Chapter 18: Liu the

They arrived at the county town.

Tang Banxia first went to the post office to buy envelopes and stamps, and sent out that stack of letters. Ignoring the curious glances of the postal workers, she exited the building with composure. “Let’s go, we’re heading to the photo studio.”

“Alright,” Wen Mubai obediently followed.

At the photo studio, after stating their purpose, Tang Banxia and Wen Mubai sat down on the long bench.

The photographer asked, “Are you ready?”

Tang Banxia straightened her clothes, then adjusted Wen Mubai’s as well. “Ready.”

“Three, two, one—”

“Xiaobai,” Tang Banxia suddenly called.

Wen Mubai turned his face, saw Tang Banxia smiling at him, and instinctively smiled back.

“Click!”

“All done,” the photographer declared briskly. “How many prints do you want?”

Tang Banxia had already considered this. “Five. Please make five copies.”

The photographer nodded, efficient and silent, and wrote out a claim ticket. “Pick them up in seven days.”

Wen Mubai took the ticket and kept it safe.

Leaving the photo studio, they glanced at the sky. “Let’s go to the state-run restaurant.”

Though living in poverty, it was sometimes necessary to improve their meals.

Wen Mubai had no objections, happily heading to the restaurant.

This time, he was more considerate, helping Tang Banxia order dishes, though she ended up paying.

Afterwards, they went to the grain depot and bought some food before heading home.

Upon reaching the commune, they happened to run into Wang Zhiqing.

She carried a large parcel on her back, eyeing them warily. Tang Banxia shrugged, pretending not to notice. “Come on, Xiaobai.”

Wen Mubai obediently followed.

Wang Siyun breathed a sigh of relief, pursed her lips, glanced at Tang Banxia, and walked off in the opposite direction.

Back in the village.

Tang Banxia sorted out the food she had bought.

Today she’d purchased fifty pounds of cornmeal, twenty pounds of maize flour, and thirty pounds of black flour. This should be enough for ten days, shouldn’t it?

Tang Banxia wondered, uncertain.

It wasn’t a lack of confidence—it was just that Wen Mubai had an enormous appetite.

Normally, when new educated youth arrived in the countryside, the village would let them borrow some grain. But the old Tang Banxia had foolishly left the food at the educated youth station for everyone to share, and in less than a month, it was all gone.

Afterwards, everything they ate had to be bought from the grain depot.

While she was lost in thought—

“Tang, Tang, come quickly with me!”

Aunt Hu rushed in, grabbing Tang Banxia and pulling her outside.

“Aunt, what’s the matter?”

“Educated Youth Liu is bleeding below and fainted. Hurry and take a look.”

The villagers were terrified, but fortunately she was quick-witted and remembered Tang Banxia. Otherwise, they could do nothing but stare helplessly.

Tang Banxia listened to the story, then dashed past Aunt Hu. “Aunt, I’ll go ahead. Walk slowly.”

In a blink, her figure disappeared.

When Tang Banxia arrived, the women’s director, Huang Xiaocui, was already directing people to carry Educated Youth Liu to the edge of the field.

“Could it be that Educated Youth Liu is pregnant?”

“It’s hard to say. These girls from the city, who knows what they’re like. It wouldn’t be surprising if she were.”

“With so much blood, even if she was, it’s gone now.”

Tang Banxia ignored the gossiping older women, parted the crowd, and knelt beside Educated Youth Liu, focusing on her pulse.

She had been introduced to pulse-taking by her grandmother since childhood. Though not formally trained, she was confident enough for situations like this.

Tang Banxia looked so solemn that the crowd fell silent, watching her intently.

After a while, she withdrew her hand. Noticing the villagers’ eager, thirsty expressions, she paused, then spoke loudly, “It’s nothing serious, just irregular menstruation—she fainted from the pain.”

So it was just irregular menstruation~

After explaining, Tang Banxia turned to Huang Xiaocui. “Aunt Huang, could you please find someone to carry Educated Youth Liu back to the station?”

“No problem,” Huang Xiaocui replied.

She immediately summoned two sturdy women to help carry Educated Youth Liu back. Tang Banxia followed, and along the way, asked Wen Mubai to fetch some brown sugar and ginger from home.

Once at the station, she boiled ginger tea with brown sugar and gave it to Educated Youth Liu.

“Educated Youth Tang, is Educated Youth Liu really having a miscarriage?” The station manager, Wang Haijun, hurried in, looking quite grim.

“No,” Tang Banxia replied, not even glancing at him, busy preparing her prescription.

“Then what’s wrong with her?” Wang Haijun was displeased with Tang Banxia’s attitude.

“It’s a woman’s ailment,” Tang Banxia answered concisely.

Liu Liyun entered from outside. “Banxia, Educated Youth Liu made a mistake and must be punished. You shouldn’t shield her.” She advised earnestly.

Tang Banxia said, “Get lost.”

She couldn’t be bothered wasting words with Liu Liyun; people with dirty hearts see filth everywhere.

Educated Youth Liu had no conflict with Liu Liyun, yet Liu Liyun still tried to pin the stigma of premarital pregnancy on her—how vicious.

Presently, Tang Banxia finished writing, blew on the prescription, checked it once more, folded it, and put it away.

Now she finally had time to look at Wang Haijun and Liu Liyun, and explained again, seriously, “Educated Youth Liu just has her period—this isn’t a miscarriage.”

Wang Haijun breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled warmly. “Thank you, Educated Youth Tang.”

Tang Banxia gave a non-committal response.

She sat and waited for Educated Youth Liu to wake, then handed her the prescription.

She didn’t have a medical certificate yet, so she dared not prepare medicine herself; she could only write prescriptions and let Educated Youth Liu get her own from the pharmacy.

Wang Haijun personally poured water for Huang Xiaocui and her helpers, repeatedly expressing his gratitude. “Director Huang, we owe you so much.”

Huang Xiaocui waved him off. “Educated Youth Tang, what exactly is wrong with Educated Youth Liu?”

“She’s just suffered excessive menstruation, and didn’t take it seriously, so fainted from anemia,” Tang Banxia explained carefully.

“Menstruation can make someone faint?” One of the women sounded incredulous.

“It depends on the person,” Tang Banxia replied.

Educated Youth Liu was so thin she was practically skin and bones; anemia was completely normal.

“Banxia, you know so much,” Liu Liyun said, as if proud. “I’ve never heard you mention medical skills before.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” Tang Banxia asked with a gentle smile.

Liu Liyun instantly looked aggrieved. “I know you don’t like me, but I’m just concerned about Educated Youth Liu.”

Tang Banxia clicked her tongue. A toad on your foot doesn’t bite, but it sure irritates!

“If you know I don’t like you, stop hanging around me, or you’ll get a beating.” Tang Banxia raised her hand. “People like you—I could handle three at once.”

Liu Liyun wanted to protest, but Educated Youth Liu woke up.

Tang Banxia pushed past her, went to the bedside, and helped Educated Youth Liu sit up. “Educated Youth Liu.”

“Educated Youth Tang, what happened to me?”

Before Tang Banxia could reply, Huang Xiaocui quickly recounted the whole incident.

After listening, Educated Youth Liu said, “Thank you, Educated Youth Tang.”

Tang Banxia nodded, took out two prescriptions. “Educated Youth Liu, you know your own body best. I won’t say much more.”

“This first prescription is for Stabilizing Decoction, which can ease your pain and stop the bleeding.”

“The other is for Warming Decoction—take it after your period ends, to warm the womb. Next time, you won’t suffer so much.”

She handed over the two prescriptions. “Both are taken once daily for seven days, decocted with water.”

Seeing Educated Youth Liu keeping her head down, Tang Banxia added, “If you don’t trust me, you don’t have to use them.”

Educated Youth Liu finally looked up. “I understand. Thank you, Educated Youth Tang.”

Tang Banxia said no more and left.

After she left, Liu Liyun leaned close to Educated Youth Liu. “Hongfen, Banxia means well. Don’t take it to heart.”

Liu Hongfen, Educated Youth Liu, shook her head, saying nothing, simply putting the prescriptions into her pocket.

Liu Liyun’s eyes darkened, then she casually remarked, “I don’t know when Banxia learned medicine, but you can trust her prescriptions. She wouldn’t joke about something like this.”

Wang Siyun returned just then for water, overheard, and frowned.

That Liu Liyun was truly disgusting!

Meanwhile, Tang Banxia had just reached home when someone came knocking...