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

What did your father and the others say?

When Xu heard that her son was going to discuss marriage with the Wen family's daughter, she was not at ease, and her head started to ache even more.

"My uncle means to take another look."

Marriage is not as simple as two people sleeping in one bed with a blanket rolled up like ordinary people.

The Xiao family was guilty of crimes, and once Old Master Xiao's head was chopped off, all grudges were settled.

However, the Wen family was different; they had a concubine named Wen in their harem.

Every move of Consort Wen is related to the life and death of the Wen family.

"Your uncle's concerns are valid."

Upon hearing this answer, Xu felt inexplicably relieved.

Yes, it's worrying not to find a wife, and it's also worrying to marry a woman from the Wen family.

"Yes, our Xiao family can't withstand any more setbacks."

Aunt Xu also said, "Normally speaking, the Wen family should disdain a marriage alliance with the Xiao family."

Those who take a liking to the Xiao family's sons are most likely after General Xia Guangcheng of Huaiyuan.

In situations like these, it's crucial to stay calm and not let others succeed.

"I'd rather marry a girl from a humble family than marry into a wealthy or powerful family."

Ms. Xu nodded: "I agree with that."

It must be said that my aunt and my mother share similar views to a large extent.

These two sisters-in-law really know how to get along.

Chunnuan glanced at her third aunt Huang's courtyard.

I don't know what her third uncle wrote in his letters home, but I guess he scolded her quite a bit.

Sure enough, Huang burst into tears after reading the letter.

"Ungrateful wretch, the whole family are ungrateful wretches! Who am I doing this for? They actually warned me not to even think about trying to curry favor with the Huang family..."

Enraged, she tore a letter home to shreds and lay on her bed, sobbing uncontrollably.

"I never gave up back then. I brought my children all the way to Sichuan, living a life of hunger and hardship. You don't appreciate my kindness and even think I've changed. Do you have any conscience?"

“This whole family treats me like an outsider. I work so hard to plan for my child, and they still think I'm wrong…”

Huang cried and cursed at the same time.

Chunqiang heard this from the doorway and tried to go in to persuade them several times, but in the end he silently withdrew.

"Chunqiang, what are you doing standing there?"

Chun Ning beckoned: "Come here."

"Brother Ning..."

Chunqiang is young, and there are many things he still doesn't understand.

"What's wrong? Ask me if you have any questions. I'm your brother, not an outsider."

"Brother, why is my mother crying? Does it mean my father doesn't want her anymore?"

Chun Ning was startled.

"No, don't talk nonsense," Chun Ning said. "Do you know why your mother is crying?"

“My mother scolded our Xiao family for being ungrateful, but aren’t we all human? How did we become ungrateful wretches…”

Well, Chun Ning's face didn't look good anymore.

After my third aunt came to Sichuan, her personality really changed drastically. She always felt that everyone had wronged her.

The letter that my sister painstakingly brought back this time might actually get her scolded by my third uncle, so she took the opportunity to scold the entire Xiao family.

"Brother Ning..."

"Don't tell anyone about this," Chun Ning quickly reassured him. "Your mother must be ill."

Yes, Chun Ning felt that her third aunt looked unwell, and her whole demeanor was off.

Sometimes he seems gloomy, and his eyes lose their luster.

I need to talk to my older sister about this.

After comforting Chunqiang and teaching him to read and write, Chunning went to find Chunnuan herself.

"Sister, what did you say to Uncle San in the Northern Desert?"

"I've said everything, though I haven't even mentioned my talents."

However, she told her uncle.

The eldest uncle is the head of the family, so it's more appropriate for him to talk to the third uncle about certain things.

"Chunqiang said that his third aunt was cursing and crying after reading the letter."

Spring is here... It seems that her third uncle reprimanded her in his letter home.

However, it had no effect; on the contrary, it had the opposite effect.

"Sister, if you have time, could you take a look at Auntie? I think she's sick."

Is my third aunt sick?

Chun Ning recounted what she had observed.

“She’s been like this for quite some time now. There’s no vitality in her face at all, and she can’t seem to muster any energy for anything,” Chun Ning said. “She doesn’t interrupt when my mother and aunt are chatting. Most of the time, she’s in her room reading or teaching Chun Qiang and Chun Xin to read and write. Sometimes she’s patient, and sometimes she gets angry and hits their palms hard with a ruler…”

"Didn't your aunt say anything about her?"

"Ever since she decided to send her younger sister back to the Huang family, her aunt has grown tired of her and rarely speaks to her."

So, is the Huang family being separated from the Huang family by their two older sisters-in-law?
Chunnuan knew that the three sisters-in-law were all well-educated and polite people, and they used to get along very well.

After the Xiao family's misfortune, they worked together to overcome the difficulties.

After arriving in Sichuan, they both tried their best to adapt to this impoverished life and never gave up on each other.

However, the last time my third aunt had an inappropriate thought, she was scolded by my eldest aunt; in addition, my third aunt probably also had a problem with her dowry, and so things escalated into trouble.

“Okay, I’ll find an opportunity to talk to my third aunt.”

After thinking for a moment, Chun Nuan went to find the pills she had made.

She waited until Huang had vented her emotions before going in to find her.

Is Third Aunt home?

Huang was sitting there in a daze.

She couldn't understand why her once peaceful life had turned out this way.

Her sisters-in-law ignored her, her children kept their distance from her, and even her husband in the northern desert wrote to criticize her.

How could she have become an unforgivable sinner for the sake of her children and her family?

Hearing Chunnuan's voice, she was very excited.

Yes, it was that brat who went to the northern desert to complain. She must have exaggerated something, which is why her husband reprimanded her. Right now, he wishes he could jump out and scratch Hua Chunnuan's face.

But she can't!

She had to endure it.

Huang endured the pain with great difficulty, her fingernails digging deeply into her palms.

She didn't say anything.

Spring warmth entered uninvited at the door.

"Third Aunt, are you resting?" Chunnuan knew that she would have to rely on Madam Huang to invite her in, and she figured she wouldn't be able to get through the door today.

"Third Aunt, you didn't look well when I came back. Did you not sleep well?" Chunnuan took out the pills and placed them on the small table: "These are medicines to nourish the heart and calm the mind. Just take one pill before going to bed every night. It will help you sleep."

"Thank you very much."

Huang wanted to say she didn't want anyone's medicine, but what she said aloud was different.

Moreover, she really couldn't sleep well—no, not just couldn't sleep well, she couldn't fall asleep at all, night after night.

She was extremely irritable. Chunnuan's pills were indeed effective, and she wouldn't lose anything by keeping them.

"Third Aunt, let me take your pulse."

"No need, I'm not sick."

Huang instinctively tried to pull her hand back.

With quick reflexes, Chunnuan grabbed her right hand and pressed it down.

“I took the pulses of my eldest uncle, third uncle, and brothers in the northern desert. They suffered a lot there. They ate poor food and had to do heavy work all day long, which took a toll on their health.” Chunnuan said while taking their pulses. “When I came back, I found that my eldest aunt and mother also had some health problems. My third aunt should also need to take care of herself.”

Chunnuan pressed down on Huang's hand and forcibly took her pulse.

After examining the right hand, I examined the left hand.

"Third Aunt, how long has it been since your period came?"

Huang's face immediately turned bright red.

"Third Aunt, I'm a doctor." Chunnuan said, "You don't need to be shy. You're still so young. Not having your period is also a kind of illness. You need to take medicine."

Huang remained silent.

Although she knew Chunnuan was right, she didn't like Chunnuan telling on her, harming her while pretending to be a good person.

"Third Aunt, I know you may have some misunderstanding about me."

Chun Nuan sighed inwardly: Chun Ning was right, Huang Shi was indeed ill.

"No matter what you think of me, you have to believe that Nuannuan has no bad intentions and only wants what's best for the family and the Xiao family. You are sick and you need to take your medicine."

"I'm not sick, I'm perfectly fine."

Huang denied it outright.

"Third Aunt, I went to the Northern Desert to see Third Uncle and the others. The whole family is persevering and waiting for the day we can return to the capital." Chunnuan advised, "No matter how much you misunderstand us, you must not upset yourself. Think about it, if one day we all return to the capital, but you can't go back, what was the point of leaving the capital in the first place?"

Unwilling to divorce, he insisted on following the women of the Xiao family to Sichuan, enduring all kinds of hardships, all for the day when he and his wife could be reunited.

“When a woman loses her husband, she will observe mourning and erect a memorial arch for her chastity.” Chunnuan gave her a drastic dose of advice: “But, Third Aunt, how many men in the world have you seen who have lost their wives, observed mourning, and erected memorial arches for their chastity?”

"Weren't they all already looking for a second wife even before their first wife died?"

"Life is not easy for women in this world. Don't get upset over anything. If you're sick, get treatment. If it can't be cured, that's fine; but you shouldn't give up as long as there's a glimmer of hope." Chunnuan said, "The most important thing for a woman is to love herself. Only when you are well will your children have someone to rely on, and your husband will truly be your husband..."

Yeah, why should I die?
I've endured so much suffering and hardship. I've survived this poor life from the capital to Sichuan. If the Xiao family returns to the capital to live a good life, but I'm gone, and Xiao Sanlang will remarry... No, no, I can't die!

Upon hearing Chunnuan's words, Huang Shi trembled with excitement.

"Third Aunt, don't get agitated."

Chunnuan knew that her harsh words had hit a nerve, so she quickly helped her up: "You're not feeling well right now. I'll make sure you get better as soon as I get back. Don't worry, just take the medicine as I told you and take care of yourself. You'll get better soon."

Huang looked at Chunnuan.

“Third Aunt, believe me. I swear in the name of the Xiao family’s medical practice: you are my patient, and I will definitely be able to cure your illness.”

This time, Huang did not object.

Spring warmth came when she asked about her menstrual cycle.

"It's been four months since I last came."

If a husband is still alive, and he hasn't come for four months, it should be a happy occasion.

But since her husband wasn't there, and she didn't come, that meant she was ill.

"You're overthinking, which is affecting your sleep."

If you don't sleep well, don't eat well, and are in a bad mood, your health will suffer.

Chunnuan knew that Huang had contracted a disease called epilepsy.

This illness is characterized by low mood, pessimism, and negativity, accompanied by talking to oneself, silly laughter, auditory and visual hallucinations, delusions, and so on.

To cure this disease, it's not just about taking medicine; the cooperation of family members is also crucial.

Chunnuan first instructed Huang to take the pills she had prepared, and then went back to the pharmacy to get other medicines.

However, the most important thing is to talk to your aunt.

"What did you say? She's sick?"

"Yes, Aunt, Third Aunt's illness is very serious."

You can tell from his eyes that if he doesn't get treatment soon, it could have serious consequences.

"she……"

Madam Xu frowned deeply: "Such a capable and learned person, she disdains to chat and joke with me and your mother. She stays alone in her room, either reading or teaching the children to read and write. How did she get sick?"

“Aunt, my third aunt’s illness is caused by suppressing her inner thoughts for a long time, or not being able to find anyone to talk to. When she keeps them to herself, she starts to overthink, and the more she thinks, the more complicated it becomes, until she can’t get out of it.”

"If she won't come out, am I supposed to tie her up and force her to come out?"

“You should go out and get some sun more often, and take her with you when you chat,” Chunnuan said. “Although she doesn’t handle some things well, she can’t make decisions on her own with her aunt keeping an eye on her.”

"okay, I get it."

Madam Xu also felt somewhat guilty: "It's my fault for not taking care of her properly. Nuannuan, you have to make sure she gets proper treatment. Don't let anything serious happen to her. How are we going to explain this to your third uncle when he comes back?"

“Yes, I will,” Chunnuan said. “I also talked to my third aunt for a while, and she should be able to understand some things now.”

"It's not necessarily a good thing for a person to be well-read," Xu sighed. "Of the three of us sisters-in-law, she's the most educated. She never speaks her mind and keeps everything bottled up inside. Now look what's happened; she's made herself sick from all that pent-up thoughts."

“Mother, please show more concern for Third Aunt, considering that she is ill.”

"Okay, okay, I understand."

Mrs. Xu was very troubled: "This family has so many problems, one after another."

"Yes, it's almost Chinese New Year, so we should start preparing for Nuannuan's wedding."

"It's still early. We'll hold it after Grandmother's mourning period ends."

"We have to wait, but there are some things that need to be taken care of." Madam Xu said, "We didn't have the means before, but now that we have some extra money, Nuannuan, I'll buy you a few maids."

“Aunt, we don’t need a maid,” Chunnuan said. “We can just use the Zhao family’s maid.”

In the past, when Chunnuan was in the Xiao family, she rarely needed to use maids.

She handled almost everything on her own.

In the past two years, she has been the pillar of the Xiao family and is no longer used to using maids.

"You child, you have to use it, it's about saving face."

When a daughter from a wealthy family gets married, she must have a dowry maid and a maidservant.

"Alright, let's choose two clever ones, preferably ones who can read."

"As for appearance..." Xu continued, "Someone honest and reliable, would that work?"

"Row."

Chunnuan understood her aunt's meaning; sometimes, the maids who accompanied the bride had other uses.

But Chunnuan had no intention of doing such things; she couldn't tolerate such a thing.

"What are your requirements for choosing a concubine?" (End of Chapter)