Chapter 25
It was 7 in the morning when they arrived at the county gate. From afar Su Ying could hear the buzzling noises from people selling in the market. As they alighted Qui Fei paid for them both before leading her into the market to set a stall.
"Su Ying, this is the county market and I'm going to set my stall at the east street by your left. I don't know what you're going to buy but if you're done come meet me at entrance where we all can wait for the ox cart to go home together".
On hearing her words Su Ying nodded in agreement before inquiring with her about the pharmacy.
"Sister Fei do you know where the largest pharmacy here is located?".
Qui Fei was a two years older than her with two kids. As it was normal to get married early in ancient times she was only 19 while she Su Ying was 17 so calling her sister was normal. Hearing her question she looked worriedly at her
"Are you sick or is it the kids?"
Hearing her concern Su Ying smiled and answered
"No one is sick sister Fei I'm just looking around".
After hearing her explanation Qui Fei looked visibly relieved which warmed her heart before she directed her.
"The pharmacy is called Jing Huo and located by your right walking a few distance from here. Do remember to find me at the entrance before the ox cart arrives to catch a ride home".
Nodding they separated and she headed to the pharmacy. A few distance she arrived at the pharmacy and went inside. The smell of herbs assaulted her nose as she walked towards the counter where the clerk sat down. Knocking on the counter she was about to introduce herself but the clerk rudely interrupted
"What is a peasant like you looking for here. We don't have any cheap herbs to give you neither do we sell on credit so please leave".
Su Ying stood stunned at the disrespectful attitude of the clerk. Just as she was about to give her a proper response another customer walked in. She watched as the clerk attitude changed drastically as she welcomed the man dressed in expensive silk robes with a smile while casting disdainful looks at her. Looking at her clothes she said nothing and left the store for another one.
Stepping outside she saw another pharmacy with the name Han Xi written bodly on a plaque and went inside. There was a clerk at the county who was almost dozing off but seeing her he woke up immediately. Unlike the other store he warmly stood up to welcome her ushering her to a sit.
"Welcome to our Han Xi store what would you like to buy. Are you here for a prescription or to buy herbs?"
Watching his enthusiastic behavior Su Ying felt comfortable. Looking around the store it was obvious people didn't frequent it that much. Bringing out the ginseng she had wrapped in a cloth before coming she showed it to the clerk and asked
"How much can you give me for this?"
Seeing the ginseng the clerk was so excited that he was trembling. He quickly ran off to go call his boss leaving her confused. A few minutes later the hurried steps of people could be heard and an old man in his fifties came out with him.
"Where is the ginseng young lad"
The old man spoke. Su Ying approached him and gave him the ginseng which he carefully examined. After examining the ginseng the man was smiling so widely that his mouth was about to tear. He looked at her and asked after regaining his compusure.
"How much do you want to give me this ginseng"
Calmly glancing at the man she replied
"Old man to be honest I trust you on giving me a fair price. As you can see this is high quality ginseng rarely found anyhow in the county".
Stroking his white beard the man examined her up and down observing her calmness and mannerisms which didn't seem like what a peasant would possess before given her a price.
"Alright young lady. How about giving it to me for 2,000,000 copper coins. It's a good price since it's a natural nurtured wild high grade quality ginseng?"
Su Ying was shocked at how costly and valued ginseng was to this era but more than that she was happy. Calmly nodding she agreed
"Alright old man. We will go with your price since you're so honest. If there is any good stuff I'm surely bringing it to you".
Hearing her promise Cao Xi was so happy that he was grinning. Indeed what he wanted to hear from her. This could guarantee that he would be the first to get any good stuff from her whenever she found it. He instructed the dumbfounded clerk to give her the money before going inside with the ginseng.
As the clerk counted the money he looked enviously at Su Ying wishing the money was his. After counting he found out the money wasn't enough in copper coins.
"Mrs there are not enough copper coins here so I have to give you the remaining in silver notes".
Calmly nodding she agreed so he went in and got the remaining silver before handing it over to her. Receiving the heavy pouch Su Ying thanked him before leaving the store. It was quite a surprise selling ginseng for such high price but very good. She quickly put it into her space to avoid theft and made her way to the grocery store to buy seeds.
She got inside and requested for vegetable seeds like clintaro, ginger and scallions to be planted at the garden in the backyard spending over 90 copper coins before heading to the fabric store. The kids didn't have enough clothes so she planned to buy and pay sister Fei to embroider it for them. Going inside she bought two sets of dark blue pongee clothes for the kids and two sets of green silk for Xiao Shan which was quite expensive, then two sets of purple and red pongee clothes for herself which she planned to make herself.
After buying it for a total of 200 copper coins Su Ying moved on to the next item on her list which was to buy condiments for cooking. As said a cook couldn't cook without the necessary ingredients so she bought soy sauce, star anise, cloves and cinnamon with other necessary ingredients then she headed to the black smith shop.