Chapter 73 You're here to work too?
The abandoned pond is located in the western corner of Cangqian, right next to the old pond of the Tiaoxi River, and its terrain is much higher than the surrounding area. It was once used to regulate the water from upstream and irrigate the fertile fields downstream. Later, the new canal was rerouted, the water source was cut off, and the land was gradually abandoned due to the erosion over the years.
The embankment had collapsed in many places, exposing rotten wooden stakes and hardened, blackened old mud. The bottom of the pond was cracked, with only the deepest depressions containing pools of stagnant, greenish-smelling water. At several huge gaps, murky muddy water was silently seeping out, which was called "drilling sand".
A heavy, fishy smell filled the air. Lu Xing looked around and covered her nose with her sleeve.
"Water erosion of the foundation is difficult to treat, and even the local plumbers have no good solutions, only reinforcement and plugging of leaks, which are very expensive and not sustainable. Is there any real solution to your suggestion of diverting water to reinforce the foundation?"
Lu Xing waited patiently for a long time, long enough to change her sleeve, before the young man finally spoke:
"The central seepage opening is a water inlet."
“All the local gentleman sees is the word ‘block.’ But this water is like a boil; if it’s blocked, it will fester and cause waste of money and resources.”
These words struck a chord with Lu Xing: "How can it be cured?"
"The fundamental solution lies in dredging. Use the power of this water to flush away the silt in that land. As the water recedes and the sand settles, a solid foundation will naturally be formed. Turn harm into benefit."
“Water has little power to disperse, so how can it flush away silt?” Lu Xing pressed for the key question.
“Following this path,” he drew a line in the air with his finger, “we will use the existing collapsed gaps as a water intake, cut down old, resilient bamboo on the slope, split them open and weave them into bamboo cages to confine the water flow, and lay them down to restrict the water flow and carry it downstream to the hard ground. The only things required are bamboo and a little manpower. This method is recorded in the Kaogongji (Record of Trades) and is called ‘Constraining Water to Wash Away Sand.’”
Lu Xing narrowed her eyes again.
Based on what the boy said, it seemed that not using stones to build the foundation would indeed be much less costly.
With only two people present, there was no need for flowery language. Lu Xing, having brought them along, didn't stand on ceremony and went straight to the point. This abandoned pond had been repaired by many hydraulic engineers years ago, and the results were mostly the same, making it the best test of their skills. Hearing this answer piqued their interest in listening further.
Lu Xing smiled enigmatically: "Young Master Fang must have had a very good plan in mind before accepting the challenge?"
Yan Dibai said frankly, "As you can see, I am incapable of carrying heavy loads. All I can do is offer suggestions and supervise the construction. Water conservancy depends on the cooperation of people. I am confident in my methods for repairing the pond, but I cannot guarantee that the craftsmen can fully realize my ideas."
"Local plumbers, skilled in dam construction and leak sealing, are experienced and prefer to use the safest methods to avoid trouble and blame. Therefore, they don't often research cost-saving methods. I am alone and have no fear. Whether this method is feasible or not, you only need to find one or two skilled bamboo craftsmen and plumbers, and the results can be seen in half a day. The cost is only a few bundles of bamboo and a few laborers. If successful, the dam foundation will be solid. If it fails, there will be no great loss."
These words hit the nail on the head.
The local plumbers were indeed old and mostly followed established procedures. What this young man knew, others might also understand, but they simply dared not speak of it.
Lu Xing stared at Yan Dibai for a moment, then suddenly laughed:
"Young master, you are frank and bold, yet possess a good sense of balance. Your teacher?"
"When I was young, I lived in Beijing and read many miscellaneous books, especially river engineering simulations."
"Oh? Young Master Fang... is a northerner?" Lu Xing raised an eyebrow, quite surprised.
In fact, when Lu Xing learned that the young man said his surname was Fang, he had already guessed his general identity.
Yan Dibai nodded, and Lu Xing sighed in response, "No wonder there was a hint of a northern accent in your words, sir."
And then, with a deeper meaning: "Has Young Master Fang's journey south been safe and sound?"
"Fortunate yet unfortunate." Yan Dibai clasped his hands together, then changed the subject:
"At the time, the capital was in chaos, and on my journey south, I was given a ride by a nobleman from Jiangzuo. I was grateful for his kindness and was willing to serve him faithfully. However… the nobleman's advisors were shrewd and regarded me as a smooth-talking flatterer, and disliked me greatly. They abandoned me at the inn that very day and never looked back." A hint of suppressed resentment broke through his calm voice. "Though I am weak, my wisdom is not lost. Rather than waiting idly for food, I would rather choose a better branch and find a better future for myself."
After she finished speaking, her eyes, hidden behind the white veil, seemed to gather needle-like glints. In an instant, even the sweltering wind seemed to cool down a bit with each calm and resolute word.
Lu Xing was momentarily stunned, then clapped her hands and burst into laughter: "So, my name was the one you wanted to take down all along!"
The boy, upon hearing this meaningful remark, merely chuckled and offered no argument.
“In that case,” Lu Xing immediately waved to his servant, “Pingwu, secretly gather some waterworkers and bamboo weavers!”
The servant who had been leading the carriage outside heard the commotion, glanced at Yan Di's disdainful look, met Lu Xingzhuo's intense gaze, clasped his hands in greeting, and left.
Having achieved his second objective, Yan Dibai did not linger. He firmly declined Lu Xing's offer to send him off by car and leisurely retraced his steps.
Pingwu, who was supposed to be looking for the craftsman, suddenly appeared from behind and stood behind Lu Xing, who was gazing at the boy's retreating figure. "This young man surnamed Fang is actually the one the Third Young Master brought back. How can the Young Master trust him?"
Even a simpleton could see it clearly. To seek another master is one thing, but to deliberately target a brother with the same surname with whom they have a long-standing feud—how wicked their intentions are!
How could Lu Xing not know?
The young man, barely over ten years old, was deeply scheming to establish himself in Cangqian. Suppressed by Zhang Bian and unable to act, and knowing of Zhang's grievances with Lu Xi, he immediately approached him and frankly offered his advice—he was no pushover.
With a sinister, venomous snake coiled nearby, who wouldn't be worried?
But Lu Xi and Zhang Bian have the upper hand in this situation. If they don't fight to the death, are they just going to sit and wait for their doom?
At such a critical juncture, divine assistance has arrived, especially considering the water-to-sand method—a small investment yields great results. Why not take advantage of it? I still remember Wang Shu's words; every word pierced my heart!
Lu Xing withdrew his gaze and exhaled: "Go do it. Regardless of background or household registration, find craftsmen to repair the embankment within three days."
“I need to speak privately with my grandfather. You are in full charge of this matter, and you may use all the troops at your disposal. Also,”
Pingwu took the token, and Lu Xing pondered for a moment before speaking in an extremely cold tone: "Keep an eye on the inn and see what they do on a daily basis. The couple may not know the traveler's true origins, but they are not loyal servants either."
The sound of horses' hooves grew louder as it faded into the distance. Yan Dibai, hearing this from the Second Middle School, quickened his pace.
It was midday, and most of the tenant farmers had gone home to cool off. The already sparsely populated village was silent. Yan Dibai walked for a while, and his stomach began to churn again. He quickened his pace and stepped onto the embankment where willows swayed in the breeze, seeking relief from the discomfort caused by the heat in the shade.
But he didn't stop. He walked another hundred meters in one go before Yan Dibai took a deep breath, leaned against a willow tree to rest for a while, rolled up his sleeves, and slightly untied the bamboo boards binding his arms.
It's not an illusion. Thin layers of muscle have regrowth between the skin and bone beneath my fingertips.
A body that has been exposed to "divine powder" for a long time has absolutely no chance of improving. The medicine given by Prime Minister Lin can only provide temporary relief.
The doubts that had been building up in my heart for over a month grew a few more inches in those supple muscles.
After resting for a while, Yan Dibai straightened the fence and continued walking back, soon arriving near the overturned cart he had previously repaired. The greasy-skinned old man, whom Yan Dibai had helped, was gulping down water when he caught sight of Yan Dibai passing by and immediately said:
"Has my lord not returned home yet?"
Yan Dibai glanced sideways and saw it was the old farmer. He nodded and said, "Old man, you're still busy."
"My grandson is counting on this harvest to eat maltose, so this old man can't leave." The old farmer wiped his sweat, stood a foot and a half away from Yan Dibai, rummaged in his dirty basket, and scooped out a handful of golden loquats.
Fearing rejection, the old farmer said with a smile, "The fruit from the old tree I grow here is sweeter and bigger than the fruit from other people's trees. I don't have anything good to offer, so please make do with this to quench your thirst."
Under the scorching sun, the short, hunched old farmer, covered in sweat, waited. Seeing that Yan Dibai had no intention of reaching out, the old farmer murmured something, then awkwardly lowered his head to apologize, when suddenly his hand felt lighten.
"Thank you, sir. My mouth is dry."
Yan Dibai pinched half a handful and put it into the pouch on his waist. The old farmer was flattered and thanked him, but then felt a chill in his palm.
He was stunned. He pulled his hand back and looked down, and there was a round, thumb-sized pearl hidden among the remaining few loquats.
"this??"
"I'm grateful for your timely gift of fruit, old man. I'll give these pearls to my grandson to buy candy." The boy glanced casually at the basket. "This basket is sturdy; where did you get it, old man?"
"How could I possibly accept this... Thank you so much, thank you so much!" The old farmer was still stunned by Yan Dibai's gift of the pearl, and upon hearing this, he hurriedly patted his chest and said, "It's just a humble gift from an old man. If you need it, young master, I'll go back and get it right away!"
But the young man shook his head: "Since you have such skill in bamboo weaving, why bother sticking to the fields? I've heard that a wealthy family is in urgent need of bamboo weaving. Why don't you go to the market and give it a try?"
"This...is it really true??? This old man has never heard of such a thing before?"
"It's just hearsay... I can't be sure."
"I understand!" The old farmer clutched the pearl, so excited he didn't know what to do. After a while, he managed to utter a low, choked promise, "My lord has kindly shown me a way to survive, how could I dare to speak nonsense! Whether this business deal goes through or not, I am willing to serve my benefactor like an ox or a horse!"
The boy smiled faintly and walked away. The old farmer then stood up, not even having time to brush the mud off his knees, and leaned closer to look at the pearl in his hand. Ten chickens and ducks... a hundred fish, a basket of maltose, the old farmer's lips trembled. He could still exchange them for good cloth and buy his grandson a job as a servant.
He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice the three figures approaching until a deep voice called out, "Old man!" The old farmer shuddered—three burly, dark-faced men came rushing towards him.
"Well, who is this hero?"
The square-faced man in the middle roughly wiped the sweat from his brow, bent down to pick up the pearl, and then placed half a gold hairpin in the old farmer's hand.
His thunderous voice boomed again: "Old man, I'm asking you about someone."
-
On the other side, Qingqing was doing cleaning.
"After the medicine cabinets in the front hall are dried, go and wash the ones in the backyard. Be quick, don't wait for someone to come and urge you."
"yes."
Qingqing peeked out and answered, then wiped the rag clean and went back through the back door. The woman in the pink dress, who had been reading and drinking tea on the low couch, looked away, pinching her brow in annoyance. She complained to the young man reviewing accounts in the corner:
“Our boats are still sailing on the river, and this time we’re afraid we’ll lose a lot of goods again. If they ask, they’ll scold us for being incompetent and not inspecting the warehouse in time.”
The young man said calmly, "Say less. If you keep bringing this up, your wife will hear you and scold you. Don't let her cry."
The woman pouted, unable to concentrate on her book, and glanced leisurely at the back door, saying:
"You have capable men to choose from, but you keep hiring young girls and wives. What, are you envious?"
The young man sighed and said, "If you really have nothing better to do, go wash up in the back. Don't bother me here."
The woman naturally didn't go; sometimes she drank tea, sometimes she played with the beads on her wrist, and sometimes she pushed open the door to supervise the work.
The shops all had front and back yards; the front was for business, and the back was for resting and storing goods. As soon as you pushed open the door, a strong, damp, and musty smell hit you.
Qingqing was washing the medicine shelves with her coworker Yueniang when she caught sight of the jade bracelet-wearing lady approaching. She immediately stopped moving the shelves and exclaimed, "Lady!"
"I don't have any specific instructions, just be careful and attentive. The medicine chest is made of good wood, so never touch any of the hard objects. If you break it, you couldn't pay for it even with ten lives!"
A woman named Yu Chuan walked around a row of freshly washed trunks, covered her nose, and said:
"Ah Qing, although you are young, you should be faster than Yue Niang, who has already given birth. Why are you so slow?"
Qingqing hurriedly explained, "Miss, these shelves are a bit harder to clean. After you've cleaned them, you can clean the medicine box. We'll finish everything by lunchtime."
Fearing the trial work might not be up to standard, Yue Niang quickly nodded, "Young lady, I'm not slow! I'm just worried that my clumsy hands might damage the treasure, which is why you're concerned."
Yu Chuan smoothed her pink silk dress and sneered, "If it weren't for the fact that you two are an orphan and a widow, and you're new to the South with no relatives or friends, Yu Heng and I wouldn't have shown such kindness. Xi Chun Tang dislikes lazy and slackers the most. You should think it over."
Having satisfied her urge to offer advice, she twirled her skirt and the door creaked shut.
Qingqing and Yueniang finally relaxed their tense nerves and breathed a sigh of relief. Qingqing, supporting her aching hand, wrung out the hem of her clothes, and water and sweat dripped onto the bluestone bricks.
The sky was brighter than when I arrived.
"Moon Maiden, let's lift the basin together and rinse it once."
Moon Maiden called out "Hey!" and her thin, bony hands offered a helping hand. After finishing this most troublesome task, the two finally caught their breath and sat back down on the prayer mats to brush the remaining dozens of medicine boxes. They could chat idly as they brushed.
Perhaps they shared a similar plight, but their job search journeys were equally arduous and unpredictable.
God knows what kind of blunder happened when Qingqing applied for the job.
Knowing that Xichun Hall was of an unusual style, she racked her brains and recited several polite phrases before stepping inside. But none of them were used—the moment she entered, the girl in the pink dress behind the counter glared at her coldly. Her gaze swept from the girl's rosy cheeks to her worn-out straw sandals, her eyes instantly piercing like thorns into her flesh.
"You lowly commoner, who gave you permission to enter!"
Qingqing paused, expressing her sincere desire to find a job, and subtly praised Xichuntang as a promising and exceptional company.
However, the girl wore a mocking, half-smiling look throughout, and sneered before Qingqing could finish speaking:
"What a show! Isn't it over yet?"
Qingqing stammered: "A play?"
The girl threw a folded piece of paper at me, saying, "Tell that old woman at your inn to give up her ideas!"
"You pull this tactic every few days. Do you really think I can't recognize your faces? Sending one of your shop's kids to infiltrate, and when that failed, you sent a woman. Hmph, you think I won't remember your face after all that charade this morning? Trying to poach our Xichuntang's medicine merchants? Dream on!"
They probably thought she was a spy sent by the innkeeper's wife to dig up trade secrets!
Qingqing stood there dumbfounded. No matter how she explained, the other party wouldn't listen and even threatened to throw her out. But once the hat was on, it couldn't be easily removed. Qingqing still wanted to clarify things, but then an accident happened. A half-open medicine box on top, badly damaged by insects, couldn't hold up and broke in half. Qingqing happened to see it and shoved the other person aside. Yuchuan, however, thought Qingqing was incredibly audacious and pushed her back forcefully as well.
The two fell to the ground together, but luckily Qingqing reacted quickly and managed to grab them. The medicine box hit Qingqing's braided hair, which she hadn't managed to pull away in time. A sharp pain shot through her, and when Qingqing touched it, she saw beads of blood seeping from the roots. A lock of her long hair had been forcefully ripped out.
Our bodies and hair are gifts from our parents, and the sight of a single lock of hair being pulled up by the root was truly striking. Yu Chuan was so frightened that she forgot to speak. Even Yu Heng, who had just entered the room, was speechless upon witnessing this scene.
Qingqing rubbed her head, wiped away the blood, and gave an awkward smile.
And that's how I got the job of washing medicine boxes and drying medicinal herbs.
Yue Niang arrived a day earlier than Qing Qing; she was recruited by Yu Heng. She had been kicked out of her husband's house and, with her child in tow, had nowhere to go. She happened to see Yu Heng outside buying agarwood and stumbled upon the job. Her situation was much smoother than Qing Qing's.
After cleaning the first-aid kit in the morning, the two had formed a deep friendship. They talked about everything they could, and even shared water.
As she continued scrubbing, the medicine boxes gradually became clean. Looking at the rows of boxes, Qingqing put her hands on her hips, feeling a sense of accomplishment that she never had when washing clothes in the Imperial Palace.
Although Yue Niang didn't understand why the girl who had just been frowning and looking miserable suddenly grinned, she couldn't help but smile along with her radiant smile.
Moon Maiden was an extremely timid and quiet person. Seeing that she had finally smiled, Qingqing handed Moon Maiden a wrapped cake.
"I'll have plenty to eat when I get back. You're weak, so take this."
Moon Maiden hesitantly withdrew her hand: "Two cakes for each person. I already ate the first one, so I can't have any more."
Qingqing smiled and forced the food into her hand: "You're taking care of the child, and you're getting as thin as my young master. How can you not eat your fill?"
Moon Lady stopped waving her hand and asked curiously, "Your young master? You're not alone?"
Qingqing hummed in agreement, "I'm not alone. Like you, I also have a family member."
Moon Maiden smiled gently and nodded.
Qingqing finished preparing everything and decided to go back to check on Yan Dibai. Although she had bribed the shopkeeper that morning, she was too busy to go back yet, and she didn't know if the medicine on the stove had burned.
It was time for a meal and a break. Qingqing spread out the last handful of not-too-damp herbs, turned around, and went to the water vat to wash her face, trying her best not to look too disheveled.
Little did they know, Yan Dibai had just returned from working for someone else.
Yan Dibai returned to the inn and removed the veil. Standing before the counter was the same shop assistant who had left with him. Seeing him return, the assistant hurriedly said:
"Has my husband returned?"
Yan Dibai smoothed her white veil and hummed in agreement. The waiter nodded: "We didn't tell Miss Aqing about your departure."
Yan Dibai nodded slightly. "Where is she?"
"Uh," the shopkeeper hesitated for a moment, "the young lady went to the countryside to buy vegetables!"
"countryside?"
"Yes! The young lady came back after she went out, saying that the vegetables in the countryside are cheaper and can save a penny or two."
Yan Dibai remained silent, but seeing the waiter's confident demeanor, he paused for a moment, then asked, "Did she say when she would be back?"
"Well...we don't know. Please wait a moment, sir?"
Yan Dibai:
The shop assistant noticed the scrutinizing look in Qingqing's eyes. Remembering the two silver coins he'd received from this young man that morning, the shop assistant chuckled awkwardly, subtly betraying Qingqing:
"It seems the young lady wants to get some more good medicinal herbs for her husband to nourish his body. There's no need for you to worry. If you're really concerned, why don't you wait in the hall with some tea? When the young lady returns, she'll see you right away."
Yan Dibai:
He went downstairs and headed to the opposite side.
The most prestigious pharmacy on this street is none other than Xichuntang, and Yang Liuqing always goes there first when she needs medicine.
The assistant behind him, feeling guilty but relieved, continued to fill in the roster. When he finally crossed out Zhang San, Li Si, and Wang Wu in red ink, he sighed with relief.
"That troublemaker from the North, it's a good thing he left early."
Yan Dibai stopped at the pancake stall in front of Xichuntang.
The main entrance of Xichuntang was half-closed, and a job posting was clearly displayed next to it, yet it was unusually quiet, completely out of place with the hustle and bustle of the nearby shops.
Yan Dibai observed the needles discreetly amidst the bustling crowd. The entire pharmacy was managed by only a woman in a pink dress. She was the same woman who had scolded the innkeeper that morning.
The occasional person coming in and out was a young man with fair skin, around twenty years old. Judging from his attire, he was probably an accountant or something similar.
Yan Dibai lowered the white veil covering her face and ascended the steps. The woman in the silk skirt behind the cabinet noticed her and also put down the string of beads she was playing with, stood up, and slightly raised her chin.
"Has the young master extended an invitation?"
She scrutinized him from head to toe with an extremely critical look, a hint of disdain in her beautiful eyes.
Yan Dibai had one foot inside the door. Hearing this impolite invitation to leave, he didn't know better than to pull his foot back. Instead, he stepped his left foot in as well.
Yu Chuan immediately glared at him, "The storeroom is being cleaned today, no medicine will be sold! Xi Chun Tang will absolutely not serve anyone without an invitation!"
"And who is this?" It was the twenty-year-old youth, Yu Heng, who rose from behind his desk. Seeing a simply dressed young man standing calmly before the counter, he immediately understood what had happened. He gave Yu Chuan a wink, and then said without any arrogance:
"Young master, you don't usually frequent this market area, do you? If you wish to seek medical treatment at my Xichun Hall, you must bring the medical certificate issued by Xichun Hall. As for buying medicine, it's usually fine. However, with the recent continuous plum rains, the medicinal herbs in the warehouse are damp and moldy, and we are currently having people clean them. You will have to wait two days to buy medicine, as the new herbs are still on their way."
After saying this, he bowed and smiled, waiting for Yan Dibai to back down.
Unexpectedly, Yan Dibai said politely, "Even Hua Tuo, the legendary physician, has never heard of such a grand spectacle."
"How rude!" Yu Chuan exclaimed angrily, stepping past Yu Heng and raising her hand to call out, "Are you here to cause trouble?!"
"Yuchuan!" The young man stopped the woman. "My lord, we are all being very polite. Why are you doing this?"
As they were talking, the four people who rushed in from behind the door did not step forward immediately, but their eyes were clearly hostile.
Yan Dibai pondered for a moment: "I have only heard of imperial physicians obeying orders, I never knew that local clinics also have such rules. Once a clinic is established, its priority should be to practice medicine and save lives. If there is no prescription, does that mean it is reasonable to refuse to treat someone in distress?"
Yu Heng's expression also darkened slightly: "Rules are set by people, but times change. Young master, you talk about principles without considering the realities of the world. Aren't you just making things difficult for him? Please find another doctor."
Yan Dibai seemed oblivious to the meaning behind the question and went on to ask, "Where do all the medicinal herbs in the hall come from?"
"I already said we're not selling medicine today!"
"Jade bracelet!"
"Yuheng!" Yuchuan said angrily.
Yu Heng was helpless. Although he was also dissatisfied with this uninvited guest, he still maintained his composure and asked, "What exactly does my lord want?"
Yan Di pulled his white hand further in, and said apologetically:
"I have recently been feeling heavy and fatigued, and I wish to seek Scutellaria baicalensis to clear heat and dry dampness. The best of this herb comes from Jizhou, but it is often counterfeited. I have also heard that Xichuntang sells high-quality pepper and cardamom, but I have doubts and therefore feel offended."
Pepper is extremely precious, and ordinary pharmacies rarely have access to it, let alone the best quality. Of course, many pharmacies love to boast about themselves, taking the opportunity to sell inferior medicinal materials for profit.
This explanation seemed plausible at first glance, and Yuheng's attitude softened slightly. "Young master, you're not from Cangqian, are you? Everyone in Cangqian knows the wealth of my Xichun Hall, and we would never engage in such deceptive practices. Not to mention Huang Cen, we can guarantee the quality of products from the entire Jizhou region, and even the entire northern lands. As for Western Region products like pepper and cardamom, we can supply them regularly. We come from the Cui family of Boling; if Xichun Hall can't do it, who else in Jiangzuo can?"
Yan Dibai was taken aback, then said embarrassedly, "So you're from Boling. No wonder..."
Yu Chuan snorted coldly:
"We would never stoop to petty theft like those small-time gangs. Don't tell me you didn't inquire before you came!"
The boy apologized again. Yu Chuan sneered; the farce seemed to be coming to an end. Just then, a creaking sound came from behind the door.
Yan Dibai, who had just turned around, looked back and exclaimed, "Ha!"
It really is Yangliuqing.
Her face was flushed, her hair had just been combed, and she seemed to be trying to cover something up.
The greeting that had been blurted out caught Qingqing off guard halfway through the journey, leaving her dumbfounded.
Although this person was dressed in the face-covering veil commonly seen in Jiangzuo, the familiar loose robe and figure, along with the staggered gait of his walk—
It's clearly Yan Dibai!
No, why is Yan Dibai here? Shouldn't Yan Dibai be sleeping at the inn?
Qingqing was confused. Could it be that her colleague had betrayed her and revealed her whereabouts?
But he only said he was going to look around at medicinal herbs and fruits, without mentioning that he was going to Xichuntang.
At the same time, the two of them looked at each other in an eerie silence.
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