Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder — I Rise to Female Lead Through Hard Work-Chapter 36: Medicine Has Its Poison

Yi Roujing opened the medicine pack that hadn’t been decocted yet. Generally, people can’t recognize processed traditional Chinese medicine, but this didn’t stump Yi Roujing. After identifying the types of herbs inside, Yi Roujing chuckled with annoyance.

"Who prescribed the medicine?"

Xia Xingchen was stumped by Yi Roujing’s question and, after thinking for a while, said, "It should be Doctor Qiu."

"Should be?" Ding Anmin asked incredulously, "You don’t even know who prescribed the medicine yet you dare to drink it recklessly."

"I’ve been drinking it all along, I..."

"Is there a problem?" Ding Anmin looked at Yi Roujing and asked. At this moment, she didn’t doubt that Yi Roujing knew her stuff.

"Medicine is three parts poison. Even generally healthy people, who drink it over the years, can develop problems, let alone someone as weak as you." Yi Roujing said, "Let alone this medicine you’ve been drinking."

"People who are strong and fit can become frail after drinking it for many years. No wonder you pant and gasp like a cow after just a few moves." Yi Roujing glared at Xia Xingchen, absolutely foolish.

"Though there’s no poison in it, there are a few slightly cold-natured herbs like Anemarrhena and Mint. The quantities are small, but after drinking it for so many years, well, you are the best evidence."

"What you need is warming and tonifying medicine. These medicines completely disregard the interactions of medicinal properties and are randomly chosen. This person should know Chinese medicine. They’ve chosen herbs with weak properties; they won’t kill anyone, nor cure any disease. For someone with a weak constitution who keeps drinking them, sooner or later they’ll be bedridden, waiting to die."

Xia Xingchen’s face turned ashen, shaking her head like a rattle, "No, no, my stepmom wouldn’t harm me. If she wants to harm me, there are better ways. Why go to such lengths?"

Ding Anmin, hearing this, also wondered the same, "Yeah, if she truly dislikes Xingchen, she could just directly mistreat her."

"It’s exactly like being a whore but wanting to set a high moral standard," Yi Roujing said, "In outsiders’ eyes, she is a good stepmother. Even a fool like you thinks so."

"She’s truly a venomous woman." Ding Anmin exclaimed angrily.

"She wouldn’t, how could she do this, it doesn’t make sense. She’s been good to me since I was a kid, tying my braids, making me new clothes, being better to me than to her own daughter. After marrying my dad, she even bore a brother, but she’s been consistently kind to me..." Xia Xingchen’s eyes were filled with struggle, unable to believe she’d be harmed by someone she trusts.

"There’s always a reason for being good to you." Yi Roujing chimed in, "Did your biological mother leave anything to you?"

Xia Xingchen’s eyes trembled with disbelief as she looked at Yi Roujing.

"Seems like she left plenty." Yi Roujing said, "People die for wealth, birds for food—it’s a simple truth. You have something your stepmom covets. She treats you that way to make you willingly give it to her. Even if you don’t want to give it, with her close connection, she has ways to take it from you."

Ding Anmin reached out to pull Yi Roujing aside, feeling a little worried about Xia Xingchen’s current state.

"Xia Xingchen, you need to think clearly about whom you are living for." Yi Roujing pressed on ruthlessly, "Sometimes, you need to be selfish and live for yourself; there are many irresponsible parents out there. She’s just a stepmother, don’t tell me this has given you a wake-up call. Don’t be so fragile."

"You don’t need to completely deny it now, but what you have to do is be smart, investigate for yourself. If they have truly wronged you, then retaliate strongly, don’t suffer losses where you shouldn’t."

"I don’t know your family’s situation, but you, a girl from Jing City, ended up as an educated youth in such a remote southern area. Think about where your stepmom’s two children are now, what they are doing, put some thought into it."

"I’ve said my piece, now I’ll go cut pigweed." Yi Roujing signaled to Ding Anmin, and the two moved forward to support Xia Xingchen, heading up the mountain from the educated youth spot.

On the way, Xia Xingchen moved like a puppet, letting Yi Roujing and Ding Anmin support her. But soon she started to breathe heavily, and the two stopped to rest in a shady spot.

Ding Anmin pondered aloud, "Xingchen, I didn’t notice before, but now I find you’re weaker even than Bai Wei’s son Jie. He’s frail too, but he doesn’t start panting heavily after walking for a while like you do."

"You really shouldn’t drink the medicine your stepmom brought. We should go to the commune’s health center, I know an old Chinese medicine doctor, Elder Ren. Although he’s currently guarding the health center’s gate, we’ll sneak in to ask him." Ding Anmin said.

"An old Chinese medicine doctor? Guarding the gate?" Yi Roujing’s face showed disdain for wasted talent.

"Bai Wei always saw him for medication; her son Jie’s condition needs gradual treatment with Chinese medicine." Ding Anmin explained earnestly, "Elder Ren gave a little leeway out of pity for Bai Wei and Jie. You mustn’t tell anyone about this, or it could harm Elder Ren."

When Ding Anmin said this, she was mainly looking at Yi Roujing, who chuckled with mock annoyance, "Do I seem like that kind of person?"

"Although you wouldn’t do harm intentionally, your mouth sometimes votes without thinking. I’m worried you might blurt it out." Ding Anmin replied, "However, you’ve gotten smarter recently, keep it up."

"Alright." Yi Roujing replied in resignation, yet amused.

Xia Xingchen had something on her mind, and the afternoon’s pigweed was mostly cut by Ding Anmin and Yi Roujing.

"Come to my house for dinner tonight."

No matter whether Xia Xingchen replied or not, Ding Anmin simply held onto Xia Xingchen along the way.

Yi Roujing couldn’t truly empathize, as she had never experienced pure family affection from relatives. After continuous disappointments, she no longer held hopes. Not caring meant not getting hurt.

At this moment, Xia Xingchen appeared somewhat like a walking corpse, evoking some pity in Yi Roujing. The girl described in the book truly had a miserable life; for as perfect as the protagonist’s life was, hers was equally tragic.

The three unloaded the pigweed at the brigade’s warehouse and went back home. Ding Weihuo, Li Hongying, and Ding Anguo hadn’t returned yet. Ding Anmin went to busy herself in the kitchen, not forgetting to call Xia Xingchen, so she could distract herself a bit and regain some spirit.

Seeing this, Yi Roujing didn’t intend to be idle either, helping with preparing and cutting vegetables, while watching the fire.

She’d never used a rural stove before, the flames inside were quite hot. It was just March now, but come summertime, imagine the feeling...

Li Hongying came back and immediately went into the kitchen, momentarily surprised to see Yi Roujing stoking the fire before she efficiently started cooking.

Today’s meal was all vegetarian, but fortunate as Li Hongying’s cooking skills were good, and she was generous with lard. Even vegetables were cooked tastily, and Yi Roujing had two more bowls of rice.

Rubbing her slightly bulging stomach, Yi Roujing reflected briefly, her current food intake nearly doubling that of before. But considering the volume of work now, pure physical labor, she quickly let it go.

"Xingchen, we’ll take you back."