Chapter 8: The Spice

He straightened up and smiled, patting Wang Sanniu lightly on the shoulder.

“If anyone else brought me a sack full of these ‘weeds,’ I probably wouldn’t accept them. The pharmacy has regular suppliers for medicinal herbs, ensuring quality and efficacy. But well... I’ve known you since you were little, you’re polite and sincere. Your family is earnest, and you’ve put real effort into gathering these herbs. Consider it a favor to an old customer—I’ll take them.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Sanniu and Wang Ernniu’s faces lit up with joy, and they quickly expressed their thanks. “Thank you, Grandpa Wang!” “Thank you, Doctor Wang!”

“Don’t be so quick to thank me,” Doctor Wang waved his hand, his smile fading into a more serious expression. “Medicine is something that saves lives when taken, so it cannot be treated carelessly. Remember this: dandelion, for example, is very vulnerable to moisture. Once dried, it must be stored in clean bags in a cool, dry place to prevent mold and pests, or it becomes worthless. Also, rhubarb’s effects differ between raw and processed forms. What you’ve gathered is raw, so the pharmacy will have to prepare it properly. If you’re going to process it yourselves next time, the timing and heat must be precise; otherwise, the medicine’s effect may be compromised or even harmful...”

Doctor Wang went on, tediously explaining the main herbs, as well as how to store and handle them. Wang Sanniu nodded repeatedly, committing every word to memory. Wang Ernniu listened attentively, trying hard to absorb terms like “drying” and “processing.”

Wang Sanniu understood well that Doctor Wang’s willingness to share so much knowledge was out of goodwill for a longstanding patient, wanting to support a family burdened with hardships. Most doctors had fixed suppliers and wouldn’t casually accept scattered herbs from individuals, let alone offer such guidance.

“We remember, Grandpa Wang. We’ll remember everything!” Wang Sanniu promised earnestly.

“Good boy,” Doctor Wang nodded approvingly, then called behind the counter, “Xiao Liuzi! Take these two to the backyard and weigh these herbs!”

A clever young apprentice responded promptly, leading Wang Ernniu, who carried the sack, to the backyard. Wang Sanniu stayed behind to chat with Doctor Wang.

“Grandpa Wang,” Wang Sanniu casually glanced around the pharmacy’s tall cabinets, pointing with his little finger to an area labeled ‘Spices,’ “I noticed you don’t just have herbs here, but some fragrant things too? Are those also medicines?”

“Oh, those?” Doctor Wang followed his finger and glanced over. “Some are medicinal—star anise, fennel, cinnamon, cloves—they help warm the body and dispel cold. Others are spices from foreign lands, like pepper and nutmeg. Long ago, these were worth more than gold, until the sea routes opened and prices slowly dropped, though they’re still pricier than common herbs. They’re rarely used here; wealthy families use them for cooking and stewing meat.”

Wang Sanniu’s heart pounded wildly.

“Star anise, fennel, cinnamon, cloves, pepper...” These names hammered at his heart like little mallets!

In his previous life, he loved braised meat above all and had even sought out a highly praised secret recipe online, trying it several times to rave reviews from family, friends, and colleagues. The core spices in that recipe were exactly these!

He had assumed spices in this era would be scarce, but to his surprise, because the Great Yong Dynasty had opened its sea trade early, these common spices from later times were already available—just more expensive and not yet widespread among ordinary people, mainly used as medicine or in wealthy households’ kitchens.

Braised meat! This was the livelihood he had long planned to pursue. Using the secret recipe in his mind, he would create fragrant braised meat that could waft ten miles...

This was far more reliable than gathering herbs! Herbs were seasonal: in winter, heavy snow sealed the mountains—where would you gather them? But the braised meat business, as long as he had the spice formula, could be done year-round!

However... the thought was quickly suppressed.

Not yet! The timing was wrong!

A six-year-old child who had barely left home suddenly “inventing” a spice recipe? That would draw too much attention! He’d have to wait... until after he studied. Then he could say he found it in a book or heard it from classmates—that would be more convincing. Gathering herbs was only the first step, a foot in the door. The braised meat business was the real steady income that could support the family!

While he was lost in these exciting plans, the weighing and tallying in the backyard had already been completed. The young apprentice came out with a list and handed it to Doctor Wang. Doctor Wang took it, pulled out an abacus, and clicked away crisply.

“Hm... dandelion, medium quality, five wen per jin... plantain herb, three wen... rhubarb chunks, decent processing, ten wen per jin... motherwort, four wen... small thistle, three wen... plus some leftover rehmannia root... all together...”

Doctor Wang’s finger came to rest on the last bead, “Seven hundred and twenty wen!”

He looked up at Wang Sanniu. “Sanniu, does this figure work for you?”

Wang Sanniu quickly calculated in his head. This price was very generous! Especially for the rhubarb—ten wen per jin, even higher than he expected.

He immediately beamed a brilliant smile. “Grandpa Wang, you’re too kind! Seven hundred wen is enough. We’ll consider the extra twenty wen as our gift for your tea!”

“Haha, you little rascal!” Doctor Wang laughed heartily, accepting the ‘gift’ without objection, clearly pleased.

He opened the money box, picked out a small piece of silver, weighed it carefully on a scale, clipped off a corner, and handed it to Wang Ernniu.

“Here, take this! A full seven mace of silver (about 700 wen)!”

Wang Ernniu’s rough hand cradled the small silver piece, feeling its weight and warmth. Seven hundred wen! Almost the price of selling half a small pig at home. His third brother was impressive!

“Thank you, Doctor Wang!” Wang Ernniu’s voice was rough but filled with excitement.

Before they left, Doctor Wang gave a special reminder:

“Sanniu, among these herbs, the rhubarb and dandelion are what we use most, and they’re relatively simple to process. Next time, if you bring more, focus mainly on these two. We’ll take as much as you have. The others are less in demand—I’m worried you might gather too much and it will pile up. Understand?”

“Understood! Grandpa Wang! Thank you!” Wang Sanniu and Wang Ernniu said in unison, their gratitude overflowing.

The brothers tucked the warm silver into their pockets, slung the empty sacks over their shoulders, and walked briskly back to the meat stall.

“Dad! Dad!” Wang Ernniu couldn’t contain his excitement as he called out before reaching their father, his face glowing.

“We sold it! Sanlang’s herbs—no, medicines!—all sold to Renxin Hall! Doctor Wang gave us seven mace of silver!”

Wang Jinbao, who had been sharpening knives with his head down, suddenly stopped and looked up, his eyes shining with disbelief! He took the silver from Wang Ernniu, his rough fingers stroking the cold metal, weighing it in his hand repeatedly.

“Really... really sold for seven mace of silver?” Wang Jinbao’s voice was a little hoarse as his gaze shifted sharply to Wang Sanniu, who stood quietly beside him.

“Yes! Dad, Doctor Wang said we cleaned them well, and the herbs are good!” Wang Sanniu nodded.

Looking at his rosy-lipped, bright-eyed eldest son, Wang Jinbao’s heart was in turmoil. He suddenly felt that ever since the day Sanlang was doused with pig’s blood and passed out, then woke up, something really seemed different.

His speech and actions were clear, his gaze lively—not like before, when he was always timid and sickly. Could it be... that bowl of pig’s blood really opened his mind?

“Good! Good! Good boy!”

Wang Jinbao suddenly slapped his thigh, breaking into a rare, huge smile framed by stubble. His large, fan-like hand ruffled Wang Sanniu’s hair vigorously.

“Sanlang is promising! Better than those two brothers who just know how to eat and act recklessly! Smart! Full of spirit!”

This unabashed praise made Wang Ernniu blush and finally allowed the heavy stone in Wang Sanniu’s heart to settle firmly.

The first step was accomplished! This seven hundred wen, along with his father’s recognition, was the first cornerstone for him to establish himself in the Great Yong Dynasty, to change his family’s fate, and even to reshape his own destiny.