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Chapter 21: I Will Repay You in the Future
Chu Xiaoqi only returned to her room to rest after watching Ji Jingze finish his meal, take his medicine, and fall asleep.
“Xiaoqi, your medicine works better than the one from Shopkeeper Zhang in town.”
After they put out the lamp and lay down on the heated brick bed, Ji Jingxuan started making conversation.
“Shopkeeper Zhang?”
“Yeah, he’s the doctor at Jimin Medical Hall in town.”
“Is Jimin Medical Hall a big place?”
Ji Jingxuan nodded in the dark. “It’s the largest medical hall in Beihe County.
When our mother gets sick, we always get her medicine from there.
We practically go there every three or five days—we’re regulars.
Shopkeeper Zhang is a good man. He knows our family isn’t well-off, so he always charges a little less.”
Hearing that, Chu Xiaoqi felt that this Shopkeeper Zhang seemed like a decent person.
“Then does Jimin Medical Hall buy medicinal herbs?”
“That I’m not too sure about.”
Chu Xiaoqi let out a deep sigh. Looks like she’d have to carry the herbs over tomorrow and try her luck.
Before the fifth watch of the night, Chu Xiaoqi got up as usual to roast chestnuts. She also bundled up the dried herbs by category and put them into a separate basket.
Before the rooster even crowed, everything was ready for her to head out.
Ji Jingze hadn’t yet recovered from his cold. He looked lethargic and insisted in a muffled voice on following Chu Xiaoqi to sell chestnuts.
Chu Xiaoqi tried everything to persuade him, scooped out two bowls of chestnuts to coax him into staying home, and promised to make meat pies for him when she returned. Only then did he give in.
Ji Jingxuan sent Chu Xiaoqi and Ji Jinglan to the market, then went off to the academy.
Chu Xiaoqi pulled aside the worn cloth over the basket and began hawking her goods. Ji Jinglan copied her, calling out as well.
At first, she was too shy, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s.
Chu Xiaoqi didn’t scold her. After her first sale, Ji Jinglan gained courage and began calling out louder and more naturally.
“Hey, girl, why didn’t you come yesterday? Lots of people came looking for your chestnuts and left empty-handed.”
Chu Xiaoqi saw it was the same auntie who helped her get her first sale the day before yesterday. She grabbed a handful of chestnuts from the basket and stuffed them into the auntie’s hands, grinning widely.
“There was something going on at home yesterday, so I couldn’t make it.”
The auntie peeled a chestnut and tossed it into her mouth, beaming as she said, “Still the same great taste…
Same as before—give me three bowls.”
The auntie didn’t haggle, and Chu Xiaoqi didn’t act stingy.
She gave three heaping bowls for 45 copper coins and even grabbed an extra handful to make up for the ones that rolled off the bowls.
The auntie paid without hesitation, not picky at all.
When word got out that Chu Xiaoqi was selling chestnuts today, customers who had bought from her before all came back. In less than half an hour, her full basket of chestnuts was completely sold out.
She poured out the day’s earnings and counted—it was 100 copper coins more than the first time she came to sell. Naturally, she was in a great mood.
Seeing it was still early, she took Ji Jinglan to get breakfast.
“Sister-in-law, this chilly weather makes a hot bowl of lamb noodle soup warm the whole body.”
Ji Jinglan hugged the large bowl, stuffed her mouth with noodles, and took a sip of the soup.
Chu Xiaoqi lifted her bowl and took a drink. The hot soup spread warmth throughout her entire body—it was really warming.
The clanging sound of bamboo tubes across the street caught her attention.
“Wontons! Hot steaming wontons!”
The design of the wonton cart was quite clever. It didn’t take up space—someone could stand in the middle, carrying it while hawking along the street. If someone wanted to eat, they’d stop, set it down, and serve right there.
Wonton Cart
But… how much did that whole setup cost?
“There must be at least dozens of pounds in there, right?”
But the container wasn’t that big. Even if the vendor sold out their entire load of food, they probably wouldn’t make much money.
Still, on a freezing day like this, only hot food could win the favor of the townsfolk.
Maybe… I should modify a snack cart and start selling hot food too?
After the snowfall, Yanwang Mountain was off-limits, effectively cutting off her source of income.
A big family needed food and drink every day, and with no money coming in, she couldn’t help but feel anxious.
Setting up a stall would at least bring in some money. She wasn’t expecting to get rich—just to cover the household’s daily expenses.
After finishing the noodles, Chu Xiaoqi asked Ji Jinglan to carry the empty basket and wait at the academy gate for Ji Jingxuan. She herself carried the herbs to the carpenter’s workshop.
“Shopkeeper, can you take a look and see if this can be made?” Chu Xiaoqi handed over the design she’d drawn.
The shopkeeper was a man in his forties, with a sturdy, muscular build—he looked very strong.
He studied the drawing for the time it took a stick of incense to burn. “It can be made, but the structure is a bit complicated. It’ll cost a bit more.”
“Then give me a price, Shopkeeper.”
“One tael and six coins.”
“That’s not cheap.”
“The materials don’t cost much, but the craftsmanship is complicated. Takes time.”
“Shopkeeper, can’t you go a little lower?” Chu Xiaoqi looked at him with a wounded expression.
The shopkeeper had a daughter around Chu Xiaoqi’s age. Seeing that fake pouty look on her face reminded him of his own little rascal, and his heart softened immediately.
“Alright, alright—consider it me doing you a favor. Just give me one tael, and come pick it up in ten days.”
As soon as she heard that, Chu Xiaoqi beamed from ear to ear. “Thank you, Shopkeeper! I’ll definitely repay you someday!”
Afraid he might change his mind, she quickly pulled off her coin pouch, took out a tael of silver, and handed it over.
The shopkeeper chuckled at her clever antics. “My own daughter has been saying she’d repay me since she was three. It’s been over ten years and I’ve yet to see it.”
Chu Xiaoqi grinned cheekily. “It’s not that she won’t repay you—just that the time hasn’t come yet.”
“Well said, Sister! The time just hasn’t come!”
A clear, cheerful voice rang out at the shop entrance.
A lively little girl in a sky-blue dress came hopping in with a basket in hand.
The shopkeeper burst into hearty laughter when he saw her. “You little rascal, what brings you here?”
“Mom said you left in a hurry this morning and skipped breakfast, so she asked me to bring you something to eat,” the girl said innocently, looking up at the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper reached out and gently patted the bun on her head, his face full of fatherly affection.
Standing to the side, Chu Xiaoqi quietly watched the father-daughter moment. It reminded her of her own family, and her nose suddenly felt sore and stuffy.
She didn’t know if she’d ever be able to go back. What was happening with her body in the modern world? Her parents and brothers must be worried sick by now.
Sniffling, she turned and quietly left the carpenter’s shop.
Walking along the bustling street, she took a few deep breaths and clenched her fists to pump herself up.
No matter where or when, I must live on. As long as I’m alive, anything is possible.
Steeling her nerves, she stopped a few passersby to ask for directions to the Jimin Medical Hall.
The people in ancient times were genuinely kind and warmhearted. If they knew, they’d eagerly give you directions.
After asking two people and wandering through the streets for ten minutes, she finally stood under the sign of Jimin Medical Hall. Looking around, her expression twisted—like she was badly constipated.
This medical hall was…
“Is this… right across from the marketplace?”
She had been selling chestnuts right outside this medical hall’s main entrance earlier that morning—how did she not look up and notice?
Sigh… what a hassle.
Chu Xiaoqi hoisted the basket full of herbs on her back and stepped into Jimin Medical Hall.
A young assistant was standing behind the counter grinding medicinal powder. When he saw her enter, he put down his tools and greeted her warmly:
“Miss, are you here for a consultation or to get a prescription filled?”
Chu Xiaoqi looked around the hall. The equipment was complete, and the variety of medicines was extensive. Clearly, this was one of the more well-established medical halls in the county.
“Little brother, I actually came to ask—do you buy medicinal herbs?”
She walked over to the counter and asked with a bright smile.
The assistant gave her a once-over. Though he wasn’t rude, his response was indifferent:
“We already have regular herb suppliers. We don’t buy from independent sellers.”
“My herbs have all been properly processed. Why don’t you let your shopkeeper take a look? I can sell them to you at a cheap price.”
If it were anyone else, they’d probably know to back off after that, but Chu Xiaoqi wanted to go around the assistant to speak directly to the shopkeeper—which annoyed him.
“I said, we don’t buy from random sellers. You’d best leave now before I have to make you go.”
Chu Xiaoqi was so irritated her teeth itched. The one actually doing the business hasn’t said a word, and yet this assistant thinks he runs the place?
Still, she kept her temper. Business was about mutual consent—if the shop didn’t want to buy, even giving it away for free would be pointless.
And she didn’t want to stir up trouble. If this medical hall wouldn’t buy, she’d just try another one. Go to a few more, offer a cheaper price—someone would surely want it.
With her head lowered, she turned around with her basket and headed for the door.
Just as she reached the entrance, a group of people rushed in, wailing and crying. Before Chu Xiaoqi could see what was happening, someone crashed into her, sending her and her herbs sprawling to the ground.
The burly man carrying someone on his back quickly apologized, “I’m so sorry, miss! I’m in a rush to save someone. How much are these herbs? I’ll pay you!”
Seeing that the man truly hadn’t meant it and was sincere in his apology, Chu Xiaoqi didn’t make a fuss. She picked herself up and began gathering her scattered herbs.
“No need to pay,” she said with a shake of her head.
The burly man, relieved that she wasn’t making trouble, immediately carried the person inside without even glancing back.
A woman trailing behind, holding a child, looked anxious but didn’t follow him in. Instead, she crouched down and helped pick up the herbs.
“Miss, I’m so sorry. My father-in-law suddenly fell ill, and my husband panicked. He didn’t mean to bump into you.”
After gathering the herbs, the woman pulled a tael of silver from her coin pouch and forced it into Chu Xiaoqi’s hand. “Please, take this as compensation.”
“No need—”
Before Chu Xiaoqi could return the money, the woman had already grabbed her child and rushed into the hall.
Chu Xiaoqi looked down at the silver in her hand, then glanced at the woman’s retreating figure. She seems like a good person, she thought.
A man’s shocked voice came from inside the hall, followed by a woman and child sobbing loudly.
“Wuwuwu… Dad…”
In no time, the room was filled with onlookers eager to watch what was happening.
Chu Xiaoqi, curious, squeezed her way forward through the crowd.
What illness could it be? Just moments ago he was being carried in, and now he’s beyond saving?
It took quite an effort, but she finally made it to the front.
Inside the hall, not far from the consultation table, there was a platform about 1.5 meters high. An elderly man in his sixties lay atop it.
His face was ashen, his lips pale, his body slightly convulsing, and beads of sweat the size of soybeans rolled down his forehead.