Chapter 42: Honey No One Wants to Buy
Chu Feng and Ilya headed to Shaman Qiu Luo’s place. The shaman showed great interest in the seeds Chu Feng brought.
“What is this one?”
Chu Feng replied proudly, “That’s a sweet potato sprout. It grows into sweet potatoes.”
“This one’s corn.”
“And this is wheat…”
…
Besides the seeds, Chu Feng also brought samples of the harvested crops: “This is a sweet potato, this is corn, and this is wheat…” Since it was inconvenient to transport, he hadn’t brought much.
Because food was a bit scarce in this area, Chu Feng had chosen high-yield crops.
Shaman Qiu Luo was very intrigued by the plants Chu Feng brought and grew even more approving of him.
“Much appreciated.”
Chu Feng smiled. “You’re too kind, Shaman. And thank you again for the medicine last time—I really felt a noticeable boost in strength.”
“Would you like another dose?”
Chu Feng nodded. “If that’s alright.”
He thought to himself: If possible, I really need to keep getting stronger. This place is supposedly quite dangerous—beast hordes, tribal wars, all sorts of trouble. I’m rich now, and my bank account is still full. It’d be such a waste to die here!
Shaman Qiu Luo nodded. “That’s fine, but the dosage will have to be reduced again.”
Chu Feng gave an embarrassed laugh. “Sure, sure, reduce it.”
If his physique kept improving, maybe someday he’d be able to handle the full dose meant for children.
*
While Qiu Luo was boiling the medicine, Chu Feng wandered around the shaman’s quarters, examining a herb root repeatedly.
“You really like that?” Ilya asked.
“Kind of.”
It looked exactly like ginseng! If he brought it back to China, the rich old guys terrified of death might pay a fortune for it. He should buy a tester to find out if it was the real thing.
“There’s more in the back mountain. I can dig some for you,” Ilya said.
“Great! When can we go?” Chu Feng asked.
Ilya blinked. “Some other time. We still have to visit the mountain tribe later.”
Chu Feng nodded. “True, no rush.” After all, the root didn’t seem that rare here.
“All done,” Shaman Qiu Luo called out to Chu Feng, who was wandering about.
“Coming,” Chu Feng replied.
He gulped down the medicine in one go. This time, he came prepared—with candy to help with the taste.
“I heard the shaman is very good at brewing ‘Hundred Fruit Brew.’”
Qiu Luo glanced at him. “That has strong medicinal effects. You can have some, but only in small amounts.”
Chu Feng nodded. “Understood.”
Shaman Qiu Luo gave a jar of Hundred Fruit Brew to both Chu Feng and Ilya.
After staying a little longer, Chu Feng left with Ilya.
Ilya, hugging the wine jar, said happily, “Thanks to you. Normally, getting a sip of the shaman’s wine is extremely rare.”
Chu Feng looked confused. “Is it that hard to get?”
Ilya nodded. “Of course. Gathering ingredients for the Hundred Fruit Brew isn’t easy.”
Chu Feng nodded. “Wow, I must really be favored.”
Ilya smiled. “Maybe.”
*
When they returned to Ilya’s place, two other people were already there.
“Kalan.” Chu Feng raised an eyebrow when he saw him.
Kalan looked excited. “You’re finally back.”
Chu Feng took a blueprint from his bag. “Here’s what you asked for.”
Kalan looked over the blueprint. “Is there anything else?”
Chu Feng blinked. “Anything else?”
“You gave Duvean several carving knives and a picture book, didn’t you?”
Chu Feng nodded. “Yeah, I did.”
“What about me?”
Chu Feng tilted his head. “You only asked for the blueprint.”
Kalan stared at Chu Feng, feeling like a neglected wife. Duvean got more stuff, and we both did work. Isn’t this blatant favoritism?
Chu Feng looked at Kalan’s face—it really did look like a sulking, abandoned spouse.
“Do you want some candy?”
Kalan shook his head. “No.”
Chu Feng: …Not into candy? Then what am I supposed to give you?
“I want pickled mustard greens.”
Chu Feng: …You don’t want candy, but you want pickled mustard? Well, to each their own. “Alright, as long as you like it.”
He glanced at Gray, thinking: That little rascal must’ve been promoting pickled mustard again.
Shaya stood to the side watching Kalan and Chu Feng talk, unable to join the conversation. He was getting anxious.
“Hey.”
Chu Feng turned to him. “What is it?”
“You’re delivering stuff, right? I can help!” Shaya shouted.
“Much appreciated,” Chu Feng said inwardly, Help if you want, no need to yell like that.
Shaya snorted. “I want payment.”
Chu Feng nodded. “No problem. I’ll give you a jar of honey.” He’d heard this Shaya had grizzly bear blood. If he was part bear, he should love honey, right?
“Honey? What’s that?”
Chu Feng: …He doesn’t even know what honey is? Don’t tell me it doesn’t exist here?
Chu Feng thought for a moment. “It’s sweet.”
Shaya shook his head. “I want sugar.”
Chu Feng: “…Fine.” Can’t even sell the honey? He brought this supposedly pure wild mountain honey, more expensive than sugar. This guy clearly had no taste—he’d regret it someday.
