Today’s [Daxue] lesson covered the last section, and in a few days we’ll start on [Zhongyong].
If you could say that with Scholar Yu, you just learned to recognize characters and read a little, then with [Qiu Niangzi], you had to master poetry and prose.
Just like in modern times, once you know how to read, you still have to learn how to write essays and compositions.
This morning, everyone practiced calligraphy for half an hour, and in the afternoon, we took out the flower patterns and learned embroidery.
[Qiu Niangzi] taught the authentic [Su Embroidery], first tracing the patterns from the flower book, then transferring them onto the fabric.
While they embroidered, [Qiu Niangzi] would always give pointers here and there.
Xu Miaozhen thought, [Qiu Niangzi] is truly skilled in everything.
Her own [Da Bomu] is also an embroiderer and claims to be a women’s school teacher, but having seen [Da Bomu]’s work, it falls far short of [Qiu Niangzi]’s.
Sometimes, when [Da Bomu] used an idiom, she didn’t even seem to understand its meaning.
After all, [Suzhou Wuxian] is the birthplace of [Su Embroidery].
Nearly every household raises silkworms and embroiders.
Usually, girls follow their mothers to split threads and use needles.
Even if someone doesn’t know how, just watching others is enough to learn bit by bit.
She used satin stitch for the leaves and a combination of direct and reverse stitches for the flowers.
She started by embroidering leaves for ten days, and only after improving gradually did she begin working on the flowers.
As beginners, they all started with large color blocks—clear outlines, simple colors.
When this handkerchief was finished, Xu Miaozhen went to the [Tao Family] and happened to see both [Tao Eldest Son] and [Tao Second Son].
The [Tao Eldest Son], at only eighteen, was already a scholar, with handsome features but not tall, studying at the [Suzhou] Prefecture Academy.
The [Tao Second Son] was not fond of studying but was tall and strikingly handsome, just one year younger than the eldest, yet a head taller.
“[Miss Xu] has arrived.”
The two greeted her.
Xu Miaozhen smiled and responded, then hurried to find [Ru Shi].
[Ru Shi] happened to have a patient, so she asked Xu Miaozhen to help record the [Medical Case Record].
Originally, keeping [Medical Case Records] was [Ru Xiniang]’s job, but she was out today, so Xu Miaozhen took on the task for the first time.
She was very diligent, knowing that even in modern times, finding a mentor to teach you clinical skills wasn’t easy.
The patient seeing [Ru Shi] was the daughter of the [Changzhou County] magistrate, surnamed Huang.
She had been coughing and wheezing so badly she couldn’t lie down, with fever and chills, a deep and slippery pulse, and a white, greasy tongue coating—signs of [Phlegm Cold Interior Retention] and [External Wind Evil], thus [Phlegm Reversal of Lung Qi].
Therefore, [Xiao Qinglong Decoction] was first used to dispel internal cold, warm the lungs, and calm the wheezing, combined with [Gualou Banxia Xiebai Decoction] to treat [Phlegm Obstruction of the Chest Syndrome].
Only one dose was prescribed.
For Xu Miaozhen, recording [Medical Case Records] was also a way to learn.
[Ru Shi] didn’t just practice gynecology—she was skilled in other areas as well.
[Ru Shi] reviewed the prescription Xu Miaozhen wrote and couldn’t help but nod. In just half a month, her records had already become very standardized.
After sending off [Huang Miss], [Ru Shi] took out a copy of [Pharmacological Nature Rhapsody] and lectured Xu Miaozhen for a full hour—this was a classic for beginners in Chinese medicine.
Don’t think that just memorizing the [Huangdi Neijing] means you’ve mastered it; to truly learn well, you have to build a solid foundation.
Luckily, Xu Miaozhen had also started with [Basic Theories of Chinese Medicine] in modern times, so she picked things up faster than others.
[Ru Shi] praised her, “It usually takes me three to five months to teach others, but with you, one month might be enough.”
“[Teacher], it’s all because you teach so well,”
Xu Miaozhen replied, though she believed hard work was still essential.
[Ru Shi] also gave her two jars of honey, saying they were gifts from someone—one jar of [Hu Zhizi Honey], one jar of [Zheng Dong Honey], each about two taels and five qian.
Both were top quality.
Xu Miaozhen hurriedly thanked her [Teacher] before taking her leave.
After Xu Miaozhen left, [Ru Shi] complained to those around her about [Ru Xiniang]: “Other families send gifts and money for their girls to learn from me, but she’s always looking for ways to slack off.”
On the donkey cart, Xu Miaozhen told her two maids,
“These two jars of honey—[Zheng Dong Honey] is said to be an [Imperial Tribute]. I’ll send it to the [Shangfang] for [Father and Mother], and keep the [Hu Zhizi Honey] for myself to mix with water.”
Of her two maids, [Xiao Xi] was a bit rebellious and proud by nature, but clever.
[Xiao Tao] was more honest, not good at dealing with people, but whatever she was told, she followed to the letter.
[Xiao Xi] couldn’t help but say, “Such good winter honey, Miss, why not put some in a small porcelain jar and send it over, and keep half for yourself? That way we all get a taste.”
“That’s a good idea,” Xu Miaozhen replied with a smile.
The three of them chatted and joked.
Xu Miaozhen even took their pulses in the cart.
When they arrived home and entered the gate, they ran into [Fengniang], who pursed her lips at her.
“What’s wrong?”
Xu Miaozhen asked, puzzled.
“Miss will know once you go over,”
[Fengniang] said, pouting.
When Xu Miaozhen reached the [Shangfang], she found both [Xu Laotai] and [Xu Siniang] there.
[Xu Siniang] was even smiling as she said,
“Zhen-jie’er is back, we’ve prepared roast chicken at home.”
“[Grandmother], [Little Aunt],”
Xu Miaozhen greeted them.
Then [Mei Shi] came out and said,
“Zhenzhen, come eat, your father will be here soon.”
Xu Miaozhen sat down, wondering if [Xu Siniang] was planning to stay at their house again.
She was like a lingering ghost.
When [San Shu] bought two rooms for himself, he only gave two or three taels of silver, but moved in right away.
Now the [Xu Family]’s house was big enough, so why did they still come over?
As she was muttering to herself, [Xu Erpeng] arrived and asked Xu Miaozhen,
“What did you learn today?”
“Today we finished the last chapter of [Daxue]. [Qiu Niangzi] said we’ll spend another half month finishing [Zhongyong], then start on [Lunyu],”
Xu Miaozhen replied.
[Xu Erpeng] nodded slightly.
“Last time I asked [Qiu Niangzi], she teaches [Yijing]. You must make sure she teaches you [Meihua Yishu].”
If a doctor mastered [Meihua Yishu], it would be even better.
All this sounded like gibberish to [Xu Laotai] and [Xu Siniang], but [Xu Erpeng] understood.
He felt that educating his own children was natural, and he could look after his younger sister a bit more, but to actually send her over for his brother and sister-in-law to raise—absolutely not.
At this moment, [Xu Laotai] was more interested in the food.
When she stayed at her third son’s house, the third daughter-in-law couldn’t cook, so she had to do it herself, and the food was just barely edible.
The second son’s household, on the other hand, served glutinous lotus root with brown sugar syrup, savory roast chicken, crispy fried tofu, and a pot of stir-fried dried tofu with water celery and minced meat—delicious.
As she was eating, she heard [Xu Erpeng] ask, “Does Eldest Brother know you came here?”
[Xu Laotai] frowned, “Why should I tell your eldest brother?”
“Mother, back then you told me Eldest Brother was someone else’s son-in-law and relied on them, while I was the one who left home to study, and [Sanlang] didn’t like studying, so the [Rice Shop] was naturally left to him. I agreed. But later, [Sanlang] kept studying, and if he hadn’t failed the county exam three times, he probably wouldn’t have taken over the [Rice Shop].”
“These things among adults aren’t for us children to meddle in. You and Father worked hard to raise us, so when Grandfather passed away and we had no money for the funeral, I paid so you could save face. When you and Father looked down on the [Weaving Machine] and wanted a [Spinning Machine] instead, which cost dozens of taels, I borrowed money to help you buy it. All things considered, I’ve done quite a lot for this family, haven’t I?”
[Xu Erpeng] said seriously.
[Xu Laotai] not only didn’t feel ashamed hearing this, but instead became angry out of embarrassment.
“We only asked you for money because we were short for a while!”
“See, you get upset as soon as I bring it up. All these years, this house still owes money, but I never expected you to pay it back, nor did I ever complain. But don’t act like I’m your only son. If you really wanted help, Eldest Brother’s place doesn’t even have someone to cook or wash clothes.”
“Why don’t you and [Siniang] go there? Clearly, you just want to eat here and sleep there, letting [Siniang] come enjoy the good life at my place. Even my own daughter, I’m willing to spend money on her because she’s obedient and learns well. But a lazy, playful sister—two or three years and still no progress—I won’t raise her!”
By the end, [Xu Erpeng]’s voice had grown louder and louder.
[Xu Laotai] was no match for him, and with [Mei Shi] and all the servants present, her true colors were exposed, and she wished she could crawl into a hole.
Xu Miaozhen cheered inwardly—her father was truly formidable.
No wonder he didn’t look impressive, but her mother loved him so much.
So that was why.
After the meal, [Xu Erpeng] personally escorted [Xu Laotai] and [Xu Siniang] to the donkey cart, and even gave them a bag of [Red Dates], a [Nine-and-a-half-tailed Bream], and a live duck to take home.
Seeing [Xu Laotai]’s face, she was actually quite happy to receive these things, not angry at her son at all.
She even waved, “Have someone bring the [Walnut] back later, no need to see us off.”
Xu Miaozhen was dumbfounded, while her father laughed, “If you don’t make things clear, everyone just thinks I’m a pushover. That’s what ‘deal with courtesy before force’ means.”
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