Liú Xiǎomǎn gripped the smooth Huíchūn token tightly; the carved patterns dug painfully into her palm, but the pain only sharpened her focus.
Her eyes were like blazing torches, piercing through the paper windows of the hut, aiming toward Qīngshí Town. In her mind, only one thought echoed: Seed money must be obtained.
This was the family’s only chance to survive.
The morning in Liú Village carried the scent of soil and vegetation, and the slightly cool breeze brushed against their faces, invigorating them.
Lǐ Xiùxiù and Liú Cōngming were already up, cooking thin porridge. Seeing her shoulder the herb-gathering basket, worry was clear in their eyes.
Liú Xiǎomǎn glanced back and gave them a firm look, silently promising to return with good news—those few words encapsulated all her determination and strength.
She carried her short sickle, carefully threading her way through the dense back-mountain forest.
Activating the system scan, pale blue data streams flew across her retina, analyzing the terrain, vegetation, and species.
The system performed faithfully; soon, a hidden crevice deep in the rocks was highlighted.
[Ding! Target medicinal herb detected, excellent quality, recommend immediate collection.]
Liú Xiǎomǎn’s breath caught. She hurried forward, pushing aside the tangled vines. A plant, completely green with leaves shimmering faintly, came into view.
It emitted a subtle, fresh fragrance, even more refined than what she had found last time.
Kneeling carefully, she dug around the roots with her short sickle. Her fingertips touched the roots and felt a faint but vigorous vitality.
She quickly uprooted it, keeping soil intact, and placed it into a specially prepared bamboo tube, wrapping it carefully in moss.
Feeling the robust life force within the bamboo tube, her heartbeat quickened.
She estimated the herb’s value—it far surpassed the bleeding vine she had sold previously.
Her mind raced through negotiation strategies with Qián Zhǎngguì. This time, she would not just sell a single herb—she aimed for a long-term contract, enough upfront payment to sustain the early stages of the drought.
After preparing it, she headed to Qīngshí Town.
The Huíchūn Hall in Qīngshí Town was bustling with people.
Liú Xiǎomǎn carried her basket and pushed open the heavy wooden door, bringing the fresh scent of the mountains inside.
Qián Zhǎngguì sat behind the counter, fiddling with an abacus. Hearing the door, he looked up and showed a hint of surprise at seeing her.
But when he noticed the token in her hand, he smiled and rose, guiding her to the back room.
“Xiǎomǎn, what a rare visitor. What brings you here today?” Qián Zhǎngguì asked politely, with a touch of curiosity.
He waved her to sit but couldn’t help glancing at the basket on her shoulder.
Liú Xiǎomǎn smiled faintly, not immediately answering, and said only: “I bring a rare treasure for you.” Her confidence left no room for doubt.
She took the bamboo tube from her basket and gently placed it on the table.
As the lid slowly opened, a richer, subtly sweet fragrance of the herb filled the entire back room.
Qián Zhǎngguì twitched his nose, his previous politeness replaced by astonishment. He leaned closer, staring at the vibrant green plant, his expression shifting from shock to incredulous delight.
“This… this is really…” Qián Zhǎngguì’s hands trembled as he carefully touched the leaves. His eyes shone with excitement, his throat moving as he struggled for words. He asked urgently about the source, fearing it might vanish.
Seeing the opportunity, Liú Xiǎomǎn remained calm. She lightly stated it was cultivated through “ancestral secret techniques” and hinted that it wasn’t a one-time find but could be supplied sustainably.
Though vague, her words left Qián Zhǎngguì imagining limitless potential.
“Qián Zhǎngguì, this herb is not occasional. If it can be supplied long-term…” She subtly extended an olive branch.
She proposed triple the market price and requested upfront payment covering six months to a year.
His eyes flickered with hesitation at the amount, but his desire for the herb overcame doubt.
After internal deliberation, he weighed her vision and the herb’s potential and decided to invest.
This herb was unprecedented, and its effects would surely be extraordinary.
“Long-term supply… upfront payment…” Qián Zhǎngguì murmured, tapping the table.
He discussed details: herb quality verification, delivery schedules, etc.
Liú Xiǎomǎn insisted on upfront payment and a long-term contract. This was her only leverage.
Though her tone was young, it carried a savvy beyond her age, leaving Qián Zhǎngguì silently impressed.
“Girl, this upfront payment… is quite a sum.”
He winced slightly. Not unwilling, but such a large sum required time to gather.
Liú Xiǎomǎn’s face remained calm, her tone urgent:
“Qián Zhǎngguì, this herb takes time to grow and harvest. If I delay, I cannot guarantee supply.”
She emphasized scarcity, offering to accept partial payment initially.
Finally, after careful consideration, Qián Zhǎngguì decisively agreed.
He signed a three-year supply contract with her, specifying purchase prices and delivery frequency.
Then he personally retrieved fifty taels of patterned silver, placing the heavy ingots before Liú Xiǎomǎn.
The silver glimmered in the sunlight, dazzling the eyes.
Her heart leapt. The immense satisfaction and weight of responsibility surged together.
These fifty taels represented her family’s hope to survive the next three years of drought.
Qián Zhǎngguì sighed unconsciously as he watched her carefully store the silver: “Lately, grain prices in town seem to be rising quietly… not sure why.”
His words, though casual, struck a warning bell in Liú Xiǎomǎn’s mind. The system’s alert about the world’s changing rules aligned perfectly with this observation.
She remained composed, watching his reaction closely—he had spoken without realizing her inner thoughts.
With the fifty taels secured, Liú Xiǎomǎn felt a rare surge of power fill her chest.
She stepped out of Huíchūn Hall, gazing at the bustling Qīngshí Town market, the crowd, and the cries of merchants.
A new, larger, and more ambitious plan began to take shape in her mind.
Behind her, Qián Zhǎngguì instructed his clerks to treat Liú Xiǎomǎn well, drawing curious and scrutinizing glances from other merchants.