Chapter 38
The first day's herbs, after partial drying, reduced from five pounds to three and a half pounds.
Yu Ying took these few pounds of herbs to the Peng Lai Inn.
To avoid any suspicion, she didn't go directly to the guest rooms but chose to talk in the lobby.
Upon Yu Ying's arrival, the waiter Ah Fu, quite astutely, went to summon the pharmacist.
Mr. Wu, the pharmacist, a middle-aged man, initially had little interest when he heard a woman was selling herbs. However, his curiosity piqued upon learning she had signed a deal for several hundred pounds of herbs with a major pharmacist.
After inquiring at the inn's front desk, he found the story to be true, which sparked his interest.
If the herbs were of poor quality, the major pharmacist wouldn't have ordered such a large quantity.
After weighing his options, he decided to first assess the quality of the herbs before making a decision.
He didn't specify which herbs he wanted, only requesting those for treating colds, intending to test the skills of this Madam Yu mentioned by Ah Fu.
Arriving in the inn's lobby, Ah Fu led him to a young woman.
Initially, the dark spots on the woman's face were quite noticeable, but upon closer observation, one could see that apart from those few blemishes, her features were actually quite delicate.
"With a casual attitude and not sitting down, the man lifted his chin towards her and asked indifferently, 'So, you are Madam Yu?'"
"Sensing his arrogant and disrespectful demeanor, Yu Ying paused her motion to stand up, her smile fading slightly. Remaining seated, she replied calmly, 'Yes, I am Madam Yu. May I know how to address you, sir?'"
"'My name is Wu…' The merchant paused, taken aback by her composed response and the fact that she remained seated, which made him frown slightly."
"Realizing the importance of this business deal, Yu Ying eventually stood up, speaking gently, 'So you are Mr. Wu.' She smiled and added, 'If Mr. Wu has some free time, perhaps you could sit down and take a look at my medicinal herbs.'"
"The merchant, hearing himself addressed as 'Mr. Wu', felt a sense of satisfaction."
"After he sat down, he glanced at the woman and said, 'Let's see the herbs then.'"
"Yu Ying knew that not everyone was as easy to talk to as Shopkeeper Chen and the previous Zhao merchant. She encountered all kinds of people and wasn't bothered by his attitude."
"For her, the priority was making money at this point."
"Yu Ying took out several pounds of medicinal herbs from her basket and placed them on the table, then said, 'Mr. Wu, you mentioned needing herbs for treating colds and warming diseases. Due to limited time, I could only gather these few: patchouli, Isatis root, gardenia, and terrestial stemona.'"
"She pointed to each herb, naming them one by one."
"Being a medicine merchant, one must possess some knowledge of herbs."
"Although Mr. Wu's knowledge wasn’t comprehensive, he was specifically looking for herbs to treat colds and warming diseases. Hearing these names, he pondered for a moment, recognizing that each was correct."
"He dropped his disdainful look and carefully examined the herbs she mentioned."
"The herbs were very clean and clearly freshly harvested, not old stock."
"After pondering, he looked up at Yu Ying and said, 'I have already committed to a large order with the local medical hall. I cannot break that agreement, so even if your herbs are good, I'm afraid I can't buy much.'"
"Truth be told, the merchant felt regretful, but breaking the agreement would mean paying a hefty penalty, and he couldn’t take back the herbs, an unwise move."
"When Yu Ying heard the merchant had already made an agreement with a medical hall, she felt disheartened, fearing the deal was off. But hearing him say he couldn’t buy much reignited her hope."
"She displayed a smile and asked, 'May I know how much of the herbs you would like to purchase, sir?'"
"The herbalist pondered for a moment before responding, 'I can take thirty pounds of herbs primarily for treating colds and fevers. As for the price, it will be calculated per pound.'"
"He looked down at the herbs on the table, thought for a bit, and then quoted a price, 'Ten coins per pound.'"
"Hearing this price, Yú Yíng’s smile slowly faded."
"Previously, the herbalist surnamed Zhào had mentioned that he would pay her according to the clinic's purchasing rates, implying that these herbs could be priced as per the clinic’s standards."
"Zhào, dealing in large quantities, had offered this rate, and it seemed unlikely that a smaller herbalist would negotiate a better price."
"After a moment's silence, Yú Yíng responded with a faint smile, 'Sir, this price might be much higher than what the clinic pays me, but it’s still much lower than what you pay the clinic.'"
"The herbalist raised his eyebrows slightly and said, 'I have already committed to a certain quantity of herbs. I'm only considering buying thirty pounds from you because of the quality of your herbs. If you find the price too low, there’s no need to negotiate with me.'"
"The herbalist seemed convinced that Yú Yíng, in need of money, would sell at a low price."
"Yú Yíng continued, 'The dangers in the mountains are no less than the risks you face traveling long distances to buy herbs. Moreover, if I sell to you today at such a low price, it sets a precedent. Who would be willing to pay the standard price for my herbs in the future?'"
"The herbalist replied, 'Our agreed price remains between us; others need not know.'"
"Yú Yíng smiled and followed up, 'And what about sharing with others?'"
"The herbalist looked puzzled, then listened as she explained, 'The dangers of the mountains are not something I can face alone. Those who accompany me and the waiter who introduces buyers – I can’t offer them a high price and then pay them a pittance. Would they still be willing to work for me?'"
"'Even if I pay them well, should I only earn a meager profit for all my efforts? Moreover, it’s hard to ensure they would keep the price a secret.'"
"The herbalist fell silent for a moment, still reluctant to raise his offer, and said awkwardly, 'The main issue is that after buying from the clinic, my budget is limited, and furthermore...'"
"Pausing momentarily, the herbalist offered a tempting proposal to the woman across from him, 'Come October, I’ll be back in Yún County to purchase more herbs. I won’t make an agreement with the clinic then; instead, I’ll come directly to Madam Yú. We can renegotiate the prices then. How does that sound to you?'"
"Yú Yíng smiled lightly, 'That sounds good.'"
"The herbalist, pleased at her response, thought to himself that the woman was easy to persuade."
"'Then let’s sign a contract. We’ll set the price as previously offered by another herbalist, twenty-one coins per pound for ordinary herbs, starting from a hundred pounds.'"
"The herbalist’s expression stiffened."
"Though twenty-one coins was only one coin less than the clinic’s rate, he was a small-scale herbalist, only purchasing herbs in autumn and summer. This trip to Lingnan for herbs, and next, he would go north..."
"A verbal agreement and signing a contract were two entirely different matters."
"Yú Yíng had already guessed that the herbalist was trying to deceive her, and his now slightly stiffened expression confirmed her suspicion."
"Yú Yíng then lightly smiled, 'How about we both compromise? Sixteen coins per pound, maintaining 95% quality. What do you think, sir?'"
"Uncle Hé’s price was six or seven coins, and after deducting the waiter's share, she needed at least a fifty percent profit for the deal to be worthwhile."
"Otherwise, setting a low price now would lead to many more such low offers in the future."
"Upon hearing this, the herbalist frowned, stood up, and said, 'Twelve coins per pound, take it or leave it.'"
"Though he stood up, he didn’t seem in a hurry to leave immediately."
Yuying understood clearly; now it was a matter of who could hold out longer.
She also stood up, methodically began tidying up the medicinal herbs on the table. This made the herbalist's brow twitch, but he still secretly hoped it was just a bluff.
After packing all the herbs into her basket, Yuying slung it over her shoulder and said softly, "Since the gentleman and I cannot agree on a fair price, it's a pity, but I hope we can do business next time."
Having said this, Yuying nodded slightly to the herbalist and then turned to leave.
The herbalist's face gradually stiffened.
The clinic offered twenty-two coins, and he could double that selling to the clinic in the north.
And this woman's herbs were of high quality, definitely warranting a higher price.
Sixteen coins was not only a fair deal but also a bit more profitable.
Watching the woman leave, the herbalist weighed his options and eventually decided to follow her out.
Afu, who had been watching from the side, was on tenterhooks.
He had just been thinking that twelve coins per pound was already good, wondering why Lady Yu refused it. At twelve coins per pound, for thirty pounds, he could have made thirty-six coins.
In his disappointment, seeing the herbalist chase after her rekindled hope, and he was thoroughly impressed by Lady Yu.
The herbalist's pursuit confirmed that Yuying's gamble was right.
The deal was made.
When returning to the eatery at noon, it happened that Manager Chen had also arranged things well. The yamen runner agreed to the banquet, scheduled for the evening the day after next.
Upon returning, Yuying shared both pieces of news with Uncle He and Aunt He, asking them to continue herb gathering with her the next day, and then to go to Yu County with Uncle He the day after.
Uncle He was a bit nervous about the banquet, but hearing that the deal had been made, his anxiety vanished.
While informing her eldest son about the time for dining with the official, she continually examined the herbs she had gathered earlier, ensuring she remembered their appearance.
Yuying, upon returning home, sent Fu Ning and Fu An out after dinner and then shared these two matters with Fu Wei.
Fu Wei pondered for a moment, then said, "Hosting a dinner is just to flatter the yamen runner and make him happy. As for the business deal..."
Yuying asked, "Is there something wrong?"
Fu Wei, looking at her seriously, said, "Previously, the herbalist always bought from clinics. With a few fewer traveling merchants, the clinics won't be suspicious. But if you set your prices too low, those merchants might flock to you, and the clinics might join forces against you. So, it's best to keep a low profile until you make a name for yourself."
After hearing Fu Wei's words, Yuying also fell into deep thought.
"The market has its established prices, and suddenly undercutting them would surely make me a target among my peers," she realized.
After thinking, she said, "I was eager to succeed in our first business deal with Uncle He and Aunt He, so I acted hastily without full consideration."
Fu Wei shook his head and replied, "The quantity is small, and the price isn't extremely low. One or two times won't have much impact."
After reflecting, Yuying said, "In the future, we should stick to the original prices. Although we may not compete with the clinics, it's less troublesome, and low-price competition isn't a fair tactic. It's not good for others or for us."
Fu Wei smiled upon hearing her words and said, "Discussing matters with you is indeed comforting."
Yuying didn't hastily deny the shortcomings pointed out by others but thoughtfully considered them, accepting and learning from good advice.
Yuying smiled lightly, without saying much.
In the morning, Yuying, Uncle He, and Aunt He went to gather herbs together. The second time was much more efficient than the first, but they only managed to collect about nine pounds since they were looking for specific herbs.
The next day, since they had to go to town, they only gathered for a while, collecting a little over four pounds.
These fourteen pounds of partially dried herbs amounted to about eleven pounds, adding to the previous three pounds, making about fifteen pounds in total.
The remaining fifteen and a half pounds of partially dried herbs would take about two more days to gather, so there was no rush.
For the banquet with the yamen runner, Yuying bought two jars of wine, each costing fifty coins, considered fine wine for ordinary folk.
She gave one jar of wine to Manager Chen, keeping the other for the guests.
She also booked two standard rooms at the Peng Lai Inn in advance, providing a comfortable resting place for those who had drinks.
Yuying informed Manager Chen about the booked rooms.
She then hid five hundred coins under the fruits in the basket, which Uncle He would later give to the yamen runner.
As dusk approached, Yuying returned home.
Concerned about the reception, Yuying found herself unable to sleep that night.
In the middle of the night, Fu Wei whispered from the other side of the bed, "Don't worry too much. The yamen runner just wants his cut and doesn't want to escalate things. As long as he's satisfied, he'll help."
Hearing this, Yuying turned over to face Fu Wei in the dark, asking, "Was it like this in Wuling County before?"
After a moment of silence, Fu Wei replied, "Everywhere has its murky and clear waters. No place is entirely clean or corrupt."
Fu Wei's words were true; no matter the era or place, there are no completely pure or entirely corrupt places.
Thinking it over, Yuying decided, "Let it be, I'll know the outcome tomorrow. Worrying now only adds to my troubles."
She turned over, counted sheep, and finally fell asleep.
The next morning, the He family father and son returned from Yu County.
Uncle He reported, "Three yamen runners came. They were delighted with our hospitality and the good food and drink. Wu Dong's uncle even agreed to the quarry matter, asking us to pay the ransom early. He'll get the order and accompany us."
He continued, "Thanks to Liuniang's arrangement, they couldn't stop praising the wine and were pleased about the inn rooms. They left smiling the next day."
Hearing Uncle He's words, Yuying felt a weight lift off her heart.
The task of building relationships was half done; now, they just needed to prepare the herbs and could head to the quarry in three days.
He Dalang said that even if he went to work today, a whole day's wages would be deducted, so it was better to help at home in the morning and go to work in the afternoon.
With He Dalang's help, they gathered about fifteen pounds of herbs by noon. With one more day of work, everything would be completed.
Once the work was done, it was time to head to the quarry.
At this thought, Yuying gazed thoughtfully in the direction of the quarry pointed out by Uncle He, her worry evident.
She wondered what kind of people Fu Dalang and his wife were, and whether they would be easy to get along with.
Chapter 38
The first day's herbs, after partial drying, reduced from five pounds to three and a half pounds.
Yu Ying took these few pounds of herbs to the Peng Lai Inn.
To avoid any suspicion, she didn't go directly to the guest rooms but chose to talk in the lobby.
Upon Yu Ying's arrival, the waiter Ah Fu, quite astutely, went to summon the pharmacist.
Mr. Wu, the pharmacist, a middle-aged man, initially had little interest when he heard a woman was selling herbs. However, his curiosity piqued upon learning she had signed a deal for several hundred pounds of herbs with a major pharmacist.
After inquiring at the inn's front desk, he found the story to be true, which sparked his interest.
If the herbs were of poor quality, the major pharmacist wouldn't have ordered such a large quantity.
After weighing his options, he decided to first assess the quality of the herbs before making a decision.
He didn't specify which herbs he wanted, only requesting those for treating colds, intending to test the skills of this Madam Yu mentioned by Ah Fu.
Arriving in the inn's lobby, Ah Fu led him to a young woman.
Initially, the dark spots on the woman's face were quite noticeable, but upon closer observation, one could see that apart from those few blemishes, her features were actually quite delicate.
"With a casual attitude and not sitting down, the man lifted his chin towards her and asked indifferently, 'So, you are Madam Yu?'"
"Sensing his arrogant and disrespectful demeanor, Yu Ying paused her motion to stand up, her smile fading slightly. Remaining seated, she replied calmly, 'Yes, I am Madam Yu. May I know how to address you, sir?'"
"'My name is Wu…' The merchant paused, taken aback by her composed response and the fact that she remained seated, which made him frown slightly."
"Realizing the importance of this business deal, Yu Ying eventually stood up, speaking gently, 'So you are Mr. Wu.' She smiled and added, 'If Mr. Wu has some free time, perhaps you could sit down and take a look at my medicinal herbs.'"
"The merchant, hearing himself addressed as 'Mr. Wu', felt a sense of satisfaction."
"After he sat down, he glanced at the woman and said, 'Let's see the herbs then.'"
"Yu Ying knew that not everyone was as easy to talk to as Shopkeeper Chen and the previous Zhao merchant. She encountered all kinds of people and wasn't bothered by his attitude."
"For her, the priority was making money at this point."
"Yu Ying took out several pounds of medicinal herbs from her basket and placed them on the table, then said, 'Mr. Wu, you mentioned needing herbs for treating colds and warming diseases. Due to limited time, I could only gather these few: patchouli, Isatis root, gardenia, and terrestial stemona.'"
"She pointed to each herb, naming them one by one."
"Being a medicine merchant, one must possess some knowledge of herbs."
"Although Mr. Wu's knowledge wasn’t comprehensive, he was specifically looking for herbs to treat colds and warming diseases. Hearing these names, he pondered for a moment, recognizing that each was correct."
"He dropped his disdainful look and carefully examined the herbs she mentioned."
"The herbs were very clean and clearly freshly harvested, not old stock."
"After pondering, he looked up at Yu Ying and said, 'I have already committed to a large order with the local medical hall. I cannot break that agreement, so even if your herbs are good, I'm afraid I can't buy much.'"
"Truth be told, the merchant felt regretful, but breaking the agreement would mean paying a hefty penalty, and he couldn’t take back the herbs, an unwise move."
"When Yu Ying heard the merchant had already made an agreement with a medical hall, she felt disheartened, fearing the deal was off. But hearing him say he couldn’t buy much reignited her hope."
"She displayed a smile and asked, 'May I know how much of the herbs you would like to purchase, sir?'"
"The herbalist pondered for a moment before responding, 'I can take thirty pounds of herbs primarily for treating colds and fevers. As for the price, it will be calculated per pound.'"
"He looked down at the herbs on the table, thought for a bit, and then quoted a price, 'Ten coins per pound.'"
"Hearing this price, Yú Yíng’s smile slowly faded."
"Previously, the herbalist surnamed Zhào had mentioned that he would pay her according to the clinic's purchasing rates, implying that these herbs could be priced as per the clinic’s standards."
"Zhào, dealing in large quantities, had offered this rate, and it seemed unlikely that a smaller herbalist would negotiate a better price."
"After a moment's silence, Yú Yíng responded with a faint smile, 'Sir, this price might be much higher than what the clinic pays me, but it’s still much lower than what you pay the clinic.'"
"The herbalist raised his eyebrows slightly and said, 'I have already committed to a certain quantity of herbs. I'm only considering buying thirty pounds from you because of the quality of your herbs. If you find the price too low, there’s no need to negotiate with me.'"
"The herbalist seemed convinced that Yú Yíng, in need of money, would sell at a low price."
"Yú Yíng continued, 'The dangers in the mountains are no less than the risks you face traveling long distances to buy herbs. Moreover, if I sell to you today at such a low price, it sets a precedent. Who would be willing to pay the standard price for my herbs in the future?'"
"The herbalist replied, 'Our agreed price remains between us; others need not know.'"
"Yú Yíng smiled and followed up, 'And what about sharing with others?'"
"The herbalist looked puzzled, then listened as she explained, 'The dangers of the mountains are not something I can face alone. Those who accompany me and the waiter who introduces buyers – I can’t offer them a high price and then pay them a pittance. Would they still be willing to work for me?'"
"'Even if I pay them well, should I only earn a meager profit for all my efforts? Moreover, it’s hard to ensure they would keep the price a secret.'"
"The herbalist fell silent for a moment, still reluctant to raise his offer, and said awkwardly, 'The main issue is that after buying from the clinic, my budget is limited, and furthermore...'"
"Pausing momentarily, the herbalist offered a tempting proposal to the woman across from him, 'Come October, I’ll be back in Yún County to purchase more herbs. I won’t make an agreement with the clinic then; instead, I’ll come directly to Madam Yú. We can renegotiate the prices then. How does that sound to you?'"
"Yú Yíng smiled lightly, 'That sounds good.'"
"The herbalist, pleased at her response, thought to himself that the woman was easy to persuade."
"'Then let’s sign a contract. We’ll set the price as previously offered by another herbalist, twenty-one coins per pound for ordinary herbs, starting from a hundred pounds.'"
"The herbalist’s expression stiffened."
"Though twenty-one coins was only one coin less than the clinic’s rate, he was a small-scale herbalist, only purchasing herbs in autumn and summer. This trip to Lingnan for herbs, and next, he would go north..."
"A verbal agreement and signing a contract were two entirely different matters."
"Yú Yíng had already guessed that the herbalist was trying to deceive her, and his now slightly stiffened expression confirmed her suspicion."
"Yú Yíng then lightly smiled, 'How about we both compromise? Sixteen coins per pound, maintaining 95% quality. What do you think, sir?'"
"Uncle Hé’s price was six or seven coins, and after deducting the waiter's share, she needed at least a fifty percent profit for the deal to be worthwhile."
"Otherwise, setting a low price now would lead to many more such low offers in the future."
"Upon hearing this, the herbalist frowned, stood up, and said, 'Twelve coins per pound, take it or leave it.'"
"Though he stood up, he didn’t seem in a hurry to leave immediately."
Yuying understood clearly; now it was a matter of who could hold out longer.
She also stood up, methodically began tidying up the medicinal herbs on the table. This made the herbalist's brow twitch, but he still secretly hoped it was just a bluff.
After packing all the herbs into her basket, Yuying slung it over her shoulder and said softly, "Since the gentleman and I cannot agree on a fair price, it's a pity, but I hope we can do business next time."
Having said this, Yuying nodded slightly to the herbalist and then turned to leave.
The herbalist's face gradually stiffened.
The clinic offered twenty-two coins, and he could double that selling to the clinic in the north.
And this woman's herbs were of high quality, definitely warranting a higher price.
Sixteen coins was not only a fair deal but also a bit more profitable.
Watching the woman leave, the herbalist weighed his options and eventually decided to follow her out.
Afu, who had been watching from the side, was on tenterhooks.
He had just been thinking that twelve coins per pound was already good, wondering why Lady Yu refused it. At twelve coins per pound, for thirty pounds, he could have made thirty-six coins.
In his disappointment, seeing the herbalist chase after her rekindled hope, and he was thoroughly impressed by Lady Yu.
The herbalist's pursuit confirmed that Yuying's gamble was right.
The deal was made.
When returning to the eatery at noon, it happened that Manager Chen had also arranged things well. The yamen runner agreed to the banquet, scheduled for the evening the day after next.
Upon returning, Yuying shared both pieces of news with Uncle He and Aunt He, asking them to continue herb gathering with her the next day, and then to go to Yu County with Uncle He the day after.
Uncle He was a bit nervous about the banquet, but hearing that the deal had been made, his anxiety vanished.
While informing her eldest son about the time for dining with the official, she continually examined the herbs she had gathered earlier, ensuring she remembered their appearance.
Yuying, upon returning home, sent Fu Ning and Fu An out after dinner and then shared these two matters with Fu Wei.
Fu Wei pondered for a moment, then said, "Hosting a dinner is just to flatter the yamen runner and make him happy. As for the business deal..."
Yuying asked, "Is there something wrong?"
Fu Wei, looking at her seriously, said, "Previously, the herbalist always bought from clinics. With a few fewer traveling merchants, the clinics won't be suspicious. But if you set your prices too low, those merchants might flock to you, and the clinics might join forces against you. So, it's best to keep a low profile until you make a name for yourself."
After hearing Fu Wei's words, Yuying also fell into deep thought.
"The market has its established prices, and suddenly undercutting them would surely make me a target among my peers," she realized.
After thinking, she said, "I was eager to succeed in our first business deal with Uncle He and Aunt He, so I acted hastily without full consideration."
Fu Wei shook his head and replied, "The quantity is small, and the price isn't extremely low. One or two times won't have much impact."
After reflecting, Yuying said, "In the future, we should stick to the original prices. Although we may not compete with the clinics, it's less troublesome, and low-price competition isn't a fair tactic. It's not good for others or for us."
Fu Wei smiled upon hearing her words and said, "Discussing matters with you is indeed comforting."
Yuying didn't hastily deny the shortcomings pointed out by others but thoughtfully considered them, accepting and learning from good advice.
Yuying smiled lightly, without saying much.
In the morning, Yuying, Uncle He, and Aunt He went to gather herbs together. The second time was much more efficient than the first, but they only managed to collect about nine pounds since they were looking for specific herbs.
The next day, since they had to go to town, they only gathered for a while, collecting a little over four pounds.
These fourteen pounds of partially dried herbs amounted to about eleven pounds, adding to the previous three pounds, making about fifteen pounds in total.
The remaining fifteen and a half pounds of partially dried herbs would take about two more days to gather, so there was no rush.
For the banquet with the yamen runner, Yuying bought two jars of wine, each costing fifty coins, considered fine wine for ordinary folk.
She gave one jar of wine to Manager Chen, keeping the other for the guests.
She also booked two standard rooms at the Peng Lai Inn in advance, providing a comfortable resting place for those who had drinks.
Yuying informed Manager Chen about the booked rooms.
She then hid five hundred coins under the fruits in the basket, which Uncle He would later give to the yamen runner.
As dusk approached, Yuying returned home.
Concerned about the reception, Yuying found herself unable to sleep that night.
In the middle of the night, Fu Wei whispered from the other side of the bed, "Don't worry too much. The yamen runner just wants his cut and doesn't want to escalate things. As long as he's satisfied, he'll help."
Hearing this, Yuying turned over to face Fu Wei in the dark, asking, "Was it like this in Wuling County before?"
After a moment of silence, Fu Wei replied, "Everywhere has its murky and clear waters. No place is entirely clean or corrupt."
Fu Wei's words were true; no matter the era or place, there are no completely pure or entirely corrupt places.
Thinking it over, Yuying decided, "Let it be, I'll know the outcome tomorrow. Worrying now only adds to my troubles."
She turned over, counted sheep, and finally fell asleep.
The next morning, the He family father and son returned from Yu County.
Uncle He reported, "Three yamen runners came. They were delighted with our hospitality and the good food and drink. Wu Dong's uncle even agreed to the quarry matter, asking us to pay the ransom early. He'll get the order and accompany us."
He continued, "Thanks to Liuniang's arrangement, they couldn't stop praising the wine and were pleased about the inn rooms. They left smiling the next day."
Hearing Uncle He's words, Yuying felt a weight lift off her heart.
The task of building relationships was half done; now, they just needed to prepare the herbs and could head to the quarry in three days.
He Dalang said that even if he went to work today, a whole day's wages would be deducted, so it was better to help at home in the morning and go to work in the afternoon.
With He Dalang's help, they gathered about fifteen pounds of herbs by noon. With one more day of work, everything would be completed.
Once the work was done, it was time to head to the quarry.
At this thought, Yuying gazed thoughtfully in the direction of the quarry pointed out by Uncle He, her worry evident.
She wondered what kind of people Fu Dalang and his wife were, and whether they would be easy to get along with.
