CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 51 I DON’T WANT SUCH GOOD FORTUNE 9

Anning really wanted to meet Emperor Shengping and figure out what his situation really was.

But right now, she simply couldn’t see Emperor Shengping.

The only possibility for her to see Emperor Shengping was if she grew a high-yielding crop, and Emperor Shengping might meet with her in consideration of her contribution.

For this reason, Anning worked even harder at farming.

Besides that, she was also searching for medicinal herbs to concoct medicines.

You must know, Detoxification Pills aren’t easy to formulate, as they require several rare medicinal materials.

Anning was quite lucky; while at Baijia Gully, she had found two types on the mountain, and now she was only short of one more.

On this day, Anning didn’t go to the fields but instead changed into a more presentable outfit and headed to the pharmacies in town in search of medicinal materials.

The town was not small, and there were several pharmacies. Anning planned to visit each one.

She first visited Heji Hall, the largest pharmacy in town. She didn’t find the medicinal material she was looking for there.

Anning didn’t harbor much hope anyway and wasn’t disappointed when she didn’t find it; coming out of Heji Hall, she went into another smaller pharmacy.

The moment she entered the door of this pharmacy, she was taken aback.

The pharmacy was indeed not big, but it was exceptionally tidy and clean. That was not the main surprise; rather, it was that the shopkeeper was incredibly pleasing to the eye.

The shopkeeper behind the counter, dressed in a green long robe, was tall and slender, standing there as if he were a pine or bamboo, his face like a fresh breeze or bright moonlight, carrying a hint of indifferent aloofness but also unexpectedly handsome to the point of being captivating.

Anning had seen many men, including some with peerless appearances.

This shopkeeper, although handsome, seemed somewhat out of place for a pharmacy shopkeeper, but Anning merely glanced twice before shifting her gaze.

She looked around the pharmacy then slowly walked over and softly asked the shopkeeper, "Do you have any green jade grass?"

Worried that the shopkeeper might not know what green jade grass is, she also took out a piece of paper with a drawing of the green jade grass on it: "It’s this medicinal material."

The shopkeeper lowered his head to look at the paper, then raised his head to look at Anning several times, and his mind became clear.

"Are you formulating a medicine?"

Anning nodded.

"Who gave you the prescription?"

Anning smiled and said, "I formulated it myself."

The shopkeeper was startled, then looked at Anning again with some surprise, "May I see your prescription?"

Afraid that Anning might misunderstand, he added, "I’m... worried that there might be an error in your formulation, that can be fatal."

Anning saw sincerity in the shopkeeper’s eyes.

She confidently took out the medical recipe and let the shopkeeper glance at it.

The shopkeeper saw the recipe and his eyes flashed with admiration.

Of course, it wasn’t admiration for Anning herself but for the medical recipe.

He saluted Anning, "I didn’t expect to meet such a medical genius in my lifetime. I, Xiao Yuan, am honored to know you."

Anning quickly returned the salute, "Don’t mention it, do you have the medicine I’m looking for here?"

Xiao Yuan turned and left, and after a short while, he came back with a wooden box in his hand.

He pushed the box in front of Anning, "Take a look."

Anning opened the box and was immediately delighted to see the fresh green jade grass inside, "You really have it, and it’s even fresh green jade grass."

She cradled the box in her hands, "How much for this medicine?"

"Ten silver taels."

Xiao Yuan enunciated the two characters.

Eh?

Anning was taken aback, "Ten taels? Are you making a mistake?"

"No mistake," Xiao Yuan gestured with his hand, "I sell medicines based on my mood, and the price varies from person to person."

That is, he would set a very low price for someone who makes him feel good, and for those he dislikes, he would ask for an exorbitant amount.

Looking at the green jade grass and then at the ordinary pharmacies in this small town, Anning came to understand.

"Ten taels is really too little."

Anning murmured softly, then raised her head and smiled, "But I’m not a fool. There’s no need for me to raise the price for you, thank you."

Leaving ten silver taels behind, Anning took the medicine and turned to leave.

"Miss, please wait a moment."

Xiao Yuan came out from behind the counter and quickly caught up to Anning.

Eh?

Anning turned around.

As she turned, the side of her face with the birthmark was directly facing Xiao Yuan.

If someone else were to see her ghastly appearance, they might be frightened or utterly disgusted.

But Xiao Yuan’s gaze remained indifferent, without revulsion or shock, looking at Anning as if she were an ordinary person, no different from anyone else.

"Is there something you need?"

Anning asked.

"I..."

Xiao Yuan hesitated but still gritted his teeth and asked, "May I inquire about the young lady’s name and residence?"

Anning frowned.

Xiao Yuan quickly explained: "I am obsessed with medicine. Today, seeing the young lady’s excellently crafted prescription, I wish to consult with the lady during my leisure time. May I know if it’s convenient for the lady?"

So it turned out he was a medical fanatic. Anning nodded: "That’s fine."

She told Xiao Yuan where she lived and also said, "My surname is Bai, my father’s name is Desheng. Just ask around, and you will know."

Xiao Yuan hurriedly bowed in thanks: "Many thanks."

Anning left with a smile.

Once she exited the apothecary, she couldn’t help but shake her head: "Truly a blockhead."

Anning still felt pretty good after gathering all the medicines.

Carrying the green jade grass, she joyfully returned home, processed the collected herbs, and then sought out a pill furnace to prepare the Detoxification Pills.

To better refine the Detoxification Pills, Anning stealthily experimented with refining nourishing elixirs using other herbs first.

Of course, she made a low-grade version of the nourishing elixir.

After all, she was just a mortal now and could not find top-quality herbs, so she had to make do.

Zhang Yue Mei and Bai Desheng did not really find it strange that Anning was practicing medicine.

Although Bai Anning was not the most attractive, she was genuinely very intelligent and eager to learn.

Bai Desheng and Zhang Yue Mei taught her personally when she was young; afterwards, as Anning grew up, they could no longer teach her. Back then, in Baijia Gully, there were no good teachers for her, so they had to find books for her self-study.

The subjects Bai Anning studied were quite diverse; even Bai Desheng did not know how much she had learned.

Thus, seeing Anning’s interest in agriculture and medicine, they did not ask much and harbored no doubts.

Anning delivered some of the successfully refined nourishing elixirs to Bai Desheng and Zhang Yue Mei, then started refining the Detoxification Pills.

However, before she started the refining process, Xiao Yuan came looking for her.

Xiao Yuan came alone, but he did not arrive empty-handed; he brought two large bags of herbs.

Meeting Bai Desheng and learning he was Anning’s father, Xiao Yuan dragged Bai Desheng along to take him to Anning.

Xiao Yuan’s behavior almost infuriated Bai Desheng.

Yet Xiao Yuan was too strong, and coupled with his exceedingly handsome and upstanding appearance, Bai Desheng could not resist and had to bring him into the family home.

Seeing Xiao Yuan arrive at the door with two large bags of herbs, Anning was truly dumbfounded.

Xiao Yuan was indeed ignorant of social etiquette—how could one bring medicine when visiting someone else’s home?

Wasn’t that like wishing illness upon them?

However, seeing what Xiao Yuan had brought, Anning could no longer accuse him of cursing people.

The herbs Xiao Yuan brought were especially scarce, ones that Anning could only dream of finding.

Anning smiled and accepted the herbs, courteously served Xiao Yuan tea, and brought out some of her favorite pastries specially made by Zhang Yue Mei to entertain Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Yuan sat for a while and then took out a medical book to consult with Anning.

Considering the precious herbs Xiao Yuan had brought, Anning patiently discussed the rare prescriptions in the book with him.

After discussing for a while, Anning stood up.

Xiao Yuan looked up, blinked his eyes in puzzlement, and asked, "Did I make the lady impatient?"

Anning shook her head: "Not at all, it’s time for me to make observations in the fields."

"What observations?"

Xiao Yuan also stood up: "May I accompany you?"

Thinking of today’s plan to water and fertilize the experimental fields, and then looking at Xiao Yuan, Anning smiled mischievously: "Of course."

Her smile was warm and tender, but inwardly she was plotting to use Xiao Yuan as free labor.

In the field, Anning carried the carrying pole and buckets with a distressed face: "Ah, my father has been feeling unwell these past few days, needing me to carry water for irrigating, but I am just a weak woman..."

Xiao Yuan glanced at the two acres of land before him, then at Anning, picked up the buckets, and went to fetch water.

After he finished watering the fields, Anning directed him to apply fertilizer.

In the end, when Xiao Yuan left, his long robe was stained in several places, one of his shoes was broken, and his hair was in complete disarray.

He had arrived like a dashing young master untouched by dust, but he left looking as though he had been through a muck heap. Anning thought surely Xiao Yuan would not come back.

But who knew, after two days, Xiao Yuan returned.

After his arrival, he did not speak of discussing medicine but very conscientiously helped Anning with her observation notes, weeding and catching insects.