On the eve of New Year's Eve, the tranquility of Song Family Village was shattered by a panicked shout.
"Bandits from the north have invaded Huajia Village near Yunzhong City, burning, killing, and looting. Hundreds have died."
Tudan's Mother worked as a wet nurse in Master Zhao's household and had earned a fair bit of wages this year. Thinking to buy more New Year goods in Xining City for a better celebration, she had gone there the day before yesterday, only to hear the news of the northern bandits pillaging Huajia Village while in the city.
"Everyone in the city is saying those bandits are Northern Kingdom soldiers in disguise. War is probably coming."
Second Song rushed up to Tudan's Mother, a shovel in hand. "What about the Thunderclap Army? Didn't they go to kill those bandits?"
Tudan's Mother looked at him in confusion. "How did you know the Thunderclap Army came?"
Second Song smoothed his unsettled chest. "I ran into the Thunderclap Army a few days ago when I went to the city to sell fish. The leading general, riding a tall, mighty horse, looked incredibly impressive."
Tudan's Mother said, "By the time the Thunderclap Army arrived, everyone had already been killed. The bandits had fled a step ahead."
The villagers of Song Family Village stepped back in fearful hindsight. Where had they fled to? Would they return?
Song Jinzhao placed her bow, arrows, and dagger on the rack in the corner of the main hall, ensuring she could reach them quickly if danger arrived.
It wasn't enough. She needed to find a way to make more powerful weapons, so Qiming and Shixue could also have the means to protect themselves.
The villagers of Song Family Village spent the New Year in constant fear and anxiety. Even married daughters returning to their natal homes on the second day of the new year dared not travel far.
Elder Aunt Song and Second Aunt Song's natal homes were in the neighboring village. They left early in the morning and returned home as soon as possible, staying indoors and avoiding going out unless absolutely necessary.
It wasn't until the tenth day of the first lunar month, when General Qin Guo led the Thunderclap Army to completely annihilate the northern bandits who had slaughtered Huajia Village, that the entire Xining City finally began to bustle with life again.
Second Song sat with his legs crossed by the old house's dining table. "I heard those northern bandits weren't Northern Kingdom soldiers in disguise at all. They were all mountain bandits, specializing in robbery and pillage. They spread that rumor to divert blame and stir trouble."
Oldest Song picked up a piece of cured meat with his chopsticks. "Fortunately, it was false. I was really afraid of war breaking out."
Song Jinzhao sat nearby listening, occasionally serving dishes to the children.
Song Laidi and Song Pandi kept eating rice with the meat served to them. All this cured meat was brought over by Sister Jinzhao, who had prepared it herself. No one dared say a word to stop her from serving it.
Knowing the situation the two girls faced in the second branch of the family, Song Jinzhao always made sure to include them whenever the three branches gathered for a reunion meal.
She tried to let them eat a little better within the limited conditions.
After the Lantern Festival, Song Jinzhao went to the blacksmith's shop.
"Can you custom-make ironware?" Song Jinzhao asked, looking at Sun Youli.
Sun Youli raised an eyebrow and used a towel to cover his bare chest a bit more. This young lady had come several times, making him somewhat embarrassed.
"What kind of ironware?"
Song Jinzhao handed him the drawn diagrams. "These are diagrams for a crossbow and sleeve arrows. I wonder if you can make them."
Sun Youli took the diagrams and stood in place, studying them for a long time. Finally, he looked up and said to Song Jinzhao, "Please wait a moment, miss. I'll go call my father."
He took the diagrams into the back of the shop. Sun Tieshan came hopping in energetically, his face beaming.
"Did you draw these, miss?"
Song Jinzhao's gaze fell on his exposed leg. The flesh was festering and red—a burn.
"Yes. I'd like three of each. How much silver will it cost?"
Sun Tieshan collected himself. He had never seen weapons with such complex designs.
"I've never made a crossbow or sleeve arrows like these before. The requirements on the diagrams are very precise, and they'll require good quality iron ore. It'll cost at least twenty taels of silver."
Song Jinzhao asked, "How long will it take to make them?"
Sun Tieshan pondered for a moment before answering, "At least a month. A deposit of two taels is required first."
After paying the money, Song Jinzhao glanced at the wound on his leg. "Applying too much ointment prevents the skin from breathing and can lead to rot. Apply a thin layer on the wound. Clean and change the dressing daily. It will heal faster that way."
Sun Tieshan looked up in surprise, his eyelids lifting. "Does the young lady understand medicine?"
Song Jinzhao nodded slightly. "A little."
Sun Youli frowned. "The ointment was made by a physician from Yao'an Hall. He said it was specially formulated, very effective for burns, and that it should be applied thickly."
A physician surely wouldn't lie.
Song Jinzhao raised an eyebrow, stepped closer, bent down, and sniffed the composition of the ointment. A flicker of surprise passed through her eyes.
Straightening up, she said to the two men, "This ointment is incorrectly prescribed. You can take it to the other three clinics and ask them."
Its effect on burns was minimal and would slow down the healing process.
It was just unclear whether it was intentional or due to poor medical skill.
After Song Jinzhao left, Sun Youli stared intently at the wound. "I didn't think so before, but now, looking at it, why is it still the same after three days of applying this medicine?"
Sun Tieshan moved his injured leg. "The wound doesn't hurt. Maybe the burn was too severe, and the cold weather makes it hard to heal."
Sun Youli felt uneasy. Song Jinzhao's words made him apprehensive. When they closed the shop that evening, he said, "Father, let's go to another clinic. I just can't feel at ease about this."
The two went to the He Family Clinic. Ye Ming was recording the remaining stock of medicinal herbs, noting what needed restocking the next day.
Doctor He looked at the wound on Sun Tieshan's leg and asked, "How many days since the burn?"
Sun Youli replied, "Three days."
After cleaning off the gray ointment from the wound, a bright red injury was revealed, with a lot of yellowish fluid.
"Doesn't it hurt?"
Sun Tieshan shook his head. "It doesn't hurt after applying the ointment."
Doctor He dipped a finger in a bit of the ointment, smelled it near his nose, then lowered his gaze, his eyes shifting.
"There's not much of a problem. Perhaps the potency of the medicine is too mild, so recovery is slower. I'll prescribe a new ointment for you. Change the dressing twice a day, and the wound should scab over in seven days."
Sun Youli nodded, somewhat comprehending, then took the newly prescribed ointment and carried Sun Tieshan on his back as they left.
Ye Ming looked at Doctor He, who sat on his chair, head bowed and motionless, and called softly, "Master?"
Doctor He propped his right hand on the table, his movements slow. "In recent years, your martial uncle's conduct has become increasingly outrageous. Ye Ming, remember this for the day you can practice medicine independently."
"A physician's destiny is to treat illness, save lives, and serve the world with medicine. Never covet fame and fortune. Do not, for personal gain, disregard a patient's suffering, harming both others and yourself."
Ye Ming asked hesitantly, "Master, was there a problem with the ointment martial uncle prescribed?"
Doctor He's eyebrows seemed to have whitened a few more strands.
"He added an excessive amount of paulownia leaves for pain relief while reducing the proportions of coptis chinensis, sanguisorba officinalis, and arnebia euchroma. He also added some herbs useless for the wound."
"While it won't cause direct harm to the wound, it significantly slows down the recovery time. Originally, it could heal in half a month, but with this ointment, it will likely take over a month to recover."
Ye Ming lowered his eyes, horrified. The longer it dragged on, the more ointment would be used. Sun Tieshan would have to keep buying medicine from Yao'an Hall, and Yao'an Hall would profit more and more.
The physician at Yao'an Hall was his martial uncle. No wonder his master was so disappointed and saddened.
