"Good, good, very good."
At Hundred Herbs Hall in Changzhou, Mr. Zhao praised the newly prepared dicinal materials before him: "Our Chinese dicine emphasizes family tradition. Look, there are no weak soldiers under a strong general. The dicinal materials prepared by Doctor Xiao’s direct granddaughter are the best I’ve seen in my life."
"Grandfather, isn’t your grandson amazing?"
Zhao Minghua quickly leaned in, clearly seeking praise.
Zhao Mingqing simply couldn’t look: This third brother of his has always been soone who seizes any opportunity to climb up.
"The dicinal materials were prepared by Miss Xiao, what greatness did you contribute?" The old man chuckled in exasperation: "If you’re so great, why don’t you prepare so yourself? Let ask you, what are the thods of preparing dicinal materials?"
"Grandfather, please don’t test ."
Was the old man planning to kill the conversation abruptly!
He recognized these dicinal materials only because of the preparation requirents and rembered them when they were sent from Hundred Herbs Hall to the Xiao family. Normally, he could never rember the dicinal materials.
The old man wanting to test him, wasn’t this setting himself up for frustration?
"You’re seventeen years old now, reaching the age of manhood, establishing a family and career. Look at you, what will you have by then?"
"Grandfather, there’s still three years until I’m twenty. The saying goes, ’after three days, one should look at another with fresh eyes.’ Just imagine after three years. Wait and see, three years later, I will surely make a grand success and rise above others..."
Zhao Minghua, the jack of no trades, master of boasting, was undoubtedly number one in self-praise.
Yes, indeed, he was that confident, believing he could accomplish anything!
"You." The old man thought for a mont: "I wanted you to study dicine, but you said you couldn’t rember so much. Why not seek apprenticeship with Miss Xiao to learn preparation skills? Then, your elder brother can focus on diagnosis and treatnt, while you handle the preparation of dicinal materials..."
"Grandfather, you must be joking. How could I beco an apprentice to a girl?"
"Child, haven’t you always been quite intelligent? Why then do you think a girl can’t be your teacher?" Mr. Zhao said: "Rember, among three people, there is always sothing to learn. Moreover, Miss Xiao’s skills in preparing dicinal materials surpass mine by several folds."
"Ah? No way?"
His own grandfather hadn’t treated patients for years, deeply engrossed in the research and preparation of dicinal materials, focusing only on precious ones.
In Zhao Minghua’s eyes, the old man was always very skilled.
He never expected his prowess to be overshadowed by a girl.
"It’s true. While I am confident, I am not arrogant. What is good is good, and what is bad is bad. The dicinal materials prepared by Miss Xiao are top-notch in terms of color, purity, and efficacy."
Zhao Minghua’s eyes widened.
"Then I must be quite a talent."
What did he an by this?
The old man and Zhao Mingqing both stared in surprise again.
"You see, I’m quite incredible. When the Xiao family moved to Shuikou Village in the eastern part of town, no one knew their girl could prepare dicinal materials, except for , Zhao Minghua. I recognized the talent with a discerning eye and made an agreent with her to prepare our dicinal materials. This must save a lot of silver, right, grandfather?"
Mr. Zhao... I really can’t argue with that.
Zhao Mingqing laughed in exasperation.
"When will you ever do sothing serious?"
Taking others’ skills as his own bragging rights, having a brother like this really was a little embarrassing.
"Elder brother, don’t underestimate , this is exactly a serious business." Zhao Mingqing retorted: "Think about it, if these dicinal materials were not prepared by Miss Xiao, how much more would you spend buying prepared ones?"
"Moreover, grandfather already said these dicinal materials are prepared exceptionally well and are top-grade. If you bought them from the largest and best dicinal dealer in Great Xia, at the Qianjin Hall, how much would that cost?"
The Qianjin Hall was the largest and best dicinal dealer in Great Xia; everyone knew to go there for quality dicine.
"I asked Miss Xiao to prepare them for such a low effort fee. The difference is profit, and I can create value for Hundred Herbs Hall. Is that not considered a real job?"
He opposed this statent, firmly opposed it.
"Grandfather, you be the judge."
If necessary, he would tell grandfather.
The eldest son and youngest grandson were both the old man’s heart and soul.
"Yes, yes, yes, our Minghua can accomplish great things too."
"That’s right."
Zhao Minghua, a baby with high demands, felt imnsely pleased upon receiving his grandfather’s praise.
Nobody knew that at this mont, a good money-making idea popped into his mind.
"Minghua."
The old man suddenly looked at him seriously.
"Grandfather, what’s the matter?"
"The matter of Miss Xiao preparing dicinal materials must never be leaked."
"Grandfather, why?" Zhao Minghua was puzzled: "Miss Xiao also said it shouldn’t be ntioned to anyone outside our family. Why can’t it be said?"
The Xiao family was living so miserably, and preparing dicinal materials was a skill to survive, an honorable way to earn a living. Why couldn’t it be shared with others?
He never figured out the key issue.
"You." Zhao Mingqing shook his head: "You always speak without using your brain."
"Wrong, sotis I have to use my hands." Zhao Minghua admitted he wasn’t fond of using his brain, it took effort: "Elder brother, tell , why shouldn’t it be known to outsiders?"
"Why did the Xiao family return to Shu City?"
"It was because of Doctor Xiao..." Zhao Minghua slapped his thigh, followed by a cry of "ouch". Then he seed to understand abruptly: "The Xiao family must keep a low profile, survive quietly, am I right?"
"That’s one reason." Zhao Mingqing said: "The Xiao family is now at a precarious position where any disturbance might lead them to an inescapable abyss; another reason, if people know of Miss Xiao’s skill, it will attract schers, and the Xiao family is too weak now to protect her."
"And let guess, there should be a third reason." At this point, Zhao Minghua’s mind seed to open up: "If people knew she could prepare dicinal materials, it might compete with our Hundred Herbs Hall, like that Qianjin Hall family?"
"Glad you know." Zhao Mingqing said: "The more dangerous the ti, the more she needs to be protected. If possible, they could be moved to the town."
"That’s definitely not possible." Zhao Minghua said: "You don’t know how stubborn the Xiao family is. If I send them so food, they imdiately send sothing back as a sign of reciprocity."
"With their current inco, they absolutely cannot afford to live in town." Even renting would cost at least one or two silver a month, how could they bear that?"
"Couldn’t you think of another way?"
Zhao Mingqing felt his brother was too rigid.
"What way?"
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