Shen Tingwen's eyes flickered, and he smiled with an innocent and harmless expression. "Uncle, doing business is not easy. Even if this wild boar is eighteen wen per jin, and it weighs a hundred jin, the rest can be considered Uncle's hard work fee. Please treat Uncle to a good meal!"
Shen Tingwen spoke sincerely and seriously, and with his handsome face, anyone would soften.
Although it was a transaction, the butcher had no intention of haggling. "Hahaha! Alright, we'll count it as you said!"
The butcher readily took out the silver and handed it to Shen Tingwen. "Little fellow, you're so good at business, you'll definitely become a big boss in the future!"
His words made Shen Tingwen's eyes light up, and he called out sweetly, "Thank you, Uncle."
Old Man Liu was stunned. He hadn't expected that just by saying a few more words, ten taels of silver would turn into eighteen taels.
Shen Wei didn't react much. Looking at Li Yue's injured shoulder, he just wanted to get to a doctor quickly.
Li Yue chuckled, as if she could see the fox's tail wagging behind Shen Tingwen.
Eighteen taels for this pig, and they still had to butcher it themselves. The butcher wouldn't make much profit.
But looking at his demeanor, he was clearly very willing.
Li Yue suddenly understood where Shen Tingwen's nickname "Smiling Fox" in the original book came from.
After getting the money, the group headed to the medical clinic.
Shen Tingwen clutched his bulging chest, contemplating how to hold onto the silver.
As long as they had money, this woman would definitely try to snatch it. But the wild boar was hunted by his father. Seeing that she had saved his third sister despite the danger, he was willing to pay for her medical treatment.
But to snatch the money away? No way!
At this moment, Li Yue suddenly spoke, "A'wen, do you want to be a merchant in the future?"
Shen Tingwen paused, not quite understanding.
Li Yue said as they walked, "Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants. In this era, merchants have the lowest status."
She remembered that the original book mentioned that although Shen Tingwen later became a famous rich merchant, almost no one respected him.
Shen Tingwen didn't know why she suddenly asked, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "When I'm richer than anyone else, no matter what they think in their hearts, they won't say it to my face. Why should I care then?"
Li Yue was somewhat surprised. She hadn't expected him, at such a young age, to be so insightful.
Li Yue raised her uninjured hand and ruffled his hair. "As expected of my son, you have aspirations!"
Shen Tingwen immediately dodged and glared at her fiercely, but his ears turned red.
Li Yue couldn't help but laugh. "A'wen wants to go into business, and Mother supports you. But Mother hopes that along with your wealth, your reputation for charity will also spread throughout the land."
"A'wen is so smart, you'll definitely be able to break the rumors of being rich but not benevolent, or benevolent but not rich, and become a benevolent and kind rich merchant famous throughout the land."
Shen Tingwen's heart skipped a beat. He tightly clutched the silver in his arms, and his grip seemed to loosen slightly.
Shen Wei didn't understand what Li Yue was saying. He just stared at her blankly, as if seeing a faint light emanating from her.
...
Soon, they arrived at the largest medical clinic in town.
Seeing Li Yue covered in blood, people around them who were seeking medical treatment or picking up medicine unconsciously made way.
The attending physician had white hair and a beard. He was momentarily stunned when he saw Li Yue, who, despite her disheveled appearance, stood tall and upright.
Old Man Liu quickly stepped forward. "Doctor Chen, quickly take a look. Her shoulder was scratched by a wild boar, and she's lost a lot of blood along the way!"
Li Yue: "..."
She had already stopped the bleeding. The blood flowing along the way was from the wild boar.
Doctor Chen immediately recognized that these people were from the countryside and was startled. He quickly got up to examine Li Yue's wound.
Too much blood loss could be fatal!
But to his surprise, although the young woman's wound was gruesome, the bleeding had clearly stopped long ago, and only bandaging was needed.
Seeing Doctor Chen's surprised gaze, Li Yue explained, "I've already treated it, but my family was worried and insisted on coming to the clinic to have it checked."
Although the third child hadn't come with them, he looked like a statue of a waiting wife when they left.
Doctor Chen asked in surprise, "Does madam know medicine?"
Li Yue nodded. "A little, which is why I went up the mountain to gather herbs to supplement our income. Who knew I'd encounter a wild boar."
As she spoke, she pulled over Shen Wei's basket. "These are herbs I gathered myself on the mountain. Does Doctor Chen accept them?"
Doctor Chen glanced into the basket and saw many herbs with soil on them. Although they were messy, it was clear they had been processed, with only the usable parts left.
He looked at the young woman with her hair tied up in a bun with astonishment.
Her face was so pale that it had no color, yet she could calmly try to sell him things. She showed no pain even with a wound that revealed bone. Was she truly a country woman?
Judging by the way the herbs were processed, she knew much more than "a little."
On the other hand, the man beside her looked tall and strong, but his expression was blank.
Facing his scrutiny, Li Yue was composed, and this demeanor made Doctor Chen feel even more that she was extraordinary.
"To be honest, our clinic has specific channels for procuring medicinal materials. Unless it's a very rare herb, we generally don't accept loose ones."
Li Yue didn't reply, knowing he hadn't finished.
As expected, Doctor Chen's tone shifted. "However, I see that madam is also someone who studies medicine, and we have a fated connection. I'll make an exception this once."
"Thank you, Doctor Chen."
Li Yue hadn't expected the doctor to be so accommodating.
She figured he must truly love medicine to be so understanding just because she knew medicine!
Doctor Chen smiled faintly. "Madam, please come in with me to have your wound treated. I'll have someone tally the herbs in the basket later."
Li Yue naturally did not refuse.
In the end, Li Yue had her wound treated at the clinic. Not only did she not pay a consultation fee, but she also sold her herbs for a good price.
Shen Tingwen, with his pockets full of silver, felt like he was floating as he walked.
He felt like he hadn't touched so much money in years.
Li Yue looked at his greedy expression and couldn't help but laugh. "A'wen, I plan to buy some things. You'll be in charge of paying later."
Shen Tingwen nodded instinctively.
As long as it wasn't snatching money, buying things was fine.
But soon, Shen Tingwen realized how utterly wrong his assumption was.
Li Yue asked Old Man Liu to take the ox cart to the town entrance and wait. She then took Shen Tingwen and Shen Wei to buy salt, rice, and seasonings, and went to the blacksmith shop to buy two knives.
The eighteen taels of silver were gone in a flash, more than half of it disappearing, even the loose change from selling the herbs.
Shen Tingwen's face was pained. "That's enough, that's enough, we've bought plenty!"
Li Yue chuckled. "There are still more important things to buy!"
Shen Tingwen's expression stiffened. "Wh-what else?"
Li Yue tugged at his collar. "The weather is gradually getting colder. We have to buy winter clothes, right? Your father is still wearing Uncle Liu's clothes. We can't keep borrowing from him."
Shen Tingwen was stunned. "Stepmother, you're going to buy clothes for Father?"
Shen Wei, who had been silent, his eyes lit up, full of anticipation.
Li Yue nodded. "Not just him, but all four of you. When A'min returns from the academy in a while, he'll need new clothes too."
Shen Tingwen stared at her blankly, feeling as if he were hallucinating.
This woman actually thought of buying them clothes?
At that moment, a commotion suddenly erupted not far away.