Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside
Chapter 73 - 073: Selling Medicinal Herbs

Chapter 73: Chapter 073: Selling Medicinal Herbs

Although the County Magistrate is only an assistant officer to the County Prefect, in Great Chu the official ranks start from the ninth rank, so the County Magistrate also has a rank.

The common people fear officials. Not only do they fear an eighth-rank assistant officer, but even a minor official in the government office is not someone the common people dare to provoke.

"Leveraging their marital connection with the He family, not only is Old Master Lu overbearing, but the entire Lu Family is somewhat arrogant, especially Old Master Lu’s third son, whom everyone in the village respectfully addresses as Third Master Lu."

Old Master Lu has three sons. One helps the County Magistrate with his duties, another manages a shop in the county, and these two are seldom at home, only the youngest son stays in the village.

"Today, I’m sharing this with you so you understand the situation in the village, keep it in mind, and know how to handle things when they arise."

After Elder Qin finished talking about the He family and Lu Family, Third Grandpa started talking about going to town tomorrow to prepare for shopping: "Tomorrow is the 27th, the last big market before the New Year. Each family needs to buy things, but there’s no need for too many people to go. Too many people won’t help but will add to the care needed. It’s enough for each family to send two adults and bring along a teenager to help carry items. Everyone else should stay home, gather at my place and Dashan’s place, and avoid going out unnecessarily."

Elder Qin said, "Our family doesn’t need to buy much, San Lang alone can go, I and Er Lang will stay behind, and we’ll keep an eye on things here to protect everyone."

The men from several families were worried about leaving their families behind while they went to town. Hearing this, they felt relieved and thanked Elder Qin, "It’s good you think ahead, Elder. With you and Er Lang watching the house, we feel much more secure."

Qin Er Lang is not sociable. He hurriedly finished his dinner and left; he’s not here now.

After discussing the matter, the families dispersed.

Mrs. Chen, eyeing a pheasant that hadn’t yet been eaten, tried to take it but was spotted by Gu Dagui who admonished her in a low voice, "Woman, are you planning to steal?"

That was something Brother Qin and Xiao Yu had found with some children. How could she be shameless enough to take it?

Mrs. Chen was scolded and withdrew her hand, giving Gu Dexing a malicious look. Sister Mei is a maiden, it’s alright if she doesn’t go out, but what about Brother Xing? He’s always homebound, shouldn’t he learn from Luo Wu and Brother Qin, go into the mountains to gather food, contribute something nutritious for the family?

Aware of Mrs. Chen’s dissatisfaction, Gu Dexing lowered his head and quickly returned home.

After the neighbors left, Gu Jinli pleaded with Third Grandpa and Gu Dashan, "Grandpa, Dad, let me go with you to the town tomorrow. I’ve saved up a lot of medicinal herbs, and I want to sell them in town."

She also assured, "I’m strong, I can help carry items, I won’t be going just for the sake of it."

Third Grandpa thought it over and said, "Alright, Xiao Yu will join us tomorrow, Good Brother An will stay and watch the house."

Their family has many women and children, keeping Good Brother An home is useful for dealing with any unwanted visitors looking to disrupt.

Gu Dashan deeply respects Third Grandpa; usually, he does not object if Third Grandpa agrees.

"Thank you, Third Grandpa. Thank you, Dad. Thank you, big brother." Gu Jinli was pleased and went to organize the medicinal herbs she had saved. She kept at it until the last quarter of the Hour of the Dog (9 PM) before going to bed.

Their family and Third Grandpa’s family only have two old quilts; these few days, men and women have been sleeping separately.

She, her mother, and her sister share a room and one old quilt with Third Grandma.

Gu Dashan and his sons share another room with Third Grandpa, covered by the remaining old quilt.

Although it’s very cold, there’s a fire burning in the house, and with old quilts to cover them, it’s a hundred times better than when they were fleeing from disaster. She didn’t shiver from the cold, but instead snuggled between Gu Jinxiu and Mrs. Cui, sleeping soundly.

The next day, while it was still dark, the family got up.

Mrs. Cui went to the kitchen, stir-fried a bowl of soybeans, boiled a pot of water, added some salt, and everyone had a bowl along with a handful of soybeans for breakfast.

Third Grandma and Gu Jinxiu took out the thick straw shoes they had made the day before and asked Third Grandpa, Gu Dashan, and Gu Jinli to take them with them.

"You’ll be walking for four hours, it’s good to have an extra pair of straw shoes, otherwise, halfway through, you’ll have to walk barefoot."

They had lost their cloth shoes brought from their old home on the road, and had not bought new shoes, now they could only wear thick straw shoes. But straw shoes are easily worn out, and under rigorous travel, would not last even four hours, so an extra pair was necessary.

Gu Jinli accepted the straw shoes, tied them with a string, carried them along with a bamboo tube of hot water, her dagger, and using a stick, she carried that half sack of snakes and the collected medicinal herbs, ready to leave.

Third Grandpa and Gu Dashan also were ready and after giving some instructions to Third Grandma, they picked up empty shopping baskets and left the house.

Qin San Lang was already waiting at the courtyard gate. Seeing them, he shyly smiled and said: "Third Grandpa, Uncle Gu, Xiao Yu, good morning."

"Brother Qin, good morning," Gu Jinli smiled as he greeted Qin San Lang.

Third Grandpa and Gu Dashan were very fond of Qin San Lang. After the greetings, they even asked if he was cold and if he had had breakfast, showing the affection as if he was one of their own children.

Qin San Lang was not annoyed and answered all of their questions.

They waited at the gate for a while, until Luo Family’s father and son, Uncle Tian and his son, the brothers Gu Damu and Gu Dafu, and Mrs. Chen arrived, then the group set off towards Qingfu Town.

They walked briskly for four hours, and it was not until the morning period that they arrived at Qingfu Town.

Today was the last big market day before the New Year, and Qingfu Town was bustling with people shopping for New Year’s goods.

At the market, there were several stalls selling steamed buns, filled buns, and pancakes, and their business was quite good. However, since they were poor, they couldn’t afford to buy any and could only walk past these fragrant breakfast stalls salivating.

Behind the breakfast stalls, there were stalls selling agricultural products, with a dazzling array of goods laid out on the ground - mostly items grown, made, or raised by the farmers themselves, such as live chickens, eggs, and woven baskets.

There were also quite a few selling "Fu" characters and Spring Festival couplets.

The tables displaying bright red Spring Festival couplets and "Fu" characters were mixed in among these stalls, creating a chaotic yet lively scene of a bustling market.

Passing these stalls and walking along a long road one zhang in width, they reached the main street of Qingfu Town.

The main street, a rare green brick road, was lined with taverns, hotels, pawnshops, general stores, grain shops, confectionery shops, cloth shops, and more.

At the end of the main street was a pharmacy. Gu Jinli could already smell a faint scent of medicine from some distance away from the pharmacy.

She craned her neck to look, amusing Third Grandpa, who told the people from various families, "Let’s split up first, and after buying what we need, regroup at the grain shop."

He also reminded everyone, "It’s chaotic during the festival season, keep an eye on your Silver Coins, and beware of pickpockets."

"Eh," the men from the families responded and dispersed to buy what they each needed.

After the others had left, Third Grandpa said, "Let’s head to the pharmacy first."

Gu Jinli was delighted, and she was the first one to rush toward the pharmacy located at the end of the street.

Third Grandpa, Gu Dashan, and Qin San Lang followed her with woven baskets in hand.

In a short while, they arrived at the front of the pharmacy.

The pharmacy had a unique name; it was not called a "hall" but "Xuanhu Fang." It was a large pharmacy with three doors open wide, inside, a sitting doctor was treating patients.

One entire wall was a medicine cabinet, with medical apprentices reciting prescriptions, while attendants listened to the names and weights of the medicines and fetched them from the cabinet on tall stools.

This pharmacy looked promising.

Gu Jinli, along with Third Grandpa, Gu Dashan, and Qin San Lang, walked into the pharmacy. Immediately, an attendant came forward and asked them, "Are you here to fill a prescription or see a doctor? For prescriptions, wait on the left; to see the doctor, queue on the right."

Third Grandpa said, "Little brother, we are neither seeing a doctor nor filling a prescription; we are here to sell herbs."

"Selling herbs?" The attendant frowned, looked at their attire, and asked, "You all look unfamiliar and not locals. Are you here seeking refuge from a famine?"

Even as an attendant at a pharmacy, he had developed a keen eye to distinguish, seeing that their dark and thin appearances were not normal, he could immediately tell their status.

Third Grandpa didn’t hide anything and nodded, "We have fled from the Northwest and have already changed our household registration at the government office; we are now villagers of Da Feng Village."

Hearing this, the attendant shook his head and said, "Old sir, please forgive me, but we cannot accept your herbs."

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