jdhmnovel Chapter 181: Medicinal Materials Market
Chapter 181: Medicinal Materials Market
"Fang'er, are you really planning to go to the market tomorrow?" Li Xue finally spoke, with a hint of uneasiness in her tone.
"Yes, I have made up my mind." Chen Fang said firmly, with a gleam in her eyes. "I can't sit around doing nothing any longer. I have heard too much about the situation in the market. If I don't go and see it myself, I will not be able to let it go."
"But the market is so crowded with people coming and going that I always feel unsafe." Li Xue frowned, stood up and walked towards Chen Fang, and whispered, "What's more, those traders have complicated minds. If something unexpected happens... you and I are both women, and it's hard for us to protect ourselves."
Chen Fang smiled slightly, and gently placed her palm on Li Xue's hand, "I know your concerns, but I have already made up my mind. What's more, I went to the market today not for the hustle and bustle, but to find some medicinal herbs. My mother's health has not been good recently, and she needs Ganoderma lucidum and ginseng."
Li Xue breathed a sigh of relief and calmed down a little, but still worried: "What if you encounter someone with bad intentions? How can you deal with it alone?"
"If I encounter danger, I have my own way." Her tone was full of confidence. "Remember those moves you taught me? I have practiced martial arts since I was a child, so I can protect myself."
Li Xue sighed, hesitated for a moment, and finally said slowly: "In this case, I will not persuade you anymore. However, Fang'er, you must be more careful and don't be stubborn."
"I will, Xue." Chen Fang gently held Li Xue's hand, "Don't you want to see the outside world? Whether it's the hustle and bustle of the city or the bustle of the streets, we should always go out to appreciate the various aspects of life."
Li Xue showed hesitation, but then revealed her longing: "You are right, me too...it's just that we depend on each other, and I always want to protect you."
"I know what you're thinking." Chen Fang hugged Li Xue in her arms and sighed slightly, "But I also need to be independent. Even if I'm in this remote place, I still have to have dreams in my heart. I can't be trapped in this small courtyard."
Li Xue looked at her, her eyes full of support and worry, and finally nodded and said, "Then, let's go together! I can accompany you to the market, but we will come back immediately after you finish your business."
"Good idea!" Chen Fang raised a smile, "I'll feel more at ease with you coming with me. Let's set off early tomorrow morning."
It was late at night, the moonlight washed the earth, and Chen Fang repeatedly calculated tomorrow's itinerary in her mind, feeling both excited and nervous. At dawn the next day, the breeze blew gently, and the bamboo leaves followed. The two girls put on light clothes and set off towards the market.
In the morning of the market, the air is filled with the aroma of fresh vegetables and soil, accompanied by the occasional hawking and children's laughter. Chen Fang stood at the entrance of the market, feeling the hustle and bustle of people, and her heart was slightly moved.
"Come, Fang'er, let's go to the stall over there first." Li Xue pulled her, curiosity flashing in her eyes.
The stalls not far away were selling all kinds of fresh fruits, vegetables and spices, and the vendors on the roadside were dancing and shouting, creating a lively picture. "Is this the atmosphere of the market?" Chen Fang said with emotion, "It's really different from the quietness of ordinary days."
"Yes." Li Xue smiled, but her nervousness remained restrained. "You must be mindful of your surroundings and don't let cunning people take advantage of you."
Chen Fang nodded, and noticed from the corner of her eye a thin man beside her. His eyes were sharp and seemed to be calculating. She was alert and then secretly used her internal energy to prepare for any emergency.
"Miss, would you like to try some of my fresh fruits?" The vendor obviously noticed the two people's gazes, and quickly walked up to them, smiling very warmly.
"Thank you, but it's okay." Chen Fang looked directly at the vendor, knowing something was fishy, and pulled Li Xue to leave.
"You two ladies, are you new here?" The vendor still did not give up and kept his eyes wandering over them.
Chen Fang frowned slightly, alert in her heart. Just as she was about to speak, a deep voice rang in her ears: "Girls, leave quickly, don't get involved with those people."
"Look, there's a stall of fresh Ganoderma lucidum over there!" Chen Fang pointed to a brightly colored stall in the crowd, her eyes sparkling with excitement, "Let's go take a look!"
Li Xue knew that she had a unique passion for medicinal materials, smiled slightly, and followed happily. They approached the stall, and various Ganoderma lucidums were neatly placed on the table, in various shapes and colors, as if waving to them.
"Girl, come and have a look at my Ganoderma lucidum. They are all picked from deep mountains and are of guaranteed quality and quantity." The stall owner is a middle-aged man with a ruddy complexion and a dusty face. He greeted her warmly.
"These Ganoderma lucidum are very fresh." Chen Fang looked at them carefully and couldn't help but touch the smooth surface. "May I ask how much per pound?"
"You have a good eye, girl. These Ganoderma lucidum are 50 cents per pound, which is absolutely worth the money." The stall owner's smile became brighter, as if he saw hope for business.
Li Xue, who was also affected by the atmosphere of the market, asked, "What are the effects of these Ganoderma lucidum?"
"Ganoderma lucidum is a good medicine for health preservation. It helps to improve immunity and replenish qi and blood." The stall owner replied modestly, "It also has a good conditioning effect on women, especially for girls with irregular menstruation."
"We need some." Chen Fang said anxiously. Thinking of her mother's health, she became more determined. "Please weigh four pounds for us."
Li Xue nodded secretly, looking at Chen Fang's focused face, her admiration for her became deeper and deeper. She always believed that Fang'er possessed extraordinary abilities and courage.
Not far away, a small stall selling ginseng caught Chen Fang's attention. She pushed through the crowd and pointed at a basket full of ginseng and asked, "Uncle, are these ginsengs fresh?"
"Of course, fresh ginseng looks great, I guarantee you'll be satisfied!" The stall owner was very proud, pointing to the thick and plump ginseng, "Similarly, at 80 cents per pound, it's definitely worth the money."
"Let me take a look." Chen Fang looked at them carefully and finally selected a few. He was secretly glad that he finally found what he needed.
Li Xue was silently calculating the expenses beside him, feeling a little uneasy: "Fang'er, this expenditure is too much, it must be moderate."
"This is for my mother, I know that," Chen Fang retorted, her words full of determination, "As long as her illness can be cured, it is worth spending any amount of money."
Li Xue had no choice but to nod: "I hope everything goes well, Fang'er, I believe in you."
The market continued to be lively. Chen Fang and Li Xue walked from stall to stall, feeling the hustle and bustle. They met old men, young women and enthusiastic vendors selling various magical medicines, and heard the true stories of various medicinal materials. Each medicinal material had its own context, as if telling them ancient legends one by one.
"Fang'er, this is the stall selling alchemy and herbal books!" Li Xue dragged her forward, sparks of desire in her eyes.
"The teacher once said that only by mastering the usage of herbs can we better cure diseases and save lives." Chen Fang flipped through the books with full concentration, with excitement on her face. "These books record precious medical theories. If I can read more, it will be of great help to me."
At this moment, there was a noise from behind, as if someone was arguing. Chen Fang tilted her ear slightly and heard a man's fierce voice: "I saw this medicinal material first, how could you take it away privately!"
The crowd around seemed a little at a loss, talking a lot, and the situation was a little chaotic for a while.
"Let's stay away from that place." Li Xue pulled Chen Fang, looking worried. "Although this market is bustling, it is also full of dangers."
"It's okay, Xue, I just want to know more." Chen Fang looked persistent, with determination in her eyes, "I won't let myself be trapped in ignorance."
Li Xue felt helpless, but she also knew that it was difficult to persuade her, so she could only let her go. She sighed softly, her eyes wandering in the bustling crowd, trying to find a safe path.
The two continued to move forward, and the dazzling array of medicinal herbs around them attracted their attention. Along the way, Chen Fang became more and more excited, feeling all the colorful things, and her determination became more firm.