Beside her, Grandma Xiaoman smiled happily: "We're getting a granddaughter-in-law again, and the family is getting a new member. It's a joyous occasion."
Grandpa and Grandma were satisfied, and so were Chunfeng and Xu Dazhu.
Chunfeng said, "Auntie, let's discuss with the Tian family when our family can propose marriage?"
Although it was inconvenient for her to go down the mountain, she still had to take on the responsibility of being the eldest sister-in-law and arrange this matter.
Xu Dazhu also said, "This matter must be handled properly. Let's set a time, and then my master and I will go down the mountain to buy the necessary supplies!"
He could barely move with the help of a small stool, but he still decided to go down the mountain to the woman's house.
Since the other party took the initiative to propose marriage, the groom's side should make it even more grand.
Seeing that this family was making a big fuss about proposing marriage, Jiang Zhi hurriedly stopped them: "Don't rush to propose marriage now. The Tian family's daughter is only thirteen years old. She is still young. Her parents just want to ask if it is okay to talk about the marriage first."
Furthermore, Xiaoman had repeatedly stated that she didn't want to get married, and he hadn't been informed of this.
"What? The Tian family's daughter is only thirteen years old?" Master Xiaoman frowned immediately.
He had long wanted to arrange a marriage for Xiaoman, but Xiaoman kept pushing him away and even dragged Li Laoshi into it as a shield.
Xiaoman is now walking around the village every day. Since the woman has taken the initiative to propose, it must mean that both children are interested. So let's settle things quickly.
It turns out that not only Xiaoman was unaware of her marriage, but Tian Tao'er was still a little girl.
Chunfeng and Xu Dazhu hurriedly asked what had happened.
Jiang Zhi then explained Tian Tao's apprenticeship and the Tian family's concerns: "Tian Gui and his wife think highly of Xiao Man. They also know that Xiao Man said she wants to establish a family business before getting married. They think that waiting two or three years is just right for Tian Tao. So they want to ask you if you are willing to let Xiao Man wait three years to get married?"
Grandpa Xiaoman was also helpless.
His grandson had already made it clear that he didn't want to get married, and the Tian family was a good family he knew well.
The Tian family's daughter is still young, and learning pharmaceutical manufacturing is an important matter right now, so this matter really has to wait: "Then let's wait a year and talk about it again! Let the two children talk more, and when they really get married and become a family, they won't have any conflicts if they're together every day!"
He had a harmonious relationship with his wife his whole life, and his eldest grandson had a good relationship with Chunfeng, so naturally he hoped that Xiaoman could find someone compatible.
Jiang Zhi felt that waiting a year was just right, not too long or too short, so she could get to know his temperament and personality better and communicate with him in advance, which was better than an arranged marriage.
Xiaoman's grandfather also supports the idea that neither side should mention it in front of the child for the time being.
The Tian family was worried that Tao'er would be distracted while learning the craft, and they were also concerned about what the villagers would say, so they decided to wait a while before making a decision.
Xiaoman put it even more bluntly: "Since we're not getting married now, we can't say it out loud too soon."
Look at Peiqi, she does nothing all day but wander around the pigsty.
If Xiaoman were to follow Peiqi's foolish example and spend all her time chasing after the Tian family women, she would be wasting her time.
Jiang Zhi was speechless!
Grandpa, that's your own grandson! How can you compare him to a wild boar!
However, they are quite similar, both being passionate young people in their prime!
Looking at Xiaoman walking over, Jiang Zhi couldn't help but smile, thinking of the wild boar that Chunfeng chased around the pigsty with bamboo shells every day.
"What are you laughing at, Auntie?" Xiaoman was confused by the laughter and quickly checked herself to see if she had any grass or tree leaves on her.
Jiang Zhi said, "It's nothing. I was just thinking that once the medicine is made, we can sell it for money!"
Considering that both sets of parents said not to mention it in front of the child for the time being, she swallowed her words and changed the subject to when she would go to Huo Family Pharmacy in the county town to deliver the medicine.
These medicines need to be sold through the Huo family pharmacy.
Xiaoman said with great enthusiasm, "Tell Brother Xiang that when Magistrate Zhang heard that the pharmacy was completed, he asked when the medicine pills could be made! Once our powder is delivered to the Huo family, they will definitely come to urge us to hurry up."
"Hmph, all he knows is how to get something for nothing!" Jiang Zhi muttered. Magistrate Zhang had previously said he wanted to sell pills in the name of the county government. What a clever scheme.
First, he "sold" himself a piece of unclaimed land, and now he wants to use the reputation of the county government to invest in selling medicine.
Jiang Zhi scoffed: I haven't even recouped my investment yet, and this old fox has already set his sights on me.
Let them keep an eye on it, at least we can stall for time!
Qingquan Bay has prepared two staff dormitories, which are used for everyone to take turns guarding the pharmacy.
Once the last batch of medicinal herbs in the mill has been crushed, the water valve is turned off to store water.
Once the embers were filled into the stove, the first day's work was considered complete.
The next morning, before dawn, and before the pharmacy had even opened its gates, Tian Tao arrived, her head and body covered in dew.
Jiang Zhi said, "Why did you come so early? You could have waited for everyone to start work together!"
It was just dawn, only five or six in the morning. Even those who were going to work in the fields had only just gotten up. There was no need for Tian Tao to be up so early.
Tian Tao rolled up her sleeves and opened the small stove door: "Master, I usually get up at this time too. Besides, the road isn't far. If I come early, I can cook for you and Xiaoman and sweep the floor earlier, so that Sister-in-law Li won't be too busy when she gets here."
According to worldly custom, this is how apprentices are: they arrive early and leave late, not only learning the craft and doing the work, but also washing clothes, cooking, and cleaning for their master.
Jiang Zhi raised an eyebrow: "Ah! Okay then! But please come later next time. It's three miles from the village, with both the main road and the woods. It would be scary if we encountered snakes or something on the way!"
Although the road is not far, Tian Tao is still a young girl, and it is not safe for her to walk alone on the road.
As Tian Tao ladled hot water that had been warming overnight from the pot, she said, "Don't worry, my dad will escort me part of the way! I'll only be able to go back once I reach the top of that mountain and see the entrance to the medicine shop!"
Jiang Zhi thought to herself, "Tian Gui really dotes on his daughter!"
As the two were talking, Xiaoman came over from her morning exercise on the hillside behind the house. She was surprised to see Tian Tao cooking and exclaimed, "Oh my, Auntie, what brings her here?"
Xiaoman spent a lot of time with Tiangui while working and selling goods in the village.
He had eaten at the Tian family's house a few times, so he was naturally familiar with Tian Tao, but he didn't usually talk much with this little girl.
Tian Tao knew that Xiao Man had become her apprentice and was very happy about it, since she knew Tao'er and knew that she could cook.
I didn't expect to arrive so early today.
Tian Tao was surprised to see Xiao Man, who was only wearing a coarse cloth shirt and whose hair was still wet, so early in the morning: "Brother Xiao Man, did you fall into the water?"
Xiaoman touched her hair, which was still dripping with sweat, and said with a slightly embarrassed smile, "I ran a few laps on the mountain, and that's why I got this sweat."
Jiang Zhi looked at Tian Tao, then at Xiao Man, and casually said, "Xiao Man, since you're going to run anyway, just go to the village to pick up Tao'er every morning, so you don't have to ask your Uncle Tian to bring her over."
Xiaoman said nonchalantly, "Sure! I'm going to run anyway."
Tian Tao also liked this older brother who her parents always praised. She smiled and brought out a basin of hot water: "Brother Xiaoman, wash your face!"
Qiaoyun and Errui came again today. Li Laoshi walked behind them with a long face, leading an old mule that carried two baskets, one of which contained a child.
The mill started turning again, and Li Ersaozi and Xu Genqing arrived as the sun rose.
Today we continue to boil the medicinal liquid, and the granules dried yesterday are going into the final process.
Each portion is weighed using a small steelyard, then placed into a sealed bamboo tube for sale.
The bamboo tubes were started last year and were gradually prepared; these were all small tasks.
Find villagers to cut bamboo of suitable size, cut it into sections, polish them smooth, and then store them in the warehouse to dry in the shade.
These were all things that Li Laoshi had people chatting under the drying shed do every night during his evening classes.
Anyway, the work with my hands doesn't affect my speaking, and my ears are attentive, so I can use them right now.
Aside from keeping watch over the hourglass to tell the time, Tian Tao'er learned to use a small scale and spoon to weigh out the fixed dosage for each tube. The next person would then seal the tube with wax paper and leave the name of the medicine.
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