114 There Are More Than Ten Fingers
In the Great Chang Kingdom, countless people were bitten to death by venomous snakes every year. It was not because the doctors could not treat them, but because they lacked enough medicinal herbs.
Among them, the Paris polyphylla was a main medicinal herb for treating venomous snake bites. The conditions for this herb to grow were harsh, and it was complicated to cultivate. Preservation was also a huge difficulty.
Like truffles, most pharmacies did not have this medicinal herb.
However, the preciousness of the truffle lay in its nutritional value. The preciousness of the Paris polyphylla lay in its scarcity.
Without truffles, the nobles just had less nourishing food.
But without the Paris polyphylla, it was equivalent to losing a way to save lives.
“Where did you find them?” Doctor Hu’s heart ached as he quickly took out the herbs.
Wang Dalang said, “Under the ravine at the back of the mountain, in a thicket.”
In the past, there was still water in the ravine. The children would still go there to play. Later on, when there was no more water in the ravine, no one liked to go.
The ravine was filled with all kinds of brambles, especially the thicket where Little Ah Yu had gone previously. If not for the venomous snake leading the way, it would have been very difficult for them to find the location of the Paris polyphylla.
Wang Dalang suddenly remembered that some of the venomous snakes that came to attack Shanyang Village did not die. In the end, he did not know what happened to them.
They saw that the tail of the poisonous snake that led the way had been broken. Perhaps it had been broken in that incident. Perhaps it really came to help Sister Ah Yu guide the way.
He did not tell Doctor Hu what he was thinking, but Doctor Hu looked excited.
“With this thing, in the future, when the villagers enter the mountains and are bitten by venomous snakes, everyone won’t have to be helpless. At least there’s something that can save their lives.” Doctor Hu muttered, “If we use these herbs, we can make hundreds of medicines. How many lives will we save!”
Not to mention, the value of the medicine would not be low.
“Sister Ah Yu brought us to find these! Doctor Hu, my sister is amazing, right?” Wang Wulang could not help but show off.
Doctor Hu looked at Ah Yu deeply. This child was indeed a good child. It was right for the Wang Family to save her.
It was just that the child’s body had never grown. It seemed that she had been malnourished in the past. He still had a few medicines that could nourish the child.
This was a child who did not forget her roots. If they raised her well, it might be a meritorious deed.
“Dalang, go home first and find your grandmother. Tell her that I’m looking for her for something. Leave these medicines with me. Don’t worry, I won’t shortchange her.”
This year, Wang Dalang was already 16 years old. He was about to get arranged into a marriage, so Doctor Hu treated him as an adult.
Wang Dalang hurriedly said, “Alright, I’ll call Grandma over.”
Wang Dalang returned to the Wang Family. The other boys played in Doctor Hu’s courtyard for a while before feeling bored. They immediately wanted to take the empty bamboo basket to catch snails.
“Feeding chickens with snails will make the chickens grow faster!” Wang Wulang found an excuse for everyone. The boys ran away and wanted to play by the small river in the village again.
Wang Erlang stopped Little Ah Yu and said to the others, “Go and play by yourself. I’ll accompany Ah Yu. The river ditch is dirty. Don’t dirty Ah Yu’s new clothes.”
If Wang Erlang hadn’t said anything, Little Ah Yu would have followed Wang Wulang and the others away. Now that she heard her second brother’s words, Little Ah Yu looked down at her new clothes and the new bag that Grandma had given her.
Grandma would definitely be very sad if she dirtied her new bag.
“Alright, Ah Yu won’t go!”
Wang Wulang felt a little regretful. If he couldn’t take his sister with him, they wouldn’t be able to play for long.
Actually, Wang Wulang was still wondering if a river god would appear if Ah Yu followed them.
If not, a mermaid would be good too.
It could always broaden his horizons.
Perhaps she could even find him a child bride.
However, Wang Wulang did not say this out loud. He was afraid that the other brothers would treat him as a fool.
After these people left, Wang Erlang and Little Ah Yu looked at each other.
Wang Dalang was usually a little serious. As her second brother, Wang Erlang actually had some airs, but it was only the kind of airs where he cared for his sister.
Looking at the soft little sister now, he did not know how to play with her.
Wang Erlang simply said, “Sister Ah Yu, let me teach you how to count! My father taught me how to count yesterday. I’ve already learned it.”
“Wow, Second Brother, you’re so amazing. Ah Yu doesn’t even know how to count.” Little Ah Yu didn’t even know what counting was.
Every time Little Ah Yu praised someone, although her tone was exaggerated, her expression was very sincere. Her eyes looked at him drowsily, like grapes soaked in water.
Her red and moist little mouth let out a loud “wow”, and his eyes instantly stretched into crescents.
Her little face also pouted, making one feel happy.
Wang Erlang scratched his head in embarrassment. “I… I’m not that amazing. I’ll teach you then.”
“Alright, alright!” Little Ah Yu was very supportive.
When Old Madam Wang came over, she saw Little Ah Yu and Wang Erlang sitting in Doctor Hu’s courtyard. They were sitting on a small stool.
Wang Erlang muttered as Little Ah Yu cupped her face.
“One, two, three, five, six, nine…” Wang Erlang counted on his fingers.
Little Ah Yu imitated him and bent her little fingers.
“Ah Yu, look. We have a total of 10 fingers, so you should count to 10.”
Little Ah Yu counted with her mouth, and her fingers bent one by one.
In the end, she realized, “Second Brother, Ah Yu seems to have more than 10 fingers! Boohoo, Ah Yu has more than 10 fingers. Is Ah Yu a monster?”
Wang Erlang blushed.
He… seemed to have counted wrongly.
But how should he count them?
He remembered it very clearly yesterday. After counting, his father even praised him for being very smart and learning it immediately.
“You didn’t even learn it yourself, yet you’re still teaching others. I’m talking about you! You’ve taught our Ah Yu badly. Look at you, how can you be an elder brother! If I were you, I would be ashamed to death!” Old Madam Wang sneered as she walked into the courtyard and said to the ashamed Wang Erlang, “Useless thing! You’re only a half-baked idiot, yet you still dare to come out and embarrass yourself. Hurry up and go back!”
Wang Erlang’s face turned pale. He did not feel humiliated. Instead, he felt especially guilty.
It seemed that he had really taught wrongly. Sister Ah Yu must be unhappy.
“Grandma, don’t scold Second Brother anymore. Second Brother is very good. Second Uncle only taught him once and he learned it! Ah Yu is stupid. Ah Yu has been learning for a long time!” Little Ah Yu pounced into Old Madam Wang’s arms. “When Second Brother learns it again, he will definitely be especially amazing.”
Wang Erlang was instantly touched. He made up his mind to study hard. He would definitely not make such a mistake next time, let alone let Ah Yu learn the wrong things.
Old Madam Wang could not be bothered with him. She sent him away and went to see Doctor Hu.
Doctor Hu went straight to the point. “Madam Wang, this Paris polyphylla is especially precious. If it’s sold correctly, the price might even be more expensive than truffles. I wonder if there’s more there. Just in case, I have to prepare some.”