"Chapter 45"
"After a bumpy journey, they finally arrived in Jade County."
"Yu Ying asked Uncle Chen to deliver the jelly to the eatery, while she headed straight to the county government office with her sister-in-law."
"The common people generally held a sense of awe and fear towards the county office, preferring to avoid it. For usual matters, they would seek the help of the village head, who would then make trips to the county office."
"Noticing her sister-in-law's fear, Yu Ying suggested she wait outside while she went in alone."
"However, seeming more afraid of being alone than of the county office, her sister-in-law insisted on accompanying her, albeit nervously."
"After speaking with a junior officer outside the government office about meeting Huo, the yamen runner, the officer immediately went to inform him."
"Soon after, Huo, the yamen runner, came out."
"Considering how thoroughly and unproblematically the woman had managed all the affairs related to the quarry, Huo was inclined to show her some respect."
"Yu Ying, with her hands placed on her abdomen, nodded slightly to Huo, displaying proper etiquette."
"Huo asked, 'What brings Madam Yu here?'"
"Yu Ying replied, 'Today is unbearably hot. I've made some ice cream and left it with Shopkeeper Chen at Wu's eatery. Perhaps Huo could collect it at noon to help the officials cool down and relieve the heat.'"
"Huo, an experienced yamen runner, sensed that the woman had more to discuss, so he stepped down from the stairs, moving away from the gatekeeper's assistant."
"Yú Yíng followed him."
"Officer Huò glanced at the woman behind her, then turned his attention back to Madam Yú without much concern, asking, 'What would you like to discuss, Madam Yú?'"
"Yú Yíng replied, 'I have two matters I would like to inquire about.'"
"Officer Huò said indifferently, 'Go ahead.'"
"'The first matter is about renting some land in Língshuǐ Village. I’m wondering how to go about reporting it?'"
"Officer Huò replied, 'Just find the village head of Língshuǐ Village. In a few days, the village heads from each village will be coming to the office to report the population of their respective villages. At that time, I’ll remind the head of Língshuǐ Village to allocate a few good acres for you.'"
"Yú Yíng smiled, 'Thank you, Officer Huò.'"
"Since the matter of the land was just a casual request and not a major favor, Officer Huò didn’t pay it much mind."
"'The second matter involves a woman from my village who slandered me during my trip to the quarry to retrieve my brother and sister-in-law. She accused me of eloping or being involved in illicit affairs and took advantage of my absence to physically assault my nephew. I would like to know if I can report this to the authorities?'"
"Wēn Xìng, who was following behind, was shocked to hear her sister-in-law actually taking the matter to the county office."
"Yesterday, when her sister-in-law said she would report Auntie Cuìlán to the authorities, Wēn Xìng, like others, thought it was just a threat to scare her and didn't expect her to actually follow through."
"Hearing Madam Yú's words, Officer Huò frowned."
"Gossips are everywhere, and in Yù County, there have been numerous cases caused by such women. Although it’s a serious issue, if it hasn’t escalated significantly, it’s difficult to intervene."
"Officer Huò stated, 'At most, we can issue a warning, but the county office won’t officially take on the case.'"
"Though it wouldn’t be officially processed, a warning could still make Auntie Cuìlán apprehensive for a long time."
"Yú Yíng took note of this in her mind."
"She had already formed a general understanding of Officer Huò’s character during the redemption of her elder brother and sister-in-law."
"Although the county office wasn’t entirely clean and Officer Huò did seek personal gains, fortunately, he still got things done after receiving money."
"With this in mind, Yú Yíng formulated a plan."
"She said, 'She initially tried to extort a hundred coins from me, demanding that my nephew kneel and kowtow to her son. But it was she who insulted me first and hit my nephew. In anger, I demanded the same hundred coins from her. If she refuses, I threatened to report to the county office. Clearly, she knows such a matter won’t be officially handled, so she continues her arrogance, which is infuriating.'"
"Continuing, Yú Yíng looked at Officer Huò and said softly, 'If a warning can make her pay the hundred coins and apologize, I will give that money to the county office as a token of appreciation for the officials.'"
"Officer Huò, intrigued by her last statement, confirmed, 'Are you truly willing to donate the compensation to the county office?'"
"Yú Yíng nodded, 'If the county office intervenes and intimidates her into admitting her wrongdoing, venting my frustration is all that matters; the money is of no consequence.'"
"Officer Huò, touching his saber, pondered for a moment and said, 'Such a gossip, disrespecting the authority of the county office and speaking recklessly, might cause more serious trouble later. I will visit Língshuǐ Village tomorrow morning to warn her and make her apologize to you.'"
"After a pause, he added, 'Tell me in detail about this woman – which family does she belong to, and what’s her full name.'"
"Yu Ying had already inquired about Aunt Cui Lan's background during her visit to the He family yesterday, so she speaks with clarity and certainty now."
"Leaving the yamen, Wen Xing was still in a state of shock and daze."
"It took her a while to regain her composure, and she whispered, 'Sister-in-law, I thought your threat to take Aunt Cui Lan to the yamen yesterday was just to scare her.'"
"Yu Ying smiled and explained, 'The more everyone thinks I'm just bluffing, the more I need to actually file a complaint. This way, I can deter the people of Lingshui Village and prevent others from daring to bully our Fu family in the future.'"
"But Yu Ying's thoughts were not just limited to this; she had other plans in mind."
"In October, when I deliver 500 jin of medicinal herbs, the news will surely reach the ears of several medical halls. If I have no connections by then, a united front from these medical halls will crush me without any power to fight back."
"Now, by having this Huo yamen assistant deal with Aunt Cui Lan, others will think I have connections with the yamen, which might make them think twice before confronting me."
"Lost in her own thoughts, Yu Ying soon realized that her elder sister-in-law had not followed her."
"Turning back, she saw her sister-in-law staring at her, seemingly lost in thought."
"Yu Ying asked, 'What's the matter, big sister-in-law?'"
"Wen Xing gradually came back to her senses, realizing that her sister-in-law's strategy must be effective, and admiringly said, 'Sister-in-law, you are so intelligent and formidable.'"
"She knew from her time in Lingshui Village that Aunt Cui Lan was a formidable figure. The entire village knew of Aunt Cui Lan's notoriety and shamelessness, so they preferred to avoid any involvement with her."
"Yu Ying, flattered by her sister-in-law's praise, felt somewhat embarrassed and changed the subject, 'Let's not talk about this, we should go buy the fabric first.'"
"Wen Xing nodded repeatedly and quickly followed her sister-in-law with small steps."
"The sisters-in-law went to the fabric store, where Yu Ying picked out an indigo fabric and asked, 'Big sister-in-law, what do you think of this color?'"
"Wen Xing gently nodded, 'It's beautiful.'"
"How much fabric do you think we need to make clothes for our eldest brother?"
Wen Xing was startled and her eyes widened in surprise. She hurriedly gestured with her hands, saying, "Sister-in-law, you don't need to prepare clothes for us..." Her voice trailed off for a moment, and then she quickly added, "I'll take off what I'm wearing when I get back, wash it, and return it to you."
Yu Ying reassured her, "Big sister-in-law, please don't misunderstand. I'm buying fabric for you and eldest brother now. You can pay back when you've earned some money. It's not like it's not going to be returned, right?"
Wen Xing said, "Although that's true, we haven't paid back the previous money yet, and now we're spending more of your money. I don't feel right about it." Towards the end, she glanced at the store attending other customers and whispered, "Why don't we make do for now and buy it later when we've earned some money?"
Yu Ying considered and then changed her approach, "Then, let's not discuss the fabric for eldest brother's clothes for now. How much fabric would we need for a set of clothes for Erlang?"
"Fu Wei's few outfits were brought from Wuling County around April or May when it was still cool there. Those clothes are somewhat thick for this scorching summer."
Hearing it was for her second brother, Wen Xing breathed a sigh of relief, then thought carefully and asked, "How tall is the second brother approximately?"
Yu Ying, having never seen Fu Wei standing and not sure of his height, estimated based on the length of his lower legs when she examined them, thinking he must be about the same height as the eldest brother.
Yu Ying said, "He may not be as robust as the eldest brother, but their heights should be similar."
After some thought, Wen Xing suggested approximate measurements for a short jacket and trousers, "About nine feet for the jacket and roughly four and a half feet for the trousers."
Yu Ying then asked, "What about for someone of my size? How much fabric would that require?"
Wen Xing looked her over from top to bottom, left to right, pondered for a moment, and then replied.
With these two measurements, Yu Ying quickly calculated how much fabric she needed to buy for her eldest brother and sister-in-law.
Yu Ying planned to make two sets of summer clothes for Fu Wei and then two sets each for her eldest brother and sister-in-law to change into.
The old clothes they wore at the quarry were so worn that Yu Ying felt they might tear with a bit more strenuous movement.
Wearing those was definitely not acceptable, so it was essential to make two sets of clothes for changing.
As for her, Fu An, Fu Ning, and the Luo family, she would wait until after selling the medicinal herbs. When the weather cooled down, she could make thicker clothes and save some money.
"Yu Ying purchased a large amount of fabric, which made Wen Xing feel uneasy, as it seemed enough for six or seven outfits, which was too much."
"But considering it was her sister-in-law's own money, she could make as many clothes as she wanted, so Wen Xing felt it wasn't her place to comment."
"After buying the fabric and sewing supplies, Yu Ying also persuaded the shopkeeper to sell her some offcut fabric at a discount."
"This trip to the fabric store ended up costing nearly five hundred wen."
"To redeem her brother and sister-in-law, Yu Ying had initially prepared eight taels of silver, and now she had about three hundred wen left."
"Now, having spent it all on fabric, she even had to add a little extra."
"Although she knew that every penny spent was necessary, Yu Ying still felt she was being somewhat extravagant and thought she should be more frugal in the future."
"After buying the fabric, she also purchased an extra oil lamp, half a crate of long-lasting eggs, and after some thought, a few pounds of flour and ten pounds of rice."
"She didn't buy meat, but Yu Ying did purchase some marrow bones for making nourishing soup."
"Although she hadn't taken their pulses, Yu Ying could tell from observation that her brother and sister-in-law were not in good health."
"After shopping, she finally returned to Wu Ji Restaurant."
"During the days she hadn't been there, Manager Chen hadn't settled the accounts, waiting for her to do so upon her return."
"The earnings for the three days amounted to sixty or seventy wen, which was only due to the lychee ice cream. She estimated that in a few days, without the ice cream, the daily earnings might not even reach twenty wen."
"Manager Chen said, 'Now that the novelty has worn off, we don't get as many customers trying it out, so we'll have to make less in the future.'"
"Hearing this, Yu Ying inwardly sighed, having anticipated that the ice cream business wouldn't last long. But maintaining an income of about ten wen a day was still quite good."
"Manager Chen added, 'Though sales aren't as good as before, our ice cream is unique to our restaurant. Those who want it will still come to us. And some come to eat here just for the ice cream, so we'll continue to buy it from you. Please don't stop making it because of the lesser earnings.'"
"Yu Ying, still in need of money and with the jelly business almost running itself now, how could she not continue?"
"She smiled in response, 'As long as the restaurant continues to buy my ice cream, I will keep delivering it.'"
"After their conversation, Yú Yíng informed Boss Chén that Officer Huò would collect the extra jelly she had sent around noon."
"Then, Yú Yíng bid farewell to Boss Chén and bought two buns with her sister-in-law to tide them over until they returned home at the appointed time."
"Yú Yíng wanted to discuss the walking stick in detail with the bamboo craftsman, so instead of returning to Língshuǐ Village, she went directly to Chén Family Village."
"Chén Family Village was more prosperous than Língshuǐ Village. Yú Yíng noticed that not all houses were thatched huts; many were mud-brick houses."
"The bamboo bed was ready. It was larger than the one for her elder brother and sister-in-law, and Yú Yíng paid sixty-five coins for it, based on the local villagers' pricing."
"Thinking that Mrs. Luò needed a place to sleep, Yú Yíng decided to order a single bamboo bed."
"The bamboo craftsman, hearing this, brought out a single bamboo bed."
"He mentioned that he usually sold them in the city. This one was leftover and priced at thirty coins."
"Old Man Chén and the bamboo craftsman helped load both bamboo beds onto the bullock cart before returning to Língshuǐ Village."
"When they arrived back at Língshuǐ Village, it was around the same time Yú Yíng usually returned from Yù County. From afar on the cart, she saw two adults and a child standing at the entrance of the village."
"Who else could it be but Fú Zhèn and his children?"
"Seeing her husband and children, a smile instantly appeared on Wēn Xìng’s face, revealing shallow dimples on her cheeks."
"She raised her hand to wave towards them and said to Yú Yíng beside her, 'Sister-in-law, look, it's Ān Ān and Níng Níng.'"
"As Old Man Chén intended to deliver the bamboo beds to their house, Yú Yíng and her sister-in-law got off the cart, took Ān Ān and Níng Níng up, and walked back together."
"Villagers, seeing the Fú family and the two bamboo beds on the cart, couldn’t help but wonder how the Fú family’s fortunes had suddenly improved."
"Not only had they managed to bring back Elder Brother Fú and his wife from the quarry, but they also bought two bamboo beds at once. Where did all this money come from?"
"Could it be that Madam Yú really stumbled upon some miraculous ginseng or lingzhi mushrooms?"
"Yú Yíng noticed the astonished gazes of the villagers but felt indifferent, though slightly vigilant. Considering the imposing stature of Elder Brother Fú and the impending intimidation, she surmised the villagers would think twice before targeting the Fú family."
"Arriving at their doorstep, Mrs. Luò, who was cooking, heard the noise and peeked out, squinting towards the yard."
"Luo Shi faintly noticed an ox cart parked outside their yard. She walked out curiously and only upon approaching did she see the two bamboo beds on the cart."
"Luo Shi exclaimed in surprise, 'Didn't we just buy one bamboo bed? Why are there two now?'"
"Yu Ying explained, 'I was planning to order one anyway, and since they had it available, I bought it.'"
"Fu Zhen, with his great strength, single-handedly unloaded the bamboo beds from the cart."
"Uncle Chen refused to take Yu Ying's money and, as it was getting late, left after unloading the beds."
"The single bamboo bed was placed in the main house, while the double bed was set up in the smaller room."
"However, because there was a straw bed in the room, Fu Zhen moved Fu Wei outside to sit."
"Yu Ying planned to tidy up after seeing Uncle Chen off, but upon her return, she found her sister-in-law and Fu An and Fu Ning had already cleared the straw bed out to the yard, and her eldest brother had moved the bamboo bed inside."
"This made things easier for Yu Ying."
"These past few days, she really felt much more at ease."
"Since it was still light and somewhat cool, after burning some mosquito-repelling herbs in the yard, they moved the bamboo table outside and dined there."
"This was Fu Wei's first time dining outside, and feeling the cool breeze, his mood lightened considerably."
"During the meal, Fu An suddenly mentioned, 'Aunt, Aunt Cui Lan came over today.'"
"Yu Ying, feigning ignorance, asked, 'What did she come for?'"
"Fu An replied with a smile, 'Aunt Cui Lan's face and neck were all scratched up, and she had many little bumps. She must have received her retribution, but...'"
"At this, Fu An's face wrinkled in displeasure."
"'But she kept saying that you, aunt, had poisoned her and planned to accuse you of it.'"
"Fu Wei spoke calmly, 'Without evidence, don't bother with her.'"
"Fu An nodded in agreement, 'I didn't talk to her. She just hovered outside the yard, alternating between pleading for you to cure her and cursing you for being wicked. When dad returned from cutting bamboo, she scurried away disgracefully.'"
"Luo Shi added from the side, 'Yu, don't worry. Everyone in the village knows what kind of person she is; they certainly won't believe her absurd claims.'"
"Yu Ying responded calmly, 'I'm not worried. Besides, I went to the yamen today and talked to the yamen runner about Aunt Cui Lan.'"
"Hearing this, not only was Luo Shi astonished, but even Fu Zhen showed a hint of surprise."
"Before Yu Ying could say more, Wen Xing hurriedly interjected, 'I thought you were just trying to scare Aunt Cui Lan, but you actually went to the yamen and convinced the yamen runner to come to Lingshui Village to question her. You're really impressive.'"
"Fu Zhen looked at his wife, who was shy and introverted in the morning, but now confidently referred to Yu Ying as her sister-in-law."
"As she spoke, her eyes sparkled brightly, clearly very fond of her sister-in-law."
"Yu Ying instructed, 'Let's keep this matter quiet for now and just wait.'"
"Wen Xing, the sister-in-law, nodded the fastest, followed by Fu An and Fu Ning."
"After dinner, the sister-in-law took over the cleaning, insisting that Yu Ying rest."
"As dusk fell, an oil lamp in the yard illuminated the area around the bamboo table."
"The family enjoyed the cool evening under the still-darkening sky, with the rising moon and a breeze carrying the scent of grass and trees."
"It was a rare moment of comfort for Fu Zhen and his wife after many years."
"For Fu Wei, it was the first time experiencing such a peaceful moment of cooling off and moon-gazing with 'family,' stirring complex emotions within him."
"At that moment, Fu Wei turned to look at Yu Ying beside him."
"Yu Ying felt his gaze, smiled back at him, and then raised her head to look at the sky."
"Fu Wei's heart slowed a few beats at her smile, then quietly turned back to join her in silent moon appreciation."
"After sitting for a while, they took turns to bathe."
"While Yu Ying went to freshen up, Fu Wei, with Fu Zhen's assistance, quickly washed himself."
"Previously, Fu Wei would not have accepted Fu Zhen's help, but things were different now."
"—Now, he was no longer sleeping alone."
"By the time Yu Ying returned, Fu Wei had already changed into clean, dry clothes and was sitting on the new bamboo bed."
"Yu Ying looked at the clean and spacious new bamboo bed, feeling very pleased."
"She placed the oil lamp at the edge of the bamboo bed and then took out the pile of offcut fabric she had bought cheaply that day. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she began sewing the scraps together into a single piece."
"What are you doing?" Fu Wei asked.
Yu Ying, working on needlework under the oil lamp, replied, "I'm planning to make a few pillowcases and then stuff them with dry grass."
"Without a proper pillow, I haven't been sleeping very comfortably."
Seeing her pile of fabric scraps, Fu Wei asked, "Do you have an extra needle and thread?"
Yu Ying was about to nod but then realized what he meant, turning to him, "Are you offering to help me sew?"
Fu Wei nodded slightly, "I'm not very skilled, but I think I can manage to sew them together."
Yu Ying didn't think men couldn't do needlework; after all, in both the future and this era, many tailors were men.
She also considered that Fu Wei didn't have much to occupy him usually, so sewing scraps could be a good way to pass the time.
Yu Ying handed him her needle and thread, then gently explained how to sew.
His ears filled with her soft, gentle instructions, Fu Wei's gaze was fixed on her fair and slender hands. His thoughts drifted, yet his fingers steadily continued their meticulous sewing.
Watching his distinct, strong fingers deftly maneuvering between the scraps and the needle, Yu Ying suddenly felt that others merely did needlework, but Fu Wei seemed to be crafting an expensive, exquisite piece of art.
The thought of using pillowcases hand-sewn by Fu Wei made Yu Ying's ears unexpectedly warm up.
She stood up, saying, "You keep sewing for a while; I'm going to count our savings."
After placing a cloth on the bamboo bed, she poured all the copper coins onto it and began counting.
Fu Wei's movements paused briefly, glancing at the small pile of copper coins on the bed.
These coins, which he never cared about in the past, gained new significance in Lingnan after his legs were injured and he saw her working from dawn till dusk. He realized just how hard-earned every single coin was.
"His gaze slowly lifted from the copper coins, settling on the woman intently counting them."
"For a moment, Fu Wei felt as if their interaction was just like that of a real married couple."
"After she finished counting all the coins, Fu Wei set aside his thoughts and asked her, 'Are we running low on money at home?'"
"Yu Ying strung the coins into small bundles of ten each, sighing, 'Money really doesn't last long, but fortunately, once we rent the field, we'll still have a few hundred wen left.'"
"Yu Ying had previously saved one tael and five hundred wen, but money was quickly spent, so she had to withdraw an additional three hundred wen."
"Now, adding the remaining savings to these eighty-odd copper coins, the total was still less than one thousand three hundred wen."
"She had inquired with Uncle He; renting one mu of paddy field required an annual payment of two hundred wen and a shi of grain."
"Upon reflection, after paying the rent and grain, the remaining grain would just be enough to scrape by."
"Since ancient times, harsh governance has been worse than a tiger. Just managing to scrape by was already not bad."
"Seeing her worried expression, Fu Wei pondered for a moment, then said, 'Once my legs recover, I will join you in the mountains to gather herbs.'"
"Yu Ying snapped out of her thoughts about harsh governance and smiled at him, 'You definitely need to help me gather herbs. You can't just be idle.'"
"Fu Wei's lips slightly curved in a smile, nodded a bit, and then continued to sew the pillowcases."
"Chapter 45"
"After a bumpy journey, they finally arrived in Jade County."
"Yu Ying asked Uncle Chen to deliver the jelly to the eatery, while she headed straight to the county government office with her sister-in-law."
"The common people generally held a sense of awe and fear towards the county office, preferring to avoid it. For usual matters, they would seek the help of the village head, who would then make trips to the county office."
"Noticing her sister-in-law's fear, Yu Ying suggested she wait outside while she went in alone."
"However, seeming more afraid of being alone than of the county office, her sister-in-law insisted on accompanying her, albeit nervously."
"After speaking with a junior officer outside the government office about meeting Huo, the yamen runner, the officer immediately went to inform him."
"Soon after, Huo, the yamen runner, came out."
"Considering how thoroughly and unproblematically the woman had managed all the affairs related to the quarry, Huo was inclined to show her some respect."
"Yu Ying, with her hands placed on her abdomen, nodded slightly to Huo, displaying proper etiquette."
"Huo asked, 'What brings Madam Yu here?'"
"Yu Ying replied, 'Today is unbearably hot. I've made some ice cream and left it with Shopkeeper Chen at Wu's eatery. Perhaps Huo could collect it at noon to help the officials cool down and relieve the heat.'"
"Huo, an experienced yamen runner, sensed that the woman had more to discuss, so he stepped down from the stairs, moving away from the gatekeeper's assistant."
"Yú Yíng followed him."
"Officer Huò glanced at the woman behind her, then turned his attention back to Madam Yú without much concern, asking, 'What would you like to discuss, Madam Yú?'"
"Yú Yíng replied, 'I have two matters I would like to inquire about.'"
"Officer Huò said indifferently, 'Go ahead.'"
"'The first matter is about renting some land in Língshuǐ Village. I’m wondering how to go about reporting it?'"
"Officer Huò replied, 'Just find the village head of Língshuǐ Village. In a few days, the village heads from each village will be coming to the office to report the population of their respective villages. At that time, I’ll remind the head of Língshuǐ Village to allocate a few good acres for you.'"
"Yú Yíng smiled, 'Thank you, Officer Huò.'"
"Since the matter of the land was just a casual request and not a major favor, Officer Huò didn’t pay it much mind."
"'The second matter involves a woman from my village who slandered me during my trip to the quarry to retrieve my brother and sister-in-law. She accused me of eloping or being involved in illicit affairs and took advantage of my absence to physically assault my nephew. I would like to know if I can report this to the authorities?'"
"Wēn Xìng, who was following behind, was shocked to hear her sister-in-law actually taking the matter to the county office."
"Yesterday, when her sister-in-law said she would report Auntie Cuìlán to the authorities, Wēn Xìng, like others, thought it was just a threat to scare her and didn't expect her to actually follow through."
"Hearing Madam Yú's words, Officer Huò frowned."
"Gossips are everywhere, and in Yù County, there have been numerous cases caused by such women. Although it’s a serious issue, if it hasn’t escalated significantly, it’s difficult to intervene."
"Officer Huò stated, 'At most, we can issue a warning, but the county office won’t officially take on the case.'"
"Though it wouldn’t be officially processed, a warning could still make Auntie Cuìlán apprehensive for a long time."
"Yú Yíng took note of this in her mind."
"She had already formed a general understanding of Officer Huò’s character during the redemption of her elder brother and sister-in-law."
"Although the county office wasn’t entirely clean and Officer Huò did seek personal gains, fortunately, he still got things done after receiving money."
"With this in mind, Yú Yíng formulated a plan."
"She said, 'She initially tried to extort a hundred coins from me, demanding that my nephew kneel and kowtow to her son. But it was she who insulted me first and hit my nephew. In anger, I demanded the same hundred coins from her. If she refuses, I threatened to report to the county office. Clearly, she knows such a matter won’t be officially handled, so she continues her arrogance, which is infuriating.'"
"Continuing, Yú Yíng looked at Officer Huò and said softly, 'If a warning can make her pay the hundred coins and apologize, I will give that money to the county office as a token of appreciation for the officials.'"
"Officer Huò, intrigued by her last statement, confirmed, 'Are you truly willing to donate the compensation to the county office?'"
"Yú Yíng nodded, 'If the county office intervenes and intimidates her into admitting her wrongdoing, venting my frustration is all that matters; the money is of no consequence.'"
"Officer Huò, touching his saber, pondered for a moment and said, 'Such a gossip, disrespecting the authority of the county office and speaking recklessly, might cause more serious trouble later. I will visit Língshuǐ Village tomorrow morning to warn her and make her apologize to you.'"
"After a pause, he added, 'Tell me in detail about this woman – which family does she belong to, and what’s her full name.'"
"Yu Ying had already inquired about Aunt Cui Lan's background during her visit to the He family yesterday, so she speaks with clarity and certainty now."
"Leaving the yamen, Wen Xing was still in a state of shock and daze."
"It took her a while to regain her composure, and she whispered, 'Sister-in-law, I thought your threat to take Aunt Cui Lan to the yamen yesterday was just to scare her.'"
"Yu Ying smiled and explained, 'The more everyone thinks I'm just bluffing, the more I need to actually file a complaint. This way, I can deter the people of Lingshui Village and prevent others from daring to bully our Fu family in the future.'"
"But Yu Ying's thoughts were not just limited to this; she had other plans in mind."
"In October, when I deliver 500 jin of medicinal herbs, the news will surely reach the ears of several medical halls. If I have no connections by then, a united front from these medical halls will crush me without any power to fight back."
"Now, by having this Huo yamen assistant deal with Aunt Cui Lan, others will think I have connections with the yamen, which might make them think twice before confronting me."
"Lost in her own thoughts, Yu Ying soon realized that her elder sister-in-law had not followed her."
"Turning back, she saw her sister-in-law staring at her, seemingly lost in thought."
"Yu Ying asked, 'What's the matter, big sister-in-law?'"
"Wen Xing gradually came back to her senses, realizing that her sister-in-law's strategy must be effective, and admiringly said, 'Sister-in-law, you are so intelligent and formidable.'"
"She knew from her time in Lingshui Village that Aunt Cui Lan was a formidable figure. The entire village knew of Aunt Cui Lan's notoriety and shamelessness, so they preferred to avoid any involvement with her."
"Yu Ying, flattered by her sister-in-law's praise, felt somewhat embarrassed and changed the subject, 'Let's not talk about this, we should go buy the fabric first.'"
"Wen Xing nodded repeatedly and quickly followed her sister-in-law with small steps."
"The sisters-in-law went to the fabric store, where Yu Ying picked out an indigo fabric and asked, 'Big sister-in-law, what do you think of this color?'"
"Wen Xing gently nodded, 'It's beautiful.'"
"How much fabric do you think we need to make clothes for our eldest brother?"
Wen Xing was startled and her eyes widened in surprise. She hurriedly gestured with her hands, saying, "Sister-in-law, you don't need to prepare clothes for us..." Her voice trailed off for a moment, and then she quickly added, "I'll take off what I'm wearing when I get back, wash it, and return it to you."
Yu Ying reassured her, "Big sister-in-law, please don't misunderstand. I'm buying fabric for you and eldest brother now. You can pay back when you've earned some money. It's not like it's not going to be returned, right?"
Wen Xing said, "Although that's true, we haven't paid back the previous money yet, and now we're spending more of your money. I don't feel right about it." Towards the end, she glanced at the store attending other customers and whispered, "Why don't we make do for now and buy it later when we've earned some money?"
Yu Ying considered and then changed her approach, "Then, let's not discuss the fabric for eldest brother's clothes for now. How much fabric would we need for a set of clothes for Erlang?"
"Fu Wei's few outfits were brought from Wuling County around April or May when it was still cool there. Those clothes are somewhat thick for this scorching summer."
Hearing it was for her second brother, Wen Xing breathed a sigh of relief, then thought carefully and asked, "How tall is the second brother approximately?"
Yu Ying, having never seen Fu Wei standing and not sure of his height, estimated based on the length of his lower legs when she examined them, thinking he must be about the same height as the eldest brother.
Yu Ying said, "He may not be as robust as the eldest brother, but their heights should be similar."
After some thought, Wen Xing suggested approximate measurements for a short jacket and trousers, "About nine feet for the jacket and roughly four and a half feet for the trousers."
Yu Ying then asked, "What about for someone of my size? How much fabric would that require?"
Wen Xing looked her over from top to bottom, left to right, pondered for a moment, and then replied.
With these two measurements, Yu Ying quickly calculated how much fabric she needed to buy for her eldest brother and sister-in-law.
Yu Ying planned to make two sets of summer clothes for Fu Wei and then two sets each for her eldest brother and sister-in-law to change into.
The old clothes they wore at the quarry were so worn that Yu Ying felt they might tear with a bit more strenuous movement.
Wearing those was definitely not acceptable, so it was essential to make two sets of clothes for changing.
As for her, Fu An, Fu Ning, and the Luo family, she would wait until after selling the medicinal herbs. When the weather cooled down, she could make thicker clothes and save some money.
"Yu Ying purchased a large amount of fabric, which made Wen Xing feel uneasy, as it seemed enough for six or seven outfits, which was too much."
"But considering it was her sister-in-law's own money, she could make as many clothes as she wanted, so Wen Xing felt it wasn't her place to comment."
"After buying the fabric and sewing supplies, Yu Ying also persuaded the shopkeeper to sell her some offcut fabric at a discount."
"This trip to the fabric store ended up costing nearly five hundred wen."
"To redeem her brother and sister-in-law, Yu Ying had initially prepared eight taels of silver, and now she had about three hundred wen left."
"Now, having spent it all on fabric, she even had to add a little extra."
"Although she knew that every penny spent was necessary, Yu Ying still felt she was being somewhat extravagant and thought she should be more frugal in the future."
"After buying the fabric, she also purchased an extra oil lamp, half a crate of long-lasting eggs, and after some thought, a few pounds of flour and ten pounds of rice."
"She didn't buy meat, but Yu Ying did purchase some marrow bones for making nourishing soup."
"Although she hadn't taken their pulses, Yu Ying could tell from observation that her brother and sister-in-law were not in good health."
"After shopping, she finally returned to Wu Ji Restaurant."
"During the days she hadn't been there, Manager Chen hadn't settled the accounts, waiting for her to do so upon her return."
"The earnings for the three days amounted to sixty or seventy wen, which was only due to the lychee ice cream. She estimated that in a few days, without the ice cream, the daily earnings might not even reach twenty wen."
"Manager Chen said, 'Now that the novelty has worn off, we don't get as many customers trying it out, so we'll have to make less in the future.'"
"Hearing this, Yu Ying inwardly sighed, having anticipated that the ice cream business wouldn't last long. But maintaining an income of about ten wen a day was still quite good."
"Manager Chen added, 'Though sales aren't as good as before, our ice cream is unique to our restaurant. Those who want it will still come to us. And some come to eat here just for the ice cream, so we'll continue to buy it from you. Please don't stop making it because of the lesser earnings.'"
"Yu Ying, still in need of money and with the jelly business almost running itself now, how could she not continue?"
"She smiled in response, 'As long as the restaurant continues to buy my ice cream, I will keep delivering it.'"
"After their conversation, Yú Yíng informed Boss Chén that Officer Huò would collect the extra jelly she had sent around noon."
"Then, Yú Yíng bid farewell to Boss Chén and bought two buns with her sister-in-law to tide them over until they returned home at the appointed time."
"Yú Yíng wanted to discuss the walking stick in detail with the bamboo craftsman, so instead of returning to Língshuǐ Village, she went directly to Chén Family Village."
"Chén Family Village was more prosperous than Língshuǐ Village. Yú Yíng noticed that not all houses were thatched huts; many were mud-brick houses."
"The bamboo bed was ready. It was larger than the one for her elder brother and sister-in-law, and Yú Yíng paid sixty-five coins for it, based on the local villagers' pricing."
"Thinking that Mrs. Luò needed a place to sleep, Yú Yíng decided to order a single bamboo bed."
"The bamboo craftsman, hearing this, brought out a single bamboo bed."
"He mentioned that he usually sold them in the city. This one was leftover and priced at thirty coins."
"Old Man Chén and the bamboo craftsman helped load both bamboo beds onto the bullock cart before returning to Língshuǐ Village."
"When they arrived back at Língshuǐ Village, it was around the same time Yú Yíng usually returned from Yù County. From afar on the cart, she saw two adults and a child standing at the entrance of the village."
"Who else could it be but Fú Zhèn and his children?"
"Seeing her husband and children, a smile instantly appeared on Wēn Xìng’s face, revealing shallow dimples on her cheeks."
"She raised her hand to wave towards them and said to Yú Yíng beside her, 'Sister-in-law, look, it's Ān Ān and Níng Níng.'"
"As Old Man Chén intended to deliver the bamboo beds to their house, Yú Yíng and her sister-in-law got off the cart, took Ān Ān and Níng Níng up, and walked back together."
"Villagers, seeing the Fú family and the two bamboo beds on the cart, couldn’t help but wonder how the Fú family’s fortunes had suddenly improved."
"Not only had they managed to bring back Elder Brother Fú and his wife from the quarry, but they also bought two bamboo beds at once. Where did all this money come from?"
"Could it be that Madam Yú really stumbled upon some miraculous ginseng or lingzhi mushrooms?"
"Yú Yíng noticed the astonished gazes of the villagers but felt indifferent, though slightly vigilant. Considering the imposing stature of Elder Brother Fú and the impending intimidation, she surmised the villagers would think twice before targeting the Fú family."
"Arriving at their doorstep, Mrs. Luò, who was cooking, heard the noise and peeked out, squinting towards the yard."
"Luo Shi faintly noticed an ox cart parked outside their yard. She walked out curiously and only upon approaching did she see the two bamboo beds on the cart."
"Luo Shi exclaimed in surprise, 'Didn't we just buy one bamboo bed? Why are there two now?'"
"Yu Ying explained, 'I was planning to order one anyway, and since they had it available, I bought it.'"
"Fu Zhen, with his great strength, single-handedly unloaded the bamboo beds from the cart."
"Uncle Chen refused to take Yu Ying's money and, as it was getting late, left after unloading the beds."
"The single bamboo bed was placed in the main house, while the double bed was set up in the smaller room."
"However, because there was a straw bed in the room, Fu Zhen moved Fu Wei outside to sit."
"Yu Ying planned to tidy up after seeing Uncle Chen off, but upon her return, she found her sister-in-law and Fu An and Fu Ning had already cleared the straw bed out to the yard, and her eldest brother had moved the bamboo bed inside."
"This made things easier for Yu Ying."
"These past few days, she really felt much more at ease."
"Since it was still light and somewhat cool, after burning some mosquito-repelling herbs in the yard, they moved the bamboo table outside and dined there."
"This was Fu Wei's first time dining outside, and feeling the cool breeze, his mood lightened considerably."
"During the meal, Fu An suddenly mentioned, 'Aunt, Aunt Cui Lan came over today.'"
"Yu Ying, feigning ignorance, asked, 'What did she come for?'"
"Fu An replied with a smile, 'Aunt Cui Lan's face and neck were all scratched up, and she had many little bumps. She must have received her retribution, but...'"
"At this, Fu An's face wrinkled in displeasure."
"'But she kept saying that you, aunt, had poisoned her and planned to accuse you of it.'"
"Fu Wei spoke calmly, 'Without evidence, don't bother with her.'"
"Fu An nodded in agreement, 'I didn't talk to her. She just hovered outside the yard, alternating between pleading for you to cure her and cursing you for being wicked. When dad returned from cutting bamboo, she scurried away disgracefully.'"
"Luo Shi added from the side, 'Yu, don't worry. Everyone in the village knows what kind of person she is; they certainly won't believe her absurd claims.'"
"Yu Ying responded calmly, 'I'm not worried. Besides, I went to the yamen today and talked to the yamen runner about Aunt Cui Lan.'"
"Hearing this, not only was Luo Shi astonished, but even Fu Zhen showed a hint of surprise."
"Before Yu Ying could say more, Wen Xing hurriedly interjected, 'I thought you were just trying to scare Aunt Cui Lan, but you actually went to the yamen and convinced the yamen runner to come to Lingshui Village to question her. You're really impressive.'"
"Fu Zhen looked at his wife, who was shy and introverted in the morning, but now confidently referred to Yu Ying as her sister-in-law."
"As she spoke, her eyes sparkled brightly, clearly very fond of her sister-in-law."
"Yu Ying instructed, 'Let's keep this matter quiet for now and just wait.'"
"Wen Xing, the sister-in-law, nodded the fastest, followed by Fu An and Fu Ning."
"After dinner, the sister-in-law took over the cleaning, insisting that Yu Ying rest."
"As dusk fell, an oil lamp in the yard illuminated the area around the bamboo table."
"The family enjoyed the cool evening under the still-darkening sky, with the rising moon and a breeze carrying the scent of grass and trees."
"It was a rare moment of comfort for Fu Zhen and his wife after many years."
"For Fu Wei, it was the first time experiencing such a peaceful moment of cooling off and moon-gazing with 'family,' stirring complex emotions within him."
"At that moment, Fu Wei turned to look at Yu Ying beside him."
"Yu Ying felt his gaze, smiled back at him, and then raised her head to look at the sky."
"Fu Wei's heart slowed a few beats at her smile, then quietly turned back to join her in silent moon appreciation."
"After sitting for a while, they took turns to bathe."
"While Yu Ying went to freshen up, Fu Wei, with Fu Zhen's assistance, quickly washed himself."
"Previously, Fu Wei would not have accepted Fu Zhen's help, but things were different now."
"—Now, he was no longer sleeping alone."
"By the time Yu Ying returned, Fu Wei had already changed into clean, dry clothes and was sitting on the new bamboo bed."
"Yu Ying looked at the clean and spacious new bamboo bed, feeling very pleased."
"She placed the oil lamp at the edge of the bamboo bed and then took out the pile of offcut fabric she had bought cheaply that day. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she began sewing the scraps together into a single piece."
"What are you doing?" Fu Wei asked.
Yu Ying, working on needlework under the oil lamp, replied, "I'm planning to make a few pillowcases and then stuff them with dry grass."
"Without a proper pillow, I haven't been sleeping very comfortably."
Seeing her pile of fabric scraps, Fu Wei asked, "Do you have an extra needle and thread?"
Yu Ying was about to nod but then realized what he meant, turning to him, "Are you offering to help me sew?"
Fu Wei nodded slightly, "I'm not very skilled, but I think I can manage to sew them together."
Yu Ying didn't think men couldn't do needlework; after all, in both the future and this era, many tailors were men.
She also considered that Fu Wei didn't have much to occupy him usually, so sewing scraps could be a good way to pass the time.
Yu Ying handed him her needle and thread, then gently explained how to sew.
His ears filled with her soft, gentle instructions, Fu Wei's gaze was fixed on her fair and slender hands. His thoughts drifted, yet his fingers steadily continued their meticulous sewing.
Watching his distinct, strong fingers deftly maneuvering between the scraps and the needle, Yu Ying suddenly felt that others merely did needlework, but Fu Wei seemed to be crafting an expensive, exquisite piece of art.
The thought of using pillowcases hand-sewn by Fu Wei made Yu Ying's ears unexpectedly warm up.
She stood up, saying, "You keep sewing for a while; I'm going to count our savings."
After placing a cloth on the bamboo bed, she poured all the copper coins onto it and began counting.
Fu Wei's movements paused briefly, glancing at the small pile of copper coins on the bed.
These coins, which he never cared about in the past, gained new significance in Lingnan after his legs were injured and he saw her working from dawn till dusk. He realized just how hard-earned every single coin was.
"His gaze slowly lifted from the copper coins, settling on the woman intently counting them."
"For a moment, Fu Wei felt as if their interaction was just like that of a real married couple."
"After she finished counting all the coins, Fu Wei set aside his thoughts and asked her, 'Are we running low on money at home?'"
"Yu Ying strung the coins into small bundles of ten each, sighing, 'Money really doesn't last long, but fortunately, once we rent the field, we'll still have a few hundred wen left.'"
"Yu Ying had previously saved one tael and five hundred wen, but money was quickly spent, so she had to withdraw an additional three hundred wen."
"Now, adding the remaining savings to these eighty-odd copper coins, the total was still less than one thousand three hundred wen."
"She had inquired with Uncle He; renting one mu of paddy field required an annual payment of two hundred wen and a shi of grain."
"Upon reflection, after paying the rent and grain, the remaining grain would just be enough to scrape by."
"Since ancient times, harsh governance has been worse than a tiger. Just managing to scrape by was already not bad."
"Seeing her worried expression, Fu Wei pondered for a moment, then said, 'Once my legs recover, I will join you in the mountains to gather herbs.'"
"Yu Ying snapped out of her thoughts about harsh governance and smiled at him, 'You definitely need to help me gather herbs. You can't just be idle.'"
"Fu Wei's lips slightly curved in a smile, nodded a bit, and then continued to sew the pillowcases."
