Chapter 63 : Fresh Things

After leaving the military camp, Song Ying was in no rush to return to the capital. She said to Chen Hong, “I still have some things to do. I need to go to Shangwu and Nanyue.”

Chen Hong asked, “What are you doing in those places?”

Song Ying replied, “Of course, it’s for medicinal herbs.”

Now that she was near the border, close to Yue State and Nanyue, she wanted to go take a look first.

Chen Hong said, “I’m free anyway. I’ll go wherever you go.”

Song Ying told him, “These two places are one in the north and one in the south. Adding the travel time in between, I’m afraid it’ll take half a month before we get back to the capital.”

Chen Hong waved it off casually. “I came out this time to travel. It’s a good chance to see more places. I don’t want to miss the opportunity.”

Song Ying said, “Alright. If you want to return early, you can head back anytime.”

Chen Hong replied, “Don’t worry. I can handle a bit of weariness.”

According to Song Ying’s plan, they headed to Shangwu first.

Although relations with Yue State were tense at the moment, the other side was being cautious and didn’t dare make any rash moves due to the recent battle with General Huo Leiming.

As soon as they arrived, Song Ying went straight to all the local herbal medicine shops.

She was hoping she might be able to find the winter grass that Liu Lingyan needed.

For two days in a row, Song Ying visited every herbal medicine shop in Shangwu, but still came up empty-handed.

Song Ying was a little disheartened. Could it be that she really had to sneak into Yue State?

Chen Hong asked, “Why are you so insistent on finding this herb?”

Song Ying replied, “A friend of mine needs it badly.”

Chen Hong stroked his chin and thought for a moment. “I remember winter grass isn’t that hard to find. It shouldn’t go out of stock all of a sudden.”

Of course, Song Ying knew that. She was in this field, after all, but the winter grass had already sold out long ago.

Why didn’t she stock up earlier?

Because she had been in a bad mood at the time, and by the time she recovered, the two countries were already at war.

Seeing that Song Ying looked discouraged, Chen Hong said, “Actually, you don’t need to worry too much. I heard the imperial court is planning to send envoys to Yue State for negotiations. Maybe it won’t be long before trade resumes between the two sides.”

Song Ying said, “If I slapped you in the face, and then just said ‘sorry’ without meaning it, would you smile and greet me again?”

Chen Hong understood she was referring to the two countries’ conflict. “Of course that wouldn’t work without sincerity. But it was Yue who started it, otherwise the general wouldn’t have given them a lesson.”

Song Ying said, “Whatever. I’m not going to count on them. In the end, I can only rely on myself.”

Chen Hong said, “I know a rich merchant here. Want to ask him?”

Song Ying was out of options for now, so she could only take things one step at a time. “Thank you.”

They went to the wealthy merchant’s home.

Upon entering, the first thing that caught their eye was a fountain sculpture.

“Is that ice?” Song Ying asked in surprise.

It was crystal clear and emitted a faint chill, Song Ying really thought it was ice.

The rich merchant smiled proudly. “This isn’t ice, it’s stone.”

“Stone?!” Song Ying was shocked again. She had never seen such a stone in the capital.

The rich merchant was especially proud of this stone sculpture in his house. Everyone who came over for the first time reacted just like Song Ying.

That always gave him great satisfaction.

“It’s called dirt stone (Gushi). A few years ago, I was doing business in Yue State and saw the locals using it to cool off in the summer.”

Chen Hong asked, “I’ve been wondering, does this stuff have any value?”

The rich merchant looked even more pleased. “It’s worthless. You can find it everywhere. Sometimes the Vietnamese even throw it away.”

Chen Hong looked at the large stone carved into the shape of a crane. “They throw away something this big?”

The rich merchant laughed. “Brother Chen, you still love to joke. Before the war between our two countries, I brought it back from Yue State. At the time, those people looked at me like I was crazy.”

“Ever since I got this dirt stone, my courtyard’s been nice and cool in the summer.”

Song Ying stared at the dirt stone, and to be honest, she was intrigued.

“Can you still find it at the border now?”

The rich businessman said, “Yes, but not as large as that one. They’re all fairly small. If you just want to look for some, you can go about three miles north of the city, there’s a river there and you should be able to find some.”

Song Ying made a mental note of it.

The rich businessman then asked Chen Hong, “So, what did you come here to discuss?”

Since they were the ones asking for help, Chen Hong put away his usual joking manner and said seriously, “To be honest, my friend needs a medicinal herb called winter grass. We’ve asked around all the herb shops, but none of them have it. So I wanted to ask for your help or advice.”

The rich businessman stroked his mustache and glanced at Song Ying and Chen Hong with his bright, shrewd eyes, then said, “I have winter grass in my house.”

Chen Hong’s eyes lit up with surprise. “Do you have any extra? We’re willing to pay for it.”

The rich businessman narrowed his eyes and smiled, but didn’t answer directly. He simply said, “Come in and have a cup of tea first.”

Once inside the tea room, the rich businessman personally prepared the tea for them.

“Here, try this it’s Bixuelian from Nanyue.”

Chen Hong was a bit anxious, but when he saw Song Ying calmly sipping her tea, he composed himself too and stopped asking about the winter grass. Instead, he began chatting casually with the rich businessman.

After a cup of tea, the rich businessman asked Song Ying, “So what does Boss Fang do?”

“I’m in the medicinal herb business.”

Song Ying had nothing to hide.

The rich businessman said, “Since you’re in the herbal business, it’s unlikely you wouldn’t have any winter grass.”

Song Ying replied, “Unfortunately, the war between the two countries disrupted everything.”

The rich businessman sighed with sympathy. “Fate really is unpredictable.”

Song Ying smiled and continued sipping her tea, unbothered.

Chen Hong noticed a thumb-sized dirt stone in the tea leaf box and asked, “Brother Fu, why did you put a dirt stone in there?”

The rich businessman said, “I enjoy trying new things. I wanted to see if it would enhance the flavor of the tea.”

“You’ve got some interesting ideas.”

Seeing Song Ying also staring thoughtfully at the tea box, Chen Hong asked, “What’s on your mind?”

Song Ying shook her head slightly. “I’m just curious, aside from cooling things down, I wonder what other uses this dirt stone might have.”

The rich businessman smiled. “Looks like Boss Fang enjoys novel things just as much as I do.”

Song Ying replied, “Not bad.”

She gently set down her teacup and said to Chen Hong, “Let’s go.”

Chen Hong asked, “Aren’t you going to buy the winter grass?”

Song Ying stood up and bowed to the rich businessman. “Thank you for the Bixuelian. We won’t trouble you any further.”

The rich businessman quickly said, “Hey, Boss Fang, sit down, sit down. Since you’re a friend of Brother Chen, you’re also my friend. As for winter grass, if I have extra, I’ll give it to you directly.”

Chen Hong said happily, “Brother Fu, you’re so generous!”

But Song Ying knew things were never that simple. She asked calmly, “Master Fu, is there something I can help you with?”

The wealthy businessman clapped and gave a thumbs-up. “Boss Fang is straightforward, I like that.”

Chen Hong frowned slightly. “Brother Fu, I thought you said you were going to give it to us.”

Song Ying said, “I truly appreciate Master Fu’s willingness to help. Of course, I can’t take something from you for free. It’s only right that I repay the favor.”

Song Ying’s attitude clearly pleased the rich businessman. He responded cheerfully, “I want a herb called Phoenix Eye.”