Chapter 18: Completion of Studies

Time passed swiftly like a fleeting horse’s shadow, and a year and a half soon slipped away. Because of her advanced age, Yunxian’s grandson’s daughter-in-law worried and personally came to bring her to live with them. Miaozhen thus bade farewell to her master and returned home early, traveling with her parents.

She carried only three or four sets of clothing to change, but her medical books filled three trunks. Her father was as he always was—whenever not writing, his whole body ached, and he often pounded his arms and shoulders with a wooden hammer.

“Once I get back, I’ll apply moxibustion to the Hegu and Quchi points on your hands. I promise you’ll feel much better afterward,” Miaozhen said eagerly.

Xu Erpeng nodded repeatedly; he longed for someone to relieve his chronic back and waist pain.

The three boarded a boat while a strong wind was still blowing. Miaozhen quickly had Mrs. Mei wrap herself in a cloak because her mother had just given birth to a younger brother at the end of last year and mustn’t catch a chill.

Mrs. Mei said, “You just turned thirteen, you’ve studied these books, and you’ve learned medicine. From now on, you should stay home and live well. By the way, your young aunt is just about to be married; you’ll still catch it in time.”

“Mother, will Uncle and Aunt come back from Jinling?” Miaozhen still remembered how her uncle had sent money to the family back then.

Mrs. Mei squeezed her hand gently. “At first, your father and your third uncle asked people from the Huang family to inquire, and later wrote letters to your uncle’s friends, but there was no news. Finally, during this year’s Lantern Festival, they returned, but there was nowhere to stay. They lived at your third uncle’s for a few days. You know how your third aunt is—since you were six, she has been quarrelsome over the five wen your father gave you. Your grandmother even asked your uncle’s family for your young aunt’s dowry money. It became unbearable. Your third uncle and his family wanted to come stay at our empty courtyard, but your father disagreed.”

“What happened after that?” Miaozhen asked.

Mrs. Mei explained, “Previously, we sold two rooms for twenty taels to your third uncle, but over the years, he has only repaid half. So your father, in front of the whole family, said that each household should lend your uncle ten taels so they’d at least have a place to rest and not always rely on others. As for our family’s ten taels, he told your uncle to collect it from your third uncle.”

Miaozhen was relieved to hear that her father was shrewd—turning her third uncle’s creditor into her uncle’s creditor. Yet she asked, “And then?”

“Your third uncle only came up with ten taels, claiming he had already cleared his debt to your father. That ten taels could buy two or three rooms. Your uncle and his family took the money and rented two rooms near Dye Alley.”

“How could it come to this? I remember they had so many fine clothes and jewelry. They could have just pawned a few pieces. The people in Dye Alley are a mixed crowd, not a very good place.”

Xu Erpeng, who had been massaging his back nearby, said, “What else could they do? I was just doing a favor. It wasn’t easy to scrape together ten taels from your third uncle to give them.”

Miaozhen felt a pang of sympathy. She recalled that Madam Ru’s consultation fee was usually two or three qian, while famous doctors charged two to five taels. If she charged fees, she could only start at one qian.

Whether in ancient times or modern days, to live well and have aspirations, one must first be materially secure. Although her uncle was a tribute student, his life was so poor he couldn’t settle down.

Thus, earning money was crucial. Now, having endured many trials and bearing the title of a disciple of Madam Yang, she would undoubtedly be different from before.

As she pondered this, a yawn escaped her lips. Mrs. Mei embraced her gently, saying, “Sleep a while. When you wake, we’ll be home.”

At Xu Dalang’s house, he was also asleep. After seeking refuge with a friend, he had spent over half a year before finding a job through that friend. But because he accidentally revealed the friend’s concubine, the job was soon lost. Without any relatives’ support or connections, and with the daughter’s treasured gem necklace intended as capital for a shop being fake, he had no choice but to stoop to business.

He had pawned a fur coat and just received some money when Mrs. Huang begged him to give it to their daughter’s dowry, so he gave it away again.

In the final year, Mrs. Huang gave birth to another child, who died soon after due to poor care. Mrs. Huang herself fell ill with postpartum complications. Having pawned everything they could, the family had no choice but to return to Suzhou.

“Father, please eat something; you’ll be going out later,” Miaoyun said, bringing a bowl of thin porridge and a plate of pickles.

Xu Dalang planned to visit Xu Erlang’s place to see if he could work as a bookkeeper in his brother’s bookshop. That would be better than doing odd jobs for others.

His parents often quarreled lately, and Miaoyun was frightened. Back in Jinling, because of her father’s dismissal, her own marriage prospects had fallen through, and all past troubles seemed like fleeting clouds.

After returning to Suzhou, second sister Miaozhen apprenticed under the renowned physician Madam Yang. The second uncle even planned to prepare a large dowry for her. The third sister was betrothed to the second son of the woodworking shop and had learned midwifery from a midwife, inspired by her sister’s medical training.

Only she seemed to have achieved nothing.

Thinking of this, she recalled the jeweled necklace given by Lady Qianhu. Both she and her mother had been overjoyed and kowtowed in gratitude, not realizing the gems were fake and the chain wasn’t even silver.

The powerful had been playing them for fools. Her mother, unaware, had even waived the customary six-month engagement fee.

“Miss Xu, Miss Xu—” An old woman entered outside. Miaoyun rose and asked, “Grandma Lin, what’s the matter?”

Grandma Lin was a widow who made a living as a hairdresser and seamstress. Today she was dressed plainly and first inquired about Mrs. Huang.

“My mother went to the Fang family to make clothes.”

Since Mrs. Huang had her uncle’s help, she quickly found work embroidering bridal gowns for the Fang family’s new daughter-in-law.

Grandma Lin slapped her thigh regretfully. “Your mother told me last time that she was looking for an embroidery girl, and I actually found one and promised to help, but she isn’t here.”

Miaoyun’s heart stirred. “Grandma Lin, you’re looking for me? Although I’m young, I’ve done needlework with my mother for a long time.” She then showed some of her embroidery.

Grandma Lin saw the fine, intricate stitches and clever patterns and agreed to take her on.

Miaoyun breathed a sigh of relief. At last, she could help support the family. Once they saved enough, they wouldn’t have to live like this, constantly at others’ mercy. They could buy a nice home near Xumen or Changmen.

When Miaozhen and her party arrived in Suzhou, the sun was already setting. At the gate, they found a dark figure standing, which startled them.

“Big brother, what are you doing here?” Xu Erpeng was exhausted. After taking a ferry to Wuxi last night, saying farewell to the Yang family early this morning, and returning by boat during the day, he had no energy left to deal with anyone.

Xu Dalang, having nothing else to do, eagerly sought some income and disregarded all else. “I wanted to ask if you need a bookkeeper here?”

Xu Erpeng replied, “Manager Li handles the accounts here. He’s responsible day to day.”

He preferred not to employ acquaintances, instead choosing competent but timid men, easier to manage. Manager Li had been working there for two or three years and was far better than the previous one.

Their was a small workshop, not a large bookshop with hundreds of employees, so no special bookkeeper was really needed.

Xu Dalang stammered, “I see Manager Li is busy and sometimes can’t keep up. If there was an additional bookkeeper—”

“I’d like that too, but where’s the money?” Xu Erpeng caught his meaning and refused outright.

He knew well that relatives should not share money. It was better to refuse immediately than to drag things out and cause resentment.

After entering, all the servants from the second household came over. Xu Dalang sat silently, feeling like a clown, then left without a word.

Since the adults had matters well in hand, Miaozhen did not interfere. She first had the maids take their luggage upstairs, then joined her parents, waiting for dinner from the kitchen.

Jian and little brother Kun were already asleep. Jian was attending the local school, as their father said whether one had a gift for learning was obvious without needing a private tutor at home.

Soon, Yuxiang brought several dishes. Everyone was exhausted and famished, so they ate heartily.

After dinner, her father went straight to his study to write, while her mother accompanied her upstairs to the rear pavilion, speaking in private.

“Your father says you’ll come of age in two years. That’s the right time to marry. We must save money these years to prepare a dowry of over a thousand taels, so you’ll marry into a good family.”

Miaozhen blushed. “That’s still far off.”

“Not really. If you wait till you’re older, it’ll be too late. Miaolian is already betrothed to the youngest son of the woodworking shop, though your third uncle isn’t happy about it, thinking they’re not a good family,” Mrs. Mei said.

Miaozhen asked, “If they’re no good, why agree?”

Mrs. Mei smiled, “That’s just talk. How many mothers-in-law truly like their sons-in-law? And how many mothers like their daughters-in-law?”

Miaozhen chuckled. “True enough.”

Arriving at the room, Miaozhen took Mrs. Mei’s pulse and asked, “Have you felt any discomfort since giving birth?”

Mrs. Mei shook her head. She felt awkward discussing such private matters and said no.

Miaozhen cautioned, “If you feel unwell, you must tell me.”

“All right.” Mrs. Mei then began to help her daughter undo her hair.

After Miaozhen’s hair was undone, a servant brought warm water, and she helped Mrs. Mei bathe and freshen up.

Xiao Xi and Xiao Tao said, “Miss, it’s best to be home, isn’t it?”

“Of course, home is best,” Miaozhen rested her head on the edge of the basin.

Meanwhile, after Xu Dalang returned, Mrs. Huang quarreled with him again, mainly berating his incompetence. Xu Dalang sneered, “If I were useless, how could you have been an official’s wife before? You envied Gao Zhiyuan’s wife and forced me to expose his concubine. After I did, I lost my job and our daughter’s marriage fell through.”

Mrs. Huang’s face flushed red and white as she retorted, “I told you not to go to Jinling’s trouble spots, but you insisted. It’s your family’s greed.”

“My family’s greed? At least my brother lent me ten taels,” Xu Dalang snapped back.

Miaoyun pulled the covers over her head. This house was no home at all, filled with constant quarrels. But she recalled the house Grandma Lin took her to, where the young lady was innocent and kind, and the mistress was gentle. She helped embroider several floral skirts and collars for the little girl, who was only six and sweetly called her “sister.”

Yet, when the lady spoke of finding a female teacher for her daughter, Miaoyun impulsively pretended to be her cousin, claiming to be a student taught for years by Mistress Qiu.

She had heard from her second aunt that Mistress Qiu’s younger brother, Inspector Qiu, was highly praised and renowned throughout the Sanwu region. The lady, upon hearing Miaoyun was taught by Mistress Qiu, despite their fallen fortunes, immediately considered hiring her as the girl’s teacher.