Chapter 92.
Just as they finished the face cream, someone knocked at the courtyard door, and Fu Wei’s voice came from outside, "Is Sixth Lady inside?"
Hearing Fu Wei’s voice, Yu Ying responded, "Wait a moment."
After responding, Yu Ying quickly instructed Song Sanlang to deliver the face cream to the Ren Shan Medical Hall the next morning.
Although the deposit was one thousand coins, five hundred of it was for the next batch of fifty jars, so they only needed to collect a total of one thousand seven hundred and fifty coins.
After giving instructions, she went to open the courtyard gate.
After greeting Song Sanlang and Fu Wei, Yu Ying bid farewell to him and Miss Su.
The carriage was parked at the entrance of the alley, with the coachman and Wu Xiaoyachai accompanying it.
The two helped Fu Wei onto the carriage; he only needed to exert strength in his arms, as his legs seemed truly paralyzed and powerless.
Every time Yu Ying saw Fu Wei skillfully play the role of a disabled person, she couldn’t help but admire his acting skills.
If Fu Wei were in the modern era, he wouldn’t have to worry about making a living. Even without going far, just with his face and acting skills, he would surely make a splash in the entertainment industry.
After helping Fu Wei onto the carriage, Yu Ying followed, and then they placed the wheelchair on the carriage.
Wu Xiaoyachai sat with the coachman outside.
It was completely dark by the time they returned to the guesthouse, just before the curfew.
Since they arrived late, the kitchen had stopped serving food, prompting Yu Ying to ask Fu Wei, “Did you eat when you went out?”
Fu Wei replied, “Not yet.”
He had returned to the guesthouse in the afternoon, around the time he was supposed to pick her up, so he hadn’t eaten.
Yu Ying contemplated for a moment, then said, “I’ll go to the kitchen and see if there’s any food left.”
Fu Wei nodded.
When Yu Ying went to the kitchen, she found the chef washing pots and pans and asked if there was any food left.
The cook mentioned that there was only a bowl of leftover rice, along with some eggs and spinach.
Yu Ying asked for the bowl of leftover rice and two eggs to make two bowls of egg porridge.
When the porridge was boiling, she cracked the eggs into it, stirring them in, and added some ginger slices and chopped green onions, along with oil and salt to taste.
When she brought the porridge into the room, Fu Wei had changed into fresh clothes and had just finished washing.
Sitting at the table, Fu Wei stirred the hot egg porridge intermittently. After a while, he said, "I've decided I want to go."
Understanding what he meant, Yu Ying looked up at him and said softly, "If you want to meet them, then go."
Fu Wei pondered for a moment and said, "I’ve been thinking this afternoon, and I believe..."
He paused, looked at her, and slowly continued, "The person who wants to meet me is likely from the Muchun Mountain bandits."
Yu Ying was surprised that he had so quickly connected the dots to the bandits of Muchun Fort.
Fu Wei then analyzed, "The Fu family was exiled to Lingnan twenty years ago, and these bandits arrived in Lingnan about eighteen or nineteen years ago. The timing is too coincidental. Moreover, these bandits established their stronghold upon arrival, and considering their military victory of five hundred against five thousand, at least eighty percent must be of military origin."
"These bandits have been in Lingnan for nearly twenty years, growing stronger without being annihilated, clearly having informants in every jurisdiction."
Fu Wei's expression became serious, "If they are indeed my biological father's old subordinates, hearing my name and investigating a bit, they could have easily found out about me and located me, which is understandable."
While Yu Ying was impressed by Fu Wei's strong logical reasoning, she fell into silence.
He had speculated so far; meeting the people from Muchun Fort tomorrow would likely lead to suspicions about his foster father. It was only a matter of time before his suspicions were confirmed.
Fu Wei's foster father had raised him for at least twenty years, and he had respected him for many years. These were unchangeable facts. To say there were no feelings involved was impossible.
If she had previously mentioned that his biological father was framed by his foster father, Fu Wei might have doubted his foster father but wouldn't have fully believed it. Moreover, bringing up such matters might have made their future interactions awkward.
Therefore, it was best not to raise this matter from her end.
Moreover, as a mere observer previously, her understanding was solely based on incomplete information gathered from texts, which was not comprehensive.
Now, with everything progressing smoothly, it was better to let things unfold naturally. After all, speaking too much might help Fu Wei avoid certain troubles, but who could guarantee that he wouldn’t encounter people or experiences he was meant to?
Things were going well at present.
If Fu Wei ever truly went astray, she would then offer guidance from the sidelines, but she would not reveal her half-understood knowledge.
With her mind made up, Yu Ying stopped dwelling on these matters. After finishing the egg porridge, she went to bathe.
When she returned, Fu Wei was sitting on the bed, deep in thought. Yu Ying, knowing his mind was troubled, sat beside him and gently rested her head on his shoulder.
Fu Wei came back to the present and looked down at the person leaning against him. His heart’s complexities were instantly swept away, and a warm smile appeared: "I’m fine."
Yu Ying smiled and changed the subject, "After we go back in a few days, we should find a bigger house in Yu County. My elder brother, his wife, and I could also move to the town."
Fu Wei's eyes lit up at her words, "Really?"
Yu Ying chuckled, looking up at him, "Would I lie to you?"
Fu Wei's smile broadened, "Of course not."
Continuing the conversation, he asked, "So, how big a house do you want to rent?"
Yu Ying thought for a moment, "At least four rooms. One for you and me, one for your mother and Ning Ning, one for my elder brother and his wife, and one for Fu An. That would be just right."
Hearing her mention sharing a room with him, Fu Wei's smile deepened.
But then, she suddenly sat up straight and said seriously, "Of course, now that our circumstances have improved, I need my own bed."
Fu Wei: ……
After some thought, Fu Wei found this to be reasonable.
They were only betrothed, not yet officially married. Living in the same room was one thing, but sharing a bed without formal marital status was indeed inappropriate.
"Alright, once we return to the jurisdiction, I'll immediately have someone help find a house. It would be best to secure one before the New Year so that you all have a place to stay when you come to Yu County for the celebrations."
Fu Wei became quite enthusiastic about the house hunting, which significantly alleviated his worries about the next day.
The next morning, while Yu Ying was grooming, a messenger from the county official's wife invited her and Fu Wei to join them for breakfast.
Being invited by the county official's wife was not something to be declined lightly.
Yu Ying and Fu Wei went together and met Qian, the aide, and his wife outside the dining hall.
Perhaps due to Fu Wei's performance at the governor's mansion a few days earlier, which brought honor to Yu County, or perhaps seeing Fu Wei's capabilities, Qian's face no longer bore its usual arrogance.
Qian greeted them with a smile, "Good morning, Mr. Fu."
The difference between being addressed as "Little Mr. Fu" and "Mr. Fu" was just the absence of 'Little,' but the feeling it conveyed was entirely different.
The former seemed to treat Fu Wei as a novice, while the latter carried respect.
Fu Wei bowed respectfully, "Good morning, Mr. Qian."
It seemed Qian had also spoken to his wife about Fu Wei, as Mrs. Qian, who previously looked down on Yu Ying, approached her with a smile, "Did Madam Yu sleep well last night?"
The previously aloof Mrs. Qian was now warmly engaging, making Yu Ying feel uncomfortable, yet she maintained a courteous smile, "The weather was warm last night, so I slept well. How about you, Mrs. Qian?"
Mrs. Qian replied with a smile, "Thanks to the weather, I had a dreamless night."
Both families entered the dining hall with smiles and conversation, appearing quite close.
The county official's wife, seeing them laughing and talking as they entered, and noticing Mrs. Qian's smiling face, understood the reason behind the change.
Mrs. Qian, seeing her husband's changed view of Fu Wei and the county official's regard for him, had altered her attitude towards Yu Ying. She was indeed adept at playing to the audience.
The county official's wife could only respond to this with a helpless smile.
After exchanging greetings, everyone sat down.
Being a man of military background, County Official Zhou had a straightforward nature. He said, "There's no need for so many formalities at the dining table. Just eat and drink as you please."
Although everyone agreed, they still behaved quite courteously.
County Official Zhou raised his cup of tea towards Qian, the aide, saying, "This year has been smooth thanks to Mr. Qian's assistance. Yu County avoided major errors. I offer this tea in place of wine as a toast to Mr. Qian."
Qian quickly lifted his cup in response, "It's my duty to assist; it’s what I should do."
After a cup of tea, Zhou poured another and offered it to Fu Wei, "Mr. Fu, though you've only been in the county office for a little over two months, you’ve solved many difficult issues for me. This cup is for you."
Fu Wei raised his cup, looking down modestly, "It's my responsibility, I don’t dare take credit."
Zhou smiled and drank his cup of tea. Setting down the cup, his smile faded.
"Although Yu County is poor, we now at least see hope. Next year, we’ll put in even more effort to stand tall at the annual county meeting."
Both Fu Wei and Qian immediately bowed, "We will do our utmost to assist you in governing."
Zhou beckoned, "Let's not talk about such matters at the table. Finish your meal quickly. It’s rare to be in the jurisdiction, so no need to go to the governor's office today. You can go wherever you want."
After breakfast, the men retired to the study, while Yu Ying and Mrs. Qian accompanied the county official's wife for a chat in the courtyard.
The county official's wife smiled at Yu Ying, "The face cream you sent a few days ago has been used by both myself and my husband. He, with his rough skin, felt the effects were good. I was thinking of buying ten more jars from you to give as gifts."
Yu Ying replied, "If the county official's wife likes it, I'll send them to you after returning to Yu County."
The county official's wife nodded and added, "About the lip rouge you sent yesterday, I've tried both colors. Not only are they beautiful, but they also smell delightful and have a smooth texture. How much do you charge for each jar of lip rouge and face cream?"
Although Yu Ying didn’t fully understand the county official's wife's character, she inferred from their brief conversations that she was as straightforward in her dealings as County Official Zhou. Even if she said no payment was needed, she wouldn’t accept without paying.
Still, Yu Ying wasn’t going to foolishly charge the full amount.
She would charge for them, but not excessively.
"The lip rouge and face cream are priced at fifty coins each at the stall, but for the county official's wife, I can't charge too much. I'll only ask for about the cost price, thirty coins per box."
The cost of production and labor for the lip rouge is about eighteen coins. Fifty coins is a relatively high price for a small stall, but Yu Ying’s goal is not mass sales. Her target customers are those women who have tried and liked the lip rouge.
Once word of its quality spreads, people will naturally seek it out.
Hearing this price, the county official's wife was taken aback, "Madam Yu, your products are of good quality. Why set the price so low?"
Indeed, both the lip rouge and face cream were exceptional, hardly available in a small place like Yu County, except perhaps in shops in the jurisdiction.
Just for the lip rouge alone, anything less than a hundred coins would be unusual.
Yu Ying honestly replied, "It’s just a small stall for now. If the price is too high, customers would rather walk away."
The county official's wife, upon hearing this, felt that it made sense.
Mrs. Qian, overhearing their conversation, wondered if the lip rouge and face cream were really that good.
While thirty coins seemed cheap, even at that price, one could buy decent face cream in a Yu County shop. Were Yu Ying's face cream and lip rouge really worth it?
After her internal debate and seeing the county official's wife making a purchase, Mrs. Qian felt inclined to support as well, smiling, "If Madam Yu is giving a discount to the county official's wife, then I hope I can get a discount too."
Yu Ying looked at her and asked warmly, "How many would Mrs. Qian like?"
Mrs. Qian thought for a moment and said, "Three of each kind."
Buying three of each item would total nearly three hundred coins. Mrs. Qian hoped the effects of the face cream and lip rouge wouldn't be disappointing, so she could give them away as favors without wasting money.
Chapter 92.
Just as they finished the face cream, someone knocked at the courtyard door, and Fu Wei’s voice came from outside, "Is Sixth Lady inside?"
Hearing Fu Wei’s voice, Yu Ying responded, "Wait a moment."
After responding, Yu Ying quickly instructed Song Sanlang to deliver the face cream to the Ren Shan Medical Hall the next morning.
Although the deposit was one thousand coins, five hundred of it was for the next batch of fifty jars, so they only needed to collect a total of one thousand seven hundred and fifty coins.
After giving instructions, she went to open the courtyard gate.
After greeting Song Sanlang and Fu Wei, Yu Ying bid farewell to him and Miss Su.
The carriage was parked at the entrance of the alley, with the coachman and Wu Xiaoyachai accompanying it.
The two helped Fu Wei onto the carriage; he only needed to exert strength in his arms, as his legs seemed truly paralyzed and powerless.
Every time Yu Ying saw Fu Wei skillfully play the role of a disabled person, she couldn’t help but admire his acting skills.
If Fu Wei were in the modern era, he wouldn’t have to worry about making a living. Even without going far, just with his face and acting skills, he would surely make a splash in the entertainment industry.
After helping Fu Wei onto the carriage, Yu Ying followed, and then they placed the wheelchair on the carriage.
Wu Xiaoyachai sat with the coachman outside.
It was completely dark by the time they returned to the guesthouse, just before the curfew.
Since they arrived late, the kitchen had stopped serving food, prompting Yu Ying to ask Fu Wei, “Did you eat when you went out?”
Fu Wei replied, “Not yet.”
He had returned to the guesthouse in the afternoon, around the time he was supposed to pick her up, so he hadn’t eaten.
Yu Ying contemplated for a moment, then said, “I’ll go to the kitchen and see if there’s any food left.”
Fu Wei nodded.
When Yu Ying went to the kitchen, she found the chef washing pots and pans and asked if there was any food left.
The cook mentioned that there was only a bowl of leftover rice, along with some eggs and spinach.
Yu Ying asked for the bowl of leftover rice and two eggs to make two bowls of egg porridge.
When the porridge was boiling, she cracked the eggs into it, stirring them in, and added some ginger slices and chopped green onions, along with oil and salt to taste.
When she brought the porridge into the room, Fu Wei had changed into fresh clothes and had just finished washing.
Sitting at the table, Fu Wei stirred the hot egg porridge intermittently. After a while, he said, "I've decided I want to go."
Understanding what he meant, Yu Ying looked up at him and said softly, "If you want to meet them, then go."
Fu Wei pondered for a moment and said, "I’ve been thinking this afternoon, and I believe..."
He paused, looked at her, and slowly continued, "The person who wants to meet me is likely from the Muchun Mountain bandits."
Yu Ying was surprised that he had so quickly connected the dots to the bandits of Muchun Fort.
Fu Wei then analyzed, "The Fu family was exiled to Lingnan twenty years ago, and these bandits arrived in Lingnan about eighteen or nineteen years ago. The timing is too coincidental. Moreover, these bandits established their stronghold upon arrival, and considering their military victory of five hundred against five thousand, at least eighty percent must be of military origin."
"These bandits have been in Lingnan for nearly twenty years, growing stronger without being annihilated, clearly having informants in every jurisdiction."
Fu Wei's expression became serious, "If they are indeed my biological father's old subordinates, hearing my name and investigating a bit, they could have easily found out about me and located me, which is understandable."
While Yu Ying was impressed by Fu Wei's strong logical reasoning, she fell into silence.
He had speculated so far; meeting the people from Muchun Fort tomorrow would likely lead to suspicions about his foster father. It was only a matter of time before his suspicions were confirmed.
Fu Wei's foster father had raised him for at least twenty years, and he had respected him for many years. These were unchangeable facts. To say there were no feelings involved was impossible.
If she had previously mentioned that his biological father was framed by his foster father, Fu Wei might have doubted his foster father but wouldn't have fully believed it. Moreover, bringing up such matters might have made their future interactions awkward.
Therefore, it was best not to raise this matter from her end.
Moreover, as a mere observer previously, her understanding was solely based on incomplete information gathered from texts, which was not comprehensive.
Now, with everything progressing smoothly, it was better to let things unfold naturally. After all, speaking too much might help Fu Wei avoid certain troubles, but who could guarantee that he wouldn’t encounter people or experiences he was meant to?
Things were going well at present.
If Fu Wei ever truly went astray, she would then offer guidance from the sidelines, but she would not reveal her half-understood knowledge.
With her mind made up, Yu Ying stopped dwelling on these matters. After finishing the egg porridge, she went to bathe.
When she returned, Fu Wei was sitting on the bed, deep in thought. Yu Ying, knowing his mind was troubled, sat beside him and gently rested her head on his shoulder.
Fu Wei came back to the present and looked down at the person leaning against him. His heart’s complexities were instantly swept away, and a warm smile appeared: "I’m fine."
Yu Ying smiled and changed the subject, "After we go back in a few days, we should find a bigger house in Yu County. My elder brother, his wife, and I could also move to the town."
Fu Wei's eyes lit up at her words, "Really?"
Yu Ying chuckled, looking up at him, "Would I lie to you?"
Fu Wei's smile broadened, "Of course not."
Continuing the conversation, he asked, "So, how big a house do you want to rent?"
Yu Ying thought for a moment, "At least four rooms. One for you and me, one for your mother and Ning Ning, one for my elder brother and his wife, and one for Fu An. That would be just right."
Hearing her mention sharing a room with him, Fu Wei's smile deepened.
But then, she suddenly sat up straight and said seriously, "Of course, now that our circumstances have improved, I need my own bed."
Fu Wei: ……
After some thought, Fu Wei found this to be reasonable.
They were only betrothed, not yet officially married. Living in the same room was one thing, but sharing a bed without formal marital status was indeed inappropriate.
"Alright, once we return to the jurisdiction, I'll immediately have someone help find a house. It would be best to secure one before the New Year so that you all have a place to stay when you come to Yu County for the celebrations."
Fu Wei became quite enthusiastic about the house hunting, which significantly alleviated his worries about the next day.
The next morning, while Yu Ying was grooming, a messenger from the county official's wife invited her and Fu Wei to join them for breakfast.
Being invited by the county official's wife was not something to be declined lightly.
Yu Ying and Fu Wei went together and met Qian, the aide, and his wife outside the dining hall.
Perhaps due to Fu Wei's performance at the governor's mansion a few days earlier, which brought honor to Yu County, or perhaps seeing Fu Wei's capabilities, Qian's face no longer bore its usual arrogance.
Qian greeted them with a smile, "Good morning, Mr. Fu."
The difference between being addressed as "Little Mr. Fu" and "Mr. Fu" was just the absence of 'Little,' but the feeling it conveyed was entirely different.
The former seemed to treat Fu Wei as a novice, while the latter carried respect.
Fu Wei bowed respectfully, "Good morning, Mr. Qian."
It seemed Qian had also spoken to his wife about Fu Wei, as Mrs. Qian, who previously looked down on Yu Ying, approached her with a smile, "Did Madam Yu sleep well last night?"
The previously aloof Mrs. Qian was now warmly engaging, making Yu Ying feel uncomfortable, yet she maintained a courteous smile, "The weather was warm last night, so I slept well. How about you, Mrs. Qian?"
Mrs. Qian replied with a smile, "Thanks to the weather, I had a dreamless night."
Both families entered the dining hall with smiles and conversation, appearing quite close.
The county official's wife, seeing them laughing and talking as they entered, and noticing Mrs. Qian's smiling face, understood the reason behind the change.
Mrs. Qian, seeing her husband's changed view of Fu Wei and the county official's regard for him, had altered her attitude towards Yu Ying. She was indeed adept at playing to the audience.
The county official's wife could only respond to this with a helpless smile.
After exchanging greetings, everyone sat down.
Being a man of military background, County Official Zhou had a straightforward nature. He said, "There's no need for so many formalities at the dining table. Just eat and drink as you please."
Although everyone agreed, they still behaved quite courteously.
County Official Zhou raised his cup of tea towards Qian, the aide, saying, "This year has been smooth thanks to Mr. Qian's assistance. Yu County avoided major errors. I offer this tea in place of wine as a toast to Mr. Qian."
Qian quickly lifted his cup in response, "It's my duty to assist; it’s what I should do."
After a cup of tea, Zhou poured another and offered it to Fu Wei, "Mr. Fu, though you've only been in the county office for a little over two months, you’ve solved many difficult issues for me. This cup is for you."
Fu Wei raised his cup, looking down modestly, "It's my responsibility, I don’t dare take credit."
Zhou smiled and drank his cup of tea. Setting down the cup, his smile faded.
"Although Yu County is poor, we now at least see hope. Next year, we’ll put in even more effort to stand tall at the annual county meeting."
Both Fu Wei and Qian immediately bowed, "We will do our utmost to assist you in governing."
Zhou beckoned, "Let's not talk about such matters at the table. Finish your meal quickly. It’s rare to be in the jurisdiction, so no need to go to the governor's office today. You can go wherever you want."
After breakfast, the men retired to the study, while Yu Ying and Mrs. Qian accompanied the county official's wife for a chat in the courtyard.
The county official's wife smiled at Yu Ying, "The face cream you sent a few days ago has been used by both myself and my husband. He, with his rough skin, felt the effects were good. I was thinking of buying ten more jars from you to give as gifts."
Yu Ying replied, "If the county official's wife likes it, I'll send them to you after returning to Yu County."
The county official's wife nodded and added, "About the lip rouge you sent yesterday, I've tried both colors. Not only are they beautiful, but they also smell delightful and have a smooth texture. How much do you charge for each jar of lip rouge and face cream?"
Although Yu Ying didn’t fully understand the county official's wife's character, she inferred from their brief conversations that she was as straightforward in her dealings as County Official Zhou. Even if she said no payment was needed, she wouldn’t accept without paying.
Still, Yu Ying wasn’t going to foolishly charge the full amount.
She would charge for them, but not excessively.
"The lip rouge and face cream are priced at fifty coins each at the stall, but for the county official's wife, I can't charge too much. I'll only ask for about the cost price, thirty coins per box."
The cost of production and labor for the lip rouge is about eighteen coins. Fifty coins is a relatively high price for a small stall, but Yu Ying’s goal is not mass sales. Her target customers are those women who have tried and liked the lip rouge.
Once word of its quality spreads, people will naturally seek it out.
Hearing this price, the county official's wife was taken aback, "Madam Yu, your products are of good quality. Why set the price so low?"
Indeed, both the lip rouge and face cream were exceptional, hardly available in a small place like Yu County, except perhaps in shops in the jurisdiction.
Just for the lip rouge alone, anything less than a hundred coins would be unusual.
Yu Ying honestly replied, "It’s just a small stall for now. If the price is too high, customers would rather walk away."
The county official's wife, upon hearing this, felt that it made sense.
Mrs. Qian, overhearing their conversation, wondered if the lip rouge and face cream were really that good.
While thirty coins seemed cheap, even at that price, one could buy decent face cream in a Yu County shop. Were Yu Ying's face cream and lip rouge really worth it?
After her internal debate and seeing the county official's wife making a purchase, Mrs. Qian felt inclined to support as well, smiling, "If Madam Yu is giving a discount to the county official's wife, then I hope I can get a discount too."
Yu Ying looked at her and asked warmly, "How many would Mrs. Qian like?"
Mrs. Qian thought for a moment and said, "Three of each kind."
Buying three of each item would total nearly three hundred coins. Mrs. Qian hoped the effects of the face cream and lip rouge wouldn't be disappointing, so she could give them away as favors without wasting money.
