Chapter 393: Candles and Oil Lamps
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Su Wenxiu felt highly tense after such a busy afternoon because he could not make mistakes whenever handing out medicine to the patients. Even so, he did not feel tired.
Su Binglan noticed his expression and smiled, “You’ve gone through the wringer the whole afternoon, Second Brother. Don’t you feel tired?”
Su Wenxiu was puzzled. “No, I’m not. Are you? You didn’t rest the entire afternoon.”
Su Binglan packed the herbs and said smilingly, “I’m alright. I’m in a good mood after helping so many people.”
She was the person who Su Wenxiu admired most. ‘Your medical skills are outstanding, so you can help many people. Also, I feel like the medicinal herbs you prepared are magical. I’ve never seen anyone prepare medicine like you.”
He learned more and more from his sister while constantly researching and studying daily. He thought his sister’s prescriptions were bold, but the effects were always better.
He had never thought of treating illnesses this way but suddenly realized Su Binglan must be an expert after seeing her prescriptions.
Su Binglan raised her brows. “You can’t be conservative as a doctor, especially since you can’t treat some illnesses by being so. You won’t be able to cure your patients if you’re too conservative.
“You must be bold to cure the more severe illnesses. Of course, conservative treatment methods are still appropriate to cure some illnesses.”
Su Wenxiu listened to his sister’s words and said, “I know, Little Sister. One might say, ‘the right medicine at the right time.’”
“Yes, I like that,” Su Binglan tidied up the herbs as she spoke and took Su Wenxiu’s notes to read. She read through them and saw everyone’s conditions, symptoms, and medications.
She praised her second brother, “You’ve been working hard, Wenxiu. Keep it up, and you’ll become an unrivaled doctor.”
Su Wenxiu would feel re-energized whenever his sister encouraged him. Su Wenxiu knew he had to read and consolidate more notes when he got home, so he planned to stay up late to study.
It was good that the Su family’s conditions had improved. They could afford candles and oil lamps now. Su Wenxiu also had his own room and desk, where he could sit and study under the candles and oil lamps.
Those things were expensive, and Su Wenxiu was typically reluctant to use them. However, he had to use them for his studies. He would study with 120% spirit and not waste time to make up for it.
After packing up, Su Binglan told Su Wenxiu, “You should go home first.”
Su Wenxiu was stunned. He asked, “Aren’t you coming?
‘Where is she going in the middle of the night?’
“I’m going to Aunt Ding’s house for a bit,” Su Binglan answered.”
“Oh, okay.” Su Wenxiu knew his sister had other things to tend to. After all, the Su family had grown accustomed to listening to Su Binglan’s arrangements and would not ask too many questions.
Su Wenxiu went home after locking the door. After a tense afternoon, he could finally relax but immediately felt hungry. Therefore, he rushed home for dinner.
Meanwhile, Su Binglan arrived at Ding Wan’s house almost simultaneously with the older lady. Su Fengzhang and Su Wenxian had already finished cooking egg fried rice for dinner.
Since Su Binglan taught Ding Wan how to make egg fried rice, Ding Wan had been cooking for her husband and son every night. The father and son kept saying it was delicious.
Therefore, the father-son duo also learned how to make it. That night, the duo returned home early to cook egg fried rice and then waited for Ding Wan to come home to eat.
Ding Wan was thrilled to see Su Binglan. “Ah, Binglan is here. Quick, come in.
Your uncle and cousin made egg fried rice with meat slices. They should taste good.”
Su Binglan had told Ding Wan that she could add more things to egg fried rice, so Ding Wan relayed that message to her husband and son. So, they added more ingredients to their egg fried rice.
Su Binglan’s expression changed, “Uncle Fengzhang, Cousin Wenxian, your cooking skills are pretty good.”
Su Wenxian smiled. “You’re too kind, Cousin Binglan. We didn’t know much about cooking, but my mother taught us how to make egg fried rice after learning it from you.”
Ding Wan warmly invited her niece to eat, and Su Binglan did not argue. While eating, Ding Wan told her niece how everyone had made school bags.
‘Everyone says the backpacks are practical and convenient. As for the handbags, we agree that young ladies will like them more. I also told Shi Cui to visit you in the afternoon to get her hand treated.”
Su Binglan nodded. “You did a good job with them, Aunt Ding. Shi Cui did come to get her hand examined. It wasn’t too severe, so she’ll be okay in a few days.”
Su Fengzhang and Su Wenxian were clueless about the embroidery shop, so they did not interrupt the duo.
After the meal, Ding Wan took a few bags from the back room. “We made eight backpacks and six handbags today. They’re learning a little slower now, but we’ll be able to finish faster in the afternoon.”
Su Binglan looked at the bags and said, “These will suffice. Also, Miss He knows how to do needlework, so you can ask her if she wants to work at the embroidery shop when you have the time.”
“Miss He?” Ding Wan needed help remembering.
“Miss He is Lin Chai’s wife,” Su Binglan said, “Uncle Fengzhang and Cousin probably won’t have an impression of her since she came to our village quite late, and you weren’t in good health then. You may not have an impression of her, either, Aunt Ding.
“Lin Chai had difficulties speaking and didn’t interact with the villagers, but you might not know him.”
After hearing what her niece had said, Ding Wan responded, “Miss He is the young lady with three sons, right? I remember now. She was weak and probably stayed home often, so I didn’t have much contact with her. Still, I didn’t expect her to know about needlework.
“I heard that her family is in a tough spot. Since she knows needlework, it would be great if she could work in the embroidery shop. It would improve her family’s living conditions, after all.”
Ding Wan also hoped to help the villagers as much as possible. Then she thought of something and said, “By the way, Binglan, we might have a problem with efficiency because everyone is good at sewing different things.
“We can work faster by splitting our workload. For example, one person can handle the fabric, the other sew the bag, and the other finishes it by stitching the buttons.”
After listening and thinking about it, Su Binglan said, “That’s a terrific idea, Aunt Ding. I never thought of it like that. Then well give the workers bonuses and wages according to the team’s efficiency. You can arrange for them to form small teams. The more they do, the more they earn.”
Ding Wan nodded. “All right, I’ll remember to tell them that tomorrow. Don’t worry about Miss He. I’ll talk to her personally.”
Su Wenxian was listening and eating, but he was a little distracted.. He could not help but ask, “Cousin Binglan, is there anything my father and I can do?”