CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 51: LEFT BEHIND

Mrs. Yao watched Gu Chengyu’s fluent movements with great amazement. Is this really a peasant boy?

Since she entered, she had been observing this little child. Although born in a farming family, his manners were gentle and courteous. He did not devour food like a typical farm child, nor was he timid and fearful.

Now she could understand her husband’s intentions behind this decision, and the more she looked, the more she liked him.

While Gu Chengyu and Mrs. Yao each had their thoughts, Mr. Gu had already agreed with Doctor Li to visit the county in a few days.

It turned out that Doctor Li was an old acquaintance of the shopkeeper at Huichun Hall in the county. This ginseng could fetch a good price only in the county since there were many wealthy families there.

"Go to the county and find Manager Liu at Huichun Hall. Just mention my name, Li Yuanfeng, and I’m sure Manager Liu won’t treat you poorly. I have patients that day, so I won’t be able to accompany you."

"Thank you very much, Brother Li. By the way, will the ginseng spoil if left at home? Oh, there’s one more thing. Could you take a look at this? Xiao Bao mentioned seeing it in your yard, so we thought of picking it to sell for silver coins."

Mr. Gu took out a bit of wintergreen from his pocket and placed it on the table. Actually, Mr. Gu had hesitated before coming. He would feel at ease if Doctor Li confirmed the wintergreen’s value, but he worried about not being able to protect the place where the wintergreen grew.

After much thought, he decided it was still better to ask.

Gu Chengyu was startled upon hearing about the wintergreen. Here it came! He needed to think of a way to cover up the lie. If all else failed, he could use the dream excuse again.

"Isn’t this wintergreen? I did dry it out, indeed. Xiao Bao has keen eyes, recognizing it to be a means to earn silver coins for the family at such a young age. Well done! Moreover, the ginseng needs a simple processing; at least, it needs to be dried. However, if it’s only kept for two days, it should be fine. When selling to the medical hall, they’ll process it well."

Doctor Li was overjoyed. This little child always surprised him with his wisdom and good fortune, and he grew increasingly satisfied.

Gu Chengyu was relieved to find that Doctor Li had indeed dried wintergreen before. Since he recognized it, he would probably be able to sell it for silver coins.

"Brother Gu, this wintergreen, also known as winter honeysuckle, is an excellent remedy for clearing heat and detoxifying. We’re located in the north, and there isn’t much wintergreen in this area, but the demand is high. So, pharmacies usually source it from the south, and wealthy families also use it to brew tea regularly. How much do you have? I can buy it here as well. Pharmacies typically purchase good ones at ninety coins per pound. Of course, that refers to dried flowers. Since yours are not yet dried, if you dry them and leave them for me, I’ll give you five more coins per pound, and the quality of these flowers is quite good."

Doctor Li couldn’t help but feel a bit envious. How did the Gu father and son always stumble upon such good medicinal ingredients? Perhaps the master was right; the fifth in the Gu Family truly seemed to be a person of good fortune.

"After bringing it back, we weighed it, and it’s more than a hundred and sixty pounds, but I’m not sure how much it will weigh once dried."

"I guess it’ll be around forty pounds. Leave me five pounds, I won’t use much more. If kept too long, it’ll become damp, infested, and lose its medicinal properties. It’s better to sell it to pharmacies that require large quantities. Your thirty to forty pounds are not much to them; the more, the better!"

Gu Chengyu observed that Doctor Li neither took advantage by valuing the ginseng low to keep for himself nor inquired about the location of the wintergreen. Such integrity was indeed commendable.

Suddenly, an idea sprouted in his mind. The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, though he would need to proceed gradually.

"Alright, I’ll deliver it to you in a couple of days. We really appreciate your help today! We need to return now as the work in the fields isn’t finished yet." Mr. Gu stood up, ready to take his leave. He could hardly contain his joy and was eager to go back and tell the child’s mother.

"It’s almost noon. Why not stay and have a meal? I’ll ask my wife to prepare a couple of dishes, and we brothers can enjoy a drink together." Doctor Li tried to persuade Mr. Gu to stay.

"Yes, why not have a simple meal at our home? It’s just plain tea and simple food. Brother Gu, if you don’t mind, please eat with us before you leave," Mrs. Yao also urged.

"How could I mind? Of course not. I need to go back for drying flowers and there’s work in the fields. Before leaving, the child’s mother had already prepared the meals. I’ll return now, and I’ll invite you for a drink next time."

Mr. Gu didn’t want to stay at the Li Family for a meal. Honestly, he was just a farming man, and he had eaten with Doctor Li before, but he didn’t find it any better.

Now, in the Li Family, he felt uncomfortable all over.

The Li Family seemed very particular, and Mrs. Yao seemed even more so. She spoke gently and was kind, but he just wasn’t used to it.

He preferred the straightforward nature of his own wife, even when she was throwing tantrums and causing disruption, he felt it was genuine.

Gu Chengyu didn’t know his father’s thoughts about his mother. Otherwise, he would surely laugh and say his father was crazy out of love or that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Seeing he couldn’t persuade Mr. Gu to stay, Doctor Li stopped trying. Inviting villagers to stay for a meal typically involves a genuine need, unless there’s a real reason.

"If you really have to leave, why not let Xiao Bao stay? It’s usually just my wife and me at home, and it can be a bit quiet. Xiao Bao staying would make things livelier."

Doctor Li got up and noticed Gu Chengyu climbing down from the chair, a smile in his eyes.

"Uh? Xiao Bao? What do you think?" Mr. Gu was surprised that Doctor Li wanted to keep Xiao Bao. On reflection, maybe it was as Doctor Li said; the Li Family usually just had the couple, and it must be quite quiet.

However, he was a bit reluctant to part with Xiao Bao since he had never eaten at someone else’s house before. Besides, if he alone went back, would Jin Niang blame him?

"Then I’ll trouble Uncle Li and Aunt for the hospitality. Dad, I’ll stay at Uncle Li’s house then! I want to watch him dry herbs. You can go back first!"

Gu Chengyu wanted to carry out his plan, and to do that, he needed to stay and build a good relationship.

Hearing Gu Chengyu’s desire to stay and watch him dry herbs, Doctor Li’s eyes lit up, and he eagerly said to Mr. Gu, "Since Brother Gu has matters to attend to, I won’t keep you any longer. I’ll escort you back. Xiao Bao is safe here; I’ll make sure to return him to you unharmed."

With that, he walked outside, ready to see Mr. Gu off.

Mr. Gu followed Doctor Li to the courtyard gate, puzzled. Wait! Why did he just agree to this?

He quickly turned back to see Gu Chengyu standing in the courtyard, smiling with squinted eyes and waving at him, "Dad, I’ll come back myself this afternoon. You can go ahead!"

Then, the gate of the Li Family’s courtyard closed. Mr. Gu could only gaze at the closed door and sigh before heading home on his own.

After Mr. Gu left, Mrs. Yao went to the kitchen to prepare food, while Doctor Li took Gu Chengyu to see the herbs he was drying.