Chapter 49
Yu Ying, concerned that news of her stitching Song Sanlang's wounds might bring unwanted trouble, specifically instructed Uncle He and Aunt He to keep it a secret.
If anyone inquired about Song Sanlang’s recovery, they were to say that his injuries were not severe and that he healed after applying some hemostatic herbs and resting for a while.
Uncle He and Aunt He also worried that if villagers learned of Mrs. Yu's medical skills, they might seek her help for all ailments, big and small, and possibly without offering payment.
If she successfully treated them, she would be gratefully acknowledged, but if not, she could face endless complaints. Such thankless tasks were best avoided if possible.
Considering these reasons, Uncle He and Aunt He agreed to her request.
Despite having venison, a delicacy, for dinner that day, the events surrounding Song Sanlang's injury left everyone unable to appreciate the meal.
After the evening meal, everyone washed up simply and retired to their respective rooms.
In the quiet darkness of the room, Yu Ying found herself unable to sleep.
Even in the dimness, Fu Wei sensed she was awake and asked, "What’s wrong?"
"You’re not asleep either?" Yu Ying responded.
Fu Wei hummed softly, his mind still immersed in the calm and composed manner Yu Ying had displayed while stitching Song Sanlang's wounds earlier that day.
Such composure and calmness, even beyond what many men possess, spoke volumes of her courage.
Fuyi was deeply moved.
How could any ordinary man be worthy of such an outstanding woman?
"Are you worried about the matter with Song Sanlang?" Fuyi asked.
Yuying, looking at the dark ceiling, replied, "When I was stitching him up, there were no protective measures at all, which worries me a bit."
After pondering for a moment, Fuyi said, "You made a considered choice; you surely know whether stitching him up or not was more appropriate."
Hearing Fuyi's words, Yuying seemed to sense a feeling of trust.
This faint sense of trust, like a gentle breeze, was light and subtle, yet immensely comforting.
"Why do you have such faith that I made the right choice? After all, I could have made a mistake."
Fuyi's lips curved into a soft smile, his voice low and slow, exceptionally gentle: "I may not know about others, but I know you. You are cautious and prudent, not one to give up or act rashly. How could I not trust someone with your character?"
In the darkness, Fuyi's voice was clear and gentle, magically soothing.
Yuying's anxiety eased with these words and this voice.
After a calm moment, Yuying said, "Today's incident was indeed a risk. I'll need to keep an eye on Song Sanlang. To prevent similar situations in the future, I should prepare some necessary items."
After the incident with Song Sanlang, Yuying felt that whether she pursued medicine or not, she should always be prepared with emergency supplies.
"What all do you need?" Fuyi inquired.
Yuying thought for a moment and answered, "For sutures, I need fresh sheep intestines, but common folks can't afford lamb, so it might be difficult to find."
Fuyi pondered for a moment and suggested, "Although Yuxian is no bustling city, taverns should slaughter sheep. You could inquire there. Rich families don’t prefer offal, so it might be relatively cheaper."
Yuying clapped lightly, responding, "Right, taverns will certainly have them. Then sheep intestine for sutures won't be a problem. I can also have the stitching scissors and needles custom-made at the blacksmith. As for alcohol, it's expensive, so I'll have to wait until after the October harvest to buy it."
Her tone became slightly despondent towards the end.
Indeed, with money, everything is easy to obtain. Without it, even great ideas are hard to implement.
Hearing this, Fuyi chuckled and then said, "It's late, and you have much to do tomorrow. Let's not worry too much; things will straighten out."
Yuying hummed in agreement, then added, "Alright, you should rest early too."
After speaking, she slowly closed her eyes, relaxed her thoughts, and gradually drifted into sleep.
Fuyi, hearing the even, soft breathing beside him, felt no sleepiness.
He couldn't afford to provide any of the things she needed.
Not only that, as her reputation grew, it was likely that his presence would bring her trouble.
To avoid such troubles, once his legs healed, he couldn't just join her in the herb trading business.
He faced not only his current impoverished state but also those who wished him ill.
Their power hadn’t reached far yet, but if one day it grew, and they learned of his wellbeing, they would surely resort to foul means again.
During his time in Wuling County, he learned that the newly enthroned emperor was extravagant and indulgent, conscripting many for grand construction projects.
Under such tyranny, rebellion was inevitable, sooner or later.
His task was to find a powerful benefactor to protect his family before any upheaval.
This was both to plan for the future and to seek protection from persecution.
The only power he could turn to now was the county government of Yuxian.
However, impoverished and backward as Yuxian was, its magistrate might be an unattainable figure for the common people, but to the high officials, he was no more than an ant.
Yet, the magistrate of Yuxian was the highest authority he could reach for now.
The next day, Yuying prepared an anti-inflammatory medicine and, after simmering it for half an hour, delivered it to the He family with Fu An and Fu Ning, also checking on Song Sanlang’s injuries.
Upon entering the He household, she found the way Uncle He, Auntie He, and He Dalang looked at her with a hint of awe, which she found quite unfamiliar.
She asked, "Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Uncle He sighed, "Yesterday, all of us men were in a panic, but you, Liuniang, remained composed. We truly admire you for that."
Yuying smiled modestly, "I might have seemed calm, but inside I was very nervous. I hardly slept last night, worried something might happen to Song Sanlang, so I came early today to check on him."
Uncle He told her, "Song Sanlang probably couldn't sleep last night due to the pain, but he managed to sleep this morning after having some hot porridge."
Yuying asked, "Has anyone from the Song family come to visit?"
Auntie He, annoyed, spoke in a low voice so Song Sanlang wouldn't hear, "Yes, the Song family’s youngest daughter came with a few eggs and then left. His own father didn't even bother to look in on him, as if he feared having to take him back home."
He Dalang’s wife, hanging clothes nearby, joined in, "When your elder brother brought him back yesterday, Song Sanlang was covered in blood. Naturally, the village is buzzing with exaggerated stories."
"When I was washing clothes just now, I heard some women saying it would cost a lot of silver to treat Song Sanlang. I guess the Song family is afraid to come over, not wanting to take back a burden."
Even though He Dalang's wife resented her husband and in-laws for bringing Song Sanlang home, she dared not voice it openly.
Besides, Song Sanlang often worked with her husband for the gentry, and they had always looked out for each other, so she wouldn’t express her complaints to avoid displeasing her husband and in-laws.
Auntie He said, "If they don't want to take him, so be it. Let the villagers see the Song family’s true colors. If they dare to exploit Song Sanlang again in the future under the guise of filial piety, we’ll have something to say."
Hearing this, He Dalang’s wife remarked, "But he'll have to go back to the Song family eventually."
"He can't keep staying with us, can he?"
Uncle He pondered and then said, "In a few days, when we build the thatched hut for the Fu family, I'll talk to the village head to allocate some land nearby to build a hut for Song Sanlang too."
Yuying listened quietly, without interjecting.
One's character can be discerned from their actions.
The He family's kind gestures towards their neighbors revealed their inherent goodness.
After staying at the He family's home for a while, Yuying, worried the medicine would cool down, asked Uncle He to wake up Song Sanlang.
Upon seeing the wife of Fu Erlang, Song Sanlang, recalling yesterday's events, looked grateful yet somewhat in awe.
He propped himself up in bed, "Thank you for yesterday, sister-in-law of the Fu family."
Since Song Sanlang addressed Fu Zhen as a brother, calling her the sister-in-law of the Fu family was appropriate.
Yuying asked him, "Has the wound split open?"
Song Sanlang shook his head, replying, "No, it hasn't split."
After Song Sanlang drank the medicine, Yuying told him to lie back down.
Then, she instructed He Dalang to unwrap the bandage on Song Sanlang's foot. After examining the wound, Yuying gave He Dalang a piece of cloth boiled in hot water and showed him how to rewrap the wound.
Due to inadequate sterilization conditions, Yuying advised, "All bandaging cloth must be boiled in water, aired in the house to dry, and the bandage on the wound should be changed daily."
After He Dalang acknowledged, Yuying added, "I have medicine and pots for decoction at my place, making it convenient to prepare. I’ll have my sister-in-law make it and send it over for the next few days."
After Song Sanlang was injured, only his younger sister came to visit him. She merely glanced inside the room and hurriedly left, clearly just checking on his condition, not out of concern for him.
The indifference of his family left him disheartened.
Yet, in contrast to his family, the kindness shown by the Fu and He families moved him deeply.
Even as a grown man, he couldn't help but have tears welling up in his eyes.
Song Sanlang, with a hoarse voice, gratefully said, "Madam Yu, once my injury heals, I'll help with anything you need, just command me."
Yuying smiled and replied, "Don't think about repaying us yet. Focus on healing your injury first."
After saying this, she left the room and gave He Dalang some detailed instructions to follow.
Returning home, Yuying asked her elder brother and sister-in-law to get ready to see the village head about the land.
She went back to her room and also checked if the bamboo splints on Fuyi's leg had loosened.
After inspecting for a while, Fuyi asked, "How is Song Sanlang from the Song family doing?"
Yuying replied, "It seems Song Sanlang is inherently strong, so he's not in grave danger, but..."
Fuyi looked up at her, "But what?"
Yuying, with a slight frown, said, "It’s quite pitiful for Song Sanlang. Only one person from his family came to see him, and I don’t think it was out of genuine concern, just to check how serious his injury was. It probably disheartened him. He was very grateful to the He family. When he thanked me earlier, his eyes were red."
Hearing this, Fuyi also remembered his own past.
If she had appeared when his legs had just become crippled, he might have reacted just like Song Sanlang.
It wasn't that he was ungrateful to her now; it's just that he had already endured the most difficult phase and his mindset had changed, hence his different behavior.
Even though his behavior had changed, whenever he encountered her, he was always struck by her uniqueness, captivated by her presence.
With this thought, Fuyi slightly narrowed his eyes, concealing the emotions within.
Furthermore, when someone cold-hearted experiences help from a charismatic person at their lowest, they tend to develop feelings beyond gratitude.
This, Fuyi understood deeply.
After a brief silence, he slowly said, "With the He family looking after Song Sanlang, there shouldn't be any problems. You can focus on other tasks and not delay the October deadline for the herbs."
Yuying, without any doubts, replied, "I haven’t really delayed anything. I just stop by daily on my way. In a couple of days, I won't need to visit daily. I'll go again when it’s time to remove his stitches."
Fuyi had no further comment.
But then, Yuying, noticing the crutch in the room, suggested, "You won't need to remove the bamboo splints on your leg for another ten days, and you aren't using the crutch much. Why not lend it to Song Sanlang for a few days? It would make moving around easier for him."
Toward the end, Yuying still sought his opinion, "Would you mind lending it?"
Hearing this, Fuyi's hand tightened slightly, turning to look at the crutch leaning against the wall.
After a moment's silence, he reluctantly agreed, "It's only for a few days, why wouldn’t I lend it?"
Pausing, he added, "You’re going to the village head’s place. When you return, let my brother take it over. He can also show Song Sanlang how to use it."
Yuying nodded, "That works."
She then adjusted his trouser leg, advising, "Your leg bone is healing well, but try not to move it unnecessarily. Any movement could easily disturb the injured area."
Fuyi showed a faint smile and acknowledged her words.
After a brief check-up on Fuyi, Yuying left.
Once she was gone, Fuyi turned his gaze towards the crutch, the smile gradually fading from his face.
After a long moment, he exhaled a deep breath and averted his eyes, adopting an 'out of sight, out of mind' attitude.
Yuying, along with her elder brother and sister-in-law, visited the village head's home and then went to inspect several plots of land.
The lands were indeed fertile, located close to water sources, thus not requiring extensive efforts to dig long irrigation channels, only needing to divide the land and dig small ditches.
Yuying examined a few locations and chose a plot closest to her home.
The village head measured the land with his steps, deliberately taking the largest strides, resulting in a plot slightly larger than five acres.
The extra land was hardly noticeable due to the size of the plots.
The village head subtly hinted at this to Yuying, making her aware.
After expressing her gratitude, Yuying prepared the payment to deliver to the village head, along with finalizing the lease agreement.
Upon their return, Fuyi called his elder brother inside to relay the instructions given by Yuying.
Fu Zhen picked up a crutch, and Fuyi suddenly spoke, "Tell Song Sanlang to be careful with it, don't let it get damaged."
Fu Zhen, slightly startled, then remembered the crutch was specially made for his younger brother and borrowing it for someone else would naturally concern him, promptly responded, "I'll instruct him. As soon as his leg is better, I'll bring it back immediately."
After Fu Zhen left, Fuyi silently observed the remaining crutch, finding the lone crutch to appear lonely and melancholic.
Yuying went to the village head's house, paid the money, and leased five acres of land.
After pondering overnight, the following morning, having gathered herbs, she called the He family father and son to her home.
Then, along with her elder brother and sister-in-law, and Fuyi, they discussed how to best manage these newly acquired lands.
To accommodate Fu Wei, Fu Zhen moved a table and stools into the room for everyone to sit and discuss.
The herbs she had collected recently, many with short growing cycles, could treat common colds, fevers, stop bleeding, and reduce inflammation. She had saved seeds from almost all of these herbs.
Now, they just needed to hire people to partition the fields, dig furrows, and plant the seeds, requiring only one or two people to oversee the process.
Uncle He told her that many villagers pooled their money to rent fields together.
Those people, tending only to one plot, had no other work, and would readily help for a daily wage of five wen.
For these five acres, they wouldn't need many people, and the busiest period would only last four or five days.
Afterwards, retaining one or two people for long-term care was feasible.
Fu Wei, who had never before dealt with the farming struggles of the lower class, found these revelations quite moving.
Despite the vast lands and abundant arable soil, the preference to let fields lie fallow rather than allowing the people to cultivate them was disheartening.
The commoners, unable to afford rent for the land, left the fertile fields untended. The rent and grain that could be afforded were sent to the city of Changrong, perpetuating a cycle of poverty in already impoverished areas.
With such ongoing practices, how could the nation thrive?
Yu Ying agreed with Uncle He's suggestion, then turned to Fu Wei, only to find him frowning in deep thought.
After pondering for a moment, she asked him, "What do you think, Erlang?"
Fu Wei was brought back to the conversation by her call of "Erlang" and said, "Since you also need to gather herbs and are short-handed, Uncle He's suggestion seems good."
Yu Ying nodded, acknowledging the shortage of hands.
The medicinal herbs around the two mountains near Lingshui Village were limited, necessitating trips to nearby mountains for herb collection. Plus, since they were not familiar with herbs, Yu Ying needed to accompany them, making it difficult to manage their own fields.
They decided to leave the task of hiring help to Uncle He.
Villagers, hearing that the Fu family had rented some land and needed labor for farming, didn’t wait for Uncle He to ask; many approached Mrs. Luo, inquiring about the need for assistance.
Mrs. Luo did not negotiate, simply directing them to find Uncle He.
The task of hiring workers was off Yuying’s hands now, as she remembered to ask the inn’s waiter, Ah Fu, to contact a medicine merchant, so she found time to take some medicinal herbs to Yuxian.
The clever young waiter of the Penglai Inn managed to attract a small medicine merchant.
The deal depended on the merchant's assessment of Yuying's herbs.
Satisfied with the quality of the herbs, but unable to agree on a lower price, the merchant only purchased fifty catties of specified herbs.
Having stock at home, Yuying quickly delivered the order.
At nineteen coins per catty, she earned nine hundred and fifty coins.
After purchasing some grains, Yuying returned home.
Back home, Fuyi called her into the room.
Once inside, Fuyi handed her an improved version of a repeating crossbow, with two more of similar size beside him.
Fuyi said, "There’s a bamboo-made short arrow inside; give it a try."
Yuying took the small crossbow, not rushing to shoot, but asked, "One of the other two is for my elder brother, but who is the other one for?"
Fuyi looked down at the crossbow by the bed, "One is for my self-defense."
Hearing this, Yuying did not inquire further, instead turning to aim the crossbow at the wall of the thatched house.
Fuyi cautioned, "This one has a much stronger force; don't aim at the wall, target the bamboo instead."
Upon hearing this, Yuying aimed at a bamboo a few steps away, instinctively squinting one eye to aim.
Seeing her do this, Fuyi couldn’t help but chuckle.
Hearing the laughter, Yuying turned to him, "What is it?"
Fuyi replied, "Nothing, just go ahead and try it."
Yuying turned her head back, focusing intensely and not noticing the man beside her observing her closely.
Yuying, with prior experience, was no longer as nervous as she had been the first time.
In a single push, she felt a noticeable difference from before; the handle felt much better.
She pulled again, and the short arrow shot out swiftly, embedding itself into the thick bamboo.
Compared to the last time when the crossbow couldn't even pierce a wild boar's hide, this time the bamboo arrow deeply penetrated the bamboo.
Yuying stepped forward to examine the arrow, which had penetrated a third of the way into the bamboo, and turned back to Fuyi in surprise, "Just changing the bow and string increased its power so much?"
Fuyi explained, "It's similar to using medicine; the same medicinal effect can vary depending on the combination of ingredients."
Yuying couldn’t help but chuckle at his words.
She asked, "Should I call my elder brother in?"
Fuyi nodded.
Yuying attempted to remove the bamboo arrow, but it was stuck too tightly, so she decided to wait for her brother to help retrieve it.
When Fu Zhen entered, he too showed a look of amazement upon hearing about the continuous use of the crossbow, a rare expression on his usually stoic face.
Fuyi remarked indifferently, "The mountains are treacherous; a regular knife is inadequate for protection, and bows are too conspicuous. This compact crossbow, hidden in a basket, is more than suitable."
Fu Zhen’s face showed a grave expression, "We must ensure that no one else learns about this weapon."
"Bows and arrows are commonly used by hunters and won’t raise suspicion, but a repeating crossbow like this is not something an ordinary person could make. If discovered, it could cause serious trouble."
"Guilty or not, it’s the authorities who decide."
Fuyi, understanding his elder brother’s concern, said, "That’s why it depends on how you use it. Of course, if you feel you can handle the dangers of the mountains without it, that's also an option."
After a moment of silence, Fu Zhen picked it up and said, "Uncle He, Auntie He, and He Dalang, along with my sister-in-law, all face dangers while gathering herbs. If this can protect both myself and others, I will certainly use it."
Fuyi then began to explain to his elder brother how to use the repeating crossbow.
Seeing the usually reticent brothers engaged in conversation, Yuying didn’t interrupt them. After putting down the crossbow, she left the room, leaving the brothers to talk.
After instructing him, Fuyi asked Fu Zhen to give it a try.
Fu Zhen glanced at the bamboo arrow stuck in the bamboo, stepped forward, and effortlessly pulled it out.
Seeing this, Fuyi’s brows raised slightly, his gaze resting on the muscles of his elder brother’s arms, strong and well-defined, brimming with power.
Over these days, Fuyi had observed that his elder brother’s strength was indeed formidable.
When fetching water, carrying a full bucket back and forth several times without even breaking a sweat.
Even moving a water jar filled to the brim was effortless for him, as if it required no strength at all.
With such strength, if he could master the use of weapons and joined the army, he might well make a name for himself.
Chapter 49
Yu Ying, concerned that news of her stitching Song Sanlang's wounds might bring unwanted trouble, specifically instructed Uncle He and Aunt He to keep it a secret.
If anyone inquired about Song Sanlang’s recovery, they were to say that his injuries were not severe and that he healed after applying some hemostatic herbs and resting for a while.
Uncle He and Aunt He also worried that if villagers learned of Mrs. Yu's medical skills, they might seek her help for all ailments, big and small, and possibly without offering payment.
If she successfully treated them, she would be gratefully acknowledged, but if not, she could face endless complaints. Such thankless tasks were best avoided if possible.
Considering these reasons, Uncle He and Aunt He agreed to her request.
Despite having venison, a delicacy, for dinner that day, the events surrounding Song Sanlang's injury left everyone unable to appreciate the meal.
After the evening meal, everyone washed up simply and retired to their respective rooms.
In the quiet darkness of the room, Yu Ying found herself unable to sleep.
Even in the dimness, Fu Wei sensed she was awake and asked, "What’s wrong?"
"You’re not asleep either?" Yu Ying responded.
Fu Wei hummed softly, his mind still immersed in the calm and composed manner Yu Ying had displayed while stitching Song Sanlang's wounds earlier that day.
Such composure and calmness, even beyond what many men possess, spoke volumes of her courage.
Fuyi was deeply moved.
How could any ordinary man be worthy of such an outstanding woman?
"Are you worried about the matter with Song Sanlang?" Fuyi asked.
Yuying, looking at the dark ceiling, replied, "When I was stitching him up, there were no protective measures at all, which worries me a bit."
After pondering for a moment, Fuyi said, "You made a considered choice; you surely know whether stitching him up or not was more appropriate."
Hearing Fuyi's words, Yuying seemed to sense a feeling of trust.
This faint sense of trust, like a gentle breeze, was light and subtle, yet immensely comforting.
"Why do you have such faith that I made the right choice? After all, I could have made a mistake."
Fuyi's lips curved into a soft smile, his voice low and slow, exceptionally gentle: "I may not know about others, but I know you. You are cautious and prudent, not one to give up or act rashly. How could I not trust someone with your character?"
In the darkness, Fuyi's voice was clear and gentle, magically soothing.
Yuying's anxiety eased with these words and this voice.
After a calm moment, Yuying said, "Today's incident was indeed a risk. I'll need to keep an eye on Song Sanlang. To prevent similar situations in the future, I should prepare some necessary items."
After the incident with Song Sanlang, Yuying felt that whether she pursued medicine or not, she should always be prepared with emergency supplies.
"What all do you need?" Fuyi inquired.
Yuying thought for a moment and answered, "For sutures, I need fresh sheep intestines, but common folks can't afford lamb, so it might be difficult to find."
Fuyi pondered for a moment and suggested, "Although Yuxian is no bustling city, taverns should slaughter sheep. You could inquire there. Rich families don’t prefer offal, so it might be relatively cheaper."
Yuying clapped lightly, responding, "Right, taverns will certainly have them. Then sheep intestine for sutures won't be a problem. I can also have the stitching scissors and needles custom-made at the blacksmith. As for alcohol, it's expensive, so I'll have to wait until after the October harvest to buy it."
Her tone became slightly despondent towards the end.
Indeed, with money, everything is easy to obtain. Without it, even great ideas are hard to implement.
Hearing this, Fuyi chuckled and then said, "It's late, and you have much to do tomorrow. Let's not worry too much; things will straighten out."
Yuying hummed in agreement, then added, "Alright, you should rest early too."
After speaking, she slowly closed her eyes, relaxed her thoughts, and gradually drifted into sleep.
Fuyi, hearing the even, soft breathing beside him, felt no sleepiness.
He couldn't afford to provide any of the things she needed.
Not only that, as her reputation grew, it was likely that his presence would bring her trouble.
To avoid such troubles, once his legs healed, he couldn't just join her in the herb trading business.
He faced not only his current impoverished state but also those who wished him ill.
Their power hadn’t reached far yet, but if one day it grew, and they learned of his wellbeing, they would surely resort to foul means again.
During his time in Wuling County, he learned that the newly enthroned emperor was extravagant and indulgent, conscripting many for grand construction projects.
Under such tyranny, rebellion was inevitable, sooner or later.
His task was to find a powerful benefactor to protect his family before any upheaval.
This was both to plan for the future and to seek protection from persecution.
The only power he could turn to now was the county government of Yuxian.
However, impoverished and backward as Yuxian was, its magistrate might be an unattainable figure for the common people, but to the high officials, he was no more than an ant.
Yet, the magistrate of Yuxian was the highest authority he could reach for now.
The next day, Yuying prepared an anti-inflammatory medicine and, after simmering it for half an hour, delivered it to the He family with Fu An and Fu Ning, also checking on Song Sanlang’s injuries.
Upon entering the He household, she found the way Uncle He, Auntie He, and He Dalang looked at her with a hint of awe, which she found quite unfamiliar.
She asked, "Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Uncle He sighed, "Yesterday, all of us men were in a panic, but you, Liuniang, remained composed. We truly admire you for that."
Yuying smiled modestly, "I might have seemed calm, but inside I was very nervous. I hardly slept last night, worried something might happen to Song Sanlang, so I came early today to check on him."
Uncle He told her, "Song Sanlang probably couldn't sleep last night due to the pain, but he managed to sleep this morning after having some hot porridge."
Yuying asked, "Has anyone from the Song family come to visit?"
Auntie He, annoyed, spoke in a low voice so Song Sanlang wouldn't hear, "Yes, the Song family’s youngest daughter came with a few eggs and then left. His own father didn't even bother to look in on him, as if he feared having to take him back home."
He Dalang’s wife, hanging clothes nearby, joined in, "When your elder brother brought him back yesterday, Song Sanlang was covered in blood. Naturally, the village is buzzing with exaggerated stories."
"When I was washing clothes just now, I heard some women saying it would cost a lot of silver to treat Song Sanlang. I guess the Song family is afraid to come over, not wanting to take back a burden."
Even though He Dalang's wife resented her husband and in-laws for bringing Song Sanlang home, she dared not voice it openly.
Besides, Song Sanlang often worked with her husband for the gentry, and they had always looked out for each other, so she wouldn’t express her complaints to avoid displeasing her husband and in-laws.
Auntie He said, "If they don't want to take him, so be it. Let the villagers see the Song family’s true colors. If they dare to exploit Song Sanlang again in the future under the guise of filial piety, we’ll have something to say."
Hearing this, He Dalang’s wife remarked, "But he'll have to go back to the Song family eventually."
"He can't keep staying with us, can he?"
Uncle He pondered and then said, "In a few days, when we build the thatched hut for the Fu family, I'll talk to the village head to allocate some land nearby to build a hut for Song Sanlang too."
Yuying listened quietly, without interjecting.
One's character can be discerned from their actions.
The He family's kind gestures towards their neighbors revealed their inherent goodness.
After staying at the He family's home for a while, Yuying, worried the medicine would cool down, asked Uncle He to wake up Song Sanlang.
Upon seeing the wife of Fu Erlang, Song Sanlang, recalling yesterday's events, looked grateful yet somewhat in awe.
He propped himself up in bed, "Thank you for yesterday, sister-in-law of the Fu family."
Since Song Sanlang addressed Fu Zhen as a brother, calling her the sister-in-law of the Fu family was appropriate.
Yuying asked him, "Has the wound split open?"
Song Sanlang shook his head, replying, "No, it hasn't split."
After Song Sanlang drank the medicine, Yuying told him to lie back down.
Then, she instructed He Dalang to unwrap the bandage on Song Sanlang's foot. After examining the wound, Yuying gave He Dalang a piece of cloth boiled in hot water and showed him how to rewrap the wound.
Due to inadequate sterilization conditions, Yuying advised, "All bandaging cloth must be boiled in water, aired in the house to dry, and the bandage on the wound should be changed daily."
After He Dalang acknowledged, Yuying added, "I have medicine and pots for decoction at my place, making it convenient to prepare. I’ll have my sister-in-law make it and send it over for the next few days."
After Song Sanlang was injured, only his younger sister came to visit him. She merely glanced inside the room and hurriedly left, clearly just checking on his condition, not out of concern for him.
The indifference of his family left him disheartened.
Yet, in contrast to his family, the kindness shown by the Fu and He families moved him deeply.
Even as a grown man, he couldn't help but have tears welling up in his eyes.
Song Sanlang, with a hoarse voice, gratefully said, "Madam Yu, once my injury heals, I'll help with anything you need, just command me."
Yuying smiled and replied, "Don't think about repaying us yet. Focus on healing your injury first."
After saying this, she left the room and gave He Dalang some detailed instructions to follow.
Returning home, Yuying asked her elder brother and sister-in-law to get ready to see the village head about the land.
She went back to her room and also checked if the bamboo splints on Fuyi's leg had loosened.
After inspecting for a while, Fuyi asked, "How is Song Sanlang from the Song family doing?"
Yuying replied, "It seems Song Sanlang is inherently strong, so he's not in grave danger, but..."
Fuyi looked up at her, "But what?"
Yuying, with a slight frown, said, "It’s quite pitiful for Song Sanlang. Only one person from his family came to see him, and I don’t think it was out of genuine concern, just to check how serious his injury was. It probably disheartened him. He was very grateful to the He family. When he thanked me earlier, his eyes were red."
Hearing this, Fuyi also remembered his own past.
If she had appeared when his legs had just become crippled, he might have reacted just like Song Sanlang.
It wasn't that he was ungrateful to her now; it's just that he had already endured the most difficult phase and his mindset had changed, hence his different behavior.
Even though his behavior had changed, whenever he encountered her, he was always struck by her uniqueness, captivated by her presence.
With this thought, Fuyi slightly narrowed his eyes, concealing the emotions within.
Furthermore, when someone cold-hearted experiences help from a charismatic person at their lowest, they tend to develop feelings beyond gratitude.
This, Fuyi understood deeply.
After a brief silence, he slowly said, "With the He family looking after Song Sanlang, there shouldn't be any problems. You can focus on other tasks and not delay the October deadline for the herbs."
Yuying, without any doubts, replied, "I haven’t really delayed anything. I just stop by daily on my way. In a couple of days, I won't need to visit daily. I'll go again when it’s time to remove his stitches."
Fuyi had no further comment.
But then, Yuying, noticing the crutch in the room, suggested, "You won't need to remove the bamboo splints on your leg for another ten days, and you aren't using the crutch much. Why not lend it to Song Sanlang for a few days? It would make moving around easier for him."
Toward the end, Yuying still sought his opinion, "Would you mind lending it?"
Hearing this, Fuyi's hand tightened slightly, turning to look at the crutch leaning against the wall.
After a moment's silence, he reluctantly agreed, "It's only for a few days, why wouldn’t I lend it?"
Pausing, he added, "You’re going to the village head’s place. When you return, let my brother take it over. He can also show Song Sanlang how to use it."
Yuying nodded, "That works."
She then adjusted his trouser leg, advising, "Your leg bone is healing well, but try not to move it unnecessarily. Any movement could easily disturb the injured area."
Fuyi showed a faint smile and acknowledged her words.
After a brief check-up on Fuyi, Yuying left.
Once she was gone, Fuyi turned his gaze towards the crutch, the smile gradually fading from his face.
After a long moment, he exhaled a deep breath and averted his eyes, adopting an 'out of sight, out of mind' attitude.
Yuying, along with her elder brother and sister-in-law, visited the village head's home and then went to inspect several plots of land.
The lands were indeed fertile, located close to water sources, thus not requiring extensive efforts to dig long irrigation channels, only needing to divide the land and dig small ditches.
Yuying examined a few locations and chose a plot closest to her home.
The village head measured the land with his steps, deliberately taking the largest strides, resulting in a plot slightly larger than five acres.
The extra land was hardly noticeable due to the size of the plots.
The village head subtly hinted at this to Yuying, making her aware.
After expressing her gratitude, Yuying prepared the payment to deliver to the village head, along with finalizing the lease agreement.
Upon their return, Fuyi called his elder brother inside to relay the instructions given by Yuying.
Fu Zhen picked up a crutch, and Fuyi suddenly spoke, "Tell Song Sanlang to be careful with it, don't let it get damaged."
Fu Zhen, slightly startled, then remembered the crutch was specially made for his younger brother and borrowing it for someone else would naturally concern him, promptly responded, "I'll instruct him. As soon as his leg is better, I'll bring it back immediately."
After Fu Zhen left, Fuyi silently observed the remaining crutch, finding the lone crutch to appear lonely and melancholic.
Yuying went to the village head's house, paid the money, and leased five acres of land.
After pondering overnight, the following morning, having gathered herbs, she called the He family father and son to her home.
Then, along with her elder brother and sister-in-law, and Fuyi, they discussed how to best manage these newly acquired lands.
To accommodate Fu Wei, Fu Zhen moved a table and stools into the room for everyone to sit and discuss.
The herbs she had collected recently, many with short growing cycles, could treat common colds, fevers, stop bleeding, and reduce inflammation. She had saved seeds from almost all of these herbs.
Now, they just needed to hire people to partition the fields, dig furrows, and plant the seeds, requiring only one or two people to oversee the process.
Uncle He told her that many villagers pooled their money to rent fields together.
Those people, tending only to one plot, had no other work, and would readily help for a daily wage of five wen.
For these five acres, they wouldn't need many people, and the busiest period would only last four or five days.
Afterwards, retaining one or two people for long-term care was feasible.
Fu Wei, who had never before dealt with the farming struggles of the lower class, found these revelations quite moving.
Despite the vast lands and abundant arable soil, the preference to let fields lie fallow rather than allowing the people to cultivate them was disheartening.
The commoners, unable to afford rent for the land, left the fertile fields untended. The rent and grain that could be afforded were sent to the city of Changrong, perpetuating a cycle of poverty in already impoverished areas.
With such ongoing practices, how could the nation thrive?
Yu Ying agreed with Uncle He's suggestion, then turned to Fu Wei, only to find him frowning in deep thought.
After pondering for a moment, she asked him, "What do you think, Erlang?"
Fu Wei was brought back to the conversation by her call of "Erlang" and said, "Since you also need to gather herbs and are short-handed, Uncle He's suggestion seems good."
Yu Ying nodded, acknowledging the shortage of hands.
The medicinal herbs around the two mountains near Lingshui Village were limited, necessitating trips to nearby mountains for herb collection. Plus, since they were not familiar with herbs, Yu Ying needed to accompany them, making it difficult to manage their own fields.
They decided to leave the task of hiring help to Uncle He.
Villagers, hearing that the Fu family had rented some land and needed labor for farming, didn’t wait for Uncle He to ask; many approached Mrs. Luo, inquiring about the need for assistance.
Mrs. Luo did not negotiate, simply directing them to find Uncle He.
The task of hiring workers was off Yuying’s hands now, as she remembered to ask the inn’s waiter, Ah Fu, to contact a medicine merchant, so she found time to take some medicinal herbs to Yuxian.
The clever young waiter of the Penglai Inn managed to attract a small medicine merchant.
The deal depended on the merchant's assessment of Yuying's herbs.
Satisfied with the quality of the herbs, but unable to agree on a lower price, the merchant only purchased fifty catties of specified herbs.
Having stock at home, Yuying quickly delivered the order.
At nineteen coins per catty, she earned nine hundred and fifty coins.
After purchasing some grains, Yuying returned home.
Back home, Fuyi called her into the room.
Once inside, Fuyi handed her an improved version of a repeating crossbow, with two more of similar size beside him.
Fuyi said, "There’s a bamboo-made short arrow inside; give it a try."
Yuying took the small crossbow, not rushing to shoot, but asked, "One of the other two is for my elder brother, but who is the other one for?"
Fuyi looked down at the crossbow by the bed, "One is for my self-defense."
Hearing this, Yuying did not inquire further, instead turning to aim the crossbow at the wall of the thatched house.
Fuyi cautioned, "This one has a much stronger force; don't aim at the wall, target the bamboo instead."
Upon hearing this, Yuying aimed at a bamboo a few steps away, instinctively squinting one eye to aim.
Seeing her do this, Fuyi couldn’t help but chuckle.
Hearing the laughter, Yuying turned to him, "What is it?"
Fuyi replied, "Nothing, just go ahead and try it."
Yuying turned her head back, focusing intensely and not noticing the man beside her observing her closely.
Yuying, with prior experience, was no longer as nervous as she had been the first time.
In a single push, she felt a noticeable difference from before; the handle felt much better.
She pulled again, and the short arrow shot out swiftly, embedding itself into the thick bamboo.
Compared to the last time when the crossbow couldn't even pierce a wild boar's hide, this time the bamboo arrow deeply penetrated the bamboo.
Yuying stepped forward to examine the arrow, which had penetrated a third of the way into the bamboo, and turned back to Fuyi in surprise, "Just changing the bow and string increased its power so much?"
Fuyi explained, "It's similar to using medicine; the same medicinal effect can vary depending on the combination of ingredients."
Yuying couldn’t help but chuckle at his words.
She asked, "Should I call my elder brother in?"
Fuyi nodded.
Yuying attempted to remove the bamboo arrow, but it was stuck too tightly, so she decided to wait for her brother to help retrieve it.
When Fu Zhen entered, he too showed a look of amazement upon hearing about the continuous use of the crossbow, a rare expression on his usually stoic face.
Fuyi remarked indifferently, "The mountains are treacherous; a regular knife is inadequate for protection, and bows are too conspicuous. This compact crossbow, hidden in a basket, is more than suitable."
Fu Zhen’s face showed a grave expression, "We must ensure that no one else learns about this weapon."
"Bows and arrows are commonly used by hunters and won’t raise suspicion, but a repeating crossbow like this is not something an ordinary person could make. If discovered, it could cause serious trouble."
"Guilty or not, it’s the authorities who decide."
Fuyi, understanding his elder brother’s concern, said, "That’s why it depends on how you use it. Of course, if you feel you can handle the dangers of the mountains without it, that's also an option."
After a moment of silence, Fu Zhen picked it up and said, "Uncle He, Auntie He, and He Dalang, along with my sister-in-law, all face dangers while gathering herbs. If this can protect both myself and others, I will certainly use it."
Fuyi then began to explain to his elder brother how to use the repeating crossbow.
Seeing the usually reticent brothers engaged in conversation, Yuying didn’t interrupt them. After putting down the crossbow, she left the room, leaving the brothers to talk.
After instructing him, Fuyi asked Fu Zhen to give it a try.
Fu Zhen glanced at the bamboo arrow stuck in the bamboo, stepped forward, and effortlessly pulled it out.
Seeing this, Fuyi’s brows raised slightly, his gaze resting on the muscles of his elder brother’s arms, strong and well-defined, brimming with power.
Over these days, Fuyi had observed that his elder brother’s strength was indeed formidable.
When fetching water, carrying a full bucket back and forth several times without even breaking a sweat.
Even moving a water jar filled to the brim was effortless for him, as if it required no strength at all.
With such strength, if he could master the use of weapons and joined the army, he might well make a name for himself.
