Chapter 122
Fu Wei's first attempt at cooking turned out neither bad nor great, showing some natural talent.
After dinner, as the evening grew overcast and a light rain began to fall, the Fu family washed up and retired to their rooms early.
Yu Ying yawned repeatedly, and Fu Wei didn't disturb her, just holding her.
They slept soundly.
The next day, Mrs. Li visited again, this time accompanied by her daughter-in-law. Besides foot soaks and hot compresses, they both received the same treatments as Mrs. Li.
The Li family was generous in their spending. Although the daughter-in-law's payment wasn't doubled, it amounted to about 2,300 wen, rounding up to a neat sum of 2,500 wen.
Yu Ying was delighted, unconcerned whether their noses were turned up or not.
As they were preparing to close the clinic in the afternoon, Yu Ying saw from afar the Li family's carriage parked on the street ahead. The carriage curtain was lifted, and she made eye contact with Miss Li.
Yu Ying was momentarily stunned, unsure what Miss Li's intentions were. She wondered if the visit was meant to cause trouble.
Was this just a case of having too much idle time?
However, on second thought, since her grandmother and mother had both visited the clinic and were satisfied, it seemed unlikely that Miss Li, though not the brightest, would go against her elders to create problems.
Having realized this, Yu Ying didn’t pay it much attention and instructed her apprentice to quickly tidy up and close.
But just as they were about to close, the Li family carriage arrived at the door, and Miss Li, with an awkward expression, stepped out and walked into the clinic.
Yu Ying asked with a faint smile, "May I know what brings Miss Li to Yongxi Hall?"
Miss Li glanced at her maid.
The maid, understanding, took out a purse and placed a silver ingot on the table. Yu Ying noted that it was at least two liang in weight.
The maid, chin held high, said, "My mistress would like a massage and facial treatment, to be completed before dark."
Yu Ying looked at Miss Li and, not one to refuse silver, smiled and said, "Please, Miss Li, follow me upstairs."
Miss Li walked with her nose in the air, but her eyes betrayed a hint of unease.
After seeing her mother's complexion improve greatly today, she had been tempted to try for herself and, after hesitating all afternoon, finally decided to come.
Yu Ying instructed Mei Zi, "Lead Miss Li upstairs and serve her some flower tea."
After the guests had ascended to the second floor, Yu Ying went to weigh the silver ingot.
It was about two liang and five qian in weight.
The Li family was indeed generous.
Wen Xing wondered aloud, "Isn't this young lady quite dismissive of our clinic? Why did she come then?"
Yu Ying had no trouble understanding the girl's mindset.
Women's love for beauty transcends age and status, especially those with money, who spare no expense for beauty.
Though Yu County was poor, it didn't mean there were no wealthy people. The Li family, being affluent, didn't mind spending a little extra, and Yu Ying felt completely justified in accepting their money.
After finishing her work, dusk fell, enveloping everything in gloom. The weather was already overcast, making the sky even darker.
Watching the Li family's carriage depart, Yu Ying saw the figures of Fu Wei and Fu Zhen approaching.
As the brothers reached the clinic, Yu Ying asked, "Big brother, Erlang, what brings you here?"
Fu Wei replied, "Seeing that you hadn't returned for a long time, big brother and I came to look for you."
With everything packed up, Yu Ying decided to head back with them.
Perhaps due to the Li family's wealth, in recent days, their female relatives frequently visited Yu Ying's clinic.
In the evening, under the light of an oil lamp, Yu Ying calculated the clinic's earnings for over a month, her face beaming with a smile.
Fu Wei, bringing in a pot of hot water, set it on the table and poured her a cup, "Seeing how happy you are, it seems the clinic is doing quite well."
Yu Ying's smile widened, "In a month and a half, after deducting various expenses, we've made about forty-two taels of silver."
Glancing at her ledger and seeing the Li family's entries, Fu Wei chuckled lightly, "The Li family seems to be our main contributor."
Yu Ying shrugged, "The Li family is indeed generous. Every visit, they choose the most expensive treatments, from the elderly matriarch to Miss Li herself. They really don’t hesitate to spend."
"And with the Li family spending so freely, other gentry and merchant families are also willing to spend a bit. Otherwise, these figures wouldn’t look so good. The first floor pharmacy doesn't earn much, roughly a net profit of about two thousand wen a month."
"There aren't many wealthy people around Yu County, mostly the poor, and even more who can't afford medical care. Plus, Yongxi Hall only treats women's ailments. When I opened the pharmacy on the first floor, I didn't expect much profit, which is why I set up a more profitable second floor."
"The first floor is for benevolence, the second for profit, balancing both."
"You've made money, but in these past seven or eight days, you seem to have slimmed down a bit," Fu Wei observed, looking closely at her cheeks.
"Ah?" Yu Ying was startled, then walked to the mirror, looking left and right but not noticing any weight loss. She pinched her slightly soft belly and then looked up at Fu Wei, "You might be mistaken."
Though somewhat tired, ever since settling in Yu County, both households decided to contribute one hundred and fifty wen each month for their mother-in-law's household expenses.
With the clinic open and the elder sister-in-law earning an income, the main house also volunteered to contribute an extra fifty wen each month. Yu Ying occasionally brought home some meat, ensuring that four hundred wen a month was more than sufficient.
Mrs. Luo, though frugal, never skimped on food; they almost always had meat in their daily meals.
Since marrying Fu Wei and with the clinic often too busy to close on time, Mrs. Luo, sympathizing with her daughters-in-law, made sure there was always soup for dinner.
Yu Ying felt not only that she hadn't lost weight but had even gained a little.
Fu Wei walked over, his gaze lowered, and his calloused palms gently cupping Yu Ying's face for a closer look.
He slightly furrowed his brows, seriously, with no hint of jest, "You have lost weight."
Yu Ying found this amusing, her eyes curving into a smile.
Fu Wei asked, "Why are you laughing?"
Yu Ying, still smiling, said, "Because what you said sounds just like what my grandmother would say."
Fu Wei paused, then remembering how the older generation always worries about their grandchildren not eating or dressing enough, and losing weight, he couldn't help but laugh too.
But his laughter was brief, as if something suddenly crossed his mind, and he stopped smiling.
Understanding his reaction, Yu Ying's smile remained, "I do miss them, and while it's sometimes sad, I don't dwell in sorrow because of them, so you don’t need to worry or avoid the topic."
Hearing this, Fu Wei let out a silent sigh of relief.
Changing the subject, Yu Ying mentioned, "It's already May, and although Yu County allows a three-month delay in taxes, I've seen many unfamiliar faces on the streets selling grain, probably from other counties. I'm thinking of taking advantage of the low prices to go to the county seat and stock up on grain, as well as deliver the herbs we've been purchasing."
The warehouse has already been rented, just waiting for the storage of grain and medicinal herbs.
Yu Ying had always been purchasing herbs.
However, with limited silver, after buying grain, there would only be enough for personal consumption, while the herbs would serve as a stepping stone for Fu Wei, the more the better.
Fu Wei withdrew his hand and, lifting her horizontally, carried her towards the bed.
Lying down together, he held her in his arms, gently caressing the soft flesh at her waist, intimately close, without any of the stiffness he showed outside the room.
He asked, "Can the clinic manage without you?"
Yu Ying replied, "We might earn a bit less, but the girls can handle massages and facials. They just can't treat patients yet."
Although the apprentice girls were diligent and eager to learn, Yu Ying dared not let them start practicing after only a few months of training.
Fu Wei thought for a moment and then said, "I've also suggested to the magistrate to take advantage of this period of low grain prices to store more in the granaries."
Yu Ying wasn't surprised and simply asked, "What was Magistrate Zhou's attitude?"
Fu Wei answered, "He agreed. I was planning to go to the county seat myself, but since you brought it up, let's go together."
When the proposal was made, Magistrate Zhou hesitated a bit, considering waiting until the end of the year to purchase grain. Fu Wei then analyzed the unrest in Longxi and Shu counties and the multiple taxes imposed by the court.
"Once civil unrest occurs, it's likely to happen again and must be guarded against. In the event of major turmoil, the price of grain skyrockets. By year-end, officials in poorer regions, foreseeing this, will hoard grain extensively."
"Magistrate Zhou, being far in Lingnan, is not fully aware of the situation in the capital, but I am."
"The court reports only the good news, not the bad. Like in Longxi and Shu counties, they only report victories, and casualties are always underreported to avoid displeasing the Emperor."
"After contemplating, Magistrate Zhou also began to consider storing grain. However, collecting it solely from Yu County would not suffice, hence he arranged for me to handle this."
"That's perfect; I was just wondering how to get to the county seat," Yu Ying said, relieved to hear Fu Wei's plans.
She then sighed, "It's just that our current finances are limited; otherwise, we could store more."
Seeing her worry, Fu Wei paused before speaking, "I'll figure out a way for the finances."
Yu Ying looked up at him, "How will you manage it? You're not planning to..."
She seemed to think of something, her expression growing serious.
Fu Wei helplessly replied, "Nothing of that sort, don’t worry. I'm just considering asking someone for a loan."
Hearing this, Yu Ying breathed a sigh of relief, not asking who he would approach, but advised, "We should keep a low profile now, not to give others leverage against us."
Fu Wei responded, "Would you oppose if I were greedy?"
Yu Ying calmly said, "Given the circumstances, if wealthy people want to offer silver next year for safety or seek favors within your capacity, and it fulfills our needs, why not?"
"In times of war, it doesn’t differentiate between the good and the bad; self-preservation is paramount."
Fu Wei burst into a relieved smile; with her words, he felt the pressure lift.
Since the conversation had steered this way, Fu Wei inquired about something else, "Do you know of any medicine for men to prevent conception?"
Yu Ying was taken aback for a moment, looking at him in surprise, not expecting him to ask such a question.
They had only been intimate on their wedding night, and not since then for about a week. Yu Ying assumed it was because Fu Wei was concerned about her being tired from working at the clinic all day and didn't think much of it.
Fu Wei cleared his throat and explained, "The current situation is not suitable for childbirth, and besides, we are both still young."
It had only been once, and Yu Ying hadn't really thought about having children yet.
Thinking about it now, she had just adapted to this era and wasn't keen on considering children so soon.
After pondering for a moment, she replied somewhat uncomfortably, "I’ll figure something out."
In modern times, there are condoms; in ancient times, there were intestinal sheaths, and she had researched their production methods out of curiosity during her university days.
Since their only intimate encounter was once, and they were still newlyweds, discussing this topic seemed to change the atmosphere around them.
It felt warmer and somewhat oppressive.
After calling her name "Ah Ying" softly, Fu Wei's hand slipped under her thin shirt, gently stroking her smooth and delicate back.
Soon, his palm was filled with softness.
In a low and husky voice, he whispered in Yu Ying’s ear, "We agreed not to have children for now, so I won’t leave anything inside you, alright?"
Fu Wei was very subtle in his words, and it took Yu Ying a moment to realize what he meant. Even with her broader experience, she blushed.
His words seemed proper, yet they weren't to be scrutinized deeply.
Yu Ying, with a flushed face, nodded in agreement.
With her consent, Fu Wei gently kissed her from her earlobe, tenderly and meticulously.
Chapter 122
Fu Wei's first attempt at cooking turned out neither bad nor great, showing some natural talent.
After dinner, as the evening grew overcast and a light rain began to fall, the Fu family washed up and retired to their rooms early.
Yu Ying yawned repeatedly, and Fu Wei didn't disturb her, just holding her.
They slept soundly.
The next day, Mrs. Li visited again, this time accompanied by her daughter-in-law. Besides foot soaks and hot compresses, they both received the same treatments as Mrs. Li.
The Li family was generous in their spending. Although the daughter-in-law's payment wasn't doubled, it amounted to about 2,300 wen, rounding up to a neat sum of 2,500 wen.
Yu Ying was delighted, unconcerned whether their noses were turned up or not.
As they were preparing to close the clinic in the afternoon, Yu Ying saw from afar the Li family's carriage parked on the street ahead. The carriage curtain was lifted, and she made eye contact with Miss Li.
Yu Ying was momentarily stunned, unsure what Miss Li's intentions were. She wondered if the visit was meant to cause trouble.
Was this just a case of having too much idle time?
However, on second thought, since her grandmother and mother had both visited the clinic and were satisfied, it seemed unlikely that Miss Li, though not the brightest, would go against her elders to create problems.
Having realized this, Yu Ying didn’t pay it much attention and instructed her apprentice to quickly tidy up and close.
But just as they were about to close, the Li family carriage arrived at the door, and Miss Li, with an awkward expression, stepped out and walked into the clinic.
Yu Ying asked with a faint smile, "May I know what brings Miss Li to Yongxi Hall?"
Miss Li glanced at her maid.
The maid, understanding, took out a purse and placed a silver ingot on the table. Yu Ying noted that it was at least two liang in weight.
The maid, chin held high, said, "My mistress would like a massage and facial treatment, to be completed before dark."
Yu Ying looked at Miss Li and, not one to refuse silver, smiled and said, "Please, Miss Li, follow me upstairs."
Miss Li walked with her nose in the air, but her eyes betrayed a hint of unease.
After seeing her mother's complexion improve greatly today, she had been tempted to try for herself and, after hesitating all afternoon, finally decided to come.
Yu Ying instructed Mei Zi, "Lead Miss Li upstairs and serve her some flower tea."
After the guests had ascended to the second floor, Yu Ying went to weigh the silver ingot.
It was about two liang and five qian in weight.
The Li family was indeed generous.
Wen Xing wondered aloud, "Isn't this young lady quite dismissive of our clinic? Why did she come then?"
Yu Ying had no trouble understanding the girl's mindset.
Women's love for beauty transcends age and status, especially those with money, who spare no expense for beauty.
Though Yu County was poor, it didn't mean there were no wealthy people. The Li family, being affluent, didn't mind spending a little extra, and Yu Ying felt completely justified in accepting their money.
After finishing her work, dusk fell, enveloping everything in gloom. The weather was already overcast, making the sky even darker.
Watching the Li family's carriage depart, Yu Ying saw the figures of Fu Wei and Fu Zhen approaching.
As the brothers reached the clinic, Yu Ying asked, "Big brother, Erlang, what brings you here?"
Fu Wei replied, "Seeing that you hadn't returned for a long time, big brother and I came to look for you."
With everything packed up, Yu Ying decided to head back with them.
Perhaps due to the Li family's wealth, in recent days, their female relatives frequently visited Yu Ying's clinic.
In the evening, under the light of an oil lamp, Yu Ying calculated the clinic's earnings for over a month, her face beaming with a smile.
Fu Wei, bringing in a pot of hot water, set it on the table and poured her a cup, "Seeing how happy you are, it seems the clinic is doing quite well."
Yu Ying's smile widened, "In a month and a half, after deducting various expenses, we've made about forty-two taels of silver."
Glancing at her ledger and seeing the Li family's entries, Fu Wei chuckled lightly, "The Li family seems to be our main contributor."
Yu Ying shrugged, "The Li family is indeed generous. Every visit, they choose the most expensive treatments, from the elderly matriarch to Miss Li herself. They really don’t hesitate to spend."
"And with the Li family spending so freely, other gentry and merchant families are also willing to spend a bit. Otherwise, these figures wouldn’t look so good. The first floor pharmacy doesn't earn much, roughly a net profit of about two thousand wen a month."
"There aren't many wealthy people around Yu County, mostly the poor, and even more who can't afford medical care. Plus, Yongxi Hall only treats women's ailments. When I opened the pharmacy on the first floor, I didn't expect much profit, which is why I set up a more profitable second floor."
"The first floor is for benevolence, the second for profit, balancing both."
"You've made money, but in these past seven or eight days, you seem to have slimmed down a bit," Fu Wei observed, looking closely at her cheeks.
"Ah?" Yu Ying was startled, then walked to the mirror, looking left and right but not noticing any weight loss. She pinched her slightly soft belly and then looked up at Fu Wei, "You might be mistaken."
Though somewhat tired, ever since settling in Yu County, both households decided to contribute one hundred and fifty wen each month for their mother-in-law's household expenses.
With the clinic open and the elder sister-in-law earning an income, the main house also volunteered to contribute an extra fifty wen each month. Yu Ying occasionally brought home some meat, ensuring that four hundred wen a month was more than sufficient.
Mrs. Luo, though frugal, never skimped on food; they almost always had meat in their daily meals.
Since marrying Fu Wei and with the clinic often too busy to close on time, Mrs. Luo, sympathizing with her daughters-in-law, made sure there was always soup for dinner.
Yu Ying felt not only that she hadn't lost weight but had even gained a little.
Fu Wei walked over, his gaze lowered, and his calloused palms gently cupping Yu Ying's face for a closer look.
He slightly furrowed his brows, seriously, with no hint of jest, "You have lost weight."
Yu Ying found this amusing, her eyes curving into a smile.
Fu Wei asked, "Why are you laughing?"
Yu Ying, still smiling, said, "Because what you said sounds just like what my grandmother would say."
Fu Wei paused, then remembering how the older generation always worries about their grandchildren not eating or dressing enough, and losing weight, he couldn't help but laugh too.
But his laughter was brief, as if something suddenly crossed his mind, and he stopped smiling.
Understanding his reaction, Yu Ying's smile remained, "I do miss them, and while it's sometimes sad, I don't dwell in sorrow because of them, so you don’t need to worry or avoid the topic."
Hearing this, Fu Wei let out a silent sigh of relief.
Changing the subject, Yu Ying mentioned, "It's already May, and although Yu County allows a three-month delay in taxes, I've seen many unfamiliar faces on the streets selling grain, probably from other counties. I'm thinking of taking advantage of the low prices to go to the county seat and stock up on grain, as well as deliver the herbs we've been purchasing."
The warehouse has already been rented, just waiting for the storage of grain and medicinal herbs.
Yu Ying had always been purchasing herbs.
However, with limited silver, after buying grain, there would only be enough for personal consumption, while the herbs would serve as a stepping stone for Fu Wei, the more the better.
Fu Wei withdrew his hand and, lifting her horizontally, carried her towards the bed.
Lying down together, he held her in his arms, gently caressing the soft flesh at her waist, intimately close, without any of the stiffness he showed outside the room.
He asked, "Can the clinic manage without you?"
Yu Ying replied, "We might earn a bit less, but the girls can handle massages and facials. They just can't treat patients yet."
Although the apprentice girls were diligent and eager to learn, Yu Ying dared not let them start practicing after only a few months of training.
Fu Wei thought for a moment and then said, "I've also suggested to the magistrate to take advantage of this period of low grain prices to store more in the granaries."
Yu Ying wasn't surprised and simply asked, "What was Magistrate Zhou's attitude?"
Fu Wei answered, "He agreed. I was planning to go to the county seat myself, but since you brought it up, let's go together."
When the proposal was made, Magistrate Zhou hesitated a bit, considering waiting until the end of the year to purchase grain. Fu Wei then analyzed the unrest in Longxi and Shu counties and the multiple taxes imposed by the court.
"Once civil unrest occurs, it's likely to happen again and must be guarded against. In the event of major turmoil, the price of grain skyrockets. By year-end, officials in poorer regions, foreseeing this, will hoard grain extensively."
"Magistrate Zhou, being far in Lingnan, is not fully aware of the situation in the capital, but I am."
"The court reports only the good news, not the bad. Like in Longxi and Shu counties, they only report victories, and casualties are always underreported to avoid displeasing the Emperor."
"After contemplating, Magistrate Zhou also began to consider storing grain. However, collecting it solely from Yu County would not suffice, hence he arranged for me to handle this."
"That's perfect; I was just wondering how to get to the county seat," Yu Ying said, relieved to hear Fu Wei's plans.
She then sighed, "It's just that our current finances are limited; otherwise, we could store more."
Seeing her worry, Fu Wei paused before speaking, "I'll figure out a way for the finances."
Yu Ying looked up at him, "How will you manage it? You're not planning to..."
She seemed to think of something, her expression growing serious.
Fu Wei helplessly replied, "Nothing of that sort, don’t worry. I'm just considering asking someone for a loan."
Hearing this, Yu Ying breathed a sigh of relief, not asking who he would approach, but advised, "We should keep a low profile now, not to give others leverage against us."
Fu Wei responded, "Would you oppose if I were greedy?"
Yu Ying calmly said, "Given the circumstances, if wealthy people want to offer silver next year for safety or seek favors within your capacity, and it fulfills our needs, why not?"
"In times of war, it doesn’t differentiate between the good and the bad; self-preservation is paramount."
Fu Wei burst into a relieved smile; with her words, he felt the pressure lift.
Since the conversation had steered this way, Fu Wei inquired about something else, "Do you know of any medicine for men to prevent conception?"
Yu Ying was taken aback for a moment, looking at him in surprise, not expecting him to ask such a question.
They had only been intimate on their wedding night, and not since then for about a week. Yu Ying assumed it was because Fu Wei was concerned about her being tired from working at the clinic all day and didn't think much of it.
Fu Wei cleared his throat and explained, "The current situation is not suitable for childbirth, and besides, we are both still young."
It had only been once, and Yu Ying hadn't really thought about having children yet.
Thinking about it now, she had just adapted to this era and wasn't keen on considering children so soon.
After pondering for a moment, she replied somewhat uncomfortably, "I’ll figure something out."
In modern times, there are condoms; in ancient times, there were intestinal sheaths, and she had researched their production methods out of curiosity during her university days.
Since their only intimate encounter was once, and they were still newlyweds, discussing this topic seemed to change the atmosphere around them.
It felt warmer and somewhat oppressive.
After calling her name "Ah Ying" softly, Fu Wei's hand slipped under her thin shirt, gently stroking her smooth and delicate back.
Soon, his palm was filled with softness.
In a low and husky voice, he whispered in Yu Ying’s ear, "We agreed not to have children for now, so I won’t leave anything inside you, alright?"
Fu Wei was very subtle in his words, and it took Yu Ying a moment to realize what he meant. Even with her broader experience, she blushed.
His words seemed proper, yet they weren't to be scrutinized deeply.
Yu Ying, with a flushed face, nodded in agreement.
With her consent, Fu Wei gently kissed her from her earlobe, tenderly and meticulously.
