Chapter 17: Becoming a Mother
“Are you hungry?” Shao Diandian asked.
The three little ones had been so excited about going out that morning that they barely ate anything at home, eager to get outside and play.
The three nodded.
Shao Diandian remembered there was a stall nearby selling dumplings and glutinous rice balls, run by a couple who had been in business for years with consistently good flavors. Conveniently, it was in the same direction as the clinic.
She led the three little ones to the stall.
It was past breakfast time, so there were few customers. The owner was absent; the owner’s wife stood behind the stall wrapping dumplings, while a seven-year-old girl helped pick vegetables nearby.
The little girl was the first to spot the customers and tugged at the owner’s wife’s clothes. “Mother, there are customers.”
The owner’s wife recognized Shao Diandian immediately. After all, there weren’t many customers as plump as her—once seen, it was hard to forget.
“Miss, the usual two bowls of rice wine glutinous rice balls and one bowl of spicy dumpling soup today?”
She spoke kindly.
The original owner had a large appetite, able to eat three bowls at once, two of which were sweet. If she wasn’t fat, then who else would be?
For the sake of her dieting plan, Shao Diandian decided to resist temptation and asked the three little ones, “Do you want dumplings or rice balls?”
They didn’t answer.
The owner’s wife looked down and realized that the plump young lady was accompanied by three chubby little bundles.
The little bundles were adorable, with rosy cheeks, like three lucky dolls stepping out of a New Year painting.
The owner’s wife had never seen such beautiful children and couldn’t help but ask, “Miss, are they…”
Shao Diandian glanced at the little girl nestled beside the owner’s wife, then at the three envious little ones, and answered seriously, “My sons.”
The three were stunned.
The owner’s wife was also taken aback.
Shao Diandian was so young, it was hard to believe she was the mother of three children, though in these turbulent times, young girls did marry early.
The owner’s wife smiled, “Three sons—truly a blessing.”
Shao Diandian smiled back.
She asked the three again, “Dumplings or rice balls—what do you want?”
The three said, “Mother.”
She knew it would be like this.
Clearing her throat, she mumbled vaguely, “Um, what would you like to eat?”
Their eyes sparkled.
Shao Diandian turned away, whispering, “Don’t look at me like that. It’s my first time being a mother… I might not do well…”
“Eat.”
One little one pointed at the dumplings.
Shao Diandian was surprised—already speaking the second word?
The one with no hair whorl on his forehead was Big Tiger.
The other two had hair whorls: the one with a white headband was Second Tiger, and the one with the blue headband was Little Tiger.
Second Tiger and Little Tiger chose the rice balls.
The four sat around a small table, steaming hot dumplings and rice balls brought out.
“Mother, eat.”
Shao Diandian said, “You eat first; I’m not hungry. Be careful, it’s hot.”
They sipped gently from their bowls.
Suddenly, Shao Diandian asked, “Can you say your own names?”
She wanted to know their real names.
They tilted their little heads, thought for a moment, and nodded in unison.
Shao Diandian’s eyes lit up. “Then what are your names?”
They pressed their small hands to their chests.
“Big Tiger.”
“Second Tiger.”
“Little Axe (Tiger).”
Shao Diandian: “…”
—
After they had eaten their fill, Shao Diandian took them to the town’s clinic.
Yesterday’s fight had been through the back door, avoiding the clinic’s attendants, so no one recognized her.
To stabilize Old Shao’s injury, both acupuncture and medicine were indispensable.
“I want a set of silver needles, and also…” she paused before listing more than a dozen kinds of medicinal herbs.
The shopkeeper tallied the bill—five taels in total.
After her first purchase, she only had two taels of silver left.
“Could you give me a discount?” Shao Diandian asked.
The shopkeeper smiled faintly, “How much do you want to pay, miss?”
Shao Diandian said, “I only have two taels. If you’re willing… I can trade you my medicine to cover the difference.”
The shopkeeper laughed in disbelief.
What a bold country girl!
She wanted to trade her medicine?
What medicine? Some rustic folk remedy or worthless herbs?
Did she think Rong En Hall was some ordinary place?
“Rong En Hall is the largest clinic in town. What good medicine isn’t here? Why would we be interested in a village girl’s stuff? What could you possibly offer?”
Shao Diandian said, “My medicine is very good.”
The shopkeeper sneered, “I think you’re here to scam medicine. I’ve seen people like you before! Leave now, or I’ll report you to the authorities!”
Upstairs in a private room, a youth dressed in fine clothes sat in a chair while a doctor from the clinic examined his left arm.
“The dislocated joint was set very well. No aftereffects will remain.”
The youth raised his hand; the doctor tactfully withdrew.
—
A guard standing by the window suddenly spoke, “Young master, look! It’s that girl from before!”
The youth turned to look, “It’s her.”
Except now she was with three children.
The guard gestured while asking curiously, “Young master, did she really just… put your arm back in place like that?”
He had been in the crowd opposite during the horse collision and hadn’t seen clearly.
The youth nodded.
The guard said, “Judging by her clothes, she’s clearly a village girl. How could she do that? Could she know medicine? Young master! Let’s invite her to treat you too!”
The youth was silent.
She did know medicine—setting dislocated arms and saving choking children.
But… treating his cousin?
“His status is special. It’s best not to approach him recklessly. Let’s wait for Doctor Dong from the clinic.”
Doctor Dong had years of experience and excellent medical skill—he was the best choice to treat the cousin.
—
After leaving the clinic, Shao Diandian intended to explore elsewhere but was stopped after a few steps by a middle-aged man.
His attire was no different from ordinary townsfolk, except for a medicine gourd hanging from his waist.
He was a country doctor.
With a smile, the doctor greeted Shao Diandian and explained his purpose.
“Oh, so you were also at Jin’s earlier… You want to know how I saved that child?” Shao Diandian said.
The doctor smiled sheepishly, “I hope you won’t mind sharing your knowledge.”
Shao Diandian waved her hand, “Oh, don’t be so polite. If you want to know, I’ll just tell you.”
“Really?” The doctor couldn’t believe she agreed so easily—this wasn’t what he expected.
“You’re a country doctor, right?” Shao Diandian pulled a small porcelain bottle from her basket and smiled faintly. “Just so happens I have a bottle of wound medicine. Want it? I’ll sell it to you cheap.”
The doctor eyed the bottle and asked grudgingly, “If I don’t buy your medicine, will you still teach me how to rescue choking victims?”
“Of course,” Shao Diandian said without hesitation, “But do you really expect me to do it for free?”
The doctor: “…”
The corners of his mouth twitched as he asked with a forced smile, “How much per bottle?”
Shao Diandian held out her hand, “Since we’re in the same profession, five taels of silver.”
The doctor was shocked, “Five taels?! Why don’t you just rob people!”
Shao Diandian looked up helplessly and shrugged, “Then let other clinics get it for free.”
The doctor again: “…”