Chapter 39
Yuying had to deliver herbs to Yu County and also pay the ransom at the county yamen.
Since Uncle He had been the one in contact with the yamen runner, Yuying decided to take him along to Yu County.
They first delivered the herbs, a total of thirty pounds, for which they received four hundred and eighty coins.
The Wu surname herbalist, pleased with the deal, smiled at the woman before him, "Next time you come to Yu County, I'll buy herbs from you again!"
Yuying roughly counted the coins, then stored them in a newly sewn cloth bag, her face warm with a gentle smile, "But next time, I can't sell them to you at such a low price."
The herbalist's smile faltered, "What? Do you think doing business with me is bad?"
Yuying quickly explained, "Please don't misunderstand, sir. I just can't disrupt the price set by the clinics. I can only reduce it by two coins at most. Any less, and you know the trouble it could cause."
The herbalist was about to make a 'only you, me, and heaven know' remark, but after a thought, he decided against it, considering he might not come to Yu County for herbs next time.
After bidding farewell, Yuying took her leave.
Afu escorted her and Uncle He out of the inn. She asked Uncle He to wait up front and then handed him forty-eight copper coins wrapped in cloth.
Yuying had already counted and strung the forty-eight coins that morning.
Yuying said, "There are forty-eight coins here. I didn't give them to you inside the inn due to the crowd."
Holding the actual coins, Afu's smile widened, and he quickly said, "Madam Yu can just call me Afu, no need to call me 'Little Second Brother'; it's a bit embarrassing."
Yuying smiled and instructed, "For now, let's not look for new herbalists."
Afu, having just tasted success, exclaimed in surprise, "Does Madam Yu plan to stop dealing in herbs?"
Yuying shook her head, "Not at all. It's just that frequent deliveries to the inn are too conspicuous. Being so noticeable isn't good for either of us."
Afu was puzzled, "How so?"
Yuying explained, "Herbalists usually buy from clinics, who purchase at low prices and sell high. If I keep a low profile, they won't consider me a threat. But if I'm too blatant in competing, blocking their profits, it could indeed provoke their displeasure."
As Fu Wei had said, directly confronting those clinics with her current status would be like hitting a stone with an egg.
To grow her business, she needed to take it slow, cautiously establishing a firm foundation to handle future risks.
After pondering, Afu realized the logic, remembering that clinics often had their own backers. His face changed slightly, and he hurriedly agreed, "It's better to be safe, indeed."
After thinking it over, he said, "For now, I'll just observe the herbalists staying at the inn and wait for Madam Yu's signal to connect them."
Although more money is always welcome, Afu understood that earning it sustainably was key.
Yuying nodded, then turned and left.
After leaving the inn, she and Uncle He went to the yamen.
They were led into the county yamen by Huo, the bailiff and uncle of the owner of Wu's Eatery.
Huo the bailiff glanced at Yuying, nodded, and said, "Follow me to pay the service silver, and you can head to the quarry tomorrow."
Yuying and Uncle He followed Huo the bailiff into the yamen.
At the office managing the labor roster, Yuying provided Fu Dalang's name, place of origin, current household registration, and finally, his wife Wen's details to the official.
The official found both their names on the list for Xiqiao Mountain Quarry.
After checking the remaining service time and doing some calculations, he said, "Fu Zhen from Lingshui Village has three years and four months left, at twelve hundred coins per year, totaling four thousand coins. His wife, Mrs. Wen from Lingshui Village, has two years and nine months left, at a thousand coins per year for women, totaling two thousand seven hundred and fifty coins. In total, six thousand seven hundred and fifty coins."
Hearing it was less than seven thousand coins, Yuying inwardly sighed in relief, feeling her financial burden lighten.
Although with the additional tips, it amounted to about seven thousand five hundred coins, it was still much less than her initial budget of eight thousand.
Even if she had to spend more on the way, it was still a significant saving.
Yuying took out the silver from her basket, first about one tael and seven coins, then five strings of coins, placing them all on the table.
Finally, she took out five small strings of copper coins, each worth ten coins, from her cloth bag and placed them on the table.
"This should be enough, please, sir, count it."
The official signaled to two junior yamen runners, who brought over a slightly heavy scale to weigh the five strings of coins.
After several checks, the official, with an indifferent tone, said to Yuying, "To prevent any deception in the amount, an additional fifty coins are required. If there's a shortfall, it will be covered; if not, it will be taken as expenses for transportation and refreshments."
Though reluctantly, Yuying, knowing better than to argue with officials, paid the extra fifty coins.
Seeing her compliance, the official didn't trouble her further and promptly wrote two documents of servitude completion, which he then took to get stamped with the county magistrate's seal.
Once stamped, the documents were to be sent to the quarry by a bailiff.
To prevent impersonation, a family member must accompany the bailiff.
Leaving the yamen, Huo the bailiff said, "Tomorrow there will be a cart to Xiqiao Mountain Quarry, each person should prepare twenty coins for the round-trip fare."
After a pause, he added, "The cart will pass through Lingshui Village around the hour of Si (9-11 am), wait there."
Concluding, he looked at Yuying, "Upon reaching Xiqiao Mountain Quarry, no additional payment is needed, just bring some wine and food to give away."
Yuying nodded, "Thank you for the reminder, Bailiff Huo."
Huo the bailiff nodded in acknowledgment and then returned to the yamen.
Yuying turned to Uncle He, "Since I asked Uncle and Aunt He to accompany me, I will cover the carriage fee."
Uncle He shook his head, "My wife and I are not just accompanying you, we are also going to visit our second son."
He paused, then added, "We owe it to you for this opportunity with Bailiff Huo, allowing us to see our son smoothly. Perhaps Bailiff Huo could put in a good word, making our son's time at the quarry a bit easier."
Uncle He sighed, then continued, "I plan to buy some wine to take to the quarry too, to build good relations with the laborers. It will surely benefit our son."
He pondered a moment, "If we take the ox cart, it will be faster. Probably just an overnight stay on the way, and we should reach the quarry by noon the next day."
Yuying calculated that the round trip would take about three days, not too long of an absence.
After buying wine with Uncle He, Yuying also purchased some dry food and snacks that could be stored.
At home, there was no need to worry about food for the next three days, with plenty of oil, salt, rice, eggs, and greens available.
However, she had not yet mentioned to her family about her upcoming trip.
During dinner that evening, Yuying brought up her impending journey.
"I need to make a trip tomorrow, and it will take about three or four days."
Upon hearing this, her grandchildren simultaneously stopped eating, their chopsticks frozen mid-air as they looked at her in surprise.
Fu Wei, unhurriedly setting down his utensils, informed, "I'm aware of this. She's going back to her mother's home for a visit."
Hearing it was a visit to her maternal home, Luo slightly relaxed.
Luo had always felt Yuying didn't truly belong to the Fu family, and that they weren't worthy of her. Yet, the news of her leaving suddenly filled her with an unexpected sense of loss.
"Will Auntie come back?" Fu An asked nervously.
Yuying reassured Fu An and Fu Ning, "Of course, I'll return. I'll bring a big surprise for you both."
Fu An, looking down and fiddling with the rice in his bowl, muttered softly, "I don't want a big surprise; I just want Auntie."
Smiling gently at these words, Yuying picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks and placed it in his bowl, "I'm your auntie and also your uncle's wife. I'll definitely come back. Where else could I go?"
Fu Wei's lips curled into a small smile, affirming, "Auntie will return."
Yuying looked towards Fu Ning, who remained quiet and continued eating in silence. After a moment of thought, she decided not to say anything.
At bedtime, the young girl clung tightly to Yuying, as if letting go would mean losing her auntie forever.
After a long struggle, the little girl finally succumbed to sleep.
Gently stroking the little girl's head, Yuying, aware that Fu Wei was still awake, whispered, "As soon as I pick up the person, I'll come right back."
Fu Wei sighed softly, "Safety is more important than picking someone up."
Yuying, feeling warmed by his words, smiled, "I'll be careful. Besides gathering herbs, I've also ground some slightly poisonous powder."
She added, "I've left some for you too. The poison isn't strong, it'll just cause itching and swelling for a day or two, but it's enough to scare someone."
Fu Wei responded with a hum, then advised, "Be cautious in everything. Bring the crossbow, but if there's a search, discard it immediately."
"Understood."
……
As dawn broke, Yuying got up, followed closely by Fu Ning.
After Yuying was ready, the little girl clung tightly to her sleeve, her lips pouting and eyes reddening, looking like she wanted to cry but dared not, pitifully.
Yuying crouched down and took out a blue hairpin she had secretly made the night before, offering it to her.
"This hairpin is a gift from Auntie. Wear it for Auntie to see when I return, okay?"
The so-called hairpin was actually an old thorn pin altered by Yuying.
She had sewn three small blue flowers and wrapped them around the thorn pin with thread, skillfully transforming it.
But Fu Ning didn't take it, still gripping Yuying's sleeve tightly.
Yuying thought for a moment, then said, "Be good, Fu Ning. The sooner Auntie leaves, the sooner she can return."
Saying this, she looked up at Luo.
Understanding the situation, Luo stepped forward, gently pried her granddaughter's hands off, and picked her up.
Suddenly lifted, the little girl burst into tears, reaching out towards Yuying, crying heartbreakingly.
Yuying turned to leave but couldn't bring herself to do so. She turned back, tenderly touched the little girl's head, and gently kissed her forehead.
She promised, "Auntie keeps her word; I'll be back by the fourth day at the latest."
The little girl finally calmed down a bit, but her tears did not stop.
Yuying took a deep breath, wiped the tears from the girl's eyes, and then turned to leave.
Approaching noon, under the scorching sun, the sound of chiseling stones echoed in Xiqiao Mountain Quarry, occasionally mixed with harsh curses.
Most men in the quarry were shirtless, their skin sunburnt to a blackish red, with thick calluses on their shoulders.
Some were barefoot, others wore tattered straw sandals.
The women, covered in dirt to the point their faces were indiscernible, wore clothes repeatedly patched and re-torn, with the hems and shoulders frayed beyond repair.
They carried baskets of stones down the mountain. Any slow movement invited curses or lashes.
Every face bore an expression of numbness, their eyes hollow, devoid of any trace of life.
Suddenly, three gong strikes signaled a break for the midday meal, giving everyone a chance to catch their breath.
Everyone immediately dropped their tools, rushing towards the food like starving wolves, afraid of being too late and going hungry.
As women couldn't compete with men for food, they were served separately.
Men received two steamed buns, while women only got one, each accompanied by a bowl of thin porridge.
A tall man was first to grab two larger buns and, after getting his porridge, looked for his wife among the women.
Soon, a frail figure was pushed out of the crowd. The buns were gone, leaving only porridge.
The man walked over, lips pressed tightly together, wordlessly handing one bun to his wife.
The frail woman silently took it, and they both went to a shaded spot to quietly eat their buns.
Just then, a bailiff stood in the middle of the quarry, shouting loudly, "Where are Fu Zhen and his wife from Lingshui Village?"
Hearing his name, the man looked up, glanced towards the bailiff, and raised his hand.
Seeing him and the woman beside him, the bailiff understood, then shouted again, “Where is He Jing from Lingshui Village?”
A young man in his late teens, looking bewildered, quickly raised his hand.
Seeing everyone was present, the bailiff said coldly, “You three, come with me immediately.”
Chapter 39
Yuying had to deliver herbs to Yu County and also pay the ransom at the county yamen.
Since Uncle He had been the one in contact with the yamen runner, Yuying decided to take him along to Yu County.
They first delivered the herbs, a total of thirty pounds, for which they received four hundred and eighty coins.
The Wu surname herbalist, pleased with the deal, smiled at the woman before him, "Next time you come to Yu County, I'll buy herbs from you again!"
Yuying roughly counted the coins, then stored them in a newly sewn cloth bag, her face warm with a gentle smile, "But next time, I can't sell them to you at such a low price."
The herbalist's smile faltered, "What? Do you think doing business with me is bad?"
Yuying quickly explained, "Please don't misunderstand, sir. I just can't disrupt the price set by the clinics. I can only reduce it by two coins at most. Any less, and you know the trouble it could cause."
The herbalist was about to make a 'only you, me, and heaven know' remark, but after a thought, he decided against it, considering he might not come to Yu County for herbs next time.
After bidding farewell, Yuying took her leave.
Afu escorted her and Uncle He out of the inn. She asked Uncle He to wait up front and then handed him forty-eight copper coins wrapped in cloth.
Yuying had already counted and strung the forty-eight coins that morning.
Yuying said, "There are forty-eight coins here. I didn't give them to you inside the inn due to the crowd."
Holding the actual coins, Afu's smile widened, and he quickly said, "Madam Yu can just call me Afu, no need to call me 'Little Second Brother'; it's a bit embarrassing."
Yuying smiled and instructed, "For now, let's not look for new herbalists."
Afu, having just tasted success, exclaimed in surprise, "Does Madam Yu plan to stop dealing in herbs?"
Yuying shook her head, "Not at all. It's just that frequent deliveries to the inn are too conspicuous. Being so noticeable isn't good for either of us."
Afu was puzzled, "How so?"
Yuying explained, "Herbalists usually buy from clinics, who purchase at low prices and sell high. If I keep a low profile, they won't consider me a threat. But if I'm too blatant in competing, blocking their profits, it could indeed provoke their displeasure."
As Fu Wei had said, directly confronting those clinics with her current status would be like hitting a stone with an egg.
To grow her business, she needed to take it slow, cautiously establishing a firm foundation to handle future risks.
After pondering, Afu realized the logic, remembering that clinics often had their own backers. His face changed slightly, and he hurriedly agreed, "It's better to be safe, indeed."
After thinking it over, he said, "For now, I'll just observe the herbalists staying at the inn and wait for Madam Yu's signal to connect them."
Although more money is always welcome, Afu understood that earning it sustainably was key.
Yuying nodded, then turned and left.
After leaving the inn, she and Uncle He went to the yamen.
They were led into the county yamen by Huo, the bailiff and uncle of the owner of Wu's Eatery.
Huo the bailiff glanced at Yuying, nodded, and said, "Follow me to pay the service silver, and you can head to the quarry tomorrow."
Yuying and Uncle He followed Huo the bailiff into the yamen.
At the office managing the labor roster, Yuying provided Fu Dalang's name, place of origin, current household registration, and finally, his wife Wen's details to the official.
The official found both their names on the list for Xiqiao Mountain Quarry.
After checking the remaining service time and doing some calculations, he said, "Fu Zhen from Lingshui Village has three years and four months left, at twelve hundred coins per year, totaling four thousand coins. His wife, Mrs. Wen from Lingshui Village, has two years and nine months left, at a thousand coins per year for women, totaling two thousand seven hundred and fifty coins. In total, six thousand seven hundred and fifty coins."
Hearing it was less than seven thousand coins, Yuying inwardly sighed in relief, feeling her financial burden lighten.
Although with the additional tips, it amounted to about seven thousand five hundred coins, it was still much less than her initial budget of eight thousand.
Even if she had to spend more on the way, it was still a significant saving.
Yuying took out the silver from her basket, first about one tael and seven coins, then five strings of coins, placing them all on the table.
Finally, she took out five small strings of copper coins, each worth ten coins, from her cloth bag and placed them on the table.
"This should be enough, please, sir, count it."
The official signaled to two junior yamen runners, who brought over a slightly heavy scale to weigh the five strings of coins.
After several checks, the official, with an indifferent tone, said to Yuying, "To prevent any deception in the amount, an additional fifty coins are required. If there's a shortfall, it will be covered; if not, it will be taken as expenses for transportation and refreshments."
Though reluctantly, Yuying, knowing better than to argue with officials, paid the extra fifty coins.
Seeing her compliance, the official didn't trouble her further and promptly wrote two documents of servitude completion, which he then took to get stamped with the county magistrate's seal.
Once stamped, the documents were to be sent to the quarry by a bailiff.
To prevent impersonation, a family member must accompany the bailiff.
Leaving the yamen, Huo the bailiff said, "Tomorrow there will be a cart to Xiqiao Mountain Quarry, each person should prepare twenty coins for the round-trip fare."
After a pause, he added, "The cart will pass through Lingshui Village around the hour of Si (9-11 am), wait there."
Concluding, he looked at Yuying, "Upon reaching Xiqiao Mountain Quarry, no additional payment is needed, just bring some wine and food to give away."
Yuying nodded, "Thank you for the reminder, Bailiff Huo."
Huo the bailiff nodded in acknowledgment and then returned to the yamen.
Yuying turned to Uncle He, "Since I asked Uncle and Aunt He to accompany me, I will cover the carriage fee."
Uncle He shook his head, "My wife and I are not just accompanying you, we are also going to visit our second son."
He paused, then added, "We owe it to you for this opportunity with Bailiff Huo, allowing us to see our son smoothly. Perhaps Bailiff Huo could put in a good word, making our son's time at the quarry a bit easier."
Uncle He sighed, then continued, "I plan to buy some wine to take to the quarry too, to build good relations with the laborers. It will surely benefit our son."
He pondered a moment, "If we take the ox cart, it will be faster. Probably just an overnight stay on the way, and we should reach the quarry by noon the next day."
Yuying calculated that the round trip would take about three days, not too long of an absence.
After buying wine with Uncle He, Yuying also purchased some dry food and snacks that could be stored.
At home, there was no need to worry about food for the next three days, with plenty of oil, salt, rice, eggs, and greens available.
However, she had not yet mentioned to her family about her upcoming trip.
During dinner that evening, Yuying brought up her impending journey.
"I need to make a trip tomorrow, and it will take about three or four days."
Upon hearing this, her grandchildren simultaneously stopped eating, their chopsticks frozen mid-air as they looked at her in surprise.
Fu Wei, unhurriedly setting down his utensils, informed, "I'm aware of this. She's going back to her mother's home for a visit."
Hearing it was a visit to her maternal home, Luo slightly relaxed.
Luo had always felt Yuying didn't truly belong to the Fu family, and that they weren't worthy of her. Yet, the news of her leaving suddenly filled her with an unexpected sense of loss.
"Will Auntie come back?" Fu An asked nervously.
Yuying reassured Fu An and Fu Ning, "Of course, I'll return. I'll bring a big surprise for you both."
Fu An, looking down and fiddling with the rice in his bowl, muttered softly, "I don't want a big surprise; I just want Auntie."
Smiling gently at these words, Yuying picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks and placed it in his bowl, "I'm your auntie and also your uncle's wife. I'll definitely come back. Where else could I go?"
Fu Wei's lips curled into a small smile, affirming, "Auntie will return."
Yuying looked towards Fu Ning, who remained quiet and continued eating in silence. After a moment of thought, she decided not to say anything.
At bedtime, the young girl clung tightly to Yuying, as if letting go would mean losing her auntie forever.
After a long struggle, the little girl finally succumbed to sleep.
Gently stroking the little girl's head, Yuying, aware that Fu Wei was still awake, whispered, "As soon as I pick up the person, I'll come right back."
Fu Wei sighed softly, "Safety is more important than picking someone up."
Yuying, feeling warmed by his words, smiled, "I'll be careful. Besides gathering herbs, I've also ground some slightly poisonous powder."
She added, "I've left some for you too. The poison isn't strong, it'll just cause itching and swelling for a day or two, but it's enough to scare someone."
Fu Wei responded with a hum, then advised, "Be cautious in everything. Bring the crossbow, but if there's a search, discard it immediately."
"Understood."
……
As dawn broke, Yuying got up, followed closely by Fu Ning.
After Yuying was ready, the little girl clung tightly to her sleeve, her lips pouting and eyes reddening, looking like she wanted to cry but dared not, pitifully.
Yuying crouched down and took out a blue hairpin she had secretly made the night before, offering it to her.
"This hairpin is a gift from Auntie. Wear it for Auntie to see when I return, okay?"
The so-called hairpin was actually an old thorn pin altered by Yuying.
She had sewn three small blue flowers and wrapped them around the thorn pin with thread, skillfully transforming it.
But Fu Ning didn't take it, still gripping Yuying's sleeve tightly.
Yuying thought for a moment, then said, "Be good, Fu Ning. The sooner Auntie leaves, the sooner she can return."
Saying this, she looked up at Luo.
Understanding the situation, Luo stepped forward, gently pried her granddaughter's hands off, and picked her up.
Suddenly lifted, the little girl burst into tears, reaching out towards Yuying, crying heartbreakingly.
Yuying turned to leave but couldn't bring herself to do so. She turned back, tenderly touched the little girl's head, and gently kissed her forehead.
She promised, "Auntie keeps her word; I'll be back by the fourth day at the latest."
The little girl finally calmed down a bit, but her tears did not stop.
Yuying took a deep breath, wiped the tears from the girl's eyes, and then turned to leave.
Approaching noon, under the scorching sun, the sound of chiseling stones echoed in Xiqiao Mountain Quarry, occasionally mixed with harsh curses.
Most men in the quarry were shirtless, their skin sunburnt to a blackish red, with thick calluses on their shoulders.
Some were barefoot, others wore tattered straw sandals.
The women, covered in dirt to the point their faces were indiscernible, wore clothes repeatedly patched and re-torn, with the hems and shoulders frayed beyond repair.
They carried baskets of stones down the mountain. Any slow movement invited curses or lashes.
Every face bore an expression of numbness, their eyes hollow, devoid of any trace of life.
Suddenly, three gong strikes signaled a break for the midday meal, giving everyone a chance to catch their breath.
Everyone immediately dropped their tools, rushing towards the food like starving wolves, afraid of being too late and going hungry.
As women couldn't compete with men for food, they were served separately.
Men received two steamed buns, while women only got one, each accompanied by a bowl of thin porridge.
A tall man was first to grab two larger buns and, after getting his porridge, looked for his wife among the women.
Soon, a frail figure was pushed out of the crowd. The buns were gone, leaving only porridge.
The man walked over, lips pressed tightly together, wordlessly handing one bun to his wife.
The frail woman silently took it, and they both went to a shaded spot to quietly eat their buns.
Just then, a bailiff stood in the middle of the quarry, shouting loudly, "Where are Fu Zhen and his wife from Lingshui Village?"
Hearing his name, the man looked up, glanced towards the bailiff, and raised his hand.
Seeing him and the woman beside him, the bailiff understood, then shouted again, “Where is He Jing from Lingshui Village?”
A young man in his late teens, looking bewildered, quickly raised his hand.
Seeing everyone was present, the bailiff said coldly, “You three, come with me immediately.”
