Daily life of farming and supporting a family on the ancient Loess Plateau

"Oh?" Huang Daopo asked, somewhat puzzled.

Since this girl speaks with such high regard for the cotton goddess Huang Daopo, why doesn't she herself spin thread, weave cloth, and do needlework to become like Huang Daopo?

But then she thought about it again and understood.

This girl is skilled in medicine; she cured the pellagra in Doujiamou. Although the prescription was very simple—just corn with alkali—she was the only remedy.

But the simplest things are often the hardest!

Because it's such a simple thing, most people wouldn't think it could have such a big impact. And precisely because it's so simple, no one pays attention to something as trivial as adding alkali to corn, yet it turns out to have significant uses in preventing and treating diseases.

She thought that this girl probably wanted to delve into the field of medicine and benefit the village by saving lives.

Huang Daopo nodded in agreement, saying, "'Benefiting the community,' that sounds wonderful! He has the potential to become a great sage!"

Ji Yongling smiled and shook his head, saying, "Why be a saint? Just be a kind, ordinary person! Actually, you can try to benefit the villagers too!"

I wonder if you've ever felt this way: helping others is truly a joyful thing. In that moment, surrounded by love and compassion, our mind and body are in perfect harmony, nourished by love, and we feel incredibly relaxed and happy.

"is it?"

A surge of power began to well up within Huang Daopo.

She suddenly wanted to try something different, to be a completely different version of herself. She suddenly wanted to experience the kind of joy that the girl had described—the joy that comes from helping others and from love and compassion.

Ji Yongling had no idea how much inspiration her words had given Huang Daopo today.

Not long after she left, Huang Daopo funded the purchase of a loom and began to study and improve weaving methods and techniques. Unconsciously, it seemed that she was also moving closer to Huang Daopo in the south.

Moreover, influenced by Ji Yongling's statement that "the power of women helping women is warm and precious," Huang Daopo actually founded the "Women's Society."

Of course, this is something.

Just as Ji Yongling stepped over the threshold and was about to leave, she happened to run into Xiuqin, who was returning from splashing water outside.

She thought for a moment, then asked, "Xiuqin, what are your plans for the future? Have you... thought about getting married?"

Xiuqin was puzzled as to why Ji Yongling asked such a question. She paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Young Lady Ji, it's already quite kind of you, Fairy Huang, to have taken me in for so long. I'm not young anymore, and if I find a suitable match, I plan to get married. After all, staying here isn't a long-term solution."

Ji Yongling nodded, indicating her understanding.

In ancient times, women from farming families had neither the option nor the means to avoid marriage.

She wanted to tell Xiuqin that someone from Niujiazhuang had taken a liking to her, and asked if she was interested. But when she opened her mouth, she couldn't bring herself to say it.

Seeing the trouble on Ji Yongling's face, Xiuqin asked, "Young Madam Ji, is something troubling you?"

Ji Yongling hesitated for a moment before saying, "Here's the thing: if you're going to get married, what are your requirements for the man? Would you consider a boy from Niujiazhuang?"

Xiuqin exclaimed in surprise, "A boy from Niujiazhuang? Really? Can I marry into Niujiazhuang? Won't the boys in your village look down on me?"

Ji Yongling asked, puzzled, "Why would I look down on you? You're beautiful and skilled at embroidery, you don't need to think so little of yourself!"

Ji Yongling thought that Xiuqin felt inferior because she had no parents, no maternal family, and had been sold into prostitution.

“I don’t want to look down on myself, but I’m sick! And you said I have to take medicine for the rest of my life? What boy wouldn’t mind?” Xiuqin said dejectedly.

"what?"

Ji Yongling then understood why Xiuqin was so happy when she mentioned that she could marry into Niujiazhuang.

Let alone people in ancient times, even modern people would probably back out if they knew that their marriage partner had a disease that required lifelong medication.

"Well, there should be some who wouldn't mind... Here's the thing, there are a few boys in our village who are about your age. I'll go back and have my grandma inquire about them for you, and we'll come looking for you again if we find out."

Ji Yongling didn't dare to say that Baldy Guang's son had taken a liking to Xiuqin.

What if the bald man only knows about Xiuqin's illness and wants to back out? Wouldn't that make Xiuqin happy for nothing?

It's best not to cause Xiuqin any psychological or emotional distress due to her illness.

"Then thank you very much, Miss Ji!" Xiuqin smiled, lowered her head somewhat shyly, and said, "As long as I can marry into Niujiazhuang, and they don't mind that I'm ugly, lame, or blind, it doesn't matter... I just... I have only one request, let me tell you first. Don't wait until they agree before I state my conditions, or they'll accuse me of being untrustworthy."

Ji Yongling nodded and asked, "What are your requirements? Just tell me."

Xiuqin pursed her lips, her face flushing slightly, and said, "I have an older sister. Back then, my sister and I depended on each other for survival, but in the end, we were separated and sold. I found my sister years ago, but alas, my sister's life was very difficult."

I was thinking, if the family of the man I'm marrying is well-off, could I get some money on credit? Don't worry, this money isn't for the dowry; it's a loan, and I'll pay it back later by spinning thread and making needlework! I just want my sister and her family to move to the plateau as soon as possible.”

"This……"

We haven't even met yet, and you're already asking for pre-wedding debt? That might be a bit difficult!

Ji Yongling gently shook her head. Such a request would generally not be agreed to by the man's family.

After all, once a woman marries into a man's family, she becomes part of that family, and the money she earns after marriage belongs to the man. So, while this money can be used as a dowry, it's probably not appropriate to treat it as a debt to be repaid after the wedding.

Even a fool could tell that the bald man would never agree to Xiuqin's request.

But Ji Yongling didn't want to spoil Xiuqin's mood, so he nodded and agreed, saying, "When I go back and ask my grandma to inquire, I'll add this request to your list. I'll let you know when I have any news."

"Well then, thank you very much, Miss Ji!" Xiuqin said happily, bowing.

Back in Niujiazhuang, Ji Yongling told Yang about Xiuqin's illness, her need for lifelong medication, and the request she had made.

Yang was also worried when she heard this. It seemed that Xiuqin's marriage was not only about her getting married, but also about her sister's family moving to the groom's side.

Ji Yongling stopped interfering with Xiuqin and Baldy Guang's son's affairs; Yang Shi took care of those matters herself.

She's about to start making the second batch of tannin-coated soles.