Chapter 30.
Hearing about the typhoon, Yu Ying's expression grew serious, and she turned to head towards the door.
Lifting the straw curtain, she saw Uncle He placing a bundle of bamboo on the ground and asked, “Uncle He, did you just mention a coming typhoon? Is it true?”
Uncle He looked up at the sun and observed, “This sunshine doesn’t seem to indicate a typhoon, but the elders in the village are usually accurate. They said it would come in the next few days, and they're likely right.”
“What were the typhoons like in previous years?”
Seeing her worried expression, Uncle He reassured her, “Our place is far from the sea, so typhoons here are usually not severe. Last year, it passed without much impact, so there's no need to worry too much.”
Hearing Uncle He's words, Yu Ying breathed a sigh of relief.
If the typhoon were strong, the few straw huts of the Fu family might not withstand it.
Uncle He continued, “But there will still be some strong winds, so it’s necessary to have a door.”
The Fu family used to have a door, made by Fu Dalang himself.
However, after Fu Dalang and his wife went to the quarry, greedy Second Aunt Fu, seeing the vulnerable state of the Fu family with only the grandmother and mother left, often bullied them. She constantly reminded them of her husband's death caused by Mrs. Luo's husband, feeling that the main house owed her, thus frequently imposing on them.
Even when the main house was so poor they had no rice to cook, Second Aunt Fu would still manage to take something more.
It was only after Uncle He returned from the quarry that he could protect the grandmother and her grandchildren, repaying the kindness Fu Dalang showed him there.
Seeing Uncle He making the door, Yu Ying also stepped forward to help, while inquiring about the bed.
“Uncle He, I wanted to ask if anyone in the village knows how to make bamboo beds, and how much would one cost?”
Uncle He looked at her in surprise, then glanced at Mrs. Luo.
After pondering for a moment, unsure for whom the bed was intended, he replied, “In the neighboring village, Chen's village, there are people who make bamboo beds. A single bed costs about thirty to forty wen, and a double bed, seventy to eighty wen.”
“There's plenty of bamboo in the mountains, but it needs to be cut down.”
“The bamboo is free; unlike wood, it doesn’t need to be seasoned for a year or two before use. The cost is mostly for labor, so bamboo beds are much cheaper than wooden ones.”
“Chen's village?”
Suddenly, Yu Ying remembered something and asked, “Is that ox-cart driver, Old Chen, also from Chen's village?”
Uncle He nodded in affirmation.
Yu Ying pondered for a moment, realizing that the bed could be delivered by Old Chen to Lingshui Village. However, she worried that if others saw new furniture at the Fu house, it might cause trouble.
Thinking this, Yu Ying felt a slight unease and her brows furrowed.
Seeing her troubled expression, Uncle He mistakenly thought she was worried about not having enough money for the bed.
He wanted to say something, but then, considering his own family's situation, he fell silent and continued working.
Sawing the bamboo into roughly equal lengths and then binding them firmly with straw ropes, each bamboo stick was added one by one.
It took about an hour and a half to complete the two doors, finishing just as dusk approached.
Yu Ying, looking at the newly installed bamboo doors, felt a greater sense of security compared to the thin straw curtains that blocked nothing.
In the recent nights, Yu Ying had been afraid to sleep too deeply, always worried about thieves or dangerous animals breaking in.
Now, with the doors in place, she finally had some peace of mind.
Uncle He, while installing the doors, saw the condition inside the two rooms and felt a heavier sense of concern.
As the doors were about to be finished, Yu Ying brought out three eggs from the house.
After the bamboo doors were installed, Yu Ying handed the eggs to Uncle He, saying, "Uncle He, you've neglected your farming to help make these doors. I don't have much to offer, but these few eggs are all I can spare."
Uncle He hesitated to accept, quickly demurring, "No, no, keep them for yourselves."
Yu Ying, knowing he was concerned about the Fu family's livelihood, insisted, "I've earned some silver gathering herbs, so we won't run out of provisions. Please accept these, Uncle He, or I won't feel right about it."
"How can I possibly accept this..."
Yu Ying replied, "If Uncle He won't accept them now, I'll bring them over after Fu An and I have finished cooking."
Uncle He was taken aback and quickly responded, "Please don't, really don't. I just lent a hand, that's all."
Yu Ying thought for a moment, called Fu An over, and handed him the three eggs, instructing, "Take these to Uncle He's house, and don't bring them back."
Fu An, very obedient, took the eggs and ran out of the courtyard in a flash.
Uncle He: …
Watching Fu An's retreating figure, Uncle He fell silent for a moment, then, as if making a decision, exhaled deeply and turned to Mrs. Yu.
He began, "If you really want to make a bamboo bed but are short on money, I don't have much to spare, but I can still lend you some."
Yu Ying was momentarily stunned, not expecting Uncle He to offer a loan, and remembered what Aunt He had said earlier.
Aunt He had mentioned saving money to redeem her younger son early. At this time, Uncle He offering to lend money for a bamboo bed was unexpected for Yu Ying, stirring emotions within her.
Yu Ying smiled and said, "I've earned a little money. I can afford the bed, but..."
She paused, then continued, "I'm concerned that people in the village might gossip if they see it, and I'm also worried that these talks might reach Wuling County."
Mrs. Luo, hearing 'Wuling County', seemed to remember something, her face dimming as she lowered her head.
After a moment of confusion, Uncle He realized why she mentioned Wuling County.
The nature of the child who was mistakenly switched, formerly the second son of the Fu family, was well-known in the village.
Not only was he lazy and gluttonous, but he also had a narrow mind.
He often complained to Fu Dalang about his hardships living with his second aunt, claiming he had been bullied relentlessly because he couldn’t grow up beside his mother, while his elder brother had maternal protection. He even convinced Fu Dalang to take his place in forced labor.
But once Fu Dalang left, he dared to verbally abuse Mrs. Luo to her face, barely stopping short of physical violence. Hence, the villagers suspected that Fu Er Lang's current leg injury was inflicted by someone he hired.
Uncle He also harbored these suspicions, understanding Mrs. Yu's concerns. He then suggested, "Why not deliver it to my house first? We can move it to yours at night when no one is around in the village."
"But doing so might invite gossip about you and your family, causing trouble," Yu Ying worried.
Uncle He, unconcerned, chuckled, "It's just idle talk. Nowadays, anyone adding a stool at home gets accused of squandering. If we worry about what others say, how can we live our lives?"
After pondering for a moment, Yu Ying looked up at the clear sky, thinking that the typhoon wouldn’t arrive soon and that waiting a few days for the bamboo bed should be feasible.
Considering this, she said to Uncle He, "Thank you, Uncle He. In a few days, when I see Uncle Chen, I’ll ask him to help deliver the bamboo bed."
Uncle He nodded, hesitated, and asked again, "Are you sure you don’t need me to lend you some money?"
Yu Ying gently shook her head, "No, there's really no need."
Seeing her assurance, Uncle He left feeling relieved.
Watching Uncle He depart, Yu Ying silently sighed to herself.
She had the intention to help Uncle He redeem Second Master He, but her capabilities were limited.
As soon as Uncle He left, Mrs. Luo said, "Since you’re getting a bamboo bed, I’ll take out those copper coins and give them back to you now."
Yu Ying looked at her and said, "No need, I have saved enough silver for the bamboo bed."
After speaking, she glanced towards the direction Uncle He had left, her mind filled with myriad thoughts.
As Yu Ying pondered other matters, Mrs. Luo continued, "But such a bamboo bed is quite expensive..."
At this moment, Yu Ying suddenly remembered something she hadn't discussed with Fu Wei. Her eyes brightened as she told Mrs. Luo, "It’s alright, you keep it. I have something to discuss with Second Master He, so I’ll go inside now."
Saying this, she quickly turned and walked towards the house.
Approaching the house, Yu Ying was about to lift the curtain when she realized that the straw curtain had been replaced with bamboo doors.
Earlier, Fu Wei had heard Uncle He offering to lend money for the bed, knowing that it would bother Yu Ying, who would then try to find a way to help Uncle He bring his son back.
So, when she opened the bamboo door and entered, Fu Wei asked in a calm and smooth voice, "Have you come up with a plan?"
Yu Ying, with a smile, took out the contract she had signed with the pharmacist and handed it to him.
Fu Wei, looking somewhat skeptical, took the contract and read through it.
Realizing it was a sales contract she had signed, and since it was expected, he calmly folded it back up.
Seeing his composed demeanor, Yu Ying asked him, "Why aren't you surprised at all?"
Fu Wei replied, "The first time the pharmacist accepted your herbs without question, it didn't reveal much. But when he said he'd buy any amount you bring within three days, it clearly showed his immense satisfaction with your herbs, far surpassing those at the medical hall. If he continues to come to Yu County for herbs, he will surely seek you out for business."
Yu Ying, hearing his analysis, couldn't help but laugh, "You even guessed this? Is there anything you don't know?"
Fu Wei handed back the contract, his expression unchanged, "I'm just guessing."
After speaking, he repeated his question, "Have you thought about asking the He family to accompany you to the quarry?"
Returning to the point at hand, Yu Ying quickly replied, "Yes, that's exactly what I wanted to discuss."
She took back the contract, tucked it inside her clothing, and then sat down on the bamboo stool: "As you said, the mountains are dangerous, and I definitely can't gather five hundred jins of herbs alone. Fu An is too young to be of much help, so I definitely need assistance. In Lingshui Village, besides the He family, there’s no one else I trust."
Fu Wei pondered for a moment, then pointed out, "But if your elder brother and sister-in-law return, they can help you too. They would naturally want to work off the silver you spent to redeem them."
Yu Ying shook her head, "No, there are some things the Fu family shouldn't be involved in; it has to be the He family. Besides, it's not just about gathering herbs, but also drying them, and moreover..."
She paused, then slowly added, "Moreover, there's more than one pharmacist coming to Lingnan’s Yu County for herbs."
"Are you thinking of finding other pharmacists?"
Yu Ying nodded, "We have to wait three more months for the herbalist surnamed Zhang to come to Jade County. It's hard to predict other unforeseen events, so we must prepare thoroughly and not rely solely on Mr. Zhang."
"Putting all eggs in one basket is risky; if the basket falls, all will be lost. Hence, it's better to spread them across different baskets."
After some thought, she added, "I'm planning to persuade Uncle He and Aunt He, along with the He family daughter-in-law, to join me in herb gathering. Spending half a month, we should earn some money. If they're still short of the redemption money for He Er Lang, I can lend them some."
Fu Wei pondered for a moment.
Indeed, helping the He family this way was much more sensible than simply paying to redeem He Er Lang herself.
He reminded her, "That's a good idea, but remember, the money you earn is through risk-taking, not solely for charity. Even if you want to do good deeds, they should be within your means."
Yu Ying, hearing his reminder, spoke softly, "There are countless people in need in this world, and I can't help them all. Those I do help are after weighing the pros and cons."
Fu Wei's hand on his leg twitched slightly, and turning his eyes towards her, he asked, "What benefit do I, a useless person, bring to you?"
Yu Ying didn't hide her thoughts, but didn't reveal everything either, simply stating, "I seek a stable future."
"Hmm?" Fu Wei frowned slightly, not understanding.
Puzzled, he wondered how he, in his current state, could offer her any stability.
Yu Ying mysteriously said, "Perhaps you are now like a hidden dragon in the abyss, destined to soar to the heavens when the right opportunity arises."
Fu Wei was initially taken aback, then understanding a part of it, he smiled faintly at her, "Aren’t you overestimating me?"
"Who can be certain about the future? Anyway, when that day comes, you will be my support. With a support, life naturally becomes stable."
Fu Wei didn’t take her words seriously, but still gazed steadily at her, solemnly promising, "If I ever come into fortune, I will share it with you."
"If I ever come into fortune, I will share it with you."
His deep and soothing voice reached Yu Ying’s ears.
Yu Ying smiled at him, "When you say that, I take it seriously. Just make sure you don't go back on your word."
Fu Wei, who had been in a state of gloom for two months, always seeming stifled, felt a momentary relief upon meeting her smile.
He nodded again, "A promise made is a promise kept. I won’t go back on my word."
Chapter 30.
Hearing about the typhoon, Yu Ying's expression grew serious, and she turned to head towards the door.
Lifting the straw curtain, she saw Uncle He placing a bundle of bamboo on the ground and asked, “Uncle He, did you just mention a coming typhoon? Is it true?”
Uncle He looked up at the sun and observed, “This sunshine doesn’t seem to indicate a typhoon, but the elders in the village are usually accurate. They said it would come in the next few days, and they're likely right.”
“What were the typhoons like in previous years?”
Seeing her worried expression, Uncle He reassured her, “Our place is far from the sea, so typhoons here are usually not severe. Last year, it passed without much impact, so there's no need to worry too much.”
Hearing Uncle He's words, Yu Ying breathed a sigh of relief.
If the typhoon were strong, the few straw huts of the Fu family might not withstand it.
Uncle He continued, “But there will still be some strong winds, so it’s necessary to have a door.”
The Fu family used to have a door, made by Fu Dalang himself.
However, after Fu Dalang and his wife went to the quarry, greedy Second Aunt Fu, seeing the vulnerable state of the Fu family with only the grandmother and mother left, often bullied them. She constantly reminded them of her husband's death caused by Mrs. Luo's husband, feeling that the main house owed her, thus frequently imposing on them.
Even when the main house was so poor they had no rice to cook, Second Aunt Fu would still manage to take something more.
It was only after Uncle He returned from the quarry that he could protect the grandmother and her grandchildren, repaying the kindness Fu Dalang showed him there.
Seeing Uncle He making the door, Yu Ying also stepped forward to help, while inquiring about the bed.
“Uncle He, I wanted to ask if anyone in the village knows how to make bamboo beds, and how much would one cost?”
Uncle He looked at her in surprise, then glanced at Mrs. Luo.
After pondering for a moment, unsure for whom the bed was intended, he replied, “In the neighboring village, Chen's village, there are people who make bamboo beds. A single bed costs about thirty to forty wen, and a double bed, seventy to eighty wen.”
“There's plenty of bamboo in the mountains, but it needs to be cut down.”
“The bamboo is free; unlike wood, it doesn’t need to be seasoned for a year or two before use. The cost is mostly for labor, so bamboo beds are much cheaper than wooden ones.”
“Chen's village?”
Suddenly, Yu Ying remembered something and asked, “Is that ox-cart driver, Old Chen, also from Chen's village?”
Uncle He nodded in affirmation.
Yu Ying pondered for a moment, realizing that the bed could be delivered by Old Chen to Lingshui Village. However, she worried that if others saw new furniture at the Fu house, it might cause trouble.
Thinking this, Yu Ying felt a slight unease and her brows furrowed.
Seeing her troubled expression, Uncle He mistakenly thought she was worried about not having enough money for the bed.
He wanted to say something, but then, considering his own family's situation, he fell silent and continued working.
Sawing the bamboo into roughly equal lengths and then binding them firmly with straw ropes, each bamboo stick was added one by one.
It took about an hour and a half to complete the two doors, finishing just as dusk approached.
Yu Ying, looking at the newly installed bamboo doors, felt a greater sense of security compared to the thin straw curtains that blocked nothing.
In the recent nights, Yu Ying had been afraid to sleep too deeply, always worried about thieves or dangerous animals breaking in.
Now, with the doors in place, she finally had some peace of mind.
Uncle He, while installing the doors, saw the condition inside the two rooms and felt a heavier sense of concern.
As the doors were about to be finished, Yu Ying brought out three eggs from the house.
After the bamboo doors were installed, Yu Ying handed the eggs to Uncle He, saying, "Uncle He, you've neglected your farming to help make these doors. I don't have much to offer, but these few eggs are all I can spare."
Uncle He hesitated to accept, quickly demurring, "No, no, keep them for yourselves."
Yu Ying, knowing he was concerned about the Fu family's livelihood, insisted, "I've earned some silver gathering herbs, so we won't run out of provisions. Please accept these, Uncle He, or I won't feel right about it."
"How can I possibly accept this..."
Yu Ying replied, "If Uncle He won't accept them now, I'll bring them over after Fu An and I have finished cooking."
Uncle He was taken aback and quickly responded, "Please don't, really don't. I just lent a hand, that's all."
Yu Ying thought for a moment, called Fu An over, and handed him the three eggs, instructing, "Take these to Uncle He's house, and don't bring them back."
Fu An, very obedient, took the eggs and ran out of the courtyard in a flash.
Uncle He: …
Watching Fu An's retreating figure, Uncle He fell silent for a moment, then, as if making a decision, exhaled deeply and turned to Mrs. Yu.
He began, "If you really want to make a bamboo bed but are short on money, I don't have much to spare, but I can still lend you some."
Yu Ying was momentarily stunned, not expecting Uncle He to offer a loan, and remembered what Aunt He had said earlier.
Aunt He had mentioned saving money to redeem her younger son early. At this time, Uncle He offering to lend money for a bamboo bed was unexpected for Yu Ying, stirring emotions within her.
Yu Ying smiled and said, "I've earned a little money. I can afford the bed, but..."
She paused, then continued, "I'm concerned that people in the village might gossip if they see it, and I'm also worried that these talks might reach Wuling County."
Mrs. Luo, hearing 'Wuling County', seemed to remember something, her face dimming as she lowered her head.
After a moment of confusion, Uncle He realized why she mentioned Wuling County.
The nature of the child who was mistakenly switched, formerly the second son of the Fu family, was well-known in the village.
Not only was he lazy and gluttonous, but he also had a narrow mind.
He often complained to Fu Dalang about his hardships living with his second aunt, claiming he had been bullied relentlessly because he couldn’t grow up beside his mother, while his elder brother had maternal protection. He even convinced Fu Dalang to take his place in forced labor.
But once Fu Dalang left, he dared to verbally abuse Mrs. Luo to her face, barely stopping short of physical violence. Hence, the villagers suspected that Fu Er Lang's current leg injury was inflicted by someone he hired.
Uncle He also harbored these suspicions, understanding Mrs. Yu's concerns. He then suggested, "Why not deliver it to my house first? We can move it to yours at night when no one is around in the village."
"But doing so might invite gossip about you and your family, causing trouble," Yu Ying worried.
Uncle He, unconcerned, chuckled, "It's just idle talk. Nowadays, anyone adding a stool at home gets accused of squandering. If we worry about what others say, how can we live our lives?"
After pondering for a moment, Yu Ying looked up at the clear sky, thinking that the typhoon wouldn’t arrive soon and that waiting a few days for the bamboo bed should be feasible.
Considering this, she said to Uncle He, "Thank you, Uncle He. In a few days, when I see Uncle Chen, I’ll ask him to help deliver the bamboo bed."
Uncle He nodded, hesitated, and asked again, "Are you sure you don’t need me to lend you some money?"
Yu Ying gently shook her head, "No, there's really no need."
Seeing her assurance, Uncle He left feeling relieved.
Watching Uncle He depart, Yu Ying silently sighed to herself.
She had the intention to help Uncle He redeem Second Master He, but her capabilities were limited.
As soon as Uncle He left, Mrs. Luo said, "Since you’re getting a bamboo bed, I’ll take out those copper coins and give them back to you now."
Yu Ying looked at her and said, "No need, I have saved enough silver for the bamboo bed."
After speaking, she glanced towards the direction Uncle He had left, her mind filled with myriad thoughts.
As Yu Ying pondered other matters, Mrs. Luo continued, "But such a bamboo bed is quite expensive..."
At this moment, Yu Ying suddenly remembered something she hadn't discussed with Fu Wei. Her eyes brightened as she told Mrs. Luo, "It’s alright, you keep it. I have something to discuss with Second Master He, so I’ll go inside now."
Saying this, she quickly turned and walked towards the house.
Approaching the house, Yu Ying was about to lift the curtain when she realized that the straw curtain had been replaced with bamboo doors.
Earlier, Fu Wei had heard Uncle He offering to lend money for the bed, knowing that it would bother Yu Ying, who would then try to find a way to help Uncle He bring his son back.
So, when she opened the bamboo door and entered, Fu Wei asked in a calm and smooth voice, "Have you come up with a plan?"
Yu Ying, with a smile, took out the contract she had signed with the pharmacist and handed it to him.
Fu Wei, looking somewhat skeptical, took the contract and read through it.
Realizing it was a sales contract she had signed, and since it was expected, he calmly folded it back up.
Seeing his composed demeanor, Yu Ying asked him, "Why aren't you surprised at all?"
Fu Wei replied, "The first time the pharmacist accepted your herbs without question, it didn't reveal much. But when he said he'd buy any amount you bring within three days, it clearly showed his immense satisfaction with your herbs, far surpassing those at the medical hall. If he continues to come to Yu County for herbs, he will surely seek you out for business."
Yu Ying, hearing his analysis, couldn't help but laugh, "You even guessed this? Is there anything you don't know?"
Fu Wei handed back the contract, his expression unchanged, "I'm just guessing."
After speaking, he repeated his question, "Have you thought about asking the He family to accompany you to the quarry?"
Returning to the point at hand, Yu Ying quickly replied, "Yes, that's exactly what I wanted to discuss."
She took back the contract, tucked it inside her clothing, and then sat down on the bamboo stool: "As you said, the mountains are dangerous, and I definitely can't gather five hundred jins of herbs alone. Fu An is too young to be of much help, so I definitely need assistance. In Lingshui Village, besides the He family, there’s no one else I trust."
Fu Wei pondered for a moment, then pointed out, "But if your elder brother and sister-in-law return, they can help you too. They would naturally want to work off the silver you spent to redeem them."
Yu Ying shook her head, "No, there are some things the Fu family shouldn't be involved in; it has to be the He family. Besides, it's not just about gathering herbs, but also drying them, and moreover..."
She paused, then slowly added, "Moreover, there's more than one pharmacist coming to Lingnan’s Yu County for herbs."
"Are you thinking of finding other pharmacists?"
Yu Ying nodded, "We have to wait three more months for the herbalist surnamed Zhang to come to Jade County. It's hard to predict other unforeseen events, so we must prepare thoroughly and not rely solely on Mr. Zhang."
"Putting all eggs in one basket is risky; if the basket falls, all will be lost. Hence, it's better to spread them across different baskets."
After some thought, she added, "I'm planning to persuade Uncle He and Aunt He, along with the He family daughter-in-law, to join me in herb gathering. Spending half a month, we should earn some money. If they're still short of the redemption money for He Er Lang, I can lend them some."
Fu Wei pondered for a moment.
Indeed, helping the He family this way was much more sensible than simply paying to redeem He Er Lang herself.
He reminded her, "That's a good idea, but remember, the money you earn is through risk-taking, not solely for charity. Even if you want to do good deeds, they should be within your means."
Yu Ying, hearing his reminder, spoke softly, "There are countless people in need in this world, and I can't help them all. Those I do help are after weighing the pros and cons."
Fu Wei's hand on his leg twitched slightly, and turning his eyes towards her, he asked, "What benefit do I, a useless person, bring to you?"
Yu Ying didn't hide her thoughts, but didn't reveal everything either, simply stating, "I seek a stable future."
"Hmm?" Fu Wei frowned slightly, not understanding.
Puzzled, he wondered how he, in his current state, could offer her any stability.
Yu Ying mysteriously said, "Perhaps you are now like a hidden dragon in the abyss, destined to soar to the heavens when the right opportunity arises."
Fu Wei was initially taken aback, then understanding a part of it, he smiled faintly at her, "Aren’t you overestimating me?"
"Who can be certain about the future? Anyway, when that day comes, you will be my support. With a support, life naturally becomes stable."
Fu Wei didn’t take her words seriously, but still gazed steadily at her, solemnly promising, "If I ever come into fortune, I will share it with you."
"If I ever come into fortune, I will share it with you."
His deep and soothing voice reached Yu Ying’s ears.
Yu Ying smiled at him, "When you say that, I take it seriously. Just make sure you don't go back on your word."
Fu Wei, who had been in a state of gloom for two months, always seeming stifled, felt a momentary relief upon meeting her smile.
He nodded again, "A promise made is a promise kept. I won’t go back on my word."
