Chapter 17: Infant Food Stagnation

The ferry in early autumn was shrouded in mist, softening the harshness of the air.

On a black-canopied boat, Miaozhen sat inside the cabin alongside Tan Yunxian, while the voices of Xu Erpeng and Tao Erlang drifted in from outside. In the end, she chose to travel with Tan Yunxian to Wuxi, yet Xu Erpeng remained uneasy and insisted on personally escorting her to the Yang residence.

As a writer of detective stories, he was naturally distrustful of everyone, regardless of their reputation or virtue.

The night before, her father had told her that a servant named Lai Wang would visit once a month, urging her to adapt as much as possible but to write letters if anything untoward happened so Lai Wang could come to fetch her.

“Madam, would you like to lie down for a while?” Miaozhen asked.

Tan Yunxian waved her off. “Lying down too long harms your energy. This must be your first time traveling far, right? When I was young, I grew up following my parents on their official duties.”

The Tan family had been government officials for generations, as had the Ru family. The Ru clan’s Ru Luan, mentioned in “Miscellaneous Notes by a Female Doctor,” once served as the Fujian Provincial Administration Commissioner and was Tan Yunxian’s cousin. Although her grandson Yang Qiao was implicated in political troubles, Tan Yunxian had become indifferent to worldly affairs, possessing a remarkably open mind.

“This is my first time traveling, and I owe it to your kindness. Actually, my parents were reluctant for me to go so far, but I feel that if I don’t see the world while I’m young, I may never get the chance later,” Miaozhen said thoughtfully.

Tan Yunxian smiled. “You’re young and yet so decisive—that’s a good thing.”

At noon, the boatmen brought a meal: stuffed field snails, stir-fried white shrimp from Lake Tai, steamed Lake Tai knife fish, eight-treasure duck, watermelon chicken, and several other refreshing dishes—all prepared under Xu Erpeng’s instructions. He was determined to uphold his daughter’s dignity when away from home.

Young people always had hearty appetites; Miaozhen ate a bowl and then half more, prompting Tan Yunxian to smack her lips and say, “Seeing you eat like this makes me hungry.”

“Let me peel the shrimp for you,” Miaozhen offered.

Though elderly, Tan Yunxian remained sharp-minded. She explained to Miaozhen that the journey from Suzhou to Wuxi would take less than a day with a favorable wind and shared local customs along the way.

Outside, Xu Erpeng and Tao Erlang were eating. Thankfully, he had finished his manuscript early; otherwise, he would have been frantically worried about both ends. Rarely resting, his hands were perpetually sore from years of writing, and sleep brought whole-body aches. He hoped to earn enough in a few years to stop the relentless work.

As dusk approached, their party reached the riverbank. Miaozhen saw nearby vendors selling iced drinks and swallowed hard. Everyone on the boat was nearly parched; ordinary tea no longer quenched thirst. Still reluctant to displease Tan Yunxian, she hesitated until Tan Yunxian said, “If you’re thirsty, just have someone buy some to drink.”

Hearing this, Miaozhen felt a little embarrassed. “I thought you’d tell me not to have anything cold.”

“Too much cold food isn’t good, but a heavy heart worsens illness faster. The most important thing is peace of mind,” Tan Yunxian said, recalling her own youth.

The anxious Miaozhen found herself unexpectedly relaxed by these words.

Xu Erpeng had already hired a carriage from a nearby transport service to take them home. He was skilled at managing household affairs and cared deeply about appearances. Though lazy at home, he was diligent on the road, startling Miaozhen.

Supporting Tan Yunxian into the mule-drawn carriage, he feared for her safety and never let go. Half an hour later, they arrived at a residence with a stone archway lacking an inscription. The house featured heavy eaves and carved roof ridges, with a wide three-bay courtyard.

Before they could disembark, the elderly steward at the gate hurried over. “Madam, a sick visitor has been waiting here for two days—a six-year-old girl, near death.”

Upon hearing this, Tan Yunxian immediately led Miaozhen inside without time to settle. A young couple entered, cradling a frail little girl on the verge of death.

The worried parents wore anxious expressions, but Miaozhen saw her mentor remained calm and asked, “What’s wrong with the child? How long has she been like this?”

“During the Qiqiao Festival, we didn’t let her go outside and coaxed her to eat many sweet dumplings, but since that day her condition worsened. We’ve seen many doctors and tried many medicines to no avail.”

Miaozhen watched Tan Yunxian press the child’s abdomen, then ask, “Does it hurt?”

The girl nodded faintly. Tan Yunxian then inquired of the parents, “What does she usually like to eat?”

“Anything. We buy whatever she wants,” they replied, doting on their daughter.

Miaozhen thought of the “Danxi Heart Method,” which included Baohe Pills reputed to cure food accumulation. The child’s abdominal pain suggested a real excess condition, but Miaozhen refrained from stating this outright, for she was not yet skilled in subtle herbal diagnostics.

Tan Yunxian said, “I’m prescribing Zhuiji Pills. Have her take them and see how she responds.”

She quickly wrote the prescription. The couple hurried outside to purchase the medicine.

After they left, Miaozhen asked, “With my limited knowledge, I thought Baohe Pills would be more suitable.”

“Look at her sallow complexion and thin frame, with worm spots on her face. Her family’s diet lacks restraint. These Zhuiji Pills not only digest food and clear stagnation but also harmonize the stomach and expel parasites,” Tan Yunxian explained.

Miaozhen suddenly felt that her life was shifting. From acupuncture to gynecology, and now branching into all fields, she sensed a profound change approaching.

That night, she slept in the courtyard next to Tan Yunxian’s, having tidied herself up briefly before resting.

The Tan family was known as Tan Bancheng in Wuxi, a powerful clan, yet Tan Yunxian still lived at the Yang residence. The house was filled with various medical texts, and even at her age, she continued refining her skills—a true blessing passed down through generations.

As she drifted off, she realized she was finally asleep.

Though Miaozhen slept, Xu Erpeng remained awake. Having inquired extensively about the Tan family’s status in Wuxi and knowing that Tan Yunxian used to travel to the capital to treat the empress dowager, empress, and concubines, he understood that now, with her age, she lived quietly in the countryside.

Having his daughter learn medicine under her guidance was a valuable opportunity.

The Yang household’s meals included both vegetables and meat, their servants few but capable—enough for their needs.

For families without backgrounds like theirs, every step forward was hard-earned and required caution. Many who spoke virtue and morality were untrustworthy behind closed doors, which was why he arranged for someone to visit monthly.

Thoughts lingered until dawn.

He changed into a brand-new silk robe early in the morning. At home, his family wore simple cloth garments; only when traveling did he dress better to avoid mockery. He had arranged everything for the journey, spending carefully—money must be used wisely. If trouble came to the family later, having savings was better than anything.

Early the next day, the little girl’s parents returned. Though not wealthy, they brought seven or eight tokens of gratitude, reporting that after taking the Zhuiji Pills, their daughter had passed the sugary dumplings and felt much better.

Miaozhen felt joyful too, as if she had found the true meaning of being a healer—saving a life was deeply rewarding.

After breakfast at the Yang residence, Young Master Tao planned to visit the Ru family to pay respects, and Xu Erpeng prepared to leave. Miaozhen came out to see him off.

“Father, please take care on your journey.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be safe returning during the day. As for you, here’s ten taels of silver—don’t spend it all like a scatterbrained child. Be cautious. Even if others speak kindly, don’t think you’re really at home. If you encounter troubles, tell me or your mother, understand?” Xu Erpeng warned.

Miaozhen nodded earnestly.

Xu Erpeng stepped beyond the gate, waving back. “No need to see me off. Go back inside.”

“Please take care of yourself and mother,” Miaozhen waved vigorously in return.