Chapter 123
After arranging everything at the clinic, Yu Ying managed to free up half a month to accompany Fu Wei to the county seat.
She didn't have much money on hand, only about 80,000 wen to buy grain.
Fu Wei somehow borrowed one hundred taels of silver, which Yu Ying didn’t question, but when she received the money, she thought to herself that they needed to work doubly hard to earn more.
Now, with a total of one hundred and eighty taels, and considering the current market price of grain at five wen per catty, they could buy around 3,600 catties.
Fu Wei planned to purchase grain along the way, and Yu Ying, not wanting any complications, decided to buy more after reaching the county seat.
The next day, before dawn, the horse carriage was already waiting outside.
Accompanying them were six ox carts rented from the yamen (government office).
"Only six ox carts would be enough?"
Once on the horse carriage, Fu Wei explained that these ox carts were for transporting grain back to Yu County along the way, and more would be hired in the county seat for further purchases.
What was originally a three-day journey would take about ten days due to detours to other counties for grain collection.
As Yu Ying passed through villages and county towns, she noticed the people appeared desolate and hollow-eyed.
Already burdened with heavy taxes in regular years, they had little grain left. Selling the remaining grain wouldn’t even cover their taxes, leaving them sleepless and nearly insane, almost like walking corpses.
If they were conscripted for corvée labor, they might not return for a decade or more, if at all.
Since Yu County had a three-month delay in tax payments, its people were distressed but not as despondent.
Yu Ying, seeing the plight of the people outside the carriage, sighed helplessly.
Seeing her troubled expression, Fu Wei leaned over to lower the carriage curtain.
Having grown up in an era of peace and prosperity, Yu Ying naturally felt distressed seeing such hardship.
"If it upsets you, don’t look," he said softly.
Yu Ying withdrew her gaze, shaking her head, "I can handle it."
The current situation was just the beginning; the real misery would come at year's end. If she couldn’t bear to see this, the future would be even harder to witness.
Fu Wei glanced at her but said nothing.
After finding an inn to stay, Fu Wei sent people to purchase grain.
Taking advantage of the low grain prices, many merchants would stock up. They planned to buy grain in three counties, and Fu Wei had people buy under the guise of merchants, spending two days in each county.
Even so, the grain collection was not as successful as hoped.
They managed to get only four cartloads of grain from two counties.
From what Fu Wei knew, the sale of old grain had just begun. Which merchants had acted so quickly?
Luo Dianshi, after investigating, discussed with Fu Wei: "I heard that a few days ago, someone aggressively bought grain for two days, likely the same group, claiming to be from a trading company. But there's no exact information on which company it is. They left right after buying. I checked at the yamen, and there's no record of this company. Obviously, someone in the yamen has been bribed."
If there was a large-scale grain purchase, the yamen officials would certainly know, but there was no record at the yamen, suggesting that either the clerks or the record-keepers had been bribed. The short duration of the purchase also meant that it wouldn’t attract much investigation.
Fu Wei pondered for a moment and said, "If they are hiding their identity to buy grain, it's surely not an upright one. County seats are less guarded, while the county seat is stricter. They would buy in county towns but wouldn't risk going to the county seat. Arrange to go directly to the county seat now. There’s no need to buy along the way anymore; it's no longer significant."
Luo Dianshi didn’t question further and went to make arrangements.
After Luo Dianshi left, Fu Wei’s brows were slightly furrowed.
Who exactly were these people buying the grain?
Originally planning to spend ten days buying grain along the way, but due to the unsatisfactory purchases, they spent only six days reaching the county seat.
Upon arriving at the county seat, Fu Wei personally delivered a letter from Magistrate Zhou to the Governor's residence.
After all, buying grain under the Governor’s watch required proper reporting.
Governor Shen, known for shirking his duties, left all affairs to his subordinates, reasoning that since he had no chance of promotion, why should he exert himself?
"Having employed so many people, why not put them to work instead of letting them idle?"
"If others are handling affairs, why shouldn't he indulge in eating, drinking, and pleasure?"
Although negligent, he occasionally inquired about county affairs.
Previously, Magistrate Zhou had sent a message regarding a staff issue, and Governor Shen had specifically instructed that any news from Yu County should be brought directly to him.
Two months later, receiving a letter from Yu County, especially delivered by the lame aide, piqued his curiosity.
"Could there be trouble in Wuling County?"
The reporting official replied, "No, my lord. This time, the aide from Yu County didn't come for Wuling County matters but to submit a petition regarding grain collection."
Saying this, he presented the letter.
Governor Shen took the letter, penned by Zhou Yi.
It explained that Yu County's granary was empty and sought to take advantage of the low grain prices to fill the granaries for future needs.
After reading, Governor Shen showed no particular reaction.
Grain collection was fine, but he naturally disapproved of doing it secretly. However, being informed was sufficient.
"My lord, shall I relay the message directly?" the official asked.
Governor Shen was about to agree, but then, recalling something, he suddenly smiled, "The weather is fine, and game in the mountains is plentiful. Since Fu Wei is skilled in archery and apparently good with horses, though I wonder if he can still ride with his lame leg?"
Finishing his thought, his smile broadened, "If we were to bet on Fu Wei's hunting skills, I wonder how big the odds would be?"
The official's face remained impassive, but inwardly he felt sympathy for the young gentleman.
Although the lord offered him protection, he would still take the opportunity to tease him.
Yu Ying settled down in the inn and then went to find the stall.
Previously, there was only a high table, but now it had been turned into a tent, providing both shade and shelter from the rain. It was about ten feet long and wide, occupying a large space, hence paying more rent.
Since Yu Ying had opened her own clinic, she asked Song Sanlang to imprint the name "Yongxi Hall" on all the jars he made for her.
Upon arriving at the stall, Song Sanlang was not there, only Miss Su was present. Yu Ying walked into the tent.
Miss Su was handing rouge to a customer and looked up to see a familiar face.
With curiosity, she approached, "Madam, what are you looking for?"
Yu Ying withdrew her gaze and smiled at her, "Miss Su, don't you recognize me?"
Miss Su, looking at the beautiful and gentle young woman in front of her, was momentarily puzzled but then realized in surprise, "Madam Yu?!"
Yu Ying nodded in confirmation.
Miss Su looked even more astonished, stuttering, "Madam Yu, your... your facial spots?"
Yu Ying replied with a smile, "They've been treated."
Miss Su had previously been hesitant to look closely, fearing it might make Madam Yu uncomfortable, so she only knew Madam Yu had facial spots. But now that they were gone, she took the opportunity to observe her more carefully.
"It's miraculous, not a trace left."
Yu Ying thought to herself that this was because she had meticulously washed off the makeup. After not applying the solution for a long time, naturally, there were no traces left.
Initially, Yu Ying hadn’t used the dark juice, but because she had applied it for over a year, there were still some slight traces which took some time to fade, making it appear more natural.
After Miss Su recovered from her surprise, Yu Ying then asked, “Where is Song Jun?”
Regaining her composure, Miss Su was about to answer when Song Sanlang, seeing Yu Ying, approached her.
Song Sanlang also seemed surprised to see Yu Ying, but did not stare rudely.
Song Sanlang explained, “Usually, Ah Liu watches the tent. As a man, it's not appropriate for me to stay there, so I set up a stall in front to sell snacks. It earns a little money and also helps keep an eye on things, to avoid trouble.”
Speaking of this, Song Sanlang became a bit reserved, “I've set up a stall and can earn some money, so you don’t need to give me money for food anymore.”
Yu Ying shook her head, “Let's discuss this when you return to Yu County to restock.”
It didn’t affect their business, so Yu Ying wasn’t concerned, but there were other matters that she needed Song Sanlang's help with. This minor issue didn’t require immediate discussion.
Hearing this, Song Sanlang understood that she had other matters to discuss and said, “Since you're here, I’ll talk to you about the profits of these past two months.”
Song Sanlang had previously returned to restock and had sent a letter mentioning the shortage of goods, the matter of the house, and planning to calculate the profits in detail when he returned to Yu County mid-year.
Yu Ying nodded, "Then let's go to a teahouse to talk."
Song Sanlang packed up his snack stall.
After Miss Su whispered a few words to him, he handed a few packages of cakes to Yu Ying.
"These were made by Miss Su. She said to give a few packages to the boss."
Miss Su, slightly embarrassed, said, "I can make cakes, and it just so happened that Brother Song was setting up a stall, so I volunteered."
Yu Ying glanced at them, seemingly understanding something, but chose not to comment, merely smiling as she accepted the cakes: "Then I thank Miss Su for her kindness."
Leaving the tent, Yu Ying hesitated for a moment before suggesting tactfully to Song Sanlang, "If Brother Song San likes the girl, you could use the opportunity of your elder brother being in the county seat to ask him to propose on your behalf."
Given the Song family's situation, it was clear that they couldn’t let them come to know where Song Sanlang was, or else he wouldn't have peaceful days ahead.
Fu Zhen, a year older than Song Sanlang, also referred to each other as brothers, so it was appropriate for him to propose on behalf of Song Sanlang.
Hearing this, even the rough Song Sanlang was a bit embarrassed.
"How did sister-in-law figure it out?"
Yu Ying smiled, "Your whispering might have seemed normal, but your eyes couldn’t hide the truth."
Song Sanlang fell silent for a moment, then said, "I am a man with no home to return to, uncertain if I can provide her a stable home."
A stable home...
Yu Ying smiled, refraining from persuading further, "Brother Song San knows best. I won’t say more."
Song Sanlang nodded in agreement.
The two arrived at the teahouse.
It was neither early nor late, so the place was not crowded.
They sat down in the most secluded corner on the second floor, which was sparsely populated. After the waiter brought the tea, Yu Ying got straight to the point, "Erlang and I have discussed taking advantage of the current low grain prices to stockpile grain in the storage we rented earlier, planning to sell it when prices rise."
Song Sanlang was startled, "Grain prices will rise? But grain is quite cheap right now, the better quality is five wen per catty, and the lower quality suffices at four wen. It might even get cheaper later."
Yu Ying shook her head, "I don’t think so." She lowered her voice, "Even if people sell their grain, they might not have enough to pay their taxes. Then, the young labor force will have to serve in corvée labor, reducing those available to work the fields, and consequently, the grain production will decrease, but the number of mouths to feed won’t."
This reasoning was what Yu Ying and Fu Wei had agreed upon.
Yu Ying didn't need a large amount of grain and didn’t have to transport it far from the county seat, so it could be done discreetly.
After hearing this, Song Sanlang thought about it and realized it made sense. He wondered if the grain prices would indeed be higher next year.
Song Sanlang looked at Yu Ying, "What does sister-in-law want me to do?"
Yu Ying didn’t beat around the bush, "It’s inconvenient for a woman like me to buy grain. Also, to avoid drawing attention to Fu Wei, it's not ideal for him to do it personally. So, I need your help to hire some people to buy grain."
Song Sanlang didn’t see any difficulty in this task and asked, "How much grain does sister-in-law want to buy?"
"Grain worth one hundred and eighty taels."
Song Sanlang was surprised.
One hundred and eighty taels worth of grain was a lot. Ordinary farming families, eating their own produce along with wild vegetables, would spend only two to three taels a year.
Even wealthier families would spend only around five taels.
With some economizing, such an amount of grain could last for three years.
After his initial surprise, he gradually regained his composure.
Both Erlang of the Fu family and his wife are exceptionally intelligent. One has been employed and highly valued in the yamen by the Magistrate, while the other, a young woman, has managed to open a clinic. Their wisdom and courage need no further explanation.
Not to mention that the wife also owes him a favor.
Working alongside them would surely not harm him and might even bring benefits.
Having understood this, Song Sanlang didn’t ask further and agreed, “Alright, I'll start looking for people to buy grain in the next few days.”
Yu Ying instructed softly, “Keep it discreet. If anyone asks, say you’re buying for someone else to earn some hard-earned money. Once the grain is collected, deliver it to the house. Then fill sacks with sand to pretend it’s grain and transport them out. Afterwards, you can move to that house and help keep watch.”
Hearing this, Song Sanlang nodded without any doubts.
“I’ll have my elder brother deliver the silver to you.”
Song Sanlang nodded and then asked, “The stall has made a profit of over twenty taels recently. Should we use that to buy grain as well?”
Yu Ying pondered for a moment and then agreed, “Take out twenty taels for buying grain, rounding it up to a whole number.”
Two hundred taels was not a large amount; it might raise a few curious questions in the county town, but it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary in the county seat.
After parting ways with Song Sanlang, Yu Ying returned to the inn.
Walking through the streets, Song Sanlang saw people selling grain and started to form his own plan.
The common people all wanted to keep some grain stored, but due to the need to pay taxes, they had to sell it, leaving them unable to save any.
Having some silver at hand, he thought it would be wise to stockpile some grain himself to avoid higher prices later.
Stockpiling more grain was definitely the right decision.
When Yu Ying returned to the inn, Fu Wei had not yet come back, and the plainclothes yamen runners were still at the inn.
Since he had gone to the Governor's residence to submit the letter and make a report today, he obviously couldn’t start buying grain first.
Yu Ying shared two packs of the cakes she brought back and kept one for herself to taste.
Not until midday did Fu Wei and his elder brother return from the Governor's residence.
She happened to see the two brothers and noticed the elder brother's worried expression, clearly facing some trouble.
After entering the room and serving them tea, she opened the cakes and asked, "What happened?"
Fu Zhen, without even drinking his water, said, "Today at the Governor's residence, we were told that Erlang should prepare for a hunting expedition the day after tomorrow."
Yu Ying nodded and then suddenly realized, "Hunting? On horseback?!"
She looked at Fu Wei in astonishment.
Fu Wei helplessly nodded.
Yu Ying: ……
Expecting a disabled person to ride a horse – what was the Governor thinking?
The three of them sat in silence.
It was clear they were being made fun of. If Fu Wei didn't participate, they might face difficulties with the grain collection.
Yu Ying didn’t need to guess; she knew Fu Wei had no choice but to agree.
Yu Ying had heard that disabled people could ride horses, but the problem wasn’t about a disabled person riding; it was that Fu Wei wasn’t actually disabled. His muscle memory couldn’t be controlled, and if he wasn’t careful, his legs would move instinctively while on horseback, revealing the pretense of his disability.
Originally, the pretense of the leg disability was to deceive the Huo father and son, but if it suddenly healed in front of Governor Shen, that would be troublesome.
Even if Yu Ying didn't know Governor Shen well, she knew from his previous actions that he was a proud man who didn’t tolerate deceit.
Fu Wei looked at Yu Ying, "Can you perform acupuncture so that my legs temporarily lose sensation?"
Yu Ying was a bit troubled, "I know how to, but I’ve never tried it."
As a law-abiding good citizen, Yu Ying had learned these medical theories, but her practice had been in healing and saving people, not in methods that cause temporary leg paralysis.
Then she suddenly remembered something, "We could use a drug similar to anesthesia."
Fu Wei frowned, "But that's usually ingested."
Yu Ying said, "There are also topical applications, but their effects are shorter-lived."
After thinking for a moment, she added, "Besides that, we need to make a special saddle to secure your legs. Even if you can’t grip the horse with your legs, it would keep you stable in the saddle. However, with only two days left, it's unlikely we can make such a saddle."
And it would cost money.
This Governor Shen is really just about fun, oblivious to the people’s hardships.
Fu Wei fell silent for a moment, then said, "Before leaving the Governor's residence, the official who passed the message said that if I needed anything, I could ask him. Since the Governor is making things difficult for me, I certainly shouldn’t have to pay for the saddle myself."
The couple had the same idea.
Looking at each other, they both understood the other’s thoughts.
After all, they were about to buy grain. Together, they didn’t even have ten taels, and they were in debt by a hundred taels.
They were debt-ridden poor people.
After lunch, Fu Wei arranged for someone to purchase grain, then discussed with Yu Ying how to make the saddle.
Based on her knowledge from the modern era, Yu Ying quickly came up with a solution.
The stirrups, usually hanging from leather, would be replaced with two solid iron bars, adding four belt-like loops to securely fasten the lower legs. This would prevent a fall in case of leg disability and remind Fu Wei to act as if his legs were impaired.
After drawing a design, Fu Wei went out with a few people to the Governor's residence.
Upon arriving and explaining the purpose of their visit, the official spoke with the Governor, who readily approved and conveyed a message to Fu Wei.
"The Governor said, given Mr. Fu's leg condition, it's understandable to trouble others a bit. But if he doesn't perform well in this hunt, he shouldn't expect the Governor's help with future matters."
Fu Wei bowed gracefully and replied warmly, "Thank you for the Governor's kindness. I will do my utmost."
The official remembered the Governor's words – wondering about the odds if he bet on Fu Wei's hunting skills.
Thinking of this gave the official a headache.
The Governor loved to bet, always choosing the underdog, impossible for others to dissuade.
A win brought joy to all, but a loss meant trouble for everyone.
Considering this, the official softly advised, "I’ve seen Mr. Fu's impressive archery skills before. His horseback archery should also be decent. Given his leg condition, the Governor would understand. Placing within the top five might even earn some reward from him."
"The saddle should be ready by tomorrow evening. Come find me then, and I'll let you try it."
Fu Wei shook his head, "Someone might inform the Governor. If he finds out, he will surely punish you. Better not to."
Governor Shen was just looking for entertainment. If he knew Fu Wei had prior practice, he would be displeased.
The official, having served the Governor for many years, knew his temperament well and did not insist on the trial anymore.
Fu Wei said, "I'll remember your kindness, and should I ever succeed, I will not forget you."
The official smiled, thinking that Fu Wei, confined to a wheelchair, had little chance of success, but the flattering words still pleased him somewhat.
Before Fu Wei left, Yu Ying prepared many medicines for him.
"This is for treating colds, this medicinal wine is for injuries, and you know how to use it. This is hemostatic powder, and this is itching powder – you've seen how effective it was on Aunt Cui Lan. This is lime powder, throwing it in someone's eyes can buy you time to escape. This is 'Qingxin Pill,' if someone tries to drug you with something dishonorable, take it. At least you can escape and find a place to soak in cold water."
Yu Ying thought that novels were dramatic enough, but reality proved to be much more so. Keeping these medicines handy was a wise decision.
As Fu Wei listened to her detailing these items, he initially wore a light smile, but it gradually faded into concern as he realized the seriousness of her preparations.
"You've thought this through a bit too thoroughly..."
Yu Ying looked at Fu Wei seriously, "To others, you're handsome yet disabled, an easy target. Moreover, the Governor has specifically chosen you and expects you not to embarrass him. If you stand out, how can the able-bodied accept it? You might encounter petty people capable of despicable acts. It’s best to be cautious."
As she spoke, she tucked the medicine packets into his waistband and collar, reiterating their locations.
Fu Wei wouldn’t refuse her kindness.
After securing everything, ensuring nothing would fall out easily, Yu Ying handed him a bamboo container, "The needles inside have been boiled in anesthetic for two days and are soaked in medicinal liquid. When using them, don’t dry them off; just insert them where I showed you and leave them in place for a moment."
Taking the needle container, Fu Wei suddenly embraced Yu Ying, "I'll be back in five days, safe and sound."
Yu Ying patted his back.
Releasing Yu Ying, Fu Wei glanced at her smooth face, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Should we apply the spots again?"
Yu Ying: ……
Despite her many instructions, she felt that he was more worried about her being targeted than his own safety.
While Fu Wei went hunting with Governor Shen, Yu Ying stayed in the county seat.
With Song Sanlang helping to buy grain, Yu Ying assisted at the stall.
The weather was warm, and fewer people were buying rouge and face cream compared to autumn, winter, and spring, resulting in average business.
Perhaps noticing the absence of the tall and fierce-looking man, and seeing only two young women guarding the stall, someone with ill intentions came in, brandishing a jar of face cream and causing a scene, claiming their face was ruined after using the product and demanding compensation.
This kind of scam, a common trope in various novels, was nothing new to Yu Ying.
"You claim that using our face cream ruined your face. Then bring out the cream. Stay here while I call two doctors to examine and determine if it's the same cream. If our product is at fault, we'll certainly compensate. If not, I'll immediately report you to the authorities."
Yu Ying smiled and asked, "What do you think?"
The middle-aged woman was persistent, "You'll surely collude with the doctors and frame me. I don't care; my face is ruined. You must compensate, or you won’t be able to do business anymore."
While speaking, she shouted outside the stall, "Everyone, come and see! This Ru Yufang sold toxic face cream and won’t admit it. Look at my face, it became like this after using their product!"
After her outburst, a large crowd gathered around to watch.
Yu Ying carefully observed and noticed that the woman's facial swelling was only superficial, with no scratch marks – unlike an allergic reaction but rather like irritation caused by some herbal application.
The woman refused to verify the product, only making a scene and demanding money. What else was there to understand?
Arguing with such troublemakers was futile; reporting the matter to the authorities was the most direct approach and would deter future incidents.
Yu Ying gave Miss Su a signal, opening her mouth to mouth the words "report to the authorities."
Seizing the moment when everyone's attention was on Yu Ying and the woman, Miss Su discreetly ran out from the back.
Yu Ying calculated the distance to the government office and, as the woman continued making a scene outside the stall, ignored her.
The woman kept pointing at Yu Ying, endlessly ranting and raving, while the onlookers chimed in.
"This shop's face cream harms people! Everyone, don't buy here anymore. Using it will ruin your face."
"Exactly, just look at that woman's face. Who would dare to use it after seeing that?"
"I've been using it and it feels quite good actually..."
Someone quietly spoke up but was immediately interrupted, "You must be a shill for this stall. Didn’t you see her ruined face?! How can you say such things against your conscience!"
The crowd buzzed with discussion; as some left, others arrived.
The complaining woman, seeing the young shopkeeper ignoring her, flew into a rage, stood up, and charged into the stall, smashing things, "I'll make you pay by wrecking this place!"
She had smashed three jars of face cream before Yu Ying suddenly stepped forward and grabbed her wrist, quickly checking her pulse.
The pulse was steady, showing no signs of poisoning.
"Ow, ow, ow, let go of me! Everyone, judge for yourselves! They sell harmful face cream and now they're attacking me!"
"I’ve reported to the authorities."
"She's attacking someone, she's attacking..."
"I’ve reported to the authorities," Yu Ying repeated, and the middle-aged woman gradually stopped, with the crowd quieting down.
Yu Ying smiled at her, "It should be about time. Let’s go to the court and let the officials decide. They won’t make a mistake."
Yu Ying addressed the crowd outside, "So many people have used our face cream without any issues. It can't be that just because one person claiming to have used our product and refusing to verify it, showing up with a ruined face, demands compensation from me. Otherwise, anyone could falsely accuse me in the future."
"You, you're saying I’m falsely accusing you?!" The woman widened her eyes.
Yu Ying looked at her calmly, "I didn’t say you’re falsely accusing me. I only said we should let the officials investigate and find the truth. If there’s evidence proving you were harmed by our face cream, I’ll compensate and apologize publicly."
"If you are falsely accusing me," Yu Ying said with a gentle smile, "you can’t escape punishment. You'll face both the plank and imprisonment, not to mention paying for the three jars of face cream."
The onlookers exchanged glances.
Observing the young woman's calm demeanor and her decision to report to the authorities, they wondered if this was indeed a case of attempted extortion.
The woman was visibly panicked. She and her group had been eyeing this stall for a long time but hadn’t dared to act because of the presence of a strong man guarding it.
Today, with the strong man absent and a pretty, delicate-looking woman in charge, they thought they had an easy target, expecting her to just pay them off quickly without causing a fuss. They hadn't anticipated her calm response and actual move to involve the authorities!
Several of the loudest critics in the crowd sensed danger and quickly slipped away.
Yu Ying, however, loudly called out, "Your accomplices are abandoning you! Aren’t you going to stop them?"
Hearing 'accomplices', the crowd was startled, then noticed a few individuals hastily fleeing, betraying their guilt.
This observation made everything clear.
The woman panicked, attempting to struggle free, but the grip on her wrist was painfully strong, "It hurts so much! She's trying to cripple my hand! Help me pull her off, quickly!"
She genuinely felt as if her hand was rendered useless, surprised by the young woman's strength.
The crowd: ……
The lady was merely holding the woman's hand to prevent her escape, but she was dramatically acting as if it were a life-or-death situation, clearly playing the victim!
It didn’t take long for the constables to arrive.
Yu Ying, who had reported the matter, accompanied the woman to the yamen (government office).
The woman, taken to the yamen, collapsed in fear and had to be dragged along.
The commotion soon ended, and within half an hour, Yu Ying returned.
Those waiting for news saw her return and realized the woman was a fraud. Curious to know how the young woman had discerned this, they crowded into the stall to inquire.
The influx of people attracted genuine customers looking to buy rouge and face cream, boosting business unexpectedly.
When it was time to close the stall, Song Sanlang arrived, frowning deeply upon hearing Su Liu's account.
Yu Ying asked, “Did anyone cause trouble before?”
Su Liu nodded, “There were some, but they scattered as soon as Brother Song showed up. I think they targeted us because they saw two women as easy prey.”
“In any case, no one will dare to cause trouble so easily in the future.”
When everything was packed up, Yu Ying went aside to ask Song Sanlang, “How did the grain collection go?”
Song Sanlang replied, “Just collected today. Got five bags of grain and sent them to the house with a bullock cart.”
Five bags of grain would amount to five or six hundred catties.
Surely there would be more tomorrow.
Collecting grain concurrently with the officials would naturally slow things down a bit.
But with Fu Wei away for five days, they should manage to collect enough.
“By the way, that woman today tried to extort us. Failing that, she might resort to other underhanded tactics. Keep an eye on Miss Su these days, and don’t let her be alone.”
Song Sanlang was taken aback, “What about you, sister-in-law?”
Yu Ying smiled, “The inn is full of yamen runners from our Yu County. What’s there to fear?”
Song Sanlang nodded; that made sense. Even though Erlang wasn’t there, the lady of the Fu family wasn't alone at the inn.
When Yu Ying returned to the inn, she sensed something was amiss.
It seemed her worries had materialized.
——Someone was following her.
Without showing any concern, Yu Ying returned to the inn and instructed the innkeeper, "If anyone comes asking about me, subtly imply that my husband is away on a journey and I am alone. Or for any inquiries related to me, just respond vaguely."
The innkeeper was puzzled, "Madam, what do you mean by this?"
The innkeeper knew that the lady was accompanied by a group of officials at the inn.
Her husband seemed to have some status, and even though he was away, there were still several yamen runners at the inn.
Yu Ying spoke softly, "When I returned just now, I noticed a few suspicious-looking people observing me and even following me. They could be those child and woman traffickers."
Hearing this, the innkeeper, seeing Yu Ying's youth and beauty, didn’t doubt the possibility of traffickers and immediately showed anger, "Such audacity!"
Yu Ying quickly said, "I might be overly cautious and wrong, but we should be prepared. If someone really comes inquiring about me, then it's definitely them. We could catch them all at once and rid these scoundrels."
The innkeeper nodded repeatedly, "Rest assured, Madam. If they are traffickers, I will cooperate with you."
While it's better to avoid trouble, any issue involving officials or their families at his inn, especially if he knowingly lets traffickers go, could backfire badly.
Better to seize this opportunity to assist someone influential.
After giving a few instructions, Yu Ying returned to her room.
As she went back, someone followed her into the inn, watching her go upstairs before withdrawing their gaze.
This action didn’t escape the innkeeper’s notice.
The person then requested a room on the second floor.
The innkeeper assigned them a room sandwiched between two occupied by the yamen runners.
Just after the person left, a short middle-aged man entered the inn, looking breathless, and approached the counter, "Innkeeper, the lady who just came in, where did she go? She dropped her purse."
He produced a red purse, clearly a woman's accessory, presenting it convincingly.
The innkeeper realized this man and the previous one were in cahoots, trying to confirm the lady's room!
The innkeeper calmly said, "Give me the purse, and I'll deliver it to the lady."
As the innkeeper reached out, the man withdrew his hand, hastily saying, "No, no, that won't do. Who knows if you'll keep the lady's purse for yourself? I need to see the lady retrieve it with my own eyes to be assured."
The innkeeper raised an eyebrow and then called a servant to fetch Mrs. Yu.
Upon hearing this, the servant went upstairs to check Mrs. Yu's room.
Yu Ying emerged from her room, and upon hearing from the servant that someone had found her purse, she stated that her purse was not lost and it wasn't hers.
The servant then hurried back downstairs.
As Yu Ying was closing her door, she noticed that the door diagonally opposite to her was slightly ajar. As she looked in that direction, the door quietly closed.
Had she not known she was being followed, Yu Ying might not have realized that the purse was a lure.
Moreover, the rooms adjacent to that one seemed to be occupied by Yu County's plainclothes yamen runners, indistinguishable as such to the untrained eye.
The innkeeper had indeed chosen an excellent room placement.
Yu Ying couldn't help but smile after closing her door.
Since Fu Wei was not there, to avoid any impropriety, the inn’s yamen runners wouldn’t actively seek her out. However, they would greet her with a "Mrs. Yu" whenever they saw her, a reminder that they should be alerted.
If she wasn’t mistaken, these people were probably in cahoots with the woman who had caused trouble at the stall earlier.
These people might not just be scammers but could actually be human traffickers...
Speaking of traffickers, Yu Ying remembered the incident involving Fu An.
In the book, Fu An was abducted by traffickers.
Thinking of this, Yu Ying's expression darkened, her lips pressed tightly together.
She was determined not to let these people get away.
Chapter 123
After arranging everything at the clinic, Yu Ying managed to free up half a month to accompany Fu Wei to the county seat.
She didn't have much money on hand, only about 80,000 wen to buy grain.
Fu Wei somehow borrowed one hundred taels of silver, which Yu Ying didn’t question, but when she received the money, she thought to herself that they needed to work doubly hard to earn more.
Now, with a total of one hundred and eighty taels, and considering the current market price of grain at five wen per catty, they could buy around 3,600 catties.
Fu Wei planned to purchase grain along the way, and Yu Ying, not wanting any complications, decided to buy more after reaching the county seat.
The next day, before dawn, the horse carriage was already waiting outside.
Accompanying them were six ox carts rented from the yamen (government office).
"Only six ox carts would be enough?"
Once on the horse carriage, Fu Wei explained that these ox carts were for transporting grain back to Yu County along the way, and more would be hired in the county seat for further purchases.
What was originally a three-day journey would take about ten days due to detours to other counties for grain collection.
As Yu Ying passed through villages and county towns, she noticed the people appeared desolate and hollow-eyed.
Already burdened with heavy taxes in regular years, they had little grain left. Selling the remaining grain wouldn’t even cover their taxes, leaving them sleepless and nearly insane, almost like walking corpses.
If they were conscripted for corvée labor, they might not return for a decade or more, if at all.
Since Yu County had a three-month delay in tax payments, its people were distressed but not as despondent.
Yu Ying, seeing the plight of the people outside the carriage, sighed helplessly.
Seeing her troubled expression, Fu Wei leaned over to lower the carriage curtain.
Having grown up in an era of peace and prosperity, Yu Ying naturally felt distressed seeing such hardship.
"If it upsets you, don’t look," he said softly.
Yu Ying withdrew her gaze, shaking her head, "I can handle it."
The current situation was just the beginning; the real misery would come at year's end. If she couldn’t bear to see this, the future would be even harder to witness.
Fu Wei glanced at her but said nothing.
After finding an inn to stay, Fu Wei sent people to purchase grain.
Taking advantage of the low grain prices, many merchants would stock up. They planned to buy grain in three counties, and Fu Wei had people buy under the guise of merchants, spending two days in each county.
Even so, the grain collection was not as successful as hoped.
They managed to get only four cartloads of grain from two counties.
From what Fu Wei knew, the sale of old grain had just begun. Which merchants had acted so quickly?
Luo Dianshi, after investigating, discussed with Fu Wei: "I heard that a few days ago, someone aggressively bought grain for two days, likely the same group, claiming to be from a trading company. But there's no exact information on which company it is. They left right after buying. I checked at the yamen, and there's no record of this company. Obviously, someone in the yamen has been bribed."
If there was a large-scale grain purchase, the yamen officials would certainly know, but there was no record at the yamen, suggesting that either the clerks or the record-keepers had been bribed. The short duration of the purchase also meant that it wouldn’t attract much investigation.
Fu Wei pondered for a moment and said, "If they are hiding their identity to buy grain, it's surely not an upright one. County seats are less guarded, while the county seat is stricter. They would buy in county towns but wouldn't risk going to the county seat. Arrange to go directly to the county seat now. There’s no need to buy along the way anymore; it's no longer significant."
Luo Dianshi didn’t question further and went to make arrangements.
After Luo Dianshi left, Fu Wei’s brows were slightly furrowed.
Who exactly were these people buying the grain?
Originally planning to spend ten days buying grain along the way, but due to the unsatisfactory purchases, they spent only six days reaching the county seat.
Upon arriving at the county seat, Fu Wei personally delivered a letter from Magistrate Zhou to the Governor's residence.
After all, buying grain under the Governor’s watch required proper reporting.
Governor Shen, known for shirking his duties, left all affairs to his subordinates, reasoning that since he had no chance of promotion, why should he exert himself?
"Having employed so many people, why not put them to work instead of letting them idle?"
"If others are handling affairs, why shouldn't he indulge in eating, drinking, and pleasure?"
Although negligent, he occasionally inquired about county affairs.
Previously, Magistrate Zhou had sent a message regarding a staff issue, and Governor Shen had specifically instructed that any news from Yu County should be brought directly to him.
Two months later, receiving a letter from Yu County, especially delivered by the lame aide, piqued his curiosity.
"Could there be trouble in Wuling County?"
The reporting official replied, "No, my lord. This time, the aide from Yu County didn't come for Wuling County matters but to submit a petition regarding grain collection."
Saying this, he presented the letter.
Governor Shen took the letter, penned by Zhou Yi.
It explained that Yu County's granary was empty and sought to take advantage of the low grain prices to fill the granaries for future needs.
After reading, Governor Shen showed no particular reaction.
Grain collection was fine, but he naturally disapproved of doing it secretly. However, being informed was sufficient.
"My lord, shall I relay the message directly?" the official asked.
Governor Shen was about to agree, but then, recalling something, he suddenly smiled, "The weather is fine, and game in the mountains is plentiful. Since Fu Wei is skilled in archery and apparently good with horses, though I wonder if he can still ride with his lame leg?"
Finishing his thought, his smile broadened, "If we were to bet on Fu Wei's hunting skills, I wonder how big the odds would be?"
The official's face remained impassive, but inwardly he felt sympathy for the young gentleman.
Although the lord offered him protection, he would still take the opportunity to tease him.
Yu Ying settled down in the inn and then went to find the stall.
Previously, there was only a high table, but now it had been turned into a tent, providing both shade and shelter from the rain. It was about ten feet long and wide, occupying a large space, hence paying more rent.
Since Yu Ying had opened her own clinic, she asked Song Sanlang to imprint the name "Yongxi Hall" on all the jars he made for her.
Upon arriving at the stall, Song Sanlang was not there, only Miss Su was present. Yu Ying walked into the tent.
Miss Su was handing rouge to a customer and looked up to see a familiar face.
With curiosity, she approached, "Madam, what are you looking for?"
Yu Ying withdrew her gaze and smiled at her, "Miss Su, don't you recognize me?"
Miss Su, looking at the beautiful and gentle young woman in front of her, was momentarily puzzled but then realized in surprise, "Madam Yu?!"
Yu Ying nodded in confirmation.
Miss Su looked even more astonished, stuttering, "Madam Yu, your... your facial spots?"
Yu Ying replied with a smile, "They've been treated."
Miss Su had previously been hesitant to look closely, fearing it might make Madam Yu uncomfortable, so she only knew Madam Yu had facial spots. But now that they were gone, she took the opportunity to observe her more carefully.
"It's miraculous, not a trace left."
Yu Ying thought to herself that this was because she had meticulously washed off the makeup. After not applying the solution for a long time, naturally, there were no traces left.
Initially, Yu Ying hadn’t used the dark juice, but because she had applied it for over a year, there were still some slight traces which took some time to fade, making it appear more natural.
After Miss Su recovered from her surprise, Yu Ying then asked, “Where is Song Jun?”
Regaining her composure, Miss Su was about to answer when Song Sanlang, seeing Yu Ying, approached her.
Song Sanlang also seemed surprised to see Yu Ying, but did not stare rudely.
Song Sanlang explained, “Usually, Ah Liu watches the tent. As a man, it's not appropriate for me to stay there, so I set up a stall in front to sell snacks. It earns a little money and also helps keep an eye on things, to avoid trouble.”
Speaking of this, Song Sanlang became a bit reserved, “I've set up a stall and can earn some money, so you don’t need to give me money for food anymore.”
Yu Ying shook her head, “Let's discuss this when you return to Yu County to restock.”
It didn’t affect their business, so Yu Ying wasn’t concerned, but there were other matters that she needed Song Sanlang's help with. This minor issue didn’t require immediate discussion.
Hearing this, Song Sanlang understood that she had other matters to discuss and said, “Since you're here, I’ll talk to you about the profits of these past two months.”
Song Sanlang had previously returned to restock and had sent a letter mentioning the shortage of goods, the matter of the house, and planning to calculate the profits in detail when he returned to Yu County mid-year.
Yu Ying nodded, "Then let's go to a teahouse to talk."
Song Sanlang packed up his snack stall.
After Miss Su whispered a few words to him, he handed a few packages of cakes to Yu Ying.
"These were made by Miss Su. She said to give a few packages to the boss."
Miss Su, slightly embarrassed, said, "I can make cakes, and it just so happened that Brother Song was setting up a stall, so I volunteered."
Yu Ying glanced at them, seemingly understanding something, but chose not to comment, merely smiling as she accepted the cakes: "Then I thank Miss Su for her kindness."
Leaving the tent, Yu Ying hesitated for a moment before suggesting tactfully to Song Sanlang, "If Brother Song San likes the girl, you could use the opportunity of your elder brother being in the county seat to ask him to propose on your behalf."
Given the Song family's situation, it was clear that they couldn’t let them come to know where Song Sanlang was, or else he wouldn't have peaceful days ahead.
Fu Zhen, a year older than Song Sanlang, also referred to each other as brothers, so it was appropriate for him to propose on behalf of Song Sanlang.
Hearing this, even the rough Song Sanlang was a bit embarrassed.
"How did sister-in-law figure it out?"
Yu Ying smiled, "Your whispering might have seemed normal, but your eyes couldn’t hide the truth."
Song Sanlang fell silent for a moment, then said, "I am a man with no home to return to, uncertain if I can provide her a stable home."
A stable home...
Yu Ying smiled, refraining from persuading further, "Brother Song San knows best. I won’t say more."
Song Sanlang nodded in agreement.
The two arrived at the teahouse.
It was neither early nor late, so the place was not crowded.
They sat down in the most secluded corner on the second floor, which was sparsely populated. After the waiter brought the tea, Yu Ying got straight to the point, "Erlang and I have discussed taking advantage of the current low grain prices to stockpile grain in the storage we rented earlier, planning to sell it when prices rise."
Song Sanlang was startled, "Grain prices will rise? But grain is quite cheap right now, the better quality is five wen per catty, and the lower quality suffices at four wen. It might even get cheaper later."
Yu Ying shook her head, "I don’t think so." She lowered her voice, "Even if people sell their grain, they might not have enough to pay their taxes. Then, the young labor force will have to serve in corvée labor, reducing those available to work the fields, and consequently, the grain production will decrease, but the number of mouths to feed won’t."
This reasoning was what Yu Ying and Fu Wei had agreed upon.
Yu Ying didn't need a large amount of grain and didn’t have to transport it far from the county seat, so it could be done discreetly.
After hearing this, Song Sanlang thought about it and realized it made sense. He wondered if the grain prices would indeed be higher next year.
Song Sanlang looked at Yu Ying, "What does sister-in-law want me to do?"
Yu Ying didn’t beat around the bush, "It’s inconvenient for a woman like me to buy grain. Also, to avoid drawing attention to Fu Wei, it's not ideal for him to do it personally. So, I need your help to hire some people to buy grain."
Song Sanlang didn’t see any difficulty in this task and asked, "How much grain does sister-in-law want to buy?"
"Grain worth one hundred and eighty taels."
Song Sanlang was surprised.
One hundred and eighty taels worth of grain was a lot. Ordinary farming families, eating their own produce along with wild vegetables, would spend only two to three taels a year.
Even wealthier families would spend only around five taels.
With some economizing, such an amount of grain could last for three years.
After his initial surprise, he gradually regained his composure.
Both Erlang of the Fu family and his wife are exceptionally intelligent. One has been employed and highly valued in the yamen by the Magistrate, while the other, a young woman, has managed to open a clinic. Their wisdom and courage need no further explanation.
Not to mention that the wife also owes him a favor.
Working alongside them would surely not harm him and might even bring benefits.
Having understood this, Song Sanlang didn’t ask further and agreed, “Alright, I'll start looking for people to buy grain in the next few days.”
Yu Ying instructed softly, “Keep it discreet. If anyone asks, say you’re buying for someone else to earn some hard-earned money. Once the grain is collected, deliver it to the house. Then fill sacks with sand to pretend it’s grain and transport them out. Afterwards, you can move to that house and help keep watch.”
Hearing this, Song Sanlang nodded without any doubts.
“I’ll have my elder brother deliver the silver to you.”
Song Sanlang nodded and then asked, “The stall has made a profit of over twenty taels recently. Should we use that to buy grain as well?”
Yu Ying pondered for a moment and then agreed, “Take out twenty taels for buying grain, rounding it up to a whole number.”
Two hundred taels was not a large amount; it might raise a few curious questions in the county town, but it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary in the county seat.
After parting ways with Song Sanlang, Yu Ying returned to the inn.
Walking through the streets, Song Sanlang saw people selling grain and started to form his own plan.
The common people all wanted to keep some grain stored, but due to the need to pay taxes, they had to sell it, leaving them unable to save any.
Having some silver at hand, he thought it would be wise to stockpile some grain himself to avoid higher prices later.
Stockpiling more grain was definitely the right decision.
When Yu Ying returned to the inn, Fu Wei had not yet come back, and the plainclothes yamen runners were still at the inn.
Since he had gone to the Governor's residence to submit the letter and make a report today, he obviously couldn’t start buying grain first.
Yu Ying shared two packs of the cakes she brought back and kept one for herself to taste.
Not until midday did Fu Wei and his elder brother return from the Governor's residence.
She happened to see the two brothers and noticed the elder brother's worried expression, clearly facing some trouble.
After entering the room and serving them tea, she opened the cakes and asked, "What happened?"
Fu Zhen, without even drinking his water, said, "Today at the Governor's residence, we were told that Erlang should prepare for a hunting expedition the day after tomorrow."
Yu Ying nodded and then suddenly realized, "Hunting? On horseback?!"
She looked at Fu Wei in astonishment.
Fu Wei helplessly nodded.
Yu Ying: ……
Expecting a disabled person to ride a horse – what was the Governor thinking?
The three of them sat in silence.
It was clear they were being made fun of. If Fu Wei didn't participate, they might face difficulties with the grain collection.
Yu Ying didn’t need to guess; she knew Fu Wei had no choice but to agree.
Yu Ying had heard that disabled people could ride horses, but the problem wasn’t about a disabled person riding; it was that Fu Wei wasn’t actually disabled. His muscle memory couldn’t be controlled, and if he wasn’t careful, his legs would move instinctively while on horseback, revealing the pretense of his disability.
Originally, the pretense of the leg disability was to deceive the Huo father and son, but if it suddenly healed in front of Governor Shen, that would be troublesome.
Even if Yu Ying didn't know Governor Shen well, she knew from his previous actions that he was a proud man who didn’t tolerate deceit.
Fu Wei looked at Yu Ying, "Can you perform acupuncture so that my legs temporarily lose sensation?"
Yu Ying was a bit troubled, "I know how to, but I’ve never tried it."
As a law-abiding good citizen, Yu Ying had learned these medical theories, but her practice had been in healing and saving people, not in methods that cause temporary leg paralysis.
Then she suddenly remembered something, "We could use a drug similar to anesthesia."
Fu Wei frowned, "But that's usually ingested."
Yu Ying said, "There are also topical applications, but their effects are shorter-lived."
After thinking for a moment, she added, "Besides that, we need to make a special saddle to secure your legs. Even if you can’t grip the horse with your legs, it would keep you stable in the saddle. However, with only two days left, it's unlikely we can make such a saddle."
And it would cost money.
This Governor Shen is really just about fun, oblivious to the people’s hardships.
Fu Wei fell silent for a moment, then said, "Before leaving the Governor's residence, the official who passed the message said that if I needed anything, I could ask him. Since the Governor is making things difficult for me, I certainly shouldn’t have to pay for the saddle myself."
The couple had the same idea.
Looking at each other, they both understood the other’s thoughts.
After all, they were about to buy grain. Together, they didn’t even have ten taels, and they were in debt by a hundred taels.
They were debt-ridden poor people.
After lunch, Fu Wei arranged for someone to purchase grain, then discussed with Yu Ying how to make the saddle.
Based on her knowledge from the modern era, Yu Ying quickly came up with a solution.
The stirrups, usually hanging from leather, would be replaced with two solid iron bars, adding four belt-like loops to securely fasten the lower legs. This would prevent a fall in case of leg disability and remind Fu Wei to act as if his legs were impaired.
After drawing a design, Fu Wei went out with a few people to the Governor's residence.
Upon arriving and explaining the purpose of their visit, the official spoke with the Governor, who readily approved and conveyed a message to Fu Wei.
"The Governor said, given Mr. Fu's leg condition, it's understandable to trouble others a bit. But if he doesn't perform well in this hunt, he shouldn't expect the Governor's help with future matters."
Fu Wei bowed gracefully and replied warmly, "Thank you for the Governor's kindness. I will do my utmost."
The official remembered the Governor's words – wondering about the odds if he bet on Fu Wei's hunting skills.
Thinking of this gave the official a headache.
The Governor loved to bet, always choosing the underdog, impossible for others to dissuade.
A win brought joy to all, but a loss meant trouble for everyone.
Considering this, the official softly advised, "I’ve seen Mr. Fu's impressive archery skills before. His horseback archery should also be decent. Given his leg condition, the Governor would understand. Placing within the top five might even earn some reward from him."
"The saddle should be ready by tomorrow evening. Come find me then, and I'll let you try it."
Fu Wei shook his head, "Someone might inform the Governor. If he finds out, he will surely punish you. Better not to."
Governor Shen was just looking for entertainment. If he knew Fu Wei had prior practice, he would be displeased.
The official, having served the Governor for many years, knew his temperament well and did not insist on the trial anymore.
Fu Wei said, "I'll remember your kindness, and should I ever succeed, I will not forget you."
The official smiled, thinking that Fu Wei, confined to a wheelchair, had little chance of success, but the flattering words still pleased him somewhat.
Before Fu Wei left, Yu Ying prepared many medicines for him.
"This is for treating colds, this medicinal wine is for injuries, and you know how to use it. This is hemostatic powder, and this is itching powder – you've seen how effective it was on Aunt Cui Lan. This is lime powder, throwing it in someone's eyes can buy you time to escape. This is 'Qingxin Pill,' if someone tries to drug you with something dishonorable, take it. At least you can escape and find a place to soak in cold water."
Yu Ying thought that novels were dramatic enough, but reality proved to be much more so. Keeping these medicines handy was a wise decision.
As Fu Wei listened to her detailing these items, he initially wore a light smile, but it gradually faded into concern as he realized the seriousness of her preparations.
"You've thought this through a bit too thoroughly..."
Yu Ying looked at Fu Wei seriously, "To others, you're handsome yet disabled, an easy target. Moreover, the Governor has specifically chosen you and expects you not to embarrass him. If you stand out, how can the able-bodied accept it? You might encounter petty people capable of despicable acts. It’s best to be cautious."
As she spoke, she tucked the medicine packets into his waistband and collar, reiterating their locations.
Fu Wei wouldn’t refuse her kindness.
After securing everything, ensuring nothing would fall out easily, Yu Ying handed him a bamboo container, "The needles inside have been boiled in anesthetic for two days and are soaked in medicinal liquid. When using them, don’t dry them off; just insert them where I showed you and leave them in place for a moment."
Taking the needle container, Fu Wei suddenly embraced Yu Ying, "I'll be back in five days, safe and sound."
Yu Ying patted his back.
Releasing Yu Ying, Fu Wei glanced at her smooth face, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Should we apply the spots again?"
Yu Ying: ……
Despite her many instructions, she felt that he was more worried about her being targeted than his own safety.
While Fu Wei went hunting with Governor Shen, Yu Ying stayed in the county seat.
With Song Sanlang helping to buy grain, Yu Ying assisted at the stall.
The weather was warm, and fewer people were buying rouge and face cream compared to autumn, winter, and spring, resulting in average business.
Perhaps noticing the absence of the tall and fierce-looking man, and seeing only two young women guarding the stall, someone with ill intentions came in, brandishing a jar of face cream and causing a scene, claiming their face was ruined after using the product and demanding compensation.
This kind of scam, a common trope in various novels, was nothing new to Yu Ying.
"You claim that using our face cream ruined your face. Then bring out the cream. Stay here while I call two doctors to examine and determine if it's the same cream. If our product is at fault, we'll certainly compensate. If not, I'll immediately report you to the authorities."
Yu Ying smiled and asked, "What do you think?"
The middle-aged woman was persistent, "You'll surely collude with the doctors and frame me. I don't care; my face is ruined. You must compensate, or you won’t be able to do business anymore."
While speaking, she shouted outside the stall, "Everyone, come and see! This Ru Yufang sold toxic face cream and won’t admit it. Look at my face, it became like this after using their product!"
After her outburst, a large crowd gathered around to watch.
Yu Ying carefully observed and noticed that the woman's facial swelling was only superficial, with no scratch marks – unlike an allergic reaction but rather like irritation caused by some herbal application.
The woman refused to verify the product, only making a scene and demanding money. What else was there to understand?
Arguing with such troublemakers was futile; reporting the matter to the authorities was the most direct approach and would deter future incidents.
Yu Ying gave Miss Su a signal, opening her mouth to mouth the words "report to the authorities."
Seizing the moment when everyone's attention was on Yu Ying and the woman, Miss Su discreetly ran out from the back.
Yu Ying calculated the distance to the government office and, as the woman continued making a scene outside the stall, ignored her.
The woman kept pointing at Yu Ying, endlessly ranting and raving, while the onlookers chimed in.
"This shop's face cream harms people! Everyone, don't buy here anymore. Using it will ruin your face."
"Exactly, just look at that woman's face. Who would dare to use it after seeing that?"
"I've been using it and it feels quite good actually..."
Someone quietly spoke up but was immediately interrupted, "You must be a shill for this stall. Didn’t you see her ruined face?! How can you say such things against your conscience!"
The crowd buzzed with discussion; as some left, others arrived.
The complaining woman, seeing the young shopkeeper ignoring her, flew into a rage, stood up, and charged into the stall, smashing things, "I'll make you pay by wrecking this place!"
She had smashed three jars of face cream before Yu Ying suddenly stepped forward and grabbed her wrist, quickly checking her pulse.
The pulse was steady, showing no signs of poisoning.
"Ow, ow, ow, let go of me! Everyone, judge for yourselves! They sell harmful face cream and now they're attacking me!"
"I’ve reported to the authorities."
"She's attacking someone, she's attacking..."
"I’ve reported to the authorities," Yu Ying repeated, and the middle-aged woman gradually stopped, with the crowd quieting down.
Yu Ying smiled at her, "It should be about time. Let’s go to the court and let the officials decide. They won’t make a mistake."
Yu Ying addressed the crowd outside, "So many people have used our face cream without any issues. It can't be that just because one person claiming to have used our product and refusing to verify it, showing up with a ruined face, demands compensation from me. Otherwise, anyone could falsely accuse me in the future."
"You, you're saying I’m falsely accusing you?!" The woman widened her eyes.
Yu Ying looked at her calmly, "I didn’t say you’re falsely accusing me. I only said we should let the officials investigate and find the truth. If there’s evidence proving you were harmed by our face cream, I’ll compensate and apologize publicly."
"If you are falsely accusing me," Yu Ying said with a gentle smile, "you can’t escape punishment. You'll face both the plank and imprisonment, not to mention paying for the three jars of face cream."
The onlookers exchanged glances.
Observing the young woman's calm demeanor and her decision to report to the authorities, they wondered if this was indeed a case of attempted extortion.
The woman was visibly panicked. She and her group had been eyeing this stall for a long time but hadn’t dared to act because of the presence of a strong man guarding it.
Today, with the strong man absent and a pretty, delicate-looking woman in charge, they thought they had an easy target, expecting her to just pay them off quickly without causing a fuss. They hadn't anticipated her calm response and actual move to involve the authorities!
Several of the loudest critics in the crowd sensed danger and quickly slipped away.
Yu Ying, however, loudly called out, "Your accomplices are abandoning you! Aren’t you going to stop them?"
Hearing 'accomplices', the crowd was startled, then noticed a few individuals hastily fleeing, betraying their guilt.
This observation made everything clear.
The woman panicked, attempting to struggle free, but the grip on her wrist was painfully strong, "It hurts so much! She's trying to cripple my hand! Help me pull her off, quickly!"
She genuinely felt as if her hand was rendered useless, surprised by the young woman's strength.
The crowd: ……
The lady was merely holding the woman's hand to prevent her escape, but she was dramatically acting as if it were a life-or-death situation, clearly playing the victim!
It didn’t take long for the constables to arrive.
Yu Ying, who had reported the matter, accompanied the woman to the yamen (government office).
The woman, taken to the yamen, collapsed in fear and had to be dragged along.
The commotion soon ended, and within half an hour, Yu Ying returned.
Those waiting for news saw her return and realized the woman was a fraud. Curious to know how the young woman had discerned this, they crowded into the stall to inquire.
The influx of people attracted genuine customers looking to buy rouge and face cream, boosting business unexpectedly.
When it was time to close the stall, Song Sanlang arrived, frowning deeply upon hearing Su Liu's account.
Yu Ying asked, “Did anyone cause trouble before?”
Su Liu nodded, “There were some, but they scattered as soon as Brother Song showed up. I think they targeted us because they saw two women as easy prey.”
“In any case, no one will dare to cause trouble so easily in the future.”
When everything was packed up, Yu Ying went aside to ask Song Sanlang, “How did the grain collection go?”
Song Sanlang replied, “Just collected today. Got five bags of grain and sent them to the house with a bullock cart.”
Five bags of grain would amount to five or six hundred catties.
Surely there would be more tomorrow.
Collecting grain concurrently with the officials would naturally slow things down a bit.
But with Fu Wei away for five days, they should manage to collect enough.
“By the way, that woman today tried to extort us. Failing that, she might resort to other underhanded tactics. Keep an eye on Miss Su these days, and don’t let her be alone.”
Song Sanlang was taken aback, “What about you, sister-in-law?”
Yu Ying smiled, “The inn is full of yamen runners from our Yu County. What’s there to fear?”
Song Sanlang nodded; that made sense. Even though Erlang wasn’t there, the lady of the Fu family wasn't alone at the inn.
When Yu Ying returned to the inn, she sensed something was amiss.
It seemed her worries had materialized.
——Someone was following her.
Without showing any concern, Yu Ying returned to the inn and instructed the innkeeper, "If anyone comes asking about me, subtly imply that my husband is away on a journey and I am alone. Or for any inquiries related to me, just respond vaguely."
The innkeeper was puzzled, "Madam, what do you mean by this?"
The innkeeper knew that the lady was accompanied by a group of officials at the inn.
Her husband seemed to have some status, and even though he was away, there were still several yamen runners at the inn.
Yu Ying spoke softly, "When I returned just now, I noticed a few suspicious-looking people observing me and even following me. They could be those child and woman traffickers."
Hearing this, the innkeeper, seeing Yu Ying's youth and beauty, didn’t doubt the possibility of traffickers and immediately showed anger, "Such audacity!"
Yu Ying quickly said, "I might be overly cautious and wrong, but we should be prepared. If someone really comes inquiring about me, then it's definitely them. We could catch them all at once and rid these scoundrels."
The innkeeper nodded repeatedly, "Rest assured, Madam. If they are traffickers, I will cooperate with you."
While it's better to avoid trouble, any issue involving officials or their families at his inn, especially if he knowingly lets traffickers go, could backfire badly.
Better to seize this opportunity to assist someone influential.
After giving a few instructions, Yu Ying returned to her room.
As she went back, someone followed her into the inn, watching her go upstairs before withdrawing their gaze.
This action didn’t escape the innkeeper’s notice.
The person then requested a room on the second floor.
The innkeeper assigned them a room sandwiched between two occupied by the yamen runners.
Just after the person left, a short middle-aged man entered the inn, looking breathless, and approached the counter, "Innkeeper, the lady who just came in, where did she go? She dropped her purse."
He produced a red purse, clearly a woman's accessory, presenting it convincingly.
The innkeeper realized this man and the previous one were in cahoots, trying to confirm the lady's room!
The innkeeper calmly said, "Give me the purse, and I'll deliver it to the lady."
As the innkeeper reached out, the man withdrew his hand, hastily saying, "No, no, that won't do. Who knows if you'll keep the lady's purse for yourself? I need to see the lady retrieve it with my own eyes to be assured."
The innkeeper raised an eyebrow and then called a servant to fetch Mrs. Yu.
Upon hearing this, the servant went upstairs to check Mrs. Yu's room.
Yu Ying emerged from her room, and upon hearing from the servant that someone had found her purse, she stated that her purse was not lost and it wasn't hers.
The servant then hurried back downstairs.
As Yu Ying was closing her door, she noticed that the door diagonally opposite to her was slightly ajar. As she looked in that direction, the door quietly closed.
Had she not known she was being followed, Yu Ying might not have realized that the purse was a lure.
Moreover, the rooms adjacent to that one seemed to be occupied by Yu County's plainclothes yamen runners, indistinguishable as such to the untrained eye.
The innkeeper had indeed chosen an excellent room placement.
Yu Ying couldn't help but smile after closing her door.
Since Fu Wei was not there, to avoid any impropriety, the inn’s yamen runners wouldn’t actively seek her out. However, they would greet her with a "Mrs. Yu" whenever they saw her, a reminder that they should be alerted.
If she wasn’t mistaken, these people were probably in cahoots with the woman who had caused trouble at the stall earlier.
These people might not just be scammers but could actually be human traffickers...
Speaking of traffickers, Yu Ying remembered the incident involving Fu An.
In the book, Fu An was abducted by traffickers.
Thinking of this, Yu Ying's expression darkened, her lips pressed tightly together.
She was determined not to let these people get away.
