"Sister-in-law, I've already told you, haven't I? Father and Mother have both changed for the better."
A Jiu said this as she rolled up her sleeve to show her sister-in-law. "I've gained several pounds compared to before. Father and Mother save all the good things to give to me."
In the dark, Liu Cai'er felt A Jiu's arm. Though still thin, she was clearly fleshier than the bony figure she'd seen two years ago.
"Then... then my in-laws couldn't have changed so ridiculously," Liu Cai'er still found it hard to comprehend. Had they suddenly developed a conscience?
In the early morning, shouts came from outside: "Jiu'er, Cai'er, get up and drink your congee! This is barley congee boiled with water."
A Jiu turned over and grabbed empty air. She saw her sister-in-law was gone.
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she looked closely. The person was nowhere to be found.
A Jiu rolled out of bed and casually tidied her long hair, which had become stiff from not being washed for so long. Luckily, Aunt Li had given her a wooden hairpin.
As soon as she stepped out, Cai Lihua had moved the dining table into the courtyard, laden with yesterday's leftover steamed buns and several bowls of thin congee.
"Huh? Where's your sister-in-law?" Cai Lihua asked in surprise, shaking her head and looking towards the room door.
Tong Zi, who had already tidied up, was sitting at the table. "Oh, I've gained weight these past few days. If the neighbors get a whiff of it, I don't know how I'll explain."
Saying this, he chuckled and unceremoniously grabbed a bun, wolfing it down with the barley congee.
"I don't know. She was gone when I woke up," A Jiu said, glancing at the back door.
In the front hall.
"Let's eat first. Sister Cai'er was invited by the head of the Yi Pin Tang early this morning. I presume it's to commend our Hua Lan Medical Hall for its meritorious work in treating illnesses."
Tong Zi happily held his rice bowl and ate with gusto, his face beaming with pride.
"Yi Pin Tang? What is that?" A Jiu asked in surprise.
"In the past, if you wanted to open a medical hall in the city, you had to grease the palms of Yi Pin Tang first, otherwise, it wouldn't be allowed. Yi Pin Tang is essentially the headquarters for all medical halls in Nanming City. If there's any major event, a meeting is held at Yi Pin Tang to make decisions."
After speaking, Tong Zi cheerfully beckoned everyone. "Eat up, Tie Dan. Come, Big Brother will save you some rice so you can grow strong."
"So that's how it is. Then the Liu family has also managed to restore its prestige," Meng Shaode said, beaming.
A Jiu fell into thought, recalling what her sister-in-law had said about the changes at the Yi Zhuang. She wondered: was it really this smooth?
Just as she was thinking, there was a knock at the front door.
"Coming."
"I'll get it," A Jiu stopped Tong Zi and went to open the door herself, eating a bowl of thin congee as she went.
"Miss Jiu, this old man has come to thank you personally."
The one entering was shopkeeper Bai, carrying two bulging oil-paper packets. "These pastries are made by myself. A small token of my appreciation."
"Made by yourself? Alright then," A Jiu accepted without refusal and put the items down.
"Miss Jiu, I'd like to ask, my son is indeed getting better today and even managed to eat a little rice soup. Should I still get some medicinal herbs to supplement?" Shopkeeper Bai only had this one son.
"No need. He'll get better with slow recuperation." With her sister-in-law absent and herself not understanding herbal medicine, she knew nothing beyond this treatment method.
"Really? No need to take some supplements like ginseng or reishi mushrooms?" Shopkeeper Bai was not short of money and only wanted his son to recover quickly.
"I have ginseng here. How much does shopkeeper Bai want?" Tong Zi quickly interjected, wiping his mouth. What could be better than selling medicine to make money?
After Old Master Liu left, the medical hall's business had plummeted. If this continued, everyone would be so hungry they'd be eating medicinal herbs.
"Then, how much is there? I'll take that much," shopkeeper Bai said happily, quickly taking out his money pouch.
A Jiu couldn't interject; she didn't understand these things, only knowing that ginseng could replenish vital energy.
Tong Zi had already scrambled up the ladder and grabbed all the dried ginseng from that day.
There were about eight or nine roots, large and small.
As Tong Zi stated the price and shopkeeper Bai was about to pay, A Jiu suddenly remembered something.
"Wait, leave two for me."