My domineering ex-husband is living off his wife in ancient times.

Chapter 77 Collection of Medicinal Herbs

At the gate of Songshan County, Cheng Ruoan and Si Shaoheng each paid two coins and drove their carriage inside.

"Although this is the second time we've paid to enter the city today, I don't feel any pain at all. I feel like I've been manipulated by the city entry fees of those counties in Bachuan Prefecture."

Cheng Ruoan and Si Shaoheng were playing with crickets.

Si Shaoheng: "Be confident, put away your feelings. A few dozen coins per person to enter the city is abnormal in any prefecture of Daxia. Bachuan Prefecture is rotten to the core."

Cheng Ruoan nodded in agreement: "It will soon become 'rotten' in a real sense."

After they finished speaking, the two looked at each other and remained silent for a long time.

Along their journey, they would inquire about the situation in the "epidemic area" whenever it was convenient.

At first, only two or three counties in Bachuan Prefecture were affected by the plague, but within a month, the entire Bachuan Prefecture was overrun, with every county experiencing the plague.

The medical teams sent by the imperial court all contracted the plague within three days of entering Bachuan Prefecture.

Now, judging by the time, the imperial court's second rescue team has been in Bachuan Prefecture for three days, but there has been no news that the plague there has been brought under control.

The entire Bachuan Prefecture has now become an even more terrifying place than the martial arts market during the mask era in my previous life. It's no longer a place where you can only enter but not leave; it's a place where you're not even allowed to enter.

When Si Shaoheng accompanied Chief Qi to Songshan County to obtain his travel permit, he heard from the officials that if the imperial court's second rescue team also failed to find a cure for the plague, the emperor would probably turn the entire Bachuan Prefecture into a "leper colony."

Cheng Ruoan found it unbelievable: "That's not just a village or a county, how could they lock up the entire Bachuan Prefecture and leave people to fend for themselves?"

“Don’t think of ancient emperors as the same as modern national or family leaders. When they are helpless, weighing the pros and cons is their instinctive reaction. Besides, this Great Xia Dynasty now…” Si Shaoheng shook his head.

"Let's not talk about it."

Cheng Ruoan's hatred for feudal society grew even stronger. "Luckily, we ran fast."

"Yes, none of the high-ranking officials and nobles in Bachuan Prefecture set off earlier than us."

"But at least they ran away, those poor people."

"Alright, we're almost at the county government office, let's not talk about this anymore." Si Shaoheng changed the subject, since continuing would involve accusations of treason and troop rebellion.

In short, the chaos in Bachuan Prefecture was bound to happen sooner or later, even without that local turmoil.

In other words, it's only because two modern people dare to talk about these things on the street.

However, since the two of them were sitting together on the edge of the carriage and whispering to each other, no one could hear them.

When the two arrived near the Songshan County Government Office, they had just hitched up their carriage when they saw yamen runners coming out with large yellow posters to put up.

Cheng Ruoan tugged at Si Shaoheng: "Let's take a look before we go in."

"Ah."

There was a notice board a few steps away from the county government office. The yamen runners posted an imperial edict, and before the second one was even finished, the surrounding people had already gathered around.

Those who could read quickly finished reading the contents and began discussing it animatedly.

"Wow, good heavens, another enemy attack from the north."

"I see the character '征' (conscription) on it. Does that mean they're going to conscript soldiers again?"

"How could that be? We've already conscripted twice this year. If we conscript again, every household will be without a male heir. This is for medicinal herbs."

After the second imperial edict was posted, everyone indeed saw a dense list of medicinal herb names on it.

"Why are so many medicinal herbs being requisitioned? Are the casualties at the border so severe?"

"Heh, brother, don't you know that the plague in Bachuan Prefecture is severe? Forty percent of the medicinal herbs in the entire Great Xia have been requisitioned by the imperial court and sent there. As a result, the border garrison there will be short of medicine."

"Oh my, why are the prices of these medicinal herbs still based on the prices from a month ago? Nowadays, the prices of many medicinal herbs have increased several times over."

"That's right, they could just rob it, but they still have to pay half the cost price... It's really hard to explain."

The constables only turned around to drive away these people who spoke without thinking after they had posted the notice.

"Go away, don't talk nonsense. The imperial edict clearly states that pharmacies and medical clinics that respond to the call for medicines will receive official commendations and plaques. That's something that can't be measured by money."

Commendation plaques...

Cheng Ruoan and Si Shaoheng, who had been silent all along, exchanged a glance and both narrowed their eyes.

Cheng Ruoan even revealed her signature shrewd businessman smile.

She pulled Si Shaoheng aside and chuckled twice: "This is just like someone handing you a pillow when you're sleepy. We don't need to bribe anyone with dirty money anymore. With so many medicinal herbs in our space, we can exchange them for a plaque!"

Si Shaoheng was also happy: "Those medicinal herbs were purchased by you more than a month ago when you passed through various counties in Taiyuan Prefecture. The price was about 20% lower than the collection price on the list. So, we made a pure profit."

"Mr. Si, don't forget, the imperial edict says that finished wound medicines are also being levied, including that batch of bone injury ointment and wound medicine from before..."

The imperial edict stated that finished wound medicines, after being inspected by military doctors, would be collected at market price.

Cheng Ruoan was finally able to get rid of the bone injury ointment and wound medicine that he had hidden away in order to deal with the Xia family.

Cheng Ruoan couldn't help but laugh out loud when she did a simple calculation of the money she could get from these medicinal herbs and wound medicines.

She became more and more excited as she thought about it, and pulled Si Shaoheng to push him into the yamen: "Quick, quick, go and report to the government that we have a large quantity of medicinal herbs and wound medicines available for collection."

Si Shaoheng turned back to look at her worriedly: "I'll take you to a nearby inn or teahouse first, then we can go together. I'll leave you alone..."

"Oh dear, stop talking so much. I've been practicing with you for over a month now. If anything happens, I'll just run for my life. Who can catch me? Go quickly!"

Si Shaoheng: ...

The cultivation manuals left behind by the original owner were praised by Shao Yang, who asked to borrow them to practice every day.

He often dragged Cheng Ruoan into his spatial dimension to practice, thinking it would be good for self-defense. But who knew that Cheng Ruoan hadn't learned any of the killing moves, but his footwork skills had improved rapidly.

Moreover, if anything really happens, she can hide in her spatial dimension.

Si Shaoheng: "Alright, you wait for me here. I'll be right back."

"OK."

Si Shaoheng went up the stone steps of the yamen, bowed to the yamen runners standing guard at the gate, explained the situation, and was quickly invited inside.

Cheng Ruoan turned around and looked at the street. Although there were no stalls to browse, there were quite a few shops.

Not knowing how Zhao and Da Niu were doing, Cheng Ruoan wandered around, hoping to find a larger medical clinic or pharmacy to buy two ginseng roots for them.

Yes, she has a villa with a special space, but there are only two natural, century-old ginseng roots. Doctor Hu examined them and said they could save lives. They can only be used if Da Niu's condition becomes extremely serious.

As for other modern artificially cultivated ginseng, Cheng Ruoan compared it with the wild ginseng produced in the Great Xia Dynasty at this time, and the effect was truly incomparable.

The northern region is very close to Changbai Mountain, the northernmost border region. That mountain range is rich in wild spirits. Cheng Ruoan hoped to find some and buy some to nourish the elderly and young in his family as they recover from their injuries.

As Cheng Ruoan walked, he unexpectedly bumped into an old acquaintance in front of an inn...