Rong Zhi ignored him. A shop assistant was supposed to follow the shopkeeper's orders. Rong Zhi couldn't blame him for bringing her rotten copper coins.
After Rong Zhi left, Zhao Qiancai slapped the table with a pained expression.
"This is a huge loss! Today's deal was a massive loss! Anping, quickly get me some medicine to clear heat and fire. My gums are aching..."
"Yes."
Before Zhao Qiancai could drink the medicine he had brewed, another person arrived from outside. He looked up and immediately put on a face full of hardship and bitterness.
"Divine Doctor Chu, you've come. I have something I wanted to ask you."
He recounted the day's events in detail, his expression one of anxious frustration throughout.
Chu Qingze's expression was also grim. After returning to the mass grave, he discovered that a cartload of Yunlin flowers delivered a few days prior was missing. He argued with Li Hao, but the latter offered no explanation, instead claiming Chu Qingze was confused from lack of sleep, and proceeded to mock him. Chu Qingze was unable to locate the Yunlin flowers.
After leaving Li Hao, Chu Qingze remembered his arrangement with Rong Zhi and thought to inform Zhao Qiancai of his arrival. To his surprise, she had already been there.
"What, did she extort you?"
Zhao Qiancai was taken aback. His first thought was that this woman was indeed introduced by Divine Doctor Chu.
Once he confirmed this, Zhao Qiancai found it difficult to complain.
"It's nothing, just a small misunderstanding."
"Oh, she's also a doctor, and her medical skills are no less than mine. Treat her well, and you'll benefit from it in the future."
So, he had misunderstood the young lady just now.
"Don't worry, Divine Doctor Chu. Years ago, when I almost killed someone selling medicine, you saved them. Without you, I would have been in prison long ago. Your friends are my friends, Zhao Qiancai's friends."
"That's good. I'm very busy these days, so I'll leave the matter of supplying medicinal herbs to her."
Chu Qingze was indeed busy. After these few sentences, he left in a hurry. After he left, Zhao Qiancai pondered for a long time, then called Anping over and gave him another packet of silver.
"Go and inquire where that young lady went today. Deliver this to her and tell her I misunderstood her today and this is my apology."
Anping took it and, as he left, weighed the money pouch. He wondered when the stingy shopkeeper had a change of heart; this packet of silver was worth almost his entire year's wages.
A basket of medicinal herbs sold for thirty taels of silver, which was more than worth it. Rong Zhi had intended to go straight home when she suddenly spotted a small stall selling zongzi candy on the street.
She suddenly remembered Xia Yunting's words and walked over.
"Boss, weigh me three catties of zongzi candy."
By the time she returned home, the sun had already set. Rong Zhi pushed open the door and saw Xia Yunting practicing a set of martial arts in the courtyard.
The movements were as swift as lightning, living up to their name. Xia Yunting's tall frame was like a dragon emerging from the sea, powerful and unstoppable. His fists and feet flashed through the air, leaving trails of afterimages, and even the wind around him seemed to sharpen.
His brow was furrowed, as if he were holding his breath. However, the moment he saw Rong Zhi, he stopped.
"Xiao Mo, you're back."
His expression instantly softened, as if the menacing figure from moments before had never existed.
Rong Zhi replied with a hum, accustomed to Xia Yunting's sudden change in demeanor.
"Where did you go today?"
"I went to the mountains to try my luck and see if I could catch that wild man."
Rong Zhi looked at the mud on Xia Yunting's shoes and cautioned, "If it's not important, it's best not to wander out. Even though you're disguised, if someone with intent wants to find you, they'll still recognize you easily."
Saying this, she handed him a bag of zongzi candy.
This natural act of feeding him was reminiscent of an old married couple who had been together for many years.
Xia Yunting looked at the full bag of zongzi candy, and some of his anger subsided.
He had gone to the cave he found earlier, but there was no evidence left by his subordinates. The secret room only contained a strong scent of blood, so pungent that it was almost suffocating.
Although he had expected it, seeing the traces of his subordinate's death still made Xia Yunting want to kill.
"But Xiao Mo, if we want to find the human traffickers quickly, we need to go out and look for clues."
"I can handle these matters. We can ask Miss Zhang for help, and Liu Ge will also keep an eye out for that wild man."
Liu Ge, Liu Ge, she called him so affectionately. Xia Yunting didn't reply, and silently popped a piece of candy into his mouth.
Hmm, it was quite sweet.
Rong Zhi was half-believing Xia Yunting's story about going to the mountains to find the wild man. To her surprise, the wild man actually showed up that night.
Just as they were about to sleep, they heard a sharp, piercing sound from outside, like a ghostly wail, or the scream of someone being beaten.
Both of them were highly alert and moved to the door almost simultaneously.
The moment they opened the door, they saw a black shadow disappear into the darkness.
There was no moonlight that night, and visibility was extremely poor. Rong Zhi was about to give chase when Xia Yunting stopped her.
"Someone's coming."
Footsteps, not deliberately suppressed, approached from a distance, and a tall figure stopped before them.
"Miss Lin, Brother Xia, why did you come out too? Did you also see that wild man?"
"Yes, you too?"
Rong Zhi was somewhat surprised. Their houses were not close to each other. Could he have followed the wild man here?
"The wild man was too fast, and it was dark. I lost him."
At this point, Xia Yunting spoke.
"We can't rush this. If it gets startled, it won't come down the mountain again, making it even harder to find. I think we should go back for now!"
"Okay."
Liu Hong agreed, but then suddenly shouted, "There!" and leaped several feet away. A scream suddenly rang out in the darkness.
"Hey, hey, hey, let go! My ear is going to fall off!"
This voice sounded so familiar.
"Brother Liu, let him go."
Liu Hong released his grip.
"Are you Anping?"
"Yes."
His voice was tinged with a hint of grievance.
"What are you doing here so late at night?"
There was a distance from the county town to the village. Could there be an urgent matter?
"The shopkeeper sent me to give you money. I got lost and wandered around the village for quite a while."
Rong Zhi: "...Give me money? The payment for the medicinal herbs today has already been settled."
"The shopkeeper said he misunderstood you today, and this money is to apologize."
Anping said, handing over a money bag, but no one took it. A rough voice said, "You've got the wrong person, she's over there."
He then turned Anping around.
"Oh."
Anping then handed the money bag over. "The money has been delivered. I'll be going back now."
"Wait a moment."
Rong Zhi, feeling the weight of the silver in her hand, asked him, "It's so dark at night, you can't even see the road. How will you get back? What if something happens on the way? You can stay at my place tonight."
"No."
"No."
Two voices refused simultaneously. One was Xia Yunting, and the other was Anping himself.
Rong Zhi was surprised. She was being thoughtful, and he refused so quickly?
"What's wrong?"
"Your house is haunted."
"..."
"It would be inconvenient for you to stay, as we are a couple."
"Why don't we let this young brother stay at my place!"
Liu Hong interjected to help.
"I... I think I should go back!"
Anping was still somewhat reluctant. He had never stayed overnight in this village before.
"It would be too much trouble for you."
"Alright, then I won't force you to stay!" Liu Hong did not refuse.
"It's just that it's so dark, it's not safe for you to go back alone. I'll escort you back."
"No, no... I can go back by myself."
"Hey." Liu Hong patted Anping's shoulder. "What are you afraid of? We're both men. You can either stay at my place or I'll escort you back. Choose one!"
"This..."
"Alright, stop hesitating and let's go!"
Liu Hong dragged Anping away. Anping tried to refuse along the way, but it was no use.
Rong Zhi suddenly felt like laughing.
"Brother Liu is truly a kind-hearted person."
Xia Yunting pulled her back with dissatisfaction.
"My heart is also warm."
"Is it? I heard that people who have spent a long time on the battlefield are cold-blooded and unfeeling."
"..." This was definitely a misunderstanding.
Zhao Qiancai sending Anping to deliver money in the middle of the night showed his sincerity. Rong Zhi naturally put her all into supplying him with medicinal herbs.
As soon as dawn broke, Rong Zhi prepared to go out. Unexpectedly, someone was already waiting at the door.
"Miss Lin, are you going up the mountain to gather herbs today?"
"Brother Liu."
Rong Zhi was somewhat surprised. From his appearance, it seemed like he had deliberately waited for her.
"I'm going up the mountain to hunt. Let's go together!"
"Okay."
Rong Zhi slung her basket over her shoulder and was about to say something to Xia Yunting when he silently appeared before her.
"Xiao Mo, going up the mountain?"
"Yes."
"Come back early, and be careful."
Xia Yunting smiled and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, then very gently straightened her clothes.
Rong Zhi got goosebumps. What was with him today?
Finally, Rong Zhi left under Xia Yunting's gaze. All the way, she felt uncomfortable, as if a wolf was behind her, ready to pounce at any moment.
Xia Yunting watched the two figures, one tall and one short, occasionally leaning in to chat, and felt a strong sense of unease.
With Liu Hong leading the way, Rong Zhi indeed found a safe hillside with an abundance of medicinal herbs. Liu Hong was going hunting and couldn't always stay with Rong Zhi. Rong Zhi would not take long to gather herbs, so they agreed that Rong Zhi would leave first after she finished, and then they parted ways.
Rong Zhi quickly gathered a large basket of herbs. She needed to go back to wash and dry them, so she hurried down the mountain without delay.
Unlike her previous delivery, this time Zhao Qiancai personally welcomed her into the Jishitang.
"Miss Lin, you're finally here. Are you hot? Your tea has already been cooled. Come, have some tea."
This overly solicitous attitude didn't make Rong Zhi feel comfortable; rather, it felt like a weasel paying respects to a chicken.
"Shopkeeper, relax. I'm just supplying you with medicinal herbs; there's no need to be so polite."
Rong Zhi said this as she put down her basket. Anping behind the counter quickly took it to weigh, yawning as he worked, likely having woken up early that morning for fear of being late.
While Anping was weighing the herbs, Zhao Qiancai explained to Rong Zhi.
"Miss Lin, after you left that day, Divine Doctor Chu came and explained things to me. I realized I had misunderstood you. I hope you'll take good care of my shop from now on."
"Oh, he came by?"
Rong Zhi had been planning to find him. Since he had already been here, it saved her some trouble.
"No problem. I promised him I would help you, so it's only right. How about this, since I have nothing to do today, I'll stay here and watch the shop."
"Ah, thank you, Miss."
Zhao Qiancai had only intended to be polite. Although Divine Doctor Chu said she had excellent medical skills, he hadn't seen it firsthand. Zhao Qiancai considered her more of a mascot, as the shop had no business anyway.
Who would have thought that Rong Zhi was serious? She already had a plan: even if the shop's business was slow, one or two people would still come in. If she could then show off her skills, she could build a reputation and attract more customers. Of course, the price of medicinal herbs would still need to be lowered; otherwise, no one would be foolish enough to pay.
She had only waited for an hour when someone walked in, with an aggressive demeanor.
"Zhao Qiancai, where is he? Tell him to come out!"