Wu Wei helped the Embroider Maiden settle at the end of the kang. She pulled over the quilt to cover her, then took out the white funeral candle she had pocketed from the Charity Mortuary and lit it. Only then could she clearly see just how pallid the Embroider Maiden’s face truly was.
The Embroider Maiden’s face had long lost all color, her lips as if coated in a layer of white frost. Her eyes were tightly shut, brows furrowed deeply, and her pearly teeth bit into her lower lip.
Wu Wei touched the Embroider Maiden’s forehead. It felt ice-cold, slick with a layer of cold sweat. Her hands and feet were equally chilled. This was clearly a severe case of menstrual cramps. Wu Wei thought to herself that given the Embroider Maiden’s previous lifestyle, it would have been more surprising if she didn’t suffer from them.
Wu Wei let out a sigh. She turned and went out to the main room, tossing a few more pieces of dry firewood into the stove. Then she fetched the ginger she had dug up on the mountain earlier, slicing it into fine shreds. She scooped half a basin of hot water into a pot before adding the ginger shreds and boiling a simple pot of ginger soup. Carrying the tempered warm water, she returned to the room.
“Embroider Maiden? Wake up.”
“Mm.” The Embroider Maiden’s voice was as soft as a kitten’s mew. Almost as soon as Wu Wei spoke, she propped herself up into a sitting position. Wu Wei felt both helpless and heartbroken at the sight.
“Wrap the quilt around yourself and soak your feet. It should help ease the pain.”
“Mm.” The Embroider Maiden obeyed docilely. Wu Wei watched as she placed her feet in the basin, wrapped snugly in the quilt, her head bowed in silence. Wu Wei said nothing more. Instead, she quietly sat beside the Embroider Maiden, draping an arm around her shoulders to let her lean against her own body.
“The ginger soup needs to simmer a bit longer. You have to boil down half a pot of water to one bowl for it to really drive out the chill. Just wait a little.”
Weiwei, I’m sorry…” The Embroider Maiden said weakly.
“Close your eyes and rest. Tell me if the water gets cold.”
“Mm.”
After soaking her feet and drinking the ginger soup, the Embroider Maiden’s complexion improved noticeably. Their dinner consisted of pancakes Wu Wei had griddled, egg drop soup, and some pickled vegetables that Second Lady Liu had sent over. Once the dishes were cleared away, Wu Wei sat cross-legged on the kang. She pondered how to give this lesson on menstrual health without offending the Embroider Maiden while still making her understand.
Wu Wei’s silence made the Embroider Maiden increasingly uneasy. This was the first time she had seen Wu Wei upset, but she had no idea what she had done to anger her.
When the pain had left her dazed and confused, she seemed to recall saying something about “my monthly thing has come, and my body is unclean…” right before Wu Wei got upset. Pondering this, the Embroider Maiden grew puzzled. What had been wrong with that? Her mother had taught her from childhood that women during their periods couldn’t sleep on the kang—they had to make do with a mat on the floor.
Her mother had said that a woman’s monthly flow was impure filth that could offend the household spirits. The old house’s bedroom was too small for a floor mat, so she had no choice but to stay in the main room, lest she offend Weiwei…
“Embroider Maiden.”
“Yes!” The Embroider Maiden straightened up, looking at Wu Wei nervously.
“You… don’t need to be so tense. I just want to talk with you.”
“Alright.”
“I remember… my first period came when I was fourteen. Our family’s education was a bit unusual, so I understood from a young age why women get their periods. I stayed pretty calm about it. I bought… well, made myself a menstrual belt. That night, I told my mother. I remember her slipping into my bed, holding me close, and saying that nearly every woman in the world goes through this—it’s the path every girl must take to become a grown woman. She told me not to worry, not to be afraid, and above all, not to feel ashamed or panicked… If there was anything I didn’t understand or any emotional hurdle I couldn’t get over, I should tell her. My mother knew full well that with the upbringing I’d had, I wouldn’t have any psychological issues over something like a period. But she still comforted me so gently, sharing knowledge and experiences. Today, I want to pass on some of what she told me to you. Girls need to stay warm at all times, especially their feet—don’t seek out the cold. Get some proper exercise. During your period, have something sweet if you want. If you feel anxious, unsettled, or inexplicably wronged… just cry it out. Embroider Maiden~ Periods are something nearly every woman must endure, so… please don’t feel ashamed, don’t panic, and don’t think you owe anyone an apology.” Wu Wei’s voice was calm and gentle, carrying a quiet strength that soothed the Embroider Maiden’s anxious and barren heart like a gentle stream. In the flickering candlelight, that depth reflected in Wu Wei’s profound eyes. The Embroider Maiden stared blankly, tears silently trailing down her cheeks.
“But…”
Wu Wei pulled the Embroider Maiden into her embrace, patting her through the quilt. Her tone was gentle yet firm. “No buts. Embroider Maiden, if we don’t treat ourselves like people, others will only disdain us more. You are a person—with blood, flesh, and feelings. Can’t you tell what feels comfortable and what hurts? Were you cold sitting in the main room? Did it hurt? After the ginger soup and foot soak, lying here on the warm kang—does it feel good? Life is short. You haven’t broken any laws or hurt anyone. Why not let yourself live a little more comfortably?”
“Mm~”
“That’s right. Remember this. You’re the head of your own household now—the master of this home. Don’t let the past hold you back anymore, alright?”
“Alright.”
Nestled in Wu Wei’s arms, the emptiness in the Embroider Maiden’s eyes gradually filled with light. Wu Wei’s words were like that half-burned white funeral candle in the room…
No household would ever use a white funeral candle for everyday lighting, yet the light it gave was no dimmer than that of an oil lamp.
Even something unconventional could bring illumination.
Wu Wei’s words ran utterly counter to everything the Embroider Maiden had been taught. Yet after hearing them, even if she felt uneasy and afraid, she chose to believe.
“Go to sleep. Get some rest… You’ll feel much better in the morning. Next year…” Wu Wei’s words cut off abruptly. She suddenly realized that she and the Embroider Maiden might not have a next year. Once the lake thawed and the weather warmed, she had to find a way back to her own world.
The Embroider Maiden lifted her head, however, asking, “Next year, what?”
Wu Wei smiled and patted her through the quilt, as one might soothe a baby. “Next year, I’ll go up the mountain to gather some mugwort, process it into moxa sticks, and give you moxibustion. Yours is a case of cold-induced illness. There’s an old saying: Treat cold ailments in summer. Smoke yourself with moxibustion all summer long, pay more attention to your habits going forward, and it won’t hurt anymore.”
The Embroider Maiden looked at her admiringly. “Weiwei knows medicine too?”
“I don’t. Just some folk remedies—nothing fancy.”
“No way. Weiwei can hunt, fix houses, write, do all sorts of crafts, and now medicine too… You’re amazing!”
“Go to sleep. I’m tired too. Tomorrow I’ll head to the market early.” With that, Wu Wei lifted the quilt and slipped under the covers.
…
That night, the Embroider Maiden slept more soundly and warmly in Wu Wei’s arms than she had any night since her periods began—this was her most comfortable slumber yet.
The next day, before dawn broke, Wu Wei awoke. She marveled at the wonders of her biological clock. She griddled two pancakes, filled them with pickled vegetables, wrapped them in oiled paper, and tucked them into her bosom for midday rations. Breakfast was white rice porridge with two boiled eggs. The Embroider Maiden had woken twice during the night and was still deep in sleep, so Wu Wei ate alone, leaving her share to simmer in the pot. She shouldered her bamboo basket, selected some good-quality timber from the yard—nice and uniform in size—and loaded it in.
Wu Wei headed to the market to try her luck, hoping to trade the firewood on her back for some copper coins. Plus… there were a few things she wanted to figure out.
At the market, Wu Wei felt her shoulders burning with pain. While lamenting the hardships of ancient life, she was also grateful that commerce in this era seemed more advanced than what she’d read about in history books. Qinglu County wasn’t particularly prosperous, yet it had a standing market—no need to wait for the first or fifteenth of the month.
Rather than squatting roadside to peddle, Wu Wei tried the restaurants. She hit dead ends at three in a row. It turned out each had their regular firewood suppliers or even dedicated lads to chop it.
Wu Wei gritted her teeth. If she couldn’t sell this basket, she’d have to haul it back—and her shoulders would be rubbed raw…
She stopped by a small stall and cupped her hands. “Boss, could you tell me… where’s the biggest restaurant around here?”
“You’re selling firewood, right?”
“Good eye, boss. Just looking to swap for some coin.”
“Head straight down this street to the end, turn east, and walk a bit. You’ll see Hundred Flavors Building—our old established place. The Dong Family that owns it is decent folk. Might take it off your hands.”
“Thanks.” Wu Wei thanked the vendor and made her way to Hundred Flavors Building. It was easy to spot, with its redwood signboard bearing three bold green characters, and four lanterns hanging below.
Wu Wei had barely stepped into the main hall when a waiter bustled up enthusiastically. “Guest, here for a meal or a room?”
“Little brother, I’ve brought a basket of dried firewood. Neighbors said the Hundred Flavors’ owners are generous folk, so I came to ask if you’d take it.”
The waiter grinned and slung his towel over his shoulder. “Set it down—let me take a look.”
Wu Wei set down the bamboo basket. The waiter plunged his hand in, rummaging a few times. He pulled out a piece, weighed it in his palm, sniffed it under his nose, then said, “Hang on. I’ll check with the back.”
Wu Wei exhaled in relief, lifting her sleeve to wipe the sweat from her brow. Seeing an empty table nearby, she simply sat on the bench and began kneading her trembling legs.
Wu Wei thought to herself: I’d still overestimated my own stamina. This basket of chopped firewood weighed at least thirty pounds, and no matter what, she had to sell it today—she couldn’t carry it back home.
Just as Wu Wei was mulling over whether she could haggle for a few more copper coins, a voice spoke up from behind her. “Nice embroidery pattern. The placement is quite unique, but unfortunately, it’s worn out.”
Wu Wei turned her head to look. At the table next to the one where she sat, two women dressed in men’s clothing had taken seats. The speaker appeared even a bit younger than the Embroider Maiden, while her companion looked to be in her thirties, leisurely sipping from her wine cup.
The woman’s gaze flicked once to the swallow embroidered on Wu Wei’s back before quickly withdrawing.
Wu Wei was momentarily startled and couldn’t help giving the pair a few more glances. The two were obviously disguised, but drawing on her family’s forensic expertise, Wu Wei could tell from their wrists and necks that they were women.
Just as Wu Wei was about to look away, the older woman suddenly lifted her eyes, locking gazes with Wu Wei in a direct stare.
The woman’s gaze was like a sharp sword, carrying a force that pierced straight to the heart. For an instant, Wu Wei felt as though she were looking at her father’s close friend, Uncle Zhao—a veteran detective who had toiled on the front lines for decades.
Wu Wei whipped her head back around. Through that brief exchange of glances, she sensed that the older woman was no simple character! The other party had likely already realized that Wu Wei had seen through their disguise as women, and Wu Wei had no desire to invite trouble.
