The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 31 Boasting of Being Number One

"Good, good, good, really good."

At Baicaotang in Changzhou, Old Master Zhao looked at the several newly prepared medicinal herbs in front of him and praised them repeatedly: "Our traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes family tradition and lineage. You see, a strong general has no weak soldiers. The medicinal herbs prepared by Physician Xiao's direct granddaughter are the best I have ever seen in my life."

"Grandpa, isn't your grandson amazing?"

Zhao Minghua quickly moved closer, his face full of desire for praise.

Zhao Mingqing couldn't bear to look: This third brother was always the kind of person who would climb up the ladder by taking advantage of anyone.

"What makes you so great about the medicinal herbs that Miss Xiao prepares?" The old man laughed in exasperation. "If you're so great, why don't you prepare some yourself? Putting everything else aside, let me ask you, what are some methods for preparing medicinal herbs?"

"Grandpa, please don't test me anymore."

The old man was planning to kill the conversation!

He could recognize these medicinal herbs only because they were needed for processing. He only remembered what they were when they were delivered from Baicaotang to the Xiao family. Normally, it would be impossible for him to remember the herbs.

The old man still wants to take a test; isn't he just asking for trouble?

"You're already seventeen. It's the age to start a family and build a career. Look at you, what will you have then?"

"Grandpa, I'm still three years away from turning twenty. A person should be looked at with new eyes after three days of separation. Don't even mention three years, just wait and see. In three years, I will surely achieve great things, stand out from the crowd, and accomplish something extraordinary..."

Zhao Minghua, who is good at nothing, boasts that he is absolutely number one.

Yes, that's right, he's that confident, he just thinks he can do it!
"You," the old man thought for a moment, "I'll have you study medicine, but you said you can't remember so much; or, you could go and become an apprentice of Miss Xiao, learning to process medicinal herbs is a skill in itself. Your older brother can be in charge of diagnosis and treatment, and you can be in charge of processing the herbs..."

"Grandpa, are you hungry? How could I possibly become an apprentice to a girl?"

"You child, haven't you always been quite clever? What, do you think a young lady can't be your teacher?" Old Master Zhao said, "You should know that in a group of three, there must be one who can teach me. Moreover, Miss Xiao's skill in processing medicinal herbs is several times better than your grandfather's."

"Oh no?"

My grandfather hasn't practiced medicine for many years; he's devoted himself to the research and processing of medicinal herbs, and he only processes expensive ones.

In Zhao Minghua's eyes, the old man was a very impressive figure.

Unexpectedly, his skills were completely outmatched by a girl.

"It's true. Although your grandfather is confident, I'm not arrogant. Good is good, and bad is bad. The medicinal materials that Miss Xiao prepares are top-notch in terms of color, purity, and medicinal properties."

Zhao Minghua's eyes widened.

"Then I must be a real talent."

What do you mean by that?
The old man and Zhao Mingqing were stunned again.

"Look how amazing I am! When the Xiao family moved to Dongshuikou Village, nobody knew their daughter could process medicinal herbs. Only I, Zhao Minghua, had the discerning eye to see that she was a master at processing medicinal herbs. We made a contract with her to process our herbs. That saved us so much money, didn't it, Grandpa?"

Grandpa Zhao... I don't think I can really refute that.

Zhao Mingqing was so angry he laughed.

"When are you going to settle down and do something productive?"

It's really embarrassing to have a younger brother who uses other people's abilities as something to brag about.

“Brother, don’t underestimate me. I’m just doing the right thing.” Zhao Mingqing retorted, “Think about it, if these medicinal herbs weren’t prepared by Miss Xiao, but you bought pre-prepared herbs, how much more money would it have cost?”

"Moreover, Grandpa said that these medicinal herbs are processed exceptionally well and are top-quality herbs. If you were to buy them from Pin Kang Medicinal Herbs Store, how much would it cost?" Pin Kang Medicinal Herbs Store is the largest and best medicinal herb merchant in Da Xia. Everyone knows that only those who want good medicine go to Pin Kang.

“I asked Miss Xiao to prepare it. With such a low fee, the difference in the price is profit. I can create value for Baicaotang. How can that be called neglecting my duties?”

He opposed this statement, he strongly opposed it.

"Grandpa, you be the judge."

If that doesn't work, he'll tell his grandfather.

The old man's eldest son and youngest grandson are both his precious darlings.

"Yes, yes, yes, our Minghua is also capable of great things."

"That is."

Zhao Minghua is a high-needs baby, and he felt very happy to receive praise from his grandfather.

Unbeknownst to anyone, at that moment, a brilliant idea for making money had formed in his mind.

"Minghua".

The old man suddenly looked at him with a serious expression.

"Grandpa, what's wrong?"

"The matter of Miss Xiao processing medicinal herbs must never be revealed."

"Grandpa, why?" Zhao Minghua asked, puzzled. "Miss Xiao also said that we can't tell anyone outside our family. Why can't we tell anyone?"

The Xiao family is living such a miserable life. Being able to process medicinal herbs is a skill for survival. They are making money openly and honestly, so why can't they tell others?

He still couldn't figure out the key issue.

“You,” Zhao Mingqing shook his head, “you only ever talk the talk, never walk the walk.”

"Wrong, I still have to use my hands sometimes." Zhao Minghua admitted that he didn't really like using his brain much. He then asked, "Brother, tell me, why don't you want outsiders to know?"

Why did the Xiao family return to Sichuan?

“It’s because of Physician Xiao…” Zhao Minghua slapped his thigh, then exclaimed “Ouch!” as if he had just realized something: “The Xiao family can’t be high-profile; they have to live quietly, right?”

“That’s one reason,” Zhao Mingqing said. “The Xiao family is currently in a precarious situation, and any slight disturbance could plunge them into an abyss of no return. Secondly, if they knew that Miss Xiao had such abilities, they would attract people to plot against her. The Xiao family is too weak to protect her at the moment.”

"And another thing, let me guess, there should be a third point." Zhao Minghua seemed to have a sudden flash of inspiration: "If people find out that she can process medicinal herbs, she will definitely compete with our Baicaotang for business, like that Jin family from Qianjintang?"

"Good to know," Zhao Mingqing said. "The more dangerous the situation, the more we need to protect her. If conditions permit, we can let them move to town."

“There’s definitely no such condition,” Zhao Minghua said. “You don’t know, the Xiao family members are very stubborn. If I give them some food, they will give me food in return. They’re all about not owing favors.”

"With their current income, they simply can't afford to live in a house in town." Even renting would cost at least one or two taels of silver a month, so how could they bear to do that?

"Can't you think of another way?"

Zhao Mingqing thought his younger brother was stubborn.

"What method?"

(End of this chapter)