After finishing the meal, Miaozhen returned to her room. She first completed her Girls’ School assignments, practiced calligraphy, then bathed before sitting at her desk to memorize “The Properties of Medicinals.”
It took her about half a month to memorize “The Properties of Medicinals.” Back when she studied medicine in the modern era, she had already memorized “Formulation Key Verses.” With Ru Shi showing her medicinal herbs and her own dedication—studying from 7 PM to 11 PM daily—she made steady progress.
From autumn through winter, when Xiao Xi rose to add charcoal to the brazier, she would stomp her feet from the cold. Seeing her young lady still at her desk, she would hurriedly approach, place charcoal in the hand warmer, and pass it over.
Truth be told, Miaozhen had never worked this hard in the modern era. But in ancient times, she had no choice—most girls married by sixteen or seventeen. After marriage, childbearing was inevitable, and many women fell ill yet avoided treatment. While she didn’t necessarily aspire to treat all women under heaven, at the very least, she wanted to be able to diagnose and care for herself.
After reading the final section and hearing the night watchman announce the hour of midnight, she finally retired to bed.
Waking at 7 AM, Xiao Tao retrieved the lined jacket from the warmed bedding. The jacket had plain silk lining, three liang of silk floss padding, and plain satin exterior, topped with a tender bud-yellow lined jacket and a peach-red cloak over everything.
The Xu Family’s second branch was much better off than before. Xu Erpeng had endured hardships—it was said that in his childhood studies, his family was so poor his jacket was too thin and worn, leaving him perpetually sniffling and hunched over when walking.
Thus, at winter’s onset, he allocated ten taels of silver specifically for fabric and tailors. Miaozhen received a rabbit-fur jacket, two lined jackets, one padded lined jacket, and one thick bijia.
Suzhou wasn’t the north. Even entering the twelfth lunar month, while cold, it hadn’t snowed yet. Wearing two layers of lined jackets sufficed. Xiao Tao brought breakfast from outside: scallion flower rolls, walnut congee, and a plate of scrambled eggs.
“Have you two eaten?” Miaozhen asked.
Xiao Xi and Xiao Tao both smiled: “We’re in no hurry. We’ll see you to school first, then eat upon returning.”
After escorting their young lady to school, they still needed to wash clothes, clean, and do needlework. Fortunately, their young lady was educated and reasonable, and the Xu Family never mistreated servants—far better than their own homes.
Arriving at school, Tong Pan’er was eating meat buns, grimacing as they were too hot.
Miaozhen removed her cloak and set it aside, teasing: “You’ve grown bold. Chou Niangzi is vegetarian, yet you’re here eating meat buns.”
“Overslept this morning, so I had my maid buy them from the Camel Danzi vendor,” Tong Pan’er said casually.
Miaozhen knew that although Tong Pan’er was the daughter of a Student of the Imperial Academy—her father serving as Recorder in Suzhou Prefecture—she was born of a concubine. The first wife had no children, so they brought in a concubine who unfortunately died after giving birth to Pan’er. Raised by Tong Taitai, who later bore her own son and daughter, people said Pan’er had “brought the son.” Though Tong Taitai raised her with equal treatment as her own children, she wasn’t the birth mother, so Pan’er’s life at home wasn’t entirely smooth. Still, she was broad-minded and let nothing bother her.
After quickly finishing her buns, she choked. Miaozhen promptly patted her back, then noticed Wang Xie and Lin Xiaoxiao arriving together outside.
Ma Yulan lived closest, yet arrived the latest.
Lin Xiaoxiao teased, “Slacking off again?”
“Not at all! We had relatives visiting,” Ma Yulan explained while yawning. “My mother prepared forty dishes, and we had to entertain the guests. She even hired two singers. I stayed up too late and just couldn’t get up this morning.”
Everyone gasped in surprise and asked which relatives had visited.
Ma Yulan glanced around before lowering her voice. “The family’s matriarch is my grandmother’s cousin. But our family declined since my grandfather’s generation, while theirs kept rising—they even became high officials in the capital. Rumor has it they offended someone there and had to return. Strangely enough, though their ancestral home is in Wuxi, they’ve decided to settle here in Suzhou.”
“Well, Suzhou is wonderful! Who doesn’t love our Suzhou style?” Tong Pan’er laughed.
The others joined in the laughter.
As the New Year approached, the Mei household was bustling with preparations for their first independent celebration. They had purchased two sheep and two geese early on, not to mention the cured meats, fish, and sausages hanging along the corridor. Mei Shi had sent someone to buy several Spring Plate Sets from Tiger Hill—two large and two small sets, including melon-petal and red-lacquered chrysanthemum-petal designs.
With the Girls’ School closed for break and Ru Furen occupied with other matters, Miaozhen finally had a few days to rest at home. She sat with Mei Shi, working on embroidery for a pair of shoes intended for Ru Shi. Feng Niang had crafted the soles, while Miaozhen embroidered the uppers: one pair of phoenix-embroidered arch shoes with eight-treasure patterns on crimson satin, and another pair of plain silk arch shoes adorned with lotus patterns and cloud-toed tips.
Mei Shi remarked, “You’ve truly mastered embroidery under Chou Niangzi’s guidance. I used to worry about your skills.”
“Chou Niangzi taught me everything. I’d never even stepped into a kitchen before, but now I can make several types of pastries, wontons, and vegetarian dishes. It was worth learning,” Miaozhen replied cheerfully.
Mei Shi teased, “You’re even more capable than your third aunt now—she can’t even make a pair of shoes.”
During her studies, Miaozhen had avoided all family gatherings, so Mei Shi filled her in on various news: how Da Bomu often dropped by for meals since Da Bomu and Miaoyun rarely returned home; how Third Aunt had fought with low-level officials, even chasing them with a knife until Third Uncle apologized and compensated to resume business; and how Uncle Qiao had taken a fifth concubine in Hangzhou, darkening Qiao Yimu’s face with jealousy though she pretended to be virtuous.
These gossipy tales added spice to daily life, and Miaozhen listened with keen interest.
She also brought up the neighbors: “A few days ago, Sister Ma mentioned they had distinguished guests—forty dishes served with musical performances. Quite the extravagance! Do you know who they are?”
“Everyone’s talking about it. I heard they returned with two grandsons, bought a residence near Xu Gate, and are renovating it. They’re staying temporarily with your Sister Ma’s family.”
Before she could finish, Ma Taitai’s maid arrived, asking Mei Shi for some preserved greens.
Mei Shi’s preserved greens were famously crisp and appetizing, better than anyone else’s. Every year, people would bring bowls to request some. As a neighbor and close friend, Ma Taitai received a whole jar immediately.
The maid from the Ma family mentioned that a guest in their household had lost their appetite, but after somehow tasting Mei Shi’s preserved greens, ended up eating a full bowl of rice. That was why Ma Taitai came to ask for some.
After the Minor New Year celebrations, Miaozhen’s shoes were finished. Her mother brought them along with festival gifts to Ru Furen’s residence. Ru Furen was delighted with the shoes she had made, exclaiming, “The stitches are fine and close, and the design on the uppers is well-matched. Madam Xu, I’m tempted to take Miaozhen as my own daughter!”
Miaozhen quickly replied modestly, “I’ve only just begun learning embroidery, and I fear my skills are still crude. I’m grateful for your patience, Master.”
In truth, Ru Shi taught her with great care, but whenever she went on external consultations to wealthy households, she always took Ru Xiniang along. Initially, Ru Xiniang had been very friendly toward Miaozhen, but as she noticed how quickly Miaozhen learned, she became somewhat awkward and often held back in her teachings.
Miaozhen had always been a highly goal-oriented person. In her modern life, when her parents divorced, she initially felt conflicted, blaming herself for spending too much and feeling hurt by their reluctance to provide support. It wasn’t until she entered society that she realized what mattered was securing the money, regardless of what others said.
Now, it was the same: as long as Ru Shi taught her earnestly, she focused on mastering the skills, setting aside other concerns for the time being.
“Zhen Jie, we shall meet again next year,” Ru Shi said with a smile.
…
After leaving the Tao residence, Mei Shi asked her daughter, “How are your studies progressing now?”
“I’ve only just started, and though I’m learning quickly, it will still take at least a year or two,” Miaozhen replied with a laugh.
Last year, Mei Shi had been heavily pregnant and about to give birth during the New Year. This year, they had their own house, maids to attend to them, and Xu Erpeng had repaid fifty taels to the previous homeowner. Thus, their debt, which had started with a three-digit figure, was now down to two digits.
Nevertheless, Xu Erpeng continued his diligent writing. Miaozhen had only relaxed for a few days before immersing herself at home, studying texts like Danxi’s Mastery of Medicine. In fact, throughout the following year, she spent nearly all her leisure time studying and rarely went out. The results were remarkable, and Ru Shi gradually began teaching her acupuncture.
She had never missed a day at the Tao residence, rain or shine, but today she unexpectedly asked for leave. “Master, tomorrow a close friend of mine is leaving, and a few of us are seeing her off.”
Knowing that Miaozhen had never been late or absent, even during heavy rain or snow over the past year and a half, Ru Shi readily agreed upon hearing it was for a friend. She added, “But the day after tomorrow, I’m holding a free clinic. It will be a good opportunity for you to practice, so you must come.”
Free clinics mostly involved treating impoverished commoners, and the women they encountered were often peddlers or laborers—work that Ru Xiniang looked down upon. She preferred to stay at the front, distributing medicine and instructing others, basking in their gratitude.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be there,” Miaozhen assured her. She understood that no matter how solid her theoretical knowledge was, it meant little without practical application.
Lin Xiaoxiao’s mother had passed away, and her father had no plans to remarry. Her maternal relatives decided to take her in and had already set out from Nanjing to fetch her.
The farewell banquet was held at the Ma residence. The four friends pooled eight qian to prepare ten dishes—five dry and five moist—not including fruits, pastries, or fruit wine.
Tong Pan’er lamented, “Chou Niangzi said she would teach us how to make Braised Abalone with Bone come spring, but now you’re leaving for Nanjing.”
Lin Xiaoxiao also looked reluctant. “Yes, I’ve so enjoyed our time together, but there’s nothing to be done about it.”
A young lady without a mother’s guidance is easily labeled as the eldest daughter of a deceased mother. Moreover, Lin Xiaoxiao’s maternal grandfather served as a clerk in the Ministry of Rites in Nanjing, her uncle held the position of a military officer, and the family owned several shops—truly a household of considerable means.
Seeing everyone’s sorrow, Miaozhen smiled and added, “Nanjing is the secondary capital, a first-rate destination. I believe Sister Lin’s move will allow her to experience the charm of the ancient capital. My uncle once studied at the Nanjing Imperial Academy and still speaks of it with fond remembrance.”
As she spoke, she opened a box containing a pair of clay figurines, unmistakably crafted in the likeness of Lin Xiaoxiao and herself. The figurines were so lifelike that Lin Xiaoxiao burst into tears at the sight. It took much comforting from the others before she managed to compose herself.
After the banquet concluded, Miaozhen accompanied her out. Lin Xiaoxiao grasped her hand and said, “Younger Sister Xu, I know you’re studying medicine. As you’re aware, both my mother and I have often been ill—we’ve consulted physicians from everywhere. It’s only in recent years that my health has improved, thanks to Yang Ruren of Wuxi. She is your teacher’s paternal cousin, maiden name Tan, and her medical skills are truly exceptional, her character upright. Though Lady Tao’s medical skills are passable, she cannot compare to Yang Ruren. Trust me, if you wish to learn from the best, have your teacher arrange an introduction for you.”
Maiden name Tan, Yang Ruren? Could that be Tan Yunxian?
As if suddenly enlightened, Miaozhen clasped her hand and said, “Dear sister, thank you.”