Chapter 66
As night fell, Fu Wei went to a restaurant near the inn where he had an appointment.
After Fu Zhen sent his second brother to the restaurant, he returned to take care of the safety of his wife and brother's wife.
Yu Ying stayed in the same room with her eldest sister-in-law. She walked to the window, opened it, and looked out onto the street.
The once bustling Yu County gradually became quiet, with only a few pedestrians left on the streets.
After half a year, even though she was not used to this era, Yu Ying was slowly integrating into it and adapting to the environment of working from sunrise to sunset.
Seeing her sister-in-law standing by the window, looking worried, Wen Xing comforted her, "I heard from Dalang that the person you're meeting is an important person. Although I don't know what kind of person it is, I'm sure you can handle it calmly. Don't worry too much, sister-in-law."
Yu Ying came back to her senses and did not explain that she was not worried about Fu Wei. She just nodded slightly.
The temperature dropped sharply after nightfall. Although the window was only open a small gap, a biting cold wind still penetrated into the house. Yu Ying had no choice but to close the window.
After sitting down, I chatted with my sister-in-law.
Somehow we ended up chatting about the magistrate of Yu County.
The magistrate's surname was Zhou.
County Magistrate Zhou was originally the son of a noble official and served as a captain in the army. However, because he had offended the future head of his family, he was demoted to the most impoverished county in Cangwu Commandery as a county magistrate.
When Yu Ying heard this, she seemed to have some impression of the magistrate's life experience.
It's just that the novel of 800,000 words was almost completely scanned, and it was already good enough to remember the general idea, let alone just a few sentences.
While the two sisters-in-law were chatting, the eldest brother came to ask what they wanted to eat.
The few of them simply dealt with it and decided to just have a bowl of vegetarian noodles.
Although she had made some money before, her total savings were less than six taels of silver. She had other plans for the money, so how could Yu Ying dare to be extravagant?
After having a bowl of vegetarian noodles, they went back to their rooms.
The two guest rooms were opposite each other and could be heard if someone shouted, so Yu Ying asked her sister-in-law to go back to her room to rest.
As for Fu Wei, he said that someone would take him back after dinner and there was no need to worry too much.
In a private room of a nearby restaurant, Shen Mingcong left the house on the pretext of something, leaving his good friend and the county magistrate behind.
The magistrate glanced at the plain carriage where Fu Wei was sitting, then raised his gaze to the handsome young man and said coldly, "You said you wanted to join me as my disciple and become my staff member. Now, tell me what you have that can convince me."
Fu Wei remained neither humble nor arrogant, and replied calmly, "The horizons and all the knowledge I've acquired over the past twenty years."
The magistrate smiled and said, "Among those exiled to Lingnan, there are also some people with real abilities."
"Have those people ever found a job here, sir?"
The magistrate was taken aback and said truthfully, "You are the first one."
After that, he nodded and said, "I am braver than them, which is an advantage."
Fu Wei continued, "I was once the son of a county governor for twenty-one years. I studied both civil and military arts, served in the army, and have some knowledge of various weapons. I also have some understanding of the situation in the court."
Upon hearing this, the magistrate's eyebrows twitched, and he seemed a little shaken, but he continued, "Your legs are broken, and your adoptive father hasn't given you any care. It's obvious that he doesn't want you to have a good life. If I accept you as my staff, won't I offend the prefect of Wuling County?"
Fu Wei smiled slowly. "Although my legs are broken, my mind is still quite sharp. Besides, Wuling County and Yu County are over 2,000 miles apart. Prefect Huo governs an entire county, so how can he have time to govern Yu County?"
Having said this, he added, "I can help you leave Yu County and head for higher ground. But if you're worried about offending the governor of Wuling County, then I'll pretend I never told you about the staff."
Magistrate Zhou looked at Fu Wei in deep thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled and looked at the wine glass on the table: "After three glasses of wine, you will be my staff member."
Fu Wei poured the wine and drank one cup after another.
After three cups, the magistrate stood up and said, "I'll be frank with you. I'll only give you three months. If you don't make any progress within those three months, I won't keep you any longer. And if any news comes from Wuling County, I won't employ you anymore."
Fu Wei nodded: "Thank you, sir."
"No need to thank me, just show your ability." The magistrate stood up and walked towards the door.
The magistrate, who had reached the door, suddenly remembered something and turned back. "Oh, right? Even if it's just three months, I won't treat you unfairly, even with your mobility issues. I won't be stingy with your monthly salary, so you'd better find a place to stay in Yu County as soon as possible and be at my disposal."
After saying that, he turned and left the private room.
County Magistrate Zhou came out of the private room and met Mr. Shen, who came from Wuling County. The two of them bowed to each other in succession.
Seeing that no one was around, County Magistrate Zhou said, "I hope Mr. Shen can help take care of the things in Wuling County."
Upon hearing this, Shen Mingcong knew that his friend had accomplished something.
"I will pay attention to what the magistrate said. If there is any change, I will send a letter. I hope the magistrate can take care of me and be cautious."
The magistrate nodded and then said goodbye.
After the magistrate left the restaurant, he said to his staff, "If there are any officials coming from Wuling County in the future, please inform me in advance."
After giving the order, he turned and got on the carriage.
After Magistrate Zhou left, Shen Mingcong entered the private room and saw Fu Wei drinking from his glass. He then looked at the table full of food and asked him, "It seems you haven't touched your chopsticks much tonight."
Fu Wei raised his eyes to look at him and said, "Can you ask the waiter to serve some plain noodles?"
Shen Mingcong was surprised and asked, "With so many delicious dishes, why do you still need plain noodles?"
Fu Wei took a look at the delicious dishes on the table and his heart was as calm as water.
He said calmly, "I want to wait until I can enjoy such delicious food, to share it with my wife, rather than just enjoying it alone."
Shen Mingzong couldn't help but laugh when he heard this: "It's just a table of food."
After saying this, his smile gradually faded. "Although I also want to meet what kind of extraordinary woman your first wife is, it's obvious that I won't be able to meet her. After all, the fewer people who know about my coming to Lingnan, the safer it will be."
After saying that, he took out a purse and placed it on the table: "This is a little gift from me, please keep it."
Fu Wei glanced at the purse and knew that it was filled with silver.
He thought for a moment, took the purse, opened it and took a look, took out a piece of silver from it, and then returned it to him.
"You have parents, a wife, and children to support at home, and Su Yu must have spent a lot of money. If I accept so much money from you again, I will feel uneasy."
Shen Mingcong came from a humble background, his family was not wealthy to begin with, and he was never corrupt. His monthly salary was less than two taels, and he had only been promoted to a clerk in the past two years. If I was right, this should be almost the last of his belongings after he finished making the Su Yu for himself.
Shen Mingcong said, "It's less than ten taels of silver, so you can take it."
Fu Wei maintained the movement of the purse and said calmly, "You know my temper. Even if you stay, I will have someone send it back to you."
Rather than returning it all, at least he still took some.
Shen Mingcong was helpless. He sighed, said nothing, and walked forward to take back the purse.
"I can't call you Jinzhi anymore. I should call you Fuwei." Shen Mingcong smiled and said, "I will leave early tomorrow morning. I won't be around tomorrow. Take care."
Fu Wei nodded and smiled: "Take good care of yourself, we will meet again one day."
Shen Mingcong: "I'm looking forward to the day we meet again."
The two smiled at each other. There was no need for many words, just wanting to know that the other was safe.
After they each ordered a bowl of somen noodles and two glasses of sake, it was time to say goodbye.
After Shen Mingcong sent Fu Wei to the lobby of the inn, he left.
Fu Wei returned to the guest room on his carriage and knocked lightly. A clear and pleasant female voice rang out from inside the room: "Who is it?"
Fu Weiying: "It's me."
When Yu Ying heard Fu Wei's voice, she got up from the bed and opened the door.
Fu Zhen, who lived next door, had been paying attention to the movements outside. When he heard the knock on the door, he also opened the door.
I felt relieved to see my second brother coming back.
When Fu Wei saw his elder brother, he handed him a package of food in an oil-paper bag and said, "Brother, take the untouched food and eat it with your elder sister-in-law."
Fu Zhen was about to say something, but Fu Wei seemed to have guessed what he was talking about, so he picked up another bag and said, "There are more. Don't worry about us."
Fu Zhen then took it.
He said, "Rest early after eating and return to Lingshui Village early tomorrow."
Fu Zhen watched him go back to the house before turning around and going back inside.
Yu Ying closed the door, and Fu Wei put the food in his hand on the table.
Yu Ying turned back to him and asked, "Is it done?"
Fu Wei nodded: "It's done."
Yu Ying breathed a sigh of relief. It finally worked.
When she breathed a sigh of relief, Yu Ying smelled a faint scent of alcohol, which was brought back by Fu Wei.
The person I met today was the county magistrate, so it was inevitable that he would drink.
Fu Wei said to her, "There are some dishes on the table today that haven't been touched. I've also packed some butter chicken for you."
When she heard about butter chicken, Yu Ying's eyes lit up. She walked over and opened the oil paper, and sure enough, she saw the golden chicken nuggets.
Although it was cold, there was still some meaty aroma wafting out.
Having never seen or heard of it before, Yu Ying naturally had no appetite for it, but now that she saw it, she immediately became greedy.
She said happily, "I'll go ask the waiter to borrow chopsticks and a bowl."
When she went there, she brought back two sets of bowls and chopsticks.
"I can't let you watch me eat. It's embarrassing."
Fu Wei smiled and started eating with her.
During the meal, Fu Wei glanced at the woman standing close to him. Under the warm and soft candlelight, the woman's eyes were filled with a satisfied smile, and the smile in his eyes also brightened.
It seemed as if all emotions were drawn to her, and all were happy because of her happiness.
After that, she did not ask about the details of tonight's banquet, and Fu Wei did not say much.
After eating half a butter chicken, Yu Ying went to bring hot water for Fu Wei to soak his feet, and then got on the couch first.
After Fu Wei had simply washed his face and feet, he glanced at the big bed, pondered for a moment before blowing out the candle, slowly walked to the bed, and lay down on the outside.
This isn't the first time my niece hasn't come between us, but maybe it's because I drank a few too many glasses of wine today, and I feel a kind of inexplicable restlessness in my heart.
In the darkness, this restlessness made him want to get closer and closer.
The moment their arms touched, she felt him moving closer. Yu Ying, who was already pressed tightly against the wall, couldn't help herself and asked, "Fu Wei, what are you doing?"
Fu Wei suddenly woke up, but wine always gave him courage, so he asked unconsciously: "Sixth Lady, will you be my real wife?"
…
……!
It's late at night and everyone is asleep. Such ambiguous words make people think about all sorts of things.
Yu Ying's pupils suddenly shrank, and she quickly covered herself with the quilt and sat up, saying, "Your legs have just healed, and even if they are healed, you can't have such thoughts!"
The room was silent for a moment. Fu Wei, who was a little drunk, pondered over what he had just said. Then he remembered that he had said this in bed, and immediately realized that she had misunderstood.
He sat up and hurriedly explained: "That's not what I meant. I just meant it literally..."
Yu Ying murmured, "Hmm?" and suddenly heard him say softly, "Sixth Lady, I am attracted to you."
Fu Wei's words "I like you" floated into Yu Ying's ears. She was surprised, but also seemed to have a hint of expectation.
Yu Ying was so surprised that she gradually calmed down, and only took a few breaths.
The two of them were silent in the darkness for a long time. After a long while, Yu Ying exhaled and spoke, "I haven't figured out yet whether I will be alone and free in the future, or will I have a family and concerns, so I can't give you an answer."
There was no outright rejection, which made Fu Wei, who had been holding his breath, secretly relieved: "Then I will wait for you to figure it out."
Yu Ying wanted to persuade him, but then she remembered that they were still sleeping in the same bed, and it seemed hypocritical to persuade him in any way.
She just said "hmm" lightly.
Maybe, maybe one day in the future she will really figure it out.
The two of them lay down again, but they felt very uncomfortable.
After a long silence, Yu Ying, who had just been confessed to, said: "You sleep outside. I can't sleep."
Fu Wei, who was still lying in the original position, reacted immediately, said "sorry", and quickly slept on the edge, with half of his body almost hanging in the air.
The two men were in different moods. Fu Wei's drunkenness had subsided a little, and he held his forehead, regretting his own recklessness.
Yu Ying, however, felt a little confused because of Fu Wei's words tonight.
The two of them had no desire to sleep, and tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
Everyone knew the other was awake, but everyone was silent and no one started a conversation.
Compared to the discomfort of this couple, the couple in the house opposite were completely the opposite.
After eating the meat, the couple saved some for their mother and children to taste the next day because the weather was cool.
After eating, he rinsed his mouth as instructed by his sister-in-law.
——Instructions to rinse your mouth before going to bed at night.
After Fu Zhen rinsed his mouth, he sat on the bed and shook it vigorously a few times.
Wen Xing turned to look at her husband, her eyes full of confusion: "Da Lang, what are you doing?"
Fu Zhen said seriously, "I'm testing whether this bed will collapse."
…
Thinking of what happened not long ago, Wen Xing blushed immediately.
*
The next morning, after Fu Zhen and his wife got up, they did not see their second brother and his wife get up for a long time.
I knocked on the door, and after a while I heard my sister-in-law's hurried response: "It will be ready soon."
In the room, the two people who had just woken up looked at each other, and at the same time recalled the conversation last night, feeling a little uncomfortable.
But now is not the time to be uncomfortable. I have to get up, wash up and go back to Lingshui Village!
Fu Wei only needed to tidy up his clothes, but Yu Ying had to tidy them up in a hurry.
After a while, the two came out of the house.
After leaving the room, Fu Wei said, "Liu Niang and I are both a little particular about our beds, so we went to bed late."
Fu Zhen had no doubts either.
After leaving the inn, they found a wonton stall and ordered four bowls of wontons.
Because Fu Zhen had a big appetite and Wen Xing had a smaller appetite, she scooped some of the wontons from her bowl into her husband's bowl.
The couple's eyes met. Wen Xing lowered her head shyly, but there was a smile on the corner of her mouth. Even Fu Zhen, who was in a good mood, had a slight smile on his face.
Yu Ying: ...
Obviously, this couple has always been together, but she feels like they are newlyweds after a short separation.
For some reason, this feeling made Yu Ying seem to understand something.
After breakfast, I went back.
Thinking about having to walk for nearly two hours again, Yu Ying felt terrible and was so tired that she completely forgot about the discomfort she had with Fu Wei.
When they returned home, Fu Ning rushed over and threw himself directly into Yu Ying's arms, hugging her tightly.
Yu Ying felt very warm knowing that someone was waiting for her at home, hoping that she would return home soon.
As for the matter in court, Uncle He and Aunt He had already told Mrs. Luo about it when they came back yesterday, so there was no need to tell her again.
Director Luo's problem has been solved, and there is no need to worry about the difficulties caused by other medical clinics. The medicinal materials business can continue.
As for how to stabilize prices, that should be left to Fu Wei.
Now, before the cold winter comes, she has to prepare more seeds of medicinal herbs and start raising seedlings, so that she can transplant them directly after the spring of next year.
If the county government really adopts Fuweiwaimai's suggestion, after it has a reputation, it can also call on the villagers to grow medicinal herbs together, and the villagers will be more easily convinced.
As for the fields and medicinal seedlings, she also had to prepare them in advance, but of course it was not free.
After resting for half a day, Yu Ying put aside yesterday's court affairs and Fu Wei's matter and continued to work.
When he took Fuan Funing to the medicine field to check the medicinal materials, he happened to meet Erlang from the He family, and told him that he wanted him to help try the facial cream.
"These facial creams are harmless, but their effectiveness in healing chapped skin may vary. I need you to try several of them at once. Are you willing?"
He Erlang nodded without hesitation when he heard this: "Try the facial cream, it can also cure chapped skin. I'm actually benefiting from it, so how could I not want to?"
After that, he grinned, revealing his white teeth, and said, "Sister-in-law, if you want me to do anything else, just let me know. I will help you no matter how difficult it is."
Yu Ying couldn't help but smile and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll just help you try the facial cream first."
After saying a few words, he asked him to come to Fu's house after dinner.
Fu An saw He Erlang smiling brightly at his aunt, and he pouted unhappily.
No matter how happily he smiled, his aunt was still his and Ningning's aunt.
At dinner time, Fu Wei told his father about his plan to work as a staff member at the county government office.
Everyone was stunned when they heard his words.
After a long silence, Fu Zhen vaguely guessed who the distinguished person his second brother had met last night was.
Working as a government official in the government office was something that Luo, Fu Zhen, and Wen Xing, who were still lowly people not long ago, could not even imagine.
How could everyone not be shocked when they suddenly heard that Fu Wei was going to be the county magistrate's aide?
Fu Zhen, who was the first to come to his senses, breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Has the magistrate agreed?"
Fu Wei nodded lightly.
Fu Zhen asked again: "Since you are an aide... don't you have to go to the government office almost every day?"
As soon as Fu Zhen said this, Yu Ying also thought of this.
Yes, since I want to be a staff member, I must wait for orders in Yu County.
After a moment's deliberation, Fu Wei announced his decision: "I want to rent a small house in Yu County where I can take care of myself."
As he spoke, he looked at Yu Ying and said, "I know you are still busy with the medicinal fields and herbs. Can you come to Yu County occasionally?"
"No, how can you take care of yourself by yourself?!" Luo objected.
But Mrs. Luo had forgotten that her son's legs were already 70% healed.
Fu Wei slowly stood up and smiled: "Mother, I can still take care of myself."
Even after seeing her son stand up, Mrs. Luo was still worried: "What if someone comes to cause trouble for you again? How can you handle it by yourself?"
Yu Ying, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke up and said, "Mother, you can go with Erlang. We can take care of the housework."
Then he looked at Fu An and said, "You are old enough to go to a private school, so why don't you go with me? You can help."
Yu Ying's words surprised everyone.
Wen Xing said, "Private schools are only for the aristocratic and powerful families."
Fu An also said: "Why should I go to a private school? My uncle can teach me. I won't go!"
Yu Ying: "Then you have to stay by your uncle's side so that he can teach you."
Fu An was stunned.
Luo asked hesitantly, "Can't we take care of the medicinal fields at home?"
Yu Ying shook her head.
I really can't take care of it.
"After Uncle He, Aunt He, the He brothers, and Sanlang Song become familiar with growing herbs, I will go to Yu County with my brother and sister-in-law."
There are many inconveniences in the village, but we still have to pay attention to the matters of the medicinal fields. Even if we want to let go, we have to wait until the spring at least.
No one’s words in the family carry as much weight as Yu Ying’s.
Besides, this is the only arrangement now, otherwise Fu Wei will really have to go to Yu County alone.
Mrs. Luo was still worried that her second son's leg disease would relapse, and it would be fine if she could help with cooking and washing clothes. Thinking of this, she no longer had any objections.
As for looking at houses, we can only do so after Uncle Chen's carriage continues to Yu County.
Yu Ying really didn't want to walk anymore. She had walked for so long yesterday and today that she had no idea how many blisters had formed on the soles of her feet.
After dinner, before I had time to treat the blisters on the soles of my feet, He Erlang came looking for me.
Yu Ying had tried all those facial creams briefly.
The facial cream I bought at the Rouge Shop was only good for moisturizing and was less effective at treating chapped skin. The facial cream at Luoji Clinic was inferior to the other three, so I only took four bottles of herbal cream to the dining room.
She called Fu An over and asked him to use different facial creams on both sides of He Erlang's cheeks according to the order she said, and then use different facial creams on both hands.
Although the cracks on his hands are much more serious than those on his face, for someone like He Erlang, this is the only way to compare them.
The facial creams from Zhengji Medical Clinic and Liji Medical Clinic are applied on the face, while the facial creams from Ji's Medical Clinic and hers are applied on the hands.
Yu Ying instructed He Erlang: "Tomorrow morning, after you get up and wash up, come to Fu's house again. Apply the ointment once in the morning and once in the evening for three consecutive days."
Although He Erlang's cheeks were chapped, it did not affect his bright smile: "Okay, I will definitely come early tomorrow to look for my sister-in-law."
The voice spread from the dining room to the next room, and the words "I will definitely come early to look for my sister-in-law tomorrow" also fell clearly into his ears. Fu Wei's hand, which was about to start writing, paused and he couldn't help but frowned slightly.
Is it an illusion?
I always feel that He Erlang's enthusiasm for Liu Niang is too much.
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