Ye Manshu’s guess had been almost completely correct.
In the end, Madam Zou finally endured her embarrassment and admitted the truth. She kept bleeding, even though she had already passed the age of menstruation. And the itching was unbearable.
Front and back—everywhere it itched.
Ye Manshu deliberately kept her voice low, trying to give Madam Zou a sense of safety.
“Madam, if possible, could you let me examine you? Just think of me as a midwife or someone similar. Otherwise, I truly have no way to treat your illness.”
Since she had already confessed part of the truth, Madam Zou’s sense of shame had dropped to its lowest point. In the end, she reluctantly nodded and allowed Ye Manshu to examine her.
Though two layers of curtains were drawn tightly shut.
Ye Manshu carried out a detailed examination.
It turned out Madam Zou suffered from both internal and external hemorrhoids, which frequently bled and itched. The itching became so unbearable that she scratched unconsciously in her sleep, eventually causing infection in the front as well.
By pressing her lower abdomen, Ye Manshu also discovered signs of inflammation in the appendages.
It was likely caused by an ascending infection.
This kind of gynecological infection and itching was probably the main reason Madam Zou had refused to speak honestly.
She had only secretly asked maids to use folk remedies, which not only failed to help but actually worsened the condition.
As for the liver qi stagnation, that stemmed from being in menopause, combined with emotional distress and anxiety caused by the illness itself.
Ye Manshu took out two tubes of ointment from her satchel.
“Madam, this is an external-use ointment.”
She carefully explained how to apply it. It was specifically for the hemorrhoids and would be convenient to use.
Then she prescribed medicinal herbs for washing and fumigation, along with internal herbal medicine to drink.
“As long as you follow my instructions, your condition will naturally improve.”
Madam Zou looked somewhat ashamed.
“I was wrong to hide things from you. But… if I send servants to buy medicine, won’t people still know what illness I have?”
Ye Manshu replied, “How about this? You can have a trusted maid or servant go to my cousin’s clinic later to collect the medicine. I’ll prepare and wrap everything myself so no one will know what the herbs are for. Don’t worry—even my cousin won’t know.”
Only then did Madam Zou feel reassured.
She called in a maid.
“Chunhua, accompany Madam Ye to collect the medicine.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Afterward, Madam Zou rewarded Ye Manshu with another two taels of silver.
Feeling the weight of four taels altogether in her hands, Ye Manshu inwardly sighed—money from wealthy families really was easy to earn.
But the truly rich and powerful households were another matter entirely. Those deep estates were filled with secrets, schemes, and hidden dangers. One careless step and a person could end up trapped in deadly intrigue without even understanding how they died.
That was one reason Ye Manshu had never intended to become some noble household’s private medical woman.
Fortunately, Madam Zou’s social circle didn’t extend into those terrifying aristocratic inner courts, so this was relatively safe.
Ye Manshu also asked Steward Zou about the mountain village where Cheng Xue had been sold. She hoped that, given his wide experience, he might know something.
Steward Zou shook his head, saying he had truly never been there nor heard anyone mention it. Still, he promised he could help ask around.
Ye Manshu thanked him sincerely.
After Chunhua collected the medicine and paid for it, she departed.
Li Yong’an tactfully didn’t pry. He did study women’s illnesses somewhat himself, but because of the separation between men and women, he genuinely couldn’t conduct thorough examinations, leaving him helpless at times.
On the way home, Ye Manshu said nothing about the extra two taels from Madam Zou. That money now belonged to her private stash.
Only after leaving did Cheng Kang finally dare speak loudly again.
“Mom, how are you this amazing? Not only did we make money selling fish, you also earned two whole taels of silver, and we even got a free banquet from the restaurant! That food was so damn delicious. I’ve never eaten such a feast in my life. Once we get back to the village, I can brag that I ate a banquet at Drunken Immortal Tower!”
Cheng Yuan immediately piled on the flattery.
“Mom has always been incredible. I knew following Mom would lead us to wealth and glory. Two taels of silver! Just a few words and she got it. Other than Mom, who else could do that?!”
Meanwhile, Ye Yuze gazed at Ye Manshu with shining eyes full of admiration.
Ye Manshu herself was obviously in an excellent mood.
Although she hadn’t transmigrated into some hidden top-tier role, at least she also hadn’t landed the absolute worst possible life. Things were finally turning around for her.
Even though it was “only” four taels, she had finally seen real silver.
Before this, even tuition payments from villagers had mostly been made in strings of copper coins.
Silver!
Actual silver!
The group returned home cheerfully, only to discover nobody there.
Madam Yang had probably gone gathering herbs. Eldest Girl, Second Girl, and Cheng Yunfan were likely with her.
Normally only Madam Sun stayed home. Had she gone out?
Ye Manshu didn’t think much about it. Madam Sun usually went to cut pig grass, gather wild vegetables, or wash clothes by the river.
Ye Yuze headed straight to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Cheng Yuan and Cheng Kang wanted to rest, but Ye Manshu kicked them up.
“It’s still daylight. Go work in the fields and come back after dark.”
“Mom, can’t we rest a little?”
“Rest? What exactly did you two do today? You were supposed to sell fish, but I sold them myself and earned the money myself. All you did was stroll around the county and eat a luxurious meal. And you still dare talk about resting? Get to work!”
The two brothers had already developed trauma from Ye Manshu’s discipline and didn’t dare disobey.
Besides, Cheng Kang still needed to check his fish traps. It had already been half the day—there should be plenty of fish by now.
Before leaving, he reminded his wife to keep an eye on the traps. Although they were hidden, he feared someone might steal them.
At that moment, Second Girl suddenly came running back.
The little girl’s face was pale white.
“Grandma! Grandma! My mother fell into the water! Great-Uncle said she won’t survive! Wuwuwu!”
She cried so hard her voice nearly tore apart.
Ye Manshu’s heart lurched violently.
She sprinted toward the river as if flying.
Cheng Kang immediately followed behind. Cheng Yuan ran after them too. Even Ye Yuze abandoned the cooking and rushed out.
After running some distance, Ye Manshu suddenly realized she didn’t even know where Madam Sun had fallen into the water.
She was about to turn back when she saw Cheng Kang had already scooped Second Girl up into his arms while running. Ye Manshu hurriedly asked for the location.
It turned out the accident happened near one of Cheng Kang’s fish traps.
Ye Manshu no longer had time to ask for details. She raced there in one breath.
When she arrived beside Madam Sun, Doctor Li sighed and said:
“Manshu… my condolences.”
Who had time for condolences?!
Ye Manshu immediately pressed the water out of Madam Sun’s stomach, cleared mud and sand from her mouth and nose, and checked her pulse and breathing.
She instantly realized emergency resuscitation was needed.
She immediately began CPR for drowning rescue, forcefully compressing the chest while performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
“Mom! What are you doing?! Mom!” Cheng Kang was horrified.
Had his mother gone mad?!
Even though it was his own wife, this kind of behavior was far too improper.
Ye Manshu shot him a fierce glare and barked only two words:
“Shut up!”
Then she continued the rescue.
Although Doctor Li found it strange, he believed Ye Manshu wouldn’t act recklessly without reason.
Auntie Wang from next door cried out loudly nearby:
“How scandalous! Ye Manshu, are you crazy?! Cheng Yuan, Cheng Kang, hurry and pull your mother away! The person’s already dead!”
But Cheng Yuan and Cheng Kang had been frightened by Ye Manshu’s terrifying expression earlier and didn’t dare move.
Besides, once their mother finished fussing around, she’d naturally stop.
Auntie Wang tried to step forward to interfere, but Ye Yuze blocked her.
“Auntie Wang, why are you here? And the fish trap in your hand—that belongs to my aunt’s family. Why do you have it?”
Auntie Wang’s eyes widened immediately.
“How can you prove it’s theirs? It obviously belongs to my family!”
Ye Yuze knew perfectly well the trap belonged to Cheng’s family, but he truly had no evidence.
Meanwhile, Ye Manshu was exhausted. Maintaining that pace and force during CPR truly required strength.
“Eldest Son! Get over here right now!”
Cheng Kang hurried over.
“Mom, I told you she’s dead already. I’ll just carry her back and bury her.”
There wasn’t the slightest sadness in his tone, as if the dead person weren’t his wife at all—even though she was carrying his child.
How could he be so heartless?
At that moment, however, Ye Manshu had no energy to get angry.
She roared:
“Press like I was doing! Quickly!”
Cheng Kang didn’t really want to.
“But she’s already dead…”
Yet the moment he saw Ye Manshu’s savage glare, he instantly caved.
Ye Manshu moved aside and instructed him how to continue.
Cheng Kang was incredibly strong. Madam Sun’s chest rose much more dramatically under his compressions.
But Ye Manshu also heard two sharp cracking sounds.
Damn.
He had probably fractured her rib cartilage with brute force.
But there was no time to care about that now.
Saving her life came first!