Zhou Liru saw her little aunt and immediately felt wronged, so she complained, "Aunt, they sell fake medicine and not only refuse to admit it, they even slander me!"

The man standing lazily behind the stall immediately replied, "Little girl, don’t speak nonsense. My medicine is real, absolutely genuine. You’re too young to know anything..."

Manbao stepped forward and asked, "What medicine?"

The man quickly took out a box and offered enthusiastically, "Miss, please take a look. This is Baoji Pills, used to treat diarrhea. You nobles might get unaccustomed to local water and soil since it’s your first time here. Baoji Pills are specifically for that ailment."

He continued, "Don’t underestimate the discomfort of acclimatization; it can be deadly if severe. Since there are so many of you, you should prepare more. This young lady suspects we’re selling fake medicine, which is a grave misunderstanding. This is made by Jishi Hall, a renowned pharmacy in Central Plains. You’ve heard of it, right?"

Manbao: ...

Zhou Liru glared, "You’re tarnishing Jishi Hall’s reputation!"

He didn’t mention this was made by Jishi Hall earlier, otherwise, she’d be even angrier.

Manbao reached out to take a pill for a look, but the other party quickly recoiled with a cheeky smile, "Miss, this medicine is precious, and shouldn’t be touched by hand."

Manbao looked up at him and asked, "How can I tell if it’s real or fake without inspecting it?"

The man was immediately displeased, closed the box, and said, "Miss, I don’t appreciate those words. You can smell the medicine’s fragrance; how could it be fake? Can you really tell just by looking?"

"I can’t," Manbao shook her head. "You have to taste it to know."

The words he had prepared got stuck, so he pivoted and said, "Then I definitely won’t let you see it. This medicine is valuable, how would I sell it if you touch and taste it?"

Bai Shan noticed that all five stalls nearby had switched from fruits, vegetables, and handmade goods to medicinal herbs and pills, suspecting they had learned of Manbao’s identity.

These stalls were set up specifically targeting Manbao.

If they knew about Manbao’s identity, why sell fake medicine?

He didn’t doubt Zhou Liru mistakenly identified them; she’s cautious and wouldn’t speak out without confidence, would likely consult Manbao instead of arguing here.

So...

Bai Shan closely observed their expressions, trying to discern if they knew or were clueless.

The group officially travels under Mr. Zhuang’s lead. When identity isn’t needed, they say he takes students on educational trips; needing official presence, he’s dispatched to the Western Regions with students for experience.

Manbao plays a minor role when needed.

In this Small Town visit, Mr. Zhuang met the Town Leader yesterday, sticking to the same narrative. As Manbao wasn’t there, she wasn’t mentioned. So how did they learn about Manbao’s status?

Liangzhou?

While pondering, Manbao focused on herbs on the stall, picked one up, and asked, "What’s this?"

The man glanced and confidently replied, "Cat’s Claw!"

Manbao nodded, picked another, "And this?"

"Kudzu Root!"

Manbao placed both together, picked another, looking at the man, who confidently named, "Chrysanthemum, doesn’t the miss recognize this?"

"This is Mint, a good remedy."

"China root, even better medicine."

Manbao placed them with previous herbs, picked another causing the man to falter, meeting eyes with her. Others watched intently like spectators, also focusing on him.

The man hesitated, then blurted, "That’s Bai Shu."

Manbao replied, "That’s Cang Shu."

Then she arranged them, continued searching the stall, not finding desired ones, moved to the next stall picking herbs asking, "What about this?"

The man stayed silent; he memorized his stall’s herbs, not others’.

The nearby stall owner interjected, stopped by Manbao, addressing the man, "Selling herbs, you should know their properties. These aren’t exotic; you should be familiar, right?"

The man, slightly annoyed, said, "Buy herbs if you want, otherwise let others browse. Why should I humor you for free?"

Manbao smiled, arranged herbs she held, "This is Hou Pu."

She continued picking, "This is Mu Xiang, this is Huo Xiang, this is Ji Li, this is Tian Hua Fen, this is Hua Ju Hong, this is Bai Zhi..."

Manbao selected herbs from four stalls, lining them up in a long row, finished and straightened, clapped her hands, "These are used in Baoji Pills. How many did your box contain?"

Man: ...

Stall owners: ... 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Moreover, these herbs have been stored too long without proper care, mostly unusable, though it’s not humid here. These probably exceeded three years?"

Though others weren’t sure, the men knew these herbs had indeed aged over three years.

They instinctively looked at each other. Feeling uneasy, spectators secretly slipped away and quickly fled.

Manbao extended a hand, "Can I inspect these Baoji Pills?"

The man held the box tightly. Manbao didn’t press, withdrew her hand, advising, "You can mess with meals, but not medicines. It might be harmless if you don’t give it, but remember, taking the wrong medicine can be fatal. Also, don’t sell fake medicine here, or anywhere else; I’m sure the Town Leader wouldn’t allow it."

She then turned to leave.

Zhou Liru snorted at him, turned to follow, exerting great effort to suppress words, "My aunt is an imperial doctor!"

Sadly, knowing they shouldn’t flaunt her aunt’s identity, she quietly followed her aunt home.

Bai Shan swept them a look, subtly smiling and tugged Bai Erlang along.

Once the courtyard door closed, the men exchanged glances, packing up and left.

The yard guests unaware, but townsfolk knew they belonged to the Town Leader.

The group packed their things, while the fleeing person reached the Town Leader’s house, reporting to the steward, "Steward, Brother Deyu’s plan failed. The courtyard guests recognized the herbs, said we’re selling fake medicine."

The steward furrowed his brow, "The medicine’s merely old. If they don’t wish to buy, they needn’t. Why claim we’re selling fakes?"

"No, she said selling fake Baoji Pills, identified the herbs for its preparation. Seemed genuine to me."

The steward’s expression shifted, gripping him, "She said we’re selling fake Baoji Pills?"

He nodded, "Indeed; well, she didn’t because Brother Deyu didn’t show the Baoji Pills, yet I sense that little girl wouldn’t mistake."