Candied chestnuts
The itinerant physician had business now.
At first, Mo Li was unaware of the reason behind it, but soon he realized it was caused by the trouble brought by the Golden Phoenix Young Master.
The Golden Phoenix Young Master was a renowned figure in the martial world. After his encounter with the traveling physician, not only did he fail to gain any advantage, he even took the initiative to apologize and offer a name card. This news quickly spread, arousing the curiosity of many.
Not every martial artist possessed a sense of propriety; some were simply recklessly audacious.
Thus, upon hearing the rumors and spotting a traveling physician on the road, these individuals couldn’t resist approaching him.
They pretended to seek medical attention but were secretly assessing Mo Li, hoping to extract some information. However, their attempts were clumsy, and they ended up achieving nothing. Worse, Mo Li could see right through their true intentions.
Mo Li felt inwardly annoyed.
Before long, he realized that these martial artists indeed had various bodily issues, most of which were not martial arts-related injuries, but rather complications resulting from improper treatment of external injuries.
Mo Li decided to mimic Master Qin’s demeanor. Using an aged voice, he pointed out these issues face to face.
Since none of the ailments were severe, he provided prescriptions in exchange for payment.
Some cases didn’t even require prescriptions; acupuncture alone sufficed.
After several instances like this, the reputation of the itinerant physician soared.
Some claimed he was the person conversing with the Golden Phoenix Young Master, while others adamantly believed otherwise. They argued that the mysterious master was merely disguising himself as a physician, whereas the actual physician demonstrated profound medical knowledge, curing ailments with his expertise. Could anyone just impersonate that
Mo Li paid no heed to how the rumors evolved. After all, his money pouch had grown substantially heavier.
Once the flag was discarded, Mo Li changed into a different set of clothes and continued his journey at an unhurried pace.
The fixed image might have drawn attention, but shedding it was equally effortless. Removing his conical hat, who could suspect that the young traveler was the “old physician” of the tales?
“Hot tangyuan, sesame-filled tangyuan! Sir, how about a bowl?”
“Chestnuts, sweet roasted chestnuts here!”
Mo Li paused in his steps, unable to resist looking at the small stall.
This was the most bustling town he had encountered since arriving in Yongzhou. It was situated less than a hundred miles away from Qizhao Qiong County, the so-called birthplace of the Qi Dynasty’s resurgence. The townspeople were well-dressed and had good complexions; they didn’t appear as if they were suffering from hunger.
There were patrolling constables, and the fee-collecting officials at the market were well-behaved. Everything seemed orderly.
After entering the city, those martial artists either paid the city entrance tax or found ways to conceal their weapons, no longer flaunting them openly to avoid drawing the attention of the constables.
Mo Li didn’t have such troubles. He had found a herbal shop, purchased some herbs, and then the calls of the chestnut sellers drew him in after he left.
The price of sugar-roasted chestnuts wasn’t low due to the expensive cost of sugar during these tough times.
The chestnuts weren’t exceedingly large or round, but they emitted an enticing aroma.
Without hesitation, Mo Li retrieved some copper coins and bought a small package of freshly roasted chestnuts. Wrapped in oiled paper, they were still a bit too hot to handle. He walked to a quiet spot, reached in, and gently pulled out the slumbering sand rat.
So fragrant, and it’s still sleeping?
Master Meng is truly a seasoned traveler. This little creature is quite hard to care for. It seemed that chestnuts roasted with sugar couldn’t compare to the roasted lamb seasoned with spices from the Western Regions.
Mo Li put the sand rat on his shoulder and then peeled a chestnut for himself.
Mmm, it was sweet and delicious.
Mo Li couldn’t resist and ate another one.
Then a third and fourth. Just as he was about to finish the packet of fifteen roasted chestnuts, he felt an itching sensation on his neck. Turning his head, he saw the round sand rat standing up, its fur brushing against his skin. Its small black eyes glanced at the chestnuts and then at Mo Li.
“…”
Mo Li felt a bit guilty under that gaze.
He cleared his throat and tucked the sand rat back into his embrace. He then turned back to the market and bought another package of roasted chestnuts.
The chestnut vendor had a smile on his face as he swiftly took the money, inviting Mo Li to come by often to support his business.
Mo Li mumbled a vague response and then left the city.
— He had to leave. Staying in the city for another day would likely cost him an extra hundred wen just on roasted chestnuts.
Even with money, such extravagant spending wasn’t suitable.
Once outside the city, Mo Li tried to get Meng Qi to change back into human form. However, the sand rat was already clutching a chestnut and had begun gnawing on it, showing no inclination toward transforming into human form for the convenience of eating chestnuts.
“…”
When did it manage to steal it?
How did it steal it?
Mo Li lowered his head and sure enough, there was one less roasted chestnut in the paper packet.
Although chestnuts had tough shells, for the flavor to seep in, each one had a small gap made in it. While the sand rat was chubby, its paws were quite nimble. It easily pried open the shell and held the chestnut in its paws, eating slowly and methodically.
Meng Qi believed his movements were graceful, not a single fragment falling out.
However, he didn’t realize that the long fur around the sand rat’s mouth had become stuck together in little clumps due to the residual sugar from the chestnut shell. At first glance, it wasn’t very noticeable. Yet, with a gust of wind, those clumps of fur didn’t move, looking notably stiffer.
Mo Li quietly shifted the plump rat from his lap to his shoulder.
He was afraid that if the sand rat rolled around after finishing eating, all the sugary residue would end up on his clothes. He could live with a dirty shoulder, but a dirty chest would be too conspicuous.
The sand rat, now relocated, remained utterly composed as it finished the chestnut.
As soon as its paw moved, it found a new chestnut before it, already peeled.
Meng Qi felt a touch of happiness. The physician was treating him better and better.
Mo Li:…
No, he’s just trying to avoid soiling his clothes.
As the chestnuts were finished, the sun began its descent, casting long shadows. In the distance, smoke from cookfires started to rise.
Utilizing his light footwork, Mo Li quickly arrived near a village.
In front of the village flowed a river, and there was a stretch of plum forest.
The plum blossoms hadn’t completely fallen yet, and from a distance, it was a stunning sight, resembling red-colored clouds and mist enveloping the village.
“Spiritual vein,” Mo Li stated with certainty.
Throughout his journey, apart from the spiritual valley at Shimo Mountain, there weren’t many places with spiritual veins like this. There was no need for the Daoist to boast; anyone with eyes could see that this location was excellent, an exceptional spot.
What was even rarer was that the village wasn’t on a main road, shielding it from outsiders.
Mo Li had intentionally taken a longer route to avoid those people from the martial world. Since he wasn’t particularly concerned about traveling an additional twenty li due to his advanced footwork skills, he unexpectedly sensed traces of spiritual energy here.
The village wasn’t large. At the moment, it was time for families to prepare dinner, and villagers were returning from the fields one by one.
Suddenly, Mo Li heard a noise from behind. Turning his head, he saw a half-grown child with a thumb in their mouth, staring intently at the plump rat on his shoulder.
The look in their eyes was practically screaming, “I want to touch it.”
Mo Li silently took a step back, returning the sand rat to his arms.
The child became anxious, opening their mouth as if to call out, and then sprinted toward him. However, they ended up tripping and tumbling down a small slope.
Below the slope was the river, dotted with floating ice. Upon witnessing this, nearby villagers shouted in alarm, and some even dropped their farming tools and hurried over.
Mo Li’s figure flashed as he swiftly caught hold of the child’s coat just in time.
The child instinctively kicked their legs, then looked at the river so close by, pouted, and burst into loud sobs.
Mo Li used the opportunity to hand the sobbing child over to the approaching villagers, who were in a flurry. Amid the chaos, they still managed to thank this unfamiliar traveler. They had been entirely focused on the child, not seeing how Mo Li had arrived.
“Might I ask, young sir, are you here to collect medicinal herbs?”
Mo Li carried a scent of herbs, often preparing medicine for Meng Qi, which had naturally rubbed off on him.
“I’m not here specifically to collect them, just examining a few herbs,” Mo Li thought for a moment and decided to name a few herbs.
Mo Li still wanted to take a look around the village, as he believed that such an obvious “spiritual vein” closer to Emperor Li’s ancestral home in Qiong County was something Daoists couldn’t overlook.
He wondered whether something had been buried here or if a specific location had been excavated.
Upon hearing that he was here to collect medicinal herbs and seeing that Mo Li didn’t appear to be a malefactor at all—rather, he exuded a favorable and pleasant demeanor—passing villagers smiled and asked him to wait, promising to inform the village head.
Every household had medicinal herbs stored, so they quickly inquired about which herbs Mo Li was interested in.
Mo Li listed them one by one and even mentioned the prices.
The prices he offered were fair, matching the prices he had paid at the city’s herbal shop earlier. They were noticeably higher than what a usual herb collector would offer, at least ten percent more if not more than that. The villagers’ eyes lit up upon hearing this, and their smiles grew broader.
The village consisted of around thirty households, and news spread quickly.
The village head, a man in his fifties with a face full of wrinkles but a robust physique, shouted to disperse the crowd before summoning those with stored herbs to bring them over.
After the purchases were completed, Mo Li ended up with an additional small bag.
He didn’t find it burdensome; recently, due to his medical work, he had been running low on medicinal herbs. He had been providing prescriptions for people to prepare their own medicines, and with Meng Qi consuming his herbs as well, the supplies from Shimo Mountain were nearly depleted.
The previously full money pouch had now been depleted by more than half.
Meng Qi felt a bit distressed about this.
However, having witnessed the physician’s resourcefulness for earning a living, Meng Qi believed that this money pouch would be full again sooner or later.
For people from the martial world, money was easy to come by. Except for those like the Golden Phoenix Young Master, who led privileged lives, who among them didn’t have some hidden injuries? The body was a martial artist’s capital in the martial world. Even if they had only ten copper coins left in their pockets, many would be willing to part with half of it to treat their ailments.
The remaining five coins could be used for a drink.
—”You can do without meat, but not without wine.”
The sand rat still had half a chestnut in its mouth. As it was the last half, it savored it slowly, since once it was finished, there would be no more. It wasn’t in a hurry; it simply lay in the physician’s arms, methodically grinding its teeth against the chestnut.
As the day grew late, traveling at night was very dangerous in these times. Therefore, the village head kindly invited Mo Li to spend the night there and continue his journey the following day.
The lodging Mo Li was provided happened to be the village head’s house. It was said that it had originally belonged to the village head’s younger son, who had been conscripted into the military two years ago and hadn’t returned since.
In the village, every household had men who had been conscripted into the border troops by the government. Whenever the topic was brought up, sighs of lamentation filled the air, and worried expressions adorned everyone’s faces. If they were being conscripted into the northwest border troops, there might be some hope despite the hardships. However, this group of people had been conscripted to the southwestern Yizhou border.
Everyone knew that the self-proclaimed Heavenly King had already raised a rebel flag.
Mo Li declined the dinner offered by the village head’s family, stating that he had his own rations.
Once he had finished organizing his belongings, he lay down on the bed, his clothes still on, to rest.
When the night grew deep and quiet, Mo Li opened his eyes, ready to explore the village.
However, as soon as he got up, he heard a noise coming from the roof tiles.
The sand rat also sprang up, watching the window warily. It believed its movements were swift and subtle, but in reality, it was just a fluffy white bundle rolling around. As the soft furry bundle made its way toward the window, Mo Li hurriedly scooped up the fat rat and listened attentively.
Indeed, there was an intruder in the village, and it seemed to be a thief.
Strangely, the dogs kept by the village head didn’t bark.
Author’s Note:
Apologies for the delay OTZ
——
The wealthy physician stood in front of the candied chestnut stall, pondering for a moment. He thought the sand rat might enjoy eating these.
Sand rat: ZZZZZ
Mo Li: …
Then the physician finished the entire package and went back to sleep.
Blame it on me for being lazy.
Candied chestnuts
The itinerant physician had business now.
At first, Mo Li was unaware of the reason behind it, but soon he realized it was caused by the trouble brought by the Golden Phoenix Young Master.
The Golden Phoenix Young Master was a renowned figure in the martial world. After his encounter with the traveling physician, not only did he fail to gain any advantage, he even took the initiative to apologize and offer a name card. This news quickly spread, arousing the curiosity of many.
Not every martial artist possessed a sense of propriety; some were simply recklessly audacious.
Thus, upon hearing the rumors and spotting a traveling physician on the road, these individuals couldn’t resist approaching him.
They pretended to seek medical attention but were secretly assessing Mo Li, hoping to extract some information. However, their attempts were clumsy, and they ended up achieving nothing. Worse, Mo Li could see right through their true intentions.
Mo Li felt inwardly annoyed.
Before long, he realized that these martial artists indeed had various bodily issues, most of which were not martial arts-related injuries, but rather complications resulting from improper treatment of external injuries.
Mo Li decided to mimic Master Qin’s demeanor. Using an aged voice, he pointed out these issues face to face.
Since none of the ailments were severe, he provided prescriptions in exchange for payment.
Some cases didn’t even require prescriptions; acupuncture alone sufficed.
After several instances like this, the reputation of the itinerant physician soared.
Some claimed he was the person conversing with the Golden Phoenix Young Master, while others adamantly believed otherwise. They argued that the mysterious master was merely disguising himself as a physician, whereas the actual physician demonstrated profound medical knowledge, curing ailments with his expertise. Could anyone just impersonate that
Mo Li paid no heed to how the rumors evolved. After all, his money pouch had grown substantially heavier.
Once the flag was discarded, Mo Li changed into a different set of clothes and continued his journey at an unhurried pace.
The fixed image might have drawn attention, but shedding it was equally effortless. Removing his conical hat, who could suspect that the young traveler was the “old physician” of the tales?
“Hot tangyuan, sesame-filled tangyuan! Sir, how about a bowl?”
“Chestnuts, sweet roasted chestnuts here!”
Mo Li paused in his steps, unable to resist looking at the small stall.
This was the most bustling town he had encountered since arriving in Yongzhou. It was situated less than a hundred miles away from Qizhao Qiong County, the so-called birthplace of the Qi Dynasty’s resurgence. The townspeople were well-dressed and had good complexions; they didn’t appear as if they were suffering from hunger.
There were patrolling constables, and the fee-collecting officials at the market were well-behaved. Everything seemed orderly.
After entering the city, those martial artists either paid the city entrance tax or found ways to conceal their weapons, no longer flaunting them openly to avoid drawing the attention of the constables.
Mo Li didn’t have such troubles. He had found a herbal shop, purchased some herbs, and then the calls of the chestnut sellers drew him in after he left.
The price of sugar-roasted chestnuts wasn’t low due to the expensive cost of sugar during these tough times.
The chestnuts weren’t exceedingly large or round, but they emitted an enticing aroma.
Without hesitation, Mo Li retrieved some copper coins and bought a small package of freshly roasted chestnuts. Wrapped in oiled paper, they were still a bit too hot to handle. He walked to a quiet spot, reached in, and gently pulled out the slumbering sand rat.
So fragrant, and it’s still sleeping?
Master Meng is truly a seasoned traveler. This little creature is quite hard to care for. It seemed that chestnuts roasted with sugar couldn’t compare to the roasted lamb seasoned with spices from the Western Regions.
Mo Li put the sand rat on his shoulder and then peeled a chestnut for himself.
Mmm, it was sweet and delicious.
Mo Li couldn’t resist and ate another one.
Then a third and fourth. Just as he was about to finish the packet of fifteen roasted chestnuts, he felt an itching sensation on his neck. Turning his head, he saw the round sand rat standing up, its fur brushing against his skin. Its small black eyes glanced at the chestnuts and then at Mo Li.
“…”
Mo Li felt a bit guilty under that gaze.
He cleared his throat and tucked the sand rat back into his embrace. He then turned back to the market and bought another package of roasted chestnuts.
The chestnut vendor had a smile on his face as he swiftly took the money, inviting Mo Li to come by often to support his business.
Mo Li mumbled a vague response and then left the city.
— He had to leave. Staying in the city for another day would likely cost him an extra hundred wen just on roasted chestnuts.
Even with money, such extravagant spending wasn’t suitable.
Once outside the city, Mo Li tried to get Meng Qi to change back into human form. However, the sand rat was already clutching a chestnut and had begun gnawing on it, showing no inclination toward transforming into human form for the convenience of eating chestnuts.
“…”
When did it manage to steal it?
How did it steal it?
Mo Li lowered his head and sure enough, there was one less roasted chestnut in the paper packet.
Although chestnuts had tough shells, for the flavor to seep in, each one had a small gap made in it. While the sand rat was chubby, its paws were quite nimble. It easily pried open the shell and held the chestnut in its paws, eating slowly and methodically.
Meng Qi believed his movements were graceful, not a single fragment falling out.
However, he didn’t realize that the long fur around the sand rat’s mouth had become stuck together in little clumps due to the residual sugar from the chestnut shell. At first glance, it wasn’t very noticeable. Yet, with a gust of wind, those clumps of fur didn’t move, looking notably stiffer.
Mo Li quietly shifted the plump rat from his lap to his shoulder.
He was afraid that if the sand rat rolled around after finishing eating, all the sugary residue would end up on his clothes. He could live with a dirty shoulder, but a dirty chest would be too conspicuous.
The sand rat, now relocated, remained utterly composed as it finished the chestnut.
As soon as its paw moved, it found a new chestnut before it, already peeled.
Meng Qi felt a touch of happiness. The physician was treating him better and better.
Mo Li:…
No, he’s just trying to avoid soiling his clothes.
As the chestnuts were finished, the sun began its descent, casting long shadows. In the distance, smoke from cookfires started to rise.
Utilizing his light footwork, Mo Li quickly arrived near a village.
In front of the village flowed a river, and there was a stretch of plum forest.
The plum blossoms hadn’t completely fallen yet, and from a distance, it was a stunning sight, resembling red-colored clouds and mist enveloping the village.
“Spiritual vein,” Mo Li stated with certainty.
Throughout his journey, apart from the spiritual valley at Shimo Mountain, there weren’t many places with spiritual veins like this. There was no need for the Daoist to boast; anyone with eyes could see that this location was excellent, an exceptional spot.
What was even rarer was that the village wasn’t on a main road, shielding it from outsiders.
Mo Li had intentionally taken a longer route to avoid those people from the martial world. Since he wasn’t particularly concerned about traveling an additional twenty li due to his advanced footwork skills, he unexpectedly sensed traces of spiritual energy here.
The village wasn’t large. At the moment, it was time for families to prepare dinner, and villagers were returning from the fields one by one.
Suddenly, Mo Li heard a noise from behind. Turning his head, he saw a half-grown child with a thumb in their mouth, staring intently at the plump rat on his shoulder.
The look in their eyes was practically screaming, “I want to touch it.”
Mo Li silently took a step back, returning the sand rat to his arms.
The child became anxious, opening their mouth as if to call out, and then sprinted toward him. However, they ended up tripping and tumbling down a small slope.
Below the slope was the river, dotted with floating ice. Upon witnessing this, nearby villagers shouted in alarm, and some even dropped their farming tools and hurried over.
Mo Li’s figure flashed as he swiftly caught hold of the child’s coat just in time.
The child instinctively kicked their legs, then looked at the river so close by, pouted, and burst into loud sobs.
Mo Li used the opportunity to hand the sobbing child over to the approaching villagers, who were in a flurry. Amid the chaos, they still managed to thank this unfamiliar traveler. They had been entirely focused on the child, not seeing how Mo Li had arrived.
“Might I ask, young sir, are you here to collect medicinal herbs?”
Mo Li carried a scent of herbs, often preparing medicine for Meng Qi, which had naturally rubbed off on him.
“I’m not here specifically to collect them, just examining a few herbs,” Mo Li thought for a moment and decided to name a few herbs.
Mo Li still wanted to take a look around the village, as he believed that such an obvious “spiritual vein” closer to Emperor Li’s ancestral home in Qiong County was something Daoists couldn’t overlook.
He wondered whether something had been buried here or if a specific location had been excavated.
Upon hearing that he was here to collect medicinal herbs and seeing that Mo Li didn’t appear to be a malefactor at all—rather, he exuded a favorable and pleasant demeanor—passing villagers smiled and asked him to wait, promising to inform the village head.
Every household had medicinal herbs stored, so they quickly inquired about which herbs Mo Li was interested in.
Mo Li listed them one by one and even mentioned the prices.
The prices he offered were fair, matching the prices he had paid at the city’s herbal shop earlier. They were noticeably higher than what a usual herb collector would offer, at least ten percent more if not more than that. The villagers’ eyes lit up upon hearing this, and their smiles grew broader.
The village consisted of around thirty households, and news spread quickly.
The village head, a man in his fifties with a face full of wrinkles but a robust physique, shouted to disperse the crowd before summoning those with stored herbs to bring them over.
After the purchases were completed, Mo Li ended up with an additional small bag.
He didn’t find it burdensome; recently, due to his medical work, he had been running low on medicinal herbs. He had been providing prescriptions for people to prepare their own medicines, and with Meng Qi consuming his herbs as well, the supplies from Shimo Mountain were nearly depleted.
The previously full money pouch had now been depleted by more than half.
Meng Qi felt a bit distressed about this.
However, having witnessed the physician’s resourcefulness for earning a living, Meng Qi believed that this money pouch would be full again sooner or later.
For people from the martial world, money was easy to come by. Except for those like the Golden Phoenix Young Master, who led privileged lives, who among them didn’t have some hidden injuries? The body was a martial artist’s capital in the martial world. Even if they had only ten copper coins left in their pockets, many would be willing to part with half of it to treat their ailments.
The remaining five coins could be used for a drink.
—”You can do without meat, but not without wine.”
The sand rat still had half a chestnut in its mouth. As it was the last half, it savored it slowly, since once it was finished, there would be no more. It wasn’t in a hurry; it simply lay in the physician’s arms, methodically grinding its teeth against the chestnut.
As the day grew late, traveling at night was very dangerous in these times. Therefore, the village head kindly invited Mo Li to spend the night there and continue his journey the following day.
The lodging Mo Li was provided happened to be the village head’s house. It was said that it had originally belonged to the village head’s younger son, who had been conscripted into the military two years ago and hadn’t returned since.
In the village, every household had men who had been conscripted into the border troops by the government. Whenever the topic was brought up, sighs of lamentation filled the air, and worried expressions adorned everyone’s faces. If they were being conscripted into the northwest border troops, there might be some hope despite the hardships. However, this group of people had been conscripted to the southwestern Yizhou border.
Everyone knew that the self-proclaimed Heavenly King had already raised a rebel flag.
Mo Li declined the dinner offered by the village head’s family, stating that he had his own rations.
Once he had finished organizing his belongings, he lay down on the bed, his clothes still on, to rest.
When the night grew deep and quiet, Mo Li opened his eyes, ready to explore the village.
However, as soon as he got up, he heard a noise coming from the roof tiles.
The sand rat also sprang up, watching the window warily. It believed its movements were swift and subtle, but in reality, it was just a fluffy white bundle rolling around. As the soft furry bundle made its way toward the window, Mo Li hurriedly scooped up the fat rat and listened attentively.
Indeed, there was an intruder in the village, and it seemed to be a thief.
Strangely, the dogs kept by the village head didn’t bark.
Author’s Note:
Apologies for the delay OTZ
——
The wealthy physician stood in front of the candied chestnut stall, pondering for a moment. He thought the sand rat might enjoy eating these.
Sand rat: ZZZZZ
Mo Li: …
Then the physician finished the entire package and went back to sleep.
Blame it on me for being lazy.
