I trade in both worlds

"Hiss~" Doctor He picked up the Hericium erinaceus and shouted to the young apprentice in the shop, "Xiao Zheng, go call Shopkeeper Zheng over."

There were five Hericium erinaceus, each as big as a fist, and in good condition. Doctor He said with some regret, "You should have dried them directly after picking them. It's a pity to leave them overnight. Such good-looking Hericium erinaceus are gone."

Seeing the regretful expression on Doctor He's face, Xu Xu asked nervously, "Is it broken? Can't be used anymore?"

"No way, is it really broken?" Aunt Xu asked anxiously. Xu Jizong also looked at Doctor He in annoyance.

Shopkeeper Zheng, who had just come out of the inner room, laughed and said, "Don't be nervous, don't be nervous. It can be used. It's just that the herbs must be processed as soon as they are picked. Old He is just a little entangled. Don't worry about him."

Shopkeeper Zheng picked up a Hericium erinaceus and looked at it carefully. After looking at it, he smelled it and then pinched a little to taste it.

Xu Xu bit her lower lip nervously, clenched her fists, and looked at Manager Zheng with a frown: "We don't know how to prepare it, and we dare not hang it out to dry casually, for fear..."

"Don't be nervous, don't be nervous, I'll teach you." Doctor He glanced at Xu Xu and chuckled, "I won't talk about anything too complicated, just learn the simplest way of drying. Next time you pick Hericium erinaceus, remember to cut off the pedicle of the Hericium erinaceus."

As he spoke, he scratched the pedicle with his little finger: "It's here. Cut it off and place it on a bamboo screen. Note that the bottom of the bamboo screen must be breathable. Then expose it to the sun. First, place the cut surface facing up and dry it for one day, then turn it over and dry it in the sun. That's it."

Xu Xu took note of it carefully, then bowed to Doctor He and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Doctor He."

Doctor He nodded, pointed at the basket and said, "Bring the Gastrodia elata here for me to see."

Xu Jizong quickly picked up the Gastrodia elata and handed it to Doctor He.

"It's very simple to prepare Gastrodia elata." Doctor He took the Gastrodia elata and sniffed it. "First, prepare it. Wash it, then dry it in the sun, and then stir-fry it. Wash it thoroughly to remove all impurities. Dry it in the sun, and stir-fry it when it's 70% dry. Stir-fry it until it turns slightly yellow and you can smell its unique aroma."

Doctor He asked Xiao Zheng for a dustpan, checked the gastrodia in the basket one by one and put them on the dustpan: "There is another method, which is to cook it. This method may be more suitable for you. First, slice the gastrodia and evenly place them on bamboo strips to steam. Use high heat to steam until soft, which takes about a cup of tea. Then, dry the steamed gastrodia in a cool and ventilated place."

Xu Jizong, Aunt Xu and Xu Xu all thanked Dr. He. It was really rare that someone could teach these skills to strangers for free. They decided to give some to Dr. He after the hazel mushrooms were dried.

Doctor He waved his hand and continued, "If you really can't handle it, send it to us as soon as possible. Don't force it to be processed. If it's not processed well, it will lose its medicinal properties and waste such a good herb."

Xu Jizong nodded in agreement. If they just wanted to dry them in the sun, they could still handle it. But if they wanted to steam and fry them, then forget it.

Manager Zheng pointed at Doctor He and said to Xu Jizong with a smile, "Doctor He is from the Imperial Hospital. His grandfather was once the director of the Imperial Hospital. Many people want to get his guidance but can't. You are really lucky."

When the three heard this, they realized that this was the imperial physician, so they bowed again. Doctor He supported them with both hands and said, "Alright, don't listen to his nonsense. Medical skills are meant to be passed on. Besides, it's just the preparation of medicinal materials. It's not a big deal. Go find Zheng Zhanggu to sell the medicinal materials. I have a patient coming."

Xu Xu looked back and saw a middle-aged man supporting an old man walking in. He quickly picked up the backpack and followed Manager Zheng to the inner courtyard.

Shopkeeper Zheng carefully checked the Hericium erinaceus and Gastrodia elata again and said: "The purchase price of fresh Hericium erinaceus is 80-110 wen per catty. Yours is considered a commodity, so you should be able to sell it for 110 wen per catty. The appearance of Gastrodia elata is also very good. I will give you 35 wen per catty."

The Xu family didn't know the purchase price of the medicinal materials, and judging from Doctor He's character, this pharmacy would not cheat its customers. Besides, there were only two pharmacies in the county, and if they didn't sell to this one, they would have to go to Youzhou Prefecture, which was really unnecessary.

The three of them looked at each other and nodded in agreement. Xu Jizong said, "Manager Zheng, it's up to you."

Xiao Zheng didn't need to be told by Manager Zheng, he just took the scale and started weighing. Five Hericium erinaceus weighed one catty and eight ounces, a total of 198 coins, and Gastrodia elata weighed 68 catties, a total of 2380 coins. Manager Zheng gave him two ounces of silver and 578 coins.

After leaving the clinic, Xu Xu said to Second Aunt Xu: "Second Aunt, just give me one tael for today."

"That won't work. We agreed to have it half each." Aunt Xu refused.

Xu Jizong also looked at Xu Xu with disapproval: "Xu Xu, if we've agreed on something, don't change it."

There was no other way. Xu Xu rolled his eyes and said, "No, the remaining two hundred or so coins are my hard work fee for asking my second uncle to help me take care of the calf."

As soon as he finished speaking, he slapped Aunt Xu in the face: "I want you to pay me for taking care of the cows, you are such a troublemaker."

Xu Xu hugged Second Aunt Xu's arm and shook it: "Oh, Second Aunt, raising cattle requires repairing the cowshed, cleaning the cowshed every day, and feeding the cattle. This is all work. This is only more than 200 coins, which is less than one coin a day on average. I feel embarrassed. Just take it."

"Okay, okay, okay, let go. You've made me dizzy." Second Aunt Xu said unhappily, "You're such a big spender. I don't even want to say anything to you."

Xu Xu chuckled and said, "Second Uncle, let's go buy a cow."

"Yeah." Xu Jizong took the two of them to the mule and horse market.

The mule and horse market not only sells mules and horses, but also cattle, sheep, and donkeys. Before arriving at the market, Xu Xu smelled a bad odor and saw flies flying all over the sky and buzzing in his ears.

Several people gathered at the entrance of the market, some standing or squatting, all looking at the entrance and looking for customers. These people were brokers, or in today's terms, intermediaries.

Xu Jizong walked directly towards the person squatting in the corner: "Zishan."

Xu Zishan raised his head and looked over: "Brother Ji Zong, Sister Zong, why are you here?"

Seeing Xu Xu, he hesitated for a moment and asked, "Who is this? Xu Xu from step brother's family?"

Xu Xu was also confused. Who was this? It seemed that she had never seen him before. Second Aunt Xu nodded to Xu Zishan and patted Xu Xu: "This is Uncle Shan from your sixth grandfather's family."

"Uncle Shan." Xu Xu bowed and called out to him obediently.

Xu Zishan nodded and asked Xu Jizong: "Brother Jizong, is there anything wrong with you?"

Seeing the surrounding brokers looking over, Xu Jizong frowned and asked in a low voice: "Will they steal our business?"

Following Xu Jizong's gaze, Xu Zishan smiled and lowered his voice and said, "There is competition everywhere. They are not honest people. Stay away from them when you meet them in the future. Be careful not to be cheated."