Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Could It Be Xiong Er?
"The Digestive Tea is made with medicinal herbs, right?" Su Ye asked curiously.
"Medicinal herbs can be used, or some ingredients that are both food and medicine," Meng Yao said with a slight smile.
"So, we’re going to the medicine shop to get herbs, right?"
Meng Yao nodded.
"I know, the most famous place in Qingzhou Prefecture is the Hundred Herbs Hall, and the biggest is the Baohe Hall," Su Ye said, "Auntie, whichever you want to go to, I’ll take you there."
"Let’s go to the Hundred Herbs Hall," Meng Yao said, Lu Luoxing should be there now.
"Our Escort Agency people, when we buy medication for injuries, also prefer to go to the Hundred Herbs Hall. Not only are the prices reasonable, but the medicine is effective too," Su Ye said.
"There’s also a Hundred Herbs Hall in our town, it’s really good."
The prefecture city was large and bustling. After passing through several streets from where they stayed, it took them half an hour to reach the Hundred Herbs Hall.
Meng Yao first picked out the medicinal herbs for brewing Digestive Tea from the counter and paid with silver, then asked the young assistant if the shopkeeper was present.
"Madam, our shopkeeper is busy," the young assistant said politely, "If you have any matters, you can talk to me first and I’ll see if I can help resolve them."
"I have an appointment with the owner, is the owner here now?" Meng Yao got straight to the point.
"You have an appointment with our owner?" The herb-picking assistant was a bit dubious, thinking the lady before him seemed just like a regular woman, whereas their owner was someone whose visitors were either wealthy or noble.
Meng Yao replied calmly, "Yes."
Recalling the shopkeeper’s instructions not to judge by appearance, the assistant did not speak disrespectfully. "Madam, please sit in the waiting area for a moment, I’ll go find our shopkeeper."
"Thank you," Meng Yao said courteously.
The assistant handed over his tasks to others and hurriedly went to find the shopkeeper.
Meng Yao took Su Ye to the waiting area to sit down. Unable to hold back any longer, Su Ye asked, "Aunt Zhao, do you know the owner of Hundred Herbs Hall?"
"We’re old acquaintances," Meng Yao said.
It was said, wherever there are people, there is a Hundred Herbs Hall.
Knowing the shopkeeper of Hundred Herbs Hall wasn’t unusual, after all, every Hundred Herbs Hall has a shopkeeper.
But the owner, there is only one.
Su Ye looked at Meng Yao with even more respect in her eyes.
"I used to sit and diagnose at the Hundred Herbs Hall in town," Meng Yao explained, "It was by coincidence that I met the owner of Hundred Herbs Hall, we hit it off well and thus have a good relationship."
Hundred Herbs Hall has many skilled doctors, so a doctor who impresses the owner of the hall must be quite outstanding.
Su Ye recalled what Si Hai said; during his county examination, thanks to the pill Dahe gave him, that pill, was made by Aunt Zhao.
She had initially thought Aunt Zhao had only a superficial knowledge of medicine.
Now it appeared, she was proficient.
The waiting area was filled with people waiting to be seen, each holding a bamboo token with a number written on it.
This seemed to bring the hospital model from later times into the present.
Meng Yao’s gaze suddenly froze; in the corner, she spotted someone.
A dark-faced man who bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to Xiong Da.
She had learned from Xiong Da that he had a twin brother who was making a living in Qingzhou Prefecture.
So, could this person be Xiong Er?
Meng Yao was about to investigate when the herb-picking assistant returned, "Madam, our shopkeeper invites you to the parlor."
Meng Yao glanced at Xiong Er again, whispering to Su Ye to help keep an eye on the dark-faced man in the corner.
Although Su Ye didn’t understand, she nodded.
Meng Yao followed the herb-picking assistant towards the inner courtyard of Hundred Herbs Hall.
In the parlor, a woman with a cool demeanor was present.
The assistant respectfully said, "Shopkeeper, I’ve brought the guest."
Meng Yao was slightly surprised; normally, the shopkeepers of medicine halls are men.
Unexpectedly, the Hundred Herbs Hall in Qingzhou Prefecture was headed by a female shopkeeper.
On second thought, it made sense; Hundred Herbs Hall was originally founded by Luo Wanqing, and afterwards, it was mostly daughters of the Lu Family who took over the hall. So, what’s so strange about having a female shopkeeper?
She felt she had overreacted.
"Are you Mrs. Zhao?" The female shopkeeper observed Meng Yao calmly.
"My husband’s family name is Zhao," Meng Yao also scrutinized the female shopkeeper before her and sensed a hint of hostility from her.
"The owner will probably arrive the day after tomorrow. The owner said, if you come, you are to stay at Hundred Herbs Hall. All eating, drinking, and expenses will be covered by the hall." There was a trace of disdain in the female shopkeeper’s eye.
Meng Yao couldn’t understand her high-mindedness and disdain, and since she wasn’t one with a gentle temperament, she directly declined, "I have a place to stay already. Since Lu Luoxing hasn’t arrived yet, I will leave first. When she arrives, she can come find me."
After speaking, she ignored the female shopkeeper’s reaction and directly turned to leave.
The female shopkeeper’s gaze turned colder, and she gave a low hum, "Arrogant."
After Meng Yao left, the waiting area was empty of Su Ye and the dark-faced man.
Meng Yao felt a little regret, thinking she should have followed the dark-faced man instead of meeting the shopkeeper.
While Su Ye knew martial arts, she might not be skilled in tracking people.
Meng Yao felt anxious, unsure whether she should continue waiting at the Hundred Herbs Hall or return home.
After a moment of hesitation, Meng Yao decided to wait a little longer at the hall.
Fortunately, she didn’t wait long before Su Ye returned.
"Are you okay?" Meng Yao asked.
"I’m fine, I’m fine," Su Ye said, "That dark-faced man bought the herbs and left, and I followed him through several twists and turns. I saw him enter an alley, and finally, he went into the house at the very end. I stayed hidden for a while and didn’t see anyone come out again. Presumably, he’s residing there."
"Do you remember the way?" Meng Yao asked.
"It’s not far, I can remember it. Shall we go now? Auntie, do you know that dark-faced man?" Su Ye asked.
"He resembles someone I know, and the person I know has a brother in Qingzhou Prefecture," Meng Yao said.
"So, the dark-faced man is the brother of your acquaintance, Auntie?"
"Highly likely."
"Then, Auntie, is your relationship with your acquaintance good or bad?" Su Ye asked.
Should it be said as good or bad?
Xiong Da is not good, but now Xiong Da is He Yan disguised.
"Neither good nor bad," Meng Yao said, "Let’s head back now, knowing where he is, we can visit another day."
Xiong Da and Xiong Er had previously stayed in touch, so Meng Yao was hoping to find He Yan through Xiong Er.
When Auntie said visit, it should mean a friendly visit. If it were bad, it would be more like confronting him.
On their way back, they encountered a vendor selling game. Su Ye bought two rabbits and two wild chickens, "Auntie, let’s feast on game tonight. It’s not often we see game for sale."
"Alright, you made lunch, so this evening, I’ll show you my skills," Meng Yao said.