Chapter 290: Chapter 277: Sorry

Translator: 549690339 |

“No need, don’t worry about dinner either. Just pack your things and leave tonight.” On Ge Tonghua’s face, there was no sign of reluctance, only enough annoyance and impatience.

As if in front of him was a bothersome plaster that he just wanted to get rid of as fast as possible.

Clenching in his heart, Zhuang Wencheng set the items in his hand on the ground. “As Master put it that way, I’ll go pack my stuff.”

With that said, he headed towards the backyard.

His steps were heavy, but not slow.

“Master, it’s already late. If Wencheng leaves now, he might not find a carriage to go home. Please let Wencheng stay here for one more night.” Han Hu suggested softly.

“He won’t be lacking a place to stay!” Ge Tonghua snorted. “With enough time to worry about him, you should spend more worrying about things in our shop!”

Once Zhuang Wencheng has left, there will only be one apprentice in the pharmacy. Many things will need to be rearranged, including Ge Tonghua’s workload. At this time Ge Tonghua has enough on his plate without worrying about someone who’s not relevant.

“Actually, Master, the truth hasn’t been fully determined yet. Even though Wencheng and Manager Zhuang are cousins and are close, the mosquito repellent herbs from the cloth shop may not necessarily be made by him,” Han Hu spoke in a low voice.

“That again!”

Ge Tonghua was becoming impatient. “A cloth shop selling cloths to make clothing suddenly starts selling mosquito repellent grass sachets after his sister came to visit from their hometown. On the same day, Zhuang Wencheng is busy running to the cloth shop. If you say there is nothing fishy about this, who will believe it?”

“First, he stole herbs to make a profit, then a girl he was seeing came to the shop crying, with her father coming to apologize in the end. Now, the cloth shop suddenly starts making a fortune from selling mosquito repellent sachets. If you look at each of these cases, which one of them is unfairly blaming him?”

“His character is there for all to see. Anyway, it’s better to get rid of someone from the pharmacy like him sooner. Otherwise, I won’t be able to bear any responsibility if something happens.”

“Master…” Han Hu seemed to have more to say, his gaze anxiously darting towards the backyard.

“I know you’ve always favoured Wencheng and are afraid of him suffering, but has he ever shown respect to you?” Seeing Han Hu like this, Ge Tonghua started to chime in. “No need to speak up for him, if there is nothing to do in the pharmacy, you go check the backyard to make sure Zhuang Wencheng isn’t up to something.”

“I will go and see Wencheng off.” Saying this, Han Hu went to the backyard.

When he reached the backyard, Zhuang Wencheng had already packed most of his things in his room.

“You are quick…” Han Hu looked at Zhuang Wencheng, who was engrossed in packing, not sure what to say. He finally squeezed out this sentence, but after saying it, he felt it wasn’t quite right. He reached out to help Zhuang Wencheng with his luggage. “Let me help you.”

“It’s okay, Brother Huzi, you just focus on your own tasks. If the master sees this, he might blame you.” Zhuang Wencheng forced a smile, stuffing the last garment into his bag.

Despite being an apprentice and living in the pharmacy, he didn’t own much. He only had a few pieces of clothing, a personal quilt, and eating utensils. Even after packing everything up, it was still just a small parcel.

Declining Han Hu’s offer to accompany him to the door, Zhuang Wencheng picked up his parcel and left through the front door. Just before he departed, he bowed to Ge Tonghua, offering a respectful goodbye.

Just like the greeting when he first entered the master’s door.

“Such hypocritical acting.” Ge Tonghua didn’t take the gesture seriously and simply turned and walked away.

Zhuang Wencheng froze, bit his lip and finished the last rites. He then took his parcel and left the pharmacy, heading in a certain direction.

After walking quickly for a few steps, he slowed down as he marveled at the beautiful sunset.

At this point, if he tried to go home, he probably wouldn’t find a carriage.

And going home would likely result in his parents asking why he came back, or if Zhuang Qinghe caused trouble for him again, inevitably instigating a fight at Zhuang Qinghe’s home.

Although Zhuang Wencheng didn’t like Zhuang Ruman and a fight was almost inevitable, he had heard that Zhuang Qinghe had been beaten to a pulp by Zhuang Ruman after her last visit home. If there happened to be another fight this time, Zhuang Qinghe would probably suffer the same fate.

Although Zhuang Wencheng didn’t like Zhuang Qinghe’s nagging and blame her for costing him his apprenticeship at the pharmacy, she didn’t deserve to suffer that much.

After contemplating, Zhuang Wencheng decided to go to his cousin, Zhuang Yutian’s cloth shop, and stay there for a few days while he figured out what to do next.

Having made his decision, Zhuang Wencheng set off for the cloth shop.

Han Hu remained by the entrance of the pharmacy for a while. When he went back in, his face did not look good. “Master, Wencheng, he…”

“I saw it, he’s going to the cloth shop.”

“See, didn’t I tell you so?” Ge Tonghua slapped the medical book in his hand rhythmically. “This matter is definitely related to him!”

“From now on, we’ll act as if he’s never been a part of this pharmacy, and don’t mention him in front of me again!”

“Yes…” Han Hu agreed, a trace of guilt streaked across his face and he closed his eyes in helplessness.

Sorry, truly sorry, I really had no choice.

My parents passed away early and I was raised by my aunt. As my aunt’s health deteriorated, my uncle took all of the family’s money and ran away, leaving behind a sickly aunt and two young cousins.

Intent on supporting my aunt’s family, yet unable to earn much as an apprentice, I stole and replaced the herbs that were supposed to be prepared according to the prescription to make a bit of extra cash that helped my aunt’s family scrape by.

Once the deception was discovered, if the master found out, I wouldn’t be able to remain in the pharmacy, and my medical studies would remain incomplete. From then on, all hopes would be lost. Pushing the blame onto you was the only option, so the master could focus on teaching only me, his sole remaining apprentice.

Truly, I’m sorry…

I only have this one way to go and your family is well-off enough. You could still take a different path, could you just let me have this only lifeline?

Han Hu sighed in his heart, one after another.

Alkali, wood ash, tea leaves, and clean duck eggs.

Mix into a paste, evenly coat the duck eggs, then roll them in a layer of rice husk and wood powder, seal them in a jar, and maintain a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees, to be cured for ten days.

The cured duck eggs were crystal clear and translucent, resembling amber. There was a white “pineflower” pattern on them. These were century eggs.