After these events, Ran Yan felt much closer to Xing Niang and Wan Lu psychologically and became more comfortable around them.
The next day, Xing Niang and Wan Lu began tailoring clothes, while Ran Yan went to learn medical skills from Wu Xiuhe.
Wu Xiuhe received two finished garments from Ran Yan, his face blooming into a brilliant smile like a chrysanthemum, the smile lines deepening. However, he genuinely imparted his knowledge to Ran Yan. Although she already knew the medical theories he taught, she still acted as if she was sincerely learning.
Distinguishing illnesses through pulse diagnosis was Ran Yan's weak point. Therefore, when Wu Xiuhe taught this aspect, she paid particular attention, even bringing back the diligence she had when studying for her doctorate.
Wu Xiuhe also noticed Ran Yan's interest in this area and consequently focused on explaining pulse diagnosis.
After learning medical theory in the morning and having lunch, Ran Yan began researching the extraction of penicillin. She also needed to find a way to make syringes; otherwise, even if she extracted the penicillin, it would be a wasted effort if it couldn't be introduced into the bloodstream.
Making syringes wasn't difficult. Many people thought that Ancient Egypt was earlier in producing glass artifacts, but it was unknown to them that China had glass artifacts as early as the Western Zhou Dynasty. Colorless glass had been produced over a thousand years ago. It was only sold commercially during the Song Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty certainly had glass as well. Even without glass, ceramics could still serve as a substitute.
But where could one find someone to make such fine needles at this time?
Ran Yan's mind was a mess as she gathered all the leftover food and fruit peels at home—anything that might grow mold—and piled them all together in a damp place conducive to mold growth.
She then began making distilled water and culture media.
Ran Yan sighed, never having considered before how many by-products were needed to treat one illness. She now deeply felt that charging twenty taels was indeed too cheap.
Xing Niang and Wan Lu sat under the corridor sewing clothes, watching Ran Yan as she, like a mouse, hid the collected food, then tinkered with bottles and jars, and sometimes even sighed longingly to the sky. The two couldn't help but exchange worried glances.
"What's wrong with the Wife?" Wan Lu finally couldn't hold back, leaning close to Xing Niang and whispering.
As Xing Niang stroked the freshly-sewn hem, she guessed, "It's probably… the medicine the Divine Doctor mentioned, quite difficult to concoct, I guess."
Wan Lu hesitated for a moment, then suddenly remembered something, smacked her forehead and said, "Yesterday in town I heard something, originally Wife wanted to come back and discuss it with you, but she didn't bring it up, and I forgot as well."
"What is it?" Xing Niang stopped her work and asked.
Wan Lu replied, "Yesterday in the town, I heard that the lord told Wife about a marriage arrangement. It's with Qin Silang!"
Qin Silang? Xing Niang felt it sounded familiar, then suddenly recalled last night Wan Lu mentioned hearing something in the brothel about Qin Silang killing someone. Her eyebrows raised instantly and she harshly knocked on Wan Lu's head, "Such a big issue and you only mention it now! You girl, can't you discern the weight of matters?"
Rubbing her head, Wan Lu said, "Wife didn't take it seriously, and I forgot about it in my excitement."
"You and your master… sigh!" Xing Niang sighed deeply, "And I thought Wife had finally understood matters, but it turns out you still cause worry! For a woman, nothing is more important in life than marrying and having children. Tell me, what's Qin Silang's character like?"
"Wife and I met him at the tavern. He looks handsome, but his temper is quite explosive. I accidentally bumped into him, and he slapped me without a word!" As she spoke, Wan Lu felt a surge of anger, but since he was a noble, and considering their own master's vulnerable position, she, a mere servant, could only endure despite her temper.
Seeing Xing Niang's face suddenly turn pale, Wan Lu quickly added, "But later, when the noble ladies from the Yalan Meeting appeared, he did give the Wife some respect and came over to apologize sincerely, saying he's been perturbed recently due to many troubling affairs, which is why he accidentally hit me."
Hearing this improved the look on Xing Niang's face somewhat, "Even so, Qin Silang's temperament may still be problematic. If they really do marry… ah..."
In the eyes of Mrs. Xing, Qin Silang was the legitimate son of Upper Assistant Qin, and the Qin Clan was no small name. Although frivolous and somewhat absurd, Upper Assistant Qin could always protect him completely. If Ran Yan entered the family with her temper, she was bound to suffer.
"It seems that the Wife is quite dissatisfied with Qin Silang. Do you think she might be troubled by this?" Wan Lu finally got to the point.
Mrs. Xing glanced at Ran Yan, who was squatting beside a small clay stove, frowning as she tossed taro into the pot. Her hair was styled into a playful hanging bun, and due to slightly better nourishment these days, her cheeks were plump with baby fat, the picture of a naive and cheerful girl of fifteen or sixteen.
Ran Yan couldn't have imagined that her poker face of many years was now considered cute. She was currently focused on making taro soup, a solution of taro and rice could serve as a culture medium for penicillin. She would also need to make distilled water... All these things easily accessible in modern times now had to be created in such primitive ways, which Ran Yan was unaccustomed to.
Frowning, Ran Yan sifted through the information in her mind haphazardly. As she did, an image of a Chengni inkstone appeared before her... Yes, the Chengni inkstone! Unlike other inkstones, it was made from clay and then fired. Since Sang Chen could craft such complex Chengni inkstones, he might also know something about firing ceramics.
With time pressing, Ran Yan immediately gave up on finding glass and instead decided to use ceramics to make syringes. Glass was not a common technology in the Great Tang, and by the time she found someone skilled in making glass, Lady Yanniang and several others might already be reduced to bones.
"Ah Yan," a man's voice suddenly rang out.
Ran Yan startled slightly, looking up towards the doorway.
On the grassy path, a middle-aged man in wide-sleeved, luxurious clothing was quietly watching her. He appeared to be in his forties, with a pale, lean face and neatly trimmed, handsome beard, looking gentle and graceful.
Ah, it's Father, Ran Yan's mind registered the information. Realizing he was her current father, Ran Wen, she couldn't help but scrutinize the handsome middle-aged man closely.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Xing and Wan Lu were the first to recover, quickly coming down from the porch, slipping into their wooden clogs, and moving to greet him, "My husband!"
"Ah Yan, don't you recognize your father?" After seeing Ran Yan clearly, Ran Wen's excited voice trembled. He had not expected that the gravely ill, frail little girl from two years ago would now be so stunning!
Ran Yan saw the water in the pot boil, quickly removed the pot, and then greeted Ran Wen with a bow, calling, "Father."
Ran Wen, seeing her adept pot-handling, was instantly enraged. His legitimate daughter was so proficient in such tasks! He coldly said to Mrs. Xing, "What a shrew, to let the Seventeenth Mistress engage in such work! Were you raised just to consume resources!?"
"My husband..." Wan Lu hurried to explain but was grabbed by Mrs. Xing.
Although Mrs. Xing maintained a calm demeanor, tears couldn't help falling as she said tremulously, "The hardships the Wife has endured go far beyond this one instance. If not for Doctor Wu's continuous aid, we humble servants would have starved to death here long ago!"
Wan Lu also began to tear up, "My husband, please don't send the Wife to the monastery. She has recovered from her illness; there's no need to send her away!"
Watching Ran Wen's fair face turn from pale to livid, Ran Yan pursed her lips, holding back a smile. Mrs. Xing and Wan Lu, usually looking so kind and honest, who would have thought they could deliver such a reprimand together?
"Ah Yan, is what they're saying true?" Ran Wen stepped closer to Ran Yan, and seeing her still dressed in clothes from two years ago, his heart was somewhat convinced.
The fact was the stepmother had stopped sending funds for just over half a year. Ran Yan, needing to manufacture penicillin and fearing to spoil her clothes, had switched to old ones. Even if Ran Wen came a few days later, he would see the same scene.
Thinking of the many items she had bought the day before in her room, which might be hard to explain later, Ran Yan said, "Father, why bother asking your daughter? Even if you go back and interrogate others, it's unlikely anyone will admit it. Perhaps you should check privately whether any funds have been allocated recently? And besides, your child shouldn't say too much."
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Thank you to carmel for the peach blossom fan, the red envelopes, and many review tickets, thank you Peach Girl Nini for the blessing pack, thank you Lord Kami for the review tickets, long reviews, and blessing packs, thank you Qingzi for the long reviews, review tickets, and blessing packs, thank you Chao Yun L for the long review, thank you Totoro Bottle for the long review! And to the sleeves that I have not had the chance to see, thank you all for the rewards!