The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 329

After eating two bowls of rice porridge, Lei Ying's complexion warmed up a bit.

"gentlemen……"

Seeing Mr. Lei appear, Lei Ying felt as if she had come back to life.

"You child, no matter what, you should take good care of your health."

It seems she still needs to teach her disciples a lesson on cherishing their own lives.

Never give up on yourself easily; always remember, there are more solutions than problems.

"Tell me, what happened?"

Lei Ying looked at the old woman standing next to her and didn't dare to say a word.

"You are a student of my Chunshan Women's Medical College. The college was founded with the Empress Dowager's decree. The Empress Dowager's intention is also very clear: she will select several female doctors from the college to serve in the harem. I see that you are intelligent and diligent, and I have already reported your name to the palace."

"Really, sir, can I really enter the palace to become a female physician?"

Lei Ying grabbed Chun Nuan's hand: "Sir..."

"Yes, I have submitted the list of those to be admitted to the palace."

In fact, no. Anyway, Chunnuan feels that she can report it as she pleases, and who dares to question her?
Who would dare ask the palace for the list?

"Thank you, sir." Lei Ying's tears flowed instantly. "However, I have failed your guidance."

"How to say?"

"disciple……"

Then he looked at the old woman standing next to him.

The old woman was also shocked by Chunnuan's words.

Looking at Lei Ying now, it would have been better not to look, because once he did, Lei Ying decided to go all out.

"Sir, you may not know this, but my father and stepmother have already arranged a marriage for you. You will be the fourth concubine in the household of Lord Hong, the Sima of the Five Cities..."

I used to sympathize with Zhong Xiuyao, thinking she was a pitiful person taking care of an old man.

But who would believe that Lord Hong is five years older than Lord Lin?

Moreover, rumors circulated in the capital that Lord Hong not only had a fondness for women, but also for twin boys.

The reason she was so eager to offer herself to Lord Hong as a concubine was because her stepmother interfered. Lord Hong was a distant relative of her stepmother, and after making connections with her family, she immediately offered herself up to him to curry favor.

"What, is Lord Hong more important than the noble ladies in the palace? Are you trying to steal him from the palace?"

Chunnuan also knew something about Lord Hong, the Sima of the Five Cities, and was furious. The head of the Lei family was truly a wicked person.

Lei Ying looked at the old woman next to her.

"This old servant will go and report to the madam immediately."

The spy is finally gone.

"Sir, your disciple is grateful for your life-saving grace."

Lei Ying was about to kneel down again.

"Alright, take good care of yourself. No one will dare to give you away."

I refuse to believe that anyone would dare to snatch someone from the palace.

In no time, Madam Lei arrived at Lei Ying's side courtyard.

"I was unaware of your presence, sir. I am deeply sorry for not welcoming you properly. I apologize for my rudeness."

Madam Lei hadn't expected Lei Ying to be so fortunate, being chosen to be sent to the palace. If the master found out about this, he would break his legs. No one would dare to compete with the palace for someone.

“Madam Lei, Lei Ying’s health is very poor right now. We can’t afford to suffer the consequences if he can’t go to the palace on time.”

"I'll give her a good treatment right away." Madam Lei hurriedly said to Lei Ying, "Listen carefully, you are going to the palace to become a female physician, take good care of your body and never mistreat yourself."

"Yes, mother."

Lei Ying knew that what Madam Lei meant was that she would no longer send her to the Hong family, and that she could rest assured.

Knowing that she had escaped this calamity, her eyes were filled with gratitude for the warmth of spring.

"I have other matters to attend to at the academy, so I'll be leaving now." Chunnuan stood up. "Lei Ying, I hope you will return to the academy to study as soon as possible. You must not neglect your studies."

"Yes, sir, I will go to class tomorrow."

When Chunnuan returned to the academy, she found Zhao Minghua there.

"Why did you suddenly come here?"

Apart from a few hired doctors and men guarding the gate, all the servants at the Women's Medical College were women. This was also Zhao Minghua's first time here, which surprised Chunnuan.

"I was just passing by and thought I'd drop by to see you, my wife."

Chunshan Women's Medical College was located in the city. Zhao Minghua was inspecting his properties when he happened to pass by and thought he would like to come and see where his wife went to school.

"You……"

I go back every day, it's not like I haven't gone back at all, what's there to see?

"What about the child?"

"At home, he's learning how to manipulate abacus beads from Uncle Qiao."

Zhao Minghua thought her son was incredibly clever and would definitely be a money-maker when he grew up. Even at a young age, he would drag his nanny to the accounting room and always liked to watch Uncle Qiao pull the abacus beads. Uncle Qiao taught him on a whim, and he unexpectedly became addicted.

While other toddlers played with dolls and such, he was having a great time playing with abacus beads.

He wasn't worried at all that his son would chase after him.

"This child's hobbies are truly unique."

Chunnuan felt that it definitely didn't resemble her.

If you have an interest in medicine and medicinal herbs, that would be excellent.

Unexpectedly, he was interested in silver, accounts, and abacus.

If I'm not mistaken, he'll probably be the next Zhao Minghua.

The man who dared to open a teahouse in the county town with his two thousand taels of silver when he was only twelve years old was full of business acumen.

His family once thought he was a playboy, but unexpectedly he quietly earned the title of Imperial Merchant.

Zhao Minghua keeps a low profile in Beijing these days, but no one dares to underestimate him.

Because he was the younger brother of the newly appointed top scholar; he was the brother-in-law of General Xia, who was enjoying the Emperor's favor; moreover, he was the husband of the only female doctor in the capital; and he was also a royal merchant whose name was personally bestowed by the Emperor…

What they didn't know was that the owners of the four major bookstores in the capital would all show great respect upon hearing the name Zhao Minghua.

So, when the students heard that their teacher's husband had arrived... well, they were all curious about how to address him, whether to call him "Master" or something else. What kind of man could win their teacher's heart?

Someone saw it, and the news spread.

“He’s a bit stronger than the top scholar, and his face is a bit different from the top scholar’s. Well, how should I put it? They each have their own unique features. Sir, you really know how to choose a husband.”

"Is there a way, if possible, where the older generation of the Xiao family has better judgment?"

"I'm actually very curious and want to know how Mr. and Master usually get along."

Because in their eyes, the gentleman was very cold-hearted, and she spent most of her time on medicine.

As everyone knows, in this dynasty, men were responsible for external affairs while women were responsible for internal affairs, and men were expected to marry virtuous and capable women.

A woman with such great talent as you, how could she have time to be virtuous?
How could the master tolerate that?
"I really want to know."

"Yes, how fortunate I am to have met such a good man who agrees to let you practice medicine." Men never allow their women to show their faces in public, let alone neglect their families and children to go out and work; they would break their legs if they did.

"We hope we can also receive the same good fortune as Mr. [Name]."

Girls love to dream, especially a group of young girls like this, who are still full of longing for life.

When Lei Ying arrived at the medical school, she saw Zhong Xiuxiu crying with her head in her hands.

"Sister Xiuxiu, thank you."

If Zhong Xiuxiu hadn't come to see her and told the man, she would have lost her life.

"It'll be good if you come back, it'll be good if you come back."

This silly girl, she's practically someone who's died once.

"No matter what happens in the future, we will find a way to solve it instead of abusing our bodies."

"Sister Xiuxiu, I have no choice."

Mrs. Lei simply informed her, rather than discussing it with her.

Moreover, she was immediately confined to the courtyard, and even her aunt was not allowed to visit her.

The original plan was to send it to the Hong residence the next day, but Lei Ying held a pair of scissors to her own neck and said that she could go, but an auspicious day had to be chosen. The auspicious day was chosen five days later, which gave her five days to send the message out. However, Lei Ying was unable to send the message out.

What's most infuriating is that even her aunt thought she was still studying at the medical school, and no one in the household knew the truth.

If Zhong Xiuxiu hadn't discovered that she hadn't come looking for her, she really wouldn't have had a chance to save herself.

"I figured it was better to die cleanly than to be ruined by that old man."

"I tried all sorts of ways to die, but they always found out and stopped me."

She even considered mixing the medicine herself, but she couldn't go anywhere; in the end, she could only protest by going on a hunger strike.

"You haven't eaten for several days. How's your stomach now?"

"My husband told them to take good care of myself. These past two days, she's been very nice to me, trying to please me and giving me whatever I want."

Even her aunt can come and talk to her now.

The honest and simple-minded aunt was often tormented by her. Whenever she made a mistake, she would be punished by kneeling on the ground for one or two hours. Although she was not old, her legs had already developed rheumatism.

“My aunt gets so much pain in winter that she can’t walk.”

Lei Ying had witnessed too much of the torment that Madam Lei inflicted on her concubines, so she was strongly opposed to being sent to be a concubine herself, thinking that it would be better to die sooner rather than suffer.

Unexpectedly, there was another way out, given to her by Zhong Xiuxiu and her husband.

They were practically her second parents.

Lei Ying thanked Sister Xiuxiu for saving her life.

Lei Ying knelt down solemnly to express her gratitude. She had already gone to thank her husband for his kindness, and she wanted to thank Zhong Xiuxiu in the same way.

"You don't need to be so polite. Get up, get up. We are good sisters and fellow disciples, so it's only right that we help each other."

Zhong Xiuxiu felt sorry for the person who had lost so much weight: "You need to take good care of yourself. The master said there will be a spot for you to enter the palace."

"Okay, I understand. I will definitely try my best."

She absolutely had to get into the palace!
Ever since she learned that she would be entering the palace, Madam Lei's attitude towards her had changed.

Therefore, the only thing that can save you is your own diligence and hard work. Only by relying on yourself can you avoid being manipulated or given away like an object.

"By the way, you said your aunt has arthritis?" Zhong Xiuxiu said, "Haven't we learned a lot about medicine? Why don't you help your aunt get treatment?"

Now, I, Zhong Xiuxiu, am practically the physician of the household. Even when Madam Zhong has a headache or fever, she tells Zhong Xiuxiu to treat her.

At the time, Zhong Xiuxiu didn't dare to look, but Madam Zhong scolded her.

“Silly child, how do you know if you’re good at medicine if you don’t practice? You’ve learned medicine, but you don’t practice on patients.” Madam Zhong told her lovingly, “You must be bold in treating patients. If you’re unsure, you can ask your teacher. Your teacher will definitely value a diligent student more.”

These words were like a wake-up call, and Zhong Xiuxiu boldly began to see patients.

Moreover, she found that she was becoming more and more confident and certain in treating the patients in the household.

“It’s not that I’m unwilling to see patients, it’s because my aunt’s monthly allowance has been cut. Every winter, there’s no money left to buy charcoal in her yard, so my allowance has to be used to support my aunt’s survival, and I haven’t had any money left to buy medicine.”

The mansion also has a storeroom, and most of the medicinal herbs in the storeroom are precious. How could they possibly fall into the hands of a concubine or an illegitimate daughter?

It's true that even a skilled cook can't cook without rice.

"You just tell your wife like that..."

Zhong Xiuxiu recalled making pills for Zhong Xiuyao: "Tell your wife that these were taught by the teachers at the academy. They can replenish qi and blood, and promote restful sleep..."

Once you have the medicinal herbs, you can decide what kind of pills to prepare, which will allow you to treat your aunt.

"Sister Xiuxiu, you are so smart."

"It's not that I'm smarter, it's just that I'm a little luckier than you. My stepmother in this household is very understanding and will fulfill any request I make."

When he first suggested making pills for Zhong Xiuyao, Madam Zhong immediately agreed.

If it were Mrs. Lei, she probably wouldn't stand a chance.

Zhong Xiuxiu was also smarter than Lei Ying and knew how to leverage her connections.

Chunnuan is someone that noble ladies in the capital want to befriend but cannot, yet they see her every day, and her husband always steps in to help them whenever they encounter trouble.

Lei Ying was extremely grateful for Zhong Xiuxiu's guidance.

Sure enough, when she returned to the mansion, her aunt came to talk to her again.

"Auntie, your leg..."

"It's nothing, just an old problem."

The aunt said softly, "Second Miss, you should study hard and do your job well now that you have this opportunity. If you can marry into a good family in the future, I can die in peace."

"Auntie, we won't die, we'll live well."

Lei Ying felt a pang of sadness: "Auntie, once I start working, I'll have a monthly allowance, and I'll take good care of you then."

"Alright, alright, as long as you're well, that's all that matters, Auntie."

As they were talking, a maidservant announced that the madam had arrived.

"The daughter has met her mother."

"This humble servant greets Madam."

"Get up, all of you." Madam Lei asked Lei Ying, "When will you be going to the palace?"

Madam Lei came to her senses and wondered if Chunnuan was lying to her, giving her a delaying tactic.

"The master said there is still a six-month study period, after which I will have to practice medicine for another six months before entering the palace."

"That's good. Of all the children in our family, you are the most successful."

"Your teachings are excellent, Madam." Lei Ying, having received guidance from Zhong Xiuxiu, knew how to speak in order to win the favor of his mistress.

"Look, she still needs to learn more. Look at her, the second daughter used to hardly talk, but now she's so talkative."

Madam Lei smiled and said to the concubine standing beside her, "Your womb is also very cooperative, giving birth to such a well-behaved daughter."

"It's all thanks to Madam's excellent upbringing; she's Madam's daughter."

The aunt dared not accept the credit.

No matter whose womb the children come from, they all have to call her "mother," because they are all her children.

Concubines and maids were nothing more than servants, and they didn't even have the same honor as one's own children.