Everyday Exile in Ancient Times

by Usui Takumii

not mine, asia novel. Total: 210 chapters and 9 extras . Beware edited mtl.

7. 61 to 70

Chapter 61

Shopkeeper Luo's admonition echoed Yu Ying's current worries.

She wasn't concerned about the medical institutions seeking a discussion, but feared their unreasonable tactics and underhanded methods.

After leaving the inn, Yu Ying cast aside her worries and asked her sister-in-law, "Is there anything you or my brother wish to buy?"

Her sister-in-law replied, "I'd like to have a look at the general store."

Yu Ying, wanting to buy soles for shoes and also curious about other items, decided to go along.

As Yu Ying was selecting shoe soles, her sister-in-law joined her.

Wen Xing said, "Sister-in-law, you don't need to prepare these for us; we can buy them ourselves."

Yu Ying nodded, then chose four pairs of soles.

Two for herself, and two for Fu Wei.

After buying the soles, Yu Ying went next door to purchase fabric for the uppers and some softer cloth for undergarments.

Having earned some silver now, she thought it best not to skimp on herself, at least for the time being.

Since she needed to make face cream, she also bought a jar of wine for fifty coins, weighing about a kilogram.

After purchasing the wine, she bought ten kilograms of pork with a mix of fat and lean meat.

Wen Xing, puzzled, asked, "Sister-in-law, what do you plan to do with so much meat?"

Yu Ying honestly replied, "I intend to refine some lard for the face cream. Buying only fat isn't cost-effective, and since winter is approaching, the lean meat can be used to make cured meat."

Winters in Lingnan are warmer than in the north, but they are also harsh in their own way.

The most tormenting weather is the bone-chilling wind accompanied by fine rain, which can sometimes persist for days on end. It's best to stay indoors whenever possible.

Yu Ying purchased ten kilograms of meat, which she placed in a carrying basket, and her brother then shouldered it.

This left Yu Ying free to stroll leisurely with her sister-in-law, browsing here and there. It was her first time enjoying such a relaxed walk through Jade County.

After buying a saw and some paper, they stopped at Wu's Eatery for noodles. By the hour of Shen, they rode back to Lingshui Village in Old Chen's ox cart.

Back home, her sister-in-law helped with cooking, her brother went to chop wood, and Yu Ying selected two bamboo sticks of the right thickness from her storage to make bamboo containers.

Before making the face cream, she needed containers to store it.

As Yu Ying was sawing the bamboo, Fu Wei, watching from the window, stepped out upon seeing her struggling with the task.

The yard was deserted, and since the Fu residence was at the village's edge, people rarely passed by. Fu Wei, leaning on his crutch, slowly made his way out.

Approaching her, he said, "Go get a bamboo stool for me, and I'll do the sawing."

Yu Ying glanced at the bamboo she had been laboring over without success, sighed, and handed the task to the more skilled Fu Wei.

After fetching a bamboo stool, Yu Ying watched as Fu Wei sat down and effortlessly sawed through the bamboo she couldn't manage.

The difference in strength between men and women was evident, and even more so for Fu Wei, who had trained physically. Despite his leg injury, he easily cut through the bamboo that Yu Ying found challenging.

He asked, "Should they all be this length?"

After some thought, Yu Ying replied, "I plan to make bamboo containers for the face cream. They should be about this tall, and leave this much length for the lid's bamboo joint."

She indicated the measurements with a finger's length and a half.

Fu Wei nodded and then sawed both bamboo sticks to the specified length.

Once the bamboo was cut, Fu Wei began to peel off the outer layer.

Yu Ying, about to help with the peeling, was stopped by Fu Wei who, remembering the calluses on her palms, said, "I'm free anyway, I'll do the peeling. You can attend to other tasks."

However, Yu Ying insisted, "We need to make the bamboo containers first to have something to store the face cream in. I don't have much else to do right now."

While speaking, Yu Ying also sat on a wooden stump and began peeling the bamboo.

Soon, Fu Zhen returned and joined in to help.

After peeling the bamboo tubes, they needed to make lids and ensure the rims fit snugly. These tasks, along with sanding the bamboo with coarse stones, were quite time-consuming.

Dinner was ready, so everyone set aside their work to eat.

After dinner, the family gathered in the courtyard to help with the bamboo containers.

Fu Wei peeled the bamboo, Fu Zhen prepared the rims, while Wen Xing, Luo Shi, and Fu An worked on sanding.

Little Fu Ning, although not much of a help, was also slowly sanding a bamboo container.

Meanwhile, Yu Ying went to render the lard.

Even though the weather was chilly and the pork wouldn't spoil in a day, freshly rendered lard was preferable.

Of the ten kilograms of pork, after removing the lean meat, there was less than five kilograms of fat left.

The yield of lard was only about three kilograms.

When Yu Ying finished rendering the lard and checked on the progress, she found that the bamboo containers were being completed faster than she had expected.

By nightfall, about a dozen bamboo containers were ready. Yu Ying boiled them all in salt water, planning to dry them the next day, after which they would be ready to hold the face cream.

Even as darkness fell, her brothers continued working on the bamboo containers in the dining room, while Luo Shi urged the children to wash up, and Wen Xing worked on fabric shoes by the light of a lamp in the dining hall.

By the hour of Hai, seeing her brothers still tirelessly at work, Yu Ying called a halt: "I won't be making so much face cream all at once. Let's stop at this number of containers for now."

Including those made earlier, they had nearly thirty containers, which were more than enough. There was no need to work through the night.

The brothers then stopped their work.

After everyone took turns washing up, they retired to their rooms for the night.

Yu Ying washed up first and found that Fu Ning had already fallen asleep. After tucking in the young girl, she prepared ink and laid out the paper she had bought that day to start transcribing the face cream recipe.

The recipe she was transcribing was one she had noted from "Qianjin Fang," a classic medical text.

Although she had made face cream before, remembering such details was tricky, and she needed to be certain she hadn't confused the recipe.

After writing down the face cream recipe, she meticulously reviewed it several times to ensure there were no errors or omissions.

While checking the recipe, the door opened.

Yu Ying turned to see Fu Wei, freshly bathed, his hair still dripping with droplets of water.

Leaning on his crutch, Fu Wei entered, closed the door, placed his crutch beside it, and slowly approached, asking, "Why haven't you rested yet?"

Fu Wei, though now able to walk without a crutch, couldn't do so for extended periods.

Yu Ying replied softly, "I'll rest in a bit."

After a moment, eager to share her day's experiences, she said, "Today, when I sought out Shopkeeper Luo, I mentioned the face cream. He directed me to a medical institution in Cangwu County to meet an acquaintance of his."

Fu Wei sat down beside her, pondering for a moment before saying, "Jade County to Cangwu County is roughly four to five hundred li away. Even by ox cart, it would take about two days."

Yu Ying said, "Previously, without any connections, I only thought of selling it in Jade County. But now, with this opportunity, I want to give it a try."

Fu Wei, after a moment of contemplation, looked up and said, "Alright, as long as you have your crossbow for protection and your brother to escort you."

Yu Ying smiled, "I thought this time you would advise against it."

Fu Wei fell silent for a moment, his dark eyes intently fixed on her, and he said in a low voice, "I will support whatever you choose to do."

Perhaps it was his earnest expression and words that made Yu Ying sense something subtle, causing her to pause momentarily.

Meeting his ambiguous gaze, Yu Ying suddenly felt the room become stuffy.

The ventilation in the thatched cottage was usually excellent, and it was even somewhat cold, yet she felt a stifling heat.

She averted her gaze, changing the subject: "Today, Shopkeeper Luo also warned me that someone is inquiring about me."

Upon hearing this, Fu Wei's expression darkened instantly.

Yu Ying sighed, "After all, doing business on someone else's turf is bound to upset people. I feel like there might be trouble waiting for me."

Fu Wei too fell silent.

He had never doubted that the letters he sent out would be unanswered, but he worried about the delay in their response.

Early the next morning, Yu Ying was busy again.

With only three kilograms of lard, she couldn't make much face cream, so she used about four grams of each herb, with a maximum of five grams for some.

After preparing the herbs, she chopped them finely, then had Fu Wei pound them into granules in a mortar.

The mortar, carved from wood by Fu Wei during his leg recovery, was a testament to his impressive craftsmanship.

Once the herbs were ground into fine granules, Yu Ying placed them in a bowl, added a small amount of wine, and stirred them to soak for about four hours.

It wasn't until the afternoon, around the hour of Shen, that Yu Ying began cooking the herbs with the nearly solidified lard.

Stirring constantly, the herbal aroma gradually overpowered the smell of the lard, and soon a faint scent of herbs wafted through the air.

After simmering on low heat for more than half an hour, the originally white lard turned a deep brown.

Yu Ying extinguished the fire, took the earthenware pot off the stove, and let it cool for a while before starting to strain the herbal residue through several layers of coarse cloth.

After filtering five times, Yu Ying carefully checked for any remaining residue.

Assured that no residue was left, she then poured the still-liquid face cream into the bamboo containers.

In the end, she had thirteen and a half containers filled.

Wen Xing entered the kitchen and, seeing the unset face cream on the table, curiously asked, "Sister-in-law, can this really turn into face cream?"

Yu Ying smiled, "The weather is quite cool now. It should solidify completely by tomorrow morning."

Wen Xing said, "I've only heard about face cream from others, saying that after applying it, even in winter, the skin becomes smooth and tender."

Yu Ying replied, "Once it's ready, I'll give a jar to you, sister-in-law."

Wen Xing quickly declined, "I don't need it. I'm used to my rough skin. Don't waste such good stuff on me; better to sell it for silver."

Yu Ying said nothing more but looked at her sister-in-law's cheeks, asking, "Lately, have you felt any dryness or burning sensation on your face?"

Wen Xing touched her somewhat rough cheeks, pondering that they might have become dry and coarse due to recent weather changes.

"The weather has changed; indeed, it's been somewhat dry and a bit painful."

"Then, sister-in-law, you really should give it a try. And after you do, let me know how effective the face cream is."

Wen Xing, who had just been refusing, relaxed upon hearing her sister-in-law's words: "Alright, just give me a little bit then, no need for a whole jar."

"Not only should sister-in-law try it, but also my brother, Fu An, and mother should use it to see its effectiveness. If the results are significant, I'll have more confidence in negotiating the price with others."

Speaking of price, Yu Ying needed to calculate the cost of the nearly fourteen jars of face cream.

After a conversation with her sister-in-law, Yu Ying returned to her room to do the calculations.

As the amount of herbs used was small, the cost of the herbs purchased from Shopkeeper Luo was about three coins, and her own herbs were relatively cheaper, amounting to four coins in total.

The five kilograms of pork used for rendering the lard, at twelve coins per kilogram, came to sixty coins. The cost of the wine was around eight coins.

Since the bamboo containers were homemade, this expense was saved, but it involved considerable labor, which was not accounted for in the initial calculation. Thus, the total cost for the thirteen-plus jars was eighty-three coins.

Adding a labor cost of five coins per person, for five people, that would be twenty-five coins.

Altogether, the total cost was over a hundred coins, making the cost per jar around seven or eight coins.

If sold in Jade County, they would have to be priced at a minimum of fifteen coins per jar.

This meant that the thirteen jars could yield a profit of around ninety coins.

However, if taken to Cangwu County and sold in a medical institution, the profit could far exceed this amount.

Moreover, if she set up a stall in Jade County, it was uncertain whether even five jars could be sold in a day.

If ordinary face cream was priced at just a few coins, and her small stall was charging fifteen coins per jar, it might not sell at all.

Yu Ying didn't yet understand the face cream market in Jade County, so she needed to do some research there.

After finishing the face cream, Yu Ying distributed a jar each to her sister-in-law and Mrs. Luo, kept one for herself, and gave the remaining half jar to Fu Wei.

In Mrs. Luo's small room, Yu Ying applied the face cream to her sister-in-law, Mrs. Luo, and little Fu Ning.

As their cheeks were slightly cracked, it stung a bit when applied.

Yu Ying explained to them, "This is normal. Apply it a few more times, and once the cracks heal, it won't hurt anymore."

Wen Xing, smelling the faint fragrance and seeing the crystal-clear, yellow face cream in the bamboo jar, said, "Had I not seen you boiling pig fat, I wouldn't have known this cream is made from it."

Yu Ying gently shushed her, reminding, "Don't mention to others that it's made from pig fat. We commoners might not mind, but those with some silver and status will care."

Since they were unaware of the specific herbs and quantities involved, Yu Ying didn't bother to instruct them further on the formula.

Yu Ying still felt it prudent to remind them about the ingredients of the pig fat cream.

Wen Xing nodded in agreement, "Pigs are considered filthy, and I've heard the gentry and nobles disdain pork. If they knew it was made from pig fat, they probably wouldn't want to use it."

This was exactly Yu Ying's concern.

"Apply it every morning and evening, and don't forget your hands and feet. Since it's homemade and affordable, there's no worry about running out."

Mrs. Luo, having experienced finer things but also endured twenty years of hardship, had lost the demeanor of a lady. She carefully covered the jar with a bamboo lid, saying, "This is a rare commodity; it should be used sparingly."

Seeing this, Yu Ying didn't say anything more.

Just then, Fu An ran in from outside, excitedly shouting, "Grandpa He and Uncle He, as well as He Erlang, are back!"

Hearing this, Yu Ying felt a sense of relief, even though it wasn't her own family matter.

She remembered the emotional scene of He Erlang reuniting with Uncle He and Auntie He at the quarry when she had gone to fetch her eldest brother and sister-in-law. It had left a deep impression on her.

In the book, her eldest brother was killed by a falling rock. Although they had managed to bring him back, she was unsure if there would be any further mishaps.

Now that He Erlang was back, she naturally felt more at ease.

Yu Ying and Luo Shi's sister-in-law stepped out of the house, intending to visit the He family.

Unexpectedly, the He family came directly to the Fu residence.

Yu Ying also saw He Erlang.

Compared to when she saw him three months ago, He Erlang was darker and thinner, with sunken eyes, clearly indicating his poor mental state over these months.

Moreover, with the recent change in weather, his face and hands were severely cracked.

Many onlookers had gathered outside the Fu family's courtyard, drawn by He Erlang's return.

After all, it was a rare occasion for someone from Lingshui Village to return from the quarry.

Seeing a crowd forming outside, everyone entered the small dining hall.

Just as they entered, He Erlang immediately knelt down before Yu Ying, startling her.

"Don't kneel, don't kneel. If you kneel, I'm leaving right now!" Yu Ying said, genuinely looking as if she would leave.

Her posture indeed suggested she was ready to exit.

Uncle He, seeing this, hurriedly helped his son up and explained, "He heard that it was thanks to Madam Yu's assistance that our family was able to leave the quarry, so he insisted on kneeling to express his gratitude."

Yu Ying, looking uncomfortable, turned to Uncle He and He Erlang, "Even if you want to thank me, there's no need to kneel."

Perhaps realizing Yu Ying genuinely did not want to be knelt to, Uncle He and his son said, "Just express your gratitude properly, no need to kneel."

He Erlang, who had been tightly holding back his emotions since he entered, his lips tightly pursed and eyes red, suddenly couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears.

"I never thought I would be able to return home so soon. Every day since Elder Brother Fu and his wife left the quarry, I've been longing to leave, yet fearful it would all come to nothing."

He Erlang didn't dare mention his mental state had been hazy for months, often staring blankly in the direction of home.

Although the connection with Officer Huo made things somewhat easier for him.

Yet, his days at the quarry were still filled with the same grueling work, his spirit and vitality slowly being eroded away amidst the endless stone cutting.

He was almost driven mad by the desire to leave the quarry, each day seeming unbearably long.

It was almost when He Erlang was on the brink of madness that his father and Elder Brother arrived.

When he saw his father and elder brother, and realized they were truly there to take him home, not just to visit, his tears finally broke free.

A grown man, yet he cried heart-wrenchingly.

He Er Lang looked towards Fu's second sister-in-law, feeling that she was the finest woman in the world.

Choking up, he said, "I am truly grateful to sister-in-law. I don't know how I can ever repay you, but I will do everything in my power to repay this kindness in the future."

Yu Ying quickly interjected, "No, no, no, I didn't do much. Your father, mother, and elder brother earned this through their labor. That's how they managed to save enough silver to buy your freedom."

Uncle He, however, added, "Sixth Lady, don't be too modest. There are many who could help, but you specifically chose our family. That's a great favor."

Yu Ying smiled, "In that case, Uncle He's family has also helped the Fu family a lot. In the end, it was elder brother who helped Uncle He, which is why our two families are connected like this."

Fu Zhen was taken aback when suddenly mentioned, unsure why his name came up.

Soon after, He Da Lang, who had gone to pass the message at home, arrived, along with Aunt He.

Aunt He, seeing her son who had become gaunt, and He Er Lang finally seeing his mother, immediately embraced each other, crying bitterly.

After three months, it was finally time for the He family to reunite.

The villagers who previously delivered herbs to the medical hall, perhaps inspired by hearing about a woman's success in the herb trade, began to entertain other ideas and stopped taking their herbs to the medical hall.

Instead, they set up stalls at the entrances of various inns, or wandered in front of them, loudly hawking herbs for three wen per jin, or even two wen.

Most medical halls relied on their herb gardens for profit.

This sudden change, even though the villagers' herbs were incomplete in variety and inferior in quality, and initially might not appeal to herbalists, would inevitably become an excuse for them to suppress herb prices in the long run.

As a result, several medical institutions in Jade County began to feel a sense of crisis.

After thoroughly investigating the woman who had made the deal with Zhao the herbalist, the heads of these institutions gathered to discuss countermeasures.

Luo, the head of one institution, around forty years old and dressed in plain robes with a goatee, said, "The collection of herbs is secondary. The main issue is that following this woman's actions, villagers have begun to imitate her, selling their herbs cheaply to herbalists. After tasting the sweetness of lower prices, why would these herbalists want to pay more for our herbs?"

"They'll definitely drive the prices down severely!"

The group fell into serious contemplation.

Luo, looking around at the people in the private room, suggested, "Why not make an example of this woman who has made a significant sale, to deter those villagers thinking of taking business away from us?"

Another head, around fifty, disagreed: "The trade in medicinal herbs isn't exclusive to us; anyone capable can engage in it. The woman's deal with Zhao didn't deliberately undercut the price. How is her deal related to others imitating her?"

He added with a scoff, "I thought we were here to discuss how to handle the villagers' random price cutting, but instead, you're planning to target a woman? Isn't that a bit petty?"

Luo, hearing this, chuckled softly, "Head Ji, you're indeed noble. I've heard that your institution has already found buyers for your herbs. Those of us who haven't must find ways to secure our interests."

Head Ji, the older man, showed a hint of displeasure and stood up, "The buyers for my herbs were secured by my eldest son's efforts. What does that have to do with this matter? Moreover, whether our herbs sell or not is no excuse for you to scheme against a woman."

With that, the elder spoke sternly, "Whatever you plan to do, I want no part in it. I won't be involved."

Saying this, he walked out of the private room.

Only three people remained in the room, exchanging uncertain glances.

Luo, the head of the institution, continued with a smile, "Head Ji makes it sound like we're planning something atrocious. My intention is merely to intimidate that woman, using this as an opportunity to also scare those self-righteous troublemakers."

The remaining two prioritized profit over morality.

One of them asked in a hushed tone, "What ingenious plan does Head Luo have in mind?"

Luo replied, "It's not exactly ingenious. Coincidentally, some ruffians owe me medical fees. Having them help out to offset their debt is an option. We won't harm anyone, just intimidate a bit."

By the end of his explanation, he reassured them, "No one will be hurt, and no obvious evidence will be left. People won't believe the words of street thugs. Besides, my brother works as a clerk in the county yamen. As long as this doesn't escalate, he can handle it. So, both of you needn't worry."

Hearing his words, the two were reassured.

Chapter 62.

The weather changed daily; what had been windy and dry a few days ago was now damp and much colder, signaling the approach of winter.

Little Fu Ning was like a cozy little furnace, and Yu Ying, snuggling in bed with this adorable source of warmth, slept exceptionally well.

Fu Wei had risen early.

Fu Wei's new bamboo bed wouldn't be ready for another four or five days, so he was still sharing the bed with his niece and Yu Ying.

Fu Wei sat up, looking at the peacefully sleeping Yu Ying by the dim light, his lips curving into a gentle smile.

After a moment, Fu Wei gently lifted the quilt and got out of bed.

After putting on his outer garment, he walked slowly towards the door.

After pausing behind the door, he glanced at the walking stick beside it, then withdrew his gaze and walked out.

Yu Ying faintly heard a sound and sleepily opened her eyes. Shielded by a screen, she couldn't see the direction of the door.

But when she slightly raised her body, she saw the space beside the bed was empty; Fu Wei had evidently gone out.

Yu Ying's mind was still muddled, unable to distinguish between dream and reality, and she drifted back to sleep.

The sky was dark and the fog dense, enveloping the mountain-surrounded Lingshui Village.

Upon stepping outside, Fu Wei was greeted by thick fog, obscuring the view of trees even half a mile away, everything shrouded in a blanket of white.

Despite the foggy scene before him, Fu Wei's heart was clear.

Ever since the revelation about his mistaken identity, he hadn't stood so relaxedly as he did now.

It had been about half a year.

Initially, he felt guilty about the person who was mistakenly switched.

For he had enjoyed a life of luxury for twenty-one years, while Huo Min endured a life of hardship for the same duration, hence his guilt.

He surrendered his identity to Huo Minzhi and willingly accepted exile to Lingnan as a punishment for his family's crimes.

However, what he hadn't anticipated was being drugged into unconsciousness during his exile journey and having his legs broken while he was out.

The excruciating pain woke him up.

Upon awakening, he saw Huo Minzhi's face, full of satisfaction.

He left a menacing warning - "If you dare seek death, I'll make sure the Fu family joins you in your grave."

He wondered just how deplorable the people of the Fu family must be to raise such a ferocious person.

But later, he realized it was only Huo Minzhi's brutality.

Hate? Yet he couldn't bring himself to hate.

After all, Huo Minzhi had endured poverty and suffering for him; how could he face hating him?

He didn't know if not being switched at birth and living in such a place for twenty-one years would have turned him into someone like Huo Minzhi.

Unable to hate, yet filled with impotence and confusion.

In the end, there was only despair towards his foster father.

Huo Minzhi broke his legs, and his foster father must have known but tolerated it. How could one not feel chilled to the bone?

Fu Wei lived day by day, burdened with guilt, crippled legs, and the abandonment of his once-closest kin.

But now, things are different. Fu Wei no longer feels guilty for what Huo Minzhi did. His legs are almost healed, and he has found kinship and people he can't abandon.

Now, he wants to live, to live earnestly.

Closing his eyes, Fu Wei took a deep breath.

When Yu Ying got up, Fu Wei had already come in after grooming, telling her, "I've warmed some water for you."

Yu Ying was a bit surprised, but still went to the kitchen to pour the hot water and groom herself.

After grooming, she returned to the room and applied cream to her face.

After two days, the roughness on her cheeks had smoothed out.

She looked at the cream in her hand and pondered deeply.

It's essential to carefully assess the effects before selling it.

However, as the minor cracks on the hands, feet, and faces of other family members only required a few days of treatment to heal, this wasn't the effect she was aiming to test.

After all, ordinary creams could heal cracks. She needed something more remarkable than others to stand out.

Yu Ying thought of He Erlang, who had just returned yesterday with severe cracks on his hands, feet, and face. He was the perfect candidate to test it.

Today, when she goes to Yu County, she plans to buy some cream and let him try it to see the effects.

After breakfast, Yu Ying went to Yu County with her eldest brother and sister-in-law.

She was accompanied by them due to Fu Wei's and her concerns, along with Luo the shopkeeper's special reminder, which made her more cautious.

Knowing there could be trouble, but life must go on, they couldn't always hide at home, so she asked her eldest brother to accompany her to Yu County.

Bringing her sister-in-law was also to avoid any suspicions.

After their departure, Song Sanlang and the He family would help look after the house.

At the village entrance, Elder Chen saw Mrs. Yu and smiled, "Mrs. Yu's herbs are famous in Chen Village. Everyone says how capable she is."

Yu Ying smiled in response, "If it weren't for Shopkeeper Chen's initial advice, I might not have succeeded in this business."

Although Elder Chen loved hearing this, he knew from his son about the whole situation, so he was aware that his son had merely made an offhand suggestion.

He said, "Without true skill, even a well-set-up business can fail. My son only gave a suggestion, but Mrs. Yu not only completed one deal but also succeeded in a second. This proves Mrs. Yu truly has talent."

Chatting casually, they reached Yu County and got off the ox cart at the city gate.

Due to the colder weather and longer nights, Uncle Chen changed his time to return home as it got dark earlier.

He left an hour earlier than usual, just after the end of the 11th hour.

Yu Ying had visited Jade County countless times and was already familiar with both the general stores and the rouge shops.

After inquiring at a general store, she learned that the cheapest face cream cost five coins, also packaged in a bamboo container but half the size of hers and noticeably rougher, even to the point of being prickly.

Under the shop assistant's gaze, Yu Ying opened and sniffed the cream.

The white cream had the scent of lard.

This was undoubtedly just plain lard paste.

A jar of this lard paste, barely costing two coins to produce.

The store's other face cream, priced at ten coins, was in a small porcelain jar. Although not very exquisite, it felt more upscale.

Yu Ying thought this would be better than the five-coin variety, but fell silent upon opening it.

It was still lard paste, only in a porcelain jar.

…

Not buying any face cream, Yu Ying, under the disdainful eye of the shop assistant, bought kerosene and salt instead.

She then visited several rouge shops and purchased three jars of face cream.

She didn't choose the common lard-based ones, opting for mid-to-high-end products instead of the most expensive.

Besides the rouge shops, Yu Ying also targeted the medical halls.

Since it was inconvenient for Yu Ying to enter the medical halls, she asked her elder brother to buy medicinally made face creams from several halls.

Though she didn't buy much, Yu Ying spent around two hundred coins, with nearly one hundred and fifty spent on face creams alone.

The herbal face creams were more expensive, ranging from twenty-five to thirty coins per porcelain jar, each carrying a faint scent of medicinal herbs.

The face creams from the rouge shops focused on floral fragrances, also not cheap, costing around fifteen to twenty coins.

Yu Ying didn't study them in detail, planning to compare them more carefully after returning home.

Around the appointed time, she went to the city gate to wait for Uncle Chen.

Upon Uncle Chen's arrival, she noticed a large, cloth-wrapped object on his ox cart, resembling a chair.

Uncle Chen, seeing Yu Ying, said, "This was delivered to Wu's eatery by the courier, intended for you, Madam Yu. There's also this letter."

Amidst her surprise, Uncle Chen handed her the letter.

Yu Ying, recognizing the words "For Madam Yu Liu, from Huo Bu Ming" on the envelope, understood and safely tucked the letter away.

Although the Fu couple was curious, they refrained from asking about the sender in front of others.

Leaving Jade County, the journey back to Lingshui Village took about an hour, along a fixed route.

Every half hour or so, the route passed through small villages.

Due to unrest in the Lingnan region, patrolmen often monitored the area to reduce incidents of robbery.

In case of robbery, handing over all money could ensure safety.

About half an hour after leaving Jade County, while passing through a mountain road, they were suddenly stopped by four masked men.

They had encountered robbers!

Besides Yu Ying and her companions, there was another man from Chen's village on the ox cart.

Uncle Chen's face turned pale as he considered turning back, but three more men emerged, blocking the path both ahead and behind, just a few meters apart.

The old ox was too aged to run fast, making escape impossible.

Not only Uncle Chen and the other man, but also Yu Ying and her sister-in-law turned pale with fright.

Yu Ying had been here for nearly half a year; though life was tough and she had encountered fierce wild boars, this was her first time facing robbers. How could she not be afraid?

In her fear, she looked towards her elder brother, who was slowly gripping the pole on Uncle Chen's ox cart.

Feeling slightly reassured, Yu Ying also discreetly reached into her basket to find her small crossbow.

Seeing no way out, Uncle Chen anxiously said, "Honorable men, we will hand over all our money. Can we please buy our safety?"

One of the men, even taller than Fu Zhen, stood surrounded by his group, arms crossed. He glanced around the ox cart, his gaze finally settling on a woman with dark spots on her face.

He sneered and spoke, "You'll hand over the money, but I also want to teach someone here a lesson."

Everyone on the cart was stunned. After a moment, Yu Ying met the robber's gaze and realized the trouble was targeted at her.

Suppressing her panic, she feigned calmness and asked, "Is the person you want to teach a lesson to, me?"

Hearing her speak, the man laughed, "A wise one, you are. Come with us, and promise to quit the medicinal herb business. We'll let you go in a couple of days."

Uncle Chen instantly understood, realizing that Madam Yu's business had blocked someone else's financial path!

Uncle Chen hurriedly said, "Honorable men, if this lady has offended anyone, please speak on her behalf. She will pay you with silver as gratitude. Please spare her this time."

Another person on the cart, in fear, blurted out, "Uncle Chen, why plead for this woman? It's clear she's brought this upon us!"

The leader ignored them both, instead focusing on the woman, and sternly said, "If you follow us quietly, we won't be rough. But if you resist, none of you will leave here!"

Upon hearing this, Fu Zhen gripped the pole and jumped down from the cart, his face dark and stern as he stared at the leader of the robbers.

The leader raised an eyebrow, mockingly said, "Oh, look here, someone who isn't afraid to die. Fancying yourself a hero, are you?"

Wen Xing, seeing her husband leap off the ox cart, instantly turned pale and called out tremulously, "Darling..."

Yu Ying, taking advantage of the distraction her brother had created, swiftly and methodically loaded her crossbow with short arrows, using the items behind her and Uncle Chen's cover.

Fu Zhen confronted the leader with a steely gaze and instructed Uncle Chen in a firm voice, "If the situation allows, leave quickly, don't worry about me."

The leader, hearing this, laughed heartily as if hearing a joke, then disdainfully addressed Fu Zhen, "Do you really think you alone can take on the seven of us?"

Another man on the ox cart hurriedly disassociated himself, his voice shaking more and more, "I don't know them, I'm not involved! I'll give you all my money, just let me go, please?"

The leader glanced at him, "Try to leave, and see if I don't break your legs."

The man's face turned instantly pale, then, looking at the women on the cart, he shouted angrily, "You, you jinx, get off the cart and go with them, stop bringing us trouble!"

Before Yu Ying could respond, the terrified sister-in-law shot him a fierce glare and snapped, "Shut your mouth!"

Yu Ying, after glancing at her sister-in-law, had already loaded her crossbow with the short arrows, taking a deep, silent breath.

Fu Zhen, calm and composed, negotiated with the leader, "Let's fight first. Whether I can handle you or not, we'll find out after the fight."

Hearing his words, all the masked robbers burst into laughter.

After their laughter subsided, the leader nodded and said dismissively, "Fine, fine, fine. If you alone can defeat the seven of us, we'll leave right away."

Fu Zhen's stance with the pole shifted in an instant, resembling a warrior wielding a long spear, his gaze transforming as well.

Yu Ying swallowed nervously, gripping her sister-in-law's hand tightly as she anxiously watched her brother.

Fu Wei, almost daily, would review and critique Fu Zhen's spear techniques, suggesting improvements and rigorous practice.

Fu Zhen, already strong, had been diligently practicing for nearly two months. Although Fu Wei still found him lacking, Yu Ying thought he looked quite skilled.

Yu Ying's hand was on the crossbow inside her basket, resolved to act if her brother couldn't overpower the robbers.

The robbers, seeing Fu Zhen's stance, couldn't help but laugh again. The leader casually signaled one of them to teach Fu Zhen a lesson.

A robber with a long stick approached carelessly, utterly disregarding the farmer-like figure in front of him.

Fu Zhen moved a few steps to an open space, readying himself for the confrontation.

The robber's eyes flashed with malice as he charged at Fu Zhen with his stick.

Fu Zhen's eyes narrowed sharply, and in an instant, his pole parried the robber's stick with stability and precision.

The robber was startled; the next moment, the pole vibrated, knocking his stick aside. Fu Zhen swiftly struck the robber's arms with the pole, causing the stick to drop instantly.

Falling into disadvantage after just three moves, the pole, like a spear, pressed against the robber's throat in the next instant.

The robber, with the pole at his neck, wore a look of disbelief.

The leader, who had been watching the spectacle, lost his casual demeanor and signaled two of his men with his eyes.

Understanding his cue, the two robbers, armed with long sticks, hurriedly charged forward.

Fu Zhen immediately dropped the pole and hooked up the round stick dropped by the robber with his foot, gripping it firmly.

Recalling the techniques taught by his younger brother, he calmly advanced to meet the attackers.

The first attacker, being overly complacent, was quickly defeated by Fu Zhen.

The next two were more cautious, but after some struggle, Fu Zhen managed to knock their sticks to the ground.

The leader, observing the situation, furrowed his brows tightly.

He hadn't been informed by the innkeeper that this woman had such a capable fighter by her side!

Seeing his two men defeated, the leader, along with the remaining three, charged forward.

As they swarmed him, Fu Zhen dared not relax his vigilance.

However, having only trained for less than two months, he soon took a hit from the leader's stick on his back, causing everyone on the cart to gasp in shock.

As another robber struck his leg, Yu Ying felt the urge to take out her crossbow.

But just as she was about to do so, her brother executed a swift counterattack, striking the leader's head with his stick.

Yu Ying quietly put the crossbow back down.

Fu Zhen seemed to grow more adept as he fought; the ordinary stick in his hands became a deadly weapon, moving swiftly and fluidly, dazzling onlookers.

After a minute and a half, some lay on the ground, while others clutched their arms and abdomens in pain.

The leader, clutching his head, no longer underestimated the farmer.

He declared, "I keep my promise!" then turned and shouted to his men, "Let's go!"

Fu Zhen, increasingly strained in his fight against the men, realized it was impossible to subdue them completely and bring them to the authorities.

As the robbers were about to leave, Yu Ying hastily asked, "Who exactly sent you?"

The leader turned back, glanced at her, and did not divulge the truth. He ominously replied, "Madam, you've blocked someone's way to wealth. Consider this a warning."

Saying so, he quickly helped his men to leave.

The men, supporting each other, only pulled down their face coverings once they were far away.

One asked, "Boss, are we really just leaving like this?"

The leader, nursing his aching head, retorted, "Do you think you can defeat that man? We seven couldn't beat him alone; it would be shameful to admit defeat!"

"But we still owe the medical hall a substantial amount. If we don't deliver a satisfactory result to Master Luo, it might be hard to explain."

The leader, pausing in his tracks and pondering for a moment, looked ahead and said, "Master Luo only wanted us to teach the woman a lesson, not necessarily to harm anyone."

Amidst his men's confusion, he continued, "Didn't they say the woman has planted a medicinal field..."

He turned to the three brothers who were less beaten, "You go and find out which field belongs to that woman. Trample all those seedlings at night."

The brothers hesitated, with one timidly saying, "But Lingshui Village is so desolate; fierce animals might emerge at night..."

The leader slapped his head, "Did I ask you to travel at night? Can't you go to Lingshui Village now, find a place to hide, do the deed at night, and return to Jade County early the next morning?"

Once the robbers truly left, except for Fu Zhen, everyone else felt as if they had been reborn after a calamity, instantly breathing a sigh of relief.

Wen Xing hurriedly climbed down from the ox cart and, trembling, approached her husband. Just as she was about to collapse, Fu Zhen quickly supported her.

"Darling, are you alright?"

Wen Xing, having watched her husband fight the robbers, was filled with fear and worry. She had been tense the whole time, and now that the crisis was over, she felt as if all her strength had been drained, even her voice trembling.

Fu Zhen, despite the pain in his back and legs, shook his head, "I'm fine."

He then lifted his wife and carried her back to the ox cart, casting a heavy glance at the other man on the cart.

The other man instinctively leaned back, swallowed nervously, and looked away, not daring to utter another word.

After taking a few breaths, Yu Ying relaxed her tense emotions and apologized to Uncle Chen, "I'm really sorry for alarming you, Uncle Chen, because of me."

Uncle Chen exhaled and said, "I've lived through more tumultuous times; today's incident is nothing. However, Madam Yu, it seems you have truly offended someone. It might be wise to find that person and negotiate peace."

Yu Ying nodded, "Thank you for your understanding and advice, Uncle Chen."

She turned to the other man, her tone apologetic, "I'll cover the fare for this ride for you, sir."

The man, aware of her uncle's formidable reputation, touched his nose awkwardly and with a mix of fear and embarrassment, said, "No need, no need."

Once everyone had calmed down, they continued their journey home.

Back in Lingshui Village, after repeatedly expressing her apologies to Uncle Chen, Yu Ying picked up her basket and, supporting her weary sister-in-law, headed home.

Meanwhile, Fu Zhen carried the object resembling a chair on his shoulder.

Luo's wife, busy feeding chickens with her two children, noticed her daughters-in-law entering the courtyard, one supporting the other who looked unwell. Seeing her son with the bulky item, she asked anxiously, "What happened?"

Not wanting to worry Luo's wife, they had agreed not to mention the encounter with the robbers.

Yu Ying explained, "Sister-in-law caught a chill and is feeling unwell."

Luo's wife immediately set down her wooden basin, "I'll go make some ginger soup to warm her up."

Fu Wei, hearing their voices, opened the door and saw their grave expressions, sensing that it was more than just a chill.

And moreover...

Fu Wei glanced at the large object on his elder brother's shoulder, pondering thoughtfully.

It was still early, and with such a large item, Elder Chen would surely help deliver it to their doorstep.

But now, with everyone looking solemn and Elder Chen not offering help, it seemed like something unexpected had happened.

Fu Zhen moved the bulky item into his second brother's house, then turned around to help his wife back home.

Yu Ying brought out a letter, saying, "This letter and the item wrapped in black cloth were delivered to Wu's restaurant by the officials, for you."

Fu Wei took the letter, glancing at the item wrapped in black cloth, feeling reassured.

After handing him the letter, Yu Ying sighed and sat down on a nearby bamboo stool to relax.

Fu Wei, not in a hurry to open it, looked at Yu Ying, who appeared tired, and asked softly, "What happened today?"

Yu Ying sighed again and recounted truthfully, "On our way back today, we encountered bandits. Fortunately, your brother has been practicing spear skills under your guidance these past two months, and he managed to drive the bandits away, sparing us from a robbery."

Hearing the word "bandits," Fu Wei's expression darkened: "Were those men targeting you?"

Chapter 63

"Were those men targeting you?"

Fu Wei's face was stern, a storm brewing in his eyes.

Under Fu Wei's gaze, Yu Ying nodded, "You guessed right. They were after me, accusing me of blocking someone's way of making money."

After saying this, Yu Ying closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Opening her eyes again, she gave Fu Wei a helpless smile, "A powerful dragon cannot suppress the local snake. No matter what I do, as long as I keep it small-scale, nobody will bother. But the moment I pose even a slight threat to their interests, regardless of the field, I will be suppressed. I just didn't expect such underhanded methods from fellow medical practitioners."

And to think that even the connections I made with the Huo yamen and the government offices through borrowing officials turned out to be useless.

Yu Ying told Fu Wei everything about the bandits wanting her to leave with them and then threatening her to stop dealing in medicinal herbs.

Since learning of her close encounter with danger, Fu Wei felt a tumult of emotions, like surging waves, knowing his current feelings could cloud his judgment, he allowed himself a moment to calm down.

Fu Wei took a deep breath in silence, then narrowed his eyes in contemplation.

After a while, he speculated, "I think they were not only trying to teach you a lesson but also making an example out of you."

Hearing this, Yu Ying appeared slightly surprised and began to ponder over today's details.

A few moments later, Fu Wei, with narrowed eyes, analyzed, "They could have simply taken you by force. But instead, they wanted you to go with them willingly and threatened you in front of others to stop dealing in herbs. It sounds more like they wanted to detain you for a few days and then release you, as if to make a show of intimidation."

After pondering for a moment, Yu Ying seemed to have an epiphany and looked up to meet Fu Wei's gaze.

Fu Wei spoke, "It seems that someone has already started imitating your method of trading in medicinal herbs."

Clearly, they had both arrived at the same conclusion.

After Yu Ying's business became known, there would always be those who thought that if an ordinary farmwoman could succeed in the medicinal herb trade, they certainly could too, and probably do even better.

Under such confident assumptions, they grew bolder and started to aggressively lower the prices of herbs to attract customers.

Over time, this would inevitably lead to a drop in the price of medicinal herbs in Yu County, causing anxiety for the owners of medical halls.

Considering this, Yu Ying, almost talking to herself, said, "If that's the case, their intent to use me as a warning to these people makes sense, and explains the oddities I experienced today..."

Fu Wei, once accustomed to a life of luxury, was also acutely aware of the world's dangers and had thoughts of changing this harsh reality.

But before he could start acting on his ambitions, he fell from grace, from a favored son of heaven to a criminal's son.

Struggling to even protect himself, how could he contemplate changing the ways of the world?

The current plight of Sixth Lady was, to those people, just an insignificant farmwife. They wouldn't care about her reputation or life; their only concern was their own interests.

Thinking this, Fu Wei unconsciously clenched the letter in his hand, crumpling it.

"If this matter isn't resolved, we can no longer continue the medicinal herb trade in Yu County."

Yu Ying's gaze drifted to the movement in his hands and then, looking up, she saw the darkness in his eyes, understanding his anger was about her situation.

Fu Wei lifted his dark eyes to meet hers, his expression solemn, "I'll handle this."

Hearing this, Yu Ying thought for a moment and glanced at the items behind him and the letter in his hand, then looked up at him, "Do you already have a plan?"

Fu Wei didn't rush to answer; instead, he opened the envelope and pulled out four sheets of letter paper.

He quickly skimmed through them, his lips curling slightly at the end.

He looked up at her, lifting the letter, "If they use power to bully, we shall return the favor in kind."

Under Yu Ying's puzzled gaze, he elaborated, "Only by doing so can we stop them from resorting to such despicable tactics and listen to our side."

Yu Ying glanced at the letter in his hand, curious, and asked, "Is it someone you knew before?"

Fu Wei hummed softly, "A close friend who once fought alongside me. He can't reveal himself, so he's asked to meet in Yu County."

Hearing that the person couldn't appear openly, Yu Ying didn't inquire further about his identity but turned her attention to the object, asking, "And what is this?"

Fu Wei replied, "It's a plain carriage that I had him arrange for."

With that, he picked up the scissors from the table and approached slowly.

After standing for a while, his legs showed signs of strain. When he reached the plain carriage, he rested his hands on it for support before cutting the ropes.

Once he had cut them all, he pulled away the cloth, revealing a wheelchair to Yu Ying's view.

Yu Ying was momentarily stunned.

This plain palanquin resembled a wheelchair from future times. Devoid of any carving, it was very simple, made just from plain wood boards, fitted with a footrest, and two large and two small wheels.

Yu Ying had thought about how convenient a wheelchair would be for Fu Wei, given his difficulty in walking.

But previously, even purchasing a bamboo bed required lengthy consideration due to their limited means, let alone a wheelchair for which they had no blueprints. It wasn't just a matter of money; even finding a carpenter in Yu County capable of making it was uncertain.

Such a palanquin was not common; Fu Wei had only seen it in books.

However, in her expression, he didn't see surprise or curiosity, as if she had seen such a thing before.

Yu Ying looked at him and said, "Do you plan to always sit in this whee...," pausing, she recalled his earlier words and corrected herself, "this plain palanquin?"

Fu Wei nodded: "For now, let's keep it a secret that I can walk. We'll decide how to proceed later."

Fu Wei's caution wasn't just against Huo Minzhi.

It was also to guard against his foster father.

For the past twenty-one years, his foster father had shown him exceptional care, a relationship marked by paternal love and filial piety.

Even though he wasn't his biological son, the father-son affection cultivated over many years made it hard to believe that he would remain indifferent to his legs being broken.

Unable to understand why his foster father would be so ruthless towards him, Fu Wei intended to continue pretending to be disabled, biding his time until he gained the strength to investigate thoroughly.

Fu Wei slowly sat down in the palanquin, resting his hands on the armrests, and looked up at her, "At least it doesn't hinder traveling."

Indeed, compared to previously being confined to sitting indoors, having a wheelchair was already a significant improvement.

Yu Ying nodded, then asked him, "Has your friend arranged a time to meet you?"

Fu Wei replied, "Tomorrow at the inn. We have reserved a room where he will come to find me."

After a pause, Fu Wei explained further, "He works under my foster father, so it's inconvenient for us to meet directly."

Seeing that he had volunteered this information, Yu Ying casually inquired, "Is 'Huo Buming' the name of your friend?"

After all, Fu Wei used to have the surname Huo, so it couldn't possibly be a relative from before, could it?

Fu Wei shook his head slightly and clarified, "That was a name I used during my travels in the past. Only a few people know it, but he would recognize that it's me by that name."

Yu Ying sensed Fu Wei's caution.

Not overly curious about this pseudonym, but considering that Elder Chen was frightened today and the day's events were yet unresolved, Yu Ying decided not to bother Elder Chen for the time being.

"Tomorrow, we may have to walk to Yu County."

Fu Wei said, "It's okay, I'll have my elder brother accompany me."

Yu Ying nodded and could only advise, "Be careful."

Their conversation ended after Luo's wife brought ginger tea for Yu Ying.

Yu Ying, having been startled today, drank the ginger tea and then went to rest.

The one who was most frightened today was Wen Xing.

After the couple returned to their room, Wen Xing asked her husband to sit so she could check where he had been hit by the stick.

Fu Zhen said, "I'm fine, don't worry."

Wen Xing glared at him, her eyes reddened, "That blow was so fierce, how can you possibly be unharmed!"

As she spoke, she pulled his arm, preventing him from leaving, and began to open his shirt.

Fu Zhen, resigned, let his back be exposed for her to see.

His clothes fell from his arms, revealing a muscular back.

Years of hard labor in the quarry had toughened Fu Zhen's shoulders and back with a layer of calluses, but even with that, the area hit by the stick was bruised and purple.

Wen Xing's fingertips gently touched the bruise, then she leaned in and embraced her husband from behind. Resting her cheek against his back, her voice trembled, "Da Lang, I was so scared."

She had been frightened by the encounter with the thieves, but what scared her more was the thought of her husband getting seriously hurt during the confrontation.

Fu Zhen's heart softened, and he held his wife's hand, whispering, "I'm alright."

Reflecting on the day's clash with the thieves, Fu Zhen still felt overwhelmed.

He had practiced spear skills without much expectation, never imagining he could overpower many. But today, he realized the vast difference between mere brute strength and skilled martial arts.

Previously in the quarry, Fu Zhen had faced five or six men alone, ending up injured himself.

Yet today, against seven men, he sustained only a couple of blows, far less severe than before.

If this was his progress after just two months, how much more formidable could he become with further practice?

Fu Zhen's interest in spear skills was ignited like never before.

It was no longer because his younger brother asked him to learn, but a desire to learn for himself.

After dinner that evening, Fu Wei and Fu Zhen talked privately. The first topic was about going to Yu County tomorrow, and the second was other matters.

"Those thieves suffered a setback at your hands today, Big Brother. They might harbor other malicious intentions. Moreover, their target was Sixth Lady, and having failed today, they will likely have other plans."

Fu Zhen, with a solemn expression, asked, "If we both go to Yu County tomorrow, what about the house?"

Fu Wei spoke calmly, "Even the boldest medical hall in the city wouldn't dare to collude with outright villains. I suspect they are just local thugs."

"These thugs wouldn't dare to cause trouble in Lingshui Village during broad daylight, but my concern is their potential mischief at night."

Fu Zhen countered, "The road from Yu County to Lingshui Village is perilous at night. Even with ox carts and horse carts, no one dares to travel. Even if they are villains, they likely wouldn't dare to cause trouble in our village at night."

Fu Wei smirked, retorting, "If they don't dare to come at night, doesn't it mean they can't come during the day and lie in wait until darkness falls to make their move?"

Realizing this, Fu Zhen heard his brother continue, "Having been outwitted today, they must be seething and won't let it go easily."

Fu Wei then pondered for a moment, suddenly recalling that these people might have been sent by the medical hall, both to teach Yu Ying a lesson and as a warning to others.

If they can't harm people, then they might target property.

Yu Ying's herb fields!

Reacting, Fu Wei immediately said to his elder brother, "Go find Song San Lang and the He brothers now. You guys should guard the herb fields tonight."

Hearing this, Fu Zhen asked, "You think they might destroy your wife's herb fields?"

Fu Wei nodded, "There's a seventy percent chance. Better to be cautious."

Upon hearing this, Fu Zhen became serious, "I'll go find them right now."

Fu Zhen quickly grabbed a lantern and left.

Yu Ying, having just finished bathing, saw her elder brother leaving the courtyard and turned to Fu Wei inside the house, asking, "Where's elder brother going?"

Fu Wei then shared his suspicions with Yu Ying.

Hearing this, Yu Ying's expression grew serious; her herb fields, cultivated with much care, couldn't afford any mishaps.

With this thought, her face became even more solemn.

Due to these concerns, Yu Ying couldn't sleep that night, becoming tense at every rustle of wind and movement outside.

Suddenly, in the middle of the night, she sat up abruptly when she heard the faint sound of a door opening outside.

Fu Wei also got up.

He got out of bed to light the oil lamp, and once the room was illuminated, he exchanged a glance with Yu Ying, who was still in bed.

Fu Ning, stirred by their movements, cracked open her eyes. Yu Ying quickly patted her and soothingly whispered, "It's okay, your aunt just went to the outhouse. Go back to sleep."

Drowsy, Fu Ning, reassured by her aunt's words, closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.

Seeing Fu Ning sleeping soundly, Yu Ying cautiously got out of bed, careful not to make any noise.

She put on her outer garment.

At that moment, the sound of water could be faintly heard outside.

After Yu Ying was dressed, Fu Wei, carrying the oil lamp, accompanied her outside.

Once outside, they saw that the kitchen was lit.

Carrying the lamp, Fu Wei approached the kitchen and called out in a hushed voice, "Big brother?"

Fu Zhen, who was washing his hands in the bathing room, responded, "It's me."

After a moment, Fu Zhen emerged from the kitchen with a lantern, and seeing his younger brother and sister-in-law, he said, "You were right, second brother. Tonight, someone really did sneak into our medicinal fields, intending to destroy the seedlings."

Hearing this, Yu Ying quickly asked in a low voice, "Where are they?"

Fu Zhen replied, "Song Jun, He Dalaong, and He Erlang and I caught them. To avoid waking mother and the others, we tied them up at Song Jun's house. I roughly compared, and they are among the seven thieves we encountered today."

Fu Wei pondered for a moment, then said, "I'll go see them."

Saying this, he returned to the room and came back out in his wheelchair.

Although Fu Zhen had seen this wheelchair after dinner in his younger brother's room, this was the first time he witnessed its use, his face showing a hint of surprise.

At that moment, the door of the elder brother's house opened, revealing his wife.

Seeing his wife, Fu Zhen quickly walked over and whispered to her, "It's alright. Go back to the room, we'll be back soon."

Wen Xing nodded lightly.

When Yu Ying saw her sister-in-law, she asked her to go inside and keep an eye on Fu Ning for a while, then joined Fu Wei and her elder brother to head to Song Sanlang's house.

Fortunately, Song Sanlang's house was close to the Fu family's and on the edge of the village, so there was no concern about villagers noticing their group heading there.

Upon reaching Song Sanlang's house, both Song Sanlang and the He brothers were present.

He Erlang's eyes lit up when he saw Yu Ying, exclaiming, "Sister-in-law!"

Yu Ying nodded gently at him.

Fu Wei glanced at him, then turned to Song Sanlang, asking, "Where are they kept?"

Song Sanlang's home consisted of two thatched huts, one for living and the other for storing miscellaneous items. The captives were tied up in the storage hut.

The three men were beaten black and blue, all bound together with hemp ropes, their mouths gagged with cloth.

Yu Ying noticed that the cloth seemed to be torn from their own clothes...

The three men showed little reaction to Yu Ying and Fu Wei entering, but when they saw Fu Zhen approaching, their eyes widened in terror, and they frantically wriggled their bodies towards a corner.

Their fear was clearly a result of being intimidated by Fu Zhen's beating.

Fu Wei glanced at them and asked, "Who instructed you to come here?"

Approaching, Fu Zhen threatened as he removed the hemp cloth from their mouths, "If you dare to shout, my fists won't spare you."

The men nodded frantically, terrified.

Once the cloth was removed, they cried out, "We know we were wrong, please spare us this time, sir!"

Fu Zhen's eyes hardened as he demanded sternly, "Didn't you hear the question you were asked?!"

Trembling, one of them stammered, "We don't know who wanted to target Mrs. Yu. We just followed orders from our boss, doing whatever he asked without any say in the matter."

It was clear they weren't telling the whole truth.

Fu Wei coldly glanced at the three and then said indifferently to his elder brother, "Since they refuse to speak the truth, break their hands and dump them at the village entrance."

Fu Zhen met his younger brother's gaze, understanding the signal, and stepped forward, turning the captives pale with fear.

Fu Zhen stuffed the cloth back into one man's mouth and then firmly grasped his arm, exerting pressure.

The man whose arm was seized whimpered in pain, causing the others to sweat profusely. Unable to bear it, one of them hastily confessed, "It was Manager Luo from Luo's Medicine Hall!"

They were only trying to repay a debt and didn't want to end up crippled for such money!

Hearing the information he wanted, Fu Wei withdrew his gaze and turned to his elder brother, asking, "Did they manage to damage the medicinal seedlings?"

Fu Zhen said, "They damaged a small section, but if replanted tomorrow, it should still survive."

Fu Wei swept his gaze coldly over the men, who shivered under his gaze.

They had a realization — this man sitting in the chair was not someone to be trifled with.

Indeed, in the next moment, he said unhurriedly, "Take these people back to the damaged field. Have the He brothers help call the villagers to the field with gongs and drums, then tomorrow morning, send these men to the magistrate's office."

Capturing them was about proving their guilt with evidence, and the entire village would be witnesses. There would be no room for denial.

As for the magistrate's office... it better not harbor any protectiveness.

Hearing this, the men widened their eyes in shock: "We've confessed everything, how can you do this to us!?"

To prevent them from shouting, Fu Zhen quickly stuffed the hemp cloth back into their mouths.

Fu Wei smirked lightly, speaking calmly, "When did I ever say that confessing your instigator would spare you?"

Reflecting, the men realized that no such promise had been made!

Fu Zhen showed his fists threateningly, "Get up and walk on your own, don't make me force you."

The men scrambled to their feet in a panic.

They suddenly remembered that Manager Luo had a relative working as a clerk in the magistrate's office. If they insisted on not knowing who instructed them at the trial, they would likely only face a few beatings and a short jail term.

Relying on Manager Luo's connection, they might even get out early.

With this thought, they figured facing the magistrate's office was a far better option than being beaten to death here!

The group suddenly fell silent. Fu Wei glanced at them, and though he couldn't know their exact thoughts, he could guess what they were planning.

Fu Wei withdrew his gaze, and, unaccustomed to the wheelchair, said to Yu Ying behind him, "Sixth Lady, would you mind pushing me out?"

Yu Ying, understanding that the wheels lacked axles, pulled the wheelchair backward out of the house.

Fu Wei was momentarily stunned.

He had thought she wouldn't be surprised by the plain carriage, but tonight she hadn't examined it, and yet she skillfully pulled it out, clearly more than just familiar with it.

Fu Wei suddenly realized that her experiences were far more extensive than his.

Thinking this, he felt somewhat disheartened.

It seemed there was nothing he could boast about in her presence…

Returning to the Fu residence, they waited a moment before hearing the He brothers shouting, "Catch the thief! Catch the thief!"

The shouts echoed from one end of the village to the other, and soon people carrying torches hurried out of their houses.

The He brothers shouted loudly, "The thief was caught in the Fu family's herb fields!"

Those already awake quickly grabbed their tools and rushed to the Fu family's herb fields.

Mrs. Luo, along with Fu An and Fu Ning, were awakened by the noise. She came out of the house in a panic and, seeing her two daughters-in-law and second son in the courtyard, anxiously asked, "What's happened?!"

Yu Ying reassured, "Mother, don't worry, it's nothing serious. Elder brother and Song San Lang have gone to check. My sister-in-law and I will also take a look. You stay here with An An and Ning Ning."

After all, it was their own herb field; Yu Ying couldn't just stay away.

Mrs. Luo quickly advised, "Be careful, and if anything seems wrong, come back immediately."

Yu Ying acknowledged and left the house with her sister-in-law, carrying an oil lamp.

However, they hadn't gone far when the oil lamp extinguished, but they continued on, guided by the dim light from rudimentary lanterns carried by others.

As Yu Ying's rented field was fertile and close to the river, they reached it in just a short while.

In front of the villagers, Fu Zhen and Song Sanlang re-tied the captives.

The villagers loudly cursed the thieves, some even clamoring to break their legs to deter them from such thievery in the future.

Yu Ying glimpsed the trampled seedlings in the medicinal field, her mood sinking instantly.

With the thieves caught red-handed, they couldn't deny their guilt.

However, Yu Ying worried that if the county magistrate decided to protect the culprits, there was little she could do. She hoped that after Fu Wei met his friend tomorrow, some good news might come.

The re-bound men, seeing the villagers brandishing tools and threatening to cripple them, were on the verge of tears.

When their boss agreed to Manager Luo's request, they thought it was just a simple job against an ordinary farmwoman.

That's what they had believed.

But now, they found it not just difficult, but extremely challenging!

Had they known it would turn out like this, they would have never followed their boss's orders to sneak into Lingshui Village at night.

Chapter 64.

The commotion over the capture of the thieves lasted until the early hours, after which everyone returned to their homes to rest.

In the morning, having barely closed their eyes for an hour, Fu Wei and Fu Zhen were up again and headed to Yu County.

Fu Wei's plain palanquin inevitably drew attention as he traveled.

This was actually within Fu Wei's expectations.

Fu Wei currently had only three choices.

Either continue lying in bed helplessly, never leaving the house.

Or reveal that his legs were nearly healed.

Lastly, he could continue to pretend to be crippled and travel in a wheelchair.

Among these, a decision had to be made.

Huo Minzhi, knowing his life was gradually improving, would at most try to cause disruptions.

Moreover, the distance from Wuling County to Yu County was over two thousand li. Even if someone noticed his wheelchair, they would ponder whether to send a message to Wuling County. By the time the delay was over and Huo Minzhi's people arrived, it would be almost two months later.

After two months, in the coldest season, even exiled criminals would wait until April of the next year to be escorted.

If life gradually improved, Huo Minzhi might wait a few months before targeting him again.

However, if Huo Minzhi knew his legs were healed, regardless of the severe weather and many obstacles, he would still send someone to strike him and the Fu family again.

After weighing the options, Fu Wei chose the latter. Therefore, in his letter, he asked his friend to make a plain palanquin for him, making it easier to travel.

Today, as they needed to escort the three thieves to Yu County, Fu Zhen might have to push Fu Wei's palanquin, so Song Sanlang and He Dalong also went along to keep an eye on the thieves.

Yu Ying, having almost stayed up all night, slept until Chen hour before rising and thus didn't see Fu Wei off.

After breakfast, she went to check on the condition of the medicinal field.

Uncle He, Auntie He, and He Erlang were all in the field, helping to replant the damaged medicinal seedlings.

He Erlang was the first to spot Yu Ying, his face lighting up with a smile, he called out, "Sister-in-law Yu."

Uncle He and Auntie He also noticed Yu Ying, and they stopped their work.

As she approached, Uncle He told her, "We've checked everything. Only about twenty herbs can't be saved, so there's not much loss."

Yu Ying also went down to the field to inspect.

Last night it was too dark to see clearly, but now in daylight, she saw some seedlings had been uprooted and tossed aside, others trampled and broken.

Fortunately, just as Uncle He had said, the damage wasn't too severe.

Relieved, Yu Ying thanked them, "Uncle He, Auntie He, and He Erlang, thank you for coming so early to help. I appreciate it."

Auntie He replied, "We're neighbors, and you've helped us a lot too. No need for formalities."

Yu Ying smiled and then joined them in replanting the uprooted seedlings.

Passing villagers stopped and curiously asked, "Mrs. Yu, were those thieves really sent to the county office?"

Despite occasional friction among villagers, they united against outsiders who threatened one of their own.

The villagers were indignant last night, as if their own fields had been damaged.

Yu Ying, who initially felt indifferent towards the villagers, now felt a newfound fondness for them.

She responded, "This morning, my elder brother, He Dalong, and Song Sanlang escorted them to Yu County."

A villager speculated, "It must be some other village jealous of our people making money, so they came to destroy our fields."

The villagers used "we" and "our," as if the Fu family's earnings also reflected well on them, showing a strong sense of community pride.

Some were curious about the wheelchair Fu Wei used, but as some villagers were well-informed, Yu Ying didn't need to explain; they did it for her.

When asked where it came from, Yu Ying made an excuse: "My second brother is well-traveled and had seen these designs before. I earned some money and spent it all on making this wheelchair for him."

The others didn't question further and believed her.

Due to frequent interruptions for conversation, Yu Ying hardly did any work, and it was already midday.

Finally, after all the chatting villagers had left, Yu Ying exhaled deeply and looked towards Yu County.

Auntie He noticed her gaze and comforted her, "Don't worry, there won't be any problems."

By midday, Fu Wei had his elder brother book a room at Tongyue Inn where he stayed alone, instructing them to take the captives to the magistrate's office.

Initially, Fu Zhen was concerned, but when he heard that his younger brother had arranged a meeting, he figured Fu Wei was meeting someone secretive and didn't want to be exposed, so he complied and went with He Dalong and Song Sanlang to the magistrate's office.

Fu Wei waited quietly in the inn room, and about half an hour later, someone knocked on the door.

Fu Wei looked up towards the door and said indifferently, "The door is unlocked."

Shortly after his words, someone pushed the door open.

The person who entered was a young man in his mid-twenties, tall and well-built, with a handsome and honest face.

This man was Shen Mingcong, a friend Fu Wei had known for several years and shared life-and-death experiences with.

Upon entering and seeing Fu Wei, Shen Mingcong's face lit up with excitement as he exclaimed, "Jinzhi!"

But then, as if remembering something, his eyes fell on the plain palanquin Fu Wei was sitting in, and his smile faltered.

"Jinzhi, your legs…"

Fu Wei smiled at him, "It's a long story. Close the door first."

Shen Mingcong hurriedly shut the door.

Fu Wei cautiously asked, "Have you told anyone about your trip to Lingnan?"

Shen Mingcong replied, "As you instructed, I haven't told anyone. I took a month's leave on the pretext of visiting my parents, so I can only stay in Yu County for three days before I must leave."

Hearing this, Fu Wei slowly stood up with the support of the chair's armrest, under his friend's astonished gaze, and briefly explained how Huo Minzhi broke his legs and forced him into marriage.

Shen Mingcong's face showed anger as he cursed, "That heartless beast!"

After cursing, he explained to Fu Wei, "I tried to investigate where you were exiled, but faced many obstacles. Even the Fu family's old records only mentioned your exile to Lingnan without specifics. I've been sending people to Lingnan for months with no success. If it weren't for your letter, I wouldn't have known you were in Cangwu County."

Fu Wei's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing this, a hint of confusion and doubt arising in his mind.

But with other matters at hand, Fu Wei temporarily suppressed his doubts and said to his friend, "I asked you to come to Yu County to help me with two things."

Shen Mingcong's expression became serious, "Tell me."

Fu Wei spoke slowly, "First, I need your help to resolve a problem. After that, I need you to introduce me to the Magistrate of Yu County. That's the second thing."

Shen Mingcong pondered briefly, then said, "Introducing you to the Magistrate shouldn't be a problem with my current status. But I'm worried the Magistrate might communicate with that despicable person."

Fu Wei calmly replied, "I'll handle that."

Shen Mingcong had no doubt in his capabilities and nodded, "Alright, I'll introduce you to the Magistrate."

After agreeing, he then asked, "What's the trouble you mentioned?"

"My wife is in Yu County doing medicinal herb trade and has been troubled by local ruffians hired by the medical halls. These ruffians have been caught red-handed and taken to the magistrate's office. If nothing unusual happens, they'll probably just be treated as petty thieves."

Fu Wei looked at him and said, "I need you to apply some pressure on the Magistrate at the office."

He currently served as a clerical officer in Wuling County. Although he had no official rank, his position as a clerical officer of a major county granted him enough influence to make a small-town Magistrate respectful and cautious.

The two tasks Fu Wei mentioned were not particularly challenging for Shen Mingcong.

However, hearing that he needed to help his wife resolve an issue, Shen Mingcong couldn't help but be curious, "From what you said earlier, your marriage was not of your own volition, but you don't seem to be resentful about it."

Mentioning Yu Ying, Fu Wei's eyes softened with a hint of a smile.

"She is an extraordinary woman. If you met her, you would be impressed by her too."

Shen Mingcong looked at his friend with surprise, then laughed, "It seems that scoundrel unwittingly pushed the right person into your life."

Fu Wei just smiled without saying anything.

After a few exchanges, Shen Mingcong suddenly asked, "With that scoundrel treating you so, did the Governor... not intervene?"

Mentioning his foster father, Fu Wei's expression gradually turned cold, "He did not."

Shen Mingcong showed a look of astonishment.

Fu Wei advised him, "He used to work under my biological father. There must have been some irreconcilable conflict between them. So, regarding the matter of my legs, pretend you don't know."

After a moment of thought, he warned, "And don't mention anything about me to him, to avoid implicating you."

Shen Mingcong frowned, puzzled, "What kind of conflict could make the Governor disregard twenty years of father-son relationship and leave you in such a state?"

Fu Wei lowered his gaze, responding, "Perhaps it's his grudge regarding my biological father's collusion with the enemy."

Hearing this, Shen Mingcong was momentarily speechless, not knowing what to say.

After a brief silence, Fu Wei shook off his somber mood, looked up, and said, "Let's head to the magistrate's office first."

In the back courtyard of Luo's Medical Hall, Manager Luo, dressed in plain robes, sat leisurely in a rocking chair, sipping tea.

In the following days, he anticipated that the woman's matter would be resolved, and the discerning townspeople would understand what they should and shouldn't do.

It was like eliminating a major nuisance; how could he not feel content and at ease?

Just then, a young pharmacy assistant hurried from the front pharmacy into the back courtyard. Hearing the footsteps, Manager Luo opened his eyes, wondering if news had already arrived.

He sat up straight and waited for the assistant to approach.

The assistant arrived and quickly said, "Manager, the managers of Li's and Zheng's halls have come."

Manager Luo, puzzled, asked, "Why have they all come?"

Shouldn't they be waiting at home for his good news?

As he was about to send the assistant to invite them in, the other two managers entered the backyard with anxious expressions.

Dismissing the assistant, Manager Luo greeted them with a smile, "Why have the two managers suddenly come here?"

"Manager Luo, don't you know what happened today?!" Manager Li exclaimed in surprise.

Manager Luo was startled for a moment, then shook his head, "What happened?"

Manager Zheng interjected, "Today, the people of Lingshui Village took the captured thieves to the magistrate's office. Those thieves not only vandalized the medicinal fields at night but also robbed a cart on the road during the day. Hearing this, we both thought of Manager Luo."

Manager Li probed, "Were those people sent by Manager Luo?"

Manager Luo, upon hearing the initial words, felt a jolt in his heart, wondering how those ruffians were caught so easily.

He wanted to deny it, but after a moment's thought, he lifted his chin and admitted, "Indeed, I sent them."

The other two managers immediately panicked.

Manager Li anxiously said, "Now that the men are caught, what if they confess about us?!"

The other manager, as if realizing something, suddenly calmed down and said to Manager Luo, "We've never had any contact with those street thugs. You, Manager Luo, were the one in contact with them."

Manager Luo glanced at them calmly, "If I get into trouble, don't think you can escape either."

As the two showed a mix of shock and anger, he continued with a relaxed smile, "But why would I be in trouble? Even if they name me, where's the evidence?"

The two exchanged looks.

Manager Luo added, "I never gave them any silver, nor met them in person. I can simply claim they are falsely accusing me. Besides, my brother is a clerk in the magistrate's office; he will surely help me."

"Moreover, we contribute substantial taxes to the magistrate's office every year. Even if the Magistrate knows it was me, he will likely downplay the matter, turning a major issue into nothing."

Smiling, he looked at them, "If I undertook this, I had my reasons to be confident. Look how frightened you are, so panic-stricken."

Upon reflection, the two realized the truth in his words and began to relax, breathing a sigh of relief.

Manager Luo's smile faded as he closed his eyes slightly, "I just never expected that a mere farmwoman would be so difficult to deal with..."

Those street ruffians, whom ordinary merchants and gentry would avoid, how exactly did that farmwoman manage to handle them?

After tidying up the medicinal field, Yu Ying returned home.

She had initially planned to compare the facial creams she bought yesterday, but her thoughts kept drifting to the situation in Yu County, leaving her distracted.

Unable to concentrate, she eventually decided not to bother and resolved to wait for news.

It wasn't until the late afternoon that Fu Zhen returned with He Dalong, but Fu Wei and Song Sanlang were nowhere to be seen.

Yu Ying inquired, "Where's the second brother?"

Fu Zhen replied, "The second brother is staying overnight at the inn. I was concerned about him being alone, so I asked Song Jun to look after him in Yu County."

Fu Wei stayed in Yu County?

Hearing this, Yu Ying vaguely guessed that things hadn't gone smoothly today.

"What happened today?" she asked.

At this moment, Luo Shi brought in two cups of tea.

After drinking the tea, He Dalong angrily said, "I think the Magistrate is trying to protect that Manager Luo!"

Luo Shi, looking worried, asked, "Why do you say that?"

He Dalong set down his cup, "In court today, those thieves only admitted to disliking a woman doing business and wanting to teach you a lesson. They vehemently denied any connection with Manager Luo of Luo's Medical Hall and even accused us of coercing them to frame him!"

Wen Xing and Luo Shi widened their eyes in shock upon hearing this.

Recalling yesterday's events, Wen Xing expressed anger, "How can they do this! Did the Magistrate really believe them?!"

Both Fu Zhen and He Dalong had grim expressions, their silence speaking volumes.

Fu Zhen said gravely, "The Magistrate warned us, if we falsely accuse others, we too could be thrown into jail."

Hearing this, Yu Ying's expression darkened.

She reflected on how the Magistrate's actions against the gossipy women had been commendable, but his handling of the current situation was hard to judge.

Was it truly a failure to discern the lies of those men?

Or was there some vested interest at play, making him reluctant to investigate further?

He Dalong took a deep breath and clenched his fist, "Those people only received ten lashings and a seven-day detention."

Just as he finished speaking, the sound of horse hooves "clattering" suddenly came from outside.

Everyone in the dining room was startled, then Fu An rushed in from outside, saying urgently, "There's a court messenger riding a horse towards our house!"

The group exchanged glances in surprise and then heard someone outside shouting, "Is this the Fu residence?"

Stepping outside the dining room, they saw Huo the court messenger dismounting from his horse.

Fu Zhen stepped outside the fence gate and responded, "This is the Fu residence. May I ask what brings the officer here?"

Huo the court messenger, having a bit of acquaintance with Mrs. Yu, did not display the typical arrogance of other messengers.

He nodded at Mrs. Yu and then said, "The Magistrate has ordered a retrial of those thieves tomorrow. Those who testified in court today and Mrs. Yu are required to appear at the county office to confront the thieves directly."

Yu Ying and the others showed looks of surprise upon hearing this.

Yu Ying pondered for a moment, then stepped out of the courtyard to inquire, "Why would the Magistrate order a retrial? Can Huo the court messenger share any details?"

Huo the court messenger lowered his voice, "I don't know much, just that after the trial of those thieves, a distinguished guest visited the county office. After the guest left, the Magistrate sent me to Lingshui Village to summon you to the county office."

Hearing this, Yu Ying understood that Fu Wei's connections had influenced the situation.

She nodded and thanked him, "Thank you for making the trip. Why not stay for a meal before returning?"

Huo the court messenger shook his head, "No, thank you. The mountain roads are dangerous at night; I must return to Yu County before dark."

"In that case, we won't keep you any longer."

Huo the court messenger nodded, mounted his horse, and left.

After the messenger departed, villagers hurried over to inquire about the situation.

He Dalong briefly explained to them what happened at the county office today.

Yu Ying returned to the house, lay down on the bed amidst the outside commotion, and sighed while gazing at the thatched roof.

The retrial must certainly be Fu Wei's doing.

With the retrial, there is a ninety percent chance of a favorable outcome.

Following this incident, the medical halls would naturally hesitate to make any rash moves against her.

However, this isn't a permanent solution; if they continue to collude against her, it could still pose a hindrance.

She needed to think carefully about how to resolve this obstacle.

In the evening, after bathing, Yu Ying returned to find the house empty, feeling somewhat unaccustomed to it.

After all, for the past few months, she was used to seeing Fu Wei as soon as she entered the house. But his absence today made the house feel much emptier.

Yu Ying realized that since the night of the storm, she and Fu Wei had been living together in the same room for almost three months.

When they were together, they could chat about anything, adding a bit of spice to their otherwise dull and entertainment-less life. Thus, Yu Ying didn't find the nights boring or too quiet.

Looking at the empty room, Yu Ying still felt uneasy. So after applying her facial cream, she went to Luo Shi's room to bring Fu Ning back to her room.

She continued teaching Fu Ning the five vowels. With only her own voice in the room, it felt more like talking to herself.

Besides, teaching Fu Ning to speak had been somewhat effective.

When Fu Ning tried to say "ah," a faint sound came out, but the progress was still not very noticeable.

Soon, the little girl became sleepy, and Yu Ying let her go to bed.

After Fu Ning fell asleep, the room became even quieter.

But it seemed that whether Fu Ning was asleep or not, the room was always quiet.

Yu Ying glanced at the empty side of the bed and sighed softly.

Remembering that she needed to get up early to walk to Yu County the next day, and couldn't afford to stay up late, she decided to sleep as well.

Tense from the events of the previous day up until now, and despite feeling unaccustomed to Fu Wei's absence, Yu Ying quickly fell asleep.

Thus, Yu Ying's discomfort only lasted for an hour.

Late at night, in Yu County.

The light from the lanterns outside the inn's corridor faintly shone into the room, along with slivers of moonlight filtering through the gauze window, casting a dim and serene glow on the inn's floor.

Despite it being late at night, Fu Wei was still unable to sleep.

He lay awake, staring at the tent ceiling without any trace of sleepiness.

Had it not been for the necessity to return to Jade County tomorrow, and his still healing legs which he feared would be a burden, he would have never stayed in Jade County today.

He wondered about the current situation at home.

And he was even more uncertain if Liuniang, in his absence, would spare a moment to worry about him.

As Fukuwei was pondering, an arm suddenly smashed heavily against his chest.

Distracted by thoughts of home, Fukuwei was caught off guard and grunted upon the impact. He then turned his head and silently looked at Song Sanlang, who was sound asleep beside him.

Just as Fukuwei was about to move the arm off his chest, the slumbering Song Sanlang, seemingly sensing the chill, suddenly withdrew his arm and tucked it back under the quilt.

Fukuwei averted his gaze and let out a deep sigh.

Fortunately, he only had to endure this for one night.

The next day, news spread in Jade County that a case just settled yesterday at the county yamen was to be retried today.

This news sparked curiosity among the people, wondering why a common case of theft and vandalism would suddenly be retried. Was there some hidden story behind it?

Early in the morning, a yamen runner went to the Luo Medical Hall and said to the master, "The magistrate wants to retry yesterday's case from Lingshui Village, as the master was mentioned by a witness yesterday. Please accompany us to the yamen."

Upon hearing this, the master of the medical hall frowned and asked, "Wasn't the case already closed? Why would it be retried all of a sudden?"

Since the master's younger brother was a clerk at the county yamen, the yamen runner replied very politely, "We are also unaware of the reason."

The master pondered for a moment and then responded, "Even if it is retried, what does it have to do with me? Surely, just being mentioned doesn't make me a suspect, does it?"

The yamen runner replied with difficulty, "We too are merely carrying out our duties impartially. We hope Master Luo can understand. It might just be a formality, and there's no need for concern."

How could one not be concerned?

It should have been a simple matter, already settled, and now suddenly a retrial is called. There must be some unforeseen development!

Fearing this development might implicate him, the master of the medical hall, after much deliberation, said, "Then please wait a moment for me."

He turned and entered the medical hall, instructing his accountant to prepare twenty taels of silver, to accompany him to the county yamen.

If he couldn't come back, the twenty taels were to be given to the magistrate as a favor.

At the same time, he sent a medicine boy to pass messages to Masters Li and Zheng.

— If he were to end up in jail, and they dared to stand by idly, he would surely confess their complicity as well.

Having secured his backup plan, the master of the medical hall then followed the yamen runner to the yamen.

Chapter 65

Yuying, her elder brother, and sister-in-law were rushing to reach Jade County before the court session began.

Knowing that the court session for a retrial was to be held today, some villagers from Lingshui left their daily work to crowd around and watch the proceedings in Jade County.

Uncle He and Aunt He also went together.

On the way to Jade County, Yuying saw villagers from her own village and expressed her confusion, "Just for the love of excitement, they shouldn't abandon their work to watch."

Aunt He, walking beside her, whispered an explanation, "Almost everyone in Lingshui Village is a criminal or descendant of one, shunned and looked down upon by neighboring villages. Although relations within our village are not great, if outsiders bully someone from our village, we will surely stand with our own. This way, outsiders won't dare to bully us too openly."

Hearing this, Yuying turned to look at the villagers, some of whom she had only exchanged a few words with, and others she barely recognized.

Indeed, in any era, whether it's just a village or a family, despite internal strife, people come together as one when facing external threats.

After a long journey, Yu Ying, who had never walked such a distance, finally arrived in Yu County, almost too exhausted to stand.

She first reached the inn where Fu Wei was staying.

Inside the inn, seeing Fu Wei frequently looking towards the entrance, Song Sanlang thought he was waiting for his elder brother and said, "Your elder brother and the others should arrive soon. The court's retrial today will surely go smoothly, so don't worry, Second Brother Fu."

Fu Wei responded with a faint "Hmm," nodding absentmindedly.

After a long wait, Fu Wei finally saw the figure he had thought about all night. A brief spark of light appeared in his calm, indifferent eyes, and a slight smile formed on his lips, bringing a hint of joy to his face.

Yu Ying, meeting Fu Wei's smile, smiled back at him. However, the hour and a half journey had left her utterly exhausted. After a brief smile, she slumped into a chair at their table, gasping for breath without uttering a word.

Seeing her pale and drained, Fu Wei quickly poured her a cup of tea, softly saying, "Take a sip of water first to catch your breath."

Yu Ying took the tea and gulped it down.

After she emptied the cup, Fu Wei continued to pour more tea for her.

After drinking three cups of tea and resting for a moment, the exhausted Yu Ying finally caught her breath.

She was incredibly tired, having never walked such a long distance without a break before, almost losing her sense of direction from fatigue.

Fu Zhen and his wife were only slightly tired, making Yu Ying seem as if she had never experienced hardship.

Knowing that Yu Ying had been brought up in comfort as the daughter of a prominent doctor, Fu Zhen and his wife had no doubts about her state.

Inside the inn, people were eagerly discussing the day's retrial, with some wondering, "The case was already decided, why a retrial?"

Amidst various speculations, Yu Ying, after regaining her strength, looked at Fu Wei and asked, "When does the court session start?"

Fu Wei answered, "At the hour of Si, right now is the perfect time to go."

Hearing this, Yu Ying took a deep breath, then stood up with the support of the table, "Let's head to the county office now, then."

About an hour and a half later, they arrived outside the county office.

By this time, the outside of the county office was surrounded by a crowd of onlookers, including some from Lingshui Village.

After reporting their arrival to the court officers, the officers went to inform the Magistrate.

Once everyone was assembled, the court session for the retrial commenced.

Those not directly involved in the case watched from outside the court, while those related to the case waited in the courtyard to be called into the courtroom.

Yu Ying, along with her elder brother and sister-in-law, and those who had caught the thieves yesterday, Song Sanlang and He Dalong, waited in the courtyard, while Fu Wei stayed outside the courtroom.

The onlookers outside, seeing Fu Wei seated in the plain palanquin, observed him curiously.

Fu Wei might have minded such attention before, but now he was completely indifferent.

Perhaps due to his unusual plain palanquin and his striking appearance, the crowd parted ways for him, allowing him unobstructed access to the front.

Uncle He and Auntie He, blocked outside: …

Among those waiting in the courtyard, besides those Yu Ying knew, there was also an unfamiliar middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man sported a goatee and was meticulously groomed, dressed in a clean, plain robe, exuding an air of integrity.

However, with his hands clasped behind his back and his chin always held high, his gaze towards Yu Ying, who had just entered the office, was arrogant and disdainful.

This was a proud and conceited man, reminding Yu Ying of some colleagues she had encountered at work who, despite their skills, always judged others.

Yu Ying sensed a professional air about this middle-aged man.

If she was not mistaken, this man must be Manager Luo, the one the thieves had mentioned.

Faced with someone who had plotted against her, Yu Ying showed no cordiality, indifferently turning her gaze away.

The woman's cold demeanor caused Master Luo to frown in displeasure.

After all, she was just a woman. What could she possibly endure?

The call to session drew Master Luo's focus away, as he concentrated on addressing the unexpected developments of the day.

The magistrate of Jade County, dressed in official robes, entered from the back hall and took his seat in the courtroom.

Yuying was genuinely surprised to see the magistrate of Jade County.

Contrary to expectations, the magistrate was neither an old man nor a frail scholar.

Instead, he was a robust man in his thirties, with a broad back and strong build...

The sharp rap of the gavel snapped Yuying out of her surprise, and she stopped pondering why the magistrate had such a presence.

The magistrate called for silence and then announced, "Regarding the intentional destruction of Lingshui Village's medicinal fields, this court discovered some doubts after yesterday's verdict, hence the retrial today."

He then ordered the thieves from yesterday to be brought in.

These thieves, already beaten by Fuzhen and others, and having received ten lashes yesterday, appeared half-dead.

As they were dragged into the courtroom, seeing Master Luo, they averted their eyes guiltily. The sight of the man who had brutally beaten them brought back painful memories, turning their faces even paler with panic.

Observing the miserable state of these men, Master Luo was inwardly shocked, wondering if the magistrate had tortured them.

But he soon realized, seeing their panicked faces upon noticing the muscular man beside the woman, that it wasn't the magistrate but this man who had beaten them.

Master Luo then took a proper look at the man, frowning to himself.

Having investigated the woman's background, he was aware of her circumstances and knew whom she had married and who was in her family.

Her husband was a cripple, and this man was likely her uncle, known for being stronger than the average person.

But no matter how strong he was, even double that of an ordinary man, how could he handle the numerous ruffians from the streets?

Fuzhen seemed to sense the middle-aged man's gaze and sternly returned the look. His expression wasn't fierce, but it gave off a chilling sensation, as if being watched by a ferocious beast, sending a shiver down the spine.

Master Luo, feeling a sense of apprehension, immediately averted his gaze.

Suddenly, the magistrate on the dais sternly asked, "Did you destroy the medicinal fields of the Fuku family in Lingshui Village?"

The accused shrank their necks and confessed without denial.

"And what about the robbery on the road? Were you also involved in that?"

Since they had worn masks during the robbery, they had vehemently denied involvement yesterday, but today they admitted it.

The crowd in the courtroom was in an uproar, unable to understand why those who had denied the charges yesterday were changing their testimonies today.

The public was naturally unaware.

The previous night, the magistrate had personally visited the jail, bluntly stating that he knew they were responsible for the crimes. The reason he hadn't pursued the matter deeply in court was merely because Master Luo still had his uses.

However, with today's retrial, he intended to reveal the truth of the case to the public. If they cooperated, their punishment would be reduced; if they insisted on protecting someone, they would end up spending a long time in jail.

The accused were very aware of the situation.

Offending Master Luo was nothing compared to displeasing the magistrate.

The magistrate then asked Yuying and others to come forward to identify the accused: "Are these the men who stopped you on the road yesterday and tried to take you away?"

Yuying already knew they were the culprits, but she carefully identified them again before confirming, "Your Honor, they are indeed the ones. Not only did they try to force me to go with them, but they also threatened that I should no longer engage in the medicinal herb trade, claiming I had offended someone I shouldn't have."

Initially believed to be a simple case of medicinal field vandalism, the crowd was astounded to learn that these men had also committed such acts. The uproar outside the court, especially from the villagers of Lingshui, called for the magistrate to harshly punish these thieves and uncover the mastermind for severe retribution.

Hearing the clamor outside, Master Luo, despite some worries, was confident that the ruffians wouldn't dare implicate him, so he maintained his composed demeanor.

"So, who exactly instructed you to do these things?" the magistrate asked calmly and methodically.

After swallowing nervously, the ruffians unanimously turned their heads towards Master Luo, standing in the courtyard.

Master Luo's heart sank, and his face paled suddenly when he heard the street thugs name him, "Master Luo of Luo Medical Hall," as the instigator.

Master Luo urgently protested, "Your Honor, don't listen to their absurd claims! As a law-abiding citizen, I would never commit such acts!"

The ruffians hastily confessed, "Master Luo instructed us to teach a lesson to a woman with four dark spots on her face, surnamed Yu. He told us to detain her for a few days, then threaten her to quit the medicinal herb trade. If successful, he promised to clear the debts we owed to his medical hall."

"Your Honor, don't believe their lies! They are clearly framing me..."

"Silence!"

The magistrate suddenly interjected in a stern voice, cutting off Master Luo's words.

Master Luo's face turned slightly pale.

The magistrate shifted his gaze back to the criminals, "Why did you owe debts?"

One of the ruffians answered, "Your Honor, we often get into scrapes and injuries. Whenever we sought treatment at the medical hall, Master Luo never charged us upfront, instead keeping a tab. Over time, it accumulated into a substantial medical debt."

What they called scrapes and injuries were, more bluntly, the results of fights and brawls.

The magistrate asked, "Why did you extend credit to them? Did they threaten any of the doctors at your medical hall?"

One of the ruffians hurriedly replied, "Master Luo's younger brother works as a clerk in the yamen, holding a public office. Even with ten times our courage, we wouldn't dare threaten the medical hall!"

The magistrate summoned Master Luo to the court and interrogated, "Why did you offer them credit?"

Swallowing nervously, Master Luo responded, "Luo Medical Hall practices charity and benevolence, therefore..."

As soon as he spoke, there was immediate derision from outside.

"Nonsense! It's Ji's Medical Hall that's known for charity, not your Luo Medical Hall. What does it have to do with you?"

"Exactly, Luo Medical Hall is notorious for overcharging. They never negotiate or reduce prices even if you beg. And you claim benevolence? Ridiculous!"

"I always wondered why those street thugs were so subservient to Master Luo. Turns out they weren't just trying to curry favor; they were essentially bought as his henchmen!"

These harsh words pierced Master Luo's ears, turning his face deathly pale. Despite the cold weather, his back was drenched in cold sweat.

No matter how much Master Luo denied it, he couldn't explain why he offered credit, nor the unusually close relationship with the street thugs.

Master Luo tried to argue, but the magistrate had already summoned the heads of Li, Zheng, and Ji's Medical Halls to the court to testify.

Seeing these people, Master Luo looked incredulous.

What shocked him most was the presence of Masters Li and Zheng in the court.

All three testified that Master Luo was indeed troubled by the competition from Mrs. Yu in the medicinal herb trade, fearing it might lower prices, and thus harbored thoughts of teaching her a lesson.

Master Luo realized then that these two were sacrificing him to save themselves!

Fury surged in Master Luo as he pointed at the two heads of the medical halls and shouted, "Your Honor, Master Zheng and Master Li are also conspirators. Don't let them escape your justice!"

His accusation indirectly served as an admission of his own guilt.

Masters Zheng and Li retorted angrily, "Master Luo, do not falsely accuse us. Although we had grievances against that woman, as physicians, how could we stoop to such despicable means!?"

The gavel struck heavily, "All evidence points to you, Master Luo, and yet you dare to accuse the witnesses. What audacity you have!"

As Master Luo attempted to plead for mercy, the magistrate promptly ordered him to compensate Mrs. Yu with five hundred wen, sentenced him to thirty strokes of the cane, and remanded him for further sentencing.

With the case settled, they were free to leave.

Yuying walked out of the yamen in a contemplative mood.

She felt as if everything had been prearranged, and she was merely going through the motions.

Outside the yamen, villagers came forward to congratulate her.

After the villagers had finished their congratulations, Fukuwei said, "I need to stay in Jade County for another night."

Then, turning to Yuying, he added, "Liuniang, stay with me."

After yesterday's incident and offending those ruffians, Fuzhen still felt uneasy about their safety: "We will stay as well."

Considering Uncle He and Aunt He's age, Yuying suggested they rest and return in the afternoon. She also proposed checking for ox carts heading towards Lingshui Village that they could join for part of the journey.

Tired as they were, Uncle He and Aunt He agreed.

Just as they were about to leave, they encountered the heads of the medical halls exiting the yamen.

In the courtroom, although Yuying had played a minor role, she had observed everything clearly.

The two men accused by Master Luo were very likely involved as well.

Masters Li and Zheng, meeting the woman's gaze, guiltily looked away.

Only Master Ji, with his hair graying and over fifty years old, hesitated for a moment before approaching. He faced the woman with a calm and upright demeanor.

"Whether Mrs. Yu believes me or not, I, Master Ji, was not involved in this matter."

Yuying paused for a moment, recalling the crowd's comments about Ji's Medical Hall being charitable. She believed the elder's words to a great extent and nodded respectfully towards him.

After speaking, Master Ji turned and left.

Watching the elder depart, the group returned to the inn.

Since her elder brother and his family were also staying in Jade County for the night, they booked an additional room, allowing Uncle He and Aunt He to rest as well.

After having their meal, they all retired to their rooms.

Aunt He, Yuying, and her sister-in-law shared one room, while the men stayed in another.

Unable to sleep due to a mind full of doubts, Yuying let her sister-in-law and Aunt He have the bed.

Needing to catch an early ox cart at the city gate, Uncle He, Aunt He, He Dalaong, and Song Sanlang rested for only half an hour before departing.

As they left, Fuzhen asked Song Sanlang to help guard the Fuku family's home for the night.

After seeing everyone off and with little rest themselves, the couple returned to their separate rooms.

Yuying, helping Fukuwei into his room, asked, "How much does it cost to stay one night in the inn?"

Fukuwei initially thought she would ask about the court proceedings, but realizing her concern was about the money, he smiled resignedly, "Thirty-five wen per night."

Yuying's estimate was close. She said, "My elder brother and sister-in-law have been troubled on my account. When we return, I must repay them the money."

After closing the room door, Yuying asked, "Was what happened in court today arranged by you?"

Fukuwei rose from his wheelchair and sat down in a chair beside the table, "Sort of."

Yuying, puzzled, pressed, "What do you mean by 'sort of'?"

Fukuwei, pouring tea, explained, "In fact, the magistrate understood everything. Yesterday was just an act of feigning ignorance. After the trial, I had a friend visit the yamen and exert influence, insisting that the magistrate thoroughly investigate and inevitably imprison Master Luo."

Concluding, he pushed a cup of tea towards Yuying.

Yuying pondered his words and asked with anticipation, "Is your friend a high-ranking official?"

Fukuwei shook his head lightly, "You might be disappointed. His status is just enough to influence the magistrate."

Hearing this, Yuying wasn't too disappointed, reasoning that if he were a high-ranking official, Fukuwei wouldn't need to hide the fact that he had regained the use of his legs.

Fukuwei continued, "I knew two others were likely involved. Thinking of your desire to establish yourself in Jade County, and needing their assistance, I visited them yesterday as a patient, convincing them to testify in court and sacrifice Master Luo to save themselves."

Yuying, taken aback, asked, "How did you know they were involved?"

Fukuwei smiled, "It was a guess, with fifty percent certainty. I tested each medical hall in Jade County. Except for Master Ji of Ji's Medical Hall, who scolded me and refused to stoop to such low tactics, the others, although enraged, were more evasive and had me thrown out. Their reactions suggested they were very likely involved."

After hearing Fukuwei's story, Yuying was surprised by all he had done in just one day.

Amidst her surprise, she caught the essence of his earlier statement, "You said about establishing a foothold - what foothold are you talking about?"

Fukuwei smiled at her, "You are more capable than those unethical heads of medical halls. If they can run their own halls, why can't you?"

His words resonated with Yuying, sinking deep into her heart.

She mulled it over and said, "Opening a medical hall isn't timely now. Firstly, I haven't passed the medical practitioner's exam, and secondly, I don't have enough funds to even consider it."

"Whenever you decide to open your medical hall, having leverage is always beneficial."

In any place, when one medical hall falls, another rises.

"Instead of undermining Zheng's and Li's medical halls, it's better to keep them around.

Besides, the magistrate is unlikely to be willing to uproot all these medical halls at once.

Discussing these medical halls, Yuying, after some thought, shared her idea: "They are afraid the market's erratic pricing of medicine is being disrupted, so they wanted to use me to intimidate the public. This approach is undoubtedly underhanded, but the price chaos will eventually harm me too. So, I've thought of a way to mitigate the losses."

Pausing for a moment, Yuying continued, "Since you now have connections, see if you can suggest this to the magistrate. If it's not feasible, then forget it, and we'll think of another solution."

Fukuwei nodded slightly, indicating for her to go on.

Yuying then outlined the basic principles of market resource allocation she had learned in school.

"Why not let the government regulate the market prices of medicinal herbs? Competition is acceptable, but malicious price undercutting isn't. Also, the price range for medical halls purchasing herbs should be set within a certain limit to prevent them from being too low."

Yuying remembered how her basket full of herbs fetched only three wen, while medical halls might resell them for seventy to eighty, or even a hundred wen. Such unscrupulousness; how could the herb-gathering public continue to supply herbs to these halls?

Fukuwei, tapping the rim of his cup, pondered for a moment before asking, "What benefit does the government get from this?"

Yuying looked at him and said, "Remember when you told me about sharing profits with the government to persuade Zhao, the medicine merchant, to buy herbs in Jade County? And that it's better to earn less and send them together to Cangwu County?"

Hearing this, Fukuwei understood her intention: "You mean, let the government sell Jade County's herbs externally and then earn the difference from what the merchants make?"

Yuying nodded lightly.

Fukuwei fell silent.

Seeing him quiet for a long time, Yuying, with dry lips, tentatively asked, "Is my idea too bold, thinking of doing business with the government?"

After a pause, she added, "It's just a suggestion. If you think it's impractical, let's pretend I never mentioned it."

Fukuwei, however, shook his head earnestly: "No, I think it's a good idea. The difference the merchants make would be enough to interest the magistrate. Besides, with the yamen of Jade County being so poor, how could they refuse a chance to make money?"

Continuing, Fukuwei shared his plan for the evening: "I'm staying tonight because my friend has introduced me to the magistrate. I'm going to work as a secretary in the yamen. If successful, I'll propose this suggestion."

Hearing that Fukuwei was going to become a secretary in the yamen, Yuying was momentarily stunned.

She realized that according to the original story, it was around this time that Fukuwei also started working as a secretary in the yamen.

Ultimately, the events were returning to their expected course.

Chapter 66

As night fell, the place where Fu Wei had arranged to meet was a restaurant near the inn.

After escorting his younger brother to the restaurant, Fu Zhen returned to ensure the safety of his wife and sister-in-law.

Yu Ying and her sister-in-law stayed in the same room. Yu Ying walked to the window and opened it, looking out onto the street.

The usually bustling Yu County had gradually quieted down, with only a few pedestrians left on the streets.

Over the past several months, even though she was unaccustomed to this era, Yu Ying was slowly blending in, adapting to the rhythm of rising with the sun and resting at sunset.

Seeing her sister-in-law standing pensively by the window, Wen Xing comforted her, "Elder brother said the person second brother is meeting is a nobleman. Although we don't know what kind of nobleman, second brother will surely handle it well. You shouldn't worry too much."

Yu Ying came back to reality, nodding slightly without explaining that her concern wasn't about Fu Wei.

As the temperature dropped sharply at night, a chill wind crept through the small gap of the open window, prompting Yu Ying to close it.

She then sat down and engaged in casual conversation with her sister-in-law.

Somehow, their chat turned to the topic of the Magistrate of Yu County.

The Magistrate's surname was Zhou.

Magistrate Zhou was originally a cadet branch member of a noble family, having served as a military officer. It seemed he had offended the future head of his family and was consequently demoted to serve as the magistrate of the most impoverished county in Cangwu Prefecture.

Hearing this, Yu Ying seemed to have some vague recollections about the magistrate's background.

However, with the novel being about one million eight hundred thousand words, which she had mostly skimmed through, remembering the general plot was already commendable, let alone a few brief sentences.

While the sisters-in-law were chatting, the elder brother came to ask what they wanted for dinner.

The group made a simple decision and settled for a bowl of vegetarian noodles.

Although Yu Ying had earned some silver recently, the total savings didn't exceed six taels of silver. With other plans for the money, she couldn't afford to be extravagant.

After a bowl of vegetarian noodles, they each returned to their rooms.

Their rooms were opposite each other, and a shout away. Yu Ying asked her sister-in-law to rest in her room.

As for Fu Wei, he had mentioned that someone would escort him back after dinner, so there was no need for excessive worry.

Meanwhile, in a private room of the nearby restaurant, Shen Mingcong excused himself, leaving his friend alone with the Magistrate.

The Magistrate glanced at Fu Wei's plain palanquin, then raised his eyes to the handsome young man, asking coldly, "You say you want to join my staff. What skills do you have to convince me?"

Fu Wei replied calmly and confidently, "My perspective and all the knowledge I've acquired over the past twenty years."

The Magistrate smiled, "Among those exiled to Lingnan, there are indeed some with real talents."

"Have any of those people ever sought a position under your lordship?"

The magistrate was momentarily startled, then replied truthfully, "You are the first to come forward."

After speaking, he nodded, "Better courage than the rest; that's an advantage."

Fukuwei then said, "I have spent twenty-one years as the son of a prefect, studied literature and martial arts, served in the military, and have some understanding of various weapons and the political situation at court."

The magistrate's brows twitched at this revelation, appearing somewhat swayed, but he still questioned, "Your legs are broken, and your adoptive father hasn't cared for you at all, indicating he doesn't wish you well. If I take you as my secretary, won't I offend the Governor of Wuling Prefecture?"

Fukuwei smiled slowly, "Though my legs are broken, my mind is still sharp. Besides, Wuling Prefecture is over two thousand li from Jade County. Governor Huo, overseeing an entire prefecture, surely doesn't have the time to concern himself with Jade County."

He continued, "I can help you leave Jade County for higher positions. But if you worry about offending the Governor of Wuling Prefecture, then consider that I never mentioned becoming your secretary."

After pondering for a moment, Magistrate Zhou suddenly smiled and then looked at the wine cup on the table, "After three cups of wine, you shall be my secretary."

Fukuwei poured the wine and drank one cup after another.

After three cups, the magistrate stood up, "Let me be clear: you have three months. If you achieve nothing in this time, I won't keep you. And if there's any word from Wuling Prefecture, I won't use you anymore."

Fukuwei nodded, "Thank you, Your Honor."

"No need to thank me; it's all on your own merit," the magistrate said, rising to leave.

Approaching the door, the magistrate suddenly turned back, "Even though it's just for three months, I won't mistreat someone with your disability. Your salary will be fair, so it's best you find a place in Jade County soon to await my orders."

With that, he turned and left the private room.

As Magistrate Zhou exited the private room, he met Shen Mingcong, an official from Wuling Prefecture, and they greeted each other with a bow.

Seeing no one around, Magistrate Zhou said, "I hope you can help keep an eye on matters concerning Wuling Prefecture, Shen."

Hearing this, Shen Mingcong knew his friend had succeeded.

"I will keep your lordship's words in mind and inform you if there are any changes. I hope you will take care of Jin... Fu Wei."

The Magistrate nodded and then took his leave.

After the Magistrate left the restaurant, he said to his attendant, "If there are any messengers from Wuling County, inform me in advance."

After giving the instruction, he turned and got into his carriage.

With the Magistrate gone, Shen Mingcong entered the private room and saw Fu Wei drinking from his cup. Looking at the untouched dishes, he asked, "Why didn't you eat much tonight?"

Fu Wei looked up at him and requested, "Could you ask the waiter to bring a serving of vegetarian noodles?"

Surprised, Shen Mingcong asked, "With so many good dishes, why ask for vegetarian noodles?"

Fu Wei glanced at the fine dishes on the table, his mind tranquil.

He calmly said, "I wish to enjoy such fine cuisine when I can share it with my wife, to partake in the blessings together, not alone."

Shen Mingzong couldn't help but laugh softly at this, "It's just a table of dishes, after all."

His smile fading, he continued, "Although I'd like to meet this extraordinary wife of yours, it seems I won't have the chance. The less people know about my visit to Lingnan, the safer it is."

Then, he took out a purse and placed it on the table, "This is a small token of my regard; please accept it."

Fu Wei glanced at the purse, knowing it contained silver.

After a moment of thought, he picked up the purse, peeked inside, and took out a piece of broken silver, then returned the rest to Shen.

"Your family, including your parents and children, relies on you, and the palanquin must have been costly. I would feel uneasy accepting so much silver from you."

Shen Mingzong, coming from a humble background, had little wealth. He was not corrupt, and his monthly salary was less than two taels of silver. He had only been promoted to an officer in the last two years. This was likely his last savings after making the palanquin.

Shen Mingzong insisted, "It's less than ten taels of silver; just take it."

Fu Wei, holding the purse, spoke calmly, "You know my nature. Even if you leave it, I will have it returned to you."

Returning the entire amount was better than accepting all of it, at least he kept some.

Resigned, Shen Mingzong sighed and without a word, took back the purse.

"I can't call you Jinzhi anymore; it should be Fu Wei now," Shen Mingzong smiled, then added, "I'm leaving early tomorrow morning. We won't meet then. Take care."

Fu Wei nodded, smiling, "You take care too. We will meet again one day."

Shen Mingzong replied, "I look forward to that day."

They exchanged smiles, understanding each other. Words were unnecessary; knowing the other was safe was enough.

They each ordered another bowl of vegetarian noodles and two cups of clear wine before it was time to say goodbye.

Shen Mingzong escorted Fu Wei to the inn's lobby and then departed.

Fu Wei, seated in his plain palanquin, returned to his guest room and knocked gently. A pleasant female voice from inside asked, "Who is it?"

Fu Wei replied, "It's me."

Hearing Fu Wei's voice, Yu Ying rose from the bed to open the door.

Fu Zhen, in the room opposite, was alert to the sounds outside. Hearing the knock, he too opened his door.

Seeing his younger brother return, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Fu Wei, seeing his elder brother, handed him one of the oil-paper bags containing food, saying, "These are untouched dishes. Big brother, take them and share with your wife."

Before Fu Zhen could respond, Fu Wei, anticipating his concern, lifted another bag, "There's more, don't worry about us."

Fu Zhen then accepted the food.

He said, "After eating, get some rest. We should head back to Lingshui Village early tomorrow."

After watching his brother enter his room, Fu Zhen turned back to his own.

Yu Ying closed the door, and Fu Wei placed the food he was carrying on the table.

Yu Ying turned to ask him, "Was everything successful?"

Fu Wei nodded, "Yes, it was."

Yu Ying breathed a sigh of relief, glad that things were still proceeding as expected.

As she exhaled, Yu Ying detected a faint smell of alcohol, carried in by Fu Wei.

Meeting with the magistrate today, it was inevitable for him to drink.

Fu Wei told her, "There were some dishes untouched at the restaurant today, so I also packed some buttered chicken for you."

Hearing about the buttered chicken, Yu Ying's eyes lit up. She walked over, opened the wax paper, and indeed saw glistening golden chicken pieces.

Although they were cold, the aroma of the meat still wafted out.

She hadn't seen or heard about it before, so Yu Ying hadn't had any cravings, but now that she saw it, her appetite was piqued.

She happily said, "I'll go ask the waiter for some chopsticks and bowls."

When she returned, she brought back two sets of bowls and chopsticks.

"I can't just eat while you watch; that would be awkward."

Fu Wei smiled and joined her in eating.

During the meal, Fu Wei glanced at the woman beside him, so close at hand. Under the warm and soft candlelight, her face was filled with a satisfied smile, and a similar joy sparkled in his eyes.

It seemed all his emotions were influenced by her, his happiness a reflection of hers.

Afterwards, she did not inquire about the details of tonight's banquet, and Fu Wei did not elaborate further.

After eating half of the buttered chicken, Yu Ying brought some hot water for Fu Wei to soak his feet, then went to bed first.

After a quick wash and foot soak, Fu Wei looked at the large bed, pondered for a moment, then blew out the candle and slowly made his way to the bed, lying on the outer side.

It wasn't the first time they had slept without their niece separating them, but perhaps due to having a few extra drinks tonight, there was an inexplicable restlessness in his heart.

In the darkness, this restlessness urged him to move closer, and even closer.

Feeling his arm pressing against her, and him edging closer until she was pressed against the wall, Yu Ying couldn't hold back and asked, "Fu Wei, what are you doing?"

Jolted back to reality, yet emboldened by alcohol, he blurted out, "Sixth Lady, would you like to be a real husband and wife with me?"

…

…！

In the deep silence of the night, such a suggestive question could stir the imagination.

Yu Ying's pupils dilated sharply, and she sat up in bed, covering herself with the quilt, exclaiming, "Your legs have just healed. Even if they're completely healed, you shouldn't have such thoughts!"

The room fell silent for a moment. Fu Wei, slightly tipsy, pondered his words and then realizing the implications of saying them in bed, understood her misunderstanding.

Sitting up, he hurriedly explained, "I didn't mean it that way, I just meant it literally..."

Yu Ying made a questioning sound, then heard him speak softly and gently, "Sixth Lady, my heart is pleased with you."

Fu Wei's words, "My heart is pleased with you," drifted into Yu Ying's ears, leaving her in shock and yet, somewhere deep down, not entirely surprised.

Yu Ying transitioned from surprise to calmness in just a few breaths.

The two lay in silence in the dark. After a while, Yu Ying exhaled and spoke, "I haven't decided whether I want to live alone without any ties or settle down and have a family, so I can't give you an answer."

His offer not outright rejected, Fu Wei silently breathed a sigh of relief, "Then I'll wait until you've made up your mind."

Yu Ying wanted to advise him, but considering they shared a bed, anything she said seemed superfluous.

She merely responded with a soft "Hmm."

Maybe, just maybe, one day in the future, she would have her answer.

They lay back down, both feeling quite uncomfortable.

After a long silence, Yu Ying, who had just been confessed to, said, "Move over to the edge, I can't sleep."

Fu Wei, still in his original spot, quickly realized and apologized, moving to the very edge of the bed, almost hanging off it.

Their moods were different; Fu Wei, as his drunkenness faded, held his forehead in regret for his impulsiveness.

Yu Ying, however, was somewhat unsettled by Fu Wei's words that evening.

Neither of them felt like sleeping, making it a sleepless night.

Both knew the other was awake, yet they remained silent, neither initiating further conversation.

Contrasting with the unease of this couple, the couple in the room next door experienced the opposite.

After enjoying their meat dish, they decided to save some for the next day to share with their mother and children, taking advantage of the cool weather.

After eating, I followed my sister-in-law's advice and rinsed my mouth.

—The instruction to rinse before going to bed at night.

After rinsing, Fuzhen sat on the bed and shook it vigorously a few times.

Wenxing turned to look at her husband, her apricot eyes filled with confusion: "Dalong, what are you doing?"

Fuzhen replied earnestly, "I'm testing whether this bed will collapse."

…

Remembering what happened not long ago, Wenxing's face flushed with embarrassment.

The next morning, Fuzhen and his wife got up but saw no sign of his younger brother and sister-in-law rising.

So they knocked on the bedroom door and soon heard a slightly hurried reply from the sister-in-law: "It will be ready soon."

Inside the room, the newly awakened couple exchanged glances, both awkwardly recalling last night's conversation.

But now was not the time to feel awkward; they needed to hurry up, get ready, and return to Lingshui Village!

Fuzhen quickly adjusted his clothes, but Yuying had to hustle to get everything together.

After a short while, the two emerged from the room.

Stepping out, Fuzhen said, "Both Liuniang and I have trouble sleeping in unfamiliar beds, so we went to bed late."

Fuzhen harbored no suspicions.

After leaving the inn, they found a dumpling stall and ordered four bowls of wontons.

Since Fuzhen had a hearty appetite and Wenxing's was smaller, she scooped some wontons from her bowl into her husband's.

The couple exchanged glances, Wenxing shyly lowered her head, a smile playing on her lips, matched by the gently curving smile of the usually stoic Fuzhen.

Yuying: ...

Despite the couple always being together, she felt like they were newlyweds reunited after a brief separation.

Somehow, this sentiment seemed to enlighten Yuying about something.

After breakfast, they headed back.

The thought of walking nearly two hours weighed heavily on Yuying, exhausting her to the point of forgetting the awkwardness with Fuzhen.

Upon returning home, Fuzhen Ning rushed over and plunged into Yuying's arms, hugging her tightly.

The feeling of having someone waiting and longing for her return filled Yuying with warmth.

Regarding the matters at the court, since Uncle He and Aunt He had already spoken to the Luo family the day before, there was no need to repeat it.

With the issues at Luo's clinic resolved and no longer worrying about troubles from other clinics, they could continue their medicinal herbs business.

As for stabilizing prices, that responsibility now fell to Fuzhen.

With winter approaching, Yuying planned to prepare more medicinal herb seeds for germination, ready for transplantation come spring.

If the county office really adopted Fu Wei's suggestion to sell externally, gaining some reputation could encourage the villagers to join in growing medicinal herbs, making it easier to gain their trust.

As for the fields and seedlings, she needed to prepare them in advance, but of course, this wouldn't be for free.

After resting for half a day, Yu Ying set aside the events at the public hall and Fu Wei's matters, getting back to her busy routine.

While taking Fu An and Fu Ning to inspect the herb fields, she happened to meet He Erlang and asked if he would help test the face cream.

"These face creams are harmless, but their effectiveness in healing cracked skin may vary. I need you to try several types to see which works best. Are you willing?"

He Erlang immediately nodded, "Trying face creams that can also heal cracks? That's a benefit for me, how could I refuse!"

After saying this, he grinned, showing his white teeth, "Sister-in-law, if there's anything else you need, just ask. I'll help with even the hardest tasks."

Yu Ying couldn't help but smile, "There's nothing else for now, just help test the face creams."

After a few words, she asked him to come to the Fu residence after dinner.

Fu An, seeing He Erlang smiling so brightly at his aunt, felt a bit unhappy and pouted.

No matter how happy he is, she's still his and Ning Ning's aunt.

At dinner, Fu Wei mentioned his plan to work as a clerk at the county office.

Everyone was taken aback by his announcement.

After a long silence, Fu Zhen vaguely guessed who the nobleman Fu Wei met the previous night might be.

Working in the government office was something Luo Shi and Fu Zhen, along with Wen Xing, who were recently of low status, couldn't even dare to dream about.

Hearing that Fu Wei was going to be the magistrate's clerk, it was no wonder everyone was astonished.

Fu Zhen, the first to recover, took a deep breath and asked, "Did the magistrate agree?"

Fu Wei nodded slightly in confirmation.

Fu Zhen further inquired, "If you're going to be a clerk... doesn't that mean you'll have to go to the government office almost every day?"

Yu Ying also realized this point when Fu Zhen mentioned it.

Indeed, being a clerk would certainly require regular attendance at the Yu County office.

After pondering for a moment, Fuyan voiced his decision: "I plan to rent a small house in Jade County where I can take care of myself."

He said, glancing at Yu Ying, "I know you're currently busy with the medicinal fields and herbs, but you can visit Jade County occasionally."

"No way, how can you take care of yourself alone?!" Luo's objection was firm.

However, Luo had forgotten that her son's legs had already healed by seventy percent.

Fuyan slowly stood up, smiling, "Mother, I am indeed capable of taking care of myself."

Even seeing her son stand up, Luo still worried, "But what if someone comes to trouble you again? How will you manage alone?"

After a long silence, Yu Ying finally spoke, "Mother, why don't you and Erlang go together? We can take care of the home."

She continued, turning to Fu An, "You've also reached the age for private schooling, so go with them. You could help out too."

Yu Ying's words left everyone momentarily stunned.

Wen Xing remarked, "Private schools are usually for the children of the gentry and the powerful."

Fu An also said, "Why should I go to a private school when my uncle can teach me? I don't want to go!"

Yu Ying responded, "But you need to be by your uncle's side for him to teach you."

Fu An was taken aback.

Luo hesitantly asked, "Can't we manage the medicinal fields at home?"

Yu Ying shook her head.

Indeed, they couldn't manage it.

"Once Uncle He, Aunt He, He's elder and younger brothers, along with Song Sanlang, are familiar with cultivating medicinal herbs, my elder brother and sister-in-law can then go to Jade County."

The village had its inconveniences, but the medicinal fields still needed attention. Even if letting go, it should at least wait until spring.

In the household, Yu Ying's words carried the most weight.

Moreover, this arrangement seemed the only feasible one, lest Fuyan end up going to Jade County alone.

Luo, still worried about her second son's leg ailment possibly recurring, thought it reasonable to accompany him and help with cooking and laundry, and thus had no objections.

As for house hunting, it would have to wait until they could travel to Jade County in Chen's carriage.

Yu Ying really didn't want to walk anymore, especially after the long journeys of the past two days, which had left her feet blistered.

Before she could tend to her blisters after dinner, He Erlang came looking for her.

Yu Ying had already briefly tested the face creams.

The face cream bought from the cosmetics shop was only suitable for moisturizing and lacked effectiveness in treating chapped skin. Luo's Medical Hall's cream was inferior to the other three, so she brought only four jars of medicine-based cream to the dining hall.

She called Fu An over and instructed him to apply different creams on each of He Erlang's cheeks and hands, as she directed.

Although the chapping on his hands was worse than on his face, they could only start with this comparison for He Erlang alone.

Zheng's and Li's Medical Hall creams were applied to the face, while Ji's and her own were applied to the hands.

Yu Ying instructed He Erlang, "After you wash up tomorrow morning, come back to Fu's house. Once in the morning and once in the evening, continue applying for three days."

Despite the chapping on his cheeks, He Erlang still managed a bright smile, "Alright, I'll definitely come early tomorrow to see my sister-in-law."

His voice carried from the dining hall to the adjacent room. Fuyan, about to write, paused and frowned slightly upon hearing He Erlang's eager promise to visit early the next day.

Was it an illusion?

It seemed to Fuyan that He Erlang's enthusiasm towards Liuniang was a bit excessive.

Chapter 67.

After a busy day, Yu Ying's legs were sore. To ensure she could get up as usual the next day, she prepared a herbal foot bath.

Carrying the hot water into the room, she found Fu Ning absent, leaving only Fuyan there.

Throughout the day, the two had never been alone together, and neither felt any discomfort.

But now, in the quiet with just the two of them, a subtle atmosphere began to spread through the room.

This subtle atmosphere was named awkwardness.

Fuyan noticed a slight restraint on her face. As he was about to say something, she smiled at him gracefully, her composure suggesting that the earlier restraint he perceived was just an illusion.

"The bath is free; you can go wash up now."

Fuyan swallowed the words he was about to speak and nodded in agreement, "I'll go in a bit."

Detecting the strong scent of herbs, his gaze fell on the basin she was carrying. Seeing the brown hot water inside, Fuyan was startled, "What happened to you?"

Yu Ying explained, "It's my first time walking so long; I'm not used to it. Soaking my feet will make tomorrow more comfortable."

She then placed the basin beside the bed behind the screen, letting out a quiet sigh of relief.

Despite feeling slightly uncomfortable, it was bearable and didn't necessitate deliberate avoidance.

Avoiding it might only make things more awkward.

She sat on the edge of the bed, removed her shoes and socks, and tentatively touched the steaming water with her heel, withdrawing her foot quickly from the heat.

After a few cautious attempts, she slowly immersed her feet into the basin.

When she placed her feet in the basin, the hot water stung the blisters on her feet at first. After a moment, the warmth began to ease the fatigue, gradually becoming comfortable.

Fu Wei looked towards the screen, wanting to go in but fearing it would be intrusive.

On the way back, Fu Wei remembered how she had appeared faint at the inn yesterday. He hadn't shown his concern openly, but had let her sit in the plain carriage for a while.

Even though it was a short ride, it seemed to have been of little help.

Despite her endurance, her body had its limits which she couldn't exceed.

After hesitating for a while, Fu Wei decided to bathe first, then come back to ask if she needed a massage.

When Fu Wei returned from his bath, Yu Ying was lying in bed, holding the sleeping Fu Ning. She wasn't asleep yet, but already drowsy.

Seeing she was still awake, he suggested, "I mentioned before that I know a bit about massage. After walking such a long distance, just soaking your feet might not be enough. If you don't mind, I can give you a rubdown to help relax."

Yu Ying heard Fu Wei's voice, struggling to open her eyes, her mind slightly foggy.

She understood his words as offering a massage to relieve her fatigue.

She murmured an "Mhm," yawned, and in a half-awake, half-asleep state, she flipped the quilt aside, rolled over from Fu Ning, lay down on the outer side, and immediately turned to lie on her stomach.

Her movements were smooth and natural, without any hesitation.

Facing her candidness, Fu Wei was momentarily taken aback.

Lying face down, her waist indented, her figure slender and graceful.

Fuyan averted his gaze immediately after a brief glance, adhering to the principle of "see no evil."

He approached the foot of the bed, took a silent breath, and then gently placed his hands on her slender calves, slowly beginning to knead and unblock them.

When she felt his broad, strong hands on her legs, Yu Ying opened her half-closed eyes, her gaze gradually becoming clearer.

Though she became more alert, she did not interrupt Fuyan's movements.

The warmth and strength hidden in those hands, even through a layer of linen, were hard to ignore.

Feeling the subtle strength in his thumbs massaging her calves, Yu Ying experienced a faint, indescribable sensation.

This subtle feeling brought her warmth and comfort.

Gradually, the relief spread through her legs and feet, lulling her back towards sleep, until she fell into a deep slumber.

Sensing her relaxation, Fuyan realized she had fallen asleep, pulled the quilt over her upper body, and continued the massage.

The oil lamp cast a quiet glow on the man's tall figure, and about half an hour later, his movements finally ceased.

Looking at the woman almost sleeping in the middle of the bed, Fuyan initially thought to wake her, but seeing her deep in peaceful sleep, he decided against it.

He lay down on the outer side of the bed, glanced at the person beside him, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

The next day, Yu Ying woke up to find that the soreness in her legs from the previous day was considerably lessened, only a slight discomfort remained.

It seemed that the herbal foot bath and Fuyan's massage had been effective.

After moving around a bit, she saw Fuyan returning from washing up outside. Smiling, she thanked him, "If it weren't for your massage last night, I wouldn't be feeling this much better today."

Fuyan smiled, "It was just a simple massage, no need to thank me."

Yu Ying responded, "But it's important. Without your massage, I might not have been able to get out of bed today."

Even the blisters that were painful yesterday seem much less so today.

Perhaps it was the relaxation of her body that lifted Yu Ying's spirits, her face brimming with smiles.

Seemingly influenced by her mood, Fuyan too wore a smile on his face.

Wen Xing, seeing the smiles on her brother-in-law and sister-in-law's faces, couldn't quite understand it.

Yesterday, on the way back from Jade County to Lingshui Village, the couple was silent and avoided eye contact. Even a blind person could sense that something was amiss between them.

Why did the two, who were so elusive yesterday, suddenly seem fine today?

Curious as she was, it wasn't her place to ask, so she pretended to be unaware of anything.

After the family finished breakfast, Chen Daye, who was delivering vegetables to Jade County, arrived.

Since there was no one to ride in the ox cart, he also delivered the bamboo bed that He Dalang had previously ordered.

Fuzhen called Song Sanlang to help move the bamboo bed.

When Yu Ying saw Chen Daye again, she was full of apologies, "About the other day..."

Chen Daye interrupted her with a smile, "It wasn't Mrs. Yu's fault, don't keep feeling guilty about it. Besides, Mrs. Yu won the lawsuit, I haven't even congratulated you yet."

Seeing that Chen Daye genuinely held no grudge, Yu Ying secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After some small talk, Chen Daye hurried off to Jade County.

With the replacement of the bamboo bed in the elder brother and sister-in-law's room, the elder brother moved the single bamboo bed back into Yu Ying's room.

Fuyan, seeing the bamboo bed returned to the room, sighed quietly in a corner where no one else could see.

Just as he let out a sigh, He Erlang came visiting again.

Seeing the lively and energetic He Erlang, Fuyan's brows slightly furrowed as he asked Fu An, "Do you know how many days He Erlang plans to visit?"

Fu An lowered his voice, "Auntie asked him to come over for three days."

As he said this, Fu An turned his head towards Fuyan and called out with a serious face, "Uncle."

Fuyan, sitting in his wheelchair, turned to him, "Hmm?"

Fu An said earnestly, "Uncle, I should tell you, He Erlang really fancies our Auntie. He's always telling me how he wishes to have an auntie as good as mine."

Hearing his good friend frequently speak like this made Fu An increasingly wary of He Erlang.

Fuyan thought it was just playful talk among children and didn't take it seriously.

But then Fu An asked, "Uncle, don't you think He Erlang smiles particularly brightly at Auntie?"

Fuyan's gaze shifted to He Erlang, who was talking to Liuniang, noticing the smile on his face.

Indeed, it was very bright.

At this point, Fu An sighed deeply, worriedly saying, "If both Uncle and I go to the county town, with He Erlang's house so close to ours, what should we do?"

Fuyan: ...

He realized his nephew had a knack for creating anxiety.

He had never felt this kind of anxiety before.

Well, now there was something to worry about.

Even if Liuniang deliberately made herself look unattractive, she couldn't hide the dazzling radiance inherent to her.

Such a radiant Liuniang, how could she not attract attention?

The intense gaze of the uncle and nephew was so palpable that He Erlang quickly became aware of it.

Turning his head, he saw the Fu family uncle and nephew both staring at him, which left him puzzled.

Fuyan, upon noticing He Erlang looking their way, masked the wariness in his eyes and nodded slightly at him.

Yu Ying took a close look at He Erlang's face.

Overnight, there was some improvement in the chapping on both sides of He Erlang's face, but it wasn't very noticeable.

She said, "Raise your hands, let me have a look."

He Erlang shifted his gaze, revealing his rough palms. After one night, there was no visible effect.

This was within Yu Ying's expectations.

The chapping on his hands was much worse than on his face; if there had been an effect overnight, there would be no need to test the two kinds of face cream.

However...

If the cream was exceptionally effective, there should have been some noticeable difference by the second day.

These creams all contained lard, the difference being in the medicinal ingredients they contained, resulting in varying effects.

Yu Ying, gazing at He Erlang's hands, became lost in thought.

If the cream's effect wasn't outstanding, why would the medical halls in Cangwu County want her cream, given they already had their own for sale?

Compared to lard, sheep fat is actually more effective.

However, the cost of sheep meat was higher than pork, and she was uncertain about the price of sheep tail fat.

After some thought, Yu Ying decided to buy some sheep fat to try out.

Once decided, she still needed to compare the current cream with the other types to see if it was effective; if so, she could sell it inexpensively in the future.

Yu Ying called over Fu An to help He Erlang continue applying the cream.

She told He Erlang, "Since I need to observe the effects, don't do any work these few days. I'll pay you for this and will explain it to Uncle He and Aunt He."

He Erlang quickly waved his hands, "No need, no need. My parents already told me to rest for a few days. I just couldn't sit idle and followed them around. Now, since Mrs. Yu is testing the cream, I'll just rest as my parents wished. As for the wages, even if you offer, Mrs. Yu, I won't accept them."

Yu Ying still felt bad and thought if He Erlang refused the money, she would send some food to his house instead.

After applying the cream, He Erlang left, and Yu Ying went to check the fields with her sister-in-law.

Her elder brother, along with He family and Song Sanlang, went into the mountains to gather herbs.

After the incident with Luo's Medical Hall, there was nothing to worry about, and they naturally continued herb gathering.

But she was still not over her fatigue and decided not to go.

Luo and her two grandsons went out to find earthworms to feed the chickens.

The chicks they had bought in the county town had now grown to about two pounds each.

The hen would start laying eggs soon, and the rooster could be slaughtered for the festival.

As for Fuyan...

In the eyes of others, he was still a cripple and could only stay at home to look after the house.

Yu Ying didn't dare to leave the house unattended, as all her belongings were hidden there; without someone to watch over, she couldn't be at ease.

Arriving in the fields, she saw the two hired laborers watering the medicinal seedlings.

The seedlings were growing well, which eased her mind.

But the medicinal seedlings were growing too densely; in a few days, some would need to be thinned out and replanted elsewhere.

This land could only be leased once there was news from Fuyan's end.

After tending to the weeds in the medicinal fields for a while, Yu Ying and her sister-in-law went to check on the vegetables.

It had been over two months, and the vegetables in the field were almost ready to be harvested.

Wen Xing, looking at the vegetables in both fields, worriedly said, "There's so much produce; our family alone can't possibly consume it all."

Yu Ying smiled and said, "If we can't eat it all, we can send it to the county town for mother to sell at a small stall. Whatever money it brings is good enough. Besides, the cabbage and taro can be stored for a while, so we don't have to deliver them frequently, and mother will have something to keep her busy."

Initially, the grandmother might feel uneasy moving to the city, likely to spend all day cooped up at home. It would be better to give her something to do and a chance to earn some money.

Upon hearing this, Wen Xing's face lit up with joy, agreeing, "Yes, that way, not only can we make some money, but it also means mother and uncle won't have to go out to buy vegetables."

Fuyan taking up the job as an aide, a rare opportunity granted by the county magistrate, shouldn't be delayed, to avoid making a bad impression.

After lunch, the family gathered to discuss the matter.

It was necessary for Fuyan to head into the city to settle in within the next couple of days.

They still needed to find a place to stay, and Chen Daye's ox cart wouldn't be going to Jade County until the day after next.

After discussion, they decided to first take bedding and clothes to the city, and if a suitable house was found, they would rent it and move in that day.

As for the ox cart, if timing didn't work out, they would have to rent it for a day.

Fuzhen instructed Fu An to wait for Chen Daye at the village entrance.

Once there, he was to inform Chen Daye that they needed to rent his ox cart for a trip to Jade County the next day.

As for who would accompany Fuyan to Jade County, naturally, it would be Yu Ying.

She also needed to go to Jade County to look for sheep tail fat and could inquire at Wu's Eatery about any houses for rent.

After finding a place to stay and getting it ready, they probably wouldn't make it back in time for Chen Daye's ox cart, so Yu Ying decided to stay in Jade County for a couple of days.

And so, the matter was settled.

Fuyan needed to pack his bags tonight, as he was leaving early the next morning.

As for bedding, Fuyan already had a single set, so there was no need for another.

Regarding kitchenware, they only had what was sufficient at home, so they would buy new ones upon arrival in Jade County.

Yu Ying, anticipating that Fuyan might suffer a headache or fever in Jade County, packed some simple herbs for him, planning to explain their effects in detail once they arrived.

After all the hustle and bustle, it was almost dark.

Once dinner was ready, Yu Ying went back to her room to call Fuyan for the meal.

Opening the door to call him, she found Fuyan sitting facing away from the door, lost in thought, his face expressionless, his figure solitary.

Seeing Fuyan like this, Yu Ying realized that since their discussion at noon, he hadn't spoken much.

It made sense; after living so long in a bustling household, suddenly having to live separately would feel unusual and leave a void in anyone's heart.

Thinking of Fuyan, with whom she could discuss matters, leaving, and both Luo and the chatterbox Fu An going to Jade County as well, Yu Ying suddenly felt a hollow sadness.

After composing herself, Yu Ying hid her sorrow, put on a smile, and called out to Fuyan, "Erlang, dinner's ready."

Fuyan was brought back to reality by her call of "Erlang." He turned, meeting her smile with a faint one of his own, then stood up and wheeled himself out of the room.

He sat at the doorway, where Yu Ying pushed him to the dining hall.

Perhaps because they all knew they would be parting the next day, the usually talkative Fu An was subdued and quietly finished his meal.

In the evening, when Fuyan went to bathe, Fu An came over.

Seeing the small bed placed outside the screen, Fu An guessed his uncle wanted to sleep with his aunt that night and thought of helping him.

After pondering for a while, he came up with an idea.

He looked at his aunt with hopeful eyes and asked, "Auntie, can I sleep with you both tonight?"

Yu Ying, applying face cream, glanced at him and smiled, "You'll be nine soon and are becoming a young man. You can't sleep with me anymore."

Fu An pointed to the small bed, saying, "I won't sleep on the big bed, I'll sleep on the small bed."

He added, "If I go to the county town with uncle, I'll miss you, auntie, and my sister."

Knowing her brother would also go to Jade County with their uncle, little Fu Ning, sitting at the end of the big bed, immediately pouted.

Yu Ying smiled helplessly, "You can come back with Chen Daye's ox cart every three days to stay for a while, or I can bring Ningning to Jade County. It's not like we won't see each other again."

But Fu An lay down on the small bed, stubbornly saying, "I don't care, I want to sleep in this room."

Laying his head at the foot of the bed, he could see his sister sitting at the end of the big bed through the screen. He made a pitiful face, "Sis, I'll also be going to Jade County soon. You won't be able to see your brother every day. So, shouldn't we spend time together and sleep together tonight?"

Hearing this, little Fu Ning immediately nodded with teary eyes, then climbed down from the big bed and, in her slippers, made her way to the opposite small bed.

Yu Ying: ...

Fu An, this little fellow, didn't cry even when he got beaten up with a swollen face. Even when she wasn't around and he was holding up the family, Yu Ying never saw him show such an expression.

Seeing his pitiful look, Yu Ying knew he was faking it.

His motive...

Was simply to bring her closer to his uncle.

Yu Ying saw through his intentions at a glance but didn't expose him.

Well, let it be, she thought, indulging his wish.

Fuyan had prepared himself that this last night would be spent alone, but...

When he returned to the room, he saw the two little ones snuggled together on the small bed.

He looked questioningly at Yu Ying.

Yu Ying smiled helplessly at him, "Fu An wants to sleep with us in the same room."

Fu An tucked in his sister's quilt and then looked at his uncle, nodding, "Sis and I will sleep here, uncle and auntie can sleep together!"

Fuyan: ...

His nephew's intentions were too obvious to ignore.

Seeing that Liuniang didn't object, Fuyan felt a quiet pleasure in his heart.

Yu Ying said to him, "The weather is too dry, you should apply some face cream before sleeping."

Fuyan nodded and applied a little face cream before approaching the bed.

Fu An suggested, "Uncle, why don't you move the screen aside? With it, we seem so far apart."

Hearing this, Yu Ying got up and helped Fuyan move the screen away, the two beds now only three steps apart.

With the screen moved, the beds were much closer.

Fuyan turned off the light and lay down alongside Yu Ying.

The room was silent for a while before the sleepless Fu An suddenly spoke, "Uncle, Auntie, I'm not happy."

Yu Ying questioned with a puzzled "Hmm?"

Fu An said gloomily, "Before Uncle arrived, the house was almost silent, so quiet it scared me. After Uncle came, it was even quieter, until you, Auntie, arrived. Then the house started to have life."

Yu Ying paused, listening as he continued, "The house gradually became lively. When Dad and Mom came back, it was completely different from before. These days have been the happiest for me. But now, thinking of Uncle going to Jade County tomorrow, and Grandma and I following later, everyone living apart, it makes me very sad."

Hearing Fu An's words, Fuyan and Yu Ying were filled with mixed emotions.

After a few moments of silence, Yu Ying explained, "The separation now is only temporary, so that we can live together longer and more steadily in the future."

Her words not only reached Fu An's ears but also resonated deep within Fuyan.

—The separation now is just for a longer togetherness in the future.

Fu An, being young, had a limited understanding and asked in confusion, "What does Auntie mean by that?"

Yu Ying was about to explain, but Fuyan spoke first, "Auntie is now managing the medicinal fields and checking the harvested herbs to earn silver for our livelihood. Uncle is working at the government office to gain the county magistrate's trust. With money, we can have enough food and warm clothes. With influence, we won't be bullied. Only then can we live a stable, long-lasting life."

Yu Ying turned her face, looking in Fuyan's direction in the dark.

Fu An, though now understanding, couldn't help but choke up, "But I really don't want to leave. I don't want to leave Auntie, Dad, Mom, and sister. Nor Uncle and Grandma."

He didn't want to part with any member of his family.

Hearing Fu An's words, Yu Ying's eyes immediately became teary and sore.

Hearing her brother's words, Fu Ning, who had been trying to hold back her tears, couldn't help but let them flow, sobbing, "No... don't go."

Suddenly, a faint and unclear strange voice filled the room, startling everyone.

The next instant, everyone sat up in shock.

Yu Ying quickly got out of bed, not minding bumping into Fuyan, and lit the oil lamp.

Holding the lamp, she walked to the small bed, looking in astonishment at Fu Ning with tears at the corner of her eyes.

Yu Ying, trying to contain her excitement, asked, "Ningning, did you just speak!?"

A shocked Fu An came to his senses, nodding repeatedly, "She did, she did! I just heard her!"

Fu Ning, with her lips pursed, pushed off the quilt, sat up, and threw herself into her aunt's arms, crying and saying, "Not... going..."

"Sister can really talk now!"

Fu An's loud exclamation reached the ears of Fuzhen and his wife, who hadn't yet fallen asleep, and even the sleeping Luo was awakened.

Wen Xing, who was hurrying to finish a pair of shoes, hesitantly said, "Did I just hear Fu An say Ningning can talk?"

The couple looked at each other for a moment before realizing it wasn't an illusion.

The two of them quickly got up, put on their shoes and clothes, and hurriedly left the room.

Chapter 68

Everyone gathered in Yu Ying's room, surrounding little Fu Ning.

Fu Ning, with her big red eyes, looked around at her family members beside the bed. Under their expectant gazes, she turned to Fu An and mumbled, "Bro... brother..."

Wen Xing and Mrs. Luo, hearing this sound, immediately covered their mouths, tears streaming down their faces.

Unable to hold back, Wen Xing suddenly turned and threw herself into her husband's arms, sobbing with trembling shoulders.

Fu Zhen gently patted his wife's back, his eyes reddening as he looked at his little daughter, his clenched fists betraying his inner excitement.

Fu An, hearing his sister call him brother for the first time, was so surprised and moved that he burst into tears, crying, "She called me first..."

With tears in his eyes and crying intermittently, he said, "My sister called for me first..."

The originally tender atmosphere turned somewhat comical with Fu An's tearful expression, making everyone struggle to hold back their laughter.

Fu Ning's ability to speak brought joy that dispelled the worries of separation. Overcome with emotion, both Fu An and Fu Ning fell asleep, while the others remained awake.

Wen Xing sat by the bed, looking at her children who had cried themselves to sleep, her gaze filled with tenderness and still moist from the aftermath of excitement.

Only she knew how happy she truly was.

While at the quarry, she had heard from He Erlang that her little daughter had become mute, leading to many sleepless nights, her mind constantly worried about her children, almost driving her to madness.

Upon returning, she never expressed it, but she was incredibly heartbroken for her little girl.

Hearing her daughter speak today, she was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions, filled with both joy and deep emotion.

She turned to her sister-in-law and softly called, "Sister-in-law."

As Yu Ying turned to look, Wen Xing's sister-in-law grasped her hands, her face full of gratitude, "Sister-in-law, I really don't know how to thank you. Without you, Ning Ning might not have been able to speak so soon."

She had just explained to them how Fu Ning found the chance to speak.

The change in the home environment and a more positive atmosphere had given her a sense of security. Once her fear subsided, she naturally began to speak.

The improvement in the home environment and atmosphere was all thanks to the sister-in-law's efforts.

Yu Ying smiled at her sister-in-law, softly saying, "A harmonious home is the best thank you."

In many stories, conflicts and schemes are common between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, and among sisters-in-law.

Fortunately, the Fu family had none of these troubles.

Both Luo and the elder sister-in-law were very easy to get along with. They didn't quarrel over trivial matters, instead showing mutual respect and consideration.

Such an atmosphere was indeed rare.

After a few heartfelt words, considering they had to get up early the next day, it wasn't convenient to talk for too long.

After seeing off her sister-in-law and Luo, the two brothers in the dining hall also went to their respective rooms to rest.

The next morning was increasingly cold, and even the cotton clothes mixed with hemp couldn't fend off the chill.

Yu Ying missed having a down jacket, but it was just a wishful thought at the moment.

After breakfast, as they were preparing to leave, Fuyan handed Yu Ying a piece of broken silver, "For the rent of the house."

Yu Ying looked at the silver, momentarily taken aback.

Fuyan explained, "My good friend wanted to give me some silver for living expenses, but he's not from a wealthy family, so I only took this much."

As it was Fuyan's own decision, Yu Ying had no objections, "Keep it for now. If it's not enough, you can ask me... to lend you some."

Yu Ying changed her initial instinct to say 'give' to 'lend', not wanting to put too much pressure on him.

Fuyan agreed and then suggested, "This silver should be exchanged for copper coins. It will be easier for you to hide them away."

Yu Ying nodded, taking the piece of broken silver from his hand, weighing it briefly, and then started counting out copper coins, selecting five hundred wen.

Five hundred wen weighed about two and a half pounds, so carrying more would be inconvenient due to the weight.

Yu Ying gave him a hundred wen for personal protection. The rest she tucked into a package, explaining, "Copper coins are too heavy and inconvenient to carry around while looking for a house. I'll give you five hundred wen now, and the remaining five hundred wen I'll give to you later."

Hearing this, Fuyan pointed out, "That silver isn't even one tael."

Yu Ying gave him a look, not allowing room for doubt, "I said it's enough, so it is."

After speaking, she walked straight out of the room.

Fuyan, seeing her assertiveness on this matter, shook his head with a resigned smile.

Half a moment later, the whole family escorted them to the village entrance.

Yu Ying instructed Luo and her sister-in-law to take the opportunity of Fu Ning starting to talk, to encourage her to speak more over the next few days.

She also instructed Fu An to help apply the face cream to He Erlang during the next couple of days.

After giving her instructions, the ox cart arrived.

Fu An and Fu Ning both pouted, clearly unhappy.

Yu Ying gently stroked their heads, speaking softly, "Auntie will be back in a couple of days and will bring you some tasty treats."

Even the promise of treats couldn't bring a smile to the children's faces.

Fuzhen loaded the baskets and bedding onto the ox cart, then helped Fuyan get on, followed by the plain palanquin.

Yu Ying also boarded the ox cart, and as she was waving goodbye, little Fu Ning ran to the side of the cart, grabbing Fuyan's sleeve.

Fuyan looked at his niece with a gentle expression.

Fu Ning, with tears in her eyes, struggled to speak clearly, "Don't… want… Uncle... Ning... Ning misses..."

Everyone paused, not immediately understanding, then Fu An explained, "She means she doesn't want Uncle to go, she will miss him."

Fu Ning, with tears in her eyes, nodded emphatically, confirming her brother's interpretation.

Fuyan felt a warm current in his heart, touched by her words.

He smiled warmly at his niece, gently stroking her head, his voice tender, "Uncle will miss Ningning too."

Fuyan looked at those seeing him off, realizing that over the past six months, he had slowly and unconsciously come to accept them as family.

After waving goodbye, the ox cart gradually moved away.

Upon reaching Jade County, Yu Ying asked Chen Daye to wait at Wu's Eatery while she went to look at houses. If she found one, they would then move the items from the ox cart.

Yu Ying entered Wu's Eatery and greeted Chen, the shopkeeper.

Seeing Mrs. Yu, Chen informed her that the errand boy from Penglai Inn had come looking for her again.

The errand boy from Penglai Inn likely had more business to offer.

Given the recent lawsuit, the news had probably spread throughout Jade County. If any medicine merchants showed interest, the errand boy would surely be eager to introduce them to her for a commission.

Yu Ying wasn't surprised by this and wasn't in a hurry either, planning to settle down first before seeking out the errand boy.

After asking Chen, he suggested they look for a house broker, who could find them the most suitable house for only ten wen.

"The house broker is right outside the pawnshop, shouting about houses for rent," he said.

He cautioned, "Anyone asking for more than ten wen is likely trying to cheat you."

Knowing where the pawnshop was, Yu Ying thanked Chen and went there with Fuyan.

The streets of the county town were smooth, making it easy to push a wheelchair, though it attracted a lot of attention.

They found the house broker near the pawnshop.

The broker initially asked for twenty wen.

Yu Ying firmly insisted on ten wen, threatening to find someone else otherwise.

Knowing they were referred by an acquaintance, the broker didn't haggle and said, "I have houses for under a hundred wen, and also for a hundred and several hundred wen, depending on what price range you're looking for."

The prices quoted by the broker were acceptable.

Yu Ying inquired, "What are the houses like for under a hundred wen?"

The house broker curiously examined the wheelchair and replied, "I can't explain it well. You have to see it for yourselves. But first, you need to pay five wen. If you decide to rent after seeing it, you pay the remaining five wen. If not, there's no need to pay."

Yu Ying felt this was reasonable and handed him five wen.

The houses under a hundred wen were located on the outskirts of Jade County. The further they walked, the more desolate it became, with houses increasingly dilapidated, and people around wearing clothes almost entirely patched.

These clothes were slightly better than what Luo and her family wore when Yu Ying first arrived at the Fu household.

The houses were built of thatch, and the courtyards were smaller than those in Lingshui Village. There was also a faint, unpleasant smell of urine in the air, making it uncomfortable.

"Houses like this are sixty wen a month. The slightly bigger ones next door are seventy wen a month."

Yu Ying immediately rejected, "Let's look at the ones around a hundred wen."

The broker then led them for a short walk, entering an alley two streets away from the previous location.

The houses here were much better than before.

They were mud-brick houses with tile roofs. The small courtyards were big enough to keep a few chickens and to hang some laundry.

The broker said, "These are one hundred and twenty wen a month. If you want to look inside, I'll get the keys from the owner."

Yu Ying and Fuyan exchanged glances.

She was somewhat tempted, but hesitated when she saw Fuyan's wheelchair.

The price was right, and the environment was better than the previous location, but the only downside was the distance from the county office.

Yu Ying estimated that it would take at least half an hour to walk to the county office from there, let alone with Fuyan in a wheelchair.

After considering, Yu Ying asked, "Are there any houses closer to the county office?"

The broker looked surprised, "Houses close to the county office? You can't rent one for a hundred wen. A house like this would cost at least two to three hundred wen."

Yu Ying nodded, "Let's look for a house near the county office."

The higher the rent, the more commission the house broker would earn, so he was naturally happy to help. He took them around the county office area, showing them two nearby houses.

Yu Ying chose the one with easier access.

The broker fetched the keys, and seeing that the woman's husband had difficulty walking, he helped lift the chair into the courtyard.

Yu Ying looked at the threshold, realizing it was impossible to push the chair over it. They would need to place two wooden planks for easier wheelchair access.

She surveyed the courtyard.

The house and yard were similar in size to the one for 120 wen, also with mud-brick walls and a tiled roof.

The small yard was unkempt, overgrown with weeds, but the doors and windows were intact.

The house had three connected rooms: two bedrooms on the sides and a central hall.

There was a thatched hut and a thatched kitchen, clearly visible.

It wasn't perfect, but still better than the thatched houses in Lingshui Village, especially during storms.

Yu Ying asked, "How much is this courtyard per month?"

"It's just a short walk to the county office, costing 220 wen per month."

While closer, the price was a full 100 wen more expensive.

Fuyan frowned slightly and looked at Yu Ying, hesitatingly suggesting, "Liuniang, perhaps we should rent the previous courtyard."

Upon hearing this, the broker's face showed urgency, hastily adding, "The price can still be negotiated."

Yu Ying thought for a moment and said, "I won't make an unreasonable offer, let's say 200 wen. Go and talk to the owner. If it's agreed, I'll rent it today."

The broker appeared troubled, "Reducing by 20 wen all at once, isn't that a bit much? Maybe the lady could raise the offer slightly."

Yu Ying spoke calmly, "That's the price I'm offering. Please go and negotiate. If it's agreed, I'll rent it immediately."

Seeing her reluctant to continue negotiating, the property agent pondered for a moment before agreeing, "Alright, I'll talk to the landlord."

The agent's willingness to negotiate indicated a possibility of reaching an agreement. As he left, Yu Ying added, "If it doesn't work out, there's no need to continue negotiating. We can look at other properties."

The property agent acknowledged and went to inquire.

With only the two of them left in the courtyard, Fu Wei asked her, "Do you like this place?"

Yu Ying shook her head, "Not particularly. It's a bit expensive, but firstly, it's convenient. Secondly, being near the county office, petty thieves wouldn't dare to intrude. And in case of trouble, we can quickly reach the government office for help."

It was similar to the modern concept of living near a police station.

Fu Wei agreed with her reasoning and nodded slightly, "Then let's settle for this place."

Fu Wei was completely confident the price could be negotiated, judging from the property agent's reaction.

Sure enough, a moment later, the agent returned with the landlord, who agreed to the price.

The landlord, upon seeing Yu Ying, exclaimed in surprise, "Aren't you Mrs. Yu who sued the head of Luo's Medical Hall at the public court a few days ago? I even went to the county office to watch!"

Yu Ying, not wanting to elaborate, simply smiled faintly.

The landlord then looked at the man beside her, remembering both his appearance and the wheelchair, and asked in astonishment, "So, you two are husband and wife? What happened to this gentleman's legs?"

Fu Wei, with an indifferent expression, replied, "There was an accident, I can't walk normally now."

The landlord thought to himself, "So he's a cripple!"

No wonder, a woman with a facial blemish matched with a cripple seems quite fitting.

Seeing that they didn't want to chat more, the landlord didn't ask further and only said, "Two hundred wen is doable, but you need to pay two months' rent in advance."

With Fu Wei's trial period at the government office lasting three months, Yu Ying agreed to pay two months' rent upfront.

After finalizing the deal, they needed to report to the government office to prevent fraud using someone else's property.

After reporting to the government office, Yu Ying paid the four hundred wen rent.

The landlord handed over the keys, advising them not to damage the property before leaving.

Yu Ying gave the remaining five wen to the property agent. Just as she was about to leave, Huo, the clerk from the government office, called out to her, "Mrs. Yu, please wait a moment."

Huo approached and said, "The five hundred wen compensation from Luo's Medical Hall, Mrs. Yu, you might as well collect it now."

Then, turning to Fu Wei, he added, "Mr. Fu, the magistrate instructed me to ask when you can start your position."

Fu Wei replied, "I can start tomorrow."

Perhaps because of Fu Wei's upcoming position in the government office, Huo's attitude was much more amiable than before.

He continued, "The magistrate specifically instructed, considering Mr. Fu's difficulty in walking, a stone slab has been placed at the side entrance. I will take Mr. Fu through the side door in a bit, so he can familiarize himself with the way."

Fu Wei's expression softened, and he smiled, "Thank you, Huo, for the reminder."

Yu Ying's gaze fell on his smiling face, thinking to herself how quickly he was adapting.

Perhaps this time, his experience as a clerk in the government office wouldn't be as humiliating as described in the book.

But remembering the brother of the head of Luo's Medical Hall, Yu Ying still felt worried.

Entering the government office through the side door with Huo, Yu Ying quietly asked, "Huo, is Luo, the scribe, still at the government office?"

Huo Yacha replied, "After all, it was only the mistake of Director Luo, and his family should not be punished. Naturally, Registrar Luo is still here."

Hearing this, Yu Ying grew more worried: "When my husband joins the yamen, I hope Huo Yacha can take good care of him."

Huo Yacha responded, "Rest assured, Madam Yu. If Lord Fu encounters any difficulties, I will certainly help."

"Then I must thank Huo Yacha for his kindness."

Fu Wei pondered for a moment before speaking, "We've rented a small courtyard near the yamen, located in the West Mouth Alley. After settling in today, we would like to invite Huo Yacha tomorrow for a housewarming drink."

Huo Yacha smiled, "Sure, call me once you're settled. I'll definitely come."

Fu Wei added, "By the way, I'm not very familiar with the workings of the yamen. I fear I might inadvertently overstep, so I hope Huo Yacha could offer some guidance."

Huo Yacha said, "I can't claim to guide, but the relationships in the yamen are complex. Take the clerks, for instance. The lord has two by his side; one came with him, and the other is a local from Yu County. These two..." Huo Yacha lowered his voice, cautioning, "They are at odds like water and fire. Lord Fu, be careful not to hastily take sides."

Fu Wei looked puzzled, "May I know the surnames of these two, and their temperaments? Understanding them will help me navigate better."

Huo Yacha thought for a moment, "I can't go into details now, but to put it simply, the one who came with the lord is surnamed Qian, about the same age as the lord, and is cunning beneath his smiles. The local is surnamed Sun, around fifty years old, and more approachable."

Yu Ying, knowing that Fu Wei was trying to understand the intricacies of the county yamen, did not interrupt their conversation.

She did not interrupt, but due to the short journey, their chat was brief.

Yu Ying understood why Fu Wei invited Huo Yacha to their housewarming feast – likely to glean insights into the interpersonal dynamics of the yamen.

After receiving a compensation of 500 wen, Yu Ying asked, "How did the yamen deal with Director Luo?"

Huo's smile faded slightly as he replied, "Though punished, it wasn't severely so."

Fu Wei's brow furrowed imperceptibly, getting a hint of the outcome.

Yu County being poor, the taxes from the medical hall were significant; losing one meant less revenue.

Moreover, the magistrate likely wanted to use this incident to fill the county's coffers, so the sentence wouldn't be too harsh.

Yu Ying puzzled, "Punished, but not severely?"

As Huo escorted them out of the government office, he explained truthfully, "Besides being beaten twenty times, he was sentenced to three years of imprisonment, which could be substituted with fifty taels of silver."

Ordinary people couldn't afford fifty taels, but the medical hall could, otherwise the magistrate wouldn't have set such a high price.

"The silver was delivered this morning, and he was released. The magistrate spoke to him privately, likely warning him to be careful in his actions, so Mrs. Yu and Mr. Fu needn't worry too much about him causing further trouble."

Hearing this, Yu Ying thanked Huo for the information, but she was still very clear in her mind.

Unable to use illegal tactics, he might resort to underhanded methods that don't break the law.

After leaving the government office, Fu Wei said to her, "Don't worry too much. He's been ostracized by the other three medical halls, he won't be able to do much harm."

Yu Ying: "I'm not worried about myself; I'm concerned about you. He might not harm me, a woman, but he could use his brother to trouble you."

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Fu Wei's face.

Seeing his smile, Yu Ying was puzzled, "You might face targeting at the government office. Aren't you a bit worried? How can you still smile?"

Fu Wei, his voice cheerful, "Hearing you worry about me makes me smile involuntarily, I guess it's because I'm happy inside."

Caught off guard by his words, Yu Ying's heart skipped a beat.

She had thought his confession that night was put aside after she made herself clear, but now he spoke with such openness.

She composed herself and changed the subject, saying, "Although we've rented the courtyard, we still need to buy furniture, beds, pots, and pans."

"We definitely need to buy a ready-made bed. I know where to find one. I'll go check it out later, negotiate the price, and ask Uncle Chen to help transport it."

As it was already noon and they hadn't started anything yet, Yu Ying decided to buy a couple of steamed buns to fill their stomachs.

After buying the buns, they headed straight back to their rented place.

After eating the buns, Yu Ying asked Fu Wei to wait at home while she went out to purchase a bed.

They still had a single bamboo bed at their home in Lingshui Village, which could be brought over for Mrs. Luo to sleep on.

But buying just one more large bed wasn't enough. Even if Fu An could share with Fu Wei, what if she brought Fu Ning to stay in Yu County for a night or two? Where would they sleep?

After some thought, she decided that even though they would bring the single bamboo bed to Yu County, they still needed to buy two large beds.

Yu Ying went to look at beds.

The bamboo bed was about ten wen more expensive than the one at Uncle Chen's relative's house.

The simplest wooden bed, without intricate railings, just had a few horizontal bars at the head, foot, and sides serving as railings.

Comparatively, the wooden bed was much more comfortable than the bamboo one.

But it was also much more expensive; the bamboo bed cost less than a hundred wen, while the wooden bed was two hundred wen each.

Yu Ying, thinking they would eventually switch to wooden beds anyway, bit the bullet and decided to buy them.

After negotiating, she spent 380 wen on two beds, and another 40 wen on two buckets, two basins, and a bamboo table and stool set for 70 wen.

She had brought 500 wen from Fu Wei when they left Lingshui Village, and she herself had 200 wen.

Renting the house had cost 400 wen, leaving them with only 300 wen, which wasn't enough. Fortunately, they had received another 500 wen at the yamen, just enough to cover the cost.

Yu Ying felt uneasy not spending the 500 wen of compensation.

Moreover, as the furniture purchase was local in Yu County, delivery was free. So Yu Ying asked Uncle Chen to deliver the items and accompanied him.

Once the goods were delivered and moved into the house, Yu Ying told Uncle Chen, "You must come to our housewarming feast the day after tomorrow!"

Uncle Chen laughed and agreed, "Certainly, certainly."

After seeing off Uncle Chen, the workers began assembling the wooden beds. In less than half an hour, both beds were set up. Yu Ying checked their sturdiness before paying them.

After the workers left, Fu Wei asked, "Do we still have any silver left?"

Yu Ying closed the courtyard gate and told him, "I spent the 500 wen we got at the yamen earlier."

She looked around the small courtyard. Though she wouldn't be living here herself, she felt a surprising sense of achievement in setting it up.

Perhaps, she thought, because every time she came to Yu County, she would rest here. It would be her second place of respite and relaxation in this world.

A smile unconsciously appeared on her face as she looked at the sturdy mud walls and the fence, remarking, "In the future, we should all move to the county town. The houses in the village are really not safe."

The high walls isolated the courtyard from the outside, ensuring that Fu Wei wouldn't have to worry about being seen, even if he didn't use his wheelchair.

The only condition was that no one peeked through the cracks in the door, but that was an easy problem to solve - just cover them.

The courtyard was still in disarray, the house hadn't been cleaned, and they had no kitchen utensils. After a short break, Fu Wei stayed at home to tidy up while Yu Ying went out again to buy what they needed.

Moving was indeed a tiring and expensive task, but strangely, it was always satisfying.

Chapter 69.

After purchasing various items including cooking oil, salt, rice, vegetables, pottery jars, a clay stove, and utensils, which were not expensive individually, the total cost still amounted to a considerable sum of silver.

As it neared the hour of Shen, Yu Ying bought a broom and dustpan to clean the house.

When they opened the doors and windows to set up the beds earlier today, the previously dark and gloomy room brightened up, revealing layers of dust and cobwebs from long neglect.

Yu Ying cut several pieces of cloth. She folded two square pieces into triangular shapes to use as masks and covered her hair with another cloth to prevent dust from settling on it.

Both of them put on masks and head cloths.

Yu Ying couldn't help but laugh when she saw Fu Wei's attire.

His usually graceful and handsome appearance seemed somewhat comical with his face covered and hair hidden.

Fu Wei, seeing her, also smiled gently.

Together, they swept the dust out of several rooms and brushed away the cobwebs at the corners. Yu Ying also burned medicinal herbs brought from home in the corners of the rooms, including the kitchen and latrine, to repel insects and reduce dampness.

They sealed the doors and windows while fumigating to ensure effectiveness.

After half an hour of fumigation, and just as they finished clearing the weeds in the courtyard and setting up a clothes-drying area, Yu Ying stood up to open the doors and windows to let out the smoke.

The corners of the walls inside the house were littered with the bodies of insects. Having lived in poor village conditions for so long, Yu Ying was accustomed to this and calmly swept the insects outside.

Fu Wei was cleaning up the weeds in the courtyard and, seeing the insects she swept out, he dug a small hole to bury them without needing any instruction from Yu Ying.

After working together to tidy up, the small courtyard and house finally looked habitable. By then, it was dusk, and time to prepare dinner.

Since they had rented their own ox cart, Yu Ying brought along everything they could possibly need.

In addition to various medicinal herbs, they also brought several heads of cabbage that were not fully grown but ready to be picked, and even a small bundle of firewood.

Since trees in the city were not allowed to be cut down randomly, they needed to either buy firewood or go outside the city to chop it themselves.

They had firewood, so the next concern was water.

There was a well at the end of the alley, providing water for the entire alley.

Yu Ying, carrying a bucket, heard Fu Wei say, "You've been busy all day, don't fetch too much water. I'll get more after nightfall."

The alley was dimly lit at night, making it hard to distinguish people passing by, and Fu Wei planned to fetch water at that time.

Living together, Yu Ying wouldn't shoulder all the chores herself. Besides, Fu Wei would soon be living in the county town with Fu An and Mrs. Luo, an old and a young one, so he needed to take responsibility.

Since he insisted, she decided to fetch water three times, enough for the evening.

For their first meal in this new home, Yu Ying didn't want to settle for something too simple.

She used half a pound of pork with a mix of fat and lean for braised pork, and half a pound of pork fat to render lard.

To prepare the braised pork, Yu Ying specially bought two liang (about 100 grams) of sugar.

She first blanched the pork with wine and scallions, setting it aside for later use.

She heated a clean pot on the clay stove, and once hot, added sugar and some rendered pork fat. When the sugar and fat melted together, she added the pork and stir-fried it until it changed color, then added soy sauce for aroma, followed by a bowl of boiling water.

After adding water, she seasoned it with a little salt, star anise, wild magnolia bark, and fennel, simmering it until the sauce thickened.

While gathering herbs, Yu Ying had found wild star anise, magnolia bark, and wild fennel.

These herbs could be used as medicinal ingredients or spices.

There weren't many, only about two or three jin (1-1.5 kilograms) in total, so Yu Ying decided not to sell them but to keep them for now.

Braised pork and a green vegetable dish made up their dinner for the evening.

Their small courtyard was quiet with only the sound of their activity, but soon, the neighboring courtyard erupted with the noise of children crying and adults scolding.

Compared to the tranquility of Lingshui Village, Yu County was filled with a bustling, lively atmosphere.

Perhaps it was because the houses in Lingshui Village were far apart; even if someone cried out in the middle of the night, only a few nearby households might hear it, making it seem more serene and quiet.

Yu Ying enjoyed tranquility, yet she was not fond of silence.

In these turbulent times, silence could be frightening; a lively atmosphere was generally preferable.

The meal was served, with only Yu Ying and Fu Wei dining together.

Fu Wei's eyes landed on the glossy braised pork. After tasting a piece, his eyes showed amazement, and he looked up in astonishment at Yu Ying sitting opposite him.

Seeing his expression, Yu Ying asked, "Is it tender and melting in your mouth, fatty but not greasy?"

Fu Wei nodded, "I've never seen pork prepared this way."

Yu Ying thought to herself that braised pork became famous because of Su Dongpo, but it had appeared earlier in "Qi Min Yao Shu" (Essential Techniques for the Welfare of the People).

The only difference was that the recipe in the book didn't include the spices she had added.

The current era, chaotic, resembling the Northern Dynasties, had simpler culinary styles. She hadn't seen any iron pots, so stir-frying was likely rare, and it was normal for Fu Wei not to have seen this dish before.

Yu Ying decided, "Let's serve this dish tomorrow when we invite Huo Yacha over."

For the housewarming feast, Yu Ying planned to prepare just two tables.

After all, most of their close neighbors were back in Lingshui Village.

It would be just their family, along with the owner and waiter of Wu's Eatery, Uncle Chen, and a few others; two tables would be sufficient.

Inviting Huo Yacha alone would allow Fu Wei to gather information discreetly and also avoid any suspicion.

Fu Wei, usually indifferent to culinary delights, couldn't resist trying another piece of meat and nodded, "This dish is excellent. Paired with some wine, we won't have to worry about Huo Yacha getting tipsy."

Yu Ying: ...

He was openly sharing his plans with her, showing how much he trusted her.

After some thought, she added, "Besides the braised pork, let's prepare a braised fish and crispy pork too, followed by a green vegetable and stewed tofu. That should be enough even if two more people join us."

This meal also finalized the menu for the next day.

After dinner, Yu Ying took out the medicinal herbs she had prepared at home, soaked them in alcohol, ready to make face cream once she bought sheep tail fat the next day.

With winter approaching, the demand for face cream would increase, and she didn't want to waste time but rather seize the opportunity to produce better quality cream.

After finishing her preparations, the hot water was ready.

Yu Ying went to bathe first.

Coming out warm and cozy, she entered the room and found the window slightly open and a clay basin with burning firewood under the bed.

The previously cold room was now warm, even with the window open, thanks to the basin of fire.

Without a doubt, she knew who had placed the fire basin there.

They were sleeping in separate rooms tonight.

A set of bedding had been prepared at home, initially intended for Fu An. Since Fu An was staying in Yu County, they brought it along.

With two beds and two sets of bedding, naturally, they wouldn't be sharing a bed anymore.

She spread the bedding on her bed; although it was a bit small, it was sufficient for her.

After making the bed, the room was warm enough. Thinking of Fu Wei's room without a fire basin, Yu Ying dampened a cloth, carried the small fire basin to his room.

She bumped into Fu Wei, who had just returned from his bath.

She said, "My room is warm enough, so I brought the fire basin to your room. Remember to take it out and douse it with water before you sleep."

Fu Wei hummed softly in acknowledgment, then thoughtfully said, "If you need anything, just call me."

Yu Ying nodded, "You should rest early too. We need to rise early for the yamen tomorrow."

"You should rest early as well," he said softly, his face illuminated by the light shining from the room. In the dim light, his gaze towards her was exceptionally tender.

Their eyes met, creating a subtle and heart-quickening moment.

It was strange; they had often slept on the same couch before without this peculiar tension. Now, being apart seemed to evoke a sense of ambiguity.

Yu Ying coughed lightly and said, "I'm going back to rest."

With that, she turned and entered her room.

As she closed the door, she saw Fu Wei still standing at his doorway. His upright posture, so different from when he lay in bed, was unaffected by his simple hemp clothing, showcasing his distinguished demeanor.

His eyes shone like bright stars; he was the epitome of grace and nobility.

A good-looking person with a fine character always tends to win hearts easily.

Yu Ying gave him a faint smile before closing her room door.

With the door shut, the smile on her face faded. She involuntarily touched her chest over her heart.

She must have felt a flutter of emotion, but it was not yet strong enough for her to make a decision.

Even if she were to decide, she would wait until she fully adapted to this era.

This was a matter of responsibility to herself and to another person.

Yu Ying didn't dwell on these thoughts, quickly pushing them to the back of her mind.

Once in bed, she took out all the silver coins and counted them carefully.

After all the recent purchases, from the initial seven hundred wen brought with her and the five hundred wen from the yamen, she was left with less than two hundred wen.

She needed to prepare a feast tomorrow, and also had to buy some sheep tail fat for making face cream. How would she manage the housewarming feast the day after?

Yu Ying felt overwhelmed.

She wished she had bought only one bed at first.

But what could be done now that the purchase was already made?

She could only wait and see how much silver was left tomorrow. If it wasn't enough, she might have to swallow her pride and borrow some when her elder brother and sister-in-law arrive in Yu County.

After arranging all the coins, Yu Ying lay down.

It had to be said, thatched cottages were cool in the summer, but come autumn and winter, they offered no warmth at all.

This house was not only windproof but also soundproof, enhancing its security.

When Yu Ying first arrived in this world, what struck her most was the sound of wild beasts howling outside, so clear even inside the house, making her constantly fear a fierce animal might burst in at any moment.

Later, as more people joined the household, her fears diminished.

The sturdy, warm house and the wooden bed quickly lulled Yu Ying to sleep, without any sense of unfamiliarity.

However, in the middle of the night, Yu Ying had a dream.

She dreamed that after Fu Wei went to the yamen for duty, he was humiliated by people there.

They deliberately knocked over his wheelchair, then took it away, leaving him unable to rise from the ground. People surrounded him, pointing and ridiculing him for being disabled.

Fu Wei lay on the ground, isolated and helpless, like an abandoned dog.

Yu Ying, unable to bear the sight, was about to step forward to help him up when she awoke from the dream.

Sitting up, Yu Ying looked around the unfamiliar surroundings before realizing this was their newly rented house.

As she was recalling the dream, she heard a faint sound of water outside.

She went to the window, opened a small gap, and saw a familiar figure busy in the dimly lit courtyard.

Remembering Fu Wei's struggling and isolated figure in her dream, and then seeing him standing in the courtyard, Yu Ying smiled.

She was worrying unnecessarily; Fu Wei was not actually disabled, and with Huo Yacha in the yamen to look after him, even if he faced difficulties, it wouldn't be as tragic as in her dream.

Putting her worries aside, Yu Ying put on her coat, tidied her hair, and stepped out of the room.

Seeing Fu Wei adding water to a pot, she asked with a smile, "What are you doing?"

Fu Wei looked at her and replied, "I'm planning to make porridge."

After a moment of thought, he showed her the rice in the pot and asked, "Is this enough?"

Yu Ying glanced at the rice in the pot and laughed, "Of course it's enough, we could even invite your elder brother and sister-in-law to join us with this much."

Realizing he had put too much rice, Fu Wei hesitated before asking, "Should I take out half?"

Yu Ying approached, looked at the full water tank, and said, "No need, a handful of rice from your hand is enough for the two of us."

Understanding her hint, Fu Wei went into the kitchen to remove the excess rice.

Yu Ying taught him how to wash the rice and measure the water, also explaining the rice-to-water ratio for cooking.

With Yu Ying's guidance, the breakfast preparation went smoothly.

After breakfast, Yu Ying and Fu Wei left the house together.

She wanted to go to the east market early to see if there was fresh lamb available. If so, she could get sheep tail fat.

After dropping Fu Wei off at the yamen, she headed straight for the east market.

The morning market was busier than usual, crowded and bustling with people and voices.

Not only was it livelier, but the variety of goods available was also more extensive.

There was medicinal wine infused with centipedes and scorpions.

The centipedes were as thick as thumbs and about four inches long, sold with small pottery jars for twenty wen each, perfect for treating bruises and injuries.

Yu Ying examined the quality of the medicinal wine, which was very good. In modern times, it would cost several hundred yuan.

Although it was twenty wen per jar, some people were buying it. She was tempted but decided to wait until she had enough silver to purchase it later.

In the morning, there were stalls selling lamb meat. Not long after they opened, half of the meat had already been sold.

While lamb might have a gamey taste if not prepared well, it was more popular than pork among the common folk, especially in this weather. A bowl of lamb soup was particularly warming.

Lamb meat is a bit more expensive than pork, but not by much.

Pork costs twelve wen per jin, while lamb meat is sixteen wen per jin.

After some consideration, Yu Ying decided not to make crispy pork, as it requires a lot of oil. Instead, she chose to prepare a lamb and radish stew, which is both warming and nourishing.

As for sheep tail fat, it seems most people use pork fat for oil, making sheep tail fat similarly priced to pork fat at eighteen wen per jin.

This was an unexpected boon. Switching from pork fat to sheep fat wouldn't significantly increase the cost of the face cream.

Yu Ying bought one jin of lamb meat and one jin of sheep tail fat.

She also purchased one and a half jin of pork, a fish weighing about two jin, and a few pieces of tofu.

She spent sixty-eight wen in the morning, leaving her with just over one hundred and thirty wen, enough for the lavish feast for tomorrow.

Back at her small home, Yu Ying began working on the face cream.

She repeated the steps she had used before, substituting pork fat with sheep tail fat this time.

After finishing, it was not yet the hour of Si. Fu Wei would have a break at around the third quarter of noon for rest and lunch, so she only needed to have lunch ready by then.

Stepping out of the kitchen, Yu Ying looked thoughtfully towards the direction of the yamen, silently hoping everything was going well for him.

At the yamen.

After reporting in, Fu Wei was left alone in a side hall, with no tasks assigned to him and receiving odd looks from those passing by.

Fu Wei faced it all calmly, waiting patiently.

An hour passed, and it was only when the magistrate went to relieve himself that he noticed Fu Wei.

Magistrate Zhou asked, "Didn't Mr. Qian assign you any tasks?"

Fu Wei responded evenly, "Perhaps he forgot in his busyness."

Magistrate Zhou knew it was the clerks trying to put Fu Wei in his place, but he understood and said nothing.

After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Today is indeed busy. You can sit behind the court hall and listen to today's trials. Tomorrow, write down your observations on all the cases heard today."

Thus, Fu Wei found a new place to sit quietly, finally having something to do.

Inevitably, he encountered Luo Dianshi, the younger brother of Director Luo.

Luo Dianshi frowned upon seeing Fu Wei.

In the next instant, as their eyes met, Luo Dianshi's face showed disgust. As he walked past, he muttered as if to himself, "The yamen has become a shelter for all and sundry."

Fu Wei, lightly tapping his fingers on the armrest, remained composed and acted as if he hadn't heard.

Fu Wei was ignored all morning, only allowed to leave at noon.

However, as he wheeled himself towards the side gate, he stopped abruptly.

The two stone slabs that had been placed there just yesterday, still seen this morning, were now gone.

Without needing to think further, he knew it was done intentionally.

This was within Fu Wei's expectations.

After a moment of silence, Fu Wei heard Huo Yacha's displeased voice from behind, "These people, they really did move the stone slabs away!"

Fu Wei turned back, smiling wryly, "I guessed as much, but didn't expect to be right. Thank you, Huo Yacha, for lending a hand."

Huo, the clerk, walked behind him, grasping the horizontal bar of the backrest. He exerted a little force to tilt the plain carriage backward, lifting the front wheels over the threshold before raising the back wheels slightly.

After this maneuver, he successfully pushed the plain carriage over the threshold.

"I'll retrieve the stone slab and put it back in place this afternoon," Huo said.

Fu Wei expressed his gratitude, "You've been a great help today, Huo."

Huo replied, "This little favor is nothing troublesome."

Mrs. Yu has some abilities, and Mr. Fu's legs are disabled, yet the magistrate still accepts him as a clerk. There must be a patron supporting them from behind.

Both husband and wife are no ordinary people; befriending them brings only benefits and no harm.

The only potential harm could be offending Luo, the scribe.

However, having been in the government office for over a decade, Huo was an old hand, well aware of the intricacies and nuances there.

Although Luo, the scribe, wasn't dismissed because of his brother's incident, he had fallen out of favor with the magistrate and would likely not be reused significantly in the future.

Mr. Fu, despite his disability, is sharp-minded. Having lived as the son of a governor for twenty years, his experience and perspective surely surpass those of locals.

With these thoughts, Huo naturally treated Mr. Fu well.

He planned to take Mr. Fu home on his way and then grab a quick lunch nearby.

As he escorted him to the alley entrance, he saw Mrs. Yu hurriedly emerging from the alley.

Seeing Fu Wei returning with Huo Yacha, Yu Ying was momentarily stunned but quickly showed a smile, "Fu Wei, how could you trouble Huo Yacha to bring you back?"

Huo Yacha replied, "It's on my way, no bother at all."

Yu Ying said, "Since you're here, why not stay for lunch at our place, Huo Yacha?"

Huo Yacha responded, "No need, I should be going."

Knowing he wouldn't stay, Yu Ying added, "My husband has instructed me to host a dinner exclusively for you this evening, Huo Yacha. The ingredients are already prepared, so please make sure to come after your shift."

She emphasized the words "exclusively for you."

Huo Yacha, understanding the implication, nodded in agreement and then left.

Since there were other people in the alley, Yu Ying didn't ask Fu Wei any further questions.

Upon reaching the door, Yu Ying entered first and then took out two wooden ramps, placing one outside and one inside.

Fu Wei asked, "Where did these ramps come from?"

"I paid a carpenter twenty wen for them yesterday when we bought the bed. He made them as per my instructions. Try and see if you can get in by yourself."

Hearing this, Fu Wei made an attempt.

Fu Wei, having practiced martial arts since childhood, had strong arms and soon managed to wheel himself into the courtyard.

As Yu Ying was about to close the courtyard door and had not yet asked why Huo Yacha was the one to bring him back, Fu Wei immediately stood up and went to the latrine.

Yu Ying: ...

Sitting in the wheelchair all day, pretending to be disabled, must have been quite uncomfortable for him.

After he came out and washed his hands, he was the same composed Fu Wei as always.

Yu Ying asked him, "How come Huo Yacha brought you back today?"

Fu Wei responded with a light smile, choosing not to share the unpleasantness of the yamen, "I ran into him when leaving the yamen. He happened to be going in the same direction, so we walked together."

Yu Ying accepted his explanation without doubt and said, "Let's have lunch quickly, then you can take a short rest."

With only forty-five minutes left for his break, accounting for travel time, he had just half an hour for lunch and rest.

During lunch, Yu Ying remembered her morning dream and tentatively asked, "Did anyone give you a hard time at the yamen?"

Fu Wei replied, "They just ignored me, which I wouldn't count as a hardship."

Hearing this, Yu Ying felt somewhat relieved.

Knowing that they finished work at the hour of Shen, Yu Ying calculated that the yamen operates for four hours, similar to the modern world.

With the early end of the workday, she needed to start preparing for tonight's dinner earlier.

After lunch, Fu Wei rested briefly before returning to his duty.

Back at the yamen, he spent his time idly listening to trivial cases in the back hall.

These cases were mostly brought by the townspeople, with hardly any reports coming from the villages.

Evidently, villagers were wary of the yamen and preferred to solve both minor and major issues through their village leaders. In the end, major issues were minimized and minor ones disregarded, even potentially turning a matter of life and death into a triviality.

By the end of his shift, the most significant case Fu Wei heard was about someone stealing a chicken from a neighbor.

Occasionally, when seeing the magistrate stretch his legs and relax, one could notice an expression of impatience on his face.

Fu Wei gave a faint smile.

No wonder Magistrate Zhou was tempted when he heard Fu Wei could help him advance and leave Yu County, given such monotonous days.

It wasn't the magistrate's ambition that was worrisome, but rather the lack of it. Ambition could lead to a longer tenure, and Fu Wei could use the magistrate's influence to protect his loved ones.

When Fu Wei finished his shift, he called for Huo, the clerk.

Huo invited another junior clerk who was quite considerate to join them.

As it was a gathering of several men for food and drink, Yu Ying preferred not to join them at the same table, so she kept some food for herself in the house.

Huo, seeing the spread of fine food and drink, knew that the couple held him in high regard, feeling gratified and unable to hide his joy.

The junior clerk, often looked down upon by other clerks in the office and used without even being called by name, felt appreciated by today's treatment. Though incidental, he decided to follow Mr. Fu, as well as Huo, more closely in the future.

Chapter 70

The people in the main room ate and drank, gradually becoming more relaxed and talkative as the alcohol took effect.

Yu Ying occasionally overheard Huo and the junior clerk discussing matters of the government office.

They mentioned that the only person completely trusted by the magistrate was Clerk Qian.

This Clerk Qian was brought from the military by Magistrate Zhou, and their relationship was incomparable to others.

The two clerks were at odds, equally matched - Clerk Qian was trusted by the magistrate, and Clerk Sun was a local of Yu County, with most local clerks and subordinates supporting him. When the local people had issues, they would first turn to Clerk Sun.

Yu Ying, not hearing everything clearly, roughly understood that Fu Wei's arrival would disrupt the balance between Clerks Qian and Sun.

Even without saying it, Yu Ying knew Fu Wei would have a tough time at the government office.

Yet, in such a difficult world, everyone is too busy with their own struggles; such hardships he must endure alone.

Inside the main room, Fu Wei was drinking with Huo, the clerk, while still keeping his wits about him to gather information.

Despite the alcohol, the two clerks made several trips to the restroom, while Fu Wei remained composed, sitting steadily in his wheelchair.

As Yu Ying peeked out from behind the door, she speculated that Fu Wei had been restraining his physiological needs since becoming handicapped, a habit that could lead to health issues.

Outside, the drinking continued from mid-afternoon until dusk, only dispersing as it grew dark.

Huo, having drunk more, was assisted home by the junior clerk, who had consumed less.

As Huo was being supported, he gave a hearty pat on Fu Wei's shoulder, assuring, "Mr. Fu, rest assured, if anyone troubles you at the office, even if I can't help openly, I'll assist you privately!"

Fu Wei, smiling, gave a bow of thanks, "Then I am deeply grateful to you, Huo."

"No problem at all."

Huo, quite tipsy, was agreeable under the influence of alcohol.

Men often become fast friends at the dining table; just one meal can bring them closer.

After seeing the two off, Fu Wei finally got up from his wheelchair to use the restroom.

After returning, he leaned against the wall to induce vomiting, trying to maintain clarity for other tasks.

Yu Ying saw Fu Wei's strenuous effort in vomiting, his face flushed and eyes reddened, even the veins on his forehead bulging from the discomfort.

Feeling pity, she quickly heated some previously boiled water until it was just warm, as only intense coughing could be heard from outside.

Yu Ying hurried out with the warm water, approaching him amidst the strong smell of alcohol, not minding the unpleasant odor.

Seeing his severe cough, she hesitated only a moment before gently patting his back to ease his breathing.

A short while later, Fu Wei's breathing eased, and Yu Ying handed him water, saying, "Rinse your mouth, I'll make you some sobering soup in a moment."

Fu Wei caught his breath, thanked her, and then took the warm water.

Yu Ying withdrew her hand and quickly turned to find herbs for the sobering soup.

The herbs Yu Ying brought were not many, but luckily included a small packet of jujubes.

She cleaned a small handful of jujubes, chopped them up, and boiled them in a full pot of water, adding the remaining spoonful of sugar to the pot.

As the sobering soup simmered, Yu Ying stepped out of the kitchen to check on Fu Wei and found him burying the vomit he had just expelled.

He regained his strength and apologized to her, then staggered to wash the bowl in his hands.

Yu Ying quickly went to support him, saying, "Leave the bowl for now, I'll clean up later."

She helped him into the room and placed him on the bed. Just as she was about to leave, he unexpectedly grasped her wrist.

The room was yet unlit by oil lamps, with only a faint light from the hall barely making things visible.

In the dimness, Yu Ying looked at him, puzzled.

She could only see him staring at her, unable to discern his expression.

After a moment of silence, Fu Wei spoke, his voice low and hoarse: "I don't want to call you by someone else's name anymore. I want to know your real name."

Yu Ying's eyes narrowed slightly, and she fell silent.

After a brief pause, she slowly spoke a name that hadn't been used for nearly half a year: "Yu Ying, Yu of 'without' and Ying of 'clear waters'."

Yu Ying—

Fu Wei repeated the name in his mind. When he spoke again, it was with a gentle, soft call: "Yu Ying... Ah Ying."

Hearing her long-forgotten name, Yu Ying's eyes momentarily filled with tears.

She wasn't Yu Liuniang; she was Yu Ying.

This fact wouldn't change, even if she had traversed time and space, her soul inhabiting another's body.

But here, she could only be Yu Liuniang, not Yu Ying.

Thankfully, there was still one person who knew.

Tears in her eyes, Yu Ying smiled: "Such a familiar name, I was afraid I might soon forget it."

Fu Wei couldn't see her, but he could hear the slight choke in her voice and the deep helplessness in her words.

"Then, when we're alone, I'll call you Ah Ying."

His voice, still hoarse from the intense coughing, was filled with tenderness.

Yu Ying nodded gently, responding softly: "Okay."

Fu Wei released her hand.

Yu Ying took a deep breath to compose herself and said, "Wait for a moment. The sobering soup will be ready soon. I'll go check on it."

She turned and left the room, wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief in the next room before checking the fire in the kitchen.

The water was boiling; she used a wooden spoon to crush the jujubes again, ensuring the medicinal effect would be properly extracted.

After simmering for a little while longer, Yu Ying poured the concoction into a bowl, filling it to about seventy percent.

The bowl of medicine was hot to the touch, so Yu Ying used a saucer as a base. Carrying the sobering soup in one hand and an oil lamp in the other, she walked back to the main room.

Once in the main room, she set the sobering soup on the table to cool and began tidying up the disarray on the dining table.

Fu Wei, who had been resting for a while, heard the clatter of dishes being cleared in the main room and came out to help.

Yu Ying said, "You should rest; I can manage on my own."

Fu Wei replied, "I'm not drunk."

Yu Ying looked at his flushed face and thought to herself, if this isn't being drunk, then what is?

Fortunately, although he was slow, he didn't make any mistakes while cleaning.

Yu Ying inwardly marveled at Fu Wei's incredible self-control, even when inebriated, something beyond most people.

After cleaning the table, Yu Ying insisted, quite adamantly, that he sit and drink the sobering soup, sparing him from washing the dishes.

By the time everything was tidied up, it was late in the night, and the neighboring houses had already turned off their lights and gone to bed.

After washing up, Fu Wei went to rest.

However, when Yu Ying returned after washing her hair and bathing, she saw that the previously dim room was lit up again.

She returned to her room to towel her long hair half-dry. While heating the room with firewood, she stepped out and knocked on his door.

Fu Wei's voice came from inside, "The door isn't locked, just come in."

Yu Ying pushed the door open and saw him sitting on a bamboo stool, having moved it inside the room, using the bed as a desk, busily writing something.

As the bed and the stool were almost the same height, he had to bend over and lower his head to write, which looked exhausting.

Yu Ying asked, "Why are you up again?"

Fu Wei, who had been resting for half an hour, stood up and stretched his back, replying, "I need to write a report on today's court hearings. I'll rest after finishing it."

Although he knew the county magistrate might not pay much attention, Fu Wei still had to be thorough.

Hearing it was work-related, Yu Ying suddenly felt the pressure of being overworked after hours.

"Then try to finish quickly and get some rest."

Fu Wei nodded, glanced at her damp hair, and advised, "You should also go to bed once your hair is dry."

Yu Ying hummed in agreement, but seeing the pen, ink, and paper on the bed, she thought for a moment and suggested, "How about we bring in a bamboo table? It would save you the trouble of writing like this. I brought a tablecloth with me, so you don't have to worry about getting it dirty."

Fu Wei considered for a moment and then agreed.

They moved the table into the room, and Yu Ying also brought in the brazier, saying, "I'll dry my hair in your room, and you can also stay warm."

Hearing this, Fu Wei, knowing they would spend more time together, smiled and said, "Good."

After she sat down, Fu Wei didn't immediately resume his work but instead discussed financial matters with her.

"You don't need to give me the remaining 500 coins from the house; I'll figure out a way to handle the future rent."

Yu Ying, combing her long hair by the brazier, looked at him with puzzled curiosity, "Why?"

Fu Wei smiled gently and spoke softly, "The items you bought these past few days, including today's food and drink, cost quite a bit. I can't let you bear all the expenses. Besides, I still have some money, enough for now."

Fu Wei probably had about a hundred coins left, enough for three people to get by modestly for a couple of months.

After pondering, Yu Ying said, "Then, if you're ever short, remember to tell me. Don't hesitate to ask."

Fu Wei nodded lightly, "I will."

After a pause, Yu Ying inquired, "But is your monthly salary enough to cover rent and other expenses?"

Fu Wei chuckled, "Excluding food, an ordinary yamen runner gets 200 coins a month, and a senior one around 300. I should be making at least 400 to 500 a month."

This salary wasn't much, even somewhat meager.

However, officials in the county yamen could make extra income through various means, and as long as it wasn't excessive, the county magistrate wouldn't intervene.

County Magistrate Zhou also had a modest salary and relied on the contributions from local gentry, merchants, and powerful families to keep the yamen running. Thus, he turned a blind eye to his subordinates' additional earnings.

"Four to five hundred coins should be sufficient," Yu Ying calculated briefly, realizing there would be some surplus after rent and basic expenses.

Considering just the salary, this job was quite a decent position.

Yu Ying concluded, "Then let's do as you say. I won't bother you anymore; you should get back to your work."

Fu Wei nodded, then picked up his pen, but hesitated to write.

Seeing this, Yu Ying couldn't help but interrupt, asking, "Are you facing some difficulty?"

Fu Wei replied, "Today's cases were mostly trivial matters, somewhat challenging to summarize succinctly."

Hearing this, Yu Ying realized that the county magistrate initially employed Fu Wei for menial tasks, not intending to give him significant responsibilities.

These minor cases, even if reported excellently, might not catch the county magistrate's attention and could be casually glanced at without much consideration.

Yu Ying pondered for a moment and suggested, "Why not make a simple and clear table."

Hearing the word 'table', Fu Wei looked at her quizzically.

Unsure how to explain it to him, Yu Ying went out to fetch a stick and came back to draw a grid of three horizontal and four vertical lines, forming twelve squares on the ground.

She drew the first row at the top and the first column on the right especially clearly.

"In the first square, we can write the case type, and underneath, the names of each case, like for a theft case, we write 'theft case'," Yu Ying explained as she wrote.

"For the horizontal rows, start from the right as the main section, and for the vertical columns, the first square is the starting point."

Yu Ying pointed to all the empty squares in the second row and explained, "This row corresponds to the content of the theft case. The titles go on top; you just need to write the questions above and then answer them below."

As she spoke, Yu Ying continued in detail, "In the second square of the first row, you can write 'Cause', and below it, fill in the cause of the theft case, like 'In a certain village, Zhang San stole vegetables from Li Si's family and refused to admit it.'"

As ancient Chinese script was written from right to left, Yu Ying also felt a bit unaccustomed while writing.

"The title for the third square in the first row can be 'Trial Result', and the answer below might be 'Vegetables from Li Si's family were found in Zhang San's house; he was ordered to compensate Li Si ten coins.'"

"The last square will be for 'Opinions'. Whatever your opinion is, write it concisely."

Finally, Yu Ying wrote 'Assault Case' in the first square of the third row on the right and said, "And so on, like this."

Fu Wei had already understood, but to confirm he really got it, he listened carefully without interrupting.

He pondered, "In this way, the cases of today can all be written on a single sheet of paper. It's novel and also allows the magistrate to read through patiently and understand at a glance."

Saying this, Fu Wei's face showed a smile, "Your method is excellent; it indeed shows me a clear path."

Yu Ying's lips curved slightly, and then she asked, "If we use this table, it seems straightforward, but in reality, it details everything. Do you remember all the details of today's cases?"

Fu Wei smiled at her and nodded, "Of course, I remember."

Yu Ying said, "For the grid to be effective, it needs to be straight and neat. Let's not use ink. Instead, we'll draw with charred sticks and bamboo strips. The neater it is, the more pleasing and comforting it will appear to the eye."

Hearing this, Fu Wei got up and fetched some bamboo strips and partially burnt sticks.

Yu Ying, familiar with such tasks, took charge of drawing the grid.

After the grid was drawn, Fu Wei wrote down the relevant details, frequently consulting her for her opinions.

Two oil lamps cast their glow on the pair, creating shadows on the bed that seemed to nestle close to each other.

It took nearly half an hour, but they finally completed the grid with mutual assistance.

After finishing, both were tired and bade each other goodnight before going to sleep.

In the morning, when Yu Ying got up, the porridge was almost ready.

After eating some porridge with leftovers from yesterday, Fu Wei left for his duties at the government office.

At the office, Fu Wei delivered the folded grid to the study of Zhou Zhi County.

Zhou Zhi County, just coming out of the study, accepted the paper from Fu Wei: "Sir, this is a summary of all the court cases from yesterday."

Zhou Zhi County glanced at it, took it into the study, and placed it on the desk.

After stepping out of the study, he spoke to Fu Wei: "I have some business to attend to outside. I'll review this upon my return. If you have nothing else to do, you can go organize the archives in the record room."

With that, he hurriedly left.

Fu Wei watched Zhou Zhi County's departing figure, then calmly pushed his wheelchair towards the archive storage room.

He showed no signs of impatience.

Today, his elder brother and sister-in-law were taking Fu An and Fu Ning, along with the Luo family, to Yu County. After Yu Ying finished buying groceries, she planned to meet them at the city gate around the usual time.

Around the usual time for trips to Yu County, she saw Uncle Chen's ox cart and the people on it.

Joy instantly lit up Yu Ying's face as she waved towards the ox cart, exclaiming, "Here, here!"

The people on the cart looked over, and Fu An and Fu Ning, brimming with excitement, waved back. Fu An called out, "Auntie!"

The ox cart came to a halt, and before the adults could disembark, the two children jumped down first.

Fu An, anxious yet careful, helped his sister off the cart.

Once they were down, he immediately ran towards his aunt, with Fu Ning toddling behind him.

Approaching closer, Fu An grabbed his aunt's sleeve and beamed with a wide smile, exclaiming, "Auntie!"

Though Fu An had become fairer, he still had a tanned complexion. When he smiled, his teeth stood out brightly against his skin.

Yu Ying, unable to hold back her amusement, asked, "What are you so happy about?"

Fu An replied, "I haven't seen you in two days, Auntie. I'm so happy to see you!"

Yu Ying's smile grew wider. Seeing little Fu Ning approaching, she crouched down and opened her arms.

The next instant, the little girl threw herself into her embrace.

The girl looked up, grinning broadly. If one overlooked her missing front tooth, her smile resembled a blooming flower.

Yu Ying, taken aback, was about to inquire about her teeth when she heard the girl's airy voice calling, "Aun...tie."

Hearing her call 'auntie' for the first time, Yu Ying was momentarily stunned, then hugged her tightly, both surprised and delighted, "Ning Ning can say 'auntie' now."

Fu An, standing nearby, proudly declared, "My sister has learned to say lots of words these past days. I taught her many of them."

Wen Xing, assisting her mother-in-law, approached with a smile, "Ning Ning's most frequent question every day was when her auntie would return."

Yu Ying let go of Fu Ning, stood up holding her hand, and gently tapped her cute little nose, "Ning Ning is such a good girl."

Fu Ning's smile grew even brighter, her gap-toothed grin more evident.

Yu Ying, curious, asked, "Are you losing baby teeth?"

Fu An explained, "Ning Ning knocked it out herself. She cried and called for auntie while losing her tooth."

Hearing her brother mention her teeth, Fu Ning hurriedly covered her mouth with her little hands, scowling and glaring at her brother. With a muffled and airy voice, she protested, "Brother, don't say."

Yu Ying watched the siblings with an amused smile and said to her sister-in-law and Mrs. Luo, "I'll go and greet Uncle Chen."

After saying this, she walked over and discussed the time for the afternoon housewarming meal.

Since Wu's Restaurant is busiest at noon, the housewarming meal was scheduled for the late afternoon, expecting it to last about half an hour before returning home.

Yu Ying had already spoken to Manager Chen about the arrangements when she went grocery shopping yesterday, and he had agreed without any issues.

Having made the arrangements with Uncle Chen, she prepared to head back.

Yu Ying saw her elder brother carrying a basket on his back, holding firewood in one hand and bedding in the other, and she stepped forward to offer help.

Fu Zhen said, "No need, I can manage it myself."

Seeing her brother handling the load effortlessly and with ease, Yu Ying decided not to insist.

Yu Ying informed them, "The rented courtyard is near the county office. It takes roughly half an hour to walk there from here."

Hearing that it was rented near the county office, Mrs. Luo looked worried and said, "Isn't the rent there very expensive?"

Yu Ying smiled and explained, "Although it's a bit pricey, there are many advantages. It's not only convenient for Erlang to commute, but also safer being near the county office."

Mrs. Luo pondered for a moment, realizing that since Erlang currently needs to use a palanquin for transportation, living far away would indeed be inconvenient.

However, she was certain that the rent would be expensive.

With this in mind, Mrs. Luo planned to give her own money to Liuniang after moving into the small courtyard, to help with the expensive rent.

Unaware of Mrs. Luo's thoughts, Yu Ying led them to the rented courtyard.

As they entered the alley, a woman selecting vegetables called out, "Madam Yu, are these all your family members?"

Yu Ying nodded and responded with a smile, "Yes, they've come to the city today to have a look."

Just yesterday, Yu Ying had already delivered some melon seeds to the neighbors as a way of introducing herself.

Walking through the alley, the members of the Fu family observed the surrounding houses.

Having lived in better places before, Mrs. Luo was not particularly curious. Fu Zhen, who had some memories of his childhood, also showed little curiosity.

Only the mother and her two children looked around with wide, curious eyes.

Those three pairs of curious eyes bore a striking resemblance to each other.

Yu Ying opened the gate of the courtyard, inviting them inside.

As soon as the gate opened, Fu An was the first to rush in, exclaiming in delight, "It's not a thatched hut, but a mud-brick house!"

Fu An had always dreamed of living in a mud-brick house, so he wouldn't have to worry about the thatched hut collapsing or being blown away during storms and thunder.

Yu Ying closed the door and said, "Let's sit in the main room for a bit. I'll make some ginger tea to warm you up."

After enduring the cold wind and the bumpy ride in the ox cart for an hour, those who were physically frail were probably reaching their limit.

Yu Ying pointed out to Fu An and Mrs. Luo, "The room on the left is for Erlang and An'an to stay in, and the one on the right is for Mother."

Hearing this, Fu An quickly ran to check out the room he would be staying in.

Yu Ying smiled and then went to prepare the ginger tea, with her sister-in-law accompanying her to help.

Soon, the ginger tea was ready and brought to the main room.

After drinking the ginger tea, Yu Ying mentioned to her elder brother and sister-in-law, "Yesterday, I met with the waiter from Penglai Inn. He has brought us another order, eighty catties of medicinal herbs. The merchant is in a hurry to collect more herbs elsewhere, so we need to deliver by the day after tomorrow at the latest."

The couple was surprised to hear that business had come so quickly.

Yu Ying continued, "Fortunately, we have the required herbs in stock. I'll discuss with Uncle Chen about renting the ox cart for another day the day after tomorrow."

Although Yu Ying had not continued to gather herbs in recent days, others, including her elder brother, had.

The herb gathering was settled every half month, and this deal would coincide nicely with the upcoming settlement.

After discussing this matter, Yu Ying suggested that her elder brother and Fu An rest in Fu Wei's room, while Mrs. Luo, Fu Ning, and her sister-in-law take a rest in another room. She would then prepare lunch.

They went into their rooms, but after a short while, her sister-in-law came out.

"Sister-in-law, why don't you rest a bit longer?"

Wen Xing smiled and said, "I'm not tired, so I came to help you."

Fu Zhen also came out and asked, "Where's the well? I'll fetch some water."

Last night, Fu Wei's condition didn't allow him to fetch water in the middle of the night, so the water in the tank was only half full.

After Yu Ying told her elder brother where the well was, he took a bucket and went out to fetch water.

The grandmother and grandchildren rested for a short while, then came out one after another to help. Though there wasn't much need for help, they busied themselves tidying the corners of the yard.

Mrs. Luo brought chive seeds and small onion bulbs to the county town. She asked her eldest son to turn over a small patch of soil near the corner of the wall and then planted these seeds and bulbs.

When Fu Wei returned home, he was greeted by this lively scene.

His beloved and sister-in-law were setting the dishes on the table, his elder brother and mother were working in the vegetable garden, with the nephew and niece squatting nearby.

Seeing him return, the two little ones excitedly ran over, calling out, "Uncle!"

In that moment, the empty corners of Fu Wei's heart were filled, and the smile on his face was genuine and heartfelt.

He had experienced brief misfortune, but all that remained was fortune.

How fortunate he was to have met the one he cherished most during his lowest moments.

How fortunate to have found true kinship after losing those he once thought closest to him.

Fu Wei entered the courtyard in his wheelchair, his eyes brimming with joy, immersing himself in the lively scene.