Chapter 440: Chapter 7: Plans Can’t Keep Up with Changes
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Sacred Heart Middle School’s final exams entered the last day, and in the classroom of Grade Eight (6), the soft rustling of ballpoint pens writing on test papers filled the air.
Zeng Xuerou furrowed her brows, unable to concentrate on the math question before her. She was thinking of what Mei Nian had promised when they met earlier, assuring her that Xiao Xian would return within the next two or three days. Today was the last exam, yet the real Xiao Xian had still not shown up.
The oozing ink from the ballpoint pen left an unsightly stain on the test paper. Zeng Xuerou forced her focus, hurriedly completing the last question on the exam.
The day before the exams started, Zeng Xuerou had made a special trip to the pharmacy to find Mei Nian.
Mei Nian mentioned the last time she took Xiao Xian away that if there was a real emergency, Zeng Xuerou could find her at "Plum Rice Ball," or leave a message with Pharmacist Huang if she couldn’t find her.
As for the words Mei Nian said to her about Cultivation and Xiao Xian’s special abilities, Zeng Xuerou suppressed them deep in her heart, trying not to touch upon them.
She even had someone specifically investigate the backgrounds of the Mei Family and the Xu Family, and the information obtained only revealed that both were ancient and long-standing families. The Mei Family excelled in the field of unprocessed Chinese herbal medicine, while the Xu Family had in recent years partnered with some foreign pharmaceutical companies to produce finished medicines.
After investigating the backgrounds of both families, Xuerou became even more anxious.
When she arrived at the "Plum Rice Ball," as soon as Zeng Xuerou entered, she heard Mei Nian’s teasing laughter.
In the slightly less busy herb wholesaler during the start of the year, Mei Nian and old man Pharmacist Huang stood beside the medicine counter, chatting and laughing merrily. Pharmacist Huang’s beard trembled with excitement as he donned his seldom-used reading glasses, holding a ginseng whose color was close to purple-red in his hands.
Could it be such a coincidence to encounter false ginseng every time one came? Thinking of the false ginseng reminded Zeng Xuerou of Xu Lan Ya, the woman she had met twice, who almost caused a disaster for her and Xiao Xian.
She approached the counter and gently tapped on the vermilion-painted wood.
"Oh, it’s the young customer. You’ve come at the perfect time. Look at this mountain ginseng. In my lifetime, I can actually see a thousand-year-old Wild Ginseng, dying with no regrets," said Pharmacist Huang, holding the mountain ginseng with its numerous roots and clear striations, its scent lingering and enduring.
What’s even more remarkable, this ginseng had not long been unearthed. It was truly a marvel where that young man had dug up such a top-quality Wild Ginseng. Pharmacist Huang cradled the ginseng in his hand as if it were a newly born plump grandchild, being exceedingly cautious, as if worried that any carelessness might harm the ginseng.
There was also a hint of joy on Mei Nian’s face, but not as much as the ecstatic Pharmacist Huang, who was still scolding him: "Pharmacist, at your age, you should be careful not to get overly excited, it’s not good for the heart," she chided, sounding very much like an elder.
Zeng Xuerou smacked her lips at this, taking another careful glance at Mei Nian. That glance met with Mei Nian’s gaze, "Are you here to inquire about news just like that boy earlier? He used a stalk of wild ginseng to exchange for news, what did you use to exchange?" her tone sounding like that of a shrewd merchant.
Fortunately, Zeng Xuerou was not foolish and instantly replied, "I took a great risk to come here, and I was being followed on the way to this place. I managed to shake them off after some effort. With that alone, you should tell me how Xiao Xian is doing."
Mei Nian immediately put on that shrewd face, giving Pharmacist Huang a look, who then ordered the apprentice: "Close up shop and pack up early; we need to take stock tonight."
After the doors of "Plum Rice Ball" were pulled shut, Mei Nian first scrutinized Zeng Xuerou carefully—this young girl better not be deceiving them. She seemed calm and composed, nowhere near the panicked state of someone who had been followed.
"I did not lie. At the first intersection after leaving the school, there was a black Mazda following behind my car. It took me some effort to lose them," Zeng Xuerou was shocked when she first noticed the tail but was relieved that she was behind the steering wheel. In all of China, only a handful of people could catch up to her on the road.
Mei Nian knew the people of the Xu Family quite well. The younger generation of the Xu Family was involved in petty deeds, from fake ginseng to underground car racing, only running into trouble then; it was lucky for the Xu Family ancestors to have had such good fortune," All right then, I didn’t expect you, girl, to be quite smart. Your friend is fine, alive and kicking, and running around everywhere. I’ve heard she has made quite a bit of progress recently. You’ve come at the right time; you can help me take her to a place."
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