When Xiao Li heard her question, he was slightly surprised.
“You know about grinding herbs?”
Fu Yuling waved her hand. “I know a little.”
“Also, there’s no need for formalities. I should be only a little older than you.”
Xiao Li was a young man with a crew cut and a spirited look. He seemed diligent.
“What should I call you?”
Xiao Li had a clever mind, but now he felt a bit awkward.
Calling her “sister” wouldn’t be appropriate since they were around the same age, and addressing her as “you” felt uncomfortable.
“Just call me by my name! Fu Yuling.”
Xiao Li’s name was quite simple, just Li Jian.
As soon as Fu Yuling called him by his name, he got goosebumps.
“You can still call me Xiao Li! No one has ever called me by my name before. I almost didn’t recognize it.”
Li Jian had a laid-back personality and wasn’t bound by formalities.
Li Jian handed over his tasks to someone else and chatted with Fu Yuling on the way to their destination. She learned that this person was the boss’s son.
He used to have a stable job in the county, but because he was more interested in his family’s medical practice, he simply quit his job and came to work here.
During their conversation, they discussed the medicinal properties of various herbs. Fu Yuling’s eloquence and knowledge made Li Jian’s eyes shine. He felt like he had met his partner, and their conversation continued until they reached their destination.
Li Jian opened the door, revealing a bright room with well-organized items inside.
A complex medicinal fragrance wafted through the air, and Fu Yuling could identify which herbs were present with just one sniff.
“Sheng Di, Mulberry White Bark1桑白皮 (sāng bái pí) or “Mulberry White Bark.” It is the bark of the white mulberry tree. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is used for its potential benefits on the liver, kidneys, and lungs., Poria2黄苓 (huáng líng) means “Poria” or “Tuckahoe.” It is a type of fungus commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. Poria cocos, also known as Fu Ling, is often used to cure conditions related to dampness, such as edema, urinary issues, and digestive disorders., Moutan Bark3丹皮 (dān pí) means “Moutan Bark” or “Tree Peony Bark.” It refers to the bark of a tree peony. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is often used for conditions such as menstrual disorders, skin issues, and pain relief.…”
“Their effects should be to clear lung heat and nourish yin energy.”
When Li Jian heard Fu Yuling accurately identifying the herbs he had ground this morning, he admired her and gave her a quick glance.
“Not bad. Now, guess what this is?”
Excitement surged within Li Jian as he took out a package. Fu Yuling leaned in and sniffed the contents. It had a slightly sour smell.
“If I’m not mistaken, it should be Five-flavor Fruit4Also callsed “Wu Wei Zi” and refers to its unique characteristic of containing all five fundamental tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami..”
This time, Li Jian really admired her from the bottom of his heart.
“It is Five-flavor Fruit. It has functions such as stopping bleeding, detoxifying, reducing perspiration, and nourishing the lungs. However, the quantity is quite small, and I only have this much.”
He felt a bit regretful as he mentioned it.
“Come here and have a look. The tools are all here. Do you want to use any of them?”
Fu Yuling walked over and examined the grinding tools. Compared to the equipment she was familiar with in her real life, these tools were much simpler. However, in this era, having these tools was already pretty good.
“Can I buy a set of these tools from you?”
She was a bit nervous when she asked the question. Judging from the appearance of these tools, it was evident that the owner cherished them very much. She didn’t know if there were any extras available.
“Do you want them?”
Li Jian rummaged through a nearby cabinet. “I’ll just give you a set! But can you give me some of the medicinal powders you make each time?”
He was genuinely interested in her now. Seeing her familiarity with medicinal herbs, he felt that she knew much more than him.
His father didn’t plan on letting him pursue this field, and he was stubborn as well. His family had been practicing medicine for several generations, and he wanted the younger generation to pursue other paths.
Especially when he found out that Li Jian had given up his high-paying job to come to this small town, his father was furious. Over time, he gave up on him, but he still refused to teach him.
So Li Jian learned about medicine and grinding by pestering his father, imitating him step by step.
It had been two years since then.
Fu Yuling naturally agreed to his request.
But she wasn’t the kind of person to take advantage of others, so before leaving she insisted on giving him some money.
