CHAPTER 90: CHAPTER 88: HAPPY

Song Xian, Jia Si, and the Zhenzhou County Magistrate sat on chairs.

Jia Si anticipated a lively medicine selection meeting, but the current situation exceeded his expectations. Thinking it over, he turned to look at Song Xian beside him.

Song Xian, though young, exuded a chilling aura that made others uneasy.

Jia Si wanted to say some official jargon; opening the Official Medicine Bureau in Zhenzhou was a gift from the court, and the people should thank the court before everything began. But he hesitated to speak, as Song Xian was different from ordinary officials; slipping up might displease him.

As Jia Si contemplated this, silence fell around them.

Song Xian raised his eyebrows slightly, his expression seemed indifferent, yet one could feel that his aura grew even colder.

Jia Si followed Song Xian’s gaze, which was directed at the people who came to deliver medicine.

Song Xian’s voice came softly, "Vice Envoy Jia, is there anything left unresolved?"

Jia Si was about to ask in surprise—he hadn’t mentioned anything—but quickly sweat started to bead on his forehead; Song Xian was displeased with him for keeping the people waiting here.

Jia Si coughed, stood up to instruct the medical workers to check the medicine together. However, just as he stood, he heard Song Xian say, "Since the classification of medicinal materials was mentioned earlier, let’s handle it all today!"

Today? Jia Si felt a sinking in his heart. Although this was not the government office, it was still the Official Medicine Bureau, and things should be done with rules; how could it be said today and immediately done?

"Can’t do it?" Song Xian turned to look at Jia Si with a more indifferent expression, "If the Official Medicine Bureau lacks manpower, I will petition the Imperial Hospital to send more people."

"We have enough," Jia Si, filled with resentment but not daring to delay, "I’ll get to work right away."

The snow was falling heavier.

Xie Liangchen reached out to cover Chen Zigeng’s ears.

Chen Zigeng whispered, "Sister, I’m not cold."

The siblings together adjusted their small shoulder bags, while Hei Dan watched the medicinal materials they brought without blinking. Before they came in with the medicine, Old Mrs. Chen had advised them to keep an eye on the medicinal materials and not let anyone take them away casually.

The medicinal materials they concocted were worth a bowl of rice per piece, and a handful could exchange for a chicken.

The medicinal materials in his backpack could exchange for two piglets; on the journey to the Official Medicine Bureau, Hei Dan felt as if he was carrying piglets.

Hei Dan couldn’t let anyone touch their rice or livestock.

Snowflakes fell on the sleeves of Song Xian’s official robe. He reached out to dust off his clothes and looked toward the main hall of the Official Medicine Bureau.

Jia Si sensed Song Xian’s icy gaze and immediately understood, "Have people bring the medicinal materials into the hall, and those delivering the medicine should wait in the hall as well."

Song Xian stood up and looked at Jia Si, "Vice Envoy Jia, thank you for your hard work. I’ll be at the Official Medicine Bureau today; if Vice Envoy Jia needs any help from me, just let me know."

"Any" help needed? Jia Si obviously hadn’t asked Song Xian for anything, but the words suggested that he, as Vice Envoy of the Imperial Hospital, was quite incapable.

Jia Si was full of anger but didn’t dare voice it, so he bowed, "Thank you, Mr. Song." Rude people like Song Xian could only stay in a place like the Northern Border.

The medical workers instructed everyone to bring the medicinal materials into the hall together.

Xie Liangchen raised her head to look at Song Xian, shrinking her icy-cold neck. She said she wanted the Official Medicine Bureau to identify and classify the medicine not only to make selling concocted medicine convenient in the future but also to set the stage for the creditor’s act.

Wang Jian and his people wanted to exploit Chen Family Village, aiming to falsely accuse Song Xian of secretly dealing with the Liao people through Chen Family Village. The Liao sold them horses and furs, and they sold the Liao medicinal materials and cloth.

The medicinal materials were naturally from Chen Family Village. She couldn’t let such accusations easily fall upon Chen Family Village. If Wang Jian could handle the matter, the people behind Wang Jian wouldn’t need to step forward, so even if Wang Jian framed Chen Family Village, it couldn’t be too simple.

She asked the Official Medicine Bureau to recognize the concocted medicine from Chen Family Village. Mr. Xu’s concocted medicines, whether in the form of raw materials or the methods of preparation, were top-notch and of Grade A. As such, if anyone wanted to impersonate Chen Family Village’s medicinal materials, they’d need to put in more effort.

If the creditor wanted to act, she’d set a high stage. If the creditor wanted to fish, she’d change to a big hook and bait it well.

In short, the more difficult it was to frame, the wider the implication.

Song Xian sat on the chair reading official documents, occasionally raising his head to look at the center of the hall. Xie Liangchen continuously watched the medical workers with the Grade A, B, and C plaques in their hands, noting everything in her clear eyes, calculating in her mind.

In her previous life, not nurturing her into a great merchant was truly a waste of talent.

Did she acquire her skills at the Su Family?

Song Xian thought as he looked at the medicinal materials from the Su Family—was this the case of blue surpassing blue? Chen Family Village would surely become stronger than the Su Family in the future.

Just as Song Xian raised his head for the third time, a medical worker handed the Grade A plaque to Chen Zigeng; it was the first plaque for medicinal materials from Chen Family Village.

Hei Dan stared at the wooden plaque in Chen Zigeng’s hand, swallowing an envious gulp, "Let me touch it."

Several children crowded in, reaching out their hands.

The wooden plaque hadn’t even warmed up when they heard the medical worker say, "Chen Family Village’s licorice, Grade A."

Hei Dan rubbed his hand on his clothes and stepped forward to receive the plaque.

Chen Yuyu watched the medical workers continually issue plaques, and Chen Zigeng’s small bag slowly bulged. She felt as if she were dreaming.

After more than twenty Grade A plaques were issued, even Jia Si stepped over quickly, looking incredulously at the people of Chen Family Village.

Chen Yuyu finally couldn’t resist reaching out to take a plaque, the red lettering on the plaque was so dazzling, the character "Grade A" was something she would recognize from now on.

After working the entire day, all the medicinal materials were finally classified.

The Zhenzhou County Magistrate didn’t dare delay, dispatching people from the government office to write documents.

Chen Yongsheng’s pile of documents grew, and he couldn’t say exactly how he felt, both satisfied and expectant, from delighted to indifferent; as the face of Chen Family Village’s village chief, he was finally able to remain unfazed.

The stewards and shopkeepers of the pharmacy watched Chen Family Village’s achievements, faces full of envy.

Old Mrs. Chen, waiting outside the Official Medicine Bureau, laughed heartily as she saw several children walk out with a pile of red-letter plaques.

Things with proof are easy to sell, just like when they catch piglets, they have to check if the sow is fat. Old Mrs. Chen understood this principle well.

But not caring to speak, she hurried to the restroom, just because she didn’t have wool socks on her feet. When Xie Liangchen and Chen Zigeng left the village, she had stuffed one wool sock each into the siblings’ shoes; they protested, saying she wouldn’t leave the house.

Turned out she couldn’t wait at home for an hour and chased after them all the way.

Old Mrs. Chen rubbed her icy-cold nose, feeling her trip was worth it. Seeing the way the people around looked at Chen Family Village, it was as if they were looking at wealthy gentlemen.

How could she not be happy?