The Lucky Farmgirl

Chapter 1707 - 1682: Answering Questions

In front of Zhou Man, many words that are hard to express become easier to say, especially since several Old Madams here have interacted with Manbao before, having her visit for consultations.

The mother of the Crown Princess, State Duchess Pi, waved her hand to Manbao with a smile, "I haven’t seen Young Lady Zhou for a while, and she has grown much taller."

Manbao’s eyes immediately lit up, her posture straightened a bit, and she asked with a smile, "Really?"

State Duchess Pi nodded with a smile, "Of course it’s true, if you don’t believe me, ask State Duchess Zhao."

Last time State Duchess Zhao felt chest tightness and discomfort, she also invited Manbao for a consultation, so they are somewhat familiar with each other.

State Duchess Zhao nodded with a smile, indicating it was true.

Manbao was pleased and relaxed a bit, softly asking these noblewomen if they had any questions about the recruitment for the Imperial Medical Office and offering her help.

Those who could be close to the Empress were not ordinary people. State Duchess Zhao was the Empress’s sister-in-law by blood, and State Duchess Pi was the mother of the Crown Princess. Additionally, there was Madam Li from the Ministry of Personnel, representing the Li Clan, State Duchess Su, Madam Cui from the Su family, Madam Wang, and Madam Lu.

Whether they were powerful officials or prestigious families, Manbao had met most of them before. Even if she hadn’t treated them medically, she had seen them at the hundred-day banquet of Han Wuniang’s son. Although not familiar, Manbao had an excellent memory, so she remembered them.

The Empress granted a seat to Zhou Man, seemingly to facilitate her interaction with them, and the seat was placed opposite them.

Manbao glanced at the seat, then sneaked a look at the Empress, and after getting her encouraging nod, she stepped forward and sat down.

The ladies were about to ask questions when the Empress suddenly lifted her teacup and smilingly said to Manbao, "The ladies have many questions to ask. This afternoon, you don’t need to go to the Crown Princess and Prince Gong’s place; it would be better to first help the ladies with their inquiries."

Manbao slightly bent her waist in agreement.

The ladies, who were about to complain about Director Xiao’s high tuition fees, changed their mind and, swallowing their grievances, asked, "Young Lady Zhou, we were just discussing with Director Xiao about sending people to the Imperial Medical Office. The curriculum there is quite different from what general physicians learn. They really don’t need to attend the same classes as others. It might be better to form a special class taught by Young Lady Zhou herself."

Manbao smiled and declined, "All medical knowledge needs to be learned from the basics. Medicine is universal, and the other physicians in the Imperial Hospital are no less skilled than I am. It is impossible for me to guide the entire class; I am merely responsible for one or two subjects."

Manbao looked towards the Empress and said, "Although we imperial physicians teach at the Imperial Medical Office, our work at the Imperial Hospital cannot be neglected."

The ladies exchanged glances, and State Duchess Zhao also took a sip of tea. State Duchess Pi had to ask, "Then what medical skills does the Imperial Medical Office intend to teach them?"

They were most concerned about whether they could learn the medical skills they desired.

Manbao had stayed in the capital for a year and a half, frequently visiting the inner courtyards, knowing what they were most concerned about. She counted on her fingers and explained in detail, "Even if they are taught separately, the four fundamental medical books, ’Pulse Canon,’ ’Herbal Canon,’ ’Bright Hall,’ and ’Plain Questions’ must be learned. If they are literate, they can complete them in a year and a half to two years. In the third year, the Imperial Medical Office can teach them about common illnesses in children and women."

She paused for a moment and continued, "I understand that you all intend to train private physicians to make things more convenient for your families. However, illnesses can be quite diverse in a household, so what they need to learn is necessarily broader than other subjects. If you wish them to gain proficiency, it would be taught like the therapy department which would take about eight years."

When they heard this, the ladies were mostly unwilling as they felt that even three years was already long enough.

Seeing their thoughts, Manbao said, "A three-year curriculum would just cover the basics and might not even make them as knowledgeable as the palace’s female physicians."

Observing their expressions, Manbao lowered her voice and added, "For issues such as rashes on women, conception, pregnancy care, childbirth, postpartum bleeding, as well as common ailments in children, treatment of cold, heat, stroke, and more, they need to learn diagnostics and medications as well as acupuncture and massage techniques. It would take no less than five years to learn them all."

Madam Li immediately said, "Then make it five years."

After a brief moment of contemplation, the other ladies agreed, "Five years could work, but eight years is really too long."

Manbao breathed a sigh of relief.

The ladies tactfully expressed their wishes, feeling that they wouldn’t mind if children’s illnesses and general conditions were taught less, but gynecology was essential.

Especially acupuncture; they had all experienced the benefits of Zhou Man’s acupuncture.

For other family members who fell ill, whether it’s the male members or the children, they could invite a doctor or an imperial physician to their home. It was also viable to hire a doctor in the household.

Even now, in families where there were many members, who wouldn’t have a doctor employed in the household?

But female physicians were hard to come by. For women, especially daughters in the family, if they felt unwell or discovered something on their bodies, due to modesty, they often sent a nanny to get medicine. Sometimes, because the medicine was not suitable, the illness persisted; other times, the medicine’s efficacy was subpar leading to unsatisfactory results.

But having a female physician at home would be different; since they are all women, many things could be easily discussed, and consultation or acupuncture could be done without the need for secrecy as with male doctors.

Moreover, besides daughters, there were daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law in the household; who hasn’t had some health issues after getting married and having children?

Everyone appeared cheerful and in good spirits, but only they and their maids likely knew where they felt unwell.

Most relied on enduring it.

If the daughters of influential families faced such issues, it was even more so for the women in commoner families. Her own mother had numerous health problems in her youth but always withheld from speaking.

It wasn’t until she was too sick to move that she went to see a doctor, taking a prescription for nearly ten years, only consulting Elderly Doctor Lu from Dali Village during critically ill times.

Manbao regained her composure, quickly calculating the necessary courses for them, and after a while, nodded, "I will go back to discuss with Director Xiao, it should be feasible."

After all, since they had money, the courses could be more flexible.

The ladies were satisfied and quietly complained about how asking certain questions to outside doctors was difficult not only due to embarrassment but also the risk of the doctor being indiscreet, which could damage the reputation of the girls in their families.

Manbao expressed her understanding.

Once they finished discussing the most important matter, the conversation naturally turned to finances. Given their previous positive interaction with Manbao, the ladies were less confrontational than with Director Xiao but expressed their opinion that the Imperial Medical Office’s pricing was too high.