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

Chapter 20 Tenanted in Sha Tin

"Please do not spread the news that Chunnuan examined and prescribed medicine for Master Zhang."

Chunnuan asked him to keep it a secret.

"Why?" Master Zhang was puzzled: "Miss Xiao's medical skills are superb, and moreover... forgive my bluntness, but your family is in dire need of money right now."

With exceptional medical skills and a widespread reputation, wouldn't money flow in continuously?

"Possessing a treasure is a crime. The Xiao family is now like a small boat on a vast ocean, unable to withstand even the slightest storm." Chun Nuan said calmly, "Moreover, what I know is not some extraordinary medical skill; it's just a matter of practice makes perfect."

“Miss Xiao, this…” I don’t want the hundred taels of silver, just two taels: “Miss Xiao, the Xiao family has suffered such a great calamity, and this is the time when we need money.”

Even Mr. Zhang couldn't understand why Xiao Chunnuan, who was short of money, was so stubborn.
“Chunnuan started working at her great-grandfather’s pharmacy when she was three years old. There was a couplet on the door of the pharmacy: ‘I wish there were no illnesses in the world, I would rather the medicine on the shelves gather dust.’” Chunnuan said, “The Xiao family’s ancestral motto is: filial piety, brotherly love, loyalty, trustworthiness, propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame. If it is rightfully yours, you will receive it without missing a penny; if it is not rightfully yours, you will not accept it.”

"The Xiao family, I admire them greatly." Master Zhang gave a thumbs up: "Even though I'm far away in Shu, I've heard of Physician Xiao's deeds many times, it's a pity..."

As spring warmed her eyes, she once again felt a pang of injustice for her grandfather.

"The Xiao family has only reached its current status because of the support of two generations of Imperial Physicians Xiao." Master Zhang continued to complain, "I never imagined they would do such a ruthless thing, ruining most of their reputation."

"Justice resides in the hearts of the people." Seeing that it was getting late, Chunnuan took her leave.

Originally, I wanted to rent an acre of land from Master Zhang, but now I couldn't bring myself to say it, as it would feel like I was asking for it.

"Miss Xiao and Mr. Xiao, please stay for a simple meal." Master Zhang sincerely invited them to stay, "It would also be a good opportunity for you to get to know Miss Xiao."

"I was in a hurry to leave today, I will visit Mr. and Miss Zhang another day."

We're not close enough to need to eat together.

As for Miss Zhang... Xiao Chunnuan doesn't have time to build relationships with these young girls right now.

"This..." Master Zhang saw them to the door, then suddenly remembered something: "Miss Xiao lives on the outskirts of town?"

"Yes, Shuikou Village, east of the town."

“Perfect timing. I have some land over there. If Miss Xiao would like to cultivate it, I can give you a few acres.”

"Thank you very much, Master Zhang." This is truly a person who offers help in times of need. "However, Chunnuan's family consists mostly of women and children, and they really can't cultivate several acres. How about Chunnuan rents an acre from Master Zhang?"

Springtime is the time to rent!
Master Zhang understood immediately after listening carefully and smiled knowingly: This girl is the kind of person who can refuse even a hundred taels of silver, so how could she owe a favor for an acre of land rent?
“Alright, I’ll have Uncle Hu go to the Xiao family later and see which piece of land Miss Xiao needs.”

"Thank you, Master Zhang."

“Miss Xiao, if the Xiao family has any use for the trees and bamboo in that mountain area of ​​Shuikou Village, feel free to cut them down. There’s no need to inform us.”

"Thank you, Master Zhang."

Chunnuan and Chunning once again expressed their gratitude to Master Zhang.

"It is I who should thank you."

This girl is interesting!
On the way back, Chun Ning looked at her older sister several times.

"What are you looking at? Is there something on your face, sister?"

"Sister, you are so amazing!"

Chun Ning said she learned a lot.

"What do you think about my sister refusing Master Zhang's offer of one hundred taels of silver?"

"A gentleman loves money, but he acquires it in a proper way." Chun Ning understood this matter very well: "Sister did a very good job, and Chun Ning should learn from her." "That's right. The Xiao family's reputation cannot be ruined in Sister's hands."

It would be a lie to say I wasn't tempted!
Money is important, but being a good person is even more important, and Chunnuan deeply understands the crux of the matter.

It seems that even at such a young age, Chun Ning understands this.

"Chun Ning, from now on, you will be in charge of many things. Remember that people must have a bottom line: no greed, no anger, no ignorance, no arrogance, and no doubt." Chun Nuan looked at the mountains in the distance covered with magnolia flowers: "When you don't have enough ability to protect yourself and your family, it is also necessary to hide your talents and be patient."

"Sister, Chun Ning understands."

Chun Ning also looked towards that mountain.

"Xiaogang and I will go to that mountain to pick flowers again tomorrow."

"it is good."

Chun Ning didn't know, but Chun Nuan already knew. The mountain covered with magnolias was their ancestral property, acquired by their great-great-grandfather with money he brought back after establishing himself in the capital.

Because my great-grandmother liked magnolias, when my great-great-grandfather wrote to ask his son what kind of tree he wanted to plant, he replied that he wanted to plant magnolias.

Later, after my great-grandfather and his family passed away, my great-grandfather settled down in the capital with his wife and children, and entrusted the ancestral property here to the clan members for management. Every year during the Qingming Festival and other festivals, they would send New Year's gifts and sacrificial fields to Sichuan.

The Xiao clan started as a small group of dozens of idle households, gradually grew and eventually became a powerful clan that dominated the region.

They relied on the two Imperial Physicians Xiao who served as the head of the Imperial Medical Academy. The saying "when one person attains power, even his chickens and dogs rise to heaven" was vividly demonstrated.

The women and children of the Xiao family returned to Sichuan. The Xiao clan opened the ancestral hall, burned incense, and offered sacrifices to their ancestors, announcing the expulsion of the eldest branch of the Xiao family from the clan.

Grandmother fainted from anger, and the family was in a panic and helpless situation, with no time or opportunity to settle scores with them!
A gentleman's revenge is never too late!
Chunnuan secretly made up her mind that what was meant for her would eventually return to her.

"Don't tell your family about what happened at Master Zhang's house today."

"Okay, I understand." Chun Ning also learned to only report good news and not bad news. This family depends on the two of them, siblings, to support it, so they will work together to keep all the storms out of the house.

Not long after Chunnuan and Chunning arrived home, Uncle Hu came to their door.

"Miss Xiao, you have several acres of land right in front of your house. Would you like to take them all?"

The land wasn't leased out; it was being cultivated by the family's farmhands. The master said that Miss Xiao could have whatever she wanted, however much she wanted. What puzzled Uncle Hu was that the rent was the same as that of the other tenant farmers, not a penny less.

"Uncle Hu, none of us have ever farmed before." Chunnuan actually had her eye on a plot of land near her house: "Is this plot okay?"

The rapeseed planted in the field is ready for harvest.

"This land..." Uncle Hu hesitated for a moment before speaking frankly, "The land is sandy, actually a dry field, not very fertile, and the yield is not high. How about I take you to see another piece of land?"

What does "dry land" mean?

"Dry fields are..." Uncle Hu, good heavens, how can a family that can't even distinguish between dry and paddy fields really cultivate a piece of land?
“If you let it dry out, you can grow vegetables, just like soil; if you irrigate it, you can grow millet, and then you can eat rice. It’s great, one field can be used for two purposes.” Chunnuan was even more pleased after hearing this: “Sandy soil is good, turning the soil won’t be so tiring.”

Uncle Hu... people who don't understand are easily satisfied.

Since she's willing, let's take this one.

With their signatures and fingerprints on the agreement, the Xiao family became landowners, albeit as tenants, but that didn't stop them from being happy.

Take it slow, everything will be alright!

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(End of this chapter)