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

Chapter 393

Lady of Wei, a first-rank imperial consort!
Both the Xiao and Zhao families were involved in the Rong affair.

However, unlike other people's lavish banquets, Chunnuan used the gold, silver and estate bestowed by the emperor to open a maternity and children's charity, specifically to take in homeless women and children under the age of eight.

"Nuan Nuan, you are such a kind person."

Mr. Xu was deeply moved. Who said that the rich are heartless?

If all the rich people in the world had a compassionate heart like Nuan Nuan, then there would be more warmth in the world.

"But how did you come up with the idea of ​​starting a charity?"

"Aunt, I've discovered that there are always some people in this world who don't have a home."

Especially for girls, after marriage, their parents' family treats them as guests, while their husband's family treats them as outsiders.

If she can't give birth to a son, she'll be looked down upon. If she meets an unreliable man, she'll often be beaten and verbally abused. Without the strong support of her maternal family, she won't even have the courage to get a divorce.

Those women who were divorced suffered even worse; disliked by their husbands' families and unloved by their own, they ultimately faced only death.

Some children are abandoned due to illness or because they are girls, and many end up as beggars.

Chunnuan is not the kind of person who is materialistic.

Moreover, she discovered that her marriage to Zhao Minghua was truly smooth sailing and brought them great fortune.

Over the years, Zhao Minghua's business has been booming, and she has earned a considerable amount of money.

"When poor, one should cultivate one's own virtue; when successful, one should benefit all under heaven." Chunnuan held her child in her arms and said, "Since I have enough ability, I will do more good deeds, which will also be a way to accumulate merit for the children."

"So, what do you think we can do?"

“Aunt, you can donate the clothes you don’t wear to the orphanage. I’ll have them washed, disassembled, and remade for those who need them.”

Although they don't wear these clothes, they would definitely be considered high-quality material in ordinary households.

"Alright."

Xu, Xu, and Huang then had their maids collect a lot of clothes.

"Back then, these clothes could have been pawned for some loose silver."

Xu sighed with emotion: "I never imagined that we would start living a life of luxury again as soon as we returned to the capital."

"Yes, back then we embroidered by the light of an oil lamp day and night, and we were overjoyed to receive even a little bit of silver. Now we live a life of luxury, but we don't have the same happiness and joy as those years."

"Who can disagree? As the old saying goes, 'Those who are poor three times and rich three times will not grow old.' We've come a long way through life, full of ups and downs, but thankfully we have Nuannuan."

"No matter what, life goes on. As long as you maintain your passion and have the spirit to strive, things will always get better."

Chunnuan thought this way, and she acted this way.

Chunshan Women's Medical College has been handed over to Zhong Xiuxiu for management.

Another admissions day.

Chunnuan came to inspect in person.

"Sir, there are many more girls applying this year. There are 361 participants in the first assessment."

Zhong Xiuxiu never expected it to become so popular.

It really increased their burden, but at the same time it was also very gratifying.

There are countless academies in the capital, but no one expected that the most popular one would be a Chunshan Women's Medical College.

"Twenty-eight or nine people passed the initial assessment, and then the second round of assessments will begin," Zhong Xiuxiu said. "Overall, this year's cohort is much better than previous years."

Are there any girls from poor families participating?

Yes, but not many.

"That's still good."

Being literate raised the bar, but some girls still came to explain that it had truly captured the attention of these families.

How wonderful it would be if one day all girls could go to school!
Spring warmed up and I went to the charity home again.

This charitable estate is a hundred-acre estate on the outskirts of Beijing, which was bestowed upon her by the emperor when he conferred upon her the title of Lady of Wei.

"Sir is here."

The servants on the estate were overjoyed to see this.

"There seem to be more people?"

"Yes, sir, as of yesterday, sixteen divorced, homeless women and four little girls have come."

"Have those women had their medical checkups?"

"I checked, and as instructed by the master, a physical examination was conducted before entering the estate."

Those with serious illnesses will be arranged to receive treatment outside the estate first, and will be brought in to live there once they have recovered.

The four little girls included one who was abandoned on the street to beg, one who was sold to a brothel by her family, and one who ran away.

"Buy the child she sold."

Chunnuan doesn't want to get into a lawsuit over this.

This girl is quite stubborn; she actually dared to run away, not afraid of being caught and beaten to death.

“Sir, I’m not afraid of death. I’m going to die anyway, at least I can die cleanly outside.”

The little girl was named Er Ya. Her biological mother died early, and her stepmother had a son and a daughter. She was like a blade of grass, abused from a young age. When she turned twelve, her biological father and stepmother felt it was time to sell her to a brothel for twelve taels of silver.

Bai Mei, who was in charge of this matter, went to Qing Mei and said she would redeem Er Ya from her servitude.

"That girl ran into your charity home?"

The madam said, "This is really a good start. If all the girls who don't want to work here run to your charity brothel, then what am I supposed to do but stay in business?"

“Mother, please don’t mind. If that’s the case, our charity should change its name. This is not what Madam wants.” Bai Mei was no pushover either. “The Emperor conferred upon Madam the title of Lady of Weiguo, a first-rank imperial consort, because she has done many things that ordinary people cannot do. Madam’s time and energy are very precious, and she really doesn’t have the time to compete with Mother for business.”

Madam...

Even though you have people backing you up, there are still some people you shouldn't offend.

A powerful and influential man, a Xiao Chunnuan among women.

“If it were anyone else, I’d at least have some steamed buns to eat today, but I wouldn’t let this girl go. This is only for Mr. Xiao’s sake. Alright, here’s twenty taels of silver.”

“My wife is right. My mother is a person from the underworld, and she is very loyal.”

Bai Mei directly gave him fifty taels of silver: "My lady said that we can't let Mother work for nothing." "Oh ho, Lady Wei is indeed a generous person. Alright, just for her generosity, I'll do her a favor. Someone, bring Er Ya's indenture."

Bai Mei successfully obtained Er Ya's indenture.

"Thank you, Sister Bai Mei."

Er Ya never dreamed that one day she would be able to redeem herself.

"No need to thank me, thank Madam. However, Madam also has requirements for you. The fifty taels of silver for your redemption will be in your name, and you will need to earn money through your own abilities to gradually redeem yourself."

"So how can I make money?"

"Learn to cook, learn needlework, learn to read, learn medicine, etc. As long as you keep learning, choose something you like to study, and over time you will have enough skills to earn money to redeem yourself from this contract."

"Okay, I'll learn."

Er Ya nodded; she was determined to make money.

Years later, Er Ya became the head of the charity home. She had returned the fifty taels of silver from back then, but she never wanted to leave the charity home.

She doesn't even want to get married; she just stays here and watches the old and the young live happily every day.

For her, the life she dreamed of was one where she didn't have to be beaten or scolded and didn't have to worry about being sold.

Just as General Xia returned in triumph after driving the Xiongnu out of the country, Zhao Minghua and Xiao Chunnuan's plan to go to sea was put on the agenda.

"Go to Qiongzhou?"

When the Xiao and Zhao families received this news, they were both puzzled. Why would they give up a good life and go to that remote and barbaric place?
"Nuan Nuan, when are you coming back?"

Ms. Xu was somewhat reluctant to part with him.

"It depends. It could be as quick as one or two years, or as slow as three to five years."

"What about the children?"

"She was looked after by people in the household and also cared for by her mother-in-law."

Now, the Zhou couple could no longer return to Changzhou.

Despite their reluctance, they all knew that no one could persuade Zhao Minghua and Xiao Chunnuan, two stubborn individuals.

They say that people who aren't family don't enter the same door, and it's really true.

Where there is a sleeping dragon, there will surely be a phoenix chick; these two are truly a perfect match as husband and wife.

All we know is that they went to Qiongzhou.

Little did they know that after resting for three months in Qiongzhou, the two boarded a large ship to sail out to sea.

Along the way, the couple drank tea, chatted, and played chess, calmly sailing on the vast sea.

After more than two months of sailing, they finally saw land.

Fortunately, the language they were taught in the capital was somewhat understandable.

With the help of the two gentlemen's translation, the tea, porcelain, and silk that accompanied them on the journey were exchanged for silver.

They also brought back some local specialties, and after three months, they returned home.

Their journey was fraught with storms that carried them to a deserted island. Fortunately, they had a large supply of food and medicine, which allowed them to weather the storm and eventually return to the dock in Qiongzhou.

"Warm and cozy, how are you feeling?"

“Excellent.” Xiao Chunnuan looked up at the sky: “We should go out more and see more of the world, otherwise we will always be just frogs in a well.”

"Where else do you want to go? Your husband will go with you."

"The ends of the earth".

"Sure, either way is fine."

Is this really okay?
As spring warmed up, I realized it was truly wonderful.

They made a pact to go to the border the following year to see the land that the soldiers had protected with their lives and blood.

After returning to the capital from Qiongzhou, the children who were just learning to speak back then could now call their fathers and mothers.

Chunnuan was surprised that the child recognized her.
Even her eldest son was still staring at her blankly, not saying a word.

“The old lady shows them your portraits every day and teaches them.”

"Mother, you are so good."

"You child, how come you've changed so much in the three years you've been away?"

He's gotten darker, older, and rougher: "It's because that third brother didn't take good care of you. From now on, you should stay in Beijing and take good care of yourself."

“Mother, we have other things to do. We’ll be leaving next month.”

"Zhao Minghua, you brat, you've got too ambitious, haven't you? You think the capital can't keep you here?"

"Mother, the outside world is bigger."

This is why he didn't choose to practice medicine or enter officialdom.

Otherwise, how could one have such freedom, to travel the world with one's beloved wife?

Chunnuan and Zhao Minghua entered the palace and told the emperor what they had seen and heard over the past three years.

“Minister Zhao and Lady Wei are truly the lucky stars of our Great Zhou.”

It turns out that borders aren't just land borders, but also sea borders!
Three days later, the emperor issued an imperial edict in the court to establish a naval military training base in Qiongzhou.

All the civil and military officials in the court were astonished. How much silver must this have cost?
Little did they know that Zhao Minghua had already handed over all the sailors and ships of Qiongzhou to the imperial court.

The couple had no other desires but to travel the world together. They were already very content with their happiness today.

In the twenty-third year of Yongfeng of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Lady Xiao Chunnuan of Wei State passed away peacefully at the Zhao Mansion in the capital at the age of ninety-nine.

Some say that Lady Xiao Chunnuan of Wei went to the Western Paradise with her husband to enjoy bliss.

The new emperor personally went to offer condolences and posthumously conferred upon Xiao Chunnuan the title of First-Rank Lady.

He had heard his father and mother talk about Mr. Xiao's kindness to the royal family since he was a child, but the royal family had failed Mr. Xiao. He also witnessed Xiao Chunnuan's resilience and ability.

The Emperor said that the court had three generations of veterans, while Mr. Xiao was the guardian deity of the three dynasties.

(End of the article)

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