Alex’s cheeks flushed as the well-dressed man behind a counter displaying bundles of dried herbs and mushrooms glared at him. Alex heard the snickers of several customers who had been perusing glass vials filled with various liquids or pills. The young boy compounding in back was openly smirking at him.
He swallowed back his humiliation, bowing his head and quickly leaving the store.
He shook his head, tired, discouraged, his belly growling and feet sore.
It was the third apothecary he had tried so far today, and the brilliant afternoon sunlight so artfully muted into a warm glow by the canopy overhead was turning a fiery orange, with sunset perhaps an hour away.
And he had no coin, no food, and no shelter, in a strange city that seemed to treat foreigners as second-class citizens.
There had been no direct hostility, thank goodness, nothing like that first night he had arrived upon these shores, who knew how long ago. No one attempted to accost him, arrest him under false charges, or insult him. In fact, as long as he kept his eyes on the beautiful blossom covered trees or the soaring pagodas, everyone was content to leave him be, and every store owner, with only a few scowling exceptions, had beamed approving smiles as he perused their wares.
It was only when he had dared to catch the gazes of and smile at their woman that he had been shoved aside, and it was only when he showed himself not to be a rich tourist with coin to spend but rather a humble applicant looking for a job, that smiles had turned to sneers of disdain.
Alex gave a rueful chuckle, shaking his head. It looks like his starting quest wouldn’t be so easy after all.
And maybe, he thought, he should stop perusing shops in what was clearly the nicest area of town.
Alex swallowed, bowing low before the scowling old lady alone in her dusty shop, taking a deep whiff of the potent herbs, realizing it had been quite some time since the room was aired out.
Blackcap Head: 75% Median potency. Sageroot: 95% Median potency. Silvermeadow potency: Insufficient data.
Alex’s keen nose seemed to be making quick analysis of the potency of the herbs available, not terrible for all that selection was minimal. In truth, he was surprised to hear the voice in the back of his mind instantly analyzing their potency compared to the stock he had encountered at the other shops he had visited, wondering if it had just taken a bit before his interface was back online after a very long stasis period, or if he was only tuning in to its messages now.
The wizened old lady’s scowl grew. “Well, boy? What is it you want? Spit it out. I haven’t got all day.”
Alex flushed, grimacing with embarrassment. "My apologies, revered elder. I simply wanted to inquire as to whether or not you had any need for a possible… assistant within your shop.”
The elder’s eyes widened, before bursting out in cackling laughter. “By someone do you mean you? Gods’ mercy, pray tell me you jest, child! To think, a foreigner barging into my shop looking for work.”
Perhaps she noted his acute embarrassment, the bitter scowl his swallowed back before painting his features with smooth calmness once more. “This one apologizes for troubling you, elder. I shall burden you no further.” He winced as his stomach growled, his cheeks flushing under the woman’s discerning gaze.
“But I wouldn’t mind company for a bit of tea, boy, and in truth, I could use a bit of entertainment. Why don’t you join me for a bit and tell me your tale?”
With no further ceremony she darted back to the rear of her store, and Alex spied the burner he suspected was normally used for the alembic beside it, though presently it was being used to heat a bubbling kettle the old lady quickly poured the contents of in a fine piece of china and a clay pot before bringing both out along with several rice cakes upon a silver plate.
“Well, I don’t stand on ceremony, boy, unlike most people my age. Enjoy the tea and tell me your tale.”
Alex smiled, knowing enough to let the elder sip first before digging in, finding the hot tea the most refreshing drink imaginable after a day of walking on tired feet. Of course, he was still standing while the lady was comfortably sitting on a high chair behind the counter, but he knew better than to complain. He was nothing but grateful for the bit of kindness he was being shown, as well as for the company.
He took a thoughtful bite of the rice cake, eyes widening as he tasted the wondrously sweet and flavorful red bean paste in its heart.
His host’s eyes crinkled with pleasure. “It’s from my daughter’s bakery. Of course she knows better than to give her mother anything but her best work. Now enough flattering my daughter with your indecent moaning. This old woman’s ears are ready for some gossip!”
Alex bowed his head. "For the kindness you have shown me, I would be happy to." He flashed a bemused grin. "I'm actually an apprentice compounder who was just learning the very basics at sea before the ship I was sailing in was lost. By some miracle, I managed to swim to shore and was shown great kindness by an eccentric character who was kind enough to give me a place to rest my head and the clothes on my back. He didn't have a chance to explain the workings of this wondrous land in any detail before he was chased off by an irate grandfather who found his precious granddaughter had born a child not of her husband, but with the distinct features that could have only been from my benefactor.”
Alex winked at the old woman’s flummoxed expression. “Much chaos ensued, but I took cover while the heavens raged with their squabble, only to find myself evicted from my former lodgings. Now here I am with the clothes on my back, a knack for ascertaining the purity of any herb, flower, or concoction you put before me, and not much else to my name.”
He swallowed at the strange look she was giving him. “I’m also a fair hand at bookkeeping, and once upon a time I was, well, you could say I was apprenticed to a very wealthy merchant, but that was a long time ago.”
The old lady took a thoughtful sip of her tea. “An interesting tale indeed, lad.” She passed him another red bean filled pastry, seeing as he had already devoured the two originally placed beside his cup of tea. An idle hand then plucked free a handful of dried herbs and tossed them to Alex, who almost spilled his tea trying to catch them.
She gave a disapproving frown. “Not very coordinated, are you, lad. Well, what are you waiting for? What’s that in your hand?”
“Silverblade stalks at 77% of median market potency,” he said with a blink, flushing at the curious look she gave him.
"You're right about the name, at least. What's it used for?"
He blinked, dumbfounded, realizing he really wasn't sure. Still, he was curious as to just how far he could push his gift. "May I?" he hesitantly asked.
She frowned but nodded. He took a deep sniff, carefully snapping of a tiny piece of the stalk, placing the surprisingly bitter plant in his mouth.
Silverblade stalks analyzed. You now have 50% immunity to unwanted laxative effects from this compound. Vasodilatory properties detected. Cardioprotective properties detected.
After a long moment, Alex gazed up at the old woman peering at him so intently. He noted that she had filled both cups while he had been lost in thought. He shivered, realizing how vulnerable he had been, grateful the lady seemed a generous soul, despite her initially abrasive exterior.
“If I’m not mistaken, this herb can be used for preparations involving lowering blood pressure, protecting the heart, or, well, if you’re constipated.”
She frowned at his analysis. “You are correct, for the most part. Elders use it in tincture for their heart, and the oldest texts do report that frequent imbibers are less likely than their peers to die in their sleep from clots in their brain, but those are very, very old texts, not common knowledge.” She flashed a teasing smile. “Its bowel cleansing properties are what it’s most well-known and used for. Now, quickly, lad, explain to me what this powder is used for.”
Alex blinked but complied, and before long considerable time had passed with him analyzing any number of exotic compounds within h
er shop; contraceptive compounds, aphrodisiacs, and recreational stimulants being the most noteworthy, potent, and plentiful. She seemed to get a kick out of his analysis, laughing when he explained what he meant by median potency, saying of course her supplies were unlikely to be as potent as the overpriced tinctures sold on Noblesway Boulevard, but it was good, strong medicine nonetheless, she assured.
She sighed sadly, gazing out at the now dark street.
“Alright, lad. It’s been entertaining, but now’s about the time when my normal clientele starts to come by. I've enjoyed the chat, and good luck with finding a master who will take you on. ‘Tis a shame you don't radiate the aura of a cultivator with the rare specialization for alchemy. Then your fortune would be set, and you'd never want for coin again! But you certainly have something about you, enough to capture my eye, at least. Now take a sweet bun with you, and if you manage to set yourself up somewhere without being rounded up by the city guard? Don’t be a stranger!”
Alex blinked as he found himself expertly shooed out the door.
“Um… alright, thank you for the tea and rice cakes,” he said at last, swallowing as he met her bemused gaze a heartbeat before she was ready to shut the door in his face.
“I, um, don’t suppose you know anyone who might need an apprentice compounder?”
The lady grinned. “Try Liu Jian’s shop, two blocks west, twenty blocks south. You can tell him you’ve got Lady DuDu’s approval. He’ll know why I can’t take you on. Now shoo, lad. You’ll scare away my customers, and this isn’t the best area for you to be wandering about in at night.”
With that, the door was politely but firmly shut.
Alex sighed, wanting to ask which way south was, when a soft finger caressed his cheek.
His eyes widened and he spun around, beholding a vision of beauty with full lush lips, high cheekbones, and eyes fit to captivate a man’s soul. She wore an unusual amount of makeup for this era, yet the rosy blush, kohl eye liner, dusky eye shadow, and vermilion lip gloss suited her perfectly. She expertly caught his stunned gaze with a practiced flutter of her crimson lacquered fingernails before pointing down the road.
“It’s that way, love. Two blocks past Noblesway, then turn left and walk for a bit. You’ll know it when you see it.”
Alex blinked, surprised to be spoken to so frankly by such a strikingly beautiful young woman when shy meekness seemed to be the norm, her attire hugging her curves in ways he hadn’t seen since he had last been on Earth, for all that her red silk dress covered in golden flowers would still be considered demure, even classy, by the standards of his day.
“Thank you, ma’am. I appreciate it.”
She flashed a teasing smile. “You’re welcome.”
She eyed him up and down in frank appraisal before giving an approving nod. “If you really want to thank me, come by Grandfather Zhao’s Happy Pavilion when you land on your feet and have some coin you’d like to spend on a lucky lady. Just ask for Dan Ai. You won’t regret it.”
She winked and entered the shop, lingering traces of perfume and poppy fumes left in her wake.
Alex chuckled softly, suddenly understanding Lady DuDu’s preferred clientele.
He wasted no time, as twilight would soon turn to true night, and he feared to be caught out in a strange city after dark with so few resources or prospects to his name.
"We're closed!" Snapped a gruff voice as Alex tentatively knocked on the reinforced hardwood door, impressed despite himself with how solid and secure the building looked, blending in perfectly with its neighbors, yet he could tell that the cluster of stores right where the road branched off were a cut above the more dilapidated buildings farther down. There were even several cherry trees across the street with their branches and trunks carefully shaped to arch over the road, no doubt providing soothing shade for the patrons visiting this alchemist shop or the music shop next to it, or the now-closed restaurant two stores down.
Yet right now everything was quiet and still in the growing gloom, the fascinating streetlights that were either carefully lit paper lamps or, Alex almost hoped, magical artifacts lining the main thoroughfare were a distant memory even two blocks off the boulevard.
Alex swallowed, knowing he should probably come back the next day, but hating the thought of spending the night huddled in between buildings somewhere, hopefully remaining unmolested, with nowhere safe to lay his head.
He grimaced, hating feeling forced to play his cards through the door, but things were as they were. “Lady DuDu recommended I come by and speak to you.”
A heavy pause before Alex could hear locks being undone, and he would feel ecstatic if it weren’t for the heavy cursing he could hear as well.
An eyehole slot was opened. Alex could hear a snort.
“And a foreigner, no less.”
Yet much to his amazement, the door was finally opened, revealing a middle-aged gentleman glowering at him, as well as a beautiful girl who looked about his age gazing at him curiously from deeper inside the shop. He blinked, surprised to see her wearing a hat, and inside her home of all things, but quickly put all his focus on the man before him, bowing low at the waist.
“Thank you, esteemed master Liu Jian. Forgive me for disturbing your evening. I was hoping, that is, after talking to Lady DuDu...” he sighed under the bemused smirk of the girl who was already clearly working for the man.
“Long story short, I’m in desperate need of a job.” He quickly raised a hand before the older man could say a word edgewise. “Please. I can see already that you have an assistant apothecary so let me just say I’m willing to do pretty much anything, including serve as a runner or delivery boy or, well, whatever else you need.” He flashed a desperate smile. “I’m friendly, well-behaved, don’t take up much room, and am willing to work for cheap. And if it’s worth anything… I have a decent knack for determining the potency and purpose of most alchemical or medicinal ingredients you put before me, and I’m sure I could brew potent concoctions if I had even the tiniest bit of training.”
The last alone caused the girl’s eyes in back to widen.
The man snorted. “And of course, you conveniently show now, in the dead of night, with your word alone for reference...”
“Father…”
“Fine. He can come in the morning.”
The girl gave a pert frown. “And where is he supposed to spend tonight? Just look into his eyes. He’s tired, afraid, and has nowhere to go.”
“And how is that our problem?”
“Father, look at him!”
Something in the intensity of her voice, perhaps, but the older man couldn’t help but shake his head, muttering. “Alright. He can come in for some tea.”
“And dinner,” said the girl, flashing Alex a gentle smile.
“Fine!” Liu Jian harrumphed. “But if he’s putting our food in his belly, he’s paying us back with hard work tomorrow.” The curmudgeonly apothecary scowled at Alex. “You’re not afraid of hard work, are you, boy?”
Alex emphatically shook his head. “Not at all, sir. I would be happy for the chance to earn the bread on my plate.”
"Rice. We eat rice here, not bread," said the girl before dipping out of the room, returning with a smile just moments later after the old man locked the door and a bamboo table and trio of reed chairs seemed to appear almost by magic, the three of them eating in the public area of the store. Alex couldn't help wondering if that was the common arrangement here. He would have to inquire at some point, though now he was busy just trying not to flush with embarrassment at the obvious pity that had motivated the ebony-haired beauty with her jade green eyes that had just a touch of silver when the lamplight hit them just right, even now pouring him tea and smiling just a bit too warmly while ladling him out a bowl of chicken and rice soup that smelled absolutely divine.
He quickly lowered his gaze when he caught the elder's glare. Right. No directly admiring women in this culture, or maybe it was just him that people objected to.
“This one humbly thanks you for the food,” he said, bowing his head.
“As well you should,” grumped the man.
“Father!” said the girl with an exasperated smile, before turning back to Alex. “So, a foreigner enters our shop, looking like he just got blown in with the North Wind. You must have an exciting tale to share!”
Alex grimaced but accepted the gentle interrogation as a price he was more than willing to pay for the chance to fill his belly with hot fare and ease his throbbing feet, grateful to have discovered the public restroom facilities sometime back, rare as they were, though he could have done without the scowls he had earned using them as a foreigner, as if he had been committing some grave sin. He had actually bowed before the attendant in thanks, earning him a mocking smile and nod as he had dashed off, which had still been better than the hostile glare.
Very reminiscent of the gaze Liu Jian was giving him even now as he haltingly repeated the tale he had told Lady Dudu.
“A boy flees a doomed ship, only to be rescued by a mischievous philanderer who gets chased away by powerful people, leaving the boy alone in the world. Likely story,” the man harrumphed, chewing reflectively.
The girl, however, was peering at Alex intently with her jade green eyes, and he couldn’t help flushing under her regard. “There’s more to that story than what you revealed, isn’t there?”
He froze, chopsticks halted in mid-air, flushing hotly under her regard. At which point he knew his awkward pause would make him denying it a liar. She also knew she had flushed him out, flashing a brilliant smile. "There's more food still, so finish the tale."
The invitation and threat were clear with her beautiful smile.
He flushed and swallowed the food in his mouth, sipping tea to ease his cough and buy himself time.
“The ship that sunk. Let’s just say, they weren’t exactly good people.”
Liu Jian snorted. “Were you working for smugglers then, lad?”
Silver Fox & The Western Hero: Warrior Reborn: A LitRPG/Wuxia Novel - Book 1 Page 11
