I Became a Medical Genius in the 80s

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Going to Bao Niang Embroidery Workshop

Mrs. Qin couldn’t stand people talking in a mushy way. As soon as she heard Beisitian’s tone, she gave her a glance, pursed her lips, and quickened her pace.

Luo Anping hurriedly caught up, turned his head and smiled at Beisitian, ”Sis, hurry home. We’ve got some cracklings to eat today!”

Beisitian wasn’t someone who liked sentimentality either. Seeing Mrs. Qin’s expression, she smiled broadly, thinking, this mother-in-law is quite adorable!

The three of them made their way home, and by the time they arrived, the sun was directly overhead, and every household had already had lunch.

Luo Anguo stretched his neck out through the open window, looking outside, hoping for the three of them to return.

Upon hearing the door sound, he immediately looked over and saw the three come in, talking and laughing. He finally felt relieved, as this trip to the market took a bit longer than usual.

”Dad, we’re back!”

Entering the courtyard, Luo Anping let go of Mrs. Qin’s hand and ran inside the house.

Mrs. Qin had taken the basket from the cart halfway home. Now, she put down the basket, and Beisitian started picking out the items one by one.

Mrs. Qin went inside the house, feeling exhausted from the journey, especially with the basket on her back. With one old and one young at her side, she carried most of the load.

Beisitian was also tired but considerably better off compared to Mrs. Qin. After putting down the items, she went to the west wing’s firewood room to fetch firewood. She brought back a bundle of firewood, stuffed it into the stove, struck a match, threw it in, and quickly operated the bellows a couple of times.

The fire in the stove immediately came to life.

She had cooked before, but there was always someone to assist her with the bellows. When she first started cooking by herself, it took her a few tries to get the hang of it.

Beisitian stewed some cabbage, and when it was almost ready, she took down the dried food hanging on the beam and placed it on the pot rack, covering the lid again to heat it together for their meal.

Once it simmered for a while, Beisitian served it on the kang table and went out to dish up the food: a small basin full of stewed cabbage, a small bowl of pickled vegetables, and each person got a steamed bun. This would do for lunch.

”Old woman, didn’t you buy a jacket?” Luo Anguo asked, while rolling a cigarette.

”Why buy one? Isn’t this coat still fine?” Mrs. Qin replied, twiddling her braid.

The tobacco in his hand was newly purchased by Mrs. Qin today. He had been quite pleased, but paused upon hearing her words.

The coat on Mrs. Qin had been worn for five years, patched and mended, entirely different from its original appearance. Luo Anguo always said to buy a new one, but she never did.

Beisitian, who was also twiddling her braid beside them, paused as well. Mrs. Qin bought tobacco for Luo Anguo, new pants for Luo Anping, colored threads, yellow paper, and ink for her, but nothing for herself!

A complexity welled up in Beisitian’s heart. She had never worried about household essentials before. Even when traveling with her master in her prime at twenty, as a Mystic Doctor, the wealth flowed abundantly. Despite their master’s odd temper and initial struggles, they eventually amassed enough savings to stay in top-tier inns and savor fine delicacies!

Yet now, Mrs. Qin managed a large family, considering everyone but herself, or perhaps she never intended to buy anything for herself.

Beisitian paused, then continued twiddling her braid. To live well, she had to quickly recover her health.

Recovering her health required money as well!

Beisitian focused her first money-making goal on Baoniang Embroidery Workshop.

Luo Er’s family had little land, just the small vegetable plot behind the house. They once relied on Luo Anguo hunting in the mountains for food, later sustaining themselves with five or six sheep and Mrs. Qin’s craftsmanship.

Eventually, even Mrs. Qin’s skills fell short, and when tragedy struck Beisitian, the home couldn’t make ends meet. Two months without going to the market left them without even pocket money. The family of four lived two months mostly on pickled vegetables.

Beisitian knew all this, and this time Mrs. Qin sold a total of eight dollars and fifty cents, considered a good sum. After buying necessities, only twenty cents remained, leaving the family penniless once again.

”Mother, where is Bao Niang Embroidery Workshop?” Beisitian asked.

”In the town, why? What’s the matter?” Mrs. Qin squinted at the shoe sole from a distance before bringing it closer to continue stitching.

”It’s nothing. I want to make some crafts to sell at Bao Niang Embroidery Workshop. I heard they offer higher prices there.” Beisitian replied.

Mrs. Qin put down the shoe sole, turning toward her direction. Although she didn’t focus her gaze, she was indeed looking at her.

”Sell crafts at Bao Niang Embroidery Workshop? I’m not discouraging you, your skills are indeed decent, but if you want to sell at Bao Niang Embroidery Workshop, you’re still a bit lacking. Their requirements are quite high!” Mrs. Qin remarked, resuming stitching the shoe sole.

Beisitian didn’t take out the double-sided embroidered handkerchief. It wasn’t about keeping secrets; one couldn’t possibly master everything overnight, especially the intricacies, which couldn’t be achieved in a day!

”How would I know if I don’t try?” Beisitian said.

Seeing her determination, Mrs. Qin didn’t say more and just provided the location of Bao Niang Embroidery Workshop.

Beisitian prepared to make a trip to town.

With no money and unwilling to ask Mrs. Qin for any, she planned to walk. The journey was roughly ten miles; leaving early, she’d certainly arrive before noon.

This was because she was physically weak. In the past, she would’ve jogged the distance in an hour, but these ten miles were through hilly terrain, which wasn’t easy to traverse.

Early the next morning, Beisitian set off. Mrs. Qin wanted to give her the remaining twenty cents, suggesting she find a mule cart, but she declined.

Beisitian left home at six o’clock. In the original owner’s memory, she had been there once with Mrs. Qin. The impression was vague but still better than none.

The mountain path wasn’t entirely deserted. Though it was merely a dirt track, it was closer to Qingzhou Town, so many people chose it.

It was five or six miles shorter than the Dayan route, so those in surrounding poor villages generally opted for this path.

Most commonly seen on this road were bicycles, which Beisitian found fascinating—a two-wheeled vehicle needing balance to ride. She saw kids in the village pedaling frame bicycles around, with one foot through the middle triangle and their bodies leaning, wondering how they managed to balance.

The road was mostly traversed by frame bicycles, but there were also many pedestrians like Beisitian, so she didn’t feel lonely along the way.

As she walked, a slight commotion started from behind. With acute senses, Beisitian heard it immediately and turned around to see a mule cart rushing toward her. The person on it was pulling on the reins desperately, shouting, ”Move aside! Quickly move aside!”

As Beisitian turned her head, the mule was already close, charging directly at her. Startled, she wanted to dodge to the side, but her body didn’t respond fast enough to her mind. She could only watch as the mule cart rushed towards her.