Chapter 108
Wenxing, whose cheek was pinched, was stunned for a moment, but felt somewhat shy and pleased since the compliment came from her beloved sister-in-law.
She said bashfully, "Sister-in-law, don't be silly, your cheeks are clearly softer."
"Not at all, yours are softer," she insisted, pinching again to feel, then earnestly added, "It's definitely sister-in-law's that are softer."
The two brothers: ...
What are these sisters-in-law even talking about?
And this cheek-pinching ends up in modesty?
Who would have thought that Yuying, usually so prim and proper, would show such a candid side when drunk, surprising both brothers.
Fuyan stepped forward, "Sister-in-law, let me help."
Seeing her younger brother was still sober, Wenxing released her hand and said, "There's water in the pot. I'll stoke the fire to heat it up and bring it to you."
Fuyan thanked her as he took over supporting Yuying, "Thank you, sister-in-law."
Then, looking at the unsteady girl, he asked softly, "Do you feel dizzy?"
Yuying, seemingly understanding, obediently replied, "Dizzy."
Without further hesitation, Fuyan slightly bent down, picked her up in his arms, and turned to his elder brother and sister-in-law, "We'll head back to our room now."
With that, he carried Yuying and steadily walked towards the main house.
Watching the couple's retreating figures, Fuzhen and his wife simultaneously exclaimed—
"The younger brother's leg seems to be almost fully recovered."
"The younger brother and his wife do look quite loving."
……
After speaking, they exchanged a look.
It turned out their thoughts as a couple were surprisingly different.
Fuyan, holding Yuying, stopped at the door of the room, kicked it open with his foot, stepped over the threshold with her in his arms, and placed her on the bed, his voice low and smooth, "Sit still for a moment."
"Oh," Yuying responded slowly and then sat quietly, leaning against the bedpost.
This docile and gentle Yuying was completely different from her usually intelligent, composed, and rational nature, an indescribably adorable sight.
Fuyan felt that she would comply with whatever request he made.
He crouched down to remove her shoes and socks, telling her, "Sit for a while, wash your face and feet, then sleep."
Yuying yawned and then nodded her head.
Fuyan turned and picked up the teapot from the table, found it was filled with cold water, and turned back to Yuying, instructing, "I'll go out and get you some hot tea, don't move."
Hearing her soft "okay," Fuyan turned and left the room.
In the kitchen, the sister-in-law was scooping hot water. Seeing him with the teapot, she said, "I knew you'd want hot water, so I've boiled it already. Just fill it up."
Saying this, she took the teapot and added half a pot of hot water.
The sister-in-law had mentioned that water shouldn't just be heated but boiled. Wenxing, trusting her medical expertise, believed it must be right.
After filling the pot, she helped carry the teapot while he held a basin in one hand and a water bucket in the other to return.
Upon entering the room, he was relieved to see Aying still sitting quietly.
After placing down the teapot, the sister-in-law left, leaving the couple alone.
With the room door closed, Fuyan poured half a basin of hot water by the bed and dipped her tender white feet into it, then went to pour her a cup of hot water.
After she drank, he placed the cup back on the table and took a dry cloth to wipe her feet.
Looking at her pleasing, round feet in his hands, Fuyan's ears turned slightly red.
After drying her feet, he looked up to find Aying watching him and asked, "What is it?"
Yuying said, "Have I ever told you that you're handsome?"
Fuyan's lips curved into a slight smile, "You think I'm handsome?"
Yuying's gaze meticulously scanned his face.
Deep-set eyes, a prominent nose, and thin lips with a hint of a smile – truly a handsome young man.
Nodding, she affirmed, "Handsome indeed."
Fuyan's eyes twinkled with more laughter, "As long as you like it." He paused, then added, "You can touch if you want."
Yuying, famously docile when drunk among her friends, was sometimes intentionally inebriated by them just to witness her endearing drunken antics.
Her mind seemed clear yet muddled. Without much thought, she raised her hand, her slightly calloused fingertips touching Fuyan's brow, tracing down his nose and resting on his lips.
Their eyes locked, Fuyan's gaze dark and intense.
She swallowed nervously, instinctively retracting her foot, "I'm sleepy."
Though intoxicated, Yuying wasn't foolish; she could sense something unsettling in Fuyan's eyes.
But she was genuinely tired, yawning with her hand over her mouth, her eyes misting over.
Fuyan took a deep breath to calm himself, speaking softly, "I'll go pour out the water. You go to sleep."
After disposing of the water, he returned to find Aying had taken off her outer garment and snuggled into the bedding.
Fuyan shook his head with an indulgent smile.
After a quick wash, he too climbed into bed.
Yuying, whom he thought was asleep, suddenly turned over, nestling into his arms, her voice soft, "It's a bit cold."
Although it was mid-February, nights were always chilly, and the bedding, just entered, was inevitably cold.
Fuyan found the drunken Aying too tempting, her initiative stirring his desires.
Holding the warm and soft Yuying in his arms, Fuyan took deep breaths to calm his restlessness.
Fuyan tightened his embrace, only for her to casually lay her leg over his and place her hand on his waist.
Fuyan instantly tensed up.
Her manner of holding him was like a child clinging to their blanket in sleep, and Fuyan was that blanket.
……
Fuyan suddenly found himself wishing she wouldn't drink again.
She was indeed too tempting.
Despite being stirred, he didn't want to take advantage of her inebriation; he loved and respected her too much to exploit her vulnerability.
Fuyan lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead, murmuring, "Aying, sleep now."
The two slept tightly embraced.
The next day, Yuying woke with a slight headache, but it eased after drinking two cups of hot tea.
Reflecting on her actions the night before, she couldn't help but laugh and went to apologize to her sister-in-law.
Wenxing chuckled, "It was just a little cheek-pinching, nothing serious."
Hearing his aunt and mother's conversation, Funing curiously asked, "Cheek-pinching, whose cheeks?"
Yuying smiled and pinched his chubby cheek, "Naturally, I pinched your cheeks."
At this, Funing puffed up his cheeks, saying indistinctly, "It's easier to pinch this way."
Funing's words successfully made both Yuying and his mother laugh.
After breakfast, Yuying left the house with Fuyan and his elder brother, Fuan.
At the end of the alley, they parted ways. Yuying watched Fuyan leave, a faint smile gracing her face.
She remembered how tenderly Fuyan had cared for her the previous night.
There was no going back now. Forming a family here with Fuyan felt right.
Gathering her thoughts, Yuying headed to the medical clinic with Fuan.
Upon arrival, she donned an apron and a cloth headscarf, the attire of a consulting physician.
She began seeing patients, assisted by two young girls.
She consulted with several patients that morning.
After prescribing a remedy for the fourth patient and advising on dietary restrictions, Yuying looked up to see Song Sanlang, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
Delighted, Yuying told her apprentice they would take a short break and then stood up to greet Song Sanlang, recently returned from the county seat.
The two went to the backyard to talk.
In the backyard, a young apprentice was drying herbs, so there wasn't much need for discretion.
Fu An brought over some tea, offering it with both hands: "Uncle Song, please enjoy your tea."
Song Sanlang looked at him in surprise: "You're working at the clinic too?"
Fu An puffed out his chest, proudly saying: "Indeed, Auntie is now my master, teaching me about many herbs!"
Yu Ying smiled and said: "Have you finished identifying today's herbs? I'll be testing you this afternoon."
Hearing this, Fu An hurriedly said: "I'll go identify them right now."
With that, he rushed off in a hurry.
Watching Fu An leave, Yu Ying turned back to Song Sanlang and asked, "Have you sold all the face and lip creams?"
Song Sanlang sipped his tea and replied, "They were sold out long ago. But since we couldn't return to Jade County, we've been waiting in the county seat. Fortunately, my sister-in-law made extra face cream, so we managed to last until the end of the month."
"What did the Ren Shan Clinic say?"
They had previously agreed to deliver a hundred jars of face cream to Ren Shan Clinic but only managed to send fifty. Song Sanlang suspected that after all this time, Yu Ying probably no longer needed the remaining fifty.
Song Sanlang said, "The clinic did send someone, but hearing about the situation in Jade County, they didn't make a fuss. They just said we'll talk after the crisis in Jade County is over. When I went to the clinic, Doctor Wu asked me to bring back an additional hundred jars, on top of the fifty, and gave me a deposit of two thousand wen."
At this point, Song Sanlang added, "We sold out all the face and lip creams at the stall, earning a total of thirteen thousand wen."
With this trip, Song Sanlang brought back more than fifteen thousand wen, equivalent to over fifteen taels of silver, which is the annual profit of a small shop in Jade County.
"This time, I've ordered more jars so that my sister-in-law can make some summer-appropriate face creams. Nowadays, most of our customers are women, and they all praise our stall's face cream for its effectiveness and our lip balm for being fine and affordable."
Yu Ying nodded and then asked, "So, how long do you plan to stay in Jade County?"
Song Sanlang answered, "Once my sister-in-law finishes making the face cream, I'll return to the county seat."
Although Song Jun had relatives in Lingshui Village, he felt like a lone wolf and didn't wish to stay at home for long.
Understanding his situation, Yu Ying suggested, "Since making so much face cream requires extra hands, why doesn't Brother Song stay at our place while in Jade County? You can also help with the cream making."
Song Sanlang hesitated, but agreed when he heard it involved helping with the face cream.
Yu Ying called Fu An to take Song Sanlang home and get him settled.
Due to Song Sanlang's arrival, Yu Ying bought a big fish and ten pounds of lamb spines after her shift.
After a hearty dinner, Song Sanlang handed over all his money to Yu Ying.
Taking the money, Yu Ying said she would calculate his wages the next day.
Counting over fifteen thousand copper coins would take hours, fortunately, they were all strung together, a hundred wen per string.
With the table covered in money, Fu An entered the room to find Yu Ying staring blankly at the pile of copper coins.
He approached and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Yu Ying came back to her senses, glanced at the copper coins, and looking at him, said, "I was thinking, now that I have ample funds, should I send some silver back to the Yu family."
The Yu family was the family of her deceased predecessor.
Regardless, to live peacefully, it was essential to take care of the Yu family.
She couldn't just enjoy the benefits of her predecessor's identity without caring for the Yu family's wellbeing. Ignoring them could lead to being exposed when they inevitably came knocking.
Both morally and logically, she felt obliged to send some silver to them.
Chapter 108
Wenxing, whose cheek was pinched, was stunned for a moment, but felt somewhat shy and pleased since the compliment came from her beloved sister-in-law.
She said bashfully, "Sister-in-law, don't be silly, your cheeks are clearly softer."
"Not at all, yours are softer," she insisted, pinching again to feel, then earnestly added, "It's definitely sister-in-law's that are softer."
The two brothers: ...
What are these sisters-in-law even talking about?
And this cheek-pinching ends up in modesty?
Who would have thought that Yuying, usually so prim and proper, would show such a candid side when drunk, surprising both brothers.
Fuyan stepped forward, "Sister-in-law, let me help."
Seeing her younger brother was still sober, Wenxing released her hand and said, "There's water in the pot. I'll stoke the fire to heat it up and bring it to you."
Fuyan thanked her as he took over supporting Yuying, "Thank you, sister-in-law."
Then, looking at the unsteady girl, he asked softly, "Do you feel dizzy?"
Yuying, seemingly understanding, obediently replied, "Dizzy."
Without further hesitation, Fuyan slightly bent down, picked her up in his arms, and turned to his elder brother and sister-in-law, "We'll head back to our room now."
With that, he carried Yuying and steadily walked towards the main house.
Watching the couple's retreating figures, Fuzhen and his wife simultaneously exclaimed—
"The younger brother's leg seems to be almost fully recovered."
"The younger brother and his wife do look quite loving."
……
After speaking, they exchanged a look.
It turned out their thoughts as a couple were surprisingly different.
Fuyan, holding Yuying, stopped at the door of the room, kicked it open with his foot, stepped over the threshold with her in his arms, and placed her on the bed, his voice low and smooth, "Sit still for a moment."
"Oh," Yuying responded slowly and then sat quietly, leaning against the bedpost.
This docile and gentle Yuying was completely different from her usually intelligent, composed, and rational nature, an indescribably adorable sight.
Fuyan felt that she would comply with whatever request he made.
He crouched down to remove her shoes and socks, telling her, "Sit for a while, wash your face and feet, then sleep."
Yuying yawned and then nodded her head.
Fuyan turned and picked up the teapot from the table, found it was filled with cold water, and turned back to Yuying, instructing, "I'll go out and get you some hot tea, don't move."
Hearing her soft "okay," Fuyan turned and left the room.
In the kitchen, the sister-in-law was scooping hot water. Seeing him with the teapot, she said, "I knew you'd want hot water, so I've boiled it already. Just fill it up."
Saying this, she took the teapot and added half a pot of hot water.
The sister-in-law had mentioned that water shouldn't just be heated but boiled. Wenxing, trusting her medical expertise, believed it must be right.
After filling the pot, she helped carry the teapot while he held a basin in one hand and a water bucket in the other to return.
Upon entering the room, he was relieved to see Aying still sitting quietly.
After placing down the teapot, the sister-in-law left, leaving the couple alone.
With the room door closed, Fuyan poured half a basin of hot water by the bed and dipped her tender white feet into it, then went to pour her a cup of hot water.
After she drank, he placed the cup back on the table and took a dry cloth to wipe her feet.
Looking at her pleasing, round feet in his hands, Fuyan's ears turned slightly red.
After drying her feet, he looked up to find Aying watching him and asked, "What is it?"
Yuying said, "Have I ever told you that you're handsome?"
Fuyan's lips curved into a slight smile, "You think I'm handsome?"
Yuying's gaze meticulously scanned his face.
Deep-set eyes, a prominent nose, and thin lips with a hint of a smile – truly a handsome young man.
Nodding, she affirmed, "Handsome indeed."
Fuyan's eyes twinkled with more laughter, "As long as you like it." He paused, then added, "You can touch if you want."
Yuying, famously docile when drunk among her friends, was sometimes intentionally inebriated by them just to witness her endearing drunken antics.
Her mind seemed clear yet muddled. Without much thought, she raised her hand, her slightly calloused fingertips touching Fuyan's brow, tracing down his nose and resting on his lips.
Their eyes locked, Fuyan's gaze dark and intense.
She swallowed nervously, instinctively retracting her foot, "I'm sleepy."
Though intoxicated, Yuying wasn't foolish; she could sense something unsettling in Fuyan's eyes.
But she was genuinely tired, yawning with her hand over her mouth, her eyes misting over.
Fuyan took a deep breath to calm himself, speaking softly, "I'll go pour out the water. You go to sleep."
After disposing of the water, he returned to find Aying had taken off her outer garment and snuggled into the bedding.
Fuyan shook his head with an indulgent smile.
After a quick wash, he too climbed into bed.
Yuying, whom he thought was asleep, suddenly turned over, nestling into his arms, her voice soft, "It's a bit cold."
Although it was mid-February, nights were always chilly, and the bedding, just entered, was inevitably cold.
Fuyan found the drunken Aying too tempting, her initiative stirring his desires.
Holding the warm and soft Yuying in his arms, Fuyan took deep breaths to calm his restlessness.
Fuyan tightened his embrace, only for her to casually lay her leg over his and place her hand on his waist.
Fuyan instantly tensed up.
Her manner of holding him was like a child clinging to their blanket in sleep, and Fuyan was that blanket.
……
Fuyan suddenly found himself wishing she wouldn't drink again.
She was indeed too tempting.
Despite being stirred, he didn't want to take advantage of her inebriation; he loved and respected her too much to exploit her vulnerability.
Fuyan lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead, murmuring, "Aying, sleep now."
The two slept tightly embraced.
The next day, Yuying woke with a slight headache, but it eased after drinking two cups of hot tea.
Reflecting on her actions the night before, she couldn't help but laugh and went to apologize to her sister-in-law.
Wenxing chuckled, "It was just a little cheek-pinching, nothing serious."
Hearing his aunt and mother's conversation, Funing curiously asked, "Cheek-pinching, whose cheeks?"
Yuying smiled and pinched his chubby cheek, "Naturally, I pinched your cheeks."
At this, Funing puffed up his cheeks, saying indistinctly, "It's easier to pinch this way."
Funing's words successfully made both Yuying and his mother laugh.
After breakfast, Yuying left the house with Fuyan and his elder brother, Fuan.
At the end of the alley, they parted ways. Yuying watched Fuyan leave, a faint smile gracing her face.
She remembered how tenderly Fuyan had cared for her the previous night.
There was no going back now. Forming a family here with Fuyan felt right.
Gathering her thoughts, Yuying headed to the medical clinic with Fuan.
Upon arrival, she donned an apron and a cloth headscarf, the attire of a consulting physician.
She began seeing patients, assisted by two young girls.
She consulted with several patients that morning.
After prescribing a remedy for the fourth patient and advising on dietary restrictions, Yuying looked up to see Song Sanlang, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
Delighted, Yuying told her apprentice they would take a short break and then stood up to greet Song Sanlang, recently returned from the county seat.
The two went to the backyard to talk.
In the backyard, a young apprentice was drying herbs, so there wasn't much need for discretion.
Fu An brought over some tea, offering it with both hands: "Uncle Song, please enjoy your tea."
Song Sanlang looked at him in surprise: "You're working at the clinic too?"
Fu An puffed out his chest, proudly saying: "Indeed, Auntie is now my master, teaching me about many herbs!"
Yu Ying smiled and said: "Have you finished identifying today's herbs? I'll be testing you this afternoon."
Hearing this, Fu An hurriedly said: "I'll go identify them right now."
With that, he rushed off in a hurry.
Watching Fu An leave, Yu Ying turned back to Song Sanlang and asked, "Have you sold all the face and lip creams?"
Song Sanlang sipped his tea and replied, "They were sold out long ago. But since we couldn't return to Jade County, we've been waiting in the county seat. Fortunately, my sister-in-law made extra face cream, so we managed to last until the end of the month."
"What did the Ren Shan Clinic say?"
They had previously agreed to deliver a hundred jars of face cream to Ren Shan Clinic but only managed to send fifty. Song Sanlang suspected that after all this time, Yu Ying probably no longer needed the remaining fifty.
Song Sanlang said, "The clinic did send someone, but hearing about the situation in Jade County, they didn't make a fuss. They just said we'll talk after the crisis in Jade County is over. When I went to the clinic, Doctor Wu asked me to bring back an additional hundred jars, on top of the fifty, and gave me a deposit of two thousand wen."
At this point, Song Sanlang added, "We sold out all the face and lip creams at the stall, earning a total of thirteen thousand wen."
With this trip, Song Sanlang brought back more than fifteen thousand wen, equivalent to over fifteen taels of silver, which is the annual profit of a small shop in Jade County.
"This time, I've ordered more jars so that my sister-in-law can make some summer-appropriate face creams. Nowadays, most of our customers are women, and they all praise our stall's face cream for its effectiveness and our lip balm for being fine and affordable."
Yu Ying nodded and then asked, "So, how long do you plan to stay in Jade County?"
Song Sanlang answered, "Once my sister-in-law finishes making the face cream, I'll return to the county seat."
Although Song Jun had relatives in Lingshui Village, he felt like a lone wolf and didn't wish to stay at home for long.
Understanding his situation, Yu Ying suggested, "Since making so much face cream requires extra hands, why doesn't Brother Song stay at our place while in Jade County? You can also help with the cream making."
Song Sanlang hesitated, but agreed when he heard it involved helping with the face cream.
Yu Ying called Fu An to take Song Sanlang home and get him settled.
Due to Song Sanlang's arrival, Yu Ying bought a big fish and ten pounds of lamb spines after her shift.
After a hearty dinner, Song Sanlang handed over all his money to Yu Ying.
Taking the money, Yu Ying said she would calculate his wages the next day.
Counting over fifteen thousand copper coins would take hours, fortunately, they were all strung together, a hundred wen per string.
With the table covered in money, Fu An entered the room to find Yu Ying staring blankly at the pile of copper coins.
He approached and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Yu Ying came back to her senses, glanced at the copper coins, and looking at him, said, "I was thinking, now that I have ample funds, should I send some silver back to the Yu family."
The Yu family was the family of her deceased predecessor.
Regardless, to live peacefully, it was essential to take care of the Yu family.
She couldn't just enjoy the benefits of her predecessor's identity without caring for the Yu family's wellbeing. Ignoring them could lead to being exposed when they inevitably came knocking.
Both morally and logically, she felt obliged to send some silver to them.
