CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 75: LIVELY AND BUSTLING

Xu Tingzhen watched as Xie Liangchen placed all the medicines on the table into the medicine cabinet.

For the last few rare herbs, Xie Liangchen spent some extra time but identified them accurately.

"I haven’t finished drawing my herbal chart," Xie Liangchen said, "I want to compile all usable herbs into an illustrated book."

Xu Tingzhen couldn’t help but nod.

Xu Tingzhen continued, "And how much do you understand about processing familiar medicines?"

Xie Liangchen replied, "Ginseng needs to be deprived of its fibers, Ephedra of its roots, Cornelian cherry of its pits, Cinnamon of its coarse skin, and Tortoise shell, Trionychidae shell, and Asafetida of their fishy odor. Chaihu should be fried with vinegar to enhance its efficacy, Cattail pollen should be stir-fried to stop bleeding, and Greater Celandine and Aconite needs detoxification..."

Chen Zigeng gently pushed the door open. Hearing Sister Chen’s voice from inside, he turned his head and shook it toward Mr. Dongli behind him.

Clearly, it was not the time to disturb them.

Mr. Dongli sighed. Granny Xu was once a renowned master of medicine over a decade ago, skilled not only in medicinal theory but also in processing familiar medicines. After the passing of Prince Guangyang and the Princess, Granny Xu had become reclusive, wandering anonymously in remote areas. It took him great efforts to find her, and he used every trick in the book just to stay by her side. Even so, Granny Xu seldom spoke, let alone discussed medicinal logic with others.

This was because she had finally found a disciple she was satisfied with, ready to teach with great care.

Mr. Dongli patted Chen Zigeng’s head, saying, "They won’t come out for a while, let’s go eat first."

Old Mrs. Chen stood at the village entrance, looking out. It was already dark, yet her granddaughter and grandson hadn’t returned.

Finally, when two figures approached, Old Mrs. Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

The three of them sat together eating, and Chen Zigeng chatteringly told Old Mrs. Chen about the day’s events. "The teacher said the same as Sister Chen, that studying isn’t just for the exams, but to understand things better. I’ve found a good teacher."

Old Mrs. Chen said, "Since that’s the case, you must listen to the teacher and not make him upset."

Chen Zigeng agreed.

Xie Liangchen looked at her brother eating and then at her grandmother, whose eyes were full of warmth and laughter, feeling even warmer in her heart.

That night, a heavy rain suddenly fell.

The houses in Chen Family Village were not yet repaired. Most of the homes were soaked in rainwater, but everyone ignored this, focusing first on protecting the few granaries in the village.

Chen Yongsheng wiped the rain off his face. The cold wind blew, causing the villagers in Chen Family Village to shiver involuntarily, but no one was willing to leave.

The rain tonight was heavier than usual, and the pre-dug ditches were insufficient for drainage, so they needed to surround the granaries with soil first.

Chen Yongsheng somewhat regretted, thinking he should have prepared better, not expecting such a sudden heavy rain, and now he just hoped the rain would stop soon.

Old Mrs. Chen and Xie Liangchen came to check the situation but were quickly persuaded to return by Chen Yongsheng.

Chen Yongsheng said, "We and the young men in the village will handle this. There’s nothing you can do, wait for news back home!"

Only then did Xie Liangchen leave the granaries, leading Chen Yuyu and others to check house by house.

The villagers of Chen Family Village always got along well, and in such situations, they didn’t need reminders and had long started helping each other.

The adults found houses that didn’t leak to settle the children, and after a hectic night, the children slept squeezed together.

The elderly also needed care, and the remaining women tried to make everyone comfortable.

Some lit fires, others groped to plug the leaks in the roofs.

Seeing the wind picking up, Xie Liangchen called down the people on the roof, "Wait until the wind stops to go up."

Life in Chen Family Village was gradually getting better, but this heavy rain reminded everyone how hard life had been.

"Before winter, the houses must be fixed, or when the north wind blows, it will be bone-chilling cold, and it will be useless even if you snuggle on the bed."

"The village chief and the elder sister-in-law said so long ago, but you were reluctant."

"Keeping silver coin is useless, planning for the future is necessary."

Everyone was talking animatedly.

They held out until dawn, and finally, the rain stopped.

Chen Yongsheng led the men home, and the women immediately handed them hot water to drink and found clothes for them to change into.

Xie Liangchen, looking at the gathered crowd, thought about the words shared with Mr. Xu and then turned to Chen Yongsheng, "Uncle, since everyone is here, I have something I want to discuss with everyone."

As Xie Liangchen spoke, the courtyard immediately fell silent, and everyone’s gaze turned to her.

Xie Liangchen said, "I want to establish a Familiar Medicine Institute in the village. The institute will need several houses, positioned next to the granaries. If we start this Familiar Medicine Institute, we can’t sell the medicines we’ve gathered now, which means once again holding everyone’s hard-earned silver for collecting and harvesting herbs.

Additionally, if the institute needs to buy more herbs, the village’s communal funds may need to be tapped.

Establishing this institute is also planning for the future. In winter, when it’s impossible to gather herbs from the mountains, everyone must have work to do, but this also has drawbacks. Everyone still has to endure hardships, homes may not be repaired as well as hoped, and meals might just suffice..."

Hearing these words, the courtyard occupants fell silent, pondering their relentless toil that night. Who wouldn’t dread such tough days?

After a moment, someone finally spoke up, "I don’t understand what a Familiar Medicine Institute is, but I’m willing to listen to what Miss Chen says."

"Our Chen Family Village is quite famous now; I even heard people asking around about us at the market."

"Sister Chen has our best interests at heart, pulling Chen Family Village forward to greater achievements."

Chen Yongsheng pondered for a while and then spoke, "But it’s not always successful. If it doesn’t work out, remember it’s a collective decision, don’t blame Liangchen."

"We understand that."

"Now, not just our Chen Family Village, even my father-in-law’s village has made quite a bit of silver. Whenever I go back, people pester me with questions, thinking I’m some expert, and I can’t be prouder. If it fails, we bear it, and the rest lies with Liangchen."

"Village chief, by saying this, you’re challenging our pride."

Chen Yongsheng replied to Xie Liangchen, "Once the ground dries, we’ll begin building. Whatever else is needed, you just list it."

Chen Yongyi, who rarely spoke, added, "If silver coin is insufficient, each household can contribute some more."

Before Chen Yongsheng and Xie Liangchen could reply, Chen Yongyi continued, "I’ll collect it, even if it’s not enough... I’ll still..."

A woman couldn’t help but laugh: "Look, even the quiet gourd has spoken. Don’t worry, we won’t trouble you; we’ll bring it ourselves."

The crowd in the courtyard laughed.

Chen Yongsheng said, "Then it’s settled."

The construction of the houses began in Chen Family Village. Each day, after returning from Mr. Xu’s place, Xie Liangchen started tinkering with the purchased wool, using limewater to wash away its grease and then making it soft.

Old Mrs. Chen watched from the side, unsure of what her granddaughter was fiddling with.

Time slipped by and another half-month passed.

Song Xian returned from Dingzhou to a small courtyard in Zhenzhou, changed out of his clothes, and sat in the study handling paperwork.

Chang An placed a teacup on the table and quietly withdrew.

The subordinates approached Chang An, "You should rest; we’ll keep watching here."

Indeed, Chang An was tired. Originally, his brother and he could take turns, but now with Chang Yue constantly in Chen Family Village, he alone had to stay by the master’s side.

Thinking so, Chang An was about to head to the counting room when once again, his subordinates stopped him, "Has the master’s temper subsided?"

For the past half-month, the master had been particularly harsh when sparring, especially furious if anyone attempted to attack above his neck, inevitably throwing them aside.

Chang An knew what it meant but dared not speak. The master’s jaw, a closely guarded secret, was a source of anxiety, marked by an evasive guilt whenever anyone’s gaze lingered.

Even he hadn’t anticipated the master’s reaction.

Reflecting on Chen Family Village, Chang An found himself unavoidably pondering its current state. After a mere three days, he guessed, the master would summon Miss Xie to his presence.