Chapter 67.
After a busy day, Yu Ying’s legs were sore. To ensure she could get up as usual the next day, she prepared a herbal foot bath.
Carrying the hot water into the room, she found Fu Ning absent, leaving only Fuyan there.
Throughout the day, the two had never been alone together, and neither felt any discomfort.
But now, in the quiet with just the two of them, a subtle atmosphere began to spread through the room.
This subtle atmosphere was named awkwardness.
Fuyan noticed a slight restraint on her face. As he was about to say something, she smiled at him gracefully, her composure suggesting that the earlier restraint he perceived was just an illusion.
"The bath is free; you can go wash up now."
Fuyan swallowed the words he was about to speak and nodded in agreement, "I’ll go in a bit."
Detecting the strong scent of herbs, his gaze fell on the basin she was carrying. Seeing the brown hot water inside, Fuyan was startled, "What happened to you?"
Yu Ying explained, "It's my first time walking so long; I'm not used to it. Soaking my feet will make tomorrow more comfortable."
She then placed the basin beside the bed behind the screen, letting out a quiet sigh of relief.
Despite feeling slightly uncomfortable, it was bearable and didn't necessitate deliberate avoidance.
Avoiding it might only make things more awkward.
She sat on the edge of the bed, removed her shoes and socks, and tentatively touched the steaming water with her heel, withdrawing her foot quickly from the heat.
After a few cautious attempts, she slowly immersed her feet into the basin.
When she placed her feet in the basin, the hot water stung the blisters on her feet at first. After a moment, the warmth began to ease the fatigue, gradually becoming comfortable.
Fu Wei looked towards the screen, wanting to go in but fearing it would be intrusive.
On the way back, Fu Wei remembered how she had appeared faint at the inn yesterday. He hadn’t shown his concern openly, but had let her sit in the plain carriage for a while.
Even though it was a short ride, it seemed to have been of little help.
Despite her endurance, her body had its limits which she couldn't exceed.
After hesitating for a while, Fu Wei decided to bathe first, then come back to ask if she needed a massage.
When Fu Wei returned from his bath, Yu Ying was lying in bed, holding the sleeping Fu Ning. She wasn't asleep yet, but already drowsy.
Seeing she was still awake, he suggested, "I mentioned before that I know a bit about massage. After walking such a long distance, just soaking your feet might not be enough. If you don't mind, I can give you a rubdown to help relax."
Yu Ying heard Fu Wei’s voice, struggling to open her eyes, her mind slightly foggy.
She understood his words as offering a massage to relieve her fatigue.
She murmured an "Mhm," yawned, and in a half-awake, half-asleep state, she flipped the quilt aside, rolled over from Fu Ning, lay down on the outer side, and immediately turned to lie on her stomach.
Her movements were smooth and natural, without any hesitation.
Facing her candidness, Fu Wei was momentarily taken aback.
Lying face down, her waist indented, her figure slender and graceful.
Fuyan averted his gaze immediately after a brief glance, adhering to the principle of "see no evil."
He approached the foot of the bed, took a silent breath, and then gently placed his hands on her slender calves, slowly beginning to knead and unblock them.
When she felt his broad, strong hands on her legs, Yu Ying opened her half-closed eyes, her gaze gradually becoming clearer.
Though she became more alert, she did not interrupt Fuyan's movements.
The warmth and strength hidden in those hands, even through a layer of linen, were hard to ignore.
Feeling the subtle strength in his thumbs massaging her calves, Yu Ying experienced a faint, indescribable sensation.
This subtle feeling brought her warmth and comfort.
Gradually, the relief spread through her legs and feet, lulling her back towards sleep, until she fell into a deep slumber.
Sensing her relaxation, Fuyan realized she had fallen asleep, pulled the quilt over her upper body, and continued the massage.
The oil lamp cast a quiet glow on the man's tall figure, and about half an hour later, his movements finally ceased.
Looking at the woman almost sleeping in the middle of the bed, Fuyan initially thought to wake her, but seeing her deep in peaceful sleep, he decided against it.
He lay down on the outer side of the bed, glanced at the person beside him, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
The next day, Yu Ying woke up to find that the soreness in her legs from the previous day was considerably lessened, only a slight discomfort remained.
It seemed that the herbal foot bath and Fuyan's massage had been effective.
After moving around a bit, she saw Fuyan returning from washing up outside. Smiling, she thanked him, "If it weren't for your massage last night, I wouldn’t be feeling this much better today."
Fuyan smiled, "It was just a simple massage, no need to thank me."
Yu Ying responded, "But it's important. Without your massage, I might not have been able to get out of bed today."
Even the blisters that were painful yesterday seem much less so today.
Perhaps it was the relaxation of her body that lifted Yu Ying's spirits, her face brimming with smiles.
Seemingly influenced by her mood, Fuyan too wore a smile on his face.
Wen Xing, seeing the smiles on her brother-in-law and sister-in-law's faces, couldn't quite understand it.
Yesterday, on the way back from Jade County to Lingshui Village, the couple was silent and avoided eye contact. Even a blind person could sense that something was amiss between them.
Why did the two, who were so elusive yesterday, suddenly seem fine today?
Curious as she was, it wasn’t her place to ask, so she pretended to be unaware of anything.
After the family finished breakfast, Chen Daye, who was delivering vegetables to Jade County, arrived.
Since there was no one to ride in the ox cart, he also delivered the bamboo bed that He Dalang had previously ordered.
Fuzhen called Song Sanlang to help move the bamboo bed.
When Yu Ying saw Chen Daye again, she was full of apologies, "About the other day..."
Chen Daye interrupted her with a smile, "It wasn't Mrs. Yu's fault, don't keep feeling guilty about it. Besides, Mrs. Yu won the lawsuit, I haven't even congratulated you yet."
Seeing that Chen Daye genuinely held no grudge, Yu Ying secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
After some small talk, Chen Daye hurried off to Jade County.
With the replacement of the bamboo bed in the elder brother and sister-in-law's room, the elder brother moved the single bamboo bed back into Yu Ying's room.
Fuyan, seeing the bamboo bed returned to the room, sighed quietly in a corner where no one else could see.
Just as he let out a sigh, He Erlang came visiting again.
Seeing the lively and energetic He Erlang, Fuyan's brows slightly furrowed as he asked Fu An, "Do you know how many days He Erlang plans to visit?"
Fu An lowered his voice, "Auntie asked him to come over for three days."
As he said this, Fu An turned his head towards Fuyan and called out with a serious face, "Uncle."
Fuyan, sitting in his wheelchair, turned to him, "Hmm?"
Fu An said earnestly, "Uncle, I should tell you, He Erlang really fancies our Auntie. He's always telling me how he wishes to have an auntie as good as mine."
Hearing his good friend frequently speak like this made Fu An increasingly wary of He Erlang.
Fuyan thought it was just playful talk among children and didn’t take it seriously.
But then Fu An asked, "Uncle, don’t you think He Erlang smiles particularly brightly at Auntie?"
Fuyan's gaze shifted to He Erlang, who was talking to Liuniang, noticing the smile on his face.
Indeed, it was very bright.
At this point, Fu An sighed deeply, worriedly saying, "If both Uncle and I go to the county town, with He Erlang's house so close to ours, what should we do?"
Fuyan: ...
He realized his nephew had a knack for creating anxiety.
He had never felt this kind of anxiety before.
Well, now there was something to worry about.
Even if Liuniang deliberately made herself look unattractive, she couldn't hide the dazzling radiance inherent to her.
Such a radiant Liuniang, how could she not attract attention?
The intense gaze of the uncle and nephew was so palpable that He Erlang quickly became aware of it.
Turning his head, he saw the Fu family uncle and nephew both staring at him, which left him puzzled.
Fuyan, upon noticing He Erlang looking their way, masked the wariness in his eyes and nodded slightly at him.
Yu Ying took a close look at He Erlang's face.
Overnight, there was some improvement in the chapping on both sides of He Erlang's face, but it wasn't very noticeable.
She said, "Raise your hands, let me have a look."
He Erlang shifted his gaze, revealing his rough palms. After one night, there was no visible effect.
This was within Yu Ying's expectations.
The chapping on his hands was much worse than on his face; if there had been an effect overnight, there would be no need to test the two kinds of face cream.
However...
If the cream was exceptionally effective, there should have been some noticeable difference by the second day.
These creams all contained lard, the difference being in the medicinal ingredients they contained, resulting in varying effects.
Yu Ying, gazing at He Erlang's hands, became lost in thought.
If the cream's effect wasn't outstanding, why would the medical halls in Cangwu County want her cream, given they already had their own for sale?
Compared to lard, sheep fat is actually more effective.
However, the cost of sheep meat was higher than pork, and she was uncertain about the price of sheep tail fat.
After some thought, Yu Ying decided to buy some sheep fat to try out.
Once decided, she still needed to compare the current cream with the other types to see if it was effective; if so, she could sell it inexpensively in the future.
Yu Ying called over Fu An to help He Erlang continue applying the cream.
She told He Erlang, “Since I need to observe the effects, don’t do any work these few days. I’ll pay you for this and will explain it to Uncle He and Aunt He.”
He Erlang quickly waved his hands, “No need, no need. My parents already told me to rest for a few days. I just couldn’t sit idle and followed them around. Now, since Mrs. Yu is testing the cream, I’ll just rest as my parents wished. As for the wages, even if you offer, Mrs. Yu, I won’t accept them.”
Yu Ying still felt bad and thought if He Erlang refused the money, she would send some food to his house instead.
After applying the cream, He Erlang left, and Yu Ying went to check the fields with her sister-in-law.
Her elder brother, along with He family and Song Sanlang, went into the mountains to gather herbs.
After the incident with Luo's Medical Hall, there was nothing to worry about, and they naturally continued herb gathering.
But she was still not over her fatigue and decided not to go.
Luo and her two grandsons went out to find earthworms to feed the chickens.
The chicks they had bought in the county town had now grown to about two pounds each.
The hen would start laying eggs soon, and the rooster could be slaughtered for the festival.
As for Fuyan...
In the eyes of others, he was still a cripple and could only stay at home to look after the house.
Yu Ying didn't dare to leave the house unattended, as all her belongings were hidden there; without someone to watch over, she couldn’t be at ease.
Arriving in the fields, she saw the two hired laborers watering the medicinal seedlings.
The seedlings were growing well, which eased her mind.
But the medicinal seedlings were growing too densely; in a few days, some would need to be thinned out and replanted elsewhere.
This land could only be leased once there was news from Fuyan's end.
After tending to the weeds in the medicinal fields for a while, Yu Ying and her sister-in-law went to check on the vegetables.
It had been over two months, and the vegetables in the field were almost ready to be harvested.
Wen Xing, looking at the vegetables in both fields, worriedly said, "There's so much produce; our family alone can't possibly consume it all."
Yu Ying smiled and said, "If we can't eat it all, we can send it to the county town for mother to sell at a small stall. Whatever money it brings is good enough. Besides, the cabbage and taro can be stored for a while, so we don’t have to deliver them frequently, and mother will have something to keep her busy."
Initially, the grandmother might feel uneasy moving to the city, likely to spend all day cooped up at home. It would be better to give her something to do and a chance to earn some money.
Upon hearing this, Wen Xing's face lit up with joy, agreeing, "Yes, that way, not only can we make some money, but it also means mother and uncle won’t have to go out to buy vegetables."
Fuyan taking up the job as an aide, a rare opportunity granted by the county magistrate, shouldn't be delayed, to avoid making a bad impression.
After lunch, the family gathered to discuss the matter.
It was necessary for Fuyan to head into the city to settle in within the next couple of days.
They still needed to find a place to stay, and Chen Daye’s ox cart wouldn’t be going to Jade County until the day after next.
After discussion, they decided to first take bedding and clothes to the city, and if a suitable house was found, they would rent it and move in that day.
As for the ox cart, if timing didn’t work out, they would have to rent it for a day.
Fuzhen instructed Fu An to wait for Chen Daye at the village entrance.
Once there, he was to inform Chen Daye that they needed to rent his ox cart for a trip to Jade County the next day.
As for who would accompany Fuyan to Jade County, naturally, it would be Yu Ying.
She also needed to go to Jade County to look for sheep tail fat and could inquire at Wu's Eatery about any houses for rent.
After finding a place to stay and getting it ready, they probably wouldn’t make it back in time for Chen Daye's ox cart, so Yu Ying decided to stay in Jade County for a couple of days.
And so, the matter was settled.
Fuyan needed to pack his bags tonight, as he was leaving early the next morning.
As for bedding, Fuyan already had a single set, so there was no need for another.
Regarding kitchenware, they only had what was sufficient at home, so they would buy new ones upon arrival in Jade County.
Yu Ying, anticipating that Fuyan might suffer a headache or fever in Jade County, packed some simple herbs for him, planning to explain their effects in detail once they arrived.
After all the hustle and bustle, it was almost dark.
Once dinner was ready, Yu Ying went back to her room to call Fuyan for the meal.
Opening the door to call him, she found Fuyan sitting facing away from the door, lost in thought, his face expressionless, his figure solitary.
Seeing Fuyan like this, Yu Ying realized that since their discussion at noon, he hadn't spoken much.
It made sense; after living so long in a bustling household, suddenly having to live separately would feel unusual and leave a void in anyone's heart.
Thinking of Fuyan, with whom she could discuss matters, leaving, and both Luo and the chatterbox Fu An going to Jade County as well, Yu Ying suddenly felt a hollow sadness.
After composing herself, Yu Ying hid her sorrow, put on a smile, and called out to Fuyan, "Erlang, dinner's ready."
Fuyan was brought back to reality by her call of "Erlang." He turned, meeting her smile with a faint one of his own, then stood up and wheeled himself out of the room.
He sat at the doorway, where Yu Ying pushed him to the dining hall.
Perhaps because they all knew they would be parting the next day, the usually talkative Fu An was subdued and quietly finished his meal.
In the evening, when Fuyan went to bathe, Fu An came over.
Seeing the small bed placed outside the screen, Fu An guessed his uncle wanted to sleep with his aunt that night and thought of helping him.
After pondering for a while, he came up with an idea.
He looked at his aunt with hopeful eyes and asked, "Auntie, can I sleep with you both tonight?"
Yu Ying, applying face cream, glanced at him and smiled, "You'll be nine soon and are becoming a young man. You can't sleep with me anymore."
Fu An pointed to the small bed, saying, "I won't sleep on the big bed, I'll sleep on the small bed."
He added, "If I go to the county town with uncle, I'll miss you, auntie, and my sister."
Knowing her brother would also go to Jade County with their uncle, little Fu Ning, sitting at the end of the big bed, immediately pouted.
Yu Ying smiled helplessly, "You can come back with Chen Daye’s ox cart every three days to stay for a while, or I can bring Ningning to Jade County. It’s not like we won’t see each other again."
But Fu An lay down on the small bed, stubbornly saying, "I don’t care, I want to sleep in this room."
Laying his head at the foot of the bed, he could see his sister sitting at the end of the big bed through the screen. He made a pitiful face, "Sis, I’ll also be going to Jade County soon. You won’t be able to see your brother every day. So, shouldn’t we spend time together and sleep together tonight?"
Hearing this, little Fu Ning immediately nodded with teary eyes, then climbed down from the big bed and, in her slippers, made her way to the opposite small bed.
Yu Ying: ...
Fu An, this little fellow, didn’t cry even when he got beaten up with a swollen face. Even when she wasn’t around and he was holding up the family, Yu Ying never saw him show such an expression.
Seeing his pitiful look, Yu Ying knew he was faking it.
His motive...
Was simply to bring her closer to his uncle.
Yu Ying saw through his intentions at a glance but didn’t expose him.
Well, let it be, she thought, indulging his wish.
Fuyan had prepared himself that this last night would be spent alone, but...
When he returned to the room, he saw the two little ones snuggled together on the small bed.
He looked questioningly at Yu Ying.
Yu Ying smiled helplessly at him, "Fu An wants to sleep with us in the same room."
Fu An tucked in his sister's quilt and then looked at his uncle, nodding, "Sis and I will sleep here, uncle and auntie can sleep together!"
Fuyan: ...
His nephew’s intentions were too obvious to ignore.
Seeing that Liuniang didn’t object, Fuyan felt a quiet pleasure in his heart.
Yu Ying said to him, "The weather is too dry, you should apply some face cream before sleeping."
Fuyan nodded and applied a little face cream before approaching the bed.
Fu An suggested, "Uncle, why don’t you move the screen aside? With it, we seem so far apart."
Hearing this, Yu Ying got up and helped Fuyan move the screen away, the two beds now only three steps apart.
With the screen moved, the beds were much closer.
Fuyan turned off the light and lay down alongside Yu Ying.
The room was silent for a while before the sleepless Fu An suddenly spoke, "Uncle, Auntie, I’m not happy."
Yu Ying questioned with a puzzled "Hmm?"
Fu An said gloomily, "Before Uncle arrived, the house was almost silent, so quiet it scared me. After Uncle came, it was even quieter, until you, Auntie, arrived. Then the house started to have life."
Yu Ying paused, listening as he continued, "The house gradually became lively. When Dad and Mom came back, it was completely different from before. These days have been the happiest for me. But now, thinking of Uncle going to Jade County tomorrow, and Grandma and I following later, everyone living apart, it makes me very sad."
Hearing Fu An's words, Fuyan and Yu Ying were filled with mixed emotions.
After a few moments of silence, Yu Ying explained, "The separation now is only temporary, so that we can live together longer and more steadily in the future."
Her words not only reached Fu An’s ears but also resonated deep within Fuyan.
—The separation now is just for a longer togetherness in the future.
Fu An, being young, had a limited understanding and asked in confusion, "What does Auntie mean by that?"
Yu Ying was about to explain, but Fuyan spoke first, "Auntie is now managing the medicinal fields and checking the harvested herbs to earn silver for our livelihood. Uncle is working at the government office to gain the county magistrate's trust. With money, we can have enough food and warm clothes. With influence, we won’t be bullied. Only then can we live a stable, long-lasting life."
Yu Ying turned her face, looking in Fuyan's direction in the dark.
Fu An, though now understanding, couldn't help but choke up, "But I really don’t want to leave. I don’t want to leave Auntie, Dad, Mom, and sister. Nor Uncle and Grandma."
He didn't want to part with any member of his family.
Hearing Fu An's words, Yu Ying's eyes immediately became teary and sore.
Hearing her brother's words, Fu Ning, who had been trying to hold back her tears, couldn't help but let them flow, sobbing, "No... don’t go."
Suddenly, a faint and unclear strange voice filled the room, startling everyone.
The next instant, everyone sat up in shock.
Yu Ying quickly got out of bed, not minding bumping into Fuyan, and lit the oil lamp.
Holding the lamp, she walked to the small bed, looking in astonishment at Fu Ning with tears at the corner of her eyes.
Yu Ying, trying to contain her excitement, asked, "Ningning, did you just speak!?"
A shocked Fu An came to his senses, nodding repeatedly, "She did, she did! I just heard her!"
Fu Ning, with her lips pursed, pushed off the quilt, sat up, and threw herself into her aunt's arms, crying and saying, "Not... going..."
"Sister can really talk now!"
Fu An's loud exclamation reached the ears of Fuzhen and his wife, who hadn’t yet fallen asleep, and even the sleeping Luo was awakened.
Wen Xing, who was hurrying to finish a pair of shoes, hesitantly said, "Did I just hear Fu An say Ningning can talk?"
The couple looked at each other for a moment before realizing it wasn't an illusion.
The two of them quickly got up, put on their shoes and clothes, and hurriedly left the room.
Chapter 67.
After a busy day, Yu Ying’s legs were sore. To ensure she could get up as usual the next day, she prepared a herbal foot bath.
Carrying the hot water into the room, she found Fu Ning absent, leaving only Fuyan there.
Throughout the day, the two had never been alone together, and neither felt any discomfort.
But now, in the quiet with just the two of them, a subtle atmosphere began to spread through the room.
This subtle atmosphere was named awkwardness.
Fuyan noticed a slight restraint on her face. As he was about to say something, she smiled at him gracefully, her composure suggesting that the earlier restraint he perceived was just an illusion.
"The bath is free; you can go wash up now."
Fuyan swallowed the words he was about to speak and nodded in agreement, "I’ll go in a bit."
Detecting the strong scent of herbs, his gaze fell on the basin she was carrying. Seeing the brown hot water inside, Fuyan was startled, "What happened to you?"
Yu Ying explained, "It's my first time walking so long; I'm not used to it. Soaking my feet will make tomorrow more comfortable."
She then placed the basin beside the bed behind the screen, letting out a quiet sigh of relief.
Despite feeling slightly uncomfortable, it was bearable and didn't necessitate deliberate avoidance.
Avoiding it might only make things more awkward.
She sat on the edge of the bed, removed her shoes and socks, and tentatively touched the steaming water with her heel, withdrawing her foot quickly from the heat.
After a few cautious attempts, she slowly immersed her feet into the basin.
When she placed her feet in the basin, the hot water stung the blisters on her feet at first. After a moment, the warmth began to ease the fatigue, gradually becoming comfortable.
Fu Wei looked towards the screen, wanting to go in but fearing it would be intrusive.
On the way back, Fu Wei remembered how she had appeared faint at the inn yesterday. He hadn’t shown his concern openly, but had let her sit in the plain carriage for a while.
Even though it was a short ride, it seemed to have been of little help.
Despite her endurance, her body had its limits which she couldn't exceed.
After hesitating for a while, Fu Wei decided to bathe first, then come back to ask if she needed a massage.
When Fu Wei returned from his bath, Yu Ying was lying in bed, holding the sleeping Fu Ning. She wasn't asleep yet, but already drowsy.
Seeing she was still awake, he suggested, "I mentioned before that I know a bit about massage. After walking such a long distance, just soaking your feet might not be enough. If you don't mind, I can give you a rubdown to help relax."
Yu Ying heard Fu Wei’s voice, struggling to open her eyes, her mind slightly foggy.
She understood his words as offering a massage to relieve her fatigue.
She murmured an "Mhm," yawned, and in a half-awake, half-asleep state, she flipped the quilt aside, rolled over from Fu Ning, lay down on the outer side, and immediately turned to lie on her stomach.
Her movements were smooth and natural, without any hesitation.
Facing her candidness, Fu Wei was momentarily taken aback.
Lying face down, her waist indented, her figure slender and graceful.
Fuyan averted his gaze immediately after a brief glance, adhering to the principle of "see no evil."
He approached the foot of the bed, took a silent breath, and then gently placed his hands on her slender calves, slowly beginning to knead and unblock them.
When she felt his broad, strong hands on her legs, Yu Ying opened her half-closed eyes, her gaze gradually becoming clearer.
Though she became more alert, she did not interrupt Fuyan's movements.
The warmth and strength hidden in those hands, even through a layer of linen, were hard to ignore.
Feeling the subtle strength in his thumbs massaging her calves, Yu Ying experienced a faint, indescribable sensation.
This subtle feeling brought her warmth and comfort.
Gradually, the relief spread through her legs and feet, lulling her back towards sleep, until she fell into a deep slumber.
Sensing her relaxation, Fuyan realized she had fallen asleep, pulled the quilt over her upper body, and continued the massage.
The oil lamp cast a quiet glow on the man's tall figure, and about half an hour later, his movements finally ceased.
Looking at the woman almost sleeping in the middle of the bed, Fuyan initially thought to wake her, but seeing her deep in peaceful sleep, he decided against it.
He lay down on the outer side of the bed, glanced at the person beside him, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
The next day, Yu Ying woke up to find that the soreness in her legs from the previous day was considerably lessened, only a slight discomfort remained.
It seemed that the herbal foot bath and Fuyan's massage had been effective.
After moving around a bit, she saw Fuyan returning from washing up outside. Smiling, she thanked him, "If it weren't for your massage last night, I wouldn’t be feeling this much better today."
Fuyan smiled, "It was just a simple massage, no need to thank me."
Yu Ying responded, "But it's important. Without your massage, I might not have been able to get out of bed today."
Even the blisters that were painful yesterday seem much less so today.
Perhaps it was the relaxation of her body that lifted Yu Ying's spirits, her face brimming with smiles.
Seemingly influenced by her mood, Fuyan too wore a smile on his face.
Wen Xing, seeing the smiles on her brother-in-law and sister-in-law's faces, couldn't quite understand it.
Yesterday, on the way back from Jade County to Lingshui Village, the couple was silent and avoided eye contact. Even a blind person could sense that something was amiss between them.
Why did the two, who were so elusive yesterday, suddenly seem fine today?
Curious as she was, it wasn’t her place to ask, so she pretended to be unaware of anything.
After the family finished breakfast, Chen Daye, who was delivering vegetables to Jade County, arrived.
Since there was no one to ride in the ox cart, he also delivered the bamboo bed that He Dalang had previously ordered.
Fuzhen called Song Sanlang to help move the bamboo bed.
When Yu Ying saw Chen Daye again, she was full of apologies, "About the other day..."
Chen Daye interrupted her with a smile, "It wasn't Mrs. Yu's fault, don't keep feeling guilty about it. Besides, Mrs. Yu won the lawsuit, I haven't even congratulated you yet."
Seeing that Chen Daye genuinely held no grudge, Yu Ying secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
After some small talk, Chen Daye hurried off to Jade County.
With the replacement of the bamboo bed in the elder brother and sister-in-law's room, the elder brother moved the single bamboo bed back into Yu Ying's room.
Fuyan, seeing the bamboo bed returned to the room, sighed quietly in a corner where no one else could see.
Just as he let out a sigh, He Erlang came visiting again.
Seeing the lively and energetic He Erlang, Fuyan's brows slightly furrowed as he asked Fu An, "Do you know how many days He Erlang plans to visit?"
Fu An lowered his voice, "Auntie asked him to come over for three days."
As he said this, Fu An turned his head towards Fuyan and called out with a serious face, "Uncle."
Fuyan, sitting in his wheelchair, turned to him, "Hmm?"
Fu An said earnestly, "Uncle, I should tell you, He Erlang really fancies our Auntie. He's always telling me how he wishes to have an auntie as good as mine."
Hearing his good friend frequently speak like this made Fu An increasingly wary of He Erlang.
Fuyan thought it was just playful talk among children and didn’t take it seriously.
But then Fu An asked, "Uncle, don’t you think He Erlang smiles particularly brightly at Auntie?"
Fuyan's gaze shifted to He Erlang, who was talking to Liuniang, noticing the smile on his face.
Indeed, it was very bright.
At this point, Fu An sighed deeply, worriedly saying, "If both Uncle and I go to the county town, with He Erlang's house so close to ours, what should we do?"
Fuyan: ...
He realized his nephew had a knack for creating anxiety.
He had never felt this kind of anxiety before.
Well, now there was something to worry about.
Even if Liuniang deliberately made herself look unattractive, she couldn't hide the dazzling radiance inherent to her.
Such a radiant Liuniang, how could she not attract attention?
The intense gaze of the uncle and nephew was so palpable that He Erlang quickly became aware of it.
Turning his head, he saw the Fu family uncle and nephew both staring at him, which left him puzzled.
Fuyan, upon noticing He Erlang looking their way, masked the wariness in his eyes and nodded slightly at him.
Yu Ying took a close look at He Erlang's face.
Overnight, there was some improvement in the chapping on both sides of He Erlang's face, but it wasn't very noticeable.
She said, "Raise your hands, let me have a look."
He Erlang shifted his gaze, revealing his rough palms. After one night, there was no visible effect.
This was within Yu Ying's expectations.
The chapping on his hands was much worse than on his face; if there had been an effect overnight, there would be no need to test the two kinds of face cream.
However...
If the cream was exceptionally effective, there should have been some noticeable difference by the second day.
These creams all contained lard, the difference being in the medicinal ingredients they contained, resulting in varying effects.
Yu Ying, gazing at He Erlang's hands, became lost in thought.
If the cream's effect wasn't outstanding, why would the medical halls in Cangwu County want her cream, given they already had their own for sale?
Compared to lard, sheep fat is actually more effective.
However, the cost of sheep meat was higher than pork, and she was uncertain about the price of sheep tail fat.
After some thought, Yu Ying decided to buy some sheep fat to try out.
Once decided, she still needed to compare the current cream with the other types to see if it was effective; if so, she could sell it inexpensively in the future.
Yu Ying called over Fu An to help He Erlang continue applying the cream.
She told He Erlang, “Since I need to observe the effects, don’t do any work these few days. I’ll pay you for this and will explain it to Uncle He and Aunt He.”
He Erlang quickly waved his hands, “No need, no need. My parents already told me to rest for a few days. I just couldn’t sit idle and followed them around. Now, since Mrs. Yu is testing the cream, I’ll just rest as my parents wished. As for the wages, even if you offer, Mrs. Yu, I won’t accept them.”
Yu Ying still felt bad and thought if He Erlang refused the money, she would send some food to his house instead.
After applying the cream, He Erlang left, and Yu Ying went to check the fields with her sister-in-law.
Her elder brother, along with He family and Song Sanlang, went into the mountains to gather herbs.
After the incident with Luo's Medical Hall, there was nothing to worry about, and they naturally continued herb gathering.
But she was still not over her fatigue and decided not to go.
Luo and her two grandsons went out to find earthworms to feed the chickens.
The chicks they had bought in the county town had now grown to about two pounds each.
The hen would start laying eggs soon, and the rooster could be slaughtered for the festival.
As for Fuyan...
In the eyes of others, he was still a cripple and could only stay at home to look after the house.
Yu Ying didn't dare to leave the house unattended, as all her belongings were hidden there; without someone to watch over, she couldn’t be at ease.
Arriving in the fields, she saw the two hired laborers watering the medicinal seedlings.
The seedlings were growing well, which eased her mind.
But the medicinal seedlings were growing too densely; in a few days, some would need to be thinned out and replanted elsewhere.
This land could only be leased once there was news from Fuyan's end.
After tending to the weeds in the medicinal fields for a while, Yu Ying and her sister-in-law went to check on the vegetables.
It had been over two months, and the vegetables in the field were almost ready to be harvested.
Wen Xing, looking at the vegetables in both fields, worriedly said, "There's so much produce; our family alone can't possibly consume it all."
Yu Ying smiled and said, "If we can't eat it all, we can send it to the county town for mother to sell at a small stall. Whatever money it brings is good enough. Besides, the cabbage and taro can be stored for a while, so we don’t have to deliver them frequently, and mother will have something to keep her busy."
Initially, the grandmother might feel uneasy moving to the city, likely to spend all day cooped up at home. It would be better to give her something to do and a chance to earn some money.
Upon hearing this, Wen Xing's face lit up with joy, agreeing, "Yes, that way, not only can we make some money, but it also means mother and uncle won’t have to go out to buy vegetables."
Fuyan taking up the job as an aide, a rare opportunity granted by the county magistrate, shouldn't be delayed, to avoid making a bad impression.
After lunch, the family gathered to discuss the matter.
It was necessary for Fuyan to head into the city to settle in within the next couple of days.
They still needed to find a place to stay, and Chen Daye’s ox cart wouldn’t be going to Jade County until the day after next.
After discussion, they decided to first take bedding and clothes to the city, and if a suitable house was found, they would rent it and move in that day.
As for the ox cart, if timing didn’t work out, they would have to rent it for a day.
Fuzhen instructed Fu An to wait for Chen Daye at the village entrance.
Once there, he was to inform Chen Daye that they needed to rent his ox cart for a trip to Jade County the next day.
As for who would accompany Fuyan to Jade County, naturally, it would be Yu Ying.
She also needed to go to Jade County to look for sheep tail fat and could inquire at Wu's Eatery about any houses for rent.
After finding a place to stay and getting it ready, they probably wouldn’t make it back in time for Chen Daye's ox cart, so Yu Ying decided to stay in Jade County for a couple of days.
And so, the matter was settled.
Fuyan needed to pack his bags tonight, as he was leaving early the next morning.
As for bedding, Fuyan already had a single set, so there was no need for another.
Regarding kitchenware, they only had what was sufficient at home, so they would buy new ones upon arrival in Jade County.
Yu Ying, anticipating that Fuyan might suffer a headache or fever in Jade County, packed some simple herbs for him, planning to explain their effects in detail once they arrived.
After all the hustle and bustle, it was almost dark.
Once dinner was ready, Yu Ying went back to her room to call Fuyan for the meal.
Opening the door to call him, she found Fuyan sitting facing away from the door, lost in thought, his face expressionless, his figure solitary.
Seeing Fuyan like this, Yu Ying realized that since their discussion at noon, he hadn't spoken much.
It made sense; after living so long in a bustling household, suddenly having to live separately would feel unusual and leave a void in anyone's heart.
Thinking of Fuyan, with whom she could discuss matters, leaving, and both Luo and the chatterbox Fu An going to Jade County as well, Yu Ying suddenly felt a hollow sadness.
After composing herself, Yu Ying hid her sorrow, put on a smile, and called out to Fuyan, "Erlang, dinner's ready."
Fuyan was brought back to reality by her call of "Erlang." He turned, meeting her smile with a faint one of his own, then stood up and wheeled himself out of the room.
He sat at the doorway, where Yu Ying pushed him to the dining hall.
Perhaps because they all knew they would be parting the next day, the usually talkative Fu An was subdued and quietly finished his meal.
In the evening, when Fuyan went to bathe, Fu An came over.
Seeing the small bed placed outside the screen, Fu An guessed his uncle wanted to sleep with his aunt that night and thought of helping him.
After pondering for a while, he came up with an idea.
He looked at his aunt with hopeful eyes and asked, "Auntie, can I sleep with you both tonight?"
Yu Ying, applying face cream, glanced at him and smiled, "You'll be nine soon and are becoming a young man. You can't sleep with me anymore."
Fu An pointed to the small bed, saying, "I won't sleep on the big bed, I'll sleep on the small bed."
He added, "If I go to the county town with uncle, I'll miss you, auntie, and my sister."
Knowing her brother would also go to Jade County with their uncle, little Fu Ning, sitting at the end of the big bed, immediately pouted.
Yu Ying smiled helplessly, "You can come back with Chen Daye’s ox cart every three days to stay for a while, or I can bring Ningning to Jade County. It’s not like we won’t see each other again."
But Fu An lay down on the small bed, stubbornly saying, "I don’t care, I want to sleep in this room."
Laying his head at the foot of the bed, he could see his sister sitting at the end of the big bed through the screen. He made a pitiful face, "Sis, I’ll also be going to Jade County soon. You won’t be able to see your brother every day. So, shouldn’t we spend time together and sleep together tonight?"
Hearing this, little Fu Ning immediately nodded with teary eyes, then climbed down from the big bed and, in her slippers, made her way to the opposite small bed.
Yu Ying: ...
Fu An, this little fellow, didn’t cry even when he got beaten up with a swollen face. Even when she wasn’t around and he was holding up the family, Yu Ying never saw him show such an expression.
Seeing his pitiful look, Yu Ying knew he was faking it.
His motive...
Was simply to bring her closer to his uncle.
Yu Ying saw through his intentions at a glance but didn’t expose him.
Well, let it be, she thought, indulging his wish.
Fuyan had prepared himself that this last night would be spent alone, but...
When he returned to the room, he saw the two little ones snuggled together on the small bed.
He looked questioningly at Yu Ying.
Yu Ying smiled helplessly at him, "Fu An wants to sleep with us in the same room."
Fu An tucked in his sister's quilt and then looked at his uncle, nodding, "Sis and I will sleep here, uncle and auntie can sleep together!"
Fuyan: ...
His nephew’s intentions were too obvious to ignore.
Seeing that Liuniang didn’t object, Fuyan felt a quiet pleasure in his heart.
Yu Ying said to him, "The weather is too dry, you should apply some face cream before sleeping."
Fuyan nodded and applied a little face cream before approaching the bed.
Fu An suggested, "Uncle, why don’t you move the screen aside? With it, we seem so far apart."
Hearing this, Yu Ying got up and helped Fuyan move the screen away, the two beds now only three steps apart.
With the screen moved, the beds were much closer.
Fuyan turned off the light and lay down alongside Yu Ying.
The room was silent for a while before the sleepless Fu An suddenly spoke, "Uncle, Auntie, I’m not happy."
Yu Ying questioned with a puzzled "Hmm?"
Fu An said gloomily, "Before Uncle arrived, the house was almost silent, so quiet it scared me. After Uncle came, it was even quieter, until you, Auntie, arrived. Then the house started to have life."
Yu Ying paused, listening as he continued, "The house gradually became lively. When Dad and Mom came back, it was completely different from before. These days have been the happiest for me. But now, thinking of Uncle going to Jade County tomorrow, and Grandma and I following later, everyone living apart, it makes me very sad."
Hearing Fu An's words, Fuyan and Yu Ying were filled with mixed emotions.
After a few moments of silence, Yu Ying explained, "The separation now is only temporary, so that we can live together longer and more steadily in the future."
Her words not only reached Fu An’s ears but also resonated deep within Fuyan.
—The separation now is just for a longer togetherness in the future.
Fu An, being young, had a limited understanding and asked in confusion, "What does Auntie mean by that?"
Yu Ying was about to explain, but Fuyan spoke first, "Auntie is now managing the medicinal fields and checking the harvested herbs to earn silver for our livelihood. Uncle is working at the government office to gain the county magistrate's trust. With money, we can have enough food and warm clothes. With influence, we won’t be bullied. Only then can we live a stable, long-lasting life."
Yu Ying turned her face, looking in Fuyan's direction in the dark.
Fu An, though now understanding, couldn't help but choke up, "But I really don’t want to leave. I don’t want to leave Auntie, Dad, Mom, and sister. Nor Uncle and Grandma."
He didn't want to part with any member of his family.
Hearing Fu An's words, Yu Ying's eyes immediately became teary and sore.
Hearing her brother's words, Fu Ning, who had been trying to hold back her tears, couldn't help but let them flow, sobbing, "No... don’t go."
Suddenly, a faint and unclear strange voice filled the room, startling everyone.
The next instant, everyone sat up in shock.
Yu Ying quickly got out of bed, not minding bumping into Fuyan, and lit the oil lamp.
Holding the lamp, she walked to the small bed, looking in astonishment at Fu Ning with tears at the corner of her eyes.
Yu Ying, trying to contain her excitement, asked, "Ningning, did you just speak!?"
A shocked Fu An came to his senses, nodding repeatedly, "She did, she did! I just heard her!"
Fu Ning, with her lips pursed, pushed off the quilt, sat up, and threw herself into her aunt's arms, crying and saying, "Not... going..."
"Sister can really talk now!"
Fu An's loud exclamation reached the ears of Fuzhen and his wife, who hadn’t yet fallen asleep, and even the sleeping Luo was awakened.
Wen Xing, who was hurrying to finish a pair of shoes, hesitantly said, "Did I just hear Fu An say Ningning can talk?"
The couple looked at each other for a moment before realizing it wasn't an illusion.
The two of them quickly got up, put on their shoes and clothes, and hurriedly left the room.
