Fu Yuchi bent down and picked up some damp soil. "It's good land, it's a real pity that it's been abandoned for so many years."
Sun Miao'er ran to the yard outside the pigpen, where there was a pile of pig manure. This pig manure was excellent fertilizer, but because it was too nourishing, applying it directly to the soil might burn the plant roots. It was best to mix it with withered leaves and dry grass and compost it. It could only be used when the manure pile was fully fermented and started to emit blue smoke.
Carrying manure sounds filthy, and it's truly a dreadful job. This is the first time Sun Miao'er has ever done this. Although she used to clean the pigsty, it was done in one go. But now, carrying piles of pig manure, bucket by bucket, is like torture for her.
After all the pig manure had been removed, Fu Yuchi sat at the edge of the field and leisurely ate a small handful of March roses. The little fruits were bright red, and Sun Miao'er felt her teeth ache just looking at them.
"Master, what are you planning to plant today?" She was working hard, sweating profusely, beads of sweat running down her fair and slender neck, soaking her collar.
After finishing the last March rose, Fu Yuchi stood up from the field. Today he was wearing a light blue round-necked robe, the style of which was almost the same as the one he wore before. However, the color made him look even more upright and elegant, like a green pine on a cliff or a green bamboo on a rock wall. "Let's plant Solomon's Seal. It's easy to grow."
Grandma Sun came to the edge of the field with her cane. Seeing her granddaughter working hard and sweating profusely, she went up and listened for a while. She smiled and said, "Miao'er, this old woman has to say a few more words. Solomon's seal is easy to grow, but sometimes it takes a lot of effort."
Grandma Sun has spent her whole life dealing with herbs and is very familiar with the habits and preferences of various herbs. Naturally, the herbs that she can grow are not rare. If she can grow them, others can grow them too. What is truly precious are the herbs that cannot be grown by humans and can only be dug up in the deep mountains and forests.
Grandma Sun gestured with her cane in the ground, saying, "It's best to plant this Solomon's seal rhizome, seeds are second best, and it shouldn't be planted too densely, as that will affect its growth."
Sun Miao'er memorized every word Grandma Sun said. She took out the Solomon's Seal that she had dug up in the mountains a few days ago from the bamboo basket, cut off the rootstock, and planted it according to Grandma Sun's instructions.
"It's best to cover it with a layer of dry grass. Polygonatum prefers moisture, but with the recent heatwave and the dry ground, it won't grow," Fu Yuchi added.
Grandma Sun nodded as if she suddenly realized something, "Yes, yes, Grandma is getting old and her mind isn't working so well anymore. She forgot such an important thing. Yu Chi is right!"
As the saying goes, when master and disciple are of one mind, their strength can break metal. Fu Yuchi stood by and gave instructions, while Sun Miao'er was responsible for the physical labor. Xiaoman would occasionally hand over some water. In just one afternoon, they had already planted half an acre of Solomon's seal. Although there was still a large area of land left empty, Sun Miao'er was already very satisfied.
After fertilizing and finishing the remaining work, it was already late. The three of them returned home, where Jin was sitting in the courtyard with Hua Gu.
As soon as Hua Gu saw Fu Yuchi, her slanted eyes immediately lit up. "Oh my, Doctor Fu, I've been looking for you everywhere!"
She heard from Madam Jin that her niece had brought a young doctor home to treat her mother's illness. She heard that the doctor's surname was Fu. This revelation struck a chord with Hua Gu.
Doctor Fu was incredibly handsome and skilled. Aside from being a bit older, he was a highly sought-after man. Last year, Village Chief Li even tried to marry his youngest daughter to him, but unfortunately, Doctor Fu turned him down.
Hua Gu stood up from the small stool, holding a handful of melon seed shells. In terms of age, the two of them were a perfect match, and besides, neither of them was married. "Doctor Fu, my heart has been aching for several days. I went to the medicine shop to look for you several times, but I couldn't find you. I finally found you today. If I hadn't seen you, my heart would have been killing me."
Sun Miao'er felt a chill run down her spine at Hua Gu's coquettish voice. She glanced at Hua Gu and realized that she had clearly changed her clothes and applied rouge, coming prepared. The rouge on Hua Gu's face was so thick that it looked like a monkey's bottom.
Seeing that everyone had a smile on their face, Fu Yuchi spoke softly and gently, "It's not too late now."
Upon hearing this, Hua Gu hurriedly lifted her skirt and awkwardly came forward, saying, "Doctor Fu, please examine me quickly."
She was practically throwing herself at Fu Yuchi. After all, she was already too old to find anyone, and if she couldn't win over Doctor Fu, she wouldn't be interested in anyone else.
Hua Gu reached out and grabbed nothing. She had been aiming at Fu Yuchi, but somehow ended up grabbing Sun Miao'er's wrist. "You little brat, what are you doing here? Get out of the way!"
Fu Yuchi turned to the side, revealing an enigmatic smile, as free and flowing as melting snow in early spring. "Miao'er just became my disciple a few days ago, Miss Hua, why don't you let her take a look at you?"
"What does that little brat know!" Hua Gu's smile froze, and her eyes were filled with hostility as she stared at Sun Miao'er. It seemed that this sly fox had gotten there first. She had even called him "master." What a clever trick!
Fu Yuchi's smile deepened, and he shook his head repeatedly, "Miss Hua, my apprentice is very intelligent and learns things very quickly. She has mastered my teachings. Besides, Miss Hua and I are not supposed to be intimate, it's not appropriate for men and women to be so close."
Sun Miao'er was shocked to realize that her master was throwing this hot potato into her hands. She didn't like Hua Gu, but she didn't want to get involved in other people's business. After all, it's better to avoid trouble. Hua Gu relied on the savings left by her parents and had a lot of spare money. She was always able to make people in the village do whatever they wanted. It would be difficult to get rid of her if she got involved.
"What's wrong? I just don't trust this girl. Doctor Fu, I'll pay double the consultation fee, okay?" Hua Gu shook off Sun Miao'er's hand, her shy expression turning into a fierce look in the blink of an eye, and she specifically asked Fu Yuchi to take her pulse.
Fu Yuchi dodged the question, saying, "Miao'er, quickly take Miss Hua's pulse. Don't delay her treatment; treating her is the priority."
Having received her instructions, Sun Miao'er grinned insincerely, "Aunt Hua, just let me take a look at you, it's nothing serious."
"Pah! Don't touch me!" Hua Gu was annoyed and pushed away Sun Miao'er's outstretched hand. "Doctor Fu, don't be so stubborn. I came to see you to give you face, how can you treat me like this?"
Seeing that her master remained unmoved, Sun Miao'er realized it was no wonder he was the village's great philanthropist; it was rare to see someone remain so amiable even after hearing such harsh words. "Aunt Hua, you..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was abruptly interrupted by a shrill female voice, "Who are you calling 'auntie'? I'm not married yet!"
Sun Miao'er covered her face and laughed, looking truly innocent and harmless. "Oh, that's a problem. Aunt Hua, you and my aunt are good friends. If I call you 'sister,' it will mess up the generations. If you and I are of the same generation, wouldn't that make you a generation below my master?"
Hua Gu's thoughts were completely seen through, yet she still jumped into the trap set by Sun Miao'er. She trembled with rage, her face flushed red with anger, almost obscuring the color of her rouge.
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