That night, the husband and wife argued ceaselessly, their words a torrent of discord. The following day, Miss Shao was helping Madam Jin with her toilette when she accidentally shattered a mirror. Enraged, Madam Jin seized Miss Shao by her hair and yanked violently, then lashed her repeatedly with a whip, delivering dozens of strokes in one furious burst. Chai Tingbin, witnessing this cruelty, could endure no longer. He burst into the room, snatched the whip from his wife’s hand, and turned it against Madam Jin’s cheek, lashing her mercilessly until her skin split and bled profusely. From that moment, the couple became irreconcilable enemies once more.

Chai Tingbin knew his wife’s narrow mind and thirst for vengeance; this humiliation, he was certain, would not pass lightly. To guard against her malice toward Miss Shao, he remained at home day after day, refusing to step outside. Madam Jin’s pent-up fury found no release, so she vented it upon the household maids, railing and beating them as a common habit.

Among the maids was one known for her cunning. After receiving a severe punishment from Madam Jin one time, she harbored a deep resentment. One evening when it was her turn to keep watch, Miss Shao quietly warned Chai Tingbin, “That maid’s face holds murder in her eyes; I fear her intentions are foul.” Chai Tingbin was skeptical, so he summoned the maid, feigning inquiry: “You have been acting suspiciously these past few days; what precisely are you planning?”

The maid, thinking her plot exposed, was instantly thrown into confusion. Chai Tingbin grew more suspicious, reaching out to search her. He found a dagger concealed upon her person and roared, “Bold servant girl! Carrying a sharp weapon—were you planning to assassinate the mistress?” The maid’s face turned deathly pale, her knees buckled, and she fell to the floor, begging for mercy.

Miss Shao intervened gently, “Though the maid’s offense is unforgivable, her scheme failed to materialize. If Elder Sister were to learn of this, she might beat her to death. Why not sell her to a wealthy household? Her life could be spared, and we could secure a sum of money.” Chai Tingbin agreed readily. Coincidentally, a wealthy merchant was seeking a concubine, and the arrangement was swiftly concluded; the merchant paid fifty taels and took the maid away.

Soon after, the matter reached Madam Jin’s ears, and she stormed in to demand an explanation, pointing at the absent concubine and cursing, “The maid attempted rebellion! Such a vile servant should have been beaten to death with clubs. What thoughts possessed you to let her go privately?” As she spoke, she produced a searing hot iron rod and pressed it firmly against Miss Shao’s cheek.

Miss Shao’s skin burned, and she cried out repeatedly in agony. Madam Jin, still unsatisfied, produced steel needles and thrust them into Miss Shao’s ribs and chest, stabbing her more than twenty times before finally stopping. With a cold sneer, she swept out of the room.

Upon hearing the news, Chai Tingbin was filled with righteous anger, clenching his fists and cursing, “Viperous she-devil! Such viciousness! I will go confront her now!” Miss Shao quickly stopped him, saying, “Your humble concubine’s fate is thin; this suffering was destined, and Elder Sister is not to blame. I have studied medicine; these minor wounds will heal with a bit of ointment. It is nothing.” She reached into her bosom, took out a packet of powder, and smoothed it over her cheek. Within a few days, the wound healed completely, leaving not even a scar.

That day, Miss Shao admired her reflection in the mirror, her expression joyful, and remarked to Chai Tingbin, “Elder Sister’s branding iron last time seems to have scorched away the gloom on my face. From this day forward, the bitter times are done, and I shall suffer no more torment.”

A month later, Madam Jin was suddenly struck by a strange malady. Her abdomen swelled like a drum, and she slept listlessly all day. Miss Shao, putting past grievances aside, nursed her with utmost care. Though Madam Jin’s heart was hard, she could not help but be moved, and a sense of shame began to stir within her.

Chai Tingbin summoned physicians for diagnosis. He brought in several different doctors in succession, but each one attributed the illness to “stagnant qi and constrained emotions.” Countless prescriptions were consumed, yet the condition showed no improvement. Miss Shao, observing from the periphery, remarked, “Eating a hundred more doses of these prescriptions won’t help.” Madam Jin paid no heed, continuing to order her servants to fill the prescriptions.

Miss Shao secretly prepared several traditional herbs, brewing them into a decoction and serving it to Madam Jin. After drinking the medicine, Madam Jin visited the latrine several times, and immediately her health was restored. She laughed and said, “Clever physician, were you not saying the prescriptions were useless? What do you say now?” Miss Shao smiled faintly and revealed the entire truth.

Madam Jin wept torrentially, confessing, “Good sister, I owe everything to you this time; otherwise, I… I would surely be nothing but bones and dust by now. From this day forward, you shall manage all matters great and small in this household.”

Before long, Miss Shao gave birth to a son. She was frequently ill after delivery, so Madam Jin, having truly reformed, took over her care, attending to her needs meticulously.

Not long afterward, Madam Jin contracted heart pain. The agony was unbearable, and her face turned a sickly blue-black. Miss Shao purchased several silver needles and applied one to Madam Jin, stopping the pain instantly. However, after about ten days, the malady returned. Madam Jin had to ask Miss Shao to use the needles again. One insertion brought relief for six or seven days, then the pain rebounded, a frustrating cycle.

One night, Madam Jin dreamed she arrived at a temple filled with deities and ghosts. A celestial being asked her, “Are you Jin Shi? Your sins are deep, and your natural lifespan is already spent. However, seeing that you have repented and turned toward good, your life will be temporarily spared. In the past, you pierced Shao Shi twenty-three times with needles; now Shao Shi has returned three needles. You still owe nineteen. When the debt is fully repaid, your illness will naturally be cured.”

The next day after their meal, Madam Jin suffered another attack, the pain intensifying. Miss Shao inserted a needle for her, but the effect was minimal. She frowned, saying, “It seems we must use a hot needle to pierce the vital points, searing the skin until it burns away for a full cure, but I fear Elder Sister cannot bear it.” Madam Jin recalled her dream. She reasoned, I still owe my sister nineteen more needles; the sooner they are done, the sooner I find release. With this thought, she declared, “I do not fear pain; prick away as much as you need, the more the better.”

Miss Shao smiled, “Healing with silver needles cannot be done haphazardly; the acupoints must be precise, and too many cannot be inserted at once.” Madam Jin insisted urgently, “Never mind the points, just give me nineteen needles.” Miss Shao shook her head, refusing. Madam Jin, having no other recourse, confessed everything, recounting her dream in detail.

Hearing this, Miss Shao dropped her objections and immediately located the correct acupoints, inserting nineteen needles into Madam Jin. Once the silver needles were withdrawn, Madam Jin’s illness was indeed cured and never returned.

Miss Shao’s son was named Chai Jun. He possessed unparalleled intelligence. At the age of fifteen, he passed the Imperial Examination and eventually rose to the rank of Hanlin Academician, bringing great honor to the entire family.