Chapter 70
The people in the main room ate and drank, gradually becoming more relaxed and talkative as the alcohol took effect.
Yu Ying occasionally overheard Huo and the junior clerk discussing matters of the government office.
They mentioned that the only person completely trusted by the magistrate was Clerk Qian.
This Clerk Qian was brought from the military by Magistrate Zhou, and their relationship was incomparable to others.
The two clerks were at odds, equally matched - Clerk Qian was trusted by the magistrate, and Clerk Sun was a local of Yu County, with most local clerks and subordinates supporting him. When the local people had issues, they would first turn to Clerk Sun.
Yu Ying, not hearing everything clearly, roughly understood that Fu Wei's arrival would disrupt the balance between Clerks Qian and Sun.
Even without saying it, Yu Ying knew Fu Wei would have a tough time at the government office.
Yet, in such a difficult world, everyone is too busy with their own struggles; such hardships he must endure alone.
Inside the main room, Fu Wei was drinking with Huo, the clerk, while still keeping his wits about him to gather information.
Despite the alcohol, the two clerks made several trips to the restroom, while Fu Wei remained composed, sitting steadily in his wheelchair.
As Yu Ying peeked out from behind the door, she speculated that Fu Wei had been restraining his physiological needs since becoming handicapped, a habit that could lead to health issues.
Outside, the drinking continued from mid-afternoon until dusk, only dispersing as it grew dark.
Huo, having drunk more, was assisted home by the junior clerk, who had consumed less.
As Huo was being supported, he gave a hearty pat on Fu Wei's shoulder, assuring, "Mr. Fu, rest assured, if anyone troubles you at the office, even if I can't help openly, I'll assist you privately!"
Fu Wei, smiling, gave a bow of thanks, "Then I am deeply grateful to you, Huo."
"No problem at all."
Huo, quite tipsy, was agreeable under the influence of alcohol.
Men often become fast friends at the dining table; just one meal can bring them closer.
After seeing the two off, Fu Wei finally got up from his wheelchair to use the restroom.
After returning, he leaned against the wall to induce vomiting, trying to maintain clarity for other tasks.
Yu Ying saw Fu Wei's strenuous effort in vomiting, his face flushed and eyes reddened, even the veins on his forehead bulging from the discomfort.
Feeling pity, she quickly heated some previously boiled water until it was just warm, as only intense coughing could be heard from outside.
Yu Ying hurried out with the warm water, approaching him amidst the strong smell of alcohol, not minding the unpleasant odor.
Seeing his severe cough, she hesitated only a moment before gently patting his back to ease his breathing.
A short while later, Fu Wei's breathing eased, and Yu Ying handed him water, saying, "Rinse your mouth, I'll make you some sobering soup in a moment."
Fu Wei caught his breath, thanked her, and then took the warm water.
Yu Ying withdrew her hand and quickly turned to find herbs for the sobering soup.
The herbs Yu Ying brought were not many, but luckily included a small packet of jujubes.
She cleaned a small handful of jujubes, chopped them up, and boiled them in a full pot of water, adding the remaining spoonful of sugar to the pot.
As the sobering soup simmered, Yu Ying stepped out of the kitchen to check on Fu Wei and found him burying the vomit he had just expelled.
He regained his strength and apologized to her, then staggered to wash the bowl in his hands.
Yu Ying quickly went to support him, saying, "Leave the bowl for now, I'll clean up later."
She helped him into the room and placed him on the bed. Just as she was about to leave, he unexpectedly grasped her wrist.
The room was yet unlit by oil lamps, with only a faint light from the hall barely making things visible.
In the dimness, Yu Ying looked at him, puzzled.
She could only see him staring at her, unable to discern his expression.
After a moment of silence, Fu Wei spoke, his voice low and hoarse: "I don't want to call you by someone else's name anymore. I want to know your real name."
Yu Ying's eyes narrowed slightly, and she fell silent.
After a brief pause, she slowly spoke a name that hadn't been used for nearly half a year: "Yu Ying, Yu of 'without' and Ying of 'clear waters'."
Yu Ying—
Fu Wei repeated the name in his mind. When he spoke again, it was with a gentle, soft call: "Yu Ying... Ah Ying."
Hearing her long-forgotten name, Yu Ying's eyes momentarily filled with tears.
She wasn't Yu Liuniang; she was Yu Ying.
This fact wouldn't change, even if she had traversed time and space, her soul inhabiting another's body.
But here, she could only be Yu Liuniang, not Yu Ying.
Thankfully, there was still one person who knew.
Tears in her eyes, Yu Ying smiled: "Such a familiar name, I was afraid I might soon forget it."
Fu Wei couldn't see her, but he could hear the slight choke in her voice and the deep helplessness in her words.
"Then, when we're alone, I'll call you Ah Ying."
His voice, still hoarse from the intense coughing, was filled with tenderness.
Yu Ying nodded gently, responding softly: "Okay."
Fu Wei released her hand.
Yu Ying took a deep breath to compose herself and said, "Wait for a moment. The sobering soup will be ready soon. I'll go check on it."
She turned and left the room, wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief in the next room before checking the fire in the kitchen.
The water was boiling; she used a wooden spoon to crush the jujubes again, ensuring the medicinal effect would be properly extracted.
After simmering for a little while longer, Yu Ying poured the concoction into a bowl, filling it to about seventy percent.
The bowl of medicine was hot to the touch, so Yu Ying used a saucer as a base. Carrying the sobering soup in one hand and an oil lamp in the other, she walked back to the main room.
Once in the main room, she set the sobering soup on the table to cool and began tidying up the disarray on the dining table.
Fu Wei, who had been resting for a while, heard the clatter of dishes being cleared in the main room and came out to help.
Yu Ying said, "You should rest; I can manage on my own."
Fu Wei replied, "I'm not drunk."
Yu Ying looked at his flushed face and thought to herself, if this isn't being drunk, then what is?
Fortunately, although he was slow, he didn't make any mistakes while cleaning.
Yu Ying inwardly marveled at Fu Wei's incredible self-control, even when inebriated, something beyond most people.
After cleaning the table, Yu Ying insisted, quite adamantly, that he sit and drink the sobering soup, sparing him from washing the dishes.
By the time everything was tidied up, it was late in the night, and the neighboring houses had already turned off their lights and gone to bed.
After washing up, Fu Wei went to rest.
However, when Yu Ying returned after washing her hair and bathing, she saw that the previously dim room was lit up again.
She returned to her room to towel her long hair half-dry. While heating the room with firewood, she stepped out and knocked on his door.
Fu Wei's voice came from inside, "The door isn't locked, just come in."
Yu Ying pushed the door open and saw him sitting on a bamboo stool, having moved it inside the room, using the bed as a desk, busily writing something.
As the bed and the stool were almost the same height, he had to bend over and lower his head to write, which looked exhausting.
Yu Ying asked, "Why are you up again?"
Fu Wei, who had been resting for half an hour, stood up and stretched his back, replying, "I need to write a report on today's court hearings. I'll rest after finishing it."
Although he knew the county magistrate might not pay much attention, Fu Wei still had to be thorough.
Hearing it was work-related, Yu Ying suddenly felt the pressure of being overworked after hours.
"Then try to finish quickly and get some rest."
Fu Wei nodded, glanced at her damp hair, and advised, "You should also go to bed once your hair is dry."
Yu Ying hummed in agreement, but seeing the pen, ink, and paper on the bed, she thought for a moment and suggested, "How about we bring in a bamboo table? It would save you the trouble of writing like this. I brought a tablecloth with me, so you don't have to worry about getting it dirty."
Fu Wei considered for a moment and then agreed.
They moved the table into the room, and Yu Ying also brought in the brazier, saying, "I'll dry my hair in your room, and you can also stay warm."
Hearing this, Fu Wei, knowing they would spend more time together, smiled and said, "Good."
After she sat down, Fu Wei didn't immediately resume his work but instead discussed financial matters with her.
"You don't need to give me the remaining 500 coins from the house; I'll figure out a way to handle the future rent."
Yu Ying, combing her long hair by the brazier, looked at him with puzzled curiosity, "Why?"
Fu Wei smiled gently and spoke softly, "The items you bought these past few days, including today's food and drink, cost quite a bit. I can't let you bear all the expenses. Besides, I still have some money, enough for now."
Fu Wei probably had about a hundred coins left, enough for three people to get by modestly for a couple of months.
After pondering, Yu Ying said, "Then, if you're ever short, remember to tell me. Don't hesitate to ask."
Fu Wei nodded lightly, "I will."
After a pause, Yu Ying inquired, "But is your monthly salary enough to cover rent and other expenses?"
Fu Wei chuckled, "Excluding food, an ordinary yamen runner gets 200 coins a month, and a senior one around 300. I should be making at least 400 to 500 a month."
This salary wasn't much, even somewhat meager.
However, officials in the county yamen could make extra income through various means, and as long as it wasn't excessive, the county magistrate wouldn't intervene.
County Magistrate Zhou also had a modest salary and relied on the contributions from local gentry, merchants, and powerful families to keep the yamen running. Thus, he turned a blind eye to his subordinates' additional earnings.
"Four to five hundred coins should be sufficient," Yu Ying calculated briefly, realizing there would be some surplus after rent and basic expenses.
Considering just the salary, this job was quite a decent position.
Yu Ying concluded, "Then let's do as you say. I won't bother you anymore; you should get back to your work."
Fu Wei nodded, then picked up his pen, but hesitated to write.
Seeing this, Yu Ying couldn't help but interrupt, asking, "Are you facing some difficulty?"
Fu Wei replied, "Today's cases were mostly trivial matters, somewhat challenging to summarize succinctly."
Hearing this, Yu Ying realized that the county magistrate initially employed Fu Wei for menial tasks, not intending to give him significant responsibilities.
These minor cases, even if reported excellently, might not catch the county magistrate's attention and could be casually glanced at without much consideration.
Yu Ying pondered for a moment and suggested, "Why not make a simple and clear table."
Hearing the word 'table', Fu Wei looked at her quizzically.
Unsure how to explain it to him, Yu Ying went out to fetch a stick and came back to draw a grid of three horizontal and four vertical lines, forming twelve squares on the ground.
She drew the first row at the top and the first column on the right especially clearly.
"In the first square, we can write the case type, and underneath, the names of each case, like for a theft case, we write 'theft case'," Yu Ying explained as she wrote.
"For the horizontal rows, start from the right as the main section, and for the vertical columns, the first square is the starting point."
Yu Ying pointed to all the empty squares in the second row and explained, "This row corresponds to the content of the theft case. The titles go on top; you just need to write the questions above and then answer them below."
As she spoke, Yu Ying continued in detail, "In the second square of the first row, you can write 'Cause', and below it, fill in the cause of the theft case, like 'In a certain village, Zhang San stole vegetables from Li Si's family and refused to admit it.'"
As ancient Chinese script was written from right to left, Yu Ying also felt a bit unaccustomed while writing.
"The title for the third square in the first row can be 'Trial Result', and the answer below might be 'Vegetables from Li Si's family were found in Zhang San's house; he was ordered to compensate Li Si ten coins.'"
"The last square will be for 'Opinions'. Whatever your opinion is, write it concisely."
Finally, Yu Ying wrote 'Assault Case' in the first square of the third row on the right and said, "And so on, like this."
Fu Wei had already understood, but to confirm he really got it, he listened carefully without interrupting.
He pondered, "In this way, the cases of today can all be written on a single sheet of paper. It's novel and also allows the magistrate to read through patiently and understand at a glance."
Saying this, Fu Wei's face showed a smile, "Your method is excellent; it indeed shows me a clear path."
Yu Ying's lips curved slightly, and then she asked, "If we use this table, it seems straightforward, but in reality, it details everything. Do you remember all the details of today's cases?"
Fu Wei smiled at her and nodded, "Of course, I remember."
Yu Ying said, "For the grid to be effective, it needs to be straight and neat. Let's not use ink. Instead, we'll draw with charred sticks and bamboo strips. The neater it is, the more pleasing and comforting it will appear to the eye."
Hearing this, Fu Wei got up and fetched some bamboo strips and partially burnt sticks.
Yu Ying, familiar with such tasks, took charge of drawing the grid.
After the grid was drawn, Fu Wei wrote down the relevant details, frequently consulting her for her opinions.
Two oil lamps cast their glow on the pair, creating shadows on the bed that seemed to nestle close to each other.
It took nearly half an hour, but they finally completed the grid with mutual assistance.
After finishing, both were tired and bade each other goodnight before going to sleep.
In the morning, when Yu Ying got up, the porridge was almost ready.
After eating some porridge with leftovers from yesterday, Fu Wei left for his duties at the government office.
At the office, Fu Wei delivered the folded grid to the study of Zhou Zhi County.
Zhou Zhi County, just coming out of the study, accepted the paper from Fu Wei: "Sir, this is a summary of all the court cases from yesterday."
Zhou Zhi County glanced at it, took it into the study, and placed it on the desk.
After stepping out of the study, he spoke to Fu Wei: "I have some business to attend to outside. I'll review this upon my return. If you have nothing else to do, you can go organize the archives in the record room."
With that, he hurriedly left.
Fu Wei watched Zhou Zhi County's departing figure, then calmly pushed his wheelchair towards the archive storage room.
He showed no signs of impatience.
Today, his elder brother and sister-in-law were taking Fu An and Fu Ning, along with the Luo family, to Yu County. After Yu Ying finished buying groceries, she planned to meet them at the city gate around the usual time.
Around the usual time for trips to Yu County, she saw Uncle Chen's ox cart and the people on it.
Joy instantly lit up Yu Ying's face as she waved towards the ox cart, exclaiming, "Here, here!"
The people on the cart looked over, and Fu An and Fu Ning, brimming with excitement, waved back. Fu An called out, "Auntie!"
The ox cart came to a halt, and before the adults could disembark, the two children jumped down first.
Fu An, anxious yet careful, helped his sister off the cart.
Once they were down, he immediately ran towards his aunt, with Fu Ning toddling behind him.
Approaching closer, Fu An grabbed his aunt's sleeve and beamed with a wide smile, exclaiming, "Auntie!"
Though Fu An had become fairer, he still had a tanned complexion. When he smiled, his teeth stood out brightly against his skin.
Yu Ying, unable to hold back her amusement, asked, "What are you so happy about?"
Fu An replied, "I haven't seen you in two days, Auntie. I'm so happy to see you!"
Yu Ying's smile grew wider. Seeing little Fu Ning approaching, she crouched down and opened her arms.
The next instant, the little girl threw herself into her embrace.
The girl looked up, grinning broadly. If one overlooked her missing front tooth, her smile resembled a blooming flower.
Yu Ying, taken aback, was about to inquire about her teeth when she heard the girl's airy voice calling, "Aun...tie."
Hearing her call 'auntie' for the first time, Yu Ying was momentarily stunned, then hugged her tightly, both surprised and delighted, "Ning Ning can say 'auntie' now."
Fu An, standing nearby, proudly declared, "My sister has learned to say lots of words these past days. I taught her many of them."
Wen Xing, assisting her mother-in-law, approached with a smile, "Ning Ning's most frequent question every day was when her auntie would return."
Yu Ying let go of Fu Ning, stood up holding her hand, and gently tapped her cute little nose, "Ning Ning is such a good girl."
Fu Ning's smile grew even brighter, her gap-toothed grin more evident.
Yu Ying, curious, asked, "Are you losing baby teeth?"
Fu An explained, "Ning Ning knocked it out herself. She cried and called for auntie while losing her tooth."
Hearing her brother mention her teeth, Fu Ning hurriedly covered her mouth with her little hands, scowling and glaring at her brother. With a muffled and airy voice, she protested, "Brother, don't say."
Yu Ying watched the siblings with an amused smile and said to her sister-in-law and Mrs. Luo, "I'll go and greet Uncle Chen."
After saying this, she walked over and discussed the time for the afternoon housewarming meal.
Since Wu's Restaurant is busiest at noon, the housewarming meal was scheduled for the late afternoon, expecting it to last about half an hour before returning home.
Yu Ying had already spoken to Manager Chen about the arrangements when she went grocery shopping yesterday, and he had agreed without any issues.
Having made the arrangements with Uncle Chen, she prepared to head back.
Yu Ying saw her elder brother carrying a basket on his back, holding firewood in one hand and bedding in the other, and she stepped forward to offer help.
Fu Zhen said, "No need, I can manage it myself."
Seeing her brother handling the load effortlessly and with ease, Yu Ying decided not to insist.
Yu Ying informed them, "The rented courtyard is near the county office. It takes roughly half an hour to walk there from here."
Hearing that it was rented near the county office, Mrs. Luo looked worried and said, "Isn't the rent there very expensive?"
Yu Ying smiled and explained, "Although it's a bit pricey, there are many advantages. It's not only convenient for Erlang to commute, but also safer being near the county office."
Mrs. Luo pondered for a moment, realizing that since Erlang currently needs to use a palanquin for transportation, living far away would indeed be inconvenient.
However, she was certain that the rent would be expensive.
With this in mind, Mrs. Luo planned to give her own money to Liuniang after moving into the small courtyard, to help with the expensive rent.
Unaware of Mrs. Luo's thoughts, Yu Ying led them to the rented courtyard.
As they entered the alley, a woman selecting vegetables called out, "Madam Yu, are these all your family members?"
Yu Ying nodded and responded with a smile, "Yes, they've come to the city today to have a look."
Just yesterday, Yu Ying had already delivered some melon seeds to the neighbors as a way of introducing herself.
Walking through the alley, the members of the Fu family observed the surrounding houses.
Having lived in better places before, Mrs. Luo was not particularly curious. Fu Zhen, who had some memories of his childhood, also showed little curiosity.
Only the mother and her two children looked around with wide, curious eyes.
Those three pairs of curious eyes bore a striking resemblance to each other.
Yu Ying opened the gate of the courtyard, inviting them inside.
As soon as the gate opened, Fu An was the first to rush in, exclaiming in delight, "It's not a thatched hut, but a mud-brick house!"
Fu An had always dreamed of living in a mud-brick house, so he wouldn't have to worry about the thatched hut collapsing or being blown away during storms and thunder.
Yu Ying closed the door and said, "Let's sit in the main room for a bit. I'll make some ginger tea to warm you up."
After enduring the cold wind and the bumpy ride in the ox cart for an hour, those who were physically frail were probably reaching their limit.
Yu Ying pointed out to Fu An and Mrs. Luo, "The room on the left is for Erlang and An'an to stay in, and the one on the right is for Mother."
Hearing this, Fu An quickly ran to check out the room he would be staying in.
Yu Ying smiled and then went to prepare the ginger tea, with her sister-in-law accompanying her to help.
Soon, the ginger tea was ready and brought to the main room.
After drinking the ginger tea, Yu Ying mentioned to her elder brother and sister-in-law, "Yesterday, I met with the waiter from Penglai Inn. He has brought us another order, eighty catties of medicinal herbs. The merchant is in a hurry to collect more herbs elsewhere, so we need to deliver by the day after tomorrow at the latest."
The couple was surprised to hear that business had come so quickly.
Yu Ying continued, "Fortunately, we have the required herbs in stock. I'll discuss with Uncle Chen about renting the ox cart for another day the day after tomorrow."
Although Yu Ying had not continued to gather herbs in recent days, others, including her elder brother, had.
The herb gathering was settled every half month, and this deal would coincide nicely with the upcoming settlement.
After discussing this matter, Yu Ying suggested that her elder brother and Fu An rest in Fu Wei's room, while Mrs. Luo, Fu Ning, and her sister-in-law take a rest in another room. She would then prepare lunch.
They went into their rooms, but after a short while, her sister-in-law came out.
"Sister-in-law, why don’t you rest a bit longer?"
Wen Xing smiled and said, "I'm not tired, so I came to help you."
Fu Zhen also came out and asked, "Where's the well? I'll fetch some water."
Last night, Fu Wei's condition didn't allow him to fetch water in the middle of the night, so the water in the tank was only half full.
After Yu Ying told her elder brother where the well was, he took a bucket and went out to fetch water.
The grandmother and grandchildren rested for a short while, then came out one after another to help. Though there wasn't much need for help, they busied themselves tidying the corners of the yard.
Mrs. Luo brought chive seeds and small onion bulbs to the county town. She asked her eldest son to turn over a small patch of soil near the corner of the wall and then planted these seeds and bulbs.
When Fu Wei returned home, he was greeted by this lively scene.
His beloved and sister-in-law were setting the dishes on the table, his elder brother and mother were working in the vegetable garden, with the nephew and niece squatting nearby.
Seeing him return, the two little ones excitedly ran over, calling out, "Uncle!"
In that moment, the empty corners of Fu Wei's heart were filled, and the smile on his face was genuine and heartfelt.
He had experienced brief misfortune, but all that remained was fortune.
How fortunate he was to have met the one he cherished most during his lowest moments.
How fortunate to have found true kinship after losing those he once thought closest to him.
Fu Wei entered the courtyard in his wheelchair, his eyes brimming with joy, immersing himself in the lively scene.
Chapter 70
The people in the main room ate and drank, gradually becoming more relaxed and talkative as the alcohol took effect.
Yu Ying occasionally overheard Huo and the junior clerk discussing matters of the government office.
They mentioned that the only person completely trusted by the magistrate was Clerk Qian.
This Clerk Qian was brought from the military by Magistrate Zhou, and their relationship was incomparable to others.
The two clerks were at odds, equally matched - Clerk Qian was trusted by the magistrate, and Clerk Sun was a local of Yu County, with most local clerks and subordinates supporting him. When the local people had issues, they would first turn to Clerk Sun.
Yu Ying, not hearing everything clearly, roughly understood that Fu Wei's arrival would disrupt the balance between Clerks Qian and Sun.
Even without saying it, Yu Ying knew Fu Wei would have a tough time at the government office.
Yet, in such a difficult world, everyone is too busy with their own struggles; such hardships he must endure alone.
Inside the main room, Fu Wei was drinking with Huo, the clerk, while still keeping his wits about him to gather information.
Despite the alcohol, the two clerks made several trips to the restroom, while Fu Wei remained composed, sitting steadily in his wheelchair.
As Yu Ying peeked out from behind the door, she speculated that Fu Wei had been restraining his physiological needs since becoming handicapped, a habit that could lead to health issues.
Outside, the drinking continued from mid-afternoon until dusk, only dispersing as it grew dark.
Huo, having drunk more, was assisted home by the junior clerk, who had consumed less.
As Huo was being supported, he gave a hearty pat on Fu Wei's shoulder, assuring, "Mr. Fu, rest assured, if anyone troubles you at the office, even if I can't help openly, I'll assist you privately!"
Fu Wei, smiling, gave a bow of thanks, "Then I am deeply grateful to you, Huo."
"No problem at all."
Huo, quite tipsy, was agreeable under the influence of alcohol.
Men often become fast friends at the dining table; just one meal can bring them closer.
After seeing the two off, Fu Wei finally got up from his wheelchair to use the restroom.
After returning, he leaned against the wall to induce vomiting, trying to maintain clarity for other tasks.
Yu Ying saw Fu Wei's strenuous effort in vomiting, his face flushed and eyes reddened, even the veins on his forehead bulging from the discomfort.
Feeling pity, she quickly heated some previously boiled water until it was just warm, as only intense coughing could be heard from outside.
Yu Ying hurried out with the warm water, approaching him amidst the strong smell of alcohol, not minding the unpleasant odor.
Seeing his severe cough, she hesitated only a moment before gently patting his back to ease his breathing.
A short while later, Fu Wei's breathing eased, and Yu Ying handed him water, saying, "Rinse your mouth, I'll make you some sobering soup in a moment."
Fu Wei caught his breath, thanked her, and then took the warm water.
Yu Ying withdrew her hand and quickly turned to find herbs for the sobering soup.
The herbs Yu Ying brought were not many, but luckily included a small packet of jujubes.
She cleaned a small handful of jujubes, chopped them up, and boiled them in a full pot of water, adding the remaining spoonful of sugar to the pot.
As the sobering soup simmered, Yu Ying stepped out of the kitchen to check on Fu Wei and found him burying the vomit he had just expelled.
He regained his strength and apologized to her, then staggered to wash the bowl in his hands.
Yu Ying quickly went to support him, saying, "Leave the bowl for now, I'll clean up later."
She helped him into the room and placed him on the bed. Just as she was about to leave, he unexpectedly grasped her wrist.
The room was yet unlit by oil lamps, with only a faint light from the hall barely making things visible.
In the dimness, Yu Ying looked at him, puzzled.
She could only see him staring at her, unable to discern his expression.
After a moment of silence, Fu Wei spoke, his voice low and hoarse: "I don't want to call you by someone else's name anymore. I want to know your real name."
Yu Ying's eyes narrowed slightly, and she fell silent.
After a brief pause, she slowly spoke a name that hadn't been used for nearly half a year: "Yu Ying, Yu of 'without' and Ying of 'clear waters'."
Yu Ying—
Fu Wei repeated the name in his mind. When he spoke again, it was with a gentle, soft call: "Yu Ying... Ah Ying."
Hearing her long-forgotten name, Yu Ying's eyes momentarily filled with tears.
She wasn't Yu Liuniang; she was Yu Ying.
This fact wouldn't change, even if she had traversed time and space, her soul inhabiting another's body.
But here, she could only be Yu Liuniang, not Yu Ying.
Thankfully, there was still one person who knew.
Tears in her eyes, Yu Ying smiled: "Such a familiar name, I was afraid I might soon forget it."
Fu Wei couldn't see her, but he could hear the slight choke in her voice and the deep helplessness in her words.
"Then, when we're alone, I'll call you Ah Ying."
His voice, still hoarse from the intense coughing, was filled with tenderness.
Yu Ying nodded gently, responding softly: "Okay."
Fu Wei released her hand.
Yu Ying took a deep breath to compose herself and said, "Wait for a moment. The sobering soup will be ready soon. I'll go check on it."
She turned and left the room, wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief in the next room before checking the fire in the kitchen.
The water was boiling; she used a wooden spoon to crush the jujubes again, ensuring the medicinal effect would be properly extracted.
After simmering for a little while longer, Yu Ying poured the concoction into a bowl, filling it to about seventy percent.
The bowl of medicine was hot to the touch, so Yu Ying used a saucer as a base. Carrying the sobering soup in one hand and an oil lamp in the other, she walked back to the main room.
Once in the main room, she set the sobering soup on the table to cool and began tidying up the disarray on the dining table.
Fu Wei, who had been resting for a while, heard the clatter of dishes being cleared in the main room and came out to help.
Yu Ying said, "You should rest; I can manage on my own."
Fu Wei replied, "I'm not drunk."
Yu Ying looked at his flushed face and thought to herself, if this isn't being drunk, then what is?
Fortunately, although he was slow, he didn't make any mistakes while cleaning.
Yu Ying inwardly marveled at Fu Wei's incredible self-control, even when inebriated, something beyond most people.
After cleaning the table, Yu Ying insisted, quite adamantly, that he sit and drink the sobering soup, sparing him from washing the dishes.
By the time everything was tidied up, it was late in the night, and the neighboring houses had already turned off their lights and gone to bed.
After washing up, Fu Wei went to rest.
However, when Yu Ying returned after washing her hair and bathing, she saw that the previously dim room was lit up again.
She returned to her room to towel her long hair half-dry. While heating the room with firewood, she stepped out and knocked on his door.
Fu Wei's voice came from inside, "The door isn't locked, just come in."
Yu Ying pushed the door open and saw him sitting on a bamboo stool, having moved it inside the room, using the bed as a desk, busily writing something.
As the bed and the stool were almost the same height, he had to bend over and lower his head to write, which looked exhausting.
Yu Ying asked, "Why are you up again?"
Fu Wei, who had been resting for half an hour, stood up and stretched his back, replying, "I need to write a report on today's court hearings. I'll rest after finishing it."
Although he knew the county magistrate might not pay much attention, Fu Wei still had to be thorough.
Hearing it was work-related, Yu Ying suddenly felt the pressure of being overworked after hours.
"Then try to finish quickly and get some rest."
Fu Wei nodded, glanced at her damp hair, and advised, "You should also go to bed once your hair is dry."
Yu Ying hummed in agreement, but seeing the pen, ink, and paper on the bed, she thought for a moment and suggested, "How about we bring in a bamboo table? It would save you the trouble of writing like this. I brought a tablecloth with me, so you don't have to worry about getting it dirty."
Fu Wei considered for a moment and then agreed.
They moved the table into the room, and Yu Ying also brought in the brazier, saying, "I'll dry my hair in your room, and you can also stay warm."
Hearing this, Fu Wei, knowing they would spend more time together, smiled and said, "Good."
After she sat down, Fu Wei didn't immediately resume his work but instead discussed financial matters with her.
"You don't need to give me the remaining 500 coins from the house; I'll figure out a way to handle the future rent."
Yu Ying, combing her long hair by the brazier, looked at him with puzzled curiosity, "Why?"
Fu Wei smiled gently and spoke softly, "The items you bought these past few days, including today's food and drink, cost quite a bit. I can't let you bear all the expenses. Besides, I still have some money, enough for now."
Fu Wei probably had about a hundred coins left, enough for three people to get by modestly for a couple of months.
After pondering, Yu Ying said, "Then, if you're ever short, remember to tell me. Don't hesitate to ask."
Fu Wei nodded lightly, "I will."
After a pause, Yu Ying inquired, "But is your monthly salary enough to cover rent and other expenses?"
Fu Wei chuckled, "Excluding food, an ordinary yamen runner gets 200 coins a month, and a senior one around 300. I should be making at least 400 to 500 a month."
This salary wasn't much, even somewhat meager.
However, officials in the county yamen could make extra income through various means, and as long as it wasn't excessive, the county magistrate wouldn't intervene.
County Magistrate Zhou also had a modest salary and relied on the contributions from local gentry, merchants, and powerful families to keep the yamen running. Thus, he turned a blind eye to his subordinates' additional earnings.
"Four to five hundred coins should be sufficient," Yu Ying calculated briefly, realizing there would be some surplus after rent and basic expenses.
Considering just the salary, this job was quite a decent position.
Yu Ying concluded, "Then let's do as you say. I won't bother you anymore; you should get back to your work."
Fu Wei nodded, then picked up his pen, but hesitated to write.
Seeing this, Yu Ying couldn't help but interrupt, asking, "Are you facing some difficulty?"
Fu Wei replied, "Today's cases were mostly trivial matters, somewhat challenging to summarize succinctly."
Hearing this, Yu Ying realized that the county magistrate initially employed Fu Wei for menial tasks, not intending to give him significant responsibilities.
These minor cases, even if reported excellently, might not catch the county magistrate's attention and could be casually glanced at without much consideration.
Yu Ying pondered for a moment and suggested, "Why not make a simple and clear table."
Hearing the word 'table', Fu Wei looked at her quizzically.
Unsure how to explain it to him, Yu Ying went out to fetch a stick and came back to draw a grid of three horizontal and four vertical lines, forming twelve squares on the ground.
She drew the first row at the top and the first column on the right especially clearly.
"In the first square, we can write the case type, and underneath, the names of each case, like for a theft case, we write 'theft case'," Yu Ying explained as she wrote.
"For the horizontal rows, start from the right as the main section, and for the vertical columns, the first square is the starting point."
Yu Ying pointed to all the empty squares in the second row and explained, "This row corresponds to the content of the theft case. The titles go on top; you just need to write the questions above and then answer them below."
As she spoke, Yu Ying continued in detail, "In the second square of the first row, you can write 'Cause', and below it, fill in the cause of the theft case, like 'In a certain village, Zhang San stole vegetables from Li Si's family and refused to admit it.'"
As ancient Chinese script was written from right to left, Yu Ying also felt a bit unaccustomed while writing.
"The title for the third square in the first row can be 'Trial Result', and the answer below might be 'Vegetables from Li Si's family were found in Zhang San's house; he was ordered to compensate Li Si ten coins.'"
"The last square will be for 'Opinions'. Whatever your opinion is, write it concisely."
Finally, Yu Ying wrote 'Assault Case' in the first square of the third row on the right and said, "And so on, like this."
Fu Wei had already understood, but to confirm he really got it, he listened carefully without interrupting.
He pondered, "In this way, the cases of today can all be written on a single sheet of paper. It's novel and also allows the magistrate to read through patiently and understand at a glance."
Saying this, Fu Wei's face showed a smile, "Your method is excellent; it indeed shows me a clear path."
Yu Ying's lips curved slightly, and then she asked, "If we use this table, it seems straightforward, but in reality, it details everything. Do you remember all the details of today's cases?"
Fu Wei smiled at her and nodded, "Of course, I remember."
Yu Ying said, "For the grid to be effective, it needs to be straight and neat. Let's not use ink. Instead, we'll draw with charred sticks and bamboo strips. The neater it is, the more pleasing and comforting it will appear to the eye."
Hearing this, Fu Wei got up and fetched some bamboo strips and partially burnt sticks.
Yu Ying, familiar with such tasks, took charge of drawing the grid.
After the grid was drawn, Fu Wei wrote down the relevant details, frequently consulting her for her opinions.
Two oil lamps cast their glow on the pair, creating shadows on the bed that seemed to nestle close to each other.
It took nearly half an hour, but they finally completed the grid with mutual assistance.
After finishing, both were tired and bade each other goodnight before going to sleep.
In the morning, when Yu Ying got up, the porridge was almost ready.
After eating some porridge with leftovers from yesterday, Fu Wei left for his duties at the government office.
At the office, Fu Wei delivered the folded grid to the study of Zhou Zhi County.
Zhou Zhi County, just coming out of the study, accepted the paper from Fu Wei: "Sir, this is a summary of all the court cases from yesterday."
Zhou Zhi County glanced at it, took it into the study, and placed it on the desk.
After stepping out of the study, he spoke to Fu Wei: "I have some business to attend to outside. I'll review this upon my return. If you have nothing else to do, you can go organize the archives in the record room."
With that, he hurriedly left.
Fu Wei watched Zhou Zhi County's departing figure, then calmly pushed his wheelchair towards the archive storage room.
He showed no signs of impatience.
Today, his elder brother and sister-in-law were taking Fu An and Fu Ning, along with the Luo family, to Yu County. After Yu Ying finished buying groceries, she planned to meet them at the city gate around the usual time.
Around the usual time for trips to Yu County, she saw Uncle Chen's ox cart and the people on it.
Joy instantly lit up Yu Ying's face as she waved towards the ox cart, exclaiming, "Here, here!"
The people on the cart looked over, and Fu An and Fu Ning, brimming with excitement, waved back. Fu An called out, "Auntie!"
The ox cart came to a halt, and before the adults could disembark, the two children jumped down first.
Fu An, anxious yet careful, helped his sister off the cart.
Once they were down, he immediately ran towards his aunt, with Fu Ning toddling behind him.
Approaching closer, Fu An grabbed his aunt's sleeve and beamed with a wide smile, exclaiming, "Auntie!"
Though Fu An had become fairer, he still had a tanned complexion. When he smiled, his teeth stood out brightly against his skin.
Yu Ying, unable to hold back her amusement, asked, "What are you so happy about?"
Fu An replied, "I haven't seen you in two days, Auntie. I'm so happy to see you!"
Yu Ying's smile grew wider. Seeing little Fu Ning approaching, she crouched down and opened her arms.
The next instant, the little girl threw herself into her embrace.
The girl looked up, grinning broadly. If one overlooked her missing front tooth, her smile resembled a blooming flower.
Yu Ying, taken aback, was about to inquire about her teeth when she heard the girl's airy voice calling, "Aun...tie."
Hearing her call 'auntie' for the first time, Yu Ying was momentarily stunned, then hugged her tightly, both surprised and delighted, "Ning Ning can say 'auntie' now."
Fu An, standing nearby, proudly declared, "My sister has learned to say lots of words these past days. I taught her many of them."
Wen Xing, assisting her mother-in-law, approached with a smile, "Ning Ning's most frequent question every day was when her auntie would return."
Yu Ying let go of Fu Ning, stood up holding her hand, and gently tapped her cute little nose, "Ning Ning is such a good girl."
Fu Ning's smile grew even brighter, her gap-toothed grin more evident.
Yu Ying, curious, asked, "Are you losing baby teeth?"
Fu An explained, "Ning Ning knocked it out herself. She cried and called for auntie while losing her tooth."
Hearing her brother mention her teeth, Fu Ning hurriedly covered her mouth with her little hands, scowling and glaring at her brother. With a muffled and airy voice, she protested, "Brother, don't say."
Yu Ying watched the siblings with an amused smile and said to her sister-in-law and Mrs. Luo, "I'll go and greet Uncle Chen."
After saying this, she walked over and discussed the time for the afternoon housewarming meal.
Since Wu's Restaurant is busiest at noon, the housewarming meal was scheduled for the late afternoon, expecting it to last about half an hour before returning home.
Yu Ying had already spoken to Manager Chen about the arrangements when she went grocery shopping yesterday, and he had agreed without any issues.
Having made the arrangements with Uncle Chen, she prepared to head back.
Yu Ying saw her elder brother carrying a basket on his back, holding firewood in one hand and bedding in the other, and she stepped forward to offer help.
Fu Zhen said, "No need, I can manage it myself."
Seeing her brother handling the load effortlessly and with ease, Yu Ying decided not to insist.
Yu Ying informed them, "The rented courtyard is near the county office. It takes roughly half an hour to walk there from here."
Hearing that it was rented near the county office, Mrs. Luo looked worried and said, "Isn't the rent there very expensive?"
Yu Ying smiled and explained, "Although it's a bit pricey, there are many advantages. It's not only convenient for Erlang to commute, but also safer being near the county office."
Mrs. Luo pondered for a moment, realizing that since Erlang currently needs to use a palanquin for transportation, living far away would indeed be inconvenient.
However, she was certain that the rent would be expensive.
With this in mind, Mrs. Luo planned to give her own money to Liuniang after moving into the small courtyard, to help with the expensive rent.
Unaware of Mrs. Luo's thoughts, Yu Ying led them to the rented courtyard.
As they entered the alley, a woman selecting vegetables called out, "Madam Yu, are these all your family members?"
Yu Ying nodded and responded with a smile, "Yes, they've come to the city today to have a look."
Just yesterday, Yu Ying had already delivered some melon seeds to the neighbors as a way of introducing herself.
Walking through the alley, the members of the Fu family observed the surrounding houses.
Having lived in better places before, Mrs. Luo was not particularly curious. Fu Zhen, who had some memories of his childhood, also showed little curiosity.
Only the mother and her two children looked around with wide, curious eyes.
Those three pairs of curious eyes bore a striking resemblance to each other.
Yu Ying opened the gate of the courtyard, inviting them inside.
As soon as the gate opened, Fu An was the first to rush in, exclaiming in delight, "It's not a thatched hut, but a mud-brick house!"
Fu An had always dreamed of living in a mud-brick house, so he wouldn't have to worry about the thatched hut collapsing or being blown away during storms and thunder.
Yu Ying closed the door and said, "Let's sit in the main room for a bit. I'll make some ginger tea to warm you up."
After enduring the cold wind and the bumpy ride in the ox cart for an hour, those who were physically frail were probably reaching their limit.
Yu Ying pointed out to Fu An and Mrs. Luo, "The room on the left is for Erlang and An'an to stay in, and the one on the right is for Mother."
Hearing this, Fu An quickly ran to check out the room he would be staying in.
Yu Ying smiled and then went to prepare the ginger tea, with her sister-in-law accompanying her to help.
Soon, the ginger tea was ready and brought to the main room.
After drinking the ginger tea, Yu Ying mentioned to her elder brother and sister-in-law, "Yesterday, I met with the waiter from Penglai Inn. He has brought us another order, eighty catties of medicinal herbs. The merchant is in a hurry to collect more herbs elsewhere, so we need to deliver by the day after tomorrow at the latest."
The couple was surprised to hear that business had come so quickly.
Yu Ying continued, "Fortunately, we have the required herbs in stock. I'll discuss with Uncle Chen about renting the ox cart for another day the day after tomorrow."
Although Yu Ying had not continued to gather herbs in recent days, others, including her elder brother, had.
The herb gathering was settled every half month, and this deal would coincide nicely with the upcoming settlement.
After discussing this matter, Yu Ying suggested that her elder brother and Fu An rest in Fu Wei's room, while Mrs. Luo, Fu Ning, and her sister-in-law take a rest in another room. She would then prepare lunch.
They went into their rooms, but after a short while, her sister-in-law came out.
"Sister-in-law, why don’t you rest a bit longer?"
Wen Xing smiled and said, "I'm not tired, so I came to help you."
Fu Zhen also came out and asked, "Where's the well? I'll fetch some water."
Last night, Fu Wei's condition didn't allow him to fetch water in the middle of the night, so the water in the tank was only half full.
After Yu Ying told her elder brother where the well was, he took a bucket and went out to fetch water.
The grandmother and grandchildren rested for a short while, then came out one after another to help. Though there wasn't much need for help, they busied themselves tidying the corners of the yard.
Mrs. Luo brought chive seeds and small onion bulbs to the county town. She asked her eldest son to turn over a small patch of soil near the corner of the wall and then planted these seeds and bulbs.
When Fu Wei returned home, he was greeted by this lively scene.
His beloved and sister-in-law were setting the dishes on the table, his elder brother and mother were working in the vegetable garden, with the nephew and niece squatting nearby.
Seeing him return, the two little ones excitedly ran over, calling out, "Uncle!"
In that moment, the empty corners of Fu Wei's heart were filled, and the smile on his face was genuine and heartfelt.
He had experienced brief misfortune, but all that remained was fortune.
How fortunate he was to have met the one he cherished most during his lowest moments.
How fortunate to have found true kinship after losing those he once thought closest to him.
Fu Wei entered the courtyard in his wheelchair, his eyes brimming with joy, immersing himself in the lively scene.
