Chapter 399: Wok-firing (1/2)

Chapter 399: Wok-firing

Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Ye Chong was not aware of the disaster that befell the Three Aristocratic Families, but even if he was, he would have probably dismissed them immediately. He was not good enough of a strategist to take advantage of the situation, unlike Shang.

Just then, he had rescued an honest looking Flora Adept. This Flora Adept was in his thirties, and his was entirely covered with mud. He was trying to pick a barleygrass plant when he slipped and fell into a swamp. Ye Chong heard his anxious cries for help as he was nearby, and helped him out of it.

Flora Adepts were people who specialized in gathering plants in the wild. According to Lunatic Guan's chip, the occupation had as many specialization branches as the alchemy field in the Five Galaxies.

Ye Chong never imagined that he would meet a Flora Adept himself.

Zhao Ying was very grateful for his help. ”Thank you very much, Sir. I would've died if not for your help.” He rubbed his hands together, but found them to be covered in mud. Zhao Ying blushed and quieted down for a while before bracing himself and said, ”Perhaps you'd like to visit my place?”

Zhao Ying's house was small and simple. His wife was not exactly beautiful, but she was warm and friendly. When she found out that Ye Chong had saved her husband's life, she was even more welcoming. His daughter was only about 7 years old, and obviously a shy girl. She hid behind her father's figure, her head poking out carefully as she studied the stranger with her tiny, curious eyes.

Linrose tea and marinated plum meat - the Zhao couple offered their best dishes to Ye Chong.

A honest couple and a shy but curious child - this absolutely normal family made Ye Chong feel a long forgotten warmth. He remembered his Papa, he remembered Mu and Shang, and he remembered Grandpa Qian. Those who knew him would notice how the cold, hard lines on his face softened a little.

After their meal, Zhao Ying chatted with Ye Chong, but it was apparent that the latter was not used to conversations of this nature. Zhao Ying did most of the talking while Ye Chong listened. Now that the honest, good natured Zhao Ying met a person who was even more rigid and quiet than him, he spoke a lot more than he did that day than the past ten days in total.

From Zhao Ying's stories, Ye Chong found that the life of a Flora Adept was difficult. He could feel the emotions that filled Zhao Ying's plain and awkward descriptions.

Zhao Ying went to gather pants every day, while his wife would process the plants that he collected roughly. Their main source of income was through selling these roughly processed raw materials. The couple had never learned real alchemy, and were only amateurs. Hence, they often forced by customers to sell their things below market price. The two of them worked hard every day, with just enough to feed their own daughter.

”Ying, come over here, what should I do with this barleygrass?” Zhao Ying's wife asked.

Zhao Ying remembered his lucky reward today, that he had found a barleygrass. However, he sat down in dejection and said, ”Never mind that, I don't know what to do with it too. Let's just sell it tomorrow. Just do your usual work, I'll accompany the good sir for a while and join you later.”

Zhao Ying turned to Ye Chong and said with pained regret, ”Sigh, we'll sell it cheap tomorrow. I don't know if it's still of value.”

Ye Chong understood him. Barleygrass must be dried within five hours of picking it, or its value will be reduced by half at least.

”Let's go have a look,” Ye Chong said lightly, and stood up himself.

Zhao Ying was caught off guard, and felt anxious. ”Let's just sit here, it's too messy inside.”

However, Ye Chong was already on his way inside before he could finish speaking. Zhao Ying could only follow him inside.

It was full of smoke inside, and it was an unpleasant smell. This was the result of many types of plants being dried together. Ye Chong could not help but frowned. From his professional perspective, this was very unsafe.

He saw a few simple and primitive drying tools. Zhao Ying's wife was sweating all over as she worked on the plants heaped on the side.

The fire was not controlled well, and her methods were wrong, and the order drying was also mixed up.

Ye Chong could not help but shook his head in his mind. No wonder their dried plants could not be sold at a good price. Alchemy materials prepared like this could only be considered as low class items.

Zhao Ying's wife was surprised to see Ye Chong inside with her. She quickly stood up, wiping her hands on her apron and she said with embarrassment, ”How did you get in here? It's too messy in here!”

Just then, Zhao Ying arrived as well.

Ye Chong said nothing, but went straight to the drying tools. Zhao Ying and couple looked at him in surprise as he poured everything in the drying wok into the waste tank, and reached out with one hand.