Chapter 45: Re‑entering the Old Trade as a Concubine

Xiu Er left two pieces of snake meat for Zhang Lao and packed the remaining snake meat.

After learning it cost six wen per jin, the love‑troubled girl immediately tossed a tael of silver.

Chen Wuji suddenly realized that he seemed to have unintentionally.

gotten a very beautiful thigh.

She was beautiful and kind‑hearted, and also generous.

He earned three taels of silver in a day, making Chen Wuji's mouth almost crooked with joy.

With this money, the Substitute Service Money became a trivial matter, and the household's belongings could now be fully acquired.

The modest life could now take a big step toward a brighter future.

After taking the medicine, Xiu Er lingered no more, thanked Chen Wuji and Zhang Lao Dao, and left.

Chen Wuji, thick‑skinned, asked the old man for two cups of tea, then sat down and drank them by himself.

His throat was a bit dry from speaking, so he needed to take it easy; after finishing

he would also handle the monkey for Lao Deng Er.

"Kid, your medical skill has a proper lineage, right?" the old man asked.

"Yes, but even if I told you, you wouldn't know," Chen Wuji replied.

They are people from two different worlds; how could he possibly understand?

The old man didn't press further; instead, he suddenly handed Chen Wuji an olive branch,

"With the abilities you've shown, it would be a waste not to be a hunter; interested in coming here for a consultation?"

"No." Chen Wuji declined plainly.

At least he currently has no intention of becoming a physician; being a hunter is freer.

Chen Wuji again shook his head and refused Xiao Lao Tou's goodwill, but he didn't make his words too absolute.

"If you ever change your mind, you can come anytime," the old man glanced at the apprentice behind the counter who was still arranging the medicine cabinet, and said with a disdainful face,

"I don't think I can rely on this rogue disciple who betrays his master and annihilates his ancestors; Compassionate Relief Hall has been a two‑hundred‑year‑old shop, and this sign can't end up smashed in my hands."

The rogue disciple snorted, muttering something far away that no one could hear clearly.

But it was clearly not a kind remark.

Chen Wuji shook his head again, refusing the old man's kindness, but didn't make it

While Chen Wuji was dealing with the monkey, Xiao Lao Tou took down the ancient medical book from the high shelf, rummaged through it, and found quite a few interesting things, then forcibly discussed them with Chen Wuji.

If hunting ever falls on hard times, it would still be a viable livelihood.

After drinking a cup of tea, Chen Wuji dealt with the monkey in the Yaopu's backyard.

Unfortunately he didn't find the monkey's relic; in the end he only got a hundred wen.

"But don't rush to ask Xu Zengyi to buy me a prescription; I can already recall many things now, and perhaps soon I'll be able to figure out what the prescription is. It's hard to come by a big income; there's no need to just spend it like this."

When Chen Wuji was about to leave, the old man suddenly had his rogue disciple again

prepare tea and snacks, almost begging desperately while pulling

Chen Wuji into a business discussion.

While Chen Wuji was handling the monkey, the old man took down an ancient medical book from a high shelf,

searched through it, finding many interesting things, and forcefully discussed them with

Candles, San Niang's and You Wei's clothes, and bedding must be arranged first.

When Chen Wuji and Huo Sanniang left Compassionate Relief Hall, it was already near noon.

The two hurried to Xianya and first handed over the Substitute Service Money.

"My lady, keep this money," Chen Wuji handed two taels of silver to Huo Sanniang.

"But, don't rush to ask Xu Zengyi to buy a prescription for me; I can already recall many things, and perhaps soon I'll remember what the prescription is. It's hard to get a large income, so there's no need to waste it all."

Huo Sanniang gently nodded, her eyes shimmering with crystal‑clear tears, "How wonderful, Wuji, how wonderful."

Chen Wuji knew exactly what she meant; he reached out and squeezed Huo Sanniang's delicate wrist, "My lady, trust me, everything will get better; this is only just the beginning."

"Mm." Huo Sanniang nodded with great force.

She now firmly believed in that.

"Let's go shopping," Chen Wuji said excitedly.

Candles, clothes for San Niang and You Wei, and bedding had to be arranged first.

He was tired of a single oil lamp being moved around, sleeping on a bare mat, covered with a severely patched quilt; today he would replace it entirely.

"Wuji, when did you learn medicine, that I know nothing about it at all?" Huo Sanniang steadied herself and suddenly asked.

She had wanted to ask this question for a long time.

But before, it was never convenient to ask, and it was almost driving her mad.

Chen Wuji shook his head, "I don't know either, but when I see a patient, I can recall how to treat them, as if the knowledge just surfaces on its own."

"Don't worry; at your current pace, you'll recall it sooner or later," Huo Sanniang smiled.

She could clearly feel that today's husband was much more mature than yesterday.

The change was great.

To purchase daily supplies, the two detoured to East Market.

Chen Wuji bought a huge bundle of candles, three sets of brand‑new bedding, and prepared a set of skirts for each of Huo Sanniang and Shen Youwei, spending a total of 680 wen.

These items, under Huo Sanniang's strong request, were all the cheapest Chen Wuji could pick.

"Don't make a fuss, otherwise I'll chop your head off with one Knife!" Shen Youwei threatened fiercely, then she prepared to continue waiting at the courtyard gate; but as soon as she stepped out, she bumped into Chen Wuji head-on.

Especially the bedding, whose price was absurdly high.

He suddenly thought that his once‑empty home, now having two blankets, could be considered fairly well‑off.

【61】 Huo Sanniang originally wanted to buy more millet to take home; she had a strong obsession with grain.

【62】 But she couldn't take any, so she had to give up.

【63】 After wandering around East Market for a while, by the time the two left the town, the hour of Wei had already passed.

【64】 ……

【65】 Shen Youwei propped her chin on her hand at the courtyard gate, like a longing‑for‑husband stone, staring straight at the road into the village, with Chen Wuji's heirloom horizontal blade at her side.

【66】 Seeing Chen Wuji and Huo Sanniang's figures appear in the distance, her eyes lit up instantly, she joyfully darted into the courtyard and quickly lit a fire in the stove.

【67】 After the fire caught, she finally left the kitchen, gave Yuan Laoer, who was buried in the courtyard, a big slap, and pulled the rag stuffed in his mouth out.

【68】 "Stop making noise, or I'll chop your head off with a single slash!" Shen Youwei snarled, then prepared to continue waiting at the courtyard gate, but as soon as she stepped out, she ran straight into Chen Wuji.

【69】 "Husband, sister, you've returned."

【70】 "Back already, today's earnings were good. Hey, why are you holding a knife?" Chen Wuji asked.

Shen Youwei glanced at the courtyard and said angrily, "Chop the bad person!"

Chen Wuji poked his head out to look, and his mind instantly went numb.

Yuan Laoer lay there like a radish, firmly planted in the corner of the courtyard.

"You buried him?" Chen Wuji asked in surprise.

Shen Youwei nodded, "That bastard actually wanted me to kill my husband, and even promised me a hundred wen if I succeeded, saying he'd marry me as a concubine. In anger I hacked him twice, tied him up while he was yelling, and then buried him."

"I originally just wanted to bury him and be done with it, but I was afraid someone would see and bring trouble to my husband and sister, so I left his head."

Chen Wuji's face instantly darkened; he set down the load on his shoulder, took the knife from Shen Youwei's hand, walked up to Yuan Laoer, and said, "Yuan Laoer, I don't recall us having such a grudge, do I? Why must you try to kill me?"

"Do I need a reason to want you dead?" Yuan Laoer said mockingly.

Even reduced to this field, his mouth remained as hard as rebar, his eyes full of contempt and disdain for Chen Wuji.