Time flies like a fleeting white steed, swift as a shuttle. A year and a half passed quickly. As Tan Yunxian was advanced in age, her granddaughter grew concerned and personally brought her to live elsewhere. Thus, Miaozhen bid farewell to her master and returned home early with her parents.
She had only three or four changes of clothes but filled three chests with medical books. Her father remained as before—whenever he stopped writing, his entire body ached, and he would often use a wooden mallet to pound his arms and shoulders.
“When we return, I’ll apply moxibustion to your Shousanli and Quchi points. I guarantee you’ll feel completely relieved afterward,” Miaozhen promptly said.
Xu Erpeng nodded repeatedly, eagerly anticipating someone to alleviate his back and waist pains.
The three boarded the boat while the wind was still strong. Miaozhen quickly urged Mei Shi to put on more clothing, as her mother had just given birth to a younger brother at the end of last year and must not catch cold.
Then Mei Shi remarked, “You’ve just turned thirteen, your studies are complete, and you’ve learned medicine. From now on, stay properly at home. Speaking of which, your aunt happens to be getting married soon, and you’ll make it in time.”
“Mother, will Uncle and Da Bomu return from Jinling?” Miaozhen still remembered how her uncle had previously demanded money from the family.
Mei Shi pinched her hand. “Originally, your father and third uncle asked the Huang family to inquire and later wrote to your uncle’s friends, but there was no response. Then, during the Lantern Festival this year, these people finally returned. After coming back, they had nowhere to stay temporarily. They stayed at your third uncle’s house for a few days first. You know your third aunt’s character—when you were six, she gave you five coins and still brings it up to this day. Your grandmother even demanded your aunt’s dowry money from your uncle’s family. With all this back and forth, it became unbearable. Your third uncle then said our family has vacant courtyards and wanted to stay with us, but thankfully your father disagreed.”
“What happened afterward?” Miaozhen asked.
Mei Shi explained, “We previously sold those two rooms to your third uncle for twenty taels in total, but over the years, he has only repaid half in installments. So, your father stated in front of the whole family that each household should lend ten taels to your uncle, so they at least have a place to stay and won’t always depend on others. As for our family’s ten taels, he told your uncle to collect it from your third uncle.”
Hearing this, Miaozhen felt relieved at her father’s shrewdness—transforming from her third uncle’s creditor to her uncle’s creditor. Still, she asked, “What happened next?”
“Your third uncle only produced ten taels, claiming he had fully repaid his debt to your father, and that this ten taels could buy two or three rooms for lodging. However, your uncle’s family took the money and rented two rooms near Dye Lane to live in.”
“How could it come to this? I remember they had so many fine clothes and jewelry—they could just pawn a few pieces. The residents of Dye Lane are a mixed bunch of all sorts, not a good place.”
Xu Erpeng, who had been pounding his back nearby, interjected, “What else could be done? I merely did a favor—managing to squeeze ten taels out of your third uncle for him was already difficult.”
Miaozhen felt thoughtful upon hearing this and couldn’t help reflecting that Ru Shi’s consultation fees were usually around two or three mace, while renowned physicians often charged two or three taels or even up to five taels. If she were to charge fees, she would have to start from just one mace.
Whether in ancient times or modern, to live well and pursue one’s aspirations, one must first secure material comfort. Although her uncle was a tribute scholar, he lived in such poverty that he couldn’t even settle down peacefully.
Thus, earning money remained crucial. Having weathered many trials and now bearing the title of Yang Ruren’s disciple, her circumstances were naturally different from before.
As she pondered this, she yawned. Mei Shi held her close and said, “Sleep for a while. When you wake up, we’ll be home.”
At Xu Dalang’s home, he was also sleeping. He had initially sought refuge with a friend, and after over half a year, managed to secure a job through that friend. However, he accidentally revealed his friend’s secret of keeping a mistress, and soon lost the position. Without support from relatives or connections, Huang Shi had no means to help. Just when they thought their daughter’s gemstone necklace could be used to rent a shop and start a small business—even making him consider lowering himself to engage in trade—they discovered the necklace gifted by the Vice Military Officer’s family was entirely fake.
Left with no choice, he pawned his fur coat. The moment the money was in hand, Huang Shi pleaded to use it for their daughter’s dowry, and he ended up giving it to her.
By the end of the year, Huang Shi gave birth to another child. Unfortunately, due to lack of proper postnatal care, not only did the child die young, but Huang Shi also contracted a postpartum emergency illness. They pawned everything they had left, and in the end, the family had no choice but to return to Suzhou.
“Father, have something to eat. You’ll need to go out later,” Miaoyun brought over a bowl of thin porridge and a plate of pickled vegetables.
Xu Dalang planned to visit Xu Erlang again, hoping to see if he could work as an accountant in his younger brother’s bookstore. That would still be better than laboring for others.
Her parents had been arguing frequently lately, and Miaoyun felt somewhat fearful. Back in Jinling, when her father was dismissed, her marriage prospects fell through as well—all those past events now felt like fleeting clouds.
After returning to Suzhou, her second sister, Miaozhen, became a disciple of the renowned physician Yang Ruren. It was said their second uncle even planned to prepare a generous dowry for her. Their third sister was betrothed to the second son of a carpentry workshop. Hearing that the second sister was studying medicine, she too began learning midwifery from a Wěn pó.
Only Miaoyun seemed to have accomplished nothing.
Thinking of this, she recalled the gem-encrusted necklace the Vice Military Officer’s wife had given her. At the time, her mother and she were overjoyed, even kneeling to kowtow in gratitude. Little did they know the gems were fake, and the chain wasn’t even silver.
Those powerful families had utterly made fools of them. Back then, her mother, unaware of the deception, had even voluntarily waived half a year’s tuition.
“Miss Xu, Miss Xu—”
Seeing an old woman enter from outside, Miaoyun stood up and asked, “Granny Lin, what brings you here?”
Granny Lin was a hair accessory vendor, a widow without steady work, relying on her skills to support her family. Today, however, she was dressed very plainly. She first inquired about Huang Shi: “Where has your mother gone?”
“My mother went to the Fang family to sew clothes.”
Thanks to her uncle’s connections, Huang Shi had quickly found work embroidering wedding quilts and bridal gowns for the Fang family’s bride-to-be.
Hearing this, Granny Lin slapped her thigh in regret. “Your mother told me last time that if anyone needed an embroiderer, I should come to her. And I actually found someone, so I agreed on her behalf. But she’s not here.”
Miaoyun’s heart stirred. “Granny Lin, you can count on me too. Though I’m young, I’ve been doing needlework with my mother for a long time.” She then showed Granny Lin some of her embroidery.
Upon seeing it, Granny Lin noted the fine, tight stitches—far from ordinary—and the fresh, clever patterns. She promptly agreed to the arrangement.
Miaoyun breathed a sigh of relief—at last they could supplement the household income. Once they saved enough money, they wouldn’t have to live in such a place, enduring the condescending looks from relatives. They could buy a fine residence near Xumen or Changmen.
Meanwhile, when Miaozhen and the others arrived in Suzhou, the sun was nearly setting. Upon reaching home, they were startled to find a dark figure standing at the entrance.
“Elder Brother, what are you doing here?” Xu Erpeng was utterly exhausted. He had taken a ferry to Wuxi the previous night, bid farewell to the Yang family early in the morning, and then taken another boat back during the day. After such a tiring journey, he had no energy left to deal with anyone.
Xu Dalang, anxious to find some source of income and having nothing else to do, ignored the situation and said, “I wanted to ask if you need an accountant here?”
Xu Erpeng replied, “Li Huoji handles the accounts. He manages them daily.”
He preferred not to employ acquaintances, opting instead for those who were knowledgeable yet timid, as they were easier to manage. Li Huoji had been working for him for two or three years and was far more capable than the previous assistant.
After all, theirs was a small workshop, not one of those large printing houses with hundreds of workers. There was no need for a dedicated accountant.
But Xu Dalang stammered, “I see Li Huoji is quite busy and might sometimes be overwhelmed. If we added an accountant—”
“I’d like to, but where would the money come from?” Xu Erpeng understood his meaning and refused outright.
He knew the principle that relatives should not share finances. It was better to refuse from the start than to be vague and cause resentment later by ultimately rejecting the idea.
Seeing that the servants of the second branch had all gathered after he entered, Xu Dalang felt awkward sitting there like a fool. Without even saying goodbye, he left.
Since the adults could handle their affairs, Miaozhen didn’t bother meddling. She first had the maids and servants carry the luggage upstairs to unpack, then stayed with her parents, waiting for the kitchen to deliver the meal.
Jian Ge’er and his younger brother Kun Ge’er were already asleep. She heard that Jian Ge’er had started attending the nearby Community School instead of having a tutor at home. Her father said that talent for studying was apparent at a glance and there was no need to make special arrangements.
Soon, Yuxiang prepared several dishes. Everyone was exhausted and hungry, so they ate heartily.
After the meal, her father immediately retreated to his study to write, while her mother accompanied her to the rear tower. Along the way, they shared some private words: “Your father says you’ll be turning fifteen in two years, which is the age for marriage. We should all be frugal these next few years to save up for a dowry of over a thousand taels, so you can marry into a good family later.”
Miaozhen blushed. “It’s still early.”
“Not really. If we wait until you’re older to arrange a marriage, it’ll be too late. Miaolian is already engaged to the youngest son of the carpentry workshop, though your third aunt and the others are somewhat dissatisfied, thinking his family isn’t good enough,” Mei Shi said.
Miaozhen asked, “If they’re not good enough, why did they agree?”
Mei Shi laughed. “They just say that. Few in-laws are ever fully satisfied with their sons-in-law, just as few mothers-in-law truly like their daughters-in-law.”
Miaozhen smiled. “That’s true.”
As they reached the room, Miaozhen took Mei Shi’s pulse and asked, “Have you experienced any discomfort since giving birth?”
Mei Shi simply shook her head. She felt it inappropriate to share such private matters with her daughter and insisted there was nothing. Miaozhen said, “If you ever feel unwell, you must tell me.”
“Alright.” Mei Shi moved to help her daughter take down her hair.
After Miaozhen had her hair undone, a servant brought hot water. She then saw Mei Shi out before bathing and freshening up.
Xiao Xi and Xiao Tao said, “Miss, isn’t it better to be back home?”
“Of course, it’s always better at home.” Miaozhen rested her head against the edge of the bathtub.
Meanwhile, after Xu Dalang returned home, Huang Shi quarreled with him again, essentially berating him for his incompetence. Xu Dalang retorted coldly, “If I were incompetent, how could you have been an official’s wife before? You were jealous of Gao Zhiyuan’s wife and desperately urged me to expose his affair, saying we couldn’t let Mrs. Gao be deceived. I exposed it, and now I’ve lost my position, and our daughter’s marriage prospects are ruined.”
Huang Shi’s face flushed and paled alternately upon hearing this. She scolded again, “I told you not to go to Jinling, that troublesome place, but you insisted. Isn’t it because your family is insatiably greedy—”
“My family greedy? At least my brother lent me ten taels of silver.” Xu Dalang refused to back down.
…
Miaoyun pulled the quilt over her head, burying herself. This wasn’t a home—it was constant noise and arguing. She thought of the household Old Lady Lin had taken her to that day. The young girl there was innocent and carefree, the lady of the house was kind and amiable. Miaoyun had helped embroider horse-face skirts with floral patterns and trim for the collars. The family’s little girl, only six years old, had sweetly called her “sister.”
But when the lady mentioned wanting to find a tutor for her daughter, Miaoyun, almost as if possessed, had impersonated her cousin, claiming to have been taught for several years by Chou Niangzi.
She had once heard her second aunt say that Chou Niangzi’s reputation had soared in the Three Wu regions due to praise from her brother, Censor Chou. Upon hearing that Miaoyun was taught by Chou Niangzi—though now her family had fallen on hard times—the lady immediately considered hiring her as a tutor for the Girls’ School.