Chapter 18

Jiang Family

It was almost noon.

Jiang Xi had been very busy lately with many patients, so she was a bit tired. Thankfully, there was nothing much to do in the fields recently, and Pei Hejun was taken care of by Pei’s parents. This meant she could focus on treating patients.

After examining Pei Mingchang, Jiang Xi smiled at the eager old man, “It’s not a big issue. It’s just gastritis. Just take some medicine and you’ll be fine. Eat on time in the future…”

“Okay.” Pei Mingchang noted this carefully and asked, “What about the medicine?”

Jiang Xi said, “I will buy it for you directly. The price will be the same as in town. If you prefer to buy it in town, that’s fine. I can give you the prescription.”

“It’s good that you came. I won’t go to town. It’s too much trouble.” Pei Mingchang waved his hand trustingly and asked her to get the medicine directly.

His wife’s migraine was treated here a few days ago. It wasn’t completely cured, but at least the pain wasn’t so severe that she couldn’t sleep. She kept telling him that Jiang Xi looked young but had excellent medical skills.

So, when Pei Mingchang felt tightness in his chest, he was worried it was a heart problem. Heart issues are serious, and he had been hiding it, not daring to get checked. It was only when Jiang Xi became well-regarded in the village that he decided to see her.

He was relieved to find out it was just gastritis.

Pei Mingchang smiled with relief.

When Jiang Xi heard that the other person wanted the medicine, she stood up to get it from the back medicine cabinet. However, as she opened a drawer and saw it was empty, she slapped her head and said, “Uncle, I’m sorry, I almost forgot that we’re out of this medicine. Why don’t you wait a bit? I’ll go to town this afternoon to buy some and bring it to you.”

Pei Mingchang smiled and nodded, “Okay, no worries.”

Jiang Xi apologized. With so many patients and common illnesses to treat, many medicinal materials were out of stock. She had planned to go to town in the morning, but was delayed by patients needing her help.

She would definitely go in the afternoon.

After sending Pei Mingchang off, Jiang Xi stretched, remembered something, and quickly ran back into the house.

Seeing so many patients today meant it was time to collect points!

Father Pei was holding a pipe and about to say something to his daughter-in-law when he saw her enter the house. He commented, “Why does this child always stay indoors?”

Don’t young people usually like to go out?

Mother Pei, who knew why her daughter-in-law was in there, glared at him and whispered, “What does it matter to you!”

The daughter-in-law cares for her son, which is a good thing. If she takes good care of him, he might recover, and the family won’t have any regrets.

Father Pei awkwardly smiled, “I was thinking of opening a door outside the room to make it easier to see patients, so we don’t have to go through the main hall.”

The Pei family’s house is old-fashioned, with the main hall in the middle and two rooms on each side. The room now used as a pharmacy for Jiang Xi is right on the outside.

Opening a door would make it more convenient to see patients.

Mother Pei agreed, “That’s fine. We’ll talk about it more when we have dinner.”

As they talked, there was a noise outside: “Guizhi, my family is making dumplings. Let you try some.”

Mother Pei smiled and went out to greet the visitor, “Why did you send this here specially?”

The visitor laughed, “For the consultation fee, two eggs are not enough. Your daughter-in-law is amazing. She treated me last night, and my headache went away immediately. I slept through the night for the first time ever!”

Mother Pei smiled even more. Before she could finish greeting this person, another came: “Brother Zhong…”

Pei’s father also went out.

After sending off the villagers who paid the consultation fee, Pei’s mother started cooking, and Pei’s father helped in the kitchen. They both looked at the ‘consultation fee’ on the stove and smiled: “Now we don’t have to worry about food.”

“Let’s eat. Xiaoxi has been working hard these past days. She needs to eat well.”

They both agreed that after living with Jiang Xi, they had become more generous. Previously, they would have given the food to their grandson first and eaten the rest themselves.

Not anymore.

They would eat it all!

There would definitely be new ‘consultation fees’ tomorrow.

_

Lunch was ready, and Jiang Ermei and Jiang Sanmei, who had gone out to collect herbs, also returned.

While eating, Jiang Xi responded to Pei’s father: “Okay, opening a door on the side will be more convenient. Otherwise, seeing a doctor involves going through the main hall, which is troublesome.”

Seeing her agreement, Father Pei said, “Then I’ll do it this afternoon.”

Jiang Xi nodded and asked, “Dad, Mom, Second Sister, Third Sister, I’m going to town this afternoon. Do you need anything?”

Pei’s father immediately shook his head. Pei’s mother thought for a moment and said, “We need more sugar at home. Please buy some.”

Jiang Xi noted it and looked at her younger sisters.

She was surprised to see how dark they had become: “Why are you so dark?”

Pei’s parents also noticed and were surprised: “You’re much darker now. You’ve been working outside a lot, and the summer sun is strong. Xiaoxi, if you have any more herbs, buy them. These two have worked too hard.”

She had indeed become much darker. She used to have a wheat-colored complexion but was now almost charcoal-black. Despite Zhang Xiuyun’s odd personality, she was good-looking, which is why Jiang’s father tolerated the excellent Yue family.

Father Jiang himself was quite regular-looking, so all three of their daughters were good-looking. Jiang Xi, the eldest, had a slightly childish face but was bright and pretty. She had become much whiter and more beautiful while staying at home.

The two younger sisters, born to the same mother, were also attractive with big eyes, small upturned noses, and pink mouths. Though their hair was a bit dry and yellow from malnutrition, it had improved a bit. They were adorable but had turned into dark beauties.

The two little girls, still developing their sense of beauty, touched their faces and asked blankly, “Is it really dark? Are you okay?”

Jiang Xi, feeling a bit guilty, said, “Yes, it’s darker now. How about you stay at home from now on?”

Jiang Ermei quickly shook her head, “No, I want to collect herbs!”

Jiang Sanmei also nodded, eager to continue.

Both girls wanted to keep working and earning money, and didn’t care about getting tanned. Jiang Xi, realizing they were young and didn’t know better, insisted, “From now on, wear a hat and long sleeves when you go out. Avoid going out during the hottest times to prevent heatstroke. Come back early in the morning…”

“Okay,” Jiang Sanmei agreed, though she seemed reluctant.

Jiang Xi then asked, “Do you really not want me to bring anything back?”

Jiang Sanmei hurriedly said, “Yes, big sister, wait for me!” She ran to her room and came back with fifty cents, saying, “I want to buy some marbles.”

Jiang Xi looked at Jiang Ermei, who shook her head, saying she didn’t need anything.

Jiang Xi took the money and thought about how dark her younger sisters had become from being out in the sun. She decided to look for ingredients to make a whitening cream in town, hoping it might help them lighten their skin before they went to school in September.

After dinner, Jiang Xi planned to go to town but remembered that the bicycle had been borrowed by Liu Xiaohua, Pei Hejun’s second brother’s wife, and had not been returned.

When Jiang Xi mentioned this, Pei’s mother offered to go with her to ask for it back, knowing that Jiang Xi could be easily intimidated.

So, after the sun was less intense, Pei’s mother and Jiang Xi went out together.

It was June, and the afternoon heat was strong, making the air shimmer with heat. Jiang Xi wore long-sleeved clothing to protect herself from the sun.

Pei’s mother, noticing Jiang Xi’s discomfort, fanned her and said, “Even though you can handle some sun, you’re so wrapped up. Be careful not to get heatstroke.”

Jiang Xi smiled and replied, “It’s okay. I took a heat-relief pill.”

This pill was made by Jiang Xi using herbs collected by her younger sisters. It is similar to Fengyoujing^[1]is a traditional Chinese mentholated topical ointment for cooling and relief. but lasts longer.

Pei’s mother sighed, “You really shouldn’t overdo it.”

While they were talking, a villager joked, “Wow, you two always go out together.”

Pei’s mother explained, “Jiang Xi is going to town to buy medicine, and I’m going with her to get the bicycle back.”

The villager asked if Jiang Xi could also bring two ounces of oil, to which she agreed.

When they reached Pei Deyi’s house, they found the yard empty and no bicycle in sight. Pei Deyi’s eldest daughter, Xia Hong, saw them and ran inside to alert her parents.

Inside the house, Liu Xiaohua, who had been napping, looked pained but more energetic. She had a distorted expression due to a sore spot in her mouth but continued to act nonchalantly.

She thought, as others had said, that her parents-in-law favored Jiang Xi while treating her poorly.

When asked about the bicycle, Liu Xiaohua responded, “I lent it to someone else. You’ll need to borrow another one.”

Mother Pei’s face darkened with anger, “What do you mean, it was lent out? It was our property! Give it back!”

Liu Xiaohua stubbornly replied, “No, I won’t!”

Mother Pei, enraged, threatened, “If you don’t return it, I will make sure you regret it!”

Liu Xiaohua, making a scene, shouted, “Come and see how my mother-in-law is biased. She’s threatening me for her daughter-in-law…”

***

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