The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 100

Another hot summer has arrived in Sichuan.

The Xiao family has moved into their newly built house.

This is considered the largest mansion in Shuikou Village.

Aunt Luo overheard many people in the village gossiping, saying things like the Xiao family and all sorts of other things.

"Even those who steer boats have three catties of iron, not to mention that the Xiao family has a strong foothold in the capital."

"Didn't they say the Xiao family's property was confiscated?"

"Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse," Aunt Luo said. "The Xiao family's property was confiscated, but their eldest daughter married well. The Tian family are officials of the imperial court; do you think they would lack money to repair their house?"

These words successfully silenced the women in the village, leaving them only with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

"What kind of people are they?" Aunt Luo said angrily to her husband when she got back: "They are all poor and don't work hard, but they can't stand seeing others rich."

"It's normal. People resent the poor and fear the rich, hate those who have and laugh at those who don't. Even brothers are like this, let alone neighbors."

Uncle Luo said that because his dear brother, Luo Lao Er, had been speaking to him with a sour tone lately.

"Big brother, you're something else! You've managed to get on the Xiao family's good side. You were running around doing all the work while they were building the house, how much did you really benefit from it?"

These words successfully provoked Uncle Luo's anger!
He admitted to clinging to a powerful figure; it's good to be under a big tree and enjoy the shade. Following the Xiao family, he could really eat his fill.

That year, my family's economic situation improved significantly, and I no longer had to pull the boat. Yet, my income was far higher than what I earned from pulling the boat.

Moreover, at the docks, not to mention ordinary people, even Master Xiao would often get a massage from him, and not only would he not be charged, but he would also give him some copper coins.

Xiao Gang followed Chun Ning around and only then did he realize that Chun Ning had actually saved two hundred coins. If he hadn't accidentally let it slip that day, they wouldn't have known.

Sanya has changed a lot since following Chunyan and Chunshu; she has even become somewhat more refined in her speech.

Sanya said that Chunyan and the others had also taught her to read and write, and were going to teach her embroidery.

Sanya was particularly interested in learning embroidery.

The main reason was that her own mother only knew a little needlework and could only sew and mend, but the embroidery skills of the aunts in the Xiao family truly impressed her. She once saw a butterfly embroidered by the eldest wife that was so lifelike.

Sanya also knew that Lin Niangzi had opened an embroidery workshop at Xiao Family Wharf. She heard that young women and wives who were good at needlework could support their families by embroidering. This was what she longed for, and she hoped that one day she could have this skill as well.

All these visible benefits are due to his acquaintance with the Xiao family. Uncle Luo doesn't consider this a coincidence; it's because the Xiao family was willing to help him.

The Xiao family has been living in Shuikou Village for a year and has experienced a lot. The villagers did not kick them when they were down, but the only ones who were truly hospitable were the Xiao family, because they were afraid that the Xiao family would encounter any more trouble and be implicated.

When trouble comes, you avoid it; when good fortune comes, you think, "How could that be?"
No reward without effort.

What's even more ridiculous about Luo Lao Er is that he thought he profited from the renovation of the Xiao family mansion.

Her desire to take advantage of others was so obvious that even if she managed to get close to the Xiao family, her true intentions would be seen through at a glance.

The person who truly wants to treat others as fools is actually the biggest fool himself.

To call helping someone "jumping around" is incredibly illicit.
“There are indeed quite a few people in the village who are jealous of us,” Aunt Luo said. “Especially the time we cut mugwort, people found out about it after all, and then they said that Sister Zuo and I were secretly making money without telling everyone. They hate us.”

"Did you tell the news or did Sister-in-law Zuo tell the news?"

Didn't I tell you to make money secretly? How could you tell anyone?

Uncle Luo thought to himself that women's mouths really have no strings attached and can't be trusted at all. "They probably guessed it, and maybe your second son's wife also played a part."

"The second son's wife?"

"Yes, she was chatting with me when I was drying mugwort last time. We talked about this and that for a long time. I didn't even know when we became close." Aunt Luo said, "I didn't pay much attention at the time. On the third day, when I asked Xiaogang to deliver the mugwort to Chunnuan, I said that I ran into her on the way. She asked Xiaogang again, but he didn't answer."

The more you try to hide it, the more attention it attracts.

"Xiao Gang didn't notice whether she was following him or not, but I think she probably was."

"This matter is making a fuss..."

“But it doesn’t matter. Chunnuan said that we can plant some mugwort next year. We can just harvest the ones we grow in our own fields and let them harvest the ones from the wild.”

"Is Chunnuan going to make a big fuss about this?"

"Maybe so. Anyway, I don't understand anything, so I just listen to her."

Aunt Luo's thinking was very straightforward. She was illiterate and had no skills, so since Chunnuan was so smart, she should follow the smart ones. She shouldn't try to be clever with the others.

"Listen, we'll all listen to her," Uncle Luo said. "Also, tell Sanya and Xiaogang to be smart. If the Xiao family needs any help, let them know. We can't just take their benefits without helping them out."

"understood."

The Luo family reached a consensus: to treat the Xiao family's affairs as their own.

In the Xiao family, Chunnuan took the old lady's pulse and felt a little panicked: her grandmother's health was getting weaker and weaker.

It seems that last year's disaster has emptied her body and soul.

"Nuan Nuan, how are you?"

After taking Chunnuan's pulse, Madam Xu remained silent and couldn't help but ask with concern.

"Aunt, Grandmother is in good health. She just needs to take good care of herself."

Chun Nuan's tone was normal, and Xu Shi didn't sense anything amiss.

The old lady sighed.

“Nuan Nuan, it’s been over a year since we arrived in Shu. In this past year, I’ve only been able to get by thanks to you.”

"Grandmother, this is what your granddaughter should do."

“You child, you never take credit for what you’ve done.” The old lady felt very guilty: “Back then, I almost resorted to family discipline. Looking back now, I really feel sorry for you.”

"Grandmother, you taught me right. I was reckless back then and actually used Chun Ning to test medicine. This is absolutely unacceptable." I was just young and fearless, thinking I was the best. I didn't think about the possibility of making a mistake, which is why I did such a risky thing.

"Sigh..." The old lady held Chunnuan's hand: "I have such a good granddaughter, I don't know which young man will be lucky to have her in the future."

"Grandmother, your granddaughter is still young." Chun Nuan blushed slightly. Marriage was always an unavoidable topic. "It's not too late to bring this up after the mourning period ends."

"After the mourning period, you will be eighteen years old. In our ancient times, eight years old was considered an old age for a woman, and it would be even more difficult for her to get married."

The good ones were chosen early on, and women nearing twenty had very limited options: either marry down or become someone's second wife. Her own granddaughter was so outstanding, neither of these was acceptable to her.

“Grandmother, marriage is all about fate,” Chunnuan comforted her. “You should take good care of yourself and don’t worry about anything else.”

(End of this chapter)