The Barefoot Doctor slung a basket onto his back, grabbed a small hoe, and walked toward Shen Ruoxi, who was pounding herbs in the courtyard. "I'm going to the mountains to gather medicinal herbs. You should come with me."
He needed to keep Shen Ruoxi within sight. If he left her at home, and something happened to his room full of medicinal herbs, it would be difficult to clean up the mess.
"Okay," Shen Ruoxi then said, "Grandfather, I'll go get the tools for gathering herbs too. Wait for me a moment."
If they could dig up some valuable medicinal herbs on the mountain, it could solve their immediate crisis.
In a short while, Shen Ruoxi also put a small basket on her back, took a small hoe, and then left with the Barefoot Doctor.
The Barefoot Doctor often went to the mountains to gather medicinal herbs. Otherwise, if someone in the Village fell ill, even if he diagnosed the symptoms, he wouldn't have the means to treat them, as he didn't have enough silver to buy supplies in the County Town.
The two walked one after the other on the small path in the Village, heading toward the mountain.
Along the way, they encountered many villagers. Seeing Shen Ruoxi made them very nervous. As an ordinary person, Shen Ruoxi was already enough to cause breakdowns; if she succeeded in studying medicine, they feared she would bring ruin to their Village.
Heavens above, could someone please come and manage this Bringer of disaster!
The direction they were heading now was Shen Ruoxi's first time visiting, a good chance to familiarize herself with the environment.
Just as she was contemplating ways to quickly earn Ten taels of silver, a harsh scolding voice drifted over, "Get out! Don't ever come to my house again, or don't blame me for being unfilial."
Shen Ruoxi's thoughts were interrupted, and she looked up—
An old woman, about fifty or sixty years old, was being chased out of a house by a Woman. The old woman was somewhat stooped, her face covered in wrinkles, and those wrinkles were filled with bitterness and helplessness.
Shen Ruoxi couldn't help but frown. It looked like that old woman was the Woman's Mother-in-law. Wasn't the Daughter-in-law's behavior a bit excessive?
A Middle-aged Man was also standing by the Courtyard entrance, watching the scene unfold calmly, offering no reaction.
The wife bullies the mother, and the son just watches like that?
Was there some hidden story?
The surrounding villagers watched the scene, but no one spoke up to stop it. Moreover, judging by their expressions, they seemed to think this was how things should be.
Was she seeing things wrong?
Before she could investigate further, the Barefoot Doctor's voice came from beside her, "Let's go."
Shen Ruoxi withdrew her gaze and followed the Barefoot Doctor forward. She wanted to ask, but the words died on her lips. She couldn't even take care of herself right now; how could she have the energy to worry about others?
They walked along the small path, left the Village, crossed the fields, and arrived at the foot of the mountain.
The Barefoot Doctor held a wooden stick in his hand. "Stay behind me and don't wander off. If you get lost, I might not be able to find you."
Shen Ruoxi obediently replied, "I understand, Grandfather."
There were no Medicinal Herbs at the foot of the mountain; they only grew deeper inside. The Barefoot Doctor frequented this mountain and would plant some herbs while gathering them, otherwise, the herbs would have long been depleted.
Shen Ruoxi picked up a stick to hold, tapping and hitting it as she walked to ward off potential dangers.
She thought to herself that they had no rice left to cook at home; it would be even better if they could find some food.
It had rained the day before, so the ground was still damp. The weather in the second month was neither cold nor hot, mild and pleasant.
Shen Ruoxi suddenly spotted a Isatis root. "Grandfather, there's an Isatis root over there."
The Barefoot Doctor looked over. "I planted that one. I'll gather it on the way back."
Shen Ruoxi thought she had found a harvest, but it turned out to be like this. "Grandfather, are all the herbs on this mountain ones you planted?"
The Barefoot Doctor was very upright. "Not entirely. Only the obvious ones like that are ones I planted; the rest are wild."
Shen Ruoxi nodded, and the joy in her heart slowly subsided.