Gu Fengyan sneezed continuously while collecting medicinal herbs.

This is strange. Is someone saying bad things about him behind his back?

Jiang Xuerui stuffed the neatly packed patchouli into her backpack, "I'm afraid you caught a cold at night. I'll bring you some loquat paste when I get home in the evening. I made it last year."

"Oh, thank you." Gu Fengyan rubbed his nose.

It turned out to be a good idea to find Jiang Xuerui. I saw how carefully he collected the herbs, laying them out neatly with no other weeds, so I didn't have to pick them when I got home.

Seeing that this area was almost harvested, Gu Fengyan looked around and said, "There are many people on the mountain today, so we may encounter wild animals. Let's go a little further inside."

"Okay, I think this is about right."

After packing up their things, the two drank a few sips of water before heading back into the woods.

…

Huo Duan arrived at the market early in the morning by ox cart. Gu Fengyan gave him five hundred coins. After buying a big pot, bowls, and ladles, he still had more than two hundred coins left.

Thinking that his cousin Ye Bao was still lying in Xinglin Courtyard, Huo Duan did not eat. He found a snack shop and bought some pine nut candies for Ye Bao to take back, and also bought some steamed cakes from a stall selling steamed cakes.

My aunt and uncle took turns looking after Ye Bao, and Xinglinyuan spent money, so I'm afraid he hasn't had a good meal in the past few days.

The steamed cakes can fill your stomach.

He didn't use the money Gu Fengyan gave him to buy these things. He used the money he earned from working as a helper in the county with Ye Shan a few days ago... a total of more than three hundred coins, he gave one hundred coins to Gu Fengyan and kept the remaining two hundred coins for himself.

He originally planned to hand it all over, but Gu Fengyan insisted that it was his hard-earned money and refused to take any more.

I had no choice but to keep it.

He spent fifty coins on these odds and ends, and with the remaining one hundred and fifty coins, he wanted to buy something for Gu Fengyan...

He has helped him so much, and Huo Duan always wants to give him the best.

It was noon when we came out of Xinglinyuan. The sun was shining brightly. Those who had bought snacks for breakfast and lunch had packed up and gone home. Only the shops selling ordinary items were still open.

Huo Duan passed by the street and saw colorful signs and endless shouting -

"Jewelry earrings, I guarantee you'll like them..."

If he buys it back, Gu Fengyan will definitely beat him.

"Rouge, the finest rose gold rouge..."

For this, Gu Fengyan might chop him into pieces.

"Rose water, scented powder, scented cream, scented soap, bath beans..."

Huo Duan stopped suddenly... Fragrant soap is something similar to soap, and bath beans are used by ancient people for bathing.

Gu Fengyan loves cleanliness on weekdays. No matter how late it is, he will take a shower and wash his hair every day. He must like these things!

Huo Duan spent all the 150 coins on a piece of scented soap with the scent of snow-white plum blossoms and a box of bath beans.

The shopkeeper was a boy, and when he heard that he wanted to give it to his husband, he wrapped it in snow-patterned paper. With the two things in hand, Huo Duan took the ox cart back to Heqing Village, feeling a little uneasy... This was the first time he gave someone such an ordinary thing, what if Gu Fengyan didn't like it?

When I got home, I found that Gu Fengyan had not come back yet. I asked Huo's father and found out that he was still in the mountains.

The sun is getting higher and there are more snakes, insects, rats and ants. What if Gu Fengyan is scared?

He paced around the yard anxiously, which annoyed Father Huo. He cursed with a dark face, "If you are worried, go get him. Don't pace around here and give me a headache! He is your husband. If you don't protect him, who will?!"

"Father is right." Huo Duan said with a smile.

After packing up casually, he took his things and went into the mountains.

Gu Fengyan and Jiang Xuerui found some medicinal herbs such as creeping vine, licorice, and sea sand in the woods, and picked them all up.

Thinking of inviting Jiang Xuerui to have lunch at noon, Gu Fengyan found some wild vegetables and picked them up to add a dish to lunch.

The sun was getting hotter, and the two men walked back with their backpacks full of things.

On the way, they met Aunt Zhang from last time and a few unfamiliar ladies. Gu Fengyan and Jiang Xuerui greeted them obediently.

"Aren't these creeping vines and patchouli... Did Yan'er go to collect herbs?" Aunt Zhang looked at the green clusters in the two people's backpacks and could tell clearly, "Did Rui'er go with him? I knew you two are about the same age, so you must have something to talk about. Be careful in this hot sun."

Gu Fengyan was quite surprised to see her identify the medicinal herbs, but he did not hide it, "It's the off-season, so I have nothing to do at home. I happened to have an appointment with the county's Xinglinyuan to purchase medicinal herbs a few days ago, so I thought of picking some while I was free. Rui Ge'er also helped me, and it's all thanks to him."

He didn't mention the contract, not because he didn't trust Mrs. Zhang, but because he was afraid that someone with ulterior motives would hear it. After all, his business with Huo Duan had just started, and he couldn't afford to be careless.

"That's great. Don't forget your sister-in-law when you make money." Sister-in-law Zhang didn't take it seriously.

"Auntie is a good person. Brother Duan and I will definitely remember you..." Gu Fengyan smiled, "However, Auntie can also identify medicinal herbs. I didn't know that before."

Aunt Zhang was getting happier. "Hey, you haven't been married for long, so I know that we all know some people from Heqing Village."

Gu Fengyan nodded...an idea was brewing in his mind.

"Brother Rui, I rarely see you...Xiao Zhuo has gone to work in the county again?" Several people walked down the mountain, and Mrs. Zhang started chatting with Jiang Xuerui.

Jiang Xuerui smiled shyly and said, "Yes, I'm afraid I'll have to go for a few days this time..."

Gu Fengyan was following behind, listening to the two people chatting. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of someone flashing in the bushes not far away, but he couldn't see clearly.

I just thought it was a bird and forgot about it.

…

Behind the bushes, Liu Laosan slumped on the ground, beads of sweat the size of beans dripping down his forehead.

so close!

I was almost seen by that evil ghost Gu Fengyan.

He originally came to the mountain to collect firewood today, but unexpectedly ran into him, so he could only hide.

I still have no strength in my hands. If I get beaten again, they will be completely useless!

Liu Laosan was frightened for a while, and it took him a long time to recover. But his mind kept thinking about the guy who followed Gu Fengyan. He seemed to be the husband of Shen Zhuo, the only family on the other side of the river... Although he was not as attractive as Gu Fengyan, seeing his red face made people feel itchy.

Hiding behind the tree, he heard the entire conversation.

Shen Zhuo is not at home...so that means that guy will be alone at night?

Huo Duan came up the slope under the scorching sun and only saw Gu Fengyan when he was almost at the edge of the woods.

"Brother Yan, is that Erdan?" Mrs. Zhang was sharp-eyed and was the first to notice Huo Duan. She pointed at him and showed him to Gu Fengyan.

The person gradually came closer, and it turned out to be Huo Duan.

Huo Duan walked up to Gu Fengyan and first greeted the aunts and ladies respectfully.

Aunt Zhang smiled and nodded, "Are you here to pick up your husband?"

"I waited and waited but he didn't come back. The sun was strong, so my father asked me to come and see what was going on." Huo Duan didn't say that he was worried himself. He poured the things in Gu Fengyan's backpack into the one he brought with him.

It was filled to the brim, and fortunately Gu Fengyan was able to carry it all.

If the medicinal materials business grows bigger and bigger, we will have to hire people to go up the mountain to collect them. We can't just leave this job to Gu Fengyan alone.

Gu Fengyan thought that it was Huo's father who asked him to come, so he didn't say anything. He took the backpack and shared some of the medicinal herbs with Jiang Xuerui.

When they got home, Father Huo was preparing lunch. Gu Fengyan washed his hands and took over the cooking job.

Jiang Xuerui felt awkward being with Huo's father, but also had to be careful with Huo Duan, so she went to the kitchen to help with washing vegetables, picking vegetables, and making fire.

The meal was simple and was ready in less than half an hour.

After they had eaten, they began to collect the herbs they had collected. Gu Fengyan was mainly responsible for preparing them, while the others washed, sliced, and cut them into sections... They were busy until the afternoon when they finished collecting.

All the herbs were neatly packed in winnowing baskets and placed on racks to dry...

The sun was setting in the west and dusk was approaching. Seeing that Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan were busy, Jiang Xuerui just said hello to Huo's father and went back.

By the time Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan finished their work, it was already dark.

In the yard, Father Huo was collecting the benches into the house. Gu Fengyan fetched some water and asked Huo Duan to wash his hands. Then he remembered that he had not yet paid Jiang Xuerui for her work.

"By the way, Father, why haven't you seen Rui Ge'er? Could it be that he went back home..." He wiped his hands and asked, "I haven't paid him today's wages yet, why did he leave?"

Father Huo didn't know that Gu Fengyan had agreed to pay him wages. "I was wondering why he went back in such a hurry. It turned out that he was afraid that you would pay him wages... This is my fault."

"It's because I didn't tell my father. Let me and Brother Duan make another trip... I had a cough this morning, so I'll ask Brother Rui for some loquat paste." Gu Fengyan smiled and went into the house to get money.

Huo Duan heard him say that he had a cough, so he followed him into the house and asked, "Master Gu, do you have a cold? Is it serious?"

It has been said long ago that in this world, a cold or fever can be fatal, so Gu Fengyan should have been treated more carefully... He felt a little regretful.

Gu Fengyan took out ten coins from the drawer and said, "It's just a few coughs. It's not serious. Don't worry, Mr. Huo."

He smiled and weighed the coins in his hand, which jingled. "I'd like to trouble Mr. Huo to accompany me. It's so dark, I'm scared."

"Oh, right..." Huo Duan just remembered the things he bought for Gu Fengyan, his eyes evasive, "Last time I went to work with my cousin, we earned some money. I saw some things today and bought them for you. I don't know if Young Master Gu likes them..."

As he spoke, he took out the scented soap and bath beans wrapped in snow-patterned paper and handed them to Gu Fengyan.

"This is..." Gu Fengyan's hand holding the coin paused in mid-air. He smiled and said, "Ms. Huo still buys things for her husband... He must have spent a lot of money, right?"

When the snow-patterned paper was opened, a cool fragrance wafted into the air, and inside it was a fragrant soap, snow-white and delicate... There was also a box of bath beans.

Huo Duan said embarrassedly: "Don't talk nonsense, I am just thanking you for helping me complete the task, I don't have any other intentions..."

"Yeah, I don't mean anything else. I know that whatever Mr. Huo says is right." Gu Fengyan picked it up and smelled it, then raised his head and smiled. "I like it very much. Thank you, Mr. Huo, for the expense."

Huo Duan suppressed his ecstasy and pretended to be calm. "This, this is nothing. You can earn money even if you lose it... Open your mouth, and I'll give you something else."

"What?" Gu Fengyan put the things away and asked puzzledly.

"Just open it."

Gu Fengyan followed his instructions and Huo Duan stuffed something into his mouth.

"Hmm...sugar?" He tasted it and it was sweet.

"I went to see Xiaobao and bought some pine nut candies. I left one piece for you." Huo Duan was happy to see that he liked it.

"Xiaobao knows it's time to cry." Gu Fengyan doesn't like candy. He thinks this candy is too sweet. Even his heart feels sticky. "Mr. Huo doesn't want to eat it?"

"Why should I, a grown man, eat candy?" Huo Duan said disdainfully. He went to the closet and took out a thick coat and stuffed it on Gu Fengyan. "It's windy at night, so you should wear something thicker."

Gu Fengyan got dressed and said with a smile, "Let's go, it's late and Rui Ge'er should go to bed."

Huo Duan followed behind Gu Fengyan and touched the snow-patterned paper in his pocket.

In fact, he still had one piece, but he wanted to give it to Gu Fengyan tomorrow.