The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead
Chapter 135 - 133: I Want a Little Bit

Chapter 135: Chapter 133: I Want a Little Bit

Lu Jingqiu had no idea that her neighbors across the way were badmouthing her, but the food today was delicious, and the rice was fragrant and sweet, so both their appetites were quite hearty. Jiang Nanzhou ended up finishing all the remaining food, "Jingqiuer, the rice you make is always so aromatic."

Lu Jingqiu just smiled and didn’t say a word. This rice was all purchased from Xue Jianian, and sometimes the food she got from the food distribution station was stale, but sometimes better.

However, going to her place frequently to buy rice and flour didn’t seem proper, especially since her father and she couldn’t finish the grains they received from the food ration book.

But indeed, the rice from Xue Jianian’s hometown was really fragrant. She decided to ask next time if she could trade the grains from the distribution station for hers, offering to pay extra.

After eating, Jiang Nanzhou left, and Lu Jingqiu didn’t let him escort her. Riding a bike for an hour was nothing compared to her convenience of taking the bus, mainly because it wasn’t exhausting.

Glancing at the time, it was only a little past twelve. Thinking of the ginseng Jiang Nanzhou had given her a few days ago, she wasn’t planning to sell it. Since her dad and Jiang Nanzhou often went on missions, which could be quite dangerous, she decided to take the ginseng and ride her bike to the old traditional Chinese medicine doctor they had visited before, since she had time now.

The elderly couple used to work at the Municipal People’s Hospital and held a leadership position. However, they were framed by some incidents years ago, and for the past few years, they had been unemployed and at home.

They did odd jobs on ordinary days and secretly treated some illnesses for the neighbors, just to make a living.

Actually, the elderly couple lived not too far from their courtyard. This area was outside of the city center, hence the population wasn’t as dense.

When she arrived at the place, she saw from a distance that Xue Jianian was coming out from the old doctor’s house.

Xue Jianian saw her too. Since they were both aware, there was no need to hide, so she approached directly with a greeting, "Comrade Lu, what a coincidence."

Xue Jianian, dressed smartly in men’s attire, saw how openly she greeted her, which made her tone much more natural, "I’ve come to Master Chen’s to process some medicinal herbs. Do you know them too?"

Xue Jianian nodded. "Met them when wandering through the streets. They put in the money, and I provide the resources."

Seeing no one else around, Lu Jingqiu shared her idea from the day before, "Could I exchange the grains from the distribution station for your new grains? You name the price."

Xue Jianian was initially surprised; she hadn’t expected such a proposal. However, the grains from her own space were indeed delicious, mainly because the small stream water in there was excellent. Her grandmother had been sick and got better after a few days of eating those grains and drinking the water without even taking medicine.

The chickens and ducks that drank that water could indeed lay two eggs a day.

"If you want to trade, you can come to my house on Sunday. Oh, either come early or late, you understand."

Lu Jingqiu was delighted and answered with a smile, "I understand. By the way, do you have a surplus of resources? Has my cousin come to find you again?"

"He has, but I don’t have much to spare. I gathered it during my last trip home, and it’s just enough for my own selling. Perhaps I’ll have more after the autumn harvest." Xue Jianian was being truthful. She could farm in her space, but there wasn’t much land. She could harvest about a thousand kilograms of grain each month. It had only been a month since she started selling to Lu Jingqiu’s family, and she couldn’t spare too much after selling small amounts here and there.

They wouldn’t consider just a few hundred kilograms too much.

Lu Jingqiu didn’t press further, knowing that Xue Jia had other things to do and didn’t want to bother her. Just as she was about to say goodbye, it was Xue Jia who spoke up instead, "University has started, have you enrolled yet?"

"I have. I need to return to campus this afternoon. What about you, how’s university life?"

Xue Jia showed her teeth in a smile. "It’s good, there’s a stipend, and my classmates are nice. It’s just a pity that I can’t come out every day."

Indeed, if she wanted to study, she couldn’t earn money—she knew one couldn’t have it all. They shared a knowing smile.

Just as they were about to part ways, Xue Jianian inadvertently glanced at something protruding from the corner of Lu Jingqiu’s bag and was startled. She eagerly grabbed Lu Jingqiu’s arm without saying a word for a while.

Lu Jingqiu, taken aback, didn’t immediately understand, but seeing her gesture and then pointing to her bag, Lu Jingqiu looked down, rummaged a bit, and noticed that the tip of the Ginseng Whiskers had slipped out of the corner of her bag. She hastily stuffed it back in, a bit flustered.

Xue Jianian whispered, "Are you going to process ginseng?"

Lu Jingqiu silently nodded.

"Could you sell..."

"I can’t, I’m not selling this," Lu Jingqiu interrupted Xue Jianian before she could finish.

"Could you share some with me? I’m willing to pay... or trade grain... pork, whatever you want."

"What do you need it for?"

"You know, my fiancé is in the military; I want to keep some for his health." She had grains, chickens, and ducks in her space; even her grandfather brought a sheep for her. However, they were seriously lacking in medicinal herbs. She wanted to get some to help Wei Jincheng improve his health.

"I’m familiar with it too," said Lu Jingqiu as she pushed her bike forward. It had been so hard to find the place before, and when she finally did and brought her mother, it was too late—even the most skilled doctor couldn’t bring her back.

She had been to Master Chen several times, and each visit he greeted her with a smile. When she arrived, she saw that Xue Jia, who had just left, had returned. At first puzzled, Master Chen asked, "Xiao Xue, what brings you back?"

Xue Jianian chuckled, "Grandpa Chen, Comrade Lu and I are acquainted."

So it was, "Well, that’s fortunate, come in then."

Only after the front door was closed did Lu Jingqiu begin to speak, "Master Chen, I’d like your help with processing this." She said, taking the ginseng out of her bag.

Master Chen assumed Comrade Xiao Lu was there to procure some herbs, but upon seeing the ginseng in her hand, a surge of delight shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, "This... this... what a fine item."

With that, he excitedly took the ginseng from Lu Jingqiu’s hand to examine it.

Lu Jingqiu and Xue Jianian exchanged a smile at Master Chen’s excitement.

Old Lady Chen came out from the house and, upon seeing the two women in the courtyard, hurriedly invited them to sit. She too was surprised when she saw what was in her husband’s hand.

After a moment, Master Chen smiled, "Comrade Xiao Lu, this ginseng is at least fifty years old, are you selling it?"

Lu Jingqiu smiled, shaking her head, "Not for sale, I want Master Chen to help me process it, or make it into some other kind of life-saving medicine."

"Life-saving medicine?" Master Chen furrowed his brows, deep in thought.

Old Lady Chen, looking at the ginseng, agreed it was indeed excellent. After some thought, she reminded her husband, "You could make the Ginseng Amoeba Pills or the Eight-treasure Pill."

Master Chen also felt that was feasible, both remedies were highly effective, "It’s just that some of the herbal ingredients are hard to find, toads, Dragon Hollyhock, and Gizzard Stone; I don’t have them here, and Lysimachia is hard to come by around this area. Collecting these things will take quite some time."

"That’s alright, I’m not in a hurry."

Xue Jianian interjected, "I have toads in my hometown, as well as Dragon Hollyhock and Lysimachia; we have a lot of these."

Master Chen, aware of the young man’s many connections, quickly jotted down some of the herbs they lacked on a piece of paper.

Xue Jianian reviewed the list, "I also have Gizzard Stone, but none of the others."

Lu Jingqiu stepped forward to look as well, "I have sea urchins, but they’re not fresh."

"Dried ones will do." not all of them were for use in the pills.

"Master Chen, what would you like in return, money or food?"

Old Lady Chen laughed, "We still have food, better take money and some tickets, fifty yuan and some Living Ration Coupons. Comrade Xiao Lu, give whatever you think is appropriate."

"Alright." Lu Jingqiu handed over ten yuan as a downpayment, and then gave them a Sugar Coupon and Industrial Coupons.

Seeing that she had a coupon for a flashlight, Old Lady Chen quickly handed it back to her.

Master Chen added, "We won’t use up all the ginseng, I’ll prepare the leftovers for you as Ginseng Slices."

Lu Jingqiu asked, "Master Chen, do these pills have an expiration date?"

"Yes, they need to be used within two or three years."

"Okay."

After the arrangement was made, Lu Jingqiu and Xue Jianian left Master Chen’s yard.

Once outside, Lu Jingqiu said, "Comrade Xue, thank you for offering to help me get these items. Let me know how much it will cost, and I’ll pay you later."

"No need for that, if you could just share some of those pills with me when they’re ready, I still owe you money."

"Fine, I won’t stand on ceremony with you. I’ll ask around and get back to you by this Sunday. Anyway, it will take some time to prepare the herbs."

"Okay, I’ll go send a telegram to my grandpa, asking him to help me find these things."

After parting ways, Lu Jingqiu went straight home and, upon seeing Aunt Liu, asked her to help take care of Hua Hua at home.

She was worried that her aunt and father might get too busy and forget about Hua Hua.

Xiao Shun and Xiao Yin were overjoyed to hear that Hua Hua had given birth and hurried over.

Lu Jingqiu tidied up her drawing papers and brushes, took the pastries Jiang Nanzhou had bought for her, and headed to school.