The five of them no longer had to rush; they would definitely be able to transport everything back before dark.
Gu Qingli took a break and drank so water. She said, "First Sister-in-law, they’re helping us transport everything. Could you and Second Sister-in-law prepare a al at ho? We should have those who helped us eat before they leave."
Ms. Yang replied, "Alright. It’s indeed not right to let them help without offering anything in return."
The four won took a short break before starting to prepare the al.
Gu Qingli strapped a basket to her back and went up the mountain again, taking the opportunity to move all the dicinal herbs from the greenhouse into her Space.
Leaving the herbs in the Space overnight would allow them to be nourished by its spiritual energy.
Regardless of whether Doctor Shen processed them imdiately or not, these herbs wouldn’t spoil easily.
After collecting all the herbs, she also made several trips, and soon all the dicinal materials dug up that day were transported back.
Seeing so many dicinal materials, Shen Quan couldn’t stop grinning.
"Madam Gu, Doctor Shen said that the paynt for your dicinal herbs will be settled all at once. What do you think?"
"That’s fine. I trust Doctor Shen. Just co back at the sa ti tomorrow to collect more."
This implied they would help carry the herbs again.
Shen Quan didn’t mind; it was just lending a hand. For strong n like them, it was a small matter.
He chuckled and said, "Alright, alright. Then we’ll head back first. Doctor Shen is waiting."
Gu Qingli said, "You should all eat before you go. It’s about to get dark, you’ve all been a great help, and dinner is ready at ho."
"Oh?" Shen Quan looked at the four cart drivers. These were hired n, and it was reasonable for them to have a al after helping.
If they helped transport the dicinal herbs again tomorrow, no one could say they were sent away hungry after working hard.
He nodded.
So Gu Qingli quickly asked Xiao Han to bring hot water, while Ms. Yang and the others set out the food.
The five n washed their hands and, without any ceremony, sat down at the table.
When they saw the dishes on the table, they were astounded.
Such a lavish spread! Even during the New Year, their farming families couldn’t afford such fine food.
The rice wasn’t coarse brown rice but fine white rice.
There were three vegetable dishes, two at dishes, and an egg soup.
This family certainly knows how to treat people. Shen Quan thought, glancing at Gu Qingli and the others at a separate table.
After the al, the five n thanked their hosts profusely and then hurriedly departed with their carts.
"Safe travels, sirs!" Gu Qingli and her sisters-in-law saw them off from the courtyard.
The n all nodded back at them, mounted their ox-carts, and left.
In town, Doctor Shen sat in the dical Clinic, anxiously awaiting their return.
After craning his neck to look out countless tis, he finally saw several lanterns moving toward the clinic.
"This girl indeed hasn’t disappointed ." Doctor Shen sighed in relief and instructed the dicine Apprentices in the clinic to prepare for processing the herbs.
It was a long journey, and without proper initial processing, the dicinal herbs would rot by the ti they reached the border.
When the four ox-carts arrived, Doctor Shen had Shen Quan weigh the dicinal materials first. Those that were weighed were then moved to the backyard for imdiate processing, even if it ant working overti.
After weighing, the total ca to a full 3,600 jin, comparable to their entire harvest from the past several days.
Moreover, the dicinal herbs this girl cultivated were no ordinary varieties; they couldn’t be bought for a re eight wen per jin. No wonder she was reluctant to sell them to when she first ca.
After Doctor Shen quickly recorded the weight of each type of dicinal herb, he also joined in the processing work.
For the next few days, Doctor Shen continued to co to the Xiao Family’s ho at this ti to collect dicinal herbs, even taking away those gathered by the other villagers.
「Five days later」
Only about ten mu of immature dicinal herbs remained on the back mountain, so they stopped harvesting.
That night, Gu Qingli received a ssage by carrier pigeon from Xiao Yunjing.
She imdiately replied, expressing her longing for him and updating him on the situation at ho.
「The next day」
Although they had planned to take a day off, Gu Chang’an’s four daughters-in-law ca over, asking to go up the mountain with them to gather dicinal herbs.
Ms. Niu, who lived next door to Chen Erlang, also ca along.
She also shared so news about Gu Qingi’s recent situation.
It turned out that after Gu Qingi borrowed the money, she rushed Chen Erlang to the dical Clinic in town without taking a mont’s rest.
Ms. Liu had wanted Gu Qingi to hand over the silver, but Gu Chang’an, who had been present and observing the entire ti, sternly reprimanded her.
He threatened that if they continued to tornt his daughter-in-law, he would expel their entire family from Qinghe Village.
In the following days, perhaps Gu Chang’an’s words had taken effect, as there were no further disturbances.
The family wasn’t divided either.
After Chen Erlang recovered from his illness at the town’s dical Clinic, he had changed significantly and began treating Gu Qingi much better.
Gu Qingli rely smiled upon hearing this.
If Gu Qingi can be treated well by Chen Erlang after this ordeal, it could be considered a blessing in disguise for her.
Ms. Yang and Ms. Wang didn’t go up the mountain; they went to town to purchase winter supplies instead.
Mrs. Li and Mrs. Zhang also needed new clothes, so they went along with them.
Gu Qingli went up the mountain with the others.
The group ascended the mountain, heading deeper into its forests. They only stopped when they spotted dicinal herbs.
"Xiaoli, how many dicinal herbs are left in your fields?" Ms. Qiao asked.
"About ten mu or so, Aunt Qiao. What about your family’s?"
"We’ve dug them all up. Your Second Granduncle said it’s not worth the effort to tend to such a small remaining amount."
"Huh?" Gu Qingli was surprised.
"What’s wrong, Xiaoli? Is there a problem?" Ms. Qiao asked nervously, noticing Gu Qingli’s surprised expression.
"It’s not a major problem," Gu Qingli shook her head. She recalled telling Gu Chang’an that harvesting dicinal herbs before they matured would greatly diminish their efficacy; they should only be collected once ripe.
"It’s a relief there’s no problem. I was so scared there for a mont, thinking sothing was wrong," Ms. Qiao said, patting her chest.
She had so basic knowledge that dicinal herbs shouldn’t be used carelessly, but she didn’t know much beyond that.
Gu Qingli smiled. I’ll talk to Gu Chang’an about it another day. This ti, Doctor Shen needed them urgently, and the unripe ones were only a small portion, mostly common dicinal herbs. But it can’t be like this in the future. To layn, these details might not seem important, but they don’t realize that every prescription has a specific dosage, and the amount of dicine cannot be altered casually. If the dicinal effect is insufficient, it could be life-threatening in severe cases. Especially on the battlefield, most wounded soldiers are already fighting for their lives against King Yama. If the dosage is inadequate, a life could be lost. The most common critical situations involve those with persistent high fevers, unstoppable bleeding, or severe inflammation... In short, no matter the circumstances, problems with dicinal materials are always a grave matter.
After digging in the mountains for another two or three days, there were truly no more dicinal herbs to be found. Everyone stopped going up the mountain and began preparing their winter supplies instead.
This year, the people in the village weren’t worried about how they would get through the winter.
Everyone joyfully went to town to purchase supplies, and the atmosphere was even more festive than during the New Year celebrations.
During this ti, Gu Qingli spent her days going up the mountain to chop firewood in preparation for winter. Last year, with Xiao Yunjing and the other n around, the won hadn’t needed to go up the mountain themselves and didn’t have to worry about firewood.
This year was different; she had to do it herself.
She wouldn’t ask Ms. Yang or Ms. Wang for help with chopping firewood. While they were capable of digging dicinal herbs, it was better to ask Mrs. Li and Mrs. Zhang for such strenuous work.
She had initially thought about asking the people from the base for help but decided against it after so consideration. They all had their own tasks, and besides preparing dicine, she didn’t have much else to do.
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