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

Chapter 176

Huang never understood what the two sisters meant by talking about meatballs.
She always thought that Shu'er liked the Huang family because she liked Huang Kun, and that Huang Kun bought gifts for Shu'er because he liked her.

But now I understand the gist of it: there's a secret deal between these cousins.

And this dumpling, Chunnuan, seems to know a lot about it.

"Shu'er, what do you think of Huang Kun?"

"My older cousin?" Chun Shu thought for a moment, "Mother, should I tell the truth?"

"nature."

Huang was a little annoyed. What did he mean by telling the truth?
"Shu'er thinks her older cousin is a good actor, always putting on an act in front of others and doing one thing behind their backs."

Huang's mind was buzzing.

Who is Huang Kun?

That was the eldest grandson of the next generation of the Huang family, their pride. He passed the county-level imperial examination at the age of sixteen and became a provincial-level scholar at the age of twenty. His father once said that he had inherited the virtues of his ancestors, but unexpectedly, Chun Shu said he was so useless.

"Shu'er, you mustn't be rude."

Unable to bear Chun Shu's words, Huang scolded her directly.

"Isn't that just telling the truth?" Chun Shu muttered softly, "You'll get angry if I tell you."

"you shut up."

Huang was so anxious that she shouted out loud.

Chun Shu looked aggrieved.

The Xiao family...look how anxious she is.

Indeed, what Huang was most proud of was the reputation of her maternal family. In her view, Huang Kun represented the glory and future of the Huang clan.

She favored Huang Kun and even went so far as to send her daughter to be a concubine to curry favor with her family.

No one expected that the daughter would tear off Huang's fig leaf, leaving her with no face in front of her husband's family.

"Chunshu, I want to send you to the capital."

My mother's letter has already made it clear that sending Chun Shu to the capital is to pave the way for Chun Qiang and the others; otherwise, how could they ever get ahead in this poor, remote place?

"I'll go home when my whole family goes back to Beijing. If I'm the only one going back to enjoy life, then of course I won't go back."

Zhu Shu naturally assumed that her mother was sending her back to the capital to meet potential husbands.

“Mother, wake up! Even if the Huang family were in charge, who would care about the marriage of a cousin? She’s not even as good as a concubine’s daughter. What kind of family can I possibly marry into?”

"Your mother is going to send you back to the Huang family to be Huang Kun's concubine."

"what?"

Chun Shu stared wide-eyed at her mother, then turned to her aunt and asked, "Was this decided by the family?"

Her small body was already trembling.

It's anger, resentment, rage, and unwillingness to accept defeat.

“No, although the Xiao family has fallen, the rules still remain.” Seeing this, Madam Xu quickly grabbed her hand: “The Xiao family’s ancestral precept is that men do not take concubines and women do not become concubines. The family has never thought of sending any of you sisters to become concubines.”

"Moreover, in the capital, the Xiao family doesn't need to send their daughter to be a concubine now."

What bothered Xu the most was Huang's lack of common sense.

Chunyu is now the wife of General Yuanhuai, the mistress of the household, and the marriage was bestowed by the Emperor. Panpan calls the eldest prince, no, now the crown prince, "big brother." She has the privilege of freely entering and leaving the palace. In such a family, there is no reason for her sister, or even her cousin, to become someone's concubine.

The Huang family wanted to win over the Xiao family, but they were afraid of not getting any benefits if they chose the wrong side. So they arranged for Chun Shu to be a concubine. This was not even charity, but an insult.

We can be unrelated, but we can't have this kind of relationship!
"Thank you, auntie."

Chun Shu's eyes were filled with tears; it was her own mother who wanted to push her into the abyss.

What on earth was she thinking?

"Chunshu, you need to think this through. You're fifteen this year, and you'll be sixteen next year after your mourning period ends. At sixteen, in Changzhou, in this poor and remote place, what kind of family can you marry into?"

"The farmer? That poor young man Tang Si who hangs around your door all day, or Zhou San who helped you carry firewood once? You, a proper young lady, have ruined yourself like this!" Madam Huang could no longer control her emotions; her years of cultivation collapsed at this moment: "Do you still want to spend your whole life here? Do you still want your descendants to suffer here too?"

“Mother.” Chun Shu couldn’t believe this was her well-educated, gentle, and virtuous mother: “If you don’t want to spend your whole life here, you can go back to the capital. I don’t want to live like this either, and I can go back to the capital, but not in this way.”

“I, Xiao Chunshu, have hands and feet, the Xiao family, my elder sister, and my elder brother. Why would I debase myself to become Huang Kun’s concubine and return to the capital in this way? Do I want the Xiao family to become a laughing stock? Or do you want your reputation, Huang Yashu, to sound better when people talk about me, Xiao Chunshu?”

“I don’t know what you think, but I disagree with this matter.” Chun Shu felt reassured after hearing her aunt’s words: “I would rather live here for the rest of my life, even if I don’t get married or have children, I would never become someone’s concubine.”

"you……"

When Huang saw that her daughter was not obeying her, she fainted in a panic.

"Nuan Nuan, quickly check on your third aunt." Madam Xu was also anxious: "She absolutely cannot be hurt."

The reason nothing happened wasn't because she was so important, but because of Chun Shu's reputation.

I don't want Chun Shu to bear the blame for her mother's death in the future, which would ruin her life.
Yes, this incident greatly disappointed Madam Xu. She truly did not expect that Madam Huang would resort to any means to return to the capital. Her short-sightedness and willingness to trample on her daughter's happiness to return to the capital was outrageous and truly disappointing.

"Let me see." Chunnuan took Huang's pulse: "It seems that Third Aunt hasn't been eating or sleeping well these days."

What do you mean?
"Excessive thinking leads to insufficient qi and blood, weakness in the limbs, qi stagnation, and even blood stasis and phlegm stasis..."

Take Huang Shi for example. She looks so haggard lately, even more tired than when she first arrived in Shu.

"Excessive thinking injures the spleen, and anger injures the liver. Auntie, haven't you been eating or sleeping well lately?"

Xu remained silent.

Ever since Huang refused to let Chunqiang study medicine, both she and Xu knew in their hearts that the third son's family really only thought of themselves and had no sense of the bigger picture.

Many times she would stay in the house teaching the children, while Xu and Xu would do embroidery with Zhu Lingling and chat about everyday things.

In addition, the recent preparations for Chunnuan's dowry have made her anxious, so Xu Shi has no intention of paying attention to her, no matter how much she acts up.

I never expected her to be so capable, causing health problems for herself.

Under the gentle caress of spring, Huang slowly awoke.

"Third Aunt, your health isn't very good; you need to rest." Chunnuan said directly, "If this continues, it will affect your lifespan."

Huang was taken aback.

Tears immediately streamed down her face.

"Living in such agony is worse than dying."

Haha, how much stimulation and grievance did you suffer?
“Sister-in-law, there’s nothing we can do if you think like that.” Madam Xu couldn’t tolerate this tactic of hers the most. “People come into this world only to live once they have breath. Once they’re gone, they’re gone too. We can only remember them.” “Look at the old master and old lady. No matter how reluctant we are, they’re gone and we can only remember them often. They can’t control what we do.” Madam Xu said, “Even if you’re thinking of sending Chun Shu to be a concubine, the old master and old lady can’t do anything about it.”

"Of course, don't worry. If you really go, those children belong to the Xiao family. We will definitely not let them suffer any grievances. As long as I have food, they won't go hungry."

"Furthermore, if my third brother and the others are fortunate enough to return from the northern desert one day, he, being so devoted and righteous, will surely hold your memorial tablet and weep bitterly. Then, I'll probably still ask me to arrange for him to remarry..."

Chunnuan was dumbfounded: Was her aunt trying to persuade her third aunt?
Hmm, it sounds like they're trying to persuade you, since the more toxic the medicine, the better its effects.

Sometimes when she prepares medicine, she uses special methods, such as using poison to fight poison.

"How cruel you are!" Sure enough, upon hearing Xu's words, Huang stopped crying instantly, wiped away her tears, and got up on her own: "What good would it do you if I died? So you despise me as a burden and are hoping for my death?"

"Third sister-in-law, how heartless of you to say that!" Madam Xu said slowly and deliberately, "Your health is poor, and you said you were going to pass away. Now that you're about to leave, shouldn't I make proper arrangements for your funeral? The old lady passed away suddenly and didn't have time to tell me what to do, but as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Xiao family, I have the responsibility and obligation to handle your funeral arrangements properly, so that you can leave in peace and tranquility..."

Spring is here... I really want to burst out laughing!

I never knew that my dignified aunt had such a knack for infuriating people.

Every word spoken was vicious, yet so vicious that there was no antidote.

Seeing that Huang was about to make a scene again, Xu's face darkened.

“Third sister-in-law, you are a woman of the Huang family, a family known for its scholarly tradition. The way you are today is truly an eye-opener.” Madam Xu would not allow her to be presumptuous: “Chun Shu is still here. Are you sure you want to continue?”

Huang was both ashamed and anxious, and finally fainted again.

Spring is here... but I'm the one who's suffering?
I still need to treat her.

“It seems that Auntie’s illness is a bit serious. I need to use acupuncture. Chun Ning, bring me my thickest set of silver needles. I will perform acupuncture on Auntie several times.”

"Yes, sister."

Chun Ning was an honest child, and she turned and left.

Behind her, Huang slowly woke up again, groaning continuously.

"Nuan Nuan, you and your sister take your third aunt back to her room to rest. Whether she needs acupuncture or medicine, it's up to you. Our Xiao family can afford to eat and buy medicine, so we can't mistreat your third aunt."

Xu didn't even bother to look at her anymore.

Huang has always had this problem.

However, she maintained her dignity while the Xiao family was in a respectable position.

At this point, they completely lost their composure and had no idea how embarrassing they were.

Huang didn't say anything more, silently got up and refused Chunnuan's help, asking Chunshu to help her back to the house.

What could Chun Shu say?
My own mother.

Entering the house inevitably means being scolded.

Sure enough, as soon as she entered the door, Huang started scolding Chunshu.

"You really are my good daughter, letting outsiders bully your own mother." Madam Huang scolded her harshly, "You just watch them bully me, and you have the nerve to do that?"

"If I'm gone, do you think they'll treat you four siblings well?"

"You carried me for ten months and gave birth to you, only to find that you're an ungrateful wretch."

"There is not a single good person in your Xiao family."

"What's wrong with you bullying just one person?"

……

He kept cursing and cursing, but Chun Shu didn't answer a single word.

I just stood there quietly listening.

She didn't understand what her older sister meant by saying that their mother was sick.
After all, this doesn't look like a patient at all.

"No, I must send you back to the Huang family. Only by returning to the Huang family can our family have a future." Huang stood up again as if she were going crazy: "This is a good opportunity. We must not miss it. Only by returning to the Huang family can our family return to the capital."

"You idiot, do you know that the first and second wives don't have to worry about the way back to the capital? The first wife has Xiao Chunyu. Although she remarried, she married a great general and can go back anytime she wants. The second wife has Xiao Chunnuan. She's so good at making medicine and so good at making money. She doesn't have to worry about travel expenses or the future."

“Xiao Chunshu, clear your head. Even if I were to send you back to the Huang family as a concubine, it would be an opportunity that I had to swallow my pride and beg for. If I weren’t a daughter of the Huang family, how could I possibly look at a descendant of a disgraced official like you? The Huang family took a risk to accept you.”

"..."

Chun Shu felt helpless as her words became increasingly outrageous.

"Have you said enough?"

Half an hour later, Chun Shu handed over a cup of tea: "You've talked enough and you must be tired. Take a sip and rest for a bit. I'll go find your sister to get you some medicine and brew some for you."

"I do not……"

Huang wanted to say she didn't want to take the medicine, but suddenly remembered what Xu had said, about what would happen if she were gone.

Why does it have to disappear?

She has to live a good life!

Live for them to see.

After taking a sip of tea, Huang felt confident again and started scolding Chunshu.

"Go back to the capital if you want, I won't go back alone." Chun Shu said this and turned to leave the house.

Outside, Chunnuan was watching her.

"Sister," Chun Shu said somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm sorry you had to see this."

"No, that's not true. We're like sisters, we share joys and sorrows. She can't make this decision alone, so don't worry about it."

Putting everything else aside, it would cost a lot of money to send Chun Shu away from Changzhou. At present, Huang's private savings are not enough, so there is no need to worry about her insisting on sending Chun Shu away.

"Sister, my mother..."

“She is her, and you are you. We have no way of knowing what she is thinking, but we must stand firm.” Chunnuan patted the back of her hand: “When we first came to Shu, we didn’t have enough to eat or wear, and we overcame all the hardships along the way. What can’t we overcome now?”

"Don't rush into marriage. Good things don't happen overnight. You will definitely find a good man."

"Sister, I'm not in a hurry."

What's the rush?
She hasn't thought about the benefits of getting married so far.
A girl is still considered family at her parents' home, but after marriage she becomes a guest, while her husband's family treats her as an outsider.

After getting married, one truly becomes homeless.

She didn't want to get married; she just wanted to rely on the Xiao family. With her older sister and brother Chun Ning supporting her in everything, she wouldn't have to worry about anything.

“I’m going to the northern desert. I’ll entrust your mother’s medicine to you from now on. You’ll have to make sure she drinks it three times a day. She needs to rest after taking the medicine and not worry too much. She should be almost better by the time I come back.”