Two strings of cash, that was two thousand wen. In the eyes of common folk, this was a considerable sum of money. It would take a year or more of saving to accumulate such an amount, and even then, they might not manage it.
Moreover, in many people’s eyes, a finely crafted embroidery needle only cost a few wen. These stone needles were made of stone, and stone was cheap. They saw no difference between high-quality bian stones and ordinary ones. How could they compare to needles made of iron?
That the vendor dared ask such a price meant he must be at the night market to swindle people.
Too many people thought this way, so the vendor was already prepared to be scolded whenever someone inquired about the price.
Especially since few in Yanting County knew how to use stone needles for treatment, most who asked were simply curious.
Given Xu Yi’s young age, the vendor categorized him as such a person. But out of habit, he still gave a thorough introduction of the stone needles.
After hearing the price of two strings of cash, Xu Yi didn’t immediately respond. Instead, he selected several stone needles and examined them in his palm.
The surrounding lantern light was dim, yet it illuminated every fine detail of the stone needles. Compared to the set of stone needles his family kept in their collection, these were in no way inferior.
In “Xizhai Huaji” written by Zu Shiheng, there was a passage: “Daoist Zeng Ruoxu of Longzhou was skilled in medicine and particularly mastered the wonderful art of stone needle treatment.” This referred to the art of treating illness with stone needles. Moreover, the methods of use were nearly lost to history. If Xu Yi’s family hadn’t treasured a set of stone needles, he would have known even less about them.
Having encountered them by rare chance, how could he let the opportunity pass?
“Uncle, are these stone needles truly only two strings of cash?” Xu Yi asked earnestly.
The value of stone needles lay in their craftsmanship, not their materials.
The uncle’s careworn face froze slightly. He seemed not to have expected Xu Yi to confirm the price again. His heart instinctively grew anxious, and his two hands hanging at his sides had nowhere to rest.
“Does this young sir truly wish to purchase these stone needles?”
Xu Yi smiled and nodded. “I do wish to buy them. Uncle, the stone needles you’ve made are truly excellent.”
After confirming that the person before him genuinely wanted to buy rather than mock him, a trace of smile finally appeared on the uncle’s embarrassed face. He said gladly to Xu Yi, “My family has been making stone needles since before—it’s a polishing technique passed down through generations. The stone needles we make are durable and don’t break easily. In the past, physicians would travel from thousands of miles away just for the stone needles ground by my family.”
As he spoke, he couldn’t help but sigh. Times had changed. The past crowds of customers were gone. Even those who didn’t buy stone needles would come to observe. Gradually, no one came anymore.
Those who knew how to treat illness with stone needles were few and far between. Since stone needles were durable and long-lasting, demand decreased, and it became impossible to make a living from this craft. Later, he brought his grandsons to set up a stall at the night market, just hoping to sell the finished stone needles and supplement the household income.
Hearing that he had brought his grandsons to the stall, Xu Yi looked around but saw no children.
Xu Yi asked, “Uncle, where have your grandsons gone?”
The uncle smiled awkwardly and said his two grandsons had brought small items to sell, so they went off hawking their wares on foot. One sold roasted peanuts, the other cotton shoe insoles. They’d been gone for over a shichen (two hours) and should return soon.
Hearing this, Xu Yi reached into his sleeve pocket for his money pouch. Opening it to count the money inside, he discovered that after buying the mortar and other items, he didn’t have enough left.
He asked apologetically, “Uncle, could you wait for me? I’ll go home to fetch the money. Would you please hold these stone needles for me?”
The uncle paused. “This…”
It was rare to have someone sincerely want to buy. After hesitating for a few seconds, the uncle quickly agreed, saying he would certainly wait for Xu Yi’s return.
Having said this, Xu Yi took the things he’d bought at the night market and quickly departed.
…
At the night market.
Xin Shengyuan and Tao Qinghao, along with their two bookboys, lingered before a stall selling food.
The vendor sold a type of candy made by deep-frying dough. The outside was fried to a golden crisp, then sprinkled with white and black sesame seeds and sugar frosting. When bitten into while hot, the outside was extremely crispy while the inside had a hollow texture that was soft and tender, tasting both fragrant and sweet.
Unlike the exquisite pastries made by the kitchen maids in the Xin manor’s rear kitchen, though these looked ordinary, they had a distinctive flavor all their own.
The two ate until their faces were flushed, their mouths glistening with oil. Xin Shengyuan thought of the Mint Loquat Drink he’d had after school, licked his lips, and told the bookboy to pack a portion to take away.
Tao Qinghao said, “Haven’t you eaten enough?”
There were so many delicious things at this night market. He couldn’t just focus on one food item.
Xin Shengyuan pursed his lips. “You don’t understand. I’m bringing this for Xu Yi.”
Tao Qinghao: “…”
Fine, fine, fine. He didn’t understand. But this stuff had to be eaten fresh. If he took it back and gave it to Xu Yi tomorrow, would it still be edible?
He didn’t argue, wanting only to see Little Xin’s deflated expression the next day.
Afterward, he glanced around casually, wanting to see if there were any other good snacks. As he randomly turned his head, he spotted a familiar figure.
“…” What was it called? Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives? They’d just mentioned the person, and in mere moments, he’d appeared.
Tao Qinghao nudged Xin Shengyuan with his elbow and said with a smile, “Look who’s coming.”
“Who?” Xin Shengyuan turned to look and froze.
“Xu Yi!” He raised his voice in a shout, then pushed aside the bothersome Tao Qinghao and headed toward Xu Yi, grasping his bookboy’s hand.
Xu Yi had just crossed the south bridge when he smelled the fragrance of sheep intestines. The rich aroma of mutton soup was pungent, and white steam rose in wisps from the stall. The lively, warm atmosphere was particularly attractive even in summer.
But thinking of returning home to fetch money, he didn’t stop.
He never expected to be called out. Watching Xin Shengyuan trot over happily in his ginger-yellow robe, his expression was strange.
Xin Shengyuan stopped before him. “What’s wrong?”
Xu Yi said, “Nothing. Just thought of something.”
Xin Shengyuan said, “I was planning to find you tomorrow, and here you are at the night market too. What good things did you buy?”
His eyes peered over, wanting to see what Xu Yi had bought at the night market, like a child with no sense of boundaries.
But facing Xin Shengyuan’s occasionally revealed innocent cheerfulness, Xu Yi didn’t stop him.
“It’s a mortar, not food,” he explained.
“Oh.” Xin Shengyuan’s curiosity instantly decreased by half. Then he said, “I bought you some candy. It’s really delicious.”
Xu Yi raised an eyebrow, thinking it was modern candy. But when the bookboy brought it out to show him, it turned out to be deep-fried snacks similar to oil cakes.
Children naturally loved sweets. Xin Shengyuan’s food intake at home was controlled, so once outside, he constantly thought about where to find good food. With Tao Qinghao’s family running a large restaurant and being very knowledgeable about food, the two always sneaked off to find various delicacies. Now with Xu Yi added, Xin Shengyuan pulled him into his camp.
Xu Yi said, “Eat less fried sweets at night.”
After hearing this, Xin Shengyuan pressed his lips together. “I can only come out these few days. In a few more days, there will be a quiz, and I won’t be able to come out even if I want to.”
He rarely had the chance to eat such snacks. Wanting to share them with Xu Yi, only to be lectured, he immediately became emotional.
Xu Yi sighed: …
Xu Yi suppressed what he wanted to say; like how eating sweets this late required thoroughly brushing and rinsing afterward, and that even without eating sweets, one should still brush properly. He swallowed these words and looked at the still-warm package of candy, the corner of his mouth curving upward. “You bought this for me to eat?”
Xin Shengyuan made an “mm” sound and muttered quietly, “If you don’t want to eat it, you don’t have to.”
Xu Yi laughed and said, “I don’t usually like eating these things.”
Though he said this, he took out a handkerchief from his robe to wipe his hands, then took a piece of candy and ate it right in front of Xin Shengyuan, whose eyes had gone wide.
“The flavor is good,” Xu Yi said.
Xin Shengyuan’s expression eased somewhat, and he regained his bearing as a noble young master.
He said, “We still want to eat other things. Will you come along?”
Though he asked this way, his eyes kept watching Xu Yi, his desire for Xu Yi to play with them quite obvious.
Xu Yi fell silent after hearing this.
He just said he needed to go home. Someone was waiting for him and he couldn’t delay too long.
Xin Shengyuan’s eyes showed disappointment as he looked at Xu Yi, but he didn’t force him. Instead, he talked about what happened after school. “I drank the Mint Loquat Drink that you had Xing Yuesen bring over. It’s truly wonderful. After drinking it, I felt refreshed and even ate more at the evening meal than usual. How did you come up with such an excellent fragrant beverage? I’ve never had anything like it.”
Xu Yi then explained the effects of the Mint Loquat Drink to him and told him how to make it.
He spoke in great detail. Tao Qinghao, who had just walked over, happened to hear as well, and his expression was quite strange as he looked at him.
His stare was too direct. Xu Yi asked if something was the matter.
Tao Qinghao opened his mouth and said with mixed feelings, “This fragrant beverage recipe isn’t like a medical prescription for treating patients. How can you just tell people so casually?”
Even among friends, though he and Xin Shengyuan had been close for so many years, they were always quite restrained and polite with each other. Of course, this politeness meant not prying into each other’s family privacy or ways of making a living.
Only then did Xu Yi understand. Thinking of how much people of this era valued secret recipes, for them, this wasn’t just a beverage recipe, it could be passed down through the family.
Especially since Xu Yi’s “Mint Loquat Drink” was unprecedented. If taken to Tongchuan Prefecture or other prefectures, or even to Dongjing Shuntian Prefecture, such a beverage would have no trouble selling.
Tao Qinghao’s family ran a restaurant. He understood the importance of this recipe even better than Xin Shengyuan.
Hearing Xu Yi share everything without reservation, his previous prejudices transformed into newfound respect.
Tao Qinghao restrained his usual frivolous manner and bowed to Xu Yi. “I didn’t expect Doctor Xu to be such a generous person. I misjudged you before. This recipe is too important. Little Xin, you cannot take it.”
These last words were directed at Xin Shengyuan.
Xin Shengyuan was stunned, then reacted. His face reddening with embarrassment, he said, “I couldn’t memorize it.”
Xu Yi: “…”
Tao Qinghao: “…”
–
When Xu Yi bid farewell to the two, quite some time had passed. Not daring to delay further, when he arrived home, he went inside to fetch the money.
By the time he returned to the night market, the bustling crowds had thinned to scattered individuals.
Most vendors had already packed up their stalls. Yanting County had no curfew, but this late, very few people still came out seeking food.
From a distance, Xu Yi saw the uncle who sold stone needles looking around anxiously. Beside him were two additional children. One was a boy just over ten years old, and there was a girl who looked eight or nine, both wearing coarse hemp clothes patched in places. Their appearances were thin and frail, their complexions showing the sallow hue of malnutrition.
Seeing Xu Yi approach, delight appeared in the uncle’s eyes. Having waited so long, he’d been worried the other wouldn’t come.
“Young sir, you’ve finally arrived,” the uncle said.
Xu Yi said apologetically, “Something came up on the road that delayed me for some time. I’ve kept you waiting, Uncle.”
“No matter, no matter.”
As long as he came, that was good.
Xu Yi didn’t waste words and took out two strings of cash to pay the uncle.
After receiving the money, the uncle carefully wrapped the set of stone needles in a piece of cloth and handed it to Xu Yi.
Xu Yi accepted the bundle and noticed the two children staring at him with wide eyes. He smiled, then saw that their baskets still contained unsold peanuts and cotton shoe insoles.
His shoe insoles wore out quickly. He had to buy new ones every month. Seeing them now, he asked the boy if he had any insoles suitable for him.
The two children had been sad all evening about not being able to sell their goods. Hearing that Xu Yi wanted to buy, they were naturally overjoyed.
The little girl staying by her brother’s side immediately said sweetly, “Yes, yes! My mother made many sizes. We have every size.”
She and her brother searched through the basket for a while and indeed found two pairs of insoles matching Xu Yi’s size. The insole stitching was dense, the workmanship good. Though made from the most ordinary cotton cloth with coarse paper layered inside, they looked durable.
Xu Yi asked their price.
The boy said, “Two pairs of insoles for only ten wen.”
Such were the prices. Some things were so expensive as to be unaffordable, while others could be bought for a few wen. A pair of insoles like these required considerable time and effort to make well, yet sold for only five wen.
Looking again at the little girl’s basket, there was still half a basket of peanuts inside.
Seeing Xu Yi look over, the little girl proactively scooped up a spoonful for him to taste.
The little girl said, “Roasted at home with salt. It’s very fragrant. Young sir, you’re so kind, I’ll give you some to eat.”
Xu Yi chuckled and accepted the peanuts without ceremony. Peanuts fried in salt water didn’t generate as much heat. Though not as crispy as deep-fried peanuts, they were salty and crunchy, very suitable as accompaniments to wine.
Wine in the Northern Song Dynasty wasn’t very strong. Because he was in mourning, he hadn’t yet tried the wine of this era. But peanuts weren’t just for drinking. They could also be eaten with congee.
After eating, Xu Yi wanted more and asked, “How much for these peanuts?”
The little girl said joyfully, “One ge for only two wen.”
One ge was ten scoops. Using a specific wooden spoon, each scoop was about fifteen grams. Three taels of salt-fried peanuts for two wen, the price was truly inexpensive.
Over three ge of peanuts remained in the basket. Without hesitation, Xu Yi bought them all.
Tonight, Xu Yi was the most generous customer their family had encountered. Not only did he buy the stone needles that wouldn’t sell, he also bought their insoles and peanuts.
Hearing this, the uncle couldn’t help but redden around the eyes. He stepped forward twice to express his gratitude.
Seeing him come forward to bow, Xu Yi smiled warmly and said, “It’s that you and I have affinity, Uncle. These stone needles are quite rare in Yanting County, yet I happened upon them at the night market today. The insoles and peanuts aren’t just casual purchases either. Look at my shoes. The soles are nearly worn through, so it’s exactly the time I need new insoles. The peanuts are delicious, and I’m greedy for them. I just happen to love eating them.”
Though he said so much, the uncle was even more grateful.
He thanked him repeatedly before finally bidding farewell to Xu Yi and packing up his stall.
It was too late tonight. The city gates were already closed. They could only stay overnight in the county town. Fortunately, among their fellow villagers who came to the county town to do business, his maternal uncle had a house on South Street that no one lived in.
The house was quite dilapidated and usually empty. Knowing they would come to the county town to set up their stall and couldn’t return at night, he rented them one room at two wen per night for the three of them.
The next day.
The three, grandfather and grandchildren, rose early as usual to prepare the goods they would sell at the market. But Ping’er suddenly developed severe abdominal pain, hurting so much he rolled on the ground.
“Oh my, what’s happened to my Ping’er? Quickly tell Grandfather where you hurt!” The uncle’s face went wax-white with fright. Seeing Ping’er drenched in cold sweat, he immediately became flustered.
Their village was impoverished, and raising a child to adulthood wasn’t easy. Before Ping’er was born, the two children his daughter-in-law had given birth to both died young. When it came to Ping’er’s pregnancy, they hoped the child could grow up healthy, so they gave him the name “Ping,” meaning peace and safety, hoping he could grow to adulthood smoothly.
“Brother! Brother!” The little girl was so frightened she wailed, hugging her brother and crying, “Don’t scare me! Little sister is afraid!”
“Sister, brother hurts so much…” Ping’er clutched his stomach, his pale lips trembling as he endured the pain and spoke quietly.
Seeing him like this, the uncle knew they couldn’t go to the market today. They had to take his grandson to see a doctor first. He took the two strings of cash they’d worked so hard to earn yesterday, and as soon as he went out, he saw his fellow villager had also come out upon hearing the commotion to see what was happening.
The fellow villager frowned. “What’s going on?”
The uncle spoke in a panic. “I don’t know what he ate. His stomach suddenly started hurting unbearably. Nephew, do you know if there’s a medical hall nearby?”
“Abdominal pain?” The fellow villager’s brow furrowed deeply. Abdominal pain could easily lead to death. There couldn’t be an incident at his uncle’s house.
Though the house was somewhat dilapidated and on South Street where many poor people lived, selling it would still fetch at least several dozen strings of cash.
Seeing the uncle so anxious, the fellow villager knew this matter couldn’t be delayed. Hearing him ask for a medical hall, an idea stirred in his mind. He said, “In the next lane over, there’s a Doctor Xu. A traveling physician with excellent medical skills. Some time ago, he even saved someone from our area who’d broken a leg and nearly died.”
Though he hadn’t seen it himself, he’d heard many rumors about Doctor Xu. Moreover, he’d heard that Doctor Xu’s consultation fees were reasonable. Many people could afford them.
After the uncle learned of this physician, he anxiously returned to the room, carried Ping’er out, and with the little girl following closely behind, went with the fellow villager to find the physician surnamed Xu.
…
The Xu household.
Today, Xu Yi hadn’t gone out. Tomorrow was the day to deliver the digestive pills, and he was steaming medicinal ingredients in the kitchen.
The rich herbal fragrance wafted out, drifting from the Xu house all the way to the surrounding households.
The neighbors had grown accustomed to the medicinal smell that occasionally emanated from the Xu household. But the uncle and his family were coming to South Street for the first time. Running into Stone Well Lane and smelling this strong medicinal aroma, accompanied by his grandson’s intermittent groans of pain, his heart grew increasingly anxious.
“Almost there. That house with the tiled roof is Doctor Xu’s home,” the fellow villager pointed ahead, speaking more rapidly.
Soon, their group arrived outside the Xu household.
The fellow villager stepped forward to knock on the door while loudly calling toward the house, “Is Doctor Xu home?”
“Coming.”
Xu Yi’s clear voice came from the kitchen.
Immediately after, a yellow figure bounded over first, wagging its tail at the people outside and barking “woof woof woof.”
The little girl was frightened by this sudden development and stepped back.
The fellow villager was just about to scold the dog when he heard a voice, neither light nor heavy, say, “Little Huang, come here.”
Hearing Xu Yi’s voice, Little Huang immediately abandoned these people and ran to Xu Yi’s side.
Only after speaking did Xu Yi realize that the people seeking him were the uncle he’d met last night.
At this moment, his expression was tense, and the child in his arms had a pale face and forehead beaded with cold sweat. There was no need to guess what had happened.
He immediately came over to open the door and let them in.
“It’s actually the young sir?” The uncle was equally stunned when he saw Xu Yi.
However, worried about his grandson’s condition, he had no time to think further and hurriedly carried his grandson into the Xu household.
Xu Yi led them to the main hall and had him place the child on a long bench.
He leaned down to examine the child’s condition while asking the uncle, “What happened?”
The uncle hurriedly explained what he knew. “Not long after eating breakfast, Ping’er said his stomach hurt. Shortly after, the pain was so severe he rolled on the ground and couldn’t even stand up.”
Xu Yi frowned and asked, “What did he eat for breakfast?”
The uncle replied, “Just the bean cakes we brought from home. He ate two pieces.”
Xu Yi placed his hand on the stomach and abdomen, feeling a slight heat, higher than body temperature. He felt the pulse and asked again, “What else?”
The uncle’s face went wax-white. This morning, preoccupied with market matters, aside from the bean cakes, he didn’t know what else his grandson had eaten.
At this moment, the little girl suddenly spoke up. “Brother also drank two bowls of water. He said that way he could eat less bean cake.”
Bean cakes were made by mixing bean dregs with flour containing wheat bran, adding salt, then baking them over charcoal on a heated bed. Once made, they could be stored for a long time. They were hard to eat and required drinking plenty of water to avoid choking.
For such a small child to eat two bean cakes and drink two bowls of water, the probability of being overstuffed was very high.
Xu Yi listened at the abdomen for sounds, then looked again at the child’s complexion and eyes, but felt it wasn’t from being overstuffed.
It seemed more like eating something unclean.
His brow furrowed deeply. Thinking of the key issue, he asked them, “This water… was it raw water?”
Upon hearing this, the uncle nodded urgently. “It was water drawn from the well. I asked, and they said the water from that well was drinkable.”
Half the residents on South Street drank water from that well.
Xu Yi always boiled water before drinking it. He had also reminded Madam He and others. Those who trusted him would heed his advice to some degree.
This summer, there were fewer people on South Street suffering from stomach pain and diarrhea than in the past. If one thought carefully about it, among those who suffered less from stomach pain and diarrhea, most had taken Xu Yi’s advice and developed the habit of drinking “hot water.”
Hearing this, Xu Yi was almost certain.
He said, “The child has cold and heat dysentery, which causes unbearable abdominal pain. I’ll first prepare a medicinal decoction for him. You needn’t worry too much.”
After comforting them, Xu Yi stood up and went out to the kitchen. On the wooden rack where medicinal materials were stored, he found huanglian, dried ginger, baizhu, cypress leaves, and other herbs.
Taking one to two fen of each medicinal material, he placed them in the medicine pot for decoction. First bringing it to a boil over high heat, then continuing to simmer over low heat.
At this moment, an exclamation came from the main hall. Soon, a little girl ran out frantically to find Xu Yi.
Stretching her neck, voice choking with sobs, she grasped Xu Yi’s sleeve and cried, “Young sir, this is bad, this is bad! My brother vomited!”
Hearing this, Xu Yi stood up and said, “I’ll go take a look.”
Having said this, he didn’t rush off but instead had something to entrust to the little girl.
“Don’t be afraid. I can’t leave this medicine decoction unattended. You stay here and watch it. Don’t let the medicinal soup boil dry. Do you understand?”
The little girl nodded vigorously. “Young sir, I know. This is medicine for brother to drink. I’ll definitely watch it well.”
Xu Yi nodded with satisfaction and patted her head before leaving the kitchen.