Chapter 157

At night, Erqing and Axu slept together. There were two single beds in the room, and boxes and cages moved from the carriage were stuffed around the bed.

Indeed, as A Xu said, the room was occupied by boxes and cages, leaving only a place to stay.

But Erqing felt warm in his heart. Such crowding made his fatigue feel real.

He buried his face in the soft quilt, and the nerves that had been tense all day relaxed. His limbs felt tired, and his sleepiness was unprecedentedly strong.

Just when Erqing was about to fall asleep, someone suddenly woke him up.

"Here comes the hot water. Soak your feet before falling asleep." A Xu took the hot water brought upstairs by the waiter.

While calling Erqing, he took out a cloth bag from the cage, took a medicine bag from it and threw it into the hot water.

Erqing got up quickly and looked at him blankly.

A Xu said: "This is the foot bath medicine pack that Lang Jun taught us to prepare. You can fall asleep better after soaking your feet, and it can also relieve physical fatigue."

Erqing lowered his head and said softly: "Thank you, Brother A Xu."

"Haha. "A Xu was amused by his name, rubbed his messy head and said, "You should call me A Xu, or Brother A Xu, like a sister."

Er Qing pursed her lips tightly and did not shout like that. Or call him brother A Xu.

A Xu scratched his head, feeling baffled by the young man's insistence, but he didn't say anything: "You soak first, I'll go to the next room to prepare foot bath water for Mr. Lang."

He left the room to Er Qing, and went out to lock himself up. Go to the door and go to the next room.

Xu Yi, who was next door, was in the room, reading travel notes with the help of a fuel-saving lamp. The fuel-saving lamp was not bright enough, so he lit the oil lamp he brought from home to brightly illuminate the room.

When A Xu came over, he quickly said with concern: "Lang Jun, you have been reading books for so long, it's time to rest your eyes."

Xu Yi closed the travel notes with a smile. It was rare for him to see such interesting travel notes. It was more interesting than before. The classical Chinese document he read was much more interesting, so he said to A Xu: "It is indeed a bit too much. I will start to control it tomorrow."

A Xu blinked and brought the foot bath water.

After serving it, he stood aside and watched silently as Xu Yi took off his shoes and socks.

Xu Yi was not used to being served so personally. A Xu and A Jin could only help carry and pour water, but he did the rest himself.

He put his feet into the footbath water at a suitable temperature and squinted his eyes comfortably.

"What's wrong?" Xu Yi opened his eyes and looked at A Xu and said, "Did he talk to you?"

A Xu said, "I don't want to say much. I think what happened yesterday had a great impact on him, so I just left him alone. He's in the next room."

Xu Yi sighed. This kid looks small, but has a tough and calm heart. "He's a good boy. You'll find an opportunity to talk to him these days."

A Xu's lowered eyes widened a little. , I wanted him to say what he should say...

He thought for a while and asked: "Does Mr. Lang want to keep him?"

Xu Yi did not say yes or no: "Whether to keep him or not is not my decision. "

Many times, people and things are the same and need fate.

Now that he has A Xu and A Jin, having another Er Qing is a necessity for him.

But if Erqing is willing to stay, he will also be happy.

A Xu and A Jin are soft-tempered, and there are many children with different tempers who can keep them company.

He saw that the child was very obedient to Ah Jin. There were times when Er Qing would calm down and listen when Ah Jin spoke.

A Xu nodded, everything Lang Jun said was right.

Xu Yi yawned. He hadn't slept well for two days in a row. He was sleepy tonight and had to catch up on his sleep.

Xu Yi said softly: "You don't have to wait here anymore, go back to the house and sleep."

...

The next day, in Zitong County, people were coming and going outside the city gate.

A Xu drove the donkey cart to the city gate, crossed the main road in the city, turned into the market street, and parked the vehicle in front of a noodle stall.

Xu Yi and the others got out of the car one after another and ordered four bowls of meat dumpling soup cakes from the noodle stall.

The soup cakes here are the noodles eaten in the descendants. They are cooked in a pot of water and taken out, and garnishes and condiments are added to the soup cakes.

The meat dumplings made by this store are spicy, with dogwood and minced ginger added to them.

The minced ginger is minced so finely that you can't tell if you don't eat it carefully. The minced meat is fat and thin, fragrant but not greasy.

Erqing has never been to Zitong County, even though Zitong is the closest county to the small mountain village.

He had never eaten meat dumpling soup cakes before. He picked up the hot noodles and put them in his mouth, as if he had tasted some delicacy in the world.

Soon, he finished a bowl of soup cakes that was bigger than his face.

Erqing looked up and found Xu Yi and the others eating noodles gracefully, and couldn't help but blush.

Sensing his gaze, Xu Yi asked him, "Are you full?"

Erqing shook his head hurriedly.

No, that bowl of soup cake was a big portion and he was already full.

He waited for a while, got up and walked around, thinking that Xu Yi and the others were still eating noodles, so he came to the store alone.

"How much do four bowls of soup cakes cost?" Erqing asked in a low voice, holding the money bag.

The shopkeeper looked at him with a smile: "Young official, this meat dumpling soup cake is ten cents for a bowl, so I'll give it forty cents."

Erqing was stunned: "..." It's so expensive.

He bit the bullet and opened the money bag, reluctantly counting the ten cents four times. After giving it to the store, the money bag was almost empty.

Behind him, when Ah Jin came to pay with his money bag, he was surprised to see him paying the face amount.

"You treat us to soup cakes, but do you still have money?" Ah Jin asked with concern.

Erqing didn't want Ah Jin to see his embarrassment, so he carried his empty money bag behind his back, nodded and said, "I still have money."

After hearing this, Ah Jin said nothing more.

She happily returned to Xu Yi and shouted: "Lang Jun, Erqing paid for the soup cakes and invited us to eat them."

Xu Yi glanced at Erqing following him from the corner of his eye and picked a few. eyebrow.

There are many businessmen who go to Zitong County for business, and the prices here, including but not limited to food and daily life, are higher than those in Yanting County.

In Yanting County, a bowl of pork jelly soup cakes of this size would only cost seven cents, but here it would be three cents more expensive.

However, this may also be because of autumn. The price of firewood has increased, and other prices will naturally follow suit.

They were not sure how long they would stay in Zitong, so they hurriedly went to Yaxing to find a broker to rent a house.

After eating noodles, we set off to an inn in the city and booked three rooms.

The streets are busy and lively.

Xu Yi ordered Ah Jin to open the car curtains so that they could see clearly the excitement on the street.

Recalling what Uncle Tang said to him, Xu Yi felt familiar and strange everywhere when he saw this ancient city again.

After getting used to ancient buildings, he now looked at such a low-rise building, a market with buzzing heads, and vendors and walkers shouting about buying and selling, which was very friendly.

Not long after, Xu Yi asked A Xu to stop the car.

Passing by several small markets, Xu Yi saw what Uncle Tang and Zhang Tiegou said was a market for buying and selling medicinal materials.

It is said to be a market, but it is not. It is composed of more than ten or twenty drug dealers. Each drug dealer occupies a piece of land, like a replica of a tea shop. They hang banners and signboards outside the shed to attract passing merchants.

The medicinal materials they buy and sell are not stacked on top of each other like fake and money-making medicine dealers. Each medicinal material is only filled with a small half bag and stacked on a low wooden shelf in the shed.

In addition to the shopkeeper, there were several drug dealers who were busy guarding the stall.

When they saw Xu Yi and others, they asked questions without any hesitation.

Individual tourists like Xu Yi are not in their scope of soliciting customers. Those businessmen who come all the way to Zitong County are their focus.

Xu Yi was also very happy and stayed at each house for a while to see what medicinal materials they were selling.

The three followers following him were all visiting the medicine store for the first time. They didn't understand the rules and just stayed beside Xu Yi.

Wherever Xu Yi went, they followed him.

If they encounter familiar medicinal materials, A Xu and A Jin will whisper in their ears.

"Brother, look, those are chicken gizzards. There are a lot of them."

"Sister, that's red stone resin. I've never seen what's in the bag next to it."

"Neither have I..." Ah Jin widened his eyes and looked carefully. After taking a look, I found that they really didn't know what kind of medicinal material it was.

Xu Yi was stunned. He turned to look at the medicinal material they were talking about and said, "That's actinolite. You don't know it." Because he had never told these two people about this medicinal material.

Actinolite, just hearing the name can make people think of something.

However, when the two of them heard the name, they both looked confused and looked expectantly, waiting for Xu Yi to answer their questions.

Er Qing, who was standing next to them, looked at them in confusion.

Xu Yi felt like an adult bullying a child, but he had already studied medicine, so no matter what, he needed to know and remember these medicinal materials.

He said slowly: "Actiliferous stone warms the uterus to strengthen yang and cure vaginal fistula." [Note 1]

As soon as he said these words, A Xu and A Jin's faces turned red.

They know what disease this medicinal material is used to treat!

Ah, there is actually a medicinal material with such a name in this world. As soon as they think of the name of the medicinal material and its efficacy, they understand it instantly.

Erqing looked at them, even more confused: "..."

Xu Yi smiled in his eyes and did not deliberately tease them. He said seriously: "This actinolite is used for kidney qi deficiency and coldness. It tastes salty and slightly warm, and yin deficiency and fire exuberance." Use with caution."

Unexpectedly, what Xu Yi said was heard by the shopkeeper of this drug store.

Shopkeeper Qin had no intention of eavesdropping. He was registering the amount of medicinal materials for sale in the back. When he came over, he heard this tall and tall young man explaining the medicinal materials to his servants. He couldn't help but stand and listen, and he was very clear and logical. Echoing what the young man said.

When he looked at the young man again, he smelled many medicinal herbs from the incense scent brought by the young man.

It can be seen that this young man is a doctor.

Shopkeeper Qin walked over with a smile on his face: "Doctor, what do you want to buy?"

Xu Yi turned around, nodded and asked him: "Shopkeeper, do you have any unusual medicinal materials at home?"

Shopkeeper Qin's smile did not change: "The actinolite you just mentioned is an unusual medicinal material."

Xu Yi was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

Yes, this actinolite is indeed not a commonly used medicinal material.

It is a silicate mineral, which can also be called asbestos ore. Some doctors will call it white stone, yang stone, etc. But the most memorable thing is naturally the name actinolite.

Ore-based medicines are very interesting. Although Xu Yi does not specialize in researching male diseases, it does not prevent him from being willing to buy some actinolites.

Shopkeeper Qin came up to talk to him, but he didn't expect that the other party really wanted to buy it.

He would not let go of such an unexpected surprise.

After a warm exchange of greetings, the two exchanged names. Shopkeeper Qin was slightly startled when he heard that the young man's surname was Xu Mingyi.

This name... seems familiar.

Shopkeeper Qin couldn't remember where he heard the name, so he suppressed the doubt in his heart.

Xu Yi didn't buy much, so the shopkeeper asked Yaobao to weigh out the amount he wanted directly in the bag.

After buying actinolite, shopkeeper Qin also recommended medicinal materials such as Xu Yilingsha, Digupi and Cimicifuga.

Xu Yi saw that the quality was good, so he bought two jins of each medicinal material.

Then, when Xu Yi was about to leave, he saw a pair of antelope horns among the pile of things hanging in the corner.

He stopped and his eyes fell on the antelope horns.

Shopkeeper Qin saw this and asked: "Doctor Xu, is there anything wrong with this antelope horn?"

Xu Yi shook his head: "This antelope horn is in good condition, what is its price?"

"This antelope horn was collected from the Qiang people. "Shopkeeper Qin took off the pair of antelope horns. When he talked about the Qiang people, there was a hint of displeasure in his eyes, "The Qiang people didn't know that the antelope horns can be used as medicine, so they always ruined them. They wanted to use them. I bought them for twenty cash to make bone beads."

The two Qiang people were so happy to hear that the pair of antelope horns could still be sold for money that they immediately sold them.

Later, he also said that he would sell antelope horns to him in the future.

Shopkeeper Qin had a good impression of Xu Yi, so he said, "If Dr. Xu wants to buy it, I won't raise the price much. I'll just double it. How about doubling it?"

Doubling it is 40 yuan, which is more than twice as cheap as what is sold in the medical clinic. .

It's hard not to be tempted by the price. Xu Yi thought to himself, and his eyes signaled A Xu to hand over the money.

During their trip, they spent more than ten dollars to buy a bunch of medicinal materials.

Erqing followed them, already a little confused.

Back at the inn, he stared at the wooden bow and arrows on the table and made up his mind that he would go out to the city to hunt to make money tomorrow.

...

At night, shopkeeper Qin got on the bullock cart to go home. It was just darkening, and there were dots of light on the dark sky. Under the starlight, he walked back home steadily. His father, who was waiting for him to come home in the main room, rubbed his knees from time to time.

When Shopkeeper Qin saw his father, he frowned and asked, "Dad, do you have leg pain again?"

Father Qin sighed: "When it gets cold, my legs feel uncomfortable. I just rub them and it will be fine."

Shopkeeper Qin just returned the message. My relatively good mood turned gloomy.

His father used to work as a servant for a wealthy family. That family had always been arrogant and domineering. They would beat and scold their servants at will and like to find reasons to punish their servants.

His father's knees were damaged by kneeling at that time.

In severe cases, the kneecaps are swollen and you can't even move.

Shopkeeper Qin had studied for several years and originally wanted to study medicine, but he was not qualified in this field.

After studying for several years, he failed to complete his studies and unexpectedly became a medicine shopkeeper. Therefore, he knew many doctors, and all of them were invited to his home to treat his father's leg problems.

Everyone said that his father's disease was extremely difficult to treat because it damaged his roots and could not be cured by ordinary drugs.

Having kept the medicine jar in his hand for so many years, he could only barely make his father feel better.

But every autumn and winter, his father's knees still get sick frequently. It's not too cold today, and his father has put a charcoal pot in the house.

Back in the house, shopkeeper Qin's wife was complaining again, saying that the price of charcoal had gone up again.

"I went out today and brought three ounces of money, but I only bought half a basket of charcoal." His wife sighed. Seeing his unhappy expression, she gritted her teeth and continued, "My father-in-law can't cut off the charcoal pot in the house. After a while, We have to add a few extra bucks every day to make ends meet. My husband, you have to think of a way. After spring, our brother Ming will go to a private school. "

The expenses are increasing day by day, but there is no money. Ways to make more money.

His wife didn't want to deduct her father-in-law's charcoal, but if she didn't use it sparingly, she would spend several ounces of money every autumn and winter.

Shopkeeper Qin's face was as dark as water and he said, "Brother Ming, let's wait until tomorrow to go to private school."

His wife's expression changed.

"Ms. Ming, brother Ming is already thirteen years old. We can't delay it any longer!"

Shopkeeper Qin covered his face: "Why don't I know? But now there are many places to spend money at home. Where can I get the money for brother Ming to study?" ?"

His wife's eyes were wet, and she choked slightly: "Ms., you can't delay Brother Ming's future for my father-in-law. The teacher in the private school has said that Brother Ming is a good student. If we delay, The hind legs, what will Brother Ming do..."

Shopkeeper Qin sighed deeply, how could he not know...

But he can't ignore human ethics and treat his father badly for the sake of Brother Ming's future.

That night, the couple slept with their backs facing each other.

Doesn't Shopkeeper Qin know that his wife also thinks about her son and has no quarrel with her over this matter?

When he got up the next day, he went to push his wife's shoulder. When he saw that his wife ignored him, he leaned forward to take a look.

As a result, his wife's eyes were red and swollen, and she looked like she hadn't slept all night.

Shopkeeper Qin felt in a dilemma, but seeing his wife crying silently, he still compromised.

"Madam, I'm going to find a doctor again. If the doctor can cure dad's leg, we won't have to argue so much about dad."

At this point, he continued with difficulty, "If the doctor can cure dad's leg, we won't have to argue about dad's affairs." No, I won't mention it from now on. Brother Ming should still study."

His wife moved her shoulders. Although they didn't look back, the two of them had been together for so many years, and Shopkeeper Qin knew that she had compromised. .

...

Early in the morning, Erqing came to Xu Yi and said that he was going hunting outside the city.

Xu Yi did not persuade him. Erqing was only thirteen years old, but he had three years of independent living experience.

However, Xu Yi still asked him to bring Xiao Huang with him.

"Xiao Huang is so panicked in the inn, why not follow you and run into the mountains." Xu Yi said.

Erqing's hand holding the wooden bow tightened, and he said embarrassedly: "But I didn't prepare food for Xiao Huang."

Xu Yi smiled and said: "I asked you to help look after Xiao Huang, how can I ask you to prepare it? I asked Ah Jin went to buy food, and asked her to bring it to you as a reward for bringing Xiao Huang to you."

She looked at him blankly and didn't move.

Xu Yi said again: "Xiao Huang is naughty and mischievous. You take it with you and take care of it."

Xiao Huang, who was lying next to him, heard this and cocked his ears and tilted his head.

Erqing nodded quickly: "Doctor Xu, don't worry, leave it to me, I will take good care of it."

Xu Yi didn't feel guilty at all for being sorry for Xiao Huang. Seeing Xiao Huang tilting his head to kill, he raised his hand to say hello, and Xiao Huang Pei Dian Dian came running.

He threw the dried meat in his hand, and Xiao Huang jumped up, holding the dried meat in his mouth and gnawing happily at his feet.

Not long after, Ah Jin came back with breakfast.

She bought sesame pancakes and haggis soup.

When she went out, she bought more at Xu Yi's instruction.

At this time, Xu Yi called Er Qing to sit down and eat. Ah Jin was not surprised at all and even put a few more pieces of sheep intestines into his bowl.

"This haggis soup shop is doing great business. I waited in line for a quarter of an hour to buy it." Ajin served Xu Yi the soup while telling her stories about what happened when she went out.

"Lang Jun, there are many medical clinics in Zitong County. I went to buy breakfast and met two of them."

However, the medical clinics here are different from those in Yanting.

Some medical clinics did not have doctors on duty. When she passed by a medical clinic, she stopped for a while. Then they saw that the shopkeeper in the medical center was just like what they saw in the medicinal materials market yesterday. He only sold medicines and did not treat diseases.

Zitong is not rich in medicinal materials, but because of its geographical advantages, it is connected to Zizhou Road in the south, various cities in Bazhou in the north, Yinpingjiangyou in the west, which can enter various tribes, and Langzhong and Pengzhou in the east.

Many of the medicinal materials abundant in various parts of Shu were shipped to Zitong. Over time, this place became a large-scale medicinal material transfer station [Note 2]. Naturally, more and more medicine merchants gathered here to do business.

The medical center that A Jin is talking about is more appropriately called "medicine hall".

This is why Xu Yi wants to stay in Zitong County temporarily.

After chatting with the two about local characteristics, Xu Yi planned to take them on a field trip.

So they changed their clothes and set off. This time they did not take the donkey cart, but planned to walk through the streets and alleys to experience Zitong's customs.

After coming out of the inn, they headed south first.

South Street is full of low-rise residential buildings, and most of the people living here wear thickened short brown pants.

This will be the time when people are on duty, and pedestrians in the streets are all in a hurry, not caring about others around them.

Xu Yi and the other three walked around and were stopped by a load-carrying man.

The salesman looked at Xu Yi and cast his gaze on the medicine box Xu Yi was carrying: "Are you a doctor?" Xu Yi

nodded: "Yes."

The salesman asked: "Are you buying a bruise ointment?"

Xu Yi said: " ?"

Seeing that he didn't respond, the salesman took out a package from the cargo pallet. When he opened it, he could see a pile of ointments inside, and he could smell a faint medicinal smell.

He said to Xu Yi: "Don't worry, my ointment is all real. It was a country doctor who forced me to sell it. If you want to buy it, I can sell it to you cheaper."

Xu Yi didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and took the opportunity to ask him: " Can anyone buy and sell medicinal materials here?" When

the salesman heard this question, he immediately responded: "You are not a local."

Xu Yi said that he was not and said, "I have just been here for a few days and I plan to open a clinic here. I want to see a doctor, but I can also make your ointment for bruises myself."

Seeing that he was leaving, the salesman quickly said, "My ointment is authentic and can be sold cheaper than what you make yourself. If you don't buy it, you will lose money. ."

Xu Yi froze when he heard what he said.

Seeing that there was something going on, the salesman struck a sale while the iron was hot: "You are a doctor. You can tell whether this thing is good or not at a glance. I will tell you the truth. This is a doctor I know. He is old and has inconvenience in his legs and feet, so he just I made some simple ointments at home and sold them to make ends meet. I saw that he was pitiful and I had some friendship with him, so I ran errands for him."

He vowed and handed the ointment to Xu Yi and saw the young man in front of him taking it. I hold a piece in my hand and examine it.

The seller was delighted and said, "This ointment only costs two cents per patch."

Xu Yi took the ointment and smelled the familiar smell of herbs.

If the doctor used this herbal medicine as the main ingredient to prepare the ointment for bruises, then it would make sense to sell it at this price.

As for this medicinal herb, Xu Yi had dug up a lot of it before.

He handed the ointment to the two people next to him and asked them: "If you smell it, do you know what medicine is used in this ointment?"

A Xu and A Jin did not hesitate, took the ointment in Xu Yi's hand and smelled it.

As they smelled it, their eyes gradually lit up.