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

When Chunnuan and her group set off, Xiaohu, wearing a new cotton-padded coat, came along with them.

Along the way, Xiao Hu acted as their guide.

When passing through an area frequented by bandits, Xiao Hu told Chun Nuan to be careful.

"Sister, no matter what happens, you must not go out in the carriage."

It seems this kid knows something about the situation.

With spring approaching, I'm also a little worried about encountering trouble.

As it turns out, what you worry about most is what happens most often.

"This mountain was opened up for me, this tree was planted for me; if you want to pass through, leave some money for the road."

The caravan stopped, and Chunnuan's heart was pounding.

She discreetly touched the powder in her pocket; she would have to step in if necessary.

"Heroes, heroes, we are from the Zhou Family Trading Company. Please do us a favor." Team leader Zhu Sige hurriedly stepped forward to negotiate, handing over a money bag: "This is from our Seventh Master Zhou, treating the brothers to a cup of tea. You've all worked hard."

The leader weighed the money bag in his hand.

"Alright, please give my regards to Master Zhou."

"I will definitely deliver it."

With a wave of his hand, the group stepped aside to make way.

We got through this hurdle safely.

Spring warmth lifted the weight off my heart.

Indeed, one must know the rules to navigate the world of martial arts.

"Sister, who is this Master Zhou?"

Xiao Hu expressed his admiration, saying that there aren't many who can make a mountain king easily surrender his troops.

“He’s the owner of a merchant house in Changzhou.” Chunnuan understood that Master Zhou’s name carried weight here, not because he had any real ability, but because he had connections.

See? It doesn't even need to wait for others to do it; it just comes to them on its own.

I have to say, there are some things you can't skimp on. It's about saving a lot of money by spending a little, which is great. I'll tell Chun Ning about it when I get back.

Once the caravan reached the northern desert, Zhu Sige and his group went about their business.

Zhao Minghua, along with Chunnuan and Qingsheng, went to the quarry led by Xiaohu.

"Uncle Ma".

Xiao Hu called out to the burly man standing at the entrance of the quarry, "Uncle Ma, it's me, Xiao Hu. I've come to see you."

"Little Tiger, you brat, what are you doing here instead of helping out at the inn?" The burly man was taken aback, then shouted, "Are you trying to slack off?"

"No, Xiaohu brought his older sister here to find her relatives."

Chunnuan quickly stepped forward and explained her purpose.

"Are you Xiao Changhe's relative?"

"Yes, please do me the favor and let my daughter meet my father and the others."

"Uncle Ma, she is also Little Tiger's older sister."

"You little brat, you've grown some guts, haven't you? You even acknowledge your elder sister now?" She looked Xiao Hu up and down: "Whose clothes are you wearing?"

"It was a gift from my older sister." Ma Zhuanghan looked at Chunnuan with new respect: "My older sister also treated Xiaohu's ears."

Xiao Hu lost both his parents at a young age and grew up relying on the kindness of others in the village. Everyone in the village took good care of him.

However, every household has its share of problems, and making money is not easy. The clothes that could be given to Xiaohu were ones that even their own children could no longer wear, so his clothes were almost all patched and patched.

Unexpectedly, this girl offered a new outfit and even treated Xiaohu's ear.

What happened to your ear?

"It's red, swollen, and itchy," Little Tiger said. "My sister gave me medicine, and after two days, it's much better now. Look, Uncle Ma, look..."

At this time, Xiaohu was just a child, and he stepped forward to show off his ears.

"You..." Ma Zhuanghan looked at it, then looked at Chunnuan: "Did the young lady heal you?"

"It got better after taking some medicine."

The effect is quite good; at least it's not as red and swollen anymore, and naturally, there's no more pus.

"Truly worthy of being a descendant of Physician Xiao. Um, young lady, could you take a look at my wife?"

"Uncle Ma, what's wrong with Aunt Ma?"

“I’m sick and can’t get out of bed,” Ma Zhuanghan said. “I’ve seen all the doctors here, but it’s no use.”

"Sister, please help me, let Aunt Ma take a look," Xiao Hu pleaded. "I heard that my mother died young, and I didn't have any breast milk, so I drank a lot of Aunt Ma's milk."

"Okay, I can take a look."

But are you sure you don't want me to go see my family first?

"Thank you, young lady, thank you so much!" Ma Zhuanghan said excitedly. "Please wait a moment, young lady, I'll send someone to fetch your family right away."

At Ma Zhuanghan's shout, a soldier immediately ran over.

"Go and tell Xiao Changhe's family that they have relatives visiting," Ma Zhuanghan said. "Tell the three Xiao brothers that they don't need to work today."

Turning to Chunnuan, he said, "The younger generation still has to do things, and there are some rules that must be followed."

If someone's relatives come and everyone stops working, he won't be able to explain himself.

"Thank you."

"Thank you," Ma Zhuanghan said. "But what about my wife's illness?"

"Please wait a moment. My daughter will go to see the doctor with you after she has met with her family."

"Thank you very much."

Ma Zhuanghan felt as if he had seen a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

Xiao Changhe and his family are working hard at the quarry.

Although I've learned a few shortcuts, they're really just shortcuts; you can't use them too often, or you'll be exposed.

Their exile to the northern desert was for twenty years, a long time indeed. Some methods needed to be used sparingly and cleverly, reserved for crucial moments.

"One, two, three, lift!" After exerting tremendous effort, their faces flushed red, the two brothers lifted a stone.

They walked while chanting work slogans.

To be honest, when I first came to the northern desert, I couldn't lift this rock even if I used all my strength.

Whether it's due to practice making perfect or the use of techniques, after developing thick calluses on their shoulders, the brothers were able to easily handle this high-intensity work.

Even when a heavy burden is placed on your shoulders, you still have to look like you're struggling; otherwise, it will only make the burden feel heavier and heavier.

"Xiao Changhe, Xiao Changhe."

A soldier ran over.

"What are your orders, officer?"

There's no way around it; even a young kid has to call you "Officer."

"Your family has come to visit you. Uncle Ma wants you three brothers to hurry to the door."

what?
Family visit?

The things that Xiao Changhe and his brother were carrying on their shoulders slipped off and fell to the ground, almost hitting the feet of the people next to them.

"Officer, are you sure they're family?"

Who has arrived, Chun Ning?
Yes, it must be him.

That child was just a month shy of turning twelve when he was born. He was lucky enough to escape exile, and he's only a little over fourteen this year. He traveled such a long way to visit them all by himself... Just thinking about how much hardship he must have gone through along the way makes my nose sting.

"What are you all standing there for? If you weren't family, would Uncle Ma have sent me to call you?"

Yes, that's right. Let's hurry and go take a look.

It's Chun Ning, it must be him.

The three Xiao brothers all ran to the door.

When they saw the person in front of them, they were stunned: "Nuan Nuan?"

They could hardly believe their eyes. Nuannuan, a girl, had traveled thousands of miles to the northern desert.

"Nuan Nuan, what brings you here?"

"Nuan Nuan greets her eldest uncle, father, and third uncle," Chun Nuan stepped forward to pay her respects.

"Get up, get up." The three men's eyes were full of glistening tears. The situation was so dire that a young woman had traveled a long way to visit them.

"You must be exhausted from the journey. Nuannuan has suffered a lot."

"Nuannuan is alright," Chunnuan said. "You've all suffered. Brothers..."

"They're still busy, they'll be home later."

Yes, let's go home!

Xiao Changhe quickly replied, "Let's talk about it when we get home."

Looking up, I saw Zhao Minghua and Xiao Hu standing behind Chun Nuan, and Qing Sheng behind them.

"This is?"

The young man is quite good-looking, but the child... doesn't seem like one of our own.

Even if we haven't seen each other for more than two years, my own child shouldn't look like this.

"Uncle, Father, Third Uncle, I am Zhao Minghua, and I am Nuannuan's fiancé."

In this situation, Zhao Minghua naturally couldn't stay out of the way, so he stepped forward and introduced himself.

"Uncle, Father, Third Uncle, I am Xiao Hu, my elder sister's younger brother."

In his excitement, Xiao Hu rushed forward as well, but what he said was quite strange.

"Alright, alright, we're all family, we're all family, let's go home."

Chun Ning mentioned Zhao Minghua in her family letter, saying that it was a marriage arranged by Nuan Nuan in Changzhou.

In her letter, Chun Ning also spoke highly of Zhao Minghua, because what good would it do to say bad things?
The Xiao family is destined never to return to the capital, and the elder sister can no longer betrothed to a high-ranking family in the capital.

In Sichuan, the Zhao family was considered to have some wealth.

Elevating Zhao Minghua's status and position as much as possible is also a way to make my sister look good.

Therefore, Xiao Changhe and his group were able to accept this future son-in-law.

Furthermore, seeing that he was handsome and eloquent, I was naturally even more satisfied.

Yes, that's right. All three of Xiao Changhe's brothers are now clear: the Xiao family is not what it used to be.

My daughter traveled thousands of miles to the northern desert; without this young man accompanying her, she certainly wouldn't have made it.

Regardless, the fact that he was able to protect Nuannuan and get her there safely after traveling such a long distance shows that he has some skill.

As for this little tiger, his background is unknown, and it's no easy feat for him to gain Nuannuan's approval.

Xiao Changhe led the group back to their "home".

As Chunnuan looked at the few simple rooms, with the roof almost letting in the wind, her nose felt very sore.

"Uncle, let someone renovate this roof," Chunnuan said. "It will be drafty and frosty when it rains or snows."

"Renovation is planned."

In fact, their money was limited, and even the silver notes that Nuannuan and the others had brought with them were far from enough.

In this run-down place, it costs a lot to get a decent meal, let alone vegetables and meat.

The Xiao family has understood one principle since childhood: health is the most important thing, and being well-fed, warmly dressed, and free from cold is the guiding principle.

So they spent most of their money on food.

Because of this, the Xiao family members have been getting healthier and healthier since the last plague, unlike other families who are prone to catching colds and coughs.

Of course, I benefited even more from the pills that my family sent me.

Also, in order to have more freedom, it is necessary to "pay tribute" to the police officers when necessary.

As a result, sometimes they turn a blind eye, and everyone is a little better off.

"Oh, right, Nuannuan, you guys sit down, I'll go cook something."

Uncle San rolled up his sleeves: "Nuan Nuan doesn't know yet, but Uncle San can cook now."

"Third Uncle, let me do it."

When Chunnuan saw the scars on her third uncle's arm, she almost burst into tears. The Xiao family had truly gone through a trial from heaven to hell!

One by one, they have transformed from pampered ladies and gentlemen who never lifted a finger into self-reliant individuals.

"Nuan Nuan, you rest, we'll do it. We all know how to cook." Xiao Changhe said, "Try our cooking skills, they're not bad."

"Uncle, Third Uncle, Xiao Hu is here to help."

Xiao Hu, the handyman, is a professional and got the hang of things right away.

"I'm going to help too."

Zhao Minghua volunteered to help start the fire.

As Chunnuan watched the several grown men bustling about in the small kitchen, she felt both heartache and relief.

Indeed, nothing is immutable.

"Warmth, home..."

Xiao Changhe cautiously inquired about his family's situation.

"Uncle, everything is fine at home."

He then handed over the family letters to them one by one, including his third uncle's.

She didn't know what her third aunt, Huang, would write in her family letters.
Will you write about her wanting to send her daughter back to the Huang family as a concubine?

Hmm, I probably wouldn't dare!

Although the Xiao family is no longer the same as it used to be, as my aunt said, rules still need to be followed.

"Mu Yang can read and recognize medicine now?"

Xiao Changhe was very surprised after reading his wife's letter: "How old is he?"

"Mu Yang has a good memory and is very smart. His aunt said that he should inherit the Xiao family's mantle."

“Okay,” Xiao Changhe said. “Our generation is incompetent. When your grandfather had that accident, none of us could have helped. Luckily, you were there…”

It would feel like I've let down my ancestors.

"Uncle, it's not your fault. As long as our family is still here and safe and sound, that's all that matters."

"But your grandmother..."

The old lady passed away, and the three brothers embraced and wept bitterly. The whole family also observed mourning here.

"It's Nuannuan's fault for not taking good care of her grandmother and failing her grandfather's trust."

"It's not your fault, child. You're very good. I'm so glad you're here."

Xiao Changhe knew everything Chunnuan had done; his wife had told him everything in a letter from home.

It even described Huang's words and actions.

“Your third aunt has some minor issues. I’ll have your third uncle write her a letter to give her a little nudge.”

"It's not my fault, Auntie. Every mother has her own wishes."

“But we can’t embarrass the Xiao family, that’s the bottom line.” Xiao Changhe said, “We can’t go back to attend your marriage with the Zhao family, but that kid seems pretty good, so we’ll feel much more at ease if we can see him.”

Spring is here... If we're talking about people who know how to win hearts and minds, then the one with the surname Zhao has to be it.

Along the way, he chatted with his uncle and the others, which shortened the distance between them and earned him a good reputation among the three elders.

"Who is Xiaohu?"

One is the future son-in-law of the Xiao family, and the other is a servant during the birthday celebration; this is not hard to tell.

Is it that kid named Xiaohu?

"He was a child from the post station..."

As spring warms up, the story of Xiaohu's origins is revealed.

“No wonder,” Xiao Changhe said. “Ma Zhuanghan is a notorious tyrant in the mine. I was wondering why he was so kind as to let us out early today. It turns out it was this Xiao Hu who helped us.”

"Yes, he also said that several of his uncles in the village work at the mine, and he will ask him to go and find them later."

"Nuan Nuan, thank you for your trouble."

Xiao Changhe lamented that he was not as insightful as his niece.

Back then, she was someone who stayed inside the pharmacy, never venturing out. A major upheaval drastically changed her personality, showing how much suffering she endured to grow into the person she is today.

"By the way, Uncle, I need to go see that Manager Ma's wife. Do you have any instructions for me?" (End of Chapter)