Chen Xiaosang was amazed too. No wonder Shen Dalang had the courage to go hunting in the mountains at the age of ten. Like father, like son. Since his father was so strong, he should be no different. If that was the case, could he take them deeper into the mountains in the future?
Shen Xingyi didn't keep the father and daughter waiting for long. He returned with a carrying pole and a wicker basket. After giving Old Chen some money, he left once he had escorted them to the entrance of the medicine shop.
Old Chen was delighted to receive the money. Noticing that Chen Xiaosang was still yawning, he lifted her up and sat her on the shoulder pole, cradling her in his arms.
Chen Xiaosang peeled an egg and fed it to Old Chen. Old Chen turned his face away, but she insisted and placed the egg in his mouth. Determined, she made sure he ate the remaining half of the egg.
Old Chen chewed the egg with contentment. Raising a daughter was truly wonderful; she understood how to care for others. Oh, how he wished he could have a few more daughters. Unfortunately, his wife was getting older, so he could only hope his sons would do well and give him more granddaughters.
Today, they arrived in town half an hour earlier than last time, riding the ox cart. Being the young girl that she was, Chen Xiaosang's eyelids began to droop after eating the egg, and she soon fell asleep in her father's arms.
In her dream, she felt as if she were floating in the air. Suddenly, she dropped, causing her body to jolt and wake her up.
When she looked around, she realized she had fallen asleep on a rattan chair inside the medicine shop.
Chen Xiaosang quickly got up and saw Old Chen weighing the honeysuckles with the shopkeeper.
"A total of 52 catties," the shopkeeper exclaimed in surprise. "Brother, your family is amazing! You managed to gather so much honeysuckle in just one day?"
Honeysuckles were not usually weighed, and after processing, there wouldn't be much left. Even experienced farmers could only process one to two hundred catties in a month. But this family had picked and processed fifty-two catties in a single day, which was truly remarkable.
Old Chen smoothed the wrinkles on his face and replied, "Yesterday, my wife and daughters-in-law worked the whole day. They didn't come home much and stayed up late to process them for the exchange."
The shopkeeper was even more astonished. "Three women could produce fifty-two catties of honeysuckles in a day?"
"My wife and sisters-in-law are diligent and efficient workers," Old Chen proudly explained.
The shopkeeper looked down and noticed that the little girl, who had been sound asleep, had now run over and stood beside her father's legs.
Seeing the little girl, the shopkeeper immediately remembered the large snake and snake egg that had brought him great profit. Delighted, he asked with a smile, "And what about you? Are you good at working?"
"Of course, I'm good," Chen Xiaosang nodded happily. "Shopkeeper, take a look at this."
The shopkeeper, intrigued by her cheerful tone, looked at her with anticipation. He watched as she rummaged through the pocket of her coat until she clenched her fists and placed something on the counter.
Old Chen thought his daughter had taken out another snake egg, but to his surprise, it was a wrinkled tree root. Feeling embarrassed, he smiled at the shopkeeper and apologized, "She's just a child. Don't take her too seriously."
As soon as he finished speaking, the shopkeeper grabbed the wrinkled, rotten tree root and examined it closely. He even took a small piece and put it in his mouth, exclaiming, "Tianma?!"
"What... What is it?" Old Chen was confused.
Wasn't it just a pile of rotten tree roots? Last night, when the old woman and her two daughters-in-law were picking honeysuckles, her daughter insisted that the old woman fry some wheat bran for her.
The shopkeeper looked up at Old Chen in surprise and pointed at the rotten tree root in his hand. "This is tianma, my friend. It has been processed excellently, preserving all its medicinal properties. It must have been soaked in water and then stir-fried with wheat bran, right?"
"It's fried with wheat bran," Chen Xiaosang nodded.
The shopkeeper's ability to discern the cooking method simply by tasting it was quite impressive.
"How many more do you have?" The shopkeeper asked Chen Xiaosang eagerly.
Chen Xiaosang shook her head helplessly. "They are hard to find. I only found these. Shopkeeper, how much do you charge per pound?"
The shopkeeper looked disappointed as he observed the small piece of Tianma in his hand. He replied, "Tianma is not cheap. I can buy it for 1000 wen per catty."
Unfortunately, this piece was only about two taels. If there were more...
"How much?" Old Chen exclaimed.
Was his hearing failing due to his age? 1000 wen per catty?!
After receiving the shopkeeper's confirmation, Old Chen's face twitched.
Could a rotten tree root really be worth 1000 wen per catty?!
Chen Xiaosang nodded. The price exceeded her expectations, and she couldn't help but laugh. Under the regretful gaze of the shopkeeper, she pulled out five more pieces and lined them up on the counter. She grinned and said, "Shopkeeper, please weigh them together."
Looking at the newly revealed Tianma on the counter, he glanced at the little girl who was behind the counter with surprise.
Each of the gourds she just revealed was bigger than the one in his hand!
This girl had been hiding so much Tianma?!
He didn't have time for further conversation with Chen Xiaosang. He quickly took out a small scale and weighed the Tianma. The total weight was 1.4 taels per pound.
Sixteen taels made up one pound, which was close to two pounds.
Suppressing his excitement, the shopkeeper looked at Chen Xiaosang, who was staring at him wide-eyed, and became more cautious. "The total comes to 1875 wen, and adding the 26 wen for the honeysuckle, it's 1901 wen."
Old Chen was so shocked that his lips trembled. "How... How much?"
"One thousand nine hundred and one wen. Do you want copper or silver? Recently, the exchange rate for silver coins to copper coins is 1200 copper coins per silver tael," the shopkeeper asked with a smile.
Finding Tianma was not easy, but he could make a good profit from it.
Chen Xiaosang counted on her fingers for a moment. The exchange rate for silver coins to copper coins fluctuated between 1000 wen and 1500 wen. Copper coins were quite valuable now, so it would be a good deal to exchange them later.
However, she needed the money urgently, and silver coins were not convenient. She waved her small hand and said, "I'll take copper coins."
The shopkeeper smiled and neatly put away the Tianma. He took the payment and added nine hanging coins, then slid a copper coin in front of Old Chen.
Old Chen discreetly pinched his thigh, causing his eyelids to twitch from the pain. It wasn't a dream; he really had 1,901 wen. With the money he earned from selling vegetables, he now had 2,000 wen. It would be enough for the summer taxes!
He was about to reach out and take the money when a short arm extended from the side and whisked away all the copper coins. Along with it, a string of money was handed over.
"These are all mine. Father has twenty-six copper coins. As a thank you for bringing me to town, I'll give you a string of money," Chen Xiaosang said generously to Old Chen, cradling the remaining copper coins in her arms.
She was small, and the weight of the copper coins made it impossible for her to carry them all. She wobbled as she moved around.
Old Chen reached out his hand, but Chen Xiaosang retreated cautiously. She spoke earnestly, "These are all mine."
Old Chen couldn't help but laugh at her anger. "Why does a child like you need so much money?"
Chen Xiaosang straightened her neck and replied, "To buy meat and flour for the whole family. Once the money is in Father's hands, it won't be available anymore."