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

Chapter 9: The Shadow of the Xiao Clan is Everywhere

"Young Master Zhao, please take a seat if you don't mind."

With things having come to this point, what else could the Xiao family say? Old Mrs. Xiao smiled and called out, "Chuning, quickly go and get the bowls and chopsticks."

"Yes, grandmother."

The younger women, including Chunyan, Chunshu, and their elder sister-in-law, had already left the table and gone to the next room to avoid the commotion. Zhao Minghua sat down without any hesitation.

Chun Ning went to get two bowls and two pairs of chopsticks, muttering to herself: This young master has no sense of propriety. Can't he see that his own family is starving? He still wants to freeload. It's like scraping oil off a chicken's foot. Luo Xiaogang taught him this saying, and it's definitely not a nice thing to say.

However, his upbringing did not allow him to show any displeasure, and he still smiled as he presented the food to him and Qingsheng.

"What is this pancake made of? It smells so good."

Zhao Minghua took a bite and ate with great satisfaction.

Celebrating a birthday... Young master, would you like to hear what you're saying?
You're usually so picky about food, but this is clearly a pancake made from some wild vegetable, and you still say it smells delicious?

And they actually started eating it.

Well then... never mind, I'll just eat with my master.

Finally, the master and servant each ate two pancakes and drank a bowl of porridge, then left satisfied, burping contentedly.

"Mother, this young master of the Zhao family is truly extraordinary."

Ms. Xu was somewhat worried. Was it good or bad for Chunnuan to have a relationship with someone like that?

"He is a bit unconventional." This was the first time Old Mrs. Xiao had met this type of person. "He is quite a person of character."

“Yes, Grandmother, Aunt, Young Master Zhao is indeed a man of character.” Chunnuan understood what her aunt meant: “Young Master Zhao is several times better than those who know small manners but lack righteousness, and are concerned with trivial matters but lack great virtue.”

Just like the patriarch of the Xiao clan, who spouts benevolence and morality, but is actually a bunch of thieves and prostitutes, rotten to the core!
Chunnuan didn't say this explicitly.

Because now, whenever the Xiao family is mentioned, my grandmother feels nauseous and her heart aches.

"That's true," Auntie said. "However, Nuannuan, you are a young lady after all, and it's not appropriate for you to show your face in public. Otherwise, I'll have Auntie contact Baicaotang."

"Thank you for your understanding, Aunt. Chunnuan is only processing medicinal materials. In the future, when it comes to business matters, Chunning will be the one to handle the negotiations."

"Chun Ning?"

Everyone looked at eleven-year-old Chun Ning.

"Grandmother, Aunt, Mother, Aunt, Chun Ning is an adult now, Chun Ning will definitely do it."

Chun Ning puffed out her chest, indicating that she accepted the task assigned by her elder sister.

"Alright."

Grandma Xiao was filled with sorrow; her grandson had already passed the imperial examination at such a young age and earned the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations).

The master once said that perhaps Chun Ning could become the top scholar in the imperial examination and change the status of the Xiao family. However, the most studious boy ended up in the Xiao family, which had not been able to take the imperial examination for three generations. It was truly a cruel twist of fate.

Since they can't pursue a career in education and have to support their entire family, the Xiao family really needs someone to go into business.

And this person could only be Chun Ning, who is almost twelve years old.

The Xiao family discussed how to make a living. Chunnuan was thinking about how to seize the opportunity to process medicinal materials for Baicaotang. She thought that she could work hard to process the medicinal materials and earn a little extra money.

In the Zhao family, Qingsheng followed behind the third young master and saw him rush straight to the kitchen, not knowing what he was doing.

"Young master, are you hungry? Shall I go and ask Mother to cook you some food?"

When have I ever seen him rush into the kitchen and lift the pot lid?

Wait a minute, young master ate pancakes and porridge at the Xiao family's house, is he hungry again?

"Qingsheng, call your mother over."

"Yes."

In his anxiety, Qing Sheng called his mother over. "Aunt Niu, I remember you used to fry crispy pork?"

"Young Master, would you like some crispy pork? This old servant will go and buy some pork belly to make it right away."

Aunt Niu is the cook in the small kitchen, and she always grants the Third Young Master's requests.

"No, no, I just wanted to ask what ingredients are needed for fried crispy pork?"

Aunt Niu looked at her youngest son, Qing Sheng, and then at the third young master. What did this mean?
"Mother, the young master is asking you a question, so please tell the truth."

"You need vegetable oil, and a little lard would be even better, salt, Sichuan peppercorns, bean flour, old ginger, eggs... most importantly, you need top-quality pork belly." Aunt Niu said, thinking to herself that even if she told him her secret recipe, he probably wouldn't be able to do it. At least, the Third Young Master wouldn't be going to compete with her for the job.

Why would a grown man ask such questions?
"Vegetable oil, lard, salt, Sichuan peppercorns..."

Little did anyone know that the young master would pick out one item after another as Aunt Niu said it, and then put them all into a large vegetable basket, and carry it out.

"Third Young Master, what's wrong...?"

“Aunt Niu, I have a use for these things, you can go and buy more yourself.”

"Third Young Master, it's a birthday celebration..."

They can't hear you; as long as they run fast, no matter how much Aunt Niu shouts, they won't hear you.

The two young men ran very fast, carrying large vegetable baskets.

Aunt Niu was a bit dumbfounded. Several of the items were newly purchased and should last at least a month. How was she supposed to report the losses?
"Young master, where are you taking this?"

"Fool, they didn't make up for what we ate at noon? We're not even related, are you expecting to eat and drink for free?" Zhao Minghua said, "Go, find the butcher and buy another good piece of pork belly."

"Ah, oh, okay."

Celebrating your birthday... If I had known you were so generous, I should have invited you to my house for a meal!

Xiao Chunnuan was also stunned when she saw what Zhao Minghua and his servant had brought.

"Young Master Zhao, what's going on?"

"I ate your pancakes at noon and thought they were delicious, but I can't just eat them for free, so I brought you some things as compensation. I'll come back for more good food in the future, so please don't mind."

"Young Master Zhao, no need, please take these ingredients back with you."

Xiao Chunnuan blushed. This wasn't compensation; it was a form of help.

As the saying goes, one should not accept rewards without merit, and one is indebted to those who offer help. Xiao Chunnuan did not want to owe anyone too many favors.

“Miss Xiao, I don’t eat much, and I only come here occasionally for a meal. I won’t come every day, so don’t be afraid.” Zhao Minghua said, “The things are here, you can handle them as you see fit. I have something to do, so I’ll be leaving now.”

He glanced at Qingsheng, who immediately understood and quickly retreated.

Xiao Chunnuan didn't even have time to shout.

"Sister." Chun Ning looked at the two baskets of things, then at her sister's flushed face: "Young Master Zhao, he..."

Could it be that they have other ideas?

"Sister, should we accept these things?"

"Take it." Xiao Chunnuan sighed inwardly. This man was a bit reckless in his actions, but he was not a bad person at heart. He was genuinely trying to help the Xiao family.

"Sister, I heard from Luo Xiaogang that the Zhao family of Baicaotang has a marriage agreement with Xiao Chunlan, the granddaughter of the Xiao clan chief."

Oops... Chunnuan's hand, which had just touched the bamboo basket, was immediately "burned" back.

Xiao Chunnuan felt like she was about to see a glimmer of light, but then a black cloth was drawn over the Xiao clan again. Why was the shadow of the Xiao clan everywhere?

"Sister..." Chun Ning hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

"Your older sister taught you to speak your mind directly and not to beat around the bush."

What is this kid trying to say now?
(End of this chapter)