Chapter 29: Gold and Silver Needles

Yang Siji found her husband’s words absurd.

“Even if you were amazed by Qin Zhe when you were young, he’s been missing for years. Qin Zhe is Qin Zhe, and Tang Xiaorou is Tang Xiaorou. They’re different people.”

Song Xuejun added, “Yes, traditional Chinese medicine is useless. It doesn’t matter if I drink it or not.”

Song Fangde glared at his son. “Traditional Chinese medicine is effective! Our ancestors used it and cured illnesses.”

Song Xuejun tried to argue, but Yang Siji interrupted. “Stop it. When we get the medicine, I’ll ask a doctor at the TCM hospital if the prescription is correct.”

Song Xuejun stopped arguing.

Meanwhile, back at the guesthouse, Qin Xueqiong asked Tang Xiaorou, “How was it? Was Fangde home?”

“Yes, Uncle Song said he saw me at my full-moon celebration.”

Qin Xueqiong paused.  Tang Xiaorou was a month old, and she had no milk, so Xiaorou cried from hunger. Song Fangde visited and brought a can of formula, but it was taken by Tang Xiangdong.

Qin Xueqiong sighed. “Yes, Uncle Song visited us because of your uncle, but the Tang family made things difficult. We lost contact until they wanted to marry you to Yang Erzhu.”

“Mom, it’s over. The Tang family will pay for their actions.”

Tang Xiaorou added regretfully, “Uncle Song didn’t have any news about Uncle. He last saw him in town before he disappeared.”

Qin Xueqiong sighed. “I hope your uncle is doing well somewhere.” She suspected Qin Zhe was dead, but without confirmation, she held onto hope.

Seeing her mother’s sadness, Tang Xiaorou changed the subject.

“Mom, we might leave a few days later. I agreed to treat Song Xuejun.”

“Treat him?”

Qin Xueqiong was surprised. “What’s wrong with him?” She thought of his biggest problem. “Xiaorou, you’re not going to treat… that problem, are you?”

Tang Xiaorou nodded. “Yes.”

Qin Xueqiong grabbed her daughter’s hand. “Xiaorou, Fangde and his wife have been to many hospitals.  If those doctors couldn’t help, can you really cure him? You might be blamed if you can’t.”

Tang Xiaorou reassured her. “Mom, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. If I can’t cure him, I won’t agree. But since I did, I can cure him.”

Seeing her daughter’s confidence, Qin Xueqiong felt dazed. This daughter was different from before, but similar to her brother.

“Xiaorou, you’re like your uncle.”

“Really?  They say nephews resemble their uncles.  So I resemble Uncle.  He must resemble you too.” Tang Xiaorou touched her face. She was curious about her uncle, Qin Zhe, who made her mother worry and Song Fangde remember him after all these years.

Qin Xueqiong shook her head. “I’m not like A Zhe. You don’t resemble your uncle, but your spirited look is similar.”

Tang Xiaorou smiled. “We might not look alike, but our temperament is similar. So I really resemble my uncle.” She asked about Grandma Yao. “Are Grandma Yao and Bingcheng in the room?”

Qin Xueqiong shook her head. “No. Grandma Yao said she had something to do and would be back. I’ll go see if they’re back.”

“Grandma, we’ll go too.”

Little Liang and Little Yan wanted to go. “Is Brother Cheng back?”

Qin Xueqiong held their hands. “I don’t know. Let’s go see. If Brother Cheng is back, you can play with him.”

“Okay”

Little Yan said happily and ran out. Children couldn’t sit still.

Tang Xiaorou needed acupuncture needles and was about to go out when they saw Grandma Yao and Yao Bingcheng returning.

“Grandma Yao, you’re back.”

Qin Xueqiong asked, “Did you finish everything? Are you hungry? Should we go eat?”

Grandma Yao smiled and shook her head. “Not yet. And we can’t eat at the state-run restaurant every meal. We’ll eat something simple.” She looked at Tang Xiaorou. “You visited the Song family. When are we buying tickets?”

Tang Xiaorou mentioned treating Song Xuejun.

“So we have to wait two more days.”

Grandma Yao, who had been revived by Tang Xiaorou, had no doubts about her ability to treat people.  However, remembering the embroidery needle used that day, she asked, “You need a medical kit to treat patients. Do you have everything you need?”

“No, I’m planning to buy a set of silver acupuncture needles, but I don’t know if I can find them.”  If she couldn’t find them, she planned to go to the TCM hospital and ask around.

Grandma Yao thoughtfully replied, “I know someone who can make gold and silver acupuncture needles. If you need them, I can take you there.”

Tang Xiaorou was pleasantly surprised. She quickly nodded. “I need them.”

“Okay, let’s prepare the materials.”

Grandma Yao and Tang Xiaorou went out. They went to a dilapidated residential area and a low courtyard. Grandma Yao called out, “Xiao Wang…”

“Yes…”

Someone opened the door a gray-haired middle-aged man.

Wang Tie was surprised to see Grandma Yao. “Grandma, why are you here?”

“To have you make something for me.”

Wang Tie hesitated but invited them in. “Grandma, I haven’t done this work in many years. My hands are rusty.”

“Xiao Wang, I trust your skills.  These are life-saving gold and silver needles.” Grandma Yao looked at Tang Xiaorou. “Get the materials.”

“Okay.”

Tang Xiaorou took out a small gold ingot and a large silver ingot from her bag given to her by Grandma Yao to be used for the needles.

Wang Tie, seeing their preparedness, understood their sincerity and agreed. “Alright, I’ll take the materials. Tell me how many gold and silver needles you need.”

Tang Xiaorou said, “Nine gold needles and one hundred and eight silver needles.”

“Okay, come back in two days to collect them.”

Grandma Yao nodded. “Alright, we’ll be back then. Don’t worry, we won’t shortchange you for your hard work.” They returned home.

On the way back, Tang Xiaorou curiously asked, “Grandma Yao, is Uncle Wang a specialist in making acupuncture needles?”

“Not exactly.  The Wang family are hereditary jewelers.  It’s said one of their ancestors even worked in the Imperial Palace. However, they were among the first to be purged, so no one in the family learned the craft anymore. Only Wang Tie remains.”  She sighed.

“I used to have my jewelry made by the Wang family.  Now we’re both down on our luck.”

Tang Xiaorou comforted her, “Grandma Yao, things will get better.”

“Yes, I believe they will.” Grandma Yao then asked Tang Xiaorou to call her Grandma Yao instead of “Old Lady Yao.”

“Okay, Grandma Yao.”

Tang Xiaorou smiled. Two days later, she returned to collect the needles.

“Uncle Wang, your craftsmanship is superb!”

Seeing the neatly arranged gold and silver needles, Tang Xiaorou was delighted. They were far superior to any acupuncture needles she had used before.

Wang Tie smiled at her praise.

“I’m glad you’re satisfied.” He hadn’t worked in a long time, but after some practice, he had regained his skill. “Here are your gold and silver needles. This small package contains the remaining gold and silver; keep it.”

Tang Xiaorou was very satisfied. She took out fifty yuan she had prepared earlier. “Uncle Wang, this is the payment for your work.”

Wang Tie waved his hand. “No need for so much.”

“It’s necessary. Grandma Yao instructed me to give you this amount.”  She took the needles and left. Fifty yuan was a significant sum, but according to Grandma Yao, she was getting a bargain; previously, that amount wouldn’t have been enough to commission the Wang family.

With the gold and silver needles, Tang Xiaorou immediately went to the Song family.

Yang Siji greeted Tang Xiaorou, pulling her inside. “Xiaorou, you’re finally here! You said you’d come tomorrow. Why today?” She had already had someone check the prescription; they all said it was exceptionally well-crafted and kept asking her which experienced TCM doctor had written it.

It was at this moment that Yang Siji finally realized that Tang Xiaorou’s medical skills might be genuinely excellent, at least better than the doctors she had consulted.

Moreover, after her son had been taking the herbal medicine for two days, his complexion had noticeably improved. She was now eager for Tang Xiaorou to treat her son immediately.

“The gold and silver needles took a little longer to make, so I came today.  Where is Comrade Song? I’ll start his acupuncture treatment today.”

“He’s in his room. I’ll get him.”

Before Yang Siji could call him, Song Xuejun came out himself. He was anxious but also slightly embarrassed about the upcoming acupuncture.

“Doctor Tang, where will you be performing the acupuncture?”