Chapter 49
Ran Yan dismissed the distracting thoughts and began massaging Dowager Lu with the oil.

Actually, the so-called “oil” was vegetable oil that Ran Yan made by mixing a few types of medicines. It relaxes the body and mind and its biggest purpose was only to prevent the skin from becoming injured during the Guasha process due to it being too dry

The tool she was using for Guasha was the cow-horn comb she conveniently took from her makeup table. The back of the comb was smooth and round, highly resembling a Guasha tool[1]. Her circumstances were difficult, she had to economise whenever possible. Ran Yan ignored the strange gaze of Madam Qi beside her and started Guasha.

She scraped downwards from the top of her back. Generally, one would first scrape along the Du meridian[2] running down the centre line of the back, before scraping the bladder meridian and the Jiaji acupuncture point on both sides of the back. In order to avoid injuring the spine, Ran Yan used the reinforcement method[3]. When she scraped down the central line of the back, her technique was gentle. The edges of the Guasha tool were used to press intermittent indentations along both sides of the back. Ran Yan chose to use reinforcing and reducing techniques according to Dowager Lu’s constitution and state of her illness.

Blood-red skin eruptions gradually appeared on Dowager Lu’s back. It looked shocking against the fair white skin. Madam Qi immediately said, “Why are there injuries?”

“These aren’t injuries. This is called Sha[4]. It is the manifestation of expelling poison.” Ran Yan finished scraping the back and turned her head to question the two personal maidservants that attended to Dowager Lu, “When did Dowager Lu have breakfast?”

The older maidservant answered, “The vomiting was constantly severe. During the end of Mao time (5-7am), she ate half a bowl of congee. Half an hour ago, she ate her medicine and did not eat anything else after that.

Ran Yan nodded and did not continue Guasha. Instead, she switched to using her fingers and pressing on the Jiuyi, Jingzhongwan, Guanyuan, Qugu etc acupuncture points[5] according to order. After about half an hour only did the treatment end.

“Help Dowager Lu wipe her body using a hot cloth and change her into dry and clean clothes. For 12 hours, she must not bathe or be exposed to cold wind. Pay attention to indoor ventilation, keep the room fresh and cool.” Ran Yan finished giving instructions and was about to get up, but her hand was suddenly held by Dowager Lu.

Everyone in the building was a little surprised. Dowager Lu suffered from constant diarrhoea and vomiting for so long, usually she did not even have strength to lift her eyelids. The treatment was just over and she could actually lift her hands already! They thought to themselves, ‘This Seventeenth Miss Ran really did deserve her reputation.’

Madam Qi realised this and rejected Ran Yan all the more in her heart.

“You are Seventeenth Miss Ran?” Dowager Lu’s voice was weak, but her pronunciation was very clear.

The people outside the curtains also heard her voice and were momentarily wild with joy. This illness tormented Dowager Lu for a month and it also tormented them for a month. Originally when Lu Hongchao planned to invite Ran Yan to treat Dowager Lu, they did not object but they honestly only had the attitude of (medically) treating a dead horse as if it were a live horse[6]. They did not expect that it was actually effective.

“Yes.” Ran Yan answered.

Dowager Lu opened her eyes and breathed out. She briefly sized up Ran Yan and sighed, “Born with a good appearance, and good medical skills as well.”

Ran Yan did not know what deep meaning was contained within Old Madam Cui’s words and only treated it like listening to normal praise, thus answered, “Dowager Lu over praises[7].” She changed to subject and said, “Your stomach and intestines are weak, you should alter your preferences slightly. Actually, southern dishes are also pretty good.”

Qinghe’s Cui clan was located in the north. Ran Yan guessed that this Dowager Lu was unaccustomed to the light taste of Jiangsu cuisine, therefore she still maintained her previous dietary habits. However, her age was old already, her digestive system was unable to function properly.

Dowager Lu said helplessly, “Bland and meagre fare, without any flavour!”

Ran Yan’s heart moved slightly. Being able to form a good relationship with Dowager Lu was something that advantageous without detriment to herself. Right now, this was a great opportunity, why would she avoid it? Thus she said, “After you’ve recovered, I will write a few recipes and give them to the residence’s cooks. It will definitely suit your taste, yet it will not commit this crime[8].”

Dowager Lu was a little surprised, but did not think much of it in her heart. In these days, there were not many noble Misses that knew how to cook, even if they did, they still wouldn’t be better than professional cooks. Therefore, she smiled indifferently, “Then I will have to trouble you.”

Ran Yan saw that her weary appearance became even more tired, thus got up and bade her farewell. Only then did the maidservants uncover the thin quilt to wipe Dowager Lu’s body and change her into clean and dry clothes. After that, they opened the windows for ventilation.

The room was ventilated. Even though a burst of summer heat rushed in, the air was a lot fresher and cooler. Dowager Lu slept comfortably on the bed. Seeing this, Madam Qi also withdrew soon after.

The Ran clan’s influence was much higher than the Lu clan, moreover Ran Pingyu was Suzhou’s richest person. Using silver to pay Ran Yan would really cause both families to lose face, thus Lu Hongchao had long prepared two suitable presents. Once Ran Yan exited, he ordered for the presents to be given to her.

Dowager Lu’s illness was alleviated to some extent, so Lu Hongchao’s expression had relaxed a little, “Many thanks to Seventeenth Miss for being able to treat my mother this time. These two things are the regards of my Lu clan, I hope that Seventeenth Miss would not disdain it.”

The two presents were placed in fine gift boxes. One was square, the box was not tall, looking at its outer appearance one would be able to guess that it might contain one or two books inside. The other box was slender, about one foot high, Ran Yan surreptitiously breathed in[9]and immediately smelled the strong scent of ginseng.

It should be the best quality wild ginseng. Ran Yan easily handed it back, “This present is too expensive, Ah Yan is undeserving. May Uncle Lu please take back the ginseng. This book I will bring it back to read for a few days and will definitely return it.”

Ran Yan’s action of lightly sniffing was very natural and hidden, however she really was not deliberately showing off. To distinguish the things inside the boxes in front of other people, would make people feel like she was inexperienced[10], and may have misgivings about future dealings. On the other hand, one could not casually accept presents that were too expensive.

Everyone in the Lu clan felt astonished and could not help glancing a few times at the face hidden behind the veil, especially the few unmarried grandsons. Dowager Lu’s sentence of “Born with a good appearance, and good medical skills as well” may seem like an ordinary praise to outsiders, but they knew that Dowager Lu has taken fancy to Seventeenth Miss Ran. It was possible that she would be their wife in the future, thus they paid extra attention to her.

It was difficult to speak of feelings regarding marriage in large aristocratic clans. As long as the person’s appearance was pleasing to the eye, their personality satisfactory, they would be able to pass tolerably. However Ran Yan was a popular conversation topic in Suzhou City lately. According to rumour, her looks were equal to Sixth Miss Qi. Since feelings were out of the question, a beautiful appearance would be pretty good as well.

Lu Hongchao said, “Seventeenth Miss has cured Mother. My heart is filled with endless gratitude. Giving these presents is something I should do, there is no need for Seventeenth Miss to decline.”

“In that case, then it would be impolite of me to refuse.” Ran Yan did not argue any longer, and accepted that book, but placed the box containing the ginseng on the table, “I will accept the book. This ginseng is a high quality item, there probably isn’t many of it in the world, it has a price but no market[11]. Dowager Lu’s body is weak, consider this ginseng as my filial respect to Dowager Lu, Uncle Lu please do not decline it.”

A medical book was already considerably expensive. If it were a secret book with only one copy, then it would be absolutely priceless. Ran Yan felt that she just cured a mere gastroenteritis[12]. Even though Dowager Lu’s condition was severe, she would feel ashamed to accept such a precious ginseng as payment. Since it was a business transection then it should be fair, even if it were unfair, it still shouldn’t be too unbalanced. This has always been her way of life.

Lu Hongchao internally praised Ran Yan for knowing how to conduct herself. Both parties exchanged a few more sentences of formalities. Ran Yan explained in detail everything that they needed to take note of, as well as the method to boil the traditional Chinese medicine, before getting up to take her leave. She turned towards the Zhang residence near the East Market.

[1]刮痧板: Guasha board – see picture

Guasha board
[2]督脉: Du channel – see picture

Du channel
[3]补法: Reinforcing method is used to treat deficiencies. Reducing method used to treat excess). Scraping therapy with reinforcing method is characterized by about gentle force (usually 2 kg), a slow speed of less than 30 times a minute, for a long time (usually 10 min) with no appearance of skin eruptions.

[4]痧点: Sha is the term for reddish raised skin rash from Guasha caused by blood stagnation in subcutaneous tissues. See for more info

[5]鸠尾、经中脘、关元、曲骨: acupuncture points along the Ren meridians 任脉 (centre line running down front of body). See picture below (acupuncture points mentioned are circled)

Acupuncture points along the Ren meridians
[6]死马当做活马医: try as a last resort [make a last attempt] to save a hopeless situation; apply desperate remedies or resort to desperate means where the accepted practice has proven to be ineffective or where better means are lacking

[7]谬赞: she’s actually saying that Dowager Lu’s praise is absurd/preposterous, but that sounded rude in English so I changed it.

[8]She’s saying that the food will taste good but will not ‘commit’ the ‘crime’ of making the Dowager Lu fall ill

[9]冉颜似有若无在鼻端轻轻一晃: not sure how to translate this sentence accurately

[10]没见过世面: lit. not seen the world before

[11]市面上可都是有价无市的: meaning that it is so rare that one cannot buy it even if you wanted to

[12]Gastroenteritis: inflammation of stomach and intestines