Dandy Escapes From Marriage - Chapter 6

It was getting late, and the person who had gone up the mountain to collect firewood still hadn’t returned.

 

Liu Shu paced back and forth at the door for a while, shaking his legs as he sat on a stool. There was no sign of Shen Ke, and as time passed, he decided to prepare lunch in the kitchen, hoping they could eat together when he returned.

 

How did they make porridge in the morning again?

 

It seemed like all they needed was rice and water, quite simple!

 

He scooped out a large bowl of rice and added a couple of ladles of water to the pot. As the fire crackled away, there were also heavy footsteps coming from the courtyard. He rushed to the door and saw Shen Ke, his hands hugging a large log, his back stooped, swaying as he walked, and the herbs in his basket occasionally bouncing, almost spilling out.

 

Liu Shu quickly rushed forward to support the log. After they placed it on the ground, he helped Shen Ke remove his shoulder straps and took off the basket.

 

“Thank you,” Shen Ke breathed a sigh of relief, sat down on a log, and wiped the sweat from his face, his voice still filled with fatigue. “I didn’t expect this piece of wood to be so heavy.”

 

“It’s a tough one to carry back. Why didn’t you put it in the basket?” Liu Shu assisted him into the house, pouring a glass of cold water for him.

 

“Inside the basket, there are herbs. I need to sell them to buy chicken chicks so you can have some eggs,” Shen Ke explained. He took the glass and downed it in one gulp, then, panting heavily, asked, “Can I have another one?”

 

“Of course.” Liu Shu brought the entire teapot over, continuously refilling his glass. He was touched and said, “So, it’s all for my sake?”

 

“I actually want to eat them too.” Shen Ke’s lips curved slightly.

 

Liu Shu burst into laughter and suddenly stopped, pressing Shen Ke’s hand seriously. “I’ve figured out what to do next.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“You’ve helped me so much and considered my needs at every turn, so I want to stay here, work together with you, and help you lead a better life!” Liu Shu was determined to repay him.

 

“It’s not necessary, just a small favor. You don’t need to go to such lengths—”

 

“It is necessary! Otherwise, I wouldn’t know where to go. What if I never meet someone as good as you who’d take me in? Could you bear to see me starve to death on the streets, left unattended until I’m covered in—”

 

He was truly at his wit’s end.

 

“Stop.” Shen Ke guessed his intentions and laughed. “As long as you don’t mind the hardships, you can stay.”

 

Having a companion wouldn’t hurt, and it could even make life’s struggles more enjoyable.

 

“I’ll eat anything, even if it’s bitter. I’ll eat it all!” Liu Shu declared.

 

“Eat, eat, eat, I’ll eat anything, even if it’s exotic!” Shen Ke laughed. “As long as you don’t compare.”

 

“Do you have anything else to say?” Liu Shu noticed Shen Ke hesitating.

 

“Yes,” Shen Ke lowered his head and looked at the hand that Liu Shu had grabbed. “Could you let go now? I’d like some water.”

 

“Sure, please.” Liu Shu released his hand and suddenly slapped the table, then turned and ran to the kitchen. “My porridge!”

 

As expected, the porridge had learned to maximize its own value and was now 90% dry rice.

 

But there were no vegetables.

 

Shen Ke: “Why don’t we go to the field and dig some vegetables—”

 

Liu Shu immediately looked at him, and he struggled to swallow three words: “Zhèè’ěr’gēn” (板蓝根). After some thought, his eyes suddenly lit up. “I collected Isatis root today, and we can eat that.”

 

Liu Shu’s eyes were filled with confusion. “Are you sure?”

 

“Yes, medical books mention that Isatis root can be used as medicine and also in cold salads.”

 

“Such a sensible Isatis root,” Liu Shu remarked.

 

After enjoying a few bites of freshly made Isatis root salad, Liu Shu still found it hard to believe. It was only after Shen Ke had eaten a few mouthfuls that he finally put down his chopsticks, chewed a few times, and found himself on the verge of tears. “Will we have enough to eat from now on?”

 

“Yes, we will,” Shen Ke nodded excitedly. They exchanged smiles.

 

After eating Isatis root for five consecutive days, the herbs were finally dried, and Liu Shu’s wound had almost healed. He eagerly joined Shen Ke to go to the market.

 

On the way, they occasionally encountered several households, and Shen Ke introduced them to Liu Shu. “This is Mrs. Zhu from the village head’s family.”

 

“Wow, your village is quite large. It took almost half an hour to reach the village head’s house?”

 

“The mountain road here is rugged. Although the distance is not far, the winding mountain path makes it seem much farther,” Shen Ke explained.

 

“What do these people do?” Liu Shu pointed to another house and asked, “There are so many bamboo sticks piled up at their door.”

 

“That’s the village’s bamboo craftsman, a widower, but he’s very skilled.”

 

Liu Shu found the local customs and people’s stories interesting as Shen Ke introduced them along the way. However, he couldn’t help feeling impatient due to the long journey.

 

“It’s so far. How much longer until we get there?”

 

“We’re almost there.”

 

“You said that half an hour ago.”

 

Shen Ke smiled, picked up a tree branch from the roadside, and handed it to Liu Shu. “Use this.”

 

Liu Shu walked with the branch for a while but soon noticed that Shen Ke was walking upright without bending or stooping, while he felt like an exhausted old man. He immediately threw down the stick and continued forward with his head held high.

 

“Xiao Wu.”

 

Liu Shu waved his hand casually. “No big deal, it’s just walking. I can walk another five hundred miles!”

 

“You’re going the wrong way; come back.”

 

“… ”

 

After a slow journey, when they finally reached the market, Liu Shu was exhausted, panting heavily with his hands gripping Shen Ke’s arm. He glanced around the market and felt quite disappointed.

 

It was nowhere near as lively as Jinling, not even a tenth of it.

 

The so-called market was mostly a place for bartering goods, with many people carrying their wares and goods to exchange for money. Actual stores were scarce, let alone large-scale ones.

 

Just by moving a random store from the Liu family to this place, it would seem extravagant beyond belief.

 

Originally, Liu Shu had wanted to explore the market, but he quickly changed his mind and went with Shen Ke to find a herbal medicine shop.

 

However, their expedition was unsuccessful. The local herbal medicine shops either had designated people responsible for herb collection or had established partnerships, so none of them were willing to accept the herbs brought in by these two unfamiliar young men.

 

Leaving the last herbal medicine shop empty-handed, Shen Ke couldn’t help feeling disheartened. “I miscalculated. I thought that as long as we had the goods, we could sell them.”

 

“How could that be possible? There are hidden rules in the market, and you can’t learn them from reading medical books with your head down.”

 

For example, those long-term partners must have had some arrangements with the herbal medicine shops; otherwise, there was no reason for them to refuse the freshly dried herbs brought by newcomers like them. Liu Shu gazed at the narrow streets bustling with people. “Let’s go.”

 

Shen Ke sighed and turned to walk back home. However, he was stopped in his tracks as Liu Shu grabbed his sleeve.

 

“Where are you going? Come on, let’s sell these herbs.”

 

“But the herbal medicine shops won’t take them. Who else will buy them?”

 

“We’ll sell them to the people who can’t afford to see a doctor.”

 

Shen Ke suddenly realized the oversight. In his daily life, anyone with even a minor illness would seek a reputable doctor. It had become common knowledge. However, he had overlooked the fact that many people couldn’t afford medical care.

 

“Let’s find a place to set up a stall.”

 

“Alright.” Shen Ke followed the plan and quickly found a suitable spot.

 

Liu Shu hesitated, “…”

 

“It’s cooler here,” Shen Ke stood under a tree and smiled at him.

 

“But there’s no one here!” Liu Shu looked utterly dejected. “We should go to the bustling market to do business.”

 

Shen Ke pursed his lips and nodded slowly. “You’re right.”

 

Liu Shu turned away, observing for a while, and then suddenly chuckled, “What’s wrong, are you afraid now?”

 

Shen Ke awkwardly scratched his nose.

 

Liu Shu burst into laughter, hoisted the basket on his shoulder, and squeezed into the crowd. “Leave it to me; you wait here.”

 

Shen Ke couldn’t allow that. He quickly caught up with Liu Shu, taking back the basket and following closely behind him. They arrived at the liveliest area, carved out a small space for themselves.

 

“I’m going to find something; you stay here,” Liu Shu said before leaving.

 

“Eh…” Shen Ke reached out as if to stop him but found that Liu Shu’s figure had already disappeared.

 

When Liu Shu returned, he saw Shen Ke standing there, forming an unusual sight that attracted the attention of passersby. People would often sneak glances at this refined gentleman, some stared, and others whispered to each other.

 

Whenever Shen Ke noticed someone’s gaze, he would make a concerted but stiff effort to smile and point to the basket beside him.

 

There was a sign hanging on the basket with two large characters written on it—Herbs for Sale.

 

The small characters beside the large characters on the sign indicated the types of herbs they were selling. However, it seemed too simple and didn’t attract any customers.

 

“The writing is nice, but it’s a pity that no one is interested,” he said with a smile as he approached.

 

“Yes,” Shen Ke smiled awkwardly. “It looks like we won’t sell anything today.”

 

“Most of the people here probably never went to school and can’t read big characters,” Liu Shu explained.

 

“I overlooked that again,” Shen Ke frowned slightly, then made up his mind to try and called out, “Herbs for sale, herbs for sale!”

 

“If you speak a bit louder, maybe the kids from the neighboring stall will hear you.”

 

“…” Shen Ke glanced at the child from the nearby stall, who was just two steps away, staring up at him in a daze. He cleared his throat, lowered his head, and raised his voice slightly, “Herbs… for sale.”

 

“Haha,” Liu Shu couldn’t help but laugh.

 

Shen Ke sighed and covered his face. “This is too difficult.”

 

Liu Shu patted his shoulder and then grabbed a small stool he had borrowed, placing it next to Shen Ke. He extended his hand, saying, “Sit down.”

 

“How can I sit down?” Shen Ke quickly pushed the stool away. “I can’t just sit here.”

 

“Just sit. You’ll be busy later,” Liu Shu insisted, forcefully pressing him into the seat. When Shen Ke struggled to get up, Liu Shu raised a finger to his lips. “Be good, listen to me!”

 

“…” For a moment, Shen Ke felt like he saw his own mother.

 

Liu Shu turned around, faced the bustling crowd, cleared his throat, and shouted, “Good news, good news! Free medical consultation today, specialized in treating various gastrointestinal disorders!”

 

Shen Ke was taken aback and whispered, “We’re on the roadside. How can anyone believe we’re here for medical consultations?”

 

“Free… of charge!” Liu Shu shouted again.

 

In no time, four or five people gathered in front of them.

 

Shen Ke: “.”

 

“Come on, everyone, line up in an orderly manner, one by one,” Liu Shu maintained order with a smile and handed the patients over to Shen Ke. Then, he called out again for free check-ups, attracting a few more people.

 

Some had genuine stomach problems, while others just came for a free check-up. Shen Ke patiently questioned and examined them all. For those without any ailments, he genuinely congratulated them on their good health. If the condition exceeded his capabilities, he recommended seeking a better doctor. If it happened to be a case of abdominal pain, he could prescribe medication right away.

 

The rest was left to Liu Shu. While preparing the medication, he said to the patients, “The doctor’s consultation is free, but the herbs are hard to come by. They can’t be free, but I can sell them to you at a low price. One packet of herbs for only three copper coins, which is eight copper coins cheaper than the pharmacy.”

 

Shen Ke looked at him with surprise, realizing that Liu Shu had observed the prices of medicinal herbs when they went to the pharmacy, a detail he had completely overlooked.

 

Soon, news of the free consultations and affordable herbal remedies spread, and their stall was swarmed with people. Both of them were so busy that they didn’t even have time for lunch. It was only after they had sold all the herbs that they packed up their stall.

 

“We earned a total of one hundred and seventy copper coins,” Liu Shu counted the coins, put them in a money pouch, and handed it to Shen Ke.

 

“Xiao Wu, you’re amazing. I thought we wouldn’t earn a single coin today,” Shen Ke said in amazement.

 

Liu Shu chuckled, “The pharmacy’s purchase price isn’t much higher than this. Although it’s tiring this way, selling them is what matters.”

 

“Yeah,” Shen Ke suddenly hugged him, sharing the joy, “You’re really a lucky charm!”

 

Liu Shu was delighted by the praise, but his smile suddenly faded. “Wait, the count is wrong! We’re missing one copper coin! Someone gave us one coin less, and I didn’t even notice!”

 

“It’s just one coin.”

 

“No, you don’t understand,” he said indignantly. This was an insult to his money-counting abilities!

 

Seeing him lose all his cheerfulness so suddenly, Shen Ke handed him the entire money pouch and said, “Don’t be unhappy. It’s all yours.”

 

Liu Shu was stunned, holding the slightly heavy money pouch in disbelief. “All of it? But these are the herbs you gathered after spending so many days in the mountains, even after getting stung by hornets and developing a big bump?”

 

“…How do you know?” Shen Ke was shocked.

 

“Hui Shang told me.”

 

“Why did he tell you this?” Shen Ke sighed in frustration. This was something that had happened half a month ago, and he suddenly felt relieved that Liu Shu hadn’t seen him in that embarrassing state after the hornet stings.

 

“He tells me everything, even things my parents haven’t shared with me,” Liu Shu said as he weighed the money pouch, feeling absolutely delighted. He inexplicably felt like the richest person at this moment. He checked the time, then handed the money pouch back to Shen Ke, urging, “It’s getting dark. Let’s go buy the chicks.”

 

“Alright.”

 

There weren’t many chicks left, and the two of them bought the last eight little chicks. They were brightly yellow, round and chubby, chirping cutely.

 

“Chirp, chirp, chirp,” Liu Shu touched each of their little heads and their round bodies. The soft feathers brushed against his palm, putting him in a great mood. “They’re so adorable!”

 

“Yeah,” Shen Ke looked at his happy smile and chuckled, “They are indeed adorable.”

 

“It’s only a matter of a few days. They’ll grow up quickly. Before you know it, they’ll become ugly and old, but they’ll be delicious when stewed,” the shopkeeper remarked.

 

Liu Shu was alarmed and covered the little chick’s head with his hand, anxious as he said, “They can’t understand this! Chirp, chirp, chirp. Please don’t take him seriously. He’s just a chicken seller. You guys are the cutest.”

 

Shopkeeper: “…”

 

“板蓝根” in English is “Isatis Root” or “Banlangen.” It is a traditional Chinese herb known for its potential medicinal properties and is often used to make herbal remedies and traditional Chinese medicine.