After returning home, Jiang Yuqing was urged to change her clothes as the first order of business. Based on Second Uncle Jiang's vivid description, the family already knew that Jiang Yuqing had saved someone again.
Old Man Jiang affectionately patted her on the head, "My granddaughter is so amazing."
Before long, Zhao Liuzhi came in person and immediately knelt down to knock his head heavily on the floor to Jiang Yuqing.
Jiang's father was so startled that he quickly helped him up and said, "As an elder, how can you show her such a big courtesy? It may shorten her lifespan."
Zhao Liuzhi said with tears, "Third Brother, thank you for giving birth to such a good daughter. If it wasn't for precious Jiang, my Xiuer would have died today."
Jiang Wenyuan deeply understood this feeling of getting someone back from the brink of death. He patted his brother on the back, "It's alright now. She's a doctor and this is part of her duties."
Jiang Yuqing prescribed medicine to reduce fever and treat colds, detailing the usage and dosage. She also provided medicine to calm the nerves, as well as tonic medicine.
For a girl who had soaked in ice water for so long in the middle of winter, if she wasn't properly cared for in a timely manner, not only would she be uncomfortable every month, but her future ability to bear children may also be affected.
Zhao Liuzhi paid the medical fees, held the medicine package, thanked her profusely, and left.
The news that Jiang Yuqing had "brought back a patient from death" quickly spread throughout the village, and it spread like the wind to surrounding villages...
On the morning of the 30th day before the Lunar New Year, Jiang Yuqing took Er Bai to visit the Zhao family. Although Zhao Xiuer still had not woken up, her pulse was steady and strong, so she was going to be alright.
Zhao Liuzhi's eyes were bloodshot, but he was full of relief when he said that thanks to Jiang's medicine, the child's fever had come down twice during the previous night.
When daylight came, the girl started crying that she was hungry. The couple fed her a small bowl of congee, and she fell asleep after eating.
Before leaving, Jiang Yuqing specifically urged them to start simmering the recuperative medicine today. Even if tomorrow was the first day of the lunar new year, she still had to take the medicine. They shouldn't neglect her health because of the common taboo of "not taking medicine on the first day of the new year".
The Zhao couple completely agreed with her and promised to follow her instructions.
New Year's Eve dinner began amidst the sounds of lively firecrackers.
Three tables were set up in the Jiang family's living room side by side, two tables for the masters and one for the servants. The dishes were the same, with no screen separating them.
Everyone had worked hard over the past year and should sit down to enjoy a nice meal together.
The men drank Moutai, while the women who couldn't handle the strong liquor drank grape wine and fruit juice instead. The grape wine was made by Jiang Yuqing from the grapes in her spiritual space, and tasted especially good. The fruit juice was also freshly squeezed from the luscious fruits in her spiritual space.
New Year's Eve dinner lasted from early evening until late into the night. After clearing the tables, they laid out fresh fruits and seeds for casual chatting.
When night fell, the children ran into the yard together to set off firecrackers.
Amidst the flickering firelight, the brothers' laughter echoed in the night sky. Jiang Yuqing looked back at the brightly lit house, where the elders smiled affectionately at this scene.
She thought, this was the meaning behind the custom to return home for New Year celebrations every year.
On the first day of the lunar new year, families in the village visited each other to exchange new year blessings. When the villagers looked at her, in addition to affection, there was now a sense of respect from the bottom of their hearts, some even directly calling her "Young Divine Doctor."
The Zhao family all came for a visit. This honest couple made Jiang Yuqing sit in a chair while their daughter Zhao Xiuer solemnly knocked her head heavily on the floor three times to show her gratitude.
Jiang Yuqing felt both amused and exasperated, but could only accept it. Others said she should accept their gesture of thanks. Indeed Jiang Yuqing didn't mind, she only exhorted Zhao Xiuer to take her medicine on time without fearing bitterness, and persist for a month. After that, she would have no issues.
On the second day, Jiang Yuqing followed her parents and brothers to visit her maternal grandfather's family in Xiu Shui Bay village. She received a warm welcome from her maternal grandfather's side.
Her grandmother boasted about her abilities to anyone who would listen. She went to the capital once and managed to bring back a county magistrate.
In between, Lu Xiuer and her husband Gao Chong came over to pay new year visits and exchange auspicious blessings, staying for a short while before leaving.
Mrs. Lu wondered, "Why do I feel like she has lost a lot of weight compared to last year, and seems listless? Now when she sees me she doesn't even dare to lift her head."
Her mother, Mrs. Guo, sneered. "How could she not lose weight? That Gao is not a good man either. Earlier this year he took Little Yu as his concubine, and has given birth to another son whom he dotes on very much.
That Little Yu is not a simple girl either. She makes trouble in front of her husband every day. Now Gao Chong just keeps up appearances with his wife."
Mrs. Lu recalled how arrogant Lu Xiuer used to be in front of her before her husband became successful. And now she had ended up in such circumstances, it was lamentable indeed.
Life at home was very joyful every day.
In the early morning, she would go to the backyard to check on her darling vegetable seedlings and urge them to grow quicker. The family was able to eat fresh and delicious out-of-season vegetables every day, all taken by her from her spiritual space.
The adults all knew what was going on, while the children either didn't ask or were told the vegetables were gifts from the hot spring lodge up in the mountains where they grew specially well.
Thanks to the bumper grain harvests in the Ling Zhou prefecture this year,
The merit stele in her spiritual space was rapidly accumulating more merit points. Four drops of spiritual dew had condensed in the jade bowl. A single drop could increase lifespan by ten years.
Jiang Yuqing took out all four drops at once and secretly mixed them into the grandparents and maternal grandparents' tea, giving each person one drop to drink.
After drinking the spiritual dew, their white hair would gradually turn black again within two months, and their bodies would become more youthful.
Others would simply think they looked younger and healthier because of good spirits and self-care, and would not associate it with her at all.
As for her parents and other relatives, she could only temporarily delay that for now.
On the seventh day of the new year, two unexpected female guests came to visit the Jiang residence.
The wife of the Vice Prefect of Ling Zhou, Mrs. Yu, and her daughter Yu Yan'er.
Mrs. Yu's maiden name was Qu, she was the daughter of the Qu family who were business partners in the Jiang family's food processing workshop. She was the second wife of Yu Wen. On her trip back to her home town Qing Zhou this time to visit relatives, the Marquis manor in Qing Zhou was a definite stop.
Although Jiang Wenyuan was currently only a county magistrate, with his outstanding achievements in Qing Zhou over the past years, after completing his term in six month's time and going to the capital to give his report, a promotion would certainly be forthcoming.
Furthermore, he also had a hereditary title. Naturally, Mrs Yu wanted to cultivate good relations.
When they came, Tuan Tuan was in the backyard with a group of brothers picking vegetables. Hearing that female guests who were family members of her father's superior had come calling, she went out to politely greet them out of propriety.
As a Second Class county madam, even if the guest was the Vice Prefect's wife, Jiang Yuqing still had to bow and greet them. After they rose, when Jiang Yuqing saw Miss Yu, she couldn't help but twitch her lips.
When Miss Yu saw her, she also seemed startled for a moment, and blurted out, "Have I seen you somewhere before?"
Jiang Yuqing smiled without answering, and sat down beside her mother on her own initiative.
At first their conversation seemed normal, but soon it became subtly inappropriate. Their words hinted that the discussion involved her elder brother Jiang Yujiang.
From what Jiang Yuqing understood, this Mrs. Yu actually wanted to marry her daughter Miss Yu to her elder brother Jiang Yujiang!
Ridiculous!
Jiang Yuqing immediately tugged her mother Lu's sleeve.
Originally Mrs. Lu felt this girl looked quite good, she appeared rather well-behaved and polite, and was well-matched in age with elder cousin.
Although the children had said they wouldn't consider marriage before eighteen, if they really met a good match, getting engaged first would not be unacceptable.
She was just thinking of calling sister-in-law Lin over to take a look and consider further.
But when she saw her daughter gently shake her head, Lu instantly understood. She quickly changed the subject.
After sending off Mrs. Yu and her daughter, Mrs Lu asked her daughter, "Is there some issue with that Miss Yu?"
Tuan Tuan pursed her lips. "Big issues. When I went to the capital with master previously and passed through Ling Zhou prefecture, we stopped briefly. During that time, we went sightseeing at the Qing Hua Temple nearby our lodging. There's a long corridor with engraved steles of calligraphy masterpieces in that temple. I was there appreciating the engravings when Miss Yu came over to mock me for not recognizing the words and pretending to appreciate them. I ignored her, but she came over and grabbed my collar. If master hadn't hurried over in time, she would have even come to blows."
"So that's why she said you seemed familiar." Mrs. Lu coldly snorted. "That young lady acted so properly, who could have thought she was actually this kind of person behind the scenes. Our family chooses a daughter-in-law without consideration for background or status, but the most important criteria is good moral character. Such a two-faced person absolutely cannot be allowed into our family. Mother almost got tricked by her."
Mrs. Lu paced back and force twice. "This won't do. I have to get someone to investigate what's really going on with this mother and daughter, to actually set their sights on our family!"
Jiang Yuqing was in complete agreement on this point.
Jiang Wenyuan personally sent someone to ask about it. In less than two days, the news came back.
It turned out that Miss Yu was not Mrs. Yu's biological daughter at all, but was born to Yu Tongzhi by a young concubine.
Moreover, this concubine was a cheap concubine born in a brothel who had learned a whole set of fox-like skills to serve men. She coaxed Senior Yu to disregard propriety and forcibly registered Yu Yaner under Mrs. Yu's name as a legitimate daughter.
Usually, this young concubine would also provoke discord between Yu Yaner and her legal mother.
A girl raised in such an environment, how could she turn out well. She may not have learned anything else useful, but she certainly learned how to flatter and scheme pretentiously.
Indeed, Mrs. Yu knew what kind of nature this nominal daughter had. If she dared to bring her along, it must have been at Yu Tongzhi's behest.
Jiang Wenyuan sneered. He thought he had treated the Yus with utmost courtesy, but did not expect to whet their appetite.
Even if his elder brother did not hold a prominent official position, Jiang Yujiang was still the legitimate eldest son of the Marquis Fu.
For a brothel-born concubine's illegitimate daughter to have delusions of marrying into the Marquis Fu, it was simply wishful thinking.
At the same time, Mrs. Yu also sent someone to probe their attitude. Lu politely declined on the pretext that Jiang Yujiang was busy with his studies.
When Mrs. Yu learned the news, she only said, "I see," and said nothing more, as if she had expected this outcome early on.
Mrs. Yu's sister-in-law, Mrs. Qu, asked her younger sister, "Did you know that the Jiang family would not agree from the very start?"
Mrs. Yu sneered. "If the Jiangs were really that stupid, they would not have achieved what they did today. Over the past two days, they must have already figured out everything about the back courtyards of the Yu household."
"That cheap slut naively thought that being registered under my name made her a legitimate daughter. Pah! Little does she know that a prostitute's offspring will never be able to change her lowly status no matter how much gold you dress her name with. The Yus actually still dreamed of marrying her into the Marquis Fu - pure fantasy."
Mrs. Qu sighed and patted her hand, "Sister, you've suffered over these years..."
When Yu Yaner returned to the Qu Mansion, she recalled Jiang Yuqing's appearance and the lotus flower between her brows, feeling an increasing sense of familiarity. She kept feeling that she had seen her somewhere before.
But she just couldn't remember where.
Until one day, when she saw the young ladies of the Qu household copying scriptures and calligraphy, a flash of insight suddenly hit her - she seemed to have embarrassed a young girl last year in the stele garden of the Qinghua Temple in Lingzhou prefecture.
Yu Yaner's face instantly turned pale.
