Her words were like a refreshing breeze that swept away the oppressive heat of the day, bringing a sense of cool comfort.
Ye Qiuling gratefully thanked the neighbor aunt. “Thank you, Auntie.”
The aunt smiled at them. “It’s nothing, girl. I’m heading back to the fields to pick corn.” With that, she turned and left.
The siblings returned home with a full basket. Shen Wanru looked at them and saw four ears of corn inside. She guessed they must have been given by the kind-hearted aunt.
When Ye Qiuling placed the corn on the table and Shen Wanru noticed the basket full of grass, her heart instantly ached.
Feeling guilty toward her children, she stepped forward, pulled Ye Qiuling into her arms, and said through tears with a bitter tone, “Qiuling, you don’t need to eat grass. Mother borrowed some rice from Auntie. We won’t starve.”
Seeing her misunderstanding, Ye Qiuling hurried to explain.
“Mother, it’s not like that. In my dream, a master taught me about this plant called plantain herb. It can be boiled into soup or made into herbal tea. We can take it to town and sell it.”
Shen Wanru looked at the plant and felt doubtful. Although she did not want to discourage her daughter, it really did look like ordinary weeds.
“Can it really be sold?” she asked.
Seeing her disbelief, Ye Qiuling confidently promised, “Yes, it definitely can.”
Since her daughter sounded so certain, Shen Wanru decided to let her try.
Ye Qiuling took the plantain herb and corn silk to the well, drew some water, and washed them clean. Then she found a large banana leaf, spread it on the ground, and laid the herbs on top to dry in the sun.
After drying all afternoon, the plantain herb and corn silk had become somewhat dry.
Following the recipe instructions, Ye Qiuling placed them into a pot, poured in enough water to cover the herbs, and began boiling them.
After half an hour, the boiling liquid changed from clear water to a yellowish color.
It was ready.
She poured the tea out to cool and called out, “Mother, Xiao Feng, come and taste it!”
She filled three bowls, one for each of them. Ye Qiuling blew on hers until it cooled slightly and took a sip. The flavor was a little bitter at first, but there was a sweet aftertaste in the throat. If sugar were added, it would probably taste even better.
Seeing his sister drink it first, Ye Feng no longer hesitated. He blew on his bowl and drank.
His eyes immediately lit up.
He had never expected that such ordinary-looking grass could taste so refreshing.
“Big sister, the grass you made tastes so good!”
Shen Wanru noticed that her daughter had become much more cheerful. Perhaps living under the same roof as the old madam had been too suffocating before.
She silently vowed to give her children a better life.
Taking a sip herself, she found the tea cool and refreshing. Though slightly bitter, it had a pleasant aftertaste, and the heat seemed to fade from her body.
“Hmm, it really is good. But if we sell it in town, will anyone buy it? After all, they don’t even recognize this plant.”
She looked at Ye Qiuling.
Ye Qiuling smiled brightly. “Mother, I’m sure it will sell very well.”
After saying that, she began preparing another batch.
She placed a small handful of plantain herb and a small handful of corn silk into a pot, added about 800 milliliters of water, and boiled it. After it reached a boil, she reduced the firewood under the stove.
According to the recipe, rock sugar should be added. But the only seasoning on the table was salt.
She could not help asking, “Mother, do we have rock sugar or regular sugar?”
Shen Wanru looked at her daughter’s hopeful face and reluctantly shattered her expectations.
“There isn’t any.”
The family was simply too poor.
Ye Qiuling had expected this but still felt a bit disappointed. Then she remembered that sweetness could also come from honey.
Yes, she could go find some honey.
After finishing the tea, she picked up her small basket. Inside it she placed a piece of clothing to wrap around her face and protect herself from bee stings.
Seeing his sister heading out again, Ye Feng followed.
“I’m going to collect honey,” Ye Qiuling told him. “It’s dangerous, so stay home and wait for me.”
Ye Feng wanted to go too, but considering that his sister was thinking of his safety, he did not insist.
“Alright, big sister. I’ll wait at home.”
Ye Qiuling smiled. “Good.”
The blazing sun scorched the land. Under the strong sunlight, sweat quickly formed on Ye Qiuling’s forehead.
She wiped it away with her sleeve.
At that moment, 66’s voice sounded in her mind.
“Host, there’s a beehive on the big tree to your left.”
Ye Qiuling looked over and indeed saw a large hive. Unfortunately, the tree was quite tall.
She decided to knock it down with a long stick and then run away.
Thinking this, she picked up a long bamboo pole from the ground, stood about a meter away, and struck the hive hard. Then she immediately turned and ran, hiding behind a big tree where the grass concealed her from the bees.
But how would she retrieve it?
“66, do you have any good methods for getting the hive?” she asked.
The hamster grinned mischievously.
“I do, but the host doesn’t have enough points yet. Without points, you can’t buy anything from the system store. Please work harder to complete tasks.”
“Can I owe you first?” Ye Qiuling asked, trying to sound flattering in the system space.
“Absolutely not,” 66 replied firmly.
With no other option, Ye Qiuling thought carefully.
She noticed a large banana leaf nearby. If she wrapped the hive in the leaf and threw it into water, the bees would not be able to fly properly and therefore could not sting her.
She could not help praising herself.
What a genius idea.
She wrapped her head with the clothing from the basket, leaving two small holes for her eyes, then used the banana leaf to cover the hive and dropped it into the water.
Once the bees were soaked, they could no longer fly.
She successfully collected the honey and placed it into her basket before heading home.
Ye Feng had been waiting eagerly at the doorway. When he saw her, he exclaimed in surprise, “Big sister, you’re back!”
Ye Qiuling rubbed his head affectionately. “Yes.”
She separated the honey into two jars, sealing them carefully for storage.
“Come on,” she said. “Let’s go to town and set up a stall.”
Ye Feng followed behind her with a smile.
They rode a donkey cart along the bumpy countryside road. The air was fresh, but the ride was terribly shaky. Just when Ye Qiuling felt she might throw up, they finally arrived in town.
Relieved, she found a suitable spot and set up her stall.
Because they placed two large pots in front of them, passersby felt curious and began gathering around to look.
Ye Qiuling stepped forward and started calling out loudly.
“Plantain herb tea! Delicious herbal tea! Secret recipe herbal tea! Come and try!”
Her unique style of shouting attracted the attention of Chen Xuanmo, who stood nearby quietly observing.
A well-dressed man approached the stall and asked, “Miss, what you’re selling… Did I hear correctly? Grass? How can grass be eaten? Won’t people get poisoned?”
A candied hawthorn vendor nearby added sarcastically, “Exactly! If someone gets poisoned, you’ll end up in the authorities’ office. Our lives matter too.”
Ignoring their sarcasm, Ye Qiuling knew they would not try it easily. She scooped a small bowl of tea and added a bit of honey.
Handing it to the man, she said confidently, “Take one sip and all your worries will disappear.”
The man, whose name was Zhou Wang, took the bowl and cautiously tasted it.
The tea had a faint sweetness from the honey and a refreshing coolness. After drinking it, his whole body felt less hot.
His eyes widened in surprise.
“Miss, this grass tea is really good! How much for one bowl? I’ll take one.”
Ye Qiuling was delighted.
Her first sale had succeeded.
“One copper coin per bowl,” she replied.
Zhou Wang thought it was a little expensive, but the refreshing taste made it worth it.
“Alright, I’ll have one.”
He finished the sample in one gulp.
Ye Qiuling quickly filled another bowl for him.
Some people still doubted it. An elderly man snorted.
“Miss, perhaps that man is working with you. Otherwise how could a few weeds be praised so highly?”
Seeing that he was trying to cause trouble, Ye Qiuling simply handed him a sample.
“Every visitor is a guest. Anyone can try it. If you don’t believe me, you can taste it yourself.”
The old man drank a sip.
The coolness spread instantly through his body, making him feel much more comfortable.
His attitude changed immediately.
“Miss, I misunderstood you. This tea is indeed good. Give me a bowl as well.”
“Of course,” Ye Qiuling replied cheerfully.
Someone nearby suddenly recognized him.
“Old Qi, it’s you! Is the tea really that good?”
Old Qi laughed politely. “Yes, it is. I misunderstood the young lady earlier.”
Seeing even Old Qi praise the tea, Chen Xuanmo became curious.
He approached the stall with a faint smile. “Miss, I’d like a bowl as well.”
Ye Qiuling, who had been busy with her head lowered, suddenly heard a clear voice with a slightly lazy tone. It sounded very pleasant.
She looked up.
The man had long eyelashes, handsome features, and a straight nose. His black robe accentuated his strong waistline.
For a moment, she stared in a daze.
This guy was really handsome.
Chen Xuanmo watched her with a gentle smile. Ye Qiuling quickly came back to her senses and handed him a bowl.
Before she could say anything more, the stall was suddenly surrounded by many customers.
After tasting the tea, people began praising it enthusiastically. The herbal tea was refreshing and delicious.
Inside her mind, 66’s voice kept ringing.
“Value gained +1… +1… +1… +10086…”
Ye Qiuling laughed internally.
Points!
Meanwhile, Ye Feng washed the used bowls and handed them back to his sister, who continued filling and passing them out.
Soon both large pots of herbal tea were completely sold out.
Those who had not managed to buy any sighed regretfully.
“Miss, you didn’t bring enough today,” someone complained.
Ye Qiuling laughed. “I’ll bring more next time. Thank you all for your support.”
She even bowed to the crowd.
Zhou Wang stepped forward and asked, “Miss, when will you come again? I’ll come early to buy.”
“I’ll be here at this time every day,” Ye Qiuling replied. “But the items I sell may be different.”
Ye Feng copied his sister and bowed to everyone in thanks.
Zhou Wang felt slightly disappointed that she might not sell the same tea again, but he simply said, “I’ll come next time.”
Counting the coins in her hand, Ye Qiuling found thirty copper coins in total.
“Wow, big sister, that’s so much money!” Ye Feng exclaimed.
She placed five coins in his hand and smiled gently.
“Go buy something tasty.”
Ye Feng tried to refuse, but she firmly pressed the coins into his palm.
“You worked hard today, Xiao Feng. If you keep refusing, your sister will be unhappy.”
Not wanting to upset her, he accepted them.
“Thank you, big sister.”
Looking at her patched clothing, he silently made a decision.
I’ll buy clothes for my sister.
Just as the siblings were celebrating happily, a ding sounded in Ye Qiuling’s mind.
66’s cheerful voice appeared again.
“Congratulations, host. Task completed. You have gained 40 points.”
“You have obtained the recipe for mugwort cakes. Please use the mugwort cake recipe to conquer diners and earn another 40 points.”
Ye Qiuling then took Ye Feng to a grain shop to buy flour.
When she saw the price, she nearly gasped.
Ten copper coins for just six hundred grams.
“Can you even afford it? Dressed in such rags, I thought a beggar had wandered into my shop.”
A sharp female voice came from behind them.
Turning around, Ye Qiuling saw a beautiful woman wearing expensive silk clothing, glaring at them with obvious disdain.
Ye Qiuling had seen shopkeepers in modern times look down on customers, but she had not expected the same thing in ancient times.
She immediately thought of a way to deal with her.
Suddenly acting distraught, she collapsed onto the ground and shouted loudly.
“Auntie, I only wanted to buy a little rice flour! Why are you treating me like this? Before my little sister died, she only wished to eat the noodles I made. Oh, why is my life so miserable!”
Her dramatic crying instantly attracted a crowd outside the shop, and people began criticizing the shop owner.
Wang Meijiao panicked and quickly tried to pull her up. In a low voice only they could hear, she muttered, “Get up right now, or you’ll regret the consequences.”
Ye Qiuling immediately shouted even louder.
“Heavens! The shop owner is forcing me to kneel and says I won’t have a good outcome!”
The crowd erupted with accusations.
Wang Meijiao quickly released her hand and waved nervously.
“No, no! I never said that!”
For a moment, she was completely unable to defend herself.