"Ahem~ Well, I have something to do, so I'll be going now. You guys keep chatting." How considerate she is!
Fu Yunchen looked at her face and pursed his thin lips. "Going up the mountain to pick tea leaves?"
Mu Run said, "Yes, now is the perfect time. A few days later and they'll be just ordinary leaves. These are the tea pickers Sister Cai found for me. We'll be going down the mountain this afternoon."
"Whatever you want." Fu Yunchen reached out and placed the straw hat he was holding on her head. "Just don't let it fall off again this time."
"Okay." Mu Run didn't object to his hat; it just so happened she needed it anyway. She adjusted the hat for comfort, then left with Sister Cai and ten maids. As for Bao Chan, with that fixed gaze, she probably couldn't see her anymore, so she didn't say hello.
After Mu Run and his men had gone far away, Fu Yunchen said to Bao Chan, "I know you. You are the most beautiful courtesan at Liuyue Tower in Yangzhou. Mai Jichang spent 30,000 taels of silver to redeem you."
Bao Chan's eyes were alluring and seductive as she asked, "Does the chieftain find me unworthy?"
Fu Yunchen smiled without saying a word, his eyes drifting and indifferent, revealing nothing of his thoughts.
Bao Chan became even more shy and said, "Chief Mai only redeemed me from my servitude. He has never actually touched me. I am still a virgin."
"Oh~" Fu Yunchen's tone was playful, and it was impossible to tell whether he believed it or not.
When Steward Yang learned that Fu Yunchen had returned to Yihua Garden, he rushed over to await orders, only to find Fu Yunchen talking to Baochan. He then wisely retreated.
Fu Yunchen called out to him, "Old Yang."
Manager Yang slipped back again, "What are your orders, Chief?"
Fu Yunchen said, "Send a few skilled men to accompany Madam up the mountain."
Manager Yang said, "Don't worry, Chief, I've already made all the arrangements."
Fu Yunchen nodded, then turned and left.
Seeing this, Bao Chan hurriedly tried to call out to Fu Yunchen, but was stopped by a look from Steward Yang.
"What brings you here, Steward Yang?"
"The chieftain is unpredictable. Since he hasn't spoken, Miss Bao, please remain calm."
“…Yes, thank you for the reminder, Steward Yang.” Bao Chan took out a silver note from her sleeve. “I will need your help in the future.”
"Miss Bao, you're too kind. Please feel free to ask if you need anything, and I'll do my best." Manager Yang did not accept the silver notes.
Seeing that he wouldn't accept it, Baochan had no choice but to put the silver notes away again.
Manager Yang bowed and left.
Baochan looked up at Zhengxiang Garden, a strange light flashing in her eyes.
...
Hongmi carried a basket of sweet potatoes up Chongyang Mountain.
While climbing the stone steps of the mountain path, I encountered a young woman carrying a bundle and crying as she came down the mountain.
Out of curiosity, Hongmi stopped her and asked, "What's wrong, sister?"
With red eyes, Mo Xiaowan said aggrievedly, "I was kicked off the mountain."
"Huh? You're from the mountain stronghold?" Hongmi asked in surprise. "Why?"
"Mind your own business." Mo Xiaowan suddenly glared at her, then continued walking down the mountain with her bundle in her hand.
Redmi blinked, realizing she'd made a fool of herself. "Then be careful, sister, the mountain path is steep."
Mo Xiaowan ignored her.
Hongmi went up Chongyi Peak and found Manager Yang, handing him the sweet potatoes.
Manager Yang had someone deliver the sweet potatoes to Zhengxiang Garden, and then rewarded Hongmi with a small string of copper coins.
The reason Manager Yang had the inn send over sweet potatoes was that Mu Run had eaten a whole plate of candied sweet potatoes while she was eating, and Manager Yang thought that Mu Run liked them, so he asked the inn to send over some more.
"Thank you, Steward Yang. If there's anything else you need delivered in the future, just let me know."
"Okay, haha."
"Manager Yang, may I ask if Madam... is she alright?" This was Hongmi's main purpose in coming up the mountain—to find out how Murun was doing.
Manager Yang replied, "Madam is busy making tea right now. She took people up the mountain to pick tea leaves early this morning."
"Tea picking?" Hongmi looked up at the mountain curiously. "Can I go up and take a look?"
"Of course, we haven't been up there for long."
"Okay, I'll go right away."
Manager Yang nodded, then suddenly remembered something and said to Hongmi, "Manager Hong, Mo Xiaowan, the granddaughter of Old Master Mo, is going to work at the inn these two days. Could you please look after her?"
"We can look after her, but who is she?"
"Old Mo and the chieftain have a past relationship. It seems that he was an old servant of the chieftain, and now he is enjoying his retirement in Chongyang Mountain. Mo Xiaowan is Old Mo's adopted granddaughter, but they are as close as family."
"Since you have such a good relationship with the boss, why go to the inn? Wouldn't it be better to stay in the village?" Hongmi's words hit the nail on the head.
A hint of surprise flashed in Manager Yang's eyes, but he then smiled more warmly. "To tell you the truth, Miss Xiao Wan did something wrong. Originally, the chieftain wanted to arrange a marriage for her, but Miss Xiao Wan was unwilling. So Elder Mo pleaded with the chieftain to let her stay at the inn for a while."
The image of the weeping woman he encountered on the way up the mountain flashed through Hongmi's mind...
"Understood, thank you, Steward Yang."
"Don't be so polite. Just call me Uncle, like Yang Yang does."
“Okay, Uncle Yang.” Hongmi replied with a smile, then couldn’t wait to go up the mountain to find Murun.
Manager Yang stroked his beard with a smile, looking at Hongmi, who was thin but agile. "He's a good kid."
*********
The lush Chongyi Peak is shrouded in clouds and mist at its summit, and a stream of trickling water converges among the forests to form a tranquil creek that meanders through the mountains and peaks.
Mu Run scooped up a handful of clear mountain spring water with both hands, took a sip, and found it refreshingly cool.
"How can you drink cold water, Madam? I brought boiled water," Cai said urgently, holding a water bag.
Mu Run waved his hand, "It's alright, the water is clean. It's just that it doesn't taste as sweet or as rich in spiritual energy as the water we drank in the cave."
Cai handed the water pouch to Mu Run, saying, "All water is the same. There's no such thing as sweet or magical water. It's all colorless and tasteless."
Mu Run shook her head and said, "It's really different. Sister Cai, try the taste of this mountain spring water. It's very different from the boiled water you use."
Madam Cai said, "This servant knows. When I was little, I always drank cold water, craving that refreshing chill, and as a result..."
Mu Run looked at her, "What's wrong?"
Cai sighed, “After I got married, I couldn’t have children. The doctor said I have a cold constitution and can’t conceive. I think it’s because I didn’t pay attention to the temperature when I was a child. My husband’s family divorced me. If it weren’t for Bianyun Village taking me in, I don’t know what would have become of me now.”
“A cold constitution can be treated. And if she can’t have children, it might be the man’s problem. Why is it all Cai Jie’s fault?” Mu Run felt sympathy and indignation for her. “It’s so unfair!”
"Run-jie—Run-jie—" Hongmi came running up, panting.
When Mu Run saw her for the first time, she was quite surprised. "Hongmi? When did you arrive?" She had heard from Fu Yunchen that Hongmi had been assigned to be the female manager of an inn at the foot of Chongyang Mountain and was happy for her.
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