1 JIN(Catty) = 600 gram(1.32277 pound)
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As a standard earldom with a population of several tens of thousands, Sardinson County naturally had its share of talents from various professions.
Take doctors, for instance. Aside from Kama—the one who failed to treat patients and ended up beheaded after fleeing—there were several other doctors in the three towns. Even some larger villages had people knowledgeable in medicine. Normally, if the tenants had any health issues, they would seek help from these individuals. Though major illnesses might not be fully cured, minor ailments are often easily treated.
This time, Wei Wei had summoned the more reputable doctors from across the territory. She wanted to evaluate their medical skills.
At first, the summoned doctors thought the Countess must be feeling unwell. They hurriedly packed up their tools and rushed to the castle, only to find that not only had they been called, but several of their colleagues had too. This made them even more anxious, wondering if the Countess was gravely ill.
The last time such a large group of doctors had been summoned was when the old Earl's father and elder brother had passed away!
So, was the Countess seriously ill? Wasn't she rumored to be skilled in medicine herself?
The news that Wei Wei could practice medicine had spread throughout Sardinson after a smallpox outbreak in the castle and the recent explosion that broke Raymond's leg. Though many remained skeptical—especially the doctors, who didn't believe a young noblewoman could possess any real medical expertise—they were still very concerned. After all, their standing with the Earl could be affected by whether they were needed to treat members of the castle household, potentially bringing them generous fees and elevated prestige.
Despite their usual resentment toward nobles, commoners still yearned to associate with the upper class. A tailor making clothes for nobility became famous; a doctor treating nobles was seen as more skilled than his peers.
However, the Earl had always been in excellent health. Neither he nor anyone in the castle had needed medical attention over the past year or two—at least, none that the doctors had heard about through their private gossip networks.
As for obtaining insider information from the castle, the servants had all been thoroughly trained by the steward. To keep their jobs, none dared leak even a hint of their masters' affairs, making it impossible to glean any useful rumors.
"...So maybe the rumor that the Countess knows medicine is fake?"
Waiting in the grand hall, with no servants around, the gathered doctors huddled together and whispered amongst themselves, keeping a wary eye on the entrances in case anyone overheard something they shouldn't.
Most doubted the rumors, but the young doctor who had fled from treating smallpox last year had a different opinion. He recalled how, after he fled in fear, the castle hadn't summoned any other doctors. And it had been the Countess herself who had cared for the smallpox patients—including young Lady Caroline, who, despite her frail health and low chances of survival, had recovered under her care.
At that time, information about the castle was still relatively easy to obtain. The young doctor had worried that his cowardice might provoke the Earl's wrath and had deliberately kept an eye on the situation. He confirmed that only a few had caught the highly contagious disease and that the Countess had personally ensured their recovery.
However, admitting that he had fled in fear was extremely embarrassing, so he had never shared this story with others. No one asked him either, since he was the youngest and least respected among the doctors; he had only been summoned last time because he lived closest to the castle.
"If the Countess is sick, and we can't cure her, will the Earl behead us out of anger?"
That was their biggest fear. After all, the old Earl had executed the doctor who failed to save his son—mainly because the doctor had fled, enraging the grief-stricken Earl. But outsiders didn't know the full story. To them, it was simply a chilling precedent.
And now the Countess was pregnant too. A single mistake could cost both mother and child—a double tragedy.
Fortunately, they soon realized their worries were unfounded. The supposedly ailing Countess was perfectly healthy.
Wei Wei entered the hall accompanied by her maids. Though she was more than three months pregnant, her figure hadn't changed much yet. Hidden beneath layers of winter clothing, there was no visible difference.
The moment the doctors saw her bright complexion and vibrant energy, they knew she was in excellent health—better than most people.
"I have called you all here today to inform you of something," Wei Wei said, sitting regally upon the lord's throne in the hall. She had chairs brought for the doctors as well. "You must have heard by now about Sardinson's plans to build a new city. It's true. Construction has already begun, and within a few years, the new city will be established."
Standing nervously before a noble was the usual practice, so being allowed to sit filled the doctors with a secret thrill—something to boast about when they returned home.
One of the senior doctors at the front cautiously asked, "Yes, my Lady, we have heard the news. But... what does it have to do with us?"
"A hospital will be built in the new city," Wei Wei said straightforwardly. "A hospital requires many doctors—good doctors. That's why I summoned you."
Wei Wei intended to open a hospital, and doctors were essential. Those gathered here were the best Sardinson currently had, but it was still far from enough. And frankly, their medical skills weren't entirely up to her standards.
Her plan was to first assess their abilities, and then, over the course of the winter, open a medical training course to improve their skills.
For now, she didn't mention the training course. Instead, she began testing their knowledge.
She called upon one doctor at a time, asking about their specialties and posing increasingly detailed and complex medical questions. Despite being put on the spot, none of the doctors showed any anger.
They now understood: that the Countess was selecting candidates. Though the hospital was still just a plan, securing a position would mean working directly for the Countess, which promised excellent pay and possibly other benefits.
Thus, everyone tried their best to answer loudly and confidently, hoping to make a good impression.
But as Wei Wei's questions became more difficult, many struggled to answer.
"You may discuss amongst yourselves and give me a collective answer," Wei Wei said, sipping her brown sugar ginger tea to soothe her dry throat. She had thoughtfully provided tea for the doctors too.
With her permission, the doctors immediately clustered together in a heated discussion.
Wei Wei's current question was about how to treat scarlet fever—an acute respiratory infection common among children and teenagers. Given the current level of European medicine, the mortality rate was extremely high. In China, traditional medicine had specific remedies, but in Europe, most doctors viewed it as a death sentence and relied solely on the patient's natural resilience.
Thus, deep down, these doctors believed the disease was incurable. But because Wei Wei had asked, and because their prospects were on the line, none dared say so openly.
Finally, the young doctor—the one who had fled the smallpox outbreak—spoke up, seeing that the group was getting nowhere.
"Countess, I have heard your medical skills are exceptional. May I ask how you would treat such a disease?"
He had hit the nail on the head.
Everyone else fell silent, turning eagerly toward Wei Wei, both curious to see if she truly knew medicine and desperate to find an answer.
Wei Wei nodded and gently began explaining the treatment she had recently developed, based on substitute medications:
"First and foremost, strict quarantine is essential—scarlet fever is highly contagious. Proper isolation must be ensured…"
She went on to describe in detail the entire treatment process, even specifying the quantities for each medicine, with no hint of secrecy.
At first, the doctors listened skeptically. But as she continued, their expressions changed. They were all seasoned physicians, and even without trying the prescription, they could tell that her remedy was accurate and highly effective.
By the time she finished, they were practically desperate to memorize every word, wishing they had paper and pen to write it down. They knew that such a prescription was priceless, yet the Countess had freely shared it without concern for secrecy.
After a brief pause, Wei Wei announced her true intention:
"I plan to open a medical training course this winter, teaching techniques from the Eastern Silk Kingdom. Those interested may stay and learn."
Even without seeing her perform surgery, based solely on her prescription and reputation, the doctors were convinced of her skill.
Some also realized: that joining the training course might lead to even more precious medical knowledge!
Immediately, one doctor stood up to volunteer, followed quickly by the others. Though it was a bit awkward for these older men to study under a young noblewoman, no one was foolish enough to pass up such an opportunity.
They were genuinely curious about Eastern medicine too.
Thus, the training course quickly began. Wei Wei devoted two hours a day to teaching them—not traditional acupuncture or detailed meridian theories, which would require years of study, but a system combining Chinese and Western methods, emphasizing medication and surgery. Later on, she would even have them practice dissection on frogs and rabbits.
But that was for the future.
Shortly after the training course started, Butler Barton came to consult Wei Wei about another issue.
Every year, at the end of the year, the lord of the territory was supposed to host a feast to reward all the workers—an event eagerly anticipated by everyone. Even slaves could eat their fill on that day.
Last year, Felix had taken Wei Wei and Dolores to the capital, so Butler Barton had handled the feast. But this year, with the masters at home—especially with the Countess—this responsibility naturally fell to Wei Wei.
The key issue was that the guest list had grown dramatically.
Traditionally, only the manor's serfs and a few select freedmen were invited. But now, with Felix's factories and construction projects, thousands more workers were technically eligible.
Including the original thousand serfs, plus another thousand slaves, and about five to six thousand new residents, the total workforce exceeded eight thousand.
"And we mustn't forget the thousand serfs from Slot."
If they invited everyone, there would be nearly ten thousand guests.
The castle simply couldn't accommodate that many people, nor could they provide enough food without depleting their grain reserves. And holding an outdoor feast was unthinkable with the heavy winter snow.
"So, there will be no banquet this year. Instead, we'll offer other benefits," Wei Wei discussed the matter with Felix.
In previous years, the feast prepared a large amount of food, but the dishes were quite simple—just enough to fill everyone's stomachs. Organizing it was tedious and time-consuming. Back then, the tenants were happy just to have something to eat, but now, with life getting better, a basic meal wouldn't satisfy them anymore. Rather than working hard only to disappoint, it would be better to offer something more meaningful.
Wei Wei proposed giving everyone who worked for them a day off and an extra month's salary.
The serfs who farmed didn't have a wage system, but they could still be given gifts—such as meat, flour, and other supplies—with each household receiving a share. Additionally, on the day off, the serfs would be allowed to freely leave the estate and move about without having to pay exit taxes.
Originally, Wei Wei planned to do this on New Year's Day, as part of the New Year celebrations. However, compared to the New Year, Westerners valued Christmas more highly—even though formal Christmas traditions weren't widespread yet. Nevertheless, people would typically attend mass around this time. After thinking it over, she decided to set the holiday for December 25th.
At first, the news that the castle would cancel the traditional year-end feast deeply disappointed many tenants, who had eagerly anticipated it. But once the announcement about the holiday and bonus pay came out, the disappointment disappeared instantly.
Getting to eat at the castle was nice, but how could it compare to an extra month's salary?
Not!
Even the lowest-paid worker earned at least one silver coin a month. One silver coin could buy a dozen chickens! With that money, they could purchase enough meat, vegetables, and white bread to throw a real family feast at home—and still have money left over.
If they had simply attended the castle feast, they might have been lucky to get some bean porridge or a thin meat-flavored soup. For the cost of a few big copper coins, the whole family could eat their fill, but it couldn't compare to hosting their hearty meal.
So, when the bonuses were announced, no one minded the cancellation of the feast anymore.
Many families began planning: on their day off, they would prepare a special meal at home, gather the family around the fireplace, and celebrate together—much more comfortable than freezing outside.
Meanwhile, the tenants of both Sardinson and Slot also received New Year's gifts from the castle.
The term "New Year's gift" was coined by Wei Wei. She was used to calling it that, and once others heard it, they found it fitting and adopted it as well. From now on, it would become a lasting tradition in Paddington.
Since this was the first year, preparations weren't perfect. Wei Wei could only have the stewards deliver two pounds of cured meat, two pounds of wheat, and a piece of candy to each serf family.
The gifts weren't much, but for the serfs, they were extremely precious.
And even better—the Countess had decreed that on December 25th, they could leave the manor without paying any tax.
People immediately began planning:
Some would take the opportunity to sell goods they had stored at home; others wanted to buy household necessities; some simply wanted to go out and explore, having never left the estate before.
Normally, serfs had to pay a head tax to leave the manor, which discouraged casual trips. To buy necessities, villagers would pool money and send one person out to avoid paying too many taxes.
Many had lived their entire lives without ever leaving the manor, especially the children.
In the past two years, many freedmen had settled around the estate. Their children attended school alongside the serfs' children, often sharing stories about bustling Dingle Town—how lively and exciting it was, full of delicious food and fun games.
The serf children, hearing these tales, envied them terribly and often begged their parents to take them to Dingle Town.
But the extra tax made outings rare.
Now, finally free to leave without paying, the children practically clung to their parents, pleading to be taken along.
The adults agreed readily:
"Of course! We'll take you with us this time. The whole family will go together!"
In the past, poor roads and harsh conditions made traveling with children difficult.
But now, thanks to the newly paved main roads—especially the one between Sardinson Castle and Dingle Town—travel was easy.
There were even carriages operating regularly along the route.
For a small fee, families could catch a ride, making the trip much more convenient.
Normally, they might have hesitated at the carriage fare, but this time, with their holiday gifts—meat, wheat, and candy—they were feeling wealthy.
Their good moods made them generous; the tiny carriage fare didn't seem like a big deal anymore.
Many families were determined to pack up and head out together for a proper outing.
Meanwhile, the temporary government of Dingle Town received advance notice from the castle.
They were instructed to expand the farmers' market temporarily and to prepare safety measures for the big day, ensuring no accidents occurred.
For the government staff, this was a valuable opportunity to practice large-scale event management, and they threw themselves into the task, eager to complete the Earl's orders perfectly.
The merchants in Dingle quickly caught wind of the opportunity too.
The castle was giving all the workers a day off and bonus pay. The freedmen, the craftsmen, the factory workers—everyone would have time and money to spend.
This was a golden business opportunity!
Merchants began stockpiling goods and setting up attractive displays, with some even planning special discounts for the day.
They were confident that business would boom.
Indeed, on the morning of December 25th—still without any formal "Christmas" designation—the roads from the manor were filled with heavily loaded carts packed with people.
Families, carrying bundles of goods, streamed toward Dingle Town as if heading to a grand fair.
Among them were even a few slaves.
Though fewer in number, slaves had also received New Year's gifts—less than the serfs, but still unprecedented.
In the past, the idea of a slave-owning anything private was unthinkable.
This time, not only were slaves given the day off, but those who had behaved well were allowed to leave the estate to visit Dingle—though they had to travel in groups, and patrols in the town would keep a close eye on them to prevent escapes. (Though honestly, if they ran away, most people thought they would only be making life harder for themselves.)
Normally, even if slaves were allowed to walk around, they had no money to spend.
But this year, selected slaves were rewarded with half a silver coin each, a personal bonus for their good behavior.
The money was declared their private property, free to use as they pleased, without fear of confiscation.
For many of them, it was the first time in their lives they had possessed personal wealth.
When they first received those few large copper coins, some slaves burst into tears on the spot, overwhelmed.
Though some initially wanted to treasure the coins forever, in the end, they decided to spend it—on food or other small items.
For slaves, anything that could be eaten or used was truly theirs.