While waiting for the siblings, Gu Jia Ning strolled around the snack stalls and ate some snacks.
Meanwhile, Qin Tian and his older sister Qin Qing rushed home, heading straight for the room where they stored their herbal medicine to begin searching.
Grandma Qin heard the commotion and started calling out.
"Is it Xiao Tian and Xiao Qing who are back?" The elderly man lay on the kang, his voice weak and raspy, accompanied by a cough. Chinese medicine was simmering on the stove beside him.
Grandma Qin knew that it was the day of the large market, which took place three times a month, and a day her grandson and granddaughter especially loved.
They had talked about taking their saved cordyceps to sell just two days prior. Why were they back so soon?
Could it be that someone else had come in?
But Grandma Qin thought that was unlikely. She could tell it was her grandson and granddaughter; they sounded very rushed.
"Did something happen?"
Did no one want to buy their cordyceps, so they returned?
Thinking about how young the two children were, unable to even attend school, barely able to eat enough, and having to brave the cold and snow to gather herbal medicine on the mountain to sell for food, Grandma Qin felt heartbroken.
If she weren't afraid of leaving her young children vulnerable, she would have long since killed herself.
As she pondered, sadness overwhelmed Grandma Qin, and tears welled up.
Just then, Qin Qing ran in.
The young woman threw herself onto the kang, her dusty face beaming with joy and excitement.
"Grandma, Grandma, my younger brother and I met an immortal fairy sister, she's such a good person…"
Qin Qing, usually shy around strangers, became quite talkative in front of Grandma Qin. Her words piqued Grandma Qin's curiosity, stopping her tears.
"What's going on? Who did you meet?"
Qin Qing excitedly recounted how Gu Jia Ning had bought all of their cordyceps.
"…She also wants other herbal medicines, and my brother and I have most of what she needs. We're back to get them to give to her."
"Grandma, you wouldn't believe it, she's such a beautiful and kind older sister, like a fairy. She's a truly wonderful person."
At this point, Qin Tian, who had already gathered several bags of herbal medicine, also ran in, his eyes sparkling as he knelt before Grandma Qin's kang. "Grandma, once we sell the herbal medicine, we can buy grain. I saw that there are plenty of grain sellers at the market today."
"Good, good. You've met a kind person. Go quickly, don't waste any time, and be sure to thank her properly, understand?"
"Grandma, we will."
Qin Tian poured out the Chinese medicine from the stove and set it aside. "Grandma, remember to drink it once it's cooled down."
"Then my sister and I will go deliver the herbal medicine."
The siblings were worried about Gu Jia Ning waiting at the market, and also worried that she might leave.
"Alright, go, go. Grandma will remember."
Without further delay, Qin Tian and Qin Qing, each carrying two large bags of herbal medicine, left home.
Grandma Qin watched their small backs disappear, and finally let her tears fall.
But now she had a glimmer of hope, even though it had been at the expense of her two children's hardship.
Meanwhile, as Qin Tian and Qin Qing returned to the market with several bags of herbal medicine, Gu Jia Ning was at a mutton soup stall, enjoying a bowl.
A large bowl, containing plenty of tender stewed mutton. The seller, a middle-aged man, had superb mutton-stewing skills, and the mutton was not at all gamey.
On a cold winter day, a bowl of hot, nourishing mutton soup warmed one from the inside out.
It was, however, quite expensive!
Currently, Gu Jia Ning was the only customer. Passersby smelled the enticing aroma, a powerful scent of meat!
But it was too expensive, so few people could afford it.
Those who bought any, only bought a small amount, not daring to buy more.
While eating, Gu Jia Ning learned from the man that the sheep had been hunted by a member of his family on the mountain.
She also learned that the area's regulations regarding mountain resources were not strictly enforced. It wasn't the case that everything on the mountain belonged to the state. If you could hunt something on the mountain, it was yours.
Especially in winter, when supplies were scarce. Those who went to the mountains to search for resources during this time were generally from poor families.
It wouldn't be right to deprive them of the little they managed to find during the harsh winter.
It would mean certain starvation.
Therefore, they turned a blind eye.
Gu Jia Ning learned that the Northwest market was generally quite relaxed.
She thought that was good.
"Sister, we brought the herbal medicine you wanted."
Just as she finished her last spoonful of mutton soup, a child's soft voice rang out beside her.
Turning around, she saw two children carrying woven bags even larger and fuller than themselves, their eyes shining as they looked at her.
They seemed to have run all the way; their breaths were still uneven.
"Did you run all the way back?" It had only been a short time.
Qin Tian carefully put down the heavy bags. "We were afraid…afraid you would wait too long."
Gu Jia Ning's heart softened. She took the woven bags, examined the herbal medicine inside—it was well-dried, of good quality.
While looking at it, Gu Jia Ning asked, "How much do you want for these?"
Qin Tian and his sister exchanged glances, then cautiously quoted several prices. These prices were lower than they usually charged at the market. They were afraid that a high price might scare Gu Jia Ning away.
Gu Jia Ning knew the approximate prices. She knew that the siblings' prices were quite reasonable, and the quality of the herbs was good.
"Alright, let's go with your prices then." Gu Jia Ning didn't haggle, accepting immediately.
Qin Tian and Qin Qing looked at each other, smiles unconsciously spreading across their faces. "Thank you, Sister. Thank you. Rest assured, we've prepared these herbs very well."
"So you prepared them yourselves…"
The three of them had a pleasant conversation. Gu Jia Ning learned about the siblings' family situation, which was as she had imagined.
Their family was struggling, with only a sick grandma to depend on. The knowledge of gathering and preparing herbs had been passed down from their grandma.
It was the foundation of their survival.
"If you have more herbs later, gather them for about a week and send them to the Northwest Military Region for me. Tell the guards that you're looking for Battalion Commander Sheng's spouse." Considering her future need for herbs and the good impression the siblings made, Gu Jia Ning decided to cooperate with them long-term, to help them out.
"Really? That's wonderful, Sister, thank you, thank you."
"