The heavy rain didn’t know what kind of official the Chongwen Pavilion editor was, but they understood the title of Imperial Hospital doctor.
Everyone was taken aback.
In their minds, only very, very skilled doctors could beco Imperial Doctors; it was a place and people far beyond reach.
The expression on the Town Leader’s face slowly beca gentle. Assistant General Nie was genuine, and so was Lord Zhuang; he had seen their official seals.
The soldiers might fake it, but Lord Zhuang’s deanor and Assistant General Nie’s pride couldn’t be faked, so there was no need for them to deceive, making the little girl in front of them real as well.
The Town Leader’s expression gradually turned from gentle to enthusiastic. The originally cold gaze beca soft, and his voice beca exceedingly amiable. He bowed again to Zhou Man, "So you’re Lord Zhou, no wonder you’re so angry. The heavy rain selling dicine in front of the courtyard was truly overstepping. However, they acted with good intentions. I inquired, and their reasons for setting up a stand were partly to earn so pocket money and partly to prepare dicines for the long journey to the Western Regions, fearing a lack of dical supplies along the way. Therefore, they secretly took so dicines from the mansion’s storeroom to sell, not realizing that so were counterfeit."
Having said that, he turned his head to look at the heavy rain.
The ones who had set up a stall at the door in the morning stepped forward imdiately to confess and apologize, claiming they never intended to compete with them and genuinely believed the dicines were authentic.
Upon ntioning this, the Town Leader received the box of dicine from the steward, his expression slightly sinking, "To be honest, Lord Zhou, these dicines were bought from passing traders, already labeled with various dicine nas and effects when purchased. As an Imperial Doctor, you know how rare ready-made dicine is, so we treasured these few boxes and seldom used them. But since you say this isn’t Baoji Pill, I want to know what dicine this is?"
Manbao’s expression softened as she reached for the dicine box, "Let see."
She opened the dicine box, took out a pill, slled it, and tasted a piece.
Bai Shan and the others found it bitter just from the sll, but Manbao had tasted many dicines, especially during her ti at Jishi Hall and the Imperial Hospital. They tasted every available dicine, not just to identify the ingredients but also to discern the dicinal properties after formulation.
In the past, when Zhou Liru assisted at the back of Jishi Hall, she mainly helped Shopkeeper Zheng prepare pills, often tasting each one. Initially, she couldn’t tell good from bad, passing the leftovers to Manbao, who would taste them and carefully teach her.
So at that ti, just by the sll alone, she knew it wasn’t Baoji Pill, but without tasting it, she didn’t know what dicine it was.
Manbao spat the dicine into a bowl, accepted the tea Bai Shan handed her to rinse her mouth, and then said, "This is Agarwood Digestive Pill."
She furrowed her brows, "Baoji Pill is primarily for treating sumr dampness and colds, presenting symptoms like fever, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. If it’s due to sumr heat, it can indeed be used for treatnt. But Agarwood Digestive Pill is mainly for indigestion, bloating, and fullness, focusing on digestion. How could these two dicines be confused?"
The Town Leader’s facial muscles twitched, and the steward couldn’t help but ask, "Lord Zhou, what would happen if soone with water and soil incompatibility took this dicine?"
"What are the symptoms?"
"Slight fever, mainly diarrhea, persistent abdominal pain, and nausea with a desire to vomit."
Manbao replied, "The dicine isn’t suited to the symptoms, not only offering no relief but also potentially worsening the condition, leading to severe diarrhea transforming into dysentery."
Manbao looked at their expressions, closed the box, and asked, "You haven’t used this dicine under such conditions, have you?"
The Town Leader and the others remained silent.
Manbao then asked, "Where is the person? If treated promptly, there might still be hope."
The steward, sowhat dejected, said, "It’s too late; the person passed away two years ago."
Manbao was shocked, speechless.
Bai Shan and the others exchanged glances, silent.
However, the Town Leader quickly responded, saying, "That was in the past. Although we may seem rough, we aren’t easily fooled."
He snorted coldly, "If they continue to frequent this trade route, well..."
He didn’t finish his sentence, but the murderous intent was evident, leaving everyone silent.
After threatening, the Town Leader offered a smile to Manbao, "Lord Zhou, although we’ve all been deceived, today’s incident was indeed the young n’s folly. How about this? I’ll have the cook prepare several good dishes to invite everyone to the mansion as guests."
Manbao declined, "This isn’t a major issue. Since they were unintentional, naturally, we won’t hold it against them. I was angry before because fake dicines circulating outside could harm others as well as ourselves."
The Town Leader agreed with a sigh, "Exactly, my mansion’s storeroom contains many ready-made dicines bought from those traders, and now I can’t tell true from false. The town’s doctors manage external wounds well enough, but for other illnesses, they’re utterly clueless, especially when it cos to identifying dicines."
While speaking, he kept glancing at Zhou Man, "I also hope Lord Zhou can help by checking the storeroom when you co for the al to sort out any counterfeit dicines, lest the young ones unwittingly exchange them for money when funds run low, leading to external consumption of fake dication."
Despite knowing he’s feigning pity, Manbao agreed.
Consequently, the Town Leader rose imdiately, instructing one group to fish in the lake while sending another to invite Mr. Zhuang back from the lakeside. He laughed, "Last ti, when drinking with Mr. Zhuang, I noticed he quite enjoyed fish, and coincidentally, I do too."
Manbao’s smile beca more genuine, "Sir indeed loves fish. Fortunately, we made so tofu yesterday; let’s bring so over to stew with the fish. Even the soup is delicious."
In the small town, there’s no one who can make tofu, but the Town Leader had tasted it before and nodded repeatedly. He watched their guards go to the kitchen to fetch tofu, feeling a mix of emotions.
The Han People are truly ticulous, bringing various kinds of people along when traveling, even bringing a craftsman specifically for making tofu.
His gaze lingered on Bai Shan and the others, observing their attire and speculating that they were likely of noble lineage.
Only that sort of people pay such attention to detail.
The Town Leader had a storeroom dedicated to various herbs and ready-made dicines. Although the steward seed quite capable, he might not understand pharmacology, so items inside were piled on shelves with almost no corresponding storage asures. So herbs that shouldn’t be exposed to light were left exposed, catching the abundant sunlight during airing.
The steward was rather proud, introducing to Manbao and the others, "We know herbs need occasional sun exposure, so whenever there’s good sunlight, we open the windows to dry them. Sotis, we even take them outside to sun."
Manbao casually picked up a root piece, sighed, "No wonder their dicinal properties are dissipated."
The Town Leader looked at the steward.
Steward: ...
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