Chapter 273: You Did a Good Deed Again?

After all, old ginger is spicier; the New Year is just around the corner, the south is at war, and he doesn't want people's hearts to be uneasy during the New Year, so he issued an edict ordering Prince Ding to the palace, directly placing people under house arrest inside the palace, and having the Golden Dragon Guard keep a tight watch.

At the same time a detachment of Golden Dragon Guard was sent out to secretly investigate Prince Ding's residence; all incidents, big and small, must be recorded in detail in the registers.

Qiao Mai doesn't know what's happening in the capital; no matter how the Old Emperor investigates, he probably can't reach her, because Ding Wang Jian Cai has many methods and many victims; who would think an obscure village woman could be a great deity?

Before returning, she went to the Zhen Guogong Fu and took a look at her future mother‑in‑law.

At this moment she was pacing back and forth on the floor inside the house; although she needed someone to support her, it was much better than lying in bed before.

The matter of the Qiao Family's silver spread from her, but it was an unintentional act of hers that was overheard and exploited by opportunists; she won't hold a grudge over it.

She hopes that after this woman recovers she won't cause more trouble; even though she's the mother of a daughter‑in‑law, if provoked she'll still be dealt with.

After Feng'er returns, his marriage with Mu Guniang will be put on the schedule; wealthy families are very particular about this, so from Betrothal to wedding will probably take a year or a year and a half.

On her side she represents the groom's side; she must be proactive, must be splendid, and cannot wrong the young lady.

Qiao Mai sat for a while, saw that the child was fine, got up and left; Mayor Qian and Daifu followed her out.

"Sit down, if you have anything just say it directly."

"Qiao Niang, great kindness needs no thanks; from now on, if you have anything just speak directly."

"Master, you have done a good deed again?"

She rushed to the Mayor's backyard, where an old Daifu was taking the child's pulse, and Lu Sanniang was anxiously wiping tears beside them.

Qiao Mai gave the old Daifu a withering look, ordered Shopkeeper Niu to fetch paper and brush, and in no time he wrote two prescriptions.

At that moment, the old woman came to report.

Although her appearance was plain and unremarkable, her skin was truly exceptional.

"Qiao Niang, your magnanimity, children of the world will be grateful to you."

Since that day when Shopkeeper Niu witnessed the master's prowess, his admiration surged like a raging river; not only he but also the shop's assistants feel the same.

"Indeed, I, an old man, do not seek profit, only for sick children."

As he left, Shopkeeper Niu respectfully approached Qiao Mai.

Even after having seen the master's strength, they will remain the same as they always were.

Qiao Mai lifted the child's blanket and cotton clothing, took from her sleeve a medium‑sized bottle and some cotton, poured the transparent liquid from the bottle onto the cotton, and began applying it to the child—forehead, back, soles of the feet, palms, and covered the head with an icy cold towel.

"Hurry and leave, be careful I might change my mind."

"Yiguan, can you make the decision?"

"Qiao Niang, Qiao Niang?"

So she kept applying for about a quarter of an hour, then Qiao Mai signaled the old Daifu to take the pulse again.

Qiao Mai's complexion was rather unpleasant; the more courteous she was, the more she felt the relationship between them growing distant.

"Rest assured, I will certainly convey your words to the owner."

"Take it, produce it at the fastest speed."

"I can give your Yiguan these two prescriptions free of charge; I know your Yiguan has branches and a headquarters. Tell your owner you can make money, but only a thin profit."

She quickly pushed the old Daifu aside; he was an acquaintance, and he didn't mind, just watching her hustle from the side.

"Can we find a convenient place to talk?"

The old Daifu sighed after finishing the pulse, "A child this small can't take harsh medicine; only an adult can drink it, and let the child have the adult's milk."

On the twenty‑fifth day of the twelfth month, each household sent their New Year gifts as promised, even Liu Mei and the Liu Ye sisters brought gifts.

"Did you take a liking to my medicine?"

"Old man, what is it?"

Miraculously, the pulse became steady.

"It's all my fault; taking her to watch a play in such cold weather got her chilled."

"But I have no milk anymore."

Qiao Mai covered the child with a thin blanket and said, "After a child develops a fever, you must not bundle them too tightly, otherwise the fever worsens. If it gets severe, you can use high‑proof white liquor, like just now, to rub on, but that's only temporary; the medicine must still be taken."

If the fever doesn't break, the child will either become fever‑dazed or die from the fever.

Since this boy was born, Lu Sanniang has focused all her attention on the child and ignores everything outside.

However, everyone knows Qiao Mai's character; no one dares to bully others, and everyone in the shop remains low‑key.

She casually took two small jade bottles from her sleeve—one for treating wind‑cold, the other for reducing fever—had a servant fetch two small bowls, poured some powdered medicine into them, dissolved it with water, and let Lu Sanniang feed the child with a small spoon.

Lu Sanniang wiped her tears with the spoon, fed the child little by little; to her surprise the child was quite willing to drink, and before long both bowls of medicinal broth were finished.

Qiao Mai brought him to her own shop, where the staff served two cups of steaming milk tea; it was year‑end, families were stocking up on New Year goods, and the shop alternated between busy and idle.

The old Daifu, excited, carefully blew the prescriptions dry, folded them, and tucked them into his chest; he stood up and gave Qiao Mai a deep bow.

"Indeed, the owner of our Yiguan is a good person; if he hears about wind‑cold and fever‑reducing medicines specifically for children, he certainly won't overprice them."

"Mm."

"He dares!"

The old Daifu trembled all over, frightened by the aura emanating from Qiao Mai, who stared at him.

Hearing this, Qiao Mai pushed open a door and window and entered; she went forward, touched the child's head, and felt the temperature had risen above thirty‑nine degrees.

"Master, Mayor Qian has sent someone to request you; they say the child fell ill and has been feverish."

"Yes, yes."

"Ah, ah."

When they arrived at the Qiao family at age seven, Qiao Mai was only sixteen; their mother and child were only nine years apart, and now she is twenty‑seven.

Qiao Mai lifted her leg to leave, and the old Daifu hurriedly caught up.

Qiao Mai was startled, immediately stood up, and while walking, tied her coat.

The old Daifu looked at the milk tea before him, lifted it, and drank it in one gulp; it wasn't out of greed—he knew if he didn't drink it, it would be poured out later, and he didn't want to waste anything.

With such a master, even those under them have confidence.

"I also do evil deeds."

"Girl, thank you; our family has received far too much of your kindness!"

Also, Yun'er's marriage needs to be put on the matchmaker's schedule; after the New Year these two brothers will be eighteen, how quickly time passes.

Qiao Mai looks in the mirror; at nearly thirty, she is still that youthful, an age that in the twenty‑first century is the prime of youth, yet here she is already the mother of several children.

"Hehe,"

"You're welcome; I'll keep these two bottles of medicine. Take it three times a day, just the dosage I poured earlier. Don't overfeed; the medicine is three percent toxic."

Seeing the child's flushed little face gradually return to normal, Lu Sanniang flutters and kneels before Qiao Mai.

She clicked her tongue twice, brushed her hand over her face, her skin was flawless, needing no care—jade bone, ice‑like flesh, not even requiring Dan Stage.

"Qiao Niang, you saw the situation just now; many children have succumbed to wind‑cold. They're young and can't take bitter medicine, which delays their illnesses."

Although the items aren't expensive, they're in short supply; they didn't know whom to tell, and a family sent Qiao Mai a large basket of steamed sticky bean buns.

This year, basking in Qiao Mai's favor, each household made money, especially Willow Leaf's husband's family; Qiao Mai had Niu Shopkeeper give up a twenty‑percent margin, wholesaling goods to Willow Leaf's husband's family, who sold them at the same price as the Qiao Family, and have earned plenty these two years.

Willow Leaf was also ambitious; as soon as she entered the door she became pregnant, and ten months later gave birth to a chubby boy. The Dong Family already had good character, and such a daughter‑in‑law was respected by the whole family, not to mention she also knows Double-sided Embroidery.

Liu Mei's husband is diligent and reliable; the tasks Yuan Jiaqi assigned him were completed well, and now he's a small foreman among the workers, earning Yijian a month.

(End of chapter)