Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

After leaving the mill, Zhao Dong did not go home immediately. Instead, he went to Carpenter Wang’s house. Carpenter Wang had already made ten sets of tofu frames, so he went back.

Carpenter Wang said that he would deliver the remaining nine sets to him tonight.

In the afternoon, all the tofu frames and wooden buckets were pulled back. Sun Mei had already begun to wash up in the courtyard.

Zhao Dong was soaking the beans he needed the next day.

For the past two days, Zhao Dong and Sun Mei were extremely busy. Zhao Zhitong had seen it all, so she was especially obedient today.

She was too young now and could not help much. She could only fan her parents and serve them tea.

She also said some cute words that would make her parents happy while they were busy.

Or she would sit alone on a small stool at the door and stare into the distance.

In the space, Grandpa Bai could clearly sense that Zhao Zhitong was not in a good mood. He asked, “Girl, what’s wrong? Are you unhappy?”

Zhao Zhitong’s eyes were red. She said in frustration, “Grandpa Bai, I feel terrible here.”

As she spoke, she pointed at her chest.

Grandpa Bai was silent for a moment before asking, “What’s wrong? Did someone bully you?”

Zhao Zhitong shook her head. “No, no one bullied Tongtong. Tongtong just thought that Father and Mother were having a hard time, but Tongtong couldn’t help.”

For the past two days, they had been making tofu at home and needed water. There was no well at home, so every day before dawn, Zhao Dong had to get up to fetch water.

Although their house was not far from the well, his shoulders were scraped after filling two large vats of water.

Coupled with the fact that his leg was already injured and he had been running back and forth, his leg started to hurt as soon as he rested at night. It was so painful that he could not sleep well.

One night, when she woke up, she saw her mother rubbing her father’s leg. Her father was in so much pain that he panted.

However, the next day, before dawn, Father and Mother got up to work again.

Hearing Zhao Zhitong’s words, Grandpa Bai stroked his beard and smiled kindly. “Little girl, be obedient and study hard. When you become successful in the future, it will be the best repayment to your parents.”

Zhao Zhitong held her little head and looked at the distant horizon. She sighed and said, “I really want to grow up faster.”

This way, she could help her parents with their work.

Zhao Zhitong suddenly thought of something and asked in surprise, “That’s right. Grandpa Bai, you’re so powerful. Daddy’s leg hurts. Grandpa Bai must have a way, right?”

Grandpa Bai stroked his beard and thought for a moment before saying, “Girl, Grandpa Bai isn’t omnipotent. However, your father’s leg was injured after he fell and didn’t receive timely and effective treatment. If there’s a good orthopedic doctor, it’s still possible for him to recover.”

Hearing that she could recover, Zhao Zhitong became even more energetic. She jumped up from the small stool excitedly. “Grandpa Bai, hurry up and take a look at Daddy.”

Grandpa Bai was silent for a moment before saying, “Girl, I only collected some medical books and don’t know anything about medicine. Moreover, Grandpa Bai can’t leave the space, so I can’t treat your father.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhitong sat back down on the small stool dejectedly. Her face was filled with disappointment. “Then what should we do? Tongtong is so useless.”

Seeing the little girl like this, Grandpa Bai’s heart ached a little. He sighed silently and suddenly had an idea. He said, “By the way, little girl, you can go and pick herbs for your father.”

Zhao Zhitong asked, “Pick herbs?”

Grandpa Bai: “That’s right. I’ve seen a medicinal herb in a book. It’s called Dipsacus japonicus. It can strengthen the muscles and bones and stabilize the meridians. It can basically ‘reconnect’ bones. You can pick it and use it on your father’s leg.”

“Okay, okay.” Zhao Zhitong could finally do something for her father. Her previous unhappiness was swept away, and she instantly became full of energy.

Grandpa Bai stroked his beard and smiled happily.

“Ah!”

At this moment, Zhao Zhitong suddenly called out and raised a question, “But Grandpa Bai, I don’t recognize it. What does it look like?”

Grandpa Bai thought for a moment and went to the bookshelf to search.

After a while, a book appeared in Zhao Zhitong’s hand. Her round almond-shaped eyes lit up like stars. “Wow, what a big book. Grandpa Bai, is this for me?”

Grandpa Bai stroked his beard, his face full of reluctance. “No, this book is a temporary loan from Grandpa Bai. You have to cherish it well. You can’t damage it or dirty it. After you use it, you have to return it.”

Grandpa Bai had a library. There were many books on the shelves. He had collected and copied them down. They were especially special treasures.

Zhao Zhitong was overjoyed that Grandpa Bai had given her a book that she normally wouldn’t even touch. She didn’t care if Bai Luochu only lent it to her. She just kept getting excited. “Grandpa Bai, you’re the best. I like it so much.”

Grandpa Bai kept emphasizing, “Girl, you must cherish it!”

Zhao Zhitong had already lowered her head to read.

The cover of the book was grayish-blue, and there were four large words written on it. Compendium of Medicinal Herbs.

Zhao Zhitong got up from the stool and turned around. She placed the book on the small stool and squatted down. She pointed at the four large words on the cover and read them word by word.

“Grandpa Bai, what does this word mean?”

Although Zhao Zhitong could recognize many words in her previous life, this book was written in traditional Chinese. She had just arrived in this world and had only heard Mr. Meng lecture a few times at the entrance of the school.

Therefore, she did not recognize many words and pointed at Grandpa Bai’s writing.

Grandpa Bai had told her that the word reads ‘syllabus’. He had also explained to her that this book was written by Li Shizhen. It was an outline of herbs. There were 1,892 types of medicinal herbs collected in the book. With more than a thousand pictures, it could allow her to understand the herbs very well.

“Wow! That’s great.” Zhao Zhitong opened her mouth and pretended to be shocked. She opened the first chapter.

The first volume was the preface. There were densely packed words inside, many of which she did not recognize. Moreover, they were written in Chinese from time to time, making it even harder to read.

Zhao Zhitong did not linger on the first page. She continued to flip through the pages and saw pictures. Behind the pictures were notes.

Grandpa Bai said that the words explained the ecological characteristics of the objects in the painting, when they were planted, when they were taken, how to distinguish the authenticity, their smells and what illnesses they mainly treated.

There were also many prescriptions that mainly used this herb to treat various symptoms.

Zhao Zhitong flipped to the grass department. The first thing she saw was ginseng. She pointed at the picture excitedly and shouted, “Ginseng. I recognize this. Daddy bought it for Grandpa. He said it’s a tonic. It’s very expensive.”

“Hahaha.” Grandpa Bai stroked his beard and laughed happily. “Girl, it’s not that one-sided.”

Zhao Zhitong happily flipped through them one by one. The second picture introduced Chinese peony, and the third picture described Moutan peony.

Zhao Zhitong exclaimed, “Wow, such a beautiful flower is also medicine.”

Right now, there were many words that she did not recognize. She was only very interested in the pictures in the books, but she was not in a hurry. Grandpa Bai said that she was smart and would definitely be able to learn enough.