Chapter 14: Training
Pei Qinghe instructed Madam Chen to look after Madam Lu, then summoned the young doctor.
This nineteen-year-old young physician, surnamed Bao, given name Hao.
He was originally an orphan, adopted by Sai Huatuo at nine years old. Though called a disciple, he was really just a medicine boy carrying the medicine box, decocting herbal medicine, and doing odd jobs. Sai Huatuo never truly taught him much medical skill; he relied entirely on his two eyes and two ears.
That day, Guard Gao was seeking a doctor in the county town. Sai Huatuo, fearing he himself would be drafted as an able-bodied man, immediately pointed at Bao Hao, this unlucky fellow: “Sir, I’m already over fifty, unable to withstand the long journey’s bumps. Bao Hao is my disciple; he’s studied for ten years and has graduated. Sir, just take him along.”
In the end, Bao Hao followed the soldier sirs here.
Last night was Bao Hao’s first time performing acupuncture.
Though he’d watched hundreds or thousands of times daily and secretly practiced countless times on his own arm, when it came to the real thing, his heart raced and hands shook—how could he insert the needle accurately?
However, for prescribing medicine and decocting herbal medicine, he was very skilled. Whenever his master Sai Huatuo saw patients and prescribed for headaches, fevers, or stomachaches, it was just those dozens of prescriptions over and over; he had long since memorized them backwards and forwards.
Last night, when Pei Yun asked, Bao Hao spilled everything like beans from a bamboo tube.
No method, just make do!
Pei Qinghe looked at Bao Hao: “Doctor Bao, the daily task of decocting herbal medicine is entrusted to you. My grandmother has a hasty temper and bad mood; please bear with her more.”
The young Doctor Bao clearly lacked courage. He had been shaken by Pei Qinghe’s cold severity and domineering manner last night, and now he was especially meek and obedient: “Sixth Sister Pei, rest assured. I will certainly care for the old madam with all my heart.”
Pei Qinghe nodded slightly.
Madam Lu had lain in the prison cart for several days, taking three doses of herbal medicine daily without fail. The soft white steamed buns soaked in hot water, she could eat one or two.
Whenever Pei Qinghe had a moment free, she would come over, hurling harsh words and cold mockery, which actually roused Madam Lu’s fighting spirit for survival.
“I’m not dying yet.” Madam Lu lay in the prison cart, furiously biting a big mouthful of steamed bun, as if chewing someone’s flesh, chewing vigorously: “I won’t give that stinky girl the satisfaction.”
“She despises me as a burden and wishes I’d die on the road. I refuse… hic…”
Madam Chen was amused yet helpless, and quickly brought the water pouch to give Madam Lu a sip of water: “Alright, don’t talk while eating, careful not to choke.”
“Big sister-in-law already has the strength to curse; looks like you’ve survived this ordeal. I advise big sister-in-law: don’t say such groundless things anymore.”
“If Yan Yatou or Feng Ge’er hears, they’ll definitely go tattle to Qinghe.”
After eating white steamed buns for several days straight, Pei Qinghe’s status in the clan’s old and young had skyrocketed, her prestige at its peak. Pei Yan and Pei Feng were even more Pei Qinghe’s loyal followers.
“I’m her grandmother,” Madam Lu blustered bravely despite her inner fear: “What, can she eat me?”
Madam Chen glanced at her: “Qinghe is coming.”
Madam Lu immediately shut her mouth and closed her eyes to pretend sleep.
Madam Chen grinned broadly in amusement.
This was one of the few pleasures on the road to exile.
Traveling all day was truly exhausting. The good news was, after eating one cart of grain, they had an extra wooden cart. When tired from walking, they could take turns resting on it.
At this rate, eating grain all along the way, the emptied wooden carts would keep increasing. There were still over a dozen fairly sturdy mules and donkeys that could be brought to Youzhou.
Pei Qinghe was very satisfied with this and privately gave fifty taels of silver to Guard Gao, and another fifty to Captain Sun.
This was equivalent to a full year’s salary for both of them.
One’s mouth softens with others’ food, one’s hands shorten with others’ favors.
Guard Gao no longer grumbled or frowned; occasionally he would even proactively ride into the mountain forest to hunt some wild game. The big soldiers could eat meat, and the Pei family old and young could follow with some meat broth, putting some oil and water in their bellies.
Captain Sun’s oversight of the Pei clan old and young grew even looser. Their dry rations started as white steamed buns, later became buns with vegetable filling, and these past two days already had meat filling.
Every day, Pei Qinghe would “request” an Eastern Palace Guard to ride fast horse ahead to the posthouse and prepare pork with suitable fat and lean in advance.
For training, just eating one’s fill isn’t enough; they also need to eat meat. With sufficient oil and water, there is enough physical strength.
The silver ingots in the chest flowed out like water.
Madam Wu, who managed the silver, felt heartbroken, her face nearly cramping as she clutched the chest tightly: “Qinghe, that’s a total of five hundred taels of silver; we’ve already spent nearly half. How about we economize a bit? Save some silver for Youzhou…”
“This silver cannot be spared.” Pei Qinghe said seriously: “Guard Gao provides men and effort; we must show our intention. We must even more grease Captain Sun’s palm. Otherwise, how would we have these good days now?”
That was true.
Families of convicted officials in exile: those who died of illness, starvation, or exhaustion on the road were everywhere. Those bullied by the escorting officers were not uncommon either.
The Pei family old and young’s current days—how was this still exile?
Madam Wu reluctantly put the chest back, sighing deeply: “We’ve spent it all now; there’ll be nothing left by Youzhou.”
Pei Qinghe raised an eyebrow: “Once in Youzhou, I have my methods.”
What methods?
Could she conjure silver and grain out of thin air?
Thinking of grain, Madam Wu couldn’t help but add: “Shouldn’t we economize on the grain too?”
“Cannot economize.” Pei Qinghe said: “Only with full bellies is there strength for training.”
These days, Pei Qinghe’s attitude had been very clear. But the moment the word “training” was spoken, it carried a hint of stern severity.
Madam Wu was silent for a moment, then said softly: “You are the clan leader of the Pei clan; you lead the way ahead, and we all follow you.”
This aunt from the ninth branch, Madam Wu, given name Xiuniang, was forty this year.
In her previous life, she led women, children, and elders struggling to survive, with people dying off one by one around her. In the end, only over thirty stuck with her to the finish. Wu Xiuniang was the steadiest and most trustworthy among them. The rebel army’s money and grain had always been managed by Wu Xiuniang.
Pei Qinghe gazed fixedly at Wu Xiuniang, and through this familiar face, it was as if she saw her previous life’s self—unwilling to accept fate, contemptuous, angry, forging ahead—and hot blood surged in her heart.
“Rest assured, I will certainly keep everyone alive.”
“Not only alive, but live well. Full bellies, warm clothes, no one dares to bully!”
Flames flickered in Pei Qinghe’s eyes. One was confidence, the other burgeoning ambition.
Wu Xiuniang was infected by this intense emotion, her heart burning hot as she nodded vigorously.
Pei Qinghe raised an eyebrow and continued: “To live well, first we need the capability to protect ourselves. I’ve listed several key points for training; please have Aunt summon several captains.”
Female and male children under eight are too young; if they can barely maintain formation without falling behind, that’s already good.
Elderly women over sixty have trouble walking; they take turns sitting in the prison cart. Of course, even sitting in the prison cart, they’re not idle; they look after children under three.
The main force needing training is the four teams of Pei Yan, Pei Yun, Mao Hongling, and Wu Xiuniang, plus Pei Qinghe herself, totaling one hundred fifty-nine people.
