Chapter 24: Seeking Help at the Door

Auntie Wang chided, "You all are getting bolder and bolder, comparing the Eldest Princess's son to an actor. If these words were overheard by someone with ill intent, they would surely beat you with canes."

Banxia and Shaoyao stuck out their tongues.

Auntie Wang continued, "Miss, I want to go to Li the Tofu Maker's house to demand the silver used for the Yin Spirit Needle, to take as much as I can. It's not about the money; I simply cannot swallow this grievance."

Feng Chuchen shook her head. "Forget it. That was a donation from Eldest Aunt. Since it was said to be paying off a debt for an elder, we won't take it. In the future, don't let those people take advantage; collect exactly what is owed."

She then asked, "Are you familiar with the Duke of Dingguo's manor?"

Auntie Wang shook her head. "Eldest Sister has taken me to many noble households, but I have never actually been to the Duke of Dingguo's manor. In those high-ranking families, female family members always invite a female physician first for childbirth. Only if the female physician cannot resolve the issue or is too busy do they call for a folk midwife.

"However, I have heard things about the Duke of Dingguo's manor. The Old Madam is in poor health and spends most of her time in bed. The Old Duke is particularly afraid of his wife; if she tells him to stand, he wouldn't dare sit.

"His favorite thing to say is, 'My wife told me to do this or that,' which has caused many jokes. There isn't much rumor regarding the Duke of Dingguo himself, but there are many rumors about the Second Master Ming and the Third Master Ming. The Second Master Ming has no interests other than warfare and has no interest in women either.

"He is in his thirties and still hasn't married; he is away at war year-round. After the war in the Northwest ended, he continued to guard the western gates, stationed in Xiqing Prefecture with the Eldest Young Master. The Third Master Ming is paralyzed in both legs and has a strange temperament; he also hasn't married..."

Banxia and Shaoyao had no interest in the middle-aged Duke and his sons, continuing instead to gossip about the beautiful Shangguan Ruyu and the ill-fated Eldest Young Master Ming.

After dinner, the already exhausted Feng Buji struggled to keep his eyelids open.

Banxia moved to assist him to rest, but he grabbed Auntie Wang's hand and said, "I want Auntie Wang to serve me."

Auntie Wang was delighted that the little master relied on her. After helping him wash up, she lifted him into bed.

Feng Buji pulled her hand and asked, "Auntie, do you know Physician Qin? The new apprentice of Old Physician Fang."

Auntie Wang shook her head. "Old Physician Fang took a new apprentice? I didn't know."

Feng Buji shared his thoughts. "If he isn't engaged, please find someone to arrange a match quickly, so no one else beats us to it."

Auntie Wang smiled. "Alright, I'll go into town to inquire."

On the fourth of August, monthly wages were distributed.

Feng Chuchen gave Banxia one hundred and fifty wen.

She also gave Shaoyao forty wen. "Even though Shaoyao only came for a few days last month, she did a lot of work. Here is forty wen."

Shaoyao felt embarrassed to accept it.

Feng Chuchen said, "This is your compensation for your labor; you deserve it. Be good."

Only after her master gave the command did Shaoyao accept it with a flushed face.

Feng Chuchen then took three hundred wen and gave it to Feng Buji. "From now on, my brother and I will also receive monthly wages, three hundred wen each."

Previously, Eldest Aunt had not given the children monthly wages; any money she wanted to spend on herself or the siblings was taken from the common funds without being recorded.

This house belonged to Eldest Aunt, and she could spend it however she pleased.

But Feng Chuchen would not allow that; she believed in clear accounts between siblings. This house was earned by Eldest Aunt and thus belonged to Feng Buji. Only when she earned more money herself would she have the confidence to spend it.

Feng Buji hadn't expected to receive money. He accepted it with both hands, smiling, and said softly, "So much... I'll save it to buy fabric for Sister to make new clothes."

Feng Chuchen was delighted. "Sister has money. Save it to buy sweets for yourself. When you start school next year, buy the books you like."

She added, "Once Banxia and Shaoyao are able to earn money, they will keep forty percent for themselves, fifty percent will go to the common fund, and ten percent will go to Auntie Wang as a master-apprentice fee. Later, when the family's life improves, all the money you earn can be kept as your own dowries."

August sixth was Feng Chuchen's fourteenth birthday.

In the morning, Feng Chuchen put on a silk green shirt and donned that gold-inlaid jade necklace.

She looked in the mirror for a long time before tucking the necklace inside her clothes.

She truly loved this necklace; she felt it was more beautiful than any piece of jewelry from her previous life.

In the late morning, Feng Chuchen was reading in her room.

Suddenly, the courtyard gate was pounded loudly, accompanied by someone's shouting.

"Midwife Wang! Is Midwife Wang there?"

Banxia ran to open the door.

A man rushed in. "Where is Midwife Wang? My wife went into labor the night before last. She's been struggling for a day and two nights, and the baby still won't come. Please, Midwife Wang, come save her!"

Auntie Wang ran out from the west wing. "Where do you live?"

The man said, "My name is Ding Youcheng. We live in Lotus Alley in the Outer City, very close to Guang'an Gate. I've driven a mule cart; I can be there in two hours."

Auntie Wang asked, "Do you have men to help carry her?"

"Yes."

If they hadn't, Auntie Wang would have found someone.

Feng Chuchen walked out and said, "I'm going too." She then instructed Banxia, "Watch over Buji. Do not leave the house unless it is necessary."

They certainly wouldn't be back today.

Feng Chuchen went back to her room to grab a small bundle. Inside were several silver needles, a stick of "This Life" incense, an incense burner, a packet of hemostatic powder, two masks, a set of work clothes, and a piece of green cloth to wrap her hair.

During childbirth, the most dangerous thing for the mother is hemorrhaging, so she brought her own specially formulated hemostatic powder.

Feng Chuchen had no intention of changing the formula for the labor-inducing medicine; the one Eldest Aunt prepared was undoubtedly the best.

She had asked Auntie Wang to make the work clothes and masks over the past few days.

In an ancient birthing room, it was taboo to wear white. The masks were light blue, made of several layers of sewn coarse cloth. The work clothes were dark blue gowns with ties at the back.

She had asked Auntie Wang to make a set for herself as well. Auntie Wang had laughed, saying, "After all these years, I'm used to wearing old clothes and an apron."

Auntie Wang went into the room to change into a set of old clothes specifically for deliveries and carried a large basin.

In the basin were a long apron, towels, scissors, a small scale, a packet of labor-inducing medicine, a pouch for hair, and a small rolling pin.

Seeing the hair and the rolling pin—the two "essential tools" for difficult births—Feng Chuchen felt her scalp tingle.

If she were the one giving birth, she wouldn't be able to stomach either of those.

Feng Buji ran out and urged, "Sister, don't enter the birthing room. If the baby is not well, tell them to bring it out for treatment."

Currently, his sister's most important task was to marry, and he feared people would look down on her if she entered a birthing room.

In the cart, Ding Youcheng described the mother's specific situation.

"It's my wife's first pregnancy. Her stomach started hurting the night before last. We invited Midwife Sha, but there was no sign of the baby. She's been laboring for a day and two nights and still hasn't delivered..."

Midwife Sha had even made his wife eat hair, rolled a rolling pin over her belly, used "opening" induction, and sang labor-inducing songs...

Every method had been tried, but none worked.

"Opening" induction involved uncovering every piece of furniture in the house that had a lid, such as doors, drawers, and chests.

Midwife Sha had run out of ideas and said they must "leave it to fate."

The Ding family had no choice but to send Ding Youcheng to fetch Midwife Wang, the apprentice of Physician Feng.

Feng Chuchen suspected that the baby had not yet engaged; it was likely one of three situations: a narrow pelvis, a large fetus, or an abnormal fetal position.

If a C-section could bring the baby out in her previous life, this era would be dangerous.

Auntie Wang also thought of these three possibilities. "If it's an abnormal position, there are ways. The other two are difficult."