The old physician opened his eyes. "Little girl, come to see a doctor?"

Cheng Ying presented a bundle of chrysanthemum flowers. "Doctor, take a look at this."

He sniffed it before unwrapping the package. "Good quality. You're here selling medicinal herbs from the city?"

"Aye," Cheng Ying nodded, "do you want some?"

The old man spread the flowers on parchment paper, examining them carefully without immediately accepting. "Girlie, these are nice—anything else you've brought along?"

Cheng Ying's excitement was barely contained. "How much would you take?"

The physician paused at her forward tone. "Five bundles first if you have."

Displeased by the abrupt request, Cheng Ying said coldly, "Wait here while I fetch more."

He mused about their hidden stash, watching Cheng leave with Chi Wu standing guard. Grateful she'd brought extra—about ten bundles were carefully packed in her satchel.

"Children," he observed as they returned, "these are mountain-gathered herbs?"

Chi Wu stiffened. These treasures must stay family property. How dare this stranger pry! The boy's fibs spilled naturally under Cheng's influence, particularly since Chi Wu feared treasure hunters might follow their trail.

When the physician asked about home supply after Cheng reentered, she hesitated. Quick-witted as ever, yet Chi Wu's deception impressed her—better safe than sorry with strangers.

"Little girl," the old man smiled, "keep some for me. I have two aged friends who bathe their feet in such herbs. Bring more when you collect."

Cheng calculated internally. A trip across town for a few bundles seemed impractical. "How many?" she asked flatly.

"Just five every two months," he answered with grandfatherly warmth.

Chi Wu nodded eagerly, volunteering to handle the errands. The physician handed Cheng five silver coins, carefully packing the chrysanthemums as a middle-aged couple entered—clearly Chi Yong's type.

Cheng lingered after receiving snacks. At noon, she and Chi Wu sat on benches eating dry rations when the physician paused mid-task. "Tea for you two?"

Chi Wu declined sharply. This was a medicine shop; he'd heard tales of drugged teas. Cheng wanted hot water but was physically restrained—overprotective to an extreme.

The couple's man received pulse diagnosis, his lower back injury evident from years past. The wife fretted anxiously while her husband slowly comforted her by patting her hand. As they waited for medicine, the husband noticed the chrysanthemums on the table. "Fine herb," he remarked.

"You've discerning taste," the physician nodded toward Cheng holding bundles.

Cheng's performance was deliberate—this couple clearly had means with their aristocratic bearing. The wife approached smoothly, exuding elegant poise. "Little girl, more of these?" she asked politely.

Cheng fumbled through Chi Wu's satchel but found nothing, much to her growing embarrassment. A careless movement accidentally exposed the golden-furred treasure inside—Chi Wu had been staring all along, as had the physician.

"Grandfather," he called out sharply, snatching the bundle away before anything could be seen.

The physician's interest was piqued. "Let me see that hide."

Cheng hesitated until Chi Wu insisted it was just a family item. The couple's reactions were telling—the wife already coveted it for her husband's chronic ailments.

"Please wait," Cheng excused herself, nearly dragging Chi Wu out to avoid further scrutiny. She paused at the doorway as the physician assured them safety within his shop premises. The wife showed the medical license again—ineffectual proof of legitimacy in Cheng's mind.

Back outside, she wrestled the tightly held bundle from Chi Wu who'd become quite adept at improvisation. The couple finally beheld the two-meter tiger pelt with its full tail—genuine and luxurious enough for a whole blanket set.

"Real?" the wife questioned doubtfully.

"Impossible to fake," her husband declared, running his hands over the fur.

The physician raved about it endlessly before asking why such treasures traveled with them.

Cheng feigned tears. "Grandpa's illness..." she explained through downcast eyes while Chi Wu blushed at her fabricated tragedy of orphaned grandmothers and deceased fathers—truthful details that painted a pitiful picture in the couple's minds. The wife's sympathy was overflowing as Cheng left.