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

Chapter 178

"Miss, this is your lunch. We don't have many vegetables here, so that young master told me to spend a lot of money to find them."

The courier, Xiao Er, was only about eleven or twelve years old. As soon as the meal was served, he started scratching his ears while making hissing sounds.

"The young man's ears were red and swollen."

Seeing his appearance, Chunnuan couldn't help but ask, "Have you seen a doctor?"

"Hey, I'm just a worthless life, I don't deserve to see a doctor." The waiter said with a grin, "As long as you don't die, you're fine."

Seeing that he was young and clever, Chunnuan couldn't help but advise him.

"Ear problems are still problems, and they can be serious or minor. If they are left untreated and become severe, it can lead to deafness and ruin one's life."

"what?"

Xiao Er was stunned, clearly not expecting that red, swollen, and itchy ears could cause hearing loss; deafness would be a serious matter.

“But I don’t have any money to buy medicine.” Xiao Er scratched his head. “My parents died early. My neighbor uncle works here. He took pity on me and brought me here to do odd jobs and earn a living. I’m only one person, so I don’t have any money to buy medicine.”

If someone is going deaf or dying, there's really nothing that can be done.

At such a young age, they've already learned to give up and accept their fate.

"You're staying at the inn?"

"Yes, they live in the woodshed in the back kitchen."

Spring is warm... Yes, when she felt that walking was difficult, some people didn't even have feet and couldn't walk at all.

Do you have ginger in your kitchen?

"Ginger?" The waiter shook his head, indicating that he did not recognize it.

Spring warmth brings a bitter smile; this is the territory of the northern desert, and the things that southerners like may be completely unfamiliar to those in the north.

Just like when they arrived in Sichuan, they didn't know there was a tender vegetable called pea shoots.

The most common vegetables eaten in Beijing are Chinese cabbage and bok choy.

Unexpectedly, the most common food eaten by people in Sichuan is pea shoots. They pick the tips of the seedlings when they are small and eat them. When spring arrives and flowers bloom, the fruit that grows is called pea shoots, which can be stir-fried. When the fruit ripens in early summer and becomes old, the shells are removed and the peas are eaten. They can be soaked and stir-fried or used in soups.

However, this type of dish is not found in Beijing.

So it's understandable that the waiter didn't recognize ginger.

Chunnuan suddenly remembered that she had ginger among the medicinal herbs she brought.

"Come see me later, and I'll prepare some medicine for you to apply to your ear, so it doesn't get worse."

"Are you a doctor, young lady?" The waiter's eyes lit up, then dimmed again: "I don't have any money for you."

"No need for money. The medicinal herbs are all ones I brought myself for my relatives in the northern desert. It's no trouble to share some with you."

"Thank you, young lady. There are still many good people in the world."

Spring is here... This child has learned some skills while doing odd jobs at the post station; look how clever that little mouth of his is.

Where are the girl's relatives?

"At the quarry."

Spring warmth brought a bitter smile as she mentioned the place name.

"Oh, I see, the girl's relatives were exiled."

This child is still just a child. Doesn't he feel hurt saying such things?

"Girls, are you setting off tomorrow?"

Spring is here... Why ask such detailed questions?
“I’ll talk to my uncle and ask him to take me with him tomorrow. I’ll go to the quarry with you. There are several uncles from our village who work at the quarry, in charge of the exiled people.”

This time, spring warmth brought a glimmer of hope.

Even if the people he knows aren't his father or the others, it doesn't matter. People are always familiar with each other, and it's always okay for acquaintances to greet each other and look out for one another.

In places like this, money isn't necessarily as useful as connections.

After all, money only fuels one's appetite, but connections continue to branch out and extend.

“Girl, if you help me heal my ear, I’ll find you uncles to take care of your relatives. I’m telling the truth, you have to believe me.”

Xiao Er assumed Chun Nuan didn't believe him after she remained silent for a long time.

“I believe you. I’m thinking about how to treat your ear.” Chunnuan said, “Come here, I’ll take a look at it.”

"No, no, you should eat first. My ears aren't feeling well for a while, and the food will get cold if you don't eat soon."

"Little Tiger".

Someone in the kitchen was calling him.

"I'm coming."

He quickly replied, then turned to Chunnuan and said, "Miss, please eat first. I'll go and get back to work."

"it is good."

So his name is Xiao Hu.

It was yellow, thin, and short, looking more like a monkey.

He was an orphan, quite pitiful.

During the warm spring meal, I saw Xiao Hu constantly serving food to the guests and clearing away the dishes. He was very efficient and his mouth never stopped. He could answer any question the guests asked.

What a clever child!

Chunnuan had a good impression of him.

After noon, Chunnuan finally saw Xiaohu, who had stopped resting.

Are you this busy every day?

"Not necessarily. I'm busy when there are customers and idle when there aren't," Xiao Hu said. "However, when I'm idle, I'll go to the kitchen to help the auntie with picking vegetables and washing dishes."

“You’re really hardworking.”

“That’s necessary, otherwise there will be no food to eat.” Little Tiger said, “Uncle brought me to the post station so that I could earn a living with my own hands. This place doesn’t support idlers.”

“Yes, I have hands, feet, and brains. As long as I’m diligent, I can have food to eat.” Chunnuan said, “Come here, let me see your ears.”

"Um..." Xiao Hu said a little embarrassedly, "Uncle said my ears are dirty and he's afraid the guests will be disgusted and won't be able to eat if they see them. Maybe you shouldn't look at them."

"It's alright. Didn't you say I'm a doctor? Doctors don't care about these things," Chunnuan said. "I can only know what's wrong after I look at your ears so I can prescribe the medicine."

"OK then."

Xiao Hu came over, and Chun Nuan let her sit on a small stool.

"How old are you this year?"

"I'll be fourteen in two months."

Chunnuan couldn't help but glance at him twice. He was about the same age as Chunning, but he was actually a head shorter than Chunning.

It seems that growing up without parents must have meant a lot of hunger and cold, which explains why he didn't grow tall.

How long have you had this ear discomfort?

“It’s probably been about twenty days. At first, it felt burning hot, then it started to itch. In the past few days, pus has been coming out, and I also have a bit of tinnitus from time to time.”

"When you said I might go deaf, I really believed you. I'm still a little scared." Xiao Hu turned to look at Chun Nuan: "Are you really a doctor, miss? Can my ears be cured?"

"It can be cured, don't be afraid, I'll prescribe some medicine for you."

"I have no money……"

“I brought all the necessary medicinal herbs, so don’t worry, you don’t need to pay for them,” Chunnuan said. “Besides, you also said you were going to find someone to help me take care of my relatives, so we’re even.”

It's clear that this child is a grateful person.

“Okay, it’s a deal. You treat my ear, and I’ll find an uncle in the village to take care of your relatives.”

"it is good."

Chunnuan smiled. See how direct it is to make a deal with a child? This is how a contract is established.

"By the way, young lady, what is your surname? And which family are you from?"

"My surname is Xiao, and I am a descendant of Physician Xiao from the capital."

"I've heard of Physician Xiao. He's a very skilled doctor. So you're from Physician Xiao's family. That makes it natural that you know medicine... Wait, that's not right. You're a girl. Why would Physician Xiao teach you medicine?"

"Yes, my grandfather taught me because he saw that I liked to learn."

"That's great, I really envy you."

His eyes were filled with longing and yearning.

Chunnuan knew that what he longed for was the warmth of a family.

"Little Tiger..."

"Coming, Auntie, what's up?"

As soon as he heard someone shout, Xiao Hu sprang up, his movements as agile as a monkey. "We're out of firewood, hurry up and chop some!"

"okay,"

Its small body darted into the kitchen in a flash.

Chunnuan smiled. Being thin has its advantages; she's so agile, like a mud shovel.

Thinking about her analogy, Chunnuan smiled even more happily: It's true that living in Sichuan for a long time has changed my way of thinking.

She returned to her room and opened the package containing the medicinal herbs.

Xiao Hu's ear problem isn't anything serious; it's just caused by internal heat.

Fortunately, she brought all the necessary medicinal herbs.

The formula includes eleven medicinal herbs, such as red peony root, rehmannia root, mulberry bark, chrysanthemum, akebia stem, and angelica root.

The ginger and red dates were dug out again.

After preparing all the medicine, I went to the open space in the back kitchen to see Xiao Hu.

He swung his axe, sending firewood flying.

That movement looks very practiced.

"Young lady, what brings you here? This place is filthy."

"It's alright, my family is from the countryside too, and we also chop firewood."

When I first arrived in Sichuan, we didn't have firewood like this. We had to go to the woods behind the mountain to gather dead branches and rotten leaves, carrying them home in baskets. It was even dirtier than this.

"I've come to bring you your medicine," Chunnuan said. "Rest for a bit, and I'll tell you how to prepare the medicine."

"This is the medicine. It needs to be ground into powder. These medicines are decocted in water. When decocting, add two slices of ginger and two red dates. After decocting, drink the broth. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Then tell me about it."

Chunnuan was afraid he wouldn't understand, so she specifically asked him to repeat it.

Unexpectedly, Xiaohu was completely right.

"You have a great memory."

"Hehe, I don't have any other skills, but I have a good memory."

"Can you read?"

"I can't read," Xiao Hu answered decisively. "If I can't even afford food, then of course I can't afford to go to school."

You really can't blame him for not trying.

For a fleeting moment, Chunnuan had an urge to reach out and stroke his head.

Moreover, I acted on my ideas immediately.

Seeing Chunnuan touch his head, Xiaohu stood there, stunned and motionless.

"I'm sorry, seeing you reminds me of my younger brother at home, so..."

That's really embarrassing.

"Miss, may I call you sister?"

Xiao Hu is the same way; this older sister is really too good.

They cared about his ears, even specially prepared medicine for him, and refused to accept any payment from him.

When my hand touched his head, he was too greedy for that moment of warmth.

This must be what it feels like to be loved!

"Of course, I like having such a smart younger brother as you very much."

Does your younger brother call you "older sister"?

"Yes, sister."

"Is he older than me?"

"Ah."

"If you call him 'elder sister,' does that mean he's my elder brother?"

"Yes," Chunnuan said with a smile, "You will also have many younger brothers and sisters."

"That's great." Xiao Hu raised his sleeve and wiped his face hard, actually wiping away the tears that rolled down his cheeks as a cover.

"Aren't you taking me to the Mobei quarry tomorrow? I'll introduce you to them then."

"I..." Xiao Hu subconsciously looked at his patched clothes: "Will they look down on me?"

"No." Chunnuan was very certain. The Xiao family had never shown any tendency to favor the rich and despise the poor. They were all kind and generous people, and their compassion for the weak was a legacy passed down from their ancestors: "They like smart children."

"That's good."

After handing the medicine to Xiaohu, Chunnuan returned to her room.

Looking at the package of clothes I had given to my father and the others, I thought for a moment and then opened it, taking out the smallest piece of clothing that was relatively the best fit.

"Sister, what brings you here again?"

Little Tiger's eyes were still red. When he saw Chunnuan coming over, he quickly threw down his axe and ran over.

"Try this outfit on and see if it fits you?"

Xiao Hu looked at Chun Nuan in disbelief.

"Since you call me elder sister, you have to listen to me. Come on, put on your new clothes." Without saying a word, Chunnuan took off his old coat and put on the new one: "Hmm, it's a little big and a little long, but it doesn't matter."

Chunnuan tied the cloth strips used to bundle clothes around his waist.

"This way it'll be snug and warm." Chunnuan tied the strips of cloth properly. "I can wear this garment for another year next year."

"Sister."

The little tiger looked up and called for spring warmth.

"Yes, I'm here." He patted his shoulder: "Little brother, you've been good and obedient, this is your reward."

"Sister."

Little Tiger shouted again.

Chunnuan looked at him, puzzled. "Is something wrong?"

"I've never worn new clothes since I can remember, sister. I feel like I'm dreaming today."

Why does this child have to be so sentimental? Spring warmth is making my nose tingle.

"Next time I come, I'll bring you new clothes that fit you well," Chunnuan said. "You must be good and take good care of yourself. If you get sick, see a doctor and take your medicine. Don't delay."

"Sister, it's so good to have a sister."

Xiao Hu couldn't help but hug Chun Nuan and snuggle against her.

This child, Chun Ning, who is fourteen years old, is already a head taller than me, and she is still squeezing her chest.

"Warm..."

Zhao Minghua went out to run errands. When she returned to the inn, she heard that she was in the kitchen. As soon as she came in, she saw this scene.

"What's wrong with you?"

Zhao Minghua stepped forward and dragged Xiao Hu out: "Are you trying to bully people just because you're a local bully?"

"Stop fooling around." Chunnuan grabbed his hand with one hand and Xiaohu with the other: "This is my newly adopted younger brother, don't scare him."

"The newly recognized younger brother?"

Zhao Minghua's eyes widened: He had only been gone for less than a day, how did he suddenly have a brother-in-law?

"You kid..."

Nuannuan is still too young. This kid is very slick in this kind of place. I hope she doesn't get fooled.

“He has a name, Xiao Hu.” Chun Nuan quickly introduced, “Don’t scare him, Xiao Hu, call him Brother Zhao.”

"Brother Zhao?" Xiao Hu remembered: "Sister, is this Brother Zhao your future brother-in-law?"

"Ah."

Spring warmth blushed as she answered.

"Hello brother-in-law, my name is Xiaohu. From now on, we're family."

"You little rascal..." He really is a slippery one, but calling him brother-in-law made him feel all comfortable.

"Little Tiger, what are you shouting about?"

Springtime brings a mix of exasperation and amusement; this child is truly mischievous.