One hundred and nine

After Yu County survived the epidemic, Yu Ying's name was finally known, not to mention that Fu Wei was still working as a staff member in the government office. This news would have reached the Yu family in Xin County to some extent.

The Yu family is now a member of the Yu family and cannot leave the county at will. Fu Wei does not need to worry too much about attracting them for the time being, but he still needs to appease them in advance.

The best thing would be to control the Fu and Yu families and keep them away from Aying.

Fu Wei hesitated for a moment and said, "Send it. I'll ask someone to take it there. You don't have to go."

He was worried that the Yu family would notice something.

Yu Ying expected Fu Wei to agree, but how much to send was a problem.

She mentally calculated the silver she had in her hand and said, "I have over forty taels of silver on hand right now..."

Fu Wei frowned slightly and reminded him, "What's mine is also yours. Add it all together."

He didn't love her so clearly.

Yu Ying glanced at him, knowing what he was thinking, and chuckled, "Okay, count yours in."

When she added Fu Wei's number to her mental calculation, Fu Wei said, "Wait."

After saying that, he turned around and walked to the newly built wardrobe, opened it, took out a small bag, and placed it in front of Yu Ying's desk.

Yu Ying glanced at the object, then looked up at Fu Wei in confusion.

"What is this?"

Fu Wei: "Open it and take a look."

Yu Ying opened the cloth and saw the five silver ingots. Her eyes lit up and she looked at Fu Wei: "How did you get them?"

This was the first time Yu Ying saw a silver ingot.

Fu Wei smiled and said, "Previously, the nobles and merchants donated a thousand taels of silver, leaving over seven hundred taels. Today, the magistrate gave me these five silver ingots."

Yu Ying smiled and said, "Then County Magistrate Zhou is quite generous."

She added up the numbers and said, "So, between the two of us, it's worth..." Her eyes widened slightly, "It's worth over a hundred taels of silver."

These more than 100,000 coins are equivalent to 100,000 yuan for the time being, which is already a comfortable amount.

Yu Ying pondered for a moment and said, "How about sending two thousand coins?"

According to memory, except for the original owner's father who was beheaded, all the servants in the Yu family mansion were sold, and the women and children in the back house were exiled to Lingnan.

Of course, it was not the emperor who showed mercy, but the ministers who strongly advised against it, otherwise all the members of the Yu family would have died on the guillotine.

The Yu family, which could raise a girl with Yu Liuniang's personality, was naturally not a kind person. However, after falling into Lingnan, those arrogant and proud edges were probably smoothed out.

Yu Liuniang is the youngest legitimate daughter of the Yu family. She was brought up in pampered surroundings and has an even weirder temper than her brothers and sisters.

Regardless of whether the Yu family is legitimate or illegitimate, Yu Liuniang has two married brothers, three married sisters and one unmarried sister, and a three-year-old niece.

Except for the three married sisters who were not exiled, the others were exiled to Lingnan.

When the original owner was forced to marry into the Fu family, the mistress of the Fu family secretly gave her two silver leaves.

The Yu family was exiled. Although they hid some silver and money, they were the family of a criminal and had to take care of everything after arriving in Lingnan. It is estimated that there is not much left now.

And it is undeniable that Yu Ying did rely on those two silver leaves to get through the most difficult period.

Fu Wei: "You decide all matters big or small in the family." After thinking for a moment, he asked again: "How does the Yu family treat Yu Liuniang?"

Yu Ying said, "Mrs. Li of the Yu family and the eldest son of the Yu family doted on the youngest sister the most. They never treated her badly even after she arrived in Lingnan."

Fu Wei pondered for a moment, then said, "I'll ask Wu Yacha to go there and give him some money to treat the yamen runners from Xin County to a meal and ask them to look after the Yu family. You should prepare some gifts and write a letter home in the next two days to avoid any suspicion."

Yu Ying nodded slightly.

The matter of sending money to the Yu family was finalized, and Yu Ying only needed to prepare the letter and gifts.

Yu Ying bought some cloth and some rice as gifts, and also wrote a letter.

It is written based on the original owner's personality.

At first, she said a few words that he was doing well now, and also briefly greeted the original owner's mother. Then she basically said that Fu Wei was now working in the government office, and his legs and feet were not good, which made people laugh at him, so they should not join in the fun and cause trouble for him. If there was any benefit, she would give it to them.

Fu Wei found Wu Xiaoyachai, gave him the money for the carriage, horses, tea and water, and asked him to deliver these things to Shidi Village in Xin County. In addition, he was told not to say anything more about what the Yu family asked.

Wu Xiaoyacha is reliable, so there is no need to worry. It will take at least three or four days to go from Yu County to Xin County and back.

When delivering the silver and money to the Yu family, County Magistrate Zhou also investigated Mo Lang's identity and released him after confirming that it was correct.

Uncle Mo also sent someone disguised as a merchant to pick him up.

Although Mo Lang was imprisoned, he did not suffer. After he came out of the cell, he said that he wanted to thank Madam Yu for saving his life, so he bought a lot of gifts and personally delivered them to the Fu family.

Two servants carried two loads of gifts, and Mo Lang knocked on the door of the Fu family.

Wen Xing was chopping herbs for herbal cream when she heard a knock on the door. She was about to put down her work and go open it, but Luo, who was lighting the fire to prepare dinner, said, "You go ahead and do your thing. I'll go open it."

Luo wiped her hands on the cloth around her waist and walked out of the yard.

As he walked towards the gate, he muttered to himself, wondering who was coming at this time.

Song Sanlang was practicing grease in the yard.

At this time, Erlang and Liuniang were about to finish their shift, so it was impossible for the yamen runners and the people from the clinic to come.

In Lingshui Village, only the He family knew where they lived. Besides, they came so late and couldn't go back to the village at night, so it couldn't be them.

If not them, who else could it be?

Luo opened the gate in confusion and saw a middle-aged man of about 27 or 28 years old.

The man was wearing a grey cross-collared long gown, his face was upright and resolute, and he looked somewhat familiar.

Luo was stunned when he saw the man.

After being stunned for a moment, she came back to her senses and asked, "Who are you looking for, my dear?"

When Mo Lang saw Mrs. Luo, who looked as old as sixty years old, he was also stunned. He could not connect her with the beautiful and gentle Mrs. Fu who remained in his memory.

Zheng was stunned for a moment, then Mo Lang bowed and said, "My surname is Chen, and my single character is Lang. I was saved by Madam Yu during the previous epidemic, so I came here to express my gratitude."

When he heard the word "Lang", Luo immediately understood where the familiar feeling came from.

Mo Lang, Chen Lang, and Shi Yi, aren't they the same person?

Luo's heart was full of complexities, but she could only pretend not to know him and said with a smile: "Sixth Lady hasn't come back yet, Mr. Shen, please come in and sit for a while."

As he said this, he welcomed him into the courtyard.

Please go to the back of the main room and make tea.

Wen Xing saw her mother-in-law coming back and asked, "Mother, who is coming?"

Mrs. Luo said calmly, "It's someone Liu Niang saved before, and he came here specially to express his gratitude."

After saying that, he walked out of the kitchen with a heavy heart and looked towards the main room.

About a moment later, Yu Ying, Fu Wei, and Fu Zhen returned from their shift.

It was Luo who opened the door.

After Luo opened the door, she whispered to Yu Ying, "Sixth Lady, the man you saved at the resettlement center last time, named Chen Lang, has come home with gifts to thank you. He's sitting in the main hall now."

When Yu Ying and Fu Wei heard the name Chen Lang, they looked at each other secretly.

Fu Wei said, "A Ying and I will go meet him and ask him to take the gift back."

Yu Ying nodded, and the two of them went to the main room. Fu Zhen rolled up his sleeves and went to help his wife pound the medicine.

After entering the main hall, Mo Lang stood up from his chair and bowed to Yu Ying and Fu Wei, "Madam Yu, Mr. Fu."

Fu Wei glanced at the people around him, and Mo Lang said, "We are family."

Fu Wei glanced outside the yard and saw that his family members were all in the yard or in the kitchen. No one could hear what was said in the main room, so he didn't hide it.

"Now that you're out of jail, why don't you go back? What are you doing here?"

Mo Lang looked at Yu Ying beside him and said, "Madam Yu saved my life. I came here specially to thank you."

Yu Ying said, "I used to be a doctor at the resettlement center. I treated all the patients sent there, so there's no need to come here specifically to thank me."

Mo Lang shook his head. "It's not just that. There's also the matter of concealing my identity. Besides, I know the plague I've contracted is extremely dangerous. I'm practically dying. I doubt even the village's old doctor would be able to save me. If it weren't for Madam Yu curing my plague and concealing my identity, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to stand here safely."

"Besides, it's only natural for me to come here to express my gratitude. Furthermore, my identity won't be exposed so easily, so Mr. Fu and Madam Yu, please rest assured."

Fu Wei was silent for a moment, then said, "I considered saving you carefully. The son of the Wuling prefect regarded me as a thorn in his side. I saved you this time just to obtain a protective amulet."

Hearing Fu Wei's words, Mo Lang smiled and said, "Don't worry about this matter. If the Fu family encounters any trouble, my father, who is sworn in as sworn brother to Master Fu, will not ignore it." After that, he lowered his voice and said, "Muyun Village has been in Lingnan for eighteen years. Naturally, they have trained some secret agents. We also have a contact in Yu County."

Fu Wei smiled and said, "You've explained it so clearly to me, aren't you afraid that I'll report it to the magistrate and have you all arrested?"

Mo Lang seemed to have heard a joke, and then said, "I'm really not afraid."

Seeing them chatting, Yu Ying said, "Mr. Mo's badge is still with me. I'll get it for you right away."

After saying that, he turned around and went back to the house, took out the hidden wooden sign, and wrapped it in cloth.

Fu Wei took it and handed it to Mo Lang.

Mo Lang took it, opened it, took a look, then wrapped it up again and handed it to Fu Wei: "Spies need tokens to communicate. My father left me a message, asking me to give the token to Mr. Fu."

Fu Wei looked at the sign in his hand, considering its importance.

Mo Lang added: "Don't underestimate this sign, it can mobilize a hundred people."

The powerful group of bandits in Muyun Village all come from the military and are managed in a military manner. They do not have the bad habits of thieves and bandits, but are capable and extremely obedient to orders.

Fu Wei raised his eyes and looked at him: "Such a valuable gift, are you really so confident in handing it over to me?"

"Father's instructions have their own reasons."

Fu Wei took it in his hand, bowed and said, "Then thank your father for me."

Seeing him accept the sign, Mo Lang took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to him: "This is the location of Mu Yun's secret agents in Yu County. Don't look for them unless necessary."

Fu Wei took it and said, "Thank you."

After explaining everything, Mo Lang pointed to the two loads of gifts and said, "Madam Yu saved me twice, and Mr. Fu also helped me, so I prepared some small gifts. Please accept them."

Yu Ying said, "You don't have to be so polite."

She couldn't help but glance at the two loads of gifts. Although Muyun Village did not kill innocent people, she didn't know if there was anything stolen here. If they were discovered, they would be considered dirty.

Mo Lang seemed to know what she was thinking and explained, "Don't worry, Mr. Fu and Madam Yu. These were bought with real money and have a clear origin. They are not expensive gifts, but just some food and daily necessities. I don't plan to take them away after I brought them here."

Since Mo Lang said so, Yu Ying and Fu Wei accepted it without hesitation.

After the matter was explained and the gifts were accepted, Mo Lang said goodbye.

When they came out of the main hall and passed through the courtyard, Mrs. Luo tried to persuade them to stay, saying, "Mr. Shen, why don't you have dinner before you leave?"

Mo Lang bowed and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Auntie. It's getting late, and I have to leave in a hurry, so I won't stay any longer."

After saying that, he turned and left.

After seeing Mo Lang off, everything at home seemed as if nothing had happened and everyone went about their business as usual.

Those gifts were all purchased in Yu County, or perhaps they were afraid of causing trouble to the Fu family, so there were indeed no overly valuable items.

*

At the end of February, County Magistrate Zhou received a letter from Wuling.

When County Magistrate Zhou received the letter, he sneered.

He really came.

After reading the contents of the letter, I found it was full of threatening words.

Expelling Fu Wei from the yamen just because of a threatening letter is a cowardly act.

Thinking of what the Fu couple had done for Yu County, he would not be a coward.

After much deliberation, he immediately wrote a letter and sent it to the county government along with Huo Minzhi's letter.

When the prefect Shen, who was enjoying himself, suddenly received a letter from County Magistrate Zhou, he wondered, "Why has Zhou Yi received so many letters recently?"

He asked his staff to read it once before reporting.

After the staff read it, their faces looked strange.

Prefect Shen asked, "Why do you look like that?"

Aide: "Reporting to you, sir, the eldest son of the Wuling County governor sent a letter to Yu County threatening Magistrate Zhou."

Prefect Shen, who was originally listening to the music, paused while leisurely patting the armrest, and narrowed his eyebrows: "What threat?"

"The prefect's eldest son threatened County Magistrate Zhou that if he didn't expel Fu Wei from the yamen, his position as magistrate would be over."

Prefect Shen suddenly slapped his armrest and said, "What a capable young master of the prefect's family! He is so capable that he can even dismiss my people and threaten them even to my territory. It seems that he doesn't take me seriously."

He looked at his staff and asked, "Is Fu Wei the lame fellow who was so good at archery and had such a good command of the art?"

The staff nodded. "It was him. I heard that this year, Yu County was renting land first and paying rent later, planting medicinal herbs and beans, and exporting the medicinal herbs. It was all proposed by this Fu Langjun. Even Fu Langjun's wife was the first to discover the epidemic. Moreover, Fu Langjun's wife, regardless of her own safety, volunteered to treat the people infected with the epidemic. Mr. Fu also gave advice to County Magistrate Zhou, asking the county's nobles and merchants to donate money and supplies."

When Prefect Shen heard these things, his eyebrows raised, revealing a hint of surprise: "Both husband and wife are capable people." Suddenly he smiled again: "No wonder County Magistrate Zhou came to me for such an aide."

The staff asked: "Sir, how should this matter be handled?"

Prefect Shen sneered, "We're both prefects. Although Huo governs the upper prefecture and I govern the lower prefecture, I have my own people in the court. Why should I be afraid of him? And if it's just his son, how can I, a prefect, be so embarrassed if I'm afraid of his son?"

"Where is this..."

Governor Shen waved his hand and said nonchalantly, "Tell Zhou Yi to trust him with that boy. If Wuling County does make any moves, just come to me and tell them."

After that, he glanced at the letter and sneered: "What kind of thing is this? How dare you threaten my territory?"

Prefect Shen did not take this legitimate son seriously. He lay back in his armchair, closed his eyes and continued to enjoy the quiet and clear music played by the pipa player in the music hall.