Chapter 9

The little girl clearly underestimated her mother; she needed to understand that traditional Chinese medicine is vast and profound, and many wild vegetables are also medicinal herbs. This little problem was nothing for Yin Huaixi.  

Song Wenhui was amazed by her sister-in-law.  

As they walked, they often saw her sister-in-law squatting down to dig up grass; she wasn’t just digging blindly—she could name each one.  

One kind after another…  

Song Wenhui was almost numb.  

“Little sister, are these really medicinal herbs?”  

She always felt that she had seen quite a few on the way to exile; if they were really medicinal, wouldn’t someone have picked them?  

“They are indeed medicinal herbs and can also be eaten as wild vegetables. This one is called Plow Grass.”  

People who don’t understand would only see them as ordinary wildflowers, but those in the know recognize them as very good medicinal herbs.  

Plow Grass, also known as Viola yedoensis, can be eaten as a wild vegetable when fresh, but it is most suitable for collection after it blooms for medicinal use. Don’t be fooled by its inconspicuous appearance like a wildflower; its effects are significant. When crushed and applied externally, it can reduce inflammation and draw out toxins; it can alleviate general snakebite injuries. When taken internally, it clears heat and detoxifies, cools the blood, and reduces swelling, and it works quite well for treating throat inflammation. It can also be boiled into soup to prevent summer heat.  

Yin Huaixi continued to persuade her sister-in-law.  

“I’ve been bored living in the back courtyard for years and have read many medical books. When the maid in the courtyard fell ill, I diagnosed her and prescribed remedies. Sister-in-law, just trust me. If I wasn’t sure about what to bring back for the children to eat, I wouldn’t dare collect anything.”  

Her reasoning was quite sound, and Song Wenhui believed her a little more, so she obediently followed her sister-in-law, pointing and directing.  

Yin Huaixi worked up a sweat, but the harvest was quite good.  

They gathered a large heap of wild vegetables, which they had already tied up with dry grass and now felt quite heavy in their hands. In addition, she found several very useful medicinal herbs, such as mint and mugwort.  

Leaving aside the other uses of mugwort, the most practical thing right now was that, combined with mint leaves, she could make an insect-repelling sachet.  

Without window screens or mosquito repellent during this season, it was unbearable at night, and she woke up covered in itchy bumps.  

In fact, she primarily went up the mountain today to search for herbs to repel insects.  

When the aunt and niece returned with their bounty, they were again surprised to see those plump bamboo shoots on the ground.  

“Elder brother~ where did you get such amazing bamboo shoots?”  

The moment Yin Huaixi saw the bamboo shoots, her mind flashed back to the dishes she had made with them in the past—such as stir-fried bamboo shoots with cured meat, bamboo shoots stir-fried with beef, and steamed buns with mushrooms and bamboo shoots…  

She could hardly hold back her drool.  

“With such a big size, we won’t have to worry about going hungry for the next few days.”  

Yin Huaishan felt his face flush; even his little sister recognized the bamboo shoots, yet he hadn’t realized it himself—what a shame. He had previously prided himself on his extensive knowledge; he felt embarrassed.  

“Little sister, these shoots were found by Wanwan and  Aning; I only helped carry them back.”  

He paused for a moment, feeling a bit at a loss, and said, “I’ve brought the bamboo shoots back, but I don’t know how to prepare them. Hui Niang, little sister, do you know?”  

Song Wenhui shook her head; she only knew how to manage accounts and socialize with the ladies of the other households, having no knowledge of kitchen matters. All eyes turned to Yin Huaixi.  

After all, she had previously established herself as a virtuous wife and good mother, the type who would take the lead in the kitchen.  

“Of course I can! Elder brother, come help us; let’s prepare these bamboo shoots.”  

Yin Huaixi set down the two bundles of wild vegetables she had brought back, and Jiang Wan’s sharp eyes quickly spotted the mint leaves hidden among them.  

“Mother, you found mint! Can you give me a few leaves?”  

The little girl was acting cute, and Yin Huaixi understood what her daughter wanted, so she directly plucked a leaf for her.  

It was a bit hot in the afternoon, and the wind was not very strong; the whole family was sweating while working.  

The bamboo shoots needed their shells removed, the wild vegetables had to be cleaned thoroughly, and the useful medicinal herbs needed to be sorted and stored properly. While the adults were busy, the two little girls in the kitchen had already boiled water.  

A handful of thoroughly cleaned mint leaves, soaked in boiling water, could be cooled and then consumed.  

Yin Ning felt a bit drowsy, and when her cousin fed her water, she instinctively took a sip. Just that small sip sent a refreshing sensation rushing to the back of her head; her throat felt cool, and her mind became clear!  

Was this what the water extracted from those leaves tasted like?  

She had heard of mint before; her family used to buy mint-scented pills to carry in their pockets for mosquito repellent and refreshing purposes. She remembered that smell, but it was nowhere near as invigorating as this water.  

“Cousin!”  

“Is it good? Do you feel cooler?”  

Jiang Wan’s eyes sparkled as she waited for her sister’s answer. Yin Ning nodded vigorously, confirming, “Very refreshing; I’m not sleepy anymore after drinking it.”  

“Hehe~”  

Her sister wouldn’t lie; it seemed the effect was indeed impressive. Jiang Wan immediately took the water outside to share with the adults, receiving plenty of praise in return.  

“So refreshing! It really cools me down.”  

“Feels so good; I was feeling a bit foggy earlier, but now I’m clear-headed.”  

“Later, let’s properly identify these mint leaves, and tomorrow we can go up the mountain to gather more. It’s still June, and it’s not the hottest time yet.”  

After finishing the mint water, the whole family felt much more energized. While they were chatting, an unexpected guest arrived at the house. It was Aunt Niu, and upon seeing the bamboo shoots and wild vegetables on the ground, she hesitated but still spoke up.  

“Yin girl, do you have time right now?”  

“I’m free; Aunt Niu, just tell me if you need something.”  

Yin Huaixi offered her a small stool, but Aunt Niu refused to sit and instead pulled her aside to chat.  

“Yin girl, you said yesterday that you know medicine; can you help that woman who’s sick?”  

“I can!”  

Her specialty was gynecology and pediatrics.  

“Auntie, who needs to see her?”  

Aunt Niu didn’t say it outright; she only mentioned wanting to take her to have a look. Yin Huaixi understood; such matters were best kept quiet, lest someone overheard and it became problematic.  

“Then please wait a moment; I’ll wash my hands and tidy up.”  

She had just been handling wild vegetables, and her hands were dirty, with her hair in disarray. It wouldn’t be appropriate to see a patient looking like this.  

Aunt Niu nodded, then noticed the bamboo shoots laid out on the ground.  

“Oh dear, how did you get these to eat? They’re so bitter and astringent that even dogs won’t eat them.”  

The whole family: “…”  

Mr. Yin’s face stiffened at her words. He had endured the pain of being pricked while peeling these few shoots. And now, they were inedible?  

His mentality was crumbling.  

Jiang Wan couldn’t help but laugh at her uncle’s expression and quickly explained, “They’re edible, but they need to be processed first.”  

The little girl clearly had no understanding of cooking, and her words weren’t very convincing. Yin Huaixi was in a rush to attend to the patient and didn’t clarify immediately, leaving Mr. Yin to glare at those bamboo shoots for several hours.  

As Yin Huaixi followed Aunt Niu, it was evident they were heading towards the village. The path was empty, and only then did Aunt Niu quietly explain the situation.  

“I want you to look at my old friend’s daughter. That girl, Xiaoman, is at the age for courtship, but she recently fell ill with a women’s ailment. She can’t sit or stand comfortably and has an unpleasant odor. They’re too afraid to see a doctor, and just suffer through it, which breaks my heart to see.”  

From Aunt Niu’s description, Yin Huaixi suspected Xiaoman had an inflammation, but she would need to check her pulse and see her condition for a proper diagnosis.  

The two soon arrived at Xiaoman’s home.  

“Qiu Fang, are you at home?”  

“What are you shouting for? You always come in directly.”  

A strong voice, even more vigorous than Aunt Niu’s, came from inside, indicating a very close relationship between the two.  

Aunt Niu pulled Yin Huaixi inside and headed straight to the west room.  

The door to the west room was ajar, separated by another room.  

“Qiu Fang, come out for a moment.”  

“What do you want? Stop being so fussy…”  

Aunt Qiu Fang opened the door, saw Yin Huaixi, and instantly swallowed the rest of her words.  

“Ah Hua, what’s this?”  

“This is Yin girl who just arrived in our village. She has some medical skills, and she saved my Xiao Niu when he nearly choked to death yesterday. I thought of Xiaoman’s illness, so I brought her along.”  

Upon hearing about Xiaoman’s illness, Aunt Qiu Fang’s expression changed repeatedly. The illness was very private and embarrassing; it couldn’t leak out at all. But now that her friend had brought someone, should they see her or not?  

“Mother, I want to see her…”  

The girl’s voice from inside was weak, faintly tinged with tears. Aunt Qiu Fang sighed and wiped her eyes, opening the door to let the two in.  

The small room was not spacious, with the doors and windows shut tight, and there was an unpleasant odor.  

Xiaoman was covered with a blanket, sweating profusely, her hands tightly gripping the edge of the bed, clearly anxious. She was aware of the bad smell in the room and felt embarrassed, looking down and avoiding eye contact.  

Yin Huaixi silently sighed; the girl was only about fourteen or fifteen.  

“I’ll need to examine her, so please prepare some boiling water and clean cloths.”  

Aunt Qiu Fang agreed and pulled her friend outside, closing the door behind them.  

Although she didn’t know how good Yin girl’s medical skills were, she could see she had a strong determination.  

Once they left, Yin Huaixi opened the window. Seeing Xiaoman’s nervousness, she quickly reassured her, “Don’t worry; I’ll only open it for a moment, then I’ll close it again. A doctor observes through sight, smell, questioning, and pulse-taking. I need to check your pulse and observe your complexion and tongue; keeping the window shut would hinder my judgment.”  

Xiaoman nodded slightly, still afraid to look up.  

“Come on, extend your hand so I can check your pulse.”  

Xiaoman obediently extended her hand, her eyes glistening with tears full of hope.  

Yin Huaixi quietly felt the girl’s pulse, her brows knitting and relaxing as she did. After checking her tongue, she had an idea but still needed to examine her body.  

“Doctor Yin, I… this illness…”  

Xiaoman hesitated to speak, her face flushing red.  

“Don’t worry; it’s not a major illness. Once I finish examining and diagnosing you, I’ll prescribe medicine.”  

Yin Huaixi’s voice was gentle, and upon hearing this, Xiaoman burst into tears. After being sick for over half a month, she finally saw a glimmer of hope.  

After a stick of incense, the water and cloths were brought into the room. Aunt Qiu Fang, fearing it wouldn’t be enough, had boiled three buckets and two basins, filling the room with a fragrant steam.  

Such a loving heart for her daughter.  

Yin Huaixi wiped away the sweat that had formed from the heat, pushed the girl out, and secured the door. After much effort, she got Xiaoman to lift the blanket and remove her pants, enduring her embarrassment.  

After a detailed examination, Yin Huaixi confirmed her diagnosis. While helping the girl pull her pants up, she asked, “How often do you wash?”  

“Once every half month…”  

“Do you wear pants that weren’t completely dry?”  

Xiaoman thought carefully before shaking her head and then nodding, saying, “On the island, there’s a lot of rain and humidity. Sometimes, even if they dry, putting them in the cupboard can make them damp; is that considered wet?”  

“Of course, that counts. That’s the cause of the illness.”  

Clothing that gets damp, with rising temperatures, allows bacteria to multiply exponentially. It’s not surprising at all to contract an illness with so many bacteria on close-fitting clothing.

“I just checked your pulse and found that aside from some anemia, there are no other issues. This means your inflammation isn’t caused internally. One reason is damp close-fitting clothing, and another is insufficient washing. Once every half month is unacceptable; if conditions allow, you should wash with warm water every night or at least every two to three days. It can’t go on like this for too long.”  

She paused for a moment before continuing, “Right now, your inflammation is severe, so remember to scald any new close-fitting clothing with boiling water after washing. It’s better to dry them in the sun; if there’s no sun, dry them over a fire, but don’t let them stay damp. Also, don’t cover yourself with blankets. You already have inflammation, and if you keep it covered, it will only get worse.”  

As Yin Huaixi spoke, Xiaoman kept lowering her head, her ears so red they looked like they might bleed.  

“Doctor Yin, I understand… I’ll definitely wash every day from now on.”  

“Good, just be obedient. In a moment, I’ll bring you some mugwort leaves to boil for washing. As for the drinking medicine, I don’t have the ingredients, so you’ll have to take the prescription to get the medicine yourself.”  

Xiaoman nodded repeatedly. Yin Huaixi had said about enough, so she stood up to open the door.  

“How is it, Doctor Yin? Can it be treated?”  

“It can be treated. I’ll go back and get some herbs to boil. As for the drinking medicine, I don’t have the ingredients, so I can only give you a prescription for you to get the medicine.”  

Just as Yin Huaixi finished speaking, Aunt Qiu Fang suddenly knelt down in front of her, startling her so much that she took several steps back.  

“Aunt Qiu Fang, don’t do that! Get up!”  

“Doctor Yin, you’ve saved my daughter’s life; you deserve this gratitude!”  

Aunt Qiu Fang’s voice choked with emotion, and the feelings that had been bottled up for days could no longer be suppressed.  

Her daughter was too ashamed to see a doctor or meet anyone, suffering in silence and losing so much weight. Recently, there had been rumors in the village, and she couldn’t bear to think about what would happen if her daughter heard them.  

But now, it was all right—this illness could be treated!  

Aunt Qiu Fang still didn’t manage to bow her head to the ground, as Yin Huaixi and Aunt Niu forcibly pulled her up. Both mother and daughter were crying uncontrollably, and it tugged at the heartstrings of anyone watching.  

Yin Huaixi thought to bring the mugwort leaves to Xiaoman first. Just as she and Aunt Niu stepped out, Aunt Qiu Fang caught up with them and shoved over ten duck eggs and a salted fish into her hands.  

Even before starting treatment, Aunt Qiu Fang wasn’t worried about giving her things and not getting recognized. Yin Huaixi didn’t want to refuse, so she took the duck eggs and salted fish.  

“Did you see that? What’s that in her arms?!”  

The Cai brothers, hiding in the woods, wished they could poke their eyes out to take a closer look.  

“I see a fish and some eggs!”  

“The Yin family must be hiding a lot of money!”  

Otherwise, why would they be willing to buy these things from the villagers?  

The brothers exchanged glances and turned to run back to their straw hut. They had all been exiled from the capital together; why should the Yin family have it so easy?