According to Lu Yun, when they were kids, Lu Qingqing used to catch snakes just like that too!

She had learned it from their mother.

And she used to scare him all the time with it.

Lu Qingqing was puzzled.

The Lu Qingqing everyone in the family talked about was completely different from the original host.

There was no resemblance at all!

In medical terms, what would this be called?

Functional psychosis?

Autonomic nervous disorder?

Neither.

It was more like she was possessed!

Back in the modern world, Lu Qingqing was a staunch materialist.

But now that she had transmigrated here, it proved such things could exist.

Still, such mystical occurrences shouldn’t be common, like mass-produced goods, right?

Maybe the original Lu Qingqing had dissociative identity disorder.

The kind one died, and the evil one emerged.

..

Lu Yun was crouched with his butt sticking out, carefully digging up a ginseng root.

Nearby, Lu Qingqing searched around—and sure enough, found a few more tiny ginseng sprouts, but no more mature roots.

Clearly, the seeds had been spread by animals; the parent plant wasn’t nearby.

She dug the small sprouts out with soil attached, planning to plant them back home.

Otherwise, someone else might find them.

There were a few herb gatherers in the mountains, after all!

To transplant ginseng seedlings, you had to bring some of the native soil—rich in humic acid, neutral or slightly acidic, and full of nutrients.

Alkaline soil wouldn’t work.

…

After nearly half an hour, Lu Yun finally unearthed the whole ginseng root.

It was a beautifully shaped specimen: tight leaf scars on the head, a ginseng cup at the base, two thick legs, and over 30 centimeters of fibrous roots!

At least 30 to 40 years old!

This could fetch a very good price.

Lu Yun’s hands trembled with excitement.

He held the root like it was fragile treasure—afraid a single bump would break a rootlet.

Suddenly he cried, “Oh no!”

“I forgot to bring red cloth to wrap it!”

“Who told you to use red cloth? You need to use tree bark!”

Three leaves, five leaflets, facing north and growing in the shade.

If you want to find me, look for the basswood tree.

Ginseng likes shady areas, usually under tall trees. So there were basswood and pine trees all around.

Lu Qingqing took a sickle, found a basswood tree, and cut off a long strip of bark.

She carefully wrapped the ginseng root and tendrils in it, leaving only the stem and leaves exposed—just like swaddling a baby.

Then she tied it with two bark strings.

“This way it stays fresh.”

“Oh, I see!” Lu Yun learned seriously.

Definitely better than using cloth.

“Let me tell you, even how you tie the strings matters. Two is fine, four or five all over is fine—but don’t use three ties.”

“Why not?”

“Because in folk custom, when a child dies prematurely, they’re tied with three ropes and thrown away. It’s a taboo.”

In her past life, Lu Qingqing had gone to the northeast mountains and learned about ginseng hunting from locals.

It wasn’t superstition—just cultural belief.

Like how people say auspicious things during the New Year and avoid unlucky words.

“Oh…”

He’d learned something new!

“Qingqing, did Mom teach you even this in your dreams?”

“Yeah, she taught me everything.”

Lu Yun’s eyes showed a trace of envy. He murmured, “I don’t even remember what Mom looked like anymore…”

Lu Qingqing immediately felt the sorrow in him.

That kind of longing—for a lost parent—she knew better than anyone, having grown up orphaned herself.

“I look a lot like Mom. If you forget, just look at me.”

Lu Yun looked at her.

Lu Qingqing had round almond eyes, a soft round face, an upturned nose, and small lips.

She did resemble their mother.

Their father and older brother often said the same.

Though they always added: if only that scar on her face weren’t there.

When she first got that scar, Lu Qingqing had gone mad—cursing their father, saying he was a jinx who’d drown in the river the next day.

She didn’t know back then, how guilty their father had felt.

He had begged doctors for remedies day after day.

And at night, he would hug their mother’s memorial tablet and cry.

Saying he was sorry—to her, to their daughter.

Thinking about those times made Lu Yun’s chest tighten. He forced himself not to dwell on it.

“Did Mom tell you how to remove the scar?”

“She did. I’ll try mixing a remedy one of these days.”

That would be amazing!

Without the scar, little sister would definitely be the prettiest girl in the village!

..

They continued digging herbs in the mountains.

Lu Qingqing discovered Lu Yun was very smart—he memorized medicinal plants quickly.

She had an idea. “Second Brother, what kind of work do you enjoy?”

“What enjoy or not enjoy? It’s all for making a living.”

He had just gone to the town’s fabric shop yesterday—they still wouldn’t take him. Said they worried he’d steal things. He was furious.

What a lousy job anyway—not like he wanted it.

Back when he worked there, he got yelled at every day.

The boss must’ve been possessed by a toad demon—he couldn’t go a day without yelling at people.

But even so, he couldn’t just not work.

Their dad and older brother both had crafts to earn with. He couldn’t be the idle one.

But…

“I don’t know what I like anymore,” Lu Yun said, discouraged.

“How about you study medicine with me?”

Medicine?

“No no no! I can’t do it!”

Just thinking about that bloody scene from before made his stomach churn again.

Lu Qingqing had already considered this.

In this era, being a female doctor wasn’t easy—there were obstacles. If she had a male assistant around, it’d make things much easier.

But Lu Yun clearly couldn’t handle it.

“What about preparing and processing herbs?”

“That I can do!”

He really did enjoy following Lu Qingqing into the mountains to gather herbs. The more plants he recognized, the more amazed he felt.

It made him feel useful—not just a lowly farmhand anymore.

“Great, then from now on, you’ll gather and process herbs with me. Let’s go home and sort everything. We’ll sell them with the ginseng tomorrow morning.”

They headed down the mountain with a full harvest.

..

On the way, they ran into a village hunter, who traded them a small wild chicken for the snake.

But when they got home, they were shocked.

A dozen people were gathered at the door.

Their dad and big brother weren’t home, so the door was locked. No one could get in.

Granny Liu—top gossip queen—was here again, of course!

“Aiya, Qing girl, you’re back!” called Uncle Wu.

“What’s in the basket? Digging wild veggies again? Stop eating that stuff. Auntie brought you some fresh pea shoots,” said Auntie Dong.

Everyone crowded around.

Turns out, they had all come for medical help.

And none came empty-handed—two bulbs of garlic, a bunch of green onions…

Lu Qingqing wasn’t planning to treat people before she got her medical license.

But in emergencies, she wouldn’t just stand by.

She glanced around and began:

“Uncle Wu, you’re just a little overheated. Brew some bamboo leaf tea for a few days and you’ll be fine.”

“Sister Linghua, your chest tightness is from too much yelling. Talk less, do more. If someone messes with you, don’t nag—just fight! You’ve got two hands and feet, why be scared?”

“Uncle Fengxi, you’re not poisoned. That dark sweat is from eating too many black beans.”

“Granny Liu, you’re just hungry. I could hear your stomach growling from five steps away!”

“Auntie Dong, your husband isn’t sick—he’s asking for a beating. If he curses at you again, slap him with your shoe a hundred times. After dinner, when your strength is up!”

..

She made no prescriptions, but everyone felt like they’d been treated.

They left muttering and buzzing among themselves.

Except for one man—Li Da, the older brother of Li San.

He actually was sick—weak and listless all over.

It had been going on for more than a month.

His father was even worse—couldn’t stand, had fallen yesterday and split his head open.

He was still lying at home, unable to get up.