Chen Kangle sat at the entrance of their house, staring into the distance in a daze, lost in thought.
Chen Kangle contemplated whether to go herb-picking again today since she only manage to find some low herbs yesterday, and her earning was not enough. She also has to send Duan Yu's monthly allowance.
Although the Village Chief gives Duan Yu a monthly allowance as part of the sponsorship, it only amounts to ten copper coins—definitely not enough for a growing boy his age. So, Chen Kangle planned to give him an allowance of her own. However, the monthly allowance she had prepared in advance had already been spent on buying fruits for that man.
Chen Kangle felt frustrated.
That man is not grateful at all! I should have left him there for all I care.
But even if the situation were to happen again, she'd probably help him again without a second thought. Because that's just the kind of person she is.
Chen Kangle stood abruptly, she decided to try her luck at the village Apothecary. Maybe the old lady there will take pity on her and let her work there for a day.
She went inside and packed the remaining flatbread before heading to the village Apothecary.
Upon arriving at the Apothecary, she could hear the faint clinking of glass bottles and the soft humming of the old lady. She hesitated for a moment, then pushed open the door.
The old lady glanced at Chen Kangle for a moment then continued on what she was doing while humming as if she didn't see her.
"Uh..." Chen Kangle hesitated, searching for the right words. "I—I can help with anything you need Mrs. Li. Even the least pleasant jobs. I can do it." she says resolutely, feeling desperate.
The old lady stopped tinkering with her things and glanced at Chen Kangle—scrutinizing her. "Fine."
"Yes! Thank you so much, Mrs. Li!" Chen Kangle said, bowing deeply. Her voice trembled slightly, filled with genuine relief. "I won't let you down."
"Then go to the storage and clean the mortars and pestles. There's a well at the back, you can wash them there. They've been left soaking in bitterroot and foxglove for days," Mrs. Li said without looking up. "Be careful not to touch your eyes afterward, or you'll regret it."
Chen Kangle blinked, then nodded quickly. "Yes, ma'am."
She turned and made her way toward the storage room, where the scent of dried herbs gave way to something sharper, almost metallic. A row of stone mortars sat in a basin, stained deep purple and green. Chen Kangle rolled up her sleeves and got to work, trying not to gag at the bitter smell clinging in the air.
Chen Kangle lifted the heavy basins, its bitter scent wafting as she staggered slightly under its weight. She made her way at the back of the apothecary, where an old stone-well stood half-shaded by a leaning tree. Its leaves rustling softly in the breeze. The ground was a little damp making the hem of her dress a little wet.
She crouched beside the well and placed the heavy basin down carefully. Chen Kangle then proceeded to fold her dress to keep it from getting wet as she reached into the cool water to start cleaning the mortars and pestles.
...
Chen Kangle gritted her teeth as she scrubs the mortar but found it hard to remove these stubborn stains that clung to the stone mortar like a leech.
She stopped scrubbing and rolled her shoulders to ease the tension, letting out a quiet sigh as the stiffness in her muscles slowly eased.
Chen Kangle stood and stretch her legs, feeling her knees ache from crouching too long. The ground had left a damp imprint on her dress, but she barely noticed, too focused on shaking the stiffness from her limbs.
She walked toward the tree near the well and grabbed a handful of sandy dirt, letting it sift through her fingers before scooping up some more. The coarse texture would do better than the worn rag alone. Returning to the basin, she sprinkled the dirt onto the stained mortar and began scrubbing again, the gritty sand biting into the residue as she worked with renewed determination.
Looking at the mortar—now stain free, Chen Kangle feel a small flicker of satisfaction. Her arms ached, and her hands were red but at least her effort paid off.
She cleansed it with well water one more time and then went to place it carefully back into the basin, alongside the pestle she had scrubbed earlier. Water dripped from the clean stone as she lifted the basin and carried it inside.
In the dim storage room, she set each piece gently onto the drying rack by the window, where slivers of sunlight slipped through the wooden shutters. The tools gleamed faintly, finally free of grime. Chen Kangle wiped her damp hands on her dress and allowed herself a small nod of approval.
Chen Kangle went to look for the old lady and found her at the open storefront, speaking with a customer.
Not wanting to interrupt, Chen Kangle stood to the side, hands clasped in front of her. She waited patiently, her eyes scanning the rows of jars and bundles hanging from the beams overhead, the mingled scents of mint, camphor, and something sharply bitter filling the air.
When the customer finally bowed and took his leave, Mrs. Li glanced at Chen Kangle, raising an eyebrow. "Finished already?" she asked, her tone unreadable.
Chen Kangle straightened up and said. "Yes, Mrs. Li, is there anything else you need help with?"
"There is... actually." Mrs. Li said slowly, eyeing her with a look that was part amusement, part test.
"What is it?"
"Clean the backhouse."
For a moment, Chen Kangle blinked, uncertain she'd heard right. But Mrs. Li had already turned away, busying herself with another jar of herbs as if the task required no further explanation.
Chen Kangle swallowed hard and gave a small nod, muttering to herself, "Of course. The backhouse." Then, squaring her shoulders, she turned to head toward the dreaded little shed behind the apothecary.
...
After a tiring and arduous day, Chen Kangle finally received her meager wage. Without hesitation, she made her way to the market and bought the cheapest food supplies she could find, enough to last her at least a week. Every copper coin was precious, and she counted each one carefully, determined to stretch them as much as possible.
On the way back to her house, while walking Chen Kangle suddenly feel like someone was following her. She glanced around cautiously, careful not to look behind and risk alerting whoever was following her.
She noticed that there was only a few people on the path, and it was hard to tell if any of them were truly paying attention to her. The villagers moved quietly, their faces hidden beneath wide-brimmed hats or turned away as they went about their business.
She tensed.
Her footsteps quickened, matching the rhythm of her racing heartbeat.
"AHHH!" Chen Kangle screamed as a rough hand suddenly gripped her arm, spinning her around. Her eyes widened in shock as she faced the stranger—
"YOU!" Chen Kangle exclaimed in shock and looked around her, only to find that the few villagers on the path were now looking at her strangely.
She lowered her voice and said. "You...I thought you left already!" she says through gritted teeth, "And why are you here?"
"I didn't left" he said flatly like it was a matter of fact. "And I'm here looking for you"
Chen Kangle: "???"
"Just in time," he said and grinned, rubbing his stomach. "Looks like you just went to buy some food. Then let's go home—you can cook for me. I'm starving."
Chen Kangle: "??!!!"