Chapter 27: Bargaining

Old Man Ding gave Feng Chuchen five hundred copper coins.

If one were to hire a formal physician to treat a postpartum hemorrhage, it would cost five hundred copper coins if the patient died, and if they were saved, two to five taels of silver would certainly be required.

But a young girl like Feng was at most a wandering physician; she wasn't worth that much.

Auntie Wang’s face darkened instantly. "If it weren't for my girl, your daughter-in-law would already be dead. Is her life only worth three hundred copper coins?"

Old Man Ding argued, "I clearly gave five hundred, how did it become three hundred?"

Auntie Wang raised her voice, "One bowl of my girl's hemostatic powder is worth two hundred copper coins alone; I'm not wrong saying three hundred. My girl was trained by my eldest sister; she can even perform the Yin-Spirit Needle technique. She saved a life, and you want to brush her off with a mere three hundred? You must be dreaming."

Auntie Xin also added, "I've been assisting in childbirth for over a decade, and I've never seen a parturient woman in such danger survive, unless it was treated by Physician Zhou from the Palace. I didn't expect Miss Feng to be so capable at such a young age."

In terms of pricing, peers absolutely supported peers.

Moreover, she truly admired Feng Chuchen.

Auntie Wang snorted coldly, "Physician Zhou? Even if this family offered a hundred taels of silver, they couldn't hire her; she only treats the nobility. Setting Physician Zhou aside, even if a regular doctor came to your house to write a prescription, you couldn't brush them off with three hundred copper coins, could you?

"My girl saved your daughter-in-law's life and performed acupuncture for over an hour. Even ten taels of silver wouldn't be too much for your family."

Ding Youcheng walked in and said, "Father, Miss Feng saved my wife. Now that mother and child are safe, we should thank her; we cannot withhold her medical fee."

Old Man Ding was still unwilling. "She's just a wandering physician; three hundred is not a small amount."

Auntie Wang's eyes bulged, and she stood with her hands on her hips. "If you persist, we'll invite the neighbors tomorrow to judge the matter. Or better yet, we'll go to the yamen to ask the officials to settle it. I won't allow my eldest sister to be cheated to death, only for my girl to continue being cheated."

Ding Youcheng knelt and pleaded, "Father, it's because Miss Feng stepped in that our family's joy didn't turn into a funeral. We can't be like Li the Tofu-seller, taking advantage of people; many people are currently cursing his family's name.

"Besides, if my sister-in-law or my wife encounters such a situation again, we'll have to come begging to her door, won't we?"

Old Man Ding thought about it and realized it was true; he couldn't offend a skilled midwife.

He could only say, "Add another one tael of silver."

Auntie Wang pursed her lips tightly and looked at him coldly.

Old Man Ding gritted his teeth. "Three taels of silver. No more."

Seeing that Auntie Wang was still unsatisfied, Auntie Ding added, "And give Miss Feng two catties of brown sugar and a piece of cloth. The day after tomorrow, please come to be the godmother of my eldest granddaughter. Sister, our family isn't wealthy; we can't give any more."

Auntie Wang looked at Feng Chuchen, and Feng Chuchen nodded.

Old Man Ding went into the bedroom, brought out three taels of silver, counted out two hundred copper coins, and handed them to Feng Chuchen very grandly.

Feng Chuchen did not take them, signaling for Auntie Wang to do so.

Feng Chuchen was also unhappy. If Old Man Ding had given her one tael of silver at the start, she would have accepted it, as her reputation was not yet widespread. But after working so hard to save someone on the brink of death, he wanted to brush her off with three hundred copper coins.

It was too much of an insult to a newcomer.

Although this family was not particularly wealthy, they did have some savings.

She kept a dark expression and said nothing, leaving the bickering to the sharp-tongued Auntie Wang.

Auntie Wang said disdainfully, "You are lucky. My girl's reputation hasn't spread yet; once it does, there won't be such easy deals." She added, "Our house is far away; let Sister Xin be the godmother."

For a family like this, a gift of a few dozen copper coins would be considered good. It would only be enough to hire a donkey cart, which was quite uninteresting.

Auntie Xin lived nearby and happily accepted the invitation.

The Ding family's eldest daughter-in-law brought in three bowls of plain noodles.

After the three finished eating, Auntie Xin went home.

It was already late in the hour of Hai (around 9-11 PM), so Feng Chuchen and Auntie Wang stayed the night at the Ding house.

Feng Chuchen was covered in sweat and desperately wanted to bathe and wash her hair, but she could only wipe herself with a wet cloth.

She had protected herself well; her clothes only had a few bloodstains.

Auntie Wang's face and clothes, however, were incredibly filthy, covered not just in blood and amniotic fluid, but also in excrement and urine.

She said, "When we get back, I'll make a set of clothes and a mask like the girl's."

The two rested in the western room of the main house; Feng Chuchen slept on a small couch, while Auntie Wang laid a bed on the floor.

Auntie Wang was exhausted; as soon as she fell asleep, she began to snore.

Feng Chuchen could not sleep; she was somewhat excited.

She had saved a life today; she had officially opened for business.

Although the three taels of silver had caused a long argument with Auntie Wang, her situation was much better than her eldest aunt's. When her aunt first assisted in a birth, she only earned ten copper coins.

Thinking of the transmigrated female protagonists in web novels who specialized in farming and business, they could demand whatever price they wanted. But when saving lives, no matter how high one's medical skill, one dared not overcharge; medical ethics came first.

A hero does not dwell on past glories. In her previous life, although she was an associate chief physician and even more popular than the chief physicians, people had to book her appointments online well in advance.

In modern Traditional Chinese Medicine hospitals, prescribing medicine and acupuncture are separate. Those who wanted her to personally perform acupuncture and massage had to crowd into her grandfather's clinic.

The ancients said: "First acupuncture, second moxibustion, third medicine." Unfortunately, modern people had it reversed...

The next morning, Feng Chuchen and Auntie Wang went to check on Mrs. Wu and the baby; both were doing well.

Feng Chuchen performed another round of acupuncture on Mrs. Wu, which made the Ding family very happy.

After breakfast, the two took their leave.

On the street, they bought a small bag of pine nut candy for Feng Bu-ji before hiring a donkey cart back to Baima Village.

Arriving at the village entrance, they saw Shaoyao leading Feng Bu-ji, who was sitting by the door, looking out longingly.

Feng Bu-ji also saw his sister and came forward with a smile.

"Sister! Auntie!"

His voice was much louder than before, and his eyes were sparkling.

Auntie Wang stopped him. "Stay back a bit."

The little fellow stopped and looked at his sister.

Feng Chuchen smiled and said, "Sister earned money."

Feng Bu-ji was incredibly proud and jumped with arrogance.

He knew his sister was capable. "Did Sister go into the delivery room?"

Feng Chuchen replied perfunctorily, "No, Sister is dirty, don't come near."

She bathed in the kitchen, while Banxia helped her wash her hair. Auntie Wang bathed in the woodshed, and Shaoyao helped her wash her hair.

Feng Bu-ji stood under the tree waiting for his sister.

As soon as she came out, she threw herself into his arms.

After Feng Chuchen finished applying the medicinal dots for Feng Bu-ji, Auntie Wang came to hand over the three hundred and sixty copper coins.

Feng Chuchen accepted them with a smile, putting them into the communal money box along with the silver she had earned, and recorded it in the ledger.

That evening, they fried two large plates of leek and egg stir-fry, allowing everyone to eat eggs to their heart's content.

After the others had rested, Feng Chuchen took out her diary and wrote

*August 7th, 19th Year of Jianzhang. A window of autumn scenery; the golden osmanthus has begun to bloom.*

*Yesterday, I went to the Ding house with Auntie Wang to assist in a birth. The scene was shocking, distressing, and heartbreaking. I used the Uterine Contraction Needle to save the parturient, Mrs. Wu...*

She wrote a few more lines regarding her insights into medical techniques.

She put down her pen.

Writing in a diary felt stifling because she couldn't express her true feelings.

*The 10th. A household in Beian Ward, the capital, invited Midwife Wang to assist in a birth; the woman had just begun labor.*

*If it hadn't been a difficult labor, Feng Chuchen wouldn't have needed to go; Auntie Wang went with Banxia.*

*In the early hours of the following day, the woman successfully gave birth to a boy.*

*After breakfast, Auntie Wang and the other went to Dechun Hall to complete the task assigned by Feng Bu-ji.*