Selling Snake Gallbladder (Part 2)

These were common types of meats, and the errand boy didn't even need to consult it with the manager first before closing the door.

The two of them visited several more places, asking at every restaurant on that street, but none of them were interested.

Liang Hongyu had asked Aunt Wu to bring some food for Huo Tianzhou at noon while she went hunting.

She didn't want to trouble the Wu family again, and Huo Tianzhou wouldn't agree to it either.

She had gone hunting early in the morning, hoping to sell these animals today to cover some household expenses.

Wild animals were usually in demand, but most sellers arrived early.

At this hour, it was indeed a challenge to sell them.

Liang Hongyu clicked her tongue in frustration.

It was a miscalculation; they had come at the wrong time.

As they walked out of the alley, the aroma of food and the shouts from a nearby restaurant filled the air.

Liang Hongyu had only eaten a few wild fruits earlier and was already hungry.

She considered getting some food but then remembered the few coins in her pocket and dismissed the idea.

Under the increasingly scorching sun, Huo Tianzhou started to lag behind, so Liang Hongyu slowed her pace.

She suddenly regretted bringing him along.

If he ended up hungry and sunburned, it would have been pointless to bring him.

Liang Hongyu, carrying the basket, led the way.

Huo Tianzhou had no idea what she was thinking, nor did he have the energy to worry about being hungry.

He figured that if they couldn't sell the game, they could try the butcher shop and see if they would take it for a lower price.

After walking a little bit further, they passed by a medical hall.

Liang Hongyu recognized the sign, so she turned around and walked in.

Huo Tianzhou touched the small bamboo basket at his waist and followed her inside.

Inside the medical hall, several people were sitting and waiting to see the doctor.

A young apprentice behind the counter who was busy preparing medicine, looked up and asked, "Are you here to see the doctor or to get medicine?"

Liang Hongyu took the bamboo basket from Huo Tianzhou's waist and placed it on the table.

"Do you accept snake gallbladders here?" she asked.

The young apprentice glanced at the bamboo basket for a moment and said, "Please wait a moment, I'll go ask the manager."

After preparing several doses of medicine and handing them to the waiting patients with instructions, he walked into the back room.

Soon after, a middle-aged man followed him out.

The manager took the snake-handling tools handed over by the young apprentice and opened the basket to inspect.

A snake, green all over, was grasped by the mouth and pulled out.

The snake struggled violently, coiling around the tongs with its venomous eyes glinting, which made the onlookers nervous.

Handling venomous snakes was risky; a single mistake could be fatal.

Liang Hongyu had warned Huo Tianzhou not to open the basket.

Huo Tianzhou knew there was a snake inside, but he hadn't expected it to be a venomous snake, and it was quite large.

Seeing the snake, his face turned pale, and he unconsciously took a step back.

Liang Hongyu turned her head to look at him.

She had thought he wasn't afraid when she gave him the basket.

Now, seeing his reaction, she clicked her tongue in disbelief.

Although Liang Hongyu's glance was brief, her eyes were sharp and showed no hint of disguise.

Huo Tianzhou's face hadn't fully recovered its color.

He hesitated for a second and then stood back

The manager inspected the snake and then placed it back in the basket while covering it.

He noticed that although Liang Hongyu, like other farm children, wore rough and tattered clothes, her demeanor was composed and not at all desperate.

She didn't seem eager to sell the snake immediately, nor did she appear ignorant.

After a moment of contemplation, he said, "If you're willing to sell, I'll offer one tael of silver."

Huo Tianzhou's expression remained neutral, but inwardly he was surprised.

Snakes could be used for medicinal purposes, and while medicinal materials were expensive, he had never imagined they could sell for a whole tael of silver.

In their village, someone had once caught a venomous snake and sold it for several hundred coins, which was considered a high price.

He was just wondering if he had misheard or if the manager had quoted the wrong price when he heard Liang Hongyu say,

"Two taels."

Huo Tianzhou quickly turned his head to look at her, his eyes widening in surprise at her bold demand.

He stood slightly behind her, and seeing her serious expression and her unwavering stance on the price, he couldn't help but tug at her sleeve.

The manager hadn't expected Liang Hongyu to dare to increase the price.

He thought she wasn't serious about doing business and was merely trying to gauge the price, so he became angry and said, "If you don't want to sell, then there's no need to come here. Go somewhere else; I can't afford it."

This was the most expensive medical hall in town; no other place would offer a higher price.

Huo Tianzhou grew anxious and looked at Liang Hongyu.

"Since we're already here, of course, we want to make a deal. But if the manager isn't sincere, we won't bother you any longer."

Liang Hongyu decisively picked up the bamboo basket, ready to leave, showing no concern that the snake might not sell.

The manager's expression changed, and he frowned, saying, "I'll add a maximum of five hundred coins, but I only want the gallbladder."

Liang Hongyu didn't know much about the prices of this era, but she knew that this snake, being old, had valuable venom and meat.

The medicinal materials here were expensive, so she wasn't being unreasonable in her asking price; it was the manager who wasn't being sincere.