“I’m the one who wanted the herb first!” Tang Hao’s tone of voice was impassive.
Divine Doctor Hu’s face blushed red with embarrassment.
However, the stall owners all around looked indignant.
“Hey, you’re just a child. How could you speak like that?”
“Don’t you know who he is? He is a famous divine doctor. He needs the herbs to save the sick and dying. What could a child like you possibly do?”
Everyone shouted in agreement.
Most of the stall owners were at least middle-aged. They were booing Tang Hao.
Divine Doctor Hu coughed lightly. “Ahem, my young friend, I really need these herbs.”
“And I don’t?” Tang Hao retorted.
Divine Doctor Hu was shocked. Then, he burst out laughing.
‘Isn’t this kid still a teenager? And he says that he needs those herbs? I don’t think he even knows what they are!
‘This is such a joke!
‘What does he need the herbs for? Make tea?’
Divine Doctor Hu burst out laughing again when he thought of that.
“I’m not fooling with you, my friend. I need the herbs. A patient is waiting for me.”
Divine Doctor Hu grinned. “I don’t mean to look down on you, but I don’t think you ever know what herb this is! You’ll only squander it! Why don’t you let me have it instead?”
The stall owners booed even louder when they heard that.
In their eyes, Divine Doctor Hu needed the herbs to help his patients. They did not know what use the kid had for the herb.
“What does the kid know?” Some of them mocked out loud.
Tang Hao smirked and said nonchalantly. “It’s bloodhemp grass. Common knowledge.”
Divine Doctor Hu’s expression stiffened. He looked incredibly surprised.
‘Bloodhemp grass is incredibly rare. Not many people should know about it. So how would this kid know?’
“Since you know that it’s bloodhemp grass, then you should know its functions! Bloodhemp grass is good for improving blood circulation, healing bruises, and replenishing vital energy. The effects would be greater if you combine it with other herbs,” Divine Doctor Hu said.
Tang Hao laughed. “What a senseless waste!” He spat out each syllable.
Divine Doctor Hu was shocked.
He was wondering if he had misheard. A teenager of eighteen years was telling him that he was wasting precious herbs!
That was utterly ridiculous!
He might not consider himself as a divine doctor, but he was confident of his herbology skills.
The Hu family had been physicians for almost four centuries. His name, Hu Huaichun, was also very famous in modern times.
However, he had been insulted by a teenager!
He could feel his anger rising.
‘That kid is too brazen!’ He thought as his face darkened.
“Did you say that I’m senseless wasting the herb? Tell me then, how are you planning to use it without wasting it?” He said coldly.
“You’ve underestimated the restorative properties of bloodhemp grass. With another combination of herbs, it could stimulate blood production in the patient’s body. That could help someone who had suffered major blood loss.
“It’s a senseless waste of this precious herb if you use it for a recovering patient’s recuperation. There are so many other herbs that could do the same thing. You don’t need the bloodhemp grass for that.
“You should know that bloodhemp grass is incredibly rare! You’re using an incredibly rare herb to perform a function of which there are many common substitutes. If that’s not a senseless waste, I don’t know what is!” Tang Hao’s tone of voice became sterner as he spoke.
Hu Huaichun had no response to that.
However, he remained indignant. “You’re right that there are many medicinal herbs that can restore a patient’s vital energy, but none of them are as potent as bloodhemp grass. There is no substitute for bloodhemp grass if you want the best results!
“Shouldn’t I use the best available herb to treat the patient?”
Everyone cheered when they heard that.
“That’s a divine doctor for you! He’s always thinking about the best for his patients!”
Tang Hao grunted nonchalantly. “There’s no substitute because your prescription is bad!”
Hu Huaichun nearly burst out laughing when he heard that.
‘This kid is saying that the Hu family prescription is bad?
‘How arrogant can he be to make such a claim?’
“You talk big, kid! Show me your prescription then! If you can’t show me something better, then you’d better take those words back!” Hu Huaichun said coldly.
His gaze toward Tang Hao was full of frustration.
‘This kid is too arrogant! Whose apprentice is he? How dare he look down upon the Hu family?’
Tang Hao glanced at him and said calmly, “You want a prescription? Sure, I’ll come up with one for you now.”
Then, he turned around and headed into the market.
Hu Huaichun was stunned.
He had thought that the kid was only bluffing, but he seemed like he was actually going to do it.
Then, he smirked coldly.
He could not believe that the kid could come up with a prescription that was better than what the Hu family could do.
Some of the stall owners packed up their stalls and followed behind them.
They could not afford to miss the drama. They wanted to see how the kid would humiliate himself.
‘That kid is only a teenager. How dare he challenge Divine Doctor Hu? Has he lost his mind?’
More people saw that scene and followed behind.
Very soon, a large group of people was gathered behind Tang Hao and Hu Huaichun.
They were discussing intensely among themselves as they walked.
“Did you hear that? Someone is challenging Divine Doctor Hu!”
“Really? Who’s the idiot? He’ll only humiliate himself! Who’s Divine Doctor Hu, if not one of the greatest luminaries in the Chinese medical world?”
The commotion soon reached a substantial portion of the medicinal herb market.
Everyone in the market knew who Divine Doctor Hu was. He was a respected figure.
More people crowded around. They looked at Tang Hao mockingly.
Tang Hao walked in front. He looked absolutely calm.
He swept his gaze across his surroundings as he walked.
Suddenly, he stopped walking. He picked up a shopping basket and started putting herbs inside.
Then, he continued walking.
He turned to his sides occasionally and picked up some more herbs.
Hu Huaichun regarded him with condescension. He thought that the kid was only putting up an act. However, when Tang Hao picked up the fourth ingredient, his expression turned grim.
The herbs that Tang Hao picked truly had the effect of restoring vital energy. Furthermore, the properties of those herbs did not clash with each other.
Coming up with a prescription was not merely mixing herbs of similar properties. One needed to consider their potencies and side effects.
About four minutes later, Tang Hao stopped. There were eleven different herbs in his basket.
“It’s done!” Tang Hao turned around and showed the basket to Hu Huaichun.
“This… is my prescription!”
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