The Lucky Farmgirl

Entering the city required an entry fee, now even if you entered with just the shirt on your back, you still had to pay one wen. Of course, small children like Datou were exempt from the fee.

But Zhou Dalang still felt the pinch.

He paid the fee, and because he had already spent several wen upon entering the city, he was very worried. So he didn’t go anywhere else, just pulled his handcart directly to the medicinal herb shop.

In the county, there was only one medicinal herb shop, and that was Jishi Hall.

When the shop assistant saw Zhou Dalang, he said, "You’ve come to sell herbs, haven’t you? Please wait a moment; our shopkeeper will be here shortly."

Zhou Dalang had been there twice before, once to check the price with fresh Ligustrum seeds, and another time to ask if sun-dried Ligustrum seeds were processed correctly, so the assistant remembered him.

The shopkeeper came out quickly. Zhou Erlang, not wanting too many people to bother the shop and create annoyance, had Wulang wait outside with the kids. Only Manbao, who was curious, followed behind Zhou Erlang to see what was happening.

Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang glanced at their younger sister but said nothing, just brought her closer so she wouldn’t be lost.

The Ligustrum seeds had all been blanched in hot water before being sun-dried and were now packed in fine cloth bags.

Zhou Dalang opened the bag for the shopkeeper to inspect.

The shopkeeper looked at the seeds in his palm, tasted one, and nodded slightly, "The drying is not bad, but next time let them soak a bit longer."