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

Chapter 8 Self-cooked

“There are no boats at night. My father said this river has many dangerous shoals, so it's impossible to take a boat at night. Several boats will stop at the dock at night, but no more boats will come after dark,” Luo Xiaogang said. “The wealthy families on these boats will stay at the inn at the dock; it’s an inn owned by the Xiao family. There’s also a pawnshop at the dock, also owned by the Xiao family, as well as cloth shops, oil mills, and grain shops, all owned by the Xiao family…”

The Xiao family had amassed their fortune through this bustling dock, their initial capital all thanks to their great-grandfather and grandfather. Chunnuan found it particularly ironic that she would face difficulties from the Xiao family if she tried to make a living at the dock.

On the way back from the dock, Luo Xiaogang and Chun Ning kept chattering away, while Chun Nuan was preoccupied with thinking about ways to make money.

Not much was said along the way.

As Luo Xiaogang continued speaking, Chun Ning could clearly sense that her older sister was in a bad mood.

"Sister, look, those flowers are so beautiful."

Chun Ning looked at a grove of trees on the mountain and exclaimed, "What kind of tree is this? Its flowers are so beautiful!"

"Magnolia denudata," Luo Xiaogang said dismissively. "Magnolia denudata is everywhere on this mountain, nothing special."

When you're starving, you really don't feel like appreciating flowers, and you don't even notice the warmth of spring.

"Sister, look, is this how it's done?"

When Chunnuan left home, Chunxin volunteered to help pick mulberry leaves.

As spring warmed up, she set aside the large, old leaves and the tender, small leaves.

"Yes, our Xin'er is getting more and more capable; she can even help her older sister with chores now."

Kids are like children; if you pat them on the head and praise them a few times, they'll be more motivated to work.

Chunxin smiled shyly. Before the accident, she was the most beloved child of the Xiao family, with a chubby little face and two dimples. Now, her face had turned sallow, and her dimples were no longer visible.

"Sister, how do we eat this?"

Today's lunch was made with the help of the sisters Chunyan and Chunshu. Of course, several adults also helped out, each remembering a part and giving pointers, and they managed to cook the porridge.

"Your older sister made this for you."

Originally, she planned to blanch the vegetables and add some salt, but Chunnuan felt that life was too hard and wanted to give her sisters a surprise.

After washing the tender mulberry leaves, I cut them into small cubes, then mixed the flour, lavishly poured in a little vegetable oil, and started making pancakes.

"Sister, what is this?"

Chun'an ran over, drawn by the aroma, and stood on tiptoe to look up at the pot: "Sister, I'm just looking, I won't steal any."

“Yes, our Chun’an doesn’t steal food.” Chun Nuan suppressed a laugh and said seriously, “Go on, go call Grandmother and Aunt for dinner.”

When Chunnuan realized there was nothing in the house to put the cakes in, she simply asked Chunning to go to the riverbank and cut a banana leaf.

The whole family was surprised to see the pancakes piled on banana leaves on the broken table: Was this an improvement to their meals?

"Nuan Nuan..." Xu was a little worried. This child had never managed a household before. That pound of vegetable oil would last for two days, not even enough to light the lamp or the oil pan at night. And the flour was also not much.

"Mother, eat."

Chunnuan didn't want to say anything right now; all she could think about was Sangye.

Mulberry leaves are cold in nature and have a bitter and sweet taste. They enter the lung and liver meridians and have the effects of dispersing wind-heat, clearing the lungs and moistening dryness, calming liver yang, and nourishing yin and improving eyesight. They are a commonly used medicine, and I believe Baicaotang needs them too. However, the season is not right now, so they cannot be processed into medicinal materials.

only……

Just then, someone outside called out, "Excuse me, is Miss Xiao here?"

"Who is it?" Chun Ning put down her chopsticks and went out to look, and saw that it was Zhao Huaming.

"Mr. Zhao?"

"Young Master Xiao." Qingsheng... I never knew my third young master could be so polite. Seriously, the way he clasped his hands in greeting Xiao Chun Ning across from him looked so awkward.

"I wonder if Miss Xiao is at home?"

"My sister is at home. We are having dinner now. Please..."

Since he was a guest, he should have been invited inside and served tea. However, the Xiao family had nothing, and the women in the house had nowhere to hide. Chun Ning didn't want Zhao Minghua to see the Xiao family eating so simply, so she didn't even plan to let him inside.

"Then I apologize for disturbing you. I have something to discuss with Miss Xiao."

Before Chun Ning could invite him, Zhao Minghua stepped through the gate.

Chun Ning... are you being polite?
"Grandmother, elder sister, Young Master Zhao from Baicaotang has come to visit." Having no other choice, Chun Ning could only announce it loudly.

The women of the Xiao family were immediately flustered and knew they had to leave.

"Grandmother, please eat first. I'll go and greet you."

Chun Nuan put down her chopsticks and stood up. As soon as she turned around, she was face to face with Zhao Minghua.

"Young Master Zhao."

"Miss Xiao, I have something to discuss with you."

Zhao Minghua was very excited; he was serious about doing business this time.

Father entrusted him with the entire task of processing medicinal herbs with the Xiao family. Early in the morning, he went to the city to ask his elder brother about the medicinal herbs needed by Baicaotang in Changzhou, and then asked Doctor Chen to write down the medicinal herbs that Baicaotang in the town was short of.

Since we're in business, let's do it seriously and prioritize what's in short supply.

"Okay." Chunnuan was a little embarrassed. This person... well, considering he's a business partner: "May I ask what brings Young Master Zhao to see Chunnuan..."

"Look here."

Zhao Minghua quickly handed over a piece of paper with densely written characters.

"This is……"

Not only was Chunnuan confused, but the elders of the Xiao family were also a little flustered. Chunnuan was already of marriageable age and it was inappropriate for her to accept a letter from a man like this.

"These are the medicinal herbs that our Baicaotang needs. It would be best if you could process them as soon as possible."

Coptis chinensis, Scutellaria baicalensis, rhubarb, dried tangerine peel, Pinellia ternata, licorice... I counted them up when spring warmed up, and there were as many as thirty-one items.

"Young Master Zhao." Despite the seemingly large business deal, Chunnuan had no way of handling it: "I'm sorry, Chunnuan is unable to deliver the goods."

"why?"

"Many of the medicinal herbs listed here are too expensive to purchase in the spring, so there's no way to process them."

A rich kid is a rich kid after all. He doesn't know how hard life is for poor people. Just like the ginseng mentioned here, even if he sold all his possessions, he couldn't buy back a ginseng the size of a fingernail. Where is she supposed to find medicinal herbs to process?

"Oh dear, it's my fault for not explaining clearly." Zhao Huaming slapped his forehead. "If you can process these medicinal herbs, Baicaotang will provide the raw materials and you will be responsible for processing them. We'll then pay you a fee for your trouble. What do you say?"

Does it mean outsourcing the processing of medicinal materials?
"Don't worry, we won't let you suffer any losses." Zhao Minghua thought Chunnuan was afraid he would try to lower the price: "The price will be based on the quality of the medicinal materials you process, and there will be no attempt to lower the price."

"So good."

Spring warmth makes me think that Baicaotang is helping the Xiao family in various ways.

"Hey, what are you eating? It looks delicious!" Zhao Minghua looked at the flatbreads on the banana leaves on the table. "I haven't had lunch yet, may I...?"

The meaning is clear: he wants to freeload a meal.
The Xiao family has seen people who are naturally outgoing, but they've never seen anyone who's this familiar!
Have a great weekend, kids!

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(End of this chapter)