Herbal Compendium

"Dad, I understand." Li Xiao nodded.

Li Youde smiled from the bottom of his heart. Li Xiao's attitude had clearly pleased him greatly.

Though arranging Li Xiao's marriage had emptied out the family's savings, it was worth it if they gained someone sensible in return.

Once his legs recovered a little, he could go back up the mountain to hunt and make it through this winter.

Their family still had several mu of good farmland. When spring came, they could sow the fields, and life would gradually get better.

"Little Brother, you and Dad should rest well these days. I'll wash a few more loads of clothes. Getting through this winter won't be a problem."

Li Yu had just finished the egg in her hand. Hearing Li Xiao's words, she too revealed a knowing smile.

Though Li Xiao had been immature in the past and had never shown her a pleasant face, this upheaval had gradually made her younger brother grow up, and that brought her comfort.

Seeing the tired yet unmistakably gratified smile on his sister's face, Li Xiao's heart suddenly clenched, as if something had seized it hard.

His sister, Li Yu, worked at a Laundry Room in the County Town to help support the family.

It was now the bitterest stretch of winter, and the river water was icy enough to pierce the bone.

He subconsciously looked at his sister's hands.

Those hands rested on her rough cloth skirt. Her knuckles were red and swollen, while several blisters that had already scabbed over could be seen on the wrist exposed beneath her cuff. Other patches were frostbitten blue-purple.

In a year of great disaster, no family had it easy. Work at the Laundry Room could not have been easy either, and the few copper coins she earned must have been pitifully scarce.

Yet his elder sister had never uttered a single complaint before him or their father. She always silently bore everything on her own.

To avoid giving himself away, Li Xiao said nothing more.

He scooped half of the rice paste from his bowl and gave it to his elder sister and father.

Only then did he slowly bring the rest of the rice paste to his mouth.

Though it was called rice paste, there were hardly any grains of rice in the bowl. It tasted awful and felt rough on the tongue.

In his previous life, Li Xiao definitely would not have been able to eat it. But in times like these, it was enough to make countless people crack their heads fighting over it.

After finishing the remaining rice paste, Li Xiao finally felt a little better, and some strength gradually returned to his body.

Old Dad and his elder sister also finished their rice soup, and only then did his elder sister rise to clear away the bowls and chopsticks.

Li Xiao had originally wanted to help, but his elder sister stopped him, saying that he was injured and needed more rest.

Unable to outargue her, he let it go.

His elder sister had taken three days off from the Laundry Room to come home and care for him and Old Dad. Today was the last day; tomorrow, she would have to return to the town for work.

There was no entertainment in the village, and candles were precious enough that they could not be wasted. After dinner, his elder sister and Old Dad returned to their rooms to sleep.

Li Xiao sat in the main hall for a while longer, but it was too cold, so he returned to his room and lay down on the bed.

Though the quilt was thin, it could still ward off some of the cold.

Li Xiao could not fall asleep for a long time. He was considering what he should do from now on.

"System? Are you asleep?"

"Old Grandpa, stop hiding!"

"Where is my Golden Finger?"

Li Xiao called out softly, hoping for a miracle to appear.

But apart from the howling Sound of wind outside the room, there was not the slightest response.

Li Xiao's heart gradually sank to the bottom...

"What am I supposed to rely on to make a living?"

He murmured to himself.

Making salt? Making sugar? He did not know the first thing about either. Besides, those things were controlled by the major powers in the city; they were simply not something he could lay a hand on.

After thinking it over and over without coming up with anything, Li Xiao gradually fell asleep.

The next day, Li Xiao slept until noon before waking. His elder sister had already gone into the city to work.

In the main hall, Li Youde sat huddled up.

"Dad, why aren't you lighting a fire to warm up in weather this cold?"

Seeing Li Xiao come out, Li Youde smiled.

"Xiao'er, you're up? Why didn't you sleep a little longer? Heavy snow has sealed off the mountain. We need to save this firewood for cooking!"

Only then did Li Xiao realize that he himself was lying in bed, Old Dad's legs were inconvenient, and his elder sister had to work to support the family. There was simply no one free to go up the mountain and gather firewood.

Come to think of it, all of this was because the previous owner of this body had been such a disappointment.

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Li Xiao fell silent for a moment.

"In a couple of days, when the snow lets up, I'll go gather some firewood for heating."

"Alright, you must be hungry! I'll go bring the food over for you."

Li Youde said with a smile, picking up the cane beside him as he prepared to stand.

"I'll do it." After saying that, Li Xiao turned and went into the kitchen.

Calling it a kitchen was generous—it was merely a cramped, dim little room. Its previous owner had rarely come in here.

The earthen stove still radiated waves of heat. Li Xiao lifted the lid from the pot and found a bowl of rice paste inside, slightly thinner than yesterday's.

Li Xiao picked up the rice paste, warmth seeping into his hands.

In weather this cold, the rice paste had yet to go cold. Old Dad must have been keeping watch over it the whole time.

He placed the rice paste on the table, then crouched down to look into the stove's firebox.

The embers inside were nearly dead, with only a few wisps of green smoke curling through the cramped space.

Li Xiao felt around and picked up a battered firewood basket nearby. There were only a scant few dry branches inside, still damp—clearly leftovers that had not burned through before.

Carefully, he laid the branches over the embers and blew on them a few times. Only then did the flames reluctantly begin licking at the wood again, giving off faint crackles.

"It's cold out. If we don't burn some firewood, the house feels like an ice cellar," Li Xiao said as he added wood to the firebox.

Li Youde watched his son's back, warmth welling up in his eyes, though his mouth still muttered, "Use it sparingly. We still need to cook this afternoon."

Li Xiao answered, then carried the bowl of rice paste to the table and sat down.

The rice paste was even thinner than yesterday; he could clearly see the pattern at the bottom of the bowl. Yet in his mouth, it felt warmer than any delicacy.

Eldest Sister did not come back every day. In order to take on more business, the Laundry Room continued washing and starching clothes at night.

Li Youde made the afternoon meal. It was still millet porridge. Li Xiao had wanted to help, but Li Youde stopped him.

He kept saying that Li Xiao was injured and needed more rest, completely forgetting that he himself had trouble moving around as well.

Li Xiao said nothing more.

Several more days passed. Li Xiao had completely given up hope and accepted his own mediocrity.

Still, his body was recovering rather well, which counted as a rare piece of good news.

That day, Li Xiao was bored out of his mind. It was too cold outside, and there was nothing to do at home. To avoid exposing any flaws, he also spoke relatively little with Li Youde.

A somewhat yellowed book sat atop a cabinet in the main room.

Li Xiao reached out and picked it up. It was already covered in dust.

He blew the dust off and placed the book on the table.

The words Herbal Compendium were written across its cover. Li Xiao slowly opened it.

The first page stated that it recorded herbs found in the mountains around Willow City. Li Xiao continued flipping through it.

What met his eyes was an illustration.

Though the inked lines were not particularly refined, they depicted the form of Polygonatum with striking clarity—lance-shaped leaves growing in pairs opposite each other, an upright stem, and several round, bead-like berries hanging at the tip, brimming with a simple, rustic vitality.

Beside the illustration were densely packed annotations in tiny regular script. The ink had faded somewhat, but the words remained clearly legible.

Polygonatum, also known as chicken-head ginseng or yellow chicken greens. Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature.

Replenishes qi and nourishes yin, strengthens the spleen and moistens the lungs, benefits the kidneys.

Can treat weakness of the spleen and stomach, bodily fatigue and lack of strength, insufficient Essence Blood, dry cough from lung deficiency...

It commonly grows beneath forests on shaded slopes, in thickets, or along ravines. It prefers moisture, is highly cold-resistant, and avoids direct harsh sunlight.

Seedlings emerge in spring. The stems grow a little over a foot tall, with leaves like bamboo leaves but shorter...

Harvesting season: spring and autumn, with autumn-harvested specimens being the best.

Dig up the rhizomes, remove the fibrous roots, wash clean, then briefly blanch in boiling water or steam until thoroughly cooked through. Dry for later use...

Li Xiao was absorbed in reading, his fingertip just touching the lines depicting the Polygonatum rhizome on the page.

Suddenly...

Whether to Record Herbal Compendium?

He jerked his head, thinking the malnutrition of the past few days had given him auditory hallucinations.

An even clearer mechanical voice sounded in his mind.

Whether to Record Herbal Compendium?