"Wait here when you are done Xing'er" Said Lifen when we were finishing the dinner. "Okay, mum" I've said.
When we were done eating, everyone went to their own room. They've been working the whole morning so they deserve some rest. Together with my mum we stayed in the dining room and started cleaning the table. We brought everything to the kitchen, which was in the same room, the sink was approximately five meters from the table. Then we started cleaning plates, utensils, and pots. Near the end, she said to me "Xing'er I have a quest for you"
I was dumbfounded. Dafaq, is this some sort of MMORPG now? Why is she talking about the quest? Nonetheless, I asked her "What do you mean saying that, mum?"
She smiled and said "Well when you were younger you liked it when I said you have a quest to do. Anyway, you'll have to go to the herb shop and sell some things." Did previous me had some knowledge, about our world and games? No, no, no. I guess in this world there must also be quests. That's the only option. Let's not waste my time thinking about this.
And so they continued washing, only pots were left. When they were done Lifen went to her room and Xing sat down at the table. One and a half minute later she came back with a sack. she placed it on the table. "Inside you will find herbs, you will go to the Herbalis Qiao shop and sell them to her." His eyes sparkled and he asked, "Can I check them out?" She looked at me and said, "Sure, go ahead."
He slowly untied the lace. Excitement was visible on his face. He was thinking that there is still hope. Maybe, just maybe, there's a chance that he is in the cultivation world.
*Swosh*
The sack was open. His excitement died down, what's more, his mood suddenly darkens. "Mom, what the fuck? It's just blueish grass. Did you just gather it and painte..."
*Slap*
"Young boy, watch your tongue. Do you think we are in some kind of a brothel? And for your information, this is a tier 1 herb — Dew grass"
"I'm sowwy." His cheek hurts like hell. But then he remembered something "Wait, wait, wait! What did you just said?" She looked at him dumbfounded. "I've said it's tier 1 herb — Dew grass" Could this be? Is this really happening? "For real? By the way, does something going by the name Cultivation exist?" She was stunned "You little brat. You've hit your head so hard that you don't even remember your own family, but you didn't forget about cultivation?" By now she became utterly stunned. She knew how he had a dream to become a cultivator. But to this point? She wasn't expecting that.
He scratched his cheek and uttered "Yes?" After a second or two she replied "Ugh, what am I gonna do with you? Yes, cultivation does exist, but it's too expensive for us." He didn't know if he should be happy or sad. He finally could cultivate, but when if ever that was another question. Nonetheless, he was more happy, than sad. He just had to earn enough money. And so he gained his first major goal — earn enough money to buy cultivation technique."
"By the way, where I can find Herbalist Qiao shop?" He asked remembering that he didn't know anything about the village. She slowly explained everything to him. In which direction he should go. How he can recognize herb shop etc. It took her a few minutes, but it saved him up to an hour of searching.
He then walked up to the door and opened it. For the first time, he saw Kang village, yes that's the name of the village. He learned it a few moments ago. Sun was shining brightly and clouds were almost nonexistent. He slowly strolled towards the herb shop, while watching various people. Some people were also going somewhere, some were chatting and others could be seen in restaurants or tea shops.
After five minute walk, he reached his destination. He walked in and the sound of the bell could've been heard. "Coming" He heard a woman's voice. A few seconds passed and he saw an old-looking woman "Little Xing you're finally okay, what do you have for me today?" He glanced at her and replied " Sorry Aunty, but may I know your name? You see after that accident I lost my memory. Oh, and I've Dew grass for sale."
She looked at him slightly sadden and said "I'm so sorry to hear that. My name is Qiao Jinghua. But I'm glad that from what can I see you are fine. Also, I can sense that you still have the same personality. I'm happy because I like you very much" She winked. He didn't know whether to smile or cry. Nonetheless, he replied politely "Thanks, that means a lot for me." Then he took out the sack "Here's the bag of herbs"
She took it and emptied it placing herbs on the scale. After she measured it and wrote something in a notepad she said "It's almost 80 g. It will be 4 silver coins and 80 bronze coins." There are three types of coins. bronze, silver, and gold. one silver coin is worth hundred bronze coins. Similarly, one gold coin is worth hundred silver coins. A normal family can live for a year with just one gold coin. At least that is how it is in novels. But he guessed it must be the same here.
"Thank you" and then quickly added, "Aunty, by any chance do you perhaps have a book about herbs?" In all those novels almost always the main character is an alchemist. But those fuckers, *ekhem* authors never wrote how to cultivate those herbs. He thought it was a good idea because they had a field and you could've earned much more money by selling herbs rather than normal plants. And he desperately needed that money.
"Hmm, let me think." she said "I can sell you my old textbook for one silver coin. You wouldn't be able to find it cheaper." What should I do? he thought. It wasn't his money, but he was sure he would be able to earn much more sometime later. Whatever, in the worst way I'll be spanked so hard, that I won't be able to sit for a few days. "I will take it" He took one silver coin and placed it on the counter.
Qiao Jinghua went to the back of the shop and after a minute she came back with an old book. He was so excited that he almost instantly opened it and started reading it. At least that was the plan.
For fuck's sake. Is this some kind of gibberish? He was furious, but then he remembered something.
I can't read, can I? That's weird I can talk in whatever language this is, but I can't read. Could it be that I'm seventeen and it would be weird if I couldn't speak? Meh, I hope it ain't Chinese, because if it is there's no way I'll learn all those squiggles. He asked ashamed "Aunty, could you please teach me how to read?" She chuckled, but nonetheless, she taught him to read.
Time passed, and when he walked out of the store it was already evening. Fortunately, it was a normal alphabet, so he learned it rather quickly.
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Add to the library, you won't be disappointed. In some novels, I've spotted that village and city names depend on the mayor's surname. I don't know if it's correct or not, but it was the easiest and most thoughtful option. Let me know what you think. Should I change it? Also, I can already see that thinking about herbs names will pain in the ass, but what can I do? Poor me. And last but not less sorry for all my mistakes, as always. Have a nice day.