CHAPTER 154: CHAPTER 152 FINISHED MEDICINE

After the Little New Year, the New Year’s atmosphere in Zhenzhou City became even stronger.

The North had also reached its coldest time.

After Cheng Yanzhao returned from military training, he hadn’t warmed his bed before joining Song Xian to inspect the garrison, to prevent any remnants of the previous dynasty and the Liao people from launching a surprise attack at this time.

Song Xian was so busy that he hadn’t visited Chen Family Village for several days, and Chang An, seeing his master’s increasingly dark face, risked his life to go to Chen Family Village to get some Sanqi Tea.

That night, after drinking the Sanqi Tea, Song Xian felt warmth, his complexion improved and he went on a nighttime camp patrol again with Cheng Yanzhao.

Poor Cheng Yanzhao, exhausted and downhearted, almost fell off his horse several times, suddenly feeling an urge to escape back to the Capital City, fearing that this would soon cost him his life.

Xie Liangchen these days was discussing with Tian Chengyou about the commercial journeys for the spring.

Tian Chengyou looked at the finished medicines in the Familiar Medicine Institute: "These must be expensive? I’ve seen such medicine, it’s always exorbitantly priced..."

Those were medicines made into honey pills by the previous dynasty to handle acute ailments, and would always be stocked in the homes of the nobility.

Xie Liangchen said: "This is not that secret medicine, but finished medicine for treating the common cold, and intestinal issues."

Tian Chengyou’s eyes lit up looking at those pills. If the medicine truly treated these two ailments, it would be extremely useful, no, life-saving for them.

Being on the road is not like being at home, anything can happen. A seemingly trivial illness could prove fatal if medicine isn’t taken on time.

Tian Chengyou had personally seen a colleague fall like this, a person usually in good health, show a poor complexion after a few trips to the restroom. When the caravan reached a remote area, there wasn’t even a decent place to stay, let alone find a doctor. After a few days of such delay, by the time a doctor was reached, it was too late.

Illnesses that didn’t seem life-threatening could, in confusion, take a life away.

Xie Liangchen said: "I’ll have to teach you how to use this medicine, what symptoms call for it, but don’t worry, it’s not hard to learn. Plus, the medicine is mild, even if not perfectly suited to symptoms, it won’t be life-threatening."

Tian Chengyou naturally trusted Xie Liangchen. Since meeting Chen Family Village, everything Miss Xie set her mind to had been accomplished.

Xie Liangchen said: "We’ve just started making finished medicine and don’t know exactly how effective it is. If you’re worried..."

Before Xie Liangchen could finish, Tian Chengyou said: "Even if the herbs are shipped out and sold without payment, it’s the first time. If the finished medicine works well, it won’t lack for buyers in the future either."

Tian Chengyou had caravans in his hand and naturally knew what travelers needed, and it was rare for a teenage girl like Miss Xie to think of this.

Xie Liangchen said: "Finished medicines are convenient to store and carry, useful in emergencies, some ailments don’t require a doctor to identify. Taking finished medicine during these times avoids many complications."

Tian Chengyou thought it wonderful. Having been away for many months, he thought he could bring back a lot of news, but the surprise Miss Xie brought him exceeded his expectations, far beyond the few paper notes in his hand.

While Tian Chengyou was in a daze, Tian HuiZhen reminded him: "Father, didn’t you have many things to discuss with Liangchen?"

Tian Chengyou nodded and handed a paper to Xie Liangchen: "These are prices for some Southern items, all shipped from the North. With these clear, you’ll know what items to sell after the New Year. I heard Miss Xie plans to plant medicinal herbs in the North?"

Xie Liangchen nodded.

Tian Chengyou said: "Many places lack Northern herbs; cultivating more will still do well in sales. I saw in Huazhou some pharmacies used fake medicines as Chaihu, damaging countless people."

If the mountains in Zhenzhou could all be planted with medicinal herbs, Tian Chengyou envisioned a prosperous scene for Zhenzhou Prefecture, attracting many caravans and pharmacies for herb collection.

"There’s also demand for woolen fabrics," Tian Chengyou pointed out, "Western Capital and Kaifeng Prefecture both fancy woolen fabrics. Woolens sold from Zhenzhou fetched nearly twice the price in Kaifeng Prefecture. Though nobles there complain our weave isn’t fine enough, I’ve brought back many samples for everyone to see when convenient."

Tian Chengyou had many things to say, and it was until dusk that they were invited by Chen Yongsheng for a meal.

The boxes brought by Tian Chengyou were placed in Old Mrs. Chen’s room; the hard-fought-for information was shared with no reservations, all brought to Chen Family Village.

Old Mrs. Chen said: "These are the results of Mr. Tian’s hard work for months, how could you give them all to us?"

Xie Liangchen picked up the bag of seeds in her hand. The seeds were what she specifically asked Tian Chengyou to collect, more important to her than anything.

Tian HuiZhen smiled and said: "My father is good at running around outside. Whether the things brought back are useful or not still depends on Liangchen. Father has always said the Tian Family survives because of Chen Family Village. Liangchen and I have similar temperaments, and I come to disturb often. If you are so courteous, how would I dare to visit next time?

Plus, the medicine you and Mr. Xu prepared painstakingly, wasn’t it first meant for us? To others, it’s just a pill, but I know the effort put into it, isn’t that also worth silver coin?"

With Tian HuiZhen saying this bit by bit, Old Mrs. Chen was left speechless.

"Alright," Old Mrs. Chen smiled, "The old woman understands, just need to thank your father more."

Tian HuiZhen nodded: "As it happens, Father also said to thank you, during the New Year he’ll come pay respects as he’s a junior."

Old Mrs. Chen quickly said: "That would be inappropriate."

After Tian HuiZhen finished speaking with Old Mrs. Chen, she went to the weaving room.

Tian HuiZhen held Xie Liangchen’s hand and sat down: "I heard the Zhenzhou Prefecture has allocated lots of mountain land to plant medicinal herbs?"

Xie Liangchen nodded.

Tian HuiZhen seemed a bit worried.

Xie Liangchen knew what concerned Tian HuiZhen; in her mind, Song Xian’s words echoed: "If it’s planted poorly... you can run off but you can’t hide."

Xie Liangchen couldn’t help but smile.

"What are you laughing at?" Tian HuiZhen asked, "If it were me, I wouldn’t know what to worry about. You seem fine... sigh, fortunately, you’re clever. What others can’t accomplish, you definitely can."

Of course, Xie Liangchen couldn’t tell the monk and temple story, lest Tian HuiZhen became more afraid.

Tian HuiZhen said: "Do you know of Commandery Princess Jiahui?"

Xie Liangchen shook her head: "Not really, I’ve heard she is a descendant of Prince Guangyang."

Tian HuiZhen didn’t quite understand either, sharing what she knew with Xie Liangchen: "Every winter, Commandery Princess Jiahui sends people to the North to give porridge. When I arrived, I saw people starting to set up porridge stalls."

Just as Tian HuiZhen finished speaking, Chen Zigeng returned from Mr. Dongli’s, shedding off the cold before entering the house.

"Sister, Sister Tian."

Xie Liangchen beckoned Chen Zigeng over, warming Chen Zigeng’s frostbitten face with her hands.

Chen Zigeng said: "When I was coming back, I saw porridge stalls being built in the city, they said Commandery Princess Jiahui ordered it, and asked everyone to come for porridge at the early Mao hour tomorrow."

Xie Liangchen looked at Tian HuiZhen; Chen Zigeng and Tian HuiZhen spoke of the same matter, indicating a significant benevolent effort by Commandery Princess Jiahui.