Chapter 139

　　Chapter 58: The Green-Eyed Monster Everywhere

　　“Don’t tell me…Are you not curious about the ‘Instant Heart-reliever Pills’ that can snatch people back from King Yama?” Zhao Minglin’s face wore a smile loaded with an ambiguous meaning.

　　”Yup!” Apart from Miss Gu, only the Ding Manor has that Heart-reliever Pill. In the end, whether the little girl was a disciple of the Sage Apothecary could be found out once they went to the Ding Manor. The short fatty showed understanding.

　　Zhao Minglin shook his head and said, “You’ve got it wrong! Whether that little girl is the Sage Apothecary’s disciple is not so important anymore. I have a hunch that within five years, her achievements in pharmaceuticals will definitely be no less than that of Baili Pharmacists. If we can win her, Baicao Pharmacy will become the leader of the medicine world again!”

　　Gu Ye, who had completed today’s shopping task, suddenly felt a chill down her spine on the way back to Jimin Pharmacy with her brother. She frowned. With her amazing intuition in her previous life, someone must be plotting against her.

　　”Brother, if someone surnamed Zhao talks to you in the future, don’t reveal any news about our family.” Gu Ye couldn’t help but warn her elder brother.

　　Gu Ming asked suspiciously, “You mean, those people you met at the jewelry store today? The mother and daughter didn’t seem to get along well, and the chubby man also looked sly. However, that Young Master Zhao seems to be friendly and courteous. “

　　Gu Ye stretched out her index finger and shook it in front of him, saying, “On the contrary. As the saying goes, a dog that bites doesn’t bark. That Young Master Zhao is definitely not a simple character. With such an honest and simple temperament as us, we might even help count the money after he sold us! Therefore, we should keep away from such people.”

　　Gu Ming nodded, agreeing: “You’re right. I heard that Baicao Pharmacy is an even more renowned pharmacy than Jimin Pharmacy. As the eldest young master of their family, how could he be a simple character? The reason why they acted so politely toward us is because of the medicine you made, Sister. “

　　While chatting, they arrived at the backyard of the Jimin Pharmacy. Yan Qiutong, who took a couple of medicines and rested on the bed, was no longer coughing horribly. Furthermore, the high fever that had tormented her for two days also subsided a lot. The old doctor who was sitting in the hall of the Jimin Pharmacy was amazed at her recovery ability after diagnosing her pulse again.

　　Gu Ye checked her temperature with her hands. She still had a low fever, so she added another dose to the medicine she drank that night.

　　In the evening, considering Aunt Yan’s current physical condition and the hospitality of the shopkeeper, the Gu siblings took a rest in the guest room in the backyard of the pharmacy.

　　Early the next morning, Aunt Yan’s fever completely subsided, her spirit was much better, and she ate two bowls of porridge for breakfast. Gu Ye was afraid that Aunt Yan’s weak body would not be able to stand the long journey of a whole day, so she wanted to leave her in the Jimin Pharmacy to recuperate. The shopkeeper would also take care of her. However, Aunt Yan insisted on hitting the road with her, saying that she was feeling much better.

　　Seeing her firm stance, coupled with her confidence in her medicine, Gu Ye agreed. After hanging four baskets full of New Year’s goods on the back of the mule, and supporting Aunt Yan on the sturdy mule, the siblings stepped on the way home in the morning light.

　　Ninth Aunt’s family had been waiting at the entrance of the town for a long time. Seeing that the bamboo basket full of grain on Ninth Uncle’s back was quite heavy, Gu Ming took off some light-weight New Year’s goods from the mule’s back, freeing up the space to carry the heavy New Year’s goods from his uncle’s house.

　　Two mules, each capable of carrying more than 200 pounds. One was carrying the thin Aunt Yan and the rice and noodles that Gu Ye bought, and the other was carrying the rest of the New Year’s goods on top of it. It was more than enough to carry Ninth Uncle’s New Year’s goods on it. Gu Ming was reluctant to let his sister get tired, and urged her to ride up too.

　　With two loaded mules, the party traveled lightly, and their speed was naturally much faster. Although they departed a little late, they quickly caught up with the large troops in the village on the mountain road.

　　Seeing the fat mule that Gu Ming was leading, someone said sourly, “Gu Ming, has your family made a fortune? Not only did you purchase so many goods for the New Year, but you also bought two mules. One mule alone costs at least a dozen or two taels, right?”

　　Gu Ming noticed that there seemed to be something more in the eyes of the villagers and promptly replied, “These two mules were lent to us by the shopkeeper of Jimin Pharmacy.”

　　”Jimin Pharmacy? How could they lend you mules?” The one who spoke was Li Zhuzi’s wife. Li Zhuzi had a close relationship with the village chief, so his wife always felt that she was superior to others in the village. She could not stand seeing others faring better than her.

　　At the end of the day, Gu Ming was a child under twelve. He couldn’t hide the pride in his eyes when he looked at Gu Ye and said, “The shopkeeper of Jimin Pharmacy thinks that the medicine my Sister concocted is high quality, so he let us supply them with it every month. We bought a lot of New Year’s goods, and the uncle, the shopkeeper of the pharmacy, being a good man, lent us the mules. We’ll return them next time we go to town.”

　　Li Zhuzi’s wife glanced at the goods on the mule, and smacked her lips. “Xiao Ye’er is really capable! Your medicine must have sold for a fortune, right? Look at the bulks of rice noodles you bought.”

　　Ninth Aunt deliberately sighed and said, “These New Year’s goods are not only the two children’s, but also ours as well. Come to think of it. These two kids really don’t know how to live life. All the money they earned from selling medicines was spent on New Year goods. They don’t know how to save it. “

　　The expression of Li Zhuzi’s wife improved a little after hearing this. She curled her lips and said, “You can say that Gu Ye’er has the ability. These New Year goods are worth two or three taels, right? Anyway, you still have to deliver goods to Jimin Pharmacy next month, so you can’t be short of money, are you?”

　　Liu San’er, who Gu Qiao has a good relationship with, purposely amplified his voice and said, “Aiya! Don’t let these two kids fool you!”

　　”How can they fool us? They sell medicine and Jimin Pharmacy pays silver. You just can’t stand people doing better than you!” Another villager shook his head and laughed.

　　Liu San’er looked at the siblings and said, “Have you two signed a contract with the pharmacy?”

　　Seeing the siblings nod their heads, he said naturedly, “In our mountains, the mountains will be covered with snow at some point after the winter. If you can’t get out of the mountain on the day of delivery next month, then you would have breached the contract. By then, you will have to pay double the money.”

　　When Ninth Uncle heard this, he looked at Gu Ye worriedly and asked, “Quick, take out the contract and let the Seventh Brother have a look if there is any content about compensation for breach of contract.”

　　Gu Ye looked at the gloating Liu Shi, smiled and said to Gu Mo, “Ninth Uncle, don’t worry. They have branches in many prefectures and counties, and they are wealthy businessmen. So, our compensation is almost like a mosquito’s leg in their eyes. How could we be worthy of their deceit?”

　　”That’s exactly what I was thinking! Jimin Pharmacy has always maintained a good reputation. They deal with all their customers with honesty, so they can’t possibly lie, right?” Gu Mo was still a little unsteady in his heart, but he couldn’t do anything much about it. He was hoping that Gu Xiao would hurry back. When his Fifth Uncle was away, he felt as if he was shouldering a great responsibility!

　　”Ride a big horse! Elder sister, I want to ride the big horse too!” Xiao Zhuang rubbed his sleepy eyes and saw Gu Ye riding on a mule. His eyes immediately shone with envy. In the past few days, Liu Shi was so exhausted that she could hardly speak a word, and she never brainwashed the little guy. In addition, Gu Ye gave him a delicious pancake, so his attitude towards Gu Ye was much better. He no longer called her ‘worthless’ as he did in the past.

　　Gu Qiao and Liu Shi[1] each carried a heavy basket of New Year’s goods on their backs, and Gu Qiao had to carry the chubby Xiao Zhuang. After walking for a long time, he began to pant. He cast his expectant eyes on Gu Ye on the mule’s back.

　　Although Gu Ming was very disappointed with his father, Xiao Zhuang was his younger brother after all. What did a child know? All the things he did in the past were encouraged by Liu Shi.

　　Gu Ming was slightly moved when he received his sister’s understanding gaze. He turned to Xiao Zhuang and said, “Ride the big horse with your elder sister, but you must listen to her instructions. Don’t move around, and don’t scold her casually. If you can do that, not only will you be allowed to ride the horse, but you will also be rewarded with a piece of sweet cake!”

　　”Okay, okay! I will be obedient. I will not curse, not move… I’m hungry, can I eat cake now?” Xiao Zhuang hadn’t woken up before he was carried away, and his belly was grumbling at this time.

　　Gu Ye took Xiao Zhuang, let him sit in his arms, took out a meat bun from the bag, and said, “The bun is still hot. Eat the bun to pad your stomach for now. I’m telling you, only good kids can eat sweet cakes!”

　　Xiao Zhuang, who was about to grin and make a fuss about eating sweet cakes, listened to it, pouted, and he took the bun reluctantly. When he ate the thin-skinned and stuffed meat buns, his unhappy emotions were all dumped behind him. He ate two of the adult fist-sized meat buns in no time.

　　After eating, Xiao Zhuang sat on the back of the mule and looked around excitedly at first. After the novelty passed, he started to yawn and leaned into Gu Ye’s arms and fell asleep.

　　In the evening, they still rested in the large yard midway through. Because the two families bought a lot of New Year goods, Gu Mo was worried, so he gritted his teeth and spent two coins for himself, and went into the compound to rest for the night. With a couple of adults keeping an eye on things, some people with ulterior motives would not dare to covet the ​​two children’s New Year goods.

　　The return journey lasted two full days on the mountain road. Gu Ye and the others had mules to carry the goods, while most of the villagers were carrying heavy New Year’s items. Gradually, their footsteps got heavier and heavier. By the time they reached the village, it was almost midnight.

　　On the way home, many people helped the brother and sister share the weight of the medicinal materials. On the way back, Gu Ming also took turns helping the folks who had helped them carry their purchases. In the last dozen or so miles of mountain road, Gu Ye got off the back of the mule, let go of the mule and horse, and helped the villagers who couldn’t carry the goods on their backs. Even Li Zhuzi’s wife benefited, so she could no longer say a word of envy to the siblings.

　　Back at home, Gu Ye first settled Aunt Yan in her room. After two days in a row of rushing on the road, weak as she was, she would have collapsed long ago if Gu Ye’s medicine hadn’t nourished her. Totally exhausted, she fell asleep as soon as she touched the bed.

　　Sage Apothecary heard the movement, put on his clothes and walked out of the house. When he saw Gu Ming carrying things down from the mule’s back, he also went forward to help. Seeing his disciple nowhere, he asked with concern, “Where’s Xiao Ye? Don’t tell me you threw her around town, did you?”

　　”Master! It’s only been five days. Have you missed me?” Gu Ye hurriedly stopped her master and stuffed the snacks bought for him into his arms. Sage Apothecary was already 70 years old, and she was reluctant to let her master do heavy labor.