The Lucky Farmgirl

Parents could only drop their children off at the entrance of the imperial estate, and from there, the medical staff from the Imperial Hospital would lead them inside.

No one was allowed to bring any servants inside; all the help inside were female servants selected from those who had previously had smallpox.

The veteran and wounded soldiers were still there. Primarily, they were still under observation as they were the first group to undergo vaccination. Director Xiao and the others decided to monitor them until October to see if there were any long-term side effects over a year.

While they didn’t expect any, Zhou Man preferred caution, and they were happy to keep them a little longer.

Moreover, these veterans received wages, or rather, military pay while residing in the imperial estate.

That’s right, even though they were retired, due to participating in the smallpox experiment, the Ministry of War still considered them part of the military and they received their pay directly from the Ministry each month.

They thought if all they had to do at the estate was pick vegetables, fetch water, deliver food, and carry meal buckets to ensure food and lodging while still receiving military pay, they wouldn’t mind staying in the capital for another two to three years before returning home.

Especially those who were physically disabled, they knew their prospects upon returning home were bleak. Although, at times, they longed to return, upon calm consideration, they found staying here wasn’t so bad.

Thus, they were content with their current situation.

Seeing so many well-dressed young masters and young misses entering the estate, the veterans and wounded soldiers grinned like blooming chrysanthemums, watching them with glee.

Come on, the more the merrier, they could extend their stay even longer.

The oldest among those entering the estate this time was sixteen, while the youngest was the six-year-old grandson of State Duke Su.

He was the eldest grandson, and State Duke Su hoped he could come in to protect his little aunt.

The Imperial Hospital segregated these children by age, placing those of similar ages in the same room, with males and females in separate areas, divided by two rows of houses. Meanwhile, servants stood guard in between to prevent mischievous young masters from causing trouble.

The female vaccinations were handled by Manbao and Ms.Doctor Liu.

The young misses saw the thick needle Manbao pulled out; the older ones managed, but as for the younger ones, tears immediately welled up.

Manbao quickly offered dry reassurance: "Don’t be afraid, it doesn’t hurt."

How could it not hurt? With such a thick needle making an incision, and then applying the crude smallpox vaccine on it – it was bound to hurt!

Thus, there was a chorus of cries on this side.

The cries reached the boys on the other side of two rows of houses. The ten-year-olds managed, but the eight- and nine-year-olds started crying as well, even though Imperial Doctor Liu hadn’t even taken out his needle yet.

Among them, State Duke Su’s grandson cried the most. Being the youngest, he felt like crying just seeing the medical kits. When his roommates started crying, he joined in, and cried the loudest, with the largest teardrops.

Director Xiao felt his head was about to explode.

He wasn’t alone – all the Imperial Doctors felt their heads might explode as well, making them recall fondly how their own children barely cried during their vaccinations.

Especially Director Xiao’s grandson and Zhou Man’s two nephews, at such a young age, they let out only a few grunts, pacified by a piece of candy.

But did these young masters and misses lack candy?

They wept even as they ate candy, crying as if their hearts would break.

Throughout the morning, the estate was filled with cries. Fortunately, the parents had gone far away and couldn’t hear; otherwise, things would get tricky.

Anyhow, the most challenging part of the inoculation was done. Next was to ensure they didn’t disturb the vaccine and later remove it, waiting for symptoms to appear.

Some children reacted quickly, showing a slight fever that very night and visible symptoms the next day.

Manbao watched with satisfaction, thinking at this rate she could leave in less than half a month.

These young masters and misses, for all else, had quite good physiques, stronger than ordinary people, let alone the former slaves. Thus, they experienced symptoms and recovered quickly.

Gradually realizing the fun of staying at the estate, the young masters, post-meals, would try sneaking to the front to see the young misses.

Even if they couldn’t see them, they climbed onto rooftops to catch a glimpse, teasing towards them, "Eldest Lady Han, if anyone bullies you, let me know. Once I’m out of the estate, I’ll set a trap for them."

Upon hearing this, Manbao got upset, ran out and looked up at them, hands on hips, shouting, "Who do you plan to trap? Who’s child are you?"

He wasn’t afraid at all, responding, "Just you wait, I’ll trap you, what can you do about it? Hmph, young in age but with a hard heart, treating your own like that, making them cry! Just wait, when I get out..."

Manbao turned to the house, "Imperial Doctor Lu, come and see who he is?"

She wasn’t in charge of that side, and some youths were unfamiliar to her.

Imperial Doctor Lu took a leisurely step out, glanced and said, "Oh, Minister Li’s little nephew, his father is the governor of Guang Prefecture."

The current Minister Li was Minister of Personnel Li Maoyue; the former Minister of War Li Zhen was gravely ill, and his duties were delegated to State Duke Zhao,

Being familiar with Li Maoyue, Manbao looked up and said, "Ah, so you’re Minister Li’s nephew, just wait, before you trap me, I’ll have your uncle deal with you first."

The young master Li wasn’t afraid, sitting on the rooftop with a cold smile, not believing her.

Manbao also offered a cold smile, then ordered the ladders removed, "Don’t let him use the ladder, if he gets up there, let him get down himself."

And with that, she walked away.

Young Master Li was dumbfounded on the roof, and all the older and younger kids below burst into laughter.

Tang Xiaolang was the boldest, hands on hips just like Zhou Man, "Li Da, you still dare to bully my Aunt Man? Do you know who she is? In court, she’s at the same level as your uncle. Just wait; when my Aunt Man tells your uncle, he’ll spank you for sure."

Young Master Li shifted his position on the roof, forcing himself to stay calm, "I, I’m not afraid. You better bring the ladder back, or if I fall, can you afford to pay?"

Imperial Doctor Lu smiled warmly, "The servants have just moved it away, please wait while I have someone bring it back."

And so he called for someone, but never returned. It wasn’t until the sun was high and it neared lunchtime that someone brought a ladder for him to come down.

At a distance, Manbao watched, turning to Imperial Doctor Lu with slight disbelief, "If I hadn’t said anything, would you really have left him up there, just exposing him to the sun?"

Imperial Doctor Lu responded, "He wouldn’t actually have fallen, plus the roof is so low that even if he fell, nothing serious would happen."

Manbao pointed at the sky, "But it’s the Sanfu Days, he could get heatstroke."

"Alright, as per your instruction, we’ve had him brought down, haven’t we?" Imperial Doctor Lu’s expression slightly soured, "Doctor Zhou, don’t say I didn’t warn you, this Young Master Li doesn’t just talk, he really traps people."

Curious, Manbao asked, "How do you know?"

Imperial Doctor Lu replied coolly, "Last winter I treated a Sun family member for a fracture, he had been trapped in a sack."

If anyone knew the capital’s scoundrels best, besides the four medical halls and pharmacies, it was the Imperial Hospital’s doctors. Often their information was shared.

Scoundrels, whether hurt themselves or having hurt others, always needed a doctor.

And this rooftop fellow was noted as one of the worst by Imperial Doctor Lu, which is why when Zhou Man punished him, instead of persuading otherwise, he subtly added fuel to the fire.

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