After lunch, Lin Yao packed her things and said to Lin Cheng, "Brother, I want to go up the mountain to dig for some wild vegetables."
Lin Cheng nodded, "Alright, we've just run out of firewood at home. I'll gather some while we're there. Let's go together."
Upon hearing this, Lin Song threw down the small stone in his hand and clamored to join them. Unable to dissuade him, Lin Yao and Lin Cheng had no choice but to bring him along.
The three of them headed into the mountains, with Lin Cheng leading the way, holding a wooden stick and occasionally tapping the grass along the path.
Lin Yao followed behind, lost in thought. Relying solely on selling a few stacks of pancakes at the dock earned pitifully little money. She needed to find more ways to make a living. This trip into the mountains was a chance to test her luck—perhaps she could stumble upon some precious medicinal herbs. That way, she could open her own shop sooner.
As she walked along the mountain path, her mind drifted into memories. Back when she was a food blogger, she had once focused on medicinal cuisine to cater to the wellness trend. During that time, she had gathered extensive information on common herbs, learning about their growth habits, effects, and cooking methods. She hoped that knowledge would come in handy now.
As she walked, Lin Yao's eyes suddenly lit up. She spotted a familiar plant—a cinnamon tree.
Her heart raced with excitement. Cinnamon, also known as cassia, could be processed into cinnamon powder for seasoning, while cinnamon twigs could be used medicinally to induce sweating, relieve muscle tension, warm and unblock meridians, support yang energy, and regulate qi.①
Feigning surprise, Lin Yao exclaimed, "Brother, look! This is cinnamon. It can be used as a seasoning or as medicine!"
Lin Cheng and Lin Song hurried over to look at the cinnamon tree but didn't see anything particularly special about it. "A Yao, how do you know this?" Lin Cheng asked.
Lin Yao silently apologized in her heart but stuck to her usual explanation. "Brother, when I was unconscious, someone fed me this herb. I was in a daze at the time, but I remember its taste and appearance. That's how I recognize it."
Lin Cheng's eyes reddened instantly. "It must have been Mother watching over you," he said. Lin Yao nodded gently in agreement.
Wiping away his tears, Lin Cheng smiled and said, "Let's gather more cinnamon twigs to sell for money."
"And we can scrape off some bark. I can make cinnamon powder," Lin Yao quickly added.
The three of them divided the tasks and spent quite some time working around several trees, filling more than half a basket. Lin Yao couldn't help but marvel at how lush and undeveloped the mountain forests were. Lin Cheng also gathered some firewood and placed it on top of their baskets.
Lin Yao wanted to search for more, but she found nothing else. She did manage to cut a few more clusters of wild chives. As the sun climbed higher, she realized that if they lingered any longer, they wouldn't make it to town in time to sell their finds. Reluctantly, she abandoned her fantasies.
Indeed, treasures like lingzhi mushrooms and ginseng weren't something just anyone could stumble upon. She would have to stick to selling pancakes for now.
The three siblings hurried back and finally made it home just before the end of the Weishi hour (1–3 p.m.).
As soon as they entered the house, Lin Yao set down her basket and said to Lin Cheng, "Brother, let's take these herbs to town to sell."
Lin Cheng nodded. "Alright."
Selling the herbs wasn't Lin Yao's only goal for going to town. More importantly, she intended to conduct a thorough market survey.
Though selling snacks at the dock could put food on the table, it couldn't provide the life she truly desired. Having lived over twenty years in her previous life, Lin Yao couldn't claim any particular hobbies—her greatest passion was making money. She had endured enough hardship to last a lifetime; earning money was the only true path forward.
She envisioned expanding her business to the town and even the prefectural city. Last time she'd rushed through town buying supplies, she hadn't properly observed the shops. This time, she would study them carefully.
The three siblings walked together toward town.
It was market day, and farmers from the village had brought their accumulated eggs and vegetables to sell. The small town buzzed with far more activity than usual.
Lin Yao's eyes sparkled as she quietly observed each shop, assessing foot traffic. After walking awhile, she spotted the imposing Guangyuan Hall. The three stepped into the medical clinic.
The shop assistant noticed their shabby clothing but didn't shoo them away, merely asking casually, "Here for treatment or medicine?"
Lin Yao stepped forward. "We're here to sell herbs."
The apprentice looked surprised, asked them to wait a moment, then went to the back to fetch the physician.
Soon, a slightly plump physician with rosy cheeks emerged from the inner hall.
Chen Qianyuan's gaze fell on the cassia branches in their baskets, revealing surprise. Though common in rural mountains, few could identify them. The siblings' cassia branches appeared exceptionally fresh and of premium quality.
Lin Yao's heart pounded. Though she knew cassia's medicinal properties, she was unfamiliar with ancient market prices. Deciding to take the initiative, she asked, "Physician, what would you offer for these cassia branches?"
Chen Qianyuan stroked his beard thoughtfully. "One hundred ten wen per catty."
Beside her, Lin Cheng's eyes widened. He nearly dropped his basket in excitement—this was far more profitable than selling pancakes!
But Lin Yao's expression remained unchanged. "Physician, that price is too low." With that, she reached for her elder brother's basket as if to leave.
Seeing this, Chen Qianyuan quickly raised a hand to stop her. "Don't rush, young lady! I'll raise it to one hundred twenty wen per catty. That's already a fair price. The town's demand for cassia is limited, but our Guangyuan Hall has branches everywhere and can distribute it further. Otherwise, we wouldn't dare purchase so much."
Lin Yao pretended to consider this before nodding. "Very well, we accept."
After weighing, calculating, and bustling about, Lin Yao received a hefty 680 wen.
Chen Qianyuan observed the three siblings. Though dressed in rags, the young woman who handled negotiations was articulate and poised, neither servile nor overbearing. He couldn't help feeling both curious and admiring.
Lin Yao had Lin Cheng secure the money. With copper coins in hand, her heart felt lighter, and her steps became more buoyant. She pulled her brothers into the bustling market streets.
As they walked, Lin Yao noticed a sugar-figure stall ahead, the treats emitting an alluring sweetness in the sunlight.
She noticed Lin Song slowing down, so she adjusted her pace accordingly.
Lin Yao recalled their last town visit when Lin Song had similarly stared fixedly at the sugar-figure stall.
That was merely days ago, when their family could barely make ends meet and every coin had its designated purpose. Today, however, they had slightly more flexibility.
Although Lin Cheng appeared somewhat simple-minded, he was actually quite observant and quickly noticed the unusual behavior of his younger siblings. Following Lin Song’s gaze, he understood immediately. In the past, he had been entirely preoccupied with how to earn enough for their next meal and how to raise his younger siblings, paying little attention to such childish whims—and, most importantly, lacking the means to indulge them.
Lin Cheng led Lin Yao and Lin Song toward the old man selling sugar figurines and said, "A Yao, Song'er, go ahead and pick a sugar figurine you like."
Lin Song was taken aback at first, his eyes filled with disbelief. Once the reality sank in, his little face instantly lit up with joy.
Just as Lin Yao was about to decline, Lin Cheng interjected, "A Yao, you should get one too. We’ve managed these past few days thanks to you."
Lin Yao thought it over. The original owner of this body was only twelve years old—still a child—and having a sweet tooth would be more fitting for her age. She chose a sugar figurine shaped like a little pig.
Lin Song, however, couldn’t decide right away. Standing in front of the stall, his eyes wide and shining, he looked left and right, torn between delight and indecision.
The sugar figurines on display were incredibly lifelike: a majestic tiger with its mouth wide open, a colorful phoenix poised as if about to take flight, and a chubby, adorable baby. He loved every single one.
Pinching the hem of his clothes, Lin Song hesitated for a long while before finally pointing at the tiger and declaring with resolve, "Elder brother, I want this one."
Lin Cheng paid eight copper coins and handed the sugar figurine to Lin Song. The little boy beamed with happiness, carefully licking the treat, his delight making both Lin Yao and Lin Cheng laugh.
Lin Yao also nibbled at her sugar figurine. It was just ordinary sugar, but the sweetness slowly seeped into her heart.
In her previous life, she had been an orphan, growing up within the small confines of an orphanage. Life there had been bleak and monotonous—old, worn-out buildings, a handful of shared toys, and meager resources. The constant sense of deprivation had instilled in her a deep desire for wealth from a young age; only making money could give her a sense of security. As she grew older, she ventured out into the world alone, stumbling and struggling until she achieved some success. But before she could earn enough, her life was cut short. Thinking of this, Lin Yao couldn’t help but curse the heavens for their cruelty.
In some ways, she envied the original owner of this body. Here, she had an elder brother who genuinely cared for her and a lively, adorable younger brother. This warmth was something she had never experienced in her past life. The only downside was the poverty. Lin Yao was not one to resign herself to a life of hardship. Whether for her own sake or to repay the original owner who had passed away, she was determined to work hard and earn money.
The three of them continued strolling through the town. Shops lined the streets, their signs fluttering in the wind, and food stalls stood one after another, steaming with enticing aromas.
A long queue had formed in front of a shop selling baked pancakes. Lin Yao glanced at the sign—this was the Qian Family Pancake Stall that Chief Escort Wu had mentioned. The freshly baked pancakes glowed with an enticing golden hue, their sesame seeds embedded firmly, making them look plump and inviting.
Next door, a congee shop was not to be outdone. A large pot of rice porridge bubbled and boiled, white steam rising as the fragrance of rice mingled with the sweetness of red dates and longan filled the air.
Lin Yao’s eyes darted from one sight to another, her mind already clicking away like an abacus, calculating possibilities.
She pondered the pricing and ingredient costs of these foods, thinking about how to create unique features and attract customers if her family were to open a shop. As she walked, a clean-looking noodle shop came into view, filled with many customers slurping down noodles noisily—it looked delicious.
Lin Yao stepped into the shop first, followed closely by Lin Cheng and Lin Song.
The waiter greeted them warmly, "What would you like, honored guests?"
Lin Yao replied crisply, "One bowl of noodles and two servings of wontons."
Upon hearing this, Lin Cheng instinctively wanted to pull Lin Yao out of the shop—this would cost a fair amount of money. Making a living wasn't easy, and every coin had to be spent carefully.
Just as he was about to speak, Lin Yao seemed to read his mind. Smiling, she tugged at his arm and said, "Brother, we've earned some money these past few days. Let's treat ourselves to a good meal. I've never eaten anything in town before."
Lin Cheng was taken aback for a moment. Gazing into his sister's sparkling eyes, he swallowed his refusal. His sister had endured hardships with him for so long; it was only right to let her enjoy a good meal occasionally. Gritting his teeth, he told the waiter, "We'll have what my sister ordered."
Soon, the noodles and wontons were served. The noodle soup was clear and bright, the noodles chewy, topped with a few fresh green scallions. The wontons had thin wrappers and generous fillings, with a hint of pink meat visible, bobbing in the fragrant broth.
Lin Yao took a bite of the wonton first. The savory flavor of the meat filling spread on her tongue. Though it couldn't compare to the variety of modern delicacies, in this small town, it had a unique sense of comfort.
"Boss, can you make it cheaper? I'm buying thirty bowls of noodles at once. How about three hundred and fifty coins in total?" A slightly familiar male voice rang out in the noodle shop.