Chapter 343 - 341: A Clear Account of Grudges and Favors

Chapter 343: Chapter 341: A Clear Account of Grudges and Favors

"That’s right, this is the Hundred Herbs Rejuvenating Ointment."

Gu Nuan Nuan nodded with certainty. "The pill I put in the bowl is called a Hundred Herbs Rejuvenation Pill. Its real purpose is to repair the body’s various hidden injuries and old ailments, helping people live longer and healthier lives. That’s why ’Rejuvenation’ is in the name. However, you can’t take a Hundred Herbs Rejuvenation Pill whole. The medicinal properties are too potent, and the backlash could be fatal. Diluted like this is best. It’s much more potent than the version I brought out before."

She smiled. "But don’t have too much. Adults can have two spoonfuls at most, and children should have half that. You can mix it in alcohol or water to drink."

"What happens if you have too much?" Zhang Damei’s eyes were glued to the ointment. The scent alone was enough to convince him of Gu Nuan Nuan’s words. He couldn’t help but swallow as he asked.

"Your body wouldn’t be able to handle it, making it worse than not having any at all." Gu Nuan Nuan smiled at Zhang Damei, but her tone was serious.

’She was telling the truth. To avoid making the previous batch for Mr. Mu too potent, she had diluted a single pill into six parts, dissolving it in a mix of half liquor and half mountain spring water. That was why Zhang Dazhuang, who had seen that Hundred Herbs Rejuvenating Ointment, noticed the difference in color.’

"Then what are we waiting for? Spoons! Wei Quan, hurry and get some spoons from the kitchen!" Zhang Damei urged Zhang Weiquan impatiently. With a cry of "Alright!", he shot up and ran outside.

"Tell your wife to come, too! And bring some hot water while you’re at it," Zhang Dazhuang quickly shouted after his retreating figure. Some of the women present didn’t drink alcohol and would naturally need it.

"Got it!" Zhang Weiquan called back excitedly. ’With something this good happening, even if Zhang Dazhuang hadn’t mentioned it, would I really forget my wife?’

"Nuannuan, can this stuff help a person get pregnant?" Chen Shulan had also been staring at the half-full bowl of Hundred Herbs Rejuvenating Ointment for a while. She turned to Gu Nuan Nuan, her expression full of hope. For some reason, her family had a much harder time conceiving children than others. It had taken her over ten years of marriage to have her son, and then another two or three years passed before she had her daughter. Now, her daughter-in-law was in the same boat; after five or six years of marriage, she still wasn’t pregnant.

Then there was her daughter, who also hadn’t become pregnant after two or three years of marriage. She was being openly and subtly mocked and berated by her in-laws. Her son-in-law didn’t defend her; on the contrary, his words were filled with disdain. When her daughter came home for the second day of the Lunar New Year, she had quietly told her she wanted a divorce. Hearing that felt like a knife twisting in her heart.

"I can’t say for sure." Gu Nuan Nuan looked a bit awkward, but seeing Chen Shulan’s hopeful gaze, she answered, albeit with some hesitation. "But it can repair hidden damage in the body, whether it’s congenital or acquired, so in theory, there shouldn’t be any problem, right?"

"Just having hope is enough. I won’t have any. I’ll save my two spoonfuls for my Wei Shuang." Chen Shulan grew excited. "If she can get pregnant soon, she probably won’t be thinking about divorce anymore."

"It’s gotten so bad she’s talking about divorce?" Wen Xiu exclaimed in shock. Zhang Damei, Zhang Dazhuang, and Zhang Da’an all chimed in, "What happened?"

"Sigh..."

Helpless, Chen Shulan recounted her daughter Zhang Weishuang’s circumstances at her in-laws’ home. Everyone present stared wide-eyed as they listened. Zhang Da’an was particularly furious. "Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Have you lost your mind? What’s worth staying for with a family like that? She’d be better off divorcing and coming home than staying there to be abused. Are you really worried about people laughing at her if she comes back?"

The story of Zhang Minzhen was a case in point. She had divorced and returned home, started a business with her older brother that benefited the whole village, and eventually remarried into an even better family. Because of her, most people in Zhang Family Village were exceptionally tolerant of divorced women. They weren’t like people elsewhere who would look down on them, nor would they force their daughters to endure mistreatment from their in-laws just to save face. In fact, there were two other women from the village whose marriages had soured, leading them to resolutely divorce and return home, becoming inspiring examples of self-reliance...

"Sigh, it’s not that I’m afraid of. I’m just worried that our Wei Shuang might also have a body type that makes it hard for her to conceive. If that’s the case, even if she remarries, won’t her new in-laws treat her the same way?" Chen Shulan sighed.

"That’s enough. We’ll each just have one spoonful. That way, we can save a two-spoon portion for Wei Shuang." Zhang Da’an glanced at the bowl of Hundred Herbs Rejuvenating Ointment. He estimated there was only just enough for everyone present, so he didn’t offer to skip his share entirely, knowing his wife wouldn’t agree. "Besides, they say the old become like children. We’re just like kids; one spoonful is plenty for us."

"But it can’t be saved. Once it’s dissolved in a regular container, it only lasts for about ten minutes. To preserve its medicinal properties, you have to store it in a jade container."

’It wasn’t that Gu Nuan Nuan lacked a jade container, but she couldn’t just magically pull one out of her pocket, could she? She wasn’t some cartoon character with a magic pouch; doing something that obvious would surely arouse suspicion.’

’In truth, Gu Nuan Nuan had been impulsive today. The main reason she’d acted on that impulse and taken out the Hundred Herbs Rejuvenation Pill was Zhang Damei. If he hadn’t accidentally revealed himself to be the "unsung hero" from her past life, she wouldn’t have done it.’

’But she didn’t regret it. The people sitting here were worth it. She remembered clearly how, in her past life, her grand-uncle’s family had been the ones in the village to help her and her mother through their most difficult times. They had also been the ones who genuinely and tirelessly helped her own grandparents.’

’She had taken her revenge on her enemies; it was only natural to repay the kindness of her benefactors.’

’Gu Nuan Nuan trusted the character of her grand-uncle’s family. Besides, she had already given the Hundred Herbs Rejuvenating Ointment to Mr. Mu. She never expected to keep it a secret forever; introducing it to more people was an eventual certainty.’

Gu Nuan Nuan’s words left Chen Shulan and Zhang Da’an at a loss.

The hope drained from their faces. They lowered their heads and let out a soft sigh, saying nothing more. Neither of them dared to ask Gu Nuan Nuan to spare a portion for Zhang Weishuang the next time she made Hundred Herbs Rejuvenation Pills. They could only sigh inwardly at their daughter’s misfortune; if only she had happened to visit today, she would have been in luck.

Seeing their disappointment, Gu Nuan Nuan smiled reassuringly. "Don’t worry. The reason I came back this time was to gather the herbs I need to make more Hundred Herbs Rejuvenation Pills. When the next batch is ready, your daughter can have some then. The effect will be just the same."

"Oh, really? That’s wonderful!" Chen Shulan looked up at Gu Nuan Nuan, her face lighting up with excitement. Her gaze was exceptionally warm and affectionate. "Do you need help gathering herbs in the mountains? It’s dangerous up there. How about I have your uncle here go with you for protection?"