Back at the health clinic, Lu Mosheng shared her idea with Shen Dusong.
Lying in his hospital bed, Shen Dusong pondered her suggestion for a long while before speaking. “That’s an excellent idea. Scutellaria naturally has heat-clearing and anti-inflammatory properties. Turning it into toothpaste could help relieve gum inflammation and swelling. There are already herbal toothpastes on the market, such as Tianqi toothpaste…”
Lu Mosheng spoke up. “I already have a batch of Scutellaria on hand, but I urgently need someone to process it.”
Shen Dusong nodded. “You and Mr. Song saved my life. No matter what, I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
Supporting himself with his arms, Shen Dusong sat up in bed. He borrowed a pen and paper from the nurse and handed Lu Mosheng a phone number.
“This is the number of a friend of mine who practices traditional Chinese medicine. I’m bedridden right now and can’t handle this personally, but you can contact him.”
“Thank you.”
Lu Mosheng accepted the note and thanked him sincerely.
She called the number on the paper, and in less than a day, someone arrived to purchase the Scutellaria.
Standing in front of the small house, Lu Mosheng and Song Jiayan watched as the damaged Scutellaria was gathered up and purchased in bulk.
Meanwhile, Bai Xing, who had been waiting for Lu Mosheng to embarrass herself, stood nearby with her eyes wide open.
“Are these people idiots? Why would they buy Scutellaria that’s been ruined?”
Lu Mosheng turned to look at Bai Xing. “Your Jiayan-ge’s money hasn’t gone to waste. Shouldn’t you be happy?”
Bai Xing was momentarily speechless.
“I… Of course I’m happy! But, Sister Mosheng, where did you find these people willing to buy damaged Scutellaria? And another thing—once Scutellaria is pulled out of the soil, it should have wilted by now. So why does it still look exactly the way it did when it was growing in the field?”
That was the effect of the spiritual spring!
Plants watered with its magical spring water could remain fresh for two or three days even after being removed from the soil. It was even more effective than the refrigerators and freezers that would become common in later years.
Lu Mosheng had no intention of answering Bai Xing’s questions.
After the purchase was completed, one of the buyers came over to settle the payment. He handed Lu Mosheng a thick stack of banknotes.
Holding the substantial stack of money in her hands, Lu Mosheng finally felt a sense of relief.
Bai Xing glanced at the money in Lu Mosheng’s hands, unable to hide the envy in her eyes.
After the payment was settled, the buyers quickly loaded up the Scutellaria and left.
Having only succeeded in embarrassing herself, Bai Xing slunk away as well.
Soon, only Lu Mosheng and Song Jiayan remained in front of the small house.
For the first time, Song Jiayan studied Lu Mosheng so seriously. He realized that the woman standing before him seemed like an entirely different person from the Lu Mosheng he had known before.
Ever since she had announced that she wanted to stay here with him, he had sensed that something about her had changed.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Lu Mosheng asked when she noticed him staring at her.
Song Jiayan parted his lips slightly. “Mosheng, you seem different from how you used to be.”
She burst out laughing, amused by his observation.
“How am I different?”
Song Jiayan thought for half a second before answering earnestly, “I can’t really explain it. You’re just different from before. But no matter how much you change, I’ll treat you even better than I did before. Mosheng, I promise I’ll give you a good life.”
“I believe you.”
Just then, the buyers returned.
One of them handed Lu Mosheng a handkerchief.
“We found this in the field. It still looks fairly new. Does it belong to you?”
Lu Mosheng shook her head and unfolded the handkerchief. Embroidered on it was a single Chinese character: Li.
At once, everything became clear to her.
This was Zhao Xiuli’s handkerchief!
Lu Mosheng had seen Zhao Xiuli embroidering characters onto her handkerchief at the Song family’s home. The character she had embroidered was precisely this one—Li.
Why had the handkerchief appeared in the field?
And who had destroyed the Scutellaria crop?
Lu Mosheng finally knew who was responsible!