The Challenge of a Farmhouse Son-in-Law

They were all locals from Lingnan, familiar with the area, and upon seeing that they had engaged in conversation with her, Gu Youyou asked, "In a few days, my Jisheng Hall will open, and I need to recruit an apprentice and an attendant. I wonder if any of the masters here have suitable candidates to recommend?"

Although it would have been more reliable to ask Yue Rujing for help, Gu Youyou did not get along well with him; she would rather work alone than seek his assistance.

As soon as Gu Youyou made her request, one of the craftsmen spoke up, "I do have a niece who’s from next door who might try working as an attendant. She’s from the countryside. Both her grandfather and father know some Medical Skills, and the villagers always turn to them for any headaches or fevers. But there’s a rule in their family; they only pass on the knowledge to males, not females, so she doesn’t know how to treat illnesses.

However, growing up in such a family, she surely knows more than the average person. She can read a few characters and recognize the medicinal herbs on the mountain. Their family also often goes up the mountain to gather medicinal plants to sell, it’s just..."

At this point, the craftsman seemed to hesitate.

Gu Youyou was listening with interest; she thought such a person would be very suitable. She needed someone to help care for patients and dispense medicines, and girls tended to be more meticulous than boys in their work. Given the society’s preference for boys over girls, finding a girl who could read a bit and recognize medicinal herbs was not easy at all.

"But what? Master Lu, I am earnestly looking for two people. If you have anything to say, please speak frankly. Don’t hold back!"

"Ah! What Doctor Gu said is true." The craftsman continued, "This child has a hard life. She’s eighteen this year and still living with her parents."