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

"Miss Xiao, what's going on?" the woman asked anxiously. "He's a boy! Will this affect his future marriage and children?"

My child had a stomachache. I initially thought it was just intestinal worms or some kind of gastrointestinal discomfort. I never imagined it would be that the child's private parts were shrinking inwards and were about to disappear.

This was truly terrifying.

“This is Yang-shrinking syndrome,” Chun Nuan said. “The liver meridian is affected by cold, and the cold evil causes stagnation. You need to take two doses of herbal medicine to dispel the cold evil in the liver meridian, so that the muscles and tendons of the whole body are no longer affected by the cold yin energy.”

"Okay, okay, get the medicine. We'll take it, we'll definitely take it properly."

What if a boy loses that thing?
This time, she wouldn't hesitate to buy the medicine no matter how expensive it was.

As spring warmed the air, I picked up my pen and wrote a prescription: Angelica sinensis, white peony root, Asarum heterotropoides, cinnamon, Poria cocos, Bupleurum chinense, Cyperus rotundus...

After writing the prescription, Chunnuan looked at it again. Hmm, eleven medicinal herbs in total, no mistake.

"It warms and tonifies kidney yang, nourishes blood and promotes blood circulation, warms the meridians and dispels cold, soothes liver qi, and harmonizes liver qi. When the qi mechanism is smooth, the tendons can relax after receiving yang qi. Only then will the inward contraction be relieved." As usual, Chunnuan explained the effects of these herbs to the patient's family: "Poria cocos strengthens the spleen and calms the mind. After bringing this dose home, soak it in cold water for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, then simmer it over low heat for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, then simmer it over high heat for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. Simmer it three times in a row, combine the three doses and take it three times a day. One dose should be taken for three days. After finishing the dose, come back to me and I will adjust the prescription according to the situation. The child is still young, so it can be treated."

"Thank you, Miss Xiao. Thank you, Miss Xiao."

The woman was so grateful she could hardly speak: "Miss Xiao, you're so kind to our village!"

As soon as the child said his stomach hurt, everyone said to go find Miss Xiao.

I never thought it would actually save a life!

After taking the child home, the family asked what happened.

After the woman explained the situation, the old lady quickly thanked the Bodhisattva.

"Mother, it was Miss Xiao who saved the child, how do you thank the Bodhisattva?"

"Don't talk nonsense." The old lady glared at her daughter-in-law. "I'm grateful to the Bodhisattva for sending Miss Xiao to our village, so that Xiao Bao could be saved when he was in big trouble. I heard that Miss Xiao doesn't charge for her consultations. We have two old hens at home, so let's catch one and give it to her."

"Okay, daughter-in-law will go and deliver it right away."

Chunnuan looked at the clucking hen but didn't dare reach out to take it.

"Well, why don't you bring some eggs or something? This chicken is too valuable."

Chunnuan knew that the villagers relied entirely on the eggs laid by the old hen for their oil and salt money; if she ate them, the family would run out of money for oil and salt. She had wanted them a couple of years ago when they were poor, but now that things were better, she didn't crave them as much.

“Miss Xiao, it’s not valuable at all. My mother-in-law said that you saved my son. My son’s life is more valuable than an old hen. This chicken should be given to you.” The woman then stuffed the old hen into Chun Nuan’s arms: “You eat it. We have another one at home. Last month, a chicken thief stole one of them. Giving you this one is to repay your life-saving grace. It’s worth it.”

"Since you don't charge a consultation fee, this is the only way we can repay you."

Spring is here... Is there some misunderstanding? When have I ever not charged for a consultation?

Well, they're so kind, and their family is well-off, so I'll accept it.

"Aunt Wu, come quickly and catch the chicken."

Chunnuan was genuinely afraid of this thing. She could eat meat, but she would never catch chickens. They were fluffy, fleshy, and warm. She touched one once and never dared to touch it a second time.

"Okay, it's here." Aunt Wu's eyes had been glued to the place for a while. After collecting so many little things, finally there was a chicken. Dried mushroom stewed with old hen, the soup was so delicious!

The woman breathed a sigh of relief after Aunt Wu caught the chicken.

She was quite afraid that if the harvest didn't come in when spring arrived, it would mean that they could do their best to help cure her son's illness.

“Um, Miss Xiao…”

The woman rubbed her hands on her clothes, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

"Just say what you want to say," Chunnuan said, looking at her with curiosity.

"Um, about my son's illness, could you please not mention it to outsiders?"

Spring warmth hasn't quite returned yet.

"You know, news travels faster than the wind in our village, and it gets more and more outrageous as it's spread. Even if my son gets better in the future, people will still make up stories about him."

Who knows, when my son grows up and gets married, people might say he's not good enough or something, and that would be a real headache.

"Oh, I understand. Don't worry, doctors are very discreet and won't betray their patients." Chunnuan understood this time, she really understood: "This is one of the most basic requirements for us doctors."

"You really won't tell anyone?"

"I won't tell anyone, really, don't worry."

He wouldn't tell anyone, but he would record it in his medical notes for his disciples to read.

Well, thinking that Chun Ning is now learning medicine from me, if she sees this case... never mind, there's no need to avoid medical treatment, she should know more about these diseases.

After the woman left, Wu Ma consulted with the eldest young mistress and decided to kill the chicken and stew it with mushrooms.

The main problem is that we don't really need any more eggs at home, so there's no need to feed another chicken. Besides, these things poop everywhere and smell really bad.

When spring warmed up, he went into his study and wrote down the medical records and prescriptions.

This is something I inherited from my great-grandfather and grandfather.

After each consultation, record any special cases in a notebook, making sure to record everything clearly, until the patient is fully recovered.

The Xiao family's medical skills were passed down from generation to generation in this way. Unfortunately, the family stopped practicing medicine in her father's generation. Fortunately, her grandfather strongly supported her learning the craft.

When Chunnuan stepped out of the house, she saw Xiao Muyang holding a bunch of mugwort, smelling it, and even picking a leaf to put in his mouth.

"My little ancestor, this is not for eating," Madam Xu quickly stopped her.

"Aunt, it's good to let him try it. He'll know if he can eat it or not after he tries it."

Fresh mugwort is edible, but dried mugwort is probably inedible.

“Nuan Nuan, I think this boy has some talent for studying medicine.” Madam Xu said, “When we take him out to play, he always likes to pick those flowers and plants, and insists on bringing them back, saying they are medicine.”

Xu searched his small purse and found a large pile of various herbs.

When spring arrives, you'll find wiregrass, water chestnut grass, plantain, selfheal...

"Aunt, you know what, this really is a medicinal herb." Chunnuan was very pleased with her little nephew's lively manner: "Come on, Muyang, come with your aunt."

The little girl took a few steps forward, took Chunnuan's hand with her chubby little hand, turned her head and waved to Xu Shi: "Grandmother, see you later."

"This child, anyone can take him away." Madam Xu was both amused and exasperated. "We're under the same roof, and you still say you'll see me later? Can't your grandmother come into the pharmacy with you?"

“Of course you can.” Chun Nuan smiled. “Our Mu Yang is very polite. Aunt, you can come into the pharmacy too. I’ll help Mu Yang identify the herbs first and see how many he can remember.”

Chunnuan didn't expect that after teaching the child ten kinds of medicine one by one, she tested him after a stick of incense had burned, and he actually recited them word for word without missing a single one.

"Muyang, can you really remember so much?" Even Madam Xu was shocked: "Muyang, what are you talking about?"

"Auntie said this is Scrophularia, this is Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Peucedanum praeruptorum, and Tangerine Peel..." She gave him ten kinds of medicinal herbs. Chunnuan only said them once, and then rearranged the herbs in order and put them in front of him. He still recognized them one by one.

"Then Auntie, tell me about the effects of these medicinal herbs, and see how many you can remember?"

Spring has arrived, and everything is in order.

Then he asked Xiao Muyang.

To everyone's surprise, Xiao Muyang was still able to answer fluently.

Every word was carefully and clearly written.

At this moment, Chunnuan felt a lump in her throat as she looked at her little nephew's mouth opening and closing: "Grandfather, you see, the Xiao family has a successor. Xiao Muyang will definitely inherit your mantle!"

how to say?

I could tell from his eyes that Xiao Muyang was definitely a child with an exceptional memory.

She is even better than Chun Ning.

If such a child had the opportunity to go to school and enter officialdom... Chunnuan felt heartbroken just thinking about the fact that the Xiao family could not do anything scientific within three generations.

She secretly vowed to work hard and change the situation as soon as possible, hoping that Xiao Muyang could catch up.

At this time, she admired her third aunt, Huang, for always sticking to her goals and ideals and never giving up.

"Our Muyang is such a good boy." Seeing how smart her eldest grandson was, Madam Xu hugged him with tears in her eyes: "Muyang, we can't take the imperial examinations or become the top scholar, so let's learn medicine from your aunt. If we can't be good prime ministers, let's be good doctors."

Xu's words impressed Chunnuan.

My aunt isn't short-sighted or without expectations; she's just more realistic and better at changing her perspective.

She knew that Xiao Muyang was academically gifted, but she also knew that the Xiao family's current situation did not allow their child to take this path, so she lowered her expectations early on.

This demonstrates the magnanimity and tolerance of the matriarch.

This is something that Third Aunt Huang cannot compare to.

In my third aunt's mind, she harbored some resentment towards my grandfather.

Just because she didn't say anything doesn't mean everyone didn't know.

After dinner, the family sat idly and, as usual, chatted about everyday things.

"Today, Chunnuan and I were teaching Muyang to recognize medicinal herbs, and the child was able to identify them all." Madam Xu said to her family, "Maybe Muyang will be just as amazing as Chunnuan in the future."

"That's great. That way, the Xiao family will have another doctor."

Madam Xu thought this was a good arrangement. Her daughter was skilled in medicine and pharmaceuticals, and her son was also studying medicine and doing business. Madam Huang from the third branch of the family had already made it clear that her son wanted to pursue academic studies. It would also be good if someone from the first branch of the family could follow along and learn from her. The burden on the Xiao family would also be shared by one more person.

“Our Xiao family is a family of doctors, and the tradition will continue. Mu Yang is the fourth generation.” Madam Xu said with a smile, “Chun Nuan, you should teach this child more when you have time. As his aunt, you should also share your medical knowledge with him.”

"Don't worry, Aunt. As long as Muyang is willing to learn, I will naturally pass on the Xiao family's ancestral skills to him."

Unlike other families, the Xiao family doesn't pass on their skills to their sons.

However, Chunnuan thought that she would get married after the mourning period, and whether the Xiao family's medical skills were passed on to Chunning or Muyang, it was something that should be done.

As children of the Xiao family, we have enjoyed the blessings of the Xiao family and should also shoulder the responsibilities of the Xiao family.

She did this with a clear conscience.

Zhu Lingling had long admired her son's intelligence, and like her third aunt, she had dreamed of her son achieving the highest honors in the imperial examinations. However, she was also more aware of the current situation of the Xiao family and could accept that Xiao Muyang was pursuing a career in medicine.

"Second sister, I'll have to trouble you to take care of Muyang from now on." As soon as the spring warmth arrived, Zhu Lingling, who was studying medicine, immediately thanked her: "If there's anything you need me to do, I'll do my best to help you."

"Eldest sister-in-law, there is nothing I need you to do."

“There’s no such thing as ...

Chunnuan had no idea what she needed her elder sister-in-law's help with.

“Look at this child, how careless she is. There are only nine months left until the end of the mourning period.” Madam Xu said, “After the mourning period, the Zhao family will start urging her to get married. Nuan Nuan should be married by then, and it’s time to start preparing Nuan Nuan’s dowry.”

"Oh, right, look at the mess this has made, I didn't even think of it." Madam Xu was very remorseful: "What a waste of all the dowry I prepared for Nuannuan."

She gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, which she was very happy with.

Xu sent all the valuable gifts received for the baby's third-day celebration, full-month celebration, and first birthday to the small storeroom for registration.

She vowed to prepare a dowry for her son and a grand wedding procession for her daughter.

As a mother, I naturally hope that my children are all doing well.

Year after year, they've filled the small warehouse with many good things.

Who would have thought that before their children even had a chance to grow up, the Xiao family's home would be ransacked?

All the precious items in the small storeroom were confiscated.

Now, his son is in the northern desert, of marriageable age but there's nothing to arrange; his daughter is of marriageable age, but her dowry is still empty.

It's no exaggeration to say that Chunnuan needs to earn her own dowry.

As a mother, Ms. Xu felt a deep sense of powerlessness and frustration.

"I'll pass on the embroidery for the wedding dress." Chun Nuan waved her hands repeatedly upon hearing this. "I really don't have the time or inclination for it. My hands are fine for holding silver needles, but if I were to use an embroidery needle, the result would probably be a disaster."

"You silly child, you know your needlework is terrible."

Madam Xu was both annoyed and amused: "Back then, I made you learn needlework, but you wouldn't listen no matter what. You would run away without a trace after sitting for less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. If it weren't for your grandfather sending out the goods, I would have tied you to the embroidery stool."

"It's a good thing you didn't force Nuannuan to learn embroidery, otherwise, our family would be starving when something happens." Madam Xu joked with a smile, "Even if you had the time, you wouldn't have the leisure. But you can buy the fabric first. After you buy it, you can embroider the first two stitches, and we'll take care of the rest. You can finish the rest when we're done, and that will be considered your embroidery."

"Hehe, yes, that's fine too. Look at any princess, which one would embroider her own wedding dress? Aren't they all embroidered by the Imperial Household Department?" Zhu Lingling said, "Second sister, don't worry, your sister-in-law will do her best to embroider this wedding dress for you."

"Thank you very much, Aunt, Mother, and Third Aunt. Please take good care of this matter."

I must say, things are pretty good at home; I didn't force myself to embroider a wedding dress.

If you go along with her personality, she'd rather not get married than embroider a wedding dress!

"What a pity, our Nuannuan's dowry..." Xu Shi was too ashamed to say it out loud.

"Mother, don't worry. We'll take whatever we have, and we won't force ourselves to give anything we don't have." Chunnuan didn't care much about the dowry. The Xiao family, whose property had been confiscated, really couldn't produce a decent dowry, and she believed the Zhao family would understand.

"Sister, don't worry, I will prepare a decent dowry for you." Chun Ning said, "I will also go to Shuzhou with Brother Zhao next month."

"Chuning, can we go to Shuzhou?" Madam Xu was a little worried. What if we couldn't leave Changzhou? (End of Chapter)