Chapter 28: Gathering the Herbs
Chapter 28: Gathering the Herbs
“Boshan Coast Guard Bravely Captures National Class-A Wanted Criminal, Seizes Several Firearms!”
This headline caught the eye immediately. The article gave a detailed description of the arrest operation near Boshan Dock late last night, focusing heavily on the national Class-A wanted criminal and the fact that the armed criminals had firearms, highlighting the bravery of the coast guard.
For Yang Qi, this kind of report, which fabricated facts, mixed things up, and added dramatic details, was something the general media, relevant departments, and the public all loved and celebrated. He was used to it and didn’t make any comment. This report had no value to him at all.
However, Shen Zhengfeng’s phone call gave Yang Qi quite a bit of information. He said the incident at sea caused a huge shock in the underworld. Those in higher circles believed this was the other party in the transaction, Boshan’s Water Snake, secretly playing dirty tricks from behind. Otherwise, given Water Snake’s influence in Boshan, it was unlikely the police would have found out. Most importantly, the items seized by the coast guard did not include the transaction money, which could mean Water Snake had double-crossed them and taken it.
There were many guesses, but only Shen Zhengfeng knew this was Yang Qi’s doing. He felt even more awe and respect. He knew Chen Haodong was not someone to mess with, and with the desperate criminals around him, his strength was no small thing. Yet, in front of Yang Qi, he was like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
At the same time, Shen Zhengfeng also told Yang Qi that because of this, Boshan’s Water Snake was extremely anxious and trying to find ways to explain things to Qiao Liu. Everyone knew Qiao Liu held grudges and sought revenge for the smallest grievance. Even without evidence that Water Snake had betrayed Chen Haodong, he would definitely retaliate against Water Snake, since the incident happened on his turf.
“Good. Then help me keep an eye on the news from Boshan. If you hear anything about Qiao Liu, tell me immediately. Also, be careful yourself. Qiao Liu must have many subordinates scattered in many places. He definitely has some around here too. Regarding the matter at the Courtyard, you need to put on an act so Qiao Liu doesn’t get suspicious.”
“Yes, I’ve already made arrangements for that. I definitely won’t let Qiao Liu become suspicious.”
Yang Qi hung up the phone, thinking to himself that Shen Zhengfeng was quite a shrewd person. He handled many things well without needing to be told. It’s just that his nature was a bit bad, and his past actions were intolerable. Otherwise, he might have been someone useful.
Hundred Herbs Tower was located on Hongbei Road in Ruiyun City. Hongbei Road could be considered the only place in the city center that was quiet amidst the bustle, surrounded mostly by antique shops, medicine shops, and calligraphy and painting stores.
“Hundred herbs bring back spring, vying for the crane’s longevity; A thousand prescriptions intend to extend the pine’s years.”
This was a couplet at the entrance of Hundred Herbs Tower, inlaid on green wooden pillars, giving a somewhat ancient and simple feel. Yang Qi walked into the building and saw another couplet catch his eye.
“Radix Rehmanniae (Shengdi), Ginseng (Renshen), Aconite (Fuzi), Chinese Angelica (Danggui), Prepared Rehmannia Root (Shudi), Spina Date Seed (Zaoren), Southern Jujube (Nanzao), Medicinal Evodia Fruit (Wuyu), Galloping Horse Fennel (Dama Huixiang).”
The words in the couplet were all names of medicinal herbs, using homophones to read as: “A new place, one’s life, father and son return to the familiar place; Looking for people is hard to find, speechless, galloping a horse back to the hometown.” It was a clever and interesting couplet. The shop owner seemed like a person of refined taste, though it was unclear if it was genuine elegance or just pretending to be cultured.
“Hello, what herbs do you need?”
A female attendant came over. Although Yang Qi looked like a student, she didn’t take him lightly at all and had a very good service attitude.
Yang Qi had already written down the herbs he wanted to buy. He handed the list to the female attendant and said, “Please get the herbs for me according to this list.”
“Okay, please wait a moment.”
The female attendant left. Not long after, she returned and said, “May I ask, are all these herbs you just requested meant to be boiled together in one decoction?”
Yang Qi was puzzled and asked in return, “Why do you ask?”
“It’s like this. Our herb dispenser said several of these herbs in your list are ‘opposite and mutually incompatible’ according to medicine theory. If boiled together in one pot, they would definitely be toxic. That’s why he asked me to come and check with you.”
“‘Opposite and mutually incompatible’?”
Yang Qi remembered this referred to the concept of clashing herbs. The “Compendium of Materia Medica” clearly recorded the “Eighteen Incompatible Medicaments” and “Nineteen Mutual Antagonisms,” but Yang Qi hadn’t actually read that book and wasn’t very clear on the details.
To avoid causing trouble, Yang Qi smiled and said, “I’m using these herbs separately. Thank you for the reminder.”
“Oh.”
The female attendant nodded and left. At that moment, an old man walked over and said to Yang Qi, “Young man, you can’t joke about medicinal herbs. If some quack prescribed this, you should say so early to avoid boiling them together and causing a major incident. In your prescription, Veratrum Nigrum (Lilu), Ginseng (Renshen), and Flying Squirrel Feces (Wulingzhi) – these three things absolutely cannot be put together. Veratrum and Ginseng are ‘opposite,’ and Ginseng and Flying Squirrel Feces are ‘mutually incompatible.’ This is no joke. The other herbs are the same, either opposite or clashing. Who prescribed this formula for you?”
The old man had a very serious and puzzled expression, staring at Yang Qi as if trying to see if something was wrong. He probably thought Yang Qi had been tricked by a quack, or that Yang Qi was using this prescription to harm someone.
“Old sir, please don’t worry. I really am using these medicines separately,” Yang Qi said with a smile, not wanting anyone to misunderstand.
“That’s good, that’s best then.”
The old man stroked the white beard on his chin and walked towards a room to the side. He seemed to be someone associated with this herb shop.
“Qi Bo, what’s the matter?”
At that moment, a middle-aged man walked out from another door. Seeing the old man’s puzzled look, he asked with concern.
“Oh, it’s the proprietor.” Qi Bo saw it was the owner of the herb shop and addressed him using the traditional term from the trade. “It’s nothing serious. I just saw that young man with a prescription full of clashing herbs and found it strange.”
The middle-aged man looked in the direction the old man pointed, paused slightly, then revealed an enthusiastic smile towards Yang Qi and said, “Yang Qi, it’s you!”
“Hmm? Proprietor, you know this young man?” Qi Bo asked, puzzled.
“Yes, he’s the young hero I told you about a few days ago, the one who saved Yingying,” the middle-aged man said with a laugh, walking towards Yang Qi.
Hearing this, Qi Bo became curious and stood there instead of going into the room.
Yang Qi also recognized the middle-aged man. It was Lou Yingying’s father, Fang Henian. Fang Henian had married into the Lou family, and Lou Yingying took her mother’s surname. This was also a main reason why Chen Xiaoxiao said Lou Yingying’s mother had a bad temper.
“Uncle Fang, hello,” Yang Qi said, also not expecting to meet an acquaintance here.
“What a coincidence, I didn’t expect to meet you here,” Fang Henian said. “You came to buy medicine, right? Is someone in your family sick or something? If you have any difficulties, tell Uncle Fang. This shop is mine, I’ll definitely give you the best medicine.”
“No difficulties. I bought these herbs because I have a use for them. No one in the family is sick,” Yang Qi replied with a smile.
“Since the proprietor knows you, this old man will be brazen and nag one more time,” Qi Bo couldn’t help but say. “Young man, that prescription is really not something to play with. You must be very careful. Although I mainly appraise herbs, I’ve also studied medicine. I can tell your prescription is highly toxic.”
Hearing this, Fang Henian became concerned. He took the prescription and looked at it, also seeing the problem. He then expressed his concern to Yang Qi again.
Seeing this, Yang Qi had no choice but to repeat that these were for separate use. Of course, he couldn’t tell them the prescription came from an advanced alien civilization and was actually very effective.
“If that’s the case, then good,” Fang Henian sighed in relief and said to Qi Bo with a smile, “I trust Yang Qi’s character. He’s also an excellent student, not a reckless child. Since he says they’re for separate use, then it must be so. Qi Bo, please don’t worry.”
Hearing this, Qi Bo could only nod.
Yang Qi didn’t find these two annoying. It was clear they were kind-hearted people, especially the old man. They didn’t know each other, yet he urged him repeatedly. It showed a doctor’s heart, a sense of responsibility towards people.
Not long after, the female attendant came out with the packaged herbs. Seeing the boss and the shop’s appraisal expert were both there, she paused for a moment. She handed the herbs to Yang Qi, smiled at Fang Henian and Qi Bo, and then said to Yang Qi, “Hello, here are the herbs you requested.”
“How much?” Yang Qi asked.
The female attendant was about to state the price, but Fang Henian stopped her. He smiled and said, “Yang Qi, Uncle Fang can’t take your money. Otherwise, if Yingying finds out, she’ll definitely say I’m stingy and only care about money!”
Hearing this, Yang Qi immediately shook his head and said, “Uncle Fang, that won’t do. Business is business, favors are favors. If you don’t take the money, then I can’t take the herbs.”
“You’re really putting me in a difficult spot, kid.”
Seeing Yang Qi’s extremely firm expression, Fang Henian nodded and said, “Alright then.” He had the female attendant bring a calculator. After calculating for a moment, he said, “Three hundred and twenty total. Rounding it down, you can pay three hundred.”
“Three hundred?”
Even if Yang Qi didn’t know the exact prices of all these herbs, he at least knew the price of one of them, ginseng. There was at least enough for three portions of ginseng here.
“Uncle Fang, the price… isn’t it like this, right? Isn’t it too cheap?” Even though Yang Qi wasn’t thin-skinned, he couldn’t help asking.
“Consider the ginseng a gift from your uncle! You can’t refuse this anymore!” Fang Henian said with a stern face. “Otherwise, I really won’t know how to explain myself to Yingying when I go back!”
“Alright then.”
Yang Qi finally had to accept. He took the herbs, thanked them, and left.
“This kid, not trying to cash in on a favor, is really good.”
Qi Bo watched Yang Qi’s departing figure and praised him, then said with a smile to Fang Henian, “The proprietor is also a generous person. Actually, the most expensive herb in that lot wasn’t the ginseng.”
“A little money, how can it compare to Yingying’s life?” Fang Henian smiled wryly, looking at the three hundred dollars in his hand. Even though this money wasn’t even a fraction of the actual total price of those herbs, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable taking it.
Qi Bo smiled and walked back to his dedicated room. He also took Yang Qi’s prescription back with him. He still felt the prescription was somewhat strange. As someone who studied medicine, this was the first time he had seen a prescription consisting entirely of opposite and mutually incompatible herbs. He still didn’t quite believe Yang Qi was using them separately. He felt there must be something odd about it and kept staring at the prescription.
Yang Qi left the herb shop. He didn’t go home but headed towards the suburbs.
Even if people on Earth couldn’t understand or figure out the Muscle Enhancement Potion formula, Yang Qi wasn’t stupid enough to buy all the required herbs at once. He had to beware of observant people.
There were still two herbs he hadn’t bought. However, he didn’t need to buy these two. Yang Qi had a way to get them himself, and it was very easy.