My domineering ex-husband is living off his wife in ancient times.

Chapter 98 Going up the mountain to collect herbs

Si Shaoheng: ...His wife is really something else, a seasoned yin-yang master.

Si Silang: ...Third Sister-in-law's words were not swear words at all, but every single word was swear words.

Both men looked at Cheng Ruoan, as if hoping she would go directly to Si Erlang and repeat what she had said in front of all the workers, but Cheng Ruoan simply took the two children and left.

He didn't say a word.

Women do not have skills.

I get annoyed just seeing that guy, Si Erlang.

It's not that bad, at least it won't deduct reputation points from her space. But if a grown man is so stingy every day, when it comes to money, his brain seems to have been ripped out, he can't make sense of things and is a nuisance.

When Dr. Hu saw her leading her two children toward the shack, he knew she didn't want to deal with the mess at home, so he simply tossed three small medicine baskets to the mother and her two children.

"While the sun is still high, come with me to gather herbs."

The villagers of Daxi Village are extremely poor, and no one recognizes medicinal herbs, so there are still many wild medicinal herbs left on the mountain behind the houses.

Achyranthes bidentata, Saposhnikovia divaricata, Angelica dahurica, Platycodon grandiflorus, and even Astragalus membranaceus are everywhere.

On the way up the mountain, Doctor Hu sighed, "It's only recently that the medicinal herbs that Bianbei needs have been collected, and there aren't many doctors or herb gatherers in these villages. Otherwise, there definitely wouldn't be so many medicinal herbs left on this mountain. Anyway, we're just idling around, so you can come with me to gather herbs."

Since we're going to plant medicinal herbs on this mountain, the best approach is to collect the herbs that already grow well there and transplant or cultivate them.

"Yay! I love playing with Grandpa Hu the most!"

“Sister, you should address Grandpa Hu as Master Hu. You mustn’t be rude.”

"Okay, brother, do you like playing with your master?"

“Sister, Master is teaching Mother how to identify medicines and practice medicine. This is not a game.”

"Okay, okay, brother, can you stop being the tutor? Otherwise, I'll tell Grandmaster not to take you next time!"

The two little ones were very happy and lively along the way.

But Cheng Ruoan complained incessantly: "Master, I haven't been idle at all. I haven't had a break all day long."

I thought studying medicine in modern times was already painful enough, but who knew it was even more grueling in ancient times.

Not only do we have to memorize medicinal herbs and their pharmacology, but we also have to learn how to cultivate them.

Dr. Hu stopped and pointed at her in the air: "You little monkey, you've been shopping all day, and you're not resting? Alright, stop being lazy, come over here, I'll tell you how to harvest and plant that Guan Fangfeng."

"Oh, here it comes." Cheng Ruoan pouted, wearing a mask of pain.

But she knew in her heart that her master was doing this for her own good, so she was just saying it, but her actions spoke louder than words.

She and Dr. Hu squatted down in front of a patch of white herbaceous plants, studying diligently.

"Wow, Mommy, these windproof flowers are so pretty, they're white like little umbrellas!" Niannian's eyes lit up when she saw the little flowers, but since her grandmaster didn't say anything, she still obediently didn't dare to touch them.

She is a well-behaved and polite baby.

"This Fangfeng is slightly warm in nature, pungent and sweet in taste, and enters the bladder, liver and spleen meridians. It can be used to release exterior wind, eliminate dampness and relieve pain, and also to stop spasms and diarrhea."

It is a sacred medicine for the wind, and there are three methods of processing it; it can fetch a high price on the market.

As Dr. Hu spoke, he began to test Cheng Ruoan, "Do you still remember the three processing methods?"

Cheng Ruoan: "Remember, it can be used raw, stir-fried until golden brown, or stir-fried until black..."

Dr. Hu wanted her to continue explaining the preparation methods, the uses and applications of Saposhnikovia divaricata, and then he would tell her how to harvest and plant it. The long string of theories made the little girl unable to stand up straight.

"Alright, let's start digging. I'll teach you about the next type of herb. If the two little ones don't want to listen, they can go play for a while and come back when we're digging for herbs," said Doctor Hu, stroking his beard.

This really freed up Si Nian, the little girl. She sweetly said a lot of things like "Master is the best," and then prepared to pull Si Xin away to play.

Before leaving, Cheng Ruoan secretly took out two hawthorn lollipops and gave one to each of the two little ones.

"Don't go too far, this is a reward. But the old rule applies, eat it quietly and don't let anyone find out."

Si Nian smiled, her eyes crinkling, and nodded her little head. "Mmm!"

Si Xin secretly put the hawthorn lollipop into her belt and hid it. Then, hand in hand, she squatted down next to Doctor Hu with her small medicine basket on her back to help dig for Saposhnikovia divaricata.

After digging up this area, the four of them headed towards the next place with a large patch of medicinal herbs, as Dr. Hu remembered.

While the children played nearby, Dr. Hu gave Cheng Ruoan a lesson. When it was time to dig for medicinal herbs, the four of them dug together, and after they finished, they went to the next place.

This cycle repeated until the sun set, at which point the four of them slowly made their way down the mountain.

The mountain is quite tall, but the area around its base is very flat.

There were many trees before, but the villagers cut down a lot of them within the limits allowed by the imperial court when building houses and making furniture, so most of what remains are tree stumps that do not obstruct the view.

Although there were many weeds along the way, and the group of four included both the elderly and children, they still walked quite safely.

When they returned to their homestead, Cheng Ruoan saw several workers re-marking the foundation area; judging from the looks of it, they were going to dig the foundation again.

Cheng Ruoan found Si Shaoheng: "You're something else, how did you manage to convince Si Erlang?"

Si Shaoheng smiled slightly: "In front of everyone, I did the math for them, and even the children advised the second son to build the mansion as originally agreed."

Cheng Ruoan: "Oh? How did you calculate that?"

Si Shaoheng squatted down and patiently repeated what she had been told to him with a tree branch.

"The cost of building the house with adobe bricks, beams, and roof, and hiring workers from the village to do the work, would only be less than fourteen taels of silver if we followed the second son's idea."

However, according to the previously agreed-upon four-section adobe house courtyard, it would cost about thirty-seven taels.

It looks like it would cost more than double, but it saves us the trouble of adding floors and rebuilding multiple times when our children get married and our families separate. In reality, it will save us money.

Cheng Ruoan found it amusing: "He conceded not because it would 'save money' in the long run, but because you mentioned that you would be splitting up the family property in the future."

Si Shaoheng nodded: "I see through it but don't say anything. Not long after you left, Village Chief Liu came by; he found a furniture maker for the second son. I guess..."

"By tomorrow afternoon at the latest, he'll have to beg you to take back the housekeeping power."

Cheng Ruoan scoffed, "Your Si family still hasn't paid back the money you owe me, and now you're trying to plunder my wallet again. How despicable, Mr. Si."

In fact, her money was everywhere. The mountains of gold and silver in the space were all obtained by Si Shaoheng and her through "double-crossing".

But she just had a sharp tongue and wanted to tease Si Shaoheng.

Si Shaoheng played along, a helpless smile playing on his lips: "So I suggested kicking them all out, but you wouldn't let me. What could I do, President An?"

Cheng Ruoan snorted, "If it weren't for the reputation points needed for the space upgrade, I would have kicked you out too. Anyway, I don't care, you have to discipline and educate them properly."