Chapter 32: First Young Master Zhou

Chapter 32: The Eldest Young Master of the Zhou Family

In the courtyard of the eldest young master of the Zhou family, Zhou Shuming was entertaining guests.

A charcoal fire was set under the porch for brewing tea, with honey mandarins and dried fruits roasting nearby.

Zhou Shuming was wrapped in a thick white fox fur coat, his slender fingers clutching a teacup as he coughed, his face as pale as the fur, as if he'd merged into it. In contrast, the plump young master sitting across from him, with warmth in his eyes, had a round face and belly, with a wheat-colored complexion radiating a healthy glow.

“Hey, you’re that… the guy from Xizi's Milk Stall!” The plump young master snapped his fan shut and pointed at Lin Su, exclaiming.

“I was just looking for you, didn’t expect to run into you here. Do you have any of that spicy sauce you gave away? I'll take it all off your hands.”

Yu Qi pressed his fan against his double chin, lowering his voice mysteriously: “And are you selling the recipe for this spicy sauce? I'll offer a hundred taels of silver, what do you say?”

Lin Su remembered this generous customer well, especially with his distinctive features. Looking at the festive, round, chubby face, he shook his head with amusement.

The Dasheng Dynasty had no chili pepper crops, so making spicy sauce relied solely on his superpower; the “recipe” naturally couldn't be given away.

Seeing his reluctance, Yu Qi didn't push further and changed the topic: “Alright, then I'll order a batch of spicy sauce. As many as you can make within half a month, is that possible?”

True to a merchant's nature, he was quick to act familiar. After exchanging names, Lin Su said, “Shopkeeper Yu, it's not that I'm unwilling to do business, but the spicy sauce requires a rare main ingredient. We barely have any left after using what we need ourselves.”

His current ability level was too low. Although he could achieve decent offensive power by channeling water's power through his cultivation technique, the amount of ability water he produced wasn't enough to run a “spicy sauce workshop.”

“What a pity. I thought this spicy sauce was simple to use—it warms you up and chases away the cold, and it's tasty. It would be very popular if shipped to the cold northern regions.” Yu Qi shook his head regretfully, then instantly broke into a smile again.

“Then, Boss Lin, do you still have any stock? Can you sell me a few jars? I have an older brother serving in the border army, and I'd like to bring him some to try.”

A few jars were fine, Lin Su agreed.

Yu Qi's words reminded Lin Su of the prosperous maritime trade of the Dasheng Dynasty, and he speculated that chili peppers might already be around. He wanted to ask Yu Qi, who traveled far and wide, to keep an eye out. If found, it would greatly enrich the flavors of Dasheng cuisine.

But upon careful consideration, randomly bringing it up could raise eyebrows, so he dropped the idea. He could look for it himself another day.

“Cough, cough. Now that you've all discussed, please sit down,” the sickly young master, who'd been ignored, coughed and said. “My neck's killing me from looking up so long.”

Lin Su then turned to Zhou Shuming. After a few pleasantries, Zhou Shuming cut to the chase: “I heard you've obtained something good, Brother Lin?”

The steward had already informed him that it was an extremely rare wild ginseng. Zhou Shuming felt a surge of excitement.

No one in the Zhou family craved a healthy body more than he did—to leave home, form real friendships, showcase his talents, and fulfill his ambitions, rather than being confined to this small courtyard.

Because of his long confinement, he especially enjoyed befriending Yu Qi.

Yu Qi, as a traveling merchant, had seen the customs and people of various places, had a wide worldview, and could spin unique and captivating tales that made you want to see the world.

He wondered if this rare wild ginseng could bring a turn of fortune to his barren life.

“Brother Lin, may I see it?” Zhou Shuming coughed again after just two sentences, barely getting the words out.

“Of course.”

Lin Su took out the red cloth from the medicine chest carried by Fu Yun, spread it on the rosewood table. The reddish, wrinkled ginseng with all its roots intact was fully revealed.

Zhou Shuming coughed violently again, while Yu Qi snapped out of it and exclaimed, “So big! This must be five or six hundred years old!”

Lin Su smiled without speaking, and Fu Yun retorted, “One thousand years.”

“That long? Really?” Yu Qi figured the young lad was exaggerating.

“Hmph!” Seeing his disbelief, Fu Yun turned away and ignored him.

After drinking a cup of tea to finally suppress his cough, Zhou Shuming said slowly, “One thousand taels, Brother Lin. I'll give you a thousand taels for this ginseng. What do you think?”

Lin Su pretended to hesitate. Zhou Shuming squinted and said, “Something not sit well with you? Feel free to speak.”

“Eldest Young Master Zhou, I don't wish to take money. I only ask for one thing.”

“Oh?” Zhou Shuming rubbed his fingers together, coughed twice. “What is it?”

Lin Su glanced at Yu Qi, who tactfully made an excuse to leave. Zhou Shuming then dismissed the servants.

Only then did Lin Su speak: “It's nothing major. A few days ago, someone falsely accused our food stall of poisoning. Fortunately, the Lord Magistrate was sharp—he got to the bottom of it and found the real culprit and cleared our name.”

“Is that so?” Zhou Shuming frowned. “Who is the real culprit, and why did they frame you?”

Lin Su: “That's what I'm here about. The culprit confessed that the Second Young Master of the Zhou family had his eye on my husband's looks and told him to set up the Lin Ji, intending to seize my husband.”

Zhou Shuming's brow furrowed even deeper.

“But for now, the culprit has no solid evidence, and the Second Young Master left in a huff.” Lin Su got to the point. “My husband and I are commoners. If it really is the Second Young Master…”

“Don't worry, I will investigate this. If he did it, the Zhou family will not tolerate him, and he won't have another chance to harm you.” Zhou Shuming cut him off with a promise.

“This matter arose from the Zhou family, so it is my responsibility. You don't need to give me such a valuable ginseng in exchange. Please take this thousand taels.”

Lin Su waved his hand, took Fu Yun's hand, and introduced him: “This ginseng was found in the mountains by my husband, Fu Yun. A wild ginseng of this age—I believe you know how rare and precious it is. As a physician, Fu Yun naturally hates to let it go, and I can't bear to take his treasure. But when he heard that you, Eldest Young Master, are kind and generous, and have always purchased the game my late father hunted at high prices, he is willing to give you the ginseng you need for medicine, free of charge.”

Hearing this, Zhou Shuming looked at the young lad beside him. His behavior didn't match his age—innocent and childlike.

“Do you know medicine?” he asked.

Fu Yun looked at Lin Su, and upon seeing his nod, lifted his chin and said, “I do!”

Medicine... that's about giving prescriptions, right? He could do that.

Lin Su then boldly offered: “My husband Fu Yun has studied medicine since childhood with remarkable talent. If Eldest Young Master Zhou doesn't mind, he could take a look at your condition.”

He only said it casually, not expecting much, since the esteemed eldest young master of the Zhou family wouldn't let just any random person treat him.

To his surprise, Zhou Shuming lowered his head to study the ginseng on the table for a good while, then asked Fu Yun, “Did you process this ginseng?”

“Mm, steamed and then dried, so it's warming and gentle.” When it came to medicinal herbs, Fu Yun's eyes gained a bit of steadiness, no trace of foolishness remained.

“Skilled processing technique, with intact skin, flesh, and roots.” Zhou Shuming praised. After being sick for over twenty years, he'd picked up quite a bit of medical knowledge on his own.

In fact, if he did say so himself, no physician knew how to treat him better than himself. The outside world only knew that the Zhou family kept seeking famous doctors, with physicians constantly in and out, but in recent years, he had been writing his own prescriptions.

However, the method for processing ginseng was relatively simple. Apart from seeing that this young lad was meticulous and nimble-fingered, he couldn't tell much else. Then he looked at the medicine chest strapped to the lad's back.

“May I take a look at the medicine chest you carry?” he asked.