Chapter 26: Thief
Back at the medical shop, the afternoon training focused on simple illnesses and their corresponding formulas. While Ye Ling was listening, her mind wandered, "The training was almost over, but why hadn't Liu Lin shown any unusual behavior?"
Just as Ye Ling was lost in thought, someone tapped her arm.
She looked up and saw a pale-faced girl with delicate features looking at her as if she had something to ask.
"What's wrong?" Ye Ling looked at her in confusion. She recognized the girl as Yun Jie, another intellectual youth from Stone Village, although they weren't acquainted and had never spoken before.
Yun Jie handed Ye Ling a notebook containing a record of a prescription that had just been discussed. "Is it necessary to use these two herbs in this prescription? I don't think they are needed."
So, she had a question for Ye Ling. Ye Ling quickly glanced at the prescription recorded in the notebook.
"You're right. These two herbs don't seem to have much effect. Even if they are omitted, it won't make much difference. However, in cases where the patient's body is weak, it's difficult for them to absorb tonics. These two herbs help moderate the properties of other herbs and facilitate better absorption for the patient. However, if the patient is in good health, these two herbs can be omitted," Ye Ling patiently explained.
Yun Jie nodded, quickly looked at Ye Ling, and said, "Thank you."
"No problem."
After their brief exchange, Yun Jie turned and left, leaving Ye Ling with a petite figure.
Ye Ling felt that Yun Jie was a diligent learner. Compared to others participating in the training, Yun Jie had a better foundation and wasn't trying to rush through medical studies within a few days. She genuinely approached the training with a learning attitude.
If it weren't for this, Yun Jie wouldn't have overcome her reserved and aloof nature to approach Ye Ling with a question. Ye Ling had received compliments from the middle-aged man several times, not only for her ability to identify medicinal herbs but also for her skill in handling them. Yun Jie probably avoided asking the middle-aged man due to his bad temper and sought Ye Ling's advice instead.
The next day marked the end of the training.
After Ye Ling entered the medicine shop, she was about to head to the backyard when she bumped into someone when she passed by the counter.
It was a young woman in her thirties. After she bumped into Ye Ling, she revealed a dissatisfied and irritated expression. She glared at Ye Ling and then left.
Ye Ling frowned, feeling that something was amiss.
Upon reaching the backyard, Ye Ling joined the other trainees to process the medicinal herbs in batches as usual. However, before long, they all heard a commotion coming from the medical shop counter.
Not long after, the owner of the medicine shop and the young woman who had bumped into Ye Ling walked towards the backyard. When the young woman saw Ye Ling, she angrily pointed at her and said, "It's her! She must have stolen my things!"
Ye Ling was puzzled. When did she steal something?
All eyes were now focused on Ye Ling.
The young woman placed her hands on her waist and looked at Ye Ling with contempt. In a sarcastic tone, she said, "Boss, I can't believe there's a thief in your medicine shop. What are you going to do about this?"
Before the medical shop owner could respond, the middle-aged man responsible for training Ye Ling and the others stepped forward, furrowing his brow as he looked at the woman. He asked, "Do you have any evidence to support your claim that she stole something?"
"When I left the medicine shop, she intentionally bumped into me. After that, my belongings went missing. Who else could it be if not her? My possession was made of pure gold and quite expensive. You have quite the eye for quality, you thief!" The young woman glared at Ye Ling with malice.
The confusion in Ye Ling's eyes slowly dissipated, and then gradually became profound and restrained.
So, this young woman had targeted her. No wonder she had felt that something was amiss.
Ye Ling reached into her pockets and indeed felt something that didn't belong to her in one of them. It was a thin, lightweight item that she hadn't noticed when it entered her pocket.
The young woman stared at Ye Ling for a moment before abruptly rushing towards her. She quickly searched Ye Ling's pockets and immediately pulled out the thin gold leaf. "It was on you! No wonder you were discreetly checking your pockets just now!"
The young woman looked at Ye Ling with malevolence and showed the golden leaf to everyone present. She declared, "You all saw it, right? She stole my belongings! Boss, why haven't you called the police yet?"
Even the medical shop owner was taken aback. He hadn't expected to find a golden leaf on Ye Ling.
At that moment, the gazes of many people toward Ye Ling underwent a noticeable change.