Chapter 49: Obtaining the Magical Herb

As for the current situation, this boisterous farce had finally come to an end.

Under the witness of He Xinian and Captain Zhang, Old Man Lu signed a compensation agreement with Zhu’s father from the neighboring village. As for the exact amount of compensation, only the two families knew.

There were several versions circulating in the village, but no one knew the specific amount.

Some bold villagers even went directly to ask Old Man Lu and his wife, but they were chased away from their home with a hoe.

After the Zhu family left, Old Man Lu forced Song Jing to sign the marriage contract.

He wasn’t completely blind. This male intellectual youth was full of tricks. Today, they paid for him, but tomorrow he might back out of the marriage.

Old Man Lu had already paid money and married off his daughter. He absolutely couldn’t let this marriage contract fall through.

He had to make it clear, black and white, in writing, with a bright red thumbprint.

With the whole village watching and He Xinian and Captain Zhang as witnesses, he didn’t believe Song Jing could go back on his word!

Finally, the marriage contract was drafted by He Xinian, who acted as a witness.

Although Song Jing was full of reluctance, he looked at the ferocious faces around him.

Old Man Liu seemed ready to smash him with a hoe, and Captain Zhang looked like he was about to send him to jail.

Under the eaves, one had to bow their head.

He had to sign, even if he didn’t want to.

“Lu Xiangxiang, you goddamn it, this is all your doing!”

Song Jing completely abandoned his gentlemanly demeanor, spitting out a mouthful of saliva and cursing.

He glared fiercely at Lu Xiangxiang.

After all, it was Lu Xiangxiang’s idea to plot and use that powder.

Now, his future was ruined.

How could Song Jing not hate her?

But even though he was gnashing his teeth, he still signed his name “Song Jing” and pressed his red thumbprint.

Next, it was Lu Xiangxiang’s turn.

No one expected that the one who would resist this marriage contract fiercely would be her.

“Dad, Father, I don’t want to marry him! I don’t want to marry this dog of a man!”

“Dad, I can stay unmarried! I really can stay unmarried!”

“Song Jing, you’re a goddamn bastard, I, Lu Xiangxiang, will never marry you… never marry you again!”

She had been on the verge of death.

But at this moment, she burst out with all her strength.

She struggled desperately, like a madman.

She just wouldn’t sign the marriage contract.

She even muttered incoherent words.

What did she mean by “again”?

Lu Xiangxiang was still an unmarried girl…

The people around were bewildered.

But Chi Wan understood.

In her previous life, Lu Xiangxiang was a gold digger. After breaking off her engagement with Huo Nanchuan, she got together with Song Jing, this scumbag, dreaming of a good life in the city.

But her dream was shattered.

In the end, she lived a life worse than a rat in a gutter.

On the other hand, she saw Huo Nanchuan rise to the top, becoming a man of great power and living a truly good life.

She was reborn to reverse this situation.

The man she truly wanted to marry was Huo Nanchuan.

But who knew that after all her scheming, she didn’t get rid of Chi Wan, but instead, her fate was bound to Song Jing again.

It was like a ridiculous joke!

She couldn’t escape this cycle of fate.

Therefore, even if Lu Xiangxiang went crazy, she was still desperately struggling to escape her destiny!

However—

“You have no shame in doing such a thing! Now you don’t want to get married! Are you not ashamed enough?!”

Old Man Lu was furious.

He slapped Lu Xiangxiang several more times.

Then he had his sons hold Lu Xiangxiang down, while he grabbed her hand.

He didn’t care if Lu Xiangxiang was willing or not!

He directly pressed her thumbprint on the marriage contract.

He Xinian and Captain Zhang watched from the side, frowning. They were educated people and were repulsed by this patriarchal marriage in the countryside.

But in this era, in this situation, marrying Lu Xiangxiang and Song Jing was the best solution.

With the thumbprint pressed, everything was settled.

Only Lu Xiangxiang’s cries remained.

“No… I don’t want to get married… I don’t want to marry this man…”

“My life shouldn’t be like this… it shouldn’t be like this…”

“Chi Wan… you bitch! This is all your fault! Chi Wan… I will never let you go… never let you go!”

Even though she was completely miserable, only gasping for breath, the malice in Lu Xiangxiang’s eyes, like the last belief in her life, still burned with a small flame.

…

Lu Xiangxiang’s matter was settled.

Chi Wan could finally free her hands to do something she had been thinking about for a long time.

One afternoon, she took advantage of the production team’s lunch break and went to the back mountain without telling anyone.

Following the path she remembered, Chi Wan quickly found the place where Huo Dongzhi and Huo Chuchun were beaten.

The back mountain was still desolate and bleak.

However, after early spring, the weather gradually warmed up.

The originally withered leaves were gradually replaced by green wild grass, revealing a hint of vitality.

It seemed to foreshadow the changes that might come.

After arriving at the place, Chi Wan turned around and walked straight towards a cave nearby.

“I remember… it should be here… this location…”

Chi Wan murmured softly.

Her clear eyes scanned the surroundings.

Last time, the situation was urgent, and she only glanced back when helping Huo Chuchun leave.

Only vague impressions remained.

She squatted down and gently brushed away the fallen leaves with her palm.

Little by little, she moved carefully, as if afraid of missing something.

The withered leaves were brushed away.

Chi Wan’s eyes suddenly caught a glimpse of red.

“It’s here! It’s really here!”

In an instant, a bright smile spread across Chi Wan’s fair and beautiful face.

She found it!

Chi Wan immediately took out the small hoe she had brought from her waist.

She still moved with the same care.

She used the small hoe to dig away the soil, little by little, following the roots.

Soon, a red plant appeared in her palm.

Chi Wan picked it up and carefully identified it towards the sunlight.

The more she looked, the wider her smile grew.

From the leaves to the roots, it was exactly the same as what she had seen in the medical classics she remembered.

It was the Blood Essence Grass!

Chi Wan had studied traditional Chinese medicine in her previous life. She was a diligent student and could be considered well-read.

She had once seen a description of the Blood Essence Grass in an ancient medical book.

“Leaves like willow leaves, shaped like wild grass, about three inches long, roots thin and dense, over five inches long…”

The two most notable features of the Blood Essence Grass.

Its leaves were an uncommon blood red, and its roots were thin but long, twice the length of the leaves.

The roots of the Blood Essence Grass were also the most important medicinal part.

Although Chi Wan had seen it in books, she had never seen the Blood Essence Grass in real life.

Because she lived decades later, due to some development, many medicinal herbs in ancient books had completely disappeared and could no longer be found.

Like this back mountain.

Although it had Blood Essence Grass, such a precious medicinal herb, because no one recognized its value, it was hidden under the fallen leaves like weeds.

It might even wither away quietly without anyone knowing.

But now, Chi Wan had found it!

Chi Wan’s face was filled with joy, her heart filled with excitement.

On the one hand, she thought that if she exchanged the Blood Essence Grass for money, it would be a considerable income.

On the other hand, as a doctor, she felt a sense of responsibility to ensure the continuation of this herb.

Unconsciously, she knelt on the dirty soil.

She used her palm to gently brush away the surrounding leaves and wild grass.

In the entire area, there were only about ten Blood Essence Grass plants.

But it was enough!

She carefully dug down the roots, little by little, to avoid damaging the Blood Essence Grass.

After some time, Chi Wan finally dug up all ten Blood Essence Grass plants.

She touched the jade bracelet on her right wrist, then closed her eyes.

Seven-colored white light shone.

Instantly, she entered the Spirit Treasure Space.

When Chi Wan entered, she also brought half of the Blood Essence Grass into the Spirit Treasure Space.

“Master~”

The little bun appeared as usual, cheerfully shaking its round head.

When it first saw Chi Wan, it was startled.

“Master, what happened to you? Why are you so dirty?”

Chi Wan didn’t brush the dirt off her body, nor did she wash her hands in the Spirit Spring Stream.

She walked directly towards the field.

The Spirit Treasure Space was filled with sunlight, the temperature was pleasant, and the soil was fertile, all the best black soil.

Every part could grow the best crops.

Even so, Chi Wan still chose the best location, the one closest to the Spirit Spring Stream.

She didn’t use her spiritual power.

Instead, she dug into the black soil with her own hands.

She carefully planted each Blood Essence Grass plant.

The little bun pulled on its little dress and squatted beside Chi Wan, curiously watching her every move.

Its round eyes looked at the red plant in Chi Wan’s hand.

The little bun suddenly smiled softly.

It said in a clear voice, “Wow, Master, it’s Blood Essence Grass!”

This startled Chi Wan.

Chi Wan suddenly looked up at the chubby little bun beside her.

She asked in confusion, “Little bun, do you recognize this herb?”

The little bun immediately nodded.

“Of course I do~”

“Master, have you forgotten? The little bun has lived for thousands of years and has read countless books. I recognize everything.”

“A small herb is nothing. I also recognize ginseng, ganoderma lucidum, Polygonum multiflorum, angelica…”

The little bun muttered to itself, unable to resist showing off to Chi Wan.

Chi Wan was amused by its cutesy appearance.

She felt a little more relieved.

Since even the little bun recognized it, there was no doubt that it was Blood Essence Grass.

“Little bun, you are so amazing, you know so much~”

Chi Wan praised sincerely.

The little bun immediately shook its head and wagged its tail, smiling even more happily and proudly.

Then, the big and small figures stuck together.

They planted herbs together, washed their hands by the river together, and used rolled-up leaves to scoop up Spirit Spring Stream water, carefully watering the Blood Essence Grass.

“I hope you grow well~”

Chi Wan murmured softly.

Actually, she didn’t know if the plants brought from the outside world could grow in the Spirit Treasure Space.

This was her first attempt.

Therefore, Chi Wan had made two preparations.

She only brought a part of the Blood Essence Grass, and the other half was still in the real world. She planned to take it back to the Huo family and plant it in the courtyard, taking care of it every day.

…

After Chi Wan left the Spirit Treasure Space, she wrapped the roots of the Blood Essence Grass in soil, forming small balls, and then put them in a cloth bag.

She was in a good mood as she left the back mountain.

But at the mouth of the mountain pass, on the small path, she met Huo Nanchuan.

“Xiao Wan, how come you’re here?”

Huo Nanchuan obviously didn’t expect to meet Chi Wan here.

The man’s eyes were filled with shock and… deep concern.

He saw the mud stains on Chi Wan’s pants and the loose strands of her hair, hanging down on both sides of her face.

“Did you fall in the mountains?”

“Are you seriously injured?”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Huo Nanchuan didn’t give Chi Wan a chance to speak. His anxious and worried aura strongly surrounded her, wrapping tightly around Chi Wan.

His black eyes scanned her up and down.

His hands even reached out to pull up Chi Wan’s sleeves and pants.

He wouldn’t be at ease until he checked her thoroughly.

It was broad daylight, and they were on the road.

Although there was no one around, it was still a bit inappropriate.

Chi Wan, who was usually assertive, was the one who kept waving her hands.

She hurriedly said, “No, no! I’m fine, don’t worry. I wouldn’t fall. I found a treasure~”

As she spoke, Chi Wan couldn’t hide the joy on her face.

She opened the cloth bag and showed Huo Nanchuan what was inside.

“Ah Chuan, look at this. It’s not just any weed, it’s a very special herb called Blood Essence Grass,”

“Don’t look at it as just a small plant. Once it’s dried, it’s worth a lot of money.”

“I dug up a lot, and I’m going to plant it at home. Then, we’ll not only be able to eat pork belly, but maybe even roast duck!”

Chi Wan said happily.

Huo Nanchuan’s dark gaze didn’t look at the “valuable” Blood Essence Grass Chi Wan mentioned, but at her mud-stained fingers and dirty nails.

He asked softly.

“You got yourself all dirty just to dig these?”

Chi Wan nodded.

Her face and eyes were bright, her smile was radiant, and even the mud on her cheeks didn’t affect her high spirits.

It was a herb, and it was also future income for the family.

It was precisely this look on Chi Wan’s face that warmed and softened the man’s heart.

Huo Nanchuan’s thin lips moved.

He wanted to say something.

But in the end, he only asked softly, “How did you find such a precious herb?”

As he asked, his tall and sturdy figure leaned slightly.

He reached out his broad hand and gently wiped away the mud on Chi Wan’s cheeks, smoothing her hair.

He also squatted down and gently shook off the mud stains on her pants.

All his actions were so intimate and natural, and so meticulous.