Chapter 63
"Were those men targeting you?"
Fu Wei's face was stern, a storm brewing in his eyes.
Under Fu Wei's gaze, Yu Ying nodded, "You guessed right. They were after me, accusing me of blocking someone's way of making money."
After saying this, Yu Ying closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Opening her eyes again, she gave Fu Wei a helpless smile, "A powerful dragon cannot suppress the local snake. No matter what I do, as long as I keep it small-scale, nobody will bother. But the moment I pose even a slight threat to their interests, regardless of the field, I will be suppressed. I just didn't expect such underhanded methods from fellow medical practitioners."
And to think that even the connections I made with the Huo yamen and the government offices through borrowing officials turned out to be useless.
Yu Ying told Fu Wei everything about the bandits wanting her to leave with them and then threatening her to stop dealing in medicinal herbs.
Since learning of her close encounter with danger, Fu Wei felt a tumult of emotions, like surging waves, knowing his current feelings could cloud his judgment, he allowed himself a moment to calm down.
Fu Wei took a deep breath in silence, then narrowed his eyes in contemplation.
After a while, he speculated, "I think they were not only trying to teach you a lesson but also making an example out of you."
Hearing this, Yu Ying appeared slightly surprised and began to ponder over today's details.
A few moments later, Fu Wei, with narrowed eyes, analyzed, "They could have simply taken you by force. But instead, they wanted you to go with them willingly and threatened you in front of others to stop dealing in herbs. It sounds more like they wanted to detain you for a few days and then release you, as if to make a show of intimidation."
After pondering for a moment, Yu Ying seemed to have an epiphany and looked up to meet Fu Wei's gaze.
Fu Wei spoke, "It seems that someone has already started imitating your method of trading in medicinal herbs."
Clearly, they had both arrived at the same conclusion.
After Yu Ying's business became known, there would always be those who thought that if an ordinary farmwoman could succeed in the medicinal herb trade, they certainly could too, and probably do even better.
Under such confident assumptions, they grew bolder and started to aggressively lower the prices of herbs to attract customers.
Over time, this would inevitably lead to a drop in the price of medicinal herbs in Yu County, causing anxiety for the owners of medical halls.
Considering this, Yu Ying, almost talking to herself, said, "If that's the case, their intent to use me as a warning to these people makes sense, and explains the oddities I experienced today..."
Fu Wei, once accustomed to a life of luxury, was also acutely aware of the world's dangers and had thoughts of changing this harsh reality.
But before he could start acting on his ambitions, he fell from grace, from a favored son of heaven to a criminal's son.
Struggling to even protect himself, how could he contemplate changing the ways of the world?
The current plight of Sixth Lady was, to those people, just an insignificant farmwife. They wouldn't care about her reputation or life; their only concern was their own interests.
Thinking this, Fu Wei unconsciously clenched the letter in his hand, crumpling it.
"If this matter isn't resolved, we can no longer continue the medicinal herb trade in Yu County."
Yu Ying's gaze drifted to the movement in his hands and then, looking up, she saw the darkness in his eyes, understanding his anger was about her situation.
Fu Wei lifted his dark eyes to meet hers, his expression solemn, "I'll handle this."
Hearing this, Yu Ying thought for a moment and glanced at the items behind him and the letter in his hand, then looked up at him, "Do you already have a plan?"
Fu Wei didn't rush to answer; instead, he opened the envelope and pulled out four sheets of letter paper.
He quickly skimmed through them, his lips curling slightly at the end.
He looked up at her, lifting the letter, "If they use power to bully, we shall return the favor in kind."
Under Yu Ying's puzzled gaze, he elaborated, "Only by doing so can we stop them from resorting to such despicable tactics and listen to our side."
Yu Ying glanced at the letter in his hand, curious, and asked, "Is it someone you knew before?"
Fu Wei hummed softly, "A close friend who once fought alongside me. He can't reveal himself, so he's asked to meet in Yu County."
Hearing that the person couldn't appear openly, Yu Ying didn't inquire further about his identity but turned her attention to the object, asking, "And what is this?"
Fu Wei replied, "It's a plain carriage that I had him arrange for."
With that, he picked up the scissors from the table and approached slowly.
After standing for a while, his legs showed signs of strain. When he reached the plain carriage, he rested his hands on it for support before cutting the ropes.
Once he had cut them all, he pulled away the cloth, revealing a wheelchair to Yu Ying's view.
Yu Ying was momentarily stunned.
This plain palanquin resembled a wheelchair from future times. Devoid of any carving, it was very simple, made just from plain wood boards, fitted with a footrest, and two large and two small wheels.
Yu Ying had thought about how convenient a wheelchair would be for Fu Wei, given his difficulty in walking.
But previously, even purchasing a bamboo bed required lengthy consideration due to their limited means, let alone a wheelchair for which they had no blueprints. It wasn't just a matter of money; even finding a carpenter in Yu County capable of making it was uncertain.
Such a palanquin was not common; Fu Wei had only seen it in books.
However, in her expression, he didn't see surprise or curiosity, as if she had seen such a thing before.
Yu Ying looked at him and said, "Do you plan to always sit in this whee...," pausing, she recalled his earlier words and corrected herself, "this plain palanquin?"
Fu Wei nodded: "For now, let's keep it a secret that I can walk. We'll decide how to proceed later."
Fu Wei's caution wasn't just against Huo Minzhi.
It was also to guard against his foster father.
For the past twenty-one years, his foster father had shown him exceptional care, a relationship marked by paternal love and filial piety.
Even though he wasn't his biological son, the father-son affection cultivated over many years made it hard to believe that he would remain indifferent to his legs being broken.
Unable to understand why his foster father would be so ruthless towards him, Fu Wei intended to continue pretending to be disabled, biding his time until he gained the strength to investigate thoroughly.
Fu Wei slowly sat down in the palanquin, resting his hands on the armrests, and looked up at her, "At least it doesn't hinder traveling."
Indeed, compared to previously being confined to sitting indoors, having a wheelchair was already a significant improvement.
Yu Ying nodded, then asked him, "Has your friend arranged a time to meet you?"
Fu Wei replied, "Tomorrow at the inn. We have reserved a room where he will come to find me."
After a pause, Fu Wei explained further, "He works under my foster father, so it's inconvenient for us to meet directly."
Seeing that he had volunteered this information, Yu Ying casually inquired, "Is 'Huo Buming' the name of your friend?"
After all, Fu Wei used to have the surname Huo, so it couldn't possibly be a relative from before, could it?
Fu Wei shook his head slightly and clarified, "That was a name I used during my travels in the past. Only a few people know it, but he would recognize that it's me by that name."
Yu Ying sensed Fu Wei's caution.
Not overly curious about this pseudonym, but considering that Elder Chen was frightened today and the day's events were yet unresolved, Yu Ying decided not to bother Elder Chen for the time being.
"Tomorrow, we may have to walk to Yu County."
Fu Wei said, "It's okay, I'll have my elder brother accompany me."
Yu Ying nodded and could only advise, "Be careful."
Their conversation ended after Luo's wife brought ginger tea for Yu Ying.
Yu Ying, having been startled today, drank the ginger tea and then went to rest.
The one who was most frightened today was Wen Xing.
After the couple returned to their room, Wen Xing asked her husband to sit so she could check where he had been hit by the stick.
Fu Zhen said, "I'm fine, don't worry."
Wen Xing glared at him, her eyes reddened, "That blow was so fierce, how can you possibly be unharmed!"
As she spoke, she pulled his arm, preventing him from leaving, and began to open his shirt.
Fu Zhen, resigned, let his back be exposed for her to see.
His clothes fell from his arms, revealing a muscular back.
Years of hard labor in the quarry had toughened Fu Zhen's shoulders and back with a layer of calluses, but even with that, the area hit by the stick was bruised and purple.
Wen Xing's fingertips gently touched the bruise, then she leaned in and embraced her husband from behind. Resting her cheek against his back, her voice trembled, "Da Lang, I was so scared."
She had been frightened by the encounter with the thieves, but what scared her more was the thought of her husband getting seriously hurt during the confrontation.
Fu Zhen's heart softened, and he held his wife's hand, whispering, "I'm alright."
Reflecting on the day's clash with the thieves, Fu Zhen still felt overwhelmed.
He had practiced spear skills without much expectation, never imagining he could overpower many. But today, he realized the vast difference between mere brute strength and skilled martial arts.
Previously in the quarry, Fu Zhen had faced five or six men alone, ending up injured himself.
Yet today, against seven men, he sustained only a couple of blows, far less severe than before.
If this was his progress after just two months, how much more formidable could he become with further practice?
Fu Zhen's interest in spear skills was ignited like never before.
It was no longer because his younger brother asked him to learn, but a desire to learn for himself.
After dinner that evening, Fu Wei and Fu Zhen talked privately. The first topic was about going to Yu County tomorrow, and the second was other matters.
"Those thieves suffered a setback at your hands today, Big Brother. They might harbor other malicious intentions. Moreover, their target was Sixth Lady, and having failed today, they will likely have other plans."
Fu Zhen, with a solemn expression, asked, "If we both go to Yu County tomorrow, what about the house?"
Fu Wei spoke calmly, "Even the boldest medical hall in the city wouldn't dare to collude with outright villains. I suspect they are just local thugs."
"These thugs wouldn’t dare to cause trouble in Lingshui Village during broad daylight, but my concern is their potential mischief at night."
Fu Zhen countered, "The road from Yu County to Lingshui Village is perilous at night. Even with ox carts and horse carts, no one dares to travel. Even if they are villains, they likely wouldn't dare to cause trouble in our village at night."
Fu Wei smirked, retorting, "If they don’t dare to come at night, doesn’t it mean they can’t come during the day and lie in wait until darkness falls to make their move?"
Realizing this, Fu Zhen heard his brother continue, "Having been outwitted today, they must be seething and won’t let it go easily."
Fu Wei then pondered for a moment, suddenly recalling that these people might have been sent by the medical hall, both to teach Yu Ying a lesson and as a warning to others.
If they can't harm people, then they might target property.
Yu Ying's herb fields!
Reacting, Fu Wei immediately said to his elder brother, "Go find Song San Lang and the He brothers now. You guys should guard the herb fields tonight."
Hearing this, Fu Zhen asked, "You think they might destroy your wife’s herb fields?"
Fu Wei nodded, "There’s a seventy percent chance. Better to be cautious."
Upon hearing this, Fu Zhen became serious, "I’ll go find them right now."
Fu Zhen quickly grabbed a lantern and left.
Yu Ying, having just finished bathing, saw her elder brother leaving the courtyard and turned to Fu Wei inside the house, asking, "Where’s elder brother going?"
Fu Wei then shared his suspicions with Yu Ying.
Hearing this, Yu Ying's expression grew serious; her herb fields, cultivated with much care, couldn't afford any mishaps.
With this thought, her face became even more solemn.
Due to these concerns, Yu Ying couldn't sleep that night, becoming tense at every rustle of wind and movement outside.
Suddenly, in the middle of the night, she sat up abruptly when she heard the faint sound of a door opening outside.
Fu Wei also got up.
He got out of bed to light the oil lamp, and once the room was illuminated, he exchanged a glance with Yu Ying, who was still in bed.
Fu Ning, stirred by their movements, cracked open her eyes. Yu Ying quickly patted her and soothingly whispered, "It's okay, your aunt just went to the outhouse. Go back to sleep."
Drowsy, Fu Ning, reassured by her aunt's words, closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.
Seeing Fu Ning sleeping soundly, Yu Ying cautiously got out of bed, careful not to make any noise.
She put on her outer garment.
At that moment, the sound of water could be faintly heard outside.
After Yu Ying was dressed, Fu Wei, carrying the oil lamp, accompanied her outside.
Once outside, they saw that the kitchen was lit.
Carrying the lamp, Fu Wei approached the kitchen and called out in a hushed voice, "Big brother?"
Fu Zhen, who was washing his hands in the bathing room, responded, "It's me."
After a moment, Fu Zhen emerged from the kitchen with a lantern, and seeing his younger brother and sister-in-law, he said, "You were right, second brother. Tonight, someone really did sneak into our medicinal fields, intending to destroy the seedlings."
Hearing this, Yu Ying quickly asked in a low voice, "Where are they?"
Fu Zhen replied, "Song Jun, He Dalaong, and He Erlang and I caught them. To avoid waking mother and the others, we tied them up at Song Jun's house. I roughly compared, and they are among the seven thieves we encountered today."
Fu Wei pondered for a moment, then said, "I'll go see them."
Saying this, he returned to the room and came back out in his wheelchair.
Although Fu Zhen had seen this wheelchair after dinner in his younger brother's room, this was the first time he witnessed its use, his face showing a hint of surprise.
At that moment, the door of the elder brother's house opened, revealing his wife.
Seeing his wife, Fu Zhen quickly walked over and whispered to her, "It's alright. Go back to the room, we'll be back soon."
Wen Xing nodded lightly.
When Yu Ying saw her sister-in-law, she asked her to go inside and keep an eye on Fu Ning for a while, then joined Fu Wei and her elder brother to head to Song Sanlang's house.
Fortunately, Song Sanlang's house was close to the Fu family's and on the edge of the village, so there was no concern about villagers noticing their group heading there.
Upon reaching Song Sanlang's house, both Song Sanlang and the He brothers were present.
He Erlang's eyes lit up when he saw Yu Ying, exclaiming, "Sister-in-law!"
Yu Ying nodded gently at him.
Fu Wei glanced at him, then turned to Song Sanlang, asking, "Where are they kept?"
Song Sanlang's home consisted of two thatched huts, one for living and the other for storing miscellaneous items. The captives were tied up in the storage hut.
The three men were beaten black and blue, all bound together with hemp ropes, their mouths gagged with cloth.
Yu Ying noticed that the cloth seemed to be torn from their own clothes...
The three men showed little reaction to Yu Ying and Fu Wei entering, but when they saw Fu Zhen approaching, their eyes widened in terror, and they frantically wriggled their bodies towards a corner.
Their fear was clearly a result of being intimidated by Fu Zhen's beating.
Fu Wei glanced at them and asked, "Who instructed you to come here?"
Approaching, Fu Zhen threatened as he removed the hemp cloth from their mouths, "If you dare to shout, my fists won't spare you."
The men nodded frantically, terrified.
Once the cloth was removed, they cried out, "We know we were wrong, please spare us this time, sir!"
Fu Zhen's eyes hardened as he demanded sternly, "Didn't you hear the question you were asked?!"
Trembling, one of them stammered, "We don’t know who wanted to target Mrs. Yu. We just followed orders from our boss, doing whatever he asked without any say in the matter."
It was clear they weren't telling the whole truth.
Fu Wei coldly glanced at the three and then said indifferently to his elder brother, "Since they refuse to speak the truth, break their hands and dump them at the village entrance."
Fu Zhen met his younger brother's gaze, understanding the signal, and stepped forward, turning the captives pale with fear.
Fu Zhen stuffed the cloth back into one man's mouth and then firmly grasped his arm, exerting pressure.
The man whose arm was seized whimpered in pain, causing the others to sweat profusely. Unable to bear it, one of them hastily confessed, "It was Manager Luo from Luo's Medicine Hall!"
They were only trying to repay a debt and didn't want to end up crippled for such money!
Hearing the information he wanted, Fu Wei withdrew his gaze and turned to his elder brother, asking, "Did they manage to damage the medicinal seedlings?"
Fu Zhen said, "They damaged a small section, but if replanted tomorrow, it should still survive."
Fu Wei swept his gaze coldly over the men, who shivered under his gaze.
They had a realization — this man sitting in the chair was not someone to be trifled with.
Indeed, in the next moment, he said unhurriedly, "Take these people back to the damaged field. Have the He brothers help call the villagers to the field with gongs and drums, then tomorrow morning, send these men to the magistrate's office."
Capturing them was about proving their guilt with evidence, and the entire village would be witnesses. There would be no room for denial.
As for the magistrate's office... it better not harbor any protectiveness.
Hearing this, the men widened their eyes in shock: "We've confessed everything, how can you do this to us!?"
To prevent them from shouting, Fu Zhen quickly stuffed the hemp cloth back into their mouths.
Fu Wei smirked lightly, speaking calmly, "When did I ever say that confessing your instigator would spare you?"
Reflecting, the men realized that no such promise had been made!
Fu Zhen showed his fists threateningly, "Get up and walk on your own, don't make me force you."
The men scrambled to their feet in a panic.
They suddenly remembered that Manager Luo had a relative working as a clerk in the magistrate's office. If they insisted on not knowing who instructed them at the trial, they would likely only face a few beatings and a short jail term.
Relying on Manager Luo's connection, they might even get out early.
With this thought, they figured facing the magistrate's office was a far better option than being beaten to death here!
The group suddenly fell silent. Fu Wei glanced at them, and though he couldn't know their exact thoughts, he could guess what they were planning.
Fu Wei withdrew his gaze, and, unaccustomed to the wheelchair, said to Yu Ying behind him, "Sixth Lady, would you mind pushing me out?"
Yu Ying, understanding that the wheels lacked axles, pulled the wheelchair backward out of the house.
Fu Wei was momentarily stunned.
He had thought she wouldn't be surprised by the plain carriage, but tonight she hadn’t examined it, and yet she skillfully pulled it out, clearly more than just familiar with it.
Fu Wei suddenly realized that her experiences were far more extensive than his.
Thinking this, he felt somewhat disheartened.
It seemed there was nothing he could boast about in her presence…
Returning to the Fu residence, they waited a moment before hearing the He brothers shouting, "Catch the thief! Catch the thief!"
The shouts echoed from one end of the village to the other, and soon people carrying torches hurried out of their houses.
The He brothers shouted loudly, "The thief was caught in the Fu family's herb fields!"
Those already awake quickly grabbed their tools and rushed to the Fu family's herb fields.
Mrs. Luo, along with Fu An and Fu Ning, were awakened by the noise. She came out of the house in a panic and, seeing her two daughters-in-law and second son in the courtyard, anxiously asked, "What’s happened?!"
Yu Ying reassured, "Mother, don't worry, it's nothing serious. Elder brother and Song San Lang have gone to check. My sister-in-law and I will also take a look. You stay here with An An and Ning Ning."
After all, it was their own herb field; Yu Ying couldn't just stay away.
Mrs. Luo quickly advised, "Be careful, and if anything seems wrong, come back immediately."
Yu Ying acknowledged and left the house with her sister-in-law, carrying an oil lamp.
However, they hadn't gone far when the oil lamp extinguished, but they continued on, guided by the dim light from rudimentary lanterns carried by others.
As Yu Ying’s rented field was fertile and close to the river, they reached it in just a short while.
In front of the villagers, Fu Zhen and Song Sanlang re-tied the captives.
The villagers loudly cursed the thieves, some even clamoring to break their legs to deter them from such thievery in the future.
Yu Ying glimpsed the trampled seedlings in the medicinal field, her mood sinking instantly.
With the thieves caught red-handed, they couldn’t deny their guilt.
However, Yu Ying worried that if the county magistrate decided to protect the culprits, there was little she could do. She hoped that after Fu Wei met his friend tomorrow, some good news might come.
The re-bound men, seeing the villagers brandishing tools and threatening to cripple them, were on the verge of tears.
When their boss agreed to Manager Luo's request, they thought it was just a simple job against an ordinary farmwoman.
That’s what they had believed.
But now, they found it not just difficult, but extremely challenging!
Had they known it would turn out like this, they would have never followed their boss's orders to sneak into Lingshui Village at night.
Chapter 63
"Were those men targeting you?"
Fu Wei's face was stern, a storm brewing in his eyes.
Under Fu Wei's gaze, Yu Ying nodded, "You guessed right. They were after me, accusing me of blocking someone's way of making money."
After saying this, Yu Ying closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Opening her eyes again, she gave Fu Wei a helpless smile, "A powerful dragon cannot suppress the local snake. No matter what I do, as long as I keep it small-scale, nobody will bother. But the moment I pose even a slight threat to their interests, regardless of the field, I will be suppressed. I just didn't expect such underhanded methods from fellow medical practitioners."
And to think that even the connections I made with the Huo yamen and the government offices through borrowing officials turned out to be useless.
Yu Ying told Fu Wei everything about the bandits wanting her to leave with them and then threatening her to stop dealing in medicinal herbs.
Since learning of her close encounter with danger, Fu Wei felt a tumult of emotions, like surging waves, knowing his current feelings could cloud his judgment, he allowed himself a moment to calm down.
Fu Wei took a deep breath in silence, then narrowed his eyes in contemplation.
After a while, he speculated, "I think they were not only trying to teach you a lesson but also making an example out of you."
Hearing this, Yu Ying appeared slightly surprised and began to ponder over today's details.
A few moments later, Fu Wei, with narrowed eyes, analyzed, "They could have simply taken you by force. But instead, they wanted you to go with them willingly and threatened you in front of others to stop dealing in herbs. It sounds more like they wanted to detain you for a few days and then release you, as if to make a show of intimidation."
After pondering for a moment, Yu Ying seemed to have an epiphany and looked up to meet Fu Wei's gaze.
Fu Wei spoke, "It seems that someone has already started imitating your method of trading in medicinal herbs."
Clearly, they had both arrived at the same conclusion.
After Yu Ying's business became known, there would always be those who thought that if an ordinary farmwoman could succeed in the medicinal herb trade, they certainly could too, and probably do even better.
Under such confident assumptions, they grew bolder and started to aggressively lower the prices of herbs to attract customers.
Over time, this would inevitably lead to a drop in the price of medicinal herbs in Yu County, causing anxiety for the owners of medical halls.
Considering this, Yu Ying, almost talking to herself, said, "If that's the case, their intent to use me as a warning to these people makes sense, and explains the oddities I experienced today..."
Fu Wei, once accustomed to a life of luxury, was also acutely aware of the world's dangers and had thoughts of changing this harsh reality.
But before he could start acting on his ambitions, he fell from grace, from a favored son of heaven to a criminal's son.
Struggling to even protect himself, how could he contemplate changing the ways of the world?
The current plight of Sixth Lady was, to those people, just an insignificant farmwife. They wouldn't care about her reputation or life; their only concern was their own interests.
Thinking this, Fu Wei unconsciously clenched the letter in his hand, crumpling it.
"If this matter isn't resolved, we can no longer continue the medicinal herb trade in Yu County."
Yu Ying's gaze drifted to the movement in his hands and then, looking up, she saw the darkness in his eyes, understanding his anger was about her situation.
Fu Wei lifted his dark eyes to meet hers, his expression solemn, "I'll handle this."
Hearing this, Yu Ying thought for a moment and glanced at the items behind him and the letter in his hand, then looked up at him, "Do you already have a plan?"
Fu Wei didn't rush to answer; instead, he opened the envelope and pulled out four sheets of letter paper.
He quickly skimmed through them, his lips curling slightly at the end.
He looked up at her, lifting the letter, "If they use power to bully, we shall return the favor in kind."
Under Yu Ying's puzzled gaze, he elaborated, "Only by doing so can we stop them from resorting to such despicable tactics and listen to our side."
Yu Ying glanced at the letter in his hand, curious, and asked, "Is it someone you knew before?"
Fu Wei hummed softly, "A close friend who once fought alongside me. He can't reveal himself, so he's asked to meet in Yu County."
Hearing that the person couldn't appear openly, Yu Ying didn't inquire further about his identity but turned her attention to the object, asking, "And what is this?"
Fu Wei replied, "It's a plain carriage that I had him arrange for."
With that, he picked up the scissors from the table and approached slowly.
After standing for a while, his legs showed signs of strain. When he reached the plain carriage, he rested his hands on it for support before cutting the ropes.
Once he had cut them all, he pulled away the cloth, revealing a wheelchair to Yu Ying's view.
Yu Ying was momentarily stunned.
This plain palanquin resembled a wheelchair from future times. Devoid of any carving, it was very simple, made just from plain wood boards, fitted with a footrest, and two large and two small wheels.
Yu Ying had thought about how convenient a wheelchair would be for Fu Wei, given his difficulty in walking.
But previously, even purchasing a bamboo bed required lengthy consideration due to their limited means, let alone a wheelchair for which they had no blueprints. It wasn't just a matter of money; even finding a carpenter in Yu County capable of making it was uncertain.
Such a palanquin was not common; Fu Wei had only seen it in books.
However, in her expression, he didn't see surprise or curiosity, as if she had seen such a thing before.
Yu Ying looked at him and said, "Do you plan to always sit in this whee...," pausing, she recalled his earlier words and corrected herself, "this plain palanquin?"
Fu Wei nodded: "For now, let's keep it a secret that I can walk. We'll decide how to proceed later."
Fu Wei's caution wasn't just against Huo Minzhi.
It was also to guard against his foster father.
For the past twenty-one years, his foster father had shown him exceptional care, a relationship marked by paternal love and filial piety.
Even though he wasn't his biological son, the father-son affection cultivated over many years made it hard to believe that he would remain indifferent to his legs being broken.
Unable to understand why his foster father would be so ruthless towards him, Fu Wei intended to continue pretending to be disabled, biding his time until he gained the strength to investigate thoroughly.
Fu Wei slowly sat down in the palanquin, resting his hands on the armrests, and looked up at her, "At least it doesn't hinder traveling."
Indeed, compared to previously being confined to sitting indoors, having a wheelchair was already a significant improvement.
Yu Ying nodded, then asked him, "Has your friend arranged a time to meet you?"
Fu Wei replied, "Tomorrow at the inn. We have reserved a room where he will come to find me."
After a pause, Fu Wei explained further, "He works under my foster father, so it's inconvenient for us to meet directly."
Seeing that he had volunteered this information, Yu Ying casually inquired, "Is 'Huo Buming' the name of your friend?"
After all, Fu Wei used to have the surname Huo, so it couldn't possibly be a relative from before, could it?
Fu Wei shook his head slightly and clarified, "That was a name I used during my travels in the past. Only a few people know it, but he would recognize that it's me by that name."
Yu Ying sensed Fu Wei's caution.
Not overly curious about this pseudonym, but considering that Elder Chen was frightened today and the day's events were yet unresolved, Yu Ying decided not to bother Elder Chen for the time being.
"Tomorrow, we may have to walk to Yu County."
Fu Wei said, "It's okay, I'll have my elder brother accompany me."
Yu Ying nodded and could only advise, "Be careful."
Their conversation ended after Luo's wife brought ginger tea for Yu Ying.
Yu Ying, having been startled today, drank the ginger tea and then went to rest.
The one who was most frightened today was Wen Xing.
After the couple returned to their room, Wen Xing asked her husband to sit so she could check where he had been hit by the stick.
Fu Zhen said, "I'm fine, don't worry."
Wen Xing glared at him, her eyes reddened, "That blow was so fierce, how can you possibly be unharmed!"
As she spoke, she pulled his arm, preventing him from leaving, and began to open his shirt.
Fu Zhen, resigned, let his back be exposed for her to see.
His clothes fell from his arms, revealing a muscular back.
Years of hard labor in the quarry had toughened Fu Zhen's shoulders and back with a layer of calluses, but even with that, the area hit by the stick was bruised and purple.
Wen Xing's fingertips gently touched the bruise, then she leaned in and embraced her husband from behind. Resting her cheek against his back, her voice trembled, "Da Lang, I was so scared."
She had been frightened by the encounter with the thieves, but what scared her more was the thought of her husband getting seriously hurt during the confrontation.
Fu Zhen's heart softened, and he held his wife's hand, whispering, "I'm alright."
Reflecting on the day's clash with the thieves, Fu Zhen still felt overwhelmed.
He had practiced spear skills without much expectation, never imagining he could overpower many. But today, he realized the vast difference between mere brute strength and skilled martial arts.
Previously in the quarry, Fu Zhen had faced five or six men alone, ending up injured himself.
Yet today, against seven men, he sustained only a couple of blows, far less severe than before.
If this was his progress after just two months, how much more formidable could he become with further practice?
Fu Zhen's interest in spear skills was ignited like never before.
It was no longer because his younger brother asked him to learn, but a desire to learn for himself.
After dinner that evening, Fu Wei and Fu Zhen talked privately. The first topic was about going to Yu County tomorrow, and the second was other matters.
"Those thieves suffered a setback at your hands today, Big Brother. They might harbor other malicious intentions. Moreover, their target was Sixth Lady, and having failed today, they will likely have other plans."
Fu Zhen, with a solemn expression, asked, "If we both go to Yu County tomorrow, what about the house?"
Fu Wei spoke calmly, "Even the boldest medical hall in the city wouldn't dare to collude with outright villains. I suspect they are just local thugs."
"These thugs wouldn’t dare to cause trouble in Lingshui Village during broad daylight, but my concern is their potential mischief at night."
Fu Zhen countered, "The road from Yu County to Lingshui Village is perilous at night. Even with ox carts and horse carts, no one dares to travel. Even if they are villains, they likely wouldn't dare to cause trouble in our village at night."
Fu Wei smirked, retorting, "If they don’t dare to come at night, doesn’t it mean they can’t come during the day and lie in wait until darkness falls to make their move?"
Realizing this, Fu Zhen heard his brother continue, "Having been outwitted today, they must be seething and won’t let it go easily."
Fu Wei then pondered for a moment, suddenly recalling that these people might have been sent by the medical hall, both to teach Yu Ying a lesson and as a warning to others.
If they can't harm people, then they might target property.
Yu Ying's herb fields!
Reacting, Fu Wei immediately said to his elder brother, "Go find Song San Lang and the He brothers now. You guys should guard the herb fields tonight."
Hearing this, Fu Zhen asked, "You think they might destroy your wife’s herb fields?"
Fu Wei nodded, "There’s a seventy percent chance. Better to be cautious."
Upon hearing this, Fu Zhen became serious, "I’ll go find them right now."
Fu Zhen quickly grabbed a lantern and left.
Yu Ying, having just finished bathing, saw her elder brother leaving the courtyard and turned to Fu Wei inside the house, asking, "Where’s elder brother going?"
Fu Wei then shared his suspicions with Yu Ying.
Hearing this, Yu Ying's expression grew serious; her herb fields, cultivated with much care, couldn't afford any mishaps.
With this thought, her face became even more solemn.
Due to these concerns, Yu Ying couldn't sleep that night, becoming tense at every rustle of wind and movement outside.
Suddenly, in the middle of the night, she sat up abruptly when she heard the faint sound of a door opening outside.
Fu Wei also got up.
He got out of bed to light the oil lamp, and once the room was illuminated, he exchanged a glance with Yu Ying, who was still in bed.
Fu Ning, stirred by their movements, cracked open her eyes. Yu Ying quickly patted her and soothingly whispered, "It's okay, your aunt just went to the outhouse. Go back to sleep."
Drowsy, Fu Ning, reassured by her aunt's words, closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.
Seeing Fu Ning sleeping soundly, Yu Ying cautiously got out of bed, careful not to make any noise.
She put on her outer garment.
At that moment, the sound of water could be faintly heard outside.
After Yu Ying was dressed, Fu Wei, carrying the oil lamp, accompanied her outside.
Once outside, they saw that the kitchen was lit.
Carrying the lamp, Fu Wei approached the kitchen and called out in a hushed voice, "Big brother?"
Fu Zhen, who was washing his hands in the bathing room, responded, "It's me."
After a moment, Fu Zhen emerged from the kitchen with a lantern, and seeing his younger brother and sister-in-law, he said, "You were right, second brother. Tonight, someone really did sneak into our medicinal fields, intending to destroy the seedlings."
Hearing this, Yu Ying quickly asked in a low voice, "Where are they?"
Fu Zhen replied, "Song Jun, He Dalaong, and He Erlang and I caught them. To avoid waking mother and the others, we tied them up at Song Jun's house. I roughly compared, and they are among the seven thieves we encountered today."
Fu Wei pondered for a moment, then said, "I'll go see them."
Saying this, he returned to the room and came back out in his wheelchair.
Although Fu Zhen had seen this wheelchair after dinner in his younger brother's room, this was the first time he witnessed its use, his face showing a hint of surprise.
At that moment, the door of the elder brother's house opened, revealing his wife.
Seeing his wife, Fu Zhen quickly walked over and whispered to her, "It's alright. Go back to the room, we'll be back soon."
Wen Xing nodded lightly.
When Yu Ying saw her sister-in-law, she asked her to go inside and keep an eye on Fu Ning for a while, then joined Fu Wei and her elder brother to head to Song Sanlang's house.
Fortunately, Song Sanlang's house was close to the Fu family's and on the edge of the village, so there was no concern about villagers noticing their group heading there.
Upon reaching Song Sanlang's house, both Song Sanlang and the He brothers were present.
He Erlang's eyes lit up when he saw Yu Ying, exclaiming, "Sister-in-law!"
Yu Ying nodded gently at him.
Fu Wei glanced at him, then turned to Song Sanlang, asking, "Where are they kept?"
Song Sanlang's home consisted of two thatched huts, one for living and the other for storing miscellaneous items. The captives were tied up in the storage hut.
The three men were beaten black and blue, all bound together with hemp ropes, their mouths gagged with cloth.
Yu Ying noticed that the cloth seemed to be torn from their own clothes...
The three men showed little reaction to Yu Ying and Fu Wei entering, but when they saw Fu Zhen approaching, their eyes widened in terror, and they frantically wriggled their bodies towards a corner.
Their fear was clearly a result of being intimidated by Fu Zhen's beating.
Fu Wei glanced at them and asked, "Who instructed you to come here?"
Approaching, Fu Zhen threatened as he removed the hemp cloth from their mouths, "If you dare to shout, my fists won't spare you."
The men nodded frantically, terrified.
Once the cloth was removed, they cried out, "We know we were wrong, please spare us this time, sir!"
Fu Zhen's eyes hardened as he demanded sternly, "Didn't you hear the question you were asked?!"
Trembling, one of them stammered, "We don’t know who wanted to target Mrs. Yu. We just followed orders from our boss, doing whatever he asked without any say in the matter."
It was clear they weren't telling the whole truth.
Fu Wei coldly glanced at the three and then said indifferently to his elder brother, "Since they refuse to speak the truth, break their hands and dump them at the village entrance."
Fu Zhen met his younger brother's gaze, understanding the signal, and stepped forward, turning the captives pale with fear.
Fu Zhen stuffed the cloth back into one man's mouth and then firmly grasped his arm, exerting pressure.
The man whose arm was seized whimpered in pain, causing the others to sweat profusely. Unable to bear it, one of them hastily confessed, "It was Manager Luo from Luo's Medicine Hall!"
They were only trying to repay a debt and didn't want to end up crippled for such money!
Hearing the information he wanted, Fu Wei withdrew his gaze and turned to his elder brother, asking, "Did they manage to damage the medicinal seedlings?"
Fu Zhen said, "They damaged a small section, but if replanted tomorrow, it should still survive."
Fu Wei swept his gaze coldly over the men, who shivered under his gaze.
They had a realization — this man sitting in the chair was not someone to be trifled with.
Indeed, in the next moment, he said unhurriedly, "Take these people back to the damaged field. Have the He brothers help call the villagers to the field with gongs and drums, then tomorrow morning, send these men to the magistrate's office."
Capturing them was about proving their guilt with evidence, and the entire village would be witnesses. There would be no room for denial.
As for the magistrate's office... it better not harbor any protectiveness.
Hearing this, the men widened their eyes in shock: "We've confessed everything, how can you do this to us!?"
To prevent them from shouting, Fu Zhen quickly stuffed the hemp cloth back into their mouths.
Fu Wei smirked lightly, speaking calmly, "When did I ever say that confessing your instigator would spare you?"
Reflecting, the men realized that no such promise had been made!
Fu Zhen showed his fists threateningly, "Get up and walk on your own, don't make me force you."
The men scrambled to their feet in a panic.
They suddenly remembered that Manager Luo had a relative working as a clerk in the magistrate's office. If they insisted on not knowing who instructed them at the trial, they would likely only face a few beatings and a short jail term.
Relying on Manager Luo's connection, they might even get out early.
With this thought, they figured facing the magistrate's office was a far better option than being beaten to death here!
The group suddenly fell silent. Fu Wei glanced at them, and though he couldn't know their exact thoughts, he could guess what they were planning.
Fu Wei withdrew his gaze, and, unaccustomed to the wheelchair, said to Yu Ying behind him, "Sixth Lady, would you mind pushing me out?"
Yu Ying, understanding that the wheels lacked axles, pulled the wheelchair backward out of the house.
Fu Wei was momentarily stunned.
He had thought she wouldn't be surprised by the plain carriage, but tonight she hadn’t examined it, and yet she skillfully pulled it out, clearly more than just familiar with it.
Fu Wei suddenly realized that her experiences were far more extensive than his.
Thinking this, he felt somewhat disheartened.
It seemed there was nothing he could boast about in her presence…
Returning to the Fu residence, they waited a moment before hearing the He brothers shouting, "Catch the thief! Catch the thief!"
The shouts echoed from one end of the village to the other, and soon people carrying torches hurried out of their houses.
The He brothers shouted loudly, "The thief was caught in the Fu family's herb fields!"
Those already awake quickly grabbed their tools and rushed to the Fu family's herb fields.
Mrs. Luo, along with Fu An and Fu Ning, were awakened by the noise. She came out of the house in a panic and, seeing her two daughters-in-law and second son in the courtyard, anxiously asked, "What’s happened?!"
Yu Ying reassured, "Mother, don't worry, it's nothing serious. Elder brother and Song San Lang have gone to check. My sister-in-law and I will also take a look. You stay here with An An and Ning Ning."
After all, it was their own herb field; Yu Ying couldn't just stay away.
Mrs. Luo quickly advised, "Be careful, and if anything seems wrong, come back immediately."
Yu Ying acknowledged and left the house with her sister-in-law, carrying an oil lamp.
However, they hadn't gone far when the oil lamp extinguished, but they continued on, guided by the dim light from rudimentary lanterns carried by others.
As Yu Ying’s rented field was fertile and close to the river, they reached it in just a short while.
In front of the villagers, Fu Zhen and Song Sanlang re-tied the captives.
The villagers loudly cursed the thieves, some even clamoring to break their legs to deter them from such thievery in the future.
Yu Ying glimpsed the trampled seedlings in the medicinal field, her mood sinking instantly.
With the thieves caught red-handed, they couldn’t deny their guilt.
However, Yu Ying worried that if the county magistrate decided to protect the culprits, there was little she could do. She hoped that after Fu Wei met his friend tomorrow, some good news might come.
The re-bound men, seeing the villagers brandishing tools and threatening to cripple them, were on the verge of tears.
When their boss agreed to Manager Luo's request, they thought it was just a simple job against an ordinary farmwoman.
That’s what they had believed.
But now, they found it not just difficult, but extremely challenging!
Had they known it would turn out like this, they would have never followed their boss's orders to sneak into Lingshui Village at night.
