Chapter 28: Mother of a Thousand Infants

When she returned home in the afternoon, Auntie Wang entered the main house after bathing and said with a smile, "The news that the young lady can perform the Yin Spirit Needle technique to save a postpartum woman suffering from hemorrhage has already spread throughout the capital."

"Those people didn't believe it at first, but when I told them it was true—that my young lady was personally trained by my eldest sister—they listened. Not only is she skilled in gynecology and pediatrics, but she can also treat many other ailments..."

What she found difficult to say was that the vast majority of people did not believe those words.

The family receiving assistance this time was wealthy; Auntie Wang earned two hundred wen in wages and a reward of two taels of silver.

Ban Xia, who assisted Auntie Wang, also received a reward of fifty wen, her little face blooming with joy.

She handed the money to Feng Chuchen.

Since the rules had been established, they had to be followed. Feng Chuchen took thirty wen and returned twenty wen to her.

Ban Xia then gave four wen to Auntie Wang as a token of respect. Auntie Wang said, "Keep it for yourself."

Feng Chuchen replied, "The established rules must be observed."

Auntie Wang accepted it with a smile.

Seeing the envy in Shaoyao's eyes, Feng Chuchen said, "In the future, Shaoyao will learn waist-massaging from Auntie Wang. Ban Xia will not only learn midwifery but will also learn medicine identification and acupuncture from me."

She intended to train Ban Xia to be her assistant.

When Midwife Feng was still alive, Ban Xia had been studying alongside Feng Chuchen; she could not only read and write some characters but also identify various medicines.

Both young girls were delighted upon hearing this. They first kowtowed to Feng Chuchen and then to Auntie Wang.

Once they had finished speaking, Feng Bu-ji gave Auntie Wang a meaningful look.

He was extremely anxious.

Amused, Auntie Wang followed him to the eastern wing.

"Auntie, did you find out any news about Little Doctor Qin?"

"I did. Not only has Little Doctor Qin married, but his wife is also pregnant."

Feng Bu-ji was utterly dejected. "How could he just go and get married? He was in such a hurry."

Auntie Wang laughed. "Don't be anxious, boy. Now that the young lady's reputation for medical skill has spread, she is bound to find a good husband."

On the fourteenth of the eighth month, a woman at the west end of the village went into labor, and Auntie Wang took Shaoyao with her.

That family owned several acres of land and lived relatively well, so they hired a midwife even for their third child. The labor went smoothly, lasting three and a half *shichen* from the onset to the birth.

The family paid Auntie Wang the full two hundred wen.

As an apprentice, Shaoyao received no money, only two eggs.

Leaving the house, Auntie Wang scolded Shaoyao, "I told you to support the person, not to pinch them! Use strength in your legs and arms, but keep your hands gentle. Just hold the woman steady..."

"Oh, I'll practice holding a doorpost every day from now on."

Shaoyao was very happy. Upon returning, she tried to give her earnings to her mistress, but Feng Chuchen refused. She insisted on stuffing an egg into Feng Bu-ji's hand. She tried to give the other to Auntie Wang, but Auntie Wang refused as well.

She happened to see a hunter from her parents' village passing through Baima Village on his way to the market to sell mountain goods. She asked him to take the egg and the thirty wen home to her parents.

"Give the egg to my brother. And tell my parents that my mistress is doing very well, and my life is much better now. I'm even learning waist-massaging from Auntie Wang; not only do I get a monthly wage, but I can earn extra money in the future."

The man laughed. "Da-ya is becoming more and more capable."

"I'm not called Da-ya anymore; I'm Shaoyao, like the Shaoyao flower. It's the name my mistress gave me. Sounds good, right? Hehehe..."

"Oh, that's a beautiful name, and you're getting more and more handsome too."

Shaoyao grinned widely, showing her large front teeth.

The next day, while Shaoyao was out gathering firewood, a clod of earth suddenly struck the back of her head as she neared home.

Shaoyao turned around to see a boy of seven or eight running wildly toward the village. She hurried after him and caught him.

She gave the boy a slap on the face and scolded, "You little brat, how dare you hit me!"

The boy struggled to break free from her grip while crying, "You're mean! You pinched my mother so hard while she was giving birth to my sister. My mother's arms and chest are all bruised from your pinching! Our family hasn't offended you, so why did you treat my mother like that? Waaaaah..."

Shaoyao let go, and the boy bolted away.

Shaoyao looked at her own large hands. She hadn't pinched anyone; she had only been supporting them. How could she have left bruises?

She returned home dejectedly and began practicing waist-supporting by holding onto the doorpost again.

At the beginning of the noon hour on the twenty-sixth of the eighth month, while Feng Chuchen was reading, she heard the faint sound of gongs and drums.

Suspecting a possibility, Feng Chuchen hurriedly put down her book and walked out.

Feng Bu-ji, Auntie Wang, and the others, who were strolling in the courtyard, rushed out the gate.

Ban Xia came running back, laughing. "Miss, it's several officers from the yamen. They are coming toward our house with gongs and drums."

Auntie Wang also walked back and said, "Miss, quick! Bring out the firecrackers, peanuts, candies, and fine tea, and prepare the red envelopes."

Village Head Zhao had also been paying attention to this. Hearing the drums, he hurried over.

He also sent his eldest son to fetch Feng Changfu.

For such a significant event, a senior member of the Feng family had to be present.

Feng Changfu's grandfather and Midwife Feng's grandfather were brothers of the Great Ancestor Feng; thus, Feng Bu-ji called him Uncle Fu.

Among the entire Feng clan, only his family had not bullied the orphans after Midwife Feng's death.

Fearing they might offend other clansmen, Feng Changfu's family did not associate with the Feng siblings.

Feng Changfu did not believe the imperial court would honor Midwife Feng. "I heard from the Great Ancestor that the Lady Fan was heinous, and since Midwife Feng is a descendant of the Fan clan, the court won't honor her."

Zhao the Eldest said, "The Great Ancestor was blinded by greed, wanting to seize the family estate, which is why he said that. Our village produced Midwife Feng, and the County Magistrate is delighted. You are a senior of the Feng family; go and help host the officers. You won't lack for rewards."

He practically dragged Feng Changfu along.

Not only did Village Head Zhao and his son come to the Feng house, but Merchant Zhao and his eldest son also scurried over, followed by a crowd of onlookers.

An eunuch and five bailiffs had already arrived at the Feng doorstep, and the sound of crackling firecrackers erupted at the Feng residence.

Feng Bu-ji and Feng Chuchen knelt at the very front, with the others kneeling behind them.

The eunuch held the imperial decree and began to chant loudly.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Feng Xiuzhi of Changping County in the capital, a practitioner of medicine, met her end through her devotion. Her virtue shone brightly during her life; she was charitable, possessed exquisite medical skills, and saved countless lives, most notably through the Yin Spirit Needle technique. Though she had no biological children, she granted life to thousands of infants... She shall be honored as a Model Virtuous Woman, and an arch shall be erected at her ancestral home..."

The Emperor had also personally written a plaque: *Mother of a Thousand Infants.*

The imperial court awarded Midwife Feng five hundred taels of silver. Since she was deceased, the reward was to be collected by her descendants, Feng Bu-ji and Feng Chuchen.

The Changping County Yamen awarded fifty strings of cash to be used for the construction of the archway and to engrave the imperial calligraphy onto the plaque.

In the Great Yan Dynasty, memorial arches were divided into four grades.

The first grade was the Imperial Arch, decreed by the Emperor and funded by the national treasury.

The second grade was the Merit Arch, decreed by the Emperor and funded by the local government.

The third grade was the Imperial Decree Arch, decreed by the Emperor and funded by officials or local gentry.

The fourth grade was the Commemorative Arch, decreed by oral imperial command and funded by officials or local gentry.

The "Mother of a Thousand Infants" arch belonged to the second grade, the Merit Arch: decreed by the Emperor and funded by the county yamen.

The design specifications were for a two-pillar, single-room, three-story structure.

In ancient times, hierarchy was strictly observed; the funding party and the design plan could not exceed their designated status.

The eunuch placed the imperial calligraphy and the commendation text into Feng Bu-ji's hands, while the bailiffs placed two small chests containing silver and fifty strings of cash in front of the siblings.