Courtyard House: Passing through the Silly Pillar, Activating the Blessed Cave Heaven

10

He Yuzhu took out six 100-yuan bills and handed them over.

After counting the money, the shopkeeper said, "I'll take six hundred yuan from you, and the goods cost five hundred and seventy-five yuan. Here's your change of twenty-five yuan." He took the change from the shopkeeper and put it away. The clerk had already tied three packets of seeds into a stack with hemp rope and handed them over.

He Yuzhu picked up the paper bag, stepped out of the store, and heard the enthusiastic farewell from the shop assistant behind him.

Turning the corner, he slipped into a quiet alley, looked around to make sure no one was there, and then instantly stored the seeds in his blessed land.

Back on the main street, he strolled around for about an hour, and the archway of Wangfujing came into view.

Only then did he realize how advantageous his location was—living in an old house within the Third Ring Road, he could walk to Tiananmen Square in less than an hour.

Strolling south, I arrived at Qianmen Street and suddenly saw the golden plaque of "Tongrentang" hanging high above the door.

Remembering that this time-honored brand with more than two hundred years of history was the prototype of the Bai family in "The Grand Mansion Gate", he straightened his clothes and stepped inside.

"Sir, would you like to pick up some medicine or...?" The shop assistant hurriedly came forward.

"I'd like to buy some medicinal herb seeds. Although I don't have the prescriptions, I know their specific names. I wonder if it's possible to buy them?" He Yuzhu asked.

"Tell me what you think, and I'll go ask the manager," the waiter replied politely.

"I want camellia seeds, alfalfa seeds, and foxtail grass seeds. Could you please tell me the prices?" He Yuzhu told him the names of the seeds he wanted.

The waiter hurriedly went into the back room and returned a moment later.

"Sir, I've asked the manager about the three medicinal herbs you requested, and they can be purchased without a prescription."

Alfalfa seeds cost 50 yuan per 50 grams, foxtail grass seeds cost 5 yuan per 50 grams, and camellia seeds are transported from the south, are scarce, and are slightly more expensive, costing 100 yuan per 50 grams.

"How much would you like?" the waiter replied in detail.

He Yuzhu calculated the remaining 425 yuan in his pocket: he could buy three liang of camellia seeds, but he didn't know how long it would take for them to grow after planting, so he needed to prepare more seeds; he could buy two liang of alfalfa seeds and five liang of foxtail grass seeds, which would be just enough to spend all the money.

"Three ounces of camellia seeds, two ounces of alfalfa seeds, and five ounces of foxtail grass seeds," He Yuzhu said decisively.

"Alright, sir, please go to the counter to settle your bill first, and I'll go get your medicine right away," the waiter said.

After paying with the shop assistant, He Yuzhu soon received the packaged medicinal herb seeds and turned to leave Tongrentang.

He looked up at the sun and estimated he would be home before noon.

After lunch, we can enter the blessed land in the afternoon and plant all these seeds.

With that thought in mind, he quickened his pace and hurried home.

Along the way, he found a straight wooden stick about 1.5 meters long and the thickness of a thumb in an alley. He wondered who had lost this "treasure".

Since he found it, it naturally belongs to him, and he can use it to poke holes in the ground to plant seeds.

When he got home, he glanced at the clock on the table—he had left home at 8:10 a.m., and it was now 11:25 a.m.

Excluding the time spent in Wangfujing, it takes about an hour to get from home to Wangfujing.

If this house were located in a later era, it would definitely be considered a prime location.

He Yuzhu closed the door tightly, locked it from the inside, wrapped three cold steamed buns in oil paper and stuffed them into his pocket, put on his old hat, locked the door, hung the key around his neck, and went out.

The Beijing of later generations has long lost its ancient capital appearance, and these ancient buildings that have survived the Ming and Qing dynasties are now worth appreciating.