The Coroner’s Job Is A Despised One

The position of coroner was a despised one, which meant that society already had a poor opinion of anyone who took it up. It was even harder for a woman to take it up.

Old Madam Li had spent much time and effort to remind her of this, and Song Caitang was grateful for that.

This old lady looked like a tough and hardhearted woman, but she was actually a very softhearted and kind person. Her invitation was sincere and respectful, and her reminder had been from the heart as well.

Since she was being so honest, Song Caitang decided to be honest in her opinion as well.

“That’s what other people think. As long as I don’t think that way myself, that’s fine, isn’t it? Birth, aging, illness, and death are things in life that nobody can escape. Before they died, these people were someone’s family, someone’s friend. Why are they suddenly a taboo topic just because they’ve passed on?”

Over the last two days, she had read a lot about the superstitions that the people of this era had around the dead. And she didn’t approve of some of them at all.

Her expression was very serious, “I can understand why people are afraid of death because it’s something unknown to them. That’s only natural. But to be wary and afraid of the dead…even when their friends and family have died of unnatural causes, they have to pretend that nothing happened and not let others know about it…you call that respect toward the dead?”

“I don’t want to turn out like that. I want the souls of those who’ve died wrongful deaths to rest in peace. I want to seek justice for those who’ve died under suspicious circumstances.”

Her almond-shaped eyes were wide, her eyes clear and bright, “If I see this as an ordinary matter, it’s an ordinary matter that isn’t worth mentioning. But if I think it’s a very noble matter, then it becomes very important and should not be taken lightly.”

She did not say these words loudly, or slam the table or glare at anyone. She uttered these words quietly, but anyone could see that she was very serious.

Old Madam Li was touched by her response. She looked down at the table for a long time before saying, “Over the last 20 years, the emperor has increased law enforcement and has been very hard on crime, which is why this industry is facing a manpower crunch. But when it comes to coroners, the numbers have been impossible to increase. Do you know why?”

Song Caitang had not thought about this deeply before.

Theoretically speaking, if there were some demand, the supply would eventually increase.

She shook her head.

“It’s because of the two words, ‘despised work’. The label that this job has been given. What you think and what you do are not important. Even if the emperor and the court support this role, as long as society doesn’t think it’s a good job, then it’s not a good job. Only someone with absolutely no choice would want to take up this job. And if you take it up, you’ll have to be a coroner for life. When you go outside, you have to avoid people. When you eat, you have to avoid people. Even your grandchildren’s reputation will end up being affected.

The old lady spoke with a heavy heart, “You’re young, so even though it’s good to be bold, don’t underestimate the way society thinks and works.”

Her gaze flickered as she looked at Song Caitang’s innocent eyes. She suddenly felt bad and wanted to give up asking her for a favor.

Going down this path was too tough…wasn’t it nice to be a young lady? She could marry a good, honest man and have a few children…how nice.

Song Caitang could hear the bitterness in the old lady’s words. There was some sadness, some bitterness, as though she was helpless, as though she was tired. And as though…she had given in.

Old Madam Li must have gone through very tough times when she was young.

The society…women…

“This society is very harsh to women, so it won’t hurt for it to be a little harsher.” Song Caitang looked at Old Madam Li with a sparkle in her eyes, “I know you’re saying this for my own good, so I want you to know that I really like this job. I like it very much, and I’ve been trying to find a way to prove my capabilities. Your invitation and talk to me today has actually resolved my problem, and I’m very grateful.”

“You’ve really thought it through?”

“Yes, I have.”

“No regrets?”

“No regrets!”

Old Madam Li’s hand trembled a little as lay on the table.

It had been many years since she had met a young lady she liked so much. This girl wasn’t one who wasn’t clever or one who didn’t know how to scheme, or one who didn’t have any pride. Yet, she never tried to be manipulative, she was sincere and polite, and she even knew how to make an old person happy.

The world loved talking about how important filial piety was and how one should respect the elderly. But how many genuinely respected the elderly?

This girl was a rare gem.

This girl was also able to think straight, and she was certain that she wanted to go down this road, so why should she stop her from doing so? If she successfully stopped her from doing this, the girl would be so upset.

She was old and didn’t have much to do anyway, so she had a little extra energy to give. She was going to help this girl on this tough journey!

“It’s a deal,” She smiled at Song Caitang, “Head boldly to the court and examine all you want. This old lady here will support you and protect you all the way. If anyone wants to attack you, they’ve got to go through me first!”

Song Caitang broke into a delighted smile, “Thank you so much, Old Madam Li!”

Old Madam Li glanced at Auntie Liu, and Auntie Liu passed Song Caitang a name card.

“When you have the time, come and visit Old Madam. We don’t have any daughters in the house, and Old Madam is always so envious of families that do. If you could come over often, I’m sure she’ll be so happy that she’d eat an extra bowl of rice.”

Song Caitang was rather surprised.

So, Old Madam Li was not here just to get her to examine a dead body as a one-off thing and help her grandson, but because the old lady really liked her very much and was willing to support her all the way?

She suddenly felt like she wasn’t worthy of such support and that accepting it would seem like she had tricked an old lady into doing such a thing.

At the same time, this was a show of support from an elder, and it was not nice to refuse either. Besides, she could see that Old Madam Li was sincere and really liked her…

After pausing to think, Song Caitang smiled and accepted the name card, “I’ll visit you very often then. You can’t say I’m being annoying….”

“That’s a good girl.” Old Madam Li’s eyes crinkled as she smiled.

Just then, she recalled what happened earlier and said, “That pill you used to revive that young man just now…the people along the street are all calling it a magic pill.”

“It’s not that amazing. It’s just a pill that can get rid of foul air and open the passageways in the body, which I used out of desperation. It really isn’t all that magical.”

Song Caitang repeated what she had said earlier to Qingqiao and even took one out so that Old Madam Li could take a look.

Old Madam Li looked at it, held it up to her nose and sniffed it, asked a lot of questions about the symptoms it could heal, then finally nodded, “I see.”

Song Caitang put the pouch with the rest of these pills back into her bag, “So, you see, it’s not anything that special.”

They spoke for a while more before deciding to bid each other farewell. Old Madam Li said that once everything was ready, she would go and pick Song Caitang up. She also told Song Caitang not to go out during this time, and Song Caitang agreed readily. She then bowed to the old lady and excused herself.

After she had left, Old Madam Li stared at the pill for a long time, then instructed Auntie Liu, “She’s very young, and there are many things she doesn’t understand. She has no idea what sort of consequences this seemingly small item could have. Go down the street and talk to the people, don’t let them speak of this as a miracle or magic pill anymore.”

“Yes, Old Madam.”

Auntie Liu was about to walk away when she suddenly spotted a tall man walking down the street downstairs. She hurriedly called out to Old Madam Li, “Old Madam Li, look! Isn’t that Mr. Zhao Zhi?”

Old Madam Li looked out of the window and was surprised. That was him, alright.

But the first question in her mind wasn’t why this troublemaker was here. Instead, she wondered, “Was he also there when Caitang revived that young man earlier?”

Once Song Caitang reached the first floor, she quickly called for Qingqiao and walked briskly back to the blacksmith’s.

The sample she had been looking at was still there.

She was in too much of a hurry and nearly ran straight into a tall man.

His reaction was faster, so just before they collided, he nimbly moved to one side and avoided banging into her.

Song Caitang saw that she hadn’t hurt him and she was fine as well, so she quickly apologized and ran on.

Qingqiao was lagging behind. She had no idea that her Young Mistress could run this quickly!

Thinking that she might be able to use them while examining bodies, Song Caitang decided to bring home the other two samples that were ready. She also picked a few designs from her drawings and told Blacksmith Zhong to get these ready first, and she would get Qingqiao to collect them. If he couldn’t get them ready in time, that was alright too.

Once that was settled, she instructed Qingqiao to check if the wooden box she wanted was ready. If it was ready, bring it back. If it wasn’t ready yet, then…find something else of a similar size. But the other things she wanted had to be prepared in time.

Things like water, alcohol, vinegar, salt, spring onions, dried white plum blossoms, black atractylodes rhizomes, Chinese black locust plants, and so on.

Once everything had been settled, she was satisfied and was ready to head home.

And by a stroke of luck, she happened to spot First Madam Wu walking out from a jewelry shop.

Song Caitang raised her eyebrow, and she put her foot that was raised to enter her carriage down again. She picked up her skirt and smiled brightly at First Madam Wu. Her eyes were curved, and she showed off her pearly whites.

She wore such pretty, light colors next to a horse carriage. It was impossible for First Madam Wu to miss her.

And just one glance at her reminded First Madam Wu of how she had been so fiercely accused inside the coffin home that day.

Song Caitang just stood next to the carriage and didn’t say anything, but what she was saying with her stance and smile was clear. This was a reminder to bring her the money she was owed! If she was in a bad mood because of this, she was going to spill the beans!

First Madam Wu gnashed her teeth, then spun around and hopped into her own carriage.

What bad luck…

But this was money she had to hand over sooner or later, so it was best not to delay.

Song Caitang sensed something amiss when she got back.

The atmosphere in the house seemed…especially tense.

The maids bowed their heads especially low, the servants walked especially quickly and efficiently, and the aunties had especially stern expressions on their faces.

The entire place seemed very grim. It felt like even the leaves and dust didn’t dare to fall to the ground.

What was going on?

She had sent Qingqiao to run some errands, and she wasn’t back yet, while Huamei had attended to her all the way home and didn’t even dare to speak. They had just walked in, and she couldn’t have had any chance to ask the others what had happened.

Only Qinxiu, the maid left behind in the house, was alert enough to notice that Song Caitang was curious about what had happened, so she said, “Eldest Young Mistress lost her temper on the one in charge of the kitchen.”

The one in charge of the kitchen?

Song Caitang immediately thought of that bowl that she had seen in both the rooms of her grandmother and her aunt.

Not only did they have the same design, but they also carried the same medicinal smell.

Apparently, this was a bowl that the main kitchen used, and it was part of a larger set.

“She’s lost her temper…”

Song Caitang immediately knew what must have happened.