Chapter 46
After Yu Ying collected the copper coins, she also began to sew the scraps of fabric.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door. Yu Ying and Fu Wei looked at each other before asking, "Who is it?"
The person outside the door didn't speak for a long time. Yu Ying immediately guessed who it was. She picked up the oil lamp and went to open the door.
After opening the door, I saw Xiao Funing standing outside.
Wen Xing, who had gone out to the toilet, noticed her daughter coming out. She quickly followed and coaxed her gently, "It's too late. Don't disturb your aunt. Go back to sleep with your mother, okay?"
Fu Ning ran into the house and went straight to the bamboo bed.
She stood outside the bed with her eyes wide open. After exchanging a glance with her uncle, she took off her shoes and climbed onto the bed. She then climbed over her uncle and lay down in the middle.
Fu Wei: ...
Yu Ying: ...
Mother: ...
Several people fell silent for a moment.
Yu Ying came back to her senses and turned to look at her anxious sister-in-law. She said, "Sister-in-law, it's not going to be comfortable for you to sleep with two children. Why don't you let Ningning sleep in this room?"
Wen Xing hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly and apologetically saying, "I'm sorry to bother you, sister-in-law."
After a moment's thought, she added, "Ningning was only that young when Dalang and I went to the quarry, and she doesn't remember us very well. Now she must think we're strangers, so naturally she's scared."
Yu Ying nodded. "I know. Let her sleep in my room for the time being. She can go back after she gets familiar with my brother and his wife."
Wen Xing heard this and a look of gratitude immediately flashed in her sparkling almond-shaped eyes: "My dear sister-in-law, you are so kind."
Yu Ying smiled and asked her sister-in-law to go back and rest.
After seeing her sister-in-law off, Yu Ying closed the door and turned back to the bed.
Seeing his young aunt coming over, little Funing closed his eyes immediately for fear of being sent back.
Seeing this, Yu Ying and Fu Wei looked at each other, and both of them couldn't help laughing.
Yu Ying returned to her original seat and said to Xiao Funing, "Auntie won't send you back. Just sleep here peacefully."
Hearing this, the little girl's thick eyelashes trembled slightly. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at her aunt innocently.
After more than a month of recuperation, the little girl has undergone visible changes. Her skin color has become three or four shades whiter, and as her sunken cheeks have gained flesh, her big eyes have become more beautiful.
Seeing how adorable she looked, Yu Ying couldn't help but lean closer and reached out to pinch her cheek.
Fu Wei looked at the woman so close to him, and his breathing paused slightly.
Although she did not touch herself, her hanging clothes gently fell on his body, sticking tightly to his clothes.
Fu Ning smiled at his aunt.
Like her mother, she has a small dimple on her cheek, which appears when she smiles, making her very charming.
Yu Ying withdrew her hand and said to her softly, "You go to sleep first. I will finish my needlework before I go to sleep."
Fu Ning nodded, then pulled the quilt over her belly and closed her eyes obediently.
Yu Ying saw that she was asleep, and then continued to busy herself with the work at hand.
She picked out the largest piece of fabric of the same color from the scraps.
The largest scrap is only half a foot.
After finding the fabric, she looked at the window again. After thinking for a moment, she stood up and walked behind the window, roughly measuring the size of the window with her hands.
When Fu Wei saw her like this, he knew that she was going to make a curtain.
After measuring the size of the window, Yu Ying came back and cut a piece of plain linen.
The two pieces of indigo fabric, top and bottom, are joined by a long, translucent piece of solid fabric in the middle. Once hung, it lets in light and air during the day, and also keeps out mosquitoes at night when the windows are open. It's far more practical than straw curtains.
Halfway through, Fu Wei had finished making two pillowcases of the size she needed. Perhaps because she was too focused, Fu Wei felt a slight discomfort in her eyes.
He looked up and found that she was still making the curtain.
He turned his head to look at the candle flame which was almost burned out, thought for a moment, looked away, and then reached out to take the cloth from her hand.
When Yu Ying was concentrating on doing needlework, the cloth in her hand was suddenly taken away. After being stunned for a moment, she looked at Fu Wei with confusion.
Fu Wei put the cloth into the small dustpan and whispered, "I'll be lying down tomorrow anyway, why don't you let me do it? I'm ruining my eyes just to make a curtain, it's not worth it, let me rest first."
It would have been fine if he didn't say it, but once he did, Yu Ying really felt her eyes sore and bitter.
She originally studied medicine and used to pay special attention to health preservation. Even though her living conditions are not as good as before now, she doesn't want to ruin her body for the sake of life.
After yawning, she replied, "Okay."
Then she also got on the bed and got into the innermost position.
Yu Ying wanted to sleep outside at first, but when she thought about Fu Wei’s difficulty with his legs and how it would be inconvenient for him to move in and out to wash and eat, she didn’t change her position.
Yu Ying felt a little tired. She lay down and pulled a corner of the quilt over herself. Then she hugged Fu Ning, who was thin but still had soft bones. After adjusting to a comfortable sleeping position, she closed her eyes.
Fu Wei tilted his head slightly, and saw that she had closed her eyes out of the corner of his eye, then he glanced at his wife and niece to the left.
His eyes gradually softened.
After a moment, he withdrew his gaze, blew out the candle, put the oil lamp on the ground, and lay down.
I can finally sleep in a big bed. Although the bamboo bed is a bit hard, it is much more comfortable than the narrow straw bed.
When Yu Ying was sleeping soundly, she was suddenly woken up by a cry.
"The vicious woman from the Fu family is harming me!"
Yu Ying and Fu Wei both woke up in an instant.
The room was dark, but through the gaps in the straw curtains on the window, a faint sunlight could be seen coming in from outside. The sky outside was getting slightly brighter, probably around the hour of Mao.
Shouting and cursing continued from outside the house: "Yu from the Fu family poisoned people and killed them. God, please open your eyes and take Yu Liuniang away. Don't let her harm anyone anymore."
The voice seemed to come from outside the fence gate, and it seemed to be Aunt Cuilan's voice.
Fu Ning was also awakened by the fright, and she crawled into her aunt's arms with some fear. Yu Ying noticed that she was afraid, so she hugged her and patted her gently.
The cursing outside continued. Fu Wei said, "Brother will go out and deal with it later. Don't pay any attention to it."
Yu Ying thought for a moment, then said, "I'd better get up and go take a look. Otherwise, when Huo Yacha arrives and sees her miserable state, she'll be the weaker one instead of me."
Fu Wei picked up the oil lamp and used a flint to light the lamp which still had some oil in it.
With a little light, Fu Wei said, "Chastisale Huo will come to Lingshui Village to question Aunt Cuilan today. So, before Chastisale Huo arrives, we should make a big fuss about this. It would be best if the whole Lingshui Village and even the neighboring villages knew about it. When many people talk about it, Chastisale Huo will eventually solve it, and Yun County will also hear about it. This will only benefit you and not harm you. As for the weak..."
Fu Wei thought for a moment and said, "She said you poisoned her. As long as everyone thinks it's a false accusation, who knows who will be the weaker party in the end."
This is exactly what Yu Ying said to Fu Wei in the house when she just came back.
Their thoughts were once again in sync.
She thought about it for a moment and said, "Then wait for her to curse a few more times, and then I'll go out when there are more people."
As soon as he finished speaking, the door of the next room seemed to open.
It must be the eldest brother coming out.
Yu Ying thought about it, got out of bed, combed her long hair, made a simple bun, and then fixed it with a thorny hairpin. She walked towards the window and slightly lifted the straw curtain.
It was dim outside, but I could roughly see what was going on.
Sitting on the ground outside the fence was a slightly stout woman. It was obvious that she was Aunt Cuilan.
Faintly, Yu Ying saw figures in groups of three or four standing under trees in the distance, probably villagers watching the fun.
Aunt Cuilan continued to curse: "If I die, I will make your entire Fu family be buried with me!"
When Yu Ying was about to go out, Fu Ning also got out of bed and grabbed his aunt's clothes. He was obviously afraid that his aunt would be bullied and didn't want her to go out.
Yu Ying lowered her head and said to Fu Ning, "Ningning's father is very powerful. Aunt Cuilan won't dare to do anything. Ningning will stay in the house and wait for Aunt. Aunt, go and chase Aunt Cuilan away and then come back."
Fu Ning still refused to let go, so Yu Ying continued, "If Auntie doesn't go out, people will gossip about her... Otherwise, Ningning will just watch at the door. If there's any danger, Auntie will run back, okay?"
When Fu Ning heard the words "people will gossip about you", she remembered that she was called a dumb person who lost money and a burden. She felt very uncomfortable at that time. She thought that if her aunt was gossiped about, she would definitely feel uncomfortable too.
After hesitating for a moment, she loosened her aunt's clothes.
Yu Ying breathed a sigh of relief, opened the door, and was about to go out when a bamboo stick was handed to her.
Yu Ying looked down and saw that it was handed to her by Fu Ning.
Yu Ying smiled, took it and walked out of the house.
Wen Xing, who was standing outside the house, pulled Fu An and saw her sister-in-law coming out. She quickly shouted, "Sister-in-law, don't go over there. Aunt Cuilan looks crazy. She'll hurt you!"
Outside the courtyard, Fu Zhen walked to the gate of the fence, looked at Aunt Cuilan with a sullen expression, and said angrily, "If you continue to act unreasonably, don't blame me for being rude."
"You'd better not be polite. I'm going to die anyway. The worst that can happen is that I'll crash into your Fu family and kill them. I'll make your Fu family restless."
Yu Ying walked over. When Aunt Cuilan saw her, her bloodshot eyes widened and she suddenly stood up and was about to step forward.
Fu Zhen's eyes changed color, and he shouted sternly: "If you dare to take one step further, I will beat you without hesitation, regardless of whether you are a woman or a child!"
Although Aunt Cuilan said that she couldn't live anymore and wanted to kill herself by hitting her head against the Fu family, she was still afraid of death.
Aunt Cuilan couldn't sleep for two nights because of the itchiness. She felt like she was dying, so she ran to the Fu family crying in anger.
After being yelled at by the eldest son of the Fu family, she finally became intimidated and only dared to threaten outside the fence: "Yu Liuniang, you vicious woman, you have such a vicious heart. I just said a few words to you, and you want to kill me. If you don't detoxify me, I will report you to the county government!"
Yu Ying glanced coldly at Aunt Cuilan's face, which was scratched all over with blood and looked quite shocking, and then glanced at the increasing number of villagers watching the excitement not far away.
At this time, the eldest sister-in-law also ran over nervously. Although she was afraid, she still clenched her fists and stood half a step in front of Yu Ying.
Yu Ying felt warm in her heart. Although her sister-in-law was timid, she still stood in front of her, just like little Funing just now.
Not only the eldest sister-in-law, but also Fu An and Luo Shi came out. The whole family stood by Yu Ying and supported her.
Yu Ying gently pushed her sister-in-law away and took a step forward.
She asked Aunt Cuilan in a cold voice: "Did you just say a few words?"
He added forcefully, "If it were those weak-willed young ladies, you would have already tricked them into committing suicide. Everyone heard what you said; they're not deaf!"
The villagers who were watching the fun heard this and couldn't help but say to the people around them, "Aunt Cuilan is really a gossip. A few days ago, I heard her making up stories about Madam Yu from the Fu family. What she said was really unpleasant. She said that Madam Yu was cheating on me, and she said it as if it was true."
"That Madam Yu from the Fu family clearly went to the quarry to redeem someone. She keeps saying she stole a man, then runs off with him. Isn't this a complete frame-up? Doesn't she want someone dead?"
Yu Ying said again, "And you said I poisoned you, where's the evidence?"
Aunt Cuilan screamed, "What evidence do you need? I've been itching all over since I left your Fu family. If it wasn't you who poisoned me, who else could it be?!"
Yu Ying sneered, "If you want to frame me, you should find a decent reason. It happened in this courtyard the day before yesterday, and everyone was watching. I didn't even touch you, and you didn't even drink a sip of water from the Fu family. How could I have poisoned you?"
Aunt Cuilan was stunned when she heard this, scratching her face and said anxiously, "Then it must be you who poisoned my water tank!"
Yu Ying smiled and said, "I poisoned your water tank, so why are you the only one affected, while everyone else is fine?"
When Yu Ying asked this question, Uncle He and Aunt He also rushed over after hearing the sound. They were also shocked when they saw Aunt Cuilan's appearance.
Aunt He recovered and immediately scolded, "Cui Lan, you're crazy trying to frame Madam Yu! First you falsely accused her of having an affair, and now you're accusing her of poisoning you. What on earth did Madam Yu do to you that you're so eager to ruin her reputation!?"
With Aunt He's words, Yu Ying also asked, "Yes, I also want to know how I offended Aunt Cuilan, so that you, Aunt Cuilan, framed me like this?"
Aunt Cuilan was stunned and thought about it carefully. The reason was simply that she disliked Yu Liuniang and wanted to see her suffer a loss.
But the truth was definitely not something she could tell. She argued, "How could I have any problem with her? It's just that she mysteriously goes to Yu County every few days and even disappears for a few days. Anyone else would think the same as me."
Someone heard Aunt Cuilan's words and quickly retorted: "Aunt Cuilan, you have a bad heart and you look down on others. It's obviously you who are talking nonsense. We didn't say that. Don't drag us into this."
Yu Ying also said, "I don't think I have the responsibility to tell you where I've been. Besides, none of this can be a reason for you to fabricate and frame someone."
Aunt Cuilan's rotten face was a little embarrassed. After scratching it again and again, she really couldn't bear it anymore. She stopped scolding and begged directly, "Then it's my fault, okay? Detoxify me quickly, even if you make me kneel down!"
Yu Ying's face darkened, and she feigned anger. "How can I help you with the poisoning of something I didn't do? Besides, if you had the time to frame me for poisoning you, why didn't you find the time to see a doctor? Wouldn't it be clear if you were poisoned? Maybe you could have been cured long ago."
Aunt Cuilan had always insisted that she was the one who poisoned the body, so she naturally wouldn't waste money looking for a doctor.
"I don't care. You were the one who poisoned me. If you don't give me a detoxification, I will never let you go." After begging for a while, Aunt Cuilan revealed her true colors again.
When others heard this, they exclaimed, "Wow, this is clearly someone trying to rely on others for their own benefit."
Everyone knew that Aunt Cuilan was a shameless shrew, but no one expected her to be this shameless.
Yu Ying was silent for a moment, then asked suspiciously, "From what I see, your symptoms don't seem like poisoning, but rather like you've been exposed to some itchy weed. Did you deliberately poison yourself to blackmail me?"
Aunt Cuilan's eyes widened, and she was so angry that she almost couldn't breathe. "Is it possible that I have made myself into this state?!"
Yu Ying said with a smile, "You can't explain anything. You say I harmed you, but you don't have any evidence. You have no evidence, yet you still insist that I poisoned you. Could it be that you are accusing me of beating my nephew and think I will retaliate against you?"
"What else?!" Aunt Cuilan asked loudly.
Yu Ying smiled, and then slowly said, "I'll tell you the truth. I really don't intend to let this go."
Hearing this, Aunt Cuilan shouted, "Everyone, listen carefully! She's confessing everything!"
"I didn't poison you, but I went to the government office and reported you for framing me."
When Yu Ying said this, everyone was stunned, even Aunt Cuilan was stunned.
After a long while, she spat, "You're trying to scare me! I'm not afraid of you. Yu Liuniang, I'm telling you, if anything happens to me, you'll be the one who's at risk!"
Yu Ying: "Whether you believe it or not, if you don't come here in person to apologize and pay a hundred coins before noon, then you can just wait for the yamen runners to come."
Aunt Cuilan spat, "Go ahead and dream on! You still want me to give you a hundred coins? Even if I were to go to jail, I wouldn't give you a penny!"
He cursed and scratched his neck and face unbearably.
Aunt He couldn't stand it any longer, and she said, "Cui Lan, put aside everything else. You look like you were stung by scorpion grass. Instead of accusing Madam Yu, you might as well go find some scorpion grass and boil some water for a bath. Maybe it can cure you."
Speaking of scorpion grass, the person who saw Aunt Cuilan's miserable state yesterday also exclaimed, "It really looks like she was stung by scorpion grass. Didn't someone's child touch scorpion grass a while ago and scratched their face and hands? Later, they washed it with hoe grass several times and it was fine."
Aunt Cuilan, who originally suspected that Yu Liuniang had poisoned her, became skeptical after hearing this.
She looked at Yu Liuniang and said fiercely, "I'll go back and try it first. If it still doesn't work, then it must be the poison you gave me."
After saying this, he ran off to find some grass to plow, obviously not taking Yu Ying's words about suing the government office seriously.
Yu Ying continued to shout towards her, "I really did go to the government office. I've already told you now that you can't blame me if the officials come to visit."
Someone heard this and said half-believingly, "Madam Yu, even if you really report it to the authorities, they won't take it seriously. Don't bother with it. Aunt Cuilan is just that kind of person. Just treat this as being bitten by a dog."
Luo Shi, who had been silent the whole time and had been watching Liu Niang perform, suddenly spoke and said to the man, "Which dog dares to bite my Liu Niang? I'll beat her to death!"
Yu Ying almost burst out laughing when she heard this, but luckily she managed to hold it back and said, "I'm not joking either. Whether the government intervenes or not is none of my business. I just want justice."
Having said that, he added, "Everyone should disperse. While it's still early, go home and rest for a while."
After saying that, he looked back at Uncle He and Aunt He: "Uncle He and Aunt He, you don't have to worry. Aunt Cuilan is a bad person and there will be people who will deal with her."
Seeing that she was open-minded, Aunt He felt relieved and said, "Don't let yourself get hurt by such a gossipy woman."
Yu Ying nodded: "I know."
Uncle He looked at Mrs. Luo and said, "If Aunt Cuilan makes trouble again, just use a broom to beat her away."
Luo responded, "If she causes trouble again, I won't be polite."
After watching the joke, everyone dispersed, and Uncle He and Aunt He also left.
After everyone left, Yu Ying, who had been sewing for a long time yesterday, yawned and said, "Don't worry about Aunt Cuilan. There's nothing to do today. Big brother and sister-in-law should go back and get some sleep so that you can be more energetic for work tomorrow."
At this time, Fu An suddenly said: "Aunt, if Aunt Cuilan comes again next time, I won't let her bully you again."
After having a strong father, Fu An no longer seemed afraid of Aunt Cuilan.
Yu Ying smiled at him and said, "Okay, you'll protect me next time."
Fu An nodded heavily and patted his chest to promise: "Next time I will protect my aunt!"
Fu An looked at A Niang again and said, "I will protect A Niang too!"
Yu Ying secretly thought that Fu An had become a master of keeping things balanced without any instruction.
He still hasn't forgotten his mother at this time. He is a good boy.
Several people returned to their rooms.
Yu Ying also returned to the house feeling sleepy, and Fu Ning quickly came over to greet her. She picked up the little girl and carried her back to bed.
Fu Wei looked at her and asked, "Is what Aunt He said just now about using weeds really effective?"
Yu Ying carefully recalled what kind of herb dandelion was. After thinking for a few breaths, she remembered that it was another name for dandelion.
Dandelion is an alkaline herb and does have the effect of relieving itching.
Because Fu Ning was there, Yu Ying didn't say it directly, but only said tactfully: "Aunt He is right, Aunt Cuilan was indeed poisoned by scorpion grass, also known as nettle. It can be washed with hoe grass. Wash it two or three times and it will be fine."
The most important thing is that after two or three days of itching, the properties of the medicine that has penetrated into the skin will fade, and the itching will gradually stop. It was only the first two days that were torturous.
After explaining to Fu Wei, she climbed back into bed and said sleepily, "Aunt Cuilan keeps saying that going to jail doesn't matter, but she's a coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong. If the yamen runners really come, she'll find a way to raise even two hundred coins, not to mention a hundred."
After a pause, she continued, "I heard from Uncle He and the others that all the money in the Sun family is in the hands of Aunt Cuilan. Besides, the Sun family is the wealthiest in Lingshui Village after the head of the village. They can still come up with a hundred coins, but they'll just have to take a little bit of her flesh."
These one hundred coins are just a lesson for Aunt Cuilan.
Fu Wei knew that she had only proposed the hundred coins after careful consideration.
Leave people a way out and don't push them to death. This way you can warn them but you won't create an enemy that will rage to your death.
"From now on, you don't have to be afraid of villains..." Fu Wei turned his head and stopped talking after seeing her close her eyes and fall asleep again.
After chuckling, he pulled the thin quilt over her.
She had been traveling for several days and had even gone to Yun County yesterday, so she must be tired.
As for Aunt Cuilan coming to cause trouble, she didn't seem to care at all. What she cared about was whether she could get justice for Fuan and herself.
What a...
Fu Wei looked at her face and secretly added in his heart - what a unique woman.
Fu Wei was lost in thought until his little niece turned her head and looked at him with a pair of bright eyes, then Fu Wei fell silent.
…
After a pause, Fu Wei pretended to withdraw his gaze, made a gesture to his niece to keep quiet, and then let out a soft hiss.
Fu Ning nodded to show that he understood, then turned around and nestled into his aunt's arms to continue sleeping soundly.
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