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

Regarding whether people who are repatriated to their place of origin can travel far from home.

This is a question that most people don't understand, so we can only ask Zhao Minghua.

“Everyone has a travel permit when they go out.” Zhao Minghua thought for a moment, “Chuning wants to go to Shu with me, I’ll figure out a way.”

In other words, whether it's possible or not depends entirely on how it's done.

Soon, Zhao Minghua told Chun Ning that he could go to Shuzhou.

"This is your travel permit."

Name: Xiao Chun-ning; Gender: Male; Age: 15; Place of Origin: An'nan Town, Changzhou...

The information seems to be correct, but it also seems incorrect.

"Brother Zhao, I'm not fourteen yet."

"You're not even fourteen yet, but in the traditional Chinese age reckoning, you're fifteen, aren't you...?"

They're still too honest.

"There's absolutely nothing wrong with this travel permit."

Half true, half false.

Even if problems arise in the future and are used against us by those with ulterior motives, we can face them calmly.

There are plenty of people with the same name, so it's generally not a problem.

They're not wanted criminals by the imperial court; why would they have to verify everyone's portraits before entering the city?

The female members of the Xiao family were simply sent back to their ancestral home, and the male members within three generations were not allowed to take the imperial examinations.

They didn't say we couldn't farm or do business. In any case, we still need to give us a way to make a living.

Repatriation and exile are different.

Exile meant forced labor, discipline, and absolute prohibition against leaving.

Zhao Minghua didn't understand the law either, and he didn't know if it was possible. He flipped through several volumes of the Great Xia Law Code overnight, but it didn't mention it clearly.

It's not that it's impossible, nor is it that it's possible; it all depends on how you do it.

Where there's a policy, there's a countermeasure; Zhao Minghua came up with a compromise.

From this perspective, it makes perfect sense and is reasonable.

"Are there any precedents of previous deportees traveling long distances?"

Chun Ning was young and honest, but she was still uneasy.

“First of all, so far, your family is the first one I’ve contacted who has been deported.” Zhao Minghua was quite honest: “I’m not sure if it’s true or not. But there’s one thing I’m very clear about.”

"what?"

"Looking at those powerful and influential families who have been convicted and repatriated, how many of them have been able to make a comeback?"

The Great Xia Dynasty has a history of over a hundred years, and every new emperor has climbed to the top by stepping on flesh and blood.

A new emperor brings a new court; the victor is king, the loser is a bandit. A new emperor will inevitably purge the court. Some will be beheaded, some will be exiled, and some will be sent back to their homeland.

Chun Ning was young and did not experience that turbulent period, but he knew that five years ago, the Ma family in the capital had their property confiscated and were exiled and sent back because of a crime.

Lord Ma, a third-rank official, was beheaded. All males over the age of twelve were exiled to the northern desert, while the female relatives were sent back to their ancestral home in the prosperous Jiangnan region. For many years, there has been no news of any activity from the Ma family.

Before the Xiao family's misfortune, he heard from his classmates that the Ma family seemed to have fallen into ruin. The old lady of the Ma family died on the way back to her ancestral home. The Ma family had seven sons, both legitimate and illegitimate, and as many as thirty-seven women and children, but later some died, some fled, and some fell ill. It was said that they lived a very miserable life.

"You remember now, don't you?"

Seeing Chun Ning remain silent for a long time, his expression growing increasingly solemn, Zhao Minghua knew that he should understand some of the principles.

"Yes, I remembered the Ma family."

He then explained the situation of the Ma family.

“Yes, most aristocratic families are gossipy and their inner quarters are always filled with filth and infighting, with the legitimate and illegitimate children fighting to the death.” Zhao Minghua sighed, “They can only share the good times but not the bad. Once they fall on hard times, no one can stand up to take the lead, and they are not as united as your family. They can destroy themselves without anyone else having to lift a finger.”

"Their descendants cannot leave their ancestral home, not because the policy does not allow it, but because they lack the ability and strength."

"It is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. When ordinary women from aristocratic families suffer hardship, these delicate flowers raised in greenhouses will feel like the sky has fallen. They will have to do everything they can to survive, let alone talk about development, prosperity and continuation."

"No matter when, you need money to make a living. Being raided, exiled, or repatriated will leave you penniless. Only those who can grit their teeth and get through it are truly capable."

The more Zhao Minghua learned about the Xiao family, the more admiring he became of Xiao Chunnuan.

"Without money, you can't move an inch, let alone travel far."

Chun Ning nodded.

Brother Zhao explained everything to him in detail, and he found it all very reasonable.

Therefore, the reason he was able to follow Brother Zhao to Shuzhou, from the remote village of An'nan to the land of Shu hundreds of miles away, was not for any other reason, but because his elder sister had supported the Xiao family and created the conditions for the Xiao family to leave An'nan Town.

His older sister was so intelligent and capable.

"By the way, Chun Ning, what are you going to Shu Prefecture for? Are you going to do some kind of business?"

Zhao Minghua was a cunning old fox; he took all the medicinal herbs, pills, and ointments from the Xiao family.

This kid, is he secretly making money behind my back?

“My aunt and mother said that the mourning period will end in a few months, and it’s time to prepare my sister’s dowry.”

"Oh right, I almost forgot, you reminded me." Zhao Minghua slapped his forehead: "I need to tell my mother to hurry up and prepare the bride price too."

"Brother Zhao, hit me gently."

Seeing the force and manner with which Zhao Minghua slapped his forehead, Chun Ning couldn't help but remind him, "If you were to make yourself stupid, I wouldn't want a brother-in-law who's so silly."

"Hey, no, no, I'm not made of tofu, I can't be broken." Zhao Minghua patted Chun Ning on the shoulder: "Get ready, we're leaving for Shuzhou in three days. Your brother-in-law will take you to see the bustling metropolis."

"Brother Zhao, be gentle, you're going to break my body."

This person really has no sense of proportion; he patted my shoulder so hard it hurts.

Furthermore, he seems to have forgotten that he came from the bustling and prosperous capital city. Is there any place bigger or more bustling than the capital city?
Zhao Minghua had just spoken offhand, and afterwards he found it amusing that he had treated his brother-in-law like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world.

“Chuning, we are men. Men should be as strong as oxen and as powerful as mountains. We should have strong hands and shoulders that can carry heavy loads. In the future, you will have to travel all over the country to make a living. It would be best if you could learn some skills to protect yourself.”

“You might say you can hire servants, guards, or bodyguards, but Chun Ning, let me tell you, having your own parents is worse than having your own. Hiring more people is not as good as having your own abilities. Danger often happens in an instant. If you simply rely on anyone to save you, you risk giving your life away.”

"Brother Zhao, can I learn it?"

Chun Ning strongly agreed with Zhao Minghua's words: "Relying on mountains will lead to their collapse, and relying on people will lead to their departure; relying on oneself is the best."

After the male members of the Xiao family were exiled, he became the eldest male in the family. He not only had to be able to protect himself, but also had to be able to protect his family.

“Of course you can. Nothing is impossible for a willing heart,” Zhao Minghua said. “You are such a smart person, it’s easy for you to learn anything. Besides, it’s just self-defense, not becoming a martial arts master.”

Learning self-defense involves learning some techniques.

Chun Ning quietly touched the powder packet in her pocket. It was for self-defense, and she didn't need to learn how to use it. All she needed to do was stay clear-headed and throw it out accurately at crucial moments. It was her elder sister's secret recipe.

After he encountered danger, his older sister prepared some supplies for him.

When traveling, he needs to be prepared more thoroughly. "Shall I learn from you, Brother Zhao?"

“I might not have time to teach you if you learn from me. Since you’re going to Shu Prefecture this time, I’ll find you a master, firstly to protect you, and secondly to teach you some skills.”

"How much silver will it cost?"

Masters are always expected to be respected.

“Don’t worry, don’t give him any money. He’s my brother,” Zhao Minghua said. “Having him by your side will put your family and me at ease.”

Taking his brother-in-law on a long trip carries a heavy responsibility for Zhao Minghua; safety is of course the top priority.

Therefore, it is essential for him to make thorough preparations.

Chunnuan was very satisfied after learning about all the preparations Zhao Minghua had made for Chunning's trip.

This person is truly a master of feigning weakness to outsmart others.

He may seem unreliable, but in fact he does things in a very methodical and principled way, and he considers issues very thoroughly, which makes him very reassuring.

Thinking about Mrs. Zhao's various descriptions of her son, Chunnuan found it amusing.

Yes, even Mrs. Zhao may not know how capable her son is or how much hidden potential he has.

For example, the incident where Xiao Chunlan schemed against him.

He received the news and rushed to save me; he also avenged me quietly.

In everyone's eyes, the third young master of the Zhao family was a playboy, someone who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun. The Zhao family members also felt this way. Unlike the eldest son, who could support the family business, or the second son, who was diligent and determined to take the imperial examination and enter officialdom, the third son was simply unreliable.

Having a daughter-in-law like Chunnuan is the most successful thing he has ever done so far.

In other words, Zhao Minghua concealed his abilities very well, to the point that even his own family and relatives were unaware of them.

However, he had nothing to hide from Chun Nuan, and almost simultaneously Chun Nuan could see through his thoughts and actions at a glance.

There was a certain tacit understanding between the two, and they could even understand each other perfectly.

This made Chunnuan less resistant to the future.

"Have you prepared everything, including food and clothing?"

Raising a child is a lifelong worry, even at 100 years old. With Chun Ning about to embark on a long journey, Madam Xu was very concerned and gave her countless instructions and reminders.

"Mother, don't worry, I'm all grown up now, and everything is ready."

Brother Zhao said he didn't need to prepare anything for him, he just needed to take care of himself.

In fact, Chun Ning also brought all her family's belongings, 368 taels of silver.

Besides the travel expenses to and from the destination, Chun Ning wanted to use all the money to prepare a dowry for her elder sister.

A dowry is a woman's family's way of providing her with security and support.

When a daughter from a wealthy family in the capital got married, the phrase "ten miles of red bridal procession" was an apt description, but it certainly meant she was practically walking on thin ice.

A full-loaded carriage consists of sixty-four loads, and it is usually reserved for royalty and high-ranking officials. Ordinary people can have a half-loaded carriage of thirty-two loads, which provides them with all their necessities.

Last night, my mother started wiping away tears when she mentioned my elder sister's dowry, feeling heartbroken over the paintings, calligraphy, and jewelry that she had collected for many years but whose small storeroom was confiscated.

They also said that the Xiao family couldn't afford to provide a grand dowry for their eldest sister, so they asked him to buy her as many practical and affordable items as possible.

The mother had many worries, including her own dowry. She also mentioned that the Xiao family had daughters like Chunyan and Chunshu, who would get married year after year, which would be another huge expense.

"Chun Ning, have you remembered my instructions?"

"Mother, don't worry, your son will handle this task well."

Madam Xu also hurriedly instructed Chun Ning on what items to prepare, passing on some essential experience she had gained in preparing Chun Yu's dowry.

Only Huang stood silently to the side, listening to and remembering what her two sisters-in-law said.

She was thinking that Chunyan was about to come of age and finish her mourning period, so it was time for her to get married.

But does Chunyan really want to marry into this place?

Is this really the only place where the Xiao family can take root and flourish?

Chunnuan, being so capable, married into a family that wasn't even considered prominent in Changzhou; it was just an ordinary large family outside of the four major families.

What kind of husband's family can Chunyan find?
She was very unwilling.

After Chun Ning left, Huang went into her room and didn't come out for quite a while.

Seeing the warmth of spring, he hesitated to speak.

"Third Aunt, we are family, please feel free to say whatever you want."

“Nuan Nuan, your third aunt heard that you and Chun Yu from the capital often correspond.”

This isn't just hearsay; it's a fact. Every time Tang Liu went to the capital, he would send her a letter, and she would also bring back some local specialties from Shu for Chunyu.

What did Auntie mean by saying that?
“Nuan Nuan, I miss my mother a little. I wrote a letter home, it’s just…”

"Does Third Aunt intend to send the letter back to the Huang family in the capital?"

Huang's face turned bright red.

Yes, she wanted to send a letter back to the Huang residence.

When she insisted on going to Sichuan, her family had some objections.

However, they also knew that once a woman is married, she is no longer considered a woman to be married. If Madam Huang really chose to divorce, it would affect the reputation of the other unmarried women in the Huang family. Sacrificing her to save the others was a wise move.

But her mother felt sorry for her and didn't want her to suffer, so she was thinking of secretly getting a divorce. Her husband agreed.

She stubbornly chose to stay away from the capital, which saddened her mother, who declared that she would as well not have given birth to her as a daughter.

That's why we haven't been corresponding for so long.

Having severed ties with her family, Huang often suffered from insomnia.

Seeing their children grow up, they should think about their children even if not for themselves.

So she mustered up her courage and wrote a letter home, but she still needed to find Chunnuan to deliver it to the capital.

“Of course you can.” Chun Nuan smiled. “It’s no big deal. Third Aunt, we’re family. Just tell me what’s on your mind. There’s no need to be formal or distant.”

"I just don't want to cause you any trouble."

Ms. Huang was genuinely embarrassed.

When the Xiao family got into trouble, the families of the three sisters-in-law, whether genuinely or not, were all trying to avoid suspicion. When they set off for Sichuan, none of their families came to see them off.

After arriving in Sichuan, none of the three sisters-in-law maintained contact with their maternal families.

She was the first to lose her composure and suggest writing a letter to her family.

“This is no trouble at all.” Chun Nuan smiled. “My elder sister also mentioned in her letter that when she married the general, the matriarchs of the Xu, Xu, and Huang families all came to congratulate her in person.”

The implication is that the Xiao family no longer needs to curry favor with these maternal relatives; on the contrary, these families now want to cultivate a good relationship with the eldest sister.

The Xiao family is destined to be a family that will never be forgotten in the capital! (End of Chapter)