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, "Miss, did you dig this notoginseng yourself?"
Gu Qingli nodded. "It was dug up on the mountain behind our village."
The shopkeeper nodded. "If you find more of these in the future, bring them to us. We'll buy them." Notoginseng has a wide range of uses, and its medicinal effects are excellent. It's just very difficult to find. This young lady is quite fortunate.
"Alright."
"Do you not recognize medicinal herbs, Miss?"
"Mhm."
The shopkeeper nodded. Indeed, just now he had glimpsed some weeds mixed in with the medicinal herbs; they didn't 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. "Take this book back home and read it, girl. Don't bring any more useless plants next time."
Gu Qingli smiled awkwardly. If she didn't act this way, how could she explain suddenly knowing medicinal herbs?
"Thank you, Shopkeeper." 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.
"Second Sister, you are so amazing!" 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. "When your sister has money in the future, not only will we cure Mother's illness, but we will also send you and Xiaoshuang to school to learn and become amazing."
"Really?" Dashuang asked in disbelief, his large eyes shining brightly. It wasn't that he didn't believe his Second Sister's words, but that he, too, could go to school!
Ever since his two older cousins from his paternal uncle's family started school, his grandmother doted on them as if they were the apples of her eye, and even his own father favored them.
"Mhm, mhm, your sister will never go back on her word," Gu Qingli said, holding Dashuang's hand and nodding seriously.
"Second Sister, you're the best! When I grow up, I'll definitely protect you and not let anyone bully you again!" As he spoke, the little fellow clenched his small fists and waved them in the air. Second Sister said she wouldn't go back on her word. Even if she did, he would never go back on his!
"Mhm, mhm, your sister is waiting for you to grow up."
As they spoke, the siblings arrived at the entrance of the bun shop. The aroma of buns filled Dashuang's nostrils, and he unconsciously salivated, giving Gu Qingli a silly grin.
Gu Qingli tapped his little nose. "If you want to eat, just say so. Your sister has money; we can buy some."
"Heh-heh, then, Second Sister, can we buy meat buns? We've never eaten them before," Dashuang asked quietly with a giggle, scratching his head. His cautious demeanor made Gu Qingli's heart ache.
"Alright."
Gu Qingli led Dashuang to the front of the steamer and asked the owner, who was kneading dough, "Owner, how much are your buns?"
Without stopping his work, the owner replied, "Plain buns are one wen each, and meat buns are two wen each."
"Oh." Gu Qingli counted out twenty copper coins from her money pouch and said, "Then give us ten meat buns."
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, "Second Sister, the meat buns are so delicious!"
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. "Second Sister, I'm full. Let's save them for Father, Mother, and Xiaoshuang when we get home."
"Take it. When we finish these, your sister will buy more. Today, you'll eat your fill."
"But—"
"But nothing! If we take them home, do you think we'd be able to eat them in peace?"
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 Dashuang's hand and headed home.
Today wasn't a market day. Apart from the permanent shops, nothing else was open, so there wasn't much to see. Besides, even if they browsed, it would be for nothing. They couldn't buy anything to take back; if they did, Ms. Hua would just confiscate it all.
"Second Sister, aren't you going to buy a dress for your wedding?" Dashuang asked. He knew Second Sister wouldn't have any dowry when she got married. Going to the Xiao Family without any dowry... I wonder how they'll treat her? Poor Second Sister! I'm 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!
"Knowing Grandmother's temperament," she said, "if she saw I had money for a wedding gown, what do you think she'd do?"
Dashuang slapped his forehead. "She would definitely take the money from our herbs!"
"Exactly. So, every time we sell herbs, we'll use the money to buy medicine for Mother. We'll hide the rest. After I'm married, I'll find other ways to earn money. Next year, after the New Year, I'll send you and Xiaoshuang to school. Do you think she'll dare to come to the Xiao Family's house to rob me then?"
Dashuang furrowed his brows again. "Second Sister, after you marry into the Xiao Family, will they allow you to send us to school? Maybe it's better not to. I'll save money and go later."
"Hehe, you're young but so astute. Of course, your sister will make them agree. Doesn't Xiao Third have nephews? If anyone wants to study, we'll send them all together."
Dashuang thought his Second Sister's idea was good, and his face finally broke into a smile. "Okay! Then, whenever we have free time, we'll help Second Sister go up the mountain to dig for medicinal herbs."
"Alright."
Hand in hand, the siblings returned home. On the way, while Dashuang wasn't paying attention, Gu Qingli put the buns into her Space.
「Meanwhile, Xiao Yunjing had packed his things and headed for the mountains.」
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 family's second daughter is getting married, and they definitely won't provide her with a wedding gown or dowry. In that case, I'll 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 hadn't found any prey.
Suddenly, a faint sound reached him—RUSTLE, 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.