The Lucky Farmgirl

Chapter 2166 - 2141: Aynara

Everyone fell silent.

Although it was only half a day, Bai Shan inquired carefully, saying, "After the sacrifice, the patients from both tribes gradually improved, and the number of deaths wasn’t as high. Everyone believed that the gods showed their presence and were satisfied with the sacrifices. Therefore, they dared not approach Aynara, who let the sacrificial offerings go. She was assigned the hardest and most tiring tasks, but the shaman brought her to you for learning simply because she is very intelligent."

Manbao pursed her lips and asked, "How do they explain those who died from illness after sacrificing to the gods?"

"The herders believe that those who died must be favored by the gods, who wanted them to serve alongside them, or they weren’t sincere enough, so they weren’t blessed."

Yin Huo frowned and said, "No, if they believe in the gods so much, why are the chief and shaman treating you all so warmly?"

Isn’t it just to learn the medical skills for treating smallpox from Zhou Man?

If they believed it was all due to divine protection, why would they be so keen on this medical skill?

For this, they even interrupted their migration plan and temporarily stayed here?

Bai Shan sighed, "Indeed, herders live by the water and grass. If they go late, other tribes might reach the places first, then occupy the grasslands they had their eyes on. But now they are willing to stop here, clearly believing that smallpox can be treated with medicine and has nothing to do with the gods."

Zhou Liru’s eyes flashed with confusion, "Then why sacrifice?"

No one responded, and after a long pause, Bai Shan said, "No matter the reason, Aynara is now considered a sinner in the Tutu tribe. I initially wanted to remind you that when teaching her, be mindful of the Tutu tribe people, but now it seems unnecessary."

"No, it’s still necessary," Manbao pursed her lips and said, "Let her come and tend the fire for us tonight. Since she’s so smart, she shouldn’t just learn what the other three are learning."

Zhou Liru became excited, "What is aunt going to teach her?"

Manbao glanced at her and said, "The diseases people suffer most."

Zhou Liru counted on her fingers and said, "Cold, fever, cough, and stomachache."

Manbao said, "Stomachache has too many causes, it’s hard to teach in three or four days. But cold, fever, and cough can have prescriptions based on different situations. If she memorizes the symptoms for various conditions and then provides the corresponding prescriptions, it would certainly be better than the current random treatments by Guluh."

Indeed, Guluh is just treating people randomly now.

A bit of Sho-saiko-to for a cold, then boil it and drink it oneself; the fever gets the same Sho-saiko-to treatment, cough gets Sho-saiko-to. So, I heard that Guluh often swaps the herbs he digs up for Sho-saiko-to.

Yet the Tutu tribe people are surprisingly resilient, relying on Sho-saiko-to, paired with other herbs, to have a higher survival rate than other tribes after falling sick, making Guluh a famous shaman among several nearby tribes.

Manbao heard his two apprentices bragging so much today that it’s hard not to know.

Manbao said, "Let her come to build the fire and make the bed for me, she’ll have four more evenings than the others."

Zhou Liru immediately said, "I’ll go tell the people of the Tutu tribe."

Without needing subtle hints, she directly approached the apprentice of Guluh to ask, "We need someone to make the fire and bed in our tent, Aunt might need to get up for tea at night, could Aynara be the one to assist?"

Guluh’s apprentice didn’t need to consult the chief and the shaman and agreed directly. So after Manbao finished the afternoon session, just as she twisted her neck to rest, Aynara stood up and first went to Manbao’s tent, knelt and made her bed, then carefully started the fire to drive away the chill.

Manbao paused for a moment before following in to enter. Aynara saw her and immediately said, "Miss, the tent is too cold, it needs some smoking, please wait outside for us."

"It’s alright," there were no beds, the tent had canvas spread on the ground, then mats and furs over it, and a layer of straw mat at the top, with the quilt Aynara just laid over it.

Manbao sat on the quilt watching Aynara bent over to smoke every corner of the room, seemingly as if this could chase away the cold air inside.

Actually, it could indeed expel the cold air.

Manbao stood lost in thought for a moment, then gently asked, "Aynara, would you like to come with me?"

Aynara paused, still squatting on the ground, then she raised her head to see Zhou Man’s expression.

Manbao said, "I think you’re very smart, I could teach you medicine so you can pursue what you wish in the future. However, while with me, you might have to do some tasks to maintain a living. Would you be willing?"

Aynara looked at Zhou Man, gently placing her supporting knee on the ground, she knelt facing Manbao and softly asked, "Does Miss want me as a servant?"

Manbao slightly shook her head, "No need, you would be considered a disciple, if you are willing to follow me."

Aynara fell silent, the pause was so lengthy that Manbao thought there would be no answer today, and she asked, "Why do you want to take me with you?"

Manbao pondered a moment and said, "Just thinking it’s a pity, I believe you could have a better life."

Aynara smiled and replied, "Miss, anyone you take along could live better."

Although brief, she knew this Miss Zhou was highly capable, those around her were also impressive, and the one doing business with the tribe leader, Zhou Liang, was her elder brother, who seemed to be wealthy. Hence, anyone would have a better life following her instead of staying with the Tutu tribe.

However... Aynara shook her head, refusing Manbao, "I won’t go."

After pausing for a while, she nervously asked, "Can Miss still teach me medicine?"

"Certainly," Manbao didn’t force her, nor did she persuade further, as if it was merely a simple suggestion moments ago. She said, "Besides smallpox symptoms, I can teach you about cold, fever, and cough. Do you know what cold is?"

Manbao looked at her knees on the ground and softly said, "Although it’s nearly summer, the earth remains cold. Coldness can enter the body through wind and rain, and also from the ground. This grass was cleared, and you’re kneeling directly on the earth, coldness can enter the body from the knees. Those in poor health may catch a cold easily, then they would have a runny nose, headache, sneezing, possibly even feeling weak all over — that’s what a cold is."

Aynara promptly got up, patted her knees, and seemingly still not reassured, she crouched by the fire, trying to keep her knees close to the fire.

Manbao chuckled and asked, "Are there many people catching cold here annually?"

Aynara nodded, then said, "The Han people who come to do business say cold is contagious, so those who catch a cold in the tribe are temporarily moved to the cowshed."

Manbao looked regretful, and said, "They could reside in a separate tent, why move to the cowshed?"

"Because it’s not enough," Aynara replied, "Not everyone has a tent, many only have one per household."