Chapter 107
Not only did the Fu family escape the epidemic, but Huo Jinzhi is now working in the government office!
Yu Ying, the woman who was forced upon him, meant to torment him and the entire Fu family, has become a resident doctor in a medical hall?
She has not only earned the respect of the people but also enhanced Fu Wei's reputation!
Enraged by the news brought by the spy, Huo Minzhi sweeps everything off the table in a fit of anger.
A servant hurriedly advises, "Young Master, please calm down. Your father forbade further investigation into the Fu family. If this gets out, it could displease him."
Huo Minzhi grinds his teeth furiously.
How can he calm down?!
The luxury and honor that should have been his have been enjoyed by that Huo Jinzhi for twenty-one years.
Furthermore, upon his return, his biological father showed little remorse or fatherly affection towards him. People around him, although not explicitly saying it, privately regard him as inferior to Huo Jinzhi and look down on him!
He wants Huo Jinzhi to suffer more than he did in the past twenty-one years; otherwise, he can't swallow this humiliation!
He cannot let this go easily.
After pondering, he turns to the servant, "Prepare pen, ink, paper, and inkstone immediately. Find someone to secretly send a letter to Zhou, the county magistrate of Cangwu Jade County, and the medical hall that employed Yu Ying."
He refused to believe that, after receiving the letter, County Magistrate Zhou and the medical hall would still employ them!
After writing the letter, Huo Minzhi handed it to a servant with a sinister command, “Make sure my father doesn’t find out.”
The servant nodded and took the letter, withdrawing from the room.
Heading towards the front yard, the servant didn’t directly leave the premises but, while unnoticed, detoured towards Governor Huo's residence.
In front of Governor Huo, the servant relayed the news from the spies in Lingnan, recounting everything.
After all, being his child raised for twenty years, Governor Huo was well aware of what they were capable of.
"The eldest son just wrote these two letters to be sent to Cangwu and Yu County, respectively addressed to the county magistrate and the person in charge of the medical hall."
Having said this, the servant presented the letters he had just received from his master onto the table.
Ever since Huo Minzhi returned, he had been under strict surveillance by his own father, and none of his actions escaped the governor's watchful eye.
Not only his recent actions since returning but also his activities in Lingnan before his return were well known to the governor.
His own son's behavior was akin to that of a street ruffian, hardly admirable. If he weren't his own flesh and blood, the governor would have ignored him altogether.
Governor Huo squinted slightly at the letters on the table, opened and read them.
After reading, he put them back into the envelopes, expressionless, and handed them back to the servant, "Send these to Cangwu, as the eldest son instructed."
After the servant left, the house steward in the study asked, "My lord, shall we send someone to Cangwu to eliminate the problem completely and leave no loose ends?"
Governor Huo tapped the table with his finger and looked up, asking, "Do you think they have the capability to become a threat to me?"
The butler pondered for a moment and then shook his head.
Governor Huo calmly said, "If I intervene, it gives people something to talk about. Besides, the Fu family has been exiled for twenty years. If they had a chance to rise again, it wouldn't have taken this long."
"But now the Fu family has the young master Jinzhi. With his intelligence from a young age, what if he really does find a way to rise again?"
Governor Huo sighed, whispering the name "Jinzhi" to himself, as memories of the past flooded back.
Yes, this son has always been exceptional since childhood.
At twelve, he joined the army, excelling in horsemanship and archery, and even his skills with the spear were astonishing.
In the military drills and competitions, at fifteen, he stood out among veterans with his peers of around twenty years, winning the top spot.
A young warrior in silver armor, holding a command flag, rode around the field on a fiery horse, exuding youthful vigor and brilliance.
It was then that he began to see the shadow of Fu Jun in Jinzhi.
He thought he was mistaken, but the more he looked, the more striking the resemblance, so much so that it alarmed him, as if Fu Jun had returned for vengeance.
From that time on, he gradually distanced himself from this once cherished son.
Upon learning that he was Fu Jun's son, despite his exceptional talents, Governor Huo dared not keep him close, fearing eventual retaliation.
His concerns were not unfounded; this young man, once proficient in various martial arts and keen-minded, now crippled, still managed to connect with the magistrate of a remote county in dire straits.
Governor Huo said indifferently, "That's why I don't hinder Minzhi, and what concerns me more now is the unrest in Longxi and Shu provinces."
"Does the lord worry this will lead to great chaos in the realm?"
Governor Huo stood up, walked to the window, gazed at the melting snow outside, and murmured, "If chaos ensues, it might not necessarily be a bad thing."
Chaos reigns, as warlords vie for the high seat, presenting him with an opportunity.
In mid-February, to reward those who contributed money and effort during the epidemic, County Magistrate Zhou hosted a grand banquet at the restaurant.
Yu Ying, pushing Fu Wei, entered the main hall where several physicians from various clinics greeted them. Many also greeted Fu Wei, almost all familiar faces.
Unlike the bustling feasts at the prefecture's governor's residence, this banquet lacked dancing girls swaying gracefully, but there was the pleasant sound of string and woodwind music.
Low tables filled both sides of the main hall, arranged from the high seat down to the entrance.
Naturally, seating was determined by rank, not by the extent of one’s contributions.
Yu Ying and Fu Wei's seats were in the middle, neither high nor low.
The front rows were reserved for the gentry and notable families, predominantly merchants.
After sitting down, Yu Ying quietly asked Fu Wei, "Did the gentry and merchants all donate silver for this epidemic?"
Fu Wei nodded slightly, "Yes, they did. The food and medicinal supplies previously provided to the shelter, this banquet, and the food distributed to the people, do you think our impoverished county office could afford all that?"
Yu Ying was surprised, "But the epidemic lasted only about two months. How could they suddenly gather so much silver and supplies?" Lowering her voice further to ensure only they could hear, she added, "Looking at these arrogant gentry, they don’t seem like ones who would willingly donate."
Amidst the music and laughter in the hall, no one seemed to notice the couple’s whispered conversation.
Fu Wei slightly curved his lips, "They were reluctant, indeed. That’s why I had the magistrate put up a merit stele at the entrance of Yu County early on. Anyone who donated ten taels or more had their name inscribed on it."
Yu Ying recalled passing by the city gate twice, yet she hadn’t noticed the merit stele.
"Then we'll subtly persuade a few merchants and gentry to donate first, enticing them. Once there's a start, the face-conscious gentry will follow suit, donating even more. And the merchants, seeing the gentry donate and needing to stay in the good graces of the authorities, how could they not contribute?"
Yu Ying immediately understood. Fu Wei was leveraging the gentry's vanity and the herd mentality to encourage donations. She covered her mouth with her hand, smiling, "Your mind is quite astute."
Fu Wei picked up a cup, handed one to her, and then took his own, sipping lightly on the sake while gazing at the lively hall. He said leisurely, "There was no choice. Without their donations, the office couldn't bear such a large expense, and the epidemic couldn't have been dealt with so swiftly."
Manpower, medical, and food supplies all cost money, and the office was already impoverished. Even if County Magistrate Zhou contributed from his personal funds, it might not be enough.
Yu Ying, observing the lavishness of the banquet, whispered, "It seems there was quite a surplus from this donation," otherwise, such a grand banquet would not have been possible.
Fu Wei smiled, "The gentry love to save face, and everything donated is inscribed on the stele, a legacy for centuries. Naturally, they wouldn't want to be outdone."
He leaned close to her, speaking softly into her ear like jade, "Converted to silver, it amounted to over a thousand taels."
Yu Ying's face showed surprise, and she heard him add, "There's still about seven hundred taels left."
Hearing this, Yu Ying looked towards the beaming County Magistrate Zhou, saying, "No wonder he can't stop smiling."
Yu Ying roughly knew from Fu Wei that the office's annual expenses were only around three hundred taels. This surplus could cover more than two years' expenses, so why wouldn't the magistrate be happy?
As the guests at the banquet arrived, County Magistrate Zhou raised his cup, and the music of strings and woodwinds ceased.
The magistrate first thanked Madam Yu for her efforts during the epidemic and toasted to her, drawing everyone's attention to her.
Even though the gentry still didn't regard her highly, they raised their cups to Yu Ying out of respect for the magistrate.
Yu Ying, not fond of drinking, nonetheless raised her cup and sipped from it.
Then, as the magistrate thanked everyone individually, Yu Ying also drank along, unknowingly consuming five or six cups. Although the alcohol was mild, it was still intoxicating.
After a few drinks, although her reasoning was unaffected, Yu Ying felt somewhat dizzy, yet people continued to come and offer toasts.
Yu Ying rubbed her forehead, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the alcohol.
Fuyan, seeing the situation, spoke to the server who brought the wine, asking him to fill the jug with water instead.
The server promptly complied, then brought up a jug of clear water.
Fuyan poured a cup, handed it to Yuying, and whispered, "This is water, don't worry about getting drunk."
Hearing this, Yuying was relieved.
The banquet continued for an hour before there was any sign of it ending.
Today, the county official had sent a carriage to pick them up, and naturally, they would return by carriage as well.
After the bailiff helped Fuyan onto the carriage, Fuyan drew back the thick curtain and reached out to Yuying, saying, "Take your time getting on."
Yuying, seeing double, reached out but failed to grasp Fuyan's hand, only to be warmly grasped the next moment.
Leaning on Fuyan for support, she also steadied herself on the carriage, stepping onto the footstool and slowly entering the carriage.
Once seated, as the curtain was drawn, Fuyan took off his outer robe, draped it over her, then wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close, and whispered, "You sleep first, I'll wake you when we get home."
"Will it be uncomfortable for you if I lean on you like this?"
Fuyan smiled faintly, "It's fine, go to sleep."
Indeed feeling somewhat uncomfortable, Yuying then rested lightly against his shoulder.
There were no pedestrians on the road in the evening, and they arrived home in about half an hour.
Wenxing, worried that her younger brother and sister-in-law might have drunk at the banquet and needed care, had been waiting for them.
Hearing the knock, she donned her clothes and went out with her husband, lantern in hand, to open the door.
As the door opened and she saw her sister-in-law staggering and barely able to stand, she hurried forward to support her, "How did you get so drunk?"
Fuzhen stepped outside, pushing Fuyan into the courtyard.
As the courtyard door closed, Fuyan stood up and Yuying, probably still drowsy from the drink, did something she had always wanted to do.
Suddenly, she lifted her hand and pinched her sister-in-law's cheek, squeezing it three times, then smiled sweetly, "Sister-in-law's cheeks are indeed soft and squishy, I really like them."
The elder brother, just having closed the door, turned around: ...
Fuyan, just getting up to help: ...
Chapter 107
Not only did the Fu family escape the epidemic, but Huo Jinzhi is now working in the government office!
Yu Ying, the woman who was forced upon him, meant to torment him and the entire Fu family, has become a resident doctor in a medical hall?
She has not only earned the respect of the people but also enhanced Fu Wei's reputation!
Enraged by the news brought by the spy, Huo Minzhi sweeps everything off the table in a fit of anger.
A servant hurriedly advises, "Young Master, please calm down. Your father forbade further investigation into the Fu family. If this gets out, it could displease him."
Huo Minzhi grinds his teeth furiously.
How can he calm down?!
The luxury and honor that should have been his have been enjoyed by that Huo Jinzhi for twenty-one years.
Furthermore, upon his return, his biological father showed little remorse or fatherly affection towards him. People around him, although not explicitly saying it, privately regard him as inferior to Huo Jinzhi and look down on him!
He wants Huo Jinzhi to suffer more than he did in the past twenty-one years; otherwise, he can't swallow this humiliation!
He cannot let this go easily.
After pondering, he turns to the servant, "Prepare pen, ink, paper, and inkstone immediately. Find someone to secretly send a letter to Zhou, the county magistrate of Cangwu Jade County, and the medical hall that employed Yu Ying."
He refused to believe that, after receiving the letter, County Magistrate Zhou and the medical hall would still employ them!
After writing the letter, Huo Minzhi handed it to a servant with a sinister command, “Make sure my father doesn’t find out.”
The servant nodded and took the letter, withdrawing from the room.
Heading towards the front yard, the servant didn’t directly leave the premises but, while unnoticed, detoured towards Governor Huo's residence.
In front of Governor Huo, the servant relayed the news from the spies in Lingnan, recounting everything.
After all, being his child raised for twenty years, Governor Huo was well aware of what they were capable of.
"The eldest son just wrote these two letters to be sent to Cangwu and Yu County, respectively addressed to the county magistrate and the person in charge of the medical hall."
Having said this, the servant presented the letters he had just received from his master onto the table.
Ever since Huo Minzhi returned, he had been under strict surveillance by his own father, and none of his actions escaped the governor's watchful eye.
Not only his recent actions since returning but also his activities in Lingnan before his return were well known to the governor.
His own son's behavior was akin to that of a street ruffian, hardly admirable. If he weren't his own flesh and blood, the governor would have ignored him altogether.
Governor Huo squinted slightly at the letters on the table, opened and read them.
After reading, he put them back into the envelopes, expressionless, and handed them back to the servant, "Send these to Cangwu, as the eldest son instructed."
After the servant left, the house steward in the study asked, "My lord, shall we send someone to Cangwu to eliminate the problem completely and leave no loose ends?"
Governor Huo tapped the table with his finger and looked up, asking, "Do you think they have the capability to become a threat to me?"
The butler pondered for a moment and then shook his head.
Governor Huo calmly said, "If I intervene, it gives people something to talk about. Besides, the Fu family has been exiled for twenty years. If they had a chance to rise again, it wouldn't have taken this long."
"But now the Fu family has the young master Jinzhi. With his intelligence from a young age, what if he really does find a way to rise again?"
Governor Huo sighed, whispering the name "Jinzhi" to himself, as memories of the past flooded back.
Yes, this son has always been exceptional since childhood.
At twelve, he joined the army, excelling in horsemanship and archery, and even his skills with the spear were astonishing.
In the military drills and competitions, at fifteen, he stood out among veterans with his peers of around twenty years, winning the top spot.
A young warrior in silver armor, holding a command flag, rode around the field on a fiery horse, exuding youthful vigor and brilliance.
It was then that he began to see the shadow of Fu Jun in Jinzhi.
He thought he was mistaken, but the more he looked, the more striking the resemblance, so much so that it alarmed him, as if Fu Jun had returned for vengeance.
From that time on, he gradually distanced himself from this once cherished son.
Upon learning that he was Fu Jun's son, despite his exceptional talents, Governor Huo dared not keep him close, fearing eventual retaliation.
His concerns were not unfounded; this young man, once proficient in various martial arts and keen-minded, now crippled, still managed to connect with the magistrate of a remote county in dire straits.
Governor Huo said indifferently, "That's why I don't hinder Minzhi, and what concerns me more now is the unrest in Longxi and Shu provinces."
"Does the lord worry this will lead to great chaos in the realm?"
Governor Huo stood up, walked to the window, gazed at the melting snow outside, and murmured, "If chaos ensues, it might not necessarily be a bad thing."
Chaos reigns, as warlords vie for the high seat, presenting him with an opportunity.
In mid-February, to reward those who contributed money and effort during the epidemic, County Magistrate Zhou hosted a grand banquet at the restaurant.
Yu Ying, pushing Fu Wei, entered the main hall where several physicians from various clinics greeted them. Many also greeted Fu Wei, almost all familiar faces.
Unlike the bustling feasts at the prefecture's governor's residence, this banquet lacked dancing girls swaying gracefully, but there was the pleasant sound of string and woodwind music.
Low tables filled both sides of the main hall, arranged from the high seat down to the entrance.
Naturally, seating was determined by rank, not by the extent of one’s contributions.
Yu Ying and Fu Wei's seats were in the middle, neither high nor low.
The front rows were reserved for the gentry and notable families, predominantly merchants.
After sitting down, Yu Ying quietly asked Fu Wei, "Did the gentry and merchants all donate silver for this epidemic?"
Fu Wei nodded slightly, "Yes, they did. The food and medicinal supplies previously provided to the shelter, this banquet, and the food distributed to the people, do you think our impoverished county office could afford all that?"
Yu Ying was surprised, "But the epidemic lasted only about two months. How could they suddenly gather so much silver and supplies?" Lowering her voice further to ensure only they could hear, she added, "Looking at these arrogant gentry, they don’t seem like ones who would willingly donate."
Amidst the music and laughter in the hall, no one seemed to notice the couple’s whispered conversation.
Fu Wei slightly curved his lips, "They were reluctant, indeed. That’s why I had the magistrate put up a merit stele at the entrance of Yu County early on. Anyone who donated ten taels or more had their name inscribed on it."
Yu Ying recalled passing by the city gate twice, yet she hadn’t noticed the merit stele.
"Then we'll subtly persuade a few merchants and gentry to donate first, enticing them. Once there's a start, the face-conscious gentry will follow suit, donating even more. And the merchants, seeing the gentry donate and needing to stay in the good graces of the authorities, how could they not contribute?"
Yu Ying immediately understood. Fu Wei was leveraging the gentry's vanity and the herd mentality to encourage donations. She covered her mouth with her hand, smiling, "Your mind is quite astute."
Fu Wei picked up a cup, handed one to her, and then took his own, sipping lightly on the sake while gazing at the lively hall. He said leisurely, "There was no choice. Without their donations, the office couldn't bear such a large expense, and the epidemic couldn't have been dealt with so swiftly."
Manpower, medical, and food supplies all cost money, and the office was already impoverished. Even if County Magistrate Zhou contributed from his personal funds, it might not be enough.
Yu Ying, observing the lavishness of the banquet, whispered, "It seems there was quite a surplus from this donation," otherwise, such a grand banquet would not have been possible.
Fu Wei smiled, "The gentry love to save face, and everything donated is inscribed on the stele, a legacy for centuries. Naturally, they wouldn't want to be outdone."
He leaned close to her, speaking softly into her ear like jade, "Converted to silver, it amounted to over a thousand taels."
Yu Ying's face showed surprise, and she heard him add, "There's still about seven hundred taels left."
Hearing this, Yu Ying looked towards the beaming County Magistrate Zhou, saying, "No wonder he can't stop smiling."
Yu Ying roughly knew from Fu Wei that the office's annual expenses were only around three hundred taels. This surplus could cover more than two years' expenses, so why wouldn't the magistrate be happy?
As the guests at the banquet arrived, County Magistrate Zhou raised his cup, and the music of strings and woodwinds ceased.
The magistrate first thanked Madam Yu for her efforts during the epidemic and toasted to her, drawing everyone's attention to her.
Even though the gentry still didn't regard her highly, they raised their cups to Yu Ying out of respect for the magistrate.
Yu Ying, not fond of drinking, nonetheless raised her cup and sipped from it.
Then, as the magistrate thanked everyone individually, Yu Ying also drank along, unknowingly consuming five or six cups. Although the alcohol was mild, it was still intoxicating.
After a few drinks, although her reasoning was unaffected, Yu Ying felt somewhat dizzy, yet people continued to come and offer toasts.
Yu Ying rubbed her forehead, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the alcohol.
Fuyan, seeing the situation, spoke to the server who brought the wine, asking him to fill the jug with water instead.
The server promptly complied, then brought up a jug of clear water.
Fuyan poured a cup, handed it to Yuying, and whispered, "This is water, don't worry about getting drunk."
Hearing this, Yuying was relieved.
The banquet continued for an hour before there was any sign of it ending.
Today, the county official had sent a carriage to pick them up, and naturally, they would return by carriage as well.
After the bailiff helped Fuyan onto the carriage, Fuyan drew back the thick curtain and reached out to Yuying, saying, "Take your time getting on."
Yuying, seeing double, reached out but failed to grasp Fuyan's hand, only to be warmly grasped the next moment.
Leaning on Fuyan for support, she also steadied herself on the carriage, stepping onto the footstool and slowly entering the carriage.
Once seated, as the curtain was drawn, Fuyan took off his outer robe, draped it over her, then wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close, and whispered, "You sleep first, I'll wake you when we get home."
"Will it be uncomfortable for you if I lean on you like this?"
Fuyan smiled faintly, "It's fine, go to sleep."
Indeed feeling somewhat uncomfortable, Yuying then rested lightly against his shoulder.
There were no pedestrians on the road in the evening, and they arrived home in about half an hour.
Wenxing, worried that her younger brother and sister-in-law might have drunk at the banquet and needed care, had been waiting for them.
Hearing the knock, she donned her clothes and went out with her husband, lantern in hand, to open the door.
As the door opened and she saw her sister-in-law staggering and barely able to stand, she hurried forward to support her, "How did you get so drunk?"
Fuzhen stepped outside, pushing Fuyan into the courtyard.
As the courtyard door closed, Fuyan stood up and Yuying, probably still drowsy from the drink, did something she had always wanted to do.
Suddenly, she lifted her hand and pinched her sister-in-law's cheek, squeezing it three times, then smiled sweetly, "Sister-in-law's cheeks are indeed soft and squishy, I really like them."
The elder brother, just having closed the door, turned around: ...
Fuyan, just getting up to help: ...
