The carefree life of Yang Shuisheng, the village miracle doctor

Yang Shuisheng followed Guo Cuihong from a distance, watching her lead the bewildered little baby, turn two corners in the town, and arrive at a relatively quiet street, entering a traditional Chinese medicine shop with a sign that read "Jishetang" hanging at the entrance.

He didn't go in immediately, but stopped a few steps away from the pharmacy, standing sideways next to a stall selling needles and thread, pretending to pick things out, but actually concentrating his attention on the pharmacy.

After practicing cultivation, he not only became physically stronger, but his five senses also became much more acute.

With his mind focused, the conversation in the pharmacy reached his ears clearly.

"Boss, could you please take a look at the medicine on this prescription? Do you have it here?" It was Guo Cuihong's cautious voice.

"Oh, let me see..." A somewhat aged, slightly snobbish voice rang out, probably the owner of the pharmacy.

There was a pause of a few seconds.

Yes, we have them all.

"Angelica sinensis, Polygala tenuifolia, Acorus tatarinowii, Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis (processed)... these are all commonly used herbs. How much do you need?"

"Just get two doses according to the prescription," Guo Cuihong said with a hint of anticipation in her voice.

"Okay, wait."

Then came the rustling sounds of medicine being grabbed, weighed, and wrapped.

After a while, the shopkeeper's voice rang out again: "Alright, two doses of medicine. That'll be eighteen yuan."

"Eighteen yuan?" Guo Cuihong's voice suddenly rose, filled with surprise and disbelief. "Boss, are you sure you didn't miscalculate? This medicine is so expensive? Nine yuan a dose?"

"That's right, it's nine yuan a set." The shopkeeper's voice was unhurried, with a hint of matter-of-factness. "The ingredients in your prescription, such as Polygala tenuifolia and Acorus tatarinowii, have been hard to get lately, so the price has gone up."

"It usually sells for six yuan a pair, and that's the price now."

"But they told me it only costs two or three yuan a pair."

Guo Cuihong's voice was filled with grievance and confusion as she recalled Yang Shuisheng's words from yesterday.

"Two or three yuan? That's ancient history!" the shopkeeper scoffed. "What isn't going up in price these days? Medicinal herbs are especially precious!"

"Do you want it or not? If not, don't delay my business."

Outside the door, Yang Shuisheng frowned.

Are the prices of Polygala tenuifolia and Acorus calamus rising?

It might increase a little, but it's absolutely impossible for it to go from two or three dollars to nine dollars.

The shopkeeper clearly took advantage of Guo Cuihong, a rural woman with a mentally challenged child who was unfamiliar with medicine and in a hurry to get it, and deliberately inflated the price to rip her off.

He knows the prescription he wrote. Even according to the current market price in town, the cost of one dose of medicine is at most three yuan, and he can only sell it for four or five yuan at most. This boss is really greedy.

There was a few seconds of silence inside, clearly indicating that Guo Cuihong was having a fierce internal struggle.

"I want...I want it."

Finally, as if she had made up her mind, her voice filled with heartache and helplessness, she said, "Here's fifty yuan, please give me change."

"Wait a moment, Sister Cuihong."

Just as Guo Cuihong was about to take out her money, the curtain of the pharmacy was lifted, and Yang Shuisheng stepped inside.

"Hey, it's you, Shui Sheng!"

Guo Cuihong looked up at the sound and saw Yang Shuisheng. She was overjoyed and said, "What a coincidence, you're here to get medicine too?"

"Yes, I came to take a look. I'd like to buy some medicinal herbs."

Yang Shuisheng nodded casually, but his gaze seemed to sweep over the thin, shrewd old shopkeeper behind the counter, who was wearing a gray long gown. There was a hint of coldness in his eyes.

"Comrade, are you also getting medicine?"

The old shopkeeper felt a strange unease when Yang Shuisheng glanced at him, but he still put on a businessman's smile: "Our Jishetang has the most complete selection of medicinal herbs, and the prices are fair."

Yang Shuisheng ignored him and went straight to the counter, looking at the two packets of medicinal herbs wrapped in yellow straw paper and tied with hemp rope.

"Sister-in-law Cuihong, don't rush to take these two doses of medicine."

"I also need to buy a large batch of medicinal herbs, so I need to check prices from several suppliers."

"Jishetang is not the only company selling medicinal herbs in Daliang Town."

"I need to visit places like Huichuntang and Baoantang. Why don't you come with me?"

"Since it's on the way anyway, you can see which store suits you when I go to buy the goods. I'll just pick up the medicine for you while I'm at it, and maybe I can even get a discount."

His words were reasonable, explaining why he was at the pharmacy, giving Guo Cuihong a way out so she wouldn't have to buy medicine from this shady shop immediately, and implying that he could help her get a cheaper price.

Upon hearing this, Guo Cuihong's eyes lit up immediately!

Yes, Brother Shuisheng knows about medicinal herbs and even sources them. Going with him will definitely prevent you from getting ripped off.

"Alright! Alright! Brother Shuisheng, then I'll leave it to you."

She said that she was about to leave, indicating that she didn't plan to buy anything.

"Hey! Wait a minute!" The old shopkeeper panicked when he saw his sure-fire deal about to slip away. He grabbed Guo Cuihong's arm, his smile vanished, and he sternly said to her, "You woman, how can you go back on your word?"

"I've already packed and prepared the medicine for you. Now you're saying you don't want to buy it anymore? That's unreasonable!"

"Look, I've already weighed all the medicine. I can't sell it without opening the package; you have to buy it today!"

Guo Cuihong was startled by the boss's arrogant attitude and accusatory words, and subconsciously felt a little guilty.

Yes, I let them fill out the medicine package without asking the price clearly, so it seems a bit unreasonable for me to say I don't want to buy it now.

She looked at the two packets of medicine, then touched the only fifty yuan she had left in her pocket, and felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife.

Nine yuan a pair, eighteen yuan for two pairs, that's way more than I budgeted.

But if I don't buy it, the boss looks fierce and doesn't seem like someone to mess with. So I either accept that I bought it this time and consider it a lesson learned, and I'll definitely ask the price first next time.

Her lips trembled, and her hand slowly reached into her pocket, her face filled with struggle and heartache.

"Wait a minute." Yang Shuisheng reached out and gently stopped Guo Cuihong from taking out her money.

He then looked at the old shopkeeper, whose face was full of arrogance.

"Boss, are you trying to force me to buy this?"

"It's perfectly reasonable for us to come into the store to ask about medicine, get a price quote, and then decide not to buy it if we think it's too expensive."

"You just packaged this medicine, and the herbs are exactly the same, not a single one missing. Why can't you sell it to someone else?"

"Could it be that the medicines from Jishetang can't be unpacked once they're opened, or that they'll spoil if you do? Or are you just taking advantage of our ignorance and deliberately calling ordinary medicines precious to try and scam us?"

He spoke slowly and deliberately, yet every word he uttered was reasonable and hit the nail on the head.

The last sentence, "deliberately trying to extort money," made the old shopkeeper's expression change drastically.

"You... what nonsense are you spouting!" The old shopkeeper, somewhat embarrassed and angry, raised his voice, trying to intimidate the man with his imposing manner. "My Jishetang has been open for more than ten years, and I have never cheated anyone, young or old."

"I said this medicine won't sell well if it's opened, and that's it. You have to pay me today."

"Eighteen yuan, not a penny less and you won't leave this house."

As he spoke, he deliberately puffed out his thin chest and glared fiercely at Yang Shuisheng and Guo Cuihong.

He acted as if he would call for help or resort to violence if they didn't pay.

He had the complete demeanor of a thug and a rogue.