Chapter 18: A Good Start
The storeroom of the Labor Department was very large. Hua Changxi estimated it was at least as big as a stadium in her previous life, and there was more than one such storeroom.
Cartloads of medicinal herbs were continuously brought into the storeroom from outside, and then the medicinal herbs inside were carted to various bureaus of the Labor Department for processing.
Hua Changxi walked into the storeroom and her eyes lit up at the sight of the wide variety of medicinal herbs inside.
The person guarding the storeroom saw Hua Changxi staring at the medicinal herbs in a daze, looking awestruck. He sneered, thinking she was ignorant, and said, “What are you standing there for? How much medicinal herb do you need to collect?”
Hua Changxi wanted to gather some information about the storeroom. She immediately smiled at the young man guarding it and said, “Hello, Big Brother. My name is Hua Changxi. I’m a newcomer. I’ve never seen such a large storeroom before. Please don’t mind my ignorance, Big Brother.”
The young man saw that Hua Changxi was well-behaved and spoke nicely, so his attitude improved greatly. “Ah, this is nothing. You’ll know when you go to the Medicine Farm. The storerooms there are truly massive.”
Hua Changxi looked amazed. “All these medicinal herbs aren’t even the entirety of the Medical Affairs Department?”
The young man said proudly, “Of course not. This is just a very small part of it.”
Hua Changxi’s eyes widened. “The medicinal herbs here are top-grade ones that I’ve never even seen outside, and they’re still not all of them.”
The young man smiled, finding Hua Changxi’s surprise amusing. “These aren’t good herbs. The truly good herbs are sent directly to the various medical clinics on Ninth Street. What we store here are just ordinary medicinal herbs.”
Hua Changxi was surprised. “There are even better medicinal herbs than these?”
Seeing Hua Changxi’s eyes shining and looking at him with admiration, the young man felt quite pleased and said more. “Of course.”
“Let me tell you, in the past two years, local government offices and various martial arts schools have discovered many new medicines. Many of those medicinal herbs have magical effects. Those are the true Precious Medicines.”
Hua Changxi looked longing. “I really want to see what the Precious Medicines you mentioned, Big Brother, look like.”
Hearing this, the young man’s face showed a sarcastic smile. “Go on, go on. You’re just a lowly Laborer. Don’t have such thoughts.”
Hua Changxi’s expression stiffened, feeling a bit awkward and embarrassed. “I was being presumptuous.”
Seeing the young girl like this, the young man felt he might have said a bit too much. His tone softened. “How much medicinal herb do you need to collect? I’ll help you carry it.”
Seeing that the young man didn’t want to talk anymore, Hua Changxi didn’t ask further. As it was only an hour until lunch, she decided to collect only two hundred stalks of medicinal herbs.
“Big Brother, I’ll collect two hundred stalks of medicinal herbs.”
The young man sized up Hua Changxi’s small frame. “You all have to process five hundred stalks of medicinal herbs every day, right? Can you wash them all?”
In the workplace, it’s important to show your value at the right time. Hua Changxi immediately smiled confidently. “Big Brother, don’t let my age fool you. I have plenty of strength.”
The young man chuckled, clearly not taking her words seriously. “I’ll find some easy-to-wash medicinal herbs for you.”
“Don’t think washing medicinal herbs is all the same. There’s a knack to it. Some medicinal herbs are easy to wash, while others are difficult.”
“You’re lucky you met me. Otherwise, coming this late, you would have definitely received only the difficult-to-process medicinal herbs.”
Hua Changxi nodded with a smile. “I know. Today, I’m truly fortunate to have met a Benefactor like you, Big Brother.”
“Big Brother, please give me a little bit of each type of medicinal herb. I’m still a newcomer, and the Steward isn’t too strict with me yet. I need to take this time to quickly familiarize myself with the washing methods for various medicinal herbs.”
This was no big deal, so the young man didn’t refuse. He gave her dozens of varieties for the two hundred stalks.
Hua Changxi’s eyes narrowed into crescents as she smiled. “Big Brother, you’re so kind. Can I come to you again next time I collect medicinal herbs?”
Seeing that the Young Woman liked him so much, the young man pretended to be impatient. “Alright, since you’re so young, come find me. I’ll look out for you from now on.”
Hua Changxi looked overjoyed. “Thank you, Big Brother. Big Brother, I don’t even know your name yet?”
The young man helped move the medicinal herbs onto the cart. “My name is Yu Hui. Call me Brother Yu from now on.”
The two hundred stalks of medicinal herbs this time were diverse in variety but not large in volume, so they could be transported in one cart.
Yu Hui wanted Hua Changxi to make another trip, but she politely declined with a smile. “Brother Yu, don’t worry about me. I can carry it.”
“I need to hurry back to work, or I’ll miss lunch. Brother Yu, I’ll see you this afternoon.”
Watching Hua Changxi actually pull away a cart full of medicinal herbs, Yu Hui’s mouth fell open in surprise. “Sister Changxi indeed has strength. Hmm, she’s a good candidate for a Laborer.”
People under the same Steward tend to stick together, and they usually wash medicinal herbs near each other.
Hua Changxi returned to the Sixth Bureau, pulled her medicinal herbs, and went to the group next to Du Ruo’s. She found a slightly distant empty spot, placed the herbs on the ground, rolled up her sleeves, and started working.
She soaked the medicinal herbs in the ditch and submerged her hands in the water, using the Water Control Technique from the Pure Body Technique.
The next moment, the water soaking the medicinal herbs began to churn, making it feel as if the herbs were in a washing machine.
Washing like this made washing medicinal herbs incredibly simple.
Hua Changxi carefully controlled the water’s movement, trying not to let others notice the anomaly.
By lunchtime, Hundred Herbs Annotation Great Accomplishment: Taste Hundred Herbs 612/1000, Pure Body Technique Great Accomplishment: Wash Medicinal Herbs 650/1000.
Hua Changxi not only cleaned two hundred stalks of medicinal herbs but also secretly tasted each variety.
Looking at the changing data, Hua Changxi was very happy.
After lunch, Hua Changxi took the washed medicinal herbs to the Second Department to report. After signing, she went to the storeroom again to collect three hundred stalks of medicinal herbs.
She found Yu Hui again, and this time Hua Changxi brought back dozens more varieties of medicinal herbs.
After washing all three hundred stalks of medicinal herbs clean, the data changed again.
Hundred Herbs Annotation Great Accomplishment: Taste Hundred Herbs 692/1000.
Pure Body Technique Great Accomplishment: Wash Medicinal Herbs 950/1000.
Seeing that the Pure Body Technique was only fifty stalks away from upgrading, Hua Changxi looked around at her colleagues in the same group.
“Careful!”
Seeing the Young Woman who had reminded her to eat yesterday almost slip while carrying medicinal herbs, Hua Changxi quickly reached out and steadied her.
“My name is Hua Changxi. Thank you for reminding me to eat yesterday.”
Lu Qingluo shook her head. “You’re welcome. We’re all under Steward Du’s command, so we should help each other.”
Hua Changxi asked with a smile, “What should I call you?”
Lu Qingluo’s attitude was not overly warm but not distant either. “My name is Lu Qingluo.”
Hua Changxi saw that she was about two or three years older than her, so she called her ‘Sister Qingluo’. “By the way, Sister Qingluo, you put the Steamed Buns by my bed, didn’t you?”
Lu Qingluo hummed in response and then picked up new medicinal herbs and went down to the ditch.
Hua Changxi walked next to her, helping her wash medicinal herbs, and said, “Thank you so much. Otherwise, I would have gone hungry this morning.”
Seeing her like this, Lu Qingluo quickly said, “Bringing you Steamed Buns was just a small gesture. You don’t need to help me wash medicinal herbs.”
Hua Changxi didn’t stop her hands. “Sister Qingluo, I’ve finished my work. It doesn’t bother me to help you wash some.”
Lu Qingluo straightened up and looked at Hua Changxi’s cart on the bank, which was full of washed medicinal herbs. She was surprised. “How did you wash medicinal herbs so quickly?”
Hua Changxi smiled and said, “I’ve been helping at my family’s Apothecary Shop since I was little. Don’t let my age fool you, I’m an old hand at processing medicinal herbs, and I’m also very strong.”
Even without using the Water Control Technique, Hua Changxi washed medicinal herbs very quickly.
Lu Qingluo watched her hands move rapidly in the water, quickly washing each stalk of medicinal herb clean, and was deeply impressed.
Not far away, Du Ruo watched this scene.
She had thought that since Hua Changxi woke up late today, she would have to work until evening. But now she saw that she not only finished her own tasks but even had the energy to help Lu Qingluo.
It seemed Steward Leng had indeed given her an excellent Laborer.
Pure Body Technique Perfection: Wash Medicinal Herbs 1069/10000.
After the Pure Body Technique upgraded to Perfection, Hua Changxi immediately felt her control over water and wind had improved significantly.
With a water droplet on her finger, Hua Changxi flicked her finger, and the water droplet instantly turned into a sharp projectile, shooting towards the edge of the ditch.
“Boom~”
The spot hit by the water droplet collapsed, leaving a crater more than a meter in diameter.
The people around were startled by the sudden collapse, but Hua Changxi’s heart was filled with excitement.
“I’ll go fill in that crater.”
Since she caused it, Hua Changxi quickly walked over, dug up soil, and filled the pit.
With Hua Changxi’s help, Lu Qingluo had also finished her tasks for the day and came to help her.
The two quickly filled the pit.
“Let’s go, we need to report to the Second Department.”
Hua Changxi made two trips and submitted all her medicinal herbs to the Second Department. At this point, Lu Qingluo was still making trips, but Hua Changxi didn’t continue to help her. Instead, she went to help Du Ruo pull medicinal herbs.
Du Ruo was also very tired after washing medicinal herbs all day, so she didn’t refuse Hua Changxi’s attempt to curry favor.
When it was time for dinner, Hua Changxi ate with Du Ruo and Lu Qingluo.
In the Canteen, Hua Changxi looked at Du Ruo, then at Lu Qingluo, with a smile on her lips.
Having just joined the Labor Department, she had already befriended her direct superior and colleagues. Even Yu Hui, who guarded the storeroom, smiled at her. Her career path had started off with a bang.
After dinner, Lu Qingluo suddenly called out to Hua Changxi, “Changxi, can you do me a favor?”
Hua Changxi replied, “Go ahead.”
Lu Qingluo said, “The Canteen doesn’t allow people to take too many Steamed Buns. Each person can only take five at most. Many people in our dormitory don’t get enough to eat every day. I want to…”
Hua Changxi understood her meaning. “No problem, I’ll also take five Steamed Buns.”
Seeing Hua Changxi return with the Steamed Buns, Lu Qingluo smiled. Then, the two walked back to the dormitory together.
Back in the room, Hua Changxi went to wash up. As soon as she finished, she got into bed. “Sister Qingluo, I’m going to sleep now.” With that, she lay on her stomach on the bed and closed her eyes.
Thirteen years after transmigrating to the Great Jin dynasty, today was the day she worked the hardest. Even though her cultivation had strengthened her Body, she was still exhausted.
Seeing Hua Changxi fall asleep so quickly, Lu Qingluo was a bit speechless. “Changxi falls asleep too fast.”
As darkness fell, more people returned.
“Qingluo, why did you take so many Steamed Buns?”
“It wasn’t just me. Changxi took some too.”
“Why is she sleeping again?”
“Changxi just turned thirteen not long ago. She’s in a growth spurt now, so she definitely needs more sleep than us.”
Because she helped bring back Steamed Buns, the attitude of the people in the same room towards Hua Changxi improved considerably.
The next day, when everyone left, Hua Changxi was still asleep. Lu Qingluo hesitated whether to wake her up, but thinking that Hua Changxi hadn’t asked her to wake her up last night, and considering Hua Changxi’s speed in washing medicinal herbs, she didn’t say anything.
Hua Changxi still woke up at the hour of the snake (9-11 AM). She ate the Steamed Buns Lu Qingluo had left for her and went to the storeroom to collect medicinal herbs from Yu Hui as usual.
By the end of the hour of the monkey (around 5 PM), Hua Changxi had finished washing the 500 stalks of medicinal herbs for the day.
After submitting the washed medicinal herbs to the Second Department, Hua Changxi didn’t return directly to the Sixth Bureau but detoured to the front gate of the Medical Affairs Department.
Today was the day the list of recruited Apprentices would be announced. Even though she had already entered the Labor Department, Hua Changxi still wanted to see the recruitment list.
The Medical Affairs Department had recruited 200 Apprentices this time. Hua Changxi read the names on the list one by one, but her name was not among them even at the end.
Although she had already known the outcome, she still felt a bit dejected.
After standing at the entrance of the Medical Affairs Department for a while, Hua Changxi waited until her emotions calmed down before turning back to the Labor Department.
