14 A Chance Encounter

The July heat was intense. Madame Ru’s eldest son was to be married in August, so she scarcely had time to see patients these days. Miaozhen stayed home to escape the heat, pondering the upcoming wedding of Madame Ru’s son. She wondered whether Tan Yunxian would attend. For three years now, Miaozhen had been studying medicine under Madame Ru, having thoroughly mastered gynecology—whether it was vaginal discharge, regulating menstruation, hemorrhaging, pregnancy, miscarriage, difficult labor, or postpartum care, she was well experienced.

Naturally, Miaozhen wished to deepen her expertise in gynecology, but there was a problem: she had no reputation, was still young, unmarried, and lacked powerful patrons to vouch for her—without these, success was impossible.

When the Suzhou prefecture summoned female doctors to the palace, even Ru Xiniang had been recommended. Had she not heard that palace officials would be conducting examinations and thus withdrawn, she might have been selected. Ru Xiniang, though learning medicine from Madame Ru, lacked focus and often misdiagnosed cases. Yet, with Madame Ru’s financial backing and extensive connections, Ru Xiniang had a chance. Miaozhen, however, had no one strategizing on her behalf.

Even though she accompanied Madame Ru to see patients, it would take time before she could make a name for herself. Ancient times were unlike modern days; even her father, whom she overheard telling her mother, planned to be vigilant next year. Once a marriage was fixed, it would be difficult for her to go out as freely.

She did not necessarily seek fame and fortune, but women could not open their own clinics then. Most who came to seek medical help sought renowned practitioners. Madame Ru was from a family with a medical lineage; Miaozhen was not. Even with skill, patients might not come to her. Worse yet, without reputation, when she treated patients, they might distrust her, suspecting she had given them the wrong medicine, and could even turn against her.

Others might confuse her with quack healers, making it even harder for her to advance. If she could enter the palace to treat those within, she would no longer have to ask favors—patients would clamor to see her.

Lost in thought, she saw Ma Yulan approaching and smiled, “I thought you had gone out these past few days?”

“With such heat, I naturally stay home to escape it. By the way, I heard from my mother that you went to the Li family. Why did you come back so soon?” Miaozhen said, having someone bring a honeydew melon from the well water.

Ma Yulan quickly waved her hand, “Speaking of which, it still vexes me. You know the old Madam Li loves playing leaf cards. One of her card friends grabbed my hand and wouldn’t let go, boasting endlessly about her grandson—full of sweat. Then she scolded me for being lazy and began to discipline me like that.”

The two families were neighbors and close; Ma Yulan often confided in Miaozhen.

Ma Yulan was a year older than Miaozhen, now thirteen—the age for marriage proposals. Usually, after a match was made, families prepared the dowry, and it took two or three years before a girl married—not so soon.

A woman’s life seemed so quickly arranged by others.

Miaozhen said, “Your mother loves you dearly; she will surely make good plans for you. How do you plan to celebrate your birthday? Why not invite Sister Wang and Sister Tong, and we can have a gathering?”

Ma Yulan had a good idea: “Don’t the adults have tea gatherings? I’ll ask my mother to host one. We can go with the grown-ups, then close the door and talk freely among ourselves. Otherwise, if I invite people separately, it’s easy for you and Sister Wang, but Sister Tong might not be able to decide for herself.”

Miaozhen praised her thoughtfulness, and they discussed the plan further.

Finally, Ma Yulan said, “Why do you think Sister Tong isn’t allowed to come out? It’s all because of the Li family.”

Miaozhen replied, “The Li family’s second son’s father is a magistrate, eighth rank; Sister Tong’s father is also an eighth-rank official. Their families are well matched. In fact, the Tong family is even more prosperous.”

But the Li family was no longer what it once was.

Ma Yulan sighed softly, “Exactly. The Li family’s eldest son went to his aunt’s home in Jinling, supposedly to rely on his powerful in-laws.”

Miaozhen had seen the Li eldest son often playing cuju in the alley outside Chang Gate.

It seemed men also schemed marriages for their futures. Why must women simply accept their fate? Moreover, if she, as a woman, had skills and reputation and could advance in her career, she would have more choices in marriage.

Ma Yulan thought Miaozhen would disdain Li’s eldest son’s behavior, but Miaozhen was lost in thought, picking up a slice of honeydew melon, saying, “Since it’s settled, I’ll tell you once Sister Tong’s family agrees.”

“All right, all right,” Miaozhen replied, returning to reality.

Ma Yulan ate a few slices of melon there, then grew sleepy and took a nap before leaving. Miaozhen had planned to nap too, but could not sleep. Instead, she opened her money box, finding one ingot of gold weighing five taels and two strings of coins—her entire private savings.

The family had only just cleared their debts at year’s end; now was the time to save. Her father said he didn’t know when the book-writing work would be banned, so they needed savings in case of bad years ahead, so the family wouldn’t starve.

Their family had moved to Suzhou and owned no land. Without this livelihood, they would starve. It was best to prepare for the worst.

Miaozhen was sensible, never asking for much money. Her daily expenses were small but necessary—paper, soap, silk thread, and such.

The next morning, she told Madam Mei about Ma Yulan’s birthday plans. Madam Mei agreed wholeheartedly, “Since that’s so, I will attend. You girls were close before; since Lady Qiu left at the end of last year, you haven’t been together much.”

“My daughter thinks the same,” Madam Mei said.

“While young, it’s best to enjoy yourself,” Madam Mei added. Though her life was now much better than before, she still wished her daughter to be carefree.

Miaozhen smiled and nodded.

Then Madam Mei suddenly changed the subject, “Zhenzhen, tell me—did you deliberately treat Aunt Qiao’s fifth wife? You’re cautious despite your youth.”

Hearing her mother mention this, Miaozhen admitted, “Partly it was for my own medical practice, but partly because Fifth Aunt always spoke ill of you. Even in poverty, she never helped you financially. I upheld medical ethics, yet she treated me coldly, even publicly mocking you for being unfilial for not giving my father a concubine. If so, she can handle her own concubines.”

“You child…” Madam Mei was at a loss for words.

She had no mother from childhood, a cruel stepmother, and an absent father, always avoiding conflict. But Miaozhen was different—so young yet cunning, avenging herself in subtle ways.

Miaozhen added, “Besides, I was just treating her illness; whether she conceives or not isn’t up to me.”

Madam Mei did not scold her but remarked, “If your aunt knew, she might blame you.”

“That’s her problem. Does she think she alone deserves medical care? Mother, their Qiao family is a prominent local household, but my teacher is Lady Qiu’s elder sister. Perhaps I have connections,” Miaozhen said fearlessly.

Madam Mei was reminded of those dark days when poor, her stepmother secretly fed rice to her stepsister while forcing her to eat beans, rising early to cook and feed pigs, often falsely accusing her of theft.

Those gloomy times were past, and life improved—she no longer dwelled on them.

Suddenly, Madam Mei smiled, embracing her daughter, “You’re right; your mother won’t blame you.”

“Mother, you’re always so good to me, whatever I do,” Miaozhen thought gratefully.

Soon, after receiving Tong family’s reply, Madam Ma arranged to rent a painted boat on Lotus Pond for a group outing to pick lotus pods.

Miaozhen and friends first took a carriage to the lake’s edge. Many were out enjoying themselves; the painted boat was docked on the opposite shore, so they boarded smaller boats to cross. Their boat was rowed not by a boatman but by a boatwoman.

The boatwoman was talkative, saying she had rowed here for over ten years.

“Three hundred and sixty days a year, rain or shine, I’m here. Rowing keeps my children fed; at least they don’t go hungry.”

Madam Mei sighed, “That is truly not easy.”

“Indeed. My hands have been numb for six years. I’ve taken many medicines, but none worked,” the boatwoman said with some helplessness.

Though Miaozhen now specialized in gynecology, before her transmigration she had studied acupuncture and massage. Her medicine box was always with her servant.

She said, “This is rheumatism. Moxibustion would help. I’ve studied medicine for three years; if you trust me, I can try to help.”

She expected refusal, given her youth. Yet the boatwoman, seeing Madam Mei and Miaozhen accompanied by servants and dressed in fine silks, recognized their status and agreed.

Madam Mei said, “We’ll have lunch at the nunnery by the shore; you can come find us afterward.”

The boatwoman took note.

She then rowed them to the painted boat, where the classmates reunited, filling the air with chatter. Tong Pan’er was as lively as ever, insisting on visiting the Wang family.

Wang Xie said, “Be careful; don’t be childish.”

Among them, Wang Xie was the most honest but not without troubles. Her mother and sister-in-law were at odds.

“My sister-in-law was gentle before marriage but turned fierce afterwards, making a mess in my brother’s household. My mother worries a lot.”

“Your mother must have a plan. Don’t worry,” everyone reassured her.

Wang Xie shook her head, “Now she’s turned to me, scolding me like a servant, blaming me for everything.”

Miaozhen thought Madam Wang was capable—she had disguised as a man to sell silk with her husband when young, only opening a silk shop in middle age. She was no ordinary person.

Those who could hold their own, even in small trades, were remarkable.

The Lotus Pond was filled with lotus flowers, pink and white, half-bloomed, with clear green leaves. The group composed poetry together. Ma Yulan praised Miaozhen’s talent: “Among us, Xiaoxiao is the most gifted; her natural talent never fails her. Earlier, I disliked having to get up early for school, but now I think school was good.”

Everyone agreed eagerly.

At noon, the painted boat stopped near a nunnery. Madam Ma said, “Behind the temple is a patch of crape myrtle flowers. After lunch, we’ll go enjoy them.”

Unexpectedly, rain fell during the meal. Seeking shelter came an elderly lady, along with the boatwoman from the morning. The boatwoman said to the elder, “Madam, please wait here out of the rain. I asked this young lady to help me with my illness.”

The elderly woman glanced quickly at Miaozhen.

Miaozhen remained calm, found an empty room, and applied moxibustion to eight acupuncture points: two at Jianyu, two at Quchi, two at Zhigou, and two at Lieque. She treated the rheumatism accordingly.

Jianyu and Quchi are points on the Large Intestine meridian; Zhigou is on the Sanjiao meridian; Lieque is on the Lung meridian. These four points are effective for upper limb rheumatic pain.

“I will moxa you first, then write a prescription for Cangzhu Decoction, which dispels dampness,” she explained.

Outside, no one had seen Miaozhen’s medical skills before. After half an hour, the boatwoman emerged, laughing and crying, “My numb arm after all these years finally responded. Thanks to Miss Xu.”

Those who have not suffered illness cannot understand.

The silent elder looked at Miaozhen, asking, “How did you treat me just now?”

Miaozhen saw she was elderly but spirited. Since the rain poured and they had no other matters, she explained her method.

The elder nodded, “Your technique is correct.”

“Do you know of moxibustion?” Miaozhen asked.

The elder only smiled. Behind her, her maids looked hesitant, but Miaozhen was wise enough not to pry. She asked where they were from; hearing they were from Wuxi, she thought this might be Tan Yunxian.

Earlier, Miaozhen had used methods from Tan Yunxian’s “Miscellaneous Notes by a Female Doctor.”

If this was Tan Yunxian, it would be a rare opportunity—perhaps she could meet her again at the Tao family’s place, learn from her, even become her disciple. If not, then it was merely a chance encounter.

Miaozhen sighed, “I am now studying gynecology with our master, but I personally love acupuncture. Sun Simiao said in his ‘Emergency Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold’ that in the Wu and Shu regions, with many rivers and lakes, one should undergo moxibustion two or three times each visit. It’s a pity I am not from a medical family; otherwise, I would study moxibustion further.”

The elder asked what medical books she had read. Hearing her list them, she was astonished, “You are so young and yet have read so many books—it is truly rare.”

She then asked a few questions. Seeing Miaozhen answer fluently and with great ambition, she felt a fondness and respect for the young talent.

This elderly woman was none other than Tan Yunxian of Wuxi, attending Madame Ru’s son’s wedding banquet. She was well past seventy; her son had died twenty years ago, and her grandson had been implicated. Hearing the girl speak of her apprenticeship, early rising and late retiring, diligently studying medical books, Tan Yunxian recalled her own childhood, sitting by her grandmother’s knee reading medical texts…