CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 18 WANG FAMILY PHARMACY_1

In the second watch of the night, seeking recommendations, seeking collections.

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"Do we even have to keep it from Dad and Mom?" Xiao Qi asked.

Lian Manman thought for a moment and nodded. Observing coldly over the past few days, she noticed that both Lady Zhang and Lian Shouxin really didn’t have a single wen, seemingly never having the concept of private savings. If they knew about this, and the money was handed over to Lady Zhou, there would be trouble.

After Lian Manman, Lian Zhizhi, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi had discussed and agreed, they returned home. Seeing the wild vegetables they had dug were both good and plentiful, Lady Zhou didn’t say anything. The three brothers, Lian Shouren, still had not returned from the town, and the Lian Family’s lunch was very simple, consisting of millet porridge, wowotou, and pickles. With things on their minds, the children quickly ate lunch and then returned to their rooms.

Midday in autumn was very hot, and it wasn’t yet the time for the autumn harvest, so the people of the Lian Family were accustomed to taking a nap at noon. Waiting until everyone had lain down to rest, the children then got up, with Wu Lang and Lian Zhizhi pushing the flatbed cart, while Lian Manman and Xiao Qi prepared baskets and sacks.

"What are you going to do with all these?" Lady Zhang, who hadn’t fallen asleep, asked upon seeing them.

"Mom, we’re going out to play," Lian Manman said.

"It’s scorching hot outside at midday; better stay at home and rest," advised Lady Zhang.

"We have a shady place to go to, Brother said he’s going to find some bird eggs for me to eat," Lian Manman said.

When they had returned, she had told Lady Zhang about the roasted bird eggs they enjoyed.

"Mom, we’re taking the flatbed cart. Manman and Xiao Qi are tired, so they can sit on the cart," Lian Wulang explained.

"Go then, but don’t go too far and come back early. Be careful not to break the cart," Lady Zhang instructed.

The children had always been trustworthy, and Lian Manman’s face was flushed, clearly having been out; her spirits seemed lifted, so Lady Zhang’s heart softened and she couldn’t bear to stop them.

They pushed the cart out of the village. This time, they didn’t head towards the fields but instead took the small path westward. It wasn’t long until they saw a low-lying mountain with lush greenery, and from time to time, a tombstone peeked through the vegetation. Lian Manman guessed that must certainly be Nanshan. Circumventing Nanshan from the south, the surroundings became desolate. The flat ground turned into rolling hills; fewer fields, more shrubs and low forests.

Continuing southward through a small path in the low forest, the terrain ahead began to rise, and the vegetation grew denser.

"I found this place when I came to pick up branches," said Lian Wulang while walking.

Lian Manman surveyed the surroundings—mostly low hills interspersed with shallow and deep ravines, all covered in shrubs and weeds. Lian Wulang was clearly very familiar with the area and deftly maneuvered the cart through twists and turns to a low-lying flat area.

"Here we are," Lian Wulang halted and announced.

In clusters and bunches, there were bitter thistle shoots, topped with ripe bitter thistles, many of which were already red, and still, many remained green.

"We’ll only pick the red, ripe ones. Those that are green can wait to be picked when they turn red in a few days," Lian Manman directed.

Lian Manman, Lian Zhizhi, Lian Wulang, and Xiao Qi set the cart aside, each picked up a basket, and began to enthusiastically pick the thistles. When a basket filled up, they took it out and poured the contents into sacks on the cart.

Without a breeze, the sun was scorching, and soon Lian Manman’s forehead was covered in sweat. The sweat trickled down her temples and into her neck, feeling very uncomfortable. Yet Lian Manman didn’t want to complain at all—her heart was filled with joy.

Lian Zhizhi, Lian Wulang, and Xiao Qi need not be mentioned, they were all exceedingly industrious. The children were accustomed to doing manual labor, and in just about half a Chinese hour, they had picked all the bitter herbs that were nearby.

Lian Manman looked over and saw that they had picked a total of six hemp sacks full of bitter herbs. It was quite a struggle for all four of them to lift just one sack together. Altogether, the six sacks likely weighed at least four to five hundred catties.

Lian Wulang got the sacks in order and covered them with a layer of straw matting. He and Lian Zhizhi pulled the cart from the front while Lian Manman and Xiao Qi helped push from the back. They made their way out of the mountains, not entering the village this time, but took the main road straight to the town.

At this time, there weren’t many pedestrians on the road. They walked close to the edge of the road where the shade of roadside trees and a breeze made their journey not especially hard. But, they were still children after all, pushing something that weighed four to five hundred catties, so they moved very slowly. Lian Wulang and Lian Zhizhi were covered in sweat, exerting all their strength to prevent their younger brother and sister from getting too tired.

In less than two Chinese hours of walking on the four-li long official road, Qingyang Town was already in their sight.

Lian Manman suddenly thought of an issue.

"How do we get to the Wang Family’s medicinal herb shop?"

"It’s just up ahead on the main street. We’ve been there before during the market days, have you forgotten?" Lian Zhizhi said with a smile.

Lian Manman fell silent.

Qingyang Town was quite prosperous, and the main street was the busiest in town. The street was wide, paved with bluestone, and flanked by a variety of shops, including four or five three-story restaurants. Even on non-market days, the street was bustling with people.

"We’re here," Xiao Qi suddenly called out.

On the north side of the street was a five-room large shopfront, with a red-lacquered signboard that bore the gold-gilded characters of Jisheng Hall, striking in its vigorous and rustic charm. This Jisheng Hall was a heritage passed down from the ancestors of the Wang Family, with many branches in Jinyang County and a highly reputable name.

Lian Wulang parked the cart in front of the herb shop while he and Lian Zhizhi watched over it. Lian Manman took Xiao Qi with her into the shop.

No sooner had Lian Manman stepped into the herb shop than a young clerk greeted her. Seeing that she was a girl with her hair unbound and wearing plain clothes, accompanied by a small boy, the smile on his face did not change.

"Is the young lady here to buy medicine?" asked the clerk, not seeing any adults with the children, so he addressed Lian Manman.

"I’m here to see someone, could you please help me send a message?" said Lian Manman crisply, "We’re from Thirty Mile Camp, we’ve made an arrangement with your Young Owner to deliver some items."

Shopkeeper Wang of Jisheng Hall was standing behind the counter. Seeing Lian Manman’s composed manner and clear speech, he walked out from behind the counter.

"You must be from the Lian Family... the third young lady," said Shopkeeper Wang, "Our Young Owner already told me about it. Where are the goods?"

"This is our Shopkeeper Wang," said the clerk.

"Greetings, Shopkeeper Wang," Lian Manman gave a slight bow and pointed outside, "They’re right outside the door."

"Very well, please take a seat inside, third young lady. I’ll have the items moved in right away," the shopkeeper responded.

While Shopkeeper Wang sent a clerk to inform Wang Youheng, he came out with others to move the sacks of bitter herbs into the back.

Lian Manman followed Shopkeeper Wang into the backyard. As she watched the clerks pour out the bitter herbs for weighing, she saw Wang Youheng hurry over.

"Manman, I didn’t expect you to arrive so quickly."