Chapter 32 - 33 I Believe in You

“Thank you.”

Thinking of the patients from today’s consultations, most of whom had developed frostbite, Shao He spoke up, “I want to make frostbite ointment and sell it in the shop.”

After hearing this, Yun Qian frowned and explained, “The production process for frostbite ointment is complicated, and it’s not cheap. Common people won’t buy it; it won’t bring in any silver.”

Previously, when he was treating patients, he had made frostbite ointment, but in the end, due to its high price, he was only able to sell it at a loss.

“That’s because the ingredients you used were too expensive, but I can make a better frostbite ointment at a much lower cost,” Shao He said confidently.

She understood that the majority of those who bought frostbite ointment were ordinary people; naturally, they couldn’t afford expensive products. However, if the price were reasonable, she believed many would buy it, since no one wants to endure the itch and pain of frostbite.

Having witnessed Shao He’s medical skills, Yun Qian was certain that if she said she could produce frostbite ointment at a lower cost, then it was definitely possible.

“Alright, you can try using the medicinal ingredients from the shop. If it works out, that would be great. If it doesn’t, we’ll make other plans,” he said.

“It will definitely work,” Shao He asserted.

“If you really can make it, we’ll split the earnings; you’ll get seventy percent and I’ll take thirty,” Yun Qian said, not minding earning less. Compared to those silvers, he cared more about this person with superior medical skills.

“Thank you. Let’s split it fifty-fifty. You provide the ingredients, and I’m just making it. You earn as much as you work for,” Shao He said, looking at him with immense gratitude. Although she really needed silver at the moment, she didn’t like taking unfair advantage of others.

As the saying goes, with silver in hand, one can travel anywhere; without it, it’s hard to take even a single step.

Overhearing their jovial discussion, Pei Huaian, who was holding a child, couldn’t help but join in.

“How low can the cost of the frostbite ointment be?”

To him, this product was very useful, but few shops actually made frostbite ointment.

Moreover, even when someone did produce it, the price was often very high.

“Others sell their frostbite ointment for ten coins a bottle. The one I’ll make will be better and will only cost four coins to produce,” Shao He had already looked into it—the ointment was rarely found in medical halls.

“Four coins?” Yun Qian exclaimed in surprise.

He had thought that even with reduced costs, it would have to be priced at seven or eight coins; he never imagined it could be so low.

He couldn’t help but question, “Will frostbite ointment produced so inexpensively really be effective?”

“The effect will only be better,” she responded.

Just as Pei Huaian was about to say something, he felt a warmth in his hands as the child began to cry.

“He, he seems to have… wet himself.”

Yun Qian took the child from Pei Huaian’s hands and laid him on the bed, skillfully changing the diaper.

Pei Huaian followed and, watching his adept movements, couldn’t help but ask, “Have you had children?”

Yun Qian rolled his eyes, “No.”

It was his first time taking care of a child too, and he was initially all thumbs, but gradually got the hang of it.

Not to be outdone, Pei Huaian watched Yun Qian’s actions closely, committing them to memory and asking about anything he didn’t understand.

Shao He, the child’s biological mother, stood rooted to the spot, watching the two men figure out how to change diapers and swaddle the baby, her brow tightly knitted.

If this were the modern era, it might be understandable, but this was, after all, ancient times. Two grown men studying how to soothe a baby might be ridiculed to death if word got out.

Most importantly, why did she feel as though the child wasn’t hers, but theirs?

After Yun Qian and Pei Huaian had changed the child’s diaper, the little one fell soundly asleep.

Pei Huaian, upon leaving the inner chamber, brought up the frostbite ointment again.

“Could the price of the frostbite ointment be cheaper?” he inquired.

Shao He was surprised that he actually believed her, her tone tinged with teasing, “What if the frostbite ointment turns out to be useless, wouldn’t you have lost silver?”

“I trust you,” Pei Huaian said firmly.

Shao He was briefly taken aback, then smiled, “Alright, I’ll give you a discount.”@@novelbin@@

Pei Huaian turned and began discussing the purchase with Yun Qian, the two of them chatting away by the window.

Aunt Liu came into the kitchen carrying some warmed milk, “Doctor Shao, this is milk I’ve warmed especially for the child.”

“Thank you, Aunt Liu. The child has just fallen asleep; let’s leave it here for now,” Shao He said, taking the milk and placing it on the table.

The pair discussed until late before leaving the room. As he was leaving, Pei Huaian took one last look at the child, watching him drink the milk with a smile curling the corners of his mouth.

Yun Qian watched the two in the room, feeling an unusual sensation in his heart—it was as if they were the real family.

That night, Shao He put the child to sleep and tiptoed out of bed, starting to work on the frostbite ointment.

Shao He focused her mind and took an antipruritic agent, vitamin E tablets, and other ingredients like cinnamon and salvia root from her space.

She first soaked the ingredients in five times their volume of water, to more easily extract their components through boiling.

While waiting, she went back to check on the sleeping child, then returned to the kitchen.

She took out the soaked schisandra berries, ephedra, camphor, and other ingredients and began to simmer them in a clay pot.

The first simmering used water in a 1 to 5 ratio, the second simmering used a 1 to 3 ratio, and the third used a 1 to 1 ratio. First, she used a low heat, then brought it to a boil over high heat, and finally simmered it over low heat for fifteen to thirty minutes, repeating this process several times. She then took the residue to extract the juice.