Xiao Di Long reacted swiftly. A black shadow flashed, and the king cobra had already pounced onto a rice sack, coiling into a shape resembling excrement. Its head was raised high, tongue flicking, small blood-red eyes staring menacingly at the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper quickly retracted his hand, stepping back several paces before plopping down onto the rice sack. "Snake... You girl, get rid of it quickly."
"I didn't truly intend to sue you, just to scare you. But you insisted on making me sue. It seems I really must go through with it," Ah Jiu said, stepping forward and tucking Xiao Di Long into her embrace.
The shopkeeper's mouth felt dry, and he swallowed hard. His eyes bulged like a toad's. Ah Jiu grabbed the rice sack and turned to leave. "Don't regret this."
The shopkeeper was utterly petrified. After a long moment, he finally got up and chased after her. Amidst the throng of people, the shabby, tattered figure quickly disappeared.
Where did this girl come from? The shopkeeper followed a few steps and, from a distance, saw the girl enter the Hua Lan Medical Hall.
"Old Liu Tou, do you know the girl who just went in?" The shopkeeper turned, locked his shop door, and peeked towards the Hua Lan Medical Hall. He then hurried to the steamed bun shop across the street to inquire.
The steamed bun shop was closed. At this time of year, no one could afford flour and rice. Old Liu Tou had also changed professions to weaving. There were still plenty of bamboo strips on the mountain for him to make a living.
"Oh, it's Brother Bai, the shopkeeper from the rice store. You mean the girl who just went in?"
"Yes, that's her." Shopkeeper Bai hadn't expected her to enter the Hua Lan Medical Hall. The recent sensational news was all about how the Liu family at Hua Lan Medical Hall had rendered a great service.
"I heard from that boy Tong Zi that the girl's name is Meng Jiu. She's the sister-in-law of their young mistress, Liu Cai'er. She seems to be that Meng Nüyi who refused the prince's reward."
Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Bai was so frightened he could barely stand. Dazed, he turned and walked back.
"Shopkeeper Bai? Why are you asking about this?"
"Nothing... nothing," Shopkeeper Bai's footsteps were unsteady, and his mind was elsewhere as he spoke.
Back in his shop, he absentmindedly filled a cloth bag with rice. Then, as if it weren't enough, he added another scoop. Rice seeds were no longer selling, and without rain, he had no surplus rice seeds. He placed the two cloth bags on a table in the backyard and pushed open a door.
Inside, it was pitch black. The window was covered with a bedsheet, blocking out all light.
"Son, are you feeling any better today?"
In the dark room, the person under the thin quilt on the bed remained motionless.
"Son? Oh, son, it's all father's greed. Why did I have to pick up the meat? Son... you are the only heir of our Bai family."
After waiting for a long time, Shopkeeper Bai's tears flowed, but he received no response from the person on the bed.
Hua Lan Medical Hall.
Cai Lihua happily called out for everyone to eat. On the table was a basin of steamed buns.
"Mother, where did you get the meat?" Ah Jiu thought they were meat buns.
"Oh, the filling inside is a hundred times tastier than meat." Saying this, Cai Lihua, under everyone's gaze, mysteriously picked up a bun and broke it open. Inside, a green-yellow juice was revealed, and a fragrance of wheat wafted out.
"Wow, what is this? It smells so good." Tong Zi's personality had become much more cheerful. This was all because Ah Jiu had returned, and from tomorrow, they could officially receive patients and treat illnesses.
"Mother, these are green wheat grains." Ah Jiu recognized them immediately. She grabbed one, bit into it, and the steaming heat made her use her small hand as a fan.
"Slow down, no one's snatching it from you." Cai Lihua felt both heartache and happiness.
"This is so delicious, sweet with a fragrance. Mother, you're amazing! You could even sell these." Ah Jiu said as she ate.
"Is it that good?" Tong Zi stared, seeing Ah Jiu eat so sweetly for the first time. His own tongue was almost swallowed.
"Why don't you try it too?" Meng Shaode's words were simple and direct. He himself grabbed three buns at once and stuffed them into his mouth. Such large buns, he ate one after another, his cheeks bulging so much that his tongue couldn't even curl. Mao Junlan gave one to each of her two sons. As they ate, everyone reached for the basket of buns, eating so heartily they couldn't speak, only communicating with their eyes.
"Bang bang bang." The front door had a crossbar, and now someone was knocking.
"This is too fragrant," Tong Zi said indistinctly with a mouth full of food, turning back to call out, "We're closed for today. No more guests, please come back tomorrow."
"I'm looking for Miss Jiu. I brought rice... Ten catties."
That voice sounded so familiar.