Chapter 50
The office of the magistrate of Wuling County.
After the yamen runners returned from escorting prisoners to exile in Lingnan, they immediately sought an audience with the eldest legitimate son of the magistrate's family.
A servant led them through the back door to a side courtyard. Soon, a man dressed in a brocade robe emerged from the inner yard.
Despite his luxurious brocade clothes and jade crown, and somewhat handsome features, the man lacked an aristocratic aura, more resembling a commoner in a noble son's attire.
The yamen runners felt this too but dared not show it, quickly bowing their heads and paying respects.
They then reported everything they had observed in Lingshui Village.
"The entire Fu family looked distressed, their thatched cottage was in a poor state, and indeed, the second son of the Fu family’s legs were crippled."
Another yamen runner added, "When we visited the Fu family, it was well past dawn, and the entire household was cleaning the courtyard, but the new bride was still asleep. Moreover, we heard from village women that the bride was involved with someone else, and the Fu family didn’t dare to say a word about it."
The man, hearing this, slightly curved his lips and repeated with emphasis, "Did you thoroughly check everything?"
The yamen runner promptly replied, "We were very thorough. We barged in without giving them a chance to react, so they couldn't have possibly known about our intent to probe in advance."
"Are you certain?"
Both yamen runners firmly confirmed, "Absolutely certain!"
The man signaled to a servant standing nearby.
Understanding the gesture, the servant handed over two bags of silver coins to them.
As they received the heavy bags of copper coins, smiles of satisfaction broke across the faces of the two men.
After their departure, the young man's face lit up with a smug smile.
Leaving the back courtyard and arriving at the front, a middle-aged man clad in armor entered from outside.
The young man bore a striking resemblance to the middle-aged man, revealing an obvious father-son relationship.
The young man quickly bowed, greeting, "Father."
The Magistrate of Wuling County glanced at him coldly and commanded in a stern voice, "Follow me."
Saying this, he walked past his son and left.
Hearing the icy tone, the young man clenched his teeth secretly.
He followed his father into the study, and as he was closing the door and turning around, suddenly a bamboo scroll was hurled at him.
Caught off guard, the bamboo scroll hit his forehead and fell to the ground with a ‘thud’.
The young man’s face showed a trace of shock, but he endured the pain and asked, "Why, Father?"
"Huomin Zhi, do you think you can deceive anyone with your doings? This is Wuling County, my territory!"
Huomin Zhi, the young man, felt a pang in his heart and asked apprehensively, keeping his head low, "Son doesn’t understand what Father is referring to."
The Magistrate spoke harshly, "I warned you. It was enough that you crippled Jingzhi’s legs; I let that pass. But don’t you dare lay a hand on Jingzhi again."
A shiver ran down Huomin Zhi’s spine.
He had not expected the news to reach his father so soon after the yamen runners had left.
"Father, I only sent someone to Lingshui Village to check on my stepmother’s situation; I didn’t lay a hand on anyone."
"Do you think I don’t know what you’re thinking? Put away those little schemes of yours. Don’t try to be clever with me. I have more sons than just you. If you can’t meet my expectations, just stay out of my way."
Hearing this, Huomin Zhi clenched his fists tightly, his eyes darkening with repressed emotions.
The Magistrate continued, “If only you had half the intelligence of Jingzhi, I wouldn’t have to worry so much!”
The Magistrate, resting his hands on his waist, sensed the brooding atmosphere and narrowed his eyes, warning again, “Don’t take my words as a joke. If you think of defying me, first weigh your own capabilities.”
His final words were a cold command, “Get out.”
Huomin Zhi slowly exited the room, grinding his teeth in anger and resentment as he closed the door.
In the study, the Magistrate sat down, exhaling deeply after venting his anger.
Compared to his biological son who grew up in the wilds, naive and untalented, he was more satisfied with the foster son he had nurtured for twenty years, who possessed both virtue and talent.
He acknowledged Jingzhi’s abilities. Even though not his biological son, he had considered keeping him close. However, Jingzhi was ultimately a member of the Fu family and couldn’t be kept.
After dinner, Yuying asked Fu An to invite Uncle He, Auntie He, and He Dalang over.
Yuying said to them, “I made a small profit from a recent sale, so I’d like to settle the payment for the previously collected herbs now. Future payments will be made in October. Do you have any objections?”
Uncle He and Auntie He replied, “We have no objections.”
With his parents not objecting, He Dalang naturally had no objections either.
And Fu Zhen certainly had no objections.
Yuying then placed several portions of copper coins on the table.
The herbs sold weighed fifty catties, earning nine hundred and fifty coins. After paying ninety-five coins to the waiter, eight hundred and fifty-five coins remained.
Seeing they had no objections, Yuying said, "Uncle He and Auntie He, in ten days, you’ve gathered eighteen catties at seven coins each and twenty-two catties at six coins each, totaling two hundred and fifty-eight coins."
Yuying pushed a string of copper coins towards Uncle He and Auntie He, "Please count them."
Hearing that his parents had earned two months' worth of his wages in just ten days, He Dalang was incredibly shocked.
Initially, he had hesitated to join Yuying in the herb trade, given the stability of working for the gentry, which ensured consistent income.
Before he could decide, the incident with Song Sanlang effectively made the decision for him, and now, it seemed it was the right choice.
Even Fu Zhen was astonished at the amount.
Yuying continued, "As He Dalang helped for a shorter period and is less familiar with herbs, he gathered only about five catties. Even if it’s less than five catties, I’ll count it as five catties at six coins each, totaling thirty coins."
Yuying then placed thirty coins in front of He Dalang.
"Lastly, for my elder brother."
Hearing this, Fu Zhen showed no expression and simply said, "I don’t need it."
His sister-in-law had paid off their service dues, freeing him and his wife from bondage. Aware of the debt they owed her, Fu Zhen felt uncomfortable accepting more money.
Yuying responded, "How you weigh it in your heart, I don’t know, but we should keep accounts clear. Once we’ve settled this, you can do as you please."
Hearing this, Fu Zhen nodded in agreement.
Yuying then said, "My elder brother gathered eight catties at seven coins each, and twelve catties at six coins each, totaling one hundred and twenty-eight coins."
Yuying placed the counted coins in front of her elder brother.
This was the second time Uncle He and Auntie He were splitting the money, and they were much calmer than the first time. However, receiving over two hundred coins still filled them with excitement and motivation.
With continued effort for about two more months, Erlang would be able to return.
After distributing the coins, Yuying mentioned, "The herbs near the two mountains are getting sparse, and we shouldn’t over-harvest. So, I’m thinking of going elsewhere to gather herbs, but I'm not sure where to go yet."
Yuying then looked towards Uncle He, "You have been living in Lingshui Village for a long time, so you must be familiar with the terrain."
Uncle He chuckled, "Around here, there's not much but mountains. And since the villages nearby don't lay claim to the mountains, anyone brave enough can go hunting or foraging for wild vegetables there."
With Uncle He's assurance, Yuying felt relieved.
Speaking of the order for October, they needed to gather 500 catties of herbs, which meant collecting over 700 catties of fresh herbs.
Now with five people gathering herbs, and another joining once Song Sanlang recovers, six people should suffice to meet the target in one and a half months.
However, storing such a large quantity of herbs was a problem, so they also discussed building an additional thatched hut in the next few days.
That evening, Yuying lit an oil lamp and placed it on a simple bamboo table made with her elder brother's help.
The table, reaching up to her waist and bound with grass ropes, was not very sturdy but stable enough to hold a lamp and some medicinal concoctions.
She indulged in using a piece of cloth, patching it up with other scraps, creating a simple yet clean tablecloth.
With the tablecloth, the table indeed looked presentable.
After lighting the lamp, she spread a cloth on the bed, laid out the four hundred or so coins she earned that day, and started stringing them onto a grass rope, her eyes curving in happiness.
Fuyi watched her count the money joyfully, his lips curving into a smile.
As she strung the coins, Yuying said to Fuyi, "Now that your elder brother and sister-in-law have been released, and besides paying for the farm work, we don’t have much expenditure. Our days are starting to look better."
Suddenly, Yuying looked up and asked him, "Do you think we should move to Yuxian?"
Fuyi was surprised to hear this, "You want to move to Yuxian?"
Yuying slowed her movements, stringing the coins methodically, "Not right now, of course. We haven’t saved much money yet. If we do move, it would be something to consider next year. But I’m just thinking about it now and wondered what you think."
Fuyi pondered for a moment before responding, "Yuxian does offer better conditions than Lingshui Village. If you want to move, we have no objections."
Hearing his agreement, Yuying added, "When the time comes, we can leave the fields and herb business in Lingshui Village to Uncle He and Auntie He."
Continuing to string the coins, she sighed lightly, "If only I had connections and wasn’t afraid of offending the medical halls in Yuxian, we could rent some wasteland and encourage the villagers of Lingshui to grow medicinal herbs. It would benefit both sides."
She had inquired about it: inferior wasteland only required the payment of rent, not grain.
Hearing her words, Fuyi's brows slightly furrowed.
He vaguely remembered her mentioning planting herbs for treating colds, fevers, and injuries.
Medicine for colds and fevers was always in demand, but in this era of peace, the use of injury-healing herbs wasn't extensive, mostly purchased by imperial merchants for use on the frontiers.
Moreover, she was someone who progressed gradually and methodically, not one to act impulsively.
Yet, renting five acres of land at once for cultivation, given their limited funds and manpower, seemed uncharacteristically rash for her.
Furthermore, the simultaneous large-scale cultivation of herbs and grains seemed like preparation for something specific.
Recalling her mysterious background and her previous claim that his elder brother would face danger in the quarry, Fuyi speculated she might have some foresight into future events.
Was she concealing these things out of fear of altering something, or perhaps for prudence and self-preservation?
Grains...
Medicinal herbs...
Along with the unstable situation, the reasons behind her secrecy were becoming clearer to Fuyi.
The most likely possibility was that, in the near future, the world would become even more chaotic than it currently was.
Seeing that Fuyi didn't respond, Yuying looked up to find him staring at her with a solemn expression.
Puzzled, Yuying asked, "What's wrong?"
Fuyi, after a few moments of silence and with a restrained voice, said, "Liuniang, I have never pried into your affairs before and will not in the future. But if you trust me, I only want to ask one thing right now. Even if you can't explain in detail, just tell me yes or no."
Yuying felt a sense of gravity in the air as Fuyi became serious.
After a brief silence, she put down her work and asked, "What do you want to ask?"
She mentally prepared herself for his question.
Fuyi, looking at her earnestly and speaking slowly and deeply, asked, "In the near future, will the world descend into chaos?"
Yuying was startled.
How had he suddenly perceived the signs?
Perhaps he already knew about the current situation and had sensed something amiss from her actions and decisions.
Yuying had intended to let things unfold naturally, trying not to disrupt the course of events, but now it seemed she herself was a variable. With her presence, many things were gradually changing.
After a moment of reflection, Yuying understood.
She took a deep breath, nodded slightly, and responded, "Yes, in the year after next, when the snows melt in the north, chaos will ensue."
Fuyi, having received his answer from her, fell into silence.
He had initially thought that the current dynasty could last another decade or so, but it seems he had overestimated its stability.
The time she mentioned, when the snow melts in the north the year after next, might be when the true turmoil erupts.
Before the full-scale chaos, there would likely be various smaller disturbances laying the groundwork for the larger upheaval, meaning unrest would soon follow.
Yuying said, "I don’t know the full details of this matter. All I can tell you is that the turmoil is inevitable and must be followed, not resisted."
The rise of numerous warlords isn’t something Fuyi can reverse by himself.
Fuyi fell into deep thought.
Yuying continued, "I won’t say more, as my words may not be entirely correct, and they could influence your judgment and assessments. So, don’t ask further. Even if you do, I won’t elaborate."
Fuyi’s potential as a future key figure in a new dynasty relies not on any foresight but on his own courage and strategy.
Her excessive words might lead him to wrong conclusions, which would be counterproductive.
Yuying’s words sank deep into Fuyi’s heart.
He remained silent for a long time, his mind in turmoil.
Eventually, he looked up with a stern expression and said, "Let’s pretend you never mentioned this to me today, and let’s not bring it up again in the future."
This matter was not something they could handle in their current situation; talking more would only invite trouble.
Yuying softly acknowledged, "I understand."
As her words ended, a knock sounded on the door.
The two exchanged a wary look, and Fuyi shook his head at her.
Yuying understood and nodded slightly.
She got out of bed from the foot of it and went to open the door.
Standing outside was a freshly bathed Fu Ning, clean and neat, with his elder brother and sister-in-law behind him.
As the door opened, Fu Ning walked in, standing beside his young aunt.
Yuying curiously asked, "Why have my elder brother and sister-in-law also come over?"
Fu Zhen took out the one hundred or so coins he had just received and handed them to her, "Mar and I owe nearly seven thousand coins in redemption money. I don’t know when we can repay it all, but now that we have some money, we should start paying it back."
Wen Xing also nodded in agreement.
Yuying thought for a moment and then said, "Elder brother and sister-in-law, you only need to return half to me each time. Keep the other half for yourselves. Moreover..." she glanced at Fu Ning beside her, "You still need to provide for An'an and Ningning."
Upon Yuying's reminder, the couple realized they had been focused solely on repaying the debt.
Their clothes were made from fabric bought with Yuying’s money. Without a penny to their name and only herb gathering as their work, they had no other means of livelihood.
If they repaid everything, they would still depend on Yuying’s support.
The couple came to their senses, and Fu Zhen counted out twenty-eight coins before handing the remaining hundred back to Yuying.
Yuying, seeing they had kept some money for themselves, accepted the repayment and smiled, "Then I’ll keep a record of it."
Fu Zhen nodded in agreement.
As they were about to leave, Yuying called out to her sister-in-law, "Wait a moment, sister-in-law. I’ve made a face cream that can treat sunburns. I’ll apply it to your face in a bit."
Saying this, Yuying turned to pick up the oil lamp.
Fu Zhen was about to return to his room when he heard his younger brother's voice from inside, "Elder brother, if you're not in a hurry to leave, stay and talk with me for a bit."
Fu Zhen paused in his steps.
Yuying, who had just discussed the state of affairs with Fuyi, was puzzled to hear Fuyi asking Fu Zhen to stay.
What did Fuyi want to discuss with his elder brother?
Yuying didn’t inquire further. Since the brothers wanted to talk, she set down the oil lamp and asked her sister-in-law to take the lamp to the next room.
The sisters-in-law left the room with little Fu Ning, leaving only the two brothers inside.
Inside the room, Fuyi, with a calm expression, looked at his elder brother, who he had only recently recognized, and suddenly asked, "Elder brother, have you ever thought about learning martial arts?"
Surprised by the question, Fu Zhen asked, "Why do you ask that?"
Fuyi explained, "Before we went to bring you back, two yamen runners broke into our house. Did elder brother hear about this?"
Although Fu Zhen hadn’t interacted much with the villagers since his return, he had heard the gist from Uncle He and Auntie He, but he was unaware of the details.
When he asked his mother about it, she seemed reluctant to speak, probably to avoid worrying him.
Fuyi bringing up the past indicated there was something significant about the incident.
Fu Zhen inquired, "What happened then?"
Fuyi looked up, his expression detached, "The officials suddenly broke in, claiming they were looking for fugitives, but in reality, they were testing whether I was truly crippled or just pretending."
Fu Zhen was taken aback, then heard Fuyi continue, "Someone who could manipulate the yamen runners and holds a grudge against me – elder brother should know who it is."
Fu Zhen indeed had his suspicions.
Fuyi continued, "Aside from that incident, you know how unstable Lingnan is without me saying more. Elder brother, although you possess great strength, when compared to those with real skills, there is still a significant gap."
Fuyi looked down at his own legs, "As for these legs of mine, I don’t know when they will fully heal. Until then, the safety of our family rests on elder brother’s shoulders."
These final words weighed heavily on Fu Zhen’s face.
Indeed, in these troubled times, only those with skills can avoid being oppressed.
Without his strength, he wouldn’t have been able to protect his wife in the quarry.
Thinking this, Fu Zhen looked at his younger brother and asked, "Do you know martial arts?"
Fuyi nodded, "I’ve trained in martial arts since childhood and spent a few years in the military. I know a bit about swords and spears. There’s a spear technique that would suit elder brother, but it’s difficult to practice with my current leg condition, and we don’t have a heavy spear weighing a hundred catties."
Fu Zhen was hearing about his younger brother’s past for the first time and was surprised to learn of his many skills, recalling what their mother had said about Fuyi’s early days in the Fu family.
He now understood why Fuyi was the way he was.
A man of such caliber, proud and dignified, how could he accept his fallen state and disability?
“Elder brother, would you like to train?” Fuyi repeated his question.
Fu Zhen had his answer, “I may not be cut out for it, but I want to give it a try.”
Hearing this, Fuyi’s lips curved slightly upwards.
Fortunately, his elder brother wasn’t a hopeless case.
Through the ages, powerful warriors had natural strength. His elder brother might not have divine strength, but in the upcoming chaotic times, he might still find a way out.
Yuying stood at the kitchen door, peeking towards Fuyi’s room. She saw the silhouettes of the two brothers reflected on the curtain but couldn’t hear their conversation.
Noticing Yuying's gaze, Wen Xing looked in the same direction and commented, “Elder brother and Fuyi have been talking a lot these past few days. When he first came back, they would sit face to face and hardly speak a word.”
Yuying withdrew her gaze and began applying the herbal face mask on her sister-in-law’s face, saying, “It’s always good to have something to talk about.”
Wen Xing nodded twice, then felt the cool sensation on her face.
Looking at the deep green herbal paste in the bowl, she sighed contentedly, "This feels so comfortable."
Fu Ning, with his big curious eyes, watched his mother's face get covered in the funny-looking paste.
Yuying smiled, "Not only does it treat sunburn, but it also makes the skin smooth and soft."
Hearing this, Wen Xing's eyes widened in surprise, "Really?"
Yuying nodded, "With regular use, you’ll see noticeable results in about a month."
She paused, then reminded, "Since sister-in-law is staying home these days making clothes, it’s best to avoid going out in the sun. Even when drying herbs, wear a hat to cover your face."
Wen Xing replied shyly, "I’m already a mother of two, no need to be so pretty."
Yuying chuckled, "Who says a mother can’t be beautiful? Even when you become a grandmother, you should still look pretty. It's not for anyone else, but to make yourself happy."
Wen Xing pondered upon hearing this.
A moment later, she seemed to understand and smiled.
Yuying quickly cautioned, "Don’t smile, don’t smile, you'll get wrinkles."
Wen Xing hastily stopped smiling and said softly, "You're right, being pretty is also about making oneself happy."
Then, pausing, she added, "Once I see the results, I’ll let mother use it too, to make her happy."
Yuying agreed, "Yes, we’ll include mother next time."
Wen Xing glanced at the dark spots on Yuying's face, hesitating before asking, "Since you’re skilled in medicine, can’t you treat those dark spots on your face?"
After finishing applying the paste on her sister-in-law’s face and putting down the wooden bowl, Yuying pondered and replied, "It’s easy for me to remove these spots, but I often have to go to Yuxian and don’t want to remove them for now."
Wen Xing closely observed Yuying’s delicate and pretty features, thinking that without those spots, she would definitely be a beauty.
She suddenly understood Yuying's intention and said, "That makes sense, better not to remove them. Having the spots might be safer."
Hearing the sound of a door opening from the other end of the house, Yuying saw her elder brother coming out. She said to her sister-in-law, "I'll take Fu Ning back to rest. The remaining herbal paste can be applied to elder brother’s sunburned areas."
Wen Xing nodded and watched them leave.
Yuying nodded at her elder brother as they passed each other, then went into her room.
As Fu Zhen approached the kitchen, about to call his wife back to their room, he was startled by her appearance under the dim light and involuntarily stepped back.
Unaware of her current appearance, Wen Xing looked at her husband with her bewildered apricot eyes and asked, "What’s wrong?"
Fu Zhen, eyeing the green mud on her face, asked with a perplexed expression, "What is that?"
Wen Xing pulled him into the kitchen, lowered the curtain, and under the dim glow of a small oil lamp, whispered, "Yuying said it treats sunburn. Take off your clothes quickly, and I’ll apply it to you too."
Chapter 50
The office of the magistrate of Wuling County.
After the yamen runners returned from escorting prisoners to exile in Lingnan, they immediately sought an audience with the eldest legitimate son of the magistrate's family.
A servant led them through the back door to a side courtyard. Soon, a man dressed in a brocade robe emerged from the inner yard.
Despite his luxurious brocade clothes and jade crown, and somewhat handsome features, the man lacked an aristocratic aura, more resembling a commoner in a noble son's attire.
The yamen runners felt this too but dared not show it, quickly bowing their heads and paying respects.
They then reported everything they had observed in Lingshui Village.
"The entire Fu family looked distressed, their thatched cottage was in a poor state, and indeed, the second son of the Fu family’s legs were crippled."
Another yamen runner added, "When we visited the Fu family, it was well past dawn, and the entire household was cleaning the courtyard, but the new bride was still asleep. Moreover, we heard from village women that the bride was involved with someone else, and the Fu family didn’t dare to say a word about it."
The man, hearing this, slightly curved his lips and repeated with emphasis, "Did you thoroughly check everything?"
The yamen runner promptly replied, "We were very thorough. We barged in without giving them a chance to react, so they couldn't have possibly known about our intent to probe in advance."
"Are you certain?"
Both yamen runners firmly confirmed, "Absolutely certain!"
The man signaled to a servant standing nearby.
Understanding the gesture, the servant handed over two bags of silver coins to them.
As they received the heavy bags of copper coins, smiles of satisfaction broke across the faces of the two men.
After their departure, the young man's face lit up with a smug smile.
Leaving the back courtyard and arriving at the front, a middle-aged man clad in armor entered from outside.
The young man bore a striking resemblance to the middle-aged man, revealing an obvious father-son relationship.
The young man quickly bowed, greeting, "Father."
The Magistrate of Wuling County glanced at him coldly and commanded in a stern voice, "Follow me."
Saying this, he walked past his son and left.
Hearing the icy tone, the young man clenched his teeth secretly.
He followed his father into the study, and as he was closing the door and turning around, suddenly a bamboo scroll was hurled at him.
Caught off guard, the bamboo scroll hit his forehead and fell to the ground with a ‘thud’.
The young man’s face showed a trace of shock, but he endured the pain and asked, "Why, Father?"
"Huomin Zhi, do you think you can deceive anyone with your doings? This is Wuling County, my territory!"
Huomin Zhi, the young man, felt a pang in his heart and asked apprehensively, keeping his head low, "Son doesn’t understand what Father is referring to."
The Magistrate spoke harshly, "I warned you. It was enough that you crippled Jingzhi’s legs; I let that pass. But don’t you dare lay a hand on Jingzhi again."
A shiver ran down Huomin Zhi’s spine.
He had not expected the news to reach his father so soon after the yamen runners had left.
"Father, I only sent someone to Lingshui Village to check on my stepmother’s situation; I didn’t lay a hand on anyone."
"Do you think I don’t know what you’re thinking? Put away those little schemes of yours. Don’t try to be clever with me. I have more sons than just you. If you can’t meet my expectations, just stay out of my way."
Hearing this, Huomin Zhi clenched his fists tightly, his eyes darkening with repressed emotions.
The Magistrate continued, “If only you had half the intelligence of Jingzhi, I wouldn’t have to worry so much!”
The Magistrate, resting his hands on his waist, sensed the brooding atmosphere and narrowed his eyes, warning again, “Don’t take my words as a joke. If you think of defying me, first weigh your own capabilities.”
His final words were a cold command, “Get out.”
Huomin Zhi slowly exited the room, grinding his teeth in anger and resentment as he closed the door.
In the study, the Magistrate sat down, exhaling deeply after venting his anger.
Compared to his biological son who grew up in the wilds, naive and untalented, he was more satisfied with the foster son he had nurtured for twenty years, who possessed both virtue and talent.
He acknowledged Jingzhi’s abilities. Even though not his biological son, he had considered keeping him close. However, Jingzhi was ultimately a member of the Fu family and couldn’t be kept.
After dinner, Yuying asked Fu An to invite Uncle He, Auntie He, and He Dalang over.
Yuying said to them, “I made a small profit from a recent sale, so I’d like to settle the payment for the previously collected herbs now. Future payments will be made in October. Do you have any objections?”
Uncle He and Auntie He replied, “We have no objections.”
With his parents not objecting, He Dalang naturally had no objections either.
And Fu Zhen certainly had no objections.
Yuying then placed several portions of copper coins on the table.
The herbs sold weighed fifty catties, earning nine hundred and fifty coins. After paying ninety-five coins to the waiter, eight hundred and fifty-five coins remained.
Seeing they had no objections, Yuying said, "Uncle He and Auntie He, in ten days, you’ve gathered eighteen catties at seven coins each and twenty-two catties at six coins each, totaling two hundred and fifty-eight coins."
Yuying pushed a string of copper coins towards Uncle He and Auntie He, "Please count them."
Hearing that his parents had earned two months' worth of his wages in just ten days, He Dalang was incredibly shocked.
Initially, he had hesitated to join Yuying in the herb trade, given the stability of working for the gentry, which ensured consistent income.
Before he could decide, the incident with Song Sanlang effectively made the decision for him, and now, it seemed it was the right choice.
Even Fu Zhen was astonished at the amount.
Yuying continued, "As He Dalang helped for a shorter period and is less familiar with herbs, he gathered only about five catties. Even if it’s less than five catties, I’ll count it as five catties at six coins each, totaling thirty coins."
Yuying then placed thirty coins in front of He Dalang.
"Lastly, for my elder brother."
Hearing this, Fu Zhen showed no expression and simply said, "I don’t need it."
His sister-in-law had paid off their service dues, freeing him and his wife from bondage. Aware of the debt they owed her, Fu Zhen felt uncomfortable accepting more money.
Yuying responded, "How you weigh it in your heart, I don’t know, but we should keep accounts clear. Once we’ve settled this, you can do as you please."
Hearing this, Fu Zhen nodded in agreement.
Yuying then said, "My elder brother gathered eight catties at seven coins each, and twelve catties at six coins each, totaling one hundred and twenty-eight coins."
Yuying placed the counted coins in front of her elder brother.
This was the second time Uncle He and Auntie He were splitting the money, and they were much calmer than the first time. However, receiving over two hundred coins still filled them with excitement and motivation.
With continued effort for about two more months, Erlang would be able to return.
After distributing the coins, Yuying mentioned, "The herbs near the two mountains are getting sparse, and we shouldn’t over-harvest. So, I’m thinking of going elsewhere to gather herbs, but I'm not sure where to go yet."
Yuying then looked towards Uncle He, "You have been living in Lingshui Village for a long time, so you must be familiar with the terrain."
Uncle He chuckled, "Around here, there's not much but mountains. And since the villages nearby don't lay claim to the mountains, anyone brave enough can go hunting or foraging for wild vegetables there."
With Uncle He's assurance, Yuying felt relieved.
Speaking of the order for October, they needed to gather 500 catties of herbs, which meant collecting over 700 catties of fresh herbs.
Now with five people gathering herbs, and another joining once Song Sanlang recovers, six people should suffice to meet the target in one and a half months.
However, storing such a large quantity of herbs was a problem, so they also discussed building an additional thatched hut in the next few days.
That evening, Yuying lit an oil lamp and placed it on a simple bamboo table made with her elder brother's help.
The table, reaching up to her waist and bound with grass ropes, was not very sturdy but stable enough to hold a lamp and some medicinal concoctions.
She indulged in using a piece of cloth, patching it up with other scraps, creating a simple yet clean tablecloth.
With the tablecloth, the table indeed looked presentable.
After lighting the lamp, she spread a cloth on the bed, laid out the four hundred or so coins she earned that day, and started stringing them onto a grass rope, her eyes curving in happiness.
Fuyi watched her count the money joyfully, his lips curving into a smile.
As she strung the coins, Yuying said to Fuyi, "Now that your elder brother and sister-in-law have been released, and besides paying for the farm work, we don’t have much expenditure. Our days are starting to look better."
Suddenly, Yuying looked up and asked him, "Do you think we should move to Yuxian?"
Fuyi was surprised to hear this, "You want to move to Yuxian?"
Yuying slowed her movements, stringing the coins methodically, "Not right now, of course. We haven’t saved much money yet. If we do move, it would be something to consider next year. But I’m just thinking about it now and wondered what you think."
Fuyi pondered for a moment before responding, "Yuxian does offer better conditions than Lingshui Village. If you want to move, we have no objections."
Hearing his agreement, Yuying added, "When the time comes, we can leave the fields and herb business in Lingshui Village to Uncle He and Auntie He."
Continuing to string the coins, she sighed lightly, "If only I had connections and wasn’t afraid of offending the medical halls in Yuxian, we could rent some wasteland and encourage the villagers of Lingshui to grow medicinal herbs. It would benefit both sides."
She had inquired about it: inferior wasteland only required the payment of rent, not grain.
Hearing her words, Fuyi's brows slightly furrowed.
He vaguely remembered her mentioning planting herbs for treating colds, fevers, and injuries.
Medicine for colds and fevers was always in demand, but in this era of peace, the use of injury-healing herbs wasn't extensive, mostly purchased by imperial merchants for use on the frontiers.
Moreover, she was someone who progressed gradually and methodically, not one to act impulsively.
Yet, renting five acres of land at once for cultivation, given their limited funds and manpower, seemed uncharacteristically rash for her.
Furthermore, the simultaneous large-scale cultivation of herbs and grains seemed like preparation for something specific.
Recalling her mysterious background and her previous claim that his elder brother would face danger in the quarry, Fuyi speculated she might have some foresight into future events.
Was she concealing these things out of fear of altering something, or perhaps for prudence and self-preservation?
Grains...
Medicinal herbs...
Along with the unstable situation, the reasons behind her secrecy were becoming clearer to Fuyi.
The most likely possibility was that, in the near future, the world would become even more chaotic than it currently was.
Seeing that Fuyi didn't respond, Yuying looked up to find him staring at her with a solemn expression.
Puzzled, Yuying asked, "What's wrong?"
Fuyi, after a few moments of silence and with a restrained voice, said, "Liuniang, I have never pried into your affairs before and will not in the future. But if you trust me, I only want to ask one thing right now. Even if you can't explain in detail, just tell me yes or no."
Yuying felt a sense of gravity in the air as Fuyi became serious.
After a brief silence, she put down her work and asked, "What do you want to ask?"
She mentally prepared herself for his question.
Fuyi, looking at her earnestly and speaking slowly and deeply, asked, "In the near future, will the world descend into chaos?"
Yuying was startled.
How had he suddenly perceived the signs?
Perhaps he already knew about the current situation and had sensed something amiss from her actions and decisions.
Yuying had intended to let things unfold naturally, trying not to disrupt the course of events, but now it seemed she herself was a variable. With her presence, many things were gradually changing.
After a moment of reflection, Yuying understood.
She took a deep breath, nodded slightly, and responded, "Yes, in the year after next, when the snows melt in the north, chaos will ensue."
Fuyi, having received his answer from her, fell into silence.
He had initially thought that the current dynasty could last another decade or so, but it seems he had overestimated its stability.
The time she mentioned, when the snow melts in the north the year after next, might be when the true turmoil erupts.
Before the full-scale chaos, there would likely be various smaller disturbances laying the groundwork for the larger upheaval, meaning unrest would soon follow.
Yuying said, "I don’t know the full details of this matter. All I can tell you is that the turmoil is inevitable and must be followed, not resisted."
The rise of numerous warlords isn’t something Fuyi can reverse by himself.
Fuyi fell into deep thought.
Yuying continued, "I won’t say more, as my words may not be entirely correct, and they could influence your judgment and assessments. So, don’t ask further. Even if you do, I won’t elaborate."
Fuyi’s potential as a future key figure in a new dynasty relies not on any foresight but on his own courage and strategy.
Her excessive words might lead him to wrong conclusions, which would be counterproductive.
Yuying’s words sank deep into Fuyi’s heart.
He remained silent for a long time, his mind in turmoil.
Eventually, he looked up with a stern expression and said, "Let’s pretend you never mentioned this to me today, and let’s not bring it up again in the future."
This matter was not something they could handle in their current situation; talking more would only invite trouble.
Yuying softly acknowledged, "I understand."
As her words ended, a knock sounded on the door.
The two exchanged a wary look, and Fuyi shook his head at her.
Yuying understood and nodded slightly.
She got out of bed from the foot of it and went to open the door.
Standing outside was a freshly bathed Fu Ning, clean and neat, with his elder brother and sister-in-law behind him.
As the door opened, Fu Ning walked in, standing beside his young aunt.
Yuying curiously asked, "Why have my elder brother and sister-in-law also come over?"
Fu Zhen took out the one hundred or so coins he had just received and handed them to her, "Mar and I owe nearly seven thousand coins in redemption money. I don’t know when we can repay it all, but now that we have some money, we should start paying it back."
Wen Xing also nodded in agreement.
Yuying thought for a moment and then said, "Elder brother and sister-in-law, you only need to return half to me each time. Keep the other half for yourselves. Moreover..." she glanced at Fu Ning beside her, "You still need to provide for An'an and Ningning."
Upon Yuying's reminder, the couple realized they had been focused solely on repaying the debt.
Their clothes were made from fabric bought with Yuying’s money. Without a penny to their name and only herb gathering as their work, they had no other means of livelihood.
If they repaid everything, they would still depend on Yuying’s support.
The couple came to their senses, and Fu Zhen counted out twenty-eight coins before handing the remaining hundred back to Yuying.
Yuying, seeing they had kept some money for themselves, accepted the repayment and smiled, "Then I’ll keep a record of it."
Fu Zhen nodded in agreement.
As they were about to leave, Yuying called out to her sister-in-law, "Wait a moment, sister-in-law. I’ve made a face cream that can treat sunburns. I’ll apply it to your face in a bit."
Saying this, Yuying turned to pick up the oil lamp.
Fu Zhen was about to return to his room when he heard his younger brother's voice from inside, "Elder brother, if you're not in a hurry to leave, stay and talk with me for a bit."
Fu Zhen paused in his steps.
Yuying, who had just discussed the state of affairs with Fuyi, was puzzled to hear Fuyi asking Fu Zhen to stay.
What did Fuyi want to discuss with his elder brother?
Yuying didn’t inquire further. Since the brothers wanted to talk, she set down the oil lamp and asked her sister-in-law to take the lamp to the next room.
The sisters-in-law left the room with little Fu Ning, leaving only the two brothers inside.
Inside the room, Fuyi, with a calm expression, looked at his elder brother, who he had only recently recognized, and suddenly asked, "Elder brother, have you ever thought about learning martial arts?"
Surprised by the question, Fu Zhen asked, "Why do you ask that?"
Fuyi explained, "Before we went to bring you back, two yamen runners broke into our house. Did elder brother hear about this?"
Although Fu Zhen hadn’t interacted much with the villagers since his return, he had heard the gist from Uncle He and Auntie He, but he was unaware of the details.
When he asked his mother about it, she seemed reluctant to speak, probably to avoid worrying him.
Fuyi bringing up the past indicated there was something significant about the incident.
Fu Zhen inquired, "What happened then?"
Fuyi looked up, his expression detached, "The officials suddenly broke in, claiming they were looking for fugitives, but in reality, they were testing whether I was truly crippled or just pretending."
Fu Zhen was taken aback, then heard Fuyi continue, "Someone who could manipulate the yamen runners and holds a grudge against me – elder brother should know who it is."
Fu Zhen indeed had his suspicions.
Fuyi continued, "Aside from that incident, you know how unstable Lingnan is without me saying more. Elder brother, although you possess great strength, when compared to those with real skills, there is still a significant gap."
Fuyi looked down at his own legs, "As for these legs of mine, I don’t know when they will fully heal. Until then, the safety of our family rests on elder brother’s shoulders."
These final words weighed heavily on Fu Zhen’s face.
Indeed, in these troubled times, only those with skills can avoid being oppressed.
Without his strength, he wouldn’t have been able to protect his wife in the quarry.
Thinking this, Fu Zhen looked at his younger brother and asked, "Do you know martial arts?"
Fuyi nodded, "I’ve trained in martial arts since childhood and spent a few years in the military. I know a bit about swords and spears. There’s a spear technique that would suit elder brother, but it’s difficult to practice with my current leg condition, and we don’t have a heavy spear weighing a hundred catties."
Fu Zhen was hearing about his younger brother’s past for the first time and was surprised to learn of his many skills, recalling what their mother had said about Fuyi’s early days in the Fu family.
He now understood why Fuyi was the way he was.
A man of such caliber, proud and dignified, how could he accept his fallen state and disability?
“Elder brother, would you like to train?” Fuyi repeated his question.
Fu Zhen had his answer, “I may not be cut out for it, but I want to give it a try.”
Hearing this, Fuyi’s lips curved slightly upwards.
Fortunately, his elder brother wasn’t a hopeless case.
Through the ages, powerful warriors had natural strength. His elder brother might not have divine strength, but in the upcoming chaotic times, he might still find a way out.
Yuying stood at the kitchen door, peeking towards Fuyi’s room. She saw the silhouettes of the two brothers reflected on the curtain but couldn’t hear their conversation.
Noticing Yuying's gaze, Wen Xing looked in the same direction and commented, “Elder brother and Fuyi have been talking a lot these past few days. When he first came back, they would sit face to face and hardly speak a word.”
Yuying withdrew her gaze and began applying the herbal face mask on her sister-in-law’s face, saying, “It’s always good to have something to talk about.”
Wen Xing nodded twice, then felt the cool sensation on her face.
Looking at the deep green herbal paste in the bowl, she sighed contentedly, "This feels so comfortable."
Fu Ning, with his big curious eyes, watched his mother's face get covered in the funny-looking paste.
Yuying smiled, "Not only does it treat sunburn, but it also makes the skin smooth and soft."
Hearing this, Wen Xing's eyes widened in surprise, "Really?"
Yuying nodded, "With regular use, you’ll see noticeable results in about a month."
She paused, then reminded, "Since sister-in-law is staying home these days making clothes, it’s best to avoid going out in the sun. Even when drying herbs, wear a hat to cover your face."
Wen Xing replied shyly, "I’m already a mother of two, no need to be so pretty."
Yuying chuckled, "Who says a mother can’t be beautiful? Even when you become a grandmother, you should still look pretty. It's not for anyone else, but to make yourself happy."
Wen Xing pondered upon hearing this.
A moment later, she seemed to understand and smiled.
Yuying quickly cautioned, "Don’t smile, don’t smile, you'll get wrinkles."
Wen Xing hastily stopped smiling and said softly, "You're right, being pretty is also about making oneself happy."
Then, pausing, she added, "Once I see the results, I’ll let mother use it too, to make her happy."
Yuying agreed, "Yes, we’ll include mother next time."
Wen Xing glanced at the dark spots on Yuying's face, hesitating before asking, "Since you’re skilled in medicine, can’t you treat those dark spots on your face?"
After finishing applying the paste on her sister-in-law’s face and putting down the wooden bowl, Yuying pondered and replied, "It’s easy for me to remove these spots, but I often have to go to Yuxian and don’t want to remove them for now."
Wen Xing closely observed Yuying’s delicate and pretty features, thinking that without those spots, she would definitely be a beauty.
She suddenly understood Yuying's intention and said, "That makes sense, better not to remove them. Having the spots might be safer."
Hearing the sound of a door opening from the other end of the house, Yuying saw her elder brother coming out. She said to her sister-in-law, "I'll take Fu Ning back to rest. The remaining herbal paste can be applied to elder brother’s sunburned areas."
Wen Xing nodded and watched them leave.
Yuying nodded at her elder brother as they passed each other, then went into her room.
As Fu Zhen approached the kitchen, about to call his wife back to their room, he was startled by her appearance under the dim light and involuntarily stepped back.
Unaware of her current appearance, Wen Xing looked at her husband with her bewildered apricot eyes and asked, "What’s wrong?"
Fu Zhen, eyeing the green mud on her face, asked with a perplexed expression, "What is that?"
Wen Xing pulled him into the kitchen, lowered the curtain, and under the dim glow of a small oil lamp, whispered, "Yuying said it treats sunburn. Take off your clothes quickly, and I’ll apply it to you too."
