Chapter 95: Two Different Tasks

Lu Man smiled and said, “Go play with them.” The young girls should have their own handkerchiefs, despite the difference in seniority, they were similar in age.

The three girls held hands and walked out of the room. Their laughter could still be faintly heard from outside.

Glancing at the child in the nursemaid’s arms, Lady Xie smiled and said, “The elder has named the boy Xie Kaipei, little Kaipei.”

The child, now awake, gazed with clear eyes in Lu Man’s direction, seemingly recognizing her as his “savior”, then grinned and blew a few bubbles.

Watching the child, Lu Man’s heart melted. She took the baby, kissed his little face, and said, “Oh, little Kaipei, you are so handsome, strong, and smart. In the future, you must be filial to your mother, it’s not easy for her to raise you.”

As Lu Man spoke, Lady Yang wiped her tears and said, “Giving birth is like facing the King of Hell. My daughter almost didn’t make it, thanks to you, she was saved. Those days when I wasn’t in the capital, hearing about the danger, I was nearly beside myself with fear. I’ve heard of cases like hers before, where the midwife mishandled the birth position, resulting in tragedy for both mother and child.”

The thought of mothers and children lost during childbirth, as well as the danger her daughter faced, terrified Lady Yang.

Lu Man remarked, “The situation was indeed perilous. It was Sister Yang’s strength that helped her endure. If it were someone more delicate or fragile, no matter my abilities, I couldn’t have saved them.”

Praising Lady Xie while downplaying her own role was essential. Otherwise, she might be called upon for every difficult birth, knowing she couldn’t save everyone.

Touched by the conversation, Lady Xie’s eyes welled up as she recounted the harrowing experience. She mentioned a moment of despair turning hopeful when she saw a kind, ethereal figure offering reassurance, which she believed was a celestial being sent by Guanyin to save her and her child.

Grasping Lu Man’s hand, Lady Yang remarked, “The granddaughter-in-law of the Jiang family is as beautiful as a fairy.”

Lady Xie wiped away her tears and smiled at Lu Man, saying, “My husband told me about your situation that day. Despite your fear, you bravely helped me. Especially those words you spoke, my husband said he’ll remember them forever. I’ll also remember your kindness for a lifetime. Thank you.”

Whenever Lu Man thought about the silly things she said to Xie Yu, she felt embarrassed. Blushing at Lady Xie’s mention of that incident, she playfully chided, “Oh, I can’t bear to think about my foolish behavior that day. It’s so embarrassing, and I feel utterly useless. Please tell brother Xie that besides being scared, I was also touched by your greatness as a mother. Ask him not to tease me. Brother Xie is a good husband, and he doesn’t need me to say such things. I was truly foolish.”

Lady Yang had already heard about her daughter’s words. She chuckled and remarked, “You are a good child. Women understand each other’s struggles best. Your reminder to my son-in-law was spot on.”

After some banter, Lu Man accepted a porcelain box handed to her by Lu Ying, saying, “This is the ointment I personally made to promote wound healing. Applying it will help speed up the recovery process.” She explained how to use it.

Impressed by Lu Man’s skills, Lady Xie gratefully accepted the gift, expressing her thanks. She mentioned that according to the midwife, her cervix had suffered two tears, causing excruciating pain with the slightest movement.

Around noon, Lu Man and the others bid farewell to Lady Xie and proceeded to the banquet hall for the meal.

Lu Man declined Madam Xie’s invitation to sit at the main table, opting instead to sit with Third Madam Jiang at a table beside the main one. The guests were mostly Xie family relatives and close friends, totaling eight tables.

Jiu sat with Lu Man, while Jiang Zuankui joined a table of boys. He had a great time, blending in with the boys and finally behaving like a carefree child.

During the meal, Madam Xie once again thanked Lu Man.

Lu Man could sense that while some praised her outwardly, there were others who looked down on her actions. A young daughter-in-law who had never given birth assisting in childbirth was deemed unbelievable and shameful. The status of the Lu family was low, not fit for such occasions, unlike the prestigious and affluent Princess Changting’s household. The Princess herself seemed a bit too assertive, first showing off her talented daughter-in-law and now parading around with a daughter-in-law skilled in midwifery.

Princess Changting seemed to have sensed the thoughts of some individuals and remarked, “Saving a life is akin to building a seven-tier pagoda. Do not look down on physicians, everyone eats grains, and who can guarantee they won’t fall ill? Regardless of wealth or status, everyone relies on physicians. Bodhisattvas alleviate suffering, and Physicians save lives and heal the sick. Besides, my granddaughter-in-law isn’t a midwife, she simply helped ensure the proper birthing position, which is physician’s duty. Delivering the baby is the midwife’s role…”

As her words trailed off, another wave of praise for Lu Man arose. Madam Xie quickly explained that Lady Jiang assisted in positioning the baby correctly, not in the actual delivery—it was two different tasks.

Lu Man was grateful to the elderly lady, appreciating her defense and support, an advocate for women’s talents.

Lady Xie’s maternal cousins, Second Young Lady Yang, enthusiastically mentioned, “I heard from a servant that in the Princess Changting’s residence, there was a woman who couldn’t conceive for five years. Despite seeing many physicians and trying various remedies without success, after taking Lady Jiang’s medicine for two months, she became pregnant. My, Lady Jiang not only saves lives but is also like the Goddess of Birth.”

Upon hearing this revelation, the women eagerly looked at Lu Man, admiring her abilities even more.

Quick to clarify, Lu Man explained with a smile, “Rumors exaggerate things. I am not that skilled. The woman conceiving after two months of treatment might have been coincidental. Another factor could be that she was frequently abused by her husband before, which led to stress and infertility. When I advised her on this, her husband stopped abusing her…”

She genuinely believed this. Her knowledge of traditional medicine was limited, and she didn’t possess such remarkable skills. Being revered as miraculous would only lead to more challenging cases coming her way, risking potential failures.

The more she downplayed her abilities, the more others saw her as humble, with some looking at her with eager eyes.

After the meal, it was time for washing up. Except for the Princess and a few elderly ladies who remained in the main courtyard due to their high status and age, the other female guests and children went to Lady Xie’s courtyard. The male guests and close relatives also joined them.