Journey to the West: The Immortal Clan Begins by Feeding Monkeys at Five Elements Mountain

Chapter 20 A Huge He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum)
Lin Jiaotou stood in the courtyard, his mind in turmoil.

His face remained calm and composed; he merely glanced at the scene and said indifferently:
"He's good-looking and learns faster than I did."

He spoke plainly, but his heart was pounding with anxiety.

If he were to enter the county commandant's office, at this rate, he could be trained for another two years.

Who knows, they might actually be able to get past the threshold of the prefectural government.

Such talent is truly a gift from heaven, and it just so happens to have fallen into this family.

Little did he know that the Jiang family's breathing technique had an extraordinary origin.

That stance training method had long been modified by that person on the back mountain, and it was no longer an ordinary skill.

If it weren't for our tight budget, which meant we could only afford the cheapest herbal soups, and the fact that we only managed to have meat and vegetables for a few months, we wouldn't have been able to make a living.

With this physique, he could probably go even further.

This time, the Jiang couple were exceptionally polite, welcoming them into the house repeatedly.

Liu Xiulian took out her best tea, which she usually couldn't bear to drink, and made small talk while brewing the tea.

Jiang Yi was equally decisive.

Seeing the two boys busy packing their luggage in the room, he quietly reached into his pocket, took out a silver ingot, and stuffed it into the instructor's sleeve.

The spring wheat and autumn rice harvested before the Lunar New Year have been sold off one crop after another.

He then cruelly slaughtered several old hens and sold a half-grown calf to scrape together the ten taels of silver.

Instructor Lin did not respond, remaining calm and composed. He simply pushed the silver ingot away gently and cleanly.

He raised his hand to pick up the teacup, lowered his head to take a sip, and looked relaxed.

Seeing this, Jiang Yi could only force a smile and offer another word of advice:
"It's not for any other reason than that the instructor is keeping it for Liang'er. Now that the child is gone, having something to rely on makes me feel at ease."

Instructor Lin put down his teacup, wiped the rim of the cup with his finger, and said calmly:

"The department has regulations regarding food, clothing, and daily necessities. Once they are issued, they are all provided, so there is no need to spend money from outside."

He paused, then added slowly and deliberately:
“If a child has too much money, he is prone to becoming unruly. He will think about food and fun instead of practicing his skills, which is a bad thing.”

It was said casually, yet it left no room for doubt.

Jiang Yi nodded hurriedly, agreeing repeatedly, though a hint of embarrassment lingered on his face.

It wouldn't be right not to accept the silver ingot, but accepting it would make one feel uneasy.

"Keep this money safe. Although the mountains are not as good as the county, you can sometimes find some old, medicinal things."

Just as he was caught in a dilemma, Instructor Lin spoke up again, offering him a way out:
"If I happen to come across one, I'll buy it first and leave it until the child comes back. Whether he eats it or soaks it in water, it will help strengthen his bones and muscles."

Jiang Yi then truly understood that the coach wasn't putting on an act or putting on airs.

Footsteps came from the other end of the room, and he didn't try to persuade him any further, but quietly put the silver back into his sleeve.

After a few casual words, the sun was already high in the sky.

The mountain road stretches for dozens of miles, winding and turning. If we don't set off soon, we might miss the horse-drawn carriage that leads from the market to the county town.

Before parting, Instructor Lin asked one more time:
"Your eldest son really isn't going?"

The question was asked lightly, but there was a hint of regret in her eyes.

It would be a shame not to take such a rare and promising talent with us.

But everyone has their own ambitions, and you can't force someone to stay.

Having received a definite answer, he simply nodded and said no more.

The whole family was escorted to the village entrance.

Liu Xiulian held Jiang Liang's hand, her steps so slow that it seemed she couldn't bear to take a single step no matter how long the road was.

Jiang Yi carried his little daughter and walked behind, silently watching his son's back. His shoulders were not broad, but his back was straight.

When neighbors saw it by the roadside, they couldn't help but stop and admire it from the bottom of their hearts, praising it repeatedly:

"The Jiang family couple are truly skilled at raising their children."

"Liangwa's future is truly blessed!"

They talked so enthusiastically that it was as if they could already see him in the county town, wearing an official robe, with a sword at his waist, walking down the street with a heroic air.

As we arrived at the village entrance, a gentle mountain breeze stirred the trees, their shadows swaying in the breeze.

Further ahead lies that winding mountain road, stretching as far as the eye can see.

Instructor Lin led Jiang Liang further and further away, eventually disappearing into the shadows of the mountains. Liu Xiulian squinted, as if bewildered by the wind, or as if she was holding back tears.

Jiang Yi quietly reached out and grasped her hand; his palm was slightly cool, but his fingertips tightened.

He glanced back at his house, then at the mountain path, and finally turned back.

Ultimately, this step, though reluctant, was taken with a sense of solidity.

Liang'er doesn't like studying and has a wild personality, but he's also very good at hard work.

Now that he has been able to enter the county magistrate's office, it is not only what he longed for, but also the right path. Isn't that incredibly fortunate?

Most importantly, this road didn't cost the family a single penny.

Food, lodging, medicinal baths, meat... everything is plentiful.

In the mountains, this is something that people wouldn't even dare to dream of.

With this money saved, we can free up our resources to properly hone the foundation of Jiang Ming and Jiang Xi.

With so many children, it's impossible to give the best to every single one, but at least we can't let any one fall behind.

Jiang Yi understands the importance of giving and receiving.

It's a blessing for the whole family to gather around the stove for a meal, but it's also a blessing when the son becomes successful and stands tall and proud.

This blessing cannot be stopped, nor can it be prevented.

Back inside, he first calmed down Liu Xiulian's reluctance to part.

Jiang Yi then pocketed the ten taels of silver ingots, turned around, and went out the door to Li Langzhong's pharmacy.

I had asked about it before, intending to help my little girl improve her health and build up her foundation.

But Dr. Li waved his hand, saying that the child was not yet one year old and that he was not skilled enough to prescribe a remedy and was unsure of the outcome.

Jiang Xi is now one year old, can walk and talk, which means she has overcome the first hurdle.

Although it's a bit early to start a medicinal bath, it's good to lay a good foundation and nourish the muscles and bones. It's always better to start thinking about it sooner rather than later.

With money in hand, it should be spent wisely.

As soon as I arrived outside the pharmacy, I saw two figures standing in front of the door, dressed in plain clothes and standing ramrod straight.

They were somewhat acquaintances, the two servants from Liu Family Village.

His face was expressionless; he simply waited quietly by the door.

Jiang Yi didn't seem to care much. He nodded, which was considered a nod, and then pushed open the door and went into the shop.

He and Dr. Li were old acquaintances and had partnered to grow medicinal herbs at the foot of the mountain. They knew each other well and were not as distant as other people.

As always, the pharmacy was steaming hot, the aroma of medicine mixed with a bitter smell that wafted into the nose, making people sneeze.

Doctor Li was hunched over behind the counter, holding a pestle in one hand and a mortar and pestle in the other, pounding some kind of medicine.

Hearing the noise, he raised his eyelids and saw that it was Jiang Yi. He then lowered his head and continued with his work.

He gave a curt "hmm," a neutral response, which he considered a greeting.

Jiang Yi took a few steps forward, his eyes subtly scanning the medicinal herbs on the table.

Although he was a self-taught herbalist, his eyesight wasn't too bad. He could recognize most of the dried and wet herbs, as well as those with the right or wrong color.

As I examined each ingredient, I found that they were seven or eight parts similar to the medicinal bath recipes I had prepared myself.

The herbs are of better quality, with tight texture and pleasant aroma; they are clearly top-grade.

Jiang Yi didn't know how the Liu family made a living, and couldn't help but feel a little envious.

By this time, Doctor Li had almost finished his work.

The pestle made its final few thuds in the mortar, and once the sound ceased, the shop became quieter.

He bent down and took something out of an ordinary-looking bamboo basket in the corner.

A large, black Polygonum multiflorum plant with thick roots lay quietly in my hand.

Compared to the little guy Jiang Yi usually sees, it's like a completely different species.

A few clumps of wet mountain mud still clung to the roots, as if they had just been dug out of the forest.

Although Jiang Yi was not an expert, he could tell at a glance that this thing was extraordinary.

After just one gentle inhalation of the medicinal aroma, I felt my chest clear and my mind refreshed.

(End of this chapter)