Suzhou, they flocked to seek treatment.
Xu Miaozhen arrived three-quarters of an hour early, while it was still pitch dark.
She didn’t knock, just waited outside.
Xiao Xi asked her, “Miss, are you tired?”
“Not at all. Thank you both for coming with me. Next month, I’ll give you a reward.”
Xu Miaozhen smiled.
Xiao Xi and Xiao Tao both hurriedly said it wasn’t necessary.
When the Tao Family finally opened the door, Xu Miaozhen went in.
She had thought Tan Yunxian would teach her diagnostic skills, but instead, she was told to roll Aiye.
“Start by learning to roll Aiye. Don’t buy moxa sticks. For hands and feet, the moxa should be the size of your pinky’s first joint. For limbs, two joints. For the torso, about the length of your whole pinky. Try making these three kinds.”
Xu Miaozhen didn’t ask more, just took note and started rolling as instructed.
Even when patients came, Tan Yunxian still had her rolling Aiye.
But Xu Miaozhen was attentive; she listened to Tan Yunxian’s conversations with patients and found her extremely patient.
Not only did she ask about symptoms, but also about their origins.
For instance, a woman who had suffered uterine bleeding for months, and later even hematuria, found no relief from various medicines.
Xu Miaozhen thought that, if it were her, she’d use Xiaoji Yin Zi from Jisheng Fang, as it mainly treats heat-induced blood stranguria and hematuria.
Unexpectedly, Tan Yunxian prescribed Buzhong Yiqi Decoction with Huangqin, Xiangfu, and Daji, and after drinking the decoction, then Da Bu Yin Wan.
In that instant, Xu Miaozhen understood: this woman had suffered years of labor, her qi and blood were depleted, and even during menstruation she couldn’t rest.
The root was Yuanqi deficiency—qi couldn’t control the blood.
First, tonify qi, then use Huangqin and Daji to stop bleeding and promote urination.
After the woman left, Xu Miaozhen shared her own thoughts.
Tan Yunxian was surprised, “You’re right. Simply blocking the bleeding for a time won’t work.”
She praised Xu Miaozhen’s insight, saying she’d cured several similar patients the same way.
Xu Miaozhen quickly organized her thoughts, not minding her hands were covered in Aiye fluff, and jotted them down in her notebook.
Afterward, it was non-stop Aiye rolling.
By the time she returned home, she was soaked in the smell of mugwort.
Mei Shi saved a meal for her and, seeing how hard she was working, couldn’t help but say, “You really ought to rest a bit.”
“They’re giving me half a month, so I must make the most of it. By the way, Mother, don’t we have some plum jam at home? I’d like to pack two jars—one for my teacher, one for Tan Yunxian. I can’t favor one over the other.”
She wanted to build her own reputation but wouldn’t ignore Ru Shi.
Mei Shi told her to pack them in the morning, but Xu Miaozhen, worried she’d forget, went to the kitchen that night to dig them out herself.
She also gave a qian of silver to Yuxiang in the kitchen to buy two boxes of Taiping Su Bing.
She actually didn’t care much for social niceties, but when learning from others, there was always a lot of this sort of thing.
One had to understand it.
The next day, she was there on time again.
Tan Yunxian’s expression was even kinder when she saw the plum jam.
“I’m old now and too impatient to make these at home. When I was younger, we always had these stored.”
“My mother is the best at making these. Every year, when our Spring Immortelle is pickled, all the neighbors and relatives come asking for some,” Xu Miaozhen replied with a smile.
Tan Yunxian had already liked her from their first meeting at the ferry, as if seeing her younger self.
After a few days together, seeing her family was quite well-off yet she could still endure hardship, she grew even fonder of her.