Mang Shusheng's Ink Painting Practice

Chapter 79 A letter from home

Everyone quickly returned to Moyang City.

Then, without saying a word, he immediately began to prepare for Zhao Guhe's treatment.

It was mainly Zhao Yifu and Hong Shu who were busy, working together to study how to refine the 'Cuizhen Dragon Bone Pill' and 'Chaoyuan Yiqi Pill'.

The dragon bone in 'Cuizhen Longgu Dan' is not a real dragon bone, but actually refers to the tortoise shell.

In response to this, Zhao Yifu simply took away all the medicinal herbs of "dragon bones" in Moyang City.

On the one hand, it is because this medicinal material is not expensive, and on the other hand, it is because the part with the special pattern is intentionally preserved.

Yes, it is oracle bone script for sure.

He himself was not in the mood to study the oracle bone inscriptions, but was just planning to leave them in advance for future generations to study.

As for those tortoise shells without special patterns, he selected them according to the spiritual light on the medicinal materials.

Indeed, this is also a spiritual inspiration.

Even the tortoise shell aura from older times will be more intense.

In the past, he always felt that the strength of the medicinal properties of this herb should not be equated with its age, but now that he has clairvoyance and sees that the older the tortoise shell, the brighter the spiritual light, he understands.

His current task is to buy up all the medicinal ingredients in the city according to the recipe.

'Cuizhen Longgu Pill' actually has to be refined later, and the one that must be refined first is 'Chaoyuan Yiqi Pill'.

Fortunately, it is gratifying that Zhao Yifu has already obtained one of the most important main materials. It is one of the trophies he got when he killed the rat monster in the swamp: the morning dew flower.

As for other auxiliary materials, although they are also difficult to find, Hongshu has already thought of an alternative solution.

That is to use ordinary auxiliary materials with morning dew flowers, and then add Wuwu fruit to forcibly improve the grade.

In this way, even if the auxiliary materials are not medicinal enough, the magical effect of refining the elixir should be almost the same.

Zhao Yifu felt that Hong Shu was a talented person, at least he was talented in alchemy.

After testing a batch of 'Chao Yuan Yi Qi Pills' in this way, they actually succeeded in refining them.

After taking the medicine, Zhao Guhe immediately showed signs of improvement.

His internal organs were greatly replenished, and the situation of being on the verge of death and being forced to hold on was resolved.

But then, Hong Shu had to leave temporarily because she had to report the situation on Zhao Yifu's side back to Zhao Yunhe.

It's really hard for this woman to run back and forth for the Zhao family, but she is the only one who can do this job at the moment.

As for Zhao Yifu sending a letter directly back?

I'm afraid Zhao Yunhe won't give him, a junior, any face at all.

And Zhao Yehe is going there?
Hongshu was very skeptical whether this illiterate old man could explain things clearly.

Since this matter concerns thousands of people in Shenhe Villa, she has to go there in person.

Zhao Yifu had nothing to say when he saw this. He could only take out a Soul-Enriching Pill and hand it to Hong Shu, saying, "Sister Hong, take this pill when you feel tired. Don't overwork yourself."

Seeing this, Hong Shu accepted it with a smile, then stood on tiptoe to touch Zhao Yifu's head and said, "Good boy, you know how to care for others."

Zhao Yifu was overwhelmed by this sudden "motherly love".

Then he realized that for Hongshu, the younger generation of the Zhao family was almost the same as her children.

To be honest, if he didn't know how to face his father, he would have been embarrassed to let Hongshu run back and forth like this.

Next, Zhao Guhe will have to use the 'Chaoyuan Yiqi Pills' to recuperate for a period of time, but Zhao Yifu must start looking for other medicinal materials suitable for refining the 'Cuizhen Longgu Pills'.

Of course, he didn't do this kind of thing himself, but instead handed it over to Wu Zhong, and he himself began to play with the cat peacefully.

When I'm away from home for a few days, all the kittens in the house have to take turns to be "favored".

"Hey, there's a new member."

Zhao Yifu was very curious when he saw the big tabby cat in front of him, which had a yellow background with black stripes and a "king" character on its forehead and had just joined this "big family".

"Xiaohu, where are you from? Your fur is so good, you don't look wild..."

Xiaohu looked at Zhao Yifu silently without saying a word.

Zhao Yifu didn't care and said, "Come if you want to. You can leave anytime you want. I don't need you anyway."

As he said that, he reached out and held Xiaohu's head and started rubbing it.

The little tiger was very wary and even resisted at first, but this resistance couldn't keep it reserved for even a second. After all, it was too comfortable...

……

The time goes back to a few days ago.

Hua Da Nv secretly left the Zhao Mansion at night and even ran out of the city somehow.

"Tiger Vanguard, why are you here when you're not guarding the country?"

In the darkness, a large and proud figure stood upright among the bushes. It said, "Grandma Sanhua, there has been no news since you left Huali Country. That's why the king sent me to investigate."

Hua Da Niu snorted coldly and said, "I raised the King since he was a child, so he wouldn't doubt me. I'm afraid it's you militant types who are trying to stir up trouble again, right?"

Tiger Vanguard said calmly, "It's just the caution of our old enemy."

Hua Da Niu said, "The Ziye Nation has long since declined under the combined suppression of our Huali Nation and Xiaoyue Nation, and has now completely relocated north."

"I plan to leave after observing its movements here. I don't need you to interfere."

Tiger Vanguard, however, said in a distrustful tone, "I need to see the Midnight Kingdom with my own eyes before I can make a judgment."

"Besides, Grandma Sanhua has been traveling north for such a long time. Has she gained anything?"

Hua Da Niu was visibly embarrassed for a moment, then she thought of something and said, "Of course there are some gains. I've developed a 'Zhao Li Tribe' here. Although it's still weak now, it has great potential."

"Given time, this 'Zhaoli Tribe' will be able to become our Huali Nation's northern barrier. Whether the Midnight Nation wants to return or something unexpected happens in the north, they will be able to hold the front line."

Tiger Vanguard asked curiously, "Is that so? Then I'll have to see if the Zhaoli Tribe is suitable."

...Three days later, a little tiger appeared in the Zhao family yard.

The little tiger was very stubborn, or rather, he thought he was stubborn.

It’s a pity that no matter how stubborn a cat is, it can’t last three rounds under those magical hands.

Pat the head, pinch the face, and stroke the back.

Just three moves were enough to make Xiaohu fall flat on his stomach.

Then came the operation that is not known to outsiders...

……

Hua Da Niu walked over slowly and took away the little tiger that was like a puddle of mud.

From then on, the 'Zhaoli Tribe' has added another capable member, and the glory of the tribe is constantly expanding, which is really cause for celebration.

Zhao Yifu just stayed at home petting the cat and making medicine for his second uncle. Four or five days passed like this.

He soon felt bored and thought that since he had nothing to do, he might as well set up a stall on the street.
After all, he had recently purchased a lot of precious medicinal materials, and his previously accumulated silver was almost used up.

He simply took to the streets again with his book box on his back, ready to see if he could get any big orders.

Of course, he doesn't mind not having big orders. Now setting up a stall on the street has become one of the pleasures of his life.

When he arrived at the street, he put down the box, but did not see the shadow of Senior Brother Song Jie.

After asking around, he found out that Senior Brother Song Jie was preparing for the imperial examination and wasn't planning on setting up a stall anytime soon. This guy clearly said he didn't care, but now that he's actually got the title of Scholar, he's unwilling to be lonely again?
Zhao Yifu shook his head indifferently, then set up his painting stall on the spot.

Then he picked up a book and read it carefully.

This is an ancient medical classic, borrowed from Teacher Zhou.

It is true that "Chun Yang Seeking the Tao" is a very good book, but there is too much content in it that requires extensive citations and answers from other places.

To be honest, Zhao Yifu has been holding this scripture for more than ten days, but he still hasn't been able to understand the content of the entire scripture.

On the contrary, because they touched upon some other knowledge, he had read quite a few medical and Taoist books during this period.

Zhao Yifu finally understood why Emperor Fuyou had the "Alchemy" in his talent tree, because just by studying the "Pure Yang Seeking the Tao Sutra", he gradually felt that he had mastered a lot of medical and alchemy knowledge, at least he had some insights into how to harmonize the yin and yang and five elements of the human body.

He felt that if he could really fully understand the "Pure Yang Seeking the Tao Sutra", he would already have considerable theoretical knowledge in the Dao of Alchemy.

However, just when he was studying seriously and thought that there would be no business today, a person suddenly stood in front of him.

He looked up and saw a weather-beaten woman standing in front of him with a ten-year-old child.

"Madam, do you want to buy a painting?"

he asked.

The old-looking woman seemed very embarrassed. She tugged at her son and then said seriously, "Sir, I would like to ask you to write a letter home for me."

As if she was afraid that Zhao Yifu would not agree, she emphasized: "I have money!"

Zhao Yifu looked at her deeply, but he had already spread out the paper in his hand and held the pen in his hand and said, "What do you want to write?"

The woman showed a look of surprise when she heard this, and then said hesitantly: "That's...that's..."

For a moment I didn't know what to say.

Zhao Yifu reminded: "Who did you write to, Madam?"

The woman quickly said, "It's my man."

Zhao Yifu asked again: "What's your name?"

The woman finally took a deep breath and said, "Zhang Daniu... Daniu, your parents died of illness, but I gave birth to a boy for you."

The uneducated woman said something very bluntly.

However, the meaning implied in this sentence made Zhao Yifu's pen, which was about to be put down, suddenly become blunt.

For the first time, he felt the dullness of his writing style.

But after a brief pause, he still finished writing this paragraph, and then asked: "Is there anything else you want to say?"

The woman hesitated for a moment, then said with despair and persistence in her eyes: "I don't know if you are still alive, but I will raise your baby and wait for you to come back..."

Zhao Yifu wrote the following words again and looked up at the woman again.

The woman, who seemed young but had been worn down by life, shook her head and said, "That's all. I don't know what else to say."

Maybe to her, the husband who had been gone for ten years was also a stranger?

Zhao Yifu said, "Then you and the child should stand further away. I will use the remaining space on this letter paper to draw a picture for you."

The woman and her son quickly stood back. Zhao Yifu glanced at them for a few seconds, then started painting quickly.

He has always been quick at drawing, and after just a few strokes he has outlined the character's contours.

Then he carved the two figures in detail, and soon it became a scroll on a piece of letter paper.

Even when painting on letter paper, Zhao Yifu was very serious, at least showing the same level as when he painted "Midnight Kingdom".

When the images of the mother and son came to life on the paper, Zhao Yifu stamped his own seal on the letter paper.

He didn't know why he stamped the letter, because the letter might never be sent to where it was supposed to go, and his calligraphy and paintings would never receive a response.

But he covered it anyway.

He handed the written letter to the woman and said nothing more.

The woman took the letter and then knelt down in front of Zhao Yifu.

She said, "Sir, I don't have any money."

Having said that, she had already put the letter away.

"But I am willing to work like a slave to pay off your debt."

Zhao Yifu said indifferently: "Leave your home address and go."

The woman looked at Zhao Yifu in surprise.

Zhao Yifu said, "Since you don't have money now, I can only come back to you later to ask for it."

The woman felt something was wrong, but Zhao Yifu's words made sense, so she had no choice but to tell him her home address.

Zhao Yifu pulled out a piece of waste paper and quickly wrote the address on it. He then tore off the note and threw it to Yiyi beside him, saying, "Please keep it for me."

Yiyi opened her mouth, picked up the note, and then ran away to hide it somewhere.

The woman still felt that it was a little unreal. Although it seemed that she was in debt, she was not told how much the debt was and how much she should pay back. This made her very confused.

Zhao Yifu said, "Okay, do you have anything else to say?"

"Oh, it costs money to send a message. Do you want me to lend you some more?"

The woman came to her senses and said quickly, "No... no, thank you sir, I will find a way myself from now on."

Zhao Yi Fu nodded and said nothing more.

The woman left with her son, looking back every few steps.

This was just a small episode for Zhao Yifu, and he soon forgot about it.

"Brother, you are still so gentle. It is a blessing for that woman to meet you."

Suddenly, Zhao Yifu heard the voice of his junior sister Zhou Qingzhao.

He turned around and saw that Miss Zhou was walking towards him with her sister Zhao Xiangyu.

He said, "Junior sister, are you taking a break today?"

Zhao Yifu saw that Zhao Xiangyu's expression was a little unnatural because her father was still lying in his house.

Zhao Xiangyu walked over and said, "I need to take a break. I wanted to go to your house to find you, but I didn't expect Qingzhao to say that I could find you here directly..."

She looked at Zhao Yifu and then at Zhou Qingzhao hesitantly, feeling that something was wrong.

Zhao Yifu laughed heartily and said, "Junior sister, please don't tell my teacher. If he knew that I wasn't studying at home but was setting up a stall instead..."

Zhou Qingzhao hesitated for a moment and said, "Actually, it was my father who told me you were here. He also asked me to send you some banknotes, saying that you would need money recently."

Zhao Yifu's expression changed, and he looked at the banknote Zhou Qingzhao handed over... He looked at the denomination, which was five hundred taels.

The Zhou family is not short of money, but they probably can't come up with too much money at once.

But this money is indeed urgently needed for Zhao Yifu...or to be more precise, for Zhao Guhe.

He took the banknote with both hands and said sincerely, "Thank you for your help, Junior Sister."

There was no refusal. On the one hand, he would naturally thank Zhou Su in person. On the other hand, wasn't this an advance payment of 'military pay' to Zhou Su?

After Zhao Guhe is cured, Zhao Yifu's second uncle will start working for Zhou Su and his daughter!
　After all, it’s the first day after the launch, so I can write more. Let me say this first.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)