Chapter 5: The Javelin Throw, Nephew Xiao Wen, and the Big Yellow Dog

Returning to the familiar town, he carried on his back a half-basket filled with precious medicinal herbs painstakingly gathered from the mountains. His heart was a mix of nervousness and anticipation—if he could successfully exchange these herbs for money, it would improve their current predicament.

Stepping into the bustling marketplace, Xia He quickly found a familiar pharmacy. “Uncle Wang, do you buy burdock seeds?”

Strangely enough, although the pharmacy was responsible for healing and saving lives, it was helpless against the sudden blood disease that had emerged. The newly opened medical clinic in the city seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, monopolizing the cure.

Yet the pharmacy still had business since the blood disease caused various complications. Those who couldn’t afford the clinic would come to the pharmacy to get some medicine to take home and manage their symptoms.

“Yes! How much do you have?” The owner, a lean middle-aged man named Wang Xing, was an old acquaintance of Li Huilan’s late father.

Xia He promptly set down his basket and handed it over. “About five taels.”

“Hmm, the quality is decent, but the quantity is too little. I’ll take it all for 150 wen. How about that?”

Xia He considered for a moment. The price was about what he expected, so he nodded immediately.

“Uncle Wang, I also gathered some bamboo mushrooms, around eight taels. Interested?”

Wang glanced over and his eyes lit up instantly! This was the real treasure—wealthy city families loved such delicacies. The poor were barely clothed and gravely ill, while the rich were already contemplating how to enjoy finer food.

“Eight taels for 180 wen? Any other items?”

“Uncle Wang, these are freshly picked. How about 200 wen? Look, these two pieces are longer than the palm of your hand. They're not easy to find.”

“You little rascal… Since your father-in-law and I are old friends, alright, 200 wen it is.”

Seeing Xia He’s basket empty, Wang smiled, “From now on, bring any herbs you find here. I won’t cheat you.”

“Thank you, Uncle Wang.”

After some bargaining, Xia He successfully sold the herbs and left the pharmacy. In just one day, he earned a considerable 350 wen. Clutching the heavy copper coins, his first thought was to surprise Li Huilan at home.

He stopped by the butcher to buy a piece of cured meat and some rice. When he returned, Li Huilan had been waiting for quite some time. Xia He carefully closed the door behind him and placed the coins on the table.

“Brother He, where did this come from?” Li Huilan didn’t immediately rejoice but showed anxiety, fearing Xia He had gambled or stolen it.

Xia He smiled wryly and reassured her, “Don’t worry, I exchanged herbs I gathered in the mountains for this.”

“I’ve memorized the book your father left me. From now on, we’ll gather herbs for money. Our days will get better.”

After further explanation, Li Huilan relaxed. Seeing the changes in Xia He, she felt genuinely happy and wept tears of joy.

“Lan’er, why are you crying?”

“Brother He, I’m alright. I’m just happy.”

Li Huilan cut half of the cured meat, brought water and rice to steam together. Seeing the two bowls of fragrant rice with glistening cured meat on top, Xia He couldn’t help but devour it greedily.

After finishing, he noticed Li Huilan’s bowl was only half-eaten before she handed it over. Xia He felt a pang of tenderness.

“Lan’er, don’t save on food. I’ll earn more for you so we can live well. I promise.”

“Mm, Brother He, I believe you.”

“Eat quickly, or I’ll have to punish you tonight.”

Xia He smiled and sat down. Soon Li Huilan’s breathing grew rapid, and she had to finish the entire bowl.

At night, while Li Huilan fell asleep exhausted, Xia He lay awake, gazing at the moonlight outside the window. Earning 350 wen in one day was not bad by normal standards, but he had not forgotten the blood disease he carried.

Though he didn’t know what it was and showed no symptoms, many people suddenly deteriorated on the seventh day, their bodies rotting in a gruesome death. This filled him with urgency.

“I have to keep going into the mountains tomorrow. Hopefully, I can find better things.”

But to go deeper, he needed a weapon for self-defense. Gradually, plans formed in his mind, and he soon fell asleep beside Li Huilan.

At dawn, Xia He awoke. Feeling the warmth of his wife in his arms, his hand gently stroked her, and his heart ignited once more.

“Brother He… I’m not feeling well, it hurts…”

Xia He laughed heartily. Being new to such matters, he couldn’t overexert her.

After letting Li Huilan rest, he rose and didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he gathered bamboo sticks and a few pieces of obsidian he had found in the mountains to make several throwing spears.

Such throwing weapons had been used since ancient times to hunt large prey; they were simple to make and quite lethal.

After half an hour of sharpening the obsidian and binding it to the bamboo, Xia He tested them by throwing at a tree in the courtyard.

After several attempts, the obsidian spearhead embedded two inches deep into the tree trunk.

[Skill: Throwing Spear (Beginner)]
[Progress: (99/200)]
[Effect: Throwing power 300, perfect accuracy]

“So it really can awaken skills…” Xia He’s eyes sparkled with joy.

At that moment, Li Huilan brought him a bowl of water. Xia He took it and drank while hearing her worried voice.

“Brother He, when you went out yesterday, Song Bao came again to collect the debt. He said the price has gone up…”

Xia He wiped the water from his mouth, cursing silently at those relentless scoundrels.

“Three taels of silver within three days, and today is already the second day.”

“The interest is skyrocketing—like a lion’s open mouth. I must fill this hole quickly to avoid giving them leverage.”

Bitter with resentment, Xia He slung the bamboo basket over his back and headed out of town.

Halfway along the road, he spotted a familiar child crouching by the roadside, crying.

“Xiao Wen? What are you doing here?”

Surprised, Xia He approached and recognized Li Huilan’s nephew—her elder sister’s child.

“Uncle! We’re out of rice at home. My mother killed Da Huang, and she asked me to come find you to pay back the money.”

Xia He realized then: his previous self had borrowed 150 wen from Li Hui Juan’s family at the end of the year due to gambling debts, and nearly six months had passed without repayment.

He felt awkward—150 wen wasn’t much, but clearly, Li Hui Juan’s family was struggling, enough that the child was sent to collect the debt.

“Get up first. Why are you still holding that bowl?”

Tearful, Xiao Wen lifted his head, sniffled, and handed over the bowl.

“This is Da Huang. It tastes really good. Uncle, do you want some?”

Xia He laughed and scolded the mischievous boy but softened his heart and handed over the money he owed them.

“Go home quickly and give this to your mother, okay?”

Watching Xiao Wen run off, Xia He shook his head and continued forward.