Chapter 53: Chapter 51: Left Behind
Mrs. Yao watched Gu Chengyuās fluent movements with great amazement. Is this really a peasant boy?
Since she entered, she had been observing this little child. Although born in a farming family, his manners were gentle and courteous. He did not devour food like a typical farm child, nor was he timid and fearful.
Now she could understand her husbandās intentions behind this decision, and the more she looked, the more she liked him.
While Gu Chengyu and Mrs. Yao each had their thoughts, Mr. Gu had already agreed with Doctor Li to visit the county in a few days.
It turned out that Doctor Li was an old acquaintance of the shopkeeper at Huichun Hall in the county. This ginseng could fetch a good price only in the county since there were many wealthy families there.
"Go to the county and find Manager Liu at Huichun Hall. Just mention my name, Li Yuanfeng, and Iām sure Manager Liu wonāt treat you poorly. I have patients that day, so I wonāt be able to accompany you."
"Thank you very much, Brother Li. By the way, will the ginseng spoil if left at home? Oh, thereās one more thing. Could you take a look at this? Xiao Bao mentioned seeing it in your yard, so we thought of picking it to sell for silver coins."
Mr. Gu took out a bit of wintergreen from his pocket and placed it on the table. Actually, Mr. Gu had hesitated before coming. He would feel at ease if Doctor Li confirmed the wintergreenās value, but he worried about not being able to protect the place where the wintergreen grew.
After much thought, he decided it was still better to ask.
Gu Chengyu was startled upon hearing about the wintergreen. Here it came! He needed to think of a way to cover up the lie. If all else failed, he could use the dream excuse again.
"Isnāt this wintergreen? I did dry it out, indeed. Xiao Bao has keen eyes, recognizing it to be a means to earn silver coins for the family at such a young age. Well done! Moreover, the ginseng needs a simple processing; at least, it needs to be dried. However, if itās only kept for two days, it should be fine. When selling to the medical hall, theyāll process it well."
Doctor Li was overjoyed. This little child always surprised him with his wisdom and good fortune, and he grew increasingly satisfied.
Gu Chengyu was relieved to find that Doctor Li had indeed dried wintergreen before. Since he recognized it, he would probably be able to sell it for silver coins.
"Brother Gu, this wintergreen, also known as winter honeysuckle, is an excellent remedy for clearing heat and detoxifying. Weāre located in the north, and there isnāt much wintergreen in this area, but the demand is high. So, pharmacies usually source it from the south, and wealthy families also use it to brew tea regularly. How much do you have? I can buy it here as well. Pharmacies typically purchase good ones at ninety coins per pound. Of course, that refers to dried flowers. Since yours are not yet dried, if you dry them and leave them for me, Iāll give you five more coins per pound, and the quality of these flowers is quite good."
Doctor Li couldnāt help but feel a bit envious. How did the Gu father and son always stumble upon such good medicinal ingredients? Perhaps the master was right; the fifth in the Gu Family truly seemed to be a person of good fortune.
"After bringing it back, we weighed it, and itās more than a hundred and sixty pounds, but Iām not sure how much it will weigh once dried."
"I guess itāll be around forty pounds. Leave me five pounds, I wonāt use much more. If kept too long, itāll become damp, infested, and lose its medicinal properties. Itās better to sell it to pharmacies that require large quantities. Your thirty to forty pounds are not much to them; the more, the better!"
Gu Chengyu observed that Doctor Li neither took advantage by valuing the ginseng low to keep for himself nor inquired about the location of the wintergreen. Such integrity was indeed commendable.
Suddenly, an idea sprouted in his mind. The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, though he would need to proceed gradually.
"Alright, Iāll deliver it to you in a couple of days. We really appreciate your help today! We need to return now as the work in the fields isnāt finished yet." Mr. Gu stood up, ready to take his leave. He could hardly contain his joy and was eager to go back and tell the childās mother.
"Itās almost noon. Why not stay and have a meal? Iāll ask my wife to prepare a couple of dishes, and we brothers can enjoy a drink together." Doctor Li tried to persuade Mr. Gu to stay.
"Yes, why not have a simple meal at our home? Itās just plain tea and simple food. Brother Gu, if you donāt mind, please eat with us before you leave," Mrs. Yao also urged.
"How could I mind? Of course not. I need to go back for drying flowers and thereās work in the fields. Before leaving, the childās mother had already prepared the meals. Iāll return now, and Iāll invite you for a drink next time."
Mr. Gu didnāt want to stay at the Li Family for a meal. Honestly, he was just a farming man, and he had eaten with Doctor Li before, but he didnāt find it any better.
Now, in the Li Family, he felt uncomfortable all over.
The Li Family seemed very particular, and Mrs. Yao seemed even more so. She spoke gently and was kind, but he just wasnāt used to it.
He preferred the straightforward nature of his own wife, even when she was throwing tantrums and causing disruption, he felt it was genuine.
Gu Chengyu didnāt know his fatherās thoughts about his mother. Otherwise, he would surely laugh and say his father was crazy out of love or that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Seeing he couldnāt persuade Mr. Gu to stay, Doctor Li stopped trying. Inviting villagers to stay for a meal typically involves a genuine need, unless thereās a real reason.
"If you really have to leave, why not let Xiao Bao stay? Itās usually just my wife and me at home, and it can be a bit quiet. Xiao Bao staying would make things livelier."
Doctor Li got up and noticed Gu Chengyu climbing down from the chair, a smile in his eyes.
"Uh? Xiao Bao? What do you think?" Mr. Gu was surprised that Doctor Li wanted to keep Xiao Bao. On reflection, maybe it was as Doctor Li said; the Li Family usually just had the couple, and it must be quite quiet.
However, he was a bit reluctant to part with Xiao Bao since he had never eaten at someone elseās house before. Besides, if he alone went back, would Jin Niang blame him?
"Then Iāll trouble Uncle Li and Aunt for the hospitality. Dad, Iāll stay at Uncle Liās house then! I want to watch him dry herbs. You can go back first!"
Gu Chengyu wanted to carry out his plan, and to do that, he needed to stay and build a good relationship.
Hearing Gu Chengyuās desire to stay and watch him dry herbs, Doctor Liās eyes lit up, and he eagerly said to Mr. Gu, "Since Brother Gu has matters to attend to, I wonāt keep you any longer. Iāll escort you back. Xiao Bao is safe here; Iāll make sure to return him to you unharmed."
With that, he walked outside, ready to see Mr. Gu off.
Mr. Gu followed Doctor Li to the courtyard gate, puzzled. Wait! Why did he just agree to this?
He quickly turned back to see Gu Chengyu standing in the courtyard, smiling with squinted eyes and waving at him, "Dad, Iāll come back myself this afternoon. You can go ahead!"
Then, the gate of the Li Familyās courtyard closed. Mr. Gu could only gaze at the closed door and sigh before heading home on his own.
After Mr. Gu left, Mrs. Yao went to the kitchen to prepare food, while Doctor Li took Gu Chengyu to see the herbs he was drying.