The carefree life of Yang Shuisheng, the village miracle doctor

The next day, while it was still barely dawn, Yang Shuisheng went out with the ten-year-old Solomon's seal in his pocket.

From Taohua'ao to the town, it's a mountain road of more than 20 li (about 10 kilometers), full of potholes.

He was fast on his feet, a skill he developed from running all over the mountains when he was younger. Now, with that touch of Qi nourishing him, walking was even easier, and he reached the town in just over two hours.

The town was much more lively than the village, with shops lining both sides of the street and crowds of people heading to the early market.

Upon arriving at the destination, Yang Shuisheng found a busy street corner, spread out a tattered cloth he had brought on the ground, and placed the Solomon's Seal wrapped in grass leaves on it.

The large size and good appearance of the Solomon's Seal quickly attracted several people to gather around and look at it.

"Young man, how much is this Polygonatum?" a middle-aged woman carrying a basket asked.

"Twenty-five yuan per jin." Based on his inherited memory of the value of wild ten-year-old Solomon's Seal, Yang Shuisheng quoted what he considered a fair price.

"How much? Twenty-five yuan a pound?" The woman's eyes widened as if she'd heard a joke. "Are you robbing me? Twenty-five yuan for a rotten tree root?"

"Five yuan a pound is the absolute maximum."

An old man selling vegetables nearby scoffed, "Yeah, young man, are you obsessed with money?"

"There are tons of this stuff on the back hills, nobody wants it for a few dollars a pound, and you dare ask for a two-digit price?"

"These are purely wild, ten years old, and have excellent medicinal properties," Yang Shuisheng explained.

"Ten years? You say ten years, and it's ten years? Who are you trying to fool!" someone else started to grumble.

The onlookers all chimed in, saying that Yang Shuisheng was either asking for an exorbitant price, or that he was either an inexperienced businessman or a fraudster.

Yang Shuisheng wasn't in a hurry; he just squatted there and let them talk.

Just then, an old man with gray hair and wearing a gray long gown walked over with his hands behind his back.

He squatted down, picked up Yang Shuisheng's Solomon's Seal, carefully examined the stem scar on the head, smelled the aroma, and even pinched the broken surface with his fingernail.

"Yes, it is indeed wild, and its age... is about ten years."

The old man nodded and looked at Yang Shuisheng.

"Young man, are you really selling this for a profit? Can you give me a discount?"

"Twenty yuan a pound, I'll take it."

Seeing that he knew his stuff, Yang Shuisheng didn't want to waste any more time.

"Okay, twenty it is."

The old man was very generous and took out his money on the spot.

I borrowed the scale from the old man selling vegetables next door and weighed myself; it was a hefty two and a half pounds.

"Fifty dollars, please count it."

The old man counted out five ten-yuan bills and handed them to Yang Shuisheng.

The onlookers were dumbfounded. Someone actually spent fifty yuan to buy this rotten tree root?

Someone kindly reminded the old man, "Sir, don't be fooled by him, this thing isn't worth that price."

The old man smiled and ignored him, only saying to Yang Shuisheng, "Young man, if you can find any more herbs of this age or other decent quality in the future, just send them to Su's General Store at the east end of town. I'll take as many as you have."

Su Family Grocery Store?

Yang Shuisheng noted it down and nodded: "Okay."

Holding the five warm bills, Yang Shuisheng felt much more at ease.

This was the first big sum of money he had ever earned through his own abilities.

Without delay, he went straight to a noodle shop on the street that looked fairly clean, spent a dollar, and enjoyed a delicious bowl of noodles with minced meat sauce.

After drinking hot soup or water, I felt comfortable all over and my energy returned.

After eating and drinking his fill, he thought about going to the pharmacy to see if he could get all the necessary medicines to regulate his body.

But not far from the noodle shop, I suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of my eye.

It's Zhao Hu.

This guy was actually riding a nearly new old-fashioned bicycle, wandering around the streets.

There was a net bag hanging on the handlebars, containing two bottles of liquor and a carton of cigarettes.

He was wearing a floral shirt, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, looking smug.

Yang Shuisheng felt a chill run down his spine.

Zhao Hu, that good-for-nothing, idles away his days, stealing chickens and dogs. Where would he get the money to buy a bicycle?

This car doesn't look cheap; the market price must be at least one or two hundred yuan.

And those cigarettes and alcohol in his hand didn't look cheap either.

Yesterday, that bastard not only tried to bully Liu Yulan, but also smashed up her own house...

New and old grudges surged into my heart.

Yang Shuisheng's eyes turned cold, and he followed at a distance.

There are too many people here, it's not convenient to make a move.

He planned to keep an eye on Zhao Hu, and when he returned to the village, he would find a secluded place and beat him up to vent his anger.

Zhao Hu rode slowly, looking around on the street. Finally, he parked his bike in front of a teahouse called "Yuelai Teahouse," locked it, and went inside with his cigarettes and alcohol.

Yang Shuisheng recalled that the "Yuelai Teahouse" was quite famous in the town.

I heard the boss has connections and knows some big shots in the county, so not many people dare to cause trouble there.

What is Zhao Hu doing here?

He found a shady spot across from the teahouse and squatted down, waiting patiently.

About half an hour later, the curtain of the teahouse was lifted, and Zhao Hu walked out bowing and scraping. Next to him came another person whose pupils shrank.

Village Chief: Zhao Youcai.

Yang Shuisheng's eyes narrowed, and he immediately slipped behind a bamboo basket stall on the side of the street, carefully observing the situation under the cover of the crowd.

The cigarettes and alcohol that Zhao Hu was carrying were gone; they were probably given to someone in the teahouse.

At this moment, he and Zhao Youcai were walking side by side. Zhao Hu had a smile on his face and was talking to Zhao Youcai.

Zhao Youcai stood with his hands behind his back and nodded slightly. The two seemed to have a close relationship as they chatted and laughed as they turned into a small alley next to the teahouse.

Yang Shuisheng's feeling of unease intensified.

He remembered hearing villagers mention it in casual conversation.

Zhao Hu's father and Zhao Youcai were sworn brothers, and their relationship was very close.

Back in the early days when we were still in a production team, we encountered a landslide while transporting timber into the mountains.

In his attempt to push Zhao Youcai away, Zhao Hu's father was hit by a rolling boulder and died.

From then on, Zhao Youcai took good care of Zhao Hu's family. Zhao Hu was a petty thief and idler in the village, but everyone tolerated him for Zhao Youcai's sake.

So this relationship was real after all.

He followed silently, hugging the wall, and approached the alley entrance.

This alley is narrow and leads to the back door of the teahouse; it's usually deserted.

Sure enough, Zhao Hu and Zhao Youcai were standing at the back door.

Zhao Hu took out a cigarette, offered one to Zhao Youcai, and then lit it for him with great courtesy.

"Uncle, thank you so much this time."

"If it weren't for your help, how would Brother Kun have met someone as insignificant as me?" Zhao Hu said in a low voice, his tone full of flattery.

Zhao Youcai took a drag of his cigarette and waved his hand, "It's too formal to say such things."

"If it weren't for your father back then, I would have lost my life in the mountains long ago."

"It's my duty to take care of you."

Yang Shuisheng, standing at the alley entrance, heard everything clearly and sneered inwardly, "So that's the connection I was looking for."

At this moment, Zhao Hu's voice suddenly turned gloomy and fierce: "Uncle, that Yang Shuisheng... I fucking can't swallow this."

"Yesterday on the back mountain, it almost came to fruition, but this idiot ruined it."

"He dared to lay a hand on me, that idiot... I think he's got a death wish, I'm going to kill him!"

Zhao Youcai exhaled a smoke ring and said unhurriedly, "Don't worry, he won't live for more than a few days."

"Since Brother Kun has agreed to help, the matter is settled."

"In this area of ​​Daliang Town, it's as easy for Brother Kun to find someone as easy as crushing an ant."

"Just wait and see what happens."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hu's face lit up with excitement: "By the way, Uncle, once this matter is settled, that young widow Liu Yulan..."

"What's the rush!" Zhao Youcai interrupted him. "Let's take care of the important business first."

"I've already promised Brother Kun all the benefits; he won't help for nothing."

"You should behave yourself lately and not cause any trouble."

"Yes, yes, Uncle, I'll do whatever you say." Zhao Hu nodded repeatedly.

Yang Shuisheng hid at the alley entrance, listening to the conversation between the two, and a sense of crisis arose spontaneously.

Did Zhao Youcai actually collude with "Brother Kun," the town's local gang leader, to kill him?

Just because I ruined Zhao Hu's plans yesterday and even hit him?

Zhao Youcai, on the surface, is a village chief, but behind the scenes he is so ruthless.

Why would you kill someone like Zhao Hu, who is so incompetent?

He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.

Originally, he only wanted to beat up Zhao Hu to vent his anger, and then slowly find an opportunity to bring down Zhao Youcai and take back his own land.

Unexpectedly, they were already preparing to take his life.

We can't fight it head-on.

That Brother Kun is no pushover; he has men under his command and weapons.

With my current strength and rudimentary understanding of qi, I can handle one or two ordinary people.

But against those ruthless thugs who live on the edge, they'd definitely be at a disadvantage.

He quietly retreated, left the alley entrance, and blended into the crowd on the street.

The murderous intent and sense of urgency in my heart were stronger than ever before.

Zhao Youcai, Zhao Hu...

You want me dead?

Let's see who dies first!

The most urgent task is to enhance our strength as soon as possible.