Chapter 4 – Showing Her Skills

Granny Li was also hearing this for the first time. Though surprised, she had unwavering trust in Qin Nian.

“Xiao Nian isn’t the kind of child who speaks nonsense. If she says she knows medicine, then she does. Zhenhai’s injury is so serious—you might as well let her try.”

“I studied with Doctor Zhou for several years. He was afraid I wouldn’t make it, so he told me not to talk about it. That’s why you didn’t know,” Qin Nian added calmly, offering a simple explanation to reassure Ye Meizi. Then she quickly issued instructions:

“Aunt Geng, if you have any white cloth at home, get it now. If not, any clean garment will do. Also scissors, needle, and thread—quickly!”

“Yes, yes, I’ll get them right now!” Meizi started toward the cabinet, then paused mid-step. “What do you need the needle and thread for?”

“Stitching the wound. Hurry, he’s losing too much blood!” Qin Nian answered without looking up.

“Stitch the wound? Never heard of that…” Meizi mumbled as she dug through a wardrobe by the north wall. Years ago, when Geng Feng’s grandfather passed away, she had bought over twenty pieces of mourning cloth. After the funeral, she had cleaned and stored them away.

Recalling that, she quickly fetched the materials.

Qin Nian turned her gaze toward Geng Feng and asked, “Do you have any liquor at home?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“Then fetch some clean water—now!” she ordered.

“Okay!”

Geng Feng ran to the kitchen and came back with a clay basin of water drawn from the storage jar.

Ye Meizi returned with the white cloth, scissors, and thread.

Qin Nian cut several strips of cloth, soaked them in water, and began cleaning the wound on Geng Zhenhai’s leg.

The pain made Geng Zhenhai tremble all over, his teeth chattering violently.

Once the wound was clean, Qin Nian picked up the needle—already threaded with black thread—and held it over the fire to sterilize it. She looked seriously at Geng Zhenhai and said:

“Uncle Geng, your wound is too large—it must be stitched up. Otherwise it will get infected, and we won’t be able to stop the bleeding.

It’s going to hurt a lot. Please bear with it.”

Zhenhai gave a weak nod. “Girl, go ahead and stitch. I can handle it.”

Qin Nian turned to Geng Feng. “Hold your father’s leg down. Use all your strength.”

“I’ll help too,” Granny Li added, tossing aside her cane. She climbed onto the kang and pressed down on Zhenhai’s uninjured leg. “Zhenhai, no matter how much it hurts, don’t kick at Xiao Nian.”

“Don’t worry, Aunt Li. I won’t.”

Granny Li then grabbed a wooden thread spool and handed it to Zhenhai to bite on.

Ye Meizi, too frightened to watch, squatted by the bed, her back against the edge, quietly sobbing.

Qin Nian’s hands moved swiftly as she began stitching the wound.

Zhenhai’s forehead veins bulged from the pain. He bit down hard on the spool, making it crack, but didn’t let out a single cry.

Qin Nian worked quickly, finishing the sutures in no time. Then she called out to Meizi:

“Aunt, stop crying—go fetch some plant ash!”

“Yes! Right away, right away!”

Though Zhenhai and Feng hadn’t caught any game yesterday, they had found a few mushrooms deep in the mountains. They made mushroom soup the previous night, burning straw for heat—leaving a pile of plant ash in the stove.

Ye Meizi fetched half a clay basin of ash.

Qin Nian washed her hands thoroughly, then grabbed a handful of the ash and sprinkled it over the stitched wound. She wrapped it with clean white cloth, then secured it with narrow strips of fabric.

The bleeding finally stopped.

Zhenhai’s face was covered in sweat—so was Qin Nian’s. She let out a long breath and felt a wave of dizziness that nearly made her collapse.

Ye Meizi rushed over and held her. “Xiao Nian, you saved your Uncle Geng’s life. You’re our family’s great benefactor. I’m going to kowtow to you!”

She dropped to her knees and bowed deeply.

Qin Nian quickly dodged aside. “Aunt, please don’t!”

Granny Li came forward and helped Ye Meizi up. “You’re going to scare and exhaust the child. Enough already.

The wound may be stitched, but Zhenhai will be in for a long, painful recovery.

You all get some rest. Xiao Nian and I are heading home.”

With that, she stood and prepared to leave.

Ye Meizi stepped forward and grabbed Qin Nian’s hand. “Good child, to thank you for saving my husband’s life, I promise you this: from now on, no matter what Feng catches when he hunts, our two families will split it half and half.

I give you my word—every day, every year, without fail.”

Gratitude filled Geng Feng’s face as well. “Sister Nian, you saved my father’s life. I’ll never forget this great kindness.

I don’t have anything to repay you with right now, so I’ll follow my mother’s promise. From now on, no matter what prey I bring home, half is yours.

The wild boar that injured my father—I hit it with several blows. One of its eyes even popped out. It’s badly hurt and probably won’t survive the night.

Tomorrow morning, I’ll go up the mountain again. If I find it, I’ll drag it back, and we’ll split it.”

Qin Nian, whose home was nearly bare, did not refuse the goodwill of this mother and son.

She smiled. “Thank you, Auntie and Feng. Then I’ll gladly accept.”

Geng Feng quickly said, “You saved my father’s life. You’re our family’s benefactor. We’re the ones who should be thanking you.”

Qin Nian thought for a moment, then looked at Geng Feng. “How about I go with you tomorrow?

While searching for the wild boar, I might also dig up some wild vegetables. If the boar isn’t dead yet, I can help you handle it.

Two people are always better than one.”

Geng Feng nodded happily. “Alright, Sister Nian. I’ll take you into the mountains tomorrow morning.”

Qin Nian wanted to change her current situation but didn’t know where to start. If she could find that wild boar tomorrow, she’d have a plan.

When they returned home, Qin Nian shut the door. Only then did Granny Li ask, “Xiao Nian, when did Doctor Zhou teach you medicine?”

Qin Nian smiled. “A few years ago, I was playing in Doctor Zhou’s courtyard with some kids.

I accidentally came across one of his medical books. The herb illustrations fascinated me.

Doctor Zhou saw I was interested, so he taught me to read. Later, seeing I was smart, he began to teach me medicine.

In his younger days, he traveled all over the south. The technique of stitching wounds was something he learned from a doctor in the Southern Seas. He passed that knowledge on to me.

Today was my first time stitching a wound, and it went pretty well.”

“Oh?” Granny Li nodded. “How come you never mentioned such a good thing before?”

Qin Nian replied, “Doctor Zhou always said the worst thing in medicine is a little knowledge making a big noise.

I remembered his words. I didn’t think my skills were good enough, so I kept quiet.”

Granny Li beamed with joy. “That’s wonderful! Dawa Village has a doctor again.

Don’t be too modest—Grandma can tell, you’re quite good. In the future, if someone needs your help, don’t refuse them. Do what you can for the villagers—”

Qin Nian was exhausted. Her stomach was empty, but listening to her grandmother’s chatter, she soon drifted off to sleep—deep and peaceful.

The next morning, just as Qin Nian got up, Ye Meizi arrived.

She was holding two large cornmeal pancakes and handed them to Granny Li.

“Granny Li, I made these pancakes fresh this morning—brought two for you and Nian.”

Granny Li pushed Meizi’s hand back. “Meizi, everyone’s short on food these days.

Zhenhai’s leg is injured—you should keep these pancakes and make sure he eats well.”

Qin Nian also said, “Auntie, my Uncle Geng is injured. If he doesn’t eat well, it won’t help his wound heal. Please, take them back.”