# E8 - Wheat Stalks
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/watch/GG1U249Z2/wheat-stalks)
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(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.
***SIGN*** Episode 8: Wheat Stalks
**[01:48] Maomao**
Oh, right, I'm home.
**[01:56] Maomao**
So sticky...
**[01:58] Maomao**
Dad...
**[02:01] Maomao**
Must be out in the field.
**[02:09] Maomao**
I wish he'd stop working the field at his age,
**[02:15] Maomao**
but he just really enjoys making
medicine out of the herbs he grows.
**[02:25] Maomao**
Don't break it.
**[02:28] Maomao**
I don't know you. Are you
a servant at a different brothel?
**[02:32] Maomao**
My dad's—
**[02:32] Servant A**
Come with me!
**[02:33] Maomao**
Hey!
**[02:41] Servant A**
Big Sis! I brought the apothecary!
**[02:44] Mob Courtesan**
Hurry!
**[02:45] Maomao**
*This smell...*
**[02:51] Courtesan B**
Apothecary! I made them
throw up already, but...
**[02:57] Maomao**
Right!
**[03:00] Maomao**
The man isn't breathing!
**[03:02] Maomao**
The woman's breathing is too weak.
**[03:04] Maomao**
We'll check if there's any
vomit left in their throats.
**[03:07] Maomao**
You check her.
**[03:07] Courtesan B**
Y-Yes!
**[03:10] Maomao**
*No pulse. Nothing clogging the throat.*
**[03:20] Maomao**
*Just saliva.*
**[03:34] Courtesan B**
Bring water!
**[03:35] Maomao**
No water! Bring charcoal. Charcoal!
**[03:38] Servant A**
Y-Yes!
**[03:49] Maomao**
Great way to start the morning.
**[03:53] Maomao**
Wow, I need a bath...
**[03:55] Courtesan B**
Thank you, apothecary. They're both stable now.
**[03:59] Maomao**
Wait, leave that alone.
**[04:01] Courtesan C**
Even what they threw up on?
**[04:03] Maomao**
There could still be poison in it.
**[04:05] Courtesan C**
Poison...
**[04:08] Courtesan B**
I'll go make some tea.
**[04:16] Maomao**
* The two who collapsed here were*
* a courtesan and her customer.*
**[04:20] Maomao**
* The room was filled with*
* the scent of alcohol and tobacco.*
**[04:25] Maomao**
*Two bottles.*
**[04:27] Maomao**
*Broken glass cups.*
**[04:30] Maomao**
This is... a wheat stalk?
**[04:34] Maomao**
*A pipe and some tobacco leaves.*
**[04:37] Maomao**
They really went out of
their way to cause trouble.
**[04:40] Servant A**
I've got the charcoal...
**[04:42] Maomao**
Good. Also, get me a text plate
and something to write with.
**[04:45] Servant A**
Huh?
**[04:48] Maomao**
My dad should be out in the fields,
near the southern wall.
**[04:52] Maomao**
Bring him over here later.
**[04:54] Servant A**
Got it.
**[05:06] Maomao**
You're late, Dad.
**[05:08] Luomen**
This girl was worried about my leg.
**[05:12] Maomao**
I crushed the charcoal.
**[05:14] Luomen**
Yes, let's mix it with the herbs
and give it to them immediately.
**[05:18] Courtesan B**
Can you drink this?
**[05:22] Courtesan A**
What about him...?
**[05:23] Courtesan B**
He's safe. He had the medicine, too.
**[05:27] Luomen**
Your treatment's not bad.
**[05:29] Maomao**
"Not bad," huh?
**[05:33] Maomao**
* Dad's able to deduce two or three things*
* from a single piece of information.*
**[05:40] Luomen**
What kind of poison do you think this was?
**[05:42] Maomao**
*Here goes!*
**[05:50] Maomao**
* Dad sometimes tries to*
* make me learn stuff this way.*
**[05:55] Maomao**
Tobacco leaves are deadly poisons.
**[05:57] Maomao**
That would be what they'd use
in a double suicide.
**[06:00] Luomen**
You didn't have them drink water, right?
**[06:03] Maomao**
Water would make things worse, right?
**[06:05] Luomen**
Correct. Gastric juices can prevent
the intake of poison in some cases,
**[06:09] Luomen**
so diluting it might make things worse.
**[06:12] Luomen**
However, what if this poison
was already soaked in water?
**[06:18] Maomao**
*There are no leaves in the vomit.*
**[06:20] Maomao**
*I missed that. Maybe I'm still half asleep.*
**[06:24] Maomao**
* If the poison was soaked in water,*
* sometimes diluting it with more water is good.*
**[06:28] Maomao**
*Got it. Lesson learned.*
**[06:32] Generous Old Lady**
Sorry for the trouble.
**[06:34] Maomao**
* Serving us snacks reserved for customers?*
* That's quite generous of her.*
**[06:41] Maomao**
* I see, it prevents lipstick*
* from getting on the cup.*
**[06:48] Generous Old Lady**
You really saved us. This is just
a small token of our gratitude.
**[06:53] Luomen**
Oh no, that's too much—
**[06:54] Maomao**
Dad, can you afford rent this month?
**[06:57] Luomen**
Ah, in that case...
**[06:58] Maomao**
*Jeez, you old man...*
**[07:05] Maomao**
* Must have been a double suicide.*
* Not exactly rare in the pleasure district.*
**[07:09] Maomao**
*A man who can't afford to buy out a courtesan,*
**[07:11] Maomao**
*and a courtesan with time left on her term.*
**[07:13] Maomao**
* People like that often reach*
* this same conclusion.*
**[07:16] Maomao**
*Still, that man was very well-dressed.*
**[07:20] Maomao**
*He had a handsome face, too.*
**[07:22] Maomao**
* Didn't seem like someone who'd be*
* short on money or women.*
**[07:25] Maomao**
* Dad wouldn't approve of me*
* judging through stereotypes, but...*
**[07:30] Maomao**
*He didn't seem like someone*
**[07:32] Maomao**
* who'd drink poison with a courtesan*
* out of despair for their future.*
**[07:39] Maomao**
I'm going to go check on them.
**[07:42] Maomao**
The man seemed to be in worse condition...
**[07:52] Maomao**
What are you doing?!
**[07:58] Servant A**
Don't stop me! This guy deserves to die!
**[08:19] Courtesan B**
Wh-What are you doing?!
**[08:25] Courtesan B**
Apothecary, may I speak with you?
**[08:34] Courtesan B**
That man was always a problem customer.
**[08:38] Courtesan B**
He'd sweet-talk a courtesan and
insinuate that he would buy her out.
**[08:41] Courtesan B**
When he got tired of her, he'd just dump her.
**[08:44] Courtesan B**
He was widely hated. Some woman
tried to stab him, even.
**[08:49] Courtesan B**
He'd been poisoned in the past, too.
**[08:51] Courtesan B**
But his rich merchant father pampers him.
**[08:55] Courtesan B**
He settles everything with money.
**[08:59] Courtesan B**
Recently, he asked his father to hire
guards for him to travel to the brothels with.
**[09:04] Courtesan B**
This girl's older sister got dumped by him, too.
**[09:08] Courtesan B**
She was so happy she could live with him,
**[09:12] Courtesan B**
but on the day of the buy-out,
he suddenly canceled on her.
**[09:19] Courtesan B**
That's why, I think, she couldn't forgive him.
**[09:22] Courtesan B**
The courtesan who drank the poison
today was close to her, as well.
**[09:26] Maomao**
So, you want me to pretend
I didn't see anything?
**[09:28] Maomao**
If he's such a problem, why not just ban him?
**[09:31] Courtesan B**
It's the courtesan who fell for him.
**[09:35] Maomao**
In that case, I suppose
word of a double suicide
**[09:37] Maomao**
would make matters worse for the brothel.
**[09:41] Maomao**
*So, they served us the good snacks*
**[09:42] Maomao**
* because we prevented a rich merchant's*
* son from dying on the premises.*
**[09:47] Maomao**
*And...*
**[09:50] Maomao**
*That must have felt unfair to her.*
**[09:57] Maomao**
I understand.
**[10:01] Maomao**
*I just happened to be home today,*
**[10:04] Maomao**
* but if the girl shops with us often, perhaps*
* she knew when my dad is usually away.*
**[10:11] Maomao**
* Normally you'd call for*
* a doctor at a time like that,*
**[10:14] Maomao**
* but she went out of her way*
* to find a missing apothecary.*
**[10:18] Maomao**
*That servant girl is scarier than she looks.*
**[10:24] Luomen**
It's too bad your homecoming
turned out this way.
**[10:28] Maomao**
Dad, show me that money from earlier.
**[10:30] Luomen**
Hmm?
**[10:31] Maomao**
Yep, all there.
**[10:33] Maomao**
*As expected, including hush money.*
**[10:36] Maomao**
*Something bothers me, though.*
**[10:39] Maomao**
* Judging from the stories,*
* the man is pretty clever.*
**[10:43] Maomao**
* Would someone like him join*
* a double suicide over romance?*
**[10:48] Maomao**
Was it a forced suicide? No, a man who'd
been poisoned before wouldn't easily—
**[10:55] Luomen**
Maomao, you shouldn't
speak based on conjecture.
**[11:00] Maomao**
Dad, you already figured out
what really happened, right?
**[11:07] Maomao**
* Let's try to recall what was at*
* the scene and what I might have missed.*
**[11:13] Maomao**
*Tobacco leaves are deadly poisons.*
**[11:14] Maomao**
* This would be what they would*
* use in a double suicide.*
**[11:16] Luomen**
* However, what if this poison*
* was already mixed in water?*
**[11:20] Courtesan B**
*It's the courtesan who fell for him.*
**[11:22] Servant A**
*This guy deserves to die!*
**[11:25] Courtesan B**
* The courtesan who drank the poison*
* today was close to her as well.*
**[11:28] Maomao**
* I see, it prevents the lipstick*
* from getting on the cup.*
**[11:38] Maomao**
*This wasn't a double suicide.*
**[11:41] Maomao**
*It was murder.*
**[11:49] Maomao**
Poisoned water, wheat stalks,
two separate drinks with different colors...
**[11:59] Luomen**
It's already over.
**[12:03] Maomao**
I know.
**[12:08] Maomao**
*Murder, not a double suicide.*
**[12:10] Maomao**
* And it's the courtesan*
* who tried to kill the man,*
**[12:14] Maomao**
*using drinks laced with tobacco poison.*
**[12:18] Maomao**
* But the man was cautious enough*
* to have guards around.*
**[12:22] Maomao**
*How did she get him to drink the poison?*
**[12:26] Maomao**
*Simple. She took a sip as well.*
**[12:29] Maomao**
* If the courtesan was safe,*
* the man would drink, too.*
**[12:33] Maomao**
* But if she drank the poison,*
* she'd be in danger herself.*
**[12:38] Maomao**
*That's why she used a trick.*
**[12:40] Maomao**
*Two drinks, one cup.*
**[12:44] Maomao**
* Different drinks have varying*
* thicknesses and weights.*
**[12:49] Maomao**
* By pouring a lighter drink*
* slowly over a heavy drink,*
**[12:53] Maomao**
*you can create a pretty-looking, layered drink.*
**[12:55] Maomao**
* She used that as a small parlor*
* trick to impress her guest.*
**[12:59] Maomao**
* Then, she used the wheat stalk to drink just*
* the lower layer, without raising suspicion.*
**[13:19] Maomao**
* Afterwards, she drank from*
* the upper layer as well.*
**[13:22] Maomao**
*Just a little bit, so it wouldn't kill her.*
**[13:25] Maomao**
*She didn't want to end up dead herself.*
**[13:32] Maomao**
* She did the act in the morning to*
* increase the odds that he would die,*
**[13:37] Maomao**
*and she would survive.*
**[13:39] Maomao**
*And conveniently, someone came to witness it.*
**[13:44] Maomao**
* She appeared fragile,*
* but she's actually quite clever.*
**[14:14] Servant A**
What are you doing, Big Sis?!
You should stay in bed!
**[14:18] Maomao**
* The servant girl did*
* behave a bit strangely.*
**[14:21] Maomao**
*In order to make sure the man didn't survive,*
**[14:23] Maomao**
*she went to an apothecary, not a doctor.*
**[14:26] Maomao**
* She even took her time*
* bringing my dad over.*
**[14:29] Maomao**
* Wasn't she worried that*
* her "Big Sis" would die?*
**[14:33] Maomao**
* Wasn't she worried that someone close*
* to her would die again, like her real sister?*
**[14:39] Maomao**
* It's almost as if she knew*
* the courtesan would survive.*
**[14:43] Maomao**
*Or am I over-thinking this?*
**[14:46] Maomao**
* In addition, the other courtesan*
* was sympathetic to the servant girl.*
**[14:50] Maomao**
*Plus, the very generous madam...*
**[14:52] Maomao**
*Once I start doubting, there's no stopping.*
**[14:57] Maomao**
*Could they all have been...*
**[15:03] Maomao**
I shouldn't speak based on conjecture.
**[15:08] Maomao**
*I really missed this pleasure district,*
**[15:11] Maomao**
* but in essence, it's no different*
* from the rear palace.*
**[15:14] Maomao**
*It's both a garden and a cage.*
**[15:18] Maomao**
*The stale, trapped air poisons everyone.*
**[15:22] Maomao**
*The courtesans also eat the poison around them*
**[15:26] Maomao**
*to become a sweet poison themselves.*
**[15:32] Maomao**
*I don't know what'll happen to that courtesan.*
**[15:35] Maomao**
* Maybe the annoying customer*
* will assert that she tried to poison him.*
**[15:40] Maomao**
* Maybe the brothel will accuse him*
* of ruining their merchandise instead.*
**[15:47] Maomao**
Well, whatever.
**[15:48] Maomao**
You can't live life in this neighborhood
worrying about every little thing.
**[15:54] Meimei**
Maomao.
**[15:57] Maomao**
Meimei.
**[16:01] Meimei**
You're going back to the rear palace already?
**[16:03] Maomao**
I have a year left on my term.
**[16:06] Maomao**
I also have work to do
that I can't force on others.
**[16:09] Meimei**
That's too bad. You just got back.
**[16:13] Meimei**
Everyone was worried
when you suddenly went missing.
**[16:17] Meimei**
Pairin, Joka, and even the old lady.
**[16:19] Meimei**
Really? She never said...
**[16:23] Meimei**
She acted like usual, right?
It's because you came back.
**[16:27] Maomao**
I see.
**[16:31] Meimei**
Oh no, did I make you
all sentimental? There, there!
**[16:35] Maomao**
Come on, Meimei!
**[16:41] Meimei**
Maomao, did you visit the annex?
**[16:46] Maomao**
I'll go later.
**[16:59] Luomen**
Take care of yourself.
**[17:01] Maomao**
You, too.
**[17:02] Maomao**
I'm off.
**[17:05] Maomao**
* My three-day homecoming*
* was over before I knew it.*
**[17:13] Pairin**
I'm so sad to see you go so soon!
**[17:16] Pairin**
Right, Master Lihaku?
**[17:18] Lihaku**
Yes! I'm so sad, too!
**[17:21] Maomao**
*Looks like he had a good dream.*
**[17:23] Maomao**
* Once you have a taste of the heavenly dews,*
* there's no turning back to reality.*
**[17:28] Maomao**
* I'm sure they'll squeeze him dry,*
* gently but thoroughly.*
**[17:32] Maomao**
* That said, I'm the one that has to cover*
* for the amount that I couldn't pay up front.*
**[17:37] Old Lady**
Let me know when you're coming home next.
**[17:41] Maomao**
*And thus, my next buyer has been determined.*
**[17:50] Maomao**
*What's with the intense stare?*
**[17:53] Maomao**
*I'd better make my escape.*
**[17:55] Maomao**
I'll go get changed.
**[17:57] Yinghua**
Tell us...
**[17:58] Ailan**
Everything...
**[17:59] Guiyuan**
Later!
**[18:04] Jinshi**
I'll be waiting for you in the parlor.
**[18:20] Maomao**
Excuse me.
**[18:25] Maomao**
*For some reason, he seems really upset.*
**[18:29] Maomao**
*Am I over-thinking it?*
**[18:32] Maomao**
*I hope I'm over-thinking it.*
**[18:33] Maomao**
*Let's go with that.*
**[18:36] Maomao**
*Why are we alone, anyway?*
**[18:39] Jinshi**
So, you went home, huh?
**[18:42] Maomao**
Yes.
**[18:43] Jinshi**
How was it?
**[18:45] Maomao**
Everyone's doing well,
so I was glad for that.
**[18:49] Jinshi**
I see.
**[18:50] Maomao**
Yes.
**[18:52] Jinshi**
What is this Lihaku fellow like?
**[18:56] Maomao**
He was my guarantor.
**[18:59] Maomao**
*How does he know that name?*
**[19:03] Jinshi**
Do you even know what that means?
**[19:07] Maomao**
Yes. Only a higher-ranking official with
a good record can serve as a guarantor.
**[19:17] Jinshi**
Did he give you a hairpin?
**[19:19] Maomao**
He was passing out several,
so I took one as a consolation prize.
**[19:23] Jinshi**
So, I lost to a consolation prize, huh?
**[19:29] Jinshi**
I thought I gave you one too,
but I never heard from you.
**[19:34] Maomao**
*Huh?*
**[19:36] Maomao**
* In other words, he's just unhappy*
* because I didn't rely on him instead?*
**[19:42] Maomao**
* Weird. It's obviously way better*
* to not get involved in any trouble.*
**[19:48] Maomao**
* Is he so bored that he wants attention,*
* even if it'll cause problems?*
**[19:53] Maomao**
I'm sorry. I couldn't think of
a repayment that you'd enjoy.
**[20:02] Jinshi**
What repayment?
**[20:04] Jinshi**
Did you give something to this Lihaku guy?
**[20:07] Maomao**
Yes, I granted him a night
of blissful dreams.
**[20:13] Jinshi**
A night...
**[20:15] Maomao**
He seemed very happy.
**[20:17] Maomao**
I worked hard, so I'm pleased with myself.
**[20:24] Maomao**
What are you doing?
**[20:26] Maomao**
Let's wipe you off before it stains.
**[20:28] Maomao**
Excuse me.
**[20:30] Maomao**
You should get this washed right away.
**[20:36] Maomao**
I'll clean up the cup right
away, too. Don't touch it.
**[20:43] Maomao**
Excuse me.
**[20:44] Maomao**
*Whoosh.*
**[20:52] Maomao**
Ow!
**[21:06] ED Lyrics**
*Not just some superficial sweetness*
**[21:12] ED Lyrics**
*I want more warmth than I can even use, oh*
**[21:18] ED Lyrics**
*Having these selfish idealistic thoughts*
**[21:23] ED Lyrics**
* I swallowed them again today*
* before putting them into words*
**[21:28] ED Lyrics**
* Still in my memories,*
* the scent of fragrant olive*
**[21:33] ED Lyrics**
*The color of twilight in the city*
**[21:36] ED Lyrics**
*We were laughing...*
**[21:41] ED Lyrics**
* Filled with sadness,*
* the tears welled up in my eyes*
**[21:53] ED Lyrics**
*I found a glow during those days*
**[22:01] ED Lyrics**
*I guess I took everything for granted*
**[22:05] ED Lyrics**
*The wind was so loud I covered my ears*
**[22:18] ED Lyrics**
*I gotta stop being like that*
**[22:25] ED Lyrics**
*Even if I stumble over the words of love*
***SIGN*** Next Time
**[22:46] Narrator**
*Next time: "Suicide or Murder?"*
***SIGN*** Episode 9: Suicide or Murder?