Chapter 68
Everyone gathered in Yu Ying's room, surrounding little Fu Ning.
Fu Ning, with her big red eyes, looked around at her family members beside the bed. Under their expectant gazes, she turned to Fu An and mumbled, "Bro... brother..."
Wen Xing and Mrs. Luo, hearing this sound, immediately covered their mouths, tears streaming down their faces.
Unable to hold back, Wen Xing suddenly turned and threw herself into her husband's arms, sobbing with trembling shoulders.
Fu Zhen gently patted his wife’s back, his eyes reddening as he looked at his little daughter, his clenched fists betraying his inner excitement.
Fu An, hearing his sister call him brother for the first time, was so surprised and moved that he burst into tears, crying, "She called me first..."
With tears in his eyes and crying intermittently, he said, "My sister called for me first..."
The originally tender atmosphere turned somewhat comical with Fu An's tearful expression, making everyone struggle to hold back their laughter.
Fu Ning's ability to speak brought joy that dispelled the worries of separation. Overcome with emotion, both Fu An and Fu Ning fell asleep, while the others remained awake.
Wen Xing sat by the bed, looking at her children who had cried themselves to sleep, her gaze filled with tenderness and still moist from the aftermath of excitement.
Only she knew how happy she truly was.
While at the quarry, she had heard from He Erlang that her little daughter had become mute, leading to many sleepless nights, her mind constantly worried about her children, almost driving her to madness.
Upon returning, she never expressed it, but she was incredibly heartbroken for her little girl.
Hearing her daughter speak today, she was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions, filled with both joy and deep emotion.
She turned to her sister-in-law and softly called, "Sister-in-law."
As Yu Ying turned to look, Wen Xing's sister-in-law grasped her hands, her face full of gratitude, "Sister-in-law, I really don’t know how to thank you. Without you, Ning Ning might not have been able to speak so soon."
She had just explained to them how Fu Ning found the chance to speak.
The change in the home environment and a more positive atmosphere had given her a sense of security. Once her fear subsided, she naturally began to speak.
The improvement in the home environment and atmosphere was all thanks to the sister-in-law's efforts.
Yu Ying smiled at her sister-in-law, softly saying, "A harmonious home is the best thank you."
In many stories, conflicts and schemes are common between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, and among sisters-in-law.
Fortunately, the Fu family had none of these troubles.
Both Luo and the elder sister-in-law were very easy to get along with. They didn't quarrel over trivial matters, instead showing mutual respect and consideration.
Such an atmosphere was indeed rare.
After a few heartfelt words, considering they had to get up early the next day, it wasn't convenient to talk for too long.
After seeing off her sister-in-law and Luo, the two brothers in the dining hall also went to their respective rooms to rest.
The next morning was increasingly cold, and even the cotton clothes mixed with hemp couldn't fend off the chill.
Yu Ying missed having a down jacket, but it was just a wishful thought at the moment.
After breakfast, as they were preparing to leave, Fuyan handed Yu Ying a piece of broken silver, "For the rent of the house."
Yu Ying looked at the silver, momentarily taken aback.
Fuyan explained, "My good friend wanted to give me some silver for living expenses, but he's not from a wealthy family, so I only took this much."
As it was Fuyan's own decision, Yu Ying had no objections, "Keep it for now. If it's not enough, you can ask me... to lend you some."
Yu Ying changed her initial instinct to say 'give' to 'lend', not wanting to put too much pressure on him.
Fuyan agreed and then suggested, "This silver should be exchanged for copper coins. It will be easier for you to hide them away."
Yu Ying nodded, taking the piece of broken silver from his hand, weighing it briefly, and then started counting out copper coins, selecting five hundred wen.
Five hundred wen weighed about two and a half pounds, so carrying more would be inconvenient due to the weight.
Yu Ying gave him a hundred wen for personal protection. The rest she tucked into a package, explaining, "Copper coins are too heavy and inconvenient to carry around while looking for a house. I'll give you five hundred wen now, and the remaining five hundred wen I’ll give to you later."
Hearing this, Fuyan pointed out, "That silver isn’t even one tael."
Yu Ying gave him a look, not allowing room for doubt, "I said it’s enough, so it is."
After speaking, she walked straight out of the room.
Fuyan, seeing her assertiveness on this matter, shook his head with a resigned smile.
Half a moment later, the whole family escorted them to the village entrance.
Yu Ying instructed Luo and her sister-in-law to take the opportunity of Fu Ning starting to talk, to encourage her to speak more over the next few days.
She also instructed Fu An to help apply the face cream to He Erlang during the next couple of days.
After giving her instructions, the ox cart arrived.
Fu An and Fu Ning both pouted, clearly unhappy.
Yu Ying gently stroked their heads, speaking softly, "Auntie will be back in a couple of days and will bring you some tasty treats."
Even the promise of treats couldn’t bring a smile to the children's faces.
Fuzhen loaded the baskets and bedding onto the ox cart, then helped Fuyan get on, followed by the plain palanquin.
Yu Ying also boarded the ox cart, and as she was waving goodbye, little Fu Ning ran to the side of the cart, grabbing Fuyan's sleeve.
Fuyan looked at his niece with a gentle expression.
Fu Ning, with tears in her eyes, struggled to speak clearly, "Don’t… want… Uncle... Ning... Ning misses..."
Everyone paused, not immediately understanding, then Fu An explained, "She means she doesn’t want Uncle to go, she will miss him."
Fu Ning, with tears in her eyes, nodded emphatically, confirming her brother's interpretation.
Fuyan felt a warm current in his heart, touched by her words.
He smiled warmly at his niece, gently stroking her head, his voice tender, "Uncle will miss Ningning too."
Fuyan looked at those seeing him off, realizing that over the past six months, he had slowly and unconsciously come to accept them as family.
After waving goodbye, the ox cart gradually moved away.
Upon reaching Jade County, Yu Ying asked Chen Daye to wait at Wu's Eatery while she went to look at houses. If she found one, they would then move the items from the ox cart.
Yu Ying entered Wu's Eatery and greeted Chen, the shopkeeper.
Seeing Mrs. Yu, Chen informed her that the errand boy from Penglai Inn had come looking for her again.
The errand boy from Penglai Inn likely had more business to offer.
Given the recent lawsuit, the news had probably spread throughout Jade County. If any medicine merchants showed interest, the errand boy would surely be eager to introduce them to her for a commission.
Yu Ying wasn’t surprised by this and wasn’t in a hurry either, planning to settle down first before seeking out the errand boy.
After asking Chen, he suggested they look for a house broker, who could find them the most suitable house for only ten wen.
“The house broker is right outside the pawnshop, shouting about houses for rent,” he said.
He cautioned, “Anyone asking for more than ten wen is likely trying to cheat you.”
Knowing where the pawnshop was, Yu Ying thanked Chen and went there with Fuyan.
The streets of the county town were smooth, making it easy to push a wheelchair, though it attracted a lot of attention.
They found the house broker near the pawnshop.
The broker initially asked for twenty wen.
Yu Ying firmly insisted on ten wen, threatening to find someone else otherwise.
Knowing they were referred by an acquaintance, the broker didn’t haggle and said, “I have houses for under a hundred wen, and also for a hundred and several hundred wen, depending on what price range you're looking for.”
The prices quoted by the broker were acceptable.
Yu Ying inquired, “What are the houses like for under a hundred wen?”
The house broker curiously examined the wheelchair and replied, "I can’t explain it well. You have to see it for yourselves. But first, you need to pay five wen. If you decide to rent after seeing it, you pay the remaining five wen. If not, there’s no need to pay."
Yu Ying felt this was reasonable and handed him five wen.
The houses under a hundred wen were located on the outskirts of Jade County. The further they walked, the more desolate it became, with houses increasingly dilapidated, and people around wearing clothes almost entirely patched.
These clothes were slightly better than what Luo and her family wore when Yu Ying first arrived at the Fu household.
The houses were built of thatch, and the courtyards were smaller than those in Lingshui Village. There was also a faint, unpleasant smell of urine in the air, making it uncomfortable.
"Houses like this are sixty wen a month. The slightly bigger ones next door are seventy wen a month."
Yu Ying immediately rejected, "Let’s look at the ones around a hundred wen."
The broker then led them for a short walk, entering an alley two streets away from the previous location.
The houses here were much better than before.
They were mud-brick houses with tile roofs. The small courtyards were big enough to keep a few chickens and to hang some laundry.
The broker said, "These are one hundred and twenty wen a month. If you want to look inside, I’ll get the keys from the owner."
Yu Ying and Fuyan exchanged glances.
She was somewhat tempted, but hesitated when she saw Fuyan’s wheelchair.
The price was right, and the environment was better than the previous location, but the only downside was the distance from the county office.
Yu Ying estimated that it would take at least half an hour to walk to the county office from there, let alone with Fuyan in a wheelchair.
After considering, Yu Ying asked, "Are there any houses closer to the county office?"
The broker looked surprised, "Houses close to the county office? You can't rent one for a hundred wen. A house like this would cost at least two to three hundred wen."
Yu Ying nodded, "Let’s look for a house near the county office."
The higher the rent, the more commission the house broker would earn, so he was naturally happy to help. He took them around the county office area, showing them two nearby houses.
Yu Ying chose the one with easier access.
The broker fetched the keys, and seeing that the woman’s husband had difficulty walking, he helped lift the chair into the courtyard.
Yu Ying looked at the threshold, realizing it was impossible to push the chair over it. They would need to place two wooden planks for easier wheelchair access.
She surveyed the courtyard.
The house and yard were similar in size to the one for 120 wen, also with mud-brick walls and a tiled roof.
The small yard was unkempt, overgrown with weeds, but the doors and windows were intact.
The house had three connected rooms: two bedrooms on the sides and a central hall.
There was a thatched hut and a thatched kitchen, clearly visible.
It wasn’t perfect, but still better than the thatched houses in Lingshui Village, especially during storms.
Yu Ying asked, “How much is this courtyard per month?”
“It's just a short walk to the county office, costing 220 wen per month.”
While closer, the price was a full 100 wen more expensive.
Fuyan frowned slightly and looked at Yu Ying, hesitatingly suggesting, “Liuniang, perhaps we should rent the previous courtyard.”
Upon hearing this, the broker’s face showed urgency, hastily adding, “The price can still be negotiated.”
Yu Ying thought for a moment and said, “I won’t make an unreasonable offer, let's say 200 wen. Go and talk to the owner. If it’s agreed, I’ll rent it today.”
The broker appeared troubled, “Reducing by 20 wen all at once, isn't that a bit much? Maybe the lady could raise the offer slightly.”
Yu Ying spoke calmly, "That's the price I'm offering. Please go and negotiate. If it's agreed, I'll rent it immediately."
Seeing her reluctant to continue negotiating, the property agent pondered for a moment before agreeing, "Alright, I'll talk to the landlord."
The agent's willingness to negotiate indicated a possibility of reaching an agreement. As he left, Yu Ying added, "If it doesn’t work out, there’s no need to continue negotiating. We can look at other properties."
The property agent acknowledged and went to inquire.
With only the two of them left in the courtyard, Fu Wei asked her, "Do you like this place?"
Yu Ying shook her head, "Not particularly. It's a bit expensive, but firstly, it’s convenient. Secondly, being near the county office, petty thieves wouldn’t dare to intrude. And in case of trouble, we can quickly reach the government office for help."
It was similar to the modern concept of living near a police station.
Fu Wei agreed with her reasoning and nodded slightly, "Then let's settle for this place."
Fu Wei was completely confident the price could be negotiated, judging from the property agent's reaction.
Sure enough, a moment later, the agent returned with the landlord, who agreed to the price.
The landlord, upon seeing Yu Ying, exclaimed in surprise, "Aren’t you Mrs. Yu who sued the head of Luo's Medical Hall at the public court a few days ago? I even went to the county office to watch!"
Yu Ying, not wanting to elaborate, simply smiled faintly.
The landlord then looked at the man beside her, remembering both his appearance and the wheelchair, and asked in astonishment, "So, you two are husband and wife? What happened to this gentleman’s legs?"
Fu Wei, with an indifferent expression, replied, "There was an accident, I can't walk normally now."
The landlord thought to himself, "So he's a cripple!"
No wonder, a woman with a facial blemish matched with a cripple seems quite fitting.
Seeing that they didn't want to chat more, the landlord didn't ask further and only said, "Two hundred wen is doable, but you need to pay two months' rent in advance."
With Fu Wei's trial period at the government office lasting three months, Yu Ying agreed to pay two months' rent upfront.
After finalizing the deal, they needed to report to the government office to prevent fraud using someone else's property.
After reporting to the government office, Yu Ying paid the four hundred wen rent.
The landlord handed over the keys, advising them not to damage the property before leaving.
Yu Ying gave the remaining five wen to the property agent. Just as she was about to leave, Huo, the clerk from the government office, called out to her, "Mrs. Yu, please wait a moment."
Huo approached and said, "The five hundred wen compensation from Luo's Medical Hall, Mrs. Yu, you might as well collect it now."
Then, turning to Fu Wei, he added, "Mr. Fu, the magistrate instructed me to ask when you can start your position."
Fu Wei replied, "I can start tomorrow."
Perhaps because of Fu Wei's upcoming position in the government office, Huo's attitude was much more amiable than before.
He continued, "The magistrate specifically instructed, considering Mr. Fu's difficulty in walking, a stone slab has been placed at the side entrance. I will take Mr. Fu through the side door in a bit, so he can familiarize himself with the way."
Fu Wei's expression softened, and he smiled, "Thank you, Huo, for the reminder."
Yu Ying's gaze fell on his smiling face, thinking to herself how quickly he was adapting.
Perhaps this time, his experience as a clerk in the government office wouldn't be as humiliating as described in the book.
But remembering the brother of the head of Luo's Medical Hall, Yu Ying still felt worried.
Entering the government office through the side door with Huo, Yu Ying quietly asked, "Huo, is Luo, the scribe, still at the government office?"
Huo Yacha replied, "After all, it was only the mistake of Director Luo, and his family should not be punished. Naturally, Registrar Luo is still here."
Hearing this, Yu Ying grew more worried: "When my husband joins the yamen, I hope Huo Yacha can take good care of him."
Huo Yacha responded, "Rest assured, Madam Yu. If Lord Fu encounters any difficulties, I will certainly help."
"Then I must thank Huo Yacha for his kindness."
Fu Wei pondered for a moment before speaking, "We've rented a small courtyard near the yamen, located in the West Mouth Alley. After settling in today, we would like to invite Huo Yacha tomorrow for a housewarming drink."
Huo Yacha smiled, "Sure, call me once you're settled. I'll definitely come."
Fu Wei added, "By the way, I'm not very familiar with the workings of the yamen. I fear I might inadvertently overstep, so I hope Huo Yacha could offer some guidance."
Huo Yacha said, "I can't claim to guide, but the relationships in the yamen are complex. Take the clerks, for instance. The lord has two by his side; one came with him, and the other is a local from Yu County. These two..." Huo Yacha lowered his voice, cautioning, "They are at odds like water and fire. Lord Fu, be careful not to hastily take sides."
Fu Wei looked puzzled, "May I know the surnames of these two, and their temperaments? Understanding them will help me navigate better."
Huo Yacha thought for a moment, "I can't go into details now, but to put it simply, the one who came with the lord is surnamed Qian, about the same age as the lord, and is cunning beneath his smiles. The local is surnamed Sun, around fifty years old, and more approachable."
Yu Ying, knowing that Fu Wei was trying to understand the intricacies of the county yamen, did not interrupt their conversation.
She did not interrupt, but due to the short journey, their chat was brief.
Yu Ying understood why Fu Wei invited Huo Yacha to their housewarming feast – likely to glean insights into the interpersonal dynamics of the yamen.
After receiving a compensation of 500 wen, Yu Ying asked, "How did the yamen deal with Director Luo?"
Huo's smile faded slightly as he replied, "Though punished, it wasn’t severely so."
Fu Wei’s brow furrowed imperceptibly, getting a hint of the outcome.
Yu County being poor, the taxes from the medical hall were significant; losing one meant less revenue.
Moreover, the magistrate likely wanted to use this incident to fill the county's coffers, so the sentence wouldn’t be too harsh.
Yu Ying puzzled, "Punished, but not severely?"
As Huo escorted them out of the government office, he explained truthfully, "Besides being beaten twenty times, he was sentenced to three years of imprisonment, which could be substituted with fifty taels of silver."
Ordinary people couldn’t afford fifty taels, but the medical hall could, otherwise the magistrate wouldn’t have set such a high price.
"The silver was delivered this morning, and he was released. The magistrate spoke to him privately, likely warning him to be careful in his actions, so Mrs. Yu and Mr. Fu needn't worry too much about him causing further trouble."
Hearing this, Yu Ying thanked Huo for the information, but she was still very clear in her mind.
Unable to use illegal tactics, he might resort to underhanded methods that don't break the law.
After leaving the government office, Fu Wei said to her, "Don’t worry too much. He's been ostracized by the other three medical halls, he won’t be able to do much harm."
Yu Ying: "I'm not worried about myself; I'm concerned about you. He might not harm me, a woman, but he could use his brother to trouble you."
Hearing this, a smile appeared on Fu Wei's face.
Seeing his smile, Yu Ying was puzzled, "You might face targeting at the government office. Aren't you a bit worried? How can you still smile?"
Fu Wei, his voice cheerful, "Hearing you worry about me makes me smile involuntarily, I guess it's because I'm happy inside."
Caught off guard by his words, Yu Ying's heart skipped a beat.
She had thought his confession that night was put aside after she made herself clear, but now he spoke with such openness.
She composed herself and changed the subject, saying, "Although we've rented the courtyard, we still need to buy furniture, beds, pots, and pans."
"We definitely need to buy a ready-made bed. I know where to find one. I'll go check it out later, negotiate the price, and ask Uncle Chen to help transport it."
As it was already noon and they hadn't started anything yet, Yu Ying decided to buy a couple of steamed buns to fill their stomachs.
After buying the buns, they headed straight back to their rented place.
After eating the buns, Yu Ying asked Fu Wei to wait at home while she went out to purchase a bed.
They still had a single bamboo bed at their home in Lingshui Village, which could be brought over for Mrs. Luo to sleep on.
But buying just one more large bed wasn't enough. Even if Fu An could share with Fu Wei, what if she brought Fu Ning to stay in Yu County for a night or two? Where would they sleep?
After some thought, she decided that even though they would bring the single bamboo bed to Yu County, they still needed to buy two large beds.
Yu Ying went to look at beds.
The bamboo bed was about ten wen more expensive than the one at Uncle Chen's relative's house.
The simplest wooden bed, without intricate railings, just had a few horizontal bars at the head, foot, and sides serving as railings.
Comparatively, the wooden bed was much more comfortable than the bamboo one.
But it was also much more expensive; the bamboo bed cost less than a hundred wen, while the wooden bed was two hundred wen each.
Yu Ying, thinking they would eventually switch to wooden beds anyway, bit the bullet and decided to buy them.
After negotiating, she spent 380 wen on two beds, and another 40 wen on two buckets, two basins, and a bamboo table and stool set for 70 wen.
She had brought 500 wen from Fu Wei when they left Lingshui Village, and she herself had 200 wen.
Renting the house had cost 400 wen, leaving them with only 300 wen, which wasn't enough. Fortunately, they had received another 500 wen at the yamen, just enough to cover the cost.
Yu Ying felt uneasy not spending the 500 wen of compensation.
Moreover, as the furniture purchase was local in Yu County, delivery was free. So Yu Ying asked Uncle Chen to deliver the items and accompanied him.
Once the goods were delivered and moved into the house, Yu Ying told Uncle Chen, "You must come to our housewarming feast the day after tomorrow!"
Uncle Chen laughed and agreed, "Certainly, certainly."
After seeing off Uncle Chen, the workers began assembling the wooden beds. In less than half an hour, both beds were set up. Yu Ying checked their sturdiness before paying them.
After the workers left, Fu Wei asked, "Do we still have any silver left?"
Yu Ying closed the courtyard gate and told him, "I spent the 500 wen we got at the yamen earlier."
She looked around the small courtyard. Though she wouldn't be living here herself, she felt a surprising sense of achievement in setting it up.
Perhaps, she thought, because every time she came to Yu County, she would rest here. It would be her second place of respite and relaxation in this world.
A smile unconsciously appeared on her face as she looked at the sturdy mud walls and the fence, remarking, "In the future, we should all move to the county town. The houses in the village are really not safe."
The high walls isolated the courtyard from the outside, ensuring that Fu Wei wouldn't have to worry about being seen, even if he didn't use his wheelchair.
The only condition was that no one peeked through the cracks in the door, but that was an easy problem to solve - just cover them.
The courtyard was still in disarray, the house hadn't been cleaned, and they had no kitchen utensils. After a short break, Fu Wei stayed at home to tidy up while Yu Ying went out again to buy what they needed.
Moving was indeed a tiring and expensive task, but strangely, it was always satisfying.
Chapter 68
Everyone gathered in Yu Ying's room, surrounding little Fu Ning.
Fu Ning, with her big red eyes, looked around at her family members beside the bed. Under their expectant gazes, she turned to Fu An and mumbled, "Bro... brother..."
Wen Xing and Mrs. Luo, hearing this sound, immediately covered their mouths, tears streaming down their faces.
Unable to hold back, Wen Xing suddenly turned and threw herself into her husband's arms, sobbing with trembling shoulders.
Fu Zhen gently patted his wife’s back, his eyes reddening as he looked at his little daughter, his clenched fists betraying his inner excitement.
Fu An, hearing his sister call him brother for the first time, was so surprised and moved that he burst into tears, crying, "She called me first..."
With tears in his eyes and crying intermittently, he said, "My sister called for me first..."
The originally tender atmosphere turned somewhat comical with Fu An's tearful expression, making everyone struggle to hold back their laughter.
Fu Ning's ability to speak brought joy that dispelled the worries of separation. Overcome with emotion, both Fu An and Fu Ning fell asleep, while the others remained awake.
Wen Xing sat by the bed, looking at her children who had cried themselves to sleep, her gaze filled with tenderness and still moist from the aftermath of excitement.
Only she knew how happy she truly was.
While at the quarry, she had heard from He Erlang that her little daughter had become mute, leading to many sleepless nights, her mind constantly worried about her children, almost driving her to madness.
Upon returning, she never expressed it, but she was incredibly heartbroken for her little girl.
Hearing her daughter speak today, she was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions, filled with both joy and deep emotion.
She turned to her sister-in-law and softly called, "Sister-in-law."
As Yu Ying turned to look, Wen Xing's sister-in-law grasped her hands, her face full of gratitude, "Sister-in-law, I really don’t know how to thank you. Without you, Ning Ning might not have been able to speak so soon."
She had just explained to them how Fu Ning found the chance to speak.
The change in the home environment and a more positive atmosphere had given her a sense of security. Once her fear subsided, she naturally began to speak.
The improvement in the home environment and atmosphere was all thanks to the sister-in-law's efforts.
Yu Ying smiled at her sister-in-law, softly saying, "A harmonious home is the best thank you."
In many stories, conflicts and schemes are common between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, and among sisters-in-law.
Fortunately, the Fu family had none of these troubles.
Both Luo and the elder sister-in-law were very easy to get along with. They didn't quarrel over trivial matters, instead showing mutual respect and consideration.
Such an atmosphere was indeed rare.
After a few heartfelt words, considering they had to get up early the next day, it wasn't convenient to talk for too long.
After seeing off her sister-in-law and Luo, the two brothers in the dining hall also went to their respective rooms to rest.
The next morning was increasingly cold, and even the cotton clothes mixed with hemp couldn't fend off the chill.
Yu Ying missed having a down jacket, but it was just a wishful thought at the moment.
After breakfast, as they were preparing to leave, Fuyan handed Yu Ying a piece of broken silver, "For the rent of the house."
Yu Ying looked at the silver, momentarily taken aback.
Fuyan explained, "My good friend wanted to give me some silver for living expenses, but he's not from a wealthy family, so I only took this much."
As it was Fuyan's own decision, Yu Ying had no objections, "Keep it for now. If it's not enough, you can ask me... to lend you some."
Yu Ying changed her initial instinct to say 'give' to 'lend', not wanting to put too much pressure on him.
Fuyan agreed and then suggested, "This silver should be exchanged for copper coins. It will be easier for you to hide them away."
Yu Ying nodded, taking the piece of broken silver from his hand, weighing it briefly, and then started counting out copper coins, selecting five hundred wen.
Five hundred wen weighed about two and a half pounds, so carrying more would be inconvenient due to the weight.
Yu Ying gave him a hundred wen for personal protection. The rest she tucked into a package, explaining, "Copper coins are too heavy and inconvenient to carry around while looking for a house. I'll give you five hundred wen now, and the remaining five hundred wen I’ll give to you later."
Hearing this, Fuyan pointed out, "That silver isn’t even one tael."
Yu Ying gave him a look, not allowing room for doubt, "I said it’s enough, so it is."
After speaking, she walked straight out of the room.
Fuyan, seeing her assertiveness on this matter, shook his head with a resigned smile.
Half a moment later, the whole family escorted them to the village entrance.
Yu Ying instructed Luo and her sister-in-law to take the opportunity of Fu Ning starting to talk, to encourage her to speak more over the next few days.
She also instructed Fu An to help apply the face cream to He Erlang during the next couple of days.
After giving her instructions, the ox cart arrived.
Fu An and Fu Ning both pouted, clearly unhappy.
Yu Ying gently stroked their heads, speaking softly, "Auntie will be back in a couple of days and will bring you some tasty treats."
Even the promise of treats couldn’t bring a smile to the children's faces.
Fuzhen loaded the baskets and bedding onto the ox cart, then helped Fuyan get on, followed by the plain palanquin.
Yu Ying also boarded the ox cart, and as she was waving goodbye, little Fu Ning ran to the side of the cart, grabbing Fuyan's sleeve.
Fuyan looked at his niece with a gentle expression.
Fu Ning, with tears in her eyes, struggled to speak clearly, "Don’t… want… Uncle... Ning... Ning misses..."
Everyone paused, not immediately understanding, then Fu An explained, "She means she doesn’t want Uncle to go, she will miss him."
Fu Ning, with tears in her eyes, nodded emphatically, confirming her brother's interpretation.
Fuyan felt a warm current in his heart, touched by her words.
He smiled warmly at his niece, gently stroking her head, his voice tender, "Uncle will miss Ningning too."
Fuyan looked at those seeing him off, realizing that over the past six months, he had slowly and unconsciously come to accept them as family.
After waving goodbye, the ox cart gradually moved away.
Upon reaching Jade County, Yu Ying asked Chen Daye to wait at Wu's Eatery while she went to look at houses. If she found one, they would then move the items from the ox cart.
Yu Ying entered Wu's Eatery and greeted Chen, the shopkeeper.
Seeing Mrs. Yu, Chen informed her that the errand boy from Penglai Inn had come looking for her again.
The errand boy from Penglai Inn likely had more business to offer.
Given the recent lawsuit, the news had probably spread throughout Jade County. If any medicine merchants showed interest, the errand boy would surely be eager to introduce them to her for a commission.
Yu Ying wasn’t surprised by this and wasn’t in a hurry either, planning to settle down first before seeking out the errand boy.
After asking Chen, he suggested they look for a house broker, who could find them the most suitable house for only ten wen.
“The house broker is right outside the pawnshop, shouting about houses for rent,” he said.
He cautioned, “Anyone asking for more than ten wen is likely trying to cheat you.”
Knowing where the pawnshop was, Yu Ying thanked Chen and went there with Fuyan.
The streets of the county town were smooth, making it easy to push a wheelchair, though it attracted a lot of attention.
They found the house broker near the pawnshop.
The broker initially asked for twenty wen.
Yu Ying firmly insisted on ten wen, threatening to find someone else otherwise.
Knowing they were referred by an acquaintance, the broker didn’t haggle and said, “I have houses for under a hundred wen, and also for a hundred and several hundred wen, depending on what price range you're looking for.”
The prices quoted by the broker were acceptable.
Yu Ying inquired, “What are the houses like for under a hundred wen?”
The house broker curiously examined the wheelchair and replied, "I can’t explain it well. You have to see it for yourselves. But first, you need to pay five wen. If you decide to rent after seeing it, you pay the remaining five wen. If not, there’s no need to pay."
Yu Ying felt this was reasonable and handed him five wen.
The houses under a hundred wen were located on the outskirts of Jade County. The further they walked, the more desolate it became, with houses increasingly dilapidated, and people around wearing clothes almost entirely patched.
These clothes were slightly better than what Luo and her family wore when Yu Ying first arrived at the Fu household.
The houses were built of thatch, and the courtyards were smaller than those in Lingshui Village. There was also a faint, unpleasant smell of urine in the air, making it uncomfortable.
"Houses like this are sixty wen a month. The slightly bigger ones next door are seventy wen a month."
Yu Ying immediately rejected, "Let’s look at the ones around a hundred wen."
The broker then led them for a short walk, entering an alley two streets away from the previous location.
The houses here were much better than before.
They were mud-brick houses with tile roofs. The small courtyards were big enough to keep a few chickens and to hang some laundry.
The broker said, "These are one hundred and twenty wen a month. If you want to look inside, I’ll get the keys from the owner."
Yu Ying and Fuyan exchanged glances.
She was somewhat tempted, but hesitated when she saw Fuyan’s wheelchair.
The price was right, and the environment was better than the previous location, but the only downside was the distance from the county office.
Yu Ying estimated that it would take at least half an hour to walk to the county office from there, let alone with Fuyan in a wheelchair.
After considering, Yu Ying asked, "Are there any houses closer to the county office?"
The broker looked surprised, "Houses close to the county office? You can't rent one for a hundred wen. A house like this would cost at least two to three hundred wen."
Yu Ying nodded, "Let’s look for a house near the county office."
The higher the rent, the more commission the house broker would earn, so he was naturally happy to help. He took them around the county office area, showing them two nearby houses.
Yu Ying chose the one with easier access.
The broker fetched the keys, and seeing that the woman’s husband had difficulty walking, he helped lift the chair into the courtyard.
Yu Ying looked at the threshold, realizing it was impossible to push the chair over it. They would need to place two wooden planks for easier wheelchair access.
She surveyed the courtyard.
The house and yard were similar in size to the one for 120 wen, also with mud-brick walls and a tiled roof.
The small yard was unkempt, overgrown with weeds, but the doors and windows were intact.
The house had three connected rooms: two bedrooms on the sides and a central hall.
There was a thatched hut and a thatched kitchen, clearly visible.
It wasn’t perfect, but still better than the thatched houses in Lingshui Village, especially during storms.
Yu Ying asked, “How much is this courtyard per month?”
“It's just a short walk to the county office, costing 220 wen per month.”
While closer, the price was a full 100 wen more expensive.
Fuyan frowned slightly and looked at Yu Ying, hesitatingly suggesting, “Liuniang, perhaps we should rent the previous courtyard.”
Upon hearing this, the broker’s face showed urgency, hastily adding, “The price can still be negotiated.”
Yu Ying thought for a moment and said, “I won’t make an unreasonable offer, let's say 200 wen. Go and talk to the owner. If it’s agreed, I’ll rent it today.”
The broker appeared troubled, “Reducing by 20 wen all at once, isn't that a bit much? Maybe the lady could raise the offer slightly.”
Yu Ying spoke calmly, "That's the price I'm offering. Please go and negotiate. If it's agreed, I'll rent it immediately."
Seeing her reluctant to continue negotiating, the property agent pondered for a moment before agreeing, "Alright, I'll talk to the landlord."
The agent's willingness to negotiate indicated a possibility of reaching an agreement. As he left, Yu Ying added, "If it doesn’t work out, there’s no need to continue negotiating. We can look at other properties."
The property agent acknowledged and went to inquire.
With only the two of them left in the courtyard, Fu Wei asked her, "Do you like this place?"
Yu Ying shook her head, "Not particularly. It's a bit expensive, but firstly, it’s convenient. Secondly, being near the county office, petty thieves wouldn’t dare to intrude. And in case of trouble, we can quickly reach the government office for help."
It was similar to the modern concept of living near a police station.
Fu Wei agreed with her reasoning and nodded slightly, "Then let's settle for this place."
Fu Wei was completely confident the price could be negotiated, judging from the property agent's reaction.
Sure enough, a moment later, the agent returned with the landlord, who agreed to the price.
The landlord, upon seeing Yu Ying, exclaimed in surprise, "Aren’t you Mrs. Yu who sued the head of Luo's Medical Hall at the public court a few days ago? I even went to the county office to watch!"
Yu Ying, not wanting to elaborate, simply smiled faintly.
The landlord then looked at the man beside her, remembering both his appearance and the wheelchair, and asked in astonishment, "So, you two are husband and wife? What happened to this gentleman’s legs?"
Fu Wei, with an indifferent expression, replied, "There was an accident, I can't walk normally now."
The landlord thought to himself, "So he's a cripple!"
No wonder, a woman with a facial blemish matched with a cripple seems quite fitting.
Seeing that they didn't want to chat more, the landlord didn't ask further and only said, "Two hundred wen is doable, but you need to pay two months' rent in advance."
With Fu Wei's trial period at the government office lasting three months, Yu Ying agreed to pay two months' rent upfront.
After finalizing the deal, they needed to report to the government office to prevent fraud using someone else's property.
After reporting to the government office, Yu Ying paid the four hundred wen rent.
The landlord handed over the keys, advising them not to damage the property before leaving.
Yu Ying gave the remaining five wen to the property agent. Just as she was about to leave, Huo, the clerk from the government office, called out to her, "Mrs. Yu, please wait a moment."
Huo approached and said, "The five hundred wen compensation from Luo's Medical Hall, Mrs. Yu, you might as well collect it now."
Then, turning to Fu Wei, he added, "Mr. Fu, the magistrate instructed me to ask when you can start your position."
Fu Wei replied, "I can start tomorrow."
Perhaps because of Fu Wei's upcoming position in the government office, Huo's attitude was much more amiable than before.
He continued, "The magistrate specifically instructed, considering Mr. Fu's difficulty in walking, a stone slab has been placed at the side entrance. I will take Mr. Fu through the side door in a bit, so he can familiarize himself with the way."
Fu Wei's expression softened, and he smiled, "Thank you, Huo, for the reminder."
Yu Ying's gaze fell on his smiling face, thinking to herself how quickly he was adapting.
Perhaps this time, his experience as a clerk in the government office wouldn't be as humiliating as described in the book.
But remembering the brother of the head of Luo's Medical Hall, Yu Ying still felt worried.
Entering the government office through the side door with Huo, Yu Ying quietly asked, "Huo, is Luo, the scribe, still at the government office?"
Huo Yacha replied, "After all, it was only the mistake of Director Luo, and his family should not be punished. Naturally, Registrar Luo is still here."
Hearing this, Yu Ying grew more worried: "When my husband joins the yamen, I hope Huo Yacha can take good care of him."
Huo Yacha responded, "Rest assured, Madam Yu. If Lord Fu encounters any difficulties, I will certainly help."
"Then I must thank Huo Yacha for his kindness."
Fu Wei pondered for a moment before speaking, "We've rented a small courtyard near the yamen, located in the West Mouth Alley. After settling in today, we would like to invite Huo Yacha tomorrow for a housewarming drink."
Huo Yacha smiled, "Sure, call me once you're settled. I'll definitely come."
Fu Wei added, "By the way, I'm not very familiar with the workings of the yamen. I fear I might inadvertently overstep, so I hope Huo Yacha could offer some guidance."
Huo Yacha said, "I can't claim to guide, but the relationships in the yamen are complex. Take the clerks, for instance. The lord has two by his side; one came with him, and the other is a local from Yu County. These two..." Huo Yacha lowered his voice, cautioning, "They are at odds like water and fire. Lord Fu, be careful not to hastily take sides."
Fu Wei looked puzzled, "May I know the surnames of these two, and their temperaments? Understanding them will help me navigate better."
Huo Yacha thought for a moment, "I can't go into details now, but to put it simply, the one who came with the lord is surnamed Qian, about the same age as the lord, and is cunning beneath his smiles. The local is surnamed Sun, around fifty years old, and more approachable."
Yu Ying, knowing that Fu Wei was trying to understand the intricacies of the county yamen, did not interrupt their conversation.
She did not interrupt, but due to the short journey, their chat was brief.
Yu Ying understood why Fu Wei invited Huo Yacha to their housewarming feast – likely to glean insights into the interpersonal dynamics of the yamen.
After receiving a compensation of 500 wen, Yu Ying asked, "How did the yamen deal with Director Luo?"
Huo's smile faded slightly as he replied, "Though punished, it wasn’t severely so."
Fu Wei’s brow furrowed imperceptibly, getting a hint of the outcome.
Yu County being poor, the taxes from the medical hall were significant; losing one meant less revenue.
Moreover, the magistrate likely wanted to use this incident to fill the county's coffers, so the sentence wouldn’t be too harsh.
Yu Ying puzzled, "Punished, but not severely?"
As Huo escorted them out of the government office, he explained truthfully, "Besides being beaten twenty times, he was sentenced to three years of imprisonment, which could be substituted with fifty taels of silver."
Ordinary people couldn’t afford fifty taels, but the medical hall could, otherwise the magistrate wouldn’t have set such a high price.
"The silver was delivered this morning, and he was released. The magistrate spoke to him privately, likely warning him to be careful in his actions, so Mrs. Yu and Mr. Fu needn't worry too much about him causing further trouble."
Hearing this, Yu Ying thanked Huo for the information, but she was still very clear in her mind.
Unable to use illegal tactics, he might resort to underhanded methods that don't break the law.
After leaving the government office, Fu Wei said to her, "Don’t worry too much. He's been ostracized by the other three medical halls, he won’t be able to do much harm."
Yu Ying: "I'm not worried about myself; I'm concerned about you. He might not harm me, a woman, but he could use his brother to trouble you."
Hearing this, a smile appeared on Fu Wei's face.
Seeing his smile, Yu Ying was puzzled, "You might face targeting at the government office. Aren't you a bit worried? How can you still smile?"
Fu Wei, his voice cheerful, "Hearing you worry about me makes me smile involuntarily, I guess it's because I'm happy inside."
Caught off guard by his words, Yu Ying's heart skipped a beat.
She had thought his confession that night was put aside after she made herself clear, but now he spoke with such openness.
She composed herself and changed the subject, saying, "Although we've rented the courtyard, we still need to buy furniture, beds, pots, and pans."
"We definitely need to buy a ready-made bed. I know where to find one. I'll go check it out later, negotiate the price, and ask Uncle Chen to help transport it."
As it was already noon and they hadn't started anything yet, Yu Ying decided to buy a couple of steamed buns to fill their stomachs.
After buying the buns, they headed straight back to their rented place.
After eating the buns, Yu Ying asked Fu Wei to wait at home while she went out to purchase a bed.
They still had a single bamboo bed at their home in Lingshui Village, which could be brought over for Mrs. Luo to sleep on.
But buying just one more large bed wasn't enough. Even if Fu An could share with Fu Wei, what if she brought Fu Ning to stay in Yu County for a night or two? Where would they sleep?
After some thought, she decided that even though they would bring the single bamboo bed to Yu County, they still needed to buy two large beds.
Yu Ying went to look at beds.
The bamboo bed was about ten wen more expensive than the one at Uncle Chen's relative's house.
The simplest wooden bed, without intricate railings, just had a few horizontal bars at the head, foot, and sides serving as railings.
Comparatively, the wooden bed was much more comfortable than the bamboo one.
But it was also much more expensive; the bamboo bed cost less than a hundred wen, while the wooden bed was two hundred wen each.
Yu Ying, thinking they would eventually switch to wooden beds anyway, bit the bullet and decided to buy them.
After negotiating, she spent 380 wen on two beds, and another 40 wen on two buckets, two basins, and a bamboo table and stool set for 70 wen.
She had brought 500 wen from Fu Wei when they left Lingshui Village, and she herself had 200 wen.
Renting the house had cost 400 wen, leaving them with only 300 wen, which wasn't enough. Fortunately, they had received another 500 wen at the yamen, just enough to cover the cost.
Yu Ying felt uneasy not spending the 500 wen of compensation.
Moreover, as the furniture purchase was local in Yu County, delivery was free. So Yu Ying asked Uncle Chen to deliver the items and accompanied him.
Once the goods were delivered and moved into the house, Yu Ying told Uncle Chen, "You must come to our housewarming feast the day after tomorrow!"
Uncle Chen laughed and agreed, "Certainly, certainly."
After seeing off Uncle Chen, the workers began assembling the wooden beds. In less than half an hour, both beds were set up. Yu Ying checked their sturdiness before paying them.
After the workers left, Fu Wei asked, "Do we still have any silver left?"
Yu Ying closed the courtyard gate and told him, "I spent the 500 wen we got at the yamen earlier."
She looked around the small courtyard. Though she wouldn't be living here herself, she felt a surprising sense of achievement in setting it up.
Perhaps, she thought, because every time she came to Yu County, she would rest here. It would be her second place of respite and relaxation in this world.
A smile unconsciously appeared on her face as she looked at the sturdy mud walls and the fence, remarking, "In the future, we should all move to the county town. The houses in the village are really not safe."
The high walls isolated the courtyard from the outside, ensuring that Fu Wei wouldn't have to worry about being seen, even if he didn't use his wheelchair.
The only condition was that no one peeked through the cracks in the door, but that was an easy problem to solve - just cover them.
The courtyard was still in disarray, the house hadn't been cleaned, and they had no kitchen utensils. After a short break, Fu Wei stayed at home to tidy up while Yu Ying went out again to buy what they needed.
Moving was indeed a tiring and expensive task, but strangely, it was always satisfying.
