Chapter 52.
The addition of a small bed in Yuying and Fuyi’s room certainly raised concerns.
The most concerned was Yuying's sister-in-law.
Why would a married couple need to sleep in separate beds?
It would have been understandable if they had always slept separately, but they had previously shared a bed, so why split beds after moving to a new house?
She was baffled and restless, tossing and turning in bed at night.
Fu Zhen, fatigued, asked, “What’s wrong?”
Trying not to wake up their son, Wen Xing lowered her voice in confusion, “I can’t figure it out.”
She turned over, nearly cuddling into her husband's embrace, whispering, “What’s going on with the younger sister-in-law and Fuyi?”
“Hmm?” Fu Zhen didn’t quite understand what she was referring to.
She wondered aloud, "The bamboo bed sent over by my sister-in-law this morning caught my attention. Are they planning to sleep separately?"
Fu Zhen was silent for a moment before reminding his wife, "When Erlang married, his legs were already injured."
Wen Xing didn’t grasp it immediately, so Fu Zhen hinted further, "They haven’t really been husband and wife yet."
Upon hearing her husband's words, Wen Xing suddenly understood.
"With Erlang’s mobility issues, unless initiated by his wife, how could they consummate the marriage?"
Wen Xing was stunned for a long while before regaining her senses, murmuring, "Even if they aren’t truly husband and wife yet, they’ve shared a bed for so long. Why suddenly separate? Could it be that they don’t want to be husband and wife?"
Fu Zhen didn’t know how to answer his wife's question, as he was also unclear about the reasons.
At that moment, both thought their son Fu An, who they assumed was asleep, suddenly spoke up: "Uncle wants to be husband and wife with Aunt."
Fu Zhen: …
Wen Xing: …
After a moment of silence, Wen Xing moved away from her husband, turned towards their son lying beside her, and asked, "How do you know that?"
Fu An thought for a while and then said, "Uncle mentioned it. When Aunt went to the quarry to pick up Dad and Mom, Uncle, half-asleep, kept calling out Aunt's name several times. He even admitted he missed her."
The couple simultaneously recalled Erlang's normally reserved nature and couldn't imagine him harboring such deep longing for someone.
Both thought their son was exaggerating and didn't take it too seriously.
Fu Wei, the subject of their conversation, lay on his single bed, silently staring at the dark ceiling.
The small bed was covered with a layer of soft straw, not uncomfortable, but perhaps due to unfamiliarity, he felt no sleepiness.
Turning his head towards the larger bed, he saw only darkness in the dimly lit room.
Fu Wei raised his hand, pressing his forehead, and sighed quietly.
Yu Ying and Fu Ning were sleeping on the larger bed, comfortably enjoying a good night's sleep in the spacious area.
Upon waking up in the morning, she quickly tied her hair into a simple bun, then woke up little Fuyi and asked her to go to her sister-in-law to have her hair combed.
Over time, Fuyi gradually adapted to her new parents, but she still preferred to stick close to Yuying.
Yuying, therefore, thought of ways to encourage Fuyi to spend time with her sister-in-law, hoping to foster a bond between them.
When Yuying got up, Fuyi was also awake, tidying his clothes.
Yuying asked him with a smile, "Did you sleep better last night?"
Fuyi responded with a light smile, "It was alright."
Noticing he seemed a bit under the weather, Yuying pondered and said, "You might just be unaccustomed to the new bed. You’ll feel better in a couple of days."
After a pause, she added, "By the way, I’m heading to Yuxian today. Is there anything you’d like me to buy?"
Regarding the gathering of herbs, Yuying hadn’t shared the full details of their properties with Uncle He and his family, but she did inform them of the herbs' names and characteristics.
After harvesting herbs for many days, Uncle He, Auntie He, and their eldest son had become familiar with the commonly collected herbs, making it unnecessary for Yuying to accompany them.
Fuyi initially intended to shake his head to indicate he needed nothing, but then he seemed to recall something and, after a moment’s thought, looked at her and asked, "Could you buy me some writing materials — ink, brush, and paper?"
Yuying nodded slightly and inquired, "Just writing materials, right?"
Fuyi nodded and softly affirmed with a "Mhm."
After responding to Fu Wei, Yu Ying stepped out of the room, and then called her elder brother into the house.
Every morning, Fu Wei exercised a bit, with his elder brother supporting him.
Today, as Yu Ying was heading to Yun County, she took Fu An with her.
Having an additional companion provided some comfort, even if it was just an eight-year-old child.
Since they were going to Yun County, Fu An wore the new clothes his mother had made for him.
Fu An particularly cherished this new outfit. Yu Ying heard from her sister-in-law that Fu An would take out the clothes to look and touch them every night before sleep and after waking up, as it brought him peace.
It wasn’t just Fu An; even Fu Ning did the same.
Since becoming aware of their surroundings, the two children had rarely worn new clothes, so naturally, they cherished them.
"Not making new clothes for the children was partly due to financial constraints. Moreover, as they were originally of lower social status, they avoided drawing attention. Normally, they wouldn’t dare to wear clothes without patches, let alone allow their children to wear new ones."
"The Fu family members were naturally good-looking, as evident from Ah Fu and Fu Wei. When Ah Fu donned a lead-gray short tunic and his mother meticulously combed his yellowish hair, not only did he look livelier, but his features also appeared more pronounced."
"Wearing his new clothes, Ah Fu's confidence soared. Whether visiting Wu's eatery or the inn, he no longer hesitated."
"Upon seeing Madam Yu, Ah Fu, the waiter, became even more attentive than before. While serving tea, he smiled, 'Madam Yu, since you have some connection with the government office, why didn’t you mention it earlier?'"
"Yu Ying, aware that Aunt Cui Lan's incident had reached Ah Fu's ears, calmly replied, 'I don’t really have any connection with the government office. Let’s not speculate and cause displeasure to important people.'"
"Ah Fu hurriedly said, 'In this inn, with people coming and going, I’ve heard about it.'"
"He recounted what he heard, 'Madam Yu of the Fu family in Lingshui Village was defamed by a gossiping woman. Even after it was proven a misunderstanding, the woman didn’t repent and accused Madam Yu of poisoning her. Madam Yu took the matter to the government office, and upon facing the officials, the gossiping woman became as meek as a mouse, begging for mercy.'"
"Hearing Ah Fu's account, Yu Ying and Ah Fu exchanged glances, wondering how he described the event as if he had witnessed it himself."
"Ah Fu continued, 'If Madam Yu has no connection with the government office, then why did the county magistrate recently issue a notice stating that from now on, anyone causing death through gossip will be lashed twenty times and fined 300 coins?'"
"Yu Ying was surprised by this news."
"At the time, she hadn’t thought much about it, partly aiming to use the government's authority for protection and also to vent her frustration, without considering such consequences."
"Maintaining her composure, Yu Ying smiled lightly, 'I happened to be in the quarry redeeming a relative with a yamen runner, which allowed me to speak up. So, when faced with such slander, I sought the yamen runner in a moment of frustration and luck.'"
"Ah Fu chuckled in disbelief, 'Such luck is rare.'"
"Yu Ying didn’t bother to clarify further, instead asking, 'Have there been any medicine merchants staying at the inn recently?'"
"Mentioning this, Ah Fu glanced worriedly at the counter, then whispered, 'I think the shopkeeper has become suspicious. I’m afraid I won’t be able to help Madam Yu find medicine merchants for some time.'"
"Yu Ying had always known that using the waiter as an intermediary couldn’t last long, but every transaction made was a bonus. So, while disappointed at his current inability to help, she was prepared for it."
"The waiter’s face gradually showed guilt as he apologized, 'I’m really sorry, Madam Yu.'"
"He actually wanted to continue, but risking the inn's business just to help Madam Yu find clients was too great a gamble. Losing both would be a real loss."
"Without either job, he would truly be at a loss."
She smiled and said, "The inn's business is more important. Since the owner has noticed something, let's stop for now."
The waiter sighed in relief and said, "Although I can't help Mrs. Yu within the inn, if I encounter a herbalist outside, I will surely keep them in mind for you."
Yu Ying gave a slight nod and thanked the server.
After two bowls of vegetarian noodles, Yu Ying left the inn with Fu An.
Yu Ying pondered that in just over a month, when a large shipment of goods was due, other medicine traders would surely hear and come, so she wasn't too worried about finding channels. However, an old problem still troubled her.
— Would any of the medical halls cause trouble for her?
Although she had used the guise of Huo Ya's visit to Lingshui Village to warn Aunt Cuilan, which led others to mistakenly believe she had backing in the government office, she wondered how long this deception could last.
Regardless of the future, this deal was essential.
The He family needed money to redeem He Erlang, and she and the Fu family also needed this money to get by.
Fu An, seeing his aunt's worried expression, asked softly, "Auntie, are you upset because you've lost business?"
Yu Ying, hearing his question, set aside her worries and replied, "I've long realized this business wouldn't last forever, so it's not that which troubles me."
Fu An sighed, sounding mature beyond his years, "If I were an adult, I could help you share your worries."
Yu Ying chuckled, patted his head, and said, "You should focus on growing up first."
Fu An's words somewhat lightened Yu Ying's worries.
Although there was no business to do now and no money to be made, Yu Ying still needed to buy some things.
The first thing to buy was fresh sheep intestines for making catgut.
The restaurant slaughtered sheep, so they should have the sheep intestines she wanted.
She entered the restaurant and directly asked the manager if they had sheep intestines.
Seeing that she wasn’t there to dine, the innkeeper waved his hand dismissively and said, “No, we don’t have any.”
Yu Ying quickly said, “I need sheep intestines, which aren’t available elsewhere, so I came here. I am willing to pay for them.”
Hearing the woman was willing to pay, the innkeeper thought for a moment, then called the waiter and asked, “Do we still have sheep intestines in the kitchen?”
The waiter replied, "Yes, we do."
The innkeeper instructed him to bring them to the backyard and then led Yu Ying there.
Soon, the waiter came out with a wooden basin, which contained not only sheep intestines but also a sheep liver.
The innkeeper said, “You can have all of these for twenty wen.”
Yu Ying looked at the innkeeper, who held his chin up in a disdainful manner, a stark contrast to the amiable attitude of Chen, the owner of the eatery.
He was definitely overcharging her.
Yu Ying said, “I only need the sheep intestines.”
Although sheep liver was valuable for its vision-enhancing and blood-nourishing properties, she didn’t want to be overcharged.
The innkeeper raised his eyebrows and said, “Sheep intestines for fifteen wen.”
Yu Ying: …
Did her face read “fool”?
After a pause, Yu Ying calmly said, “Please don’t treat me as an ignorant woman. I genuinely need them, but if you don’t want to sell, then never mind.”
Yu Ying, taking Fu An with her, turned to leave.
The innkeeper pondered for a moment, realizing other sheep offal could be easily sold as dishes, but these two items were not popular and would likely be taken by the cook if left unsold.
Seeing them about to leave, the innkeeper called out, “Alright, alright, take them for twelve wen.”
Yu Ying continued to ignore him until he further reduced the price, “Ten wen, and that’s my final offer!”
Yu Ying stopped in her tracks.
This bargaining technique, learned from her grandmother, might not work every time, but it was effective at least six out of ten times.
She turned back to the innkeeper and smiled, “Thank you then.”
Seeing her agree so quickly, the innkeeper internally regretted, thinking he had quoted too low a price.
With nowhere to put the sheep intestines and liver, Yu Ying decided to buy a larger ceramic pot for storage.
The ceramic pots at home were quite small, barely holding half a bucket of water after mixing for bathing, and would definitely be insufficient in cooler weather.
The large ceramic pot, too big for the household stove, could be used over a stone-built stove for boiling water.
After purchasing the sheep offal, Yu Ying also bought a pig's trotter bone to make soup.
Lastly, she went to buy the ink, brushes, and paper needed by Fu Wei.
It was only in the shop that she realized that without silver, one truly couldn't pursue learning in this era.
A coarse brush cost fifteen wen, a small thumb-sized piece of inkstone was twenty wen, and a sheet of paper was five wen each.
Yu Ying gasped for a moment at the prices.
The cost of these writing materials could buy about five pounds of rice, enough to feed her entire family for two days.
What exactly did Fu Wei need these writing supplies for?
Fu Wei was aware of their current situation; he wouldn’t be using them frivolously but for something necessary.
After some thought, Yu Ying decided to buy one set of ink and brush and three sheets of paper, spending a total of fifty wen.
Fu An was startled by the price too.
He had never touched such writing materials before and curiously felt the brush and paper.
He wondered if these items could actually earn silver, otherwise why would they be so expensive?
After purchasing the required writing materials for Fu Wei, Yu Ying returned to Wu's eatery.
It was lunchtime, and there she encountered Officer Huo, who was having his midday meal.
Yu Ying approached Officer Huo to express her gratitude for a previous matter, saying, “Thank you for your help last time, Officer Huo.”
Officer Huo responded indifferently, “No need to thank me, I was just doing my duty.”
Yu Ying hesitated before asking, “I heard that the magistrate's office posted a notice saying that any gossiping woman causing a death will be flogged twenty times and fined three hundred wen. Could you tell me more about this?”
Putting down his chopsticks, Officer Huo explained, “After returning from Lingshui Village, I informed the magistrate about the gossiping woman tarnishing Mrs. Yu’s reputation and falsely accusing her of poisoning. The magistrate was furious and recalled several fatal incidents caused by such women over the years, hence the notice.”
Understanding the situation, Yu Ying did not want to disturb Officer Huo’s meal further and left with a nod.
In the afternoon, she headed back to Lingshui Village.
The sun was still quite harsh, so Yu Ying wore a straw hat woven by her sister-in-law to shield herself from the sun, and Fu An wore one too.
The ox cart slowly made its way back to Lingshui Village. After saying goodbye to Old Man Chen, the aunt and nephew walked home.
On the way, they encountered Cuilan Auntie, whom they hadn't seen in days.
Seeing Yu Ying, Cuilan Auntie’s face changed, and she immediately turned to avoid her.
Fu An, delighted to see Cuilan Auntie fleeing, said, “She deserves it for always badmouthing Grandmother, calling her a blind waste of food, and saying Ningning is a mute burden.”
Yu Ying glanced indifferently at Cuilan Auntie’s retreating figure, then continued on her way home without much concern.
Back home, when Fu An saw his father going to fetch water, he quickly changed his clothes and followed.
Yu Ying took out the writing materials she bought for Fu Wei from her basket and brought them into the house.
Fu Wei accepted them, expressing his gratitude with a simple “Thank you.”
Yu Ying asked him curiously, “What do you need these writing materials for?”
Fu Wei spread the paper on the table, but without a paperweight, the edges curled slightly.
Yu Ying thought for a moment, then went to the foot of the bed and took out two smooth, shiny pebbles from her small cloth bag, using them to hold down the paper.
Fu Wei looked at the pebbles in surprise, then raised his eyes to her.
Yu Ying smiled and explained, “I picked them up because they were pretty. Don’t all women like beautiful things? I do too.”
Fu Wei didn’t say anything but took another look at the pebbles on the table.
He thought to himself that if she liked these pebbles, she must also be fond of jewels and gemstones…
Lost in thought, he still answered her earlier question, “I need to write a letter.”
Yu Ying was surprised, “You’re writing a letter?”
Fu Wei nodded, “And I’ll need your help to send it later.”
Yu Ying thought for a moment. Since it was a private matter, she didn’t ask whom it was for.
Even without asking, Yu Ying had an idea of where it might be sent.
She responded, “Let me know when you’ve finished writing it.”
Then she added, “I’ll get some water for you to grind the ink.”
Yu Ying stepped outside and found a piece of a broken ceramic pot that hadn’t been discarded yet.
The rough surface of the fragment was ideal for grinding ink.
She filled a bamboo tube with water and brought it inside for Fu Wei.
“Go ahead and write. I'll be busy outside.”
Fu Wei thanked her again and watched as she left the room.
Moments later, he turned his attention back and began grinding ink on the broken ceramic piece.
Dipping the brush in ink, he hesitated with the tip hovering over the paper. Catching sight of the pebbles on the table, his eyes grew resolute, and he began to write.
Upon leaving the room, Yu Ying saw her sister-in-law busy in the kitchen and joined her.
Wen Xing, recalling the conversation with her husband from the night before, couldn't help but glance at her sister-in-law a few times.
Yu Ying took out the sheep intestines and liver, noticing her sister-in-law's curious gaze. She looked over and asked, "Is something the matter, sister-in-law?"
Wen Xing hurriedly replied, “No, nothing.”
After all, it was the couple's private matter, and it would be too abrupt to ask about it suddenly.
Distracting from the topic, Wen Xing, noticing the newly bought ceramic pot and smelling the blood, asked, "What's in there?"
Yu Ying answered, “Sheep intestines and liver.”
She took out the sheep liver and placed it in a bowl. Having been soaked in water during the journey, the blood had already come out. It would be ready after a quick wash and a further soak for half an hour.
Hearing it was sheep offal, Wen Xing paused, surprised, “Isn't that just offal?”
Remembering the taste of pig offal she had eaten before, she frowned and said, “I’ve had pig offal before; it didn’t taste good.”
Yu Ying replied, “Pig organs have a strong flavor and are hard to clean, making them difficult to cook well.”
Indeed, she wasn’t very skilled at cooking them.
“But sheep eat only grass, so their organs have a milder flavor and are much easier to clean.”
After explaining, Yu Ying asked her sister-in-law to start boiling the bone soup, while she went to clean the sheep intestines.
She scrubbed the intestines repeatedly, turning them inside out and washing them twice, then rubbed them with salt and soaked them in fresh water. They would be left to soak for a day or two to soften before the next step.
After finishing her preparations, Yu Ying picked a bunch of freshly grown green onions from the garden in the courtyard, washed them, and brought them back to the kitchen.
She filled a cooking pot halfway with water, cut the sheep liver into pieces, and put them into the cold water along with a bunch of tied green onions and several slices of ginger, then covered the pot to boil.
Once the water boiled, Yu Ying removed the foam from the surface and then moved the pot off the stove to a bamboo table nearby, letting the sheep liver slowly cook in the hot water.
After simmering for a while, she removed the liver and let it rest. When it was almost time for dinner, she stir-fried it briefly with ginger, green onions, and soy sauce.
Knowing Fu Wei didn’t eat offal, Yu Ying steamed two eggs for herself and the two children, topping them with a few drops of pork oil and a sprinkle of chopped green onions, spreading a delicious aroma around the small kitchen.
The smell drew little Fu Ning to the door, eagerly looking inside.
Dinner was ready: a dish of stir-fried cabbage, bone and radish soup, stir-fried sheep liver, and the steamed eggs.
Though the table was set with simple fare, it was appetizing and fulfilling.
After dinner, her brother and sister-in-law cleaned up the table. While there was still daylight, they helped Yu Ying sort the herbs and then started peeling ramie fibers.
Curious, Yu Ying asked, “What are elder brother and sister-in-law doing?”
Wen Xing replied, “Autumn is coming; we need to hurry and make thick quilts and clothes, or it’ll be too late.”
With her knowledge of plants, Yu Ying quickly understood her sister-in-law’s intention.
In this era, only nobles could afford cotton and silk. During winter, common people had to use kudzu or hemp for their clothes.
Thinking of this, Yu Ying felt a chill, even though winter was yet to come.
Fortunately, Lingnan was warmer than the north, almost always mild, and even the cold didn’t last long. Otherwise, how could they endure the harsh winter with just kudzu and hemp clothing and quilts?
Yu Ying joined in to help with the ramie.
Time passed slowly in these peaceful and relatively stable days.
As deep autumn approached and the weather turned cooler, it was almost time for Yu Ying to deliver the medicinal herbs.
Hundreds of pounds of herbs filled the small house to the brim.
Only five more days were needed before reaching the delivery date set in the contract.
As the weather cooled, Yu Ying spent the evenings soaking her feet with Fu Ning, teaching her to open up and speak.
But right now, Funing can only open her mouth without making a sound.
Yu Ying is not discouraged, gently patting her head and softly says, "Don't worry, take your time."
After soaking her feet, she lulls Funing to sleep, covers her with a quilt, and is about to fetch water when Fuwei, leaning on the bed, stands up and takes a walking stick, saying softly, "Let me pour it."
Yu Ying dares not let him pour the water.
She rises gently from the bed, picks up the basin after getting down, and says, "Your legs are still not fully recovered, don't carry heavy things. Rest some more."
Saying this, she takes the water out to pour.
Standing at the door, a cold breeze blows, making Yu Ying shiver, and she truly feels the chill.
Looking at the swaying shadows of branches and leaves in the night, accompanied by the howling cold wind, Yu Ying feels a bit intimidated and quickly enters the house.
Just two days ago, it was terribly hot, and after a small rain, the weather changed unexpectedly.
Chapter 52.
The addition of a small bed in Yuying and Fuyi’s room certainly raised concerns.
The most concerned was Yuying's sister-in-law.
Why would a married couple need to sleep in separate beds?
It would have been understandable if they had always slept separately, but they had previously shared a bed, so why split beds after moving to a new house?
She was baffled and restless, tossing and turning in bed at night.
Fu Zhen, fatigued, asked, “What’s wrong?”
Trying not to wake up their son, Wen Xing lowered her voice in confusion, “I can’t figure it out.”
She turned over, nearly cuddling into her husband's embrace, whispering, “What’s going on with the younger sister-in-law and Fuyi?”
“Hmm?” Fu Zhen didn’t quite understand what she was referring to.
She wondered aloud, "The bamboo bed sent over by my sister-in-law this morning caught my attention. Are they planning to sleep separately?"
Fu Zhen was silent for a moment before reminding his wife, "When Erlang married, his legs were already injured."
Wen Xing didn’t grasp it immediately, so Fu Zhen hinted further, "They haven’t really been husband and wife yet."
Upon hearing her husband's words, Wen Xing suddenly understood.
"With Erlang’s mobility issues, unless initiated by his wife, how could they consummate the marriage?"
Wen Xing was stunned for a long while before regaining her senses, murmuring, "Even if they aren’t truly husband and wife yet, they’ve shared a bed for so long. Why suddenly separate? Could it be that they don’t want to be husband and wife?"
Fu Zhen didn’t know how to answer his wife's question, as he was also unclear about the reasons.
At that moment, both thought their son Fu An, who they assumed was asleep, suddenly spoke up: "Uncle wants to be husband and wife with Aunt."
Fu Zhen: …
Wen Xing: …
After a moment of silence, Wen Xing moved away from her husband, turned towards their son lying beside her, and asked, "How do you know that?"
Fu An thought for a while and then said, "Uncle mentioned it. When Aunt went to the quarry to pick up Dad and Mom, Uncle, half-asleep, kept calling out Aunt's name several times. He even admitted he missed her."
The couple simultaneously recalled Erlang's normally reserved nature and couldn't imagine him harboring such deep longing for someone.
Both thought their son was exaggerating and didn't take it too seriously.
Fu Wei, the subject of their conversation, lay on his single bed, silently staring at the dark ceiling.
The small bed was covered with a layer of soft straw, not uncomfortable, but perhaps due to unfamiliarity, he felt no sleepiness.
Turning his head towards the larger bed, he saw only darkness in the dimly lit room.
Fu Wei raised his hand, pressing his forehead, and sighed quietly.
Yu Ying and Fu Ning were sleeping on the larger bed, comfortably enjoying a good night's sleep in the spacious area.
Upon waking up in the morning, she quickly tied her hair into a simple bun, then woke up little Fuyi and asked her to go to her sister-in-law to have her hair combed.
Over time, Fuyi gradually adapted to her new parents, but she still preferred to stick close to Yuying.
Yuying, therefore, thought of ways to encourage Fuyi to spend time with her sister-in-law, hoping to foster a bond between them.
When Yuying got up, Fuyi was also awake, tidying his clothes.
Yuying asked him with a smile, "Did you sleep better last night?"
Fuyi responded with a light smile, "It was alright."
Noticing he seemed a bit under the weather, Yuying pondered and said, "You might just be unaccustomed to the new bed. You’ll feel better in a couple of days."
After a pause, she added, "By the way, I’m heading to Yuxian today. Is there anything you’d like me to buy?"
Regarding the gathering of herbs, Yuying hadn’t shared the full details of their properties with Uncle He and his family, but she did inform them of the herbs' names and characteristics.
After harvesting herbs for many days, Uncle He, Auntie He, and their eldest son had become familiar with the commonly collected herbs, making it unnecessary for Yuying to accompany them.
Fuyi initially intended to shake his head to indicate he needed nothing, but then he seemed to recall something and, after a moment’s thought, looked at her and asked, "Could you buy me some writing materials — ink, brush, and paper?"
Yuying nodded slightly and inquired, "Just writing materials, right?"
Fuyi nodded and softly affirmed with a "Mhm."
After responding to Fu Wei, Yu Ying stepped out of the room, and then called her elder brother into the house.
Every morning, Fu Wei exercised a bit, with his elder brother supporting him.
Today, as Yu Ying was heading to Yun County, she took Fu An with her.
Having an additional companion provided some comfort, even if it was just an eight-year-old child.
Since they were going to Yun County, Fu An wore the new clothes his mother had made for him.
Fu An particularly cherished this new outfit. Yu Ying heard from her sister-in-law that Fu An would take out the clothes to look and touch them every night before sleep and after waking up, as it brought him peace.
It wasn’t just Fu An; even Fu Ning did the same.
Since becoming aware of their surroundings, the two children had rarely worn new clothes, so naturally, they cherished them.
"Not making new clothes for the children was partly due to financial constraints. Moreover, as they were originally of lower social status, they avoided drawing attention. Normally, they wouldn’t dare to wear clothes without patches, let alone allow their children to wear new ones."
"The Fu family members were naturally good-looking, as evident from Ah Fu and Fu Wei. When Ah Fu donned a lead-gray short tunic and his mother meticulously combed his yellowish hair, not only did he look livelier, but his features also appeared more pronounced."
"Wearing his new clothes, Ah Fu's confidence soared. Whether visiting Wu's eatery or the inn, he no longer hesitated."
"Upon seeing Madam Yu, Ah Fu, the waiter, became even more attentive than before. While serving tea, he smiled, 'Madam Yu, since you have some connection with the government office, why didn’t you mention it earlier?'"
"Yu Ying, aware that Aunt Cui Lan's incident had reached Ah Fu's ears, calmly replied, 'I don’t really have any connection with the government office. Let’s not speculate and cause displeasure to important people.'"
"Ah Fu hurriedly said, 'In this inn, with people coming and going, I’ve heard about it.'"
"He recounted what he heard, 'Madam Yu of the Fu family in Lingshui Village was defamed by a gossiping woman. Even after it was proven a misunderstanding, the woman didn’t repent and accused Madam Yu of poisoning her. Madam Yu took the matter to the government office, and upon facing the officials, the gossiping woman became as meek as a mouse, begging for mercy.'"
"Hearing Ah Fu's account, Yu Ying and Ah Fu exchanged glances, wondering how he described the event as if he had witnessed it himself."
"Ah Fu continued, 'If Madam Yu has no connection with the government office, then why did the county magistrate recently issue a notice stating that from now on, anyone causing death through gossip will be lashed twenty times and fined 300 coins?'"
"Yu Ying was surprised by this news."
"At the time, she hadn’t thought much about it, partly aiming to use the government's authority for protection and also to vent her frustration, without considering such consequences."
"Maintaining her composure, Yu Ying smiled lightly, 'I happened to be in the quarry redeeming a relative with a yamen runner, which allowed me to speak up. So, when faced with such slander, I sought the yamen runner in a moment of frustration and luck.'"
"Ah Fu chuckled in disbelief, 'Such luck is rare.'"
"Yu Ying didn’t bother to clarify further, instead asking, 'Have there been any medicine merchants staying at the inn recently?'"
"Mentioning this, Ah Fu glanced worriedly at the counter, then whispered, 'I think the shopkeeper has become suspicious. I’m afraid I won’t be able to help Madam Yu find medicine merchants for some time.'"
"Yu Ying had always known that using the waiter as an intermediary couldn’t last long, but every transaction made was a bonus. So, while disappointed at his current inability to help, she was prepared for it."
"The waiter’s face gradually showed guilt as he apologized, 'I’m really sorry, Madam Yu.'"
"He actually wanted to continue, but risking the inn's business just to help Madam Yu find clients was too great a gamble. Losing both would be a real loss."
"Without either job, he would truly be at a loss."
She smiled and said, "The inn's business is more important. Since the owner has noticed something, let's stop for now."
The waiter sighed in relief and said, "Although I can't help Mrs. Yu within the inn, if I encounter a herbalist outside, I will surely keep them in mind for you."
Yu Ying gave a slight nod and thanked the server.
After two bowls of vegetarian noodles, Yu Ying left the inn with Fu An.
Yu Ying pondered that in just over a month, when a large shipment of goods was due, other medicine traders would surely hear and come, so she wasn't too worried about finding channels. However, an old problem still troubled her.
— Would any of the medical halls cause trouble for her?
Although she had used the guise of Huo Ya's visit to Lingshui Village to warn Aunt Cuilan, which led others to mistakenly believe she had backing in the government office, she wondered how long this deception could last.
Regardless of the future, this deal was essential.
The He family needed money to redeem He Erlang, and she and the Fu family also needed this money to get by.
Fu An, seeing his aunt's worried expression, asked softly, "Auntie, are you upset because you've lost business?"
Yu Ying, hearing his question, set aside her worries and replied, "I've long realized this business wouldn't last forever, so it's not that which troubles me."
Fu An sighed, sounding mature beyond his years, "If I were an adult, I could help you share your worries."
Yu Ying chuckled, patted his head, and said, "You should focus on growing up first."
Fu An's words somewhat lightened Yu Ying's worries.
Although there was no business to do now and no money to be made, Yu Ying still needed to buy some things.
The first thing to buy was fresh sheep intestines for making catgut.
The restaurant slaughtered sheep, so they should have the sheep intestines she wanted.
She entered the restaurant and directly asked the manager if they had sheep intestines.
Seeing that she wasn’t there to dine, the innkeeper waved his hand dismissively and said, “No, we don’t have any.”
Yu Ying quickly said, “I need sheep intestines, which aren’t available elsewhere, so I came here. I am willing to pay for them.”
Hearing the woman was willing to pay, the innkeeper thought for a moment, then called the waiter and asked, “Do we still have sheep intestines in the kitchen?”
The waiter replied, "Yes, we do."
The innkeeper instructed him to bring them to the backyard and then led Yu Ying there.
Soon, the waiter came out with a wooden basin, which contained not only sheep intestines but also a sheep liver.
The innkeeper said, “You can have all of these for twenty wen.”
Yu Ying looked at the innkeeper, who held his chin up in a disdainful manner, a stark contrast to the amiable attitude of Chen, the owner of the eatery.
He was definitely overcharging her.
Yu Ying said, “I only need the sheep intestines.”
Although sheep liver was valuable for its vision-enhancing and blood-nourishing properties, she didn’t want to be overcharged.
The innkeeper raised his eyebrows and said, “Sheep intestines for fifteen wen.”
Yu Ying: …
Did her face read “fool”?
After a pause, Yu Ying calmly said, “Please don’t treat me as an ignorant woman. I genuinely need them, but if you don’t want to sell, then never mind.”
Yu Ying, taking Fu An with her, turned to leave.
The innkeeper pondered for a moment, realizing other sheep offal could be easily sold as dishes, but these two items were not popular and would likely be taken by the cook if left unsold.
Seeing them about to leave, the innkeeper called out, “Alright, alright, take them for twelve wen.”
Yu Ying continued to ignore him until he further reduced the price, “Ten wen, and that’s my final offer!”
Yu Ying stopped in her tracks.
This bargaining technique, learned from her grandmother, might not work every time, but it was effective at least six out of ten times.
She turned back to the innkeeper and smiled, “Thank you then.”
Seeing her agree so quickly, the innkeeper internally regretted, thinking he had quoted too low a price.
With nowhere to put the sheep intestines and liver, Yu Ying decided to buy a larger ceramic pot for storage.
The ceramic pots at home were quite small, barely holding half a bucket of water after mixing for bathing, and would definitely be insufficient in cooler weather.
The large ceramic pot, too big for the household stove, could be used over a stone-built stove for boiling water.
After purchasing the sheep offal, Yu Ying also bought a pig's trotter bone to make soup.
Lastly, she went to buy the ink, brushes, and paper needed by Fu Wei.
It was only in the shop that she realized that without silver, one truly couldn't pursue learning in this era.
A coarse brush cost fifteen wen, a small thumb-sized piece of inkstone was twenty wen, and a sheet of paper was five wen each.
Yu Ying gasped for a moment at the prices.
The cost of these writing materials could buy about five pounds of rice, enough to feed her entire family for two days.
What exactly did Fu Wei need these writing supplies for?
Fu Wei was aware of their current situation; he wouldn’t be using them frivolously but for something necessary.
After some thought, Yu Ying decided to buy one set of ink and brush and three sheets of paper, spending a total of fifty wen.
Fu An was startled by the price too.
He had never touched such writing materials before and curiously felt the brush and paper.
He wondered if these items could actually earn silver, otherwise why would they be so expensive?
After purchasing the required writing materials for Fu Wei, Yu Ying returned to Wu's eatery.
It was lunchtime, and there she encountered Officer Huo, who was having his midday meal.
Yu Ying approached Officer Huo to express her gratitude for a previous matter, saying, “Thank you for your help last time, Officer Huo.”
Officer Huo responded indifferently, “No need to thank me, I was just doing my duty.”
Yu Ying hesitated before asking, “I heard that the magistrate's office posted a notice saying that any gossiping woman causing a death will be flogged twenty times and fined three hundred wen. Could you tell me more about this?”
Putting down his chopsticks, Officer Huo explained, “After returning from Lingshui Village, I informed the magistrate about the gossiping woman tarnishing Mrs. Yu’s reputation and falsely accusing her of poisoning. The magistrate was furious and recalled several fatal incidents caused by such women over the years, hence the notice.”
Understanding the situation, Yu Ying did not want to disturb Officer Huo’s meal further and left with a nod.
In the afternoon, she headed back to Lingshui Village.
The sun was still quite harsh, so Yu Ying wore a straw hat woven by her sister-in-law to shield herself from the sun, and Fu An wore one too.
The ox cart slowly made its way back to Lingshui Village. After saying goodbye to Old Man Chen, the aunt and nephew walked home.
On the way, they encountered Cuilan Auntie, whom they hadn't seen in days.
Seeing Yu Ying, Cuilan Auntie’s face changed, and she immediately turned to avoid her.
Fu An, delighted to see Cuilan Auntie fleeing, said, “She deserves it for always badmouthing Grandmother, calling her a blind waste of food, and saying Ningning is a mute burden.”
Yu Ying glanced indifferently at Cuilan Auntie’s retreating figure, then continued on her way home without much concern.
Back home, when Fu An saw his father going to fetch water, he quickly changed his clothes and followed.
Yu Ying took out the writing materials she bought for Fu Wei from her basket and brought them into the house.
Fu Wei accepted them, expressing his gratitude with a simple “Thank you.”
Yu Ying asked him curiously, “What do you need these writing materials for?”
Fu Wei spread the paper on the table, but without a paperweight, the edges curled slightly.
Yu Ying thought for a moment, then went to the foot of the bed and took out two smooth, shiny pebbles from her small cloth bag, using them to hold down the paper.
Fu Wei looked at the pebbles in surprise, then raised his eyes to her.
Yu Ying smiled and explained, “I picked them up because they were pretty. Don’t all women like beautiful things? I do too.”
Fu Wei didn’t say anything but took another look at the pebbles on the table.
He thought to himself that if she liked these pebbles, she must also be fond of jewels and gemstones…
Lost in thought, he still answered her earlier question, “I need to write a letter.”
Yu Ying was surprised, “You’re writing a letter?”
Fu Wei nodded, “And I’ll need your help to send it later.”
Yu Ying thought for a moment. Since it was a private matter, she didn’t ask whom it was for.
Even without asking, Yu Ying had an idea of where it might be sent.
She responded, “Let me know when you’ve finished writing it.”
Then she added, “I’ll get some water for you to grind the ink.”
Yu Ying stepped outside and found a piece of a broken ceramic pot that hadn’t been discarded yet.
The rough surface of the fragment was ideal for grinding ink.
She filled a bamboo tube with water and brought it inside for Fu Wei.
“Go ahead and write. I'll be busy outside.”
Fu Wei thanked her again and watched as she left the room.
Moments later, he turned his attention back and began grinding ink on the broken ceramic piece.
Dipping the brush in ink, he hesitated with the tip hovering over the paper. Catching sight of the pebbles on the table, his eyes grew resolute, and he began to write.
Upon leaving the room, Yu Ying saw her sister-in-law busy in the kitchen and joined her.
Wen Xing, recalling the conversation with her husband from the night before, couldn't help but glance at her sister-in-law a few times.
Yu Ying took out the sheep intestines and liver, noticing her sister-in-law's curious gaze. She looked over and asked, "Is something the matter, sister-in-law?"
Wen Xing hurriedly replied, “No, nothing.”
After all, it was the couple's private matter, and it would be too abrupt to ask about it suddenly.
Distracting from the topic, Wen Xing, noticing the newly bought ceramic pot and smelling the blood, asked, "What's in there?"
Yu Ying answered, “Sheep intestines and liver.”
She took out the sheep liver and placed it in a bowl. Having been soaked in water during the journey, the blood had already come out. It would be ready after a quick wash and a further soak for half an hour.
Hearing it was sheep offal, Wen Xing paused, surprised, “Isn't that just offal?”
Remembering the taste of pig offal she had eaten before, she frowned and said, “I’ve had pig offal before; it didn’t taste good.”
Yu Ying replied, “Pig organs have a strong flavor and are hard to clean, making them difficult to cook well.”
Indeed, she wasn’t very skilled at cooking them.
“But sheep eat only grass, so their organs have a milder flavor and are much easier to clean.”
After explaining, Yu Ying asked her sister-in-law to start boiling the bone soup, while she went to clean the sheep intestines.
She scrubbed the intestines repeatedly, turning them inside out and washing them twice, then rubbed them with salt and soaked them in fresh water. They would be left to soak for a day or two to soften before the next step.
After finishing her preparations, Yu Ying picked a bunch of freshly grown green onions from the garden in the courtyard, washed them, and brought them back to the kitchen.
She filled a cooking pot halfway with water, cut the sheep liver into pieces, and put them into the cold water along with a bunch of tied green onions and several slices of ginger, then covered the pot to boil.
Once the water boiled, Yu Ying removed the foam from the surface and then moved the pot off the stove to a bamboo table nearby, letting the sheep liver slowly cook in the hot water.
After simmering for a while, she removed the liver and let it rest. When it was almost time for dinner, she stir-fried it briefly with ginger, green onions, and soy sauce.
Knowing Fu Wei didn’t eat offal, Yu Ying steamed two eggs for herself and the two children, topping them with a few drops of pork oil and a sprinkle of chopped green onions, spreading a delicious aroma around the small kitchen.
The smell drew little Fu Ning to the door, eagerly looking inside.
Dinner was ready: a dish of stir-fried cabbage, bone and radish soup, stir-fried sheep liver, and the steamed eggs.
Though the table was set with simple fare, it was appetizing and fulfilling.
After dinner, her brother and sister-in-law cleaned up the table. While there was still daylight, they helped Yu Ying sort the herbs and then started peeling ramie fibers.
Curious, Yu Ying asked, “What are elder brother and sister-in-law doing?”
Wen Xing replied, “Autumn is coming; we need to hurry and make thick quilts and clothes, or it’ll be too late.”
With her knowledge of plants, Yu Ying quickly understood her sister-in-law’s intention.
In this era, only nobles could afford cotton and silk. During winter, common people had to use kudzu or hemp for their clothes.
Thinking of this, Yu Ying felt a chill, even though winter was yet to come.
Fortunately, Lingnan was warmer than the north, almost always mild, and even the cold didn’t last long. Otherwise, how could they endure the harsh winter with just kudzu and hemp clothing and quilts?
Yu Ying joined in to help with the ramie.
Time passed slowly in these peaceful and relatively stable days.
As deep autumn approached and the weather turned cooler, it was almost time for Yu Ying to deliver the medicinal herbs.
Hundreds of pounds of herbs filled the small house to the brim.
Only five more days were needed before reaching the delivery date set in the contract.
As the weather cooled, Yu Ying spent the evenings soaking her feet with Fu Ning, teaching her to open up and speak.
But right now, Funing can only open her mouth without making a sound.
Yu Ying is not discouraged, gently patting her head and softly says, "Don't worry, take your time."
After soaking her feet, she lulls Funing to sleep, covers her with a quilt, and is about to fetch water when Fuwei, leaning on the bed, stands up and takes a walking stick, saying softly, "Let me pour it."
Yu Ying dares not let him pour the water.
She rises gently from the bed, picks up the basin after getting down, and says, "Your legs are still not fully recovered, don't carry heavy things. Rest some more."
Saying this, she takes the water out to pour.
Standing at the door, a cold breeze blows, making Yu Ying shiver, and she truly feels the chill.
Looking at the swaying shadows of branches and leaves in the night, accompanied by the howling cold wind, Yu Ying feels a bit intimidated and quickly enters the house.
Just two days ago, it was terribly hot, and after a small rain, the weather changed unexpectedly.
