For the past few days, Zhao Yan has been completely absorbed in gathering herbs. This isn't to avoid Madam Chen; she stopped being angry with him a long time ago.
The reason for his obsession is simply that Zhao Yan has grown to love this way of life. Every time he discovers a new herb, he feels a thrill of pleasant surprise. To Zhao Yan, these herbs are not defined by their monetary value. He doesn't measure how much money he could make from them; whether they sell for a high price or not, they all possess medicinal properties and can be used to treat illnesses—that is what Zhao Yan values most. As for earning money, that is merely a secondary benefit.
Now that the family is no longer in such dire financial straits and the burden on his shoulders has lightened, Zhao Yan has more time to think about how to combine these herbs to treat various ailments. He no longer operates as he once did, mindlessly gathering whatever he could find; now, he can settle his mind and truly enjoy the process of harvesting and reflecting.
Chapter 88