Chapter 3

Wang Xiaofei thought all night long. The more than 40,000 yuan was a major concern weighing heavily on his mind. If this issue wasn't resolved, his younger sister wouldn't be able to go to university, and the family would continue to live in poverty.

It seemed he could only try the knowledge he had learned. If it really worked, perhaps this would be the turning point for the family.

The next morning, Wang Xiaofei got up early and was about to leave with a basket on his back.

"Xiaofei, what are you going to do?" Lu Xianglian asked hurriedly when she saw her son about to leave with the basket.

"Mom, I learned some knowledge about identifying herbs from someone in prison and also from books. I want to go up the mountain to see if I can find some herbs to sell in the city. I heard they are quite valuable."

Hearing this, Lu Xianglian nodded and said, "Be careful and don't go too far."

Wang Xiaofei agreed and started walking up the mountain path.

"Is it Xiaofei? Why are you leaving so soon after just getting back?" On the way, Wang Xiaofei saw Aunt Xiang working in the field.

"I'm going up the mountain to collect herbs."

Wang Xiaofei replied.

"You know about herbs?"

"I learned some."

"Could you learn these things in prison?" Aunt Xiang shook her head and continued pulling weeds.

Aunt Xiang was a beauty around 27 or 28 years old, but her husband had been working away from home for a long time, leaving all the work to her. Over the years, her face had become tanned.

As Wang Xiaofei walked, he recalled the amazement he felt when Aunt Xiang was first married into the village. He remembered he was 17 at the time.

Three years had passed without him realizing it!

Wang Xiaofei shook his head, feeling his lost memories returning.

"Spring Grass!"

While walking, a wild herb caught Wang Xiaofei's attention. He quickly approached the herb, recalled the information about Spring Grass from his memory, and carefully compared it. A smile appeared on his face; it was indeed the herb he needed.

He carefully dug up the Spring Grass and put it in his basket, which increased his confidence in the knowledge in his memory.

Wang Xiaofei was most worried that the herbs in his memory might have become extinct. Although these herbs were the most common in the vast knowledge he had, he was still concerned after so much time had passed.

Now that he had found this herb, Wang Xiaofei finally put his worries to rest.

"Xiaofei, why are you digging pig grass?" A loud voice came from behind.

Wang Xiaofei looked up and saw Zhou Jinfu, quickly saying, "Uncle Zhou, hello."

"Xiaofei, wild grass is everywhere on the mountain. What do you need it for? Your family doesn't seem to raise pigs."

"I learned some knowledge about identifying herbs in prison. I'm trying to identify them on the mountain."

"Oh, there's not much medicine on this mountain, but there's plenty of wild grass. Be careful; there are many snakes on the mountain."

Zhou Jinfu said a few more words and then went down the mountain.

Wang Xiaofei watched Zhou Jinfu leave and continued searching for the herbs he needed.

When Wang Xiaofei found another Spring Grass, he realized that Zhou Jinfu was right; this herb was indeed very common, growing everywhere on the mountain.

In the following time, Wang Xiaofei's basket was filled with the herbs he needed.

Now Wang Xiaofei understood that the knowledge he had obtained was too old, and many of the herbs had completely changed their names.

"Brother, why did you dig so much wild grass?" Wang Caihua saw Wang Xiaofei put down his basket and immediately came over to look.

"Is this the herb you mentioned?" Lu Xianglian also came over to look, her eyes filled with deep concern.

Wang Xiaofei smiled and said, "Don't underestimate these things. Everything in the world has value, even wild grass. Whether they are useful depends on the formula. If the combination is correct, their effects are powerful."

After collecting these herbs, Wang Xiaofei had even more confidence in the knowledge in his head, and his words carried more authority.

Looking at Wang Xiaofei's face, Wang Caihua smiled and said, "Brother, you are so knowledgeable!"

Lu Xianglian also smiled and said, "Alright, alright, what you say makes sense."

"Mom, do we have any alcohol? Just some old white liquor."

"We do, we do. There's still half a jar left, which your grandfather bought and never drank."

At this, Lu Xianglian thought of the deceased Wang Xiaofei's grandfather, and her expression turned somber.

Looking at the old jar, Wang Xiaofei nodded and said, "Alright, I'll make medicinal wine."

Following the techniques he had learned, Wang Xiaofei started working in the house.

Only the tip of the root of Spring Grass, the inner layer of the bark of the juniper tree, only the second section of the three-section grass...

Wang Xiaofei didn't know what these herbs were called now, but he found them one by one according to the names in his memory and processed them according to the requirements.

"Brother, why do you only take a small piece of each?" Wang Caihua looked at her brother curiously. She noticed that her brother had become somewhat unfamiliar since he returned, knowing so much and acting very steady, unlike the impulsive person he used to be.

Her brother had changed!

Watching her brother work, Wang Caihua became even more confused.

"This is pharmacological knowledge. You don't understand yet, but this medicinal wine will help pay for your schooling."

Wang Xiaofei smiled and continued working while talking to his sister.

After carefully checking the jar and finding no issues, Wang Xiaofei added the prepared herbs to the jar in the order required by his memory.

After finishing, Wang Xiaofei sealed the jar and smiled at his sister, saying, "Alright, we can sell it for money tomorrow."

Wang Caihua pointed at the jar and said, "This can really sell for money?" She laughed.

Wang Xiaofei also laughed and said, "If you don't believe me, that's fine."

At lunchtime, Wang Xiongshan also heard about Wang Xiaofei making medicinal wine. He sighed and said, "Son, take your time with the debt. Don't rush. Rest for a while at home, and then think about your future."

"Yes, Xiaofei, don't rush."

Lu Xianglian was deeply worried, thinking that her son had just been released and shouldn't have any more problems.

"Don't worry, I won't be impulsive anymore!"

Wang Xiaofei understood his parents' concerns.

"Brother, it's okay if you don't go to university. Many of my friends have gone to the city to work. I can go to the city to work too. As long as we work hard together, we can pay off the debt."

Wang Caihua said seriously.

Seeing his three family members speak like this, Wang Xiaofei didn't want to explain further and just smiled without saying more.