Learning:
The Journey of a Lifetime
A Cloud Chamber of the Mind

2006 Literature Notebook

Mrs. Hueng. [10] Widow Jin's sister, a poor relation of the Jia family.

Widow Jin. [10] Jokey Jin's mother.

You-shi. [10] wife of Cousin Zhen, mother of Qin-shi.

Cousin Zhen. [3, 10] Son of Jia Jing, acting head of the senior (Ning-guo) branch of the Jia family.

Zhang You-shi. [10] A doctor.

Jia Jing. [3, 10] Cousin Zhen's father, living in retirement outside the city.

Jia Qin-shi. [3, 5, 10] young wife of Jia Rong of the Ning-gue mansion of the Jia family.

Jia Rong [3, 6, 10] 16 year old son of Jia Zhen, of the Ning-guo mansion, husband of Qin-shi.

Mrs. Hueng visits Widow Jin who tells her about the fight at the school. Mrs. Huang says she will confront Qin Zhong's sister, Qin-shi, about Qin Zhong's role in the fight (as told by Jokey Jin). However she soon changes her mind when she talks with You-shi and learns that Qin-shi is not feeling well.

No one can determine the cause of Qin-shi's lassitude and everyone is worried. Some think she may be pregnant, others that she is suffering from a fatal disease. Cousin Zhen indicates that he has heard of another doctor, Zhang You-shi, who will come to examine Qin-shi.

Cousin Zhen and You-shi then discuss the arrangements for Jia Jing's birthday. There will be a two-day party, but he will not be attending.

Dr. Zhang arrives the next day and takes Qin-shi's temperature. From this he says she is suffering from some disease and prescribes some herbal medicine. Jia Rong is pleased that the doctor is so knowledgeable.

One gets an insight into the state of medicine in the 16 century. Basically it is applied epidemiology.