"Oh..You really are." His eyes soften and smile kindly. He rubs my head.
"Young Master?"
"I think my lucks begins with you. Let's depart."
"Okay! How much do you think will one stalk of calming grass worth?"
I am calculating in my heart.
We need new clothes for Young Master. He also needs some winter blanket. Some food to stack our kitchen. Some cleaning tools.And lastly, Fabric!
"Hmm.One stalk of Calming grass is 30B but it is also depends on its condition. Maybe you can fetch 35 to 50B in a stalk."
"How could that be? Its a Pill basic ingredients, Pill is extra ordinarily expensive, why is it so cheap?" Also, killing Harming Sheep might be a newbie or rookie way to level up but for a normal human being its already like courting death.
"Its because of that. It is the basic ingredients for making pill so its not that expensive. Alchemist students buy it everytime to use it for practice so its relatively cheap."
he is smiling more and more.Its a fleeting smile but its better than his stone cold expression.
"I understand now. Thank you for explaining." I smile.
He only nods but his face is brighter than yesterday.
Or could it be because he is not hungry today?
***
"What do you mean you have no Calming grass stock?! Its almost our Semistral testing day, If I cant find a calming grass what should I do if I fail?"
A man with a big build grab the store attendant's clothes. He is very angry. Huffing and puffing.
"Dear Customer, please calm down. We really have some Calming grass available previously, but The Bai Family Miss bought half of our stock and Xiang Family Young Master the other half. We will store more but you have to wait for 5 days."
The store attendant is apologetic but he didnt lose his temper.
The muscled man let go and shakes his head.
"Bai Ling, Xiang Ji....Those two wants to suppress me at all cost!"
***
"Young Master, Who is that man?" Shu Lan pulls Bai Huang at the corner to hide when she heard loud quarelling voices. She doesnt want Bai Huang to be involve with any quarells.
Bai Huang looks at the small maid beside him who is hiding from his back and a smile spreads his lips.
"That is Zhuan Xu, an Alchemist Apprentice just like Bai Ling. I heard he can make Rank 2 Pill and makes the two Alchemist Apprentice from big family jealous and wants to suppress his growth."Bai Huang rubs Shu Lan's head while explaining.
"Oh.."
"What is wrong?"
"Let's sell our Calming grass to him Young Master. Ask for triple price."
"Okay.I will negotiate for you." Bai Huang smile wont fade and he takes the bag of Calming grass.
The dejected young master is downcasted. There's a shortage of Calming grass in their region but still 5 to 10 stalks of Calming grass is not that hard to purchase but now where will he find them? The exam is in 10 days. He heard Xiang Ji successfully create a Rank 2 pill just the other day.He is trying his hard to make a rank 3 pill and his whole family is supporting him. They may not be as rich as the Xiang and Bai's family his Zhuan Family is also one of the Five Big Family in their Region.
Anxiety, anger and contemp, he clenched his hand and walk away, he didnt notice Bai Huang and collide.
"You! Cant you watch where you are going?" Zhuan Xu glared at Bai Huang. When he see the thin Bai Huang he reverts and shake his head. "Be more careful." he said slowly and help him up. He heard alot of rumor about Bai's family treatment to this young Master. They really am cruel.
"Young Master Zhuan needs Calming grass?" Bai Huang let Zhuan Xu helps him and asks.
"Your family Miss and Xiang Family Young Master already beat me to it. Even though I need it, I cant have it." he sigh again.
"How about you buy my calming grass? Its freshly picked from the forest." Bai Huang said calmly.
Zhuan Xu's eyes widen.
"Are..Are you sure? Freshly...Freshly picked???"
Even the store manager perk up.
"Young Master are you sure?"
he asked hurriedly.
Bai Huang nods.
"Here, take a look and examine." he handed one stalk of Calming grass.
Zhuan Xu's hand tremble to rich the green grass stalk that looks very plump and juicy.
The store Attendant beat him to it ang lightly grab it.
"This texture, this smell. Truly freshly picked! Its a Grade A Calming Grass or maybe A Grade S!" the store owner's eyes shone. "Young Master Bai, you dont want to give it to your sister? She will be very happy with this." the store owner said but his lips is mouth watering.
Zhuan Xu's mind cleared and he grabs the Calming grass in the store owner's hand and it cause one of the strand of grass to break. Its mellow soft smell attracts the other customer. The juice fell off the grass.
Shu Lan is watching all of these in a corner and her expression is serene but its more like fed up. Calming Grass Grade S is just a Calming Grass in the end but this people gaze at it like a godly artifact. Bai Huang who is not really aware how important Herbs Grade cant follow the worshipping gaze of the two.
"Bai Ling has a lot of Calming grass. This Calming grass is mine and Im willing to sell it. What's your offer?" Bai Huang sigh and stops the quarelling two. He also looking back to make sure Shu lan is wherr he left her.
Seeing her serene fed up look, he smiles.
"Grade S is Grade S but it is still a Calming grass. How about 5S per stalk?" The owner bids.
Bai Huang is startled.
That much?
He doesnt know that the higher the Herb Grade the easier for success and it may be easier to make a higher rank pill with it.
"Stop! Bai Huang is talking to me. I will offer you 7S per stalk. I want everything you have."
"Good.Then Ill sell it to you." Bai Huang pretends he is calm as he count how much money it is. Even though he is a young master of a huge house, he never had a single silver in his hand.
"Oh." The store attendant feel jealous. "Sell me even one stalk. Ill pay 8S."
"Okay deal." Bai Huang hand him one stalk of Calming Grass.
The Shop Attendant jump from joy. "Wait here. I will get your money." he make a bee line to the counter.
"Hey, I thought you said you'll sell me everything." Zhuan Xu is displeased.
"Its fine. I have many Calming grass. I hope you bring enough money?"
"Oh?" Zhuan Xu's face lit up. "If I dont have it, I can ask my attendant to get some. You dont have to think I cant afford it."
"Good."
After the Store Attendant give Bai Huang 8Silver they depart.
Bai Huang doesnt want everyone to know how many Calming grass he had.
"This place is okay. Show me the goods."
Bai Huang looks at Shu Lan who is hiding behind him and reach for her hand. He gives her a small pouch with the 8 silver inside.
They didnt speak and nod at each other before Bai Huang looks at Zhuan Xu.
"I wish you wont reveal how many Calming grass I have."
"Your secret is safe with me."
"Okay. Here."
Zhuan Xu took the small bag.
One, two, Three..
.....
26,27,28,29.....?
"29 Stalks??? All Grade S!"
"Is that too many?" Bai Huang tilts his head.
"It is many! But as an Alchemist this much is still so-so. But for me to have 29 Stalks of Grade S. I can brag to Father and Mother and to my Master all day and I will still be merrily happy!"
"And....with that...The secret is out." Bai Huang face twisted.
"Ah...Right.... But if I can tell them not to tell anyone then its fine right? My parents are tight lipped people. My master is loud mouth but also stingy. If he have a Grade S Calming grass make sure he will hide it and wont tell even in his grave." Zhuan Xu's out going and cheerful character shows in his friendly chat.
Bai Huang sigh and give consent.
"Just dont make it known to my little sister. You know her."
Zhuan Xu nods.
***
"Young Master got a new friend. I am happy."
"He is just happy for the Calming grass."
"We can buy alot of fabric with this much money! And I can stock some food too.Then we will buy young master a pair of slipper and also some winter blanket. I will buy lots of cleaning material.We can also call someone to fix the roof and the floor.Change the beds. This much money can cover everything!"
Bai Huang is just staring at Shu Lan while she listed all the thing she wants to buy for the house.
"Shu Lan..Let's buy you a hairpin."
"Hm?"
"As a memento for today."
"....." Her face is flushed red.
Bai Huang saw this and also reddened.
The two walk side by side but didnt talk.
***
"Shu Lan, How many fabric are you going to buy?" Bai Huang shakes his head and rub his temple.
"For now, I dont have Sewing Skill(game term) or Embroidery Skill(game term) but I will do my best."
"Those are often skills of a married woman and those who work in a sewing business. Why do you want to learn it?"
"So I can make Young Master many clothes in the future! Buying made clothes is expensive so I will do my best. For now lets buy you a made one cause I doubt I can manage at this stage."
Bai Huang look at that geniune bright smile and feels like he is choking.
"Then let's buy yours too."
"Its fine. I have 3 sets of clothes. Dont worry." she said and starts picking.
"Shu Lan, this is your hard earned money..."
"No its not. I just casually picked those herb." Shu Lan tilt her head. 'Its not really hard'
Bai Huang rubs his arm and feel really useless.
"Young Master, are you displeased that Im the one picking your clothes? Im sorry."
"Its not...Sigh...Just pick anything and let's go home. You must be very tired."
He has a helpless smile.
"Okay." Shu Lan is distress if she overstepped or cross a line and made Bai Huang angry. She hopes in her heart that she is just thinking too much.
"Shu Lan...I am only borrowing this 2Silver. I will pay you someday."
Shu Lan tilt her head.
"Young Master, You help me negotiate with Young Master Zhuan, you also has the right to use the money.Please dont put too mich barrier between us. I feel like Im imposing too much."
"Uh? I...Okay. Then wait for me here."
"hm.."
***
Shu Lan face is red beet.
Holding in her hand is a beautiful small rectangular box. Inside is hairpin Bai Huang pick for her.
They dont talk while walking but when they reach their home Shu Lan grabs Bai Huang sleeve.
"Young Master, t-thank you."
"Um...This...is a bit cheap. But later I will give you much expensive accesories."
"I am...just a humble maid."
"You are my Bai Huang's maid, right? The only one."
"Um.."
".....Im tired. I will take a bath first."
"I will boil you some water."
"Um..Thank you."
"This...You dont have to thank me..."
Bai Huang left with a smile.
Shu Lan embrace the hairpin box.
"I received your kindness. I will see to it you succeed in this world,Young Master." she pledge.