CHAPTER 405: CHAPTER 386: THE STRANGE-LOOKING GIRL (2)

Once the water on the vegetables dries up, we can start pickling them.

The jar should be washed clean and dried for later use.

Put star anise and cinnamon into a pot, boil together with fresh water.

Once the water has cooled, pour it into the dried jar.

Add salt, white wine, a small amount of sugar, garlic, ginger slices, and a few chili pieces.

When the vegetables are drained, place them in the jar to pickle.

Cover the jar, and pour water at the jar’s mouth to seal it, preventing air from entering.

After about ten days, it can be opened to eat.

The method for making salted vegetables is different; no water is needed. After draining, mix the vegetables with salt and seasonings, place them in the jar and seal it. However, it takes longer, about a month before they can be eaten.

Whether it’s salted vegetables or pickles, nitrite levels peak in the first few days, then decrease, so eating them too early is not good for health.

Nowadays in the cool autumn, with the temperature just right, many households in the village are pickling their vegetables.

Nanny Jiang laughed and said, "The pickled vegetables I make, both Miss Li and the young master love them."

Li Yuzhu laughed, "Then let’s pickle more, and I can send some to Brother Chai and the others."

While busy, Mu Yuanxiu came over.

Li Yuzhu laughed, "Mu Yuanxiu, we’re pickling vegetables, do you like them? I’ll ask Nanny Jiang to make more."

Mu Yuanxiu nodded and pointed at the white radish, "These pickled radishes are delicious."

Li Yuzhu laughed, "I also love pickled radishes."

Eating white porridge with pickled radishes is a gourmet delight, even better than abalone.

Nanny Jiang laughed, "Alright, let’s make more pickled radishes."

Mu Yuanxiu rolled up his sleeves and helped them hang all the remaining vegetables on the bamboo pole. Then he spoke to Li Yuzhu about the old teacher’s illness in Qingshui River Village.

Li Yuzhu said, "My family’s carriage has been taken to the market by my second brother and sisters. I don’t have a ride, I was waiting for you. You came just in time. I’ll take your mule cart to go see."

Hearing they were going out, Nanny Jiang laughed, "Go ahead, go ahead, there’s not much to do here. Let me handle it, you guys focus on your things."

She waved at the two youths.

Li Yuzhu wiped the water stains off on a cloth, "Then we’re off."

"Go ahead, go ahead," Nanny Jiang laughed.

Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu went to the main house to greet Prince Luling and his wife, then left together.

Now that Mu Yuanxiu had become familiar with the Li Family, Princess Consort Luling was assured of him taking Li Yuzhu out.

The two rode the mule cart to Qingshui River Village.

The population of Qingshui River Village is slightly larger than that of Taohua River Village.

An old scholar built a study hall at home and started accepting students.

Students come from families in both villages with slightly better conditions.

The tuition isn’t the main issue; it’s that the two villages are almost ten li apart. Without transportation, children from Taohua River Village have to stay at the teacher’s place, as walking takes significant time and effort.

Liu the bricklayer’s second family’s two kids only attended school for a year. Firstly, they couldn’t grasp the learning, and secondly, the family isn’t very wealthy.

On the way, Li Yuzhu also saw Liu Da Niu’s mother-in-law, Hu Niangzi.

Hu Niangzi abused Liu Da Niu, driving away her son.

The son and daughter-in-law went to live at the father-in-law’s house, becoming the son-in-law.

Liu Da Niu is pregnant, and the couple hasn’t informed Hu Niangzi.

Nowadays, Hu Niangzi lives with her eldest daughter.

With many grandchildren, Hu Niangzi has to take care of them and do housework every day.

"Mom, what’s wrong? Si Niu’s pants are wet from urine, why haven’t you changed them?" Hu Niangzi’s daughter scolded her.

Hu Niangzi retorted indignantly, "I’m cooking now, how can I find time to change it?"

"Cooking, cooking, where’s the cooked food then? The rice in the pot hasn’t even boiled yet, where’s the food?" Hu Niangzi’s daughter dropped her little son in her arms and complained.

"I’m taking care of the kids and cooking, what are you doing?" Hu Niangzi angrily replied.

"What am I doing? Haven’t I been working in the fields? Mom, your words annoy people more and more, huh? You drove away the son and daughter-in-law, and now you’re taking it out on me?"

Mother and daughter stood in the yard, cursing and accusing each other.

Li Yuzhu leaned through the window of the mule cart, munching sunflower seeds and enjoying the commotion. Only after the mule cart fully passed did she look elsewhere.

She hasn’t been to Qingshui River Village much, only knows the main village road. She doesn’t know the paths, nor where the households are.

In any case, she followed Mu Yuanxiu wherever he led, trusting him.

When meeting a man carrying a load, he laughed and waved at Mu Yuanxiu, "It’s Brother Mu, coming to the village?"

"The village chief asked me to find a doctor for Mr. Song’s injured leg. I found a doctor, and am now bringing him here," Mu Yuanxiu replied.

"That’s wonderful! My child can go to school again." The man smiled and, with a pole on his shoulder, walked past.

Mu Yuanxiu drove the mule cart forward, stopping in front of a slope with more than a dozen stone steps.

There was only one household on the slope.

"We’re here, this is the place." Mu Yuanxiu tied the mule to a small tree beside the steps and walked over to lift the curtain for Li Yuzhu.

Li Yuzhu peered around, finally looking towards the few houses on the steps ahead.

On the lintel of the main house hung a plaque, "Qinghe School."

"Usually, there are about thirty children studying here. Since Mr. Song’s leg injury worsened, he took a leave, and the place grew quiet." Mu Yuanxiu said, "There aren’t many learned people in the two villages who can take Mr. Song’s place."

Mu Yuanxiu had mentioned Mr. Song’s situation on the way back yesterday.

Mr. Song was a scholar who repeatedly failed the imperial exams when he was young. His family was too poor to support his studies, so he gave up.

Arranged by his family, he married a woman from a village on the other side of the mountain and made a living teaching. Unfortunately, his wife passed away during childbirth.

Mr. Song never remarried and raised his son with his parents.

His son grew up safely, married, and had a daughter.

But fate did not favor Mr. Song.

When his granddaughter had just learned to walk, his son and daughter-in-law took a boat trip, only to drown when a strong wind capsized the boat.

By then, Mr. Song was already fifty.

His parents had long since passed away, leaving him to raise his granddaughter alone without any help.

Fortunately, the granddaughter remained healthy and grew up safely.

The girl was now sixteen, diligent and sensible, assisting him with school affairs and taking care of his daily needs.

Li Yuzhu adjusted the backpack on her shoulder and nodded, "Let’s go take a look."

She walked up the steps.

Mu Yuanxiu followed behind her.

Mr. Song’s house had five rooms.

Three brick rooms and two wooden ones.

One of the larger brick rooms, with large windows, was filled with tables and chairs.

"That’s where the students study, but no one is there today." Mu Yuanxiu said when he saw her look toward the house.

The two walked to the front of the main house, the door was open, and there was no sound. Mu Yuanxiu called loudly inside, "Mr. Song? Mr. Song! It’s me, Mu Yuanxiu from Niu Tou Mountain; I’ve brought the doctor."

From a room next to the school came Mr. Song’s voice, "Oh, it’s Mu Yuanxiu, the door’s open, please come in, come in. I’m slow on my feet, hope you don’t mind."

Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu entered the living room, from the next room came the sound of steps.

Shortly after, a slender elderly man of about sixty or seventy, leaning on a crutch, came out from the bedroom.

Li Yuzhu glanced around, wasn’t Mr. Song supposed to have a granddaughter?

Why was she not around?

However, since it was her first visit, she didn’t feel right to ask.

Mu Yuanxiu stepped forward and helped him to a chair.

Mr. Song looked at Mu Yuanxiu, then at Li Yuzhu, "Mu Yuanxiu, is this young lady the doctor?"

Mu Yuanxiu nodded, "Yes, she has excellent medical skills. She’s cured several people. Liu the bricklayer’s eldest daughter-in-law had a tumor in her abdomen, which she treated. Her surname is Li, you can call her Miss Li."

Mr. Song did not look at people prejudicedly like others do. He smiled, stroking his beard, "The young can be promising, indeed."

Li Yuzhu rolled up her sleeves to examine Mr. Song’s left foot, "Mr. Song, let me have a look at your foot."

"Oh, it’s a minor issue, but it just won’t heal." Mr. Song said, embarrassed, "An old man’s smelly foot, embarrassing to let a young lady see."

Li Yuzhu smiled and said, "I’m a doctor, and in the eyes of a doctor, there’s only a difference between a sick body and a healthy body. Doctors focus on the disease, so there’s no need to feel embarrassed. This is our profession."

Mr. Song did not want to trouble Li Yuzhu and lifted his trouser leg himself, taking off his shoe and sock.

Seeing his foot, Li Yuzhu frowned deeply.

The foot’s muscles were atrophied, the skin was extremely dry and discolored. She pressed it, and the pedal pulse was very weak.

The foot was covered with sores.

This was no ordinary sore!

This was a diabetic foot!

If not treated timely and effectively, a diabetic foot can lead to complete decay, get infected with toxic pus, and become life-threatening.

"Grandpa, I’m back." A young girl’s voice called out from the yard.

Li Yuzhu turned to look and saw a slender girl of about sixteen or seventeen, in an apricot-colored dress, carrying a vegetable basket as she entered the house.

Her delicate face bore an expression of defeat, she glanced briefly at Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu without a word, and with her head down, headed towards the backyard.

Li Yuzhu couldn’t help but frown again. Why did the girl’s demeanor seem so off?