Chapter 5: Pressuring for Marriage

This family did not resent their adopted daughter because they finally had a son; they continued to treat Feng Chuchen well, and even truly believed that she was the one who had brought them a younger brother.

The original owner never once thought of her biological parents, regarding her aunt, her adoptive parents, and her younger brother as her true family...

Feng Chuchen sighed inwardly. Such wonderful people, yet they passed away one after another after their son turned one.

Last month, her aunt left forever, and this month, the original owner passed away as well.

Who says good people live long lives...

Feng Buji rubbed his face against his sister’s hand and said in a soft, milky voice, "Those clansmen are all hoping I’ll die of illness soon. They think that once I’m dead, they can drive you away and seize our family’s property."

"Sister, you must quickly find a good husband. I’ll make the decision to give you the family’s land and savings as your dowry. By the time I go to join Aunt and Father and Mother, those clansmen will only be able to get the house. With a large dowry, you’ll be valued by your husband’s family and will be able to look after Auntie Wang more."

This was the best idea he could come up with after racking his brain.

He didn't even want to keep the house, but without it, he would have nowhere to live while he was still alive.

Feng Chuchen’s nose stung; it was heartbreaking to hear such a young child speak of death so calmly. He was also incredibly clever, wanting to settle his inheritance in advance.

After their aunt died, although Feng Buji had cried a few times, his mood had been relatively stable.

It turned out he had believed that he would be joining his relatives on the other side in just a few years.

Feng Chuchen hugged him tightly. "Little brother won't die young. Sister knows how to heal; I will make you live longer than Father, Mother, and Aunt. Aunt lived to be forty-three, and Father and Mother lived to be thirty-five. I’ll make you live to be eighty."

Feng Buji lifted his small head. "Can I really live that long?"

"Even longer."

Feng Buji shook his head.

He was a sickly child. The best imperial physicians and doctors Aunt had hired to treat him had all said he wouldn't live past ten.

Sister must be trying to comfort him...

Feng Buji hugged his sister’s arm and said, "Sister, you must be obedient. Before, we were the descendants of criminals, so you couldn't find a good husband. Once the imperial court honors Aunt, we will be the descendants of a respectable family, and with a large dowry, you will surely be able to find a good man."

It was difficult for the original owner to find a good match in the countryside. There were two reasons why she wasn't betrothed yet. One was her poor background as the descendant of a criminal. The second was that she had been entering and exiting delivery rooms while unmarried, which was considered inauspicious.

Since the age of ten, Midwife Feng had been taking her into delivery rooms.

Not to teach her how to deliver babies, but to teach her how to treat infants and postpartum mothers.

The families Midwife Feng and the original owner took a liking to were unwilling, and the ones who came to propose were rejected by them.

There were local bullies and landlords who coveted the original owner’s beauty, but because Midwife Feng frequently frequented high-ranking households and even the imperial palace, they didn't dare to act recklessly.

Feng Chuchen tugged on Feng Buji’s small ear. "Little brother, you must trust Sister. Sister can cure your illness."

In her previous life, Feng Chuchen was born into a seven-generation family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. She had studied TCM under her grandfather since childhood and spent eight years in medical school studying an integrated program of Western and Chinese medicine, completing both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

After graduation, she worked at the hospital affiliated with the provincial university of TCM, and every week she spent two half-days seeing patients at her grandfather’s clinic.

Every year, she would also regularly accompany her grandfather to the Imperial Capital to perform physical examinations for several high-ranking officials and their wives...

Feng Chuchen felt that by combining the treatment methods of her past life with this one, she could cure Feng Buji’s illness.

As for marriage, Feng Chuchen hadn't married in her thirties in her previous life. In this world where men were considered the sky, if she couldn't find a good man, she had even less desire to marry.

She would just focus on her career, like her aunt.

No, that wasn't right. Although her aunt was single, she was not a virgin, which was why she could work in the midwifery profession.

In this era, an unmarried woman delivering babies was considered scandalous and could not work in the industry.

In her aunt’s own words, during the four years she had left home, in order to survive, she had married a man who was on the verge of death to bring him luck. Half a month later, the man died, and she was kicked out by his family without even being given a marriage certificate.

Later, she followed a skilled midwife and learned how to deliver babies, make "Life-Fragrance," and perform the "Upper Yin Divine Acupuncture."

After mastering the craft, she worried about her younger brother, Feng Qiu'en, and returned.

Some people believed this story, and some didn't. Regardless, because she was not a virgin, her aunt was able to become a midwife.

However, her aunt forbade the original owner from becoming a midwife. "Even if you marry in the future, you are not allowed to deliver babies... If you are unhappy with your husband's family, you can work as a pediatrician. With the 'Life-Fragrance' and the 'Upper Yin Divine Acupuncture,' the family will not have a hard time..."

Her aunt also had Banxia learn midwifery, saying that in the future, when Banxia married, Auntie Wang and Banxia could deliver babies while Feng Chuchen practiced medicine.

In the original owner’s memories, her aunt was always stern and spoke very little, yet her care and meticulous cultivation of the original owner were evident in everything...

Feng Buji’s words pulled Feng Chuchen back to reality. "Sister, if my illness can't be cured, will you not marry?"

He was very angry, his eyes brimming with tears, his small mouth pouting as he stared at Feng Chuchen without blinking.

He meant that she had to be obedient and find a fiancé quickly, otherwise, he wouldn't agree.

This delicate, young face overlapped with the aged face of her grandfather from her previous life.

Another old voice echoed in Feng Chuchen’s mind: "Find a good young man and get married quickly. If I’m no longer here, how pitiful you’ll be all alone..."

Feng Chuchen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She had just turned fourteen in this life and was already being urged to marry—by a little brat, no less.

They say the ancients were precocious; it was truly the case.

In this life, having this wonderful younger brother, she would not be lonely or helpless.

She prevaricated, "Alright, I’ll listen to little brother. If I meet someone suitable, I’ll consider it."

Only then was Feng Buji satisfied, and he added solemnly, "Aunt said you should find a young man with good character, good health, and who has studied. Auntie Wang said the character of the parents-in-law is also important. I’ve thought about it for a few days and came up with a few more conditions: he must be handsome, tall, and have a good temper."

Feng Chuchen chuckled. "Alright, alright."

Feng Chuchen had Feng Buji sit still so she could check his pulse, then examined his eyes and tongue coating.

The little guy suffered from severe asthma, was born with a weak constitution, and had a poor digestive system.

Over the years, they had found many famous doctors and he had taken many tonics and supplements. Although it kept him alive, his body remained frail, and he was in constant danger of death.

Feng Chuchen was very puzzled; the little guy’s condition today was actually better than it had been before she was imprisoned. It could even be said that his physical condition was the best it had been since birth.

Her aunt’s sudden death, her sister’s imprisonment, being bullied by clansmen—this period had been his darkest hour.

Yet, not only had his body not collapsed, but it had actually improved.

Was the talk of "repaying a debt" true?

Thinking that she had already transmigrated, what else in this world was impossible?

Feng Chuchen searched her memories for the prescriptions the doctors had used.

Feng Buji’s illness had always been treated by the old Doctor Fang of Dechun Hall, and twice, her aunt had even invited imperial physicians for consultations.

The medicine they prescribed was very good, but the acupuncture technique differed from the Shui family’s acupuncture she knew in her previous life. In the future, Feng Chuchen would find a balance to perform acupuncture on Feng Buji.

There were still a few doses of medicine at home; she would swap two ingredients and try again.

Feng Chuchen said, "Little brother, you need to move around more, balancing work and rest. Also, drink more cow’s milk and goat’s milk to strengthen your constitution..."

Tonics like ginseng and lingzhi were not good for children to take in excess; they would affect his growth.

Feng Buji agreed readily. He also hoped to live longer, ideally long enough to see his sister get married.