Chapter 27: Escape from Marriage White Moonlight 4: Poor Suddenly Rich
As the sun began to rise, the streets of Shangxi County became bustling with activity. The fish vendors were shouting at the top of their lungs to promote their business, chatting with each other, while the river fish in the wooden basins in front of them were still alive and kicking.
Ali wore a veil today and walked through the bustling crowd into a jewelry workshop. After a moment, she left quickly.
Her wedding dress had been washed, but the Pan family embroidery on it was too conspicuous. Selling it might cause trouble, so she simply stuffed it into her bag and turned her attention to embroidering shoes.
Although this pair of embroidered shoes was also embroidered with the same patterns, there were two huge pearls on the top of the shoes. They were round, full, and sparkling. It was obvious that they were worth a lot of money. When she came to the market with Aunt Wei that day, she paid attention to the nearby shops, took down the two pearls, and sold them to the shop she had just visited.
What she didn't expect was that these two beads were worth more than all her net worth combined.
In the past, her mother would also embroider the pieces and give them to her to sell outside the house. One time, she sold more than three taels of silver for the first time. She was so happy that she ran all the way back to tell her mother the good news, but she ran into the gatekeepers. They laughed at her for being poor and suddenly rich and having never seen the world.
Ali fell and was in great pain, and felt extremely embarrassed, but he still had to give them some change and send them off in a nice manner.
The past events were vivid in his mind. Ali touched the bulging purse in his arms, and his mood instantly improved. He raised his eyebrows in the direction of Xingyang County: Look, this is what it means to be rich.
She bought some more things along the way at the bazaar, and then left in a hurry, fearing she would be noticed.
Ali walked briskly, carrying a small basket on her back, to a farmland. She saw large areas of lush green vegetables growing vigorously even in the cold winter. She couldn't name these vegetables, so she stopped unconsciously.
Suddenly, a person stood up from the green bushes, which scared Ali. The person also noticed her and slowly walked over.
When he got closer, Ali realized that the person was a woman. She had black hair braided and tied at the back of her head, her thick eyebrows were slightly raised, her skin was the color of wheat in the sun, and the half of her arm that was exposed was strong and powerful.
Ah Li couldn't help but take a step back. The woman was startled and stopped five steps away from her: "Where are you from, sister? Why have I never seen you before?"
"I'm from the Lu family over there. I came here to visit my distant cousin and arrived a few days ago." Ali pointed in the direction of the Lu family and made up a story about his life.
"The Lu family?" The woman hung the sweat-wiping towel around her neck. "Oh, I see. They're relatives of Aunt Wei, right?"
Ali nodded.
The woman tapped her aching arm and sat down. "My name is Xu Ying, you can just call me Sister Yingzi."
Ali readily agreed: "Sister Yingzi."
"What were you looking at while standing here? Looking at the Chinese spinach in my house?" She pointed behind her and said casually.
Ali told the truth about his purpose.
She wanted to make some money by farming, but she lacked experience. She happened to meet Xu Ying and quickly asked for advice.
Xu Ying is also a straightforward person. She has been farming for so many years and has a lot of experience but has no one to share it with. The meeting between the two is like a blessing after a long drought.
The two chatted for a long time on the edge of the loess. Ali was squatting on the side, but it became uncomfortable after a long time, so he followed Xu Ying's example and sat on the ground, taking off his veil.
Xu Ying saw her face and didn't ask anything.
As the sun gradually grew higher, Ali helped to harvest all the mature Chinese chrysanthemums in the field and moved them to the ox cart. Only then did she realize that it was this field that her parents had been cultivating. Unfortunately, after the winter, the old couple suffered from various minor health ailments and were unable to get up from their bed. Seeing that so many Chinese chrysanthemums were about to rot in the field, the old couple asked their daughter to harvest them.
Seeing that Ali was diligent and efficient, Xu Ying took the initiative to tell Ali her own story.
She is twenty-five years old this year. Seven years ago, her parents arranged a marriage for her, but before she got married, the groom died young. She has been a widow for three years and has given up the idea of remarrying. Fortunately, her parents still love her and allow her to continue living in her parents' home. She thought about starting a small business so that she can have a support in the future.
Now her shop is doing well and her family has no worries about food and clothing. However, her parents have been farming all their lives and cannot change this habit. Fortunately, before she came, she had already told her parents that this was the last crop of vegetables and they would not plant them anymore.
Ali listened thoughtfully.
Before leaving, Xu Ying stuffed a few copper coins into her hand, saying that it was to thank her for her help today, and that if she had any difficulties in the future, she could come to her.
The figure of Xu Ying driving the ox cart gradually went away. Ali spread out his palm and touched the copper coin on his palm with his fingers, feeling very strange in his heart.
She pushed open the gate of the Lu family's courtyard. Aunt Wei, who was sweeping fallen leaves in the courtyard, saw her and asked, "Where have you been for most of the day, Ali?"
Ali skipped over to her side and handed her the feathered satin in the basket. "I went to the market and bought this. It's perfect for you and Uncle Wei to make winter outerwear."
Aunt Wei looked at her in surprise: "For us?"
This material is shiny and crisp, woven with various feathers and wool. No matter how heavy the rain or snow falls on it, it cannot penetrate. At the same time, it can keep you warm.
"Thank you so much, Aunt Wei and Uncle Wei, for taking care of me these days. Ah Li is very grateful," she said, pulling out a delicate little box from her backpack. "This is Yunxiang Pavilion's ointment. It's soothing and softens the skin, and it'll be good for the chilblains on your hands, Aunt Wei."
She had seen this kind of ointment before from Madam Ni. Just a little bit of it gave off a fragrant smell. A box cost ten taels of silver. When she passed by a rouge shop just now, she bought it without thinking.
Aunt Wei looked at the heavy thing in her hand, and her wrinkled eyes became hot. They had been servants since birth, and no one would care about them like this except their relatives.
She turned her back, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and wiped the sweat from A-li's forehead with her sleeve: "Auntie accepts A-li's kind words."
As the two were talking, several voices were heard from Lu Jingming's study.
Aunt Wei put down the backpack on Ali's shoulders and told her that it was Lord Wu Mian, the prefect of Shangxi County, who had come and was talking to the young master.
Ali was puzzled: "Why would the county governor come to visit you, young master?"
Speaking of this, Aunt Wei looked proud: "Your knowledge and insights are well-known in Shangxi County. Scholars from nearby often come to visit and discuss learning and books with you."
She gently brushed the dust off A-li and said, "Lord Wu was appointed governor last year. Not long after, he came to visit you. The two of them had a very pleasant conversation. Since then, whenever Lord Wu encountered any difficulties in his post, he would discuss them with you."
Ali looked back and said, "So that's how it is."
*
Lu Jingming, dressed in a bamboo green robe, sat across from a bearded man at the table. The man took a sip of tea, his brows furrowed. "That's how it is. I really can't find a solution to this."
Lu Jingming listened to him quietly without saying anything.
Wu Mian was extremely anxious: "This matter is of great importance. If Master Lu has any good ideas, please feel free to share them with me."
The Dongli River flows from north to south through five counties including Xingyang, Shangxi and Yongchuan. It is an important river connecting the imperial court with the southeast region. There is an endless stream of ships traveling on the river, and therefore, commercial trade along the river is prosperous.
The Dongli River has two branches in the Shangxi Basin, one is the Shiqu River and the other is the Peijiu River. The Peijiu River has a larger water volume and a wider river channel, but there are fewer houses along the banks of the river and it is far away from the central area of Shangxi County. The Shiqu River is just the opposite.
Originally, all ships went south via the Peijiu River. However, several mountain floods this summer buried the Peijiu River for dozens of miles, and loess and silt piled up like mountains. They had no choice but to temporarily change their route to the Shiqu River.
However, the Shiqu River is shallow and narrow, so it would not be a problem if there were fewer ships on ordinary days. But now that the New Year is approaching, the number of New Year gifts and goods transported to the court from all over the country has increased, and they are all official ships with a huge draft, so problems are bound to arise sooner or later.
As expected, two days ago, an official ship coming from Lingnan was passing through the Shiqu River when its bottom hit a rock and was damaged. Because it was not discovered in time, the entire ship sank to the bottom of the river and hundreds of boxes of cargo were soaked in water.
This is the annual gift presented by the King of Lingnan, which is priceless. The people on the ship were afraid of taking responsibility, so they had already written a letter and sent it to Lingnan. Now the imperial edict has arrived, and the nine rivers in Pei are required to be cleared within ten days.
"The New Year is approaching, and the people are busy with their own work, how can they dredge the river? The gate of my county magistrate's mansion is blocked by traffic, and the people are complaining." Wu Mian spread out his hands, looking even older with worry.
Lu Jingming pondered for a moment and said slowly, "No matter what, the official ship was damaged in Shangxi County, and the imperial court has also issued an order. The only solution now is to appease the people and recruit able-bodied men to dredge the river as usual—"
Wu Mian interrupted him: "How can we still recruit troops as usual given the current situation?"
Lu Jingming paused pouring tea, his expression unchanged: "Master Wu, do you mean to disobey the order?"
"Of course not!" Wu Mian's face changed.
Lu Jingming's face was faintly visible behind the mist of tea. After a while, he said, "If it's not, then what about the decree? You still have to follow it, but..."
Wu Mian stared at him: "Just what?"
"Master Gao of the Imperial Academy was once a semi-teacher to me, but we haven't been in touch for a long time." Lu Jingming pointed two fingers at a letter at hand and pushed it forward. "If Master Wu could send this letter and the memorial you are about to write to the capital, it would probably help you out."
Wu Mian's eyes fell on the letter: "A memorial? What kind of memorial do you want to write?"
Lu Jingming's eyes were focused and clear. "Of course, this is a letter of apology. If you can't deliver a clear Peijiu River within ten days, you are concerned about the tens of thousands of people in Shangxi County. A sudden call would only waste people's time and money."
"But...will it be useful to write like this?" Wu Mian was still a little hesitant.
Lu Jingming understood, and a gentle smile appeared on his young face. "I know what you are worried about, so I ask you to send this letter to the capital and give it to Master Gao."
Wu Mian seemed to understand something. He picked up the letter and asked, "What's in this letter?"
"It's just a simple letter of greeting," Lu Jingming said, a trace of pity flashing in his eyes. "I have lived in Shangxi County for ten years and have seen the lives of the people firsthand, so naturally I mentioned it in the letter."
Wu Mian understood and stood up, expressing his gratitude: "If this can be accomplished, on behalf of the people of Shangxi County, I will deeply thank you for your great kindness!"
Lu Jingming stepped forward to help him up, his eyes like a deep and calm lake: "I am insignificant and my words don't carry much weight, but I will try my best."
When Lu Jingming sent Wu Mian out, Ali was sitting in front of the door eating fruit. Wu Mian looked at her a few more times because she looked unfamiliar, and he stopped in his tracks when he saw the horrible scar on her face.
Ali also noticed them and was hesitating whether to speak when Lu Jingming spoke first: "This is Aunt Wei's distant cousin, who arrived in Shangxi County not long ago."
Ah Li blinked. What Lu Jingming said was exactly the same as what she had made up. Then she heard Lu Jingming say, "Ah Li, this is the County Magistrate, Lord Wu."
Ali greeted him obediently, and Wu Mian also adjusted his expression and nodded slightly to her, and the two walked out the door.
After politely seeing Wu Mian off, Lu Jingming turned around, walked towards this side with a straight posture and at a leisurely pace.
Ah Li took a bite of the crispy, sweet fruit and suddenly remembered that she had bought things for Uncle Wei and Aunt Wei and seemed to have forgotten to buy something for him. Seeing Lu Jingming looking over, she quickly handed him a fruit from the basket: "Freshly washed, very sweet."
Ali's hand stopped in mid-air, his fingertips like peeling onions complemented the green fruit, and the undried water droplets on the peel slid down and flowed along his fingertips into his cuffs.
Lu Jingming stood tall and proud, his pale lips slightly pursed, as if smiling: "Girl, eat by yourself."
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