“In-law, please don’t make a scene!”
The old lady, leaning on her cane, stood outside the courtyard gate, watching the chaotic memorial hall. Behind her was a group of women trying their best to appear calm despite their anxious expressions.
At this moment, there was no point in worrying about the separation of men and women. If they did, there wouldn’t be anyone left to support the old lady.
“You dare to come out?” shouted the elder brother-in-law. “Perfect timing, let’s go see the official right now!”
“Nephew-in-law, you misunderstand!” the old lady said firmly, pausing with her cane.
“Misunderstand?” the brother-in-law’s wife stepped forward, her voice hoarse from the earlier crying and shouting, and sneered. “Madam, the person is dead. Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not isn’t for you to decide. Who knows if it’s because you’re trying to get a concubine for your son or find him a new wife?”
The old lady’s expression changed slightly; she knew this matter couldn’t be concealed.
The reason why her daughter-in-law was lying in the coffin was because she had tripped and fallen in her room. She fell because they had an argument. She stormed off in anger because of the discussion about finding a concubine for her son.
Was there anything wrong with that? Her son, the eldest in the family, had been married for years without producing a son, while daughters continued to be born. Wasn’t it justifiable for her, as a mother, to consider finding another wife for her son to continue the family line?
Continuing the family line was an essential and justifiable concern!
So, what was her mistake?
The only mistake was that her daughter-in-law died in her room!
The old lady clenched the cane in her hand tightly, her palm sweaty.
“Yun Niang hasn’t died,” she uttered each word with emphasis.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the room was stunned.
First, those closest to her stood frozen, then one by one, the news spread, and everyone froze in disbelief.
As the dawn approached, the lanterns in the courtyard dimmed, enveloping everything in a hazy atmosphere. The figures standing across from them was barely visible.
At this moment, the old lady seemed elusive to onlookers, akin to a figure lost in the midst of clouds and mist.
“What are you saying?” exclaimed the elder brother-in-law.
“I’m saying Yun Niang is not dead!” the old lady started, and then her words continued without interruption.
There was no room for hesitation; at this very moment, she had to push forward, regardless of any obstacles.
This time, everyone heard her clearly. Not only were the relatives astonished, but even her own family members were left dumbfounded.
Had the old lady been driven mad by the shock?
Her son, in a sorry state from the beating, was deeply concerned for his mother. Rising from the ground, he seized the elder brother-in-law.
“You caused mishap to my mother, and this isn’t the end of it!” he declared.
Now that he was in the right, for a moment, he felt a surge of elation. “I no longer have to fear them!” he thought to himself.
As tensions escalated, the old lady pounded her cane and raised her voice to intervene.
“Enough! Haven’t you heard me? Yun Niang isn’t dead! She’s just ill! We’re attending to her illness!”
Those gathered on both sides of the room settled down. The maids swiftly served tea and discreetly exited, ensuring no indiscreet remarks or actions were witnessed by others.
With many people present and diverse opinions at play, it was better to resolve the matter behind closed doors, especially given the social standing of those involved.
“Are you saying all this fuss is for the sake of treating an illness?” the elder brother-in-law asked, his gaze sweeping across the people opposite him.
“Yes, apart from me and the doctor, no one else knows about this matter,” the old lady replied calmly.
A maid hurriedly entered from outside and whispered something into the ear of the brother-in-law’s wife.
She immediately slammed her tea cup onto the table.
“In-law, do you take us all for fools?” she sneered coldly. “We’ve all seen it, she’s lost her breath, her body is stiff, and you call this treating an illness! Are you sure you’re not the one who’s ill?”
“If Lady Cheng says it’s an illness, then it is an illness!” the old lady retorted, her demeanor unyielding.
Observing the expression on the old lady’s face, it was evident that she was not crazy, and that there was indeed such a matter. The elder brother-in-law and the rest exchanged looks.
“Who is Lady Cheng?” someone inquired.
As the question lingered, silence fell over the room. It wasn’t a matter of reluctance to answer, but rather they didn’t know how to answer.
Just two months ago, the empty house next to the river, which had been vacant for a long time, was finally rented out. It appeared that the new tenants had moved in quietly during the night, as none of the neighbors had caught sight of them. It wasn’t until the following day that a young maid was seen venturing out for purchases. She spoke in a gentle and friendly manner, her voice carrying the soft accent of the Jianghuai region in the south.
“Is she a doctor?” the elder brother-in-law asked.
The maid stationed at the door hesitated before nodding in agreement.
“I wasn’t aware of it at first. Just recently, the young son of the mute family down on East Street fell terribly ill with a high fever and started speaking gibberish. They sought help from Liu Daopo, who said it was hopeless. The mute family was in anguish, crying and pleading for a solution. It was then that Lady Cheng’s maid happened to pass by. She claimed her mistress could cure the illness. Upon hearing those promising words, the mute family disregarded everything else and rushed to bring the child over. True to her word, they took him in the morning, and by the afternoon, he was awake and devouring a large bowl of rice. The very next day, he was up and about as if nothing had ever happened,” she narrated.
The people at the door were all gossipy old women who loved to hear and spread rumors. Stories like these, full of miraculous neighborhood occurrences, were their favorite, and once they got started, they couldn’t help but gesticulate wildly, splattering saliva as they recounted the events.
The old lady’s heavy cough made the maid snap out of her reverie, reminding her of the esteemed person she was addressing, prompting her to quickly avert her gaze and fall silent.
“Women like her aren’t real doctors; they simply rely on some folk remedy for specific ailments,” the elder brother-in-law scoffed dismissively.
“That’s not entirely true,” the maid objected, feeling a pang to her pride at being well-informed. Summoning her courage, she continued, “It’s not just one incident. There was also the case of the elderly woman from the butcher’s family in the East Market. She overindulged in peaches, resulting in severe diarrhea that left her breathless. Lady Cheng’s maid heard about it from the butcher’s employee while buying meat. They promptly invited Lady Cheng over, and after her visit in the afternoon, the woman was completely recovered by the evening. The following day, she was even able to walk with a cane while caring for her grandson.”
The elder brother-in-law furrowed his brow.
The maid at the door spoke rapidly, akin to a gust of wind, always eager to interject. Seeing the elder brother-in-law’s expression, she paused briefly to catch her breath before continuing without hesitation.
“Since then, Lady Cheng has gained quite a reputation. Many people come seeking medical aid. However, Lady Cheng’s maid mentioned that their home is always open to those seeking treatment. There’s just one condition: they only treat severe cases,” she explained.
This remark aroused the curiosity of everyone in the room.
The maid took a moment to catch her breath.
“What do you mean by ‘treating only severe cases’?” a woman couldn’t help but ask.
Now in charge of the conversation, the maid breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that whether inside or outside the door, everyone was the same.
“It means that she won’t bother with minor ailments like headaches, fever, or coughs, which aren’t life-threatening. Those with such conditions are advised to seek help from clinics. She only attends to those diagnosed as incurable by clinics and left to die,” she clarified.
Her statement left the entire room astonished.
“This is quite bold,” remarked the ladies in unison.
“That’s not boldness,” the maid quickly added. “Lady Cheng explained that as a woman, it’s inconvenient for her to engage in medical practice. However, she cannot bear to witness the suffering of living beings, so she acts out of necessity.”
Upon hearing this, a few women couldn’t resist murmuring compassionate prayers.
Only these women embraced such words of compassion; the men subtly smirked.
What an inconvenience to engage in medical practice, what a strategic retreat turned into progress, seemingly withdrawing while actually advancing.
“Those who have sought help from Lady Cheng recently have indeed been seriously ill, and they have all recovered,” the maid concluded.
A murmured conversation filled the room.
There were many extraordinary occurrences in this world, seemingly absurd and inexplicable, yet they could not all be entirely dismissed.
“What’s happening with my sister now? If it’s come to this, why haven’t you rushed to treat her? What’s the purpose of all this?” the elder brother-in-law demanded with a stern tone.
“Just trying what we can,” the old lady replied calmly, her demeanor steady. Noticing the tension in the elder brother-in-law’s expression, she quickly added, “It’s Lady Cheng’s suggestion, and it must be genuinely authentic, or else it won’t be effective.”
“Is she a shaman or a doctor?” the elder brother-in-law exclaimed, his face turning red with anger.
This almost tried to death his parents!
“I’m not a doctor, I can’t say,” the old lady responded calmly. “All I want is to save my daughter-in-law’s life. Even if it means resorting to funeral rites, I’m willing to do it—even if it means lying in the coffin myself.”
As they looked at the solemn and dignified demeanor of the old lady, the women who came from the in-law’s side couldn’t help but feel a twinge of shame. How many mothers-in-law would dare to do even the most taboo things for their daughters-in-law?
The elder brother-in-law cleared his throat. “Speaking eloquently won’t solve anything,” he said with a cold smile, but his expression no longer seemed as uncontrollable as when he first arrived, determined to dismantle someone else’s household.
The people present breathed a sigh of relief, but immediately tensed up again, turning their attention to the old lady.
Indeed, speaking eloquently wasn’t enough; the key was…
“Why hasn’t Lady Cheng arrived yet?” the old lady raised her eyebrows and demanded, “It’s already dawn!”
Footsteps sounded outside, and Miss Yuan’s nursemaid rushed in.
“Has Lady Cheng arrived?” the old lady couldn’t help but stand up and ask.
What sort of person was Lady Cheng, exactly? All those present anxiously peered outside.
As the thin mist gradually dissipated and the morning light emerged, there was not a soul in sight.
“Lady Cheng’s maid said that due to her ongoing illness, Lady Cheng cannot leave the house, so she asked us to send the person over,” the nursemaid stuttered.
The maid at the door was still present and, upon hearing this, eagerly joined the conversation without waiting for instructions.
“That’s right, Lady Cheng never leaves the house. She always has people sent in, and only one family member can accompany them each time,” she quickly nodded and added.
“Then quickly send her over,” the old lady urged.
This suited her preferences better, preventing the in-laws from probing too much and discovering anything untoward.
The maid responded affirmatively, ready to depart.
“Just a moment,” the elder brother-in-law interjected once more, standing up and directing his gaze at the nursemaid, his brows knitting together. “Could you repeat what you just said? Lady Cheng is still ill?”
The nursemaid nodded in confirmation.
That was the message conveyed by the maid from Lady Cheng’s residence.
“If she’s not yet recovered from her own illness, how can she possibly treat severe cases?” the elder brother-in-law remarked icily.
