Chapter 448: Is this medicine for you?

Gu Xixi recalled when she first transmigrated into the book, seeing that this box contained only thirty wen cash.

But now it is almost full.

Moreover, she not only kept the property and house left by Gu Bapi, but also bought the farmstead and even more farmland.

Her father loved acquiring property in his lifetime; if he has spirit in heaven, he would surely be pleased.

Although Gu Xixi already knew how much money was in the box, she still counted it again,

Previously it was agreed that the government would allocate land, with no rent for five years; this was already great support.

Therefore, the financial investment for establishing the tea farm throughout must of course be covered by private parties.

For example, the current labor and food costs for land reclamation, transportation fees for miscellaneous items, etc.

In the future, the wages for fixed workers at the tea farm, large amounts of fertilizer and pesticide needed to improve the soil.

Purchasing tea saplings and rootstock in early autumn is itself a major expense.

Afterwards, they still need to set up a tea workshop, open their own trade route, and contact transport…

In short, these are all necessary expenditures before the tea farm yields any profit.

Before Gu Xixi even began detailed accounting, she already foresaw that this full box of money would flow away like water.

An Qinghe was an early-decided partner, and He Jinglan had also said she wanted to invest.

How the three should contribute, and how much each should invest, is also time to bring up for discussion.

Gu Xixi relocked the box and hid it in its original place.

She opened paper and brush at the table's edge and began to write and draw.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, Zhang Shen sat in the courtyard picking string beans.

Shitou, after finishing his homework, voluntarily moved a small stool over to help Zhang Shen.

Each time he snapped off a bean pod with insects, he happily picked it out and placed the plump insect into a jar.

Zhang Shen grimaced, "What's the point of keeping that disgusting thing?"

"Treating it like a treasure and storing it away."

Shitou laughed, "To fish shrimp in the canal, shrimp love eating live insects."

"I'll first raise them in the jar; when I have enough, tomorrow I'll catch a basin of shrimp and bring them back to fry and eat!"

In the village, several of the irrigation canals flow with clear water from the mountains.

Every summer, tiny shrimp can occasionally be seen in the canals, but they are only as long as a pinky finger.

Zhang Shen chuckled, "Just those shrimp? One isn't even enough to fill a tooth gap."

"You'd have to catch how many just to fill a basin? Too much trouble."

Despite saying that, Zhang Shen does not excessively interfere with how Shitou plays.

Across the village, the canal can be easily stepped over with one foot; the water depth only reaches the ankles, posing no danger.

In the summer heat, the canal banks are nevertheless cool.

Not to mention the children love to play there; women washing clothes also go there to wash and chat, lingering for a long time.

The afterglow grew ever more gold‑red, and the horizon began to darken.

At that moment, Lao Langzhong returned.

He carried a medicine box on his shoulder and still held a string of paper packets in his hand.

Shitou's sharp eyes spotted from afar the red paper seals of the fruit‑cake shop in town.

He dropped the beans and ran over gleefully, "Doctor Grandpa! Shitou will help you carry the medicine box!"

Lao Langzhong's face was full of kindness as he chuckled, "Today the medicine box is a bit heavy; take this one."

Saying so, he handed over the string of paper packets.

Shitou held them with both hands, tilting his head left and right to look.

"Doctor Grandpa, how did you buy so many tasty things! There's candied fruit, right? I can already smell the sweet fruit aroma."

Lao Langzhong laughed, "Your nose is almost as good as Xiao Hua's."

Xiao Hua walked over to Zhang Shen's feet, sat down, and began licking her fur.

In the afternoon, Xiao Hua usually plays outside until she's had enough, then goes to squat under the big locust tree at the village entrance to wait.

She waits until Lao Langzhong reaches the village entrance, then Xiao Hua meows as she walks to greet him, and they return home together, person and cat.

Zhang Shen had finished picking the beans, she stood up and took Lao Langzhong's medicine box, saying, "How come you walked back?"

"When you went there they sent a carriage because they needed you, but on the way back they let you walk yourself?"

"The evening heat hasn't dissipated yet!"

Her tone was clearly unhappy.

Lao Langzhong quickly explained, "The Wang family said they'd send me back, but I still need to visit a few other households."

"It wouldn't be right to keep their carriage waiting for me again."

"Besides," he smiled at Zhang Shen, "this wasn't a spur‑of‑the‑moment idea; I just wanted to buy some snacks."

Shitou had already placed the paper packets on the small table, turned his head and asked, "Doctor Grandpa, may I open them?"

Lao Langzhong nodded repeatedly, "Of course; these are things bought for the family, everyone can eat."

Shitou happily explored what was inside each paper packet, calling out loudly:

"Xixi Jie! Jingjing Jie, come out! Doctor Grandpa brought tasty treats!"

Lao Langzhong reached into the medicine box and pulled out another paper packet, also with the same red seal.

He smiled as he handed it to Zhang Shen, "Remember you once said you ate southern‑preserved yangmei as a child and never saw it again?"

"Today I heard the two young ladies of the Wang family eating this, asked them, and learned it's the new arrival at the fruit‑cake shop."

"Try it and see if it's still the same flavor as before."

Zhang Shen looked at the hand Lao Langzhong extended, and for some reason her face felt hot.

"This..."

"I was just saying it offhand; why did you take it seriously?"

Lao Langzhong smiled openly, "It's hot; this is sweet and sour, opens the appetite, can boost your appetite—take it and eat slowly."

At this moment, Gu Xixi and Lv Jing both came out of their respective rooms.

Seeing them, Zhang Shen felt even more embarrassed, yet she didn't know how to just stand there awkwardly.

She snatched the paper-wrapped package and said, "I'm this old, not a child—why would I need someone to buy snacks especially for me?"

"Next time, next time, don't waste money like that!"

Zhang Shen picked up the sorted green beans and hurried into the kitchen as if fleeing.

Watching Lao Langzhong walk toward the Houyuan, Gu Xixi called out, "Master, I have a prescription I'm unsure about; after dinner, could you take a look?"

"Got it." Lao Langzhong's voice came from the Houyuan.

Gu Xixi and Lv Jing exchanged glances, both smiling with deep meaning.

Lv Jing: "Shitou said Zhang Shen treats you like a child, but I think Lao Langzhong also treats Zhang Shen like a child."

Gu Xixi smiled, "Perhaps."

Night fell, in the Houyuan.

On the table were two bowls of sweet tofu pudding that Gu Xixi had just brought over.

Lao Langzhong listened as Gu Xixi read part of the prescription, his brows furrowed deeply as he fell silent for a moment.

When he lifted his head again, he seemed unable to speak.

"Xixi..."

"As a healer, there are things that should be asked, and I must ask them."

"If you really find it difficult, you don't have to answer."

Gu Xixi didn't think it was a big deal, picked up the tofu pudding, took a bite, and said, "Master, go ahead and ask."

Lao Langzhong took a deep breath, lowered his voice slightly, and asked, "Is this prescription for your own use?"

"Pfft!"

Gu Xixi almost spat out a mouthful of tofu pudding. "Master~!"

Lao Langzhong wore a worried expression, "You and Xiao Mu have progressed to this point—why are you still unwilling to marry?"

"Although your prescription uses mild medicines, it must be used daily to be completely effective."

"Even with prolonged use, it's still hard to avoid harming the body!"