Chapter 40: Selling Medicine

The two walked up the mountain; the path was only scattered weeds, no herbs, and Chi Huai Qian took the water bag Chi Nan Yi handed him, took a few sips, and laughed, "Little sister, tell me honestly—did you add any spirit‑pill medicine to this water? I'm carrying such a heavy load and don't feel any fatigue at all."

Chi Nan Yi smiled, knowing her third brother was joking, yet he was already very close to the truth.

Spirit Spring Water can't compare to a spirit‑pill, but its effect is almost the same.

"Little sister, let's go! This place doesn't look like it would have any herbs."

At that moment, Chi Nan Yi stopped, feigned surprise, and said, "Cinnabar root!" She hurried a few steps forward, pushed aside the grass, and saw clusters of crimson fruit, her eyes full of laughter: "It really is cinnabar root!"

"Cinnabar root?" Chi Huai Qian hurriedly asked, "Is it an herb?"

"Exactly, cinnabar root detoxifies, reduces swelling, promotes blood circulation, relieves pain, and can treat rheumatism and bruises." Chi Nan Yi put the cinnabar root into her back basket, smiling, "These cinnabar roots are worth far more than those potatoes."

Hearing her, Chi Huai Qian's eyes filled with surprise: "Really?"

"Exactly."

"Then let's head to the town now and sell these cinnabar roots!"

The two avoided the villagers and returned to the Chi Family.

Chi Huai Qian patted his chest: "Being a thief isn't something just anyone can do."

They were about to hitch the cart for the town when, at that moment, Ruan Shi stepped out.

"Little sister, where are you off to?"

"Sister‑in‑law," Chi Huai Qian said with a smile, "Little sister and I are going to town. We found some good stuff on the mountain and will trade it for silver."

"Good stuff?" Ruan Shi looked on curiously, "There's still good stuff on the mountain now?"

"There is, there is." Chi Huai Qian lifted the cloth covering the two back baskets, revealing baskets full of potatoes and cinnabar root.

"Wow! So many potatoes!"

"Shh!" Chi Huai Qian hurried, "Sister‑in‑law, keep it down. Potatoes are precious these days! If others hear and get greedy, what will we do?"

"Right, right, look at my big mouth." Ruan Shi covered her mouth but could not hide the smile on her face.

After all, although it's not a famine year, it's still hard; finding such good stuff is already difficult.

"What's in this back basket?" Ruan Shi asked, curious, "Can it be eaten?"

"These are medicinal materials." Chi Huai Qian lowered his voice, "They're what little sister found; I always say she's our family's lucky star!"

"Medicinal materials? We have more on the back mountain?"

"Hehe, I don't know either; it's all thanks to little sister's merit." Chi Huai Qian hitching the cart, prepared to place the two back baskets onto it.

"Third brother." Chi Nan Yi took down the basket loaded with potatoes, "We won't sell this one; we'll keep it for ourselves to eat."

"Eat it ourselves?"

"Yes, our family's grain is scarce, potatoes store easily, and sister‑in‑law is pregnant; she can't keep drinking porridge, it's bad for the fetus. These won't fetch much price anyway; selling the herbs will get us some silver, and we can go back to the mountain tomorrow."

Cinnabar root is the most ordinary herb that can be taken from the field; the herb garden has many precious herbs, we'll take those later.

Hearing this, Chi Huai Qian nodded, feeling a bit guilty—how could he have forgotten that his little sister used to live a life of silk and jade, and now these plain meals are all they have?

"Little sister, after we sell this root today, we'll also bring back some sliced meat."

"Alright."

The two rode the carriage toward the town; just as they reached the village entrance, they saw Zhao Shi carrying a basket also heading toward the town.

Hearing the sound behind her, Zhao Shi's eyes lit up; she was about to wave them to give her a ride, but Chi Huai Qian raised his whip and gave the horse a hard strike; the horse winced and its speed suddenly surged.

The raised dust covered Zhao Shi from head to toe.

"Peh! Peh! Peh!" A few mouthfuls of dirt spurted from Zhao Shi's mouth as she pointed at the carriage and shouted, "Chi family's little bastard! How dare you make me eat dirt! You'll pay for this!"

Zhao Shi's thunderous voice rang in the two's ears.

Chi Nan Yi's face was full of laughter, and Chi Huai Qian snorted, "Do you really think the little master is a vegetarian? That Zhao woman is a black‑hearted scoundrel, can't stand anyone's success. If she finds out we're going to town to sell herbs, she'll want to dig with us. Moreover, after what she said earlier, I'd be glad just to whip her once."

Knowing he was venting on her, Chi Nan Yi smiled, "Third brother is the best."

Chi Huai Qian took the compliment to heart, "Little sister, with third brother around, you'll never be wronged!"

With a carriage, the trip to town became much faster.

The biggest drugstore in town was Liu ji yao pu; as soon as they entered, a young errand boy greeted them.

"Customer, are you here to buy medicine?"

"No, do you accept herbs at your shop?"

The errand boy examined them for a moment, shook his head, "To be honest, our shop's herbs come from fixed channels; we don't accept scattered‑seller herbs."

"Our herbs are freshly harvested!"

Hearing this, the boy's face showed a hint of impatience, "Can you not understand? We don't take scattered‑seller goods. We haven't studied pharmacology for days, we just learn to pick herbs. If any of these herbs are contaminated, can you take responsibility?" He pushed Chi Huai Qian, "Move, move! Don't disturb our business!"

"Hey, you!" Chi Huai Qian waved the boy's hand away, "If you don't want to buy, just don't. Why the pushing and shoving?"

"If I don't hurry you out, you won't know how long you'll have to grind in our shop. We've seen countless scattered sellers like you! Get lost, get lost, get lost! Hurry up and leave!" The errand boy sneered, "Don't say I'm not looking after your business. See that shop across? They buy any herbs; go ask them."

Chi Nan Yi stared at the dilapidated shop across, her gaze cold.

At that moment, a middle‑aged man in brocade entered, his face sporting an eight‑character beard, eyes sharp with shrewdness.

"What's going on?"

"Shopkeeper, these two scattered sellers are lingering at our door, insisting on selling herbs."

"Tsk, just send them away. What's there to discuss with these mountain‑folk? Their presence lowers our shop's grade."

"Did you hear that? Our shopkeeper told you to get out quickly!"

Shopkeeper Liu's gaze swept over Chi Huai Qian's back basket, and in a fleeting moment he saw what was inside.

It turned out to be cinnabar root; this year's cinnabar root is scarce, the whole Qingjun County has little, and their shop has not a single plant.

He wanted to ask if they were indeed carrying cinnabar root, but felt a bit embarrassed.

At that moment, a young errand boy came over with a prescription sheet.

"Shopkeeper, do you have the herbs listed on this prescription?"

Shopkeeper Liu knew this little servant; he was from the Landlord Zhao's household in town.

Landlord Zhao, however, is a wealthy household in this town.

Shopkeeper Liu unfolded the prescription, his pupils constricted.

The first ingredient in this prescription is cinnabar root!