Chapter 58: Wind‑Cold Pills

All the villagers looked on with envy at the gifts in the Chi Family courtyard—hundred jin of refined rice and fine flour, things only a wealthy household could afford; in the past the villagers ate only coarse rice, and even when refined rice was available it was mixed with coarse rice, while fine flour was used only in a handful or two when making a few dumplings on New Year's Day.

Now the Chi Family courtyard actually has a hundred jin—who wouldn't be jealous?

"Ah, we have to say it's because you two are fortunate! The girl you rescued is so capable, just a few words earned back all these good things."

"Indeed! Though you discovered the locusts first, we also contributed a lot—cutting firewood and stoking the fire. We didn't hold back our strength, so why didn't we see any reward?"

Sensing their discontent, Chi Ting Song said, "At least the food is secured; otherwise we'd have a total grain loss."

The others thought about it and agreed it was the same reasoning.

Although some were jealous of the Chi Family's good fortune, upon closer thought, Chi Ting Song was right—without Chi Nan Yi, we wouldn't know how to get through this winter.

Chi Nan Yi thought for a moment, then smiled, "Villagers, there's something we hope you can help with, and of course we won't let you work for nothing." She shook the money pouch in her hand, "We've received benefits from the officials and aren't planning to keep them all to ourselves. Our house is too simple now, so we intend to repair it properly. House repair is hard labor, so we ask the villagers to help; we'll pay twenty wen per day, including a midday meal."

"Twenty wen?" The crowd exchanged glances, their faces full of surprise.

"Of course, we only want those who can work; the sly and deceitful are not wanted at all."

The villagers, hearing this, nodded repeatedly, "Alright, alright, we'll definitely work hard!"

"When my second brother returns, you can have him write your names; a few days later construction will begin, and we'll inform you."

Having heard Chi Nan Yi's words, everyone left feeling satisfied.

The Chi Family members also smiled with delight.

"Little sister is truly amazing!" Ruan Qin said with a smile, "We'll also share the blessings with you, little sister."

That night, Chi Nan Yi drew a sketch.

Early the next morning, Chi Nan Yi took the sketch and went to the town.

Chi Huai Qian glanced at what she had drawn from time to time, and after a while murmured, "So, little sister also has things she's not good at."

Arriving at Bai cao tang, Shopkeeper Li greeted them warmly, "Miss Chi, what herbs do you need today?"

"Shopkeeper, I'm not here to buy herbs today; I have a matter I'd like to ask your help with."

"Miss Chi, feel free to speak; as long as I can help, I won't refuse."

She handed over the drawing, and Shopkeeper Li stared at it for a long time, unable to discern what it was.

"This is..."

"I want to rebuild my house."

"Hmm, so this is..."

"This is the house I designed."

Shopkeeper Li: "..."

Is this a house?

It's neither square nor round—what is this thing?

Seeing his indecipherable expression, Chi Nan Yi smiled awkwardly, "I'm not much of a drawer; it's just a sketch, a sketch—just enough to indicate the layout."

Shopkeeper Li chuckled awkwardly, pointed at a chicken and a pig, and asked, "What does this mean?"

"A place to raise chickens, ducks, and pigs."

Shopkeeper Li nodded as if half-understanding.

"So, Miss, you want me to find a craftsman for you?"

"Correct."

"No problem, leave this to me."

"Then thank you, Shopkeeper Li." Chi Nan Yi handed him a porcelain bottle, "These are the pills I formulated; from your voice it seems you have caught wind‑cold, and these pills can cure the illness completely."

"Cure the disease completely?" A hint of doubt flashed in Shopkeeper Li's eyes, "Does it really work that well?"

"Of course, just try it, Shopkeeper Li."

She had crafted it last night in a space; it only requires ordinary wind‑cold treating herbs, supplemented with Spirit Spring Water, achieving twice the effect with half the effort.

If someone else presented the pills, Shopkeeper Li would of course study them carefully, but if the pills came from Chi Nan Yi, he would swallow them without hesitation.

He had already heard about it.

The reason he could be released was that Chi Nan Yi cured Young Master Zhao.

Everyone in the town knows how difficult Young Master Zhao's illness was to treat.

Even the county physician of Qingjun County was at a loss, yet Miss Chi healed him.

If his guess is correct, Miss Chi is truly a Divine Doctor!

But he kept quiet.

As the pill went down, Shopkeeper Li felt a warm, comfortable sensation in his stomach, and the cold in his body seemed to dissipate quickly.

Soon, a few beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and palms, and the internal discomfort lessened greatly.

"Marvelous! Truly marvelous!" Shopkeeper Li's eyes lit up, "These pills are indeed a good thing! My body feels much better."

Chi Huai Qian stood nearby, unable to hide some doubt.

Are these pills really that miraculous?

"Miss Chi, how many of these pills do you have? Bai cao tang is willing to pay a high price to buy them."

"There are plenty of wind‑cold pills, and the price isn't high—fifty wen each."

"Only fifty wen?"

"So cheap!"

If one truly catches wind‑cold, even a mild case costs about a hundred wen for medicine, while a severe case can be life‑threatening.

Every winter, more people contract wind‑cold; if left untreated for too long it turns into consumption, and many die from it each year.

Chi Nan Yi took out a wooden box, densely packed with pills.

"There are about a thousand here."

Seeing so many pills, Shopkeeper Li couldn't even say how happy he was; he immediately had someone bring fifty taels of silver and bought all the pills.

Chi Nan Yi tossed the silver to Chi Huai Qian, whose expression stayed the same; he has been numbed by the constant stimulation of staying by his little sister all day.

If they can earn this much every day, the Chi Family will surely get rich.

Even a local wealthy landlord doesn't earn as much as her little sister!

Sure enough, the little sister is a reincarnated lucky star; follow her and you'll have meat to eat!

The two of them left Bai cao tang first, and the shopkeeper Liu across the street called his young servant out: "Those two from the Chi Family are back delivering medicine again, you useless waste, where exactly did you dig up their herbs?"

"Shopkeeper, I searched that forest for ages but didn't find a single cinnabar root, and I got bitten all over with sores by something."

"Idiot, get out, get out, get out!"

"Shopkeeper, take a look at what's on me…"

"Look at what? Who knows what bit those sores on you? Go find the doctor."

Liu Er, hearing this, silently pursed his lips and turned away.

In the teahouse, Mo Junyan watched the carriage gradually recede, a faint smile lifting the corner of his mouth.

She truly is different from before.

Where on earth did she learn this whole set of medical skills?

"Master, the deputy magistrate of Qingjun County has arrived."

"Hmm." Mo Junyan nodded, "Have him wait."

"Yes." Yun Shui was about to call Xie Yuwei in, but realized what the Prince had said and was momentarily stunned: "Wait… wait?"