After Descending the Mountain, Seven Big Brothers Spoil Me - Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Failed Apprenticeship, Learned Nothing
The legendary Shennong Cauldron, although not as miraculous as the legends described it to be, indeed had its own wonders. For example, medicines refined using it would have a potency three to four times higher than others. However, the Shennong Cauldron had disappeared several decades ago, so Liu Hanqiu didn’t expect to see it again today.

“Grandpa also knows about the little medicine cauldron?” Zhouzhou curiously asked, leaning in.

“Yes.” How could Liu Hanqiu not know about the Shennong Cauldron? He was so excited that his hands trembled a little. He asked Zhouzhou, “Little girl, where did you get this Shennong Cauldron?”

“My master gave it to me,” Zhouzhou replied, shaking her head. She emphasized, “My master offered it to me willingly!”

She didn’t ask for it, nor did she deceive him. She had just cried a few times, and her master took pity on her. They had a deep master-disciple bond, so he gave it to her.

Not understanding what was going through the little girl’s mind, Liu Hanqiu asked subconsciously, “Your master?”

Grandma Qin explained, “Zhouzhou grew up in the mountain Taoist temple.”

That’s how it was.

Liu Hanqiu suddenly understood. Taoism had its roots in alchemy, so it was a fortunate encounter for the Shennong Cauldron to end up in his hands.

He returned the Shennong Cauldron to Zhouzhou.

Zhouzhou had already divided the medicine, and she remembered something. She turned her head and asked Grandma Qin, “Grandma, what flavor of medicine do you like?”

What flavor? Weren’t all medicines bitter?

Oh, no, that wasn’t right. The two times Zhouzhou had given her medicine, they were both sweet and not bitter at all.

Thinking about it, she said, “Can it be strawberry-flavored?”

“Yes, it can.” Zhouzhou nodded and ran outside to fetch a plate of strawberries. She also carried a plate of grapes, which Qin Feng liked to eat.

Grandma Qin was curious about what she was doing, so she followed and watched.

Then she saw Zhouzhou put all the medicine into the little cauldron and add the strawberries. She had also brought the small stove from downstairs when she came down from the mountain. She pinched a talisman paper between her fingertips and threw it into the stove. With a gentle flick, the talisman paper ignited on its own, emitting a blue flame.

The room instantly heated up.

Afterward, Zhouzhou threw another talisman paper into the cauldron, covered it with the lid, sat on a small stool, fanned herself gently with a fan, held her chubby cheek in her hand, and yawned lazily.

Liu Hanqiu waited for a while but didn’t see any other actions from her. He couldn’t help but ask, “Is that all?”

“No, it’s not done yet. It needs to simmer for an hour,” Zhouzhou replied.

No, that’s not what he meant. Was it enough to just wait like this? Didn’t she need to do anything else?

Speaking of which, “What did you throw into it at the end?”

Was it a talisman? Did he misinterpret it?

Liu Hanqiu looked bewildered, as if his worldview had been shattered.

“It’s a Purification Talisman. With it, I can extract the medicinal properties completely without any loss of efficacy,” Zhouzhou explained. She curiously looked at him and asked, “Grandpa, haven’t you used it before?”

Of course, he hadn’t used it before. He had never even heard of it.

Their medical path followed a scientific approach, and talisman papers and such were considered mystical. They had no connection at all. How could they be combined?

Liu Hanqiu slowly became doubtful and couldn’t help questioning his earlier thoughts. Was this medicine really refined by Zhouzhou? Why did it seem so unreliable, like playing house with a child?

Seeing through his thoughts, Zhouzhou pouted, feeling somewhat displeased. She made up her mind that she would increase the price of the medicine by fifty cents later, just to make him not believe her.

Hmph!

Although he had extreme doubts in his mind, Liu Hanqiu still patiently waited by the side. Time passed minute by minute, and Zhouzhou even took a meal break in between, which made Liu Hanqiu shake his head repeatedly.

It seemed like he had indeed thought too much. This medicine was probably given to her by someone else.

As he was about to take his leave, Zhouzhou walked over holding a freshly washed big apple. Seeing that the time was up, she opened the lid, and the rich aroma of the medicine immediately filled the entire room.

Liu Hanqiu froze for a moment, a look of disbelief flashing in his eyes. He quickly walked over and saw several round pills in the cauldron, filled with astonishment.

This… It worked?!

He quickly picked up one and took a sniff. His hand trembled in shock. The smell was right, it had actually succeeded! Compared to him, Zhouzhou seemed somewhat disappointed, her eyebrows tightly furrowed.

“These medicinal herbs have such poor properties,” she complained. Back in the mountains, she could refine a dozen pills with these herbs, but here she only had half of that amount.

Zhouzhou took out a porcelain bottle from her bag, filled it up, and looked up at Liu Hanqiu. She said, “Grandpa, can you wait for me for two days? I need to give these pills to my grandma first. I’ll refine yours tomorrow, and you can buy them then, alright?”

Earning money was secondary; her grandma was the priority. Today, she wanted to refine the medicine for her grandma and older brother for the month, and whatever was left could be sold.

“Of course, of course,” Liu Hanqiu nodded repeatedly. His gaze couldn’t help but fall back on the stove, where the talisman paper was long gone. He rubbed his hands together and tentatively asked, “Um, little girl, can I buy a few of your Purification Talismans?”

Originally, he had intended to observe how she refined the medicine and learn from her. But he didn’t expect her to take out a talisman. He couldn’t learn that, so he had no choice but to ask to buy the talismans instead.

Upon hearing his words, Zhouzhou recalled his attitude just now and let out a soft snort. “Now you believe my talismans are effective?”

“I do, I do. Earlier, it was my shallow knowledge. I apologize to you, young lady,” Liu Hanqiu apologized. He was willing to put his pride aside in order to study medicine.

Upon hearing his words, Zhouzhou didn’t dwell on the matter any longer. She took out a few Purification Talismans from her bag and gave them to him. Then she asked, “Grandpa, do you also want to refine it yourself?”

“Yes,” Liu Hanqiu replied. But then he quickly waved his hand and said, “The pills I refine won’t be sold. I’m just curious and want to study them.”

In the field of Chinese medicine, the prescription was crucial. Even if he could identify the prescription, it would be somewhat unethical to refine it himself.

With some embarrassment, he continued, “How about this, little girl? I’ll give you another ten million. Consider it payment for your prescription.”

Ten million!

Zhouzhou’s eyes widened, and she counted on her fingers. That would be enough for her to live comfortably for several lifetimes! However, she still shook her head and said, “No need. This prescription wasn’t originally mine. It was taught to me by my master. Grandpa, you can refine it if you want. If it can save people, it’s a good deed.”

With that, she handed him a few talismans and said, “This is a Fire Talisman. Ordinary fire won’t be able to fully extract the medicinal properties. I’ll give this to you, grandpa.”

He didn’t expect such a young girl to have such a high level of consciousness. Liu Hanqiu admired her and turned to Grandma Qin, saying, “Your granddaughter is extraordinary.”

“That’s right!” Grandma Qin didn’t understand their conversation, but that didn’t stop her from being a proud grandma.

Her granddaughter was the best!

Zhouzhou said the Fire Talisman was a gift, but Liu Hanqiu had already taken advantage of her to a great extent and didn’t want to take more. In the end, he gave Zhouzhou some money and counted it as ten thousand for each talisman.

As he walked out of the Qin family’s house, he happily held the talisman in his hand as if it were a treasure. Suddenly, a person appeared from the corner and blocked his way.

Liu Hanqiu was startled, but when he saw who it was, he relaxed and said, “A’ Ren, what’s up?”

Qin Ren smiled slightly, his gaze sweeping over Liu Hanqiu’s hand. His smile deepened, and he said, “Grandpa Liu, can you sell me one of those talismans?”