A Young Woman from a Humble Family in Great Ming

People say, “Better to treat ten men than one woman.” Even the women of an esteemed clan like the Cheng family of Jinling were no exception when it came to seeking medical care. Because of the barriers between men and women, female patients had to consult male doctors from behind a curtain, with their husbands describing their symptoms for them. As a result, they were often prescribed the wrong medicine. Having heard that Wu and Yue had many women doctors, the Cheng family invited several of them to come. The eldest madam of the Cheng family had two daughters with irregular periods, and she herself suffered from a woman's ailment. The second madam had an ailment she could hardly bring herself to discuss, while the third madam had been unable to conceive for a long time... All three set their sights on Xu Miaozhen, who was the most skilled in gynecology. Miaozhen came from a modest Suzhou family and had no distinguished medical lineage. Among the women doctors, she had been keeping a low profile, but now all three madams were clamoring to hire her. She couldn't help feeling a headache coming on. Ladies, please spare me! Reader's guide: 1. This is a loosely fictionalized story set in the Ming era. The Great Ming here is an invented dynasty, not a real historical one. The setting draws on the look and feel of the Ming, but does not involve real historical events or figures. Everything serves the story, so please don't overanalyze the history. The medical knowledge is informed by Miscellaneous Notes on Female Doctors, Complete Good Prescriptions for Women, and Fu Qingzhu's Gynecology. Ming customs and culture are informed by Suzhou in the Great Ming, Strolling the Streets of the Ming, The Three Aunties and Six Grandmothers, and The Splendor of the Ming. The medical practices in the story are for reference only and should not be taken as fact. If you are ill, please seek medical attention promptly. 2. A slow-paced farming and business story, with a gentle, steady progression. 3. The male lead is prejudiced against the female lead at first, but becomes devoted to her later. That's all. If you enjoy this story, please add it to your reading list and follow the author. If you have reservations, feel free to check out the author's other novels. Theme: Skilled hands and compassionate hearts; women doctors should stand on their own