Heading to Wuling City

The two brothers pushed the wheelbarrow to the Treasure Hall, where the assistants began unloading it at Pharmacist Bai's instruction. "Why does our medicine shop need so many bamboo baskets?" Though they didn't understand, Pharmacist Bai had given the order, so they had to do as he said.

Pharmacist Bai briefly greeted Ye Fan, then went to the back hall, with two men following him.

Those two really were here on business. Perhaps it had something to do with medicinal herbs. Could they be Qian soldiers?

"Brother, what do those two men who just followed Pharmacist Bai do? They look like skilled fighters, with such impressive bearing. I doubt they're ordinary people, are they?"

"Oh, those two? They're guards from the residence of Sunset City's grand governor. Those two are formidable. They once led a squad of guards and wiped out the bandits and bullies around Sunset City in just three days. The people call them the 'Bandit-Purging Envoys.'"

"I heard they came to the Treasure Hall this time to buy medicinal herbs for the front lines. There's fighting at both Wuling City and Qixia City. Some say that when the enemy warhorses charge, our soldiers lose arms and legs. It's gruesome."

Wuling City and Qixia City? Commander Zha must have left more than a month ago. He wondered how things were going at the front now.

"Xiao Fan, the bamboo wares are all unloaded." While Ye Fan was thinking about the fighting at the front, the assistants had finished unloading the goods.

"Brother, we'll take our leave, then. Please pass on our thanks." Ye Fan and Chen Yun'ye cupped their fists in gratitude.

On the way back, Ye Fan pushed the wheelbarrow. Chen Yunye walked beside him.

"Xiao Fan, how much did the shopkeeper give us for that cartload of bamboo wares?" Chen Yunye couldn't help asking. He hadn't seen the assistant pay them just now. Had the shop bought them on credit?

With an air of mystery, Ye Fan took a cloth bag he had prepared long ago from his robes and handed it to Chen Yunye. "Here, there are twenty taels in it. Pharmacist Bai ordered a whole lot more. Now everyone in the village has work to do!"

"Twenty taels? Good heavens, how many will we have to make? Even with everyone working together, won't it take a month to finish?" Chen Yunye said, unable to contain his excitement.

"Our first time out doing business, and we landed such a big order. Xiao Fan, I have to say, we really are lucky. And of course, thanks for all your hard work, Xiao Fan."

"This is so much better than hawking our wares at the city gate!"

Chen Yunye rattled on like a string of firecrackers.

"Brother Chen, Pharmacist Bai said we just need to deliver them whenever we finish a hundred. From now on, you can lead everyone in weaving them, and I'll handle the deliveries to the city. That way everyone can work faster." Ye Fan was bent on visiting the front, so he made up this lie.

"Sure. We have a regular buyer now anyway, so it's a good idea to make deliveries at regular intervals. It'll save us trouble, too!"

"Brother Chen, Pharmacist Bai said every batch has to be the same quality as this one. Otherwise, he might not want any more. You'll have to keep a close eye on things at home." To keep Chen Yunye from pestering Ye Fan later, he had to keep him firmly tied down at home.

"Don't worry. Are you still worried about everyone's work? With me there, nothing can go wrong."

By the time the two brothers returned to the village, it was evening. The sunset clouds here weren't as beautiful as those in the mountains.

"Brother Fan, you're back!" Hearing the commotion, Xiao Ke'er immediately ran out, still wearing an apron. She was clearly cooking.

"Mm, we're back. Have Uncle Xiao and Brother Feng come back yet?" Ye Fan asked, looking at Xiao Ke'er.

Before Xiao Ke'er could answer, a voice came from inside the house.

"I've been back for ages. Xiao Fan, I diagnosed and treated three patients today and earned over three hundred copper coins in consultation fees. How about that?" Xiao Feng said, a boastful look on his face, his eyes darting about from time to time.

Neither Ye Fan nor Chen Yunye spoke. Chen Yunye stepped aside, and Ye Fan pointed at the completely empty wheelbarrow.

"Hm? Did you get robbed? The robbers even took those things?"

"Ah! What a headache. Xiao Fan, I want to punch him!" At a loss for words, Chen Yunye turned to Ye Fan.

"Wasn't that it? ... Surely you two didn't sell all those things?" Xiao Feng was puzzled at first, then raised his voice.

"Big brother!!!" Xiao Ke'er was at a loss for words too. She stamped her feet at her elder brother, her figure graceful and lovely to behold.

Chen Yunye took the cloth bag Ye Fan had given him from his robes and waved it in front of Xiao Feng. "Xiao Feng, guess how many taels of silver are in here?" he teased.

Xiao Feng didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on the swaying cloth bag. That money bag is bigger than mine!

"Brother Fan, did you really sell them all?" Xiao Ke'er asked excitedly when she saw the cloth bag.

"Mm, we sold them all, and Pharmacist Bai at the Treasure Hall ordered a whole lot more. Everyone will have to work harder tomorrow."

"Woo-hoo! Brother Fan is the best!!!" Still wearing her apron, Xiao Ke'er held her clenched fists against her chest and kept bouncing in little steps. The more one looked at her, the cuter she became.

"..." Xiao Feng, his pride wounded, said nothing. He snatched the money bag and opened it. "Good grief, these aren't even copper coins-they're silver ingots! Hey, is that pharmacist in the city really so rich? What did he order so many of those things for?"

"Why worry about what he wants them for? He's paid us, so we just have to deliver the goods."

"Exactly, exactly! Big brother, how many taels of silver is that?" Xiao Ke'er was also astonished to see the silver in the cloth bag. Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked with stars in her eyes.

The group went to the old village chief's house together. They had to hand today's earnings over to the village. This was wealth everyone had created together.

When the old village chief saw how much they had earned on their first trip out to sell things, he too grinned from ear to ear.

"Good, good! This is the first silver our village has earned since leaving the mountains. We've finally made a good start." The old village chief even imagined the glorious sight of the village growing prosperous in the future. When that day came, perhaps he could die with his eyes closed.

The group's cheers drew more villagers over. Once everyone learned what had happened, they joined in the cheering. Their hard work had finally paid off.

Looking at the delighted villagers, Ye Fan was happy, of course. If it made everyone happy, surely a little deception was understandable.

Of course, this wasn't a long-term solution. After his long talk with Pharmacist Bai, Ye Fan had come up with a new idea. Since medicinal herbs were so profitable, why not have everyone grow them? But that would take careful planning. He still had to find a way to bring the Spring of Life into this world without anyone noticing. He couldn't very well sneak into the herb garden every day. If he did that, he would be discovered sooner or later. He needed a lasting solution.

After the excitement died down, the old village chief put away the silver along with the three hundred copper coins Xiao Feng had handed over. He would take it out again in a few days when they needed to buy supplies.

After that, it was time for the villagers to get busy.

"General Guo, it's getting late. Let's set off. Once we cross this mountain, we'll be in Wu Kingdom territory. We won't have to hide anymore." The speaker was one of Guo Youshan's personal attendants, risking his life to escort the Wu Kingdom's defeated veteran general.

Guo Youshan didn't answer. He looked back the way they had come. Only yesterday, the veteran general had commanded the winds and clouds, directing two hundred thousand troops in battle. Now his battle robes were torn, his face was filthy, and his hair was in disarray. In an instant, he had aged considerably.

"I am a sinner of the Wu Kingdom!" After forcing out those words, he spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed limply.

"General Guo! General Guo..." The people accompanying him immediately rushed to support him.

"Old General, this defeat was entirely because Yuan Shiji knew nothing of commanding troops and was too eager to claim credit, giving the Qian Kingdom an opening. Once we return to the Wu Kingdom, we'll lead a great army back to subdue them!"

"There's no chance. The court will surely not let me off. This old man is finished." Sorrow filled Guo Youshan's face. Of an army two hundred thousand strong, fewer than a thousand had escaped. They were all fine young men of the Wu Kingdom.

Night fell.

Ye Fan quietly slipped into the Inner World. While speaking with Pharmacist Bai during the day, he had learned roughly where Wuling City was. How could he sleep now? Taking advantage of the fact that his parents had already gone to bed, he hurriedly slipped out again...