As expected, Old Bureau Chief had Xiao Zhang fetch him a small stool, determined to wait half an hour to taste this concoction.
Half an hour later, the broth in the earthenware pot had reduced to a thick consistency, its amber color looking utterly enticing.
Accompanied by a rich aroma, it made everyone around swallow their saliva repeatedly, their stomachs growling with craving.
Li Jiao took a clean enamel bowl, ladled a small half-bowl of broth—without any chicken meat, just skimming off a bit of the oil—and handed it to Old Bureau Chief.
“Actions speak louder than words. Why not experience it yourself? Have a taste.”
Old Bureau Chief had long been impatient. He took the bowl and, ignoring how hot it was, blew away the floating oil and took a small sip.
The broth tasted slightly bitter at first, but was immediately followed by the mellow, savory sweetness of the old hen.
The hot broth slid down his throat into his stomach, instantly transforming into a warm, flowing energy that quickly spread to his limbs and throughout his body.
The knee pain that had been tormenting him due to the overcast, snowy weather actually eased significantly!
“Excellent! This is truly remarkable, absolutely remarkable!”
Old Bureau Chief’s eyes lit up. He took three more sips in succession, and a faint blush appeared on his originally pale face.
Excitedly, he patted his thigh and turned to look at Li Jiao, his eyes filled with admiration. “Young comrade, you’re truly amazing. This old leg pain has plagued me for over a decade. I’ve tried countless medicines without any effect, yet after just a few sips of your broth, I feel so much more comfortable.”
Upon hearing this, the onlookers around were instantly astonished.
Whether they were newly arrived patients’ family members or those who had been there earlier, who among them didn’t know Old Bureau Chief’s status?
There was no reason for him to act as a shill for a young girl. Could this dried-up tree root really be a treasure?
The auntie who had mocked Li Jiao earlier now stood with her mouth agape, her face flushed a deep purplish-red.
That slap to her face stung terribly!
“Young comrade, I’ll take the remaining bundles of vines you have, as well as your broth recipe. Name your price,” Old Bureau Chief said without beating around the bush, getting straight to the point.
As long as it could cure this tormenting leg pain, he was willing to pay any amount.
Li Jiao didn’t hesitate either. Although she had acquired the materials cheaply, the age of the Broad-tendon Vine and her exclusive processing method represented genuine effort.
She held up two slender, fair fingers and waved them slightly.
“Twenty yuan?” Before Old Bureau Chief could speak, the guard Xiao Zhang spoke up first.
Twenty yuan was no small sum—almost equivalent to an apprentice’s monthly wage.
The people around also thought the price was quite high, especially since many knew Li Jiao had bought so much Broad-tendon Vine for just forty cents.
“No.” Li Jiao shook her head, her voice clear and tone firm. “Eighty yuan!”
“What?!” Gasps of shock rippled through the crowd.
“Eighty yuan? Has this girl gone mad for money?”
“Daring to ask eighty for a few bundles of dried-up firewood? Even if it’s that so-called Broad-tendon Vine, eighty yuan is practically robbery!”
“My husband barely earns forty yuan a month. She’s asking for two months’ wages right off the bat!”
The auntie shrieked even louder, “Good heavens! She’s treating people like fools to swindle! Little girl, aren’t you afraid your tongue will get twisted by such bold talk?”
Li Jiao turned a deaf ear, her gaze fixed intently on the Old Bureau Chief. “Sir, you know quality when you see it. A fifty-year-old wild Broad-tendon Vine is a rare find—once dug up, it’s gone for good. Plus, with my prescription, if you were to get this medicine at a major hospital, you know exactly how effective it would be. Eighty yuan for a winter of peaceful sleep—is that really expensive?”
The Old Bureau Chief fell silent for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter. “Not expensive at all! If it can give me a good night’s sleep, it’s worth eight hundred! This young comrade has quite the nerve!”
He turned to Xiao Zhang. “Pay her.”
Though Xiao Zhang thought it was pricey, he immediately pulled out a stack of crisp ten-yuan bills from his pocket at the chief’s command.
One, two… he counted out eight bills in total.
When the stack of ten-yuan notes was handed to Li Jiao, everyone around stared in shock.
Especially the Auntie, whose eyes nearly popped out of her head, her face filled with envy and disbelief.
Li Jiao took the money and, in front of everyone, snapped it crisply in her hand.
The sound was deeply satisfying.
“Thank you for your patronage. Please take the goods with you, and I’ll write the prescription for you in a moment.”
With that, Li Jiao tucked the money into her pocket, handed Xiao Zhang the two bundles of Broad-tendon Vine—weighing at least twenty jin—that she had brought out earlier, then picked up the clay pot still containing more than half a pot of chicken and broth. Under the envious and resentful gazes of the crowd, she returned to the ward.
The Old Bureau Chief hurried after her. “Hey, young comrade, are you still selling that chicken soup?”
“Twenty yuan a bowl, with one chicken leg and two pieces of meat, and you can refill the broth for free.” Li Jiao smiled, her eyes crinkling with delight.
The Old Bureau Chief paused, then laughed heartily. “Good! Xiao Zhang, twenty yuan for a bowl!”
“Alright! When I bring you the prescription later, or if you send this comrade to pick it up, I’ll refill the broth for you.”
In just this short while, she had earned a hundred yuan. Li Jiao felt utterly delighted and couldn’t wait to return to the ward to share the joy with Qin Lie.
In the ward, Qin Lie was growing anxious and wanted to get out of bed to look for Li Jiao.
She had been gone for an hour, and with all the cooking and commotion outside, he feared this delicate girl might have been wronged or taken advantage of.
Just as he was about to grit his teeth and climb out of bed despite the pain, the door opened, and Li Jiao walked in carrying the black clay pot.
Seeing Qin Lie trying to get up, she quickly set the pot aside. “Don’t move! Don’t move around! Didn’t the doctor say you should try to eat, drink, and even use the bathroom in bed?”
Qin Lie instantly shed the fierce, intimidating aura that could silence a crying child at night, his pale face now wearing just the right amount of fragility and melancholy.
He pursed his lips, his voice low and hoarse. “You were gone for so long… I thought you… had finally come to your senses and decided to leave this cripple behind.”
As long as he openly played the “cripple” and “pitiful” card, she would soften, wouldn’t she?
The Child peeking through the doorway was stunned. This big brother changed faces so fast!
Just moments ago, he had looked like he wanted to eat someone alive as he stared at the door. How did he turn into a victim the moment Sister walked in?
If he hadn’t been bribed with milk candy to keep quiet, the Child would have burst into tears.
Hearing this, Li Jiao’s heart softened, followed by a pang of sorrow.
She pouted. “Why don’t you trust me?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she suddenly remembered the countless lies she had told before.
Li Jiao coughed lightly. “I told you I’m sticking with you, okay? Now, close your eyes first. I have a surprise for you.”
Mysteriously, Li Jiao leaned in close to Qin Lie, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling brightly.
Qin Lie was taken aback and instinctively wanted to refuse, but seeing the eager look in Li Jiao’s eyes, he obediently closed them.
Li Jiao pulled out the hundred yuan from her pocket and placed it in front of Qin Lie.
“Open your eyes!”
Qin Lie opened his eyes to see a stack of brand-new ten-yuan bills lying before him. The denominations shimmered temptingly under the dim yellow light.
“This…” Qin Lie’s pupils contracted sharply, and his entire body stiffened.
“Look, this is what we got from that pile of dried branches. How about that? Am I amazing? This is a hundred yuan—enough for our hospital fees, and probably enough for follow-up nutrition too. I still have three bundles left. Later, I’ll ask if anyone else wants them.”
She estimated that this much Broad-tendon Vine could sell for at least three hundred yuan, and now she already had a hundred in hand!
“From now on, I’ll make sure you eat meat every day!”
Li Jiao’s little face was practically begging for praise.
This was the first time Qin Lie had seen such a lively expression on her.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he lowered his gaze. “Jiaojiao, I…”
“Alright, don’t say anything. Here, have some chicken. Open your mouth! Ah—”
Qin Lie instinctively opened his mouth, and a piece of richly fragrant chicken was stuffed inside.
“Eat more. You need to regain all that meat you lost. Our family isn’t short on money now.”
As Qin Lie chewed the tender chicken, he struggled to suppress the turbulent emotions surging in his eyes.
It was truly delicious.