Font Size:
Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi decided to head to the city early to sell the ginseng. They slept early and woke before dawn. Shen Zi’an woke up, and Su Zhi, who was sleeping beside him, also stirred.
Quickly grooming themselves, they grabbed their prepared belongings, locked the door, and hurriedly set off. It was just starting to get light, the coldest part of the day. Su Zhi lay on Shen Zi’an’s back, feeling a bit cold physically but warm inside, grateful for his care. She placed her hand on his broad yet slightly lean shoulders, content with the thought of continuing like this. Even if they weren’t wealthy and endured hardships, having someone like him by her side made her feel like the happiest woman in the world.
“Zi’an, put me down, I’ll walk on my own,” Su Zhi said.
Su Zhi also felt sorry for Shen Zi’an, knowing his strength was renowned throughout the riverside village. Despite his robustness, she still felt compassion for him. After all, even if she was light, she must have weighed around ninety pounds. They had been walking for almost half an hour!
Shen Zi’an chuckled and reassured her, “It’s alright. We’re almost there. The path is uneven, and it wouldn’t be good if you twisted your foot. I have the strength to carry you!”
Su Zhi patted his shoulder and replied, “It’s already bright out, I can see the road clearly. Besides, there are people around now. It wouldn’t look good if someone saw and laughed at us.”
After this time had passed, the sun had risen, and they had reached the main road leading to the town, where more people were visible.
Realizing his wife’s shyness, Shen Zi’an smiled, crouched down, and gently set Su Zhi down. He took the basket from her back, held her hand, and they walked forward slowly. Though not particularly talkative, they always found topics to discuss, creating a warm atmosphere between them.
After less than half an hour, they finally arrived in the town. The town was named Qingyun Town, a charming name that, to Su Zhi, resembled a larger and busier village, akin to modern rural towns—a blend of urban and rural characteristics. In her past life, the place where Su Zhi recuperated had similar towns on the outskirts, hubs for markets just like this one. However, to truly enter a city, they would need to head to the county town, where the county official resided, marking the true urban area.
Their destination was the county town, using this town as a brief stopover. Shen Zi’an planned to rent a carriage here to reach the county town since it was still a considerable distance away. He didn’t want Su Zhi to walk any further.
As the shops began opening their doors and people set up stalls, the market atmosphere started to come alive. It was market day, and the lively scene was starting to emerge.
To hasten their journey, Shen Zi’an rented a mule cart. Su Zhi sat in the cart, observing the bustling streets, reminiscent of modern rural markets but with different attire and goods on display. It felt like walking through a movie set. She watched the embroidery and fabric shops pass by, planning to buy more fabric upon their return and inquire about the prices of her handmade items. Though these ventures were modest, they provided a way to pass the winter days, earn some money, and indulge in creative pursuits. While she dreamed of prospering through farming using the Spiritual Spring, that would have to wait until next spring!
The mule cart quickly reached the county town. After paying and sending off the cart, Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi walked down a street and arrived at a sizable medical hall.
In front of the medical hall, there were stone steps, dark doors and windows, and above the door hung a large plaque with black background and golden letters, reading “Renji Tang.”
Stepping inside, Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi found the interior spacious, with two young assistants busy at work and several individuals picking up medicine.
“Welcome, may I ask what you need? Are you here for treatment, medication, or looking for someone?” one of the assistants inquired.
Shen Zi’an replied, “We are here to sell medicinal herbs, some of which are rare. We would like to speak to the person in charge.”
The assistant responded, “Please wait a moment. I will inform our shopkeeper.”
The assistant entered the counter area, lifting a curtain to step inside, where a couple with a child emerged, and the assistant prepared their medication. It seemed to be the area where the doctor treated patients and the passage to the inner chambers.
After a short while, the assistant returned, saying, “Please come in. Our shopkeeper is ready to meet you.”
Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi followed the assistant inside, entering a hallway flanked by rooms, likely where the doctor examined patients. After a few steps and a turn, they reached a door. The assistant called for the shopkeeper, who welcomed them in. Opening the door, he gestured for Su Zhi and Shen Zi’an to enter.
Su Zhi followed Shen Zi’an inside and felt the warmth of the room, wondering when they had started a fire. The apothecary seemed prosperous, suggesting they might get a good price for the ginseng.
This room was the most luxurious Su Zhi had seen in ancient times. Paintings adorned the walls, the furniture exuded an antique charm reminiscent of a historical drama set, with cushions on the chairs and delicate teapots and cups arranged on the table. Two teacups were steaming with hot tea, welcoming them inside.
In the room sat two middle-aged individuals, one slightly plump and the other slender. The plump one exuded authority, dressed in silk that, while fine, paled in comparison to the other’s attire. Their status was immediately discernible, with their seating arrangement indicating hierarchy.
“Are you the ones here to sell precious medicinal herbs?” inquired the plumper individual, while the slender one observed silently.
Shen Zi’an respectfully greeted, “Indeed, may I ask if you are the shopkeeper here? Can you make decisions? To be frank, the medicinal herbs we have brought this time are extremely valuable. We didn’t intend to sell them in the town, hence our journey to this county town. If time permits, we would consider selling them in the capital city. However, due to urgent matters at home, we couldn’t leave, so we thought of selling them here at a lower price.”
Su Zhi marveled at how Shen Zi’an didn’t resemble an ordinary villager. Not only in appearance but also in the assertiveness of his words. He negotiated with the wealthy individual without hesitation, exuding confidence. It seemed like they had struck gold.
The two individuals began to regard the rural couple before them. Despite their modest attire, there was an air of refinement that set them apart from typical villagers. They exuded a sense of elegance, akin to a phoenix emerging from the grass nest. Especially the woman, despite her covered head and somewhat pallid complexion, and wearing slightly worn clothes, she lacked the air of a refined lady. Yet, standing there, she emanated a remarkably gentle and noble aura, surpassing the demeanor of some high-born ladies.
“I am the shopkeeper here, call me Manager Li. May I know your names?” inquired the slightly plump middle-aged man, Manager Li.
Shen Zi’an replied, “My surname is Shen, ranked fourth in the family. You can call me Fourth Shen. This is my wife.”
Manager Li nodded, noting Shen Zi’an’s cautious manner. He became intrigued by the herb referred to as ‘precious.’ Those running medical halls and apothecaries always sought high-quality herbs, not just for healing but also for enhancing their reputation.
“Regardless of what precious herb you’ve brought, even if it’s as rare as dragon liver or phoenix brain, I am interested. Can you show me the herbs you’ve brought?” Manager Li inquired.
Shen Zi’an retrieved the basket from his back, opened it, and carefully unwrapped several layers to reveal the ginseng. He held it out for Manager Li and the slender middle-aged man to examine.
“This is—” Manager Li’s eyes lit up as he gazed at the ginseng, abruptly standing up and moving towards Shen Zi’an. His eyes fixed on the ginseng, showing a hint of disbelief.
“Could this ginseng be a thousand years old?!” Manager Li exclaimed in amazement.
The slender middle-aged man, who had been observing Su Zhi, also approached and was equally captivated by the ginseng. He had come specifically in search of high-quality herbs, and this ginseng was precisely what he needed. Little did he expect to encounter such exceptional quality so effortlessly!