Chapter 6: The Apprentice at Hundred Herbs Hall, Visiting Li Laocai's House for Recon

Go find Zheng Kecheng yourself?

Granny Yan knew clearly in her heart that even if she was willing to send money, Zheng Kecheng would not accept it.

Without any personal relationship, Zheng Kecheng would worry about her turning against him and reporting him. Li Laocai, being his brother-in-law, naturally did not pose this concern.

"Zheng Kecheng should be coming soon. I'll wait until he arrives to visit Li Laocai!"

Granny Yan made up her mind.

She still wanted to get closer to Zheng Kecheng.

Hundred Herbs Hall.

It is the only pharmacy in Qingniu Market. The resident physician, Bai Mingliang, is renowned for his medical skills and is well-known throughout the town.

Moreover.

Doctor Bai has a great medical ethic. He does his best to treat patients, and if he can't, he will clearly explain, preventing unnecessary expenses.

Due to his age, Bai Mingliang only starts consultations at 9 a.m.

The pharmacy staff consists of Doctor Bai, his granddaughter Bai Fenghuan, and a pharmacist. Due to his age and inconvenience in walking, Doctor Bai decided to find an apprentice to pass on his skills.

"Grandfather, there's a person outside asking if we are hiring apprentices. It seems he is from Qin San's family from the east end of town."

Bai Mingliang, a thin elderly man with mostly white hair dressed in a light white robe, was having a meal in the back room. His granddaughter Bai Fenghuan came in and reported.

"Oh?"

Bai Mingliang thought for a moment and remembered.

Qin Sanhuai from the east end had chronic dizziness and palpitations. After controlling it with prescribed medicine and suggesting rest, Qin Sanhuai passed away half a year ago, having borrowed a substantial amount from Li Laocai, which led to the foreclosure of three tiled houses and three acres of thin farmland.

Leaving behind a pair of children with no means of living.

His daughter voluntarily sold herself to save her brother. Bai Mingliang had heard of this.

"Let him wait, I'll come out soon."

Bai Mingliang put down his chopsticks and said.

"Okay."

Bai Fenghuan nodded and turned to leave.

In the morning.

There were three or four patients waiting in the pharmacy.

Qin Wang smelled the rich aroma of herbs and felt anxious. Just then, the twelve or thirteen-year-old girl who had spoken to him earlier came out of the back room and smiled at him. "My grandfather will be out shortly."

"Thank you."

Qin Wang thanked the girl. She was very friendly.

The Hundred Herbs Hall was about ten zhang in size, with a two-sectioned wooden counter in the middle. Behind it, against the wall, were rows of wooden drawers labeled with names of herbs like 'Shou Wu', 'Cassia Seed', 'Polygonatum', 'Black Plum', and 'Sea Gold Sand'.

A man in his thirties, presumably the pharmacist, was preparing herbal medicine for one of the patients.

"Child, I remember you are from the Sanhuai family. Your name is Qin Wang, right?"

Before long, Bai Mingliang came out and smiled kindly at Qin Wang.

"Yes, Grandpa Bai."

Qin Wang nodded. He remembered being addressed like this before.

"Here's the situation. The pharmacy sometimes needs to gather herbs from the mountains. I am too old for this, so we decided to hire an apprentice. The job includes food and lodging, and a salary will be negotiated later. If you can handle the hardship, we can try it out for a while?"

Bai Mingliang looked Qin Wang over. The child was too thin, and he worried whether he could handle the work. His ultimate goal was to find a successor.

"Grandpa Bai, I can handle it."

Qin Wang nodded.

"Alright, if it's convenient, you can start today by familiarizing yourself with the herbs."

Bai Mingliang nodded and called out to Bai Fenghuan, "Fenghuan, show Qin Wang around and familiarize him with the herbs."

"Okay, Grandpa."

Bai Fenghuan nodded and called out to Qin Wang, "Big brother, follow me."

At noon.

Bai Fenghuan cooked, and Qin Wang helped.

Despite her young age, Bai Fenghuan's cooking skills were impressive. She made a plate of vinegar cabbage, a plate of five-spice tofu, a plate of dried bamboo shoots with meat, and a headfish soup. Bai Mingliang, Bai Fenghuan, Qin Wang, and the pharmacist Yu Hai ate together.

Qin Wang ate two full bowls of rice.

"I didn't come here for nothing, finally some meat."

"As long as I can eat my fill every day, my body will get stronger."

After lunch, Bai Fenghuan went to wash the dishes while Qin Wang continued organizing the herbs, feeling deeply emotional. Currently, he was too thin, his ribs were visible. To grow strong, he needed good nutrition.

"Brother Wang, Grandpa said you need to go to the Li family estate with him to help carry the medicine box."

Around 4 p.m., while Qin Wang was organizing herbs, Bai Fenghuan approached him with a message from her grandfather.

"Huh? Go to the Li family estate?"

Hearing Bai Fenghuan's words, Qin Wang was taken aback but immediately nodded, "Alright, no problem."

He hadn't expected that on his first day of work he would get a chance to visit Li Laocai's house. He had been worried about not having the opportunity to scout for the 850 taels of silver.

So.

Qin Wang followed Bai Fenghuan to the front of the pharmacy, where he saw a tall man with a chiseled face, short beard, about forty years old, with eyes like lightning and a long knife at his waist standing in the pharmacy, talking to Bai Mingliang.

The man looked deeply worried.

"I need to go to the Li family estate, you come with me."

Seeing Qin Wang come out from the back, Bai Mingliang motioned for him to carry the medicine box. At his age, carrying things for long distances was not feasible, which was why he needed an apprentice.

"Mm!"

Qin Wang nodded, walked forward, and carried the medicine box. Bai Fenghuan helped him check if everything needed was included.

The tall man seemed in a hurry and led the way out of Hundred Herbs Hall.

Qin Wang followed Bai Mingliang closely towards the Li family estate.

"Is Li Laocai about to die?"

After more than a quarter of an hour, as they approached Li family estate, Qin Wang pondered.

Seeing Li Laocai draw his last breath would indeed be satisfying!

Soon.

Qin Wang and the others, following the tall man with a knife, entered the Li family estate.

"This old bastard Li Laocai, committing so many evil deeds, has such a luxurious estate! All ill-gotten gains!"

Qin Wang was entering Li Laocai's home for the first time. He looked around and clicked his tongue.

There were ornamental trees, rock gardens, lotus ponds, koi fish, and pavilions—everything one could imagine!

So extravagant.

How much silver must this have cost?

Compared to his own leaky thatched hut, this was a world of difference!

The key point was that Li Laocai controlled hundreds of acres of fertile land and had shares in the fish market!

"Brother..."

"I haven't seen you for just over a month, how did you... Brother!"

Qin Wang didn't look around for long. Following Bai Mingliang to a guest room in the estate, he heard a woman crying inside. Outside the room, a few guards and over a dozen servants stood silently, their faces heavy with sorrow.

Two richly dressed youths stood outside as well.

Seeing Qin Wang and the others arrive, one of the youths went inside.

Shortly after.

A woman in a yellow dress, resembling Li Laocai, came out of the room, knelt before Bai Mingliang, and cried, "Doctor Bai, you finally came! Please save my brother! We will pay any amount of silver!"

"Chunxia, get up!"

"I'll check first."

Bai Mingliang waved for Li Chunxia to get up and then motioned for Qin Wang to enter Li Laocai's room.

Bai Mingliang went forward to take Li Laocai's pulse and diagnose him.

Qin Wang observed the room.

The door and windows were open, a fire basin was on the floor, and against the west wall was an elaborate light-red pine bed. Li Laocai lay on the bed, his head propped up high, eyes half-closed, lips moving slightly, and saliva constantly dripping out.

His fists were clenched, his body trembled, and he made 'uh' 'uh' sounds.

"Chunxia, your brother's wound is too deep, and he has contracted tetanus. You know this disease, don't you? Sigh."

"Normally, minor wounds are not a problem, but your brother's wound was from a rusty nail that had been soaked in filth, leading to this condition. Given the current state, he only has a few days left. I can only use acupuncture and herbs to help him feel a bit better."

After checking Li Laocai's pulse, Bai Mingliang turned to Li Chunxia and explained.

Li Chunxia wept silently, covering her mouth, and nodded. "Thank you, Doctor Bai."

"Hand me the silver needles."

Bai Mingliang instructed Qin Wang, who promptly opened the medicine box and handed him the needed needles. While lowering his head, Qin Wang glanced under Li Laocai's bed.