Chapter 71

In the midst of cherry petals dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

"Such fine herbs, I haven't seen them in a long time. Sir, you said they were hired by the young master? Truly, he has a remarkable eye."

"Back in the day, did we have many such herbs in our pharmacy?"

"Yes, several decades ago, there was a large sect called the Medicine Selection Sect in this area, much like the Sichuan Sect in the west. They cultivated herb gatherers, doctors, and large herb fields, so it wasn't so difficult to obtain good medicinal materials..."

When there is a master in a certain field nearby, the surroundings naturally benefit from their influence. However, the good times are long gone, and Feng Xiaogang felt a bit bitter for a moment.

"Still, it's a good thing that the young master managed to find such remarkable herbs!"

"But what should we do about the taste of the bellflower syrup?"

"Who eats medicine for its taste? Isn't that right, Master of the Pharmacy?"

"Right, right!"

Duan Muxian clapped his hands in agreement. Lian looked at the two of them for a moment and shook his head inwardly.

'One is too protective of me, and the other is in a position where it's hard to give honest criticism. I'll have to ask Lian again.'

The boy, who has a strangely clear-headed side, would probably give a more objective opinion than his uncle's, who always says, 'Everything my nephew makes is fine!'

"Grandfather said he wants to send this time's creation to Huashan, so I'll pack the Qinglian Water and send it together."

The plan was to send it through the Yusheng Escort Agency of the Duan family.

Once a mere shadow of its former self, the Yusheng Escort Agency has grown a bit stronger since it took on a small part of the Qinglian Water distribution.

'I need to expand the escort agency further.'

Isn't the end of commerce distribution?

Of course, it's not an easy task.

One needs to consistently train martial artists to serve as escorts and continuously secure tasks for them.

The most prestigious task, transporting tribute, is hard to secure without connections to the imperial court, and transporting rice is something the Yusheng Escort Agency, which is only a shadow of its former self, would not dare to attempt.

'Should I expand the escort agency to match the current scale of Qinglian Water supply?'

To do that, I need to talk to the Mansong Trading Company first.

Considering the sales of Qinglian Water, it seems unlikely that the Mansong Trading Company would refuse, but it's not something that can be done immediately, so Lian put the thought aside for now.

When Lian finished preparing to hand over the Qinglian Water and bellflower syrup to the escort agency, he looked up and tilted his head.

Duan Muxian had been a bit gloomy since the bellflower syrup was made, and his eyes seemed deep, as if he was troubled by something.

"Uncle, are you worried about something?"

Duan Muxian jumped in surprise.

Lian circled around Duan Muxian and gently waved his fan, which began to emit a refreshing air, purifying the surroundings.

"What worry? Since Lian woke up, I have no worries at all."

Duan Muxian said in a domineering tone. There was no room for argument in his playful tone. While Lian was fidgeting, Duan Muxian changed the subject.

"Ah! Why don't you write a small letter to accompany the medicine syrup? The recipients will be pleased, I think."

"Sure, I'll do that!"

Lian immediately started writing on the paper Duan Muxian had prepared.

He also planned to send a jar to Jian Yanzhao of the Mansong Trading Company.

— When the weather gets cold, dissolve it in warm water. I will visit to discuss the transportation of Qinglian Water...

Lian wrote this, then burned the paper and wrote again.

— When the weather gets cold, dissolve it in warm water. It may taste bitter, but it's good for your health.

'I should talk to Aunt Wei Yun about the escort agency.'

If Jian Yanzhao of the Mansong Trading Company takes on the task, he will handle it properly, and it wouldn't be strange for Lian to ask him. However, if Jian Wei Yun handles it through her, it would simultaneously give her strength proportional to the sales of Qinglian Water, and Jian Wei Yun would have to distance herself from the existing escort agency, which would likely result in the Duan family's escort agency being used more often.

After finishing his thoughts, Lian wrote a letter to Doctor Zhong of the Hoxian Herb Shop, planning to send one to him as well.

— This is made from the bellflower you gave me. I am sending a jar in gratitude.

In fact, the bellflower he received at that time was already used up, and this bellflower syrup was made from the bellflower from the Herb Shop, but he wrote it this way out of courtesy.

He also wrote a letter to Huashan Sect in Shanxi. His step-uncle Qing Yun was still in seclusion, so it would likely be received by the sect leader of Huashan Sect, his master.

— This girl, Duan Lian, has recovered thanks to the concern of Daoist Qing Yun and is sending a small jar of medicine syrup as a token of gratitude.

He initially wrote 'for your help,' but changed it to avoid the possibility of the letter leaking and revealing Qing Yun's loss of inner strength.

After a brief moment of thought, he decided to send a separate letter to Jian Wei Xue in Beijing.

The current prosperity of Qinglian Water is partly due to his efforts.

— Uncle Wei Xue, please stay strong. This is the medicine syrup I made myself.

As Lian wrote this, Duan Muxian, who had been watching from the side, muttered almost inaudibly.

He was wondering why Lian had to call someone else 'uncle' when he himself was Lian's uncle. Lian smiled, and Duan Muxian, feeling a bit embarrassed, cleared his throat and looked away.

* * *

In front of Duan Muxian's residence, there is a very small pond.

In the pond is a carp he received as a gift when he was young. During his long seclusion and the decline of the family, the pond was not properly maintained, and the carp, though not dead, had turned black.

Lian squatted in front of the pond and gently fanned the water.

After Lian had been purifying the water on her way in and out, the water had become clear, and the carp's eyes had gradually regained some vitality.

Recently, when Lian came to the pond, the carp would flick its tail and splash water.

"Uncle?"

"He's at the pharmacy for a moment."

Hua Lun, who had asked the servant of Duan Muxian's residence and returned, tilted his head.

Lian stood up and tilted her head. Today was the day for her flute lesson, but it seemed Duan Muxian had not returned yet.

"Uncle at the pharmacy? Why? It's not a day for making Qinglian Water or medicine syrup."

After a moment's thought, Hua Lun replied.

"He seems to be injured."

"What?!"

Lian jumped up in surprise, and Hua Lun quickly approached and held her.

"Do you want to take a bath with the carp?"

"Uncle is injured? Where?"

"It doesn't seem to be that serious."

"Is that what Wen Ying said?"

Wen Ying is the name of Duan Muxian's servant. He is a man of few words and cautious, and does not lie.

Hua Lun pulled Lian a few steps away from the pond and said,

"That's not it. He just said he went to the pharmacy, but I have a feeling."

"Okay, let's go to the pharmacy then."

"He said he'll be back soon and to stay here..."

Given that Wen Ying stayed at the residence to relay the message rather than staying by Duan Muxian's side, it didn't seem to be a serious injury.

But what could Duan Muxian have been doing in the middle of the family estate to get injured?

"Then we can meet him on the way."

"Ah, I shouldn't have told you."

Hua Lun grumbled, glancing at Lian's face. Lian, while hurrying, glared at Hua Lun.

"What do you mean by 'I shouldn't have told you'?"

"Look at your face. You're pale."

Lian touched her cheek and shook her head.

When they entered the pharmacy, it was bustling. People passing by recognized Lian and tried to greet her, but she waved them off and looked for Duan Muxian.

"Uncle!"

"Huh? Lian, why are you here?"

Duan Muxian, who had a bandage on his hand, jumped up when he saw Lian.

"Oh."

The doctor who was bandaging his hand groaned, but Duan Muxian, waving the bandage, approached Lian and quickly hid his injured hand behind his back.

"Uncle! You said you were injured."

"No, no. Who said that?"

"What happened?"

Duan Muxian, realizing Lian wasn't in the mood for excuses, slightly shrugged his shoulders.

"While practicing in the early morning, my sword slipped from my grip."

Lian extended her hand. Duan Muxian hesitated for a moment and then reluctantly handed over his hand.

Lian held Duan Muxian's hand with both of her hands. A large hand, calloused and scarred, with a deep wound partially covered by the bandage.

What could have happened for the sword to slip and injure his hand while he was practicing alone?

Duan Muxian, feeling embarrassed about showing his clumsiness in front of his niece, twisted his hand.

"Don't worry. Your uncle is fine."

Lian took a deep breath and let go of his hand. The doctor quickly finished the treatment, and Duan Muxian tried to smile at Lian.

Lian understood.

Duan Muxian's inner demons were still gripping his heart.