A Song Dynasty Daoist Healer

Su Heng was an orphan in his previous life. Through his own hard work, he got into a prestigious university and studied traditional Chinese medicine in a nine-year undergraduate, master's, and doctoral program. But in the year he was due to graduate, he died in an accident. When he opened his eyes again, he had been born into the Su family as the eldest son of the second branch.

His parents doted on him, and his grandfather spoiled him. Su Heng's longing for family, left unfulfilled in his previous life, was finally satisfied. The people of Meishan Town were simple and kind, and the scenery was lovely. After the cutthroat grind of studying traditional Chinese medicine in his previous life, Su Heng thought he could lie flat this time around. Until his younger brother was born.

Su father: Let's name my son Su Shi.

Su Heng: All right. You picked a lovely name, Father. Wait, what Shi? Which Shi?

In the third year of Jingyou under Emperor Renzong, Su Heng finally learned that his family was the illustrious Su family of Meishan, famous throughout history: the Su of the Three Sus, and the Su of Su Dongpo.

Recalling what the history books said, his grandfather Su Xu would die in ten years, his mother Cheng in twenty, and his father Su Xun in twenty-nine. About once every ten years, illness would take the life of one of his closest relatives. Worse still, he was none other than Su Xun's eldest son, who would die young of illness, with less than two years left to live.

Traditional Chinese medicine, time to pick it back up! I love studying medicine!

·

A new shop had opened in the capital, Bianjing. It was called the Su Family Wellness Center. The place looked completely ordinary, but every visitor was a big shot from the imperial court. People were astonished, all wondering who the owner could be.

When Su Xun first took office, he had been nervous and cautious, as if walking on thin ice. Yet his superiors looked out for him and his colleagues were friendly. Everywhere he looked, the court seemed full of good people. Before long, all these "good people" who had been so kind to him began asking for favors. "Brother Mingyun, um, could you spare me a spot at your family's wellness center?"

Su Xun: "Huh?" So the wellness center was run by my family?

At a quarter past seven, the doors of the Su Family Wellness Center opened right on time. Su Xun watched discreetly from a corner.

First in came Fan Zhongyan, leaning on a cane and looking delighted.

Not long after, Yan Shu arrived, swinging his sleeves, full of vigor.

A little later, Ouyang Xiu and Zeng Gong came in chatting and laughing.

Then came the big shots: Mei Yaochen, Han Qi, Fu Bi, and others...

Su Xun was stunned. When had his eldest son's connections spread throughout the entire court? My son is terrifying! Then Su Xun started worrying again. What if His Majesty found out? What would they do?

One day, Su Xun noticed that the figure soaking his feet and getting a massage in the wellness center looked familiar.

He took a closer look and nearly died of shock. Your Majesty, why are you here?!

Reader's Guide:

1. Famous historical figures from the Northern Song will appear in the story. For the sake of the plot, their ages and life events may differ from historical records. There won't be much court politics or political scheming. The focus is on everyday life among ordinary people, with a light, leisurely tone. At heart, this is a farming-life novel.

2. The author is not a specialist in traditional Chinese medicine. If you spot any errors in the medical knowledge, professionals are welcome to point them out in the comments.

3. The wellness center storyline mentioned in the blurb appears much later in the novel.

Completed novels: A Guide to Opening a Shop in the Song Dynasty (Food), The Interstellar Era's First Food Therapist

Please add my upcoming novel to your reading list: A Bianjing Guide to Getting Rich (Food)

In her previous life, Cui Lan reached the top of the culinary world. Then, in a single moment, she transmigrated into the body of Cui Lanpei, the foolish eldest daughter of County Deputy Cui's family in Yin County, Song Dynasty. The Cui family's grandmother favored boys over girls, her mother was meek, and her father was blindly devoted to his own mother, leaving Cui Lanpei in a dire situation. Fortunately, her maternal family soon sent someone to fetch her. Taking her younger sister, Cui Lanxue, with her, Cui Lanpei began a happy new life in Hanling, a place surrounded by mountains and a lake, gathering seafood, going to market, and running a food stall.

But good times did not last. When Cui Lanpei was fourteen, both her parents died. The Cui family's grandmother favored her youngest son and legitimate grandson, driving the Cui sisters all the way to the capital to seek shelter with one of their father's old friends.

Living in the capital was no easy thing. Fortunately, the Shen family of the capital had once arranged a marriage between their children and the Cui family.

Cui Lanpei showed up at their door with the token of their agreement, only to be thoroughly humiliated by the Shen family. But Cui Lanpei was no pushover. She decided to hit back hard, swindling a large sum of silver from them. With the money, she bought a house with a shop at the front and living quarters at the back, and started a food business.

The Cui Family Eatery flourished, and Cui Lanpei's fingers grew sore from counting money. Just then, the Shen family came calling.

Only after asking did Cui Lanpei learn that the eldest Shen son had been poisoned and was on the brink of death. With no other options, the Shen family had hit upon the idea of marrying her into their family to bring good fortune to the dying man.

"Ridiculous!" Cui Lanpei said, her phoenix eyes flashing with anger.

Yet after all the twists and turns, Cui Lanpei still ended up marrying into the Shen family.

But the man who performed the wedding rites with her was the eldest Shen son's younger brother, Shen Jingling.

Shen Jingling was a madman.

At some point, the disdain in his eyes whenever he looked at Cui Lanpei had gradually changed, becoming fervent yet restrained, longing yet controlled.

Cui Lanpei thought, This is bad.

Three months later, the eldest Shen son died.

After fulfilling her agreement and taking care of the funeral, Cui Lanpei wasted no time in moving out of the Shen residence with her sister and setting up her own household.

But for some reason, the second Shen son had changed his mind and began relentlessly pursuing her.

Cui Lanpei said expressionlessly, "Shen Jingling, are you ever going to stop?"

Shen Jingling raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Of course not."

Standing to one side, Cui Erniang looked obedient and sweet as she skillfully handed her elder sister a long broom.

Cui Lanpei took it and lifted it, ready to sweep the man out the door.

Shen Jingling sighed helplessly. "Sister-in-law, won't you show me a little affection?"

"Get lost!"

Message: Pass down the culture of traditional Chinese medicine.