"Chapter 46."
"After securing the copper coins, Yu Ying also started to sew the fabric scraps."
"At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Yu Ying and Fu Wei exchanged glances before she asked, 'Who is it?'"
"The person outside didn't respond immediately, and Yu Ying quickly guessed who it might be. She picked up the oil lamp to open the door."
"Upon opening the door, as expected, she saw little Fu Ning standing outside."
"As Wen Xing went out to the outhouse, she noticed her daughter had come out too. She hurriedly followed, coaxing softly, 'It's too late; don't disturb your auntie. Shall we go back to sleep with Mom?'"
"But Fu Ning ran into the house, heading straight for the bamboo bed."
"Standing beside the bed with wide eyes, she glanced at her uncle, then quickly took off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, crawled over him, and lay down properly in the middle."
"Fu Wei: …"
"Yu Ying: …"
"Her mother: …"
"The room fell into an unspoken silence among them for a moment."
"Yu Ying came back to her senses, turned to her somewhat anxious sister-in-law, and suggested, 'Sister-in-law and brother must be uncomfortable sleeping with both kids. Why not let Ningning sleep in this room?'"
"Wen Xing hesitated for a moment before nodding softly, apologetically saying, 'Sorry for troubling you, sister-in-law.'"
"After a pause, she added, 'When my husband and I were at the quarry, Ningning was so little she hardly remembers us. She must feel we are strangers and naturally be scared.'"
"Yu Ying nodded in understanding, 'I know. Let her sleep in my room for now. Once she's familiar with her parents, she can go back.'"
"Hearing this, Wen Xing's eyes, fluttering like apricot blossoms, instantly showed gratitude, 'Sister-in-law, you are truly kind.'"
"Yu Ying smiled and then urged her sister-in-law to go rest."
"After seeing her sister-in-law off, Yu Ying closed the door and walked back to the bed."
"Seeing her aunt approaching, little Fu Ning, afraid of being sent back, immediately closed her eyes."
"Yu Ying noticed this and exchanged a knowing look with Fu Wei, both unable to suppress a chuckle."
"Yu Ying then sat back down and reassured Fu Ning, 'Auntie won't send you back, sleep peacefully here.'"
"Upon hearing this, the little girl's thick eyelashes trembled slightly. She slowly opened her eyes, looking innocently at her auntie."
"After a month of recuperation, the little girl had visibly changed, her skin becoming several shades lighter and her previously hollow cheeks now plump, making her big eyes even more attractive."
"Seeing her adorable appearance, Yu Ying couldn't help but lean in and gently pinch her cheek."
"Fu Wei watched the woman close at hand, his breath catching slightly."
"Though she didn't touch him, her draping clothes lightly rested on his body, closely touching his own."
"Fu Ning smiled at her aunt, her expression brightening."
"Like her mother, she had small dimples on her cheeks that appeared when she smiled, making her very endearing."
"Yu Ying withdrew her hand and softly told her, 'You go to sleep first, auntie will sleep after finishing the needlework.'"
"Fu Ning nodded, then pulled the quilt up to her little stomach and obediently closed her eyes."
"Seeing her asleep, Yu Ying then continued with her work."
"She selected the largest and similarly colored pieces from the scrap fabrics."
"The biggest scrap piece was only half a foot in size."
"After choosing the fabric, Yu Ying glanced at the window, pondered for a moment, then stood up and went to measure the window's dimensions roughly with her hands."
"Seeing this, Fu Wei realized she was planning to make curtains."
"After measuring the window size, Yu Ying returned to cut a piece of plain linen fabric."
"She arranged two pieces of indigo fabric above and below a long, translucent central piece. Once hung, they would allow light and air to pass during the day while providing protection against mosquitoes at night, much more practical than grass curtains."
"Halfway through, Fu Wei finished sewing the two pillowcases to the required size. Focusing intently, he felt a slight discomfort in his eyes."
"He looked up to find her still working on the curtains."
"Glancing at the lamp oil nearly exhausted and the dimming candlelight, he thought for a moment, then reached out to take the fabric from her hands."
"Engrossed in her needlework, Yu Ying was startled when the fabric was suddenly taken from her hands, and she looked at Fu Wei with a puzzled expression."
"Fu Wei placed the fabric into a small dustpan, whispering, 'I'll be lying down tomorrow anyway, so let me do it. Straining your eyes over this curtain isn't worth it. Rest for now.'"
"He didn't need to mention it; once he did, Yu Ying indeed started to feel her eyes sore and gritty."
"Being a medical student, she had always paid extra attention to self-care. Even if living conditions were no longer favorable, she didn't want to compromise her health for the sake of daily life."
"Yawning, she agreed, 'Alright.'"
"Then she too climbed into bed, settling into the innermost spot."
"Yu Ying initially wanted to sleep on the outside, but considering Fu Wei's mobility issues, and his need to move in and out for washing and eating, it was inconvenient, so she didn't change positions."
"Feeling tired, Yu Ying lay down and pulled a corner of the quilt over herself, then hugged the thin but soft-bodied Fu Ning, adjusting to a comfortable position before closing her eyes."
"Fu Wei slightly turned his head, catching a glimpse of her closing her eyes, then turned to look at his wife and niece on the inside."
"His gaze softened gradually."
"After a moment, he withdrew his gaze, blew out the candle, placed the oil lamp on the floor, and lay down as well."
"Finally able to sleep on a large bed, though the bamboo bed was somewhat hard, it was much more comfortable than the cramped straw bed."
"Yu Ying was deeply asleep when suddenly a cry startled her awake."
"'The wicked woman of the Fu family has harmed me!'"
"Yú Yíng and Fú Wēi instantly became alert."
"The room was dim, but faint light seeped through the gaps in the window's thatch curtain, suggesting early dawn, likely around the time of Mǎo."
"Outside, the cursing continued: 'The Fú family's Madam Yú is poisoning and endangering lives. Heaven, please open your eyes and take this Yú Liùniáng away, stop her from harming others.'"
"The voice seemed to come from outside the fence, likely Auntie Cuìlán's."
"Fú Níng was also startled awake and fearfully snuggled into her aunt's embrace. Sensing her fear, Yú Yíng hugged her gently, patting her back."
"With the cursing ongoing outside, Fú Wēi said, 'Elder Brother will handle this in a bit; don’t worry about it.'"
"After pondering, Yú Yíng decided, 'I should go out and take a look; otherwise, once Officer Huò arrives and sees her pitiable state, the victim will appear to be her instead of me.'"
"Fú Wēi found the oil lamp and lit it with a flint, the lamp still containing some oil."
"With the light sufficient, Fú Wēi spoke, 'Officer Huò is due to visit Língshuǐ Village today to question Auntie Cuìlán. So, escalating the situation before his arrival, to the extent that not just our village but neighboring ones are aware, is advantageous. The more people discuss it, the better it is once Officer Huò resolves it. News will even reach Yù County, which can only benefit you. As for being the victim...'"
"After a moment of thought, Fú Wēi added, 'She accuses you of poisoning. As long as everyone believes it’s a false accusation, who ends up being the victim remains to be seen.'"
"The discussion Yú Yíng had just had with Fú Wēi in the room was precisely what he had just articulated."
"Their thoughts aligned once again."
"She considered for a moment and then said, 'Let her curse a bit more, I’ll go out when more people gather.'"
"As soon as she finished speaking, it seemed like the door of the neighboring house was opened."
"It seemed that the elder brother had come out."
"Yu Ying pondered for a moment, then got out of bed, gathered her long hair, and quickly twisted it into a simple bun, securing it with a thorn hairpin. She walked towards the window and slightly lifted the grass curtain."
"The light outside was weak but sufficient to make out the scene."
"On the ground outside the fence, a somewhat robust woman sat – unmistakably Aunt Cui Lan."
"Yu Ying could vaguely see small groups of villagers standing under the trees, likely drawn by the commotion."
"Aunt Cui Lan's yelling continued unabated: 'If I die, I want the entire Fu family to join me in death!'"
"As Yu Ying prepared to step out, Fu Ning also got off the bed, clutching her aunt's dress, obviously afraid for her aunt and not wanting her to go outside."
"Yu Ying bent down to Fu Ning, 'Ningning's father is very strong, Aunt Cui Lan won't dare to do much. Stay inside and wait for auntie, I'll chase Aunt Cui Lan away and then come back.'"
"Fu Ning still clung on, so Yu Ying added, 'If auntie doesn't go out, people will gossip... How about Ningning stays at the door and watches? If there's danger, auntie will run back inside, okay?'"
"Hearing about 'being talked about,' Fu Ning recalled how upset she felt when she was called a 'mute liability' and a 'burden.' She knew her auntie would also feel upset if talked about."
"Hesitating for a moment, she let go of her auntie's dress."
"Yu Ying breathed a sigh of relief, opened the door, and was about to step out when a bamboo stick was handed to her."
"Looking down, she saw it was Fu Ning offering it to her."
"Yu Ying smiled, accepted the stick, and walked out of the house."
"Wen Xing, standing outside with Fu An, saw her sister-in-law coming out and quickly warned, 'Sister-in-law, don't go over there, Aunt Cui Lan seems mad. She might hurt you!'"
"Outside the courtyard, Fu Zhen approached the fence gate, his face stern as he looked at Aunt Cui Lan, his voice tinged with anger: 'If you continue this unreasonable fuss, don’t blame me for being impolite.'"
"'You better not be polite, I’m going to die anyway. I might as well crash into your Fu family’s house and haunt you all.'"
"Yu Ying walked over. Seeing her, Aunt Cui Lan, her eyes bloodshot, suddenly stood up, intending to move forward."
"Fu Zhen’s eyes darkened, and he warned sharply, 'Take one more step and I won’t hesitate to hit, woman or child!'"
"Despite her claims of wanting to die at the Fu family’s hands, Aunt Cui Lan was evidently still afraid of death."
"Aunt Cui Lan had been kept awake for two nights by itching. Thinking she was near death, she came to the Fu family's house in a fit of rage to wail."
"Intimidated by the eldest son of the Fu family, she cowered, only daring to threaten from outside the fence: 'Yu Liu Niang, you wicked woman, you are utterly ruthless. I just criticized you a bit, and you want my life. If you don’t cure me, I’ll take you to the county yamen!'"
"Yu Ying looked coldly at Aunt Cui Lan’s face, scratched and bloodied, a ghastly sight, then glanced at the increasingly curious villagers gathering nearby."
"At that moment, her sister-in-law also hurried over, scared but still standing a half step in front of Yu Ying with clenched fists."
"Yu Ying felt a warmth in her heart. Although her sister-in-law was timid, she still stood protectively in front of her, just like little Fu Ning had earlier."
"It wasn’t just her sister-in-law; Fu An and Luo Shi also came out, the whole family standing by Yu Ying’s side, backing her up."
"Yu Ying gently moved her sister-in-law aside and took a step forward."
"She asked Aunt Cui Lan coldly, 'Was it just a few words?'"
"Then she spoke firmly, 'If it were any other gentle young woman, she would have been driven to despair by your fabrications. The words you said, everyone heard them, and they’re not deaf!'"
"The villagers watching the scene began murmuring to each other, 'Aunt Cui Lan indeed has a sharp tongue. Just a few days ago, we heard her slandering Mrs. Yu of the Fu family, saying such awful things as if Mrs. Yu was having an affair.'"
"'Mrs. Yu of the Fu family clearly went to the quarry to redeem someone. To say she’s eloping with a man or stealing someone’s husband is blatant slander, isn’t it? Trying to drive someone to death?'"
"Yu Ying reiterated firmly, 'And you accuse me of poisoning, where is your evidence?'"
"Aunt Cui Lan shrieked, 'What more evidence do you need? Ever since I left the Fu family, I've been itching all over. If it wasn't you who poisoned me, then who was it?'"
"Yu Ying chuckled lightly, 'If you're going to frame me, at least find a plausible reason. Everyone here saw that day in the courtyard; I didn’t even touch you, and you didn’t drink a drop of water from the Fu family. How could I have possibly poisoned you?'"
"Caught off guard by this, Aunt Cui Lan, scratching her face frantically, argued, 'Then it must have been you who poisoned the water in my tank at home!'"
"Yu Ying smiled, 'If I poisoned your water tank, then why are you the only one affected, while everyone else is fine?'"
"As Yu Ying retorted, Uncle He and Aunt He also arrived, startled by Aunt Cui Lan’s condition."
"Regaining her composure, Aunt He immediately scolded, 'Aunt Cui Lan, have you gone mad wanting to frame Madam Yu? First, you falsely accuse her of misconduct, and now you claim she poisoned you. What has Madam Yu done to you to deserve such attempts to ruin her reputation?'"
"With Aunt He's support, Yu Ying also asked, 'Yes, I too would like to know how I have offended Aunt Cui Lan to warrant such false accusations against me?'"
"Aunt Cui Lan paused, realizing her only reason was her dislike for Yu Ying and wanting to see her humiliated."
"Unable to admit this, she defended, 'What have I got against her? It's just that she frequently goes to Jade County mysteriously and even disappeared for a few days. Anyone would think like I did.'"
"Hearing this, someone countered, 'Aunt Cui Lan, you see others as dirty because your own heart is unclean. You're just making things up. None of us have ever said such things; don’t drag us into your lies.'"
"Yu Ying added, 'I'm under no obligation to inform you of my whereabouts, and these certainly aren’t reasons for you to fabricate accusations against me.'"
"Aunt Cui Lan, unable to bear the itching and losing face, finally stopped her accusations and pleaded, 'Alright, I admit I was wrong. Please cure me of this poison. I’ll even kneel if you ask!'"
"Yu Ying’s expression hardened as she feigned anger, 'How can I cure you of something I never did? Instead of accusing me of poisoning you, why didn’t you consult a doctor to check if you were really poisoned? You might have been treated by now.'"
"Aunt Cui Lan, having firmly believed Yu Ying was responsible, naturally wouldn’t waste money consulting a doctor."
"I don't care, it was you who poisoned me, and if you don't cure me, I won't let this go," Aunt Cui Lan reverted to her true colors after briefly pleading.
"The bystanders exclaimed in disbelief, recognizing that she was blatantly framing someone."
"Everyone knew Aunt Cui Lan was a thick-skinned shrew, but no one expected her to be audacious to this extent."
"Yu Ying paused, then speculated, 'Your symptoms don’t seem like poisoning but rather like a reaction to some irritating wild grass. Could it be that you intentionally inflicted this upon yourself to frame me?'"
"Aunt Cui Lan’s eyes widened in fury, nearly choking with indignation: 'How could I bring such misery upon myself to this extent!?'"
"Yu Ying laughed, 'You can’t provide any reasonable explanation. You claim I harmed you, yet you have no evidence. You insist I poisoned you without any proof. Is this because you falsely accused me and attacked my nephew, thinking I’d seek revenge?'"
"'What else then!?' Aunt Cui Lan shouted."
"Yu Ying smiled and then said slowly, 'Let me be frank, I indeed have no intention of letting this go.'"
"Hearing this, Aunt Cui Lan exclaimed, 'Everyone, listen! She’s admitting it herself!'"
"'I didn’t poison you, but I did go to the yamen and reported your false accusation against me.'"
"Yu Ying’s words stunned everyone, including Aunt Cui Lan."
"After a moment, Aunt Cui Lan spat, 'You’re bluffing! I'm not afraid of you. Yu Liu Niang, if anything happens to me, you'll be guilty of my death!'"
"Yu Ying replied, 'Believe it or not, if you don’t come and apologize personally before noon, and compensate with a hundred wen, then wait for the yamen runner to come.'"
"Aunt Cui Lan spat again, 'Keep dreaming! You think I’d give you a hundred wen? I’d rather go to jail than give you a penny!'"
"She continued to curse while scratching her neck and face in agony."
"Unable to tolerate it any longer, He Shi interjected, 'Cui Lan, setting aside everything else, your condition looks like you've been stung by scorpion grass. Instead of falsely accusing Mrs. Yu, you’d better find some Ji Ruo grass to make a medicinal bath, it might cure you.'"
"The mention of scorpion grass led others who had seen Aunt Cui Lan’s plight yesterday to loudly comment, 'It does look like a scorpion grass sting. Didn’t a child also get stung recently, with their face and hands all scratched up? They got better after washing with Ji Ruo grass a few times.'"
"Aunt Cui Lan, who had been suspecting Yu Liu Niang of poisoning her, now seemed somewhat dubious."
"She glared at Yu Liu Niang and said, 'I’ll try that first. If it doesn’t work, then it must be your poison.'"
"With that, she ran off to find Ji Ruo grass, clearly dismissing Yu Ying's threat of taking the matter to the yamen."
"Yu Ying called out to Aunt Cui Lan’s retreating figure, 'I really did go to the yamen, and I’ve told you now. If the officials come knocking, you can’t blame me.'"
"Someone in the crowd skeptically remarked, 'Mrs. Yu, even if you did report to the officials, they probably won’t take it seriously. Don’t trouble yourself over it. Aunt Cui Lan is just that kind of person. Just consider it a dog bite this time.'"
"Luo Shi, who had been silent, spoke up to the skeptic, 'Which dog dares to bite my family’s Liu Niang? I’ll make sure it won’t get away with it!'"
"Yu Ying almost laughed at the comment, but managed to hold it back, saying, 'I’m not joking. Whether the yamen takes action or not is beyond my control. I just want justice.'"
"Continuing, she said, 'Everyone should disperse now. It's still early, so go home and get some more rest.'"
"Turning to He Shi and He Shu, she reassured them, 'Uncle He, Auntie He, don’t worry. Someone will deal with Aunt Cui Lan.'"
"Seeing Yu Ying so composed, He Shi felt relieved and advised, 'Don’t let such a gossip ruin your health.'"
"Yu Ying nodded, 'I know.'"
"He Shu looked at Luo Shi, 'If Aunt Cui Lan comes to make trouble again, just chase her away with a broom.'"
"Luo Shi agreed, 'If she comes to cause trouble again, I won’t be polite.'"
"After watching the spectacle, the crowd dispersed, and He Shi and He Shu also left."
"With everyone gone and having spent a long time sewing yesterday, Yu Ying yawned, 'Let’s not bother about Aunt Cui Lan anymore. Today there’s nothing urgent, so elder brother and sister-in-law, go back and sleep some more. It'll help you work better tomorrow.'"
"Suddenly, Fu An said, 'Auntie, if Aunt Cui Lan comes again, I won’t let her bully you.'"
"Having a strong father seemed to have made Fu An less afraid of Aunt Cui Lan."
"Yu Ying smiled at him, 'Good, protect me next time.'"
"Fu An nodded vigorously, patting his chest in assurance, 'Next time, I’ll protect Auntie!'"
"He then looked at his mother and added, 'I’ll protect Mom too!'"
"Yu Ying thought to herself that Fu An had become quite the protective figure without any teaching."
"His thoughtfulness for his mother at this moment also showed him to be a good kid."
"Everyone returned to their respective rooms."
"Yu Ying, feeling sleepy, went back to her room where Fu Ning eagerly greeted her. She picked up the little girl and carried her back to bed."
"Fu Wei looked at her and asked, 'Is what Auntie He said about Ji Ruo grass really effective?'"
"Yu Ying carefully recalled what Ji Ruo grass was and, after a moment, remembered it’s another name for dandelion."
"Dandelion, being an alkaline herb, does indeed have itch-relieving properties."
"Since Fu Ning was present, Yu Ying didn't elaborate but gently said, 'Auntie He is right. Aunt Cui Lan has been affected by scorpion grass, also known as Urtica, and washing with Ji Ruo grass can help. Two or three washes should resolve the issue.'"
"The main thing is that after itching for two or three days, the medicinal properties absorbed into the skin will diminish, and the itching will slowly stop. It’s just tormenting for the first couple of days."
"After explaining to Fu Wei, Yu Ying climbed back into bed, sleepily adding, 'Aunt Cui Lan keeps saying she doesn’t mind going to jail, but she’s just a bully who is afraid of the tough and fears death. If an official really comes, she’d scrape together even two hundred wen, not just a hundred.'"
"Pausing, she continued, 'Uncle He mentioned that the Sun family’s money is all in Aunt Cui Lan’s hands, and they are one of the wealthiest in Lingshui Village, second only to the headman. A hundred wen is within her means, though it will cost her.'"
"This hundred wen will serve as a lesson for Aunt Cui Lan."
"Fu Wei understood that Yu Ying had thoughtfully decided on the amount."
"Leaving a way out for someone, not driving them to desperation, can be a warning without creating a relentless enemy."
"'After this, you needn’t fear small-time troublemakers...' Fu Wei began, turning to look at her, but seeing her already asleep, he stopped speaking."
"After a light chuckle, she pulled a thin quilt over her."
"Having traveled tirelessly for several days, and with a trip to Yun County just yesterday, she was undoubtedly exhausted."
"As for Aunt Cui Lan's troublemaking, she seemed utterly unconcerned, her focus solely on securing justice for Ah Fu and herself."
"Truly a..."
"Fu Wei gazed at her face, inwardly completing the thought – truly an extraordinary woman."
"Lost in his observation, Fu Wei snapped out of it only when his niece turned to look at him with her bright, wide eyes."
……
"After a moment, Fu Wei pretended to divert his gaze and made a hushing gesture to his niece, then gently shushed her."
"Fu Ning nodded in understanding, then turned back and snuggled into her aunt's embrace to continue sleeping soundly."
"Chapter 46."
"After securing the copper coins, Yu Ying also started to sew the fabric scraps."
"At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Yu Ying and Fu Wei exchanged glances before she asked, 'Who is it?'"
"The person outside didn't respond immediately, and Yu Ying quickly guessed who it might be. She picked up the oil lamp to open the door."
"Upon opening the door, as expected, she saw little Fu Ning standing outside."
"As Wen Xing went out to the outhouse, she noticed her daughter had come out too. She hurriedly followed, coaxing softly, 'It's too late; don't disturb your auntie. Shall we go back to sleep with Mom?'"
"But Fu Ning ran into the house, heading straight for the bamboo bed."
"Standing beside the bed with wide eyes, she glanced at her uncle, then quickly took off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, crawled over him, and lay down properly in the middle."
"Fu Wei: …"
"Yu Ying: …"
"Her mother: …"
"The room fell into an unspoken silence among them for a moment."
"Yu Ying came back to her senses, turned to her somewhat anxious sister-in-law, and suggested, 'Sister-in-law and brother must be uncomfortable sleeping with both kids. Why not let Ningning sleep in this room?'"
"Wen Xing hesitated for a moment before nodding softly, apologetically saying, 'Sorry for troubling you, sister-in-law.'"
"After a pause, she added, 'When my husband and I were at the quarry, Ningning was so little she hardly remembers us. She must feel we are strangers and naturally be scared.'"
"Yu Ying nodded in understanding, 'I know. Let her sleep in my room for now. Once she's familiar with her parents, she can go back.'"
"Hearing this, Wen Xing's eyes, fluttering like apricot blossoms, instantly showed gratitude, 'Sister-in-law, you are truly kind.'"
"Yu Ying smiled and then urged her sister-in-law to go rest."
"After seeing her sister-in-law off, Yu Ying closed the door and walked back to the bed."
"Seeing her aunt approaching, little Fu Ning, afraid of being sent back, immediately closed her eyes."
"Yu Ying noticed this and exchanged a knowing look with Fu Wei, both unable to suppress a chuckle."
"Yu Ying then sat back down and reassured Fu Ning, 'Auntie won't send you back, sleep peacefully here.'"
"Upon hearing this, the little girl's thick eyelashes trembled slightly. She slowly opened her eyes, looking innocently at her auntie."
"After a month of recuperation, the little girl had visibly changed, her skin becoming several shades lighter and her previously hollow cheeks now plump, making her big eyes even more attractive."
"Seeing her adorable appearance, Yu Ying couldn't help but lean in and gently pinch her cheek."
"Fu Wei watched the woman close at hand, his breath catching slightly."
"Though she didn't touch him, her draping clothes lightly rested on his body, closely touching his own."
"Fu Ning smiled at her aunt, her expression brightening."
"Like her mother, she had small dimples on her cheeks that appeared when she smiled, making her very endearing."
"Yu Ying withdrew her hand and softly told her, 'You go to sleep first, auntie will sleep after finishing the needlework.'"
"Fu Ning nodded, then pulled the quilt up to her little stomach and obediently closed her eyes."
"Seeing her asleep, Yu Ying then continued with her work."
"She selected the largest and similarly colored pieces from the scrap fabrics."
"The biggest scrap piece was only half a foot in size."
"After choosing the fabric, Yu Ying glanced at the window, pondered for a moment, then stood up and went to measure the window's dimensions roughly with her hands."
"Seeing this, Fu Wei realized she was planning to make curtains."
"After measuring the window size, Yu Ying returned to cut a piece of plain linen fabric."
"She arranged two pieces of indigo fabric above and below a long, translucent central piece. Once hung, they would allow light and air to pass during the day while providing protection against mosquitoes at night, much more practical than grass curtains."
"Halfway through, Fu Wei finished sewing the two pillowcases to the required size. Focusing intently, he felt a slight discomfort in his eyes."
"He looked up to find her still working on the curtains."
"Glancing at the lamp oil nearly exhausted and the dimming candlelight, he thought for a moment, then reached out to take the fabric from her hands."
"Engrossed in her needlework, Yu Ying was startled when the fabric was suddenly taken from her hands, and she looked at Fu Wei with a puzzled expression."
"Fu Wei placed the fabric into a small dustpan, whispering, 'I'll be lying down tomorrow anyway, so let me do it. Straining your eyes over this curtain isn't worth it. Rest for now.'"
"He didn't need to mention it; once he did, Yu Ying indeed started to feel her eyes sore and gritty."
"Being a medical student, she had always paid extra attention to self-care. Even if living conditions were no longer favorable, she didn't want to compromise her health for the sake of daily life."
"Yawning, she agreed, 'Alright.'"
"Then she too climbed into bed, settling into the innermost spot."
"Yu Ying initially wanted to sleep on the outside, but considering Fu Wei's mobility issues, and his need to move in and out for washing and eating, it was inconvenient, so she didn't change positions."
"Feeling tired, Yu Ying lay down and pulled a corner of the quilt over herself, then hugged the thin but soft-bodied Fu Ning, adjusting to a comfortable position before closing her eyes."
"Fu Wei slightly turned his head, catching a glimpse of her closing her eyes, then turned to look at his wife and niece on the inside."
"His gaze softened gradually."
"After a moment, he withdrew his gaze, blew out the candle, placed the oil lamp on the floor, and lay down as well."
"Finally able to sleep on a large bed, though the bamboo bed was somewhat hard, it was much more comfortable than the cramped straw bed."
"Yu Ying was deeply asleep when suddenly a cry startled her awake."
"'The wicked woman of the Fu family has harmed me!'"
"Yú Yíng and Fú Wēi instantly became alert."
"The room was dim, but faint light seeped through the gaps in the window's thatch curtain, suggesting early dawn, likely around the time of Mǎo."
"Outside, the cursing continued: 'The Fú family's Madam Yú is poisoning and endangering lives. Heaven, please open your eyes and take this Yú Liùniáng away, stop her from harming others.'"
"The voice seemed to come from outside the fence, likely Auntie Cuìlán's."
"Fú Níng was also startled awake and fearfully snuggled into her aunt's embrace. Sensing her fear, Yú Yíng hugged her gently, patting her back."
"With the cursing ongoing outside, Fú Wēi said, 'Elder Brother will handle this in a bit; don’t worry about it.'"
"After pondering, Yú Yíng decided, 'I should go out and take a look; otherwise, once Officer Huò arrives and sees her pitiable state, the victim will appear to be her instead of me.'"
"Fú Wēi found the oil lamp and lit it with a flint, the lamp still containing some oil."
"With the light sufficient, Fú Wēi spoke, 'Officer Huò is due to visit Língshuǐ Village today to question Auntie Cuìlán. So, escalating the situation before his arrival, to the extent that not just our village but neighboring ones are aware, is advantageous. The more people discuss it, the better it is once Officer Huò resolves it. News will even reach Yù County, which can only benefit you. As for being the victim...'"
"After a moment of thought, Fú Wēi added, 'She accuses you of poisoning. As long as everyone believes it’s a false accusation, who ends up being the victim remains to be seen.'"
"The discussion Yú Yíng had just had with Fú Wēi in the room was precisely what he had just articulated."
"Their thoughts aligned once again."
"She considered for a moment and then said, 'Let her curse a bit more, I’ll go out when more people gather.'"
"As soon as she finished speaking, it seemed like the door of the neighboring house was opened."
"It seemed that the elder brother had come out."
"Yu Ying pondered for a moment, then got out of bed, gathered her long hair, and quickly twisted it into a simple bun, securing it with a thorn hairpin. She walked towards the window and slightly lifted the grass curtain."
"The light outside was weak but sufficient to make out the scene."
"On the ground outside the fence, a somewhat robust woman sat – unmistakably Aunt Cui Lan."
"Yu Ying could vaguely see small groups of villagers standing under the trees, likely drawn by the commotion."
"Aunt Cui Lan's yelling continued unabated: 'If I die, I want the entire Fu family to join me in death!'"
"As Yu Ying prepared to step out, Fu Ning also got off the bed, clutching her aunt's dress, obviously afraid for her aunt and not wanting her to go outside."
"Yu Ying bent down to Fu Ning, 'Ningning's father is very strong, Aunt Cui Lan won't dare to do much. Stay inside and wait for auntie, I'll chase Aunt Cui Lan away and then come back.'"
"Fu Ning still clung on, so Yu Ying added, 'If auntie doesn't go out, people will gossip... How about Ningning stays at the door and watches? If there's danger, auntie will run back inside, okay?'"
"Hearing about 'being talked about,' Fu Ning recalled how upset she felt when she was called a 'mute liability' and a 'burden.' She knew her auntie would also feel upset if talked about."
"Hesitating for a moment, she let go of her auntie's dress."
"Yu Ying breathed a sigh of relief, opened the door, and was about to step out when a bamboo stick was handed to her."
"Looking down, she saw it was Fu Ning offering it to her."
"Yu Ying smiled, accepted the stick, and walked out of the house."
"Wen Xing, standing outside with Fu An, saw her sister-in-law coming out and quickly warned, 'Sister-in-law, don't go over there, Aunt Cui Lan seems mad. She might hurt you!'"
"Outside the courtyard, Fu Zhen approached the fence gate, his face stern as he looked at Aunt Cui Lan, his voice tinged with anger: 'If you continue this unreasonable fuss, don’t blame me for being impolite.'"
"'You better not be polite, I’m going to die anyway. I might as well crash into your Fu family’s house and haunt you all.'"
"Yu Ying walked over. Seeing her, Aunt Cui Lan, her eyes bloodshot, suddenly stood up, intending to move forward."
"Fu Zhen’s eyes darkened, and he warned sharply, 'Take one more step and I won’t hesitate to hit, woman or child!'"
"Despite her claims of wanting to die at the Fu family’s hands, Aunt Cui Lan was evidently still afraid of death."
"Aunt Cui Lan had been kept awake for two nights by itching. Thinking she was near death, she came to the Fu family's house in a fit of rage to wail."
"Intimidated by the eldest son of the Fu family, she cowered, only daring to threaten from outside the fence: 'Yu Liu Niang, you wicked woman, you are utterly ruthless. I just criticized you a bit, and you want my life. If you don’t cure me, I’ll take you to the county yamen!'"
"Yu Ying looked coldly at Aunt Cui Lan’s face, scratched and bloodied, a ghastly sight, then glanced at the increasingly curious villagers gathering nearby."
"At that moment, her sister-in-law also hurried over, scared but still standing a half step in front of Yu Ying with clenched fists."
"Yu Ying felt a warmth in her heart. Although her sister-in-law was timid, she still stood protectively in front of her, just like little Fu Ning had earlier."
"It wasn’t just her sister-in-law; Fu An and Luo Shi also came out, the whole family standing by Yu Ying’s side, backing her up."
"Yu Ying gently moved her sister-in-law aside and took a step forward."
"She asked Aunt Cui Lan coldly, 'Was it just a few words?'"
"Then she spoke firmly, 'If it were any other gentle young woman, she would have been driven to despair by your fabrications. The words you said, everyone heard them, and they’re not deaf!'"
"The villagers watching the scene began murmuring to each other, 'Aunt Cui Lan indeed has a sharp tongue. Just a few days ago, we heard her slandering Mrs. Yu of the Fu family, saying such awful things as if Mrs. Yu was having an affair.'"
"'Mrs. Yu of the Fu family clearly went to the quarry to redeem someone. To say she’s eloping with a man or stealing someone’s husband is blatant slander, isn’t it? Trying to drive someone to death?'"
"Yu Ying reiterated firmly, 'And you accuse me of poisoning, where is your evidence?'"
"Aunt Cui Lan shrieked, 'What more evidence do you need? Ever since I left the Fu family, I've been itching all over. If it wasn't you who poisoned me, then who was it?'"
"Yu Ying chuckled lightly, 'If you're going to frame me, at least find a plausible reason. Everyone here saw that day in the courtyard; I didn’t even touch you, and you didn’t drink a drop of water from the Fu family. How could I have possibly poisoned you?'"
"Caught off guard by this, Aunt Cui Lan, scratching her face frantically, argued, 'Then it must have been you who poisoned the water in my tank at home!'"
"Yu Ying smiled, 'If I poisoned your water tank, then why are you the only one affected, while everyone else is fine?'"
"As Yu Ying retorted, Uncle He and Aunt He also arrived, startled by Aunt Cui Lan’s condition."
"Regaining her composure, Aunt He immediately scolded, 'Aunt Cui Lan, have you gone mad wanting to frame Madam Yu? First, you falsely accuse her of misconduct, and now you claim she poisoned you. What has Madam Yu done to you to deserve such attempts to ruin her reputation?'"
"With Aunt He's support, Yu Ying also asked, 'Yes, I too would like to know how I have offended Aunt Cui Lan to warrant such false accusations against me?'"
"Aunt Cui Lan paused, realizing her only reason was her dislike for Yu Ying and wanting to see her humiliated."
"Unable to admit this, she defended, 'What have I got against her? It's just that she frequently goes to Jade County mysteriously and even disappeared for a few days. Anyone would think like I did.'"
"Hearing this, someone countered, 'Aunt Cui Lan, you see others as dirty because your own heart is unclean. You're just making things up. None of us have ever said such things; don’t drag us into your lies.'"
"Yu Ying added, 'I'm under no obligation to inform you of my whereabouts, and these certainly aren’t reasons for you to fabricate accusations against me.'"
"Aunt Cui Lan, unable to bear the itching and losing face, finally stopped her accusations and pleaded, 'Alright, I admit I was wrong. Please cure me of this poison. I’ll even kneel if you ask!'"
"Yu Ying’s expression hardened as she feigned anger, 'How can I cure you of something I never did? Instead of accusing me of poisoning you, why didn’t you consult a doctor to check if you were really poisoned? You might have been treated by now.'"
"Aunt Cui Lan, having firmly believed Yu Ying was responsible, naturally wouldn’t waste money consulting a doctor."
"I don't care, it was you who poisoned me, and if you don't cure me, I won't let this go," Aunt Cui Lan reverted to her true colors after briefly pleading.
"The bystanders exclaimed in disbelief, recognizing that she was blatantly framing someone."
"Everyone knew Aunt Cui Lan was a thick-skinned shrew, but no one expected her to be audacious to this extent."
"Yu Ying paused, then speculated, 'Your symptoms don’t seem like poisoning but rather like a reaction to some irritating wild grass. Could it be that you intentionally inflicted this upon yourself to frame me?'"
"Aunt Cui Lan’s eyes widened in fury, nearly choking with indignation: 'How could I bring such misery upon myself to this extent!?'"
"Yu Ying laughed, 'You can’t provide any reasonable explanation. You claim I harmed you, yet you have no evidence. You insist I poisoned you without any proof. Is this because you falsely accused me and attacked my nephew, thinking I’d seek revenge?'"
"'What else then!?' Aunt Cui Lan shouted."
"Yu Ying smiled and then said slowly, 'Let me be frank, I indeed have no intention of letting this go.'"
"Hearing this, Aunt Cui Lan exclaimed, 'Everyone, listen! She’s admitting it herself!'"
"'I didn’t poison you, but I did go to the yamen and reported your false accusation against me.'"
"Yu Ying’s words stunned everyone, including Aunt Cui Lan."
"After a moment, Aunt Cui Lan spat, 'You’re bluffing! I'm not afraid of you. Yu Liu Niang, if anything happens to me, you'll be guilty of my death!'"
"Yu Ying replied, 'Believe it or not, if you don’t come and apologize personally before noon, and compensate with a hundred wen, then wait for the yamen runner to come.'"
"Aunt Cui Lan spat again, 'Keep dreaming! You think I’d give you a hundred wen? I’d rather go to jail than give you a penny!'"
"She continued to curse while scratching her neck and face in agony."
"Unable to tolerate it any longer, He Shi interjected, 'Cui Lan, setting aside everything else, your condition looks like you've been stung by scorpion grass. Instead of falsely accusing Mrs. Yu, you’d better find some Ji Ruo grass to make a medicinal bath, it might cure you.'"
"The mention of scorpion grass led others who had seen Aunt Cui Lan’s plight yesterday to loudly comment, 'It does look like a scorpion grass sting. Didn’t a child also get stung recently, with their face and hands all scratched up? They got better after washing with Ji Ruo grass a few times.'"
"Aunt Cui Lan, who had been suspecting Yu Liu Niang of poisoning her, now seemed somewhat dubious."
"She glared at Yu Liu Niang and said, 'I’ll try that first. If it doesn’t work, then it must be your poison.'"
"With that, she ran off to find Ji Ruo grass, clearly dismissing Yu Ying's threat of taking the matter to the yamen."
"Yu Ying called out to Aunt Cui Lan’s retreating figure, 'I really did go to the yamen, and I’ve told you now. If the officials come knocking, you can’t blame me.'"
"Someone in the crowd skeptically remarked, 'Mrs. Yu, even if you did report to the officials, they probably won’t take it seriously. Don’t trouble yourself over it. Aunt Cui Lan is just that kind of person. Just consider it a dog bite this time.'"
"Luo Shi, who had been silent, spoke up to the skeptic, 'Which dog dares to bite my family’s Liu Niang? I’ll make sure it won’t get away with it!'"
"Yu Ying almost laughed at the comment, but managed to hold it back, saying, 'I’m not joking. Whether the yamen takes action or not is beyond my control. I just want justice.'"
"Continuing, she said, 'Everyone should disperse now. It's still early, so go home and get some more rest.'"
"Turning to He Shi and He Shu, she reassured them, 'Uncle He, Auntie He, don’t worry. Someone will deal with Aunt Cui Lan.'"
"Seeing Yu Ying so composed, He Shi felt relieved and advised, 'Don’t let such a gossip ruin your health.'"
"Yu Ying nodded, 'I know.'"
"He Shu looked at Luo Shi, 'If Aunt Cui Lan comes to make trouble again, just chase her away with a broom.'"
"Luo Shi agreed, 'If she comes to cause trouble again, I won’t be polite.'"
"After watching the spectacle, the crowd dispersed, and He Shi and He Shu also left."
"With everyone gone and having spent a long time sewing yesterday, Yu Ying yawned, 'Let’s not bother about Aunt Cui Lan anymore. Today there’s nothing urgent, so elder brother and sister-in-law, go back and sleep some more. It'll help you work better tomorrow.'"
"Suddenly, Fu An said, 'Auntie, if Aunt Cui Lan comes again, I won’t let her bully you.'"
"Having a strong father seemed to have made Fu An less afraid of Aunt Cui Lan."
"Yu Ying smiled at him, 'Good, protect me next time.'"
"Fu An nodded vigorously, patting his chest in assurance, 'Next time, I’ll protect Auntie!'"
"He then looked at his mother and added, 'I’ll protect Mom too!'"
"Yu Ying thought to herself that Fu An had become quite the protective figure without any teaching."
"His thoughtfulness for his mother at this moment also showed him to be a good kid."
"Everyone returned to their respective rooms."
"Yu Ying, feeling sleepy, went back to her room where Fu Ning eagerly greeted her. She picked up the little girl and carried her back to bed."
"Fu Wei looked at her and asked, 'Is what Auntie He said about Ji Ruo grass really effective?'"
"Yu Ying carefully recalled what Ji Ruo grass was and, after a moment, remembered it’s another name for dandelion."
"Dandelion, being an alkaline herb, does indeed have itch-relieving properties."
"Since Fu Ning was present, Yu Ying didn't elaborate but gently said, 'Auntie He is right. Aunt Cui Lan has been affected by scorpion grass, also known as Urtica, and washing with Ji Ruo grass can help. Two or three washes should resolve the issue.'"
"The main thing is that after itching for two or three days, the medicinal properties absorbed into the skin will diminish, and the itching will slowly stop. It’s just tormenting for the first couple of days."
"After explaining to Fu Wei, Yu Ying climbed back into bed, sleepily adding, 'Aunt Cui Lan keeps saying she doesn’t mind going to jail, but she’s just a bully who is afraid of the tough and fears death. If an official really comes, she’d scrape together even two hundred wen, not just a hundred.'"
"Pausing, she continued, 'Uncle He mentioned that the Sun family’s money is all in Aunt Cui Lan’s hands, and they are one of the wealthiest in Lingshui Village, second only to the headman. A hundred wen is within her means, though it will cost her.'"
"This hundred wen will serve as a lesson for Aunt Cui Lan."
"Fu Wei understood that Yu Ying had thoughtfully decided on the amount."
"Leaving a way out for someone, not driving them to desperation, can be a warning without creating a relentless enemy."
"'After this, you needn’t fear small-time troublemakers...' Fu Wei began, turning to look at her, but seeing her already asleep, he stopped speaking."
"After a light chuckle, she pulled a thin quilt over her."
"Having traveled tirelessly for several days, and with a trip to Yun County just yesterday, she was undoubtedly exhausted."
"As for Aunt Cui Lan's troublemaking, she seemed utterly unconcerned, her focus solely on securing justice for Ah Fu and herself."
"Truly a..."
"Fu Wei gazed at her face, inwardly completing the thought – truly an extraordinary woman."
"Lost in his observation, Fu Wei snapped out of it only when his niece turned to look at him with her bright, wide eyes."
……
"After a moment, Fu Wei pretended to divert his gaze and made a hushing gesture to his niece, then gently shushed her."
"Fu Ning nodded in understanding, then turned back and snuggled into her aunt's embrace to continue sleeping soundly."
