Chapter 71.
After lunch, Mrs. Luo, worried, asked how her second son was faring at the government office and if anyone was bullying him.
Fu Wei simply replied that he was doing well at the government office and had not been subjected to any bullying.
Seeing Mrs. Luo about to ask more, Yu Ying mentioned that Fu Wei would soon have to go for his duty at the government office and should rest a bit beforehand to avoid feeling sleepy in the afternoon.
Hearing this, Mrs. Luo quickly urged her son to go and rest.
Just before Fu Wei was to leave for his duty, his sister-in-law brought out the cloth shoes she had made.
They were two pairs of cloth shoes for Fu Wei.
After trying them on, Fu Wei found them to fit perfectly.
With these new pairs of shoes, he could wear the new ones when going out and the old ones at home. Now, Fu Wei wouldn’t need to meticulously clean the mud off his shoes to hide traces of walking in the fields.
Changing into his new shoes, Yu Ying accompanied Fu Wei to the door.
As they walked through the alley, even after living there for two days, people still curiously observed the couple.
The neighbors had been quite curious the first couple of days, often craning their necks to get a better look at them.
Their whispers were often about how the husband was handsome but unfortunately crippled. And if he weren’t crippled, why would he marry a woman with a blemish on her face?
Upon closer inspection, the young woman’s appearance wasn’t bad at all. It was just like a stain on a white cloth, hard to ignore.
This couple seemed oddly matched yet oddly fitting, an unusual pairing.
Yu Ying paid no mind to those peculiar glances. She stopped at the entrance of the alley and told him, "The housewarming meal will start at the hour of Wei. It will probably be over before you return from your duty, so I might head back by then."
Fu Wei had already anticipated this without her having to mention it.
He turned to look at her.
His gaze lingered on her face for a few moments before he softly spoke, "Be careful when you get back."
A faint smile appeared on Yu Ying’s face as she also gently advised, "You too, be cautious around others at the government office."
Fu Wei nodded slightly, withdrew his gaze, and left with the document cart.
As he walked away, his expression grew somber.
As Yu Ying had said, their separation was for a better future for both of them. Despite the reluctance in his heart, he had to face it.
In the afternoon, Yu Ying borrowed fifty coins from her sister-in-law and then went with her to the carpenter's shop.
She chose a modestly sized Eight Immortals table and two tall stools, spending eighty coins.
After purchasing the table and chairs, she arranged for them to be delivered to Xikou Lane.
The table could be used for an additional seating arrangement that afternoon and later as a desk in Fu Wei's room.
After noon, Yu Ying, her sister-in-law, and Mrs. Luo prepared dishes for two tables.
The menu was similar to the previous day's feast for the senior yamen runner: stewed mutton with radishes, braised pork, braised fish, stewed tofu, and a green vegetable dish.
The two tables of food made Fu An and Fu Ning drool with anticipation.
They had never eaten mutton before, and fish was a rarity; they occasionally had meat every two or three days, but only simply stir-fried, not like the richly enticing dishes they saw now.
Yu Ying, carrying dishes into the house, teased her nephew and niece, "Your drool is almost hitting the floor, better wipe it off quick."
The siblings, taking her seriously, similarly raised their hands to their mouths to wipe.
Fu An was the first to realize his little aunt was teasing him and exclaimed in embarrassed protest, "Little Aunt!"
Yu Ying suppressed a smile and continued to bring in the dishes.
At this moment, Chen, the shopkeeper, Uncle Chen, and the waiter from Wu's restaurant arrived.
The shopkeeper Chen brought a live chicken, while the waiter carried two boxes of pastries.
Yu Ying welcomed them into the house, then asked her elder brother to entertain them.
Yu Ying asked Fu An to tie up the chicken, intending for Mrs. Luo to take care of it in the future.
Regarding the housewarming feast, even though the main character was absent, the guests still enjoyed themselves and left in high spirits.
Before leaving, Mrs. Luo called Yu Ying inside and took out a hundred coins, handing them to her: “Renting this house must have cost you a lot. I don’t have much money, but please take these hundred coins.”
Mrs. Luo had kept a little money aside, just in case Erlang couldn’t afford to buy food and needed it in an emergency.
Yu Ying declined the money, explaining, “Erlang contributed the most, and I didn’t spend much.”
Mrs. Luo was skeptical, “Where would Erlang get money from? Don’t say such things just to reassure me.”
Yu Ying was about to explain further but thought better of it, realizing it might lead to more worries for Mrs. Luo. So, she accepted the hundred coins.
After tidying up, Yu Ying and her sister-in-law moved a table and a chair into Fu Wei’s room.
She spread a tablecloth on the table, placed ink, paper, a lamp, and a bamboo tube with two bamboo sticks in it.
Finally, she hung a curtain. Though it was a mud house, it now had a touch of elegance and tranquility.
Yu Ying stepped back to the doorway, taking one last look at the room before slowly closing the door.
Before leaving, she handed Fu An several packets of powder, instructing him, “If bad people try to catch you, don’t resist. Look for a chance to throw this powder at them, then find an opportunity to escape.”
Fu An, a bit stunned, was about to say he wouldn’t encounter bad people, but then remembered his aunt had faced trouble before and quickly nodded.
“Also, don’t foolishly follow anyone who promises easy money. It’s a scam. They’ll trick and kidnap you, then threaten us for ransom.”
Fu An uttered an “Ah,” bewildered by this anti-fraud education, a concept new to him, leaving him utterly confused.
In the book, Fu An’s fate is to be kidnapped and go missing.
For years, Fu Wei never stopped searching for his only relative but never found him.
Fu Ning, standing nearby, listened intently, taking her aunt’s words to heart.
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch, so don’t be greedy for small gains and suffer big losses. Understand?”
Fu An nodded, "I've taken it to heart."
Yu Ying's final instruction was, "Don't wander off. Just stay around here or go to the government office to pick up your uncle."
The area near the government office is always somewhat safer.
After a multitude of reminders and instructions, Yu Ying left with her elder brother, sister-in-law, and Fu Ning in Uncle Chen’s ox cart.
When Fu Wei returned from his duty, it was Fu An who opened the door for him.
Although there were occasional conversations between the nephew and grandmother in the courtyard, it was a stark contrast to the liveliness of the midday gathering.
The heart that had just been filled now seemed to be missing a piece again.
Opening the door to his room and seeing the changes inside, Fu Wei slowly approached the table.
He lifted his hand to the tablecloth-covered surface, his slender fingers gently tracing over it, his gaze settling on the bamboo sticks in the bamboo tube.
It was evident who had prepared this, without needing to say.
His lips gradually curved into a smile, feeling a sweetness in his heart.
Upon returning to Lingshui Village, Yu Ying, looking at the house now missing a person, felt a bit unaccustomed but still managed a faint smile and turned to attend to other matters.
Yu Ying took Fu Ning with her, carrying two boxes of pastries and two packets of melon seeds to deliver to Song Sanlang and the He family, also bringing along some newly made sheep fat cream to the He family.
Yu Ying chatted leisurely with Aunt He and the sister-in-law of the He family in the courtyard until the men of the He family returned from the fields.
The He family owned only a small plot of land. They gathered herbs in the morning and worked in the fields in the afternoon. After tending to their own fields, they would also check on the Fu family's medicinal and vegetable gardens.
Yu Ying called He Erlang over and examined his cheeks and hands closely.
After four days of application, the cracks on both sides of his cheeks had healed by sixty percent.
The cracks on his hands had also improved to varying degrees, about fifty percent better.
From this observation, her cream seemed to be as effective as the cream from Ji's Medical Hall, and better than those from the other two homes.
However, the cream’s effect, though similar to Ji's Medical Hall, might not necessarily compare with those from other medical halls in Cangwu County.
He Erlang felt a bit embarrassed being scrutinized so closely, but fortunately, his dark complexion concealed any noticeable changes.
Yu Ying took out the newly made cream and instructed him, “From now on, apply this cream not just on your face and hands, but also on your feet.”
After a moment's thought, she asked, “Can you show me your feet?”
He Erlang, embarrassed by the severe cracks in his feet, hesitated but eventually nodded.
Yu Ying noticed that the heels of He Erlang's feet were so cracked they were bleeding.
She advised, “Apply more cream on the heels. I’ll check them again tomorrow.”
After giving her instructions, Yu Ying glanced at the slightly cracked face of He family’s grandson.
If this facial cream works exceptionally well, it should heal the cracks on the face of the He family grandson overnight.
Yu Ying instructed him to wash his face and then applied the cream, advising, "Make sure not to wash it off, it should be better by tomorrow."
Niu Niu, full of energy, responded with a hearty "Okay," then asked, "Little Aunt from the Fu family, when will An An come back?"
Yu Ying replied, "He will return to stay for a few days after a while."
Yu Ying also took the opportunity to tell Uncle He and Aunt He about where Fu Wei was currently staying, suggesting they could rest there if they visited the county town.
After staying a while at Uncle and Aunt He's home, she left. Taking advantage of the remaining daylight, she went to sort out the eighty pounds of medicinal herbs.
The sky darkened, and a cold wind rustled.
At the county yamen.
After dinner, Zhou, the county magistrate, went to his study to find a book.
He picked up a few bamboo scrolls from the bookshelf and was about to leave when his peripheral vision caught sight of a paper casually placed on the table earlier that day.
He slightly raised an eyebrow, pondered for a moment, then took the paper and left the study to return to the back courtyard.
Back in the room, his wife was sewing. He said, "Sewing so late, aren’t you afraid of damaging your eyes?"
The graceful woman, around thirty, glanced up at him and said, "Then why don't you stop wearing out your clothes so often?"
County Magistrate Zhou touched his nose and replied, "Well, these clothes aren’t exactly durable."
The woman chuckled lightly and said, "No matter how durable they are, they can’t withstand your daily martial arts training and sparring."
County Magistrate Zhou, not wishing to prolong the conversation, simply said, “Then finish your sewing and rest soon.”
After giving his advice, he sat down beside the couch with the bamboo scroll in his hand.
Glancing at the paper and pondering for a moment, he set the bamboo scroll on the low table and opened the paper instead.
He intended to just give it a casual glance.
As he unfolded the paper, instead of densely packed opinions, he saw an innovative layout of boxes.
His eyebrows slightly raised, he became curiously engrossed in studying it.
Recognizing the cases from the previous day, which he had presided over, he quickly understood how to read it.
Seeing the clear and straightforward content, he couldn’t help but laugh.
Hearing the laughter, his wife looked up and asked, “What’s so amusing?”
County Magistrate Zhou responded, “Do you know about the new clerk in the government office?”
His wife pondered for a moment, “Yes, the one with the disability. I saw him from a distance. He has a decent appearance, a pity about his condition.”
Sighing, she then asked, “What about him?”
County Magistrate Zhou showed her the paper in his hand.
After glancing at it, his wife commented, “It’s just content written in a few boxes. What’s so special about that?”
County Magistrate Zhou took back the paper, saying, “Never mind, you wouldn’t understand.”
He mused, “Initially, I thought Fu Wei, having lived as a privileged young master for twenty years, might genuinely possess some talent, which is why I allowed him into the government office.”
"Give it three months. Those with ability can stay, others will leave. Honestly, I didn't have high expectations of him. Since he had nothing to do, I casually assigned him to attend my court hearings and summarize them for me the next day."
Mrs. Zhou frowned in thought, "Aren't you just dealing with trivial lawsuits every day? What's there to summarize?"
County Magistrate Zhou replied, "That's because there were no other tasks to assign to him."
He sighed, "I can hardly remember the cases I judged yesterday, yet to my surprise, Fu Wei listed all of them, including the time of the hearing and the parties involved. It's not his memory or his method of documentation that astonished me the most."
Mrs. Zhou, sewing clothes, asked, "What else then?"
County Magistrate Zhou smiled, "I thought these well-read noblemen only liked to show off their literary talent. Clearly, I was too prejudiced. Do you know Fu Wei's insight on the chicken theft case?"
This piqued his wife's curiosity, and she asked, "What did he write?"
He smiled, "Petty theft is common everywhere, nothing unusual."
"Did he really write that?"
County Magistrate Zhou nodded, adding, "For a dispute involving women throwing manure at each other, he described it as mundane neighborhood squabbles, dull and uninteresting."
"Don't you think he's being perfunctory?" Mrs. Zhou looked skeptical.
County Magistrate Zhou laughed heartily, "His comments are exactly what I've been thinking! Not perfunctory at all! Besides, if he were to analyze these cases in detail, focusing on trivial domestic disputes, he wouldn't be suited for greater responsibilities."
Seeing his joyful laughter, Mrs. Zhou also smiled, "It seems you have high regard for this young aide."
County Magistrate Zhou's smile faded as he sighed, "I've been in Jade County for three years now, and it feels like I can see the end of the road – no hope for promotion in sight."
"The two scholars, Qian and Sun, can only help me manage Jade County. But broadly speaking, they don't know much about the imperial capital or court politics. Fu Wei, who's been in Jade County for just half a year, knows somewhat more about the affairs of the court."
Hearing this, Mrs. Zhou pondered for a moment and then said softly, "Since you say so, you must have some plans in mind."
County Magistrate Zhou nodded.
"With two aides, there's a balance. Adding a third will inevitably lead to conflict."
"Whether Fu Wei can withstand it depends on his own abilities."
The next day.
When Fu Wei was on duty, County Magistrate Zhou called him into the study.
Zhou brought out the summary Fu Wei had submitted, not stinting in praise: “You did a good job with the summary.”
"Thank you for the compliment, sir, but the format of the summary was suggested by my wife."
Hearing this, County Magistrate Zhou raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, “But the content must have been your own idea, right?”
Fu Wei nodded, “Indeed, I wrote the content.”
County Magistrate Zhou, lifting his chin slightly, said, “I had intended to further assess your capabilities, but now I’ll skip the formalities and get straight to the point.”
Speaking thus, Zhou's expression turned serious: “Yu County is impoverished. In your opinion, how can we change this situation?”
Fu Wei, surprised by the directness, pondered for a moment before responding, “Food is the foundation of the people; grain is crucial.”
Zhou almost laughed, “That’s what Mr. Qian and Mr. Sun said two years ago.”
“And who doesn’t know that grain is fundamental to the people? But here in Lingnan, the dense forests and mountainous terrain are full of miasma, snakes, and beasts. How can we talk about farming in such difficult conditions?”
“Moreover, with limited arable land, if the people can’t pay their taxes, should the government office cover for them? You're overestimating the office.”
Fu Wei pondered for a moment, then said, “With limited farming land, we should reclaim more. The central government has a policy: for newly reclaimed sloping land, only one hundred coins per mu are charged for the first three years, and no grain tax is required. Even if the slopes can’t grow grain, other crops can be cultivated to exchange for silver, which can then be used to buy grain from other regions.”
Zhou retorted, “You make it sound easy. Cultivate other crops to exchange for silver? First, where do they get the money to rent the land? Second, what can they grow to make money? Third, does Yu County have such demand?”
The two engaged in a back-and-forth of questions and answers, raising doubts and providing responses.
“Sir, you could petition the Cangwu County magistrate, suggesting that our county allows the people to owe the rent for the land first, and then repay the debt with the silver they earn next year.”
Fu Wei pondered for a moment, then said, "As for what to plant, Yu County has many slopes unsuitable for traditional farming but ideal for growing medicinal herbs. Herbs that cannot be grown in the north can be grown in the south, and vice versa, making the trade of regional herbs highly profitable."
Fu Wei's explanation was clear and logical, prompting County Magistrate Zhou not to question him immediately.
After a few moments, Zhou shared his knowledge.
"The medicinal herb traders who come to Yu County are mostly small-scale. Several medical halls are struggling to sell the herbs from their own fields. How do you think the herbs grown by the people will sell?"
Fu Wei, looking even more serious, replied, "It’s not about waiting for buyers to come but going out to them."
County Magistrate Zhou raised an eyebrow, "Go out to them?"
Fu Wei nodded, "Transport the herbs to the medical halls in the north."
County Magistrate Zhou asked, "Who will do the transporting?"
Fu Wei answered, "The government and locals can form a trading caravan, transporting the herbs by boat. With official documents, checkpoints won’t dare to detain us maliciously, allowing for faster inspections and shorter travel times."
"By buying at a low price and selling high, the government office can profit from the margin. On the return journey, buy grain and northern medicinal herbs, selling the herbs along the way for additional income."
Concluding, Fu Wei relayed information from Yu Ying, "The cheapest herbs can be bought for fifteen coins per catty and sold in the north for forty to fifty coins per catty."
Hearing this, Zhou's eyes showed a hint of surprise.
Fu Wei further suggested, "The medical halls have large fields of medicinal herbs. Sir, you might consider collaborating with them to export the herbs, settling the payments after receiving the income, so there's no worry about upfront costs."
Fu Wei concluded with a critical point, "Constantly struggling in poverty, can the situation in Yu County get any worse?"
These words left County Magistrate Zhou deep in thought.
Seemingly persuaded, Zhou looked at Fu Wei after a long while and said, "Organize your thoughts from today into a clear and detailed report. The day after tomorrow, I’ll discuss it with Mr. Qian and Mr. Sun. As for the medical halls, we’ll decide whether to proceed with that after the meeting."
As planned, Yu Ying, accompanied by Fu Ning, delivered the medicinal herbs to the inn, earning over 1,300 coins.
Leaving the inn close to noon, Yu Ying hurried to the government office.
Upon arriving, she saw a junior officer pushing Fu Wei in his wheelchair, exiting from a side alley of the government office.
The young yamen runner, around sixteen or seventeen, was Mo Xiaoyacha, who once attended a housewarming feast with Huo Yacha.
Fu Wei, seemingly touched, turned his head and immediately spotted Yu Ying, dressed in a plain skirt and wearing a simple hairpin, amidst the bustling crowd.
The two exchanged smiles across the passing crowd.
Yu Ying, leading Fu Ning, approached them and took over the task of pushing the wheelchair from Mo Xiaoyacha.
Fu Ning called out to Fu Wei, "Uncle."
Although her voice was still somewhat muddled, it was much clearer than when she first began to speak.
Fu Wei nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Yu Ying explained, "She said she missed her brother and grandmother, so I brought her along."
Fu Wei asked her, "Did you manage to deliver the herbs smoothly?"
Yu Ying nodded, "Yes, I delivered them successfully and came here right after."
Knowing the inn was some distance away and that Fu Ning must have been tired, Fu Wei lifted her onto his lap to sit in the wheelchair for the ride back.
Fu Ning, now closer to her uncle, was no longer afraid of him.
Half a moment later, they reached the outside of the courtyard.
Just as they knocked twice on the courtyard door, they heard Fu An's voice from inside, "I'll open it, I'll open it!"
As the door swung open, Fu An's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of his beloved aunt and sister, whom he had been eagerly anticipating.
"Auntie, sister!" he exclaimed.
Little Fu Ning grinned, revealing her gap-toothed smile, and called out "Brother."
Mrs. Luo hurriedly wiped her hands and came out from the main room, joyfully exclaiming, "My dear Ning Ning, my sweet granddaughter."
"Grandma," Fu Ning ran towards her grandmother.
Mrs. Luo picked her up and then turned to her son and daughter-in-law, saying, "I've just finished cooking lunch; let's eat before we talk."
Knowing that Yu Ying was coming to Yun County to deliver medicinal herbs, Mrs. Luo had purposely prepared extra food.
After a quick lunch, with Yu Ying present, Fu Wei didn't plan to rest but called her into a room for a private conversation.
He detailed the proposal he had presented to the county magistrate and mentioned the meeting scheduled for the next day.
Yu Ying nodded in agreement, "Although grain and silver will be esteemed in the future, in cases where grain cannot be cultivated, medicinal herbs are also in demand."
She looked at Fu Wei, "If this proposal is confirmed, I'll immediately rent about ten or more acres of sloping land for cultivation, then buy the produce at a low price and profit from the margin."
Fu Wei's expression grew serious, "I must ensure this plan succeeds."
"If it does, the people of Yu County will have an additional means of livelihood during the upcoming turbulent times, preventing widespread devastation."
After discussing the promotion of herb cultivation, Yu Ying also shared her plans with Fu Wei about her trip to Cangwu County.
"The new cream I've made is much more effective than the previous one, and even better than those from several other medical halls. So, I'm planning to initially produce a hundred jars and try selling them in Cangwu County. My elder brother, sister-in-law, and Song Sanlang will accompany me."
The effectiveness of the cream on He Erlang, even after just one night, was quite remarkable.
The journey from Yu County to Cangwu County takes several days, and the road could be perilous. Only by traveling together could they feel at ease.
Fu Wei's expression paused, and after a moment, he asked, "When are you leaving?"
Yu Ying thought for a while, then said, “To sell it at a higher price, I can’t use bamboo jars. For a hundred jars, I need to prepare clay pots and then sheep tail fat oil. This will take a few days to arrange.”
Continuing, Yu Ying added, “I’ll stay in Yu County with Ning Ning for the next few days. I'll finish making the cream in three days, and then my elder brother and the others will join me in Yu County.”
Chapter 71.
After lunch, Mrs. Luo, worried, asked how her second son was faring at the government office and if anyone was bullying him.
Fu Wei simply replied that he was doing well at the government office and had not been subjected to any bullying.
Seeing Mrs. Luo about to ask more, Yu Ying mentioned that Fu Wei would soon have to go for his duty at the government office and should rest a bit beforehand to avoid feeling sleepy in the afternoon.
Hearing this, Mrs. Luo quickly urged her son to go and rest.
Just before Fu Wei was to leave for his duty, his sister-in-law brought out the cloth shoes she had made.
They were two pairs of cloth shoes for Fu Wei.
After trying them on, Fu Wei found them to fit perfectly.
With these new pairs of shoes, he could wear the new ones when going out and the old ones at home. Now, Fu Wei wouldn’t need to meticulously clean the mud off his shoes to hide traces of walking in the fields.
Changing into his new shoes, Yu Ying accompanied Fu Wei to the door.
As they walked through the alley, even after living there for two days, people still curiously observed the couple.
The neighbors had been quite curious the first couple of days, often craning their necks to get a better look at them.
Their whispers were often about how the husband was handsome but unfortunately crippled. And if he weren’t crippled, why would he marry a woman with a blemish on her face?
Upon closer inspection, the young woman’s appearance wasn’t bad at all. It was just like a stain on a white cloth, hard to ignore.
This couple seemed oddly matched yet oddly fitting, an unusual pairing.
Yu Ying paid no mind to those peculiar glances. She stopped at the entrance of the alley and told him, "The housewarming meal will start at the hour of Wei. It will probably be over before you return from your duty, so I might head back by then."
Fu Wei had already anticipated this without her having to mention it.
He turned to look at her.
His gaze lingered on her face for a few moments before he softly spoke, "Be careful when you get back."
A faint smile appeared on Yu Ying’s face as she also gently advised, "You too, be cautious around others at the government office."
Fu Wei nodded slightly, withdrew his gaze, and left with the document cart.
As he walked away, his expression grew somber.
As Yu Ying had said, their separation was for a better future for both of them. Despite the reluctance in his heart, he had to face it.
In the afternoon, Yu Ying borrowed fifty coins from her sister-in-law and then went with her to the carpenter's shop.
She chose a modestly sized Eight Immortals table and two tall stools, spending eighty coins.
After purchasing the table and chairs, she arranged for them to be delivered to Xikou Lane.
The table could be used for an additional seating arrangement that afternoon and later as a desk in Fu Wei's room.
After noon, Yu Ying, her sister-in-law, and Mrs. Luo prepared dishes for two tables.
The menu was similar to the previous day's feast for the senior yamen runner: stewed mutton with radishes, braised pork, braised fish, stewed tofu, and a green vegetable dish.
The two tables of food made Fu An and Fu Ning drool with anticipation.
They had never eaten mutton before, and fish was a rarity; they occasionally had meat every two or three days, but only simply stir-fried, not like the richly enticing dishes they saw now.
Yu Ying, carrying dishes into the house, teased her nephew and niece, "Your drool is almost hitting the floor, better wipe it off quick."
The siblings, taking her seriously, similarly raised their hands to their mouths to wipe.
Fu An was the first to realize his little aunt was teasing him and exclaimed in embarrassed protest, "Little Aunt!"
Yu Ying suppressed a smile and continued to bring in the dishes.
At this moment, Chen, the shopkeeper, Uncle Chen, and the waiter from Wu's restaurant arrived.
The shopkeeper Chen brought a live chicken, while the waiter carried two boxes of pastries.
Yu Ying welcomed them into the house, then asked her elder brother to entertain them.
Yu Ying asked Fu An to tie up the chicken, intending for Mrs. Luo to take care of it in the future.
Regarding the housewarming feast, even though the main character was absent, the guests still enjoyed themselves and left in high spirits.
Before leaving, Mrs. Luo called Yu Ying inside and took out a hundred coins, handing them to her: “Renting this house must have cost you a lot. I don’t have much money, but please take these hundred coins.”
Mrs. Luo had kept a little money aside, just in case Erlang couldn’t afford to buy food and needed it in an emergency.
Yu Ying declined the money, explaining, “Erlang contributed the most, and I didn’t spend much.”
Mrs. Luo was skeptical, “Where would Erlang get money from? Don’t say such things just to reassure me.”
Yu Ying was about to explain further but thought better of it, realizing it might lead to more worries for Mrs. Luo. So, she accepted the hundred coins.
After tidying up, Yu Ying and her sister-in-law moved a table and a chair into Fu Wei’s room.
She spread a tablecloth on the table, placed ink, paper, a lamp, and a bamboo tube with two bamboo sticks in it.
Finally, she hung a curtain. Though it was a mud house, it now had a touch of elegance and tranquility.
Yu Ying stepped back to the doorway, taking one last look at the room before slowly closing the door.
Before leaving, she handed Fu An several packets of powder, instructing him, “If bad people try to catch you, don’t resist. Look for a chance to throw this powder at them, then find an opportunity to escape.”
Fu An, a bit stunned, was about to say he wouldn’t encounter bad people, but then remembered his aunt had faced trouble before and quickly nodded.
“Also, don’t foolishly follow anyone who promises easy money. It’s a scam. They’ll trick and kidnap you, then threaten us for ransom.”
Fu An uttered an “Ah,” bewildered by this anti-fraud education, a concept new to him, leaving him utterly confused.
In the book, Fu An’s fate is to be kidnapped and go missing.
For years, Fu Wei never stopped searching for his only relative but never found him.
Fu Ning, standing nearby, listened intently, taking her aunt’s words to heart.
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch, so don’t be greedy for small gains and suffer big losses. Understand?”
Fu An nodded, "I've taken it to heart."
Yu Ying's final instruction was, "Don't wander off. Just stay around here or go to the government office to pick up your uncle."
The area near the government office is always somewhat safer.
After a multitude of reminders and instructions, Yu Ying left with her elder brother, sister-in-law, and Fu Ning in Uncle Chen’s ox cart.
When Fu Wei returned from his duty, it was Fu An who opened the door for him.
Although there were occasional conversations between the nephew and grandmother in the courtyard, it was a stark contrast to the liveliness of the midday gathering.
The heart that had just been filled now seemed to be missing a piece again.
Opening the door to his room and seeing the changes inside, Fu Wei slowly approached the table.
He lifted his hand to the tablecloth-covered surface, his slender fingers gently tracing over it, his gaze settling on the bamboo sticks in the bamboo tube.
It was evident who had prepared this, without needing to say.
His lips gradually curved into a smile, feeling a sweetness in his heart.
Upon returning to Lingshui Village, Yu Ying, looking at the house now missing a person, felt a bit unaccustomed but still managed a faint smile and turned to attend to other matters.
Yu Ying took Fu Ning with her, carrying two boxes of pastries and two packets of melon seeds to deliver to Song Sanlang and the He family, also bringing along some newly made sheep fat cream to the He family.
Yu Ying chatted leisurely with Aunt He and the sister-in-law of the He family in the courtyard until the men of the He family returned from the fields.
The He family owned only a small plot of land. They gathered herbs in the morning and worked in the fields in the afternoon. After tending to their own fields, they would also check on the Fu family's medicinal and vegetable gardens.
Yu Ying called He Erlang over and examined his cheeks and hands closely.
After four days of application, the cracks on both sides of his cheeks had healed by sixty percent.
The cracks on his hands had also improved to varying degrees, about fifty percent better.
From this observation, her cream seemed to be as effective as the cream from Ji's Medical Hall, and better than those from the other two homes.
However, the cream’s effect, though similar to Ji's Medical Hall, might not necessarily compare with those from other medical halls in Cangwu County.
He Erlang felt a bit embarrassed being scrutinized so closely, but fortunately, his dark complexion concealed any noticeable changes.
Yu Ying took out the newly made cream and instructed him, “From now on, apply this cream not just on your face and hands, but also on your feet.”
After a moment's thought, she asked, “Can you show me your feet?”
He Erlang, embarrassed by the severe cracks in his feet, hesitated but eventually nodded.
Yu Ying noticed that the heels of He Erlang's feet were so cracked they were bleeding.
She advised, “Apply more cream on the heels. I’ll check them again tomorrow.”
After giving her instructions, Yu Ying glanced at the slightly cracked face of He family’s grandson.
If this facial cream works exceptionally well, it should heal the cracks on the face of the He family grandson overnight.
Yu Ying instructed him to wash his face and then applied the cream, advising, "Make sure not to wash it off, it should be better by tomorrow."
Niu Niu, full of energy, responded with a hearty "Okay," then asked, "Little Aunt from the Fu family, when will An An come back?"
Yu Ying replied, "He will return to stay for a few days after a while."
Yu Ying also took the opportunity to tell Uncle He and Aunt He about where Fu Wei was currently staying, suggesting they could rest there if they visited the county town.
After staying a while at Uncle and Aunt He's home, she left. Taking advantage of the remaining daylight, she went to sort out the eighty pounds of medicinal herbs.
The sky darkened, and a cold wind rustled.
At the county yamen.
After dinner, Zhou, the county magistrate, went to his study to find a book.
He picked up a few bamboo scrolls from the bookshelf and was about to leave when his peripheral vision caught sight of a paper casually placed on the table earlier that day.
He slightly raised an eyebrow, pondered for a moment, then took the paper and left the study to return to the back courtyard.
Back in the room, his wife was sewing. He said, "Sewing so late, aren’t you afraid of damaging your eyes?"
The graceful woman, around thirty, glanced up at him and said, "Then why don't you stop wearing out your clothes so often?"
County Magistrate Zhou touched his nose and replied, "Well, these clothes aren’t exactly durable."
The woman chuckled lightly and said, "No matter how durable they are, they can’t withstand your daily martial arts training and sparring."
County Magistrate Zhou, not wishing to prolong the conversation, simply said, “Then finish your sewing and rest soon.”
After giving his advice, he sat down beside the couch with the bamboo scroll in his hand.
Glancing at the paper and pondering for a moment, he set the bamboo scroll on the low table and opened the paper instead.
He intended to just give it a casual glance.
As he unfolded the paper, instead of densely packed opinions, he saw an innovative layout of boxes.
His eyebrows slightly raised, he became curiously engrossed in studying it.
Recognizing the cases from the previous day, which he had presided over, he quickly understood how to read it.
Seeing the clear and straightforward content, he couldn’t help but laugh.
Hearing the laughter, his wife looked up and asked, “What’s so amusing?”
County Magistrate Zhou responded, “Do you know about the new clerk in the government office?”
His wife pondered for a moment, “Yes, the one with the disability. I saw him from a distance. He has a decent appearance, a pity about his condition.”
Sighing, she then asked, “What about him?”
County Magistrate Zhou showed her the paper in his hand.
After glancing at it, his wife commented, “It’s just content written in a few boxes. What’s so special about that?”
County Magistrate Zhou took back the paper, saying, “Never mind, you wouldn’t understand.”
He mused, “Initially, I thought Fu Wei, having lived as a privileged young master for twenty years, might genuinely possess some talent, which is why I allowed him into the government office.”
"Give it three months. Those with ability can stay, others will leave. Honestly, I didn't have high expectations of him. Since he had nothing to do, I casually assigned him to attend my court hearings and summarize them for me the next day."
Mrs. Zhou frowned in thought, "Aren't you just dealing with trivial lawsuits every day? What's there to summarize?"
County Magistrate Zhou replied, "That's because there were no other tasks to assign to him."
He sighed, "I can hardly remember the cases I judged yesterday, yet to my surprise, Fu Wei listed all of them, including the time of the hearing and the parties involved. It's not his memory or his method of documentation that astonished me the most."
Mrs. Zhou, sewing clothes, asked, "What else then?"
County Magistrate Zhou smiled, "I thought these well-read noblemen only liked to show off their literary talent. Clearly, I was too prejudiced. Do you know Fu Wei's insight on the chicken theft case?"
This piqued his wife's curiosity, and she asked, "What did he write?"
He smiled, "Petty theft is common everywhere, nothing unusual."
"Did he really write that?"
County Magistrate Zhou nodded, adding, "For a dispute involving women throwing manure at each other, he described it as mundane neighborhood squabbles, dull and uninteresting."
"Don't you think he's being perfunctory?" Mrs. Zhou looked skeptical.
County Magistrate Zhou laughed heartily, "His comments are exactly what I've been thinking! Not perfunctory at all! Besides, if he were to analyze these cases in detail, focusing on trivial domestic disputes, he wouldn't be suited for greater responsibilities."
Seeing his joyful laughter, Mrs. Zhou also smiled, "It seems you have high regard for this young aide."
County Magistrate Zhou's smile faded as he sighed, "I've been in Jade County for three years now, and it feels like I can see the end of the road – no hope for promotion in sight."
"The two scholars, Qian and Sun, can only help me manage Jade County. But broadly speaking, they don't know much about the imperial capital or court politics. Fu Wei, who's been in Jade County for just half a year, knows somewhat more about the affairs of the court."
Hearing this, Mrs. Zhou pondered for a moment and then said softly, "Since you say so, you must have some plans in mind."
County Magistrate Zhou nodded.
"With two aides, there's a balance. Adding a third will inevitably lead to conflict."
"Whether Fu Wei can withstand it depends on his own abilities."
The next day.
When Fu Wei was on duty, County Magistrate Zhou called him into the study.
Zhou brought out the summary Fu Wei had submitted, not stinting in praise: “You did a good job with the summary.”
"Thank you for the compliment, sir, but the format of the summary was suggested by my wife."
Hearing this, County Magistrate Zhou raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, “But the content must have been your own idea, right?”
Fu Wei nodded, “Indeed, I wrote the content.”
County Magistrate Zhou, lifting his chin slightly, said, “I had intended to further assess your capabilities, but now I’ll skip the formalities and get straight to the point.”
Speaking thus, Zhou's expression turned serious: “Yu County is impoverished. In your opinion, how can we change this situation?”
Fu Wei, surprised by the directness, pondered for a moment before responding, “Food is the foundation of the people; grain is crucial.”
Zhou almost laughed, “That’s what Mr. Qian and Mr. Sun said two years ago.”
“And who doesn’t know that grain is fundamental to the people? But here in Lingnan, the dense forests and mountainous terrain are full of miasma, snakes, and beasts. How can we talk about farming in such difficult conditions?”
“Moreover, with limited arable land, if the people can’t pay their taxes, should the government office cover for them? You're overestimating the office.”
Fu Wei pondered for a moment, then said, “With limited farming land, we should reclaim more. The central government has a policy: for newly reclaimed sloping land, only one hundred coins per mu are charged for the first three years, and no grain tax is required. Even if the slopes can’t grow grain, other crops can be cultivated to exchange for silver, which can then be used to buy grain from other regions.”
Zhou retorted, “You make it sound easy. Cultivate other crops to exchange for silver? First, where do they get the money to rent the land? Second, what can they grow to make money? Third, does Yu County have such demand?”
The two engaged in a back-and-forth of questions and answers, raising doubts and providing responses.
“Sir, you could petition the Cangwu County magistrate, suggesting that our county allows the people to owe the rent for the land first, and then repay the debt with the silver they earn next year.”
Fu Wei pondered for a moment, then said, "As for what to plant, Yu County has many slopes unsuitable for traditional farming but ideal for growing medicinal herbs. Herbs that cannot be grown in the north can be grown in the south, and vice versa, making the trade of regional herbs highly profitable."
Fu Wei's explanation was clear and logical, prompting County Magistrate Zhou not to question him immediately.
After a few moments, Zhou shared his knowledge.
"The medicinal herb traders who come to Yu County are mostly small-scale. Several medical halls are struggling to sell the herbs from their own fields. How do you think the herbs grown by the people will sell?"
Fu Wei, looking even more serious, replied, "It’s not about waiting for buyers to come but going out to them."
County Magistrate Zhou raised an eyebrow, "Go out to them?"
Fu Wei nodded, "Transport the herbs to the medical halls in the north."
County Magistrate Zhou asked, "Who will do the transporting?"
Fu Wei answered, "The government and locals can form a trading caravan, transporting the herbs by boat. With official documents, checkpoints won’t dare to detain us maliciously, allowing for faster inspections and shorter travel times."
"By buying at a low price and selling high, the government office can profit from the margin. On the return journey, buy grain and northern medicinal herbs, selling the herbs along the way for additional income."
Concluding, Fu Wei relayed information from Yu Ying, "The cheapest herbs can be bought for fifteen coins per catty and sold in the north for forty to fifty coins per catty."
Hearing this, Zhou's eyes showed a hint of surprise.
Fu Wei further suggested, "The medical halls have large fields of medicinal herbs. Sir, you might consider collaborating with them to export the herbs, settling the payments after receiving the income, so there's no worry about upfront costs."
Fu Wei concluded with a critical point, "Constantly struggling in poverty, can the situation in Yu County get any worse?"
These words left County Magistrate Zhou deep in thought.
Seemingly persuaded, Zhou looked at Fu Wei after a long while and said, "Organize your thoughts from today into a clear and detailed report. The day after tomorrow, I’ll discuss it with Mr. Qian and Mr. Sun. As for the medical halls, we’ll decide whether to proceed with that after the meeting."
As planned, Yu Ying, accompanied by Fu Ning, delivered the medicinal herbs to the inn, earning over 1,300 coins.
Leaving the inn close to noon, Yu Ying hurried to the government office.
Upon arriving, she saw a junior officer pushing Fu Wei in his wheelchair, exiting from a side alley of the government office.
The young yamen runner, around sixteen or seventeen, was Mo Xiaoyacha, who once attended a housewarming feast with Huo Yacha.
Fu Wei, seemingly touched, turned his head and immediately spotted Yu Ying, dressed in a plain skirt and wearing a simple hairpin, amidst the bustling crowd.
The two exchanged smiles across the passing crowd.
Yu Ying, leading Fu Ning, approached them and took over the task of pushing the wheelchair from Mo Xiaoyacha.
Fu Ning called out to Fu Wei, "Uncle."
Although her voice was still somewhat muddled, it was much clearer than when she first began to speak.
Fu Wei nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Yu Ying explained, "She said she missed her brother and grandmother, so I brought her along."
Fu Wei asked her, "Did you manage to deliver the herbs smoothly?"
Yu Ying nodded, "Yes, I delivered them successfully and came here right after."
Knowing the inn was some distance away and that Fu Ning must have been tired, Fu Wei lifted her onto his lap to sit in the wheelchair for the ride back.
Fu Ning, now closer to her uncle, was no longer afraid of him.
Half a moment later, they reached the outside of the courtyard.
Just as they knocked twice on the courtyard door, they heard Fu An's voice from inside, "I'll open it, I'll open it!"
As the door swung open, Fu An's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of his beloved aunt and sister, whom he had been eagerly anticipating.
"Auntie, sister!" he exclaimed.
Little Fu Ning grinned, revealing her gap-toothed smile, and called out "Brother."
Mrs. Luo hurriedly wiped her hands and came out from the main room, joyfully exclaiming, "My dear Ning Ning, my sweet granddaughter."
"Grandma," Fu Ning ran towards her grandmother.
Mrs. Luo picked her up and then turned to her son and daughter-in-law, saying, "I've just finished cooking lunch; let's eat before we talk."
Knowing that Yu Ying was coming to Yun County to deliver medicinal herbs, Mrs. Luo had purposely prepared extra food.
After a quick lunch, with Yu Ying present, Fu Wei didn't plan to rest but called her into a room for a private conversation.
He detailed the proposal he had presented to the county magistrate and mentioned the meeting scheduled for the next day.
Yu Ying nodded in agreement, "Although grain and silver will be esteemed in the future, in cases where grain cannot be cultivated, medicinal herbs are also in demand."
She looked at Fu Wei, "If this proposal is confirmed, I'll immediately rent about ten or more acres of sloping land for cultivation, then buy the produce at a low price and profit from the margin."
Fu Wei's expression grew serious, "I must ensure this plan succeeds."
"If it does, the people of Yu County will have an additional means of livelihood during the upcoming turbulent times, preventing widespread devastation."
After discussing the promotion of herb cultivation, Yu Ying also shared her plans with Fu Wei about her trip to Cangwu County.
"The new cream I've made is much more effective than the previous one, and even better than those from several other medical halls. So, I'm planning to initially produce a hundred jars and try selling them in Cangwu County. My elder brother, sister-in-law, and Song Sanlang will accompany me."
The effectiveness of the cream on He Erlang, even after just one night, was quite remarkable.
The journey from Yu County to Cangwu County takes several days, and the road could be perilous. Only by traveling together could they feel at ease.
Fu Wei's expression paused, and after a moment, he asked, "When are you leaving?"
Yu Ying thought for a while, then said, “To sell it at a higher price, I can’t use bamboo jars. For a hundred jars, I need to prepare clay pots and then sheep tail fat oil. This will take a few days to arrange.”
Continuing, Yu Ying added, “I’ll stay in Yu County with Ning Ning for the next few days. I'll finish making the cream in three days, and then my elder brother and the others will join me in Yu County.”
