Jing Li didn't know when he fainted. When he woke up, he was back in the familiar little wooden barrel.
It was already dark outside.
There was a dim little oil lamp lit on the desk, and Qin Zhao sat in the faint light, reading.
The oil lamps used in the village were made of cooking oil, which was not cheap. It cost at least five cents to burn them all night. Five cents could buy two vegetarian buns in town.
Therefore, most villagers in Linxi Village do not actually use lights at night.
But Qin Zhao is different.
Even in his current situation, there are a few things he never skimps on.
The first is medicine, the second is food, and the third is oil lamp.
The first two were because he was in poor health and had to pay more attention to them, while the latter was because he read every day.
Qin Zhao's family never lacked books because he helped the town's academy to revise and copy books.
During the past three years, unless he was too sick to get up, he would read for two hours every night at his desk.
Hearing the sound of Jing Li swimming in the water, Qin Zhao looked up at him and asked, "Awake?"
"Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?"
The little koi shook its head, and the whole fish looked listless.
When he came back, Qin Zhao had already checked him and found that the little koi was not injured. Apart from rolling in the mud and turning itself into a small mud fish, there were no other scars on its body.
As for why he was unconscious, most likely... he was frightened to death.
It must be hard for a cat to carry a fish all the way.
Thinking of this, Qin Zhao put his hand into the water.
Sure enough, the little koi swam quickly to the palm of his hand, and the fish tail swept gently across Qin Zhao's palm, which was icy and a little itchy, making people's hearts soften.
Qin Zhao whispered, "Are you scared? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left you at home."
Jing Li was indeed frightened.
He buried his head between Qin Zhao's fingers, and gently opened the fins on both sides to hug Qin Zhao's fingers. Only then did he feel a little relieved.
Woohoo, don't ever let him see that cat again!
The aggrieved look of his own little fish really made people feel distressed, but it was also too cute. Qin Zhao endured it again and again and did not take the opportunity to touch the soft tail fin.
Who can stand a fish that is so spoiled
Qin Zhao coughed lightly and said, "Don't be afraid. That cat is not raised by the villagers. I don't know how it got here today. I don't know where it ran off to now. I won't let it get close to you again."
Jing Li didn't even raise his head, but just shook his tail in response.
Qin Zhao sighed silently.
This is really scary.
Qin Zhao thought for a moment and asked again: "Then do you want to listen to me read for a while?"
Jing Li: “…”
Will this person comfort the fish? !
Jing Li later thought that it might be because when Qin Zhao was reading every day, he would always lie down beside the wooden barrel and watch him, which led this person to think that he was interested in the contents of the book.
How could he be interested in that kind of ancient book? It’s full of flowery language and he can’t understand a word of it!
Qin Zhao seemed pleased with the idea, and he used his free hand to turn the pages of the book.
His voice was a little hoarse, and his tone was neither fast nor slow. When he read, his voice was not as boring as that of a private school teacher. Instead, it sounded like he was telling a story in a leisurely manner.
As he was reading, Jing Li slowly raised his head.
It is said that beauty is best seen under the light. Now most of Qin Zhao's face was reflected in the light, his long hair was scattered behind him, and his facial features were more profound. His sharp eyes were lowered, filled with gentle light and shadow, making it almost impossible to look away.
It is now late at night, and only the chirping of insects and birds can be heard outside the window, intertwined with the low sounds of reading inside the house.
Jing Li's mood miraculously calmed down.
The next day, Qin Zhao got up early, seemingly preparing to go out.
Jing Li lay in the wooden barrel and watched him secretly.
What happened yesterday actually left him with a great psychological trauma, causing him to feel afraid when he is alone now, for fear that the cat didn't eat him yesterday and would follow the smell to find him again.
But Qin Zhao still had to go out to make money, and he couldn't ask the other party to stay at home with him.
Jing Li felt a little aggrieved.
After Qin Zhao packed up his things, he turned around and saw a small koi with only a pair of eyes showing on the edge of the wooden barrel.
This poor little thing.
He thought about it, took out the backpack he used yesterday, took out everything inside, and placed it next to the small wooden barrel.
Jing Li: “?”
"I don't know if the wild cat will come again today. I'm worried about leaving you at home." Qin Zhao patted the backpack and said, "I'm just going to Doctor Ge's house in the neighboring village. Will you come with me?"
Is it really possible
Jing Li's eyes lit up and he wagged his tail happily.
Qin Zhao scooped some water out of the wooden barrel to make sure it wouldn't spill out while he was carrying it on his back. Jing Li also cooperated by using his tail to splash water out, for fear that the barrel would be too heavy and make Qin Zhao tired.
After completing the preparations, Qin Zhao went out with the little koi on his back.
He walked steadily, and Jing Li huddled obediently at the bottom of the barrel, not moving or swimming, trying not to add any weight to Qin Zhao.
Doctor Ge's home is in Huaixia Village, which is not far from Linxi Village, but it takes a long time to walk there. Therefore, Qin Zhao only goes there once every two or three days during this period, so as to avoid wasting energy and time going back and forth.
etc…
So, didn’t he just go there yesterday
Jing Li poked his head out of the wooden barrel and looked at the backpack. Strangely, there was nothing else in it except his small wooden barrel.
There is no new medicine. What is he doing going to Dr. Ge today
Jing Li was a little puzzled.
It was still dark at this time and there were not many villagers on the road. Only a few of them were carrying baskets and shoulder poles to go to the town to attend the morning market.
Qin Zhao left the village and walked downstream along the path beside the stream. After walking for about an incense stick of time, he saw a sign for Huaixia Village.
The village was located downstream of the stream and got its name because of the thousand-year-old locust tree planted at the entrance of the village. The home of Dr. Ge, whom Qin Zhao was looking for, was not far from the entrance of the village.
It was still early, but Dr. Ge's house had already opened its doors, and a lot of herbs were drying in the yard.
The medicine boy Awen who I had seen before was sorting herbs in the yard.
Qin Zhao knocked on the door. Awen looked up. Qin Zhao said, "Is Doctor Ge awake? I'm here to sell you medicine."
Awen led Qin Zhao into the main room. Qin Zhao put the backpack on the table but did not sit down.
Ah Wen asked, "My master hasn't gotten up yet. I wonder what medicine Mr. Qin is going to sell today?"
Qin Zhao did not answer, but took out something wrapped in a piece of plain cloth from his bosom. He spread the cloth on the table and carefully opened it, revealing a herb wrapped inside.
The herb had extremely long, intertwined rhizomes, and dark purple oval leaves with dark textures, which made it look particularly special.
Jing Li looked out curiously from the gap in the backpack.
Has this herb been available before
When was Qin Zhao found
Jing Li knew nothing about herbs, but the boy named Awen's expression changed: "This... This is..."
Qin Zhao said: "Wushan ginseng."
Wushan ginseng is an extremely rare herb, and its roots and leaves can be used as medicine. Only the rich and powerful families in the city can afford this medicine, and the best ones are even used as tribute to the royal family.
Awen never knew that black mountain ginseng could be found in the mountain village where they lived!
Ah Wen was still young and didn't dare to make a decision. He bowed to Qin Zhao and said, "Mr. Qin, wait a moment. I'll go find my master."
Qin Zhao: "Thank you."
He turned and entered the inner hall, and soon a middle-aged man ran out.
The old man had not yet taken care of his hair and beard, and he was only casually wearing a robe, with the laces unfastened, exposing his chest. It seemed that he came out in such a hurry that he even forgot to wear one shoe.
This person is naturally Doctor Ge.
"Where is the Wushan ginseng? Let me see it quickly!" Doctor Ge came to Qin Zhao in a hurry.
Qin Zhao took a half step back and let him come closer.
Doctor Ge didn't dare to touch it. He wrapped it with a piece of silk cloth and carefully fiddled with the herbs lying on the table.
"The leaves are oval, with golden silk veins, dark purple on the surface and light red on the back. Yes, it is the black mountain ginseng!" Doctor Ge couldn't hide his excitement and asked, "Mr. Qin, where did you find this?"
Qin Zhao's eyes moved slightly, but he did not answer.
Doctor Ge also noticed that his question was inappropriate. He calmed down for a moment and ordered, "Serve Mr. Qin some tea."
Black mountain ginseng will not grow alone. If Qin Zhao can find one, he can find more.
He came here to sell medicine, so how could he easily tell others where the herbs grew
Doctor Ge wanted to clarify the matter, so he said frankly, "Mr. Qin's medicine may not be priceless, but it is definitely not an ordinary product. But... I, a country doctor, am afraid I dare not accept it."
In the past, those who came to him for medical treatment were all villagers from nearby, who could not use such good medicine.
Of course, he could have bought the medicine at a low price and resold it, but Doctor Ge had known Qin Zhao for many years and naturally knew that this little trick could not fool him.
Sure enough, Qin Zhao said, "I heard that Doctor Ge has connections with the town's clinic. Could you think of a solution for me?"
"Mr. Qin, do you mean to let me sell medicine for you?"
Qin Zhao: “Exactly.”
He paused, and then said, "After the matter is completed, I can give Doctor Ge 30% of the profit."
In fact, if the medicine could be sent directly to the clinic in the town or a nearby big city, Qin Zhao would benefit more. Unfortunately, his health was poor and he could not withstand such a long journey.
The best option for him is to let Dr. Ge find sellers and he will be responsible for picking and processing the herbs.
However, Doctor Ge still had some concerns: "That's fine, but can Mr. Qin guarantee the quality of the medicine he will produce in the future and how much he will have?"
"The quality will not change. At least twenty plants will be produced."
Qin Zhao pushed the herb on the table in front of Doctor Ge: "Doctor Ge can take this herb as a witness."
Black ginseng is not an ordinary herb, so it is much more convenient to negotiate with the real thing rather than going there empty-handed.
Qin Zhao did this with full sincerity.
Doctor Ge immediately admired him very much. He thought for a moment, turned his head and gave an order to the medicine boy. The medicine boy quickly went to the inner room to take out a purse and handed it to Qin Zhao.
"Here is eight hundred coins, which will be my deposit to Mr. Qin." Doctor Ge said, "I will leave for the town in a moment. If we can negotiate a good price, I will come back and let Mr. Qin know immediately."
Qin Zhao did not refuse and bowed to him: "Thank you."
After leaving Huaixia Village, Qin Zhao took Jing Li to the stream again.
The little koi had a scare yesterday and needed to go to the stream to relax.
However, Jing Li had long forgotten what happened yesterday. His mind was full of the fact that Qin Zhao was finally going to be rich.
The deposit for just one herb was eight hundred coins. I wonder how much money I can make if I sell all those herbs.
Qin Zhao is so awesome!
But he didn't know that Qin Zhao was thinking the exact opposite of what he was thinking.
The location of the herb was not found by Qin Zhao, but was where Jing Li happened to hide after being chased by the orange cat yesterday.
When Qin Zhao rescued him, he discovered that there was a large patch of black ginseng growing where he was lying.
Is it a coincidence
Qin Zhao looked at the little koi and thought inadvertently in his heart.
He once read in a book that wealthy people like to raise a kind of carp called koi, which can bring good luck to people.
Could it be that this little guy can really bring good luck to people