Unlike Zhang Tiegou, Guard Wang was genuinely rather simple-minded.
When he heard that Xu Yi wouldn’t report him to Xing Yuesen, he was overjoyed and wanted to pour his heart out to Xu Yi, telling him about his childhood.
“When I was little, my mother took me to see the fortune teller at the village entrance. He said I had a benefactor in my fate, and when I grew up, I wouldn’t go hungry. I’d have meat to eat and clothes to wear. I was destined for a good life.” Guard Wang wiped the blood from his knife, looking somewhat disgusted at the wild dog he’d beaten to death.
The pelt was damaged in several places. If he took it to a shop, they’d certainly find fault with it and might deduct anywhere from dozens to a hundred wen.
He sighed regretfully to Xu Yi about what a pity it was, then asked, “Doctor Xu, do you eat dog meat?”
His train of thought jumped so abruptly that Xu Yi couldn’t quite keep up.
In the Compendium of Materia Medica, it was recorded that dogs, also called canines or “earth sheep,” referred specifically to yellow dogs. Their meat greatly supplemented vital energy and could be used to brew wine called “Wuxu Wine.” Additionally, they could treat tuberculosis, this required a yellow male puppy, skinned and eviscerated, stewed in a clay pot with necessary medicinal ingredients, then the medicine removed and replaced with danggui, cangzhu, houpu, and three other herbs, pounded into pills called “Wuxu Pills.” Not only these, but dog gallbladder and other parts could also be used medicinally.
Xu Yi shook his head. “I don’t eat dog meat.”
“Dog meat is delicious. Eating it in winter keeps you warm.” Guard Wang had a different perspective.
He thought eating was more important. This dog would yield twenty to thirty jin of meat. What a waste not to eat it.
“This is a wild dog. Strictly speaking, it doesn’t count as dog meat,” Xu Yi said with difficulty.
Guard Wang held up a piece of meat and looked at it doubtfully. “Is there a difference? They look about the same to me.”
Xu Yi didn’t argue this inconclusive topic with him and said, “I didn’t come here to chat with you. Your arm injury needs medicine.”
At this reminder, Guard Wang remembered his arm was injured.
He put down the knife and stripped off his clothes in two or three movements, exposing his muscular upper body.
“I think the wound is fine,” Guard Wang still tried to downplay it.
Xu Yi ignored him and carefully examined the wounds on Guard Wang’s arm. He had little clinical experience with external injuries, so he was quite attentive to this practice subject who’d delivered himself to his door.
The bite wound from the wild dog wasn’t deep, and the scratches were even shallower, running three cun or more from top to bottom. Surprisingly, after about one shichen (two hours), the lighter parts had already formed a protective layer.
Xu Yi was astonished. When he took Guard Wang’s pulse, he discovered that it had a solid foundation, the pulse was strong and didn’t weaken even with deep pressure.
This was a very healthy, very normal pulse.
Which meant this wound might truly be nothing to him.
Xu Yi’s feelings were complicated as he applied medicine, though he still instructed Guard Wang to drink jinyinhua soup for two days.
As the two were talking, someone from Xing Yuesen’s side came to fetch Xu Yi back.
It seemed Xing Yuesen had finished handling matters. Xu Yi glanced at the sky, realizing it was getting late, and bid farewell to Guard Wang.
Guard Wang said he needed to process the meat and wouldn’t see Xu Yi off.
As Xu Yi left, Guard Wang asked again, “Are you really sure you won’t eat any?”
“I won’t.”
Xu Yi answered decisively.
Later, when Xu Yi saw Guard Wang again, it was several months afterward.
However, at this time, after seeing Xing Yuesen briefly, Xu Yi was about to leave the estate. Boarding the donkey cart with him were two baskets weighing dozens of jin, filled with peaches.
Each took their seat in the donkey cart, which rolled along the official road toward the county town.
In less than half a shichen, they entered the bustling marketplace.
The lively sounds traveled from outside into the carriage. Xu Yi lifted the curtain to look out. The evening sun was setting, red clouds filling the sky, their glow spreading over the ancient small town. Carriages and horses crowded together with pedestrians and vendors, a scene as beautiful as a painting.
Xu Yi enjoyed the scenery along the way until the donkey cart turned onto a small road on South Street.
…
Before the donkey cart stopped, Ah Xu and Ah Jin were already waiting for him at the door.
Seeing Xu Yi carry two baskets of peaches down from the carriage, both were stunned.
“Young master, so many peaches!”
The siblings had eaten wild peaches before. The peaches from wild trees in the mountains were tiny, barely larger than apricots, and tasted sour and astringent when bitten, not sweet at all.
Yet they remained a favorite wild fruit among many country children.
Every peach season, they would go together into the shallow mountains to find peaches, picking out the good ones to put in baskets and sell in town, earning a few coins to supplement the household.
They hadn’t seen peaches in one or two years. What’s more, the peaches Xu Yi brought back today were plump and pink, each one absolutely perfect.
“Young master, where did you get these peaches?” Ah Jin asked, following her brother as they carried one basket. By the time she returned, Xu Yi had already brought the other basket inside.
Xu Yi said, “Brother Xing gave them to me. There are too many peaches. Pick out a few and send them to Madam He’s and Uncle Tang’s homes, and a few to the other households we’re close with.”
With their instructions, Ah Xu and Ah Jin took bamboo baskets to pack peaches. Madam He’s and Uncle Tang’s families had the best relationships with the Xu household. Originally, there was also Madam Chen, but since Madam Chen had divorced from the Chen family, the Xu family’s relationship with the Chens had clearly deteriorated. Xu Yi didn’t even associate with Chen Erwang anymore.
The He and Tang families each received eight peaches delivered by Ah Xu.
These juicy autumn peaches were in no way inferior to summer peaches. Uncle Tang, who knew his goods, was amazed to see them.
His wife also sighed, “Young Master Xu is becoming more and more accomplished. Ever since that house was built, his days have been even more comfortable.”
Uncle Tang stroked his beard, saying with satisfaction, “Young Master Xu understands propriety. We can’t just accept these. Wife, see if we have anything suitable to give in return.”
“These peaches are clearly top quality, eight of them must be worth twenty or thirty wen.” His wife deliberated, then asked him, “How about taking that old bolt of cloth, cutting it, and sewing a few bags to send over?”
Though that cloth was somewhat old, it was still good material. She’d seen Xu Yi using cloth bags to store medicinal ingredients last time, which gave her this idea.
Uncle Tang agreed, “Good.”
Meanwhile, at Madam He’s house, she was preparing the evening meal when she saw Ah Xu carrying a bamboo basket. She wiped her hands and came out to open the door.
“Why are you here? Does your young master have business with me?” Madam He had just asked.
Ah Xu handed over the basket, saying, “Madam He, the young master sent me to deliver peaches. Please take them. I still need to deliver to other houses.”
Madam He: “?”
Where did these peaches come from?
She took the basket and saw the peaches inside, each one looking excellent.
“Where did these peaches come from? They don’t look cheap. Did your young master buy them?” Madam He asked.
Ah Xu said they were sent by the young master’s friend, and there were quite a lot of them, so he’d picked out a few for Madam He.
Only then did Madam He accept the peaches. She went back inside to fetch several eggs as a return gift, saying, “Your household always has to buy eggs at the market. I happen to have saved up some, take them home to eat.”
“Thank you, Madam He.” Ah Xu accepted the basket, now containing fewer peaches but several eggs.
Afterward, Ah Xu delivered peaches to several other neighboring households with whom they had decent relations. These households received fewer peaches, but still had four each.
The families who received peaches were all very happy. In this season, being able to eat peaches wasn’t easy!
That same day, the Pang household living on South Street also received a basket of peaches.
Pan Wenji had sent a servant from his residence to deliver them.
“The young master said these peaches were sent by Master Xing. Too many were sent, so he had me bring a basket over.” After delivering his message, the servant bowed and left.
Uncle Pang looked at the peaches, then at Pang Boyi, saying, “Young master, your stomach has been unsettled these past few days. Let’s set the peaches aside and eat them in a couple of days.”
The corner of Pang Boyi’s mouth twitched slightly. “Uncle Pang, am I that kind of gluttonous person?”
Uncle Pang shook his head. “Young master is refined and elegant, naturally not that kind of person. It’s just that my concern makes me overstep my bounds.”
Having said that, he called for a servant to carry the peaches to the kitchen and lock them up.
Pang Boyi: “…”
The deep bond between master and servant meant each knew what the other was thinking.
To Pang Boyi, Uncle Pang wasn’t merely an old family servant. He treated Uncle Pang as an elder, and in many matters Uncle Pang disapproved of, Pang Boyi would listen to varying degrees.
For example, regarding food.
Pang Boyi had had a weak stomach since childhood. Eating too much meat and fish was hard to digest, while eating too little caused stomach pain and illness; he was very difficult to care for.
Uncle Pang worried endlessly about this. After settling down in the county town, he went to request a physician examine Pang Boyi and prescribed a new formula for nourishing porridge.
It was nearly time for the evening meal. Uncle Pang said, “Today’s meal is River Sacrifice Porridge. This porridge nourishes the stomach and can also treat headaches. Young master, your headaches have been frequent these past few years. You mustn’t overthink things.”
Pang Boyi brushed off his robe. “Uncle Pang, I haven’t been overthinking.”
“Then how has your headache ailment become so severe?” Uncle Pang didn’t believe him.
Pang Boyi was helpless. How could a person’s worries simply stop because one said not to worry? Even sages couldn’t do that, much less an ordinary mortal like himself.
Entering the room, he asked, “Still haven’t found that physician who makes the digestive pills?”
Uncle Pang’s face filled with worry as he shook his head.
“Young master, why not have Young Master Pan help you inquire about this physician’s whereabouts?” Uncle Pang urged from the side. Though the county town was small, searching for someone was still like finding a needle in a haystack.
This time, he’d thought the person would set up a stall outside the City God Temple marketplace, but when he went, no one was there.
Later he learned they’d gone to set up at the night market instead…
Pang Boyi pondered for a long time. To ask his friend for this favor was truly difficult to voice.
Uncle Pang said, “If the young master feels he can’t say it, then let this old servant speak. This old servant has thick skin and isn’t afraid of being laughed at.”
Seeing how troubled he looked, Pang Boyi said with slight helplessness, “You certainly know how to make me feel better. Fine, fine, I’ll go speak to him myself.”
…
The next day.
The neighboring households who’d received peaches sent over some vegetables and melons to Xu Yi, all grown in their own gardens.
As the weather grew colder, vegetables and melons became more expensive. The Xu household had no vegetable plot, so they had to buy vegetables at the market.
Their sending these over came at just the right time.
Xu Yi accepted them. Looking at these seasonal vegetables, he thought that without a cellar for winter, he might as well dry some vegetables.
Making dried vegetables would lose some nutritional value, but they could be stored for several months. When true winter arrived, they’d still have other vegetables to eat.
At this time, he wasn’t the only one thinking this, all the neighbors had begun drying vegetables too.
These vegetables alone weren’t enough. Xu Yi had Ah Xu take money to the market to buy more baisong and chestnuts.
Baisong was Chinese cabbage. It was also the main vegetable for Song Dynasty people in winter. Since Shu region had no cellars, winter baisong was left directly in the fields, covered with straw and other materials to protect against cold. When people wanted to eat or sell them, they’d harvest them then.
“Brushing aside snow to pick the ground cabbage, it tastes like honey lotus, even more plump and rich.” This poem described winter cabbage.
Frost-touched cabbage was delicious. It didn’t need much seasoning, just boiling it made it very sweet.
But cabbage dried into vegetable strips was very suitable for stewing with meat. The meat stewed with dried cabbage had a different flavor from that cooked with fresh cabbage, even more distinctive.
As for chestnuts, there were small taro. Dried taro was something common people would prepare before winter.
Dried taro stored in jars could be cooked over straw fires when needed. Both in appearance and texture when eaten, they resembled chestnuts, hence the name “earth chestnuts.”
Once Ah Xu bought the baisong and chestnuts back, they could scrub off the mud, place them in winnowing baskets, and carry them up to the roof to dry.
They’d dry them during the day and bring them down at night when dew fell.
As for the baisong, Xu Yi cut them into quarters with a knife and hung them between wooden strips under the eaves.
Just as the baisong and chestnuts were nearly dry, winter’s first solar term, the Start of Winter, quietly arrived.
Waking that morning, all things between heaven and earth seemed to have withered overnight. Grass clumps along the road turned yellow and dried up, and leaves rustled down from trees one by one.
Xu Yi, draped in a cotton robe, lit the charcoal brazier in the room. He’d known Song Dynasty winters would be cold, but hadn’t expected them to turn cold so quickly.
In just two days, the temperature had dropped too rapidly. People’s bodies hadn’t yet adjusted to this sudden cold, and many more came with children to see him for cold ailments.
Xu Yi had just left his room when a village woman in worn cotton robes, carrying a four or five-year-old child on her back, came searching door to door.
“Excuse me, is this Doctor Xu’s home?” The woman stopped at the door to inquire.
Xu Yi quickly went to open the door. “I am Xu Yi. Please come in quickly.”
Seeing the woman and the child on her back both with faces reddened from cold and noses dripping with frozen moisture, Xu Yi called to the kitchen, “Ah Jin, bring two cups of warm water.”
Having said this, he led the woman into the main hall to talk.
The woman entered somewhat awkwardly, saying, “People from our village had seen you before, Doctor Xu. They said your consultation fees and medicine costs are both cheaper than at medical halls, so I… I came for help.”
Xu Yi nodded. “Is the child feeling unwell somewhere?”
He looked at the small child nestled in the woman’s arms, quiet with eyes closed. He could hear faint breathing sounds. The child’s face was flushed red, he didn’t know if it was from the wind or other reasons.
He reached out to touch the child’s forehead, which was somewhat hot.
“Caught a cold?” He raised an eyebrow.
The woman said, “I don’t know if he caught a cold. He woke yesterday morning with a fever. After drinking a bowl of sugar water, he got much better, but last night the fever came back.”
Xu Yi listened to her account and had her bring out the child’s hand so he could feel the pulse.
Upon taking the pulse, he found the child’s pulse pattern was tight. A tight pulse didn’t only appear with external wind-cold, other illnesses could also produce it. This child’s pulse was tight but also floating, with head and face feverish, more like cold damage disorder.
Xu Yi asked, “Has the child experienced diarrhea these past few days?”
“Yes, he said his stomach hurt these past few days and had some diarrhea. I saw it wasn’t serious, so I didn’t pay attention.” The woman said.
For people like them, as long as there was no recurring fever, a few bouts of diarrhea that resolved themselves meant no need to see a physician.
This woman had originally not planned to come today. It was only after seeing villagers come to the county town for treatment and get well after spending just a few dozen wen that she thought to bring her child for a look.
Raising a child wasn’t easy. This child had finally been raised to four or five years old. Spending a few dozen coins to treat his illness meant not having to fear him dying of fever.
Xu Yi nodded, saying, “From what I’ve diagnosed, the child has contracted cold damage disorder. I’ll prescribe a Mahuang Decoction for you. Give it to him in three doses.”
The child looked four or five years old. Xu Yi asked for his exact age, then adjusted the dosage accordingly.
Mahuang Decoction came from the famous Thousand Gold Prescriptions and consisted of eight ingredients: mahuang, huangqin, fresh ginger, apricot kernel, gypsum, licorice, shaoyao, and cassia heart.
This formula had miraculous effects on cold damage in children, but needed to be taken with careful consideration.
Xu Yi reduced all the amounts, and after writing the prescription, asked the woman to wait while he rose to prepare the medicine.
He didn’t prepare much, only two packets, to be taken in six doses.
Xu Yi said, “After drinking this medicine decoction, within a few shichen the fever will subside. If it doesn’t subside, you’ll need to bring the child back again.”
The woman nodded, then asked quietly about the consultation fee and medicine cost.
Xu Yi said calmly, “The consultation fee is five wen, medicine cost is thirty wen.”
The woman breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. This Doctor Xu truly was considerably cheaper for treating illness.
She quickly reached into her bosom and took out a small cloth pouch containing just a few dozen wen. After counting out thirty-five wen for Xu Yi, very little remained.
Xu Yi accepted the money, saying, “If there’s anything you don’t understand, you may ask clearly.”
“There is one question.” The woman thought for a moment, then asked, “If after taking one packet of this medicine he recovers, do we still need to drink the remaining packet?”
“You need not.” Xu Yi said.
If the illness was cured, there was no need to take medicine. There was no principle that all medicine must be finished. Moreover, the child was young and medicine being three parts poison, the less the better.
The woman hesitated. “Then this medicine… can someone else drink it?”
Xu Yi raised an eyebrow: “?”
The woman explained that her sister-in-law from her natal family had been coughing and feverish for several days, lying in bed unable to get up. She thought that since her sister-in-law’s illness seemed similar to her son’s, could this medicine be given to her?
After learning the situation, Xu Yi fell completely silent.
He spoke solemnly: “This is a pediatric formula. The dosages inside are different. If your sister-in-law’s illness is serious, she can also come see me.”
“But… my natal family is impoverished. My brother went to work as a hard laborer and isn’t home. She probably can’t come to see you, Doctor Xu.” As the woman spoke, her heart filled with melancholy and she sighed. She was merely a married-out daughter and couldn’t make decisions for her natal family.
It was just a pity for this sister-in-law. So severely ill for many days, whether she could make it through this winter was hard to say.
Xu Yi also sighed lightly. In these times, poor people’s lives were cheap. Many had illnesses but no money for treatment, or were unwilling to spend money on medical care.
After seeing off the woman and her child, Xu Yi added two pieces of charcoal to the brazier in the room and had Ah Xu fetch a few chestnuts.
Ah Xu brought the chestnuts over and asked, “Young master, are these chestnuts for cooking?”
“Mm, bury them in the charcoal brazier to roast. The flavor should be quite good.” Xu Yi said.
Ah Xu did as instructed. The temperature in the charcoal brazier was high. Before long, a fragrant aroma drifted out from within.
Xu Yi was surprised. “Already done?”
Ah Xu used tongs to poke around, pulling out a chestnut to look, then shook his head. “Young master, not yet.”
Xu Yi knew the chestnuts needed more time to roast. Rather than wait anxiously, he first went to toast a few slices of steamed bread.
Toasted bread slices were good for nourishing the stomach. Xu Yi toasted them until they turned slightly yellow, then tore them apart and slowly chewed.
The wheat fragrance was abundant. Even Little Huang, who’d already eaten breakfast, came over begging for food.
Xu Yi tossed a piece to him. By the time one person and one dog had shared two steamed buns, the chestnuts were also done roasting.
The outer skin of the chestnuts had been roasted completely black. Ah Xu said he needed to use a wooden chip to scrape off the charcoal ash.
Xu Yi said, “Get a dish to hold the ash.”
This charcoal ash was good stuff. It could be used as fertilizer and also treat illness, it could stop bleeding, close wounds, and also clear heat and detoxify. It could be applied externally or taken internally. There was a folk remedy using charcoal ash to treat diarrhea, though this method was somewhat dubious.
Xu Yi had Ah Xu collect the charcoal ash, planning to give it to Zhang Tiegou when he saw him.
That fellow still went hunting in the mountains despite the cold weather. All ten toes had developed chilblains. Mixing charcoal ash with clear oil and applying it to the chilblains would relieve itching.
He remembered teaching Zhang Tiegou the method of using pig pancreas for chapped skin last time. This year he wouldn’t need to worry about bleeding from cracks.
To thank Xu Yi, Zhang Tiegou had sent wild game twice.
Once it was a pheasant, once a wild gray rabbit.
Hunting in winter wasn’t easy. When Xu Yi tried to give him money, but Zhang Tiegou refused, angrily asking whether Xu Yi no longer wanted to be good brothers with him.
Having no choice, Xu Yi had Ah Xu pack some dried vegetables.
“What are you bringing this stuff for?”
Zhang Tiegou wore a patchwork fur garment, the cold wind making the fur flutter wildly.
“Come in quick, it’s freezing outside. It’s even snowing in the mountains.” As Zhang Tiegou spoke, white vapor puffed from his mouth. He urged Xu Yi and Old Liu to enter quickly.
He’d burned charcoal inside. With the weather so cold, water in the stove was kept constantly hot so it wouldn’t be freezing cold when drunk.
After pouring hot water for Xu Yi and Old Liu to warm their hands, Zhang Tiegou said disapprovingly, “In weather like this, you should stay inside. Why did you come to my place?”
Xu Yi’s tone was calm. “I didn’t come specially to deliver dried vegetables to you. This is charcoal ash. Apply it to your chilblains to relieve itching.”
“Charcoal ash?”
Zhang Tiegou was confused. He had plenty of this stuff in winter from burning charcoal. Why did Xu Yi make a special trip?
Xu Yi said, “Smell it and see what’s different.”
Zhang Tiegou opened the jar and saw that this charcoal ash was indeed different from his household’s. Even the color was different, as if something else had been added. When he smelled it, he detected a medicinal scent.
If it were just ordinary charcoal ash, why would Xu Yi make a special trip?
Xu Yi said, “Keep this. It can also be used for burns.”
Zhang Tiegou was very moved. He happily took the medicine jar to hide it away. When he returned, he said, “If you hadn’t told me, I would never have known that burned charcoal ash could be used this way. I used to just throw it away.”
Xu Yi laughed. “This is for you to use. Why did you hide it away?”
Zhang Tiegou stood up again. “Then should I take it out to use now?”
His feet were covered with chilblains from going up the mountain these past days. Since Xu Yi was present, he’d been holding back from scratching.
Xu Yi: “…”
Leaving the Zhang residence, Xu Yi had Old Liu take him directly home.
When he got home, he comfortably drank a pot of hot tea, took a nap, then got up to read medical texts.
After recording the case notes from the past two days in his register, Xu Yi had Ah Xu prepare fifty packets of digestive pills.
These digestive pills were to be sent to the Xin residence.
Among the county town’s four great landowners, three families now bought digestive pills from him.
The Xin residence didn’t have as many people as the Xing family, but the First Madam Xin’s natal family served as prefectural magistrate in the prefecture capital. Unable to buy digestive pills there, they arranged purchases through the Xin residence to send over.
As to how the prefecture capital even knew about digestive pills, one had to thank the Shen family. The Shen family head vigorously promoted Shen’s Digestive Pills. Those who hadn’t bought Chen’s Digestive Pills were fine, they all went to buy his.
But First Madam Xin was here in the county town. Only through correspondence mentioning this matter did she learn there were actually two types of digestive pills.
Unfortunately, Xu Yi’s manpower was limited. Even with Ah Xu and Ah Jin helping, they could only produce three hundred pills per day.
Xu Yi had many other matters to attend to and couldn’t possibly devote all his energy to digestive pills.
Therefore, he only sent fifty packets at a time.
This time, as soon as he arrived at the Xin residence gate with the digestive pills, the small side door opened first.
Xuelian emerged from within. Upon seeing Xu Yi, she clearly froze. “Doctor Xu?”
“Miss Xuelian.” Xu Yi greeted her politely.
Xuelian curtsied slightly, inquiring, “Is Doctor Xu here looking for Young Master Xin?”
Xu Yi shook his head. “I’m here to deliver medicine pills.”
Except for his rest days, Xin Shengyuan went to private school every day. The person who handled the digestive pill deliveries with Xu Yi was the steward of the Xin residence’s main branch.
Xu Yi chatted with Xuelian for a couple of sentences, asking how her allergy was doing.
“I must thank Doctor Xu for the life-saving grace.” Xuelian’s eyes wavered as she brought this up. “That day after returning, the young master sent silver and had me go to the medical hall to get medicine. I thought the medicine would be expensive, but unexpectedly, Doctor Xu, your prescription only cost two hundred wen, and my illness was completely cured.”
Xu Yi clicked his tongue. The medicine cost was still somewhat more expensive than he’d anticipated.
“In the future, Miss Xuelian mustn’t touch mung beans again. If you accidentally ingest them, induce vomiting immediately. You absolutely cannot let it affect your throat like last time.” Xu Yi reminded her.
Xuelian felt ashamed upon hearing this. She deeply regretted what happened that day.
Fortunately, the young master had concealed the matter and didn’t inform the First Madam. Otherwise, she would certainly have been transferred away from the young master’s quarters by the First Madam and couldn’t remain as head maid.
She bowed gracefully in thanks again.
Xu Yi shifted slightly to the side and said no more. At this moment, the main branch steward of the Xin residence came out, smiling as he welcomed Xu Yi into the front hall to talk.
–
Once winter arrived, affairs at the county office increased and became more hectic.
Pan Wenji had already spent three days and nights at the office. Today he rarely returned home to change clothes and bathe. When he emerged from the bathhouse, the residence steward came over with a stack of calling cards to inquire.
“Master, these are visiting cards sent up from the gatehouse. I’ve already sorted them for you. Please review them, Master.”
Pan Wenji wearily rubbed his temples and raised his hand to signal him to put them down.
“These past few days, has anything happened at the residence?” he asked.
The steward truthfully reported: “Nothing major. Only the old madam went to a temple two days ago. When she returned, she said her legs weren’t working well. A physician has been called. The physician said it was rheumatism acting up and prescribed medicinal paste and decoction. The old madam’s chamber servants say it’s effective, these past two days it hasn’t hurt. The First Madam opened the storehouse and took two lingzhi mushrooms for the old madam. The old madam accepted them, but apparently…”
The steward hesitated, observing Pan Wenji’s expression, but could only steel himself to continue: “The old madam didn’t use them and sent them to Second Master’s quarters. Second Master’s servant took them to the pawnshop and pawned them for five strings of cash.”
Hearing this, Pan Wenji’s face darkened without a word.
He wasn’t unaware of the distressing matters in this household, but this matter involved discord between the old madam and the First Madam. Speaking of it would not only invite ridicule but could also affect his official career.
But not speaking of it… the First Madam would feel wronged.
Pan Wenji pondered for a moment, then said to the steward, “Go buy a gold hairpin for me. Choose a fashionable new style from the prefecture capital. Charge it to my account, and the First Madam mustn’t learn of it.”
The steward was no longer anxious and said with a smiling face, “This servant understands.”
Pan Wenji said, “Is there anything else?”
The steward said “Oh,” as if remembering something, and quickly said, “Uncle Pang from the Pang residence also came looking for you two days ago.”
Pan Wenji looked up at him. “Uncle Pang? Did he say what it was about?”
The steward said, “Uncle Pang said his young master’s head ailment has flared up and they couldn’t find that physician who makes the digestive pills. He wanted you to help inquire about this physician’s whereabouts.”
Before his words fell, Pan Wenji’s gaze sharpened. “Why didn’t you send someone to the office to inform me of this matter?”