Chapter 66
As night fell, the place where Fu Wei had arranged to meet was a restaurant near the inn.
After escorting his younger brother to the restaurant, Fu Zhen returned to ensure the safety of his wife and sister-in-law.
Yu Ying and her sister-in-law stayed in the same room. Yu Ying walked to the window and opened it, looking out onto the street.
The usually bustling Yu County had gradually quieted down, with only a few pedestrians left on the streets.
Over the past several months, even though she was unaccustomed to this era, Yu Ying was slowly blending in, adapting to the rhythm of rising with the sun and resting at sunset.
Seeing her sister-in-law standing pensively by the window, Wen Xing comforted her, "Elder brother said the person second brother is meeting is a nobleman. Although we don't know what kind of nobleman, second brother will surely handle it well. You shouldn’t worry too much."
Yu Ying came back to reality, nodding slightly without explaining that her concern wasn't about Fu Wei.
As the temperature dropped sharply at night, a chill wind crept through the small gap of the open window, prompting Yu Ying to close it.
She then sat down and engaged in casual conversation with her sister-in-law.
Somehow, their chat turned to the topic of the Magistrate of Yu County.
The Magistrate's surname was Zhou.
Magistrate Zhou was originally a cadet branch member of a noble family, having served as a military officer. It seemed he had offended the future head of his family and was consequently demoted to serve as the magistrate of the most impoverished county in Cangwu Prefecture.
Hearing this, Yu Ying seemed to have some vague recollections about the magistrate's background.
However, with the novel being about one million eight hundred thousand words, which she had mostly skimmed through, remembering the general plot was already commendable, let alone a few brief sentences.
While the sisters-in-law were chatting, the elder brother came to ask what they wanted for dinner.
The group made a simple decision and settled for a bowl of vegetarian noodles.
Although Yu Ying had earned some silver recently, the total savings didn't exceed six taels of silver. With other plans for the money, she couldn't afford to be extravagant.
After a bowl of vegetarian noodles, they each returned to their rooms.
Their rooms were opposite each other, and a shout away. Yu Ying asked her sister-in-law to rest in her room.
As for Fu Wei, he had mentioned that someone would escort him back after dinner, so there was no need for excessive worry.
Meanwhile, in a private room of the nearby restaurant, Shen Mingcong excused himself, leaving his friend alone with the Magistrate.
The Magistrate glanced at Fu Wei's plain palanquin, then raised his eyes to the handsome young man, asking coldly, "You say you want to join my staff. What skills do you have to convince me?"
Fu Wei replied calmly and confidently, "My perspective and all the knowledge I've acquired over the past twenty years."
The Magistrate smiled, "Among those exiled to Lingnan, there are indeed some with real talents."
"Have any of those people ever sought a position under your lordship?"
The magistrate was momentarily startled, then replied truthfully, "You are the first to come forward."
After speaking, he nodded, "Better courage than the rest; that's an advantage."
Fukuwei then said, "I have spent twenty-one years as the son of a prefect, studied literature and martial arts, served in the military, and have some understanding of various weapons and the political situation at court."
The magistrate's brows twitched at this revelation, appearing somewhat swayed, but he still questioned, "Your legs are broken, and your adoptive father hasn't cared for you at all, indicating he doesn’t wish you well. If I take you as my secretary, won’t I offend the Governor of Wuling Prefecture?"
Fukuwei smiled slowly, "Though my legs are broken, my mind is still sharp. Besides, Wuling Prefecture is over two thousand li from Jade County. Governor Huo, overseeing an entire prefecture, surely doesn’t have the time to concern himself with Jade County."
He continued, "I can help you leave Jade County for higher positions. But if you worry about offending the Governor of Wuling Prefecture, then consider that I never mentioned becoming your secretary."
After pondering for a moment, Magistrate Zhou suddenly smiled and then looked at the wine cup on the table, "After three cups of wine, you shall be my secretary."
Fukuwei poured the wine and drank one cup after another.
After three cups, the magistrate stood up, "Let me be clear: you have three months. If you achieve nothing in this time, I won’t keep you. And if there’s any word from Wuling Prefecture, I won’t use you anymore."
Fukuwei nodded, "Thank you, Your Honor."
"No need to thank me; it's all on your own merit," the magistrate said, rising to leave.
Approaching the door, the magistrate suddenly turned back, "Even though it's just for three months, I won’t mistreat someone with your disability. Your salary will be fair, so it's best you find a place in Jade County soon to await my orders."
With that, he turned and left the private room.
As Magistrate Zhou exited the private room, he met Shen Mingcong, an official from Wuling Prefecture, and they greeted each other with a bow.
Seeing no one around, Magistrate Zhou said, "I hope you can help keep an eye on matters concerning Wuling Prefecture, Shen."
Hearing this, Shen Mingcong knew his friend had succeeded.
"I will keep your lordship’s words in mind and inform you if there are any changes. I hope you will take care of Jin... Fu Wei."
The Magistrate nodded and then took his leave.
After the Magistrate left the restaurant, he said to his attendant, "If there are any messengers from Wuling County, inform me in advance."
After giving the instruction, he turned and got into his carriage.
With the Magistrate gone, Shen Mingcong entered the private room and saw Fu Wei drinking from his cup. Looking at the untouched dishes, he asked, "Why didn’t you eat much tonight?"
Fu Wei looked up at him and requested, "Could you ask the waiter to bring a serving of vegetarian noodles?"
Surprised, Shen Mingcong asked, "With so many good dishes, why ask for vegetarian noodles?"
Fu Wei glanced at the fine dishes on the table, his mind tranquil.
He calmly said, "I wish to enjoy such fine cuisine when I can share it with my wife, to partake in the blessings together, not alone."
Shen Mingzong couldn't help but laugh softly at this, "It's just a table of dishes, after all."
His smile fading, he continued, "Although I'd like to meet this extraordinary wife of yours, it seems I won't have the chance. The less people know about my visit to Lingnan, the safer it is."
Then, he took out a purse and placed it on the table, "This is a small token of my regard; please accept it."
Fu Wei glanced at the purse, knowing it contained silver.
After a moment of thought, he picked up the purse, peeked inside, and took out a piece of broken silver, then returned the rest to Shen.
"Your family, including your parents and children, relies on you, and the palanquin must have been costly. I would feel uneasy accepting so much silver from you."
Shen Mingzong, coming from a humble background, had little wealth. He was not corrupt, and his monthly salary was less than two taels of silver. He had only been promoted to an officer in the last two years. This was likely his last savings after making the palanquin.
Shen Mingzong insisted, "It's less than ten taels of silver; just take it."
Fu Wei, holding the purse, spoke calmly, "You know my nature. Even if you leave it, I will have it returned to you."
Returning the entire amount was better than accepting all of it, at least he kept some.
Resigned, Shen Mingzong sighed and without a word, took back the purse.
"I can't call you Jinzhi anymore; it should be Fu Wei now," Shen Mingzong smiled, then added, "I'm leaving early tomorrow morning. We won't meet then. Take care."
Fu Wei nodded, smiling, "You take care too. We will meet again one day."
Shen Mingzong replied, "I look forward to that day."
They exchanged smiles, understanding each other. Words were unnecessary; knowing the other was safe was enough.
They each ordered another bowl of vegetarian noodles and two cups of clear wine before it was time to say goodbye.
Shen Mingzong escorted Fu Wei to the inn’s lobby and then departed.
Fu Wei, seated in his plain palanquin, returned to his guest room and knocked gently. A pleasant female voice from inside asked, "Who is it?"
Fu Wei replied, "It's me."
Hearing Fu Wei's voice, Yu Ying rose from the bed to open the door.
Fu Zhen, in the room opposite, was alert to the sounds outside. Hearing the knock, he too opened his door.
Seeing his younger brother return, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Fu Wei, seeing his elder brother, handed him one of the oil-paper bags containing food, saying, "These are untouched dishes. Big brother, take them and share with your wife."
Before Fu Zhen could respond, Fu Wei, anticipating his concern, lifted another bag, "There's more, don't worry about us."
Fu Zhen then accepted the food.
He said, "After eating, get some rest. We should head back to Lingshui Village early tomorrow."
After watching his brother enter his room, Fu Zhen turned back to his own.
Yu Ying closed the door, and Fu Wei placed the food he was carrying on the table.
Yu Ying turned to ask him, "Was everything successful?"
Fu Wei nodded, "Yes, it was."
Yu Ying breathed a sigh of relief, glad that things were still proceeding as expected.
As she exhaled, Yu Ying detected a faint smell of alcohol, carried in by Fu Wei.
Meeting with the magistrate today, it was inevitable for him to drink.
Fu Wei told her, "There were some dishes untouched at the restaurant today, so I also packed some buttered chicken for you."
Hearing about the buttered chicken, Yu Ying's eyes lit up. She walked over, opened the wax paper, and indeed saw glistening golden chicken pieces.
Although they were cold, the aroma of the meat still wafted out.
She hadn't seen or heard about it before, so Yu Ying hadn't had any cravings, but now that she saw it, her appetite was piqued.
She happily said, "I'll go ask the waiter for some chopsticks and bowls."
When she returned, she brought back two sets of bowls and chopsticks.
"I can't just eat while you watch; that would be awkward."
Fu Wei smiled and joined her in eating.
During the meal, Fu Wei glanced at the woman beside him, so close at hand. Under the warm and soft candlelight, her face was filled with a satisfied smile, and a similar joy sparkled in his eyes.
It seemed all his emotions were influenced by her, his happiness a reflection of hers.
Afterwards, she did not inquire about the details of tonight's banquet, and Fu Wei did not elaborate further.
After eating half of the buttered chicken, Yu Ying brought some hot water for Fu Wei to soak his feet, then went to bed first.
After a quick wash and foot soak, Fu Wei looked at the large bed, pondered for a moment, then blew out the candle and slowly made his way to the bed, lying on the outer side.
It wasn't the first time they had slept without their niece separating them, but perhaps due to having a few extra drinks tonight, there was an inexplicable restlessness in his heart.
In the darkness, this restlessness urged him to move closer, and even closer.
Feeling his arm pressing against her, and him edging closer until she was pressed against the wall, Yu Ying couldn't hold back and asked, "Fu Wei, what are you doing?"
Jolted back to reality, yet emboldened by alcohol, he blurted out, "Sixth Lady, would you like to be a real husband and wife with me?"
……
……！
In the deep silence of the night, such a suggestive question could stir the imagination.
Yu Ying's pupils dilated sharply, and she sat up in bed, covering herself with the quilt, exclaiming, "Your legs have just healed. Even if they're completely healed, you shouldn’t have such thoughts!"
The room fell silent for a moment. Fu Wei, slightly tipsy, pondered his words and then realizing the implications of saying them in bed, understood her misunderstanding.
Sitting up, he hurriedly explained, "I didn't mean it that way, I just meant it literally..."
Yu Ying made a questioning sound, then heard him speak softly and gently, "Sixth Lady, my heart is pleased with you."
Fu Wei's words, "My heart is pleased with you," drifted into Yu Ying's ears, leaving her in shock and yet, somewhere deep down, not entirely surprised.
Yu Ying transitioned from surprise to calmness in just a few breaths.
The two lay in silence in the dark. After a while, Yu Ying exhaled and spoke, "I haven't decided whether I want to live alone without any ties or settle down and have a family, so I can't give you an answer."
His offer not outright rejected, Fu Wei silently breathed a sigh of relief, "Then I'll wait until you've made up your mind."
Yu Ying wanted to advise him, but considering they shared a bed, anything she said seemed superfluous.
She merely responded with a soft "Hmm."
Maybe, just maybe, one day in the future, she would have her answer.
They lay back down, both feeling quite uncomfortable.
After a long silence, Yu Ying, who had just been confessed to, said, "Move over to the edge, I can't sleep."
Fu Wei, still in his original spot, quickly realized and apologized, moving to the very edge of the bed, almost hanging off it.
Their moods were different; Fu Wei, as his drunkenness faded, held his forehead in regret for his impulsiveness.
Yu Ying, however, was somewhat unsettled by Fu Wei's words that evening.
Neither of them felt like sleeping, making it a sleepless night.
Both knew the other was awake, yet they remained silent, neither initiating further conversation.
Contrasting with the unease of this couple, the couple in the room next door experienced the opposite.
After enjoying their meat dish, they decided to save some for the next day to share with their mother and children, taking advantage of the cool weather.
After eating, I followed my sister-in-law's advice and rinsed my mouth.
——The instruction to rinse before going to bed at night.
After rinsing, Fuzhen sat on the bed and shook it vigorously a few times.
Wenxing turned to look at her husband, her apricot eyes filled with confusion: "Dalong, what are you doing?"
Fuzhen replied earnestly, "I'm testing whether this bed will collapse."
……
Remembering what happened not long ago, Wenxing's face flushed with embarrassment.
The next morning, Fuzhen and his wife got up but saw no sign of his younger brother and sister-in-law rising.
So they knocked on the bedroom door and soon heard a slightly hurried reply from the sister-in-law: "It will be ready soon."
Inside the room, the newly awakened couple exchanged glances, both awkwardly recalling last night's conversation.
But now was not the time to feel awkward; they needed to hurry up, get ready, and return to Lingshui Village!
Fuzhen quickly adjusted his clothes, but Yuying had to hustle to get everything together.
After a short while, the two emerged from the room.
Stepping out, Fuzhen said, "Both Liuniang and I have trouble sleeping in unfamiliar beds, so we went to bed late."
Fuzhen harbored no suspicions.
After leaving the inn, they found a dumpling stall and ordered four bowls of wontons.
Since Fuzhen had a hearty appetite and Wenxing's was smaller, she scooped some wontons from her bowl into her husband's.
The couple exchanged glances, Wenxing shyly lowered her head, a smile playing on her lips, matched by the gently curving smile of the usually stoic Fuzhen.
Yuying: ...
Despite the couple always being together, she felt like they were newlyweds reunited after a brief separation.
Somehow, this sentiment seemed to enlighten Yuying about something.
After breakfast, they headed back.
The thought of walking nearly two hours weighed heavily on Yuying, exhausting her to the point of forgetting the awkwardness with Fuzhen.
Upon returning home, Fuzhen Ning rushed over and plunged into Yuying's arms, hugging her tightly.
The feeling of having someone waiting and longing for her return filled Yuying with warmth.
Regarding the matters at the court, since Uncle He and Aunt He had already spoken to the Luo family the day before, there was no need to repeat it.
With the issues at Luo's clinic resolved and no longer worrying about troubles from other clinics, they could continue their medicinal herbs business.
As for stabilizing prices, that responsibility now fell to Fuzhen.
With winter approaching, Yuying planned to prepare more medicinal herb seeds for germination, ready for transplantation come spring.
If the county office really adopted Fu Wei's suggestion to sell externally, gaining some reputation could encourage the villagers to join in growing medicinal herbs, making it easier to gain their trust.
As for the fields and seedlings, she needed to prepare them in advance, but of course, this wouldn't be for free.
After resting for half a day, Yu Ying set aside the events at the public hall and Fu Wei's matters, getting back to her busy routine.
While taking Fu An and Fu Ning to inspect the herb fields, she happened to meet He Erlang and asked if he would help test the face cream.
"These face creams are harmless, but their effectiveness in healing cracked skin may vary. I need you to try several types to see which works best. Are you willing?"
He Erlang immediately nodded, "Trying face creams that can also heal cracks? That's a benefit for me, how could I refuse!"
After saying this, he grinned, showing his white teeth, "Sister-in-law, if there's anything else you need, just ask. I'll help with even the hardest tasks."
Yu Ying couldn't help but smile, "There's nothing else for now, just help test the face creams."
After a few words, she asked him to come to the Fu residence after dinner.
Fu An, seeing He Erlang smiling so brightly at his aunt, felt a bit unhappy and pouted.
No matter how happy he is, she's still his and Ning Ning's aunt.
At dinner, Fu Wei mentioned his plan to work as a clerk at the county office.
Everyone was taken aback by his announcement.
After a long silence, Fu Zhen vaguely guessed who the nobleman Fu Wei met the previous night might be.
Working in the government office was something Luo Shi and Fu Zhen, along with Wen Xing, who were recently of low status, couldn't even dare to dream about.
Hearing that Fu Wei was going to be the magistrate's clerk, it was no wonder everyone was astonished.
Fu Zhen, the first to recover, took a deep breath and asked, "Did the magistrate agree?"
Fu Wei nodded slightly in confirmation.
Fu Zhen further inquired, "If you're going to be a clerk... doesn't that mean you'll have to go to the government office almost every day?"
Yu Ying also realized this point when Fu Zhen mentioned it.
Indeed, being a clerk would certainly require regular attendance at the Yu County office.
After pondering for a moment, Fuyan voiced his decision: "I plan to rent a small house in Jade County where I can take care of myself."
He said, glancing at Yu Ying, "I know you're currently busy with the medicinal fields and herbs, but you can visit Jade County occasionally."
"No way, how can you take care of yourself alone?!" Luo's objection was firm.
However, Luo had forgotten that her son's legs had already healed by seventy percent.
Fuyan slowly stood up, smiling, "Mother, I am indeed capable of taking care of myself."
Even seeing her son stand up, Luo still worried, "But what if someone comes to trouble you again? How will you manage alone?"
After a long silence, Yu Ying finally spoke, "Mother, why don't you and Erlang go together? We can take care of the home."
She continued, turning to Fu An, "You've also reached the age for private schooling, so go with them. You could help out too."
Yu Ying's words left everyone momentarily stunned.
Wen Xing remarked, "Private schools are usually for the children of the gentry and the powerful."
Fu An also said, "Why should I go to a private school when my uncle can teach me? I don't want to go!"
Yu Ying responded, "But you need to be by your uncle's side for him to teach you."
Fu An was taken aback.
Luo hesitantly asked, "Can't we manage the medicinal fields at home?"
Yu Ying shook her head.
Indeed, they couldn't manage it.
"Once Uncle He, Aunt He, He's elder and younger brothers, along with Song Sanlang, are familiar with cultivating medicinal herbs, my elder brother and sister-in-law can then go to Jade County."
The village had its inconveniences, but the medicinal fields still needed attention. Even if letting go, it should at least wait until spring.
In the household, Yu Ying's words carried the most weight.
Moreover, this arrangement seemed the only feasible one, lest Fuyan end up going to Jade County alone.
Luo, still worried about her second son's leg ailment possibly recurring, thought it reasonable to accompany him and help with cooking and laundry, and thus had no objections.
As for house hunting, it would have to wait until they could travel to Jade County in Chen's carriage.
Yu Ying really didn’t want to walk anymore, especially after the long journeys of the past two days, which had left her feet blistered.
Before she could tend to her blisters after dinner, He Erlang came looking for her.
Yu Ying had already briefly tested the face creams.
The face cream bought from the cosmetics shop was only suitable for moisturizing and lacked effectiveness in treating chapped skin. Luo's Medical Hall's cream was inferior to the other three, so she brought only four jars of medicine-based cream to the dining hall.
She called Fu An over and instructed him to apply different creams on each of He Erlang's cheeks and hands, as she directed.
Although the chapping on his hands was worse than on his face, they could only start with this comparison for He Erlang alone.
Zheng's and Li's Medical Hall creams were applied to the face, while Ji's and her own were applied to the hands.
Yu Ying instructed He Erlang, "After you wash up tomorrow morning, come back to Fu's house. Once in the morning and once in the evening, continue applying for three days."
Despite the chapping on his cheeks, He Erlang still managed a bright smile, "Alright, I’ll definitely come early tomorrow to see my sister-in-law."
His voice carried from the dining hall to the adjacent room. Fuyan, about to write, paused and frowned slightly upon hearing He Erlang's eager promise to visit early the next day.
Was it an illusion?
It seemed to Fuyan that He Erlang's enthusiasm towards Liuniang was a bit excessive.
Chapter 66
As night fell, the place where Fu Wei had arranged to meet was a restaurant near the inn.
After escorting his younger brother to the restaurant, Fu Zhen returned to ensure the safety of his wife and sister-in-law.
Yu Ying and her sister-in-law stayed in the same room. Yu Ying walked to the window and opened it, looking out onto the street.
The usually bustling Yu County had gradually quieted down, with only a few pedestrians left on the streets.
Over the past several months, even though she was unaccustomed to this era, Yu Ying was slowly blending in, adapting to the rhythm of rising with the sun and resting at sunset.
Seeing her sister-in-law standing pensively by the window, Wen Xing comforted her, "Elder brother said the person second brother is meeting is a nobleman. Although we don't know what kind of nobleman, second brother will surely handle it well. You shouldn’t worry too much."
Yu Ying came back to reality, nodding slightly without explaining that her concern wasn't about Fu Wei.
As the temperature dropped sharply at night, a chill wind crept through the small gap of the open window, prompting Yu Ying to close it.
She then sat down and engaged in casual conversation with her sister-in-law.
Somehow, their chat turned to the topic of the Magistrate of Yu County.
The Magistrate's surname was Zhou.
Magistrate Zhou was originally a cadet branch member of a noble family, having served as a military officer. It seemed he had offended the future head of his family and was consequently demoted to serve as the magistrate of the most impoverished county in Cangwu Prefecture.
Hearing this, Yu Ying seemed to have some vague recollections about the magistrate's background.
However, with the novel being about one million eight hundred thousand words, which she had mostly skimmed through, remembering the general plot was already commendable, let alone a few brief sentences.
While the sisters-in-law were chatting, the elder brother came to ask what they wanted for dinner.
The group made a simple decision and settled for a bowl of vegetarian noodles.
Although Yu Ying had earned some silver recently, the total savings didn't exceed six taels of silver. With other plans for the money, she couldn't afford to be extravagant.
After a bowl of vegetarian noodles, they each returned to their rooms.
Their rooms were opposite each other, and a shout away. Yu Ying asked her sister-in-law to rest in her room.
As for Fu Wei, he had mentioned that someone would escort him back after dinner, so there was no need for excessive worry.
Meanwhile, in a private room of the nearby restaurant, Shen Mingcong excused himself, leaving his friend alone with the Magistrate.
The Magistrate glanced at Fu Wei's plain palanquin, then raised his eyes to the handsome young man, asking coldly, "You say you want to join my staff. What skills do you have to convince me?"
Fu Wei replied calmly and confidently, "My perspective and all the knowledge I've acquired over the past twenty years."
The Magistrate smiled, "Among those exiled to Lingnan, there are indeed some with real talents."
"Have any of those people ever sought a position under your lordship?"
The magistrate was momentarily startled, then replied truthfully, "You are the first to come forward."
After speaking, he nodded, "Better courage than the rest; that's an advantage."
Fukuwei then said, "I have spent twenty-one years as the son of a prefect, studied literature and martial arts, served in the military, and have some understanding of various weapons and the political situation at court."
The magistrate's brows twitched at this revelation, appearing somewhat swayed, but he still questioned, "Your legs are broken, and your adoptive father hasn't cared for you at all, indicating he doesn’t wish you well. If I take you as my secretary, won’t I offend the Governor of Wuling Prefecture?"
Fukuwei smiled slowly, "Though my legs are broken, my mind is still sharp. Besides, Wuling Prefecture is over two thousand li from Jade County. Governor Huo, overseeing an entire prefecture, surely doesn’t have the time to concern himself with Jade County."
He continued, "I can help you leave Jade County for higher positions. But if you worry about offending the Governor of Wuling Prefecture, then consider that I never mentioned becoming your secretary."
After pondering for a moment, Magistrate Zhou suddenly smiled and then looked at the wine cup on the table, "After three cups of wine, you shall be my secretary."
Fukuwei poured the wine and drank one cup after another.
After three cups, the magistrate stood up, "Let me be clear: you have three months. If you achieve nothing in this time, I won’t keep you. And if there’s any word from Wuling Prefecture, I won’t use you anymore."
Fukuwei nodded, "Thank you, Your Honor."
"No need to thank me; it's all on your own merit," the magistrate said, rising to leave.
Approaching the door, the magistrate suddenly turned back, "Even though it's just for three months, I won’t mistreat someone with your disability. Your salary will be fair, so it's best you find a place in Jade County soon to await my orders."
With that, he turned and left the private room.
As Magistrate Zhou exited the private room, he met Shen Mingcong, an official from Wuling Prefecture, and they greeted each other with a bow.
Seeing no one around, Magistrate Zhou said, "I hope you can help keep an eye on matters concerning Wuling Prefecture, Shen."
Hearing this, Shen Mingcong knew his friend had succeeded.
"I will keep your lordship’s words in mind and inform you if there are any changes. I hope you will take care of Jin... Fu Wei."
The Magistrate nodded and then took his leave.
After the Magistrate left the restaurant, he said to his attendant, "If there are any messengers from Wuling County, inform me in advance."
After giving the instruction, he turned and got into his carriage.
With the Magistrate gone, Shen Mingcong entered the private room and saw Fu Wei drinking from his cup. Looking at the untouched dishes, he asked, "Why didn’t you eat much tonight?"
Fu Wei looked up at him and requested, "Could you ask the waiter to bring a serving of vegetarian noodles?"
Surprised, Shen Mingcong asked, "With so many good dishes, why ask for vegetarian noodles?"
Fu Wei glanced at the fine dishes on the table, his mind tranquil.
He calmly said, "I wish to enjoy such fine cuisine when I can share it with my wife, to partake in the blessings together, not alone."
Shen Mingzong couldn't help but laugh softly at this, "It's just a table of dishes, after all."
His smile fading, he continued, "Although I'd like to meet this extraordinary wife of yours, it seems I won't have the chance. The less people know about my visit to Lingnan, the safer it is."
Then, he took out a purse and placed it on the table, "This is a small token of my regard; please accept it."
Fu Wei glanced at the purse, knowing it contained silver.
After a moment of thought, he picked up the purse, peeked inside, and took out a piece of broken silver, then returned the rest to Shen.
"Your family, including your parents and children, relies on you, and the palanquin must have been costly. I would feel uneasy accepting so much silver from you."
Shen Mingzong, coming from a humble background, had little wealth. He was not corrupt, and his monthly salary was less than two taels of silver. He had only been promoted to an officer in the last two years. This was likely his last savings after making the palanquin.
Shen Mingzong insisted, "It's less than ten taels of silver; just take it."
Fu Wei, holding the purse, spoke calmly, "You know my nature. Even if you leave it, I will have it returned to you."
Returning the entire amount was better than accepting all of it, at least he kept some.
Resigned, Shen Mingzong sighed and without a word, took back the purse.
"I can't call you Jinzhi anymore; it should be Fu Wei now," Shen Mingzong smiled, then added, "I'm leaving early tomorrow morning. We won't meet then. Take care."
Fu Wei nodded, smiling, "You take care too. We will meet again one day."
Shen Mingzong replied, "I look forward to that day."
They exchanged smiles, understanding each other. Words were unnecessary; knowing the other was safe was enough.
They each ordered another bowl of vegetarian noodles and two cups of clear wine before it was time to say goodbye.
Shen Mingzong escorted Fu Wei to the inn’s lobby and then departed.
Fu Wei, seated in his plain palanquin, returned to his guest room and knocked gently. A pleasant female voice from inside asked, "Who is it?"
Fu Wei replied, "It's me."
Hearing Fu Wei's voice, Yu Ying rose from the bed to open the door.
Fu Zhen, in the room opposite, was alert to the sounds outside. Hearing the knock, he too opened his door.
Seeing his younger brother return, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Fu Wei, seeing his elder brother, handed him one of the oil-paper bags containing food, saying, "These are untouched dishes. Big brother, take them and share with your wife."
Before Fu Zhen could respond, Fu Wei, anticipating his concern, lifted another bag, "There's more, don't worry about us."
Fu Zhen then accepted the food.
He said, "After eating, get some rest. We should head back to Lingshui Village early tomorrow."
After watching his brother enter his room, Fu Zhen turned back to his own.
Yu Ying closed the door, and Fu Wei placed the food he was carrying on the table.
Yu Ying turned to ask him, "Was everything successful?"
Fu Wei nodded, "Yes, it was."
Yu Ying breathed a sigh of relief, glad that things were still proceeding as expected.
As she exhaled, Yu Ying detected a faint smell of alcohol, carried in by Fu Wei.
Meeting with the magistrate today, it was inevitable for him to drink.
Fu Wei told her, "There were some dishes untouched at the restaurant today, so I also packed some buttered chicken for you."
Hearing about the buttered chicken, Yu Ying's eyes lit up. She walked over, opened the wax paper, and indeed saw glistening golden chicken pieces.
Although they were cold, the aroma of the meat still wafted out.
She hadn't seen or heard about it before, so Yu Ying hadn't had any cravings, but now that she saw it, her appetite was piqued.
She happily said, "I'll go ask the waiter for some chopsticks and bowls."
When she returned, she brought back two sets of bowls and chopsticks.
"I can't just eat while you watch; that would be awkward."
Fu Wei smiled and joined her in eating.
During the meal, Fu Wei glanced at the woman beside him, so close at hand. Under the warm and soft candlelight, her face was filled with a satisfied smile, and a similar joy sparkled in his eyes.
It seemed all his emotions were influenced by her, his happiness a reflection of hers.
Afterwards, she did not inquire about the details of tonight's banquet, and Fu Wei did not elaborate further.
After eating half of the buttered chicken, Yu Ying brought some hot water for Fu Wei to soak his feet, then went to bed first.
After a quick wash and foot soak, Fu Wei looked at the large bed, pondered for a moment, then blew out the candle and slowly made his way to the bed, lying on the outer side.
It wasn't the first time they had slept without their niece separating them, but perhaps due to having a few extra drinks tonight, there was an inexplicable restlessness in his heart.
In the darkness, this restlessness urged him to move closer, and even closer.
Feeling his arm pressing against her, and him edging closer until she was pressed against the wall, Yu Ying couldn't hold back and asked, "Fu Wei, what are you doing?"
Jolted back to reality, yet emboldened by alcohol, he blurted out, "Sixth Lady, would you like to be a real husband and wife with me?"
……
……！
In the deep silence of the night, such a suggestive question could stir the imagination.
Yu Ying's pupils dilated sharply, and she sat up in bed, covering herself with the quilt, exclaiming, "Your legs have just healed. Even if they're completely healed, you shouldn’t have such thoughts!"
The room fell silent for a moment. Fu Wei, slightly tipsy, pondered his words and then realizing the implications of saying them in bed, understood her misunderstanding.
Sitting up, he hurriedly explained, "I didn't mean it that way, I just meant it literally..."
Yu Ying made a questioning sound, then heard him speak softly and gently, "Sixth Lady, my heart is pleased with you."
Fu Wei's words, "My heart is pleased with you," drifted into Yu Ying's ears, leaving her in shock and yet, somewhere deep down, not entirely surprised.
Yu Ying transitioned from surprise to calmness in just a few breaths.
The two lay in silence in the dark. After a while, Yu Ying exhaled and spoke, "I haven't decided whether I want to live alone without any ties or settle down and have a family, so I can't give you an answer."
His offer not outright rejected, Fu Wei silently breathed a sigh of relief, "Then I'll wait until you've made up your mind."
Yu Ying wanted to advise him, but considering they shared a bed, anything she said seemed superfluous.
She merely responded with a soft "Hmm."
Maybe, just maybe, one day in the future, she would have her answer.
They lay back down, both feeling quite uncomfortable.
After a long silence, Yu Ying, who had just been confessed to, said, "Move over to the edge, I can't sleep."
Fu Wei, still in his original spot, quickly realized and apologized, moving to the very edge of the bed, almost hanging off it.
Their moods were different; Fu Wei, as his drunkenness faded, held his forehead in regret for his impulsiveness.
Yu Ying, however, was somewhat unsettled by Fu Wei's words that evening.
Neither of them felt like sleeping, making it a sleepless night.
Both knew the other was awake, yet they remained silent, neither initiating further conversation.
Contrasting with the unease of this couple, the couple in the room next door experienced the opposite.
After enjoying their meat dish, they decided to save some for the next day to share with their mother and children, taking advantage of the cool weather.
After eating, I followed my sister-in-law's advice and rinsed my mouth.
——The instruction to rinse before going to bed at night.
After rinsing, Fuzhen sat on the bed and shook it vigorously a few times.
Wenxing turned to look at her husband, her apricot eyes filled with confusion: "Dalong, what are you doing?"
Fuzhen replied earnestly, "I'm testing whether this bed will collapse."
……
Remembering what happened not long ago, Wenxing's face flushed with embarrassment.
The next morning, Fuzhen and his wife got up but saw no sign of his younger brother and sister-in-law rising.
So they knocked on the bedroom door and soon heard a slightly hurried reply from the sister-in-law: "It will be ready soon."
Inside the room, the newly awakened couple exchanged glances, both awkwardly recalling last night's conversation.
But now was not the time to feel awkward; they needed to hurry up, get ready, and return to Lingshui Village!
Fuzhen quickly adjusted his clothes, but Yuying had to hustle to get everything together.
After a short while, the two emerged from the room.
Stepping out, Fuzhen said, "Both Liuniang and I have trouble sleeping in unfamiliar beds, so we went to bed late."
Fuzhen harbored no suspicions.
After leaving the inn, they found a dumpling stall and ordered four bowls of wontons.
Since Fuzhen had a hearty appetite and Wenxing's was smaller, she scooped some wontons from her bowl into her husband's.
The couple exchanged glances, Wenxing shyly lowered her head, a smile playing on her lips, matched by the gently curving smile of the usually stoic Fuzhen.
Yuying: ...
Despite the couple always being together, she felt like they were newlyweds reunited after a brief separation.
Somehow, this sentiment seemed to enlighten Yuying about something.
After breakfast, they headed back.
The thought of walking nearly two hours weighed heavily on Yuying, exhausting her to the point of forgetting the awkwardness with Fuzhen.
Upon returning home, Fuzhen Ning rushed over and plunged into Yuying's arms, hugging her tightly.
The feeling of having someone waiting and longing for her return filled Yuying with warmth.
Regarding the matters at the court, since Uncle He and Aunt He had already spoken to the Luo family the day before, there was no need to repeat it.
With the issues at Luo's clinic resolved and no longer worrying about troubles from other clinics, they could continue their medicinal herbs business.
As for stabilizing prices, that responsibility now fell to Fuzhen.
With winter approaching, Yuying planned to prepare more medicinal herb seeds for germination, ready for transplantation come spring.
If the county office really adopted Fu Wei's suggestion to sell externally, gaining some reputation could encourage the villagers to join in growing medicinal herbs, making it easier to gain their trust.
As for the fields and seedlings, she needed to prepare them in advance, but of course, this wouldn't be for free.
After resting for half a day, Yu Ying set aside the events at the public hall and Fu Wei's matters, getting back to her busy routine.
While taking Fu An and Fu Ning to inspect the herb fields, she happened to meet He Erlang and asked if he would help test the face cream.
"These face creams are harmless, but their effectiveness in healing cracked skin may vary. I need you to try several types to see which works best. Are you willing?"
He Erlang immediately nodded, "Trying face creams that can also heal cracks? That's a benefit for me, how could I refuse!"
After saying this, he grinned, showing his white teeth, "Sister-in-law, if there's anything else you need, just ask. I'll help with even the hardest tasks."
Yu Ying couldn't help but smile, "There's nothing else for now, just help test the face creams."
After a few words, she asked him to come to the Fu residence after dinner.
Fu An, seeing He Erlang smiling so brightly at his aunt, felt a bit unhappy and pouted.
No matter how happy he is, she's still his and Ning Ning's aunt.
At dinner, Fu Wei mentioned his plan to work as a clerk at the county office.
Everyone was taken aback by his announcement.
After a long silence, Fu Zhen vaguely guessed who the nobleman Fu Wei met the previous night might be.
Working in the government office was something Luo Shi and Fu Zhen, along with Wen Xing, who were recently of low status, couldn't even dare to dream about.
Hearing that Fu Wei was going to be the magistrate's clerk, it was no wonder everyone was astonished.
Fu Zhen, the first to recover, took a deep breath and asked, "Did the magistrate agree?"
Fu Wei nodded slightly in confirmation.
Fu Zhen further inquired, "If you're going to be a clerk... doesn't that mean you'll have to go to the government office almost every day?"
Yu Ying also realized this point when Fu Zhen mentioned it.
Indeed, being a clerk would certainly require regular attendance at the Yu County office.
After pondering for a moment, Fuyan voiced his decision: "I plan to rent a small house in Jade County where I can take care of myself."
He said, glancing at Yu Ying, "I know you're currently busy with the medicinal fields and herbs, but you can visit Jade County occasionally."
"No way, how can you take care of yourself alone?!" Luo's objection was firm.
However, Luo had forgotten that her son's legs had already healed by seventy percent.
Fuyan slowly stood up, smiling, "Mother, I am indeed capable of taking care of myself."
Even seeing her son stand up, Luo still worried, "But what if someone comes to trouble you again? How will you manage alone?"
After a long silence, Yu Ying finally spoke, "Mother, why don't you and Erlang go together? We can take care of the home."
She continued, turning to Fu An, "You've also reached the age for private schooling, so go with them. You could help out too."
Yu Ying's words left everyone momentarily stunned.
Wen Xing remarked, "Private schools are usually for the children of the gentry and the powerful."
Fu An also said, "Why should I go to a private school when my uncle can teach me? I don't want to go!"
Yu Ying responded, "But you need to be by your uncle's side for him to teach you."
Fu An was taken aback.
Luo hesitantly asked, "Can't we manage the medicinal fields at home?"
Yu Ying shook her head.
Indeed, they couldn't manage it.
"Once Uncle He, Aunt He, He's elder and younger brothers, along with Song Sanlang, are familiar with cultivating medicinal herbs, my elder brother and sister-in-law can then go to Jade County."
The village had its inconveniences, but the medicinal fields still needed attention. Even if letting go, it should at least wait until spring.
In the household, Yu Ying's words carried the most weight.
Moreover, this arrangement seemed the only feasible one, lest Fuyan end up going to Jade County alone.
Luo, still worried about her second son's leg ailment possibly recurring, thought it reasonable to accompany him and help with cooking and laundry, and thus had no objections.
As for house hunting, it would have to wait until they could travel to Jade County in Chen's carriage.
Yu Ying really didn’t want to walk anymore, especially after the long journeys of the past two days, which had left her feet blistered.
Before she could tend to her blisters after dinner, He Erlang came looking for her.
Yu Ying had already briefly tested the face creams.
The face cream bought from the cosmetics shop was only suitable for moisturizing and lacked effectiveness in treating chapped skin. Luo's Medical Hall's cream was inferior to the other three, so she brought only four jars of medicine-based cream to the dining hall.
She called Fu An over and instructed him to apply different creams on each of He Erlang's cheeks and hands, as she directed.
Although the chapping on his hands was worse than on his face, they could only start with this comparison for He Erlang alone.
Zheng's and Li's Medical Hall creams were applied to the face, while Ji's and her own were applied to the hands.
Yu Ying instructed He Erlang, "After you wash up tomorrow morning, come back to Fu's house. Once in the morning and once in the evening, continue applying for three days."
Despite the chapping on his cheeks, He Erlang still managed a bright smile, "Alright, I’ll definitely come early tomorrow to see my sister-in-law."
His voice carried from the dining hall to the adjacent room. Fuyan, about to write, paused and frowned slightly upon hearing He Erlang's eager promise to visit early the next day.
Was it an illusion?
It seemed to Fuyan that He Erlang's enthusiasm towards Liuniang was a bit excessive.
