Xiao Jingcheng looked at Ye Wanmian, who looked blank, and let out an impatient click of his tongue.
Silly country girl. Hadn't he said that he'd suffered internal injuries last night? Did she really plan to let him walk all the way to the medical clinic?
Moreover, he was the crown prince of the current dynasty. How could he really walk beside others like a dog?
He couldn't speak now and thus couldn't prompt Ye Wanmian verbally. So he tilted his head up and let out a bark at the bamboo basket behind Ye Wanmian.
Ye Wanmian turned around and saw the bamboo basket on her back. “…”
Was it what she thought it was?!
Did Dahuang want her to carry it in the bamboo basket?
Ye Wanmian tentatively took off the basket on her back and placed it on the ground.
Xiao Jingcheng walked two steps towards the bamboo basket, then lifted his front paw and scratched at it. He looked at Ye Wanmian. His dark, grape - like eyes were now full of impatience.
Urging her to pick it up and put it in.
It wasn't that Ye Wanmian couldn't carry a dog on her back, but...
Why had her Dahuang suddenly become so delicate?
The human and the dog stared at each other for a moment, and finally it ended with Ye Wanmian's compromise.
Fine. Yesterday it had almost died from poisoning and then been kicked by those bandit soldiers at night, suffering internal injuries. It was normal for it to be a bit delicate. She wouldn't argue with it.
Ye Wanmian let out a resigned sigh. She cleaned the bamboo basket, then picked up the yellow dog and put it in.
Carrying the heavy bamboo basket on her back, she locked the door and walked towards the town.
The morning in Dongli Town was quite lively. The house where Ye Wanmian stayed was located in the middle - to - rear section of the alley, and from time to time, the laughter and voices of children could be heard from the houses on both sides.
It was the time for every family to have breakfast, so white smoke was rising from the roofs of many houses, full of the hustle and bustle of daily life.
The sun shone down on the bamboo basket, and Xiao Jingcheng rarely felt a bit of comfort.
People passed by from time to time on the road, and some even greeted Ye Wanmian. “Good morning, Mrs. Jiang. Where are you going?”
“Mrs. Jiang, are you going out to gather herbs again?”
Ye Wanmian responded with a smile one by one and occasionally greeted people on her own initiative.
Although Ye Wanmian usually lived alone, she didn't keep to herself. Occasionally, she would give some of the herbs she gathered to the neighbors, so she had a pretty good relationship with them.
“Hey, why isn't Dahuang going out with Mrs. Jiang today?”
Someone with sharp eyes noticed that Ye Wanmian was alone and asked curiously. Then they saw a furry head pop out of the bamboo basket behind Ye Wanmian. A pair of dark, beady eyes coldly glanced at her.
The one who spoke was an elderly woman. Being stared at by the yellow dog like this, she stammered a bit when she spoke.
“Oh, so Dahuang is in the basket. I was wondering where it had gone.”
She couldn't help but mutter to herself.
It was just a dog. Why did she feel scared after being looked at by it?
Ye Wanmian explained with a smile, “Dahuang ate something bad on the mountain yesterday and can't walk for the time being. So I have to carry it on my back.”
“Oh, I see.” The aunt nodded. Suddenly, she called Ye Wanmian and waved at her, with a mysterious look on her face.
Ye Wanmian walked over curiously.
“Mrs. Jiang, did you know about the commotion in our alley last night? The officers and soldiers even searched our place!” The aunt lowered her voice and said to Ye Wanmian.
Ye Wanmian tightened the sleeves of her clothes, and the smile on her face faded a bit. “How could I not know? They even smashed many things in my house.”
“Right?!” The aunt looked distressed. “A lot of things in our house were also destroyed. Those heartless soldiers are so unreasonable. I heard that they were looking for the whereabouts of the crown prince!”
The aunt curled her lips. “These people are so unreasonable and barbaric, not putting us common people in their eyes. I bet that crown prince is no good either.”
Ye Wanmian let out a soft laugh, her voice slightly cold. “Him? He really isn't a good—”
The yellow dog, which had been staying quietly in the bamboo basket, suddenly let out a deep growl. Its eyes stared coldly at the two of them, looking as if it was going to pounce on them at any moment.
The aunt was so scared that she patted her chest. “Oh, this Dahuang really scares me.”
Ye Wanmian took back the bad words that were about to come out of her mouth and reminded, “Aunt Qiao, say less. Those people are still in the town. If they hear you, they might charge you with disrespect, and you'll probably end up in jail.”
The aunt quickly shut up and forced out a couple of laughs. “Okay, I won't say anymore.”
Only then did the yellow dog stop growling threateningly from its throat, and Ye Wanmian took the opportunity to break free from the aunt.
Behind her, Xiao Jingcheng squinted his eyes and watched the fleeing girl, grinding his canine teeth hard.
Had he really never met this country woman before? Or had he offended her in the past?
Why did this country woman always look like she had a deep - seated hatred for him every time his name was mentioned?
Xiao Jingcheng was just about to recall when he was interrupted by a weak voice.
[Not a country woman. It's mother.]
[Mother is very good, very good.]
Tsk, this stupid dog was really annoying.
Ye Wanmian ignored the restless yellow dog moving around in the bamboo basket behind her. After leaving the alley, she looked around, quickened her pace, and walked towards the market with the bamboo basket on her back.
From time to time, patrolling soldiers could be seen on the road. Ye Wanmian deliberately kept a distance from them, slightly lowering her head and mingling with other pedestrians. Soon, she arrived at the first pharmacy.
The herbs Ye Wanmian brought today were Atractylodes macrocephala, Houttuynia cordata, and Typhonium giganteum.
These were very common herbs, but because the pharmacy had a large demand, the amount they bought was also large. Ye Wanmian could bring a batch every seven days, and each batch could earn her sixty or seventy copper coins. There was still a good profit.
She was familiar with three pharmacies in the town. She delivered the dried herbs one by one. The shopkeeper pinched the herbs with his fingers and then readily gave her the copper coins.
She shook the money bag and listened to the clear sound inside. A smile appeared on her face.
The harvest today was good. These herbs had earned her eighty cash, which was enough for her to live well for a while.
After selling the herbs, Ye Wanmian turned to go to the medical clinic “Huichuntang” where she had been yesterday.
It was still early, and there were few patients in the medical clinic. Seeing her come again today and carry her yellow dog in a bamboo basket, Doctor Wang gave her a meaningful look and said,
“What, did you still get bitten by the dog after you went back yesterday?”
“It's not me. It's Dahuang.”
Ye Wanmian let out a soft sigh. She took off the bamboo basket on her back and placed it in front of Doctor Wang, briefly telling him what had happened last night.
When she mentioned that Dahuang had been kicked hard, she almost gritted her teeth, still full of unquenched anger.
“Fortunately, I remembered that there was Radix Notoginseng at home. I chewed it up and fed it to Dahuang, which saved its life. But I'm still a bit worried that its injury isn't fully healed. I'd like you to take a look.”
Doctor Wang gritted his teeth. “Jiang Mian, I've told you many times. I'm a doctor who treats humans, not a veterinarian!”
Ye Wanmian blinked and quickly said, “If you help me check Dahuang, I'll agree to learn medicine from you.”
“What did you say? Are you serious?”