Kusuriya no Hitorigoto

Books are things that need maintenance. Maomao was absorbedly copying from the silverfish damaged book laid open in front of her.

Due to humidity and sun damage, some of the old books had smudged letterings, and some were crinkly from the elements. Instead of wooden slips, many of the books were made from paper. Must be because wooden slips would just take up space in the room. Thanks to that, with the books written on poor quality paper, Maomao had no choice but to transcribe them.

Maomao, are you going to eat?

Enen came over.

No need.

Reading the books takes precedence.

(Theres no need for this description.)

Dad had written many study books for Maomao to study. However, he didnt copy all the books; Maomao had never seen many of the descriptions here. She knew from the handwriting that it was her Dads, but the contents were written in finer detail.

Some things Maomao had already learnt, some she hadnt, and some where the descriptions have changed

Due to technological advances, many of the things previously considered to be correct were found to be wrong. This room was probably last used around twenty years ago. At the very least, Dad would have gained better medical knowledge during those twenty or more years.

With a brush in mouth, she turned the page. Knowledge is sustenance. She has no need for food while shes concentratingbut

DINNER TIME!

Yao had yelled into her ear. If Maomao were a cat, her fur would be standing on end.

No nee

Youre eating. Yaos eyes were glazed over, showing no signs of listening to Maomao. Yao grabbed Maomaos collar and pulled at it. Maomao tried to take the book she was reading along with her, but it was also taken off her.

Enen, make Maomao eat too.

Im sorry, milady. I thought itd be rude to disturb Maomao while shes concentrating. Besides, itd also be nice with just the two of us once in a while, Enen said.

(The latter is obviously the main reason.)

Maomao heard Enen click her tongue. Enens cooking is delicious, and recently she had been treating herself to it every time.

It wont just be the two of us. When Enen went to get food supplies, Rahan-san came over, Yao said.

M-Milady? I didnt hear about that. Enens face stiffened. Was she shocked that Yao had been chatting on her own with a male stranger?

As for Yao, she wasnt fussed. If anything, she tends to become irritable in not wanting to lose to men at work, but she doesnt seem to mind Rahan. All in all, she might be used to him coming over each time with odd jobs.

I thought he called you since the servant said that she made sure to hand over four peoples share of ingredients. Yao gestured to the dishes on the round table. It was much too excessive for two people, and it was also a little too much for three. There were four chairs at the table.

The main dish at the centre was a glistening roast duck.

Maomao found herself swallowing down her saliva.

Im going to cook some more pancakes. Maomao, please help me chop the vegetables. Enen was a little peeved.

Ill help too, Yao said.

No, milady. Itll be done soon. Enen primly turned down Yaos offer.

(Ahhhh.)

Yaos expression fell.

Maomao knew that Enen lived for her young lady, but strangely enough, she didnt understand her young ladys feelings. It was probably because they were so close.

Maomao sliced up the shallots and plated them. She wrapped the duck meat and condiments up in a pancake, dipped it in sauce and ate it in one mouthful.

She had to thank Yao for interrupting her reading.

It seems that the tableware had already been prepared in the kitchen from the start. They all came in sets of four.

Maomao narrowed her eyes at the plates.

When you squint your eyes like that, you look like Rahan-sama.

Maomao widened her eyes at Enens words. Were strangers so there shouldnt be any resemblance, she said starkly.

There was probably enough congee prepared for supper as well, so theres no need to add more.

As for the after meal dessert, seeing how there were only three prepared to begin with, it was set up for them to eat after Rahan leaves.

Im just asking but, dont you think its safe for you to leave the estate now? Maomaoasked the over-protective attendant.

Didnt I say that wasnt an issue? More importantly, Yao-sama is on board with it, Enen replied.

I dont understand that part.

Milady is a bright child, so those from the same generation were nothing but idiots.

Enen steadily grilled pancakes as she spoke clearly and plainly. Maomao placed them on the plate, cooling them so they wont stick together.

She works hard at her studies, avowing not to lose against men. So when she lost to Maomao fair and square in the entrance exam, she became very mortified and acted out of character.

Making Maomao fall over and harassing her, was it? In any case, it was mostly the followers so she couldnt care less.

She had done something bad.

Theres no way she thought she could earn good marks by doing so.

Although her uncle is the root cause of that, why does Yao-san want to succeed so badly? Maomao suddenly tried asking.

its because of Yao-samas mother, Enen said, after some hesitation. To Yao-sama, her mother is as good as dead. She lost her the same time the master passed away.

Why? Maomao didnt have many feelings towards her own mother either. However, the circumstances of her upbringing were different to Yaos.

After the masters passing, you know whats expected of the lady whos unable to manage the residence by herself, right? Enen said.

Shes passed down to the uncle.

And so, the lady remains the lady.

The masters wife is the lady.

Yaos mother probably remarried the uncle. It wasnt that unusual of a story, but for the daughter, it was probably complicated and would occasionally make her an object of disgust.

Is that so? Maomao gave a single line in response, the plate of vegetables and pancakes in hand.

.

.

.

Maaan, thanks for the invite.

Approaching with a grin, was the small, bespectacled man with an aggravating mind.

(You werent invited.)

Maomao and Enens hearts were probably in agreement on this. He courteously brought a gift with him, but for some reason, it was hasma. Although its Yaos favourite, it was really extravagant.

By the way, when Yao tried to check what it was, Enen quickly hid it away. Milady still doesnt know that her favourite food is frog.

(He earned a lot from the Go tournament the other day, huh.)

It seemed he also ran a sweet potato business, but he had other core businesses to attend to as well. Even if he cloned himself, it wont be enough, yet his ability to handle them all with ease was, begrudgingly, praiseworthy.

Im so happy to eat while surrounded by flowers. Theres a rose, an iris, and a wood sorrel, Rahan said.

No need to say who the wood sorrel referred to.

Ive heard many rumours about Miss Enens cooking. I wanted to try it out once.

My. Enens expression was icy. But it was admirable that she didnt forget about serving.

(A rumour about Enens cooking. Where did he hear that from?)

Maomaos question was quickly answered.

The older brothers shop is popular and the younger sisters cooking is also second to none, Ive heard, he said.

Yes. Enens cooking is delicious. To the point where she wont lose to the head chef. Yao handed out high praises extremely naturally.

Before, Maomao heard that Enens brother had been saved by Yao. He should be working for Yaos family, but it seemed he went independent afterwards.

(Due to the change in family head?)

She felt that she had found another reason behind Enens bad impression of Yaos uncle.

I ate at the older brothers restaurant three times, but maaaaan, this cooking is delicious too.

Three times? During which season did you go? The menu changes every season, right, Enen?

Yes, he cooks with seasonal ingredients prepared every month.

When the topic about Enens brother was brought up, Yao bit at it. Enen also joined the conversation.

Maomao was enjoying the crispiness of the duck skin. The greasy skin and flavour of the condiments are trapped within the pancake. You eat it after dipping it in the salty-sweet sauce. The umami and aroma of the meat, the texture of the vegetables, and the simple pancake, all exquisitely blended to invite salivation with every bite.

To express it in one word, its delicious.

Maaaan, this is truly delicious.

Rahan held the same opinion.

Rahan has another trait that was worth praising. He is good at making conversation. If she had to say it, as he was able to get the shy Yao to speak openly, Maomao felt she understood why Enen was a little annoyed.

While eating in silence, Maomao became full. Since there were no longer plans to serve dim sum, she kept glancing at the direction of the room with the bookshelf, wondering if its okay to go read already.

Maomao, dont say that you want to hurry back to read, okay? Yao scowled at Maomao. Apparently, despite not joining the conversation, she managed to give things away.

. Maomao sat quietly, eating scallions to kill time.

(That reminds me.)

There was one thing about the arrangement of the bookshelf that bothered her.

Rahan, were any of the books from the bookshelf taken someplace else? Maomao asked.

Books from the bookshelf? Rahan tilted his head. I have no idea. Esteemed father wont do anything to Great Uncles things. In fact, we only have the servants clean the room periodically.

For the weirdo tactician, it was an unprecedented worry. Indeed, she had thought that this outbuilding was cleaned.

Are you saying that there are gaps in the books? If so, the cleaning servants would get suspicious, but I dont think Esteemed father would employ strange individuals in the first place. Since its truly troublesome to have that person as an enemy.

Books, being valuable items, can be stolen, but would the servants working at the weirdo tacticians place go that far?

(This is hard.)

What is missing? Yao asked.

Im a little bothered about what it could be, but. Maomao left her seat and returned with two books from the bookshelf, as well as paper and stationary she used for transcribing. Please check the spine.

Whats this? Yao tilted her head.

[ ]

[ ]

it wrote. In other words, the first part of the sixth section of the third volume. She didnt understand it, but the number went up every time there was a postscript in each section, so it was finely divided.

At least several hundred books on the bottom shelf were also numbered in this manner.

I can read the first number, but

Theyre western numbers, Enen answered, knowing a smattering of western words.

Yes. Maomao wrote the numbers down on the paper.

[, , , , , , , , ]

[ , , , , , , , , ]

(T/N: and for those who are unfamiliar with eastern numbers: )

Upon hearing numbers, Rahans eyes shone.

Yao gave a start at the paper written with [, , , , , , , , ].

Could the next number be []? Yao traced it out on the table.

Correct. As expected of milady. Enen answered in Maomaos stead.

Dad numbered each book properly. But there are gaps in the first and second volumes, Maomao said.

Is that so, Rahan said.

You love numbers, so I thought you would have noticed it at once.

Unfortunately I hardly come to this outbuilding. Im busy, you see.

Then f*cking quit eating here so casually. Maomao accidentally blurted out her real intention.

Maomao, please dont use such vulgar language before Yao-sama. Enen cut in with her educational guidance.

The numbering is for systematic labelling, right?

Yes. The first and second volume are about the fundamentals. The first volume is about human anatomy, and the second about surgical procedures. Maomaos field of expertise is herbal medicine, but she wanted to understand it from the perspective of healing people.

Unfortunately, I have no idea, but Im curious. Ill try asking the servants too. Rahan rose up from his seat while pushing up his glasses. His plate was cleaned. He seemed satisfied. I have some work tomorrow, so if theres anything, call someone.

Understood, Enen replied curtly.

Thanks for the food, it was extremely delicious. You must be tired. You can leave the tableware as it is, Ill call for the servants, Rahan said.

Maomao intended to clear the table as well, but if its fine to leave it, then all the better. She wanted to quickly get back to copying the books.

She wanted to head back to the room with the bookshelf as soon as Rahan leaves, but her shoulders were grabbed. What is it?

Theres still dim sum. Yao smiled to say I wont let you escape.