When Xu Erpeng found Cheng Dashe, he initially expected difficulties. To his surprise, the matter was settled smoothly. Cheng Dashe didn’t ask many questions and directly provided a recommendation letter, adding, “The local prefect is my father’s former examination cohort.”
Xu Erpeng expressed profuse gratitude. Hearing that both Ru Shi and Tao Shi had personally come to recommend candidates—whom Cheng Dashe had declined—filled Xu Erpeng with a sense of lifelong devotion. After leaving, he reflected with awe: influential families truly excel at recruiting talent.
Regardless, he instructed Miaozhen: “You must work diligently at the Cheng family from now on. Here is the letter of appointment—keep it safe.”
Such letters were typically used for hiring tutors or advisors, demonstrating the Cheng family’s respect for scholars. Unfolding it, she read: “To Physician Xu: Our mother requires urgent treatment. Having long heard of your brilliance as a disciple of Wuxi’s Yang Ruren, renowned for exceptional skill and compassion, we formally appoint you as an honored practitioner with a monthly stipend of three taels and six mace.”
Three taels and six mace was quite generous. Mei Shi rejoiced for her daughter, though concerns about Xu Dalang lingered.
The men threatening Xu Dalang, seeing Xu Erpeng ignore them and Xu Sanlang abandon his shop overnight with his family, grew frustrated. The schemer slapped Xu Dalang twice: “Look at you—a universally despised pest.”
Xu Dalang sobbed, convinced of his brothers’ heartlessness. Finding only impoverished laborers near his home and his wife and children gone, the men visited the Huang family and Huang’s uncle. Both cursed Xu Dalang’s incompetence but offered no money.
Eventually, Huang’s uncle provided ten taels, urging them to seek the Xu family. Dissatisfied with the meager sum, the men dragged Xu Dalang to the magistrate, where he received twenty strokes—sparing others involvement.
Xu Erpeng breathed a sigh of relief; Mei Shi smiled. The third branch of the Xu family reappeared, though Xu Yiming vanished after his beating, likely hiding in shame.
With this settled, the second branch prepared Miaozhen’s luggage. Mei Shi hired a tailor to make three new outfits in moon-white, goose-yellow, and pea-green. Miaozhen herself brought Lai Wang and Xiao Xi to a nearby handkerchief shop for white gauze and silk handkerchiefs as gifts. She also cut coarse paper for daily expenses and bought colored silk threads from a specialty shop.
Her grandfather Mei Juren sent five hundred coins for travel expenses. Qiao Yimu’s family delivered red and green silks, inviting Miaozhen for a farewell meal—which she declined. Third Uncle contributed a string of coins and two boxes of fruit-filled steamed cakes. Neighbors like the Ma and Tao families also sent gifts.
Xiao Xi packed tea leaves: Songluo tea for esteemed guests, and unnamed local Suzhou tea—cheap yet pleasant—costing fifty coins per full jar.
Not to mention the rose soap for washing hair, several eggs, the five-spice powder for bathing, and various other items, along with her medical books, various medical cases, and prescriptions—almost filling three trunks.
And this was already after simplifying; otherwise, there would have been even more.
Mei Shi looked at the chaotic scene and couldn’t help but say, “You just returned not long ago, and now you’re leaving again. I really can’t bear to part with you. It’s all your uncle’s fault—if it weren’t for him, how wonderful it would be for our family to stay together.”
“Regardless, this matter has helped us overcome a difficult time. It’s just that I never expected Uncle to be so dishonest.” Miaozhen recalled the first time she saw her uncle, with his impressive and dignified appearance, and couldn’t help but sigh.
Mei Shi waved her hand dismissively. “Your father said he played a good hand of cards terribly. Well, never mind, it’s not important now. What matters is you—you’ll be coming of age in a year or two. Your father says that although Jinling is a place of unparalleled prosperity and the Cheng Family is a powerful and noble household, you mustn’t let it dazzle your eyes. In a year or so, when we find a suitable husband for you, don’t be shy—you’re a grown girl now. We’ll bring you back then.”
“I think the same way, but first of all, I don’t want any marriage between close relatives.” It wasn’t that Miaozhen was unwilling to pursue love freely, but as a girl from a modest family, her upbringing was strict, and she seldom had the chance to meet men outside the family.
Judging people by appearance wasn’t ideal either. It would be better to rely on Xu Erpeng, who was knowledgeable, cautious, and experienced.
So, she could only let her father make the choice.
But marrying a close relative was her bottom line—that was unacceptable.
Mei Shi chuckled. “As for your cousins on your mother’s side, don’t even think about it. They haven’t even read as many books as you have.”
“That’s true,” Miaozhen laughed in agreement.
Then she added, “Please tell Father not to overwork himself. While I’m at the Cheng Family, I can also save some money.”
Mei Shi smoothed her daughter’s hair. “You know how important a generous dowry is in Jiangnan. Your father and I want to find you a good match—how could we not prepare a proper dowry?”
“Father really has it hard. When he was young, if his parents showed him the slightest kindness, he would give his all for the family. Now, for his daughter, he’s doing the same.” Miaozhen thought to herself that she must repay her parents in the future when she achieved something.
Mei Shi remarked, “It didn’t matter how good your father was to your grandfather and third uncle. Your grandparents always favored your third uncle, no matter what.”
Miaozhen sighed, thinking how fortunate she was to have been born into such a family.
The mother and daughter shared many more intimate words, reluctant to part. By the first day of the eighth month, the Cheng Family sent servants to fetch her. Xu Erpeng had originally considered sending his servant Lai Wang along, but he worried that if the Cheng Family turned out to be deceitful, his daughter might be abducted by traffickers, and he would be heartbroken.
So, he simply packed two bundles, brought along one servant and one assistant, and hired two guards from a security agency for protection.
Coincidentally, he also wanted to visit Nanjing to inspect the bookstores on Sanshan Street and in front of the Imperial College, to see how his own bookstore compared to others. As a Xiucai, he could travel freely and conveniently.
With her father accompanying her, Miaozhen felt much more at ease, though she worried others might criticize her for bringing so many family members along. To her surprise, the Woman Doctor Li Yao’e, who was also going, was accompanied by her mother and brother as well.
Li Yao’e was around eighteen years old, of medium height, lightly made-up, with ordinary features but exceptionally fair skin. When she smiled, she became quite charming and captivating. The two were arranged to stay together. Miaozhen had Xiao Xi and Xiao Tao tidy up the bedding first. The Cheng Family had prepared three boats: one for luggage, one for women, and one for men.
Li Yao’e’s mother offered lotus seeds for her to eat. Miaozhen promptly expressed her thanks and also shared the rose-filled pastries she had brought for them to try.
“Miss Xu, are you from a wealthy family?” Old Mrs. Li inquired.
Miaozhen shook her head: “My father only engages in small trade; we can’t be considered wealthy.”
Old Mrs. Li observed that this Miss Xu was young, with a delicate figure, an oval face, fine and extremely fair skin, and average looks. However, she had a cinnabar mole between her eyebrows and thick earlobes, giving her a very fortunate appearance. She wanted to ask more questions but was interrupted by Li Yao’e: “Mother, why don’t you go out for some fresh air? We still need to unpack inside.”
Thus, Old Mrs. Li went out. Li Yao’e then said to Miaozhen with some apology, “My mother is getting old and tends to be long-winded. Please don’t mind her.”
Miaozhen quickly smiled and replied, “From now on, we’ll be working together. I’m sure your mother is just concerned about you. By the way, what field of medicine are you studying, sister?”
Li Yao’e said, “I study pediatric medicine.”
Miaozhen praised, “Sister must be highly skilled in medicine.”
Li Yao’e modestly declined the compliment and then asked Miaozhen, “What about you, sister?”
“Oh, I study gynecology and also acupuncture,” Miaozhen said with a smile.
Li Yao’e continued, “Did you learn medicine from your family, Sister Xu?”
“My family has no one in this profession. My father found me a master to study with. What about you, sister?” Miaozhen asked curiously.
Li Yao’e smiled and said, “Madam Cheng is my godmother, and our families are also related. However, it’s not the Cheng family we’re working for—it’s the Cheng family from Anhui, not the same one.”
“Oh, I see. I just wonder how long we’ll be serving in this position? My mother said if it’s too long, she’ll have my father come pick me up soon,” Miaozhen said, establishing a persona of not intending to stay long so others wouldn’t be wary of her.
But Li Yao’e shook her head: “I don’t know either, but I hope to stay for a long time. After all, it’s not easy to get into an official family like the Cheng family.”
Miaozhen said, “Then I wish you a bright future, sister. Since we’re going together, I’ll rely on your guidance in the future.”
“Sister Xu, you’re too kind. We should naturally support each other,” Li Yao’e replied.
After chatting for a while, Xiao Xi and Xiao Tao finished making the beds. Miaozhen said, “There’s still a box of warm fruit-filled steamed cakes. Have some to fill your stomachs.”
With that, she began reading. Fortunately, Li Yao’e was not a talkative person and remained quiet, occupying herself with needlework when she had nothing else to do.
Since the Li family had already been on the boat for several days, two matrons from the Cheng family personally brought over food boxes. Hearing from Li Yao’e that she had given them a tip, Miaozhen also had someone take out twenty coins to reward them.
The two matrons asked, “We heard you are a disciple of the Tan family. Is that true?”
“Yes, I specifically went to Wuxi to study. Are you both from the Cheng family?” Miaozhen inquired.
The two matrons nodded. Miaozhen waited until Li Yao’e had gone to Old Mother Li’s place for a meal before saying, “We’re completely in the dark here. I wonder if you could tell us about the Cheng Family and their taboos.”
Xiao Xi promptly poured tea. The two matrons said, “Actually, we don’t know much either.”
“Seeing how dignified you both are, do you serve by the old madam’s or the ladies’ sides?” Miaozhen praised them first before casually offering anything.
Flattered by Miaozhen’s words, the two matrons drank their tea and added, “I’m just helping out in the kitchen, and she’s from the laundry. We both came out with Third Master.”
Miaozhen nodded slightly and listened as one of the matrons said, “Miss Xu, don’t worry. Our family’s old madam is most compassionate toward the poor and weak—otherwise, she wouldn’t have such good fortune.”
After a short while, she understood: the older generation of the Cheng Family consisted of two brothers living next to each other. The elder brother’s side was called the East Residence. The old master of the East Residence had once risen to the rank of Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall but passed away after just one year in the cabinet. He had three sons: the eldest, now at the age of knowing fate, served as Provincial Governor of Shandong; the second, forty-eight years old, held the position of Left Councilor in the Administration Commission of Jiangxi; and the youngest, who entered officialdom through hereditary privilege, currently served as Director of the Seal Office in Nanjing.
The old master of the West Residence now held the position of Left Minister of War in the capital. His son had died early, leaving only a posthumous child, now in his twenties and married.
The original wife of Cheng Family’s First Master from the East Residence had passed away, leaving behind one son who was very diligent and studious. He passed the imperial examination at twenty and now served as a Compiler in the Hanlin Yuan. He had a daughter named Qinfang. The current wife, Zeng Shi, had borne two daughters—one named Yuan and the other Shu—who were not yet of age. There was also a Zhu Yiniang—
When Zhu Yiniang was mentioned, the matron named Lai couldn’t hide her gossipy expression: “She’s the cousin of the original wife, Lady Zhu. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on her side—by the time she arrived, our old madam had already arranged the marriage with the Zeng family.”
“So, does this Zhu Yiniang have any children?” Miaozhen asked.
“Of course she does! Zhu Yiniang gave birth to Fourth Master, who’s seventeen this year and very clever and studious. She also had a daughter called Sister Fen, who’s deeply favored by the old madam—more so than the two legitimate daughters.” Lai Matron gave a thumbs-up.
She continued, “Second Master and his wife are quite affectionate and have the eldest young lady and Fifth Master.”
Perhaps because they served the second branch, they were somewhat reserved when speaking of them. Miaozhen said, “Oh? Isn’t your Third Master also from the second branch?”
Lai Matron said vaguely, “He’s a child by a concubine. Second Master and his wife were betrothed before birth, with an eight-year age difference. This Third Young Master was born to Second Master’s tongfang at that time.”
As for the third branch, there wasn’t much to say—the couple had no children.
The old madam also had a daughter who reportedly passed away last year, and she was raising her granddaughter. It was said the girl was young but quite beautiful.
Miaozhen gave each matron a silk handkerchief and then wrote everything down while her memory was fresh. Xiao Tao asked in confusion, “Miss, you’re here to work as a physician. Why bother with all these relationships? Just listening for a while made my head spin.”
“You’re mistaken. To settle down and live well in a place, medical skills alone aren’t enough.” Miaozhen had come to deeply understand this truth, for even laws couldn’t override human connections.
When they retired for the night, Li Yao’e watched Miaozhen let down her hair and couldn’t help but admire: “Your hair is truly beautiful, sister – smooth as satin.”
Miaozhen smiled faintly.
Having just changed sleeping quarters, she still found it difficult to fall asleep. Li Yao’e had closed her eyes, though whether she was actually asleep remained unclear. Miaozhen’s thoughts turned to how the Cheng Family wanted her entire family to come to Nanjing – likely intending to claim her younger brother as their own. Her mother, due to their family’s poverty, had been pawned by her father to the childless Er Laoye of the Cheng family as a concubine. It was during that time she had followed her mother to the Cheng household. After her mother gave birth to a son, she was prematurely sent away. To avoid gossip, the Chengs only acknowledged Miaozhen as their nominal daughter, allowing her to study medicine under Madame Cheng’s guidance, considering this a great favor bestowed upon her.
After her younger brother grew up, the Cheng family, fearing she might reveal something, had always wanted to marry her off to some distant place. Unfortunately, one arranged marriage fell through. Now that they needed people in Nanjing, they made it seem as if they were granting her numerous benefits by having her come serve as a retainer.
This differed from the newly acquainted Miss Xu. Although Miss Xu didn’t come from a prominent family, she belonged to a reasonably well-off common household. Her father was a merchant, and she even had two maids at her disposal. Her father would return home after seeing her off, but her mother and brother had to linger in Nanjing.
Yet precisely because of this, she couldn’t afford to let her guard down.
As for Li Yao’e, she had been quite attentive to Miaozhen throughout the journey, never shirking responsibilities when issues arose. The two got along reasonably well. But Miaozhen understood clearly that serving as a retainer was unlike attending the Girls’ School. Here, there were no real conflicting interests – everyone typically returned to their own homes after classes. But now, several female physicians would be living and eating together, making conflicts of interest inevitable. Therefore, she hadn’t revealed all her cards immediately.
Five days later, when the boat arrived in Nanjing, Miaozhen wanted to reunite with her father first. However, the Cheng Family soon sent hired sedan chairs and carriages, forcing her to board one of the covered carriages instead.
Nanjing proved to be another densely populated and extremely prosperous place. Silver exchange shops converting gold and pearls could be seen everywhere, alongside streets lined with row upon row of buildings and bustling restaurants. Fortunately, Miaozhen came from Suzhou, itself an exceedingly prosperous city, so she didn’t appear provincial to others.
However, the weather turned rather unpleasant as heavy rain suddenly poured down. But by the time they reached Cheng Lane, the skies had cleared. They entered through the western gate, passing artificial rockeries, flower-hedged walls, winding bridges, and square pavilions along the way. Weeping willows and pines planted by the lakeside created a scene of truly unique charm.
Miaozhen thought to herself that she had finally become like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden. Seeing Li Yao’e, who entered alongside her, equally dumbfounded, Miaozhen felt relieved. They were all in the same boat!
The two were led through the long corridor behind the rockery before finally reaching their quarters. Entering through the doorway, they found no side rooms on either side, only three main rooms flanked by two smaller side chambers.
Miaozhen thought the western side would be too sunny and preferred the eastern side instead. Just as she contemplated discussing this with Li Yao’e, unexpectedly a young woman emerged from the room – remarkably beautiful, with jade-like features and an enchanting, graceful figure.
Both Li Yao’e and Miaozhen asked: “Are you also here to serve as a female physician for the Cheng Family?”
To their surprise, the young woman replied: “I’m somewhat different from you. I’m the niece of the West Residence’s Madame. Last time the old lady had a headache, I happened to know how to treat it, so the West Residence’s old lady asked me to come provide care.”
Miaozhen thought to herself, isn’t this all the same? Besides, she had already inquired along the way—the elder lady of the West Residence had passed away over twenty years ago. If they were truly treated as relatives, they wouldn’t be living here like this.
But outwardly, she said, “So you are the cousin of this family?”
“My surname is Yu, and my given name is Zhoujin. Since we’re all together, you may call me by my name.” Yu Zhoujin glanced at Li Yao’e and Miaozhen, not wishing to elaborate, and stepped aside to let them in.
Seeing that the east room was already occupied by Yu Zhoujin, Miaozhen remarked, “The west side is too sunny…”
“Miss Xu, you take the middle room. I’ll take the west one—it doesn’t bother me,” Li Yao’e quickly offered.
Touched by Li Yao’e’s modesty, Miaozhen felt somewhat embarrassed and had Xiao Xi cut two feet from the bolts of fabric she had brought to send over. As everyone was settling in, the Cheng Family sent an elderly matron named Mama Gu to guard their door and attend to their daily needs.
Meanwhile, Li Yao’e had a maid named Cuiyu, whose eyes often darted about restlessly. She rarely heeded Li Yao’e’s instructions, prompting Xiao Xi to report upon returning, “Miss Li had to make her own bed, while Cuiyu just lounged around cracking melon seeds.”
“I heard that maid wasn’t originally assigned to her—she was given by the Cheng Family. It’s not like us; we’ve grown up together, so our bond is naturally different,” Miaozhen said with a smile.
Xiao Tao exclaimed in surprise, “Now that we’re here, what about our master?”
Miaozhen laughed, “My father saw me to the door, made sure I was settled, and then went back reassured. Don’t worry.”
With that, she surveyed her room. The central space was divided into three sections by two large painted screens. To the east stood a beechwood bed, to the west a square-cornered wardrobe. The area east of the bed was left empty, with a dressing table placed in front. Miaozhen directed her trunks to be placed east of the bed.
In the partitioned central area, a Luohan Bed was positioned directly in the center, flanked by several embroidered stools on either side. The westernmost section held a washstand with a wooden basin and clothes rack.
Just then, Mama Gu came in and asked, “Miss Xu, if you find anything lacking, please let me know.”
Miaozhen thought to herself that with two maids, one could sleep on the Luohan Bed and the other could share her bed or sleep on a footrest. The immediate need was for a long desk where she could write her medical records. Once she had established herself, she could request things for her maids later.
So, she smiled and said, “I think this place is quite nice, but I usually need to write medical records and lack a desk. Would you trouble yourself to arrange one, Mama?”
After speaking, she presented Mama Gu with two handkerchiefs embroidered with osmanthus flowers, a box of Suzhou pastries, and twenty coins as a welcoming gift.
Only after accepting these did Mama Gu say, “Miss Xu, you’re reluctant to cause trouble, but your neighbor, Miss Yu, has been demanding an embroidery frame, floral water, and even complaining about the silk threads we provided. Whatever she asks for, the ladies have instructed the stewards to procure. You shouldn’t be too unassuming.”
“In that case, I’ll also request a daybed so my maid can sleep comfortably,” Miaozhen replied.
Mama Gu noted this down and went to ask Li Yao’e.
By the afternoon, several sturdy maids had delivered the items. Miaozhen had the long desk placed in the east room and the daybed set by her bedside. Once everything was arranged, she and her two maids retired early for the night.
Next door, Li Yao’e was so busy she felt dizzy and disoriented. That Cuiyu, who had previously been having an affair with the master, had long been disliked by the mistress. Unable to dismiss her immediately, the mistress seized the opportunity to send her over to Li Yao’e’s place.
Yet, the more this happened, the clearer she became about what she truly wanted. While bathing, she didn’t even use warm water, instead splashing her face with cold water. She was determined to persevere with all her might.
Meanwhile, Yu Zhoujin was dyeing her nails under the gauze lantern. Her maid, Lingdang, asked, “Miss, what do you think of the two young ladies who came today?”
If Lingdang hadn’t been given to her by the old lady of the West Residence, Yu Zhoujin would have long dismissed her. This girl didn’t know how to speak properly and was often foolish—like the question she just asked, which was utterly thoughtless. After all, she was a young lady of the Yu family. No matter how down-and-out the Yu family might be, she was still different from those two.
That Li woman merely comes from a medical family, and the Xu family, I’ve heard runs a small bookstore—both are just common merchant classes. As an official’s daughter, how could I be mentioned in the same breath as them?
Moreover, the Dongfu Old Matriarch is quite fond of her, so why should she put on such an awkward display?
Early the next morning, Miaozhen didn’t dare sleep in as she would at home and rose very early. Two maids entered carrying hot water and meals—they had familiarized themselves with the route under Gu Momo’s guidance.
Lifting the lid of the food container, Miaozhen saw this was better than what they’d eaten on the boat. There were two staple foods: small wontons and coix seed porridge. The wontons were actually filled with wild vegetables, accompanied by Duck Oil Crisp Cakes, oily salted duck eggs, a plate of Pickled Cucumber and Eggplant, and two delicately fried small yellow croakers.
“We’re in for a treat,” Miaozhen called them over to eat.
The three of them huddled closely together and ate until their bellies were full.
Considering that both Li Yao’e and Yu Zhoujin came from medical families and had likely studied more than she had, Miaozhen knew she couldn’t slack off. After the meal, she began reviewing past medical cases and texts.
She had originally thought that upon arriving at the Cheng Family, they would first meet the old matriarch and ladies here to at least make an impression, but now there was no sign of anyone, and she couldn’t go out either.
The more this was the case, the more she needed to keep her composure—just like when she apprenticed under Tan Yunxian years ago. Even if left in the cold, she couldn’t let herself stagnate.
Just after finishing the meal, Li Yao’e came by to visit. Miaozhen quickly stood up and said, “Sister Li, how did you sleep last night?”
“I’m fine, and you? Oh, you’ve tidied up here.” Li Yao’e noticed her Luohan Bed was adorned with a Green Satin Pillow, the Crescent Table held a Plum Blossom Porcelain Set, the Small Kang Table bore a Bamboo Incense Burner, and looking up, she saw two paintings hanging behind the Luohan Bed—one was a portrait of Sun Simiao, the other seemed to be a landscape painting, giving it quite an elegant feel.
Miaozhen took her hand and sat down, adding, “I just haphazardly arranged things. I must thank you, sister, for letting me have the middle room.”
Li Yao’e said, “It’s no trouble at all.”
“One shouldn’t say that. As the saying goes, at home rely on parents, away rely on friends,” Miaozhen replied.
Li Yao’e laughed, “That’s true. Although we have a few mothers and helpers, I’m still anxious about how we’ll conduct ourselves in the future.”
“Indeed, but we can only wait now. Ah, I just don’t know how my father is doing,” Miaozhen sighed.
After seeing his daughter enter the Cheng Family, Xu Erpeng found an inn nearby to stay. He inquired around and, learning that the Cheng Family was a top-tier wealthy household in the area, felt reassured. He had Lai Wang familiarize himself with the route, then went to check out the bookstores in Jinling before returning home.
In his view, parents who love their children plan deeply for them. Girls, in particular, need to be stronger, as they will eventually marry and live in another’s home, unlike boys who, even grown, still reside with their family.
Some hide their daughters in deep boudoirs, spoiling and indulging them, making it hard for the girls to adapt when they marry into another family. He was different—he wanted to cultivate resilience in his daughter, so that if she faced difficulties after marriage, he could certainly help.
Speaking of this trip to Jinling, he had found inspiration on the boat and was eager to return immediately to write fervently.
Miaozhen understood her father. Though she missed him, she threw herself more into her own affairs. However, by the third day, she was still confined to this courtyard with no way to go out.
Xiao Xi had managed to find out: “When I went to the kitchen earlier, I saw them making mooncakes, probably preparing for the Mid-Autumn Festival.”
“Ah, this year we won’t be able to spend Mid-Autumn Festival at home again,” Miaozhen sighed, resting her chin in her hands.
Xiao Tao quickly extended her arm: “Miss, why don’t you examine my illness? That would keep you from getting bored.”
“Silly talk, why would a healthy person need medical examination?” Miaozhen knew they were just trying to cheer her up, so she took out some silk threads and joined them in splitting threads and doing needlework.
She kept strict discipline among her servants – aside from following Mama Gu to fetch meals, they weren’t allowed to wander around casually, lest they cause any trouble.
The three of them chatted and laughed merrily, having quite an enjoyable time. However, in the afternoon, Mama Gu hurriedly brought in a maid wearing a silver strip gauze shirt covered with a peach red bijia. The maid said urgently: “Our young miss developed a high fever right after returning from her maternal grandmother’s house, and what’s more, she has diarrhea. Could you please send someone over quickly?”
Miaozhen went to the door and asked: “May I ask, sister, how old is this young miss you mentioned?”
The maid replied: “Five years old.”
Miaozhen pointed westward: “Li Dajie’er who lives in the west residence specializes in pediatrics. You should go to her.”
The maid immediately went to Li Yao’e, who took her medical kit and rushed over. Pediatrics differs from other medical specialties – medications that adults can take aren’t necessarily suitable for children.
Clearly, Li Yao’e handled her assignment very well. She was extremely diligent and careful, personally nursing the child through the night. Though she looked tired the next day, her entire demeanor seemed to be walking on clouds. Miaozhen felt no jealousy, but rather happiness for her.
Xiao Xi, however, commented: “Miss, you’re really too modest, letting others take the spotlight like that.”
In modern times people talk about “lying flat,” but in a collective environment, if one keeps lying flat all the time, it means having nothing to do – which isn’t a good thing. Miaozhen understood her servants’ anxiety and comforted them: “Do you think people would pay to bring us here just to leave us idle? I’m not specialized in pediatrics anyway, so why should I compete for every opportunity? Just wait – after this incident, more people will know about us, and my workload will increase too.”
The two found this reasoning quite reasonable.
The little girl whom Li Yao’e went to treat was the daughter of Cheng Junxian, the third master of the Cheng Family who had brought them to Nanjing. Her name was Yujie, and she and her brother Bi Ge’er were twins. The wife of this third master was the niece of his legal mother Ruan Shi’s maiden family, and currently managed the entire Cheng household.
“Currently, First Madam Ji Shi is in the capital with her husband. Second Madam is the mistress of the West Residence and doesn’t manage affairs of the East Residence, so naturally it falls to Third Madam. The third master handles external business dealings, while Third Madam manages internal household affairs – the couple coordinates perfectly between internal and external matters.” Having grown familiar with them, Mama Gu would chat idly and share information about the residence.
Miaozhen asked her: “I’ve been meaning to ask you, madam, why did they suddenly invite several female physicians like us?”
Mama Gu said: “Miss Xu, since you can keep secrets, I’ll tell you – but don’t share this with others.”
Usually when people say such things, it often means everyone already knows. Mama Gu continued: “The daughter of our Nanjing General Commander was misdiagnosed due to curtained consultation. They rashly performed abdominal surgery, but her abdomen had been filled with pus for six or seven years. She passed away early this year. Because of this incident, the old madam decided to invite several female physicians, so such misdiagnoses wouldn’t happen again.”
“So that’s how it was. Actually, I initially studied medicine for the same reason. When my mother gave birth to my younger brother, the strict separation between men and women nearly delayed proper diagnosis and treatment.” Miaozhen hadn’t expected there to be such a backstory.
Mama Gu, who often kept night watch, suffered from persistent soreness and pain. Miaozhen would administer moxibustion for her and always treated her with considerable respect. This led Mama Gu to offer some advice: “Miss Xu, you have such a kind heart. Last time when Third Madam sent someone, you recommended Li Dajie’er. Next time, you shouldn’t yield like that. Now that Third Madam has given birth to the family’s eldest grandson and manages the household, her side is like a thriving hearth.”
Miaozhen smiled and took note.
But she didn’t hastily seek patronage everywhere—after all, one shouldn’t randomly consult doctors in a panic.
Li Yao’e went to Little Yujie’s place for several consecutive days, only returning after the child had fully recovered. She didn’t claim credit, merely appearing thoroughly exhausted. Meanwhile, Miaozhen sent over two benzoin pills and spent the rest of her time either rolling moxa sticks, doing needlework, or reading medical texts, seldom going out.
On the fifteenth of August, Li Yao’e received mooncakes and fruits from Third Madam Xiao Ruan Shi. She personally shared some with Miaozhen and Yu Zhoujin. Miaozhen accepted them gladly, saying, “Thank you, sister, for remembering me.”
But Yu Zhoujin pushed them away: “You only have so much—keep them for yourself. Besides, these are your rewards. I don’t need them; the old lady already gave me some earlier.” She purely thought Li Yao’e was showing off. Li Yao’e bit her lip and returned to her room.
Miaozhen, however, used a knife to cut the small cakes and let her two maids have a sweet treat, adding, “In a few days, perhaps you’ll get to taste gifts of gratitude meant for me.”
When you see virtue, think of emulating it. Li Yao’e’s diligence was worth learning from.
The Mid-Autumn Festival passed in a blur. Soon, Miaozhen heard someone coming at night to fetch a physician, saying First Wife had diarrhea and several ready-made pills hadn’t helped, so they thought of them.
Li Yao’e was the type to share a bit of her gains with others, especially since Miaozhen had recommended her last time—she was returning the favor.
Of course, even without her, Miaozhen would have stepped up without hesitation.
First Wife Zeng Shi was the Da Fang’s second wife and hadn’t accompanied her husband to Shandong. According to Mama Gu’s gossip, her maternal family was prominent, but her interpersonal skills were far inferior to Second Madam’s. She was at odds with Zhu Yiniang, yet couldn’t outmaneuver her, and even failed to win favor with her mother-in-law.
“Xiao Xi, you’ve fetched meals several times today. Rest here, and let Xiao Tao go with me,” Miaozhen said.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Xi replied, “Miss, Xiao Tao is too honest and timid. I should go—let her keep watch at home. She can go next time.”
Miaozhen looked at Xiao Tao: “What do you think?”
Xiao Tao quickly nodded.
The mistress and maid followed a mama carrying a lantern and two other maids. The mama, surnamed Zhao, asked Miaozhen, “How long have you been studying medicine, miss?”
“Nearly six years. I almost memorized the ‘Lingshu,’ ‘Nanjing,’ and ‘Maijue’ as soon as I learned to read,” Miaozhen replied.
Mama Zhao, seeing how young she was, still felt somewhat uneasy, but upon learning she was Tan Yunxian’s disciple, she relaxed slightly. The Da Fang resided in the third inner courtyard, and the first wife lived in the main compound. When Miaozhen entered, she saw the Da Fang’s maids carrying out chamber pots but walked straight in without a sideways glance.
Since they were both women, there was naturally no need for a curtain between them. This First Wife appeared to be in her thirties and was actually quite beautiful, except for a small indentation between her eyebrows—a mark left by years of frowning.
“First Wife, please extend your hand. I will take your pulse,” Miaozhen said.
Zeng Shi observed Miaozhen’s calm and steady demeanor. Though she thought the doctor too young, she had no other choice but to try anything at this point. Since the Mid-Autumn Festival, her diarrhea had persisted despite taking numerous medications. Being extremely concerned about her reputation, she had been enduring it in public, refusing to admit she was ill.
“The pulse at the right guān position is deep and thin, indicating some spleen deficiency. Could you stick out your tongue for me to see?” Miaozhen asked.
Zeng Shi complied, and Miaozhen noted her pale tongue with a white, slippery coating. “How long has this diarrhea been going on? When did it start?” she inquired.
“I’ve had diarrhea before, but it usually stopped after taking a few pills. This time, it started after the Mid-Autumn Festival,” Zeng Shi replied.
Miaozhen continued, “What did you eat during the festival?”
“Just crab—I love crab the most—along with some fruits and pastries. I ate the same as everyone else,” Zeng Shi said, not considering herself greedy.
Miaozhen quickly formulated a plan. “Your spleen and stomach have been weak for a long time, so they can’t handle the same diet as a healthy person. Overeating overwhelms them, leading to diarrhea. I will first apply moxibustion at five acupoints and have the pharmacy prepare Stomach-harmonizing Atractylodes Macrocephala Pills to temporarily stop the symptoms. I’ll return in a few days for another session.”
Seeing that Miaozhen had already written out a prescription, Zeng Shi glanced at it and was impressed by the neat handwriting—unlike other doctors whose writing was often illegible. This raised her opinion of Miaozhen, and she promptly instructed Mama Zhao to have the pharmacy prepare the medicine.
Miaozhen took the moxa sticks she had previously rolled from her brocade box and began moxibustion at Shangwan, Zhongwan, Xiawan, and the bilateral Tianshu points. Shangwan, Zhongwan, and Xiawan are acupoints on the Ren Meridian, while Tianshu is on the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian. Moxibustion at these points helps warm the spleen.
Her movements during the moxibustion were fluid and effortless, a skill she had honed during her studies in acupuncture and tuina. Later, she had learned from Ru Shi and Tan Shi. Coincidentally, this method was from “Miscellaneous Words of a Female Doctor,” which she had just read the day before. Otherwise, she might not have been so composed.
Because the First Wife’s spleen and stomach were excessively cold, each moxa stick needed to burn for about one to two ke (15-30 minutes). The entire process took over two shichen (about four hours), by which time Zeng Shi had fallen asleep. Miaozhen instructed Mama Zhao, “Make sure to get the Stomach-harmonizing Atractylodes Macrocephala Pills quickly and have her take them. If anything comes up, you can find me again.”
As the family’s hired physician, she didn’t need to collect a consultation fee. After returning, Miaozhen immediately changed her clothes, washed up briefly, and went to sleep.
Meanwhile, Zeng Shi woke up in the morning, took the Stomach-harmonizing Atractylodes Macrocephala Pills, and to her astonishment, the diarrhea stopped after just one dose. She could hardly believe it.
Miaozhen hurried over in the morning—she never left tasks unfinished. After checking Zeng Shi’s pulse and confirming she was fine, she was visited by both young ladies of the household who came to thank her. Miaozhen modestly declined their gratitude.
After the follow-up moxibustion session, Zeng Shi’s chronic condition was completely cured, and she felt much more refreshed. She even boasted to Xiao Ruan Shi, “The young doctor Junxian found is truly remarkable in her medical skills.”
Xiao Ruan Shi felt a sense of shared pride, especially since the praise came from the First Wife herself. It was particularly meaningful because the First Wife had often been discontent with her management of the household, frequently gossiping behind her back about how she and her niece were in cahoots.
Miaozhen received two sets of clothing sent by Zeng Shi. One was a Red Camellia Patterned Zhaohua Satin Wide Sleeve Robe paired with a Burnt Green Satin Skirt, and the other was a Willow Yellow Brocade Jacket matched with a White Drawn Thread Silk Skirt.
In ancient times, clothing fabrics—especially valuable garments—were hard currency, sometimes more presentable than money itself. Miaozhen set aside the red Brocade Robe, saying, “This set I’ll bring home for my mother to wear.”
Xiao Xi and Xiao Tao were overjoyed along with her.
Then they noticed Yu Zhoujin standing at the doorway. Seeing their excitement, she remarked, “Such a small amount of things has you all so thrilled—how shallow. Besides, these aren’t even brand new. Wearing them out wouldn’t be respectable. If it were me, I certainly wouldn’t accept them.”
Miaozhen simply smiled and said, “Sister Yu is an official’s daughter, different from us. I’m happy that the lady is willing to bestow such fine clothing upon me. Originally, if she hadn’t given anything, it would’ve been fine too, but receiving them is still a lucky token.”
Only those who didn’t get any rewards would make sour remarks. If she really had the capability, why not leave this job? What’s there to be so proud about?
“I was just saying it casually, worried that if the maids and servants outside saw you like this, they’d look down on you,” Yu Zhoujin fanned herself lightly, offering a faint smile as if to smooth things over.
Miaozhen paid no mind to this. If she could bring back several chests of clothing and jewelry, it would be a huge windfall—why would she complain?
Aren’t workers striving for money? Not for some elusive sense of pride, right?