Chapter 8: Tan Yunxian

After finishing her meal, Miaozhen returned to her room. She first completed her homework from the girls’ school, then wrote a letter, and after bathing, sat again at her desk to recite the “Pharmacological Treatise.”

She had spent about half a month memorizing the “Pharmacological Treatise.” Back in modern times, when she studied medicine, she had already memorized the “Decoction Recipes Song,” and with Madam Ru occasionally showing her medicinal herbs, she was willing to put in the effort, reciting these texts every night from the hour of the Dog to the hour of the Rat.

From autumn into winter, on cold nights when Xiaoxi would get up to add coal to the brazier, she would be so cold she would stomp her feet. Seeing her young lady still at the desk, she hurried over to put coal into the hand warmer and handed it to her.

In fact, Miaozhen had never been this diligent in modern times, but in the ancient era, she had no choice. Most girls married by sixteen or seventeen. After marriage, bearing children was a given, and many women fell ill but hid their ailments. Even if she set aside her grand ambition to treat women throughout the realm, it was still worthwhile to learn to care for her own health.

After finishing the last paragraph of her reading, she heard the night watchman's bell signaling the hour of the Rat and at last went to bed.

Rising at the hour of the Dragon, Xiaotao took out a small jacket from the warmed bed. It was lined with plain silk, filled with a few strands of cotton batting in the middle, and covered with plain satin on both sides. Over this was a pale yellow under-jacket, and atop that, a bright peach-pink cloak.

Life in the Xu family’s second household was much better than before. Xu Erpeng had suffered hardships. It was said that when he was a boy, because the family was poor, his jackets were too thin and shabby, causing him to have a runny nose all year round and walk hunched over.

So as soon as winter came, he spent ten taels of silver specifically on fabric and tailors. From Miaozhen’s household, she received a rabbit fur coat, two small jackets, a cotton-padded under-jacket, and a thick armor-like garment.

Suzhou was not in the north. Even in the last month of the lunar year, though cold, it did not snow. Wearing two layers of jackets was already sufficient. Xiaotao brought breakfast from outside: scallion flower rolls, walnut porridge, and a plate of scrambled eggs.

“Have you eaten yet?” Miaozhen asked.

Xiaoxi and Xiaotao both laughed, “We’re not in a hurry. We’ll deliver our young lady to school first and eat when we return.”

After escorting their young lady to school, they still had to wash clothes, sweep, and do some needlework. Fortunately, their young lady was well-mannered, and the Xu family never mistreated their servants—much better than at home.

At school, Tong Pan’er was eating a meat bun but grimacing from the heat.

Miaozhen took off her cloak and set it aside, smiling, “You’re quite bold, Tong Niangzi is vegetarian, yet you’re eating a meat bun here.”

“I got up late this morning, so I just had the maid buy it from a camel-bearer vendor,” Tong Pan’er replied carelessly.

Miaozhen knew that although Tong Pan’er was the daughter of an imperial examinee whose father was an official in Suzhou Prefecture, she was born of a concubine. The first wife bore no children, so a concubine was taken in, but she died after giving birth to Pan’er. She was raised at Madam Tong’s side, but later Madam Tong bore a son and a daughter of her own.

It was said that because she was born to bring the son, Madam Tong doted on her as if she were her own child. Still, she was not her biological mother, and Pan’er’s life at home was not entirely pleasant. She was broad-minded and never took things to heart.

After quickly finishing the bun, Pan’er began to choke. Miaozhen hurriedly patted her back, then saw Wang Xie and Lin Xiaoxiao approaching.

Ma Yulan’s family lived nearest but arrived last.

Lin Xiaoxiao teased, “Off slacking again?”

“Not at all,” Ma Yulan yawned as she spoke. “Relatives came over, and my mother prepared forty dishes. We had to entertain guests and even hired two singers. I stayed up too late and simply couldn’t get up.”

Everyone gasped and asked who the relatives were.

Ma Yulan glanced around, then lowered her voice, “The old lady from that family is a cousin of my grandmother’s. But our family has declined since my grandfather’s time, while theirs has risen step by step to become high officials in the capital. I heard they offended someone and had to return home. Strangely, their family’s original home is Wuxi, but now they plan to settle here in Suzhou.”

“Suzhou is wonderful. Who doesn’t love our Suzhou style?” Tong Pan’er laughed.

Everyone joined in the laughter.

As the year-end approached, it was the first time their family would celebrate the New Year at home, making it lively. They had bought two sheep and two geese, not to mention the cured meats hanging in the corridor—smoked pork, fish, sausages. Madam Mei sent someone to buy several Tiger Hill spring banquet boxes, two large and two small, shaped like sweet melon slices and red lacquered chrysanthemum petals.

With the girls’ school dismissed, and Madam Ru having said she was busy, Miaozhen could rest at home for a few days. She took shoe uppers to Madam Mei’s to do some needlework.

She was preparing two pairs of shoes for Madam Ru. The soles were sewn by Feng Niang, and the uppers embroidered by her: one pair of pointed phoenix claw shoes on bright red satin embroidered with the eight treasures pattern, and another pair of plain silk lotus-patterned shoes.

Madam Mei remarked, “You’ve learned some embroidery from Madam Qiu, but I worry about these.”

“Madam Qiu taught me everything. Before, I never stepped into the kitchen, but now I can make several kinds of pastries, wontons, and vegetarian dishes. It’s been worth the learning,” Miaozhen smiled.

Madam Mei teased, “You’re more capable than your third aunt now. She can’t even make a pair of shoes.”

When she was studying, Miaozhen never attended family gatherings. Madam Mei told her bits and pieces of gossip: her eldest uncle often came to the house to freeload because his wife and Miaoyun’s older sister rarely returned home; her third aunt once fought with a lower official and chased him with a knife, and only after her third uncle apologized and paid compensation did things settle down.

Aunt Qiao had taken a concubine in Hangzhou, not counting those outside. Counting those at home, that was already the fifth household. Aunt Qiao’s face was said to be as black as ink, yet she still pretended to be virtuous.

These bits of gossip were a way to pass time, and Miaozhen listened with great interest.

She also mentioned the neighbors: “A few days ago, Sister Ma said they had important guests at home, with forty dishes and musicians. Do you know who it was?”

“It’s all the talk of the town. Of course I know. They brought back two grandsons and bought a house near Xumen. They’re renovating it, so they’re temporarily staying at your Sister Ma’s house.”

Before she finished, Madam Ma’s maid appeared, asking Madam Mei for some pickled spring vegetables.

Madam Mei’s annually prepared pickled spring vegetables were tastier and more refreshing than others’, so people came with bowls to request some every year. Madam Ma was a neighbor and close friend, so Madam Mei immediately sent over a jar.

Madam Ma’s maid said their guests had no appetite until they tried Madam Mei’s pickled spring vegetables, which helped them finish a bowl of rice, prompting Madam Ma to come and ask for some herself.

After the Minor New Year festival, Miaozhen’s shoes were finished. Her mother brought them along with festival gifts to Madam Ru’s house. Madam Ru admired the shoes, saying, “The stitching is fine, and the design suits the shoe uppers beautifully. Madam Xu, I almost want to steal Miaozhen as my own daughter.”

Miaozhen modestly replied, “I’ve only recently learned embroidery. I’m afraid my skills aren’t refined yet. I’m grateful for your kindness.”

Indeed, Madam Ru was meticulous in her teaching, but whenever she went to wealthy households for external consultations, she took Ru Xiniang along. Ru Xiniang had been friendly at first but grew distant after realizing how quickly Miaozhen learned, often hiding things from her.

Miaozhen herself was driven and practical. In modern times, when her parents divorced, she was initially resentful, feeling they were reluctant to pay alimony and blaming herself for spending too much money and getting upset. Later, after entering society, she realized that no matter what was said, money in hand was all that mattered.

Now it was the same: as long as Madam Ru taught her seriously, she would absorb the knowledge. Other matters she would not concern herself with for the time being.

“Dear sister, then we shall meet again next year,” Madam Ru smiled.

…

After leaving the Tao family, Madam Mei asked her daughter, “How is your learning going now?”

“Just started. I’m a fast learner, but it’ll still take a year or two,” Miaozhen smiled.

Last year, Madam Mei was heavily pregnant during the New Year. This year, with their own house and servants, and Xu Erpeng having repaid fifty taels to the previous owner, their loan shifted from a three-character to a two-character debt.

Still, Xu Erpeng continued working diligently with the pen. Miaozhen only played for a few days and spent most time at home reading texts like the “Danxi Heart Method.” After the turn of the year, she hardly went anywhere, but her progress was notable. Madam Ru also started teaching her acupuncture slowly.

Usually, Miaozhen never missed a day visiting the Tao family, rain or shine. Today, however, she asked for leave for the first time.

“Master, tomorrow a friend is leaving, and we’re holding a farewell banquet for her with some friends,” she said.

Madam Ru, aware that in the past year and a half, Miaozhen never came late or missed a day, even in heavy rain or snow, nodded approvingly. “All right, but the day after tomorrow I have a free clinic. That will be your chance to practice. You must come.”

These free clinics were mostly for poor commoners. The women they treated were often lowly vendors and laborers. Ru Xiniang looked down on such work and stayed at the front distributing medicine and giving instructions, listening to the gratitude of those people.

“Don’t worry,” Miaozhen said, knowing that no matter how solid the theory, practical experience was indispensable.

Lin Xiaoxiao’s mother had passed away, and her father did not intend to remarry. Her maternal family planned to bring her back to Nanjing, and she had already departed from there.

The farewell banquet was held at the Ma household. The four girls pooled eight qian and arranged ten dishes—five dry, five wet—not counting fruits, pastries, and wines.

Tong Pan’er lamented, “Madam Qiu said she would teach us how to cook abalone with bones in spring, but you’re going to Nanjing.”

Lin Xiaoxiao looked equally reluctant. “Yes, it’s great to play together, but there’s nothing to be done.”

Girls without mothers’ guidance were often seen as motherless eldest daughters. Moreover, Lin’s maternal grandfather worked in the Ministry of Rites in Nanjing, her uncle was a captain, and the family owned several shops—quite well off.

Seeing everyone’s sadness, Miaozhen smiled, “Nanjing is the imperial capital, a top-notch place. Sister Lin will surely gain much insight into the old capital. My eldest uncle once studied at the Imperial Academy in Nanjing and still fondly remembers it.”

She opened a box containing two clay figurines that perfectly resembled Lin Xiaoxiao and herself. Seeing this, Lin Xiaoxiao was moved to tears, which the others comforted until she stopped crying.

After the banquet dispersed, Miaozhen walked her out. Lin Xiaoxiao took her hand and said, “Sister Xu, I know you’re studying medicine. You know my mother and I were often ill and tried many doctors. My health has improved over the years thanks to Madam Yang from Wuxi. She is the cousin of your master’s family, from the Tan clan, highly skilled and upright. Madam Tao’s skills are good too but cannot compare to Madam Yang’s. Trust me, if you want to learn advanced skills, have your master introduce you.”

Tan? Madam Yang? That must be Tan Yunxian.

Miaozhen felt enlightened and grasped her hand, “Thank you so much, dear sister.”