Whose Connections Are Whose

After the Song family matriarchs' health improved, they didn't stay long in the Zhu Family, leaving before the Dragon Boat Festival to return home for the holiday. Zhu Fengqin was reluctant to see them go, as were the young wives like Zhu Changfang. After all, there were few people as knowledgeable as Songjia Laotaitai who could speak with them so freely.

Zhu Changfang and Zhang Hui were close, and they gathered to cook vegetable soup for the clan's children. While tending the fire, Zhu Changfang talked to Zhang Hui about Songjia Laotaitai. 'Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure, that's true. Songjia Laotaitai is so knowledgeable—she knows all the connections and business dealings of their family. Compared to her, we're like penned-up chicks. No matter how hard we work or how well we plan, we only know about the small patch in front of our door.' Zhu Changfang sighed. 'Oh, I used to think our clan's elders only cared about clan and field matters, but after chatting with Songjia Laotaitai, I realized we have quite a few knowledgeable old folks in our clan too.'

Zhang Hui stuffed firewood into the stove and said offhandedly, 'You've hit the nail on the head. We really are like penned-up chicks. In this small place of Zhenshan County, we see the same people every day, talk about the same trivial household matters. Living one year or ten makes little difference—how much can we achieve?' Zhang Hui thought clearly, 'In the end, we're less knowledgeable than our elders because we've experienced less and met fewer people. Now we have children and can't break free. Our lives will probably be like this, but our children can't be the same—they have to get out.'

'Don't say that. We're only in our twenties, still young,' Zhu Changfang said. 'We might not be able to get out through exams, but we might still rely on the family to get out in the future.'

Zhang Hui didn't have Zhu Changfang's ambition, but her hope for the family to improve was genuine. Only if the family got better would her small family get better.

Zhu Changfang brought in a bundle of dried cypress branches and dropped them in front of the stove, saying, 'The county's population has grown a lot compared to a few years ago. With more people, there's not enough firewood. Now we have to walk further up the mountain to cut firewood.'

Zhang Hui laughed, 'If firewood is scarce, we'll need to stock up on more honeycomb briquettes this winter.'

'We'll see then.'

Although burning coal was convenient, it cost money, and she felt that food cooked with coal wasn't as fragrant as food cooked with firewood.

As they were talking, Zhu Fengqin came from the backyard carrying a piece of cured meat weighing over a catty. Seeing Zhu Changfang, she said, 'Thank you for the meat coupons you gave me a few days ago. I don't have meat coupons to return now, so I'll use this cured meat to settle the debt.'

Zhu Shian liked fresh meat, so the family used all their meat coupons on fresh meat and never had any left. Yesterday, when the Song family matriarchs went home, Zhu Fengqin had to treat them to a good meal, so she borrowed meat coupons from Zhu Changfang.

Zhu Changfang quickly declined, 'No need. My Xu Tang and Xu Mei often eat and drink at your place without paying. You and the eldest young lady never asked me for money. I gave you two meat coupons, and you still want to return them? You're too polite.'

Zhu Fengqin shoved the meat into Zhu Changfang's hands, 'Take it. You have two children to raise. If you have the means, let them eat more meat so they grow well.'

Zhu Changfang smiled, 'Since you say so, I won't be polite. Just in time, I'll cook the cured meat for the Dragon Boat Festival in a couple of days, and the family will have a good meal.'

The soup in the pot was almost done. Zhang Hui stood up, brushed the ash off her clothes, and said to Zhu Fengqin, 'The Dragon Boat Festival is this month. The County Hospital gave out extra meat coupons for the holiday. Feng Niang, if you want meat coupons, you can trade some cured meat with me. My Changming likes cured meat.'

'Alright, I'll trade with you.' Zhu Fengqin agreed immediately.

Since there was someone in the family who loved fresh meat, she was happy to trade cured meat with anyone who brought meat coupons.

Zhang Hui went home to get the meat coupons. As she opened the side door of the main residence, she saw someone standing at the door—an acquaintance, the county magistrate's wife.

'What's this?' Zhang Hui asked.

Lu Wen smiled quickly, 'What a coincidence. I was just about to knock when the door opened.'

Lu Wen carried a bamboo basket on her back. Zhang Hui had a good memory and recognized it as the same basket the He family had used to send gifts last time. She immediately guessed the purpose.

Zhang Hui smiled and asked, 'Is there something?'

Lu Wen nodded, 'It's almost the holiday. My maternal family sent me ten catties of pine nuts. I brought some for the eldest young lady to try.'

Zhang Hui saw that the basket was packed full, not just a few catties of pine nuts, but she didn't ask further to avoid being nosy. She said, 'You've come at the right time. The eldest young lady is home today. If you came a few days later, she'd be up in the mountains and you wouldn't see her.'

'Zhang Hui, who are you talking to?'

Zhu Fengqin and Zhu Changfang slowly walked out from the side courtyard and saw Zhang Hui standing at the half-open door talking to someone outside.

'Feng Niang, there's a guest,' Zhang Hui said turning back.

Zhu Fengqin went over to look and immediately smiled, 'Lu Wen, why are you standing at the door? Come in quickly.'

Since He Zaiming and his wife moved from the County Committee Compound to North Street, Zhu Fengqin often passed by there when going to the Food Supply Station and the Grain Station. She had run into Lu Wen several times and they were already acquainted.

Lu Wen smiled and nodded at Zhu Changfang, then turned to speak with Zhu Fengqin. When she heard that Lu Wen had something to discuss with An'an, she invited her to the front hall.

'Changfang, brew a pot of tea for me.'

'Alright.'

Seeing Feng Niang take the county magistrate's wife inside, Zhu Changfang winked at Zhang Hui. 'What's this about?'

'Don't know. She said she came to give festival gifts.'

'Then I'll go in and listen. I'll tell you later.'

Zhang Hui nodded. 'Go brew the tea quickly. I'll go home to get the meat coupons for Feng Niang.'

'Okay.'

If there was one family in Zhenshan County that Lu Wen cared about most, it was the Zhu Family. In the past few months, Sanqing Lane had seen frequent visits from the Zhu Family's relatives and friends, and occasionally one or two patients from the County Hospital who brought their children for treatment. These people, unlike her son who had encountered a ghost, were genuinely ill. Regardless of age or gender, they were all cured by the Zhu Family's eldest young lady.

Last week, Lu Wen took her son back to the city to visit her parents. She couldn't help telling them about the Zhu Family—not only were they skilled in the supernatural, but they were also excellent at treating illnesses and regulating the body.

After hearing this, her parents became interested and made inquiries about the Zhu Family. They only found out that the Zhu Family was indeed very good at regulating the body and especially effective with pediatric illnesses. So they wanted to introduce a patient to the Zhu Family's eldest young lady.

Zhu Changfang entered with the tea tray and heard Lu Wen say, 'That child was born weak. The whole family raised him like the apple of their eye, but he still isn't healthy. A five-year-old looks like a three-year-old. If they weren't well-off and could buy good things to supplement his nutrition, and could afford good doctors when he got sick, the child would have been lost long ago.'

Lu Wen thanked Zhu Changfang for the tea and continued to Zhu Shian, 'The child's weakness is congenital. Everyone says he won't grow up. The family is frantic, afraid he might die young. And the child's parents died early, so he's the only grandchild. If he's lost, his grandparents who raised him would be heartbroken.'

Zhu Fengqin asked curiously, 'Are they your relatives?'

Lu Wen smiled, 'Our family is too humble to connect with such people. The family's surname is Peng. Old Master Peng was a soldier and retired as a division commander. I know about them because my elder brother's father-in-law served under Peng Division Commander and is also a fellow townsman.'

Zhu Fengqin asked bluntly, 'So you want our eldest young lady to treat the Peng family's grandson? As you said, the Peng family can definitely find famous doctors. They don't necessarily need our eldest young lady.'

Lu Wen lowered her voice, 'The Peng family can definitely find good doctors, but after so many years with no improvement, they suspect the child might have encountered something unclean, so...'

Everyone in the room understood what Lu Wen meant. For a situation like the Peng family's, finding a family like the Zhu Family that practiced both medicine and Daoism was perfect.

'Eldest young lady, could you take a look?'

Zhu Shian shook her head, 'Families like ours aren't unique. If they really think that way, it wouldn't be hard to find a knowledgeable Daoist Physician to take a look. There's no need to send the child here. Besides, private practice isn't allowed now. Unless it's a life-threatening emergency, I won't treat people.'

Zhu Fengqin also felt this wasn't a good idea and added, 'A few months ago, your child had an encounter and we had no choice but to treat him. Our family hasn't violated any regulations.'

Lu Wen quickly explained, 'You misunderstand. I didn't mean that.'

Zhu Shian smiled, 'I know you didn't mean that. But when it comes to medical treatment, we have to follow the rules. After the Zhu Medical Hall opens, you're welcome to refer patients.'

'The Zhu Medical Hall is opening?' Lu Wen was confused. What did that mean?

Zhu Shian glanced at Zhu Changfang, who immediately understood and said, 'We heard from outsiders that the authorities might allow some highly skilled old Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners to take the Individual Medical Practice License exam. Once they pass, they can open a Medical Hall. But we've only heard rumors, nothing certain. Perhaps County Magistrate He has better information and knows more than we do?'

Lu Wen hadn't heard about this, but she said, 'I can help inquire.'

But what was said earlier was also true. With the Peng family's connections, they could probably find someone like Zhu the eldest young lady if they wanted. If Zhu the eldest young lady had a license and the family's Medical Hall was open, she would have more leverage to convince the Peng family.

If she could introduce the Peng family to the Zhu Family for treatment and the child was actually cured, that would be a significant favor.

Lu Wen made up her mind.

Zhu Shian smiled slightly. This was exactly what she wanted to hear.

The Zhu Family was casting a wide net. Lu Wen had come to them on her own. Whether there was fruit or not, Zhu Shian would take a swing.

Lu Wen left. Zhu Changfang helped Zhu Fengqin sort through the festival gifts Lu Wen had brought: five catties of pine nuts, six catties of streaky pork, and a large package of canned goods and pastries.

'Wow, such generous gifts.'

Zhu Fengqin said to Zhu Shian, 'It seems County Magistrate He's family values you highly. Sending such generous gifts for the Dragon Boat Festival. Should we return the favor?'

'No need. What the He family wants isn't a little food or supplies in return.'

Zhu Changfang agreed. The He family wanted to use the eldest young lady's skills to cultivate their own network. The eldest young lady hadn't agreed just now. It was good to keep the He family waiting.

Zhang Hui returned home to get the meat coupons and saw the festival gifts from the He family. She was envious again. People with skills never lacked good things.

Zhu Fengqin laughed, 'This Dragon Boat Festival will be bountiful. There's so much fresh meat it won't keep. On the festival day, I'll steam two batches of meat buns, and every child in the lane can have one.'

'Then thank you, Feng Niang and eldest young lady, in advance.'

Before the Dragon Boat Festival arrived, Sanqing Lane was already lively. After school, the children ran to the main residence and tugged at Zhu Fengqin, telling her what flavor buns they wanted. Some wanted pickled vegetable and shredded pork filling, some wanted long bean and minced meat filling. They argued and chattered noisily.

Over at Spring River Opposite Bank, the Zhu Family clan was also in an uproar. This commotion wasn't because of the festival, but because Ying Ying, who had received the eldest young lady's Peace Talisman, had been bitten by a snake.

That girl was reckless. The snake coiled around her neck and bit her, and she bit the snake back. Neither let go. It was said the snake wasn't venomous, so luckily no one died.

The whole village was alarmed and ran to Zhu Changjiang's place to watch the excitement.

Zhu Changjiang took the Peace Talisman off his daughter's neck. When he pinched the red cloth pouch, he heard a crisp sound inside. Opening the red cloth pouch, he saw that the Peace Talisman had turned to black ash at some point.

The Zhu Family onlookers gasped. The eldest young lady's prediction had been accurate.