Chapter 29
Carrying so much silver, Yu Ying didn't dare to wander about and thus first returned to Wu's restaurant.
Before going back to Wu's restaurant, she bought a pound of lychees to make lychee jelly for the next day.
She had brought a bag of dried fruit seeds today, planning to use the restaurant's kitchen to make the jelly.
Seeing that the shop was empty, she went ahead to make the jelly.
The cook, observing propriety, left the kitchen.
After making the jelly, Yu Ying instructed the waiter to hang it in the well, suggesting it be pulled up the next day for sale to enhance its flavor.
Originally, they were to stay until the afternoon, but since Uncle Chen had brought only them to the town, they decided not to wait and planned to return home after having lunch at the restaurant.
Yu Ying didn't dine at the restaurant; instead, she bought two buns and shared one with Fu An.
The two of them looked as if they hadn't earned any silver, but only they knew about the thousands of wen hidden in their basket.
By the time they returned to Lingshui Village, it was just before noon.
Having made it back smoothly, Yu Ying felt a weight lifted off her chest.
After bidding farewell to Uncle Chen, she and Fu An headed home together.
Although Yu Ying was anxious, she wasn't overly paranoid, reacting to every rustle of wind or grass. However, Fu An was a different story.
Yu Ying glanced down at Fu An, who stood rigidly by her side, warily scanning their surroundings.
She whispered to him, "Act natural, as if we never went to the inn today."
Fu An glanced around, seeing no one nearby, then asked in a lowered voice, "Am I being too obvious?"
Yu Ying smiled and shook her head, "It's fine, don't worry."
Fu An was just a child; even if he appeared nervous, people would likely assume she had bought him something special, hence his guard-like demeanor.
But it was different for her; if she showed similar behavior, it might raise suspicions.
With a calm and composed expression, Yu Ying led Fu An back home.
Little Fu Ning ran up to greet Yu Ying as soon as he saw her, tugging at her sleeve.
Fu An called out to Granny Luo in the courtyard, "Grandma!"
Yu Ying also greeted Granny Luo, then smiled at Fu Ning, saying, "Come with Auntie, I've bought you something delicious."
Although Granny Luo was blind, she knew that Liu Niang was busy from dawn to dusk, barely having time for a drink of water. Hearing this, she expressed her concern again, "Liu Niang, don't waste silver on snacks for the children, take care of yourself first."
Yu Ying, without elaborating, softly replied, "I'm being thrifty."
She then turned to Fu An, "You come too."
As she was about to lead Fu Ning to her room, Yu Ying glanced toward Fu Wei's room.
The grass curtain at the window was rolled up, and Yu Ying locked eyes with Fu Wei. In the next instant, her face broke into a radiant smile.
That beaming smile, shining in Fu Wei's eyes, outshone even the bright sun outside, dazzling and splendid.
Perhaps joy is infectious, as Fu Wei found himself unwittingly smiling too, a slight upward curve at the corners of his lips.
Seeing her smile so brightly, he knew that whatever she had set her heart on doing must have been accomplished.
Yu Ying diverted her gaze, planning to first give the candied hawthorns to Fu An and Fu Ning, then count her total assets, and later discuss the matter of redeeming people with Fu Wei.
In the past, when her family was well-off and never worried about money, she never found joy in counting it. But here, counting money had become her greatest pleasure.
Recently, even if only a few more copper coins were added each time she counted, it gave her hope for the future.
After washing her hands and entering the room, Yu Ying took out the candied hawthorns wrapped in oil paper from her basket.
Little Fu Ning, not knowing what was inside the paper, stared curiously with wide eyes.
Little sister was unaware, but Fu An knew exactly what it was. Remembering the vivid red fruit, he felt his mouth water, hastily swallowing.
Fu An had never tasted candied hawthorns; he had only seen Auntie Cuilan's youngest son eating them once.
Back then, he had been curious about their taste, even dreaming about them.
But aware of their family's plight, he never pestered his grandmother for anything, especially not the candied hawthorns he had yearned for.
Yet now, the very thing he dared not dream of was right before him, making him so nervous he barely dared to breathe.
Yu Ying slowly unfolded the oil paper, revealing two skewers of bright red candied hawthorns.
Fu Ning's eyes widened further at the sight of the candied hawthorns, momentarily dumbstruck, then eagerly tugged at her brother's clothes, pointing at them excitedly, her gestures saying it all.
As if to say - "Brother, brother, look, candied hawthorns!"
Yu Ying, watching the siblings' excitement, felt a pang of heartache.
Fu Ning was just a child, and so was Fu An.
Yu Ying handed each a skewer, cautioning them, "Eat these at home, don't let outsiders see, okay?"
Holding the skewers before them, they stared fixedly, nearly cross-eyed in awe.
Snapping out of his amazement, Fu An remembered the silver they must keep secret and quickly nodded, "Ning Ning and I will eat them hidden away, no one else will see."
Reassured by Fu An's understanding, Yu Ying let them take the treats outside.
The siblings stepped out with their candied hawthorns, while Yu Ying turned to gaze at their small, humble thatched cottage.
Noticing the dwindling firewood pile beneath the wall, she realized they'd soon need to gather more.
Fu An had mentioned that Uncle He chopped firewood for them and sometimes even helped fetch water to fill their tank.
Her gaze shifted from the small pile of firewood to the only piece of furniture in the room.
A straw bed, not even three feet wide, reaching only up to her knees.
She at least had this place to lie down, but the grandparents and child merely slept on a straw mat on the ground.
Now, with the weather hot, sleeping on the ground wasn’t a problem, nor was the straw bed, but these were only temporary solutions.
Her main worry was about rainy days, when snakes, insects, rats, centipedes, and scorpions might appear, not to mention the increased dampness from the rain.
When she first arrived, it had rained, and fortunately, there were no poisonous creatures.
However, after that rain, the three grandparents and child seemed to catch a cold, compounded by their already weak health and the miasma in the mountains post-rain, leading to continuous coughing.
A bed was a necessity, even a bamboo one would be better than the ground or straw.
Now, with the silver she had, there would be some left over after redeeming Fu Dalong and his wife, enough to address the bed issue.
The money was about to be spent as soon as it was warmed in her hands, Yu Ying sighed inwardly at the thought.
Just as she was about to take the silver out of her basket, Fu An’s voice came from outside, “Auntie, may I come in?”
Fu An, previously like a defensive hedgehog, now included her in his inner circle, showing a completely different attitude.
Yu Ying temporarily set aside the bundle, responding, “Come in.”
Soon, Fu An and Fu Ning entered, Fu Ning holding a bowl in one hand and a skewer of candied hawthorns with only two fruits left in the other.
Fu Ning placed the bowl in front of Yu Ying, looking up at her with a small face, and handed it over.
Yu Ying looked into the bowl and found three candied hawthorns inside.
"For me?"
Fu Ning nodded emphatically, then looked at her brother.
Fu An said, "Three for Auntie, three for Grandma, and two each for me, my sister, and Uncle."
Yu Ying was momentarily taken aback, then accepted the bowl, saying, "Alright, I'll try one too."
As she spoke, she picked up a candied hawthorn and popped it into her mouth.
Truth be told, the candied hawthorn wasn't very tasty – just red plums soaked in sugar water without a syrup coating, and the sweetness was mild, but thankfully the fruit itself was refreshingly sweet.
Seeing her eat the candied hawthorn, Fu An and Fu Ning also took a small bite of theirs.
After tasting it, smiles appeared on their faces, as if the unimpressive-flavored candied hawthorn was a delicacy to them.
After leaving the room, the siblings stood outside savoring their first-ever candied hawthorns.
Yu Ying watched the two children, their innocence fully displayed, before setting the bowl aside and taking out the heavy bundle from her basket, placing it on the bed.
She then emptied all the silver and copper coins from her purse onto the bed, and finally dug out the 140 wen hidden under the bed.
After all, five strings of cash amounted to 5,000 copper coins, and counting them all could take a while, not to mention the potential for errors.
She set aside the five strings of cash and the 140 wen, along with the broken silver, and started counting the loose copper coins.
In the end, including the exchanged silver, she had about nine taels and over 700 wen.
Redeeming Fu An and Fu Ning's parents would cost just over seven taels, but she might need to tip extra, so she decided to temporarily keep eight taels, leaving her with about one tael and over 700 wen.
One tael and over 700 wen...
Yu Ying pondered for a long time, setting aside one tael and 500 wen for other purposes or emergencies, leaving just over 200 wen for daily expenses.
After finalizing the count, Yu Ying took 20 wen and strung them together, then wrapped the 5,000 coins and three taels of silver in two pieces of cloth.
After settling these matters, Yu Ying called Mrs. Luo into the house.
Once Mrs. Luo entered, Yu Ying gave her twenty wen.
Mrs. Luo carefully felt the coins in her palm, and upon realizing they were copper coins, her face turned anxious, "Yu Liuniang, what are you doing? Take it back!"
She hurriedly reached out to grab Yu Ying's hand but missed.
Yu Ying took a step back and said, "I earned a good sum by selling medicinal herbs. These twenty wen are for emergencies when I'm not home, so you won't be left helpless."
"But no matter what, I can't take your money. You've already done enough for the Fu family. If I take this, I'd be no better than a blood-sucking leech..."
By the end of her words, Mrs. Luo's voice choked up.
Yu Ying spoke gently, "My kindness to you is predicated on your kindness to me; it's mutual. This goodness isn't about money, but about the trivialities of life."
The Fu family, including Fu Wei, didn't treat her well just because they feared being without help if she left.
Yu Ying could discern genuine affection from feigned.
Mrs. Luo said, "Our kindness towards you is simply a response to your goodness to us."
Yu Ying extended her hand, closed Mrs. Luo's around the twenty wen, and said, "If you don't keep it, I'll give it to Ning Ning. She's young; what if she loses it? Better you hold onto it."
After some persuasion from Yu Ying, Mrs. Luo reluctantly accepted the money, thinking to save it and return it to her if she ever decided to leave the Fu family.
After Mrs. Luo left, Yu Ying secured the remaining copper coins and then carried a bundle of about thirty jins of silver money out of the house. Seeing Fu An looking, she placed a finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet.
Fu An was momentarily stunned but then nodded in understanding.
Yu Ying reminded Fu Wei outside before entering the house with the bundle.
Fu Wei watched her come in.
Seeing the heavy bundle in her arms, a hint of suspicion flickered in his eyes.
Upon noticing her cautious glance outside, he could roughly guess what the bundle contained.
"Did you bring the silver here?"
Yu Ying paused, looking at him in surprise, "How did you know it's silver?"
Fu Wei replied, "Yesterday, when you brought in the He Shou Wu, you were secretive but not as cautious as now."
Hearing this, Yu Ying didn't beat around the bush and said, "Sometimes I'm not at home, and I can't guard it all the time. I fear accidents might happen, and there's nowhere else to hide it. It's safer with you."
Fu Wei looked into her clear eyes, fell silent for a moment, and said, "You're at ease leaving it with me? Aren't you afraid of thieves targeting my house?"
After a moment's thought, Yu Ying answered, "It's still better than leaving it unattended. If a thief does break in, just shout loudly to intimidate them. They might get scared and run away."
"Not to mention a thief, but what about the money? Do you trust me not to embezzle?" he asked.
Hearing this, Yu Ying silently glanced at his legs.
Realizing her gaze, Fu Wei quickly understood.
For a moment, he had forgotten his condition; he had overestimated himself as a disabled person.
After a moment of silence, he asked, "Where do you want to hide it?"
Yu Ying placed it on his bed, "Right here. You can keep an eye on it every day when you wake up. Consider it a task."
……
Fu Wei fell silent.
How could that be considered a task?
Yu Ying sat down at the table, sighed, and said, "As you mentioned, the He Shou Wu was only exchanged for eight taels and eight coins. After redeeming your elder brother, there’s not much left."
Fu Wei showed no surprise, speaking calmly, "That's how it is in Yu County."
Yu Ying asked in surprise, "Have you been to Yu County?"
Fu Wei shook his head, "Lingnan's Cangwu Prefecture is the most remote, and Yu County is the most remote county in Cangwu. You can imagine the situation."
Hearing his explanation, it seemed to make sense.
"By the way, there were five thousand guan and three taels of broken silver in that package. Although the redemption fee was just over seven taels, I needed to keep some extra for various expenses. Besides bringing the silver, I also came to discuss with you when we should redeem your elder brother and sister-in-law."
There was about a month left before his elder brother's issue, and they could go for the redemption in the next few days, but she wasn't familiar with the process.
Fu Wei thought for a moment, then looked up at her, "Are you planning to go to the quarry?"
Yu Ying nodded, "Who else if not me?"
Fu Wei's brow furrowed with concern, "The quarry is a place of mixed characters; there are innocent people, but also those who are extremely vicious. It’s not safe for you to go."
Yu Ying was aware of the risks, as stated by Fu Wei, so she didn't insist on going alone: "That's why I'm here to discuss it with you."
She furrowed her brows in thought and suggested, "How about we ask Uncle He and others if they would like to join us in visiting Second Master He?"
Fu Wei shook his head after a moment of contemplation, "This matter requires further discussion. After all, if you go together, my brother and sister-in-law will also return. But with their son laboring in the quarry, his heart won't be at ease, and this might lead to future resentment."
Continuing, Fu Wei added, "Although Lingshui Village is a poor and remote place, it's not without instances of false accusations and treacherous people. Befriending the villagers can help when faced with such malicious individuals, offering support and proving beneficial."
Hearing him mention malevolent schemers, Yu Ying thought of the real son who was mistakenly switched at birth.
She anxiously inquired, "Speaking of which, you mentioned the Fu family's amnesty might have reached Wuling County. That person..." she paused, then asked, "Will he personally come to Lingnan to check on your situation?"
The mention of 'Wuling County' brought to Fu Wei's mind a man he had met a few times, his eyes growing colder.
"Having left this place, he'll never want to return, nor let others bring up his past. Moreover..."
Fu Wei paused, then spoke coldly, "His biological father would never allow his son to be a failure. As the son of a prefect, he has so much to learn that he hardly has time to deal with me."
"He might care about my situation, fearing I'm doing well, so he could send someone to investigate."
"If I'm found to be living well, he'll ensure my continued suffering. If I'm not, he won't bother with me. Perhaps after a year or so, he'll forget about me. If he remembers at all, he'll think of me as a worthless person, not worth remembering."
Although they had met only a few times, Fu Wei felt he could see through that man's character.
The man, not very cunning, revealed himself as unprincipled and narrow-minded, fixating on every little thing, during their few encounters.
Hearing this, Yu Ying secretly sighed in relief, but then worriedly said, "According to you, you won't be able to walk for the next year and a half. If he learns that your legs have healed, he will surely send someone to cripple you again."
Fu Wei nodded slightly, aware of this from the beginning.
But then, as if thinking of something else, he added, "It's just a ruse. As long as we avoid outsiders, I can still do what needs to be done."
Yu Ying wasn't worried about him being unhelpful, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something else was amiss.
Frowning in thought, she finally pinpointed a critical issue: "But if your elder brother and sister-in-law are brought back, wouldn't that reveal to him that the Fu family is prospering?"
After all, redeeming someone with such a large sum of money would arouse suspicion in anyone.
Fu Wei seemed to have anticipated this, remaining calm and speaking steadily, "That's why, if there's still time, we shouldn't hurry to the quarry. Let's wait."
His gaze drifted beyond the courtyard, deep and thoughtful.
Following his gaze, Yu Ying looked outside but noticed nothing, asking doubtfully, "Wait for what?"
Fu Wei redirected his gaze to her and spoke unhurriedly, "Wait for the person he sends to gather information. Once they leave, we can redeem them."
Having said that, he then lowered his eyes to calculate the distance from Wuling County to Yun County. After a moment, he added, "The amnesty was issued a month ago. He will take some time to investigate whether the Fu family is on the list, which takes about seven or eight days."
"The journey from Wuling County to Yun County takes half a month. If nothing unexpected happens, someone should arrive in the next few days to check my and the Fu family's current situation."
Yu Ying, looking at the kitchen outside the window, asked, "Then, what about those two new straw huts I built? Will they be a problem?"
Fu Wei replied calmly and indifferently, "To someone from a prosperous place, even if they are ordinary folks, what difference would they see between one shabby straw hut and two?"
Yu Ying shook her head, "Right, that person won't bother to mention the original straw huts of the Fu family. The investigator surely won't pay attention to them."
Toward the end of the conversation, Yu Ying suddenly remembered something and said, "Wait, how do you know if a spy from Wuling County has or hasn't been to Lingshui Village?"
Fu Wei glanced at her and slowly replied, "When have you ever seen a stranger in Lingshui Village?"
After speaking, he looked out of the window again.
Yu Ying paused for a moment, then realizing, she clapped her hands and laughed, "I understand now."
"In such a remote place as Lingshui Village, where not even a beggar comes, who else would visit on a regular day?"
Moreover, even the slightest incident in this village quickly becomes the talk of the entire community.
By having Fu An walk around the village and visiting Aunt He daily for a chat, we can easily find out if any strangers have visited Lingshui Village.
Thinking of this, Yu Ying couldn't help but glance again at Fu Wei lying in bed.
In the half month since, though his diet hadn't fully improved, proper care had gradually restored some color to his face, and his eyes no longer looked lifeless.
The soft sunlight streaming through the window illuminated his face, highlighting his deep and handsome features, a sight pleasing to the eye.
Fu Wei not only possessed a handsome appearance but also a sharp and discerning mind.
Even confined indoors, he managed to attend to every detail, making it hard for her not to admire him.
Sensing her gaze, Fu Wei turned his head, and just as their eyes were about to meet, the voices of Uncle He and Mrs. Luo outside abruptly interrupted their moment.
“Sister-in-law, I just heard from the elders in the village that there might be a typhoon in the coming days, so I thought of making bamboo doors for your house in advance.”
Chapter 29
Carrying so much silver, Yu Ying didn't dare to wander about and thus first returned to Wu's restaurant.
Before going back to Wu's restaurant, she bought a pound of lychees to make lychee jelly for the next day.
She had brought a bag of dried fruit seeds today, planning to use the restaurant's kitchen to make the jelly.
Seeing that the shop was empty, she went ahead to make the jelly.
The cook, observing propriety, left the kitchen.
After making the jelly, Yu Ying instructed the waiter to hang it in the well, suggesting it be pulled up the next day for sale to enhance its flavor.
Originally, they were to stay until the afternoon, but since Uncle Chen had brought only them to the town, they decided not to wait and planned to return home after having lunch at the restaurant.
Yu Ying didn't dine at the restaurant; instead, she bought two buns and shared one with Fu An.
The two of them looked as if they hadn't earned any silver, but only they knew about the thousands of wen hidden in their basket.
By the time they returned to Lingshui Village, it was just before noon.
Having made it back smoothly, Yu Ying felt a weight lifted off her chest.
After bidding farewell to Uncle Chen, she and Fu An headed home together.
Although Yu Ying was anxious, she wasn't overly paranoid, reacting to every rustle of wind or grass. However, Fu An was a different story.
Yu Ying glanced down at Fu An, who stood rigidly by her side, warily scanning their surroundings.
She whispered to him, "Act natural, as if we never went to the inn today."
Fu An glanced around, seeing no one nearby, then asked in a lowered voice, "Am I being too obvious?"
Yu Ying smiled and shook her head, "It's fine, don't worry."
Fu An was just a child; even if he appeared nervous, people would likely assume she had bought him something special, hence his guard-like demeanor.
But it was different for her; if she showed similar behavior, it might raise suspicions.
With a calm and composed expression, Yu Ying led Fu An back home.
Little Fu Ning ran up to greet Yu Ying as soon as he saw her, tugging at her sleeve.
Fu An called out to Granny Luo in the courtyard, "Grandma!"
Yu Ying also greeted Granny Luo, then smiled at Fu Ning, saying, "Come with Auntie, I've bought you something delicious."
Although Granny Luo was blind, she knew that Liu Niang was busy from dawn to dusk, barely having time for a drink of water. Hearing this, she expressed her concern again, "Liu Niang, don't waste silver on snacks for the children, take care of yourself first."
Yu Ying, without elaborating, softly replied, "I'm being thrifty."
She then turned to Fu An, "You come too."
As she was about to lead Fu Ning to her room, Yu Ying glanced toward Fu Wei's room.
The grass curtain at the window was rolled up, and Yu Ying locked eyes with Fu Wei. In the next instant, her face broke into a radiant smile.
That beaming smile, shining in Fu Wei's eyes, outshone even the bright sun outside, dazzling and splendid.
Perhaps joy is infectious, as Fu Wei found himself unwittingly smiling too, a slight upward curve at the corners of his lips.
Seeing her smile so brightly, he knew that whatever she had set her heart on doing must have been accomplished.
Yu Ying diverted her gaze, planning to first give the candied hawthorns to Fu An and Fu Ning, then count her total assets, and later discuss the matter of redeeming people with Fu Wei.
In the past, when her family was well-off and never worried about money, she never found joy in counting it. But here, counting money had become her greatest pleasure.
Recently, even if only a few more copper coins were added each time she counted, it gave her hope for the future.
After washing her hands and entering the room, Yu Ying took out the candied hawthorns wrapped in oil paper from her basket.
Little Fu Ning, not knowing what was inside the paper, stared curiously with wide eyes.
Little sister was unaware, but Fu An knew exactly what it was. Remembering the vivid red fruit, he felt his mouth water, hastily swallowing.
Fu An had never tasted candied hawthorns; he had only seen Auntie Cuilan's youngest son eating them once.
Back then, he had been curious about their taste, even dreaming about them.
But aware of their family's plight, he never pestered his grandmother for anything, especially not the candied hawthorns he had yearned for.
Yet now, the very thing he dared not dream of was right before him, making him so nervous he barely dared to breathe.
Yu Ying slowly unfolded the oil paper, revealing two skewers of bright red candied hawthorns.
Fu Ning's eyes widened further at the sight of the candied hawthorns, momentarily dumbstruck, then eagerly tugged at her brother's clothes, pointing at them excitedly, her gestures saying it all.
As if to say - "Brother, brother, look, candied hawthorns!"
Yu Ying, watching the siblings' excitement, felt a pang of heartache.
Fu Ning was just a child, and so was Fu An.
Yu Ying handed each a skewer, cautioning them, "Eat these at home, don't let outsiders see, okay?"
Holding the skewers before them, they stared fixedly, nearly cross-eyed in awe.
Snapping out of his amazement, Fu An remembered the silver they must keep secret and quickly nodded, "Ning Ning and I will eat them hidden away, no one else will see."
Reassured by Fu An's understanding, Yu Ying let them take the treats outside.
The siblings stepped out with their candied hawthorns, while Yu Ying turned to gaze at their small, humble thatched cottage.
Noticing the dwindling firewood pile beneath the wall, she realized they'd soon need to gather more.
Fu An had mentioned that Uncle He chopped firewood for them and sometimes even helped fetch water to fill their tank.
Her gaze shifted from the small pile of firewood to the only piece of furniture in the room.
A straw bed, not even three feet wide, reaching only up to her knees.
She at least had this place to lie down, but the grandparents and child merely slept on a straw mat on the ground.
Now, with the weather hot, sleeping on the ground wasn’t a problem, nor was the straw bed, but these were only temporary solutions.
Her main worry was about rainy days, when snakes, insects, rats, centipedes, and scorpions might appear, not to mention the increased dampness from the rain.
When she first arrived, it had rained, and fortunately, there were no poisonous creatures.
However, after that rain, the three grandparents and child seemed to catch a cold, compounded by their already weak health and the miasma in the mountains post-rain, leading to continuous coughing.
A bed was a necessity, even a bamboo one would be better than the ground or straw.
Now, with the silver she had, there would be some left over after redeeming Fu Dalong and his wife, enough to address the bed issue.
The money was about to be spent as soon as it was warmed in her hands, Yu Ying sighed inwardly at the thought.
Just as she was about to take the silver out of her basket, Fu An’s voice came from outside, “Auntie, may I come in?”
Fu An, previously like a defensive hedgehog, now included her in his inner circle, showing a completely different attitude.
Yu Ying temporarily set aside the bundle, responding, “Come in.”
Soon, Fu An and Fu Ning entered, Fu Ning holding a bowl in one hand and a skewer of candied hawthorns with only two fruits left in the other.
Fu Ning placed the bowl in front of Yu Ying, looking up at her with a small face, and handed it over.
Yu Ying looked into the bowl and found three candied hawthorns inside.
"For me?"
Fu Ning nodded emphatically, then looked at her brother.
Fu An said, "Three for Auntie, three for Grandma, and two each for me, my sister, and Uncle."
Yu Ying was momentarily taken aback, then accepted the bowl, saying, "Alright, I'll try one too."
As she spoke, she picked up a candied hawthorn and popped it into her mouth.
Truth be told, the candied hawthorn wasn't very tasty – just red plums soaked in sugar water without a syrup coating, and the sweetness was mild, but thankfully the fruit itself was refreshingly sweet.
Seeing her eat the candied hawthorn, Fu An and Fu Ning also took a small bite of theirs.
After tasting it, smiles appeared on their faces, as if the unimpressive-flavored candied hawthorn was a delicacy to them.
After leaving the room, the siblings stood outside savoring their first-ever candied hawthorns.
Yu Ying watched the two children, their innocence fully displayed, before setting the bowl aside and taking out the heavy bundle from her basket, placing it on the bed.
She then emptied all the silver and copper coins from her purse onto the bed, and finally dug out the 140 wen hidden under the bed.
After all, five strings of cash amounted to 5,000 copper coins, and counting them all could take a while, not to mention the potential for errors.
She set aside the five strings of cash and the 140 wen, along with the broken silver, and started counting the loose copper coins.
In the end, including the exchanged silver, she had about nine taels and over 700 wen.
Redeeming Fu An and Fu Ning's parents would cost just over seven taels, but she might need to tip extra, so she decided to temporarily keep eight taels, leaving her with about one tael and over 700 wen.
One tael and over 700 wen...
Yu Ying pondered for a long time, setting aside one tael and 500 wen for other purposes or emergencies, leaving just over 200 wen for daily expenses.
After finalizing the count, Yu Ying took 20 wen and strung them together, then wrapped the 5,000 coins and three taels of silver in two pieces of cloth.
After settling these matters, Yu Ying called Mrs. Luo into the house.
Once Mrs. Luo entered, Yu Ying gave her twenty wen.
Mrs. Luo carefully felt the coins in her palm, and upon realizing they were copper coins, her face turned anxious, "Yu Liuniang, what are you doing? Take it back!"
She hurriedly reached out to grab Yu Ying's hand but missed.
Yu Ying took a step back and said, "I earned a good sum by selling medicinal herbs. These twenty wen are for emergencies when I'm not home, so you won't be left helpless."
"But no matter what, I can't take your money. You've already done enough for the Fu family. If I take this, I'd be no better than a blood-sucking leech..."
By the end of her words, Mrs. Luo's voice choked up.
Yu Ying spoke gently, "My kindness to you is predicated on your kindness to me; it's mutual. This goodness isn't about money, but about the trivialities of life."
The Fu family, including Fu Wei, didn't treat her well just because they feared being without help if she left.
Yu Ying could discern genuine affection from feigned.
Mrs. Luo said, "Our kindness towards you is simply a response to your goodness to us."
Yu Ying extended her hand, closed Mrs. Luo's around the twenty wen, and said, "If you don't keep it, I'll give it to Ning Ning. She's young; what if she loses it? Better you hold onto it."
After some persuasion from Yu Ying, Mrs. Luo reluctantly accepted the money, thinking to save it and return it to her if she ever decided to leave the Fu family.
After Mrs. Luo left, Yu Ying secured the remaining copper coins and then carried a bundle of about thirty jins of silver money out of the house. Seeing Fu An looking, she placed a finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet.
Fu An was momentarily stunned but then nodded in understanding.
Yu Ying reminded Fu Wei outside before entering the house with the bundle.
Fu Wei watched her come in.
Seeing the heavy bundle in her arms, a hint of suspicion flickered in his eyes.
Upon noticing her cautious glance outside, he could roughly guess what the bundle contained.
"Did you bring the silver here?"
Yu Ying paused, looking at him in surprise, "How did you know it's silver?"
Fu Wei replied, "Yesterday, when you brought in the He Shou Wu, you were secretive but not as cautious as now."
Hearing this, Yu Ying didn't beat around the bush and said, "Sometimes I'm not at home, and I can't guard it all the time. I fear accidents might happen, and there's nowhere else to hide it. It's safer with you."
Fu Wei looked into her clear eyes, fell silent for a moment, and said, "You're at ease leaving it with me? Aren't you afraid of thieves targeting my house?"
After a moment's thought, Yu Ying answered, "It's still better than leaving it unattended. If a thief does break in, just shout loudly to intimidate them. They might get scared and run away."
"Not to mention a thief, but what about the money? Do you trust me not to embezzle?" he asked.
Hearing this, Yu Ying silently glanced at his legs.
Realizing her gaze, Fu Wei quickly understood.
For a moment, he had forgotten his condition; he had overestimated himself as a disabled person.
After a moment of silence, he asked, "Where do you want to hide it?"
Yu Ying placed it on his bed, "Right here. You can keep an eye on it every day when you wake up. Consider it a task."
……
Fu Wei fell silent.
How could that be considered a task?
Yu Ying sat down at the table, sighed, and said, "As you mentioned, the He Shou Wu was only exchanged for eight taels and eight coins. After redeeming your elder brother, there’s not much left."
Fu Wei showed no surprise, speaking calmly, "That's how it is in Yu County."
Yu Ying asked in surprise, "Have you been to Yu County?"
Fu Wei shook his head, "Lingnan's Cangwu Prefecture is the most remote, and Yu County is the most remote county in Cangwu. You can imagine the situation."
Hearing his explanation, it seemed to make sense.
"By the way, there were five thousand guan and three taels of broken silver in that package. Although the redemption fee was just over seven taels, I needed to keep some extra for various expenses. Besides bringing the silver, I also came to discuss with you when we should redeem your elder brother and sister-in-law."
There was about a month left before his elder brother's issue, and they could go for the redemption in the next few days, but she wasn't familiar with the process.
Fu Wei thought for a moment, then looked up at her, "Are you planning to go to the quarry?"
Yu Ying nodded, "Who else if not me?"
Fu Wei's brow furrowed with concern, "The quarry is a place of mixed characters; there are innocent people, but also those who are extremely vicious. It’s not safe for you to go."
Yu Ying was aware of the risks, as stated by Fu Wei, so she didn't insist on going alone: "That's why I'm here to discuss it with you."
She furrowed her brows in thought and suggested, "How about we ask Uncle He and others if they would like to join us in visiting Second Master He?"
Fu Wei shook his head after a moment of contemplation, "This matter requires further discussion. After all, if you go together, my brother and sister-in-law will also return. But with their son laboring in the quarry, his heart won't be at ease, and this might lead to future resentment."
Continuing, Fu Wei added, "Although Lingshui Village is a poor and remote place, it's not without instances of false accusations and treacherous people. Befriending the villagers can help when faced with such malicious individuals, offering support and proving beneficial."
Hearing him mention malevolent schemers, Yu Ying thought of the real son who was mistakenly switched at birth.
She anxiously inquired, "Speaking of which, you mentioned the Fu family's amnesty might have reached Wuling County. That person..." she paused, then asked, "Will he personally come to Lingnan to check on your situation?"
The mention of 'Wuling County' brought to Fu Wei's mind a man he had met a few times, his eyes growing colder.
"Having left this place, he'll never want to return, nor let others bring up his past. Moreover..."
Fu Wei paused, then spoke coldly, "His biological father would never allow his son to be a failure. As the son of a prefect, he has so much to learn that he hardly has time to deal with me."
"He might care about my situation, fearing I'm doing well, so he could send someone to investigate."
"If I'm found to be living well, he'll ensure my continued suffering. If I'm not, he won't bother with me. Perhaps after a year or so, he'll forget about me. If he remembers at all, he'll think of me as a worthless person, not worth remembering."
Although they had met only a few times, Fu Wei felt he could see through that man's character.
The man, not very cunning, revealed himself as unprincipled and narrow-minded, fixating on every little thing, during their few encounters.
Hearing this, Yu Ying secretly sighed in relief, but then worriedly said, "According to you, you won't be able to walk for the next year and a half. If he learns that your legs have healed, he will surely send someone to cripple you again."
Fu Wei nodded slightly, aware of this from the beginning.
But then, as if thinking of something else, he added, "It's just a ruse. As long as we avoid outsiders, I can still do what needs to be done."
Yu Ying wasn't worried about him being unhelpful, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something else was amiss.
Frowning in thought, she finally pinpointed a critical issue: "But if your elder brother and sister-in-law are brought back, wouldn't that reveal to him that the Fu family is prospering?"
After all, redeeming someone with such a large sum of money would arouse suspicion in anyone.
Fu Wei seemed to have anticipated this, remaining calm and speaking steadily, "That's why, if there's still time, we shouldn't hurry to the quarry. Let's wait."
His gaze drifted beyond the courtyard, deep and thoughtful.
Following his gaze, Yu Ying looked outside but noticed nothing, asking doubtfully, "Wait for what?"
Fu Wei redirected his gaze to her and spoke unhurriedly, "Wait for the person he sends to gather information. Once they leave, we can redeem them."
Having said that, he then lowered his eyes to calculate the distance from Wuling County to Yun County. After a moment, he added, "The amnesty was issued a month ago. He will take some time to investigate whether the Fu family is on the list, which takes about seven or eight days."
"The journey from Wuling County to Yun County takes half a month. If nothing unexpected happens, someone should arrive in the next few days to check my and the Fu family's current situation."
Yu Ying, looking at the kitchen outside the window, asked, "Then, what about those two new straw huts I built? Will they be a problem?"
Fu Wei replied calmly and indifferently, "To someone from a prosperous place, even if they are ordinary folks, what difference would they see between one shabby straw hut and two?"
Yu Ying shook her head, "Right, that person won't bother to mention the original straw huts of the Fu family. The investigator surely won't pay attention to them."
Toward the end of the conversation, Yu Ying suddenly remembered something and said, "Wait, how do you know if a spy from Wuling County has or hasn't been to Lingshui Village?"
Fu Wei glanced at her and slowly replied, "When have you ever seen a stranger in Lingshui Village?"
After speaking, he looked out of the window again.
Yu Ying paused for a moment, then realizing, she clapped her hands and laughed, "I understand now."
"In such a remote place as Lingshui Village, where not even a beggar comes, who else would visit on a regular day?"
Moreover, even the slightest incident in this village quickly becomes the talk of the entire community.
By having Fu An walk around the village and visiting Aunt He daily for a chat, we can easily find out if any strangers have visited Lingshui Village.
Thinking of this, Yu Ying couldn't help but glance again at Fu Wei lying in bed.
In the half month since, though his diet hadn't fully improved, proper care had gradually restored some color to his face, and his eyes no longer looked lifeless.
The soft sunlight streaming through the window illuminated his face, highlighting his deep and handsome features, a sight pleasing to the eye.
Fu Wei not only possessed a handsome appearance but also a sharp and discerning mind.
Even confined indoors, he managed to attend to every detail, making it hard for her not to admire him.
Sensing her gaze, Fu Wei turned his head, and just as their eyes were about to meet, the voices of Uncle He and Mrs. Luo outside abruptly interrupted their moment.
“Sister-in-law, I just heard from the elders in the village that there might be a typhoon in the coming days, so I thought of making bamboo doors for your house in advance.”
