Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

Wang Feng walked out of No. 95 courtyard and came to a secluded alley. He took out five catties of pork and five catties of mutton from his space and put them in his backpack. He smoked a cigarette outside and then returned to No. 95 courtyard.

Back in the house, Qin Jingru had already finished washing the clothes.

"Brother Wang Feng, I've finished washing the clothes. Let's go to Goose's place quickly."

Wang Feng took out pork and mutton from his backpack and said, "Jingru, here are five catties of pork and five catties of mutton. Cut two catties of pork and mutton, and take the rest to the goose."

"OK."

Qin Jingru agreed without asking where the pork and mutton came from, and took the meat to the kitchen.

With two slashes, she divided the pork and mutton. She kept the smaller portion, wrapped the larger portion in oil paper, put it in her bag, locked the door, and the two left courtyard number 95, heading towards courtyard number 28.

Upon arriving at courtyard number 28, Lou Xiao'e was delighted to see the two women and quickly welcomed them inside, offering them tea.

Wang Feng drank a cup of tea and said, "Goose, Jingru, I'm going out for a bit. You two cook when it's time, and I'll be back before dinner."

"OK."

Qin Jingru escorted Wang Feng to the outside of the courtyard, closed the gate, and then went back to discuss the issue of having children with Lou Xiao'e.

Yesterday in Qinjiazhuang, her mother taught her some folk remedies for getting pregnant quickly, and she needs to discuss them with Lou Xiao'e.

Anyway, the two of them are so familiar with each other, and they often sleep together. Now they both want to get pregnant with Wang Feng's child as soon as possible, so there's nothing to be ashamed of.

......

After leaving No. 28 Courtyard, Wang Feng rode his bicycle to the largest library in Beijing.

He came to the library this time to borrow a few books on traditional Chinese medicine to study. After he has memorized these theoretical knowledge thoroughly, he will then learn from Master Jiu and put them into practice. This should greatly improve his efficiency.

Memorizing the contents of a book was not difficult for him at all; he already possessed the ability to remember everything he read, so reading was a piece of cake for him.

After cycling for more than twenty minutes, Wang Feng entered the library and selected more than a dozen books on traditional Chinese medicine, including Treatise on Febrile Diseases, Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica, Compendium of Materia Medica, Universal Relief Prescriptions, Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces, and so on.

He selected a total of twelve books on traditional Chinese medicine, all of which were quite famous. There were also many lesser-known medical books that he did not choose.

But when he arrived at the registration desk, he was dumbfounded. The library's rules stipulated that each person could only borrow a maximum of two books at a time, and cadres could borrow a maximum of four books.

Even though he was a junior cadre, he was still considered a cadre and could borrow four books, but he still had eight books in his possession.

He didn't want to come back every few days; it was too much trouble.

After all, given his reading speed, he could finish a book in a day at most, and if he was fast, it wouldn't even take a day.

Left with no other choice, Wang Feng called the woman registering the information aside, took out a dozen or so White Rabbit milk candies from his pocket, and handed them to her.

When the woman registering the information saw the White Rabbit milk candy, she also carefully examined Wang Feng's work ID. Seeing that the work ID was correct and that he was indeed a cadre from the steel rolling mill, she made an exception and allowed Wang Feng to borrow twelve books at once.

Wang Feng quickly registered his information, thanked the older sister, and left the library with the thick books in his hand.

On his way back to Courtyard No. 28, Wang Feng saw a Tongrentang pharmacy and spent a little over a dollar to buy a box of Tongrentang's best silver needles.

When he returned to courtyard number 28, it was already past 11 a.m.

When Lou Xiao'e saw that Wang Feng had brought back so many books on traditional Chinese medicine, she asked, "Brother Feng, are you really planning to study traditional Chinese medicine?"

Wang Feng took a sip of tea and smiled, "Since I'm just idling around anyway, it's good to learn more. Son, I'm going to Mr. Jiu's place this afternoon to learn traditional Chinese medicine."

"Son, starting tomorrow, I'll come over a little earlier in the morning to keep you company. We'll have lunch here, and then in the afternoon I'll go to study the basics of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It shouldn't take long, I estimate about a month. Once I've learned the basics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, I can study at home by myself."

Lou Xiao'e smiled and said, "Brother Feng, if you like it, that's fine. But traditional Chinese medicine is profound and extensive, far superior to Western medicine, which only has a hundred-year history. My dad told me that Mr. Jiu started learning medicine at the age of six and has been studying for almost fifty years. Moreover, Mr. Jiu's medical skills are far from perfect. Brother Feng, are you sure you can master the basics of traditional Chinese medicine in just one month?"

"Hehe, don't worry, son. I'm just giving it a try. If it takes too much time and effort, I won't learn it," Wang Feng said with a smile.

"Um."

Lou Xiao'e didn't try to dissuade Wang Feng from studying traditional Chinese medicine, nor did she discourage him from wasting his time. In any case, whether he succeeded or not didn't affect them much.

At most, it will only be a waste of one or two months. Once Wang Feng realizes that traditional Chinese medicine is not so easy to learn, he will give up.

"By the way, Brother Feng, my parents told me that Mr. Jiu is my savior. If it weren't for Mr. Jiu, my mother and I might have died along with our unborn child. Could you bring Mr. Jiu over so I can meet him? I want to thank him in person."

Wang Feng slowly shook his head: "Son, Mr. Jiu is also a wanted criminal. He lives in the courtyard that Uncle Lou and the others used to live in. The city is cracking down hard right now, so it's not convenient for the two of you to get around. But in two months, I will send Mr. Jiu to Hong Kong Island to help your parents. When we go to Hong Kong Island, you will naturally be able to see him."

Upon hearing this, Lou Xiao'e was somewhat disappointed, but she didn't necessarily want to see Mr. Jiu immediately, as safety was the most important thing.

Her parents mysteriously disappeared at the farm some time ago. The police have classified it as a prison break, and the city has been issuing warrants for her parents and Mr. Jiu for a long time. Even she is on the wanted list.

Her parents had been arrested before, and the police had been issuing arrest warrants for her ever since, but this time the warrants were issued much more aggressively.

After all, she was her father's only daughter in Beijing. The police wanted to get the information they needed from her. Moreover, since she got together with Wang Feng, she seemed to have disappeared from Beijing. The police also suspected that Lou Bancheng was involved in speculation and profiteering, as well as disrupting the financial order.

Now that her parents have escaped from prison, it's hard not to suspect that she's involved. According to what Sister Jingru said some time ago, there are wanted posters for her parents and her all over the city.

"Brother Wang Feng, son, what are you talking about? Come and eat!"

Qin Jingru brought the dishes to the table, served the rice, and the three of them sat down.

"We didn't talk much, Jingru. I'm going to study traditional Chinese medicine this afternoon. If you're free, stay home with our son. Come back to No. 95 Courtyard at four o'clock this afternoon and have Aunt Wu kill the remaining pheasants and rabbits at home."

"Okay, Brother Wang Feng."