Chapter 21
After finishing her porridge, Yu Ying returned to the kitchen to check on the boiling water.
Seeing the water boil, Yu Ying poured it into a new basin and started boiling another pot.
Then, she fetched half a bucket of cold water to mix with the hot, and after washing her hair, the other pot of water was ready.
After filling a basin with the mixed water, she began to bathe, the warm water pouring over her body felt immensely soothing.
This long-missed sensation made Yu Ying realize how blissful a simple bath could be.
The used bathwater would seep into the sand and stones, eventually flowing out to a pit outside.
Yu Ying wanted to grow vegetables in the courtyard, but fetching water from the river was too cumbersome, so she decided to dig a pit behind the bathhouse using the shovels and hoes brought by Aunt He in the afternoon.
When He family's eldest son learned she was digging a pit to store water for watering plants, he took over and quickly dug a large pit, surrounding it with bamboo sticks to prevent accidents.
After her bath, Yu Ying felt an incredible sense of relaxation throughout her body.
When it was Mrs. Luo's turn to bathe, stepping on the sand and stones after removing her straw sandals, a comforting sensation spread from her feet, accompanied by a bittersweet thought of no longer needing to bathe hastily.
Fearing her daughter-in-law might find her unclean, Mrs. Luo scrubbed for a long time, enjoying a thorough and relaxing bath.
Emerging from the bath, the cool breeze greeted her, leaving her feeling refreshed all over.
She wondered if the herbal concoctions prescribed by the Yu family were taking effect; lately, she had felt a significant improvement in her health.
Initially, Mrs. Luo had little hope for the restoration of her sight, but now, feeling her weakness abating, hope resurfaced, motivating her daily cooperation with blindfolding and medication.
Even when mocked by the village elders and children for blindfolding herself unnecessarily, she turned a deaf ear, pretending not to hear.
The thought of possibly curing her blindness was tempered by the concern for her granddaughter's muteness.
Lost in thought, Mrs. Luo suddenly heard Mrs. Yu calling Ningning for a bath.
Even without sight, she could imagine the harmonious interaction between the two.
In this family, Ningning and Mrs. Yu had the most harmonious relationship.
Mrs. Luo, aware of Mrs. Yu's fondness for Ningning, wondered if she should mention Ningning's muteness, uncertain whether Mrs. Yu would be willing or able to treat it.
Meanwhile, as Yu Ying bathed Fu Ning, Fu An, who went to fetch water from the river, took the opportunity to bathe there.
In this household, Fu An's physique was considered robust, only hindered by past overexertion and malnutrition, leading to his slight frame. With proper nutrition moving forward, it wasn't a significant concern.
Given the current warm weather, river bathing was still acceptable, so Yu Ying didn't insist otherwise.
After dressing Fu Ning and exiting the kitchen, Yu Ying saw Mrs. Luo standing under a tree, lost in thought with a worried expression.
Mrs. Luo had been in this state for days, burdened with many worries. Yu Ying, feeling it inappropriate to console her, chose to remain unobtrusive.
After a moment of thought, she called out to Mrs. Luo, "Mother, it's time for your medicine."
Lacking a formal title, Yu Ying temporarily adopted "Mother" as a term of address based on her current relationship with Mrs. Luo.
Standing under the tree, Luo Shi heard Yu Ying's voice and turned, cautiously walking over with the help of a bamboo pole.
As Luo Shi approached, Yu Ying spoke up, "The medicine has been decocted. I just poured it into a bowl. It should be cool enough to drink now."
Hearing the distance of the voice, Luo Shi stopped and after a moment of silence, said to her granddaughter, "Ning Ning, go and see why your brother hasn't returned for so long."
Fu Ning nodded and obediently let go of Yu Ying's hand, leaving the yard to look for her brother by the river.
Yu Ying remembered telling Fu An to wash up at the river before returning, and since Fu Ning had just finished washing, he probably wouldn't be back so soon.
Thinking it over, Yu Ying realized Luo Shi intentionally sent Fu Ning away and asked, "Is there something you want to talk about?"
Luo Shi hesitated for a few moments before asking, "Can Ning Ning speak again in the future?"
Yu Ying knew this question was inevitable, so she wasn't in a hurry to ask, and she had been observing Fu Ning's condition these past days.
Yu Ying inquired, "Has Ning Ning always been unable to speak, or did she have an illness before?"
Luo Shi shook her head, saying, "She could speak until she was two, but then suddenly stopped. She hasn't had any serious illness, and no matter how much we asked, we couldn't figure out why. Even the doctors said there was nothing wrong."
Yu Ying pondered for a moment. If Fu Ning could speak before two and hadn't had any serious illnesses, why did she suddenly stop speaking?
Was it because of the departure of Fu Da Lang and his wife?
But Fu Da Lang and his wife left the Fu family when Fu Ning was only about one year old. Her inability to speak happened after she was two, so the timeline didn't match.
After pondering for a while, Yu Ying analyzed, "For a young child to suddenly stop speaking, it's either due to a serious illness, environmental influences, or a traumatic experience."
Yu Ying elaborated, "A serious illness would be a high fever or a disease that could cause loss of consciousness. Environmental influence means no one speaks to her or pays attention to her."
"As for a traumatic experience, it could be that she was threatened not to speak, or during a dangerous situation, she was told not to make a sound or face terrible consequences. It's also possible she witnessed something frightening, which scared her into silence."
Towards the end, Yu Ying asked her, "Think carefully, what happened before Ning Ning stopped speaking?"
Luo Shi, after hearing her words, was momentarily stunned and began to recall when Fu An's voice suddenly interrupted.
"I know, it's the little uncle!"
Hearing this, Mrs. Luo turned towards the source of the sound, while Yu Ying also looked towards the yard's entrance.
Fu An, carrying water, appeared indignant, whereas the smiling Fu Ning beside him seemed utterly bewildered.
Fu An continued, "It must have been the former little uncle's doing!"
At the mention of "former little uncle," Fu Ning's small frame shuddered, and a look of fear appeared on her face.
Just as Fu An was about to say more, Yu Ying quickly interrupted him, "Pour the water into the tank first, we can talk about this later."
As Fu An opened his mouth to continue, Yu Ying stepped forward, took the bucket from his hands, and whispered a reminder, "Don't frighten your sister."
Fu An paused for a moment, then turned to look at his sister, noticing her pale face. He quickly understood and closed his mouth.
Yu Ying sighed, then carried the water to the tank and poured it in.
After setting down the bucket, she picked up Fu Ning and gently asked, "Do you want to continue sleeping with your little aunt tonight?"
The somewhat dazed Fu Ning, hearing this, looked at her little auntie. Some color returned to her face, and she nodded lightly, then leaned on Yu Ying's shoulder.
Yu Ying glanced at Mrs. Luo's equally stunned expression and said to Fu An, "Go inside and burn some mugwort to keep the mosquitoes away. I'll come by later tonight."
Fu An nodded and went inside to start burning the mugwort.
Yu Ying then said to Mrs. Luo, "I'll take Ningning with me to sleep tonight."
Mrs. Luo nodded as if awakening from a trance.
Yu Ying kept Fu Ning by her side, and after preparing the cold jelly dessert, she took her inside the house.
They lay down together on the bed, with Yu Ying gently patting her back to soothe her.
It wasn't until it was completely dark that Fu Ning finally fell asleep.
After Fu Ning was asleep, Yu Ying carefully got up, only to find the little girl's hand tightly clutching her clothes.
Yu Ying gently pried open her fingers, placed a thin quilt in her hand, and then left the room.
Yu Ying walked to the neighboring room, stood outside the straw curtain, and asked in a low voice, "Fu An, are you asleep yet?"
Soon, Fu An opened the curtain in the dark, and Yu Ying, guided by her senses, entered the room. She stood at the doorway and asked softly, "Fu An, what were you trying to say in the yard earlier?"
Mrs. Luo's mind was in turmoil, vaguely understanding what her grandson was referring to, leaving her restless. Her heart settled a bit only after Mrs. Yu arrived.
Fu Wei looked towards the door, seeing nothing but sensing someone's presence.
Fu An also spoke softly, careful not to be overheard by his sister, yet his emotions were palpable.
He said, "I remember when my sister was about two, after our little uncle arrived at our house, grandma's saved silver coins disappeared. Then, my sister started having nightmares and talking in her sleep about lots of blood, and kept calling for dad and mom. Not long after, she stopped speaking."
Fu An, being only six at the time, couldn't recall everything clearly, so he recounted as best as he could from memory.
Hearing Fu An's words, Yu Ying frowned thoughtfully.
Hearing what Fu An said, it seemed that the son of the prefect didn't live with the Fu family, but that wasn't the main issue. The key point was that Fu Ning might have been threatened or intimidated by him.
A child of only two years old at that time, although possibly unable to clearly remember past events, would still have an impression of the most terrifying ones, possibly resulting in a psychological shadow that has prevented her from speaking to this day.
Luo Shi might not have fully believed her grandson before, but after experiencing the incident of her second son's leg being broken, she now did. With a trembling voice, she asked, "An An, think carefully about what exactly happened back then."
Fu An, with a furrowed brow, recalled the past events. After a while, as if suddenly remembering something, he exclaimed, "I remember now! Not long after, Grandma, while you were cleaning the yard, you found a chicken head. We couldn't afford chicken, and coincidentally someone in the village had lost one. Fearing being wrongly accused, you buried the chicken head and told me not to speak of it."
Hearing this, Luo Shi suddenly remembered the incident from two years ago.
Yu Ying, listening to Fu An's words, also had a rough idea of what had happened.
Their previous uncle stole chickens and money and was caught by Fu Ning, after which he threatened her by chopping off the chicken's head right in front of her.
Witnessing someone chop off a chicken's head and being splattered with blood would be terrifying even for a normal adult, let alone a two-year-old child.
Yu Ying glanced towards the direction of the bamboo bed, unable to see her hand in front of her face, and was unsure of Fu Wei's current expression.
Luo Shi, leaning on the table and barely able to stand steady, asked after a long pause, "Can Ning Ning be cured?"
After pondering for a while, Yu Ying said, "There are two possible reasons for her current muteness. First, she might still remember the threat and is too scared to speak. Second, she was too young when she stopped speaking, and having not spoken for so long, she might have forgotten that she can speak."
Yu Ying paused, thought for a moment, and then said, "As the saying goes, 'A psychological problem requires a psychological cure.' Ning Ning's muteness can't be treated with medicine, but rather by providing her with a sense of security over time, letting her know she won't be harmed, and then gradually guiding her to speak again."
"Does that mean there's a chance Ning Ning could speak again?!" Luo Shi's emotions suddenly became agitated.
Yu Ying paused for a moment, then told the truth: "There's only a fifty percent chance."
Hearing this, Luo Shi fell silent, as if doused with cold water.
Fu Wei, who had been silent until now, spoke up with a calm tone, "I once heard of a similar case. A young child witnessed his parents being brutally killed by thieves. He always remembered his mother's last words to stay silent, so he didn't speak a word until he was in his teens."
As he spoke, Fu Wei looked at Yu Ying with a hint of curiosity.
Her knowledge seemed extensive, which was unusual, as daughters from prominent families usually led sheltered lives with limited exposure.
Yet her demeanor was composed and knowledgeable, far surpassing young physicians. If she wasn't from a distinguished family, how could she be so exceptionally well-cultured?
Hearing Fu Wei's story, Mrs. Luo regained some composure and saw a glimmer of hope. She eagerly said to Yu Ying, "Miss Liu, my eyesight can wait, but can you treat Ningning's muteness first?"
Yu Ying felt a sense of frustration about little Fu Ning's situation. After sighing, she explained to Mrs. Luo, "This is not something that can be rushed. It's better to first treat your eyesight, so you can take good care of her. I'll also try to teach her to speak."
After a moment of silence in the room, Yu Ying spoke first, "It's late, let's all rest for now. We can slowly figure out what to do next."
Having said that, she lifted the curtain and left the room.
The room fell into a peaceful quiet.
When Yu Ying returned to her room and lay down, she pulled the thin quilt over Fu Ning, gently patting her back with a touch of sympathy.
In the morning, as the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window and fell on Yu Ying's face, she woke up.
As she got up to comb her hair, Fu Ning also woke up, sitting on the bed yawning and rubbing her sleepy eyes.
After arranging her hair into a simple bun, Yu Ying turned to her with a gentle smile and tenderly rubbed her head.
Perhaps sensing her little aunt's affection, Fu Ning beamed at Yu Ying with a bright smile.
Yu Ying told her, "Today, your little aunt is going to the market and will be back in the afternoon. Ningning, will you stay at home and keep grandma company, alright?"
Fu Ning wanted to go along, but remembering her grandmother's mention of the cost for a carriage ride, she obediently nodded, not showing any displeasure.
Yu Ying combed her hair, then led her out of the house.
The Fu family was so poor that they never had the habit of eating breakfast, but seeing that it was still early and having enough Bixie fruit for two days, Yu Ying decided to use her spare time to cook some cabbage porridge.
After drinking a few sips of the porridge, she covered the half bucket of Liangfen (grass jelly) with the freshly washed herbs, then left the house carrying the bucket and a half basket of herbs.
Chen Da Ye brought her some vegetables, including spinach, radish, green onions, and chive seeds, charging only two wen (a unit of money).
Along the way, Chen Da Ye enthusiastically shared his knowledge about gardening with her. Yu Ying listened intently, and so did the people accompanying them.
Upon reaching Wu Ji's eatery, Yu Ying handed over the Liangfen to Manager Chen.
Manager Chen, seeing Yu Ying, promptly settled the remaining money for the ice jelly from the day before yesterday, as well as the earnings from yesterday's Liangfen sales, totaling nineteen wen.
After counting out the copper coins, Manager Chen, not being busy, chatted with Yu Ying for a bit.
"It seems our eatery's business these past few days has caught the attention of others. Other eateries have started to copy us, selling drinks with their food at low prices. Fortunately, our ice jelly's novelty hasn't worn off, so those who haven't tried it are still willing to give it a taste."
Upon hearing this, Yu Ying thought for a moment, then said, "In addition to adding sugar water to the ice jelly, other flavors can also be made."
Manager Chen, intrigued, asked, "What other flavors can be made?"
Yu Ying replied, "It can be made with lychee flavor, pear flavor, and various other tastes."
Hearing her proposal, Shopkeeper Chen hastily waved it off, "That won't do. Raising the price increases the cost, and if it's too high, people might not buy it. Unsold stock would be on your hands, not a wise move."
Yu Ying firmly believed in taking risks, so she confidently responded, "I'm willing to bear all the losses. I'll set the price, and regarding the profit, we'll split it thirty to seventy."
Shopkeeper Chen, intrigued by her willingness to take on all losses yet maintaining a facade, chuckled, "If you sell it for three coins a bowl, I'd only earn one coin. Such a small profit margin wouldn't be acceptable to the owner."
Yu Ying stood firm, speaking calmly, "Though we might not make much profit from the ice cream, stagnation leads to a decline in customers. Only innovation draws them in. Besides, for Shopkeeper Chen's owner, this is a no-investment venture. Even earning one coin is still a profit, right?"
She continued, "Profit, coupled with attracting more patrons, surely is a win-win situation. Shopkeeper Chen and the owner surely understand this."
Hearing her reasoning, Shopkeeper Chen realized she was not easily persuaded and, after a moment of thought, said, "I can suggest this to the owner, but can we be the only eatery selling your ice cream?"
Other eateries offered common drinks like sour plum tea and night-blooming jasmine tea at low prices. If other places also sold this ice cream, customers might feel indifferent about which eatery to visit.
Without explicitly stating it, Yu Ying understood his implication and replied, "Shopkeeper Chen helped me first, I couldn't possibly be ungrateful."
Shopkeeper Chen smiled at her words.
"So, please speak well of me to the owner. Also, in winter, I plan to make some winter drinks. If the owner is willing, I can also bring them here to sell. How does that sound?"
It wasn't just the ice cream that impressed Shopkeeper Chen, but also Yu Ying's articulation and logical negotiation.
She clearly had genuine skills.
"Agreed, I'll speak with the owner right away and get back to you by this afternoon."
Yu Ying smiled and thanked him.
After bidding farewell to Shopkeeper Chen, Yu Ying was about to leave with her basket when he noticed the half-dried herbs inside. Recalling seeing her with a basket of herbs several times, he curiously asked, "Are these all medicinal herbs?"
Yu Ying nodded, "Yes, they are medicinal herbs. I'm planning to take them to the medical hall."
"You can distinguish medicinal herbs?"
Yu Ying modestly replied, "I learned a bit from my family, but I don't know much."
Hearing her mention of identifying herbs, Shopkeeper Chen looked at her with newfound respect: "No wonder you mentioned making winter drinks earlier. If you can identify herbs, you're certainly capable of that."
He added, "However, if you take those herbs to the medical hall, they might only fetch a few coins."
Sensing something more in his words, Yu Ying paused her departure and asked, "Does Shopkeeper Chen have any advice?"
"It's not really a trick, but being close to the border, Jade County often sees merchants passing through. They talk about various things while eating at the eatery, and I happen to overhear."
Lowering his voice, Shopkeeper Chen cautioned her, "Don't spread this around or mention that it came from me. Interfering with the medical hall's business could offend some people."
Yu Ying quickly nodded in agreement, "I won't be too conspicuous about any opportunity to earn more money."
Shopkeeper Chen, reassured, then shared, "Among the travelers, some are medicinal herb traders. They come to Lingnan to buy cheap labor and herbs, then sell them at a high price to medical and herb shops in prosperous cities. They usually buy from medical halls to ensure quality and avoid counterfeit herbs."
Yu Ying realized why the medical hall always accepted her herbs: they were not in need but rather reselling them.
"Where can I find these herb-buying merchants?" Yu Ying asked, intrigued by the prospect of earning more for her hard work.
Overhearing their conversation, a waiter, who was Shopkeeper Chen's nephew, interjected, "A herb merchant dined here yesterday. I heard they're staying in Jade County for another three or four days."
Shopkeeper Chen, not minding his nephew's presence, scolded, "Don't cause trouble. How do you know they were herb merchants?"
The waiter replied, "I know because they were discussing how our ice cream cools the body and moistens the intestines. I casually asked if they were doctors, and they said they were in the medicinal herb business."
The waiter continued, "He mentioned staying in Jade County for a few days and planned to bring his colleagues to try our ice cream. They might even come for lunch today."
Yu Ying thought it over and decided to wait and see if she could encounter the merchant, potentially earning more. If not, she could still take her herbs to the medical hall as planned, with no loss incurred.
With her mind made up, she discussed with Manager Chen, "I have nowhere else to be this afternoon, and I'd like to wait and see if I can meet the herbal merchant. Do you need any help here, Manager Chen?"
Manager Chen, looking slightly troubled, replied, "I'm not the boss here, so I really don't have the authority to hire anyone."
Yu Ying smiled, "I'm not asking for a wage. I just want to stay and help out. If you don’t need help, I can wait outside."
Relieved that she wasn't discussing money, Manager Chen said, "We have indeed been quite busy these days and could use a hand. There's no wage, but we can provide a meal. If that's acceptable to you, I can talk to the boss." He added, "Are you sure you're okay with no wage?"
With Yu County being so crowded and bustling, Yu Ying couldn't afford to be careless. Having a meal and a place to stay seemed like an excellent deal.
Yu Ying nodded, "I'm definitely okay with that."
The waiter, hearing that someone might help during the lunch rush, quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Recently, with an increase in customers, he had been swamped with washing dishes and waiting tables, nearly exhausting himself. Having someone to assist would certainly give him a break.
Yu Ying set down her herbs and started helping without waiting for Manager Chen to ask.
Seeing her earnestness, Manager Chen grew even more fond of her.
Taking advantage of the quiet before lunchtime and with no customers around, Manager Chen left his nephew in charge of the shop and went to the backyard to discuss the ice jelly and Yu Ying's help with the boss.
Chapter 21
After finishing her porridge, Yu Ying returned to the kitchen to check on the boiling water.
Seeing the water boil, Yu Ying poured it into a new basin and started boiling another pot.
Then, she fetched half a bucket of cold water to mix with the hot, and after washing her hair, the other pot of water was ready.
After filling a basin with the mixed water, she began to bathe, the warm water pouring over her body felt immensely soothing.
This long-missed sensation made Yu Ying realize how blissful a simple bath could be.
The used bathwater would seep into the sand and stones, eventually flowing out to a pit outside.
Yu Ying wanted to grow vegetables in the courtyard, but fetching water from the river was too cumbersome, so she decided to dig a pit behind the bathhouse using the shovels and hoes brought by Aunt He in the afternoon.
When He family's eldest son learned she was digging a pit to store water for watering plants, he took over and quickly dug a large pit, surrounding it with bamboo sticks to prevent accidents.
After her bath, Yu Ying felt an incredible sense of relaxation throughout her body.
When it was Mrs. Luo's turn to bathe, stepping on the sand and stones after removing her straw sandals, a comforting sensation spread from her feet, accompanied by a bittersweet thought of no longer needing to bathe hastily.
Fearing her daughter-in-law might find her unclean, Mrs. Luo scrubbed for a long time, enjoying a thorough and relaxing bath.
Emerging from the bath, the cool breeze greeted her, leaving her feeling refreshed all over.
She wondered if the herbal concoctions prescribed by the Yu family were taking effect; lately, she had felt a significant improvement in her health.
Initially, Mrs. Luo had little hope for the restoration of her sight, but now, feeling her weakness abating, hope resurfaced, motivating her daily cooperation with blindfolding and medication.
Even when mocked by the village elders and children for blindfolding herself unnecessarily, she turned a deaf ear, pretending not to hear.
The thought of possibly curing her blindness was tempered by the concern for her granddaughter's muteness.
Lost in thought, Mrs. Luo suddenly heard Mrs. Yu calling Ningning for a bath.
Even without sight, she could imagine the harmonious interaction between the two.
In this family, Ningning and Mrs. Yu had the most harmonious relationship.
Mrs. Luo, aware of Mrs. Yu's fondness for Ningning, wondered if she should mention Ningning's muteness, uncertain whether Mrs. Yu would be willing or able to treat it.
Meanwhile, as Yu Ying bathed Fu Ning, Fu An, who went to fetch water from the river, took the opportunity to bathe there.
In this household, Fu An's physique was considered robust, only hindered by past overexertion and malnutrition, leading to his slight frame. With proper nutrition moving forward, it wasn't a significant concern.
Given the current warm weather, river bathing was still acceptable, so Yu Ying didn't insist otherwise.
After dressing Fu Ning and exiting the kitchen, Yu Ying saw Mrs. Luo standing under a tree, lost in thought with a worried expression.
Mrs. Luo had been in this state for days, burdened with many worries. Yu Ying, feeling it inappropriate to console her, chose to remain unobtrusive.
After a moment of thought, she called out to Mrs. Luo, "Mother, it's time for your medicine."
Lacking a formal title, Yu Ying temporarily adopted "Mother" as a term of address based on her current relationship with Mrs. Luo.
Standing under the tree, Luo Shi heard Yu Ying's voice and turned, cautiously walking over with the help of a bamboo pole.
As Luo Shi approached, Yu Ying spoke up, "The medicine has been decocted. I just poured it into a bowl. It should be cool enough to drink now."
Hearing the distance of the voice, Luo Shi stopped and after a moment of silence, said to her granddaughter, "Ning Ning, go and see why your brother hasn't returned for so long."
Fu Ning nodded and obediently let go of Yu Ying's hand, leaving the yard to look for her brother by the river.
Yu Ying remembered telling Fu An to wash up at the river before returning, and since Fu Ning had just finished washing, he probably wouldn't be back so soon.
Thinking it over, Yu Ying realized Luo Shi intentionally sent Fu Ning away and asked, "Is there something you want to talk about?"
Luo Shi hesitated for a few moments before asking, "Can Ning Ning speak again in the future?"
Yu Ying knew this question was inevitable, so she wasn't in a hurry to ask, and she had been observing Fu Ning's condition these past days.
Yu Ying inquired, "Has Ning Ning always been unable to speak, or did she have an illness before?"
Luo Shi shook her head, saying, "She could speak until she was two, but then suddenly stopped. She hasn't had any serious illness, and no matter how much we asked, we couldn't figure out why. Even the doctors said there was nothing wrong."
Yu Ying pondered for a moment. If Fu Ning could speak before two and hadn't had any serious illnesses, why did she suddenly stop speaking?
Was it because of the departure of Fu Da Lang and his wife?
But Fu Da Lang and his wife left the Fu family when Fu Ning was only about one year old. Her inability to speak happened after she was two, so the timeline didn't match.
After pondering for a while, Yu Ying analyzed, "For a young child to suddenly stop speaking, it's either due to a serious illness, environmental influences, or a traumatic experience."
Yu Ying elaborated, "A serious illness would be a high fever or a disease that could cause loss of consciousness. Environmental influence means no one speaks to her or pays attention to her."
"As for a traumatic experience, it could be that she was threatened not to speak, or during a dangerous situation, she was told not to make a sound or face terrible consequences. It's also possible she witnessed something frightening, which scared her into silence."
Towards the end, Yu Ying asked her, "Think carefully, what happened before Ning Ning stopped speaking?"
Luo Shi, after hearing her words, was momentarily stunned and began to recall when Fu An's voice suddenly interrupted.
"I know, it's the little uncle!"
Hearing this, Mrs. Luo turned towards the source of the sound, while Yu Ying also looked towards the yard's entrance.
Fu An, carrying water, appeared indignant, whereas the smiling Fu Ning beside him seemed utterly bewildered.
Fu An continued, "It must have been the former little uncle's doing!"
At the mention of "former little uncle," Fu Ning's small frame shuddered, and a look of fear appeared on her face.
Just as Fu An was about to say more, Yu Ying quickly interrupted him, "Pour the water into the tank first, we can talk about this later."
As Fu An opened his mouth to continue, Yu Ying stepped forward, took the bucket from his hands, and whispered a reminder, "Don't frighten your sister."
Fu An paused for a moment, then turned to look at his sister, noticing her pale face. He quickly understood and closed his mouth.
Yu Ying sighed, then carried the water to the tank and poured it in.
After setting down the bucket, she picked up Fu Ning and gently asked, "Do you want to continue sleeping with your little aunt tonight?"
The somewhat dazed Fu Ning, hearing this, looked at her little auntie. Some color returned to her face, and she nodded lightly, then leaned on Yu Ying's shoulder.
Yu Ying glanced at Mrs. Luo's equally stunned expression and said to Fu An, "Go inside and burn some mugwort to keep the mosquitoes away. I'll come by later tonight."
Fu An nodded and went inside to start burning the mugwort.
Yu Ying then said to Mrs. Luo, "I'll take Ningning with me to sleep tonight."
Mrs. Luo nodded as if awakening from a trance.
Yu Ying kept Fu Ning by her side, and after preparing the cold jelly dessert, she took her inside the house.
They lay down together on the bed, with Yu Ying gently patting her back to soothe her.
It wasn't until it was completely dark that Fu Ning finally fell asleep.
After Fu Ning was asleep, Yu Ying carefully got up, only to find the little girl's hand tightly clutching her clothes.
Yu Ying gently pried open her fingers, placed a thin quilt in her hand, and then left the room.
Yu Ying walked to the neighboring room, stood outside the straw curtain, and asked in a low voice, "Fu An, are you asleep yet?"
Soon, Fu An opened the curtain in the dark, and Yu Ying, guided by her senses, entered the room. She stood at the doorway and asked softly, "Fu An, what were you trying to say in the yard earlier?"
Mrs. Luo's mind was in turmoil, vaguely understanding what her grandson was referring to, leaving her restless. Her heart settled a bit only after Mrs. Yu arrived.
Fu Wei looked towards the door, seeing nothing but sensing someone's presence.
Fu An also spoke softly, careful not to be overheard by his sister, yet his emotions were palpable.
He said, "I remember when my sister was about two, after our little uncle arrived at our house, grandma's saved silver coins disappeared. Then, my sister started having nightmares and talking in her sleep about lots of blood, and kept calling for dad and mom. Not long after, she stopped speaking."
Fu An, being only six at the time, couldn't recall everything clearly, so he recounted as best as he could from memory.
Hearing Fu An's words, Yu Ying frowned thoughtfully.
Hearing what Fu An said, it seemed that the son of the prefect didn't live with the Fu family, but that wasn't the main issue. The key point was that Fu Ning might have been threatened or intimidated by him.
A child of only two years old at that time, although possibly unable to clearly remember past events, would still have an impression of the most terrifying ones, possibly resulting in a psychological shadow that has prevented her from speaking to this day.
Luo Shi might not have fully believed her grandson before, but after experiencing the incident of her second son's leg being broken, she now did. With a trembling voice, she asked, "An An, think carefully about what exactly happened back then."
Fu An, with a furrowed brow, recalled the past events. After a while, as if suddenly remembering something, he exclaimed, "I remember now! Not long after, Grandma, while you were cleaning the yard, you found a chicken head. We couldn't afford chicken, and coincidentally someone in the village had lost one. Fearing being wrongly accused, you buried the chicken head and told me not to speak of it."
Hearing this, Luo Shi suddenly remembered the incident from two years ago.
Yu Ying, listening to Fu An's words, also had a rough idea of what had happened.
Their previous uncle stole chickens and money and was caught by Fu Ning, after which he threatened her by chopping off the chicken's head right in front of her.
Witnessing someone chop off a chicken's head and being splattered with blood would be terrifying even for a normal adult, let alone a two-year-old child.
Yu Ying glanced towards the direction of the bamboo bed, unable to see her hand in front of her face, and was unsure of Fu Wei's current expression.
Luo Shi, leaning on the table and barely able to stand steady, asked after a long pause, "Can Ning Ning be cured?"
After pondering for a while, Yu Ying said, "There are two possible reasons for her current muteness. First, she might still remember the threat and is too scared to speak. Second, she was too young when she stopped speaking, and having not spoken for so long, she might have forgotten that she can speak."
Yu Ying paused, thought for a moment, and then said, "As the saying goes, 'A psychological problem requires a psychological cure.' Ning Ning's muteness can't be treated with medicine, but rather by providing her with a sense of security over time, letting her know she won't be harmed, and then gradually guiding her to speak again."
"Does that mean there's a chance Ning Ning could speak again?!" Luo Shi's emotions suddenly became agitated.
Yu Ying paused for a moment, then told the truth: "There's only a fifty percent chance."
Hearing this, Luo Shi fell silent, as if doused with cold water.
Fu Wei, who had been silent until now, spoke up with a calm tone, "I once heard of a similar case. A young child witnessed his parents being brutally killed by thieves. He always remembered his mother's last words to stay silent, so he didn't speak a word until he was in his teens."
As he spoke, Fu Wei looked at Yu Ying with a hint of curiosity.
Her knowledge seemed extensive, which was unusual, as daughters from prominent families usually led sheltered lives with limited exposure.
Yet her demeanor was composed and knowledgeable, far surpassing young physicians. If she wasn't from a distinguished family, how could she be so exceptionally well-cultured?
Hearing Fu Wei's story, Mrs. Luo regained some composure and saw a glimmer of hope. She eagerly said to Yu Ying, "Miss Liu, my eyesight can wait, but can you treat Ningning's muteness first?"
Yu Ying felt a sense of frustration about little Fu Ning's situation. After sighing, she explained to Mrs. Luo, "This is not something that can be rushed. It's better to first treat your eyesight, so you can take good care of her. I'll also try to teach her to speak."
After a moment of silence in the room, Yu Ying spoke first, "It's late, let's all rest for now. We can slowly figure out what to do next."
Having said that, she lifted the curtain and left the room.
The room fell into a peaceful quiet.
When Yu Ying returned to her room and lay down, she pulled the thin quilt over Fu Ning, gently patting her back with a touch of sympathy.
In the morning, as the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window and fell on Yu Ying's face, she woke up.
As she got up to comb her hair, Fu Ning also woke up, sitting on the bed yawning and rubbing her sleepy eyes.
After arranging her hair into a simple bun, Yu Ying turned to her with a gentle smile and tenderly rubbed her head.
Perhaps sensing her little aunt's affection, Fu Ning beamed at Yu Ying with a bright smile.
Yu Ying told her, "Today, your little aunt is going to the market and will be back in the afternoon. Ningning, will you stay at home and keep grandma company, alright?"
Fu Ning wanted to go along, but remembering her grandmother's mention of the cost for a carriage ride, she obediently nodded, not showing any displeasure.
Yu Ying combed her hair, then led her out of the house.
The Fu family was so poor that they never had the habit of eating breakfast, but seeing that it was still early and having enough Bixie fruit for two days, Yu Ying decided to use her spare time to cook some cabbage porridge.
After drinking a few sips of the porridge, she covered the half bucket of Liangfen (grass jelly) with the freshly washed herbs, then left the house carrying the bucket and a half basket of herbs.
Chen Da Ye brought her some vegetables, including spinach, radish, green onions, and chive seeds, charging only two wen (a unit of money).
Along the way, Chen Da Ye enthusiastically shared his knowledge about gardening with her. Yu Ying listened intently, and so did the people accompanying them.
Upon reaching Wu Ji's eatery, Yu Ying handed over the Liangfen to Manager Chen.
Manager Chen, seeing Yu Ying, promptly settled the remaining money for the ice jelly from the day before yesterday, as well as the earnings from yesterday's Liangfen sales, totaling nineteen wen.
After counting out the copper coins, Manager Chen, not being busy, chatted with Yu Ying for a bit.
"It seems our eatery's business these past few days has caught the attention of others. Other eateries have started to copy us, selling drinks with their food at low prices. Fortunately, our ice jelly's novelty hasn't worn off, so those who haven't tried it are still willing to give it a taste."
Upon hearing this, Yu Ying thought for a moment, then said, "In addition to adding sugar water to the ice jelly, other flavors can also be made."
Manager Chen, intrigued, asked, "What other flavors can be made?"
Yu Ying replied, "It can be made with lychee flavor, pear flavor, and various other tastes."
Hearing her proposal, Shopkeeper Chen hastily waved it off, "That won't do. Raising the price increases the cost, and if it's too high, people might not buy it. Unsold stock would be on your hands, not a wise move."
Yu Ying firmly believed in taking risks, so she confidently responded, "I'm willing to bear all the losses. I'll set the price, and regarding the profit, we'll split it thirty to seventy."
Shopkeeper Chen, intrigued by her willingness to take on all losses yet maintaining a facade, chuckled, "If you sell it for three coins a bowl, I'd only earn one coin. Such a small profit margin wouldn't be acceptable to the owner."
Yu Ying stood firm, speaking calmly, "Though we might not make much profit from the ice cream, stagnation leads to a decline in customers. Only innovation draws them in. Besides, for Shopkeeper Chen's owner, this is a no-investment venture. Even earning one coin is still a profit, right?"
She continued, "Profit, coupled with attracting more patrons, surely is a win-win situation. Shopkeeper Chen and the owner surely understand this."
Hearing her reasoning, Shopkeeper Chen realized she was not easily persuaded and, after a moment of thought, said, "I can suggest this to the owner, but can we be the only eatery selling your ice cream?"
Other eateries offered common drinks like sour plum tea and night-blooming jasmine tea at low prices. If other places also sold this ice cream, customers might feel indifferent about which eatery to visit.
Without explicitly stating it, Yu Ying understood his implication and replied, "Shopkeeper Chen helped me first, I couldn't possibly be ungrateful."
Shopkeeper Chen smiled at her words.
"So, please speak well of me to the owner. Also, in winter, I plan to make some winter drinks. If the owner is willing, I can also bring them here to sell. How does that sound?"
It wasn't just the ice cream that impressed Shopkeeper Chen, but also Yu Ying's articulation and logical negotiation.
She clearly had genuine skills.
"Agreed, I'll speak with the owner right away and get back to you by this afternoon."
Yu Ying smiled and thanked him.
After bidding farewell to Shopkeeper Chen, Yu Ying was about to leave with her basket when he noticed the half-dried herbs inside. Recalling seeing her with a basket of herbs several times, he curiously asked, "Are these all medicinal herbs?"
Yu Ying nodded, "Yes, they are medicinal herbs. I'm planning to take them to the medical hall."
"You can distinguish medicinal herbs?"
Yu Ying modestly replied, "I learned a bit from my family, but I don't know much."
Hearing her mention of identifying herbs, Shopkeeper Chen looked at her with newfound respect: "No wonder you mentioned making winter drinks earlier. If you can identify herbs, you're certainly capable of that."
He added, "However, if you take those herbs to the medical hall, they might only fetch a few coins."
Sensing something more in his words, Yu Ying paused her departure and asked, "Does Shopkeeper Chen have any advice?"
"It's not really a trick, but being close to the border, Jade County often sees merchants passing through. They talk about various things while eating at the eatery, and I happen to overhear."
Lowering his voice, Shopkeeper Chen cautioned her, "Don't spread this around or mention that it came from me. Interfering with the medical hall's business could offend some people."
Yu Ying quickly nodded in agreement, "I won't be too conspicuous about any opportunity to earn more money."
Shopkeeper Chen, reassured, then shared, "Among the travelers, some are medicinal herb traders. They come to Lingnan to buy cheap labor and herbs, then sell them at a high price to medical and herb shops in prosperous cities. They usually buy from medical halls to ensure quality and avoid counterfeit herbs."
Yu Ying realized why the medical hall always accepted her herbs: they were not in need but rather reselling them.
"Where can I find these herb-buying merchants?" Yu Ying asked, intrigued by the prospect of earning more for her hard work.
Overhearing their conversation, a waiter, who was Shopkeeper Chen's nephew, interjected, "A herb merchant dined here yesterday. I heard they're staying in Jade County for another three or four days."
Shopkeeper Chen, not minding his nephew's presence, scolded, "Don't cause trouble. How do you know they were herb merchants?"
The waiter replied, "I know because they were discussing how our ice cream cools the body and moistens the intestines. I casually asked if they were doctors, and they said they were in the medicinal herb business."
The waiter continued, "He mentioned staying in Jade County for a few days and planned to bring his colleagues to try our ice cream. They might even come for lunch today."
Yu Ying thought it over and decided to wait and see if she could encounter the merchant, potentially earning more. If not, she could still take her herbs to the medical hall as planned, with no loss incurred.
With her mind made up, she discussed with Manager Chen, "I have nowhere else to be this afternoon, and I'd like to wait and see if I can meet the herbal merchant. Do you need any help here, Manager Chen?"
Manager Chen, looking slightly troubled, replied, "I'm not the boss here, so I really don't have the authority to hire anyone."
Yu Ying smiled, "I'm not asking for a wage. I just want to stay and help out. If you don’t need help, I can wait outside."
Relieved that she wasn't discussing money, Manager Chen said, "We have indeed been quite busy these days and could use a hand. There's no wage, but we can provide a meal. If that's acceptable to you, I can talk to the boss." He added, "Are you sure you're okay with no wage?"
With Yu County being so crowded and bustling, Yu Ying couldn't afford to be careless. Having a meal and a place to stay seemed like an excellent deal.
Yu Ying nodded, "I'm definitely okay with that."
The waiter, hearing that someone might help during the lunch rush, quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Recently, with an increase in customers, he had been swamped with washing dishes and waiting tables, nearly exhausting himself. Having someone to assist would certainly give him a break.
Yu Ying set down her herbs and started helping without waiting for Manager Chen to ask.
Seeing her earnestness, Manager Chen grew even more fond of her.
Taking advantage of the quiet before lunchtime and with no customers around, Manager Chen left his nephew in charge of the shop and went to the backyard to discuss the ice jelly and Yu Ying's help with the boss.
