Chapter 38: Chapter 28 Aphrodisiac Medicine
Translator: 549690339
Once New Year’s Day was over, it was time for the Spring Festival.
This year, Lu Yuan didn’t celebrate it with Sun Siwen.
Though they were friends, they were not family, and the Spring Festival was meant to be spent with family.
It was also a good time for him to enjoy some alone time.
On the second day of the first month, it was time to visit friends and relatives.
Lu Yuan didn’t have many relatives, but aside from Sun Siwen, he had a few friends like Blacksmith Sun Six and others. So, visiting their homes was his only option.
As they were all neighbors, maintaining a good relationship was important, so he brought along a few strips of bacon to give as gifts during his visits.
By the time he returned home, he had received quite a few red envelopes and thank-you gifts.
On the third day, Lu Yuan went to the county town.
It was the beginning of the month, and he had just finished using the medicinal herbs he bought last month for his martial arts training, so he needed to replenish his stock.
The morning sun was particularly bright, and the accumulated snow on the roads couldn’t handle the warmth, so it melted into the soil, making the roads muddy.
After spending an hour on the road, Lu Yuan finally saw the city gate, and he couldn’t help but feel relieved.
In an ancient society similar to his previous lifetime, road construction technology was terrible. Even the official roads had potholes after being soaked with water, making it a difficult journey.
“Fortunately, this leg of the journey is finally over.”
Lu Yuan shook his head, shook his backpack, and headed happily into the city.
Although it was during the holiday season, the gatekeeper officials didn’t forget their professional ethics. They stopped anyone who entered the city, ready to earn some extra money for the festivities.
However, Lu Yuan now had a registered residence and was no longer undocumented, so he didn’t fear any threats. His backpack contained only an empty strip of bacon and nothing else.
So, the officials begrudgingly took the basic five cents as an entrance fee, pushed the “poor guy” in, and let him enter the city.
Pretending to be afraid and intimidated, Lu Yuan sneaked a glance at the officials, memorizing their faces. He would make sure to pay them back for their long-term “care.”
Zhou’s Pharmacy.
Although it was during the holiday season, injuries and diseases didn’t pay attention to such things.
When someone got seriously ill, they still needed treatment.
That’s why the pharmacy opened right after the Spring Festival. Doctor Zhou Zhe was relaxing in his chair, watching his son Zhou Qing handle the herbs with a smile.
“Doctor Zhou.”
Lu Yuan knocked on the door of the pharmacy and walked in. He took out a strip of bacon from his backpack and handed it to Zhou Qing, who had curiously walked over, saying with a smile, “Here, Xiaoqing, this is a New Year’s gift for your family.”
This young man was now twelve years old and quite tall, looking like a little adult.
Zhou Qing took the bacon and complained, “I’m not a little kid anymore. I’ve learned how to handle herbs and can even help dispense medicine.”
Lu Yuan laughed and said, “Yes, yes, you’re not a little kid anymore. In just two more years, you’ll be able to marry and have children.”
In this era, it was normal for children to get married and have children at the age of fourteen or fifteen. Even a twelve-year-old like Zhou Qing getting married wasn’t uncommon.
“You… what are you talking about! Who’s getting married…” Zhou Qing, still a bit thin-skinned, blushed at the teasing and promptly turned and ran away.
Watching his retreating figure, Lu Yuan laughed even harder.
“Alright, Young Master Lu, stop teasing my boy.”
Zhou Zhe, amused as well, tried to maintain the dignity of a father, quickly changing the subject, “Are you here to buy medicine today?”
Lu Yuan had made a habit of coming here at this time every month to buy medicine.
“Yes, I am.”
Lu Yuan nodded, took out the five silver tales he had prepared, and handed it to Zhou Zhe, “It’s for a month’s supply, here’s the money.”
You really don’t know if it’s useful to keep practicing like this? After a year, you still haven’t made a name for yourself and can only continue being a hunter.
If you had saved the money you’ve spent on medicine over the past year, you could have bought a few acres of land in the countryside and built a mansion by now.
With that kind of property, you could find a good wife and start a family. Isn’t that better than pursuing these elusive martial arts skills?”
Zhou Zhe advised once again, getting up from his reclining chair, prepared to dispense the medicine personally.
The herbs Lu Yuan bought were, in a sense, an exclusive secret prescription of Doctor Zhou’s.
As the doctor didn’t avoid helping him purchase the medicine, it was a sign of trust.
To maintain professional ethics and not betray the trust, Doctor Zhou always dispensed the medicine by himself.
Otherwise, his son might be entrusted with the task, but at his young age, who knew if he could keep the secret?
“Martial arts do have their uses.’
Having interacted with Zhou Zhe for a long time, Lu Yuan had quite a good impression of the doctor with his solid work ethic and incessant chatter.
As a result, he felt no need to hide some less confidential matters and explained while laughing, “Take hunting for example. In the past, when encountering ferocious beasts like wolves, tigers, and leopards, I could only rely on traps and dare not fight them directly.
But now, even if I faced a fierce flower leopard head-on, I could kill it with just my bare hands.”
Zhou Zhe took some medicinal herbs from a cabinet and, somewhat doubtful, asked, “You’ve only been training for a year, and you’re doing it by yourself..
You’ve really made progress?”
