Volume One, Chapter 11: Not Letting Grandmother Grieve Her Eldest Child with the Youngest
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Xie Qiqi returned to Jifeng Courtyard, first bandaging her own arm, then carefully cleaning Yan’er’s wound again and applying medicine. Seeing the dwindling supply of medicinal herbs, Xie Qiqi felt troubled. She couldn’t always resort to injuring herself just to get more medicine!
The doctors at the Gao residence said that medicine prices outside had skyrocketed, and her own tuberculosis required medication. She had only a little over twenty taels of silver on hand—what was she to do?
Frowning in worry, a thought suddenly came to her mind—something Old Uncle Xi had once told her: “Relying on others is not as good as relying on yourself.”
Her eyes lit up as an idea took shape…
…
Xie Qiqi headed straight to North Street.
Grand Physician Wang was elderly and had resigned from his imperial post, now seeing patients at his own herbal medicine shop on North Street.
If Grand Physician Wang agreed to take her as an apprentice and teach her to identify medicinal herbs, she could gather the herbs herself in the mountains.
Learning medicine meant that when Yan’er fell ill, she wouldn’t have to seek help from others.
Moreover, she could help her grandmother maintain her health and prolong her life!
Although her own days were numbered, she hoped that in the time she had left, she could take care of those she cherished…
Arriving at Grand Physician Wang’s Hundred Herbs Hall, the crowd seeking treatment was unceasing. Xie Qiqi stood by the door, unable to find a moment to speak with him alone.
After waiting for two long hours, she saw Grand Physician Wang rise and head toward the backyard. Summoning her courage, she followed him inside.
“Grandfather Wang…”
Without a word, Xie Qiqi knelt down on the spot.
Grand Physician Wang turned around, startled by her action, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Qiqi, what are you doing? Get up at once… Child, if you have something to say, just say it—why kneel like this?”
Wang was already sixty and of the same generation as Xie Qiqi’s grandmother; he usually regarded Qiqi as a granddaughter.
“Grandfather Wang, Qiqi has an impertinent request and hopes you will grant it.”
Xie Qiqi looked at him anxiously.
Medical knowledge often passed down through family lines—would her request be seen as ill-intentioned?
Grandfather Wang was one of the few elders besides her grandmother who treated her kindly; she didn’t want him to despise her now!
Wang helped her up, puzzled.
“Qiqi, tell me, what is it you want to ask of me?”
Gathering all her courage, Xie Qiqi said,
“Grandfather Wang, I want to apprentice under you, to learn how to recognize medicinal herbs and study medicine!”
Grand Physician Wang’s expression darkened instantly.
Xie Qiqi felt as if she dared not even breathe.
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The next moment, she feared that the once-loving Grandfather Wang would order someone to throw her out!
After a long silence…
Grand Physician Wang spoke slowly.
“Xie Qiqi, haven’t I told you that your tuberculosis gives you only a year or two to live?”
“Do you not see it as absurd for me to spend my efforts teaching medicine to someone who is dying?”
Xie Qiqi hung her head in dejection.
Grand Physician Wang had also warned her that her illness was grave; even a severe cold could be fatal!
Who would take on a disciple destined to die at any moment?
“Grandfather Wang, I’m sorry, it was foolish of me to dream so wildly…”
She kowtowed once, tears streaming down her face. This path was blocked; she had to find another way.
Just as she was about to rise, Grand Physician Wang asked gently,
“Why do you want to learn medicine?”
Instinctively, Xie Qiqi replied,
“I want to cure my own illness… to help my grandmother live a long life… and so that when those around me are injured, I don’t have to ask others for help.”
Grand Physician Wang chuckled softly.
“You are honest! Most would say filial piety means putting their grandmother first!”
Xie Qiqi blushed.
“I… I think if I die before my grandmother, she will be heartbroken.”
Even though her time was short, she hoped to live long enough to outlast her grandmother, so her grandmother wouldn’t suffer the grief of losing her child first.
Grand Physician Wang looked at Xie Qiqi and restrained his smile.
He had many reasons to refuse: few women studied medicine, and the study was harsh.
But would telling this young girl, who was almost his granddaughter and who was terminally ill, any of that help?
Compared to her eight years as an official’s servant, how harsh could studying medicine be?
Unable to find words to refuse, he said tactfully,
“Qiqi, I am strict with my apprentices. First of all, they must be literate. But I hear you haven’t even finished the Thousand Character Classic…”
Xie Qiqi was momentarily stunned, then said eagerly,
“Grandfather Wang, I can do it! Give me some time, I will work hard to learn reading and writing!”
Before Grandfather Wang could respond, his grandson Wang Mian hurried in.
“Grandpa, Second Uncle, come quick! Someone needs help!”
There were patients coming in; Grand Physician Wang left hastily without further conversation.
Wang Mian pulled a waiter’s uniform hanging by the mast and handed it to Xie Qiqi, whispering,
“Put this on and help out. If Grandpa sees you doing well, he might take you as his apprentice!”
Wang Mian was seventeen and still an apprentice himself. He had followed Grand Physician Wang when treating Xie Qiqi before.
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He knew about her incurable illness and felt pity for the frail girl.
He had witnessed Xie Qiqi’s attempt to apprentice under his grandfather and wanted to help her.
Xie Qiqi’s eyes brightened. She quickly took the clothes and hid in the storeroom to change.
She was small and slender; the waiter’s uniform was a bit large on her, but she looked no different than the herbal shop’s assistants.
No sooner had she changed and stepped out than a group of armed and armored Embroidered Uniform Guards burst in, carrying several wounded men.
Blood dripped from the doorway, trailing inside.
Several shop assistants rushed forward to help, and Xie Qiqi was pushed to the door’s edge, losing her footing and falling backward.
A strong hand caught her.
Steadying herself, she saw a tall, slender figure pass by.
The black Flying Fish robe’s golden dragon embroidery was stained with blood.
Before she could get a clear look, the man disappeared through the backyard gate.
“Wang Mian, you and Aniu go to the warehouse and bring a few jars of wine. Tell Aunt Zhang to quickly bring some hot water…”
In the chaos, Grand Physician Wang didn’t notice Xie Qiqi and hurried to the backyard after giving orders.
Wang Mian tugged Xie Qiqi and whispered,
“I’ll get the wine; you find Aunt Zhang. Don’t worry, even if Grandpa finds out, he won’t expose you.”
Xie Qiqi nodded gratefully.
After delivering hot water to the sickroom with Aunt Zhang, Xie Qiqi saw Wang Mian and a disheveled man treating the wounded.
A glance made her eyes widen in shock.
The victims’ abdomens were slashed open with sharp swords, intestines exposed and bleeding profusely—a terrifying sight.
“小铃铛 (Little Bell), you assist Second Uncle; I’ll handle the other patients.”
In front of outsiders, Wang Mian dared not use Xie Qiqi’s given name; he recalled how Madam Xie called her that and, in the rush, settled on it.
Xie Qiqi had no time to think further and hurried over, nervously asking,
“Shishu (Junior Uncle), what can I do?”
She wanted to apprentice under Grand Physician Wang and was determined to perform well, not to disappoint him!
Second Uncle glanced at her and instructed,
“Do you know how to sew stitches? Sanitize your hands with wine, push the intestines back in, and sew up the wound.”
He stepped aside slightly and plunged a silver needle near the injured man’s wound.
Xie Qiqi found it incredible—could a wound be sewn up like sewing clothes?