Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"Oh? I wonder what the young lady has provided as a Prescription?" Hu Da glanced meaningfully at Xing Ruyi, his large, furry hands reaching for the Prescription while also attempting to touch her.
Xing Ruyi calmly stepped aside, "Aside from making Rouge and Face Powder, a Fox Demon has another skill: fortune-telling. I can see that you, Mr. Hu, do not seem to be in good spirits today. Your eyebrows are sparse and disordered, and there are even a few missing hairs at the ends. From this, I can deduce that you must have encountered some troubles recently, leading to worry and stress that have affected your hair."
Xing Ruyi's words were entirely fabricated. She possessed ghostly powers and had noticed upon Hu Da's entrance that he was being haunted by an evil spirit that had yet to leave him, lingering above his head.
As for the thick hat he wore, it was clearly meant to conceal something. In winter, men typically wear hats for three reasons: one is to keep warm, which does not apply here since Hu Da's clothing is not thick except around his neck and hat, indicating he is not cold but rather trying to hide something. The second reason is for appearance; however, based on Hu Da's current attire and behavior, he does not fall into this category either. The third reason is to cover up something, which has been consistent throughout history.
Hu Da was not someone who would shy away from others just because he hadn't washed his hair for a day. His concealment indicated only one possibility: there was an issue with his hair. When Hu Da attempted to flirt with her earlier, he inadvertently revealed part of his neck, which had some blemishes, and his hat tilted to one side. This led her to conclude that the evil spirit he encountered was indeed related to his hair and that he was suffering from it.
"How did you know my hair has a problem?" Hu Da asked as he touched the top of his hat.
"Mr. Hu's memory seems quite poor; didn't I just say I'm a Fox Demon? I can tell fortunes," Xing Ruyi pointed at the Prescription in Hu Da's hand. "This formula is called Mei Yan Zhu, made from Mulberry Fruit, Black Bean Skin, Wintergreen Seed, He Shou Wu, Helianthemum nummularium, Black Rice Leaf, Dried Eggplant Flower Petals, Black Rhinoceros Horn, Cooked Rehmannia Root, and non-ash wine. It has the effect of darkening hair and combined with the medicinal dietary therapy I've specially tailored for you will promote hair growth and protect your hair."
"Can this really promote hair growth?"
Hu Da's eyes lit up; while he did not think much of his hair's importance, a man with a balding head would certainly be laughed at.
"It only has this effect; as for how effective it will be, it depends on whether you and this Prescription are fated," Xing Ruyi replied.
"Fate! Of course there's fate; if there weren't any fate, how could I have met Xing Gu Niang today and received this perfectly needed Prescription?" Hu Da squinted his eyes and grinned.
"This Fox Demon is running a new shop and has other matters to attend to. If Mr. Hu wishes to select some Rouge and Face Powder as well, let my assistant help you with that. Oh right, while this Prescription is free of charge, the medicine itself will cost money. However, if you feel uncomfortable with that, you can go buy it from another pharmacy; just know that I can't guarantee the effectiveness then."
"What nonsense! When have I ever cared about such trivial matters? Since it's a Prescription given by you, I must get the medicine from you for peace of mind." Although Hu Da was a rough man who didn't understand herbal medicine much, he felt that this medicine was unusual just from hearing about it earlier. "So tell me, is this gold piece enough?"
Hu Da said as he pulled out a gold ingot from his sleeve and placed it on the table while proudly glancing at Xing Ruyi. Xing Ruyi merely cast a light glance before instructing Li Mao: "Mr. Hu's payment for the medicine has been settled; make sure to carefully select all the ingredients listed on the Prescription for him and explain the usage thoroughly to this gentleman beside Mr. Hu. If there’s even the slightest mistake, I won’t let you off easily."
"Rest assured, shopkeeper; I will do my utmost," Li Mao replied as he took the Prescription from Hu Da and swiftly went to gather the medicine.
Hu Da originally intended to follow Xing Ruyi into the backyard but was stopped by Hu Fu.
"What are you doing? Are you trying to ruin my good fortune?"
"Sir!" Hu Fu glanced at Li Mao, who was still preparing medicine, and whispered, "You saw it just now; this Miss Xing is different from the other ladies we've encountered. If we act rashly, it might ruin your good fortune."
"Then what do you suggest I do? Am I supposed to miss this great opportunity?" Hu Da craned his neck to look back and only saw a few renovated houses, not realizing that Xing Ruyi had just entered one of them. He couldn't help but feel a bit anxious. "Did you not see? That Xing Gu Niang invited me to the backyard for a private meeting."
Hu Fu chuckled inwardly but maintained a smile on his face. "Sir, you misunderstand. That Miss Xing was clearly getting impatient. Did you see how she looked when she left? If you keep pestering her, you might truly annoy her. The Hu Family may not mind, but your good fortune would be lost."
"Impatient? How dare she be impatient with me!"
"Sir, keep your voice down!" Hu Fu hissed. "Any lady with some skill down here has her own temper; they are not like the girls from Cuihong Tower who smile at everyone. Besides, in finding a lady, when has it not been to assist you?"
Hu Fu may not have many skills, but he had a knack for flattering and reading people. Otherwise, given Hu Da's temperament, he would have already exploded when Hu Fu and Xing Ruyi showed impatience earlier. It was precisely because he knew Hu Fu wouldn't intentionally provoke him that Hu Da often listened to his advice.
"What do you think I should do now?"
"Take some Rouge and Face Powder to reward the girls at Cuihong Tower. This way, those who benefited can serve you well. Once you're satisfied, we can discuss this Miss Xing later. Also, didn't Xing Gu Niang just give you a Prescription? With that in hand, we can visit her openly tomorrow. By then, won't you have time to speak with Miss Xing alone? With your charm and presence, how could this beauty resist?"
"You brat! You may not have other talents, but I love hearing this kind of talk from you. Fine, fine, let's take our things and find another place to enjoy ourselves. You know what? This has really been building up inside me."
"There’s even better news." Hu Fu raised an eyebrow. "Didn’t you instruct someone to find a Matchmaker to help you find a wife? This morning, the Matchmaker sent word that she has found three candidates for you. They will arrive at our residence tonight for you to choose from personally."
"Three?" Hu Da's eyes lit up.
"Three!" Hu Fu held up three fingers. "All of them are your preferred types: one delicate and charming, one spicy and bold, and one ice beauty—something you've never experienced before."
"Then why go to Cuihong Tower? Let's go home right away; I need to prepare properly. By the way, make sure to keep the Prescription from Miss Xing safe. Those three can only be concubines or side rooms; our Hu Family's First Lady is not someone anyone can just become."
"Well, one must at least have the skills and looks of Xing Gu Niang to be worthy of being our Hu Family's First Lady."
"You child, don't worry. Rest assured, tonight I'll leave one of these three for you. You're not too young anymore; we should add someone to the household. We can't keep having you help me manage everything."
"Thank you, sir!" Hu Fu said, hurriedly bowing. "It's fortunate that you care about me and even think about helping me settle down. However, I really don't have that kind of fortune. If you find someone you like, just take charge and choose a maid from our household. That would be more appropriate."
Hu Da had said that casually, but seeing Hu Fu decline made him feel that Hu Fu was quite adept at handling matters. He patted his hand and declared, "Alright, I grant you this privilege. You can choose any maid from our Hu Family. Whichever one you pick, I'll reward you with her, and I'll also help with your wedding."
Hu Fu beamed with joy, almost kneeling before Hu Da. Hu Da was delighted and turned to see dozens of packages of Rouge and Face Powder on the ground, while Li Mao stood nearby with a smile, holding a stack of papers and a pen. "These are the Rouge and Face Powder that you just purchased, Sir Hu. As per your previous instructions, each item is accounted for meticulously. The Ruyi Rouge shop uses only the finest herbal ingredients and is prepared with secret recipes, so it's naturally different from the ordinary goods in other shops, which is why it's a bit pricier. Here are the price lists for each type of Rouge and Face Powder. We have clear pricing here; we do not deceive anyone. Sir Hu, would you like to take a look and check if there's any mistake?"
"What’s there to check? Do you think Sir Hu is the kind of person who counts pennies? Just tell me how much it is in total," Hu Fu straightened his back and asked.
Li Mao pursed his lips. "Are you sure you don't want to check?"
"No checking!"
"Alright then, Sir Hu has selected twenty types of Rouge, sixteen types of Face Powder, along with several other skincare products. These are unique items from our Rouge shop; aside from the main store in Divine Capital Luoyang, they can't be found anywhere else. Since this is a branch opening, we have special discounts; altogether it comes to ten taels of gold." Li Mao said as he handed the final bill to Hu Da.
"How much?" Hu Fu felt his throat tighten as he nearly choked on his own saliva.
Comment 0 Comment Count