Delivering Books
“Isn’t that Doctor Xu?” Zhang Shi suddenly asked.
Following his gaze, Yang Lan indeed saw Xu Xiangdong. He glanced up at the signboard, “Jishi Hall,” the name of a pharmacy. What was Xu Xiangdong doing at a pharmacy?
At that moment, Xu Xiangdong turned and saw them, waving a greeting.
Yang Lan took a pancake from the basket and handed it to him.
Xu Xiangdong took the pancake and exclaimed, “I’ve heard your family moved to Town. So you’re selling these now? That’s great!”
During the time Yang Lan sold herbs, the two had become quite familiar, so their conversation was casual.
Xu Xiangdong took a bite of the pancake and immediately praised it, saying Yang Lan was sure to make a fortune.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Yang Lan asked, “Why are you at Jishi Hall, Doctor Xu?”
Upon hearing this, Xu Xiangdong’s smile faded.
He sighed while munching on the pancake, “Since Willow Mountain was closed off, my father and I can’t gather herbs there anymore. We have to buy them from pharmacies. Somehow, the manager of Jishi Hall found out I have a batch of top-quality Dendrobium, and he’s threatening me to sell it to him, or he won’t sell me any more herbs.”
Yang Lan was startled and asked, “With Willow Leaf Village’s mountain closed, why not check the neighboring village?”
Xu Xiangdong gave a bitter smile, “Every mountain has its owner. How can outsiders dig on someone else’s mountain? My father and I thought of hiring people to gather herbs for us, but they don’t know how to handle them. They often mix them with weeds, and even damage the roots. It’s a complete waste.”
Yang Lan pressed his lips together, feeling a bit guilty.
Whether it was the mountain closure or the Dendrobium, it was all indirectly his doing. Ultimately, he had inadvertently caused trouble for Xu Xiangdong.
So he turned to Zhang Shi and Lin Qiao, saying, “Father, Lin Qiao, you go ahead and find Brother Wang. I need to talk to Doctor Xu.”
Zhang Shi and Lin Qiao agreed, reminding him not to forget to eat, and then left.
Xu Xiangdong followed Yang Lan into a restaurant, where they ordered two bowls of noodles.
He looked at Yang Lan curiously, “What do you want to talk to me about?”
Yang Lan said, “Do you remember? I told you I know about herbs and how to handle them because of a book I once read.”
Seeing Xu Xiangdong nod, he continued, “I only glanced at it, but I still remember the contents. I can take some time to write it down for you. If you follow the methods in there for finding and handling herbs, you shouldn’t have any problems.”
Xu Xiangdong was taken aback, looking at him in disbelief.
“This… how can I accept this…”
“It’s all because of that Dendrobium, otherwise you wouldn’t have trouble buying herbs,” Yang Lan said.
Xu Xiangdong quickly waved his hand, “What does this have to do with you? If you can sell me the Dendrobium, I’d be very grateful and happy.”
Hearing this, Yang Lan’s smile became even more genuine.
“Let’s just consider it friends helping each other.”
This time, Xu Xiangdong didn’t hesitate long and soon agreed, “Alright! I’ll discuss it with my father and make sure to give you a satisfactory price.”
Yang Lan nodded with a smile.
After finishing the bowl of noodles, Xu Xiangdong eagerly went home, and Yang Lan also headed back.
When he reached his doorstep, he found the door still locked, which surprised him.
He had thought that without him, Zhang Shi and Lin Qiao wouldn’t stay long at the Vegetable Shop.
Yang Lan chuckled, then turned and walked toward the Vegetable Shop.
Wang Changjun’s Vegetable Shop was on South Street, not far from home. It only took Yang Lan a few minutes to get there.
From a distance, he saw Wang Changjun sitting at a wooden table at the shop’s entrance, but there was no sign of Zhang Shi or Lin Qiao. He quickly approached the shop entrance and called out, “Brother Wang!”
Wang Changjun looked up and, seeing him, greeted warmly, “Oh, it’s Lan Xiaozi. Thank you for the breakfast. The rolled cold noodles and pancakes were delicious.”
Yang Lan smiled, “I’m glad you liked them, Brother Wang. Where are my father and Lin Qiao?”
“They’re inside watching the kids and keeping Yue Ge’er company,” Wang Changjun replied.
Yue Ge’er was Wang Changjun’s husband, a native of Stone Town. His family ran an embroidery shop. Yang Lan had met him once; he was a particularly gentle and shy Ge’er.
Wang Changjun doted on him, and unless the shop was extremely busy, he wouldn’t let his husband come out.
Knowing Zhang Shi and Lin Qiao were inside, Yang Lan wasn’t in a hurry. He didn’t want to intrude and make anyone uncomfortable, so he sat in the shop, helping Wang Changjun with some tasks.
About half an hour later, Zhang Shi and Lin Qiao came out. Lin Qiao was holding a chubby child in his arms, and when he saw Yang Lan, his face turned red.
Yang Lan didn’t notice and went straight over, pinching the child’s cheek, “Is this Brother Wang’s son? So cute!”
Wang Changjun also came over, nodding and shaking the baby’s hand, delighted by the baby’s giggles.
“Why is Star Baby so well-behaved today?” He looked at Lin Qiao, “Usually, only Yue Ge’er and I can hold him. Otherwise, he cries as soon as he comes to the shop. This is the first time he’s been so happy.”
Yue Ge’er also came out at this moment and replied, “He ate some of their candy, so he has to give them some face, right?”
Wang Changjun laughed heartily, “My son is smart.”
Yue Ge’er gave him a playful glare, “You can praise him for anything.”
Wang Changjun, unfazed, nodded confidently, “Of course!”
Then he nudged Yang Lan’s arm and asked, “Lan Xiaozi, do you prefer sons or Ge’ers?”
Yang Lan was taken aback. To be honest, he had never thought about it. In the past, he didn’t even have someone he liked, let alone the possibility of marriage and children.
Now… he instinctively glanced at Lin Qiao, then quickly shook his head. Lin Qiao was only eighteen, not even of age to have children, and besides, he only saw him as a younger brother.
“Brother Wang, don’t tease me. It’s still early, no rush.”
Wang Changjun nodded, assuming he was just shy and didn’t press further.
Just then, a customer came to buy vegetables, so Wang Changjun went to attend to them. Yang Lan watched, completely unaware of the sudden dimness in Lin Qiao’s eyes.