Chapter 81.
In the continuous drizzle, the weather was damp and bone-chillingly cold. Pedestrians on the street huddled their necks and crossed their hands inside their sleeves for warmth.
Yuying had wrapped a cotton cloth around her neck and wore a hat, feeling warmer than others thanks to the hemp-wool sweater she had made after several attempts, worn under her cotton coat.
However, after sitting in an open, wind- and rain-exposed ox cart for nearly half an hour, she was shivering and trembling with cold, struggling to speak clearly.
Once inside, it took a long while warming up in front of the fire basin before she started to feel better.
Moments later, Fuxian brought her a freshly brewed cup of hot ginger tea, offering, “Have some ginger tea first to warm up.”
Yuying took it, thanking him with a soft “thank you,” and then sipped the steaming tea gently.
The hot ginger tea warmed her as it slowly went down her throat, gradually spreading a comforting warmth throughout her body, restoring color to Yuying's pale cheeks.
Holding the half bowl of warm ginger tea to heat her hands, Yuying looked at Fuxian, whom she hadn't seen for over a month.
He was looking at her too.
Yuying had to divert her gaze, looking instead at the crackling fire in the brazier on the floor.
Fuxian sat down on a stool next to her, asking, “Why have you arrived so late?”
Even without taking Old Chen’s ox cart, she should have arrived around the usual time.
Upon entering the house earlier, she had immediately changed her shoes, which were caked in mud, as if something had happened on her way.
Shivering, Yuying exhaled a cold breath and took another sip of ginger tea before explaining, “The ox cart got stuck in a mud pit on the way, which is why I arrived so late.”
No wonder she had arrived at Yuxian at such an hour.
Seeing that she hadn't fully recovered, Fuxian got up and went to get his thick coat, draping it gently over her shoulders.
Yuying was momentarily startled and about to refuse, but Fuxian cautioned, “The weather has been particularly cold these days, and we're leaving for the prefectural seat tomorrow. Don’t catch a cold at this crucial time.”
Hearing this, Yuying let it be.
After all, an extra piece of clothing on her shoulders added more warmth.
The coat, while providing warmth, also carried a faint scent of ink and bamboo, Fuxian's signature fragrance.
It was a comforting scent.
Yuying adjusted the coat on her shoulders.
Seeing her acceptance, a smile appeared on Fuxian’s face.
Fuxian told her, “Before the policy was implemented, I mentioned to the magistrate that the idea of the medicinal fields was yours. Also, since you had paid a year's rent in advance and didn’t need guidance from local medical halls on how to grow and harvest herbs, the magistrate agreed to buy your herbs at the same price as those from the medical halls.”
Hearing this, Yuying felt a great relief.
Her purpose in coming to Yuxian was not only to accompany Fuxian to the prefectural seat but also to inquire whether she could sell her herbs independently and at the same price as before.
Fuxian continued to explain, “The policy mainly targets herbal farmers and will be refined over time. For instance, herbs harvested from the wild will eventually be more valuable than cultivated ones. But as it’s the initial phase of the policy, and the first batch of herbs hasn’t been sold yet, and considering the dangers of the mountains, we are not encouraging people to forage in the wild.”
Yuying agreed with Fuxian’s reasoning. Indeed, if people knew that wild herbs were more valuable, they might risk harvesting in the mountains and neglect their cultivated fields.
Speaking of policy matters, Yuying naturally inquired about Fuxian's situation at the yamen.
“Is anyone at the yamen still making things difficult for you?”
Fuxian calmly picked up the tongs and rearranged the wood in the clay pot, casting a warm glow on his face that accentuated his deep and handsome features.
Compared to six months ago, Fuxian had changed significantly.
He had transformed from a young nobleman in distress to a responsible and composed adult.
It was as if he was a dragon lurking in the depths, bound to soar to the skies one day.
After tending to the fire, Fuxian looked up at her with a smile and reassured, “I'm doing well at the yamen, don't worry too much.”
“That’s good to hear,” Yuying smiled in response.
Fuxian briefly discussed their upcoming trip to the prefectural seat.
“The magistrate plans to stay in the prefectural seat for about five days, during which we’ll stay at an inn. I’ll accompany the magistrate to the government office during the day, and you can go out if you wish.”
A five-day trip would inevitably incur expenses.
In modern times, such business trips would be reimbursed, but Yuying wondered if the financially strapped Yuxian yamen had any such provisions.
After pondering for a moment, Yuying asked, “Will we need to pay for our own food and lodging?”
Yuying had only about three taels of silver, and if they stayed in a decent inn, it would cost seventy to eighty wen per night, which seemed exorbitantly expensive.
Fuxian, aware of her concern about money and knowing how hard she worked for it, had inquired carefully.
“The yamen covers food and lodging, with separate rooms for staff officers and shared rooms for four yamen runners each.”
There were only two staff officers, Fuxian and Qian, so the expense for two rooms wasn't much.
However, with many yamen runners, they would have to make do.
Yuying was struck by the stark difference in treatment between staff officers and yamen runners, and she, too, would benefit from this arrangement.
Even though food and lodging were not a concern, Yuying couldn’t help worrying about what might happen at the prefectural seat with Fuxian and the magistrate.
At that moment, Fuxian’s call for dinner came from outside, and Fuxian stood up first. Yuying hesitated for a moment before calling out to him.
“Fuxian.”
Fuxian turned to her, “Hmm?”
Yuying said, “If anything happens at the prefectural seat, don’t brood over it alone. You can discuss it with me.”
“Why say this all of a sudden?” Fuxian was puzzled by her remark.
Yuying smiled, “Just in case something unexpected happens.”
For instance, during this trip to the prefectural seat, Fuxian might encounter an acquaintance of his biological father, leading to doubts about whether his father truly collaborated with the enemy and suspicion towards his foster father.
Fuxian smiled and nodded, “If anything happens, I’ll definitely talk to you about it.”
Reassured by his words, Yuying also stood up to have dinner in the main hall.
In the afternoon, after Fuxian left for his duties, Yuying went to the market to buy some provisions for their three-day journey.
The cold weather meant there was no worry about the food spoiling, and they could cook meals during midday breaks to enjoy warm food on the way.
Since they lived close to the yamen, there was no rush to leave early the next day. After finishing breakfast when it was slightly brighter outside, Yuying left with Fuxian.
Yuying placed the bundle on Fuxian's lap, holding an oil-paper umbrella to shield them from the drizzle while helping to push his wheelchair.
The continuous light rain for two days had made the roads muddy and difficult for the wheelchair to navigate due to small pits and bumps.
When they arrived at the yamen, a carriage was just being brought by a yamen runner.
Yuying once again felt the poverty of Yuxian.
Of the four carriages, only the leading one with a red top was made of wood.
Probably because all the county magistrates of Cangwu Prefecture were gathering at the prefectural seat, the magistrate had the carriage freshly painted with red lacquer to avoid embarrassment.
The other carriages appeared worn, with their canopies made of cloth instead of wood, and some areas were severely faded.
Despite this, compared to most people who traveled by ox cart, these carriages were still a luxury.
For this trip to the prefectural seat, the magistrate's wife and children were also going, along with Qian, the staff officer’s wife and daughter.
Yuying didn’t share a carriage with Fuxian but traveled with Qian’s wife and daughter.
Yuying had met the magistrate before, but this was her first time seeing his wife.
Surprisingly, the wife of a robust man like the magistrate was a gentle and dignified woman.
Around thirty years old, not very beautiful, but she had an elegant and inherently clean aura, giving a very comfortable impression.
Yu Ying accompanied Fu Wei to pay a visit to the wife of the county magistrate.
After the visit, Lady Zhou, with a warm smile, said to Lady Yu, "I've long heard of Lady Yu's capabilities and have always wanted to meet her. Today, I finally have the chance."
She had heard about Lady Yu from her husband and the people in the yamen, describing her as a highly competent woman.
Meeting her today, she couldn't help but be more curious.
She scrutinized Lady Yu carefully, her gaze eventually resting on the "freckles" on Lady Yu's cheeks.
While initially pitying the blemish on such delicate features, she quickly thought of something, paid more attention to those few "freckles," and then smiled faintly, no longer feeling sorry.
Yu Ying modestly replied, "I'm just an ordinary woman. Although I can recognize a few herbs, I don’t possess any special skills."
Lady Zhou's smile remained as she continued, "Lady Yu is a modest person, much like Mr. Fu. No wonder you are husband and wife."
Hearing this, Yu Ying couldn't help but glance at Fu Wei beside her.
Their eyes met, and they both smiled.
As the time for departure approached, Yu Ying and Fu Wei parted ways.
Yu Ying watched Fu Wei being helped onto the carriage by Huo, the yamen runner, and was about to look away when she inadvertently noticed an elderly gentleman standing in front of the yamen.
The uncle, around fifty years old, was not dressed in the uniform of a yamen runner but wore a broad-collared overcoat and a formal hat.
Such attire indicated wealth in Yuxian, leaving no doubt that this man must be Sun Mouliao.
When Yu Ying looked his way, she saw Sun Mouliao's eyes dark and brooding, staring at Fu Wei like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, ready to strike at any moment.
Sun Mouliao seemed to sense someone watching him and quickly masked his displeasure.
Yu Ying could guess why Sun Mouliao bore such an expression.
In the past, when visiting the county seat, the county magistrate would take him along with Qian Mouliao, but this year, he brought Fu Wei instead, leaving Sun Mouliao behind, which would hardly sit well with him.
Yu Ying remembered reading about Sun Mouliao giving Fu Wei a hard time when he first joined the yamen, being the most severe among them.
Thinking of this, Yu Ying furrowed her brow.
But then she realized that the situation was now entirely different, and Fu Wei was no longer affected by Sun Mouliao's harassment.
Fu Wei had already won over Luo Dianshi, and the hearts of the yamen staff were gradually aligning with him, solidifying his position in the office swiftly.
As for Sun Mouliao, unless something unexpected happened, he would leave the office before the year's end.
Having realized this, Yu Ying casually withdrew her gaze and stepped onto the carriage.
Once inside, after settling down, Yu Ying nodded slightly towards Qian Mouliao's wife and politely introduced herself, “Greetings, Madam Qian. I am Yu, the wife of Magistrate Fu.”
Madam Qian, like her husband, was aloof and proud. She glanced at Yu Ying, nodded with a "hmm", acknowledging her.
A little girl around seven or eight years old looked at Yu Ying, scrutinizing her appearance, then pursed her lips and looked away without a word of greeting.
The reaction of the mother and daughter suited Yu Ying just fine; she wasn't much of a talker, and spending the next few days quietly would be agreeable.
Chapter 81.
In the continuous drizzle, the weather was damp and bone-chillingly cold. Pedestrians on the street huddled their necks and crossed their hands inside their sleeves for warmth.
Yuying had wrapped a cotton cloth around her neck and wore a hat, feeling warmer than others thanks to the hemp-wool sweater she had made after several attempts, worn under her cotton coat.
However, after sitting in an open, wind- and rain-exposed ox cart for nearly half an hour, she was shivering and trembling with cold, struggling to speak clearly.
Once inside, it took a long while warming up in front of the fire basin before she started to feel better.
Moments later, Fuxian brought her a freshly brewed cup of hot ginger tea, offering, “Have some ginger tea first to warm up.”
Yuying took it, thanking him with a soft “thank you,” and then sipped the steaming tea gently.
The hot ginger tea warmed her as it slowly went down her throat, gradually spreading a comforting warmth throughout her body, restoring color to Yuying's pale cheeks.
Holding the half bowl of warm ginger tea to heat her hands, Yuying looked at Fuxian, whom she hadn't seen for over a month.
He was looking at her too.
Yuying had to divert her gaze, looking instead at the crackling fire in the brazier on the floor.
Fuxian sat down on a stool next to her, asking, “Why have you arrived so late?”
Even without taking Old Chen’s ox cart, she should have arrived around the usual time.
Upon entering the house earlier, she had immediately changed her shoes, which were caked in mud, as if something had happened on her way.
Shivering, Yuying exhaled a cold breath and took another sip of ginger tea before explaining, “The ox cart got stuck in a mud pit on the way, which is why I arrived so late.”
No wonder she had arrived at Yuxian at such an hour.
Seeing that she hadn't fully recovered, Fuxian got up and went to get his thick coat, draping it gently over her shoulders.
Yuying was momentarily startled and about to refuse, but Fuxian cautioned, “The weather has been particularly cold these days, and we're leaving for the prefectural seat tomorrow. Don’t catch a cold at this crucial time.”
Hearing this, Yuying let it be.
After all, an extra piece of clothing on her shoulders added more warmth.
The coat, while providing warmth, also carried a faint scent of ink and bamboo, Fuxian's signature fragrance.
It was a comforting scent.
Yuying adjusted the coat on her shoulders.
Seeing her acceptance, a smile appeared on Fuxian’s face.
Fuxian told her, “Before the policy was implemented, I mentioned to the magistrate that the idea of the medicinal fields was yours. Also, since you had paid a year's rent in advance and didn’t need guidance from local medical halls on how to grow and harvest herbs, the magistrate agreed to buy your herbs at the same price as those from the medical halls.”
Hearing this, Yuying felt a great relief.
Her purpose in coming to Yuxian was not only to accompany Fuxian to the prefectural seat but also to inquire whether she could sell her herbs independently and at the same price as before.
Fuxian continued to explain, “The policy mainly targets herbal farmers and will be refined over time. For instance, herbs harvested from the wild will eventually be more valuable than cultivated ones. But as it’s the initial phase of the policy, and the first batch of herbs hasn’t been sold yet, and considering the dangers of the mountains, we are not encouraging people to forage in the wild.”
Yuying agreed with Fuxian’s reasoning. Indeed, if people knew that wild herbs were more valuable, they might risk harvesting in the mountains and neglect their cultivated fields.
Speaking of policy matters, Yuying naturally inquired about Fuxian's situation at the yamen.
“Is anyone at the yamen still making things difficult for you?”
Fuxian calmly picked up the tongs and rearranged the wood in the clay pot, casting a warm glow on his face that accentuated his deep and handsome features.
Compared to six months ago, Fuxian had changed significantly.
He had transformed from a young nobleman in distress to a responsible and composed adult.
It was as if he was a dragon lurking in the depths, bound to soar to the skies one day.
After tending to the fire, Fuxian looked up at her with a smile and reassured, “I'm doing well at the yamen, don't worry too much.”
“That’s good to hear,” Yuying smiled in response.
Fuxian briefly discussed their upcoming trip to the prefectural seat.
“The magistrate plans to stay in the prefectural seat for about five days, during which we’ll stay at an inn. I’ll accompany the magistrate to the government office during the day, and you can go out if you wish.”
A five-day trip would inevitably incur expenses.
In modern times, such business trips would be reimbursed, but Yuying wondered if the financially strapped Yuxian yamen had any such provisions.
After pondering for a moment, Yuying asked, “Will we need to pay for our own food and lodging?”
Yuying had only about three taels of silver, and if they stayed in a decent inn, it would cost seventy to eighty wen per night, which seemed exorbitantly expensive.
Fuxian, aware of her concern about money and knowing how hard she worked for it, had inquired carefully.
“The yamen covers food and lodging, with separate rooms for staff officers and shared rooms for four yamen runners each.”
There were only two staff officers, Fuxian and Qian, so the expense for two rooms wasn't much.
However, with many yamen runners, they would have to make do.
Yuying was struck by the stark difference in treatment between staff officers and yamen runners, and she, too, would benefit from this arrangement.
Even though food and lodging were not a concern, Yuying couldn’t help worrying about what might happen at the prefectural seat with Fuxian and the magistrate.
At that moment, Fuxian’s call for dinner came from outside, and Fuxian stood up first. Yuying hesitated for a moment before calling out to him.
“Fuxian.”
Fuxian turned to her, “Hmm?”
Yuying said, “If anything happens at the prefectural seat, don’t brood over it alone. You can discuss it with me.”
“Why say this all of a sudden?” Fuxian was puzzled by her remark.
Yuying smiled, “Just in case something unexpected happens.”
For instance, during this trip to the prefectural seat, Fuxian might encounter an acquaintance of his biological father, leading to doubts about whether his father truly collaborated with the enemy and suspicion towards his foster father.
Fuxian smiled and nodded, “If anything happens, I’ll definitely talk to you about it.”
Reassured by his words, Yuying also stood up to have dinner in the main hall.
In the afternoon, after Fuxian left for his duties, Yuying went to the market to buy some provisions for their three-day journey.
The cold weather meant there was no worry about the food spoiling, and they could cook meals during midday breaks to enjoy warm food on the way.
Since they lived close to the yamen, there was no rush to leave early the next day. After finishing breakfast when it was slightly brighter outside, Yuying left with Fuxian.
Yuying placed the bundle on Fuxian's lap, holding an oil-paper umbrella to shield them from the drizzle while helping to push his wheelchair.
The continuous light rain for two days had made the roads muddy and difficult for the wheelchair to navigate due to small pits and bumps.
When they arrived at the yamen, a carriage was just being brought by a yamen runner.
Yuying once again felt the poverty of Yuxian.
Of the four carriages, only the leading one with a red top was made of wood.
Probably because all the county magistrates of Cangwu Prefecture were gathering at the prefectural seat, the magistrate had the carriage freshly painted with red lacquer to avoid embarrassment.
The other carriages appeared worn, with their canopies made of cloth instead of wood, and some areas were severely faded.
Despite this, compared to most people who traveled by ox cart, these carriages were still a luxury.
For this trip to the prefectural seat, the magistrate's wife and children were also going, along with Qian, the staff officer’s wife and daughter.
Yuying didn’t share a carriage with Fuxian but traveled with Qian’s wife and daughter.
Yuying had met the magistrate before, but this was her first time seeing his wife.
Surprisingly, the wife of a robust man like the magistrate was a gentle and dignified woman.
Around thirty years old, not very beautiful, but she had an elegant and inherently clean aura, giving a very comfortable impression.
Yu Ying accompanied Fu Wei to pay a visit to the wife of the county magistrate.
After the visit, Lady Zhou, with a warm smile, said to Lady Yu, "I've long heard of Lady Yu's capabilities and have always wanted to meet her. Today, I finally have the chance."
She had heard about Lady Yu from her husband and the people in the yamen, describing her as a highly competent woman.
Meeting her today, she couldn't help but be more curious.
She scrutinized Lady Yu carefully, her gaze eventually resting on the "freckles" on Lady Yu's cheeks.
While initially pitying the blemish on such delicate features, she quickly thought of something, paid more attention to those few "freckles," and then smiled faintly, no longer feeling sorry.
Yu Ying modestly replied, "I'm just an ordinary woman. Although I can recognize a few herbs, I don’t possess any special skills."
Lady Zhou's smile remained as she continued, "Lady Yu is a modest person, much like Mr. Fu. No wonder you are husband and wife."
Hearing this, Yu Ying couldn't help but glance at Fu Wei beside her.
Their eyes met, and they both smiled.
As the time for departure approached, Yu Ying and Fu Wei parted ways.
Yu Ying watched Fu Wei being helped onto the carriage by Huo, the yamen runner, and was about to look away when she inadvertently noticed an elderly gentleman standing in front of the yamen.
The uncle, around fifty years old, was not dressed in the uniform of a yamen runner but wore a broad-collared overcoat and a formal hat.
Such attire indicated wealth in Yuxian, leaving no doubt that this man must be Sun Mouliao.
When Yu Ying looked his way, she saw Sun Mouliao's eyes dark and brooding, staring at Fu Wei like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, ready to strike at any moment.
Sun Mouliao seemed to sense someone watching him and quickly masked his displeasure.
Yu Ying could guess why Sun Mouliao bore such an expression.
In the past, when visiting the county seat, the county magistrate would take him along with Qian Mouliao, but this year, he brought Fu Wei instead, leaving Sun Mouliao behind, which would hardly sit well with him.
Yu Ying remembered reading about Sun Mouliao giving Fu Wei a hard time when he first joined the yamen, being the most severe among them.
Thinking of this, Yu Ying furrowed her brow.
But then she realized that the situation was now entirely different, and Fu Wei was no longer affected by Sun Mouliao's harassment.
Fu Wei had already won over Luo Dianshi, and the hearts of the yamen staff were gradually aligning with him, solidifying his position in the office swiftly.
As for Sun Mouliao, unless something unexpected happened, he would leave the office before the year's end.
Having realized this, Yu Ying casually withdrew her gaze and stepped onto the carriage.
Once inside, after settling down, Yu Ying nodded slightly towards Qian Mouliao's wife and politely introduced herself, “Greetings, Madam Qian. I am Yu, the wife of Magistrate Fu.”
Madam Qian, like her husband, was aloof and proud. She glanced at Yu Ying, nodded with a "hmm", acknowledging her.
A little girl around seven or eight years old looked at Yu Ying, scrutinizing her appearance, then pursed her lips and looked away without a word of greeting.
The reaction of the mother and daughter suited Yu Ying just fine; she wasn't much of a talker, and spending the next few days quietly would be agreeable.
