SWDnovel Chapter 67 The Rhinoceros Discusses Etiquette
Chapter 67 The Rhinoceros Discusses Etiquette
On the 29th day of the fifth month of the ninth year of Zhenguan, just as dawn was breaking and the morning mist still enveloped the entire farm, Wang Zhihuan picked up a bamboo basket and a small shovel and went out.
Several days have passed since I received the complete treatment plan for Qi ailment. The top-grade Codonopsis pilosula and wild Astragalus membranaceus in the prescription are all artificially cultivated inferior products in Chang'an pharmacies, and their medicinal effects are much weaker.
For medicinal herbs used to treat and save lives, even a slight difference in efficacy can jeopardize the entire therapeutic effect. He would rather travel over mountains and valleys than compromise on quality.
Before leaving, he made sure to give the four little creatures in the yard plenty of food and water.
Ah Huang lay under the roots of the jujube tree, his two front paws tightly clutching half a tattered straw sandal, chewing on it and shaking his head, his tail wagging so hard that his buttocks wiggled along with it, looking utterly adorable.
Hua Hua squatted on the stone table, her eyelids drooping as she glanced at Ah Huang, her tail tip slowly tapping the tabletop, full of disdain.
Grey had already jumped onto the windowsill, squinting as it licked its paws and washed its face, while Blackie remained huddled under the stone bench, only one pointed ear showing, making no sound whatsoever.
None of these little creatures are easy to manage.
Wang Zhihuan squatted down and ruffled Ah Huang's fluffy head: "Don't always provoke Hua Hua. You got your face scratched last time, haven't you learned your lesson?"
Ah Huang stopped biting, raised its drool-covered face, stared at him with its wet black eyes, let out a howl, and wagged its tail even more enthusiastically, completely ignoring his words.
Wang Zhi chuckled helplessly. This brat never learns from his mistakes; there was no point in saying anything.
The morning mist at Qingshiling was so thick it seemed to be impenetrable, and the dampness in the forest carried the fresh scent of grass and trees. The decaying leaves underfoot were soft and silent.
Following the wild path he had used to gather herbs last time, Wang Zhihuan passed through the pine forest in the valley and headed straight for the depths of the shady mountains—that shady, dense forest with its thick humus soil and tree canopies that blocked out the sun, was the perfect place for Codonopsis pilosula and Astragalus membranaceus to grow.
I'm having the best luck today.
Beneath an old pine forest, a dense patch of Codonopsis pilosula grows, its vines twining around the pine branches and climbing upwards, while delicate, pale green flowers hide among the leaves, charming and lovely.
He squatted down, carefully digging deep with a small shovel, afraid of breaking the roots. The ginseng he dug out was thick and plump, covered in moist soil, with milky white sap seeping from the cut surface, and a rich medicinal aroma wafted over.
On sunny slopes, astragalus grows in large patches. He specifically selects plants with thick stems and dark green leaves, digging up only the thick main root and leaving the fibrous roots, stems, and leaves in the soil so they can grow again next year.
When digging up the third astragalus plant, the tip of the shovel suddenly hit a hard lump.
Brushing aside the topsoil, there was a palm-sized, yellowish-brown fungal nodule, pitted and uneven. A closer sniff revealed a rich, pungent fungal aroma that filled the nostrils—it was an old Poria cocos that had grown for three or four years, extremely rare.
This stuff strengthens the spleen and removes dampness. When combined with other medicinal herbs, it is most suitable for Mrs. Li to regulate her spleen and stomach. Stewing it into soup makes it even more gentle and nourishing.
Wang Zhi carefully dug out the whole piece of Poria cocos, which weighed more than two pounds. Today's trip was full of rare medicinal materials, making it well worth the journey.
By the time he returned to the farm with a bamboo basket full of medicinal herbs, the sun was already setting, and sunlight filtered through the leaves of the jujube tree, casting dappled patterns of light.
He didn't bother wiping the sweat from his forehead. He drew well water and carefully washed the medicinal herbs. He laid the codonopsis and astragalus on a bamboo tray to dry, wrapped the notoginseng in a damp cloth and placed it in a cool place, and washed the poria and placed it on the stone table, waiting to slice it the next day.
Just as they were busy working, the clear sound of donkey hooves came from outside the courtyard gate, accompanied by a childish cry, which could be heard clearly even through the courtyard wall.
"Beautiful pot! Beautiful pot!"
The courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open, and Xiao Sizi appeared, wearing a light pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with two round little buns on her head, adorned with tiny pearl pendants.
She was carrying a small floral bundle in her arms, and with her short legs, she stumbled and staggered into the yard like a fluttering little pink butterfly.
"Sizi's here! He brought osmanthus cakes made by his mother!"
The little girl was running too fast and tripped on the threshold, instantly losing her balance and falling forward with her little arms outstretched.
Wang Zhihuan reacted quickly, stepping forward to grab her by the back of her collar and lifting her up steadily.
The little ox was suspended in mid-air, its two short legs still kicking incessantly, its mouth pouting high, and its eyes wet, looking just like a little kitten whose neck was being pinched, soft and bewildered.
"Put the ox down, pot!" she pleaded in a sweet, childish voice.
"Don't run anymore, okay?" Wang Zhihuan said softly, looking at her chubby little face.
The little ox nodded eagerly, its head bobbing like a pecking motion: "Okay! The little ox won't run away anymore!"
Wang Zhihuan then gently placed her on the ground.
After the little girl steadied herself, she immediately looked down and patted her little skirt. Only when she saw that the hem of her skirt was not dirty did she breathe a sigh of relief.
Then she raised the bundle in her arms, tilted her little face up, and looked at him with bright, expectant eyes:
"Guoguo, this is osmanthus cake made by your mother. It's so sweet and fragrant! Your mother said that since you live alone and have no one to make snacks for you, she asked Sizi to bring it to you!"
As she spoke, she took out a small ceramic jar sealed with red paper from her bundle, held it in both hands, and tiptoed to put it into his hands.
Her little face flushed slightly as she pleaded, "And this! Mom said it's the best honey from our family, perfect for making medicinal tea. Come on, smell it!"
Wang Zhihuan took the earthenware jar, peeled off the red paper, and the sweet fragrance of acacia blossoms instantly filled the air. The honey was a clear, golden yellow, truly top-quality honey.
He smiled and ruffled Sizi's little pigtails: "Thank Sizi's mother on behalf of your brother."
"You're welcome! Mother said you're welcome! Mother said that Sizi should learn to be polite." Sizi waved her little hand, her little face full of pride, and swung her short legs.
Just as I was about to say something, I saw Ah Huang squatting under the tree, and I immediately forgot what I was saying and ran over to him.
She squatted down in front of Ah Huang, gently stroking its head with her little hand, and muttered softly, "Ah Huang, you're chewing on the shoe again? This isn't tasty. Si Zi has some osmanthus cake, how about I let you smell it?"
Chang Le slowly walked into the courtyard gate, looked at her sister's carefree appearance, and shook her head helplessly.
Today she changed into a light blue soft silk dress, the hem of which was embroidered with delicate orchid patterns. She wore only a plain silver hairpin in her hair, without any extra makeup. She had shed her usual dignified and reserved demeanor and gained a touch of girlish elegance and gentleness.
Holding Sizi's little cloak in her arms and carrying a food box in her hand, she walked with light steps and a gentle demeanor in her eyes.
"Big sister, come here quickly!" Si Zi called out without turning her head, her voice soft and sweet.
Chang Le walked slowly to the stone table, her gaze first falling on Wang Zhihuan's sleeves covered in mud and the beads of sweat on his forehead.
But then her gaze swept over the bamboo tray brimming with medicinal herbs, still damp with the scent of the mountains, and a pang of heartache welled up in her eyes. She spoke softly, "Young Master Wang has gone into the mountains alone again? It looks so arduous."
"It's alright. I was lucky today; all the medicines I found were the right ones for my condition."
Wang Zhi wiped the mud off his hands, pointed to the medicinal herbs in the bamboo tray, and said in a calm tone, "This Codonopsis and Astragalus can nourish the vital energy. Madam Li's illness is not only caused by her lungs, but also by her spleen and kidneys. Simply stopping the cough is not enough. We need to strengthen the body's foundation and nourish the vital energy to eradicate the root of the disease."