Li Moran bought the old mountain ginseng for 40 taels.

When she saw that Lu Qingqing was reluctant to part with the little ginseng seedlings, she looked longingly.

So Lu Qingqing had no choice but to agree to give her one.

“But I’ll bring it to you in town in a few days. The seedling’s just started to take root again—if we move it now, it’ll die.”

“Thank you, Qingqing!”

Li Moran was overjoyed. “Next time you’re in town, I’ll treat you to a meal!”

After she left, Lu Yun snorted.

“If I weren’t your brother, I’d probably get sold by you and still help you count the money.”

Lu Qingqing didn’t look guilty in the slightest. “As long as the result is good, who cares what method I used? I didn’t harm anyone.

We got our money. She got high-quality ginseng and a treatment plan.

Not to brag, but my formula alone is worth a hundred taels. And she’s not short on money—if it could cure the issue, she’d gladly pay hundreds of taels. So this is what we call a win-win situation.”

“Yes yes, I’ve learned a lot!”

Following his little sister meant never worrying about food again.

Lu Yun was already fired up and ready to hustle!

“Quick, teach me what the hemostatic herbs look like—I’ll go up the mountain and dig some.”

That one basket of herbs today sold for two taels.

Back when he worked at the fabric shop for a whole month, he didn’t even make three taels—selling medicine was way more profitable.

More importantly, it was their own business!

Old Man Lu and Lu Feng were both amazed.

While shaving wood, they smiled to themselves.

Lu Qingqing sold the ginseng at a high price, and rightly took a bigger cut for labor.

Out of the 40 taels, 11 were marked as the medical fee owed by Lin Zhuang.

She kept 9 taels as a “hardship fee,” and made it a nice round 20 taels.

She handed those 20 taels to Old Man Lu and kept 2 for herself.

“Dad, if we keep saving, we’ll be able to open the general store again.”

Having your own shop in town was a big deal—respectable, even.

In the village, it gave people status.

In the past, the father and sons worked the shop while also doing some handicrafts—pots, pans, hoes, sickles—and business was decent.

Lu Qingqing always had this in mind.

“No rush, no rush.”

“Qingqing, you’ve got so many herbs now—do you need a shelf? I’ll build one for you,” Old Man Lu offered.

She really did need one!

Traditional Chinese medicine had over a thousand kinds—not just plants, but also animal-based ingredients.

She only sold the common ones that clinics bought.

The rest she saved up for herself.

“Then you’ll need to build me two shelves.”

“I’ll build as many as you want! But where do we put them?”

The Lu house only had three rooms: Lu Qingqing’s, one for the eldest brother and his wife, one shared by Old Man Lu and Lu Yun. Plus a tiny kitchen.

The yard was decent-sized. One side had some green onions and chives. Now there was also a small herbal patch.

The other side had a dry toilet, and an empty chicken coop.

They also used to have a pigsty, where they raised a pig.

One night Lu Qingqing got a craving for pork knuckle and demanded her brother slaughter it.

Scared Old Man Lu so much that he sold the pig that very night.

He looked around and decided: “Let’s build a room where the chicken and pig pens used to be—for storing herbs!”

Now, Qingqing’s business came first.

..

In the house, Feng Xiaowan called out: “Qingqing, I made you a pouch. Come see if it fits.”

Lu Qingqing ran inside.

“It’s perfect! Really perfect! Now I’ve got somewhere to put my silver needles.”

Outside, Lu Feng grinned.

His wife and sister were getting along really well lately, and his wife smiled more every day.

Two swallows chirped and flew around the roof beam.

“Huh? Don’t swallows usually pick new houses to nest in? Why’re they eyeing our rundown place?” Old Man Lu was surprised.

“Dad, they say swallows like warm, harmonious families!”

“That’s right!” Old Man Lu grinned like a flower blooming.

..

Rumors had started spreading through the village.

They said Lin Zhuang’s body hadn’t really healed—it was all an illusion.

That any day now, his stomach would rot and he’d die.

The Lin family ignored it all, keeping the doors tightly shut.

Their best proof would be to let Lin Zhuang walk out one day, full of life. That would crush all the gossip.

At the Lin house, Lu Qingqing had just drained the last pus blister on Lin Ye’s face.

Using a wooden spatula dipped in her homemade ointment, she gently applied it to Lin Ye’s skin.

“Wash this off on the third day. After that, nothing will grow back.

Then use this ointment continuously—until the skin turns white again.

When it runs out, come find me for more.”

Lu Qingqing’s voice was calm.

But to Lin Ye, she sounded incredibly gentle.

And the way she lanced her blisters—didn’t even hurt.

She was also… really beautiful.

Lin Ye couldn’t even remember what the “old” Lu Qingqing looked like anymore.

She only clearly remembered that back then… she didn’t think Lu Qingqing was pretty.

But the scar was still the same scar.

The person was still the same person.

Why did she feel so different now?

“Qingqing, you’re our family’s savior.

From now on, I’ll be your ox or your horse.”

Exactly what Lin Zhuang had said.

Lu Qingqing smiled. “No need to be an ox or a horse. I take money for treatment—that’s what a doctor does.”

Still, these siblings were incredibly stubborn.

Lin Ye insisted on giving her a pair of embroidered shoes—made by her own hand.

..

On her way back from the Lin house, Lu Qingqing passed several people who asked her to check their health.

She casually looked up—and caught sight of Ding Xiang’s figure vanishing in the distance.

Ning Xiuwen had already finished the provincial exam.

Because of the previous incident, the villagers now despised him, so he kept a low profile and barely showed his face.

Lu Qingqing sincerely hoped he would pass and marry Ding Xiang.

Then people would finally stop talking about her and that scumbag in the same breath.

So disgusting.

..

“Little Aunt!”

Xiao Xixi was already waiting for her with a bamboo basket.

Lu Yun had gone to town to sell medicine that day, so Lu Qingqing went up the mountain with Xixi instead.

She wore the crossbody bag Feng Xiaowan had sewn for her. Inside were two boiled eggs, some crispy sugar treats, and a handful of roasted peanuts.

“Let’s go.”

As the weather got warmer, more herbs were sprouting in the mountains.

While digging, Lu Qingqing explained the medicinal properties of each plant.

She also caught woodlice, scorpions, and centipedes.

Later, she took out the food and gave it to Xixi.

“Eat. You need energy if you want to help me work. I’m a doctor, after all—how would people trust me if the kid following me looks like a walking stick?”

Xixi slowly ate it in small bites.

After spending more time with her, he’d started to figure out her new personality.

Refusing was pointless.

Xixi had wandered the mountains often and was good at foraging.

He found wild berries and gave some to Lu Qingqing.

He even managed to corner a wild rabbit—but it escaped through another burrow.

He also found a nest of bird eggs.

Lu Qingqing said: “Not even enough to fill a tooth gap. All together they’re not even worth one egg. They won’t keep you full. Don’t bother collecting them next time.”

She had him climb the tree and return the eggs.

..

“Little Aunt! Come quick!”

Xixi called out again.

This time, it wasn’t food he’d found—it was a corpse!

No—not a corpse, but someone who looked dead.

Poisoned.

Lu Qingqing recognized him.

It was one of the three men the original host had stopped that day.

The one… wearing a mask.