Chapter 138: Doctor Shen Makes a House Call

Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Doctor Shen Makes a House Call

Gu Dayou looked at the cloth bag in his hand, his eyes moist.

How could this child be so sincere, refusing to take any money?

He really had shared half of the profits; after all, it was Xiaoli’s method.

Unexpectedly, Xiaoli didn’t want his silver.

He just felt uneasy accepting it all.

Ever since he started selling the special mix, their family’s living conditions had improved. Most importantly, with money for medicine, his mother’s chronic ailment had significantly improved. She could even get out of bed and walk slowly on her own.

Laughter had returned to their once gloomy home.

His mother had even said that with the money earned this year, they would send Xiaoshuan to school next year.

Mother used to say, “All pursuits are inferior; only scholarship stands supreme.”

It wasn’t about achieving great fame, but being literate meant one could help with accounts and avoid being cheated.

Seeing Gu Dayou looking so conflicted and unsure, Gu Qingli said, “Uncle, I’ll take a little then.”

“Ah, good.” Gu Dayou’s expression immediately relaxed, and he quickly handed over the bag.

Gu Qingli took the bag and removed a small piece of broken silver, probably about half a tael.

She returned the bag to Gu Dayou, saying, “Uncle, in the future, whatever you earn, you keep it yourself. This special mix is simple; you won’t be the only one who can make it.”

Gu Dayou nodded repeatedly. What Xiaoli said was true. Only a month after he started selling his special mix, people in the neighboring village had already figured out how to make it.

But no matter what, he would always be indebted to Xiaoli for her kindness.

“You should head back now,” Gu Qingli urged, afraid he might do something rash in his emotional state.

After speaking, she returned to the house and had Xiao Yunjing see him off.

「Later that afternoon」

They were preparing to go hunting in the mountains when a guest arrived.

The visitor was none other than Doctor Shen from Serenity Hall.

Doctor Shen entered the room, sat down, and said with a chuckle, “Well, well, you girl, it’s been so long since you last visited Serenity Hall!”

In the main hall, Ms. Jiang, Ms. Yang, and Xiao Yunjing were all present. Hearing this, their faces collectively darkened.

“Doctor Shen, are you implying that visiting Serenity Hall is necessarily a good thing?” Gu Qingli’s mouth twitched.

“Why wouldn’t it be a good thing? People from your village come to sell medicinal materials every day. Isn’t that a good thing?” Doctor Shen, oblivious to their dark expressions, continued to address Gu Qingli cheerfully.

“So, you didn’t come just to chat with me, did you?”

“You crafty little girl! Of course, I came for the medicinal materials in your village. I heard many families here have planted them, and your family has the most.”

Gu Qingli looked at Xiao Yunjing.

This?

The medicinal materials in their fields were intended for their own use, not for sale.

This Doctor Shen, much like the Village Chief, had a keen nose; he’d sniffed out the opportunity and hurried over.

This year, the Gu Clinic needed a large quantity of medicinal materials. Wuxin had traveled and established Medical Clinics throughout Daqian, but not many manors had been purchased to grow supplies.

Moreover, some regions in the Daqian Kingdom were unsuitable for cultivating medicinal materials. For instance, the north experienced only four or five months a year without ice and snow; the rest of the time, it was a frozen wasteland. And the demand for medicine there was very high. Furthermore, Xiao Yunjing was now preparing to take Beijing County, and Beijiang Kingdom was currently at war, so the amount of medicinal materials needed was enormous. Fortunately, they weren’t short of food there; otherwise, they would truly be lacking everything.

Xiao Yunjing nodded at her.

Did that nod mean he agreed to sell to Doctor Shen?

There were about one hundred mu of land on the back mountain; that was no small amount.

She didn’t understand.

“What’s wrong, girl? Is there a problem? The price is negotiable,” Doctor Shen said quickly, seeing her hesitation and assuming it was about money.

Gu Qingli waved her hand, unsure what to say. “AHEM… Doctor Shen, how about this: you go to the Village Chief’s house first. Let the Village Chief take the lead and gather all the farming households in the village that have planted medicinal materials. You can settle on a price, and they can either deliver them to town together, or you can come collect them. What do you think?”

She glanced at Ms. Yang beside her.

Ms. Yang understood immediately and said with a smile, “Doctor Shen, I think my sister-in-law’s idea is very reasonable. Shall I take you there?”

Doctor Shen looked from Gu Qingli to Ms. Yang and understood.

They didn’t necessarily have to sell their large stock of medicinal materials to him; he had been presumptuous.

He figured they probably needed to discuss it among themselves.

He wasn’t angry and stood up, still smiling, “Then I’ll trouble Ms. Yang.”

“No trouble at all, no trouble at all. This way, Doctor Shen,” Ms. Yang said, leading Doctor Shen to the Village Chief’s house.

“Girl, you must save those medicinal materials for me!” Doctor Shen called out as he was leaving the house.

Gu Qingli watched him go.

Is this a forced sale?

Just as Gu Qingli was about to ask Xiao Yunjing, Ms. Wang came out with several roasted sweet potatoes.

She put down the bowl, saying, “Everyone, come and try these! The taste is absolutely divine!” She then picked one up and began eating it, blowing on it to cool it down.

“Delicious! PHEW… so hot… delicious!”

“Look at you, such a glutton,” Ms. Jiang shot her a look, then also picked one up, blew on it, peeled it, and started eating.

Gu Qingli smiled. She saved one for Ms. Yang, gave one to Xiao Yunjing, and took one for herself.

“Soft, waxy, sweet, and delicious.” Gu Qingli tore off the skin and took a bite. Though she didn’t usually like sweet potatoes, she couldn’t help but praise this one.

Irrigated with spiritual spring water, its taste was indeed different.

Xiao Yunjing also nodded. “It is indeed good.”

These sweet potatoes not only had a high yield but could also be eaten raw or cooked. A child could get full from just one.

“Yes, they’re good. If everyone could eat these, so many people wouldn’t starve to death each winter,” Ms. Jiang sighed. “It has been eleven years since I came to this village. Only last year did no one starve to death; in previous years, many people died of hunger.”

Especially the elderly; every winter, making it through was like cheating death.

“Don’t worry, Mom. In the future, not so many people will starve to death,” Gu Qingli said, sitting beside Ms. Jiang and taking her arm with a reassuring smile.

Besides anything else, as long as she wanted to save people, the food she had requisitioned from Dean Lin was still in her space. Moreover, after the autumn harvest, she had sent a message to Wushuang, asking her to stockpile grain, cloth, and cotton. Also, since Da Bai returned, he had been hunting and storing prey daily. Whenever she had time, she would go up the mountain to collect it into her space. She had accumulated at least ten thousand catties of meat. In this place, having food and clothing was paramount.

“I hope so,” Ms. Jiang sighed.

“Oh, you’re all eating! Is there any for me?” Ms. Yang asked as she came through the door.

“It’s on the table,” Ms. Wang pointed.

Ms. Yang immediately went to the table, picked up the remaining sweet potato, and started eating.

“Mmm, roasted sweet potatoes like this are much tastier than when they’re cooked with rice,” Ms. Yang commented as she ate.

Ms. Wang nodded. “They’re much sweeter this way. We should always eat them like this from now on.”

“Eat, eat, eat! That’s all you know!” Ms. Jiang immediately chided them. “Those are seeds your sister-in-law is saving for the village for next year!”

“Ah? Really? We didn’t know! We won’t eat any more,” Ms. Yang and Ms. Wang exclaimed in surprise, speaking in unison.

Ms. Jiang snorted coldly. “HUMPH! At least you have some sense.”

Ms. Yang and Ms. Wang exchanged glances.

What was wrong with their mother-in-law today?

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