E21 - How to Buy Out a Contract

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:35] Military Officer A
    Come on, Lihaku. Focus!
[01:38] Lihaku
    Oh, yeah. Sorry.
SIGN    Episode 21: How to Buy Out a Contract
[01:42] Guen
    Cleaning?!
[01:44] Guen
    You don't have to do that,
    you can ask someone else to—
[01:48] Maomao
    If we asked someone else to do it, and they
    swapped out the medicine, what would we do?
[01:54] Maomao
    There was a doctor at the court pharmacy
[01:58] Maomao
    that got a pay cut as punishment
    for not managing the drugs properly.
[02:05] Maomao
    We have to clean this up. It'll be
    too late once the humidity goes up.
[02:10] Guen
    Yes...
[02:21] Guen
    Finally, a good time for a break.
[02:23] Guen
    Sweets are always great when you're tired!
[02:26] Maomao
    This guy must be from a rich family.
[02:30] Maomao
    Sweet potatoes aren't in season,
[02:34] Maomao
    and he uses paper like a plate,
    like that's completely normal...
[02:36] Maomao
    Hmm?
[02:38] Maomao
    That's some good paper.
[02:40] Guen
    Oh, can you tell?
[02:42] Guen
    My family back home
    leads our village in making it.
[02:46] Guen
    We're the palace purveyor.
[02:49] Guen
    Impressive, huh?
[02:50] Maomao
    It is indeed impressive.
[02:52] Maomao
    I wonder if I can get
    an acquaintance discount.
[02:56] Guen
    We used to make limitless profits
    as we produced more.
[03:03] Guen
    We exported it to other countries, too.
[03:05] Guen
    My family bought me
    any snacks I wanted as a child.
[03:11] Guen
    But when the previous emperor's
    mother banned the cutting of trees,
[03:16] Guen
    things started to go downhill for us.
[03:18] Guen
    We started using alternate
    materials, which ruined trade.
[03:23] Guen
    Our family took the blame for that.
[03:26] Guen
    Since we had no money left,
    my older sister went to the rear palace.
[03:30] Guen
    When my younger sister said she'd go too,
    I volunteered to come instead.
[03:36] Guen
    Becoming a eunuch was less popular
    and was worth more money.
[03:40] Guen
    I never got to see my older sister, though.
[03:44] Maomao
    Hmm. He's been through more than I imagined.
[03:58] Maomao
    Excuse me. I'm here to continue cleaning.
[04:01] Guen
    Oh, hey, little lady.
[04:06] Guen
    My little sister sent me a letter.
[04:07] Guen
    Our family might not be
    the palace purveyor anymore.
[04:11] Maomao
    True, this isn't palace quality.
[04:16] Maomao
    Losing purveyor status would be
    a big deal in terms of sales.
[04:21] Guen
    I wonder why?
[04:23] Guen
    They just told me they came up
    with a way to produce more paper.
[04:27] Maomao
    Produce more? Did they cut some corners?
[04:32] Guen
    Of course not! They started
    using oxen for hard labor.
[04:38] Guen
    They didn't change
     the ingredients nor the process...
[04:42] Maomao
    Not the time for cleaning, I guess.
[04:45] Maomao
    Compared to the shoddy
    stuff sold everywhere,
[04:48] Maomao
    this has no impurities, the fibers are evenly
    crushed, and it's got consistent thickness.
[04:54] Maomao
    The only issues are scuffing
    on the surface, and...
[04:59] Maomao
    Its strength!
[05:01] Maomao
    What exactly is this unchanged process?
[05:03] Guen
    It's the same as normal papermaking.
[05:06] Guen
    However, our family has a special way of
    crushing the ingredients and creating glue...
[05:11] Guen
    Oh, but that's a secret.
[05:13] Maomao
    So, he doesn't blab about that.
[05:17] Maomao
    Is there special attention paid to the water?
[05:19] Guen
    Yes. We use stored spring water
    to make the glue harden properly.
[05:25] Guen
    It's for managing the humidity, but...
[05:28] Guen
    The rest is a secret.
[05:30] Maomao
    Oxen, stored spring water...
[05:40] Maomao
    Do you use boiled rice water for glue?
[05:44] Guen
    No, it's wheat flour,
    the way it's supposed to be.
[05:47] Guen
    Otherwise, the hardening is... Oh!
[05:51] Guen
    Hey little lady, forget I said that, okay?!
[05:54] Maomao
    Yes.
[05:56] Maomao
    So, where do you keep the oxen?
[05:59] Guen
    I don't know about that.
[06:02] Maomao
    I see.
[06:06] Maomao
    Here you go.
[06:07] Guen
    Arrowroot gruel?
[06:12] Guen
    Little lady, you got the ratio wrong.
[06:15] Guen
    It's stuck on the cup and hard to drink.
[06:18] Maomao
    Oh, sorry. I'll teach you how to
    make it easier to drink.
[06:23] Maomao
    Can you repeat after me?
[06:29] Maomao
    Like this, you lick the spoon and mix.
[06:32] Guen
    That seems like poor manners.
[06:41] Guen
    Oh, it's no longer sticky.
[06:45] Maomao
    Right?
[06:46] Maomao
    Isn't arrowroot gruel kind of like glue?
[06:50] Guen
    Hmm, I suppose so.
[06:53] Guen
    Maybe mixing saliva into glue
    would make it less sticky as well.
[06:58] Maomao
    Exactly.
[07:01] Guen
    Exactly what?
[07:03] Maomao
    This quack really can't take a hint.
[07:05] Maomao
    Oxen have lots of saliva in their mouths.
[07:11] Maomao
    Perhaps you should check where
    those oxen are getting their water.
[07:18] Guen
    I must send a letter to my sister!
[07:22] Maomao
    I'll take my leave for today.
[07:29] Maomao
    I'm back.
[07:31] Hongniang
    Oh, Maomao.
[07:33] Hongniang
    Someone sent a message
     that you're needed urgently.
[07:37] Maomao
    Where should I go?
[07:40] Lihaku
    How much would it cost
    to buy out a courtesan?
[07:45] Maomao
    And here I thought it was about Suirei...
[07:48] Maomao
    What a dumb dog.
[07:50] Lihaku
    Hear me out, missy!
[07:52] Lihaku
    At the Verdigris House the other day,
[07:53] Lihaku
    I heard rumors that one of the Three
    Princesses is getting bought out!
[07:57] Maomao
    And so he got worried about Pairin.
[08:01] Maomao
    The cost really depends.
[08:03] Lihaku
    Give me the max.
[08:04] Maomao
    Understood. Please understand that
    market prices fluctuate a lot,
[08:09] Maomao
    so this is just a rough estimate.
[08:10] Lihaku
    Give it to me straight.
[08:13] Lihaku
    How much?
[08:15] Maomao
    This is a tough one.
[08:17] Maomao
    The cost of buying out a courtesan is based
    on how much she could make at the brothel,
[08:24] Maomao
    plus a little extra, then doubled. So...
[08:30] Lihaku
    Little missy...
[08:34] Maomao
    If someone were to buy out Pairin, there are
    two candidates who are long-time favorites.
[08:41] Lihaku
    T-Two...
[08:43] Maomao
    One is a wealthy merchant,
[08:46] Maomao
    a pleasant older man who continued to visit
    the Verdigris House while it was in trouble.
[08:51] Maomao
    The other is a high-ranking official,
    still young, in his thirties.
[08:56] Maomao
    She said he's a good partner
    for bedtime activities,
[09:01] Maomao
    but it is a little concerning how
    exhausted he seems the next day.
[09:05] Maomao
    Thinking about life after being
    bought out, neither are... Hmm.
[09:10] Lihaku
    Exhausted? What do you mean?
[09:13] Maomao
    Pairin is not only a great dancer,
[09:16] Maomao
    but is also famous as
    an invincible warlord in bed.
[09:19] Maomao
    When her "hunger" grows,
    she'll pounce on anyone...
[09:23] Maomao
    In other words, she's extremely lustful.
[09:25] Pairin
    No!
[09:27] Maomao
    But...
[09:30] Lihaku
    But?
[09:32] Maomao
    Until my dad took me in, the ones who
    took care of me at the Verdigris House were
[09:37] Maomao
    the old lady and the Three Princesses.
[09:41] Maomao
    Pairin, who was able to lactate
    despite never having given birth,
[09:48] Maomao
    is almost like a mother to me.
[09:52] Maomao
    I don't know what her thoughts
    on the matter are, but...
[09:55] Maomao
    Thinking back on those days,
    I do think it's a bit of a waste.
[10:00] Maomao
    She's definitely lustful,
    but she's at least equally maternal.
[10:07] Lihaku
    But, what?
[10:13] Maomao
    Master Lihaku understands what Pairin
    does for work, and is still in love with her.
[10:18] Maomao
    He can be a dumb dog, but seems
    like an honest, hard worker.
[10:21] Maomao
    Trying to get a promotion
    for his girl is adorable, if stupid.
[10:26] Maomao
    Most of all, he has astonishing stamina.
[10:30] Maomao
    Hmm.
[10:33] Maomao
    He wouldn't be a bad choice, all considered.
[10:37] Maomao
    Master Lihaku, may I ask
    how much you're paid?
[10:41] Lihaku
    What's with that question all of a sudden?
[10:43] Maomao
    Perhaps 800 silver a year?
[10:45] Lihaku
    Come on, now.
[10:47] Maomao
    More like 1,200 then?
[10:49] Maomao
    So, roughly 1,000 silver or so a year.
[10:52] Lihaku
    Is that not enough?
[10:53] Maomao
    Afraid not.
[10:54] Maomao
    They'd ask at least 10,000 in cash.
[10:58] Lihaku
    T-Ten thousand?!
[11:00] Maomao
    A cheap courtesan would cost around 400.
[11:02] Maomao
    One of the Three Princesses of the Verdigris
    House? 10,000 silver, at the very least.
[11:09] Lihaku
    Ten thousand...
[11:12] Lihaku
    Hey, so... let's say I find that much somewhere.
[11:15] Lihaku
    You think I'll be able
    to buy her out with that?
[11:18] Maomao
    How likely do I think it is that she'd
    dramatically turn you down, you mean?
[11:26] Maomao
    Fine, fine.
[11:29] Maomao
    Master Lihaku, could you
    take off your clothes?
[11:34] Lihaku
    If I do, am I less likely to get dumped?
[11:36] Maomao
    One thing I know for sure is
    the body type she likes.
[11:42] Lihaku
    I'll strip!
[11:47] Maomao
    Your pants too, please.
[11:49] Lihaku
    Pants, too?
[11:50] Maomao
    Yes.
[11:52] Maomao
    Then, can you raise your arms up to your
    shoulders and flex your muscles?
[11:59] Lihaku
    Like this?
[12:00] Maomao
    Pairin's not a picky eater,
    but she does have preferences.
[12:06] Maomao
    Hmm, not bad...
[12:09] Maomao
    Next, lower your arms, then flex again.
[12:13] Lihaku
    Like this?
[12:16] Maomao
    As a good military man, he trains often.
[12:20] Maomao
    Good musculature.
[12:23] Maomao
    He might stand a chance.
[12:25] Maomao
    Now...
[12:27] Maomao
    Now, please remove your final garment!
[12:30] Lihaku
    Got it!
[12:34] Jinshi
    What in the world are you two doing?
[12:38] Maomao
    Greetings, Master Jinshi.
[12:45] Jinshi
    Now, what exactly were you up to?
[12:48] Maomao
    Pretty people are so scary
    when they're angry.
[12:52] Maomao
    What, you ask?
[12:55] Maomao
    Well, I was summoned to give
     my opinion about a matter.
[12:58] Jinshi
    Why was that man undressed like that?
[13:01] Maomao
    Nothing improper was going on.
[13:03] Maomao
    I was just taking a good look.
[13:07] Jinshi
    A good look? You?
[13:10] Maomao
    Yes, just looking.
[13:13] Jinshi
    What for?
[13:14] Maomao
    What for, you ask?
[13:16] Maomao
    To see if his body is good enough.
[13:18] Maomao
    What better way to know
    than to inspect him myself?
[13:21] Jinshi
    If his body is "good enough," you said?!
[13:23] Maomao
    Yes. Appearances are only a part
    of what defines a person,
[13:28] Maomao
    but being suited to one's
     taste is always a plus.
[13:30] Maomao
    I wanted to get a final look
    at his important parts
[13:34] Maomao
    to determine how to appeal to Pairin, but...
[13:41] Jinshi
    So, what did you think about
    that man's appearance?
[13:46] Maomao
    It was a very well-balanced body.
[13:49] Maomao
    He seems like a hard worker
    who trains diligently.
[13:54] Maomao
    I'd guess he's quite a skilled fighter,
    even compared to other military men.
[13:58] Jinshi
    You can read a person's personality
    just by their build?
[14:03] Maomao
    A person's appearance reflects
    their daily routines quite accurately.
[14:07] Maomao
    As an apothecary, it's not rare to get
    customers who won't tell us about themselves.
[14:12] Maomao
    So you learn this naturally on the job.
[14:15] Jinshi
    Can you tell from looking at my body, too?
[14:18] Maomao
    Huh?
[14:19] Maomao
    Wait, is he jealous of Master Lihaku?
[14:23] Maomao
    Oh, wow. I can't believe this guy.
[14:26] Maomao
    He just wants to brag that he's prettier!
[14:30] Maomao
    I do know he has a beautiful body.
[14:33] Maomao
    I was quite surprised
    by how well-toned it was.
[14:36] Maomao
    But...
[14:38] Maomao
    There'd be no point in
    learning about your body.
[14:43] Maomao
    I don't think you would
    get along with my sister.
[14:49] Jinshi
    Huh?!
[14:53] Lihaku
    As I waste time like this,
    Pairin could get bought out.
[14:58] Lihaku
    But I'm not yet capable of
    doing anything about it...
[15:06] Lihaku
    Pairin...
[15:10] Lihaku
    Hmm?
[15:14] Lihaku
    What in the world is going on?
[15:16] Lihaku
    Jinshi, I think his name was?
[15:19] Lihaku
    He's rumored to be the emperor's favorite...
[15:23] Jinshi
    Thank you for your hospitality
    with my attendant the other day.
[15:26] Lihaku
    Oh, you're quite welcome...
[15:29] Jinshi
    I hear you're romantically
    pursuing someone.
[15:34] Lihaku
    Did that girl talk?
[15:38] Lihaku
    Is that why he's smiling so much?
[15:42] Lihaku
    At his young age, high status, and being called
    the most beautiful person in the nation,
[15:49] Lihaku
    the matter of buying out a courtesan
    must be a joke to him.
[15:53] Lihaku
    I don't mind being made fun of.
[15:55] Lihaku
    But if he insults Pairin,
    that's a different story.
[16:00] Lihaku
    If he insults her...
[16:02] Jinshi
    20,000.
[16:04] Jinshi
    What would you say if I offered you
    the money to buy out your girl?
[16:12] Lihaku
    What do you mean?
[16:14] Jinshi
    Precisely what I said.
[16:22] Lihaku
    I appreciate your generosity,
[16:24] Lihaku
    but is it alright for you to suddenly
    offer that to an officer you barely know?
[16:29] Jinshi
    My cat can be quite cautious.
[16:33] Jinshi
    And yet, she's willing to give you advice,
[16:36] Jinshi
    and consider you as a candidate
    for her sister's life partner.
[16:42] Lihaku
    In other words, if your cautious cat lets
    her guard down around me, I'm trustworthy.
[16:52] Lihaku
    Did I say something bad?
[16:55] Jinshi
    I've heard some stories about you.
[17:00] Jinshi
    You do come from a good family,
[17:02] Jinshi
    but it still must have been hard for you to
    become a military officer here at the capital.
[17:06] Jinshi
    I hear you were discovered by our sharp-eyed
    strategist and assigned to lead a squad.
[17:13] Lihaku
    Yes.
[17:14] Lihaku
    The official story was that
    the prior squad leader retired
[17:17] Lihaku
    and I was simply pushed up, but...
[17:20] Jinshi
    Wouldn't anybody want to have a good
    relationship with a promising officer?
[17:25] Lihaku
    Still, 20,000 silver is way too much.
[17:29] Lihaku
    I only really need half as much...
    no, even just a quarter would do it.
[17:40] Lihaku
    I'm very glad to hear
    that you think so highly of me.
[17:44] Lihaku
    I also find your offer quite hard to resist.
[17:48] Lihaku
    But I can't accept that silver here.
[17:53] Lihaku
    For you, she might just be a local courtesan,
[17:56] Lihaku
    but for me, she's the only woman in my world.
[18:00] Lihaku
    To welcome a wife with
    someone else's money...
[18:07] Lihaku
    What kind of man would that make me?
[18:14] Jinshi
    I see. Pardon me.
[18:17] Lihaku
    Huh?
[18:18] Jinshi
    I may need to speak with you soon.
[18:22] Jinshi
    Is that alright with you?
[18:25] Lihaku
    Yes, sir.
[18:32] Gaoshun
    Master Jinshi.
[18:33] Jinshi
    Yes.
[18:35] Jinshi
    There was nothing to be
    worried about, yes.
[18:40] Lihaku
    What was that all about?!
[18:42] Lihaku
    Now, what to do?
[18:46] Lihaku
    I guess I should show off
    at the next training...
[18:52] Lihaku
    Or perhaps I should ask for more work...
[18:57] Lihaku
    Or... Right.
[19:05] Lihaku
    I'll write to her, even if I don't
    know when I can see next.
[19:14] Lihaku
    I can't force my will on her.
    I should hear what she thinks.
[19:29] Lihaku
    I don't care if her response
    is purely diplomatic.
[19:31] Lihaku
    Believing in her words will
    help me get through my days.
[20:00] Lihaku
    I just have to pursue her in a way I believe in.
[20:07] Pairin
    "Despite what the old lady thinks,
    I'm still in the game.
[20:12] Pairin
    Besides, I'm still waiting
    for my prince to come for me."
[20:18] Maomao
    Yeah, that's what I thought.
[20:20] Maomao
    If Pairin likes him,
    he won't need 10,000 silver.
[20:26] Maomao
    Beyond that, it's just luck.
[20:30] Pairin
    "When a certain someone came and
    talked about buying people out,
[20:33] Pairin
    I think one of the servant girls
    got the wrong idea."
[20:44] Maomao
    That man.
[20:48] Rikuson
    Master Lakan.
[20:50] Rikuson
    I finally found you.
[20:52] Rikuson
    Master Lakan, the meeting is starting.
[20:56] Lakan
    Blue roses.
[20:59] Rikuson
    What did you say?
SIGN    Next Time
SIGN    Episode 22: Blue Roses
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "Blue Roses."