Chapter 2: Reciting the Pharmacopoeia, a Ruffian at the Door, a Three-Day Deadline!

"Hmm? Deep Blue?"

Xia He paused for a moment, his heart suddenly pounding hard!

Originally, he’d only had a sudden impulse—after memorizing the herb manual, he planned to go up the mountain, gather herbs, and earn some money just to survive.

But in reality, anyone who often gathers medicinal herbs knows that knowledge from books and practical experience are two entirely different matters.

This thick herbal compendium recorded at least several thousand kinds of herbs; trying to memorize them all would be rather difficult.

But now, with the golden-finger panel, everything was different!

“The numbers at the back are clearly proficiency levels. That means once it reaches 100, the skill is truly mastered.”

To test his theory, Xia He quickly flipped through the book.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he stopped.

[Progress: 20/100]

“As I thought! As long as I memorize the contents, the progress keeps increasing.”

Seeing the progress bar gave Xia He an immense sense of satisfaction.

The sound of turning pages filled the room as he read with rapt attention.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when a fragrant aroma suddenly drifted over.

Li Huilan carried in a small pot of millet porridge. Seeing Xia He still engrossed in his book, she was clearly surprised.

“He-ge, come eat first,” she said, setting the pot on the table. Her fingers, reddened from the heat, she pinched against her ear to cool before returning to the kitchen to fetch two chipped bowls. She ladled out a bowl of porridge and set it before Xia He.

“He-ge, how’s the reading going?”

Reluctantly, Xia He put down the herbal manual and replied, “I’ve probably gone through several hundred kinds already.”

He glanced down at the millet porridge in his bowl.

It was really just coarse grains—its proper name was foxtail millet. Once dehusked, it became yellow millet.

There was no question of taste, and there was still quite a bit of sand mixed in, making it rough and astringent to eat.

But if it could fill his belly, what more could he ask for?

Xia He sighed, but then noticed that Li Huilan had given him all the thick porridge, keeping only the watery dregs for herself.

He immediately took up the spoon and ladled half back into her bowl. “If you just eat the thin stuff, how will you have the strength to work? Let’s share it.”

Li Huilan was deeply moved but did not refuse.

Soon, her curiosity got the better of her. “He-ge, you really memorized hundreds of herbs already?”

The herbal manual’s descriptions were very detailed. Fortunately, Xia He had spent some time in the medical clinic before and could read, otherwise he wouldn’t have understood a word.

“Of course. Want to test me?”

Curious, Li Huilan smiled and said, “Ephedra…”

But before she even finished, Xia He immediately began to recite its properties.

“Ephedra is pungent, slightly bitter, warm; treats windstroke, cold-induced headaches, expels evil heat, relieves chills and fevers…”

Ephedra is actually a small shrubby plant; its roots and stems can be harvested for medicine in the autumn.

At the price in town, an ounce of ephedra could fetch thirty copper coins—a fair price.

Seeing Xia He recite fluently, Li Huilan’s mouth fell open in astonishment.

“And what about Asarum?”

Unhurried, Xia He replied, “Asarum is pungent, treats rebellious coughing, headaches, and rheumatic pain.”

This herb’s rhizome stands upright or runs horizontally, with many fibrous roots, resembling odd, twisted grass.

Anyone unfamiliar would hardly recognize it.

An ounce of asarum could fetch twenty-five copper coins, a bit less than ephedra, but it was more abundant.

Now Li Huilan was completely stunned.

She had never imagined that in the time it took to cook, Xia He had truly memorized the contents of the herbal manual.

Why hadn’t she ever noticed her husband had such a talent?

With a smile, Xia He said, “Once I memorize the whole herbal manual, I’ll try my luck in the mountains.”

Hope filled his heart; the knowledge he’d just absorbed felt as if it were nailed firmly into his mind.

He gulped down the rest of the porridge and eagerly picked up the herbal manual again.

Seeing his enthusiasm, Li Huilan felt both relieved and proud. Not wanting to disturb him, she quietly tidied up the dishes, said goodbye, and hurried out to work at someone else’s house.

Xia He spent the entire morning memorizing most of the herbal manual.

People here only ate two meals a day. The morning porridge was long gone, and his stomach rumbled with hunger.

[Skill: Herb Identification (Uninitiated)]
[Progress: 70/100]
[Effect: None]

With just another hour or two, he’d be able to reach entry-level proficiency in identifying herbs.

After a short rest, stretching his limbs, Xia He grabbed the manual again, hoping to master the skill before nightfall.

But just then, there was a loud banging on the door and a shrill voice shouted from outside.

“Xia He, are you home?”

“Open up!”

Annoyed by the interruption, Xia He frowned.

But the voice was familiar. He put down the book, went to the door, and opened it.

Standing before him was a tall, thin man with a sharp face and shifty eyes.

Song Bao.

He was infamous in town as a rogue—a cheat and a scoundrel. It was he who had first dragged Xia He’s former self to the gambling house, leading to his addiction.

Now Xia He realized Song Bao was just a “shill,” whose job was to lure people like him into gambling, then take a cut from their losses.

Who knew how many innocent families he had destroyed?

Still, Xia He felt gamblers had only themselves to blame. If you’re not greedy for fortune, how could anyone trick you?

“What do you want?”

Song Bao, not noticing Xia He’s cold tone, kept peering into the room with his beady eyes.

“What are you hiding at home for? Where’s your wife? Not home?”

“She’s out. What do you want?”

Song Bao’s gaze landed on the open herbal manual, and he mocked, “You’re reading? Planning to be a scholar? You, a refugee? What a joke.”

“Come on, follow me to the gambling house for a round. Win some money and I’ll take you to the Lotus Pavilion for some fun.”

Xia He frowned and shook off Song Bao’s grasp. “Sorry, not interested.”

Song Bao stared in disbelief, then sneered, “Don’t forget, you owe the gambling house two taels of silver. With interest, in a few days it’ll be three.”

“If you don’t gamble, how will you win it back?”

“According to the IOU you signed, your house will be repossessed if you can’t pay.”

As he spoke, Song Bao pulled out a slip of paper stamped with a red handprint.

Seeing it, Xia He’s heart sank—he remembered now. In a fit of desperation, he’d borrowed money from a loan shark at the gambling house, all arranged by Song Bao.

He’d only borrowed five hundred copper coins, but in just a few days, the debt had doubled.

“Brother Song, I’ll pay it back in a couple of days, but I really can’t go to the gambling house anymore.”

Song Bao’s face darkened. “You sure you don’t want to try your luck? One win and you could pay off the debt—and have enough left to enjoy yourself at the brothel. You’re not tempted?”

“And with your wife’s huge birthmark on her face—didn’t you say you wanted a new wife?”

Xia He shook his head firmly. “No need, Brother Song. I’ve quit. I’ll pay what I owe.”

Song Bao was momentarily speechless. Seeing Xia He’s complete change in demeanor, he found it odd.

He snorted coldly, nodded repeatedly, and threatened, “Fine, fine. Brother Hu asked me to tell you—if you don’t pay within three days, get ready to move out.”