At the hour of the Dragon, Qin Gengyun arrived at the Spirit Pill Workshop. Today, the workshop was still very quiet, clearly the Pavilion Master had not returned yet.
Wang Ping and Xu Li were nowhere to be seen, likely they went to Yihong House last night to play role-playing again.
Qin Gengyun cleaned up the yard. Around the third quarter of the hour of the Dragon, an elderly man with a slightly hunched back walked in, coughing as he walked.
Qin Gengyun approached him and asked, "Taoist Friend Fang, is your health any better?"
This elderly man was the only Pill Furnace Medicine Attendant in the Spirit Pill Workshop, named Fang Chao.
He was also at the Second-Layer of Qi Cultivation. After the age of forty, his cultivation couldn't advance further. He married a Taoist partner, intending to pursue dual cultivation, but ultimately failed.
Later, his wife gave birth to a daughter with middle-grade dual spirit roots. Fang Chao was overjoyed and placed all his life's hopes on his daughter.
Fang Chao and his wife worked hard to earn Spirit Stones, and when their daughter turned fifteen, they sent her to the Cultivator Spiritual Institute in Zhenyang City to study.
This Cultivator Spiritual Institute was set up by the outer sect of the Zhenyang Sect; disciples who excelled in the institute had a good chance of entering the outer sect of the Zhenyang Sect.
However, the annual tuition of the Cultivator Spiritual Institute cost eighty Spirit Stones. To keep their daughter studying at the institute, Fang Chao became a Pill Poison Medicine Attendant at the Spirit Pill Workshop.
Fang Chao's wife also took on two jobs.
This was common among lower-level cultivator families. If the couple's chances of Foundation Establishment were slim but they had offspring with spirit roots, they would go to any lengths to provide resources so their offspring could climb higher.
At this moment, the hunched Fang Chao was cupping his hands to Qin Gengyun:
"Thank you for your concern, Taoist Friend Qin. I'm fine now."
After speaking, he coughed twice more. Qin Gengyun didn't say much, just smiled and continued to sweep the floor.
If one misses even a single day, they lose a day's wages. In Taoist Friend Fang's situation, losing even a day is unaffordable.
Qin Gengyun finished cleaning the yard, looked towards the old alchemy room, thought for a moment, and walked over with the broom, only to find the door locked.
He walked to the side and peeked through a hole in the window, seeing the bronze furnace still inside.
Presumably, Yang Fengshan failed to sell the bronze furnace last night and returned it in the dead of night.
Qin Gengyun found it a bit strange—Yang Fengshan was the highest-paid in the workshop, supposedly not short on money. Why take such a risky move?
If he really had sold it, how would he explain to the Pavilion Master?
"Old Man Fang, you've been absent for two days, one Spirit Stone is docked from your pay!"
At this moment, Yang Fengshan's voice came from the yard. Qin Gengyun walked out and saw Fang Chao explaining to Yang Fengshan:
"Steward Yang, I had already requested leave from the Pavilion Master before he left, and he agreed that I could rest for those two days without losing my pay!"
Yang Fengshan sneered, "I'm the steward, your attendance and scatter value are under my control. You didn't request leave from me, so what's wrong with docking your Spirit Stone?"
"Steward Yang, my daughter's tuition at the Spiritual Institute is due soon, please be lenient with me!"
"Old Man Fang, stop bringing up your daughter with her middle-grade spirit roots all the time! You think I don't know? Your daughter is just average in the Cultivator Spiritual Institute, with no hope of entering the Zhenyang Sect's outer sect!"
"Steward Yang, but the Pavilion Master promised me..."
"Enough, there's half a furnace of pill poison in the back yard that must be cleared by noon!"
With those words, Yang Fengshan ignored Fang Chao's desperate pleas, his stout legs moved vigorously towards the old alchemy room, and upon seeing Qin Gengyun, he coldly asked:
"What are you doing here?"
Qin Gengyun lifted the broom in his hand, "Steward Yang, I wanted to clean this alchemy room, but it's locked for some reason."
Yang Fengshan scolded, "Didn't I say? This old alchemy room needs repairing. No unauthorized personnel allowed inside! Don't you understand?"
"Alright, I'll go clean elsewhere."
Qin Gengyun walked towards the yard with the broom, glanced at the haggard Old Man Fang, sighed slightly, and continued working.
At night.
Qin Gengyun went to the night market, checked from a distance at Mo Xiaolan's stall, saw her busy greeting customers, and didn't disturb her, instead taking a stroll.
An hour later, after browsing the whole night market, there were no second-hand pill furnaces for sale.
Mainly because pill furnaces were expensive; anyone selling second-hand would usually go to the Blessing Pavilion, not the night market.
But Qin Gengyun had checked the Blessing Pavilion before; a regular second-hand bronze furnace costs around fifty or sixty Spirit Stones, which he couldn't afford.
He could only try his luck at the night market.
Unfortunately, bad luck today, so he would try again tomorrow.
Just as he was about to leave the night market, a clear, spirited voice came from behind:
"Taoist Friend Qin, why didn't you look for me when you came?"
Turning around, he saw Mo Xiaolan standing in front, wearing a plain robe, her hands behind her back, a small orchid on her left shoulder complementing her lively smile.
Qin Gengyun smiled and said, "Taoist Friend Mo, I've already troubled you for several days, didn't want to bother you again."
Mo Xiaolan gave him a sidelong glance, "Why say such distant words, let's go."
With that, she pulled him along to the innermost second-hand stall in the East Market.
Taoist Friend Zheng was still slumped in a deck chair, didn't get up when they arrived, just swept aside the messy hair covering his eyes:
"You're in luck; today someone posted a bronze furnace for sale at my place, one price only, eighteen Spirit Stones, if acceptable, come check in two days."
Mo Xiaolan frowned, "Why has the price increased from what was agreed upon?"
Taoist Friend Zheng then got up lazily, "It's just this price, if you don't want it, someone else will!"
Mo Xiaolan suddenly laughed, walked to the scruffy vendor, and blinked:
"Taoist Friend Zheng, yesterday you almost sold me a broken Black Heart Furnace, if this gets out in the night market, do you think anyone will dare buy from you again?"
Taoist Friend Zheng pointed at her, "You, you're slandering me!"
Mo Xiaolan straightened her single ponytail at the back of her head, put her hands on her hips, "The price stays the same, twelve Spirit Stones, bronze furnace plus Spirit Fan."
Taoist Friend Zheng's scruffy face turned blue and white in turns as he stamped his foot and lamented:
"Meeting you is truly my misfortune!"
"Thanks, Taoist Friend Zheng, we'll come back in two days."
Mo Xiaolan smiled and cupped her hands towards him, then pulled Qin Gengyun away.
Qin Gengyun said, "Taoist Friend Mo, won't there be trouble in the night market for offending him?"
Mo Xiaolan laughed, "Taoist Friend Qin, rest assured, he still makes a profit at twelve Spirit Stones; he was just acting in front of us earlier!"
Looking back, Qin Gengyun saw that Taoist Friend Zheng, who had been pounding his chest moments ago, had already lain back comfortably in the deck chair.
He couldn't help but shake his head and smile.
Those who manage in this night market are indeed shrewd people.
Looking again at the brightly smiling Mo Xiaolan, he felt even more admiration.
For a female cultivator with no background, being able to make her way here was not easy.
It was now the hour of the Snake, and the night market was closing.
Qin Gengyun helped Mo Xiaolan pack up the stall, and the two went home together.
Back at Narrow Rain Lane, Qin Gengyun thanked Mo Xiaolan once more.
"Taoist Friend Qin, if you keep being so polite, I won't dare help you again."
Mo Xiaolan smiled and waved at him, "Hurry back, your wife must be waiting anxiously."
With that, she opened her door and went inside.
Just as Qin Gengyun turned to enter his house, he hesitated, thinking he saw a shadow quickly pass by his window.
Could it be that Qiu Zhihe was waiting anxiously by the window for me?
Qin Gengyun shook his head, thinking he was probably overthinking it.
Entering his home, he was hit by a tempting aroma.
In the deep winter night, coming home to a bowl of scallion minced meat porridge was a pleasure for him.
"Taoist Friend Qiu, I'm back, did you make porridge again?"
Qin Gengyun smiled as he spoke to Qiu Zhihe, who was sitting at the table.
"No."
But Qiu Zhihe replied with a blank expression.
"No?" Qin Gengyun was taken aback, sniffing the air:
"But this aroma..."
"I've already finished it."
Qiu Zhihe said plainly, then got up and lay on the bed, turning her back to him:
"I'm going to sleep."
Then she turned her head back, eyes cold:
"Do not disturb me."