Chapter 6: Tasting Poisonous Herbs

The children speculated about the identities of the older boys and girls, who were likely among the earlier recruits of the herbal gathering apprentices or disciples of the inner hall. They couldn't help but feel a sense of envy; it seemed that the Herbal Gathering Hall was indeed impressive. After a few years, they too could wear splendid clothes like those boys and girls and learn some impressive martial arts skills to show off.

Anyone who consumes between 50 to 70 plants may directly pay their respects to the vice hall master and become a core disciple of the external hall of the Herbal Gathering Hall

However, thinking of Daniu outside the courtyard, Ye Qin felt an overwhelming sense of grief and indignation. How could Daniu survive alone in the county town? If Daniu were to die, he would be the only solitary one left among the companions who had come out to seek food from the countryside.

However, before anyone participates in the drug trial, they must sign a life-and-death contract here with the chief steward. It must be stated that this drug trial is entirely voluntary, without any coercion, and in the event of any unforeseen circumstances, the individual will bear sole responsibility, with no involvement from others. Only after pressing their fingerprint can they enter to participate in the trial. Who will be the first to come

Those who have consumed more than 20 plants can become official herbal apprentices in the outer hall

The children felt the pain and immediately learned to behave, no longer daring to wander about. When the youths instructed them on how to interact with the books, they obediently followed the instructions.

In the evening, the servant from the herbal medicine hall delivered more than ten large buckets of porridge and more than ten large basins of steamed buns to the small courtyard. The servant smiled and said, "Eat your fill tonight, so you will have the strength to test the medicine in the main courtyard tomorrow. Otherwise, you won't have the energy tomorrow, and you won't be able to eat all day!"

Although he is referred to as Chief Steward Zhang, there is a hint of disdain in the tone of the young man in brocade. He is a core disciple of the inner hall, having apprenticed under a deputy hall master. This chief steward is merely responsible for miscellaneous duties, lacking martial skills, and is not worth mentioning in his eyes. However, due to his status, he has no choice but to address him as steward.

Fortunately, the other children were not troublemakers, and upon seeing Ye Qin's tattered clothes, they lost interest. Those from better-off families wore coarse cloth garments, while those from slightly less fortunate backgrounds could at least wear clean hemp clothing. It was quite rare to see someone like Ye Qin dressed in a hemp garment full of holes.

The yard is very small, and that chubby boy is quite overweight, and moreover, he is merely bloated. He simply cannot catch up with Ye Qin's slender figure. After only a short chase, he gasped for breath and gave up, continuously shouting and cursing, seemingly furious that Ye Qin had also entered the herbal medicine hall just like him, and in the same yard.

There are twenty plants of detoxifying herbs, which can heal the wounds caused by toxins

After consuming ten plants, one can become a registered herbal apprentice in the outer hall and observe for six months

The rules for drug testing are as follows

Ye Qin observed carefully; these gangs also have their distinctions

The chief steward Zhang paid no attention; instead, he enjoyed himself, nodding his head, standing on the high platform with his belly protruding, and calling out to the children in the large courtyard in a grand manner

Consuming more than thirty plants qualifies one to become a disciple of the inner hall of pharmacy. The more one consumes, the higher the待遇 within the door.

Ye Qin is relatively older among the children, but he is physically weak and is not a match for those younger than him. He pushed forward with determination and finally managed to grab a bowl of thin rice porridge and a steamed bun, stuffing them into his mouth without chewing. To him, this rice porridge and bun were the most delicious delicacies in the world

For the first time in over half a year, Ye Qin felt so full.

Among the children, a few of the gentry's offspring, including the chubby one, were the fewest in number, yet their attitude was the most domineering and aggressive. They disregarded the others and directly occupied the best room in the small courtyard.

Form an orderly line, form an orderly line, do not push! Listen to my instructions, everyone will be divided into ten groups and will enter the wooden house one by one to test the medicine. Whether you can become an apprentice in my herbal gathering hall and enjoy a life of comfort depends on whether you can pass this medicine testing phase

After generally maintaining order on the flat ground, one of the aloof young men leaped onto a platform several meters high and cupped his hands in salute to a middle-aged man dressed in satin, who appeared to be quite portly, saying, "Chief Zhang, everything has been arranged, and the drug testing can begin!"

Among them, fifty plants are poisonous, with varying degrees of toxicity. The less toxic ones may cause a slight itch all over the body if ingested, while the most toxic can be fatal within a quarter of an hour.

Each wooden cabin contains one hundred different types of herbs

From the accent and clothing, it is evident that those from the local county, those from the nearby town, and those from the countryside are almost distinctly separated, and they would never mix together. However, there is not a single person who resembles a beggar like him. He is well aware that there are probably no other little beggars who dare to come to this herbal medicine hall to apply for the position of a herbal medicine apprentice. Naturally, no one is willing to stay with him.

Ye Qin nestled in a corner of the small courtyard, dozing off in a drowsy state with a book in hand. That night, he had a nightmare, featuring the grim face of Wang Caiyao, the herbalist. He had firmly etched in his mind the "culprit and mastermind" behind driving away Da Niu. If Da Niu were to encounter an accident outside, this account would still be settled with Wang Caiyao.

The other thirty plants are non-toxic herbs, which can be consumed without any pain or harm

Several local gangs of commoners in the county town also dared not provoke the children of the gentry, occupying the remaining few houses

The next day, early morning

Those who consume fewer than 9 plants and subsequently suffer from poisoning will be immediately expelled from the herbal gathering and will not be considered for employment

Although the children have only known each other for less than a day, they have already begun to form cliques, resulting in dozens of groups of varying sizes

Ye Qin secretly glanced around the small courtyard, searching for a safe place to keep a distance from that chubby boy. In his heart, Ye Qin harbored a deep hatred for this chubby boy. Not to mention spitting at him, he had not provoked him at all, yet he still came to chase him. When the day comes that he has the strength, he will definitely give this kid a good beating, regardless of whether he is the son of a local gentry.

Ye Qin also saw that little chubby boy, the very one who had spat at the city gate. He immediately took to his heels and ran towards the crowd. His body was weak, and he knew he could not take on that boy, so he could only run for the time being

The vast majority of the children from the towns appear quite frail, not daring to speak, and can only sleep directly in the small courtyard. Although sleeping outdoors at night is somewhat chilly, the presence of many people makes it warm when they huddle together

The children, feeling hungry, scattered in a rush, leaving nothing behind.

Although there are several houses in the small courtyard, they cannot accommodate so many children; at most, they can house a few dozen.

Surrounding the flat area stood dozens of indifferent and proud teenagers, around fourteen or fifteen years old, dressed in identical splendid garments, wielding wooden swords to maintain order at the scene. Anyone who dared to run around would inevitably receive a few strikes from them

Certainly, the children of the wealthy gather together, while the children of the commoners also form their own groups, and the impoverished children from the countryside congregate together

How is this medicine tested? None of them are truly unaware; they only vaguely feel that it is quite dangerous

The largest flat area within the Medicine Gathering Hall courtyard. A high platform and ten small wooden houses have been temporarily erected here. In the flat area, several hundred children aged seven to twelve are standing haphazardly. They woke up this morning without having eaten anything and were brought here on an empty stomach to await the trial of the medicine