Chapter 329: It’s Worth Being a Thief
Bai Ruozhu was walking. Upon hearing this, she stumbled. A fairy? It was the first time she had ever heard someone describe her this way, prompting sentiments of Rongrong’s innocence and naivety to swell within her, and deepening her sympathy for the ordeal the young girl had to endure.
She feigned ignorance, went to the kitchen to pick out some food ingredients that wouldn’t affect their wounds, and made a delicate pot of meat and vegetable porridge for the two of them.
When the aroma wafted out of the room, Rongrong’s mother, who had lost her appetite for days, could not help but swallow some saliva. By now, her earlier depression had faded, as Bai Ruozhu’s acupuncture skills gave her confidence in Bai Ruozhu’s abilities and the recovery of herself and Rongrong.
Before long, Zhang Liliang returned with medicinal materials, intending to concoct the medicine. However, Bai Ruozhu stopped him and said, "Uncle Zhang, why don’t you keep them company? I will prepare the medicine, as I know how to make it more effective."
Zhang Liliang, on hearing this, had no choice but to yield and handed the prepared medicine to Bai Ruozhu.
Indeed, Bai Ruozhu was not deceiving him. There were indeed considerations to making medicine. She sorted out the medicinal materials and carefully began to concoct the medicine using a small stove.
When the medicine was ready, Rongrong and her mother had finished their porridge and fallen asleep again. Bai Ruozhu took this opportunity to rush back to her stall to check on Dengdeng, lest Dengdeng became hungry and cried loudly.
"Ruozhu, how are your aunt and Rongrong?" Lin Ping’er worriedly asked.
Seeing her mother, Bai Ruozhu’s nose became sore and she couldn’t help but shed tears, "Mother, you will know once you go see them after closing the stall. However, you mustn’t cry or show surprise in front of them to avoid upsetting them again."
Lin Ping’er was startled, "Is it very serious?"
Bai Ruozhu nodded, "Rongrong is okay, but her mother must have been protecting Rongrong desperately. Her own hair is burned off, and her face and body are all burnt." As she spoke, she started crying again because as a mother herself, she could deeply empathize with the feelings Rongrong’s mother must have experienced.
"How could this happen?" Lin Ping’er said as she also wiped away her tears. Bai Yihong, standing aside, could only sigh. In the end, the family decided to close the stall and let Bai Zehao take the things back home. Only Bai Yihong and Lin Ping’er went to visit the sick. Too many visitors could disturb the patient’s rest.
Bai Ruozhu gave some silver to her mother, saying, "Mother, after you close the stall, buy some fresh fruit, candy, and dried fruit, then come to the Zhang family."
Lin Ping’er nodded, "Okay, I understand."
Bai Ruozhu held Dengdeng to nurse him. After feeding him, she had Lin Ping’er make a few hand-held cakes to take to Du Family’s pharmacy.
Every time she went to Du Family’s pharmacy, whether to take dividends or to buy medicinal materials, she would bring some food to thank them for their help during the busy farming season.
"Ruozhu, why are you always so polite? Doing a little business isn’t easy, you can’t always bring us things." Shopkeeper Zhou, upon smelling the aroma, couldn’t help but sniff. He actually liked hand-held cakes very much, but he was usually too shy to eat at the Bai’s stall, fearing that the Bai family wouldn’t take his money if he went there.
"What a few cakes can be worth? If you keep being polite with me, I won’t dare to come to get medicine anymore. You always give me a very good price for the medicine." Bai Ruozhu often concocted some finished medicine, such as hemostatic drugs and Golden Wound Medicine, so she often visited Du Family’s pharmacy to get medicine.
"That’s what the young master asked me to do, so don’t attribute that to me," said Shopkeeper Zhou with a grin.
Bai Ruozhu thought that Rongrong and her mother might wake up soon, so she dared not delay outside too long. She explained her intention and described a few medicinal materials to Shopkeeper Zhou.
Shopkeeper Zhou gasped, "These are all precious medicinal materials. I’m afraid we wouldn’t have any in stock here in Anyuan Town. Even the main store in Beiyu City might not necessarily carry them. What do you need these for?"
Bai Ruozhu knew it would be like this, so she had to make a personal trip.
"I’m making a burn ointment and a scar cream. One of my relatives has been severely burned." At the mention of this, Bai Ruozhu’s expression darkened again.
"It was the family that came to get medicine just now, wasn’t it? Ah, disasters show no mercy, don’t take it too much to heart. I’ll report this to the young master tonight. For such valuable medicinal materials, we will need to rely on his connections with the Du Family to restock," shopkeeper Zhou said.
Bai Ruozhu was startled by this, she quickly replied, "Then I will talk to the young master Du myself. He studied with my second brother, so it won’t be hard to find him."
"Alright, if there is anything else, just tell me. Don’t hesitate to bother old Zhou," the shopkeeper Zhou said.
Bai Ruozhu thanked him and then returned to the Zhang Family with little Dengdeng in her arms.
The medicine had just about been simmered on a low flame. Seeing that Rongrong was awake, she poured it out, let it cool, and fed it to Rongrong.
"Sister, it’s so bitter." Rongrong crinkled her little nose.
Bai Ruozhu gently tapped her forehead, "Look at Dengdeng laughing at you. He’s saying his little aunt isn’t brave enough."
Rongrong’s small face blushed, she dutifully picked up the bowl and drank all the medicine.
Rongrong’s mother woke up not long after. Bai Ruozhu helped her sit up in bed and fed her the medicine, spoonful by spoonful.
"I’ll use the ointment from Fushou Hall today, but you don’t need to take the decoction anymore. I’ll make a new ointment for you tonight. Don’t rush to change the dressing tomorrow morning, wait for me to bring you the new ointment," Bai Ruozhu instructed.
Rongrong’s mother said, "Alright, I’ll remember."
Fearing they might forget due to exhaustion, Bai Ruozhu reiterated the instructions when she saw Zhang Liliang. He expressed his gratitude to Bai Ruozhu and said, "I’ll remember your instructions, Ruozhu, sorry to trouble you."
"It’s no trouble at all. I usually like experimenting with medicinal materials on my spare time, and a lot of them are readily available at home. I just need to process them a little," Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.
Before long, Lin Ping’er and Bai Yihong arrived carrying provisions, their early appearance suggesting they had packed up their stall ahead of time. On seeing the condition of Rongrong and her mother, Lin Ping’er’s eyes reddened, but she held back her tears, remembering Bai Ruozhu’s instructions.
Bai Ruozhu and her family didn’t stay long. They left in part because Rongrong and her mother needed to rest, but also because Bai Ruozhu needed to go home and prepare the medication.
After a quick dinner, Bai Ruozhu returned to her room to prepare the medicine. Knowing she was upset and needed to concentrate on her task, nobody in her family dared to disturb her.
By the middle of the night, Bai Ruozhu rubbed her aching waist and placed the boxes of ointments out on the table to cool down, so they could be packed away quicker.
Just then, there was a soft knock from outside the window. Bai Ruozhu realized how late it was and that the shameless man had come again.
Thinking about what had happened the night before, Bai Ruozhu’s face flushed. She hesitated over whether to open the window or not.
However, there came a soft click, and the window was opened by Jiang Yichun!
Bai Ruozhu widened her eyes at the man who had just jumped into the room, she said indignantly, "Isn’t breaking in without permission the same as theft?"
Jiang Yichun looked smug, "So what if it’s theft? As long as I can steal someone’s heart, it’s worth it."
Bai Ruozhu felt a pang of annoyance, she glared at him and said, "Don’t you have a fever?"