Daily Life in the 70s
Chapter 241: Mission Accomplished (Extra Update)

Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Mission Accomplished (Extra Update)

Following Quan into the courtyard, Yang PeiMin covertly observed and was astonished to find that the courtyard resembled a vegetable garden, divided into plots, each brimming with lush green plants.

Upon closer inspection, she finally understood where Quan’s herbal supplies originated.

Indeed, these were not ordinary plants.

Atractylodes, white peony, Poria, Panax notoginseng... the area was a swath of traditional Chinese herbs.

Quan noticed her expression and asked, "Do you see?"

Yang PeiMin exclaimed, "Each of these herbs has its own temperament and growth environment. How did you manage this?" However, she quickly reconsidered; the world was full of skilled people, and she was perhaps overreacting, though she gained more respect for Quan.

Quan invited her to sit by a stone table in the corner of the courtyard and said lightly, "When it’s necessary to make a living, you can make anything happen."

Yang PeinMin nodded, increasingly sure that Quan was not as ordinary as she appeared. She could cultivate such a range of medicinal herbs in her own yard and possibly elsewhere (certainly more than the dozen types in the yard since two ingredients for making autumn pear syrup weren’t there), and she discreetly sold autumn pear syrup in the Cooperative Society and even in stores outside the county. Yang PeiMin had learned that the syrup had been sold for five or six years, a time when things were quite constrained, indicating Quan had her unique survival strategies.

"Granny, since you have the stock, I was also hoping to buy some herbs. Could you sell me some?" Yang PeiMin had initially just intended to inquire about the source of Quan’s herbs, but was pleasantly surprised and wanted to seize this unexpected opportunity quickly.

Quan’s turbid eyes sparkled as she evaluated Yang PeiMin again and slowly responded, "Old woman like me hasn’t sold to strangers before. If you want medicinal herbs, go to the traditional medicine shop; they have a wider range."

Yang PeiMin had anticipated this, but it was difficult to buy in bulk there, and a doctor’s prescription was needed, which was quite troublesome. Alternatively, there were the barefoot doctors in the countryside, but they typically had only common herbs, something she could find herself with some effort in the mountains.

"I need a large quantity, Granny. Please consider it. I’ll pay the same rate you charge for external sales, not a penny less," Yang PeiMin said sincerely.

"How much do you need? What are they, and what are they for? I need to know all of this clearly. Some herbs can save lives but also harm them. This isn’t something to be reckless with."

Yang PeiMin nodded, "Of course. Currently, I need them for medicinal meals. Since you can make autumn pear syrup and grow so many herbs, you must understand some medical principles. I’ll share the recipe and the condition of my patient, and then you can decide if you will sell to me."

Quan straightened her expression and said, "Go ahead."

Yang PeiMin shared the recipe she was preparing for Shen Yiguang, along with his health condition.

Quan listened attentively and after a pause, asked Yang PeiMin, "Where did you learn this? Does your family have a background in traditional medicine?"

Yang PeiMin read nothing definitive from her expression and merely smiled without responding. This was her secret, and she did not wish to lie; in her previous life, indeed, she was from a family of traditional Chinese medicine, knowledge passed down through generations.

Quan, receiving no reply, did not press further and nodded at her, "This recipe is good."

Yang PeiMin graciously accepted the compliment.

Knowing that Quan had relented made her happy, and she began to converse more familiarly, "I also have some regular health-preserving formulae. If you’re interested, I can share those with you as well."

Now Quan actually smiled for the first time since Yang PeiMin had entered the courtyard, albeit only slightly tugging at the corner of her mouth. She said, "You’re quite interesting, girl. Alright, considering that your man is also a military officer, I’ll do business with you. But let’s get one thing clear—you must not publicize this to anyone."

"This is a given."

Yang PeiMin had written down the items she needed on a piece of paper beforehand and made a list, which she now directly took out and handed to Quan.

After Quan read through it, she quickly pointed out several ingredients that differed from the medicinal recipe she had just mentioned and asked, "Are these items intended for something else, or are they for the medicinal recipe?"

Yang PeiMin smiled, "No, I’m planning to make skincare products."

Quan arched her eyebrows, her face showing an unmistakable surprise.

Yang PeiMin felt that it made her come alive and seem more approachable.

"You should know that, for example, Atractylodes has a skin-whitening function."

Quan did not say anything else and led her into her herbs, organizing them for her.

As she picked out the herbs for Yang PeiMin, she mentioned the prices, and Yang PeiMin realized, wow, they really are cheap; some common herbs seemed almost like giveaways.

Quan’s hands were quick; without looking, she grasped several types, sorted them in front of her, and some even needed slicing or pounding into powder—all were prepared for her, and finally, she packed them securely in a burlap sack.

Yang PeiMin watched, feeling a bit guilty as she hadn’t spent much money.

As she was leaving, she remembered she still had a pack of caramel in her backpack, a small habit she had picked up since arriving here. People of this era liked candy, and using it to appease children was a surefire tactic. Now, besides the candy, she didn’t have much else, and she knew Quan had a grandson who was about seven or eight years old.

"It’s homemade, nothing pricey—let your grandson have it."

"What is this?" Quan looked curious but did not take it.

Yang PeiMin opened it for her to see, "This is called caramel. I brought it from my hometown; it’s made by my mother. It’s homemade, containing things like peanut malt sugar—quite clean."

Quan nodded her head, "Let me trade something for it."

Yang PeiMin helplessly added two more herbs into the mix.

Seeing Yang PeiMin shouldering the sack alone, her slender frame looking fragile, Quan couldn’t bear it and helped her carry it out. They walked a bit, and soon they were in town.

She even found a usual oxcart that ferried people to the town and suggested Yang PeiMin pay the cart driver to take her back to the base.

Though Quan might appear cold, she was indeed warm-hearted, and Yang PeiMin was grateful.

Quan, however, said, "Old woman that I am, I don’t have many hobbies. Just my grandson and I love nibbling on snacks. If you have any new treats passing through town, bring some to me in exchange for items or money."

Yang PeiMin agreed and then said goodbye.

She needed to first get this sack of items back to the dormitory because it contained not only Shen Yiguang’s medicinal ingredients but also other skincare materials. She would arrange these items in the dormitory before heading to the hospital.