Chapter 116: Scrambling Away in Panic

Li Lin came to the county town from Shangtiku Village once again.

He placed the pills he had refined into the boxes.

There were three boxes in total.

Body-Strengthening Pills, Youth-Retaining Pills, and Poison-Avoiding Pills each occupied one wooden box.

These three boxes were taken over by Hong Luan, then carried by servants and delivered to the Huang Manor.

At this moment, in the back courtyard of the Huang Manor, Huang Yan, the Lady, the Huang Qing sisters, and a young man gathered together.

The three boxes had been opened, revealing numerous porcelain bottles packed tightly inside.

Hong Luan bowed slightly and said, "These are the betrothal gifts sent by Li Lang on my behalf."

Hearing this, Huang Qing's face turned red with joy.

Huang Yan saw a familiar bottle shape in one of the bottles, stroked his beard contentedly, and nodded repeatedly: "Li Xunshou has been thoughtful."

"Still calling him Li Xunshou..." the Lady rolled her eyes at her husband, looking at the bottles of Youth-Retaining Pills: "You should call him Lin'er or son-in-law now."

Haha.

After laughing twice, Huang Yan said, "No rush, wait until Damei is married before saying that."

Huang Ling looked left and right nearby, said nothing, simply picked up a bottle of Youth-Retaining Pills and slipped it into her sleeve.

At this moment, the young man spoke: "Father, that Li Xunshou... sent some medicinal herbs, and you are satisfied? These are the betrothal gifts? How shabby."

"What do you know?" Huang Yan said impatiently: "Li Xunshou is a descendant of the Li family of Jinmen. The effects of these pills are excellent; you cannot find such things outside. He sent so many at once, which must have required great effort to refine."

"Are they really that good? I don't believe it." The young man took a porcelain bottle from one of the boxes, glanced at it, and said: "Poison-Avoiding Pills... what bold claims."

Hong Luan bowed slightly and said: "Second Young Master, Li Lang said that these Poison-Avoiding Pills can not only neutralize most poisons in the world, but if taken in advance, they can make you almost immune to all poisons for twelve hours."

This young man was the Huang family's second son, Huang Ying.

He was already eighteen, but his face looked lazy, so he still appeared young.

"I don't believe it." Huang Ying shook his head.

Hong Luan pressed her lips together, somewhat unhappy.

She did not like others questioning her husband.

Huang Yan smiled: "If you don't believe it, just try it."

Huang Ying thought this made sense, went outside, and called a man in.

This man's eyes were somewhat hazy, and his reaction seemed somewhat slow.

"Zhang Donghuan, look at this thing, is it a poison-neutralizing medicine?"

He handed the porcelain bottle to the man.

Zhang Donghuan slowly uncorked the bottle and sniffed it.

His expression was first puzzled, then became somewhat shocked.

"Second Young Master, this thing seems quite extraordinary."

"Oh, why do you say that?"

Zhang Donghuan answered: "I practice poison arts constantly, so my mind is usually quite foggy. But after smelling this medicine, my mind seems a bit clearer."

Huang Ying smiled: "Then try a pill?"

Zhang Donghuan said nothing more, poured out a pill, popped it into his mouth, and stood still waiting.

Everyone watched him expectantly.

After a while, Zhang Donghuan's expression clearly turned to delight.

He asked somewhat embarrassedly: "Second Young Master, could you give me a bottle? This medicine... it would not be an exaggeration to call it a miraculous elixir."

Huang Ying looked at his own father.

Huang Qi nodded and said: "Take it."

Zhang Donghuan immediately clasped his hands in a bow: "Thank you, Master, thank you, Second Young Master."

Then he left the courtyard excitedly.

Huang Ying hissed: "It really does look like a good thing. My future brother-in-law truly has ability. I was wrong. Sister, I apologize to you. Don't tell my brother-in-law about this; I'm afraid he will have a bad impression of me later."

Huang Qing smiled lightly: "Young Master Shi is not such a petty person."

The Lady pulled one of the boxes over to her side, looked at the Youth-Retaining Pills inside, and asked puzzledly: "Why is there an empty spot? Who took a bottle?"

Huang Ling reluctantly took a bottle of Youth-Retaining Pills out of her sleeve and put it back.

The Lady closed the box: "Master, you handle the pills in the other two boxes; I will manage these Youth-Retaining Pills. Do you have any objections?"

Huang Yan shook his head: "Naturally not, but what are your plans?"

"These things can be given to some great ladies and noble daughters in Jingcheng." The Lady said with a smile: "To strengthen the relationships between our families. Even extending our reach into the palace is not impossible."

"Won't you use them?" Huang Yan looked at his wife's face, which was obviously several years younger, and asked in confusion.

After his wife took these Youth-Retaining Pills, whether her face or her figure, it seemed she had returned to her youth.

The Lady smiled lightly: "After Damei is married, I will naturally have them from time to time; no rush."

Huang Qing said shyly: "Mother, Young Master Shi works very hard refining these pills..."

The Lady, disappointed in her daughter's lack of backbone, gently poked Huang Qing's head with her finger and teased: "You haven't even married yet, and you're already speaking for your husband's family, worrying about your man."

Huang Qing was extremely shy.

Huang Ying looked at the three boxes, counted the number of pills inside, and said: "If the effects of these pills are all this good, my brother-in-law has indeed given our family a great gift."

In this era, high-quality medicinal herbs were very valuable gifts.

In imperial rewards, it was common to see lingzhi mushrooms or ginseng of many years' age.

And these finished pills, if effective, were even more rare.

Huang Yan stood up at this moment and said: "Ying'er, come with me to the study."

In the study.

The father sat; the son stood.

Huang Yan spoke seriously: "The post of County Captain will be given to your future eldest brother-in-law. You will take over the post of Registrar and report for duty tomorrow. I know you prefer the County Captain position, but you are not skilled in martial arts; holding that post would make it hard to win the people's respect."

Huang Ying asked: "Isn't my eldest brother doing very well? I can do it too."

"Do you really think your eldest brother has won the people's genuine respect?" Huang Yan chuckled: "As the County Magistrate, wouldn't I know? If not for my influence, his position would not have been so smooth. It was only by solving some cases that he managed to win some respect from those below."

Huang Ying nodded lightly: "Very well, Registrar it is."

"Do not be disheartened. First serve as the City Registrar to accumulate experience. In three months, when I take up my post in Jincheng, I will secure you a position as Chief Scribe or Military Commissioner in Jincheng."

"Thank you, Father." Huang Ying smiled and bowed.

"When you have time, visit Li Xunshou so you may get to know each other."

"Very well."

Huang Ying nodded, then he remembered something and said: "Father, I had a classmate in university from Guicheng, accomplished in both civil and military arts, a rare talent. After the imperial examinations, because he lacked powerful backing, he has remained in the Pavilion compiling books for two years, feeling frustrated and unfulfilled. Father, you could recruit him to help you with your burdens."

"Since you recommend him, I will submit a memorial to transfer him here to work."

"Thank you, Father." Huang Ying smiled.

Huang Yan said: "Your eldest brother has helped the Third Imperial Prince. From now on, when we meet, we must not appear too close in public. Do you understand?"

Huang Ying spoke seriously: "I understand."

"Very well, then go about your business." Huang Yan paused, then said: "Visit the brothels less. If you feel unwell, go ask your eldest brother-in-law for some Body-Strengthening Pills; they work very well."

Huang Ying, ashamed and annoyed, clutched his head and fled like a rat.

(End of this chapter)