Chapter 181

Shuiqing watched Qin Yilin’s excited expression and speculated even more in her heart.

She’s so happy, could it be something good?

Entering the teahouse, knowing there was no one around, Qin Yilin eagerly asked Shuiqing with sparkling eyes, “Shuiqing, what is that white block inside the stewed ribs? Do you know?”

Shuiqing’s heart skipped a beat.

Of course, she knew. It was yam bought from the market. Yam is good for the body, so she occasionally buys some to stew with ribs or stir-fry with wood ears for the family.

She even bought a book on yam cultivation to confirm that the climate and soil in Guangning Prefecture are suitable for yam growth, suggesting it might be available locally.

She had her excuse ready: “It’s dug from the mountains behind.”

However, none of this could be disclosed to Qin Yilin.

Blinking innocently, she feigned surprise and ignorance, asking back, “You don’t know? Should I tell you?

We dug it up from the back mountains. When we peeled it, we found it so beautifully white. We fed it to the chickens and saw it was harmless, so we started eating it ourselves. It’s quite tasty, isn’t it?”

Qin Yilin nodded knowingly, explaining with delight, “This is also a medicinal herb. In pharmacies, it’s called yam. It has the effects of tonifying the spleen, nourishing the lungs, and strengthening the kidneys and essence.

Not only can it treat lung deficiency and cough, but it can also treat kidney deficiency and spermatorrhea. Just think of the therapeutic effects of these two alone—its price won’t be low!”

Shuiqing timely showed a shocked expression, then asked, “So, how much can it sell for?”

Part of her shock was feigned, but most of it was genuine.

Currently, she had a lot of balance in the shopping mall. First, she earned it with mushrooms and chicken heads, and later with fish gelatin.

Fish gelatin was expensive but sold infrequently. Mushrooms were the most stable source and also benefited the villagers of Shanshui Village.

The only downside was that the money from the mall hadn’t been liquidated much this year—polygonum multiflorum was harvested in autumn and belonged to precious medicinal herbs. It was too conspicuous in large quantities, and it stopped selling by November.

They could only wait until this autumn to openly sell from their own backyard.

Brushes had been sold several times, but it was done sneakily, as it wasn’t made by their own skill. She felt guilty.

So, what Shuiqing wanted most now was something she could cash in on!

And something she could openly cash in on!

Seeing Shuiqing’s interest, Qin Yilin revealed everything: “Fresh yams can be used for medicinal cuisine and pastries, sold to wealthy households. However, fresh yams have a downside—they don’t keep well. It’s over an hour’s journey from Shanshui Village to Guangning Prefecture, let alone elsewhere.

Moreover, wealthy families in Guangning Prefecture are limited, and so are the buyers. So, we need to process them and sell them to pharmacies.”

Shuiqing listened quietly.

She knew medicinal herbs needed processing. After processing, yams became dried yams?

Could they just dry them in the sun?

“Dried yams after processing can also be used for pastries and medicinal cuisine in Jinling,” Qin Yilin paused, coughed, and then continued, “Big families in other prefectures really like them, so there are more buyers, and pharmacies buy more, increasing the price.

In fact, the price of fresh ones is also very good, ranging from one hundred to two hundred wen per catty. Dried yams fetch over four hundred wen per catty. Don’t think that four hundred wen per catty is much more expensive—it takes five or six catties of fresh yams to produce one catty of dried yams!”

Shuiqing keenly noticed the connection between Qin Yilin and Jinling.

She brought it up unnaturally and deliberately avoided it.

But everyone has their own secrets, right? Why bother to explore them? Just live well in the present.

She concluded, “Selling fresh ones is profitable when the quantity is small. When the quantity is large, it’s not feasible. In hot weather, they spoil quickly, and there are few buyers in the prefecture, so it’s impossible.”

Qin Yilin liked talking to smart people. It was reassuring!

No need to explain repeatedly, just get to the point.

“Yes, so if you have a small amount from your backyard, sell it fresh. If you have a lot, I’ll teach you how to process it.”

Shuiqing definitely wanted to learn how to process it.

Whether the backyard produces a lot or a little is determined by the mall.

Moreover, she had read the yam cultivation book. The climate and temperature in Shanshui Village were suitable. They could buy seeds in large quantities later and openly sell them in the future!

She looked at Qin Yilin happily and asked, “Do you peel and slice them and then dry them in the sun? If it’s rainy, do you have to dry them?”

Qin Yilin smiled, “That works too, but if they aren’t dried promptly, they’ll turn black. If not dried well, they’ll turn yellow. If they don’t look good, they won’t sell for a good price.

Also, some unscrupulous sellers use sulfur fumigation to make yams look whiter. Don’t do that. Storekeepers at those fumigated pharmacies can tell at a glance, and it won’t sell well.”

Shuiqing thought to herself, not just here, but even in Hua Country, there are many unscrupulous people using fumigation!

She hated this the most. Originally bought for good health, but ended up consuming a bunch of unhealthy things. How can one’s body be healthy?

She assured, “Rest assured, I will never use fumigation!”

Qin Yilin, coming from a family of medicinal herbs, had a deep-rooted commitment to the quality of medicinal herbs. After hearing Shuiqing’s assurance, she earnestly and meticulously taught, “First, clean the yams with straw or pumpkin leaves. Pumpkin leaves are best because their fuzzy surface can scrub very clean.

Then cut them into small pieces and steam them until half-cooked. If too short, they’ll be raw; if too long, they’ll be too soft, both are unacceptable.

After cooling, peel them and cut them into slices to dry. Generally, it takes four to five days.

Yams processed this way won’t turn black or yellow, they’ll be snowy white and fine, and they’ll have excellent appearance. When peeling, the skin won’t cause itching.”

The processing of medicinal herbs is usually a closely guarded skill and not easily passed on.

But isn’t cooking the same? Shuiqing taught her cooking without any reservation, so naturally, she was willing to teach Shuiqing how to process yams.

People, after all, help each other.

Shuiqing only now understood why medicinal herbs needed processing!

Traditional methods may be troublesome, but they are pure and natural, free from pollution, and good for the body.

To open up the market without being affected by long distances or weather, processing medicinal herbs is necessary.

Thinking of a whole mountain of polygonum multiflorum, then looking at Qin Yilin in front of her, Shuiqing’s mind faintly gave rise to an idea.

She knew that skill inheritance was very strict, usually within families or between master and apprentice. Qin Yilin had already taught her about yams very well; she shouldn’t push it.

However, she could cooperate with Qin Yilin.

She could provide the medicinal herbs, and the Ding family could process them. Both families would have a cooperative relationship, dividing the proceeds according to their agreement. Qin Yilin should understand this aspect better than her.

If they were too busy, they could also hire nimble women in the village to help out. Both families wouldn’t be tired, and it would also increase the income for the village women.

The more Shuiqing thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

Qin Yilin looked at Shuiqing, whose eyes shone brightly, always feeling that something was about to happen.

Shuiqing wouldn’t deceive her, would she… Years later, looking back, she just wanted to cry!

Her carefree and comfortable days, from this moment on, were gone forever.