Chapter 512: Chapter 499: Feeling Guilty

The negotiation for the dried noodle project didn’t come to fruition. Apart from eating a bowl of delicious fish soup noodles, Zhuang Qingning felt that she gained little else from the day. Dispirited, she went to bed early with Zhuang Qingsui.

At night, the northwestern wind rose, and fine snowflakes began to drift down from the sky.

By midnight, these snowflakes had turned into large snowflakes, continuing to fall until the rooster crowed at dawn. By the time it was fully light, a thick blanket of snow had covered the ground.

For the farming families, this snowfall was timely.

Since the autumn planting, there had been little rainfall, and the ground was somewhat dry. The sprouting wheat in the fields was showing some yellowing. A heavy snowfall brought promise of a good harvest, bringing much relief to the farmers.

After a couple of days under the sun, the snow began to melt. Snow water dripped from the eaves forming long icicles on the eaves tiles.

All the village children found it fun and interesting, so they grabbed bamboo poles to knock down the icicles.

The snow took a good two or three days to fully melt, and only when the surface of the ground had dried somewhat, it became possible to walk or drive cattle and carts on it.

Just around noon, Cheng Ruize and Fang Hou came visiting.

“Manager Cheng looks much better.” Zhuang Qingning brewed some hot tea and observed that Cheng Ruize was full of vitality, his sickly pallor long gone. She smiled and said.

“I am much better now.” Cheng Ruize smiled in response. “I finished the dose of pills Manager Zhuang gave me yesterday, and the doctor also came to check my pulse, saying that I am completely healed.”

“That’s good,” Zhuang Qingning nodded and smiled. But inside, she was frustrated.

Since accepting the task of rescuing people, she has not yet received the second half of the soap formula reward.

In the beginning, Zhuang Qingning assumed that the task would be completely finished only after Cheng Ruize’s poison was completely removed. However, he had already finished his medication according to the treatment plan, and yet the award-giver had shown no intention for giving out the rewards.

Could it be that even after finishing the medicine, one had to wait for some time to fully recover?

Just like having a cold or fever or surgery, one still has to rest and recover after stopping the medication to fully heal.

Cheng Ruize was deeply poisoned at the time. Even though the antidote had removed the toxins, his body functions were only mostly restored. It would take some time to completely recover to the state before he was poisoned.

Anyway, the reward-giver is not going anywhere and will have to pay sooner or later. Also, there’s a noodle workshop that hasn’t been set up yet so she couldn’t worry about the soap formula for now.

Zhuang Qingning thought about it and decided to put this matter off for now. She regained her smile and said, “However, recovering from illness is like unraveling a silk thread, Manager Cheng should rest more.”

Regardless of her verbal advice, seeing how Cheng Ruize started working everywhere immediately after finishing his course of medication yesterday, she knew this workaholic probably couldn’t stand doing nothing.

Cheng Ruize laughed lightly and said, “You’re right, Manager Zhuang.”

Having said that, he took the brocade box that Fang Hou had been holding, handed it to Zhuang Qingning, and said, “Today, I came for two reasons. First, I was bored from staying at home for a long time and wanted to get out and about. Second, I have something to give to Manager Zhuang.”

Zhuang Qingning tensed up slightly at the mention of a gift, but once she saw that it was Moon Incense inside the box Cheng Ruize opened, she immediately relaxed.

“These are the first batches of incense that were made according to Manager Zhuang’s prescription. I brought some so Manager Zhuang can use them or give them away.” Cheng Ruize said with a smile.

Zhuang Qingning took a look.

The brocade box was filled with Moon Incense, including cone incense and stick incense. The texture was good, and the scent was excellent.

They were indeed made by professional hands, much better than her amateur attempts.

“Thank you, Manager Cheng.” Zhuang Qingning thanked him and didn’t refuse, accepting all the incense.

“You’re being too polite, Manager Zhuang.” Cheng Ruize sipped the hot tea and said, “The first batch of the Moon Incense has been shipped to Yangzhou over the past few days. Travelling by water in winter is a bit slow, but it should arrive in no more than a dozen days.”

“Yangzhou city holds an incense evaluation event every year right after the Lantern Festival. However, you must register before the end of the year. Luckily, we’ll be just in time. If the Moon Incense catches people’s attention, the business will certainly be very good.”

“Looking forward to it.” Zhuang Qingning showed a faint smile. “It seems that Manager Cheng will have a lot to keep busy with after the new year.”

“I look forward to it.” Cheng Ruize chuckled and put down his teacup. “I have one more thing to discuss with Manager Zhuang on my visit today.”

“Please, Manager Cheng.”

“Previously, due to my poisoning, Doctor Zhuang was unfortunately involved and suffered a lot of injustice for no reason. Although I have apologized to Doctor Zhuang and sent a lot of medicinal herbs as compensation, I still feel guilty.”

Cheng Ruize continued, “Our county’s herbal shop has always lacked a doctor. Doctor Shi, who has been practicing in the herbal shop for a long time, is getting old and wants to find a disciple to pass on his medical skills. Doctor Shi’s medical skills may not be as good as those of the famous doctors in Huichun Hall, but they are quite substantial. Seeing that Doctor Zhuang is a person who is wholeheartedly seeking medical knowledge and has great talent, I want to ask if Doctor Zhuang is willing to go. As Manager Zhuang is very familiar with Doctor Zhuang, I would like to ask you to introduce me.”

“Honestly, I have had this idea for a while, but because I have been recuperating at home and unable to go out, if only Fang Hou came to ask, it would seem insincere. Therefore, I have delayed it till now.”

“I understand what Manager Cheng is saying,” Zhuang Qingning nodded. “Doctor Zhuang is currently working in a pharmacy in town, and I don’t know if he will be willing to go to the county. I can accompany Manager Cheng to ask him. As for whether Doctor Zhuang is willing, it depends on him.”

“Don’t worry, Manager Zhuang. Of course, it’s up to Doctor Zhuang,” Cheng Ruize nodded.

It was near lunchtime, and it was not suitable to visit at this time. Zhuang Qingning got up, “Then let’s go see Doctor Zhuang together, I remember he came home yesterday, I just don’t know if he is at home now.”

Last night, an old man in the village developed a high fever. The old man was over sixty years old, and since the start of winter, his health had been deteriorating, and he frequently coughed. Winter was the most daunting season for the elderly. If nothing happened in winter, they basically wouldn’t have any problems for the rest of the year. But if they fell ill in winter, it would be difficult to survive the year.

Because of this, the old man’s family took the matter very seriously, diligently going to town in the middle of the night to bring Zhuang Wencheng back to examine him. Zhuang Qingning wasn’t certain about his condition now.

Zhuang Qingning planned to take Cheng Ruize and Fang Hou to Zhuang Wencheng’s house first to see how he was faring. But before they even set foot out of the gate, they saw Zhuang Wencheng walking home with his medicine box.

He looked exhausted and was yawning continuously.

Judging by his appearance, he must have stayed there all night and just returned home.

“Brother Wencheng,” Zhuang Qingning called out.