A roar... a furious roar.
The Xiaoli suddenly froze, and dozens of arrows were jolted to a halt in mid-air by the sound wave.
The crowd recoiled in fright, shouting, "Damn it, this is bizarre! Set them on fire! Burn them alive!"
A mocking glint appeared in Xiaoli's eyes. Before they could pick up the torches from the ground, she suddenly turned around, creating a hurricane that swept up the burning wood and hurled it at the robbers.
The robbers couldn't dodge in time, and the flames instantly ignited the cloth. They retreated from the cave while trying to extinguish the fire, resulting in a standoff between the two sides.
"Boss, I think these cats and dogs are probably hungry and have come looking for food."
Let's not act rashly. When they are hungry, they will naturally bite the guards in the cave. When they are full and leave, we can go get the Jade Buddha."
"That's all we can do." They couldn't beat them in a fight, and they couldn't chase them away. If it weren't for the jade Buddha behind the cats and dogs, they would have run for their lives long ago.
A dozen or so people take turns keeping the cats and dogs company.
It's strange, but these cats and dogs are bigger than domesticated ones, and their roars are so loud they send chills down your spine.
The robbers dared not look away, staying up from day to night. The dozen or so men were almost blind with exhaustion when they saw the cat and dog standing motionless.
"That's outrageous!"
The robbers were so anxious that they kicked the tree repeatedly. If they kept going, they would delay their master's business. Just when everyone was at a loss, a commotion came from afar.
"Oh no, they're government officials! Run!"
"Boss, where's the jade Buddha?"
"What Buddha are you talking about? If you get caught, I'll send you to see the Buddha..." After saying that, the group hurriedly fled.
Shi Chang'an sat in the cave, barely daring to breathe, afraid that the cat and dog would remember them and turn around to bite him.
Soon a group of constables rushed into the cave. Shi Chang'an could even see who they were, he was suddenly pulled into someone's arms.
The Madam Shi cried out, "My husband... I've finally found you!"
After days of fear and anxiety, Dahuang and Xiaoli were finally released. They exchanged a glance, turned around, and left the cave.
Su Wenqian recognized the cat and dog. "Hey, give my regards to me and your master."
Xiaoli glanced at him, made no response, and turned to disappear from sight.
Anzhi Hall.
After reporting their findings, Dahuang and Xiaoli nestled at their master's feet, eating ginkgo nuts and enjoying the grooming service from their little master.
Old Niu, Black Grand Marshal, General White... the three new members were practically overflowing with envy.
The Xiaoli didn't even glance at them, truly believing that eating a couple of ginkgo leaves would make it on par with them.
Hmph... what a pipe dream.
They are veteran members; how could any other animal possibly challenge their dominance?
When the master has his own mountain in the future, only it and that silly dog will be able to go with him.
Lu Chi stared at the ginkgo in the dog's mouth, his teeth grinding together. After more than a year together, he thought Jin Shanyao treated him like a human being, but he never expected that he would still eat whatever the dog ate.
The key issue is those ginkgo nuts. He only ate one, and sent the rest to the capital. Now, even the Empress has to eat dog food with him.
He glared at Dahuang, and the silly dog immediately shoveled a mouthful of ginkgo nuts—the kind that can cure all poisons!
Lu Chi's heart ached so much he almost cried. Wild boars can't eat fine food and just waste good stuff.
Meng Anci and Meng Anzhi were grooming the cats and dogs, asking questions casually.
"Auntie, why don't you charge me for helping Madam Shi find someone?"
Meng Anci: "Yes, our herbs aren't fully ripe yet. We don't know who to sell them to or how much to sell them for."
The Jin Shanyao, "This is called being prepared for a rainy day; build dams before the water comes, and be prepared for any eventuality."
She rattled off a bunch of newly learned words, and seeing no one was praising her, she pursed her lips and continued, "She needs our help, and we happen to need a caravan too, so it's a win-win situation."
Meng Anci held the comb in her small hands and combed the dog from head to tail, pondering the meaning behind her aunt's words.
In other words, when someone comes to you with a request, regardless of what they're asking for, first see what they have and whether you can take it and use it for your own benefit.
Meng Anci's eyes suddenly lit up. This wasn't kicking someone when they were down; this was... turning lead into gold.
At this moment, Qing He came to report that someone from the master's household had come to sell medicinal herbs.
Jin Shanyao and led Meng Anzhi over.
Lu Chi stared intently at the ginkgo nuts in Dahuang's mouth; he needed four bottles of ginkgo nuts before he left.
We absolutely cannot lose to this stupid dog.
Inside the shop stood a thin, dark-skinned man, with a bag about half his height at his feet.
Seeing Jin Shanyao as she entered, she greeted her with a smile, "Shopkeeper, I've heard you buy medicinal herbs here."
Jin Shanyao chuckled, "Brother, you look unfamiliar. You're not from Willow and Poplar County, are you?"
The man was taken aback, then laughed and said, "My family is from the next county, and drug prices have been drastically reduced this year."
I heard that Anzhi Hall in Willow and Poplar County offered reasonable prices, so I specially brought this over for you to take a look."
Jin Shanyao pointed to the bag, "Take a look at the goods."
"Okay," the man readily agreed and opened the bag.
His eyes kept glancing at Meng Anzhi, and when he saw her walking towards him, a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.
It's said that Anzhi Hall uses children to inspect goods, and it seems the rumors are true.
As soon as Meng Anzhi walked in, she smelled a pungent odor; most of the bag contained top-quality gastrodia elata.
She picked it up and examined it carefully, then broke it open to look inside.
The man watched her intently, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.
His batch of Gastrodia elata was so realistic that even a seven- or eight-year-old child couldn't tell the difference between real and fake, let alone a seventy- or eighty-year-old doctor.
Just as he was feeling smug.
Meng Anzhi put the gastrodia elata back into the bag. "I can't accept this batch of medicine."
The man was stunned. "What? You won't accept it? Little girl, take a good look, this is top-grade Gastrodia elata."
As he spoke, he picked up a piece and introduced it to Meng Anzhi, "Look at this ginger skin, it has a parrot's beak and a concave navel."
"Look at this head again. I guarantee you, your Anzhi Hall won't find one as good as it."
Meng Anzhi didn't want to argue with the other party, but to her surprise, the other party pointed at her and taught her to identify herbs. What was the difference between this and slapping her in public?
Meng Anzhi said coldly, "If you're going to talk to me about medicinal herbs, then I'll have to have something to say."
She snatched the gastrodia elata from the man's hand. "You steamed this from the roots of Mirabilis jalapa, didn't you? Look at this parrot's beak, didn't you cut it open with a knife?"
And can't you put a little more effort into your faking? Using fresh four o'clock root, are you afraid I won't notice or something?"
The man was berated by Meng Anzhi, his face turning red and then pale. "How dare you talk like that, young lady? Who's steaming... Fine, I won't sell to you."
He started cursing and was about to leave when Meng Anzhi grabbed his bag. "Who do you think you're going to fool with this fake medicine? Don't you know what happens to those who sell fake medicine at my Anzhi Hall?"
The man's heart skipped a beat. In the past six months, one after another, people in the underworld had fallen into the Anzhi Hall's hands, which had only fueled his competitive spirit.
In the past, everyone claimed that their counterfeit medicine was the best, and no one would admit defeat. Now, however, they are using Anzhi Hall as a litmus test. If your counterfeit medicine is genuine and doesn't work, then try selling it through the Anzhi Hall.
Anzhi Hall, you are the king of the fake medicine world, everyone respectfully calls you Big Brother.
Anzhi Hall won't accept you, you're nothing.
He came specifically for that title, but he was exposed in less than an incense stick's time. Should he just run and wait to be caught?
The man didn't even bother to grab the fake medicine and ran out, but Jin Shanyao down by the shoulder.
He cried out in pain, too afraid to move. "Grandma, I was wrong, please be gentle!"
What girl has such strength? He almost crushed his shoulder blade.
Jin Shanyao laughed and said, "Brother, you think you can just walk away after selling fake medicine? You're dreaming! Come with me to the yamen." As she spoke, she grabbed the man's collar and headed towards the yamen.
Passersby were already used to it.
Since Anzhi Hall started collecting medicinal herbs, they've been able to catch someone selling counterfeit medicine every now and then.
Jin Shanyao escorted the man to the county government office, received a reward of five taels of silver, and tossed it to Meng Anzhi.
"You did a very good job."
Meng Anzhi was secretly delighted. "Auntie, if they came to sell fake medicine every day, wouldn't our money just flow in like water?"
"I gave you the opportunity to practice by collecting medicinal herbs, but you've gone and started doing business with the government."
Meng Anzhi chuckled twice, "I'm just helping Magistrate Yang build up his achievements; he's very happy about it."