Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Selling Herbal Medicine
Gu Qingli had put a notoginseng plant from her Space into the basket.
She wanted to see the character of the people in this drugstore. If it was good enough, they could have a long-term cooperation. Secondly, other than notoginseng, the rest of the medicinal herbs were not valuable.
As expected, the Medicine Apprentice saw the notoginseng plant. He picked it up, examined it carefully, and confirmed it was notoginseng. He promptly went to get the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper, who was also a doctor, came over after seeing a patient, glanced at the herb, and confirmed that the notoginseng was genuine.
He took the notoginseng to Gu Qingli and asked, âMiss, did you dig this notoginseng yourself?â
Gu Qingli nodded. âIt was dug up on the mountain behind our village.â
The shopkeeper nodded. âIf you find more of these in the future, bring them to us. Weâll buy them.â
Notoginseng has a wide range of uses, and its medicinal effects are excellent. Itâs just very difficult to find. This young lady is quite fortunate.
âAlright.â
âDo you not recognize medicinal herbs, Miss?â
âMhm.â
The shopkeeper nodded.
Indeed, just now he had glimpsed some weeds mixed in with the medicinal herbs; they didnât seem to be intentionally added.
He then turned around, found an old, slightly damaged book from underneath the table, and handed it to Gu Qingli. âTake this book back home and read it, girl. Donât bring any more useless plants next time.â
Gu Qingli smiled awkwardly.
If she didnât act this way, how could she explain suddenly knowing medicinal herbs?
âThank you, Shopkeeper.â Gu Qingli took the book and sincerely thanked him.
Dashuang, watching from the side, was also very happy. The shopkeeper actually gave his sister a book on medicinal herbs! Now the three siblings could all learn from it.
Eventually, the medicinal herbs were given a uniform price of six wen per jin. There were a total of twenty jin of herbs, and the notoginseng plant was worth four hundred wen, totaling five hundred and twenty wen.
Gu Qingli then bought three packets of medicine for Ms. Wu, which cost sixty wen, leaving her with four hundred and eighty wen.
The siblings left the drugstore happily.
âSecond Sister, you are so amazing!â Dashuang exclaimed. He had never seen even a few copper coins in his life, let alone this much money.
Gu Qingli rubbed his small head again. âWhen your sister has money in the future, not only will we cure Motherâs illness, but we will also send you and Xiaoshuang to school to learn and become amazing.â
âReally?â Dashuang asked in disbelief, his large eyes shining brightly.
It wasnât that he didnât believe his Second Sisterâs words, but that he, too, could go to school!
Ever since his two older cousins from his paternal uncleâs family started school, his grandmother doted on them as if they were the apples of her eye, and even his own father favored them.
âMhm, mhm, your sister will never go back on her word,â Gu Qingli said, holding Dashuangâs hand and nodding seriously.
âSecond Sister, youâre the best! When I grow up, Iâll definitely protect you and not let anyone bully you again!â As he spoke, the little fellow clenched his small fists and waved them in the air.
Second Sister said she wouldnât go back on her word. Even if she did, he would never go back on his!
âMhm, mhm, your sister is waiting for you to grow up.â
As they spoke, the siblings arrived at the entrance of the bun shop. The aroma of buns filled Dashuangâs nostrils, and he unconsciously salivated, giving Gu Qingli a silly grin.
Gu Qingli tapped his little nose. âIf you want to eat, just say so. Your sister has money; we can buy some.â
âHeh-heh, then, Second Sister, can we buy meat buns? Weâve never eaten them before,â Dashuang asked quietly with a giggle, scratching his head. His cautious demeanor made Gu Qingliâs heart ache.
âAlright.â
Gu Qingli led Dashuang to the front of the steamer and asked the owner, who was kneading dough, âOwner, how much are your buns?â
Without stopping his work, the owner replied, âPlain buns are one wen each, and meat buns are two wen each.â
âOh.â Gu Qingli counted out twenty copper coins from her money pouch and said, âThen give us ten meat buns.â
The owner immediately stopped, wiped his hands, picked out ten meat buns, and wrapped them in a clean white cloth.
He exchanged the buns for the money.
Gu Qingli noted that the white cloth used to wrap the buns was washed clean. She took one out and handed it to Dashuang, whose eyes were practically burning with anticipation.
Dashuang carefully took the bun with both hands and took a bite. The meaty aroma filled his taste buds.
This is the most delicious thing in the world!
he thought.
After quickly finishing one, he licked the oil off his fingers and sighed contentedly, âSecond Sister, the meat buns are so delicious!â
Gu Qingli also finished one.
The taste is pretty good,
she mused,
similar to a certain famous brand of buns.
She took out another bun and offered it to Dashuang. Dashuang, however, waved his hands repeatedly. âSecond Sister, Iâm full. Letâs save them for Father, Mother, and Xiaoshuang when we get home.â
âTake it. When we finish these, your sister will buy more. Today, youâll eat your fill.â
âButââ
âBut nothing! If we take them home, do you think weâd be able to eat them in peace?â
After hesitating for a moment, Dashuang took the bun and started eating.
Both siblings ate three meat buns each before their stomachs were finally full. They looked at each other and smiled.
Afterward, Gu Qingli bought ten more buns and carefully packed them away before she took Dashuangâs hand and headed home.
Today wasnât a market day. Apart from the permanent shops, nothing else was open, so there wasnât much to see.
Besides, even if they browsed, it would be for nothing. They couldnât buy anything to take back; if they did, Ms. Hua would just confiscate it all.
âSecond Sister, arenât you going to buy a dress for your wedding?â Dashuang asked. He knew Second Sister wouldnât have any dowry when she got married.
Going to the Xiao Family without any dowry⊠I wonder how theyâll treat her? Poor Second Sister! Iâm still too young to help her with anything.
Gu Qingli shook her head and poked his little noggin.
Such a little kid, worrying about my wedding gown!
âKnowing Grandmotherâs temperament,â she said, âif she saw I had money for a wedding gown, what do you think sheâd do?â
Dashuang slapped his forehead. âShe would definitely take the money from our herbs!â
âExactly. So, every time we sell herbs, weâll use the money to buy medicine for Mother. Weâll hide the rest. After Iâm married, Iâll find other ways to earn money. Next year, after the New Year, Iâll send you and Xiaoshuang to school. Do you think sheâll dare to come to the Xiao Familyâs house to rob me then?â
Dashuang furrowed his brows again. âSecond Sister, after you marry into the Xiao Family, will they allow you to send us to school? Maybe itâs better not to. Iâll save money and go later.â
âHehe, youâre young but so astute. Of course, your sister will make them agree. Doesnât Xiao Third have nephews? If anyone wants to study, weâll send them all together.â
Dashuang thought his Second Sisterâs idea was good, and his face finally broke into a smile. âOkay! Then, whenever we have free time, weâll help Second Sister go up the mountain to dig for medicinal herbs.â
âAlright.â
Hand in hand, the siblings returned home. On the way, while Dashuang wasnât paying attention, Gu Qingli put the buns into her Space.
ăMeanwhile, Xiao Yunjing had packed his things and headed for the mountains.ă
This time, he wanted to hunt a wild boar. The restaurants in the county town loved to buy wild game, and a large wild boar would be valuable.
The Gu familyâs second daughter is getting married, and they definitely wonât provide her with a wedding gown or dowry. In that case, Iâll provide them.
This time, he was well-prepared and brought enough realgar, determined not to let what happened last time occur again.
Xiao Yunjing entered the depths of the mountain as if it were his own backyard. He moved with agile steps through the forest, sometimes quickening his pace, sometimes slowing, sometimes walking, sometimes pausing.
As the sky began to darken, he still hadnât found any prey.
Suddenly, a faint sound reached himâRUSTLE, RUSTLE, RUSTLE⊠Xiao Yunjing perked up his ears and listened for a while. A smile appeared on his face, and he quickly headed towards the source of the sound.
Although he moved quickly, he made no noise.
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