“Auntie, has Yinghua had her first period yet?” Fang Yuan asked.
“No.” Yinghua’s mother answered with certainty. “I only said she had a tumor because I knew she’d never had her monthly bleeding. People from the health station came to our village and gave a lecture before. A woman is only considered an adult after she starts menstruating. She’s still a child, so how could she possibly be pregnant?”
“Yinghua is indeed not pregnant.” Fang Yuan nodded. She glanced at the two women standing nearby, taking the opportunity to clarify the matter for them as well.
“If she’s not pregnant, then why has her belly swollen for no reason? Could it really be a tumor like her mother said?”
Looking at Yinghua, who had sat up on the bed and had once again become tense, Fang Yuan smiled. “It’s not a tumor either. She’s having her first period, but the menstrual blood can’t flow out, so it has been collecting inside her body. That’s why her abdomen has gradually swollen.”
“So that’s what it is.” The two women exchanged glances.
“As long as it’s not a tumor.” The worry on Yinghua’s mother’s face finally faded. “Then why can’t her period come out?”
“Doctor, does that mean Yinghua is what people call a stone maiden?” one of the women asked curiously after the thought occurred to her.
Yinghua’s mother was instantly horrified again. A stone maiden was said to be incapable of living a normal married life.
Fang Yuan hurriedly waved her hands. “Don’t worry. Yinghua isn’t that kind of case. Her hymen is simply thicker than usual, so the blood can’t come out for the time being. She just needs to go to the hospital for an injection, and she’ll be fine.”
After hearing that, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The two women who had come in were from the same production brigade as Yinghua’s family. As fellow villagers, they certainly did not want to see such a good young girl turn out to be a stone maiden. If that were true, her whole life would be ruined.
“Then I’ll take her to the hospital for the injection tomorrow. Doctor Xu, I’ll come find you.” Yinghua’s mother looked at Fang Yuan eagerly.
“All right. I work in the surgery department of the county hospital. I took my mother’s surname, Fang. When you arrive, just tell them my name. I’m Fang Yuan.”
“Oh, right, right. You’re Elder Xu’s granddaughter who lives in the county. Your surname is Fang.” She turned to the two women and said, “This is the granddaughter of the miraculous Doctor Fang who cured Elder Xu’s strange illness. If she says my daughter is fine, then she’s definitely fine.”
“No wonder she could tell just by feeling the pulse. So she’s the successor of Doctor Fang.” The two women chimed in happily. Back then, when Elder Xu had developed that mysterious illness, every traditional physician and doctor in the surrounding area had failed to cure him. He had nearly died. Later, a relative working in the county told him that the Fang family in the county had a famous physician. He suggested going to seek treatment there, saying that he might be cured.
At that time, they had treated a dead horse as though it were still alive, willing to try anything. His family took Elder Xu to the county. Fang Zhiyuan welcomed him in, and after only a few acupuncture needles, he was completely cured in less than half a month. Seeing that the Xu family had already spent all their savings and could not afford the consultation fee, Fang Zhiyuan still treated him free of charge. From that day on, Elder Xu had been deeply grateful to Fang Zhiyuan and had always wanted to repay him with unwavering loyalty.
Seeing that joy had also returned to Yinghua’s face, the group went outside and explained everything to everyone. Once the women spread the story, Fang Yuan was instantly spoken of in the same breath as a famous physician. Yinghua’s matter was instead pushed into the background. Everyone became even more curious about Fang Yuan and gathered around to see her.
When Li Dagen learned that his daughter had not done anything disgraceful, he hugged his head and burst into loud sobs. A moment later, he raised his head and glared at Old Lin’s wife with blazing fury, looking as though he wanted to devour her alive. Frightened, Old Lin’s wife hurried back into her own house.
Watching his granddaughter being surrounded by the crowd, Grandpa Xu’s wrinkles relaxed, his face filled with relief and pride.
Xu Dahai also let out a sigh of relief. If there really had been an unmarried pregnancy within the brigade, he would have had no face left to attend commune meetings as the brigade leader.
After great difficulty, Fang Yuan finally squeezed her way out of the crowd. She pulled Yinghua’s mother aside and said, “Auntie, I’m going back to the county this afternoon. Before I leave, I’ll come by once more and leave you my address.”
As she spoke, she gave Yinghua’s mother’s hand a firm squeeze.
Yinghua’s mother’s heart skipped a beat. Forcing a smile, she replied, “All right, all right. I can’t trouble you to make another trip. I’ll come find you in a little while.”
Fang Yuan left first with Grandpa Xu and the others. Aili wriggled free from Eldest Aunt Xu’s arms and ran ahead of Fang Yuan.
“Carry me.” She stretched out her hands.
Fang Yuan smiled, scooped Aili into her arms, and kissed her on the cheek. “You should call me Big Sister.”
“Will you give me candy again?” Aili asked, blinking her bright black eyes.
“I will. Besides candy, what else do you want?”
Aili touched her head and thought for a moment before answering firmly, “Lots and lots of candy.”
“Hahaha, then your few little teeth won’t survive.” Fang Yuan laughed. Looking at Aili’s little face, which closely resembled her mother’s, she asked, “Aili, do you want to come home with me? Do you miss Mom? There are also two older brothers at home. The eldest is Da Mao, and the younger one is Xiao Mao. They’ll both play with you.”
“No, no.” Aili shook her head desperately. “I want Grandma.”
“Do you remember Mom?” Fang Yuan asked carefully.
Aili turned her head away without answering.
Fang Yuan let out a quiet sigh.
“…She braided my hair, and she gave me cakes to eat,” Aili said softly after a long pause.
She did remember her mother. Whenever that woman came to visit, Grandma and her eldest aunt would push her toward her and tell her to call her “Mom.” Afraid that Grandma would no longer want her, she refused every time. She would even angrily tell her that she did not like her and that she should stop coming.
Even so, whenever that woman visited, she would quietly watch over Aili and always bring her delicious treats.
That only made Aili even more afraid that her mother would take her away. In her heart, this was her home.
“So you do remember. Aili, Mom and Big Sister will be taking you home very soon,” Fang Yuan said excitedly, her eyes lighting up.
“No, no!” Terrified, Aili struggled to jump out of Fang Yuan’s arms.
Seeing that Fang Yuan was struggling to hold Aili, Grandpa Xu patted his eldest son on the shoulder. “Why are you still standing there? Hurry and give her a hand. You carry Guimei.”
Xu Dahai took little Aili from Fang Yuan’s arms and lifted her onto his shoulders. Aili grabbed his head and immediately burst into cheerful laughter again.
After they returned home, Grandma Xu asked what had happened. Learning that it had all been a false alarm and that her granddaughter had once again distinguished herself, she was overjoyed.
Pulling Fang Yuan over, she said, “My granddaughter is truly capable. But you also need to pay attention to your own situation. You’re already nineteen this year. Your eldest female cousin is only a year older than you, and her son is already two years old. Once you start working, you need to hurry and find someone. Your aunties and I all live in the village, so we can’t really inquire about good families. Ask your eldest aunt and your mother to keep an eye out for you. You’re still young and thin-skinned. Next time your mother comes, I’ll speak to her. A girl can’t marry too late. If she waits too long, all the good young men will already have been chosen.”
Fang Yuan’s face turned bright red, and she only smiled without saying anything.
Back when she was in school, there had been male classmates who showed interest in her, but she had never thought about such things and had always felt she was still too young. After returning to the county, she discovered that several people her age whom she knew were already engaged or had found partners. She had also wondered what kind of person she would marry in the future, but whenever she thought about leaving her family to join another household and living with a stranger, she felt somewhat afraid.
At three o’clock in the afternoon, the sun was still blazing with enthusiasm. Grandma Xu had already begun preparing dinner. Fang Yuan still had a two-hour bicycle ride back to the county, and Grandma Xu was worried that if dinner was too late, her granddaughter would have to travel alone after dark.
Her younger cousin had already ridden the bicycle back. Covered in sweat, he rinsed himself off beside the well. While he was at it, he also washed Fang Yuan’s bicycle and then carefully dried it with a cloth. Seeing how much he cherished the bicycle, Fang Yuan smiled and said, “Little Cousin, you should get yourself a bicycle when you get married.”
Her younger cousin’s dark face immediately flushed red. He flicked Fang Yuan lightly on her smooth forehead. “I don’t want to get married so early. I still want to learn to drive a tractor. I’ve already signed up for the commune’s tractor driver selection, and I’ll be chosen soon.”
“Keep dreaming. More than a hundred people signed up. As if they’ll pick you.” Eldest Aunt Xu laughed after overhearing him.
“Why can’t they? Looking at family background, our family has been poor peasants for generations. Looking at education, I graduated from middle school. I’m also within the required age range. Why wouldn’t I be selected?” her younger cousin protested.
“Little Cousin, you’re also quite a handsome young man. I believe you’ll definitely make it.” Fang Yuan covered her mouth as she giggled.
“They say, ‘A short father gives short children, and a short mother gives a whole litter of short ones.’ Sister-in-law, fortunately Xinhong and Xinjun didn’t inherit your height.” Aunt Xu remarked while chopping pig fodder.
Aili and Xindang were playing nearby with the vines from the pig fodder, tearing them into short pieces, hanging them around their necks, and chasing each other around as they played.
Eldest Aunt Xu felt very displeased. Her younger sister-in-law was always making remarks about her height. The younger woman herself was as skinny as a bamboo pole. If the Xu family had not all been tall, with her third brother-in-law being especially tall to balance things out, it would have been difficult for her to find a marriage match back then.
“Auntie, Ah Yuan is just like you. She’s almost as tall as the men in our village. I wonder whether she’ll be able to find someone as tall as the men in our family in the future. Otherwise, if her future husband is a whole head shorter than she is, that would be awful.” Her younger male cousin Xinjun burst into laughter before he had even finished speaking.
Eldest Aunt Xu clicked her tongue at him and scolded lightly, “What nonsense are you talking about? Ah Yuan’s future husband will definitely be a tall and handsome young man.”
Fang Yuan did not know how to respond, so she could only continue blushing.
Just then, a woman came walking down the road. As she approached, they recognized her as Yinghua’s mother. Eldest Aunt Xu and the others assumed she had come especially to thank Fang Yuan and invited her inside for some water.
Looking at Fang Yuan, Yinghua’s mother appeared uneasy and conflicted.
“Eldest Aunt, you all go ahead and keep busy. I’ll leave Auntie my county address and explain a couple of things to her.” Fang Yuan said to her eldest aunt, who had come into the house with them.
Eldest Aunt Xu could tell they had something to discuss. Smiling, she agreed and took Aili and Xindang, who had followed them inside to play, back outside with her.
“Sister-in-law, Yinghua’s mother’s expression doesn’t look too good. Why has she come to see Ah Yuan?” Aunt Xu gathered the pig fodder into a large wooden basin, rinsed the kitchen knife and her hands by the well, then curiously asked after seeing Eldest Aunt Xu come out.
“Ah Yuan is giving her the address.”
“I don’t think it’s that simple. Tell me, do you really think Yinghua will be fine with just one injection?” Aunt Xu leaned closer and spoke meaningfully.
Eldest Aunt Xu merely smiled and said nothing.
After greeting Grandma Xu in the kitchen, Fang Yuan led Yinghua’s mother into Grandma Xu’s room on the ground floor and closed the door.
“Doctor Fang, Yinghua…” Yinghua’s mother’s hands were trembling.
“Auntie, don’t worry. Yinghua is really fine. It’s just that this matter is rather private, so I thought it would be better to tell you in private.” Fang Yuan explained.
“Is it really true that Yinghua’s problem is simply that the blood can’t flow out?”
“Yes. The lump in Yinghua’s abdomen is indeed caused by menstrual blood being unable to drain out. My preliminary diagnosis is an imperforate hymen. However, this isn’t something that can be solved with an injection. She’ll need a cruciate hymen incision. It’s only a very minor operation and carries very little risk.”
Yinghua’s condition was indeed what people commonly referred to as being a stone maiden. However, there were two types of stone maiden, known as “true stone” and “false stone.” A true stone maiden had an absent or closed vagina, whereas a false stone maiden merely had an imperforate hymen. After a simple minor operation, the condition could be completely cured, leaving her no different from any other normal woman.
Earlier, when one of the women had asked whether Yinghua was a stone maiden, Fang Yuan had immediately denied it because she knew that most people did not understand what the term actually meant. If she had admitted it, she feared it would affect Yinghua’s future marriage prospects.