A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Ever since Gui'er became an apprentice, she has been going out early and coming back late every day, just like in school. This has reduced the time she and Ji Yiru spend in the same room, and Gui'er felt relieved.

Now Ji Yiru rarely goes out to party with those wealthy ladies from famous families, but occasionally goes to listen to operas. She has been trying to ease the relationship with Sha Yanxiao, and will take the initiative to find topics to talk about. She has become a little neurotic and is particularly disgusted with others approaching Sha Yanxiao. Dingxiang told Guier that once a maid brought by Ji Yiru brought a plate of fruit to Sha Yanxiao. After Sha Yanxiao left, Ji Yiru took a needle and pricked many holes in the maid's hand.

Gui'er felt a little creepy after hearing this. She felt that Ji Yiru was a little mentally twisted, and it would be better for her to stay away from her in the future.

That day, Gui'er was mortaring medicine in the inner room of the pharmacy when she suddenly felt dizzy and had a stomachache. She quickly stood up, but her vision went dark and she felt dizzy. Shopkeeper Zhang, who was nearby, saw what was happening and quickly helped her sit down on a stool. He felt her pulse and said, "It's nothing serious, just a blood circulation disorder. There's a recliner over at the Zhenxiu Shop. Go lie down and rest for a while."

After Guier came into this world, her most important concern was her health. She knew that medical care in this era was so poor that even a minor illness could be fatal.

So she obediently lay down on the recliner for a while. As she was lying there, she felt something strange in her lower body. She reached out to touch it and it was wet. When she pulled her hand out, she saw some blood on her fingers. Only then did Guier realize that she was having her period.

She stood up quickly, fearing that she would dirty Shopkeeper Zhang's bed. After traveling to this body, she was not prepared at all because she was a child and would not have the trouble of menstruation.

Shopkeeper Zhang happened to come over to check on her. Seeing the blood on her hands and her helpless expression, he immediately understood and said with a smile, "Don't panic. You're having your menstrual period, also known as your menstrual period. From now on, you'll start to become an adult."

Gui'er was very touched by Zhang's gentle words. In fact, she knew it herself. After all, she was an adult, but she didn't know how to deal with it in this era. So she asked helplessly: "Then what should I do?"

Shopkeeper Zhang said, "Don't worry, I'll go to the grocery store at the entrance of the alley and buy you a sanitary bag." After saying that, he walked out, and Gui'er waited anxiously.

After a while, Shopkeeper Zhang came back with a pack of straw paper, still pink, and a small paper box, only slightly bigger than a matchbox.

Shopkeeper Zhang said, "Actually, there are sanitary napkins, but since you're a rich girl, you'll definitely find these more convenient."

Guier thought to herself, "Aren't sanitary napkins more convenient?" But she didn't know whether the sanitary napkins here were the same as those in her time, so she didn't dare to say anything.

Shopkeeper Zhang took out a sanitary belt from the paper box. It was a rectangular cloth curtain with ears on both ends. You could put straw paper folded into a rectangle and stuff it in to secure it. Then you could tie it around your waist with a rope. In this way, the straw paper could cover your lower body to collect menstrual blood.

Shopkeeper Zhang made one and told Guier how to tie it. Guier went to the toilet and tied the sanitary belt on. It was her first time tying this thing, and she felt uncomfortable. Moreover, because it was not fixed with stickers on the back like the current ones, this sanitary belt would swing from side to side. Guier was really worried that it would leak from the side.

Shopkeeper Zhang brought another bowl of brown sugar water for Gui'er to drink, and said, "You don't need to go to grind medicine anymore. You can read a medical book or a newspaper. If you don't feel well tomorrow, you don't have to come."

Gui'er thanked the shopkeeper Zhang with gratitude and asked him how much the sanitary tape box cost. The shopkeeper Zhang smiled and said, "You have done so much work for me these days, how can I have the nerve to take your money?" She was a little glad that this moment happened at the shopkeeper Zhang's place. If it was at home, without a female elder around, it would be so embarrassing.

After that, she stopped working and instead read medical books at the Zhenxiufang. Manager Zhang was afraid that she would be bored, so he would come and explain things to her when he was free. It was not until the evening that Dali came to take her back to the Marshal's Mansion.

After returning to the Marshal's Mansion, Gui'er quickly took off her pants to check, and sure enough, there was a leak from the side. Fortunately, the clothes she was wearing today were dark, so it couldn't be seen. So she quickly called Dingxiang and asked her to wash the clothes.

Ding Xiang saw the blood stains on her clothes and immediately understood what was going on. She said, "Miss, are you having your period? I'll make you some brown sugar ginger soup."

After a while, Dingxiang came up with ginger soup. Guier sighed and said, "This sanitary belt is so uncomfortable to use."

Dingxiang smiled and said, "This is already very good. We just sew a cloth bag and put some wood ash in it. How can we afford to buy straw paper?"

Gui'er had seen this in a book before, but she never expected to actually encounter it today. She frowned and said, "Isn't that unhygienic?"

Ding Xiang said nonchalantly, "Just wash it, it's the same for everyone."

As the two were talking, Sha Yanxiao hurriedly pushed the door open and saw Gui'er sitting on the bed. He breathed a sigh of relief and strode over to her and said, "The servants said you were not feeling well. Are you okay?"

Gui'er was a little embarrassed, but seeing how concerned he was about her, she told him the truth: "Brother Yanxiao, don't worry, I'm having my period and I just have a stomachache."

Dingxiang stared at Guier with wide eyes.

Sha Yanxiao was a little surprised, nodded, and asked with concern: "Does it still hurt now? Do you want to call a doctor?"

Guier smiled and said, "No need. Shopkeeper Zhang has already taken my pulse and said that my blood circulation is a little off. If my stomach still hurts tomorrow, you don't need to go to her. Wait until you feel better before going."

Sha Yanxiao nodded and said, "Since you need to replenish your energy and blood, let the kitchen stew a chicken for you." Then he said to Dingxiang, "Go down and tell the kitchen."

Dingxiang agreed and went out.

Sha Yanxiao touched Gui'er's head and said, "Since you are not feeling well, just take a good rest at home for the next two days." Then he chatted with her for a while before leaving.

About an hour later, Dingxiang came up with a bowl of fragrant chicken soup. She turned around, closed the door, and said to Guier with a smile, "Miss, how come you told the Marshal so quickly?"

Gui'er was confused: "What did you say?"

"It's you who's in trouble."

"So what's wrong? Can't you tell me?"

"I usually don't tell men about it because they think it's unlucky. When I had my first period, I thought I was sick and cried to my mother. My father was next to me at the time, but he immediately walked away. My mother told me not to discuss it in front of men anymore."

Gui'er was very surprised and asked, "Why?"

Seeing Gui'e's expression, Dingxiang felt at a loss for words and said with a smile, "That's what everyone says anyway."

Guier suddenly felt powerless. She really didn't like this era.