Chapter 27: Fish Dan
Chen Shun’an was a little annoyed when he heard this.
Is treating illness a matter of judging people by their appearance now?!
If not for his visit today, Chen Shun’an would still be in the dark!
Over ten taels of silver was the result of Chen Shun’an’s hard work carrying water, it wasn’t easy!
Seeing Chen Shun’an’s somber expression, Golden Needle Li was amused and said,
“Old Chen, there’s a saying: the poor take medicine, the rich repay debts. It’s only through this exchange that things can last. This is the rule of our medical community! It’s only because you, Old Chen, are a man of integrity that I say this; if it were anyone else, I wouldn’t say an extra word!”
Well, I should be thanking you then!
However, after Golden Needle Li’s explanation, Chen Shun’an felt a bit relieved.
He glanced at the unfortunate couple in their mud-brick house, thinking to himself.
Let’s just consider it paying their consultation fee!
“Doctor Li, I need to trouble you with one more thing…”
Chen Shun’an explained his request and opened the package, revealing four or five bottles of pills and some medicinal herbs.
“Oh, a small matter, half a tael of silver will do.”
Golden Needle Li’s eyes flickered, and he said with a smile.
There was no other way; this was a technical appraisal, so Chen Shun’an had to obediently pay.
After receiving the money, Golden Needle Li’s expression turned serious. He took the package and borrowed the wooden table from the unfortunate couple’s home.
Looking, smelling, questioning, and feeling the pulse.
He even took out the pills, finely ground them into powder, and inserted golden needles into them.
“This is Iron Coat Powder, it can form scabs and stop bleeding when applied externally. The ingredients are humble, and the effect is average.”
This is Guiyuan Soup, which can protect the internal organs and regulate internal breath. Hmm… it’s alright, rather ordinary.
This is Polygonum cuspidatum, which dispels dampness and disperses blood stasis. It has about ten years of medicinal properties. Heh heh, it’s worth about one tael of silver…”
Golden Needle Li had high standards; these pills and herbs were nothing special in his eyes.
And this was normal.
If you fly with phoenixes, you will be a magnificent bird; if you walk with wolves and tigers, you will be a fierce beast.
Chen Shun’an usually interacted with ordinary people like water carriers, and he couldn’t reach people in higher circles.
To receive a gift worth a few taels of silver was already considered remarkable.
“Huh?”
Suddenly, Golden Needle Li’s tone rose, and he exclaimed in surprise,
“There’s something wrong with this Polygonatum!”
Chen Shun’an’s heart tightened upon hearing this.
If Chen Shun’an remembered correctly, this Polygonatum was a gift from San Dezi…
The shrewd and calculating face of San Dezi flashed through Chen Shun’an’s mind.
“This Polygonatum looks ordinary, but if you peel back its outer skin, the meat inside will be dark and shiny, thick and full. It must have undergone nine steams and nine sun-dries, making it a top-grade item, worth over ten taels of silver.”
Golden Needle Li said with a smile, “You should take it quickly. This kind of Polygonatum cannot be stored for long. Your friend is quite thoughtful.”
Chen Shun’an listened, looking helpless.
Why did Golden Needle Li talk in such a roundabout way?
However, with Golden Needle Li’s appraisal, Chen Shun’an could rest assured about taking these pills and herbs.
This money truly needed to be spent.
The face of San Dezi in Chen Shun’an’s mind suddenly became honest and kind.
Chen Shun’an silently remembered this kindness, thanked Golden Needle Li a few times, and then carrying the Bow Fish and the package, hurried home.
…
“Wan Niang, take these four fish home for Chun Hong to recuperate.”
Back in Chaodou Hutong, the six Bow Fish were still wriggling. Chen Shun’an hung them under the eaves.
“Thank you, Brother.”
Wan Niang was not polite. She didn’t know what good news she had encountered, her face glowed, and the smile in her eyes was about to overflow.
Seeing this, Chen Shun’an teased, “What’s wrong? You’re smiling so widely you can’t close your mouth.”
Wan Niang stood at the kitchen entrance and said,
“Brother, Chun Hong has passed the preliminary selection of the Imperial Household Department and has a chance to enter the palace as a palace maid!”
Chen Shun’an’s face also showed joy when he heard this.
“That’s great news!”
The palace initially selected palace maids mainly from among the Bai Shan people.
They needed to have a clean background, outstanding looks, and skillful hands… the requirements were extremely high.
However, the requirements have been slightly relaxed now.
Those like Wan Niang, whose ancestors were from the Tongzhou Zhang Family, descendants of a prestigious family, after being recruited by the Imperial Household Department, also have a chance to become palace maids.
And although it’s just a small palace maid, for most commoners in the Sacred Dynasty, it’s a great fortune, like their ancestral graves emitting auspicious smoke!
Of course, never mind if commoners can still find their ancestral graves; they still have to emit auspicious smoke!
Although Chun Hong still had to undergo a final selection after the preliminary one.
She had already taken half a step towards the Emperor’s sleeping quarters.
Even if she ultimately failed and was not selected, after this display of talent, Chun Hong would most likely be noticed by some guard, wealthy merchant, or martial artist, who would propose marriage!
Chen Shun’an turned and walked into the bedroom.
A moment later, he held a Silver and Kingfisher Feather Hairpin, flat and straight, with vibrant colors, clearly not an ordinary item.
“As an elder uncle, I don’t have anything else to give. This hairpin will be my congratulatory gift to Chun Hong.”
Wan Niang saw it and quickly waved her hands, saying with surprised gratitude,
“Brother, it’s too precious! This is what sister brought from the Zhang Mansion back then…”
“Hey!”
Chen Shun’an interrupted Wan Niang and said,
“It’s useless kept with me, and I won’t sell it… it’s better to give it to Chun Hong. Your sister was also very fond of Chun Hong back then!
Besides, Chun Hong still has the final selection! In the grand palace, everyone entering and exiting is from the Bai Shan people, who value pomp and etiquette the most. This hairpin is a traditional ornament for the Bai Shan people, and Chun Hong wearing it might make her stand out.”
Hearing the latter part, Wan Niang was somewhat moved.
“Take it!”
Chen Shun’an directly opened Wan Niang’s palm and placed the silver hairpin into her hand.
Wan Niang lowered her head, her eyes reddened, and her voice was hoarse as she said,
“Brother, thank you.”
…
After Wan Niang served Chen Shun’an a medicinal bath and massage, she quietly left.
A moment later, the lightly sleeping Chen Shun’an opened his eyes, lowered his waist, and sat with his hips spread, circulating the Purple Flesh Flying Immortal cultivation technique, Circulating Qi and Blood to accelerate the absorption of the medicinal soup.
When the medicinal soup became almost colorless, Chen Shun’an suddenly stood up and, with a light step, arrived in the courtyard.
The night sky was like water, with no clouds in the clear sky.
The view in the courtyard was hazy.
“Grandpa!”
“Grandpa, Grandpa…”
The two spirit-like Grass Carp, tied up and hung under the eaves, opened their milky white fish eyes and looked at Chen Shun’an.
“My dear grandchildren…”
Chen Shun’an looked at them with doting affection and turned to fetch a knife from the kitchen.
Grandpa was hungry, and tears were about to spill from the corners of his mouth.
Although Chen Shun’an knew Wan Niang through and through.
However, people’s hearts can change. For some crucial matters, such as the existence and cooking of Spirit Fish, Chen Shun’an only trusted himself.
Untying the two fish, Chen Shun’an simply struck them with the back of his knife, and they both fell unconscious.
The sound of scraping scales was rustling, and silver scales flew like snow.
“Huh?”
After dissecting and removing the organs, Chen Shun’an was surprised to find that both Grass Carp had something resembling ‘flesh mounds’ in different parts of their body cavities.
They were dark green and somewhat hard. A light scrape with the knife produced a crisp ringing sound.
“Good heavens, could this be the legendary Fish Dan… a nascent form?”
Chen Shun’an was somewhat amazed.
These two Grass Carp were identical to ordinary Grass Carp in terms of skeleton, flesh, and appearance.
Only after opening them up could their hidden secrets be discovered.
And for Chen Shun’an, this was also good news.
At least for now, no one would compete with him in finding a bargain; it was a unique opportunity solely for him.
