Chapter 51: Familiar Referral, Red Bloodgrass

Chapter 51: Familiar Referral, Red Bloodgrass

“No, if I just walk up and ask directly, even if she has it, she might not give it to me. Better to wait and see first.”

Su Chen thought for a moment, then stayed rooted in place.

“You bastard! Thinking you can get away with faking it in front of me, Chen Pi? You really don’t know how to die, huh? Teach him a lesson—beat him until he’s smoking!”

Suddenly, a furious shout erupted nearby. Chen Pi, the short man, was cursing at a middle-aged man. After spewing insults, he signaled his two henchmen to pummel the man.

“Ahhh, Master Chen, I’m sorry! I know I’m wrong! I’ll never dare again—please stop hitting me!” The middle-aged man rolled on the ground, begging desperately.

Chen Pi ignored him, leisurely inspecting the medicinal herbs the man had brought. After finishing his picky examination, he kicked the bamboo basket aside and glared at the half-dead man.

“This time I’ll let you off. Next time, your family can come collect your corpse!” Chen Pi spat coldly before moving to the next herb vendor.

“Master Chen, my herbs are genuine—no fakes, I swear!” an elderly woman trembled as she spoke.

Chen Pi flipped through them casually, then nodded. “Good quality, but the grade’s low. Fifty copper coins per tael.”

“But Master Chen, it was sixty before!” The old woman’s voice cracked.

“Hmm? You want more?” Chen Pi paused, eyeing her. “Then forty.”

“M-Master Chen…”

“Thirty!”

“No, no! Thirty’s fine!” The old woman’s face paled as the price plummeted. She hurried to accept.

Chen Pi smirked darkly. “Too late. Thirty it is.”

He summoned his men to weigh the herbs and paid her thirty coins.

The old woman clutched the coins, her face grim. Her once-bright eyes dulled instantly.

Under Chen Pi’s tyranny, the line moved quickly. Soon, it was the little girl’s turn.

Like the old woman, her herbs were slashed ten coins in price. But unlike the others, the girl said nothing, silently accepting the offer.

Chen Pi looked disappointed but said nothing. He had the herbs weighed and paid her promptly.

As he left, Chen Pi noticed Su Chen standing nearby. After a brief stare, he turned and walked away.

Once Chen Pi departed, the crowd dispersed. The little girl picked up her small bamboo basket and left.

Su Chen hesitated, then followed at a distance.

The girl didn’t head home. Instead, she bought grain at the market, then visited a pharmacy.

Sensing Su Chen trailing her, she quickened her pace after finishing her purchases, trying to shake him off.

Su Chen stopped following, letting her escape.

“Phew!”

The girl glanced back, relieved to find no one there. She hurried on.

“Xiao Ya, back already?”

“Ah.” Xiao Ya nodded, responding with a soft hum.

After a long walk uphill, Xiao Ya reached her familiar home—a dilapidated mud hut.

“Is that Xiao Ya?” A frail voice called from inside.

Xiao Ya knocked three times, then pushed the door open. She placed the bamboo basket down and signed to the old woman in bed.

"I’m fine. You’ve worked hard,” Grandma replied through gestures, her eyes filled with tenderness.

Xiao Ya shook her head, signing again with a smile.

“Alright, go on then.”

Xiao Ya nodded, unpacking her purchases one by one to show Grandma, who watched with a warm smile.

Soon, she took out pork and started cooking. Smoke curled into the quiet mountain air, drifting far away.

Knock knock knock.

The sudden sound startled both grandmother and granddaughter. Xiao Ya hesitated at the door.

Knock knock knock.

She opened it slightly, peering out.

Seeing Su Chen, she stiffened, her face tightening with tension.

“Xiao Ya, who is it?” Grandma’s voice came from inside.

Xiao Ya didn’t answer, trying to close the door—but Su Chen blocked it.

He smiled gently. “I’m here about the Familiar Referral. I’d like to buy some herbs.”

Xiao Ya hesitated, then shook her head and shut the door.

Su Chen stood there, sighing. Looks like he’d have to visit the Medicine Gang next.

“What herbs?”

A weak voice whispered through the door crack.

Su Chen lowered his voice. “Red Bloodgrass. I’ll pay a high price.”

Silence. Just as Su Chen thought she’d refuse, a voice came again.

“How much?”

“Five hundred coins per plant!” Su Chen replied without hesitation—half an ounce of silver.

No response. The quiet stretched.

Then, a creak. The wooden door opened slightly.

Xiao Ya peeked out, signing nervously. Su Chen blinked, then asked, “You want me to pay first?”

She nodded, eyes wary. Su Chen didn’t hesitate, pulling out silver coins.

Her eyes lit up, then dimmed. She shook her head and signed again.

“You want copper coins instead?”

“Ah!” She nodded.

“I don’t have any on me now. Can I come back tonight?”

Xiao Ya considered, then agreed.

After Su Chen left, she closed the door and stealthily followed him.

Su Chen heard her but said nothing, leaving Wazi Village directly.

Xiao Ya stopped trailing once he left the village.

Back in Medicine Town, Su Chen exchanged five strings of copper coins and returned to Wazi Village.

Xiao Ya’s home still had a faint candlelight.

Knock knock knock.

The sound startled both girl and grandmother. Seeing Su Chen, Xiao Ya relaxed.

Su Chen handed over the coins. Xiao Ya took them, then slammed the door shut, leaving Su Chen outside.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end