First update:

Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan packed their things into the house, took a few winnowing baskets, and began to process the medicinal herbs.

Seeing this, Huo Xiuling said, "Oh, you have to clean up all these things? I think the weather is not good, is it possible to do it?"

Gu Fengyan cleaned the mud and sand from the roots of some medicinal herbs. "Put them away first. We can prepare or dry them tomorrow when the weather is good. We can't just leave them here forever."

Cleaning and cutting are simple tasks, and I think I can do it myself.

"It's okay for me to go back, so I can come and lend a hand." Huo Xiuling rolled up her sleeves and took charge of cutting the things that needed to be cut into pieces.

Jiang Xuerui was bored sitting there, so she started to wash the herbs. Even Huo's father came to help as much as he could.

After a busy afternoon, they finally packed up the two or three hundred kilograms of herbs in the yard. Those that needed to be dried were placed on the medicine rack, and those that needed to be fried were neatly placed in the basket, waiting to be packed up tomorrow when they had time.

I'm so tired that I'm almost paralyzed.

Jiang Xuerui and Huo Xiuling saw that it was getting late, so they decided to go home.

Gu Fengyan paid them some wages, but the two of them refused to take it.

"Aunt, Rui Ge'er, please stop making excuses. Although we know a lot of people in this village, I'm afraid you are the only ones who are willing to sincerely help me and Huo Duan with this business. We can't help much with other things, but please take this money. It will make Huo Duan and I feel more at ease." Gu Fengyan persuaded.

Huo Xiuling and Jiang Xuerui had no choice but to accept the money. But they were honest people and felt guilty... How could they get so much money for just helping out?

Huo Xiuling felt even more embarrassed, as a family was talking about money, but Yan Ge'er's words made sense. After thinking for a long time, she just said, "Well, Yan Ge'er is right. If you are too busy in the future, just stand on the river bank and call your aunt and Rui Ge'er."

Jiang Xuerui also agreed.

Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan had already agreed to find two reliable people to help collect medicinal materials and keep accounts.

Although Jiang Xuerui doesn't talk much, he has been educated and is a down-to-earth and careful person. He is the most suitable person for the job of bookkeeping.

Huo Xiuling is someone who can get along with everyone in the village and has never had a quarrel. It is safest to let her be the one to collect and weigh the medicinal herbs.

If this could really be accomplished, they would only have to be responsible for preparing the medicinal materials.

Huo Duan smiled and said, "Come to think of it, Yan'er and I do have something to say to Aunt and Rui'er..."

When they asked in detail, they heard someone outside the yard calling Jiang Xuerui. It was obvious that it was Shen Zhuo who came to look for her husband anxiously because it was getting dark and her husband had not returned home.

Several people laughed secretly, and Jiang Xuerui blushed, not knowing what to do.

"It's dark now and the road is hard to travel on. Let's talk about it tomorrow. Aunt and Rui Ge'er, please be careful on the road." Gu Fengyan said.

He and Huo Duan sent the person out of the yard before going back.

…

There was a lot of dew at night, so the family collected everything that needed to be collected and brought it into the house. Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan first hung a mosquito net on Huo's father's bed before returning to their own room.

"We only have this one mosquito net. Mr. Huo, just dismantle your bed and live with me for a few days." Gu Fengyan took out another mosquito net from the cupboard and spread it out to hang it up.

Huo Duan's bed was a makeshift one. It was called a bed, but in fact it was just a wooden board placed on a long bench. He felt nervous sleeping on it, not to mention that it would not be good to let Huo's father know that they were sleeping in separate beds.

"Well, let's hang up the mosquito net first." Huo Duan looked calm, but he was nervous inside.

The mosquito net had been cleaned in advance by Gu Fengyan when the weather was fine, and it still had the scent of soapberries.

The two of them hung it up, and Gu Fengyan brought in some dried mugwort and mint leaves, "Mr. Huo, please move it yourself. I'll add some more mugwort leaves."

The mugwort leaves are burned on the windowsill, filling the room with fragrance.

Huo Duan moved the quilt and pillow to Gu Fengyan's bed, and dismantled the makeshift bed... After blowing out the lights, the two of them finally lay side by side in the dark.

There are night insects chirping outside the window, and the room is so quiet that you can hear each other's breathing.

They were covered with the same quilt. It was the first time for Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan to share a bed with someone else since they were born. They lay there with stiff hands and feet, hardly daring to move, for fear of accidentally touching something they shouldn't touch.

Huo Duan's nostrils were filled with fragrance, a cold fragrance. A lock of Gu Fengyan's black hair fell on the side of his pillow. Huo Duan thought it smelled very good, and he touched it with the tip of his nose... The slippery and cold touch was like a hand constantly teasing him.

In the darkness, his five senses were clearer. The fragrance was so vague and cold, yet it made Huo Duan feel hot.

He closed his eyes and leaned over...

Gu Fengyan was startled, "What's wrong? Can't sleep?"

Huo Duan suddenly woke up.

I found myself chasing after Gu Fengyan's hair and sniffing it like a pervert.

"I can't sleep. It's too hot." He kicked the quilt away in annoyance.

Gu Fengyan turned over and pulled the quilt back, smiling: "It's only a few months now, it will be even hotter after the Dragon Boat Festival, and you can even fry eggs... Go to sleep quickly, you'll be busy tomorrow."

In the darkness, his eyes were bright, and there was a fragrance where his sleeves passed... Huo Duan discovered that the source of the fragrance was not his hair, but him.

Sleeping in the same bed with Gu Fengyan was simply a torture. Huo Duan felt indignant, mostly out of annoyance at his own incompetence.

"Go to sleep." He turned over, pulled the quilt over, and wrapped Gu Fengyan tightly.

Gu Fengyan was about to move, and he hurriedly said, "Don't move, spare me, ancestor."

"The Dragon Boat Festival hasn't arrived yet, why are you still wrapping zongzi?" Gu Fengyan laughed inexplicably, "Will it be good for you to let me die of heat?"

An arm finally emerged from the quilt, with the sleeves rolled up, and the arm, as white as mutton-fat jade, was clearly waving in front of Huo Duan's eyes.

Huo Duan had no choice but to pull his sleeves up, but didn't put them back in. He placed one hand through the quilt and patted Gu Fengyan gently, "How about I sing a lullaby for you?"

He has a low, pleasant voice.

Gu Fengyan's heart softened, he moved closer to Huo Duan and sneered, "Forget it, go to sleep."

After saying that, he really closed his eyes. With the help of the moonlight coming in through the window, Huo Duan could see his rosy and moist lips, his straight nose, and his eyebrows and eyes that were as dark as ink.

He hurriedly hunched his body and tried his best not to touch Gu Fengyan... Tonight was going to be hard.

As soon as a rooster crowed on the other side of the river, Huo Duan jumped up from his bed as if he had been pardoned - with two big dark circles under his eyes.

As soon as I walked out of the room, Father Huo was also coming out of the house.

"What did you do all night? Your eye circles are almost falling to your chin." Father Huo frowned.

Huo Duan had a lot of grievances, what did he do?

He barely slept.

Gu Fengyan was not a very good sleeper, and in the second half of the night he kept snuggling into his arms... Huo Duan was tormented by the thought of holding such a soft and gentle person in his arms, who was also the one he had evil thoughts about.

He forced a smile and said, "There were too many mosquitoes. I didn't sleep well."

At this time, the door behind him opened softly, and Gu Fengyan greeted Huo's father with a refreshed look, "Dad, are you up so early?"

"My legs hurt even when I'm asleep, so I can't fall asleep. I'm going to feed the chickens and ducks. Wash your faces and see what to eat." Father Huo forgot about Huo Duan and went to the backyard with his crutches.

Gu Fengyan looked at Huo Duan, only to find that he looked pale and had dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept for ten nights.

"Mr. Huo, did you go to meet the female ghost while I was asleep? You look like you've been drained dry." He stretched and said with a smile.

How can a female ghost be as powerful as you... Huo Duan complained secretly.

"What kind of female ghost am I? I was drained dry by a fox who loves to crawl into people's arms." He said coldly.

Huo's father was driving the chickens and ducks to the back hill. Gu Fengyan was afraid that the herbs would be pecked, so he went to help. He said to Huo Duan with ill intentions, "The fox said that it felt very comfortable in Mr. Huo's arms, and it will come again tonight..."

Huo Duan was washing his face with water when the basin fell. After a while, Gu Fengyan knew about it, maybe he did it on purpose?

Suddenly he felt very comfortable, with a smile on the corners of his lips... He inexplicably felt that it was worth staying up all night, and even felt that he could stay up for ten more nights.

However, Gu Fengyan had no idea of ​​Huo Duan's thoughts, he just said that casually.

…

For breakfast, we had white porridge again, which was simple and easy to cook, and served with the basil, peach and ginger left over from yesterday.

After dinner, when the morning dew had dissipated, the family took out the medicinal herbs from the house and dried them in the sun.

It's still early.

While tidying up, Gu Fengyan said to Huo Duan, "Boss Huo, let's go to Mr. Liang's house after you finish drying the clothes. You haven't paid for the medicine you're sick with yet, so you can also ask him what he thinks."

Huo Duan nodded. "I think there will be villagers coming to sell medicinal herbs this afternoon. By the way... do you have enough money?"

The money from selling medicinal herbs was managed by Gu Fengyan, and Huo Duan also had some, which was the pocket money that Gu Fengyan gave him every time.

Thinking of this, Huo Duan felt inexplicably happy... It was like the wife was in charge of the money and gave her husband a fixed amount of pocket money every month.

Two or three hundred kilograms of medicinal materials cost almost one string of money, and there was still a lot left.

Gu Fengyan said, "It's enough. After this batch of herbs is sold, if the business at Dongfulou is better, we can consider treating my father's illness."

Huo Duan nodded. After collecting the herbs, Gu Fengyan took some money and went to Liang Chengze's house at the entrance of the village.

The Liang family had just finished breakfast at this time. Liang Chengze and Shen Yao had been married for more than ten years, but they had no children. The huge courtyard was deserted.

The two men picked up the dishes and chopsticks on the wooden table and brought them into the house. Liang Chengze was just about to talk to Shen Yao about helping Huo Duan and the others prepare the medicinal materials, but he heard Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan coming, so he led them in and asked them to sit down.

"Have the Huo family's boy and his wife had their meal? If not, I'll go make something for you." Liang Chengze picked up the dishes and went to the kitchen. Shen Yao stayed behind to accompany the guests, saying with a smile.

Shen Yao usually stays at home and rarely participates in the gossip groups in the village. Gu Fengyan was unsure about him, but when he saw him smiling and speaking in a very kind tone, he knew that he was someone who was easy to get along with, and he felt relieved.

Hiring Liang Chengze must get Shen Yao's approval. If he wants to use this to control Huo Duan and him, it will be a big trouble.

"Uncle Shen, don't work. We ate the rice porridge you made this morning before we came here." Gu Fengyan took out a paper bag containing more than fifty coins.

He handed the paper bag to Shen Yao with both hands, "Huo Duan fell ill the night before last. It was raining so hard, and it was thanks to Mr. Liang's willingness to come. Mr. Liang is a kind person and refused to charge for the consultation, but Huo Duan and I cannot forget this life-saving favor. I hope Uncle Shen will accept this small amount of money for the medicine."

Seeing that he was polite in his actions and words, and that he was a well-behaved and obedient person, Shen Yao felt that Huo Duan had married a good husband.

"If your uncle Liang refuses to accept it, I dare not accept it either. Besides, I didn't go to your wedding with Huo boy, so just consider this money as a red envelope for you." Shen Yao said with a smile.

Liang Chengze came out of the kitchen and happened to hear it, so he continued, "Your uncle Shen is right, don't push it back and forth anymore. I know what money should be charged and what should not be charged, so I won't lose money."

Seeing this, Gu Fengyan could only take the money back and exchanged glances with Huo Duan.

Huo Duan stood up and bowed to Liang Chengze, "Mr. Liang saved my life, I will definitely remember it, if I need help in the future, just ask."

"Thank your husband. It was raining so hard, and he, a man, dared to run out to find medicine for you. I was scared." Liang Chengze helped him up.

Thinking of what Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan mentioned last time, he glanced at Shen Yao and continued, "I also agree to prepare the medicinal materials. It will take two hours a day. You can decide on the wages."

Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan were delighted.

"Mr. Liang, rest assured. We will definitely not treat you unfairly. From now on, you will be charged one string of silver per month. If you have more medicinal materials, you can add one string of silver. We will definitely deliver them on time." Huo Duan told the price that he had agreed with Gu Fengyan in advance.

One string of coins was already very generous. After all, Liang Chengze only earned about one string of coins a month by seeing patients everywhere.

After listening for a long time, Shen Yao finally realized that these two guys wanted to hire Liang Chengze to do something.

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Shen Yao asked Liang Chengze.

Seeing that his husband's face was serious, Liang Cheng didn't care whether there was anyone around and smiled and said, "I forgot. Don't be angry. The two guys are honest people. You can rest assured when dealing with them."

Seeing this, Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan wanted to defend Liang Chengze, but were blocked by Shen Yao, "Don't bother with him, I'll listen to his explanation."

Liang Chengze almost wiped his sweat as he circled around Shen Yao, forgetting they were even there. There was only Shen Yao in his eyes.

Gu Fengyan could also see that Shen Yao was not really angry with Liang Chengze, he just wanted to be coaxed... to put it bluntly, it was the interest between an old couple.

"What a mouthful of dog food." Gu Fengyan sighed with a smile.

Huo Duan was puzzled, "What?"

Gu Fengyan glanced at him and answered irrelevantly, "It's almost noon, my aunt and the others will be here soon, let's go home."

But love is not as good as money...Gu Fengyan thought.

Huo Duan, however, envied the old couple.

Second update:

Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan had just arrived home when Jiang Xuerui and Huo Xiuling arrived.

Hearing that he had something else to tell them, they didn't take anything. Huo Xiuling was a little nervous, "Yan Ge'er said yesterday that he had something else to tell them, what was it?"

There was already some sun on the top of the mountain, and it was estimated that it would be a good day. Gu Fengyan turned over the medicine and asked it to dry. Huo Duan had already moved out the small wooden table and account book.

"Aunt, please sit down first." Huo Duancai took a stool and asked the two to sit down. "Aunt and Rui Ge'er also saw that the villagers sent a lot of medicinal herbs. Yan Ge'er and I are busy at both ends, and sometimes we can't take care of it... So we discussed asking Aunt and Rui Ge'er to help with the purchase of medicinal herbs."

Jiang Xuerui heard this and said nervously, "I've never done this before. I'm afraid something might go wrong."

Hearing this, Gu Fengyan smiled and comforted the two, "It's all simple work. Auntie can use a beam scale, so she only needs to weigh the herbs they send and pay for them. Rui Ge'er can write, so she only needs to keep accounts."

Huo Duan added, "This job doesn't require running all over the mountain. Yan Ge and I can rest assured if you do it... The wages are 15 cents a day."

Jiang Xuerui and Huo Xiuling looked at each other.

Is there such a good thing?

Collecting medicinal herbs is not an easy job. After searching on the mountain for a whole day under the scorching sun, you can only get three or four kilograms.

And they can easily earn it just by sitting, weighing and writing.

Huo Xiuling was happy but she began to worry about her nephew's wallet. Purchasing medicinal materials for a day would cost at least one tael of silver. Now they were paid for their work. Even if they made some money, they shouldn't spend it like this, right?

"Erdan, your aunt has something to say to you and Yan'er. Although I don't know how much money you have earned, you should be careful. Your wages alone are more than one thousand coins a day. How can this be tolerated?" She reminded Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan.

Gu Fengyan smiled. To do business, one must be willing to invest. Moreover, they had signed a contract with Dongfulou Xinglinyuan, so there was no need to worry about not being able to sell the medicinal materials.

"Aunt is right. Huo Duan and I have been calculating. We won't lose anything." She comforted Huo Xiuling.

Not only will you not lose money, you can also make a lot.

Outside the courtyard gate, people could gradually hear voices. They were all villagers who had gotten up early and rushed to the mountains to pick herbs before returning and headed straight for the Huo family.

Huo Xiuling hurriedly stood up to greet them, "That's fine. Now that someone's here, I won't nag you any more...you guys can go about your business."

…

Some of the herbs were dried yesterday, but those that needed to be processed were still piled up in the house, and today some villagers came to sell them. The workload was heavy.

Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan arranged the purchase work, and they were only responsible for roasting and frying in the kitchen. Father Huo couldn't bear to work too much, so he sat under the stove and made a fire.

Some of the medicinal materials needed special preparation, so they had to wait until Liang Chengze came to prepare them in the afternoon... The whole family was busy for the whole morning and finally finished preparing them.

However, Huo Xiuling and her friends collected another pile in the yard, and a rough estimate was about two to three hundred kilograms.

These can only be cleaned up in the afternoon.

The sun was scorching hot, so several people put the medicinal herbs in the shade. Huo Xiuling and Jiang Xuerui were restless and were sweeping the floor with brooms.

Seeing that everyone was suffering from the heat, Gu Fengyan picked up some light bamboo leaves, soaked them in water, rinsed them in the well, and poured a cup for each person.

"Aunt, Rui Ge'er, come and drink some water. You can clean up after you have lunch." He called, "Dad, come and have a rest too."

Huo Xiuling and Jiang Xuerui agreed and swept the floor in a few seconds before sitting under the peach tree with Huo's father to enjoy the cool air and drink water.

Gu Fengyan took a glass of water to the kitchen and handed it to Huo Duan, "Take a break."

Huo Duan was really thirsty, so he took the water and drank it all in one gulp. "We'll have to clean up the things in the yard this afternoon, and the rest will wait for Mr. Liang to come."

"There's a market tomorrow and the Dragon Boat Festival is coming soon. Let's go sell medicinal herbs and deliver the prescription to Dongfulou on the way, and then buy some things for the festival." Gu Fengyan changed the pot for frying medicinal herbs to the one for cooking and prepared to cook lunch.

"This is the first festival we celebrate together, and maybe even the last, so let's celebrate it a little," he said with a smile.

Huo Duan paused while holding the water cup. "Master Gu will arrange it."

"But the task will probably not be completed before the Spring Festival. We can still celebrate the Spring Festival together, have hot pot and watch the snow. Tomorrow we can go to the county to buy some wine to make green peach wine and drink it in winter..." Gu Fengyan was cutting vegetables and washing rice while making arrangements.

Huo Duan sat under the stove adding firewood and listened to what Gu Fengyan described to him. A picture already appeared in his mind... and suddenly he began to look forward to winter.

…

The lunch prepared by Gu Fengyan was simple, consisting of white rice, the fried bamboo shoots with bacon that Huo Xiuling had sent last time, and a bowl of chicken, vegetable and egg soup.

After the meal, Huo's father went to wash the dishes, and a few people collected medicinal herbs as a way of digesting the food. Fortunately, there were not many villagers coming to sell medicinal herbs in the afternoon, and Huo Xiuling and Jiang Xuerui were also free to help. Before sunset, all the medicinal herbs in the yard were collected.

Seeing that there was nothing to worry about, Huo Xiuling and Jiang Xuerui collected their wages and went back.

When it was almost dark, Liang Cheng came and helped Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan to pack up the remaining ten pounds of medicinal materials that required special preparation. They were busy until night.

By the time they sent Liang Chengze off, both of them felt exhausted. After washing up, they both collapsed on the bed.

With sore arms and back, Gu Fengyan rolled around on the small bed. "Mr. Huo, to be honest, I have used up all the work I have done in my life today. When I have money, I should hire someone. It would be great to be a big boss without having to lie down."

In the past, Gu Fengyan always felt very tired after sitting in the office all day reading documents. Now he really understood how to write the word "tired".

Huo Duan has gotten used to working in the fields and is feeling a little better.

"Where does it hurt? Let me massage it for you?" He came in from the outer room after taking a shower. Seeing Gu Fengyan rolling around on the bed half wrapped in a quilt, he couldn't help laughing.

Upon hearing this, Gu Fengyan simply kicked off the quilt, lay down, buried his face in the pillow, and said in a muffled voice, "Arms, waist, legs... Thank you, Mr. Huo."

This person seemed to have no sense of propriety, or he simply didn't think deeply enough.

His pajamas were snow-white, made of the finest material. The wet hair left traces on his back, revealing the curves of his waist and buttocks... The proportions were so perfect, it was stunning, with all the hills and valleys gathered in his slender and flexible waist.

The legs were like two flexible bamboos, long and straight, converging at a snow-white, crimson heel.

It just lies there in plain sight, looking like it's ready to be picked by anyone.

Huo Duan's eyes darkened and he stood there without moving.

"Mr. Huo?" Gu Fengyan tilted his head and looked at him with a smile. Under the warm yellow light, his eyes and eyebrows were full of affection.

It seems that he knows that he is very provocative, but also seems to be completely unaware.

Huo Duan walked forward and turned his eyes away, "Ahem... you are quite skilled at commanding me."

He pinched his calves, then his arms, back, waist and thighs... His hands were warm and he could clearly feel his body temperature through the thin clothes.

"The strength is good. If Mr. Huo goes hungry in the future, he can go do blind massaging." Gu Fengyan praised with satisfaction, but he saw his eyes wandering around and his words were full of hidden meanings.

I didn’t expect Huo Duan to be so thin-skinned.

Huo Duan pinched it randomly for a while, feeling quite tortured. He just wanted to slap himself twice. He was really asking for trouble.

"Ahem...it's almost time to go to bed. You have to get up early tomorrow." He tilted his head to hide his abnormality, pulled the quilt to wrap Gu Fengyan, and turned off the lights.

The room fell into darkness and Huo Duan breathed a sigh of relief.

Gu Fengyan buried his face in the quilt and laughed, "Mr. Huo, have you ever been in love before?"

Otherwise, why would she be so excited just by touching a man? If he wasn't a virgin, Gu Fengnan and Fengyan couldn't think of anything else. They just felt it was unbelievable. He was a CEO, and there were so many men and women chasing after him. This shouldn't happen... Could he have some hidden illness? ?

Thinking of this, Gu Fengyan's face was full of sympathy.

Seeing his complicated expression, Huo Duan quickly pulled the quilt over his head and covered him tightly. "You talk as if you have had it before. Don't guess blindly. Go to sleep."

It's the same case, two innocent virgins, and they even make fun of each other.

"You murdered your own wife," Gu Fengyan pulled down the quilt and gasped.

After finally calming down, he side-glanced and smiled, "Boss Huo, are you sure that I didn't do it?"

Huo Duan was just guessing, so he naturally couldn't be sure.

"You have?" he asked.

Gu Fengyan closed his eyes and faced the roof, his laughter making people feel nervous and nervous, "Guess what you think, and I'll tell you when you guess it."

"I can guess it, do I need you to tell me?" Huo Duan felt annoyed.

Could it be that Gu Fengyan really exists?

He dares, he really dares... Who is his wife?

The more Huo Duan thought about it, the more upset he became, and it was another sleepless night.

Third update:

Before daybreak, the Huo family turned on the lights. They were going to the county to sell medicinal herbs today. If they were late, it would be too hot. Besides, they had to pack the next batch of herbs in the afternoon, so they had to come back early.

Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan did not dare to sleep in, and got out of bed early in the morning with big dark circles under their eyes.

They were packing medicinal herbs in the main room while Father Huo was busy preparing breakfast for the two of them in the kitchen.

It was almost dawn when they cleaned up and had breakfast. Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan were sure they couldn't handle several large bags of medicinal herbs, so they called Ye Bixian and his son, who happened to be going to work in the county, to help.

Four people drove the earliest ox cart to the county.

Gu Fengyan divided the medicinal materials into two parts, one part was for Xinglinyuan, and the other part was selected according to the written medicinal recipes to be sent to Dongfulou.

Ye Bixian and Ye Ba sent the two of them to the gate of Dongfulou and then hurried off to work.

Today, Dongfulou was unusually deserted. The waiters were all dozing off by the counter. Only the shopkeeper, Li, was working on an abacus at the counter, his brows furrowed so sharply that they could pinch a fly to death.

"I'm sure you're all right, Shopkeeper Li." Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan dragged a few large bags outside the door and called out to Shopkeeper Li, "We're here to deliver the prescription and herbs."

Hearing the voice, Shopkeeper Li looked up from the account book and laughed out loud in surprise, "Savior! Finally, you two are here."

He kicked the dozing waiter's stool again, "You have no sense, you're still dozing off! I'm afraid you didn't even know that customers came and went, why don't you call a few people to help carry the things in!"

The stool fell to the ground, and the waiter got up quickly, threw a handkerchief over his shoulder, and hurried to the back hall with a playful smile, "The shopkeeper is right, I'll go right away."

Shopkeeper Li thought for a moment and grabbed the waiter back, "Wait a minute, call your uncle Zhao over and tell him he has something to ask... Make a pot of good tea when you come back."

The guy took note and ran to the backyard.

After Manager Li had made all the arrangements, he invited the two into the lobby and had them sit down in a window seat.

Huo Duan looked around and found that there were only a few people eating in Dongfulou, and they ordered some inexpensive vegetarian dishes. He then understood something.

"Manager Li, where did the word savior come from?" he asked.

Shopkeeper Li sighed, grabbed the two of them and complained, "Alas, it's all about business! It's summer now, and the restaurants in the county have started preparing food to cool down. We at Dongfulou have prepared a unique green plum juice, which is sour and refreshing, and can also cool down the body after drinking it. I think customers will be willing to buy it..."

He glanced at Yingchunlou across the street and said through gritted teeth, "The menu has already been changed, but who knew that it was snatched away by Yingchunlou the day before it was released... This green plum juice was originally created by Dongfulou, and I don't know how they got the recipe."

"As you two know, the Dongfulou and I have always been rivals, but once the green plum juice was served, all the customers went to the opposite side for something new. I was really pissed!"

Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan also guessed something. After all, when they passed by the opposite door, the guy almost rolled his eyes to the sky.

"So that's how it is." Huo Duan smiled slightly and looked at Gu Fengyan, "This wife can really help Shopkeeper Li..."

Upon hearing this, Gu Fengyan spread out the medicinal recipe he had written in advance on the table and pointed at one place, "Excuse me, Manager Li, I researched a dish the other day that could be of help."

Shopkeeper Li looked at the tip of his finger and saw the words: Basil, peach and ginger. Take fresh basil leaves, ripe green peaches, and tender ginger...

"I've never heard of this kind of food..." Shopkeeper Li pondered, "Perilla is a medicinal herb, I know that."

Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan repeated what they had said to Manager Li exactly as they had said it before.

Shopkeeper Li thought it made sense, so he said happily, "You two guys have a great idea. If it works, I will reward you handsomely! But I don't know much about cooking, so wait until Old Zhao comes and discuss it with you."

As they were talking, the curtain in the back hall was lifted, and Master Zhao walked in while wiping his hands on his apron. He smiled at Shopkeeper Li and said, "Madam, are you calling me?"

Shopkeeper Li stood up and told him to sit down. "These two are the ones I told you about last time. They are here to deliver the herbs and prescriptions. You are the one who cooks, so please follow and discuss with them."

Zhao Dashi sat down, and Huo Duan handed him the prescription. "Master Zhao, take a look. This is the prescription my wife wrote. If you have any questions, just ask."

Zhao Dashi took it, squinted at the light for a long time, and kept saying, "Good! Good! Excellent!"

When he was about to finish reading, he stared at one place in deep thought for a long time, "It's just that I have never heard of this basil peach ginger. But the ingredients are ready in the kitchen, could you please make one for me?"

Gu Fengyan agreed immediately.

Although the dish is simple, he also believes in Master Zhao's skills, but what he learned from books is always shallow, and he still needs to practice it in practice.

Both parties are relieved.

Manager Li stayed in the front hall to greet the guests, while Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan followed Zhao Dashi to the back hall.

The kitchen was messy, so Zhao Dashi didn't ask the two men to go in. He only arranged for the waiter to take the household items to the yard, and then sent the waiter to pick a few ripe green peaches as big as fists from the peach tree at the back door.

"This place is simple, please bear with me." Zhao Dashi said to the two of them.

Gu Fengyan smiled and rolled up his sleeves, "Master Zhao, you're welcome."

Then I started to cook perilla, green peaches, young ginger... After mixing and marinating the ingredients, I took advantage of the time to make a pot of perilla drink with the remaining perilla leaves.

"Perilla dispels the cold, young ginger stimulates appetite, and the peach has a sour and crisp taste. It is a great side dish or porridge... Master Zhao will know once he tastes it."

Zhao Dashi took a sip of the basil drink with a subtle expression, and took another mouthful of the pickled vegetables... and another mouthful.

“Based on my many years of experience, this dish is definitely better than the one next door!” he finally concluded.

Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan smiled at each other.

Zhao Dashi went to the front hall and asked Manager Li to come over to taste the food. The two of them actually ate up the whole plate of pickled vegetables.

Shopkeeper Li couldn't contain his joy. "You two guys are really the saviors of Dongfulou. This time I can finally hold my head high!"

Gu Fengyan said: "I am also a half-baked person. Whether I can make money or not is another matter."

Manager Li was very confident, "Old Zhao and I have run the restaurant for so many years. We can tell whether a dish will sell well and how many copies it can sell just by looking at it and tasting it..."

They talked for a while before Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan came out of Dongfulou.

There is no money to be made here. If the herbal medicine business is really profitable, you will have to wait at least a month.

Another part of the medicinal materials had to be sent to Xinglinyuan, so Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan took the things and rushed over.

The people at Xinglinyuan were already familiar with them, so a few of their waiters carried the herbs into the back hall, called the doctor sitting in the hall to weigh them, and then paid the two men.

A total of twenty strings of coins were sold, plus the three strings of coins earned last time, and after deducting the three strings of coins in cost, Gu Fengyan and his team earned a net profit of twenty strings of coins.

Twenty strings of cash were enough to cover a farmer's expenses for almost a year.

Gu Fengyan dared to be sure that he and Huo Duan were now considered a middle-class family in Heqing Village.

However, this time when he went back to pay back the ten strings of cash he owed, there would be nothing left, and Gu Fengyan felt inexplicably painful.

Huo Duan had been absent-minded since the day he went to Xinglinyuan. He was even a little annoyed when he got the money.

The system's notification came on time.

"Your task progress has reached 2.45 thousandths. Please continue..."

Huo Duan didn't finish listening, and forced himself to turn off the system prompt sound in his mind.

Everything in front of me was almost blurry, my mind was in chaos, and there were only three words in my mind - too fast.

"Mr. Huo?" Gu Fengyan was holding the money, as if he had secretly eaten honey. He was talking to Huo Duan about what he wanted to buy, but when he turned around, he saw that he was in a daze, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

Huo Duan suddenly came back to his senses and stared at Gu Fengyan nervously, afraid that he would ask that question.

"What's wrong?" However, Gu Fengyan did not ask.

She just gently pulled his sleeve and said with a helpless smile: "I said it's still early, we can take a rare break and buy things for the festival the day after tomorrow."

Huo Duan breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to hold his hand, but in the end he just pinched his wrist, "Okay, whatever Master Gu says is what it is."

Although this is ancient times, the people here are open-minded and there are couples holding hands on the streets...but what does it mean to pinch wrists like this?

Gu Fengyan was both amused and confused, "Let's go to the front. It's almost the holiday season and it's lively over there."

He broke free, grabbed back with one hand, and held Huo Duan as if nothing had happened.

Suddenly, Huo Duan's whole body stiffened... Gu Fengyan's fingers were slender and delicate, slightly cool, and could be held in one hand.

He looked at the eaves and saw his handsome profile, with smiles in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows.

Huo Duan's heart was filled with joy beyond words. A fine, soft, sore feeling spread from his heart... He was living and dying again, and dying and living again.

Since they came here, Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan have been busy making money and living. This is the first time they have been strolling leisurely on the street like this.

Although Qianmo County is not big, it is an important transportation hub for the two prefectures. Goods from both the north and the south can be bought here, so it can be considered prosperous to some extent.

During the Dragon Boat Festival, there are people selling realgar wine on the street, and shops selling cloth have hung up woven colorful ropes early.

Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan bought a piece of fresh pork, salted duck eggs, red dates, a grass carp and some vegetables... Mi had some left at home, so they didn't buy any.

The zongzi shells were ready-made. He had saved some bamboo shoot shells from harvesting bamboo shoots in the spring, and now they were just right for wrapping zongzi and getting the bamboo fragrance.

After buying the things, Huo Duan took them and the two of them wandered around for a while, watching acrobatics on the street.

"Wow, this is really like breaking a stone in my chest!" Gu Fengyan exclaimed while clapping.

Huo Duan was not very interested because he discovered another thing. It seemed that all the guys around him wore earrings, some gold, some jade, and at the very least, some silver.

So to speak, the boys in the village whose families have a little more money will also have decorations on their ears. Jiang Xuerui also has a pair, which she wears every time she goes out. It is a small circle woven with silver and hung with a thin short chain.

Why is this?

Huo Duan pondered over it, and finally his memory came back. In this world, if a man takes a fancy to a boy, he will give her a pair of earrings as a betrothal gift. If the boy agrees, he will keep the earrings, if he refuses, he will return them.

After marriage, the earrings are worn on the ears to show the status in the husband's family, and also to warn other men not to offend the boy. It is a kind of protection.

Gu Fengyan also had it when he entered the family. It was passed down from the Huo family's ancestors, but unfortunately the family was too poor, so it was eventually pawned.

Gu Fengyan's ears are snow-white, and her earlobes are pink. She must look very beautiful with earrings...

Huo Duan actually felt a little regretful.

"What are you thinking about? Don't you like watching?" Gu Fengyan pulled him.

The show on the stage changed. It was a dancer from a foreign race. She was wearing a gauze dress with red coral beads hanging around her waist. She covered her face with gauze and had bells hanging on her wrists and ankles.

She danced on a big drum, the bells jingled, and she was cheered by everyone.

Huo Duan took a quick look, then looked away and clapped his hands soullessly, "What's so good about this? I've seen prettier ones."

If this dress were worn by Gu Fengyan, she would be ten times more beautiful... he thought to himself.

Gu Fengyan cheered and asked, "Where?"

Huo Duan's face flushed at the scene in his mind, and he coughed and said, "I was just talking nonsense..."

How could he think of such a scene!

"Really?" Gu Fengyan lowered his eyes and smiled, with ill intentions, "Don't you say that people are not good-looking? Then why are you blushing... Mr. Huo, everyone loves beauty. You are hiding it like this, which is a bit vulgar."

Gu Fengyan thought he was blushing because of the dancer.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Huo Duan was speechless. "Am I that kind of person?"

Although he just thought about how Gu Fengyan would look wearing that clothes.

Gu Fengyan smiled perfunctorily, "Yeah, yeah, I was just kidding..."

As soon as the dancer on the stage finished her dance, she began to pick off the flowers she was wearing one by one, and threw them to the audience with a seductive smile.

Most of the people watching the dance were single men. They were holding the dancer's flower. Before the flower even fell, more than a dozen hands were reaching out to grab it, and there was chaos in the audience.

Before Gu Fengyan could finish his sentence, he was pushed around. Huo Duan tried to pull him back, but failed and watched him bump into someone.

"I was wondering who was so blind as to step on my shoes! Turns out it's you, you little bitch!" The person who was bumped into pushed Gu Fengyan away, speaking in very vulgar language.

Huo Duan caught Gu Fengyan, pulled him behind him and protected him, looking at the man with a gloomy face.

But he turned out to be fat and bloated, looking like a nouveau riche. He was none other than Wang Er, Gu Fengyan's ex-fiancé who had come to the Huo family to cause trouble the last time.