The news has already been delivered in Chapter 32.
Yu Man pushed open the courtyard gate and went inside. Deng Sanniang was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), mending something by the dim light of an oil lamp. It looked like her father's clothes; the stitches were a bit messy, and she was clearly distracted. Hearing the noise, she suddenly looked up, wanting to ask something, but she held back: "Aman, you're back? I've boiled some water for you; go wash up early."
Yu Man took off his outer garment, sat down next to Deng San Niang, and said, "Aunt Xiang, I just went to see Master He of Zui Xian Lou."
Is he planning to help us?
Yu Man shook her head: "At this juncture, it's difficult. Those who can't see the situation clearly can't help; those who can see the situation clearly are already rare enough for someone willing to exert some effort behind the scenes. Asking them to openly step forward, I'm afraid..." She paused, looking at Deng San Niang's disappointed eyes, then changed her tone, "But at least, we know someone is willing to support us from behind, so we won't be crushed immediately. In the current situation, we can ultimately rely on ourselves." She looked at Deng San Niang with clear eyes, "Do you trust me? Do you believe I can lead us through this ordeal?"
Looking at Yu Man's calm face, Deng San Niang was strangely touched by this calmness, and her panicked emotions gradually subsided. She put down her needlework, nodded vigorously, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "I believe you! Aman, at this point, who else can I trust if not you? I'll do whatever you say! No questions asked!"
“Alright!” Yu Man thought for a moment. “First of all, let Xiu Xiu stay at her uncle’s house. She’s still young and innocent. She shouldn’t be involved in these dirty things and get scared. Secondly, as for Father, since Master He said he would take care of things, he should be safe for the time being. We need to hurry up and find out what’s going on outside.”
Her eyes sharpened: "Right now, the main things weighing on us are the rumors of people profiting from the dead and usury."
"Let's talk about this first," Yu Man said, looking at Deng San Niang. "Auntie, think back carefully. Was the leader of that group that caused trouble that day scarred and had a broken eyebrow? Besides him, what did the others look like? And what about the person being carried? What did he look like? Did he have any special marks on his face or neck? What clothes was he wearing?"
Guided by her, Deng Sanniang focused on recalling, and her thoughts became much clearer: "The one leading the group was the one with the scar and broken eyebrow, very fierce! The others... were of varying heights, there seemed to be a dark-skinned, fat one, and a tall, thin one with a large black mole on the corner of his mouth... As for the person being carried..." She frowned, trying her best to remember, "He was lying on a door panel, covered with a tattered burlap sack, his face up to the sky, sallow-yellow, with his eyes closed... I did get a closer look, and on his left eyebrow, near his hairline, there seemed to be a small fleshy growth, not big, but quite noticeable! He was wearing... a worn-out gray cloth short jacket, with a patch on the knee."
Yu Man quickly memorized these details—a scarred eyebrow, dark-skinned and fat, tall and thin with a mole on the corner of his mouth, a small fleshy growth above his left eyebrow, and a gray patched short jacket.
Deng Sanniang suddenly exclaimed "Ah!" and added, "Also, I heard them arguing, and their accents... didn't sound like they were from the county town, but rather... like the accents from Lanning Village down there! Yes! That's the sound!"
Lanning Village!
There are indeed subtle differences in the accents of the villages under the jurisdiction of Dongqing County, which can be distinguished by long-term residents. Coincidentally, she also had an acquaintance in Lanning Village.
"The matter of usury is quite complicated," Yu Man pondered. "The practice of lending money at usurious rates persists despite repeated bans, often disguised as money shops. The key to this matter, besides the forged IOU, lies in Manager Wang, who just happened to lend Father one hundred taels of silver. This coincidence is too deliberate." She already had a guess in her mind: Manager Wang was either being used, or... he was also involved.
After clearing her mind, Yu Man thought of another suspicious point: "My second aunt's family is probably not clean either in this matter. Aunt Xiang, why don't you go to my second aunt's house first thing tomorrow morning?"
Deng San Niang was taken aback: "Go to their house? What for?"
“Just go and see. Tell them you’re worried about Xing’er’s health. We’re struggling financially right now and can’t afford anything, so we can only go and see the child.” Yu Man reminded her, “After you get there, don’t rush to leave. Find an inconspicuous place near their house and wait for a while. See what they do next, or if any strangers come and go.”
Deng Sanniang finally realized what was going on, her eyes widened, and she lowered her voice: "Aman, you mean...they're involved in this matter..."
“It’s hard to say right now,” Yu Man said calmly, “but everything is too coincidental. Xing’er is sick, and they come to borrow the last of Father’s working money; then someone comes to cause trouble; rumors start; Manager Wang just happens to be able to lend out one hundred taels; and then loan sharks come knocking… This is all connected, and I can’t help but overthink it.”
Deng Sanniang's face turned ugly, and she gritted her teeth and said, "If they really collude with outsiders to harm their own people, aren't we afraid that our ancestors will not rest in peace?"
The two discussed some details in hushed tones until late at night before finally managing to blow out the lamp and go to sleep. In the darkness, Yu Man was still wide awake, her eyes wide open, thinking about what to do next.
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Yu Man got up. She changed into a worn, inconspicuous coarse cloth dress and put on a bamboo hat with thin veils hanging down the edge, covering most of her face. She couldn't show her true face. With the scandal of the poisoning at the Manxin Food Shop still unresolved, it would be too easy for her, the owner, to alert the culprit if she appeared in Lanning Village.
Guided by memory, she walked along the familiar dirt road toward Lanning Village, occasionally hearing the crowing of roosters and the barking of dogs. Reaching the village entrance, she walked straight in, counting to the third house. That house was surrounded by a low wooden fence, and the yard was fairly clean.
Through the fence, she lowered her voice and called into the house, "Is Auntie home?"
A voice answered from inside, followed by footsteps. A middle-aged woman, dressed in clean, patched clothes, with a slightly paler complexion but still in good spirits, emerged. She paused for a moment when she saw Yu Man wearing a straw hat, but as Yu Man slightly lifted the thin veil in front of her, her eyes lit up, and she instantly beamed with joy. She quickly opened the gate: "It's A-Man! Oh, what a rare guest! Come in, come in and sit down!"
The person who came was none other than Pan Yue's mother, Aunt Pan.
Aunt Pan warmly pulled Yu Man into the house, saying, "Your brother Pan Yue went to chop firewood in the back mountain early this morning, he'll be back soon! Perfect timing, you haven't been here in a while, keep your aunt company for a chat!" She quickly wiped the stool with her sleeve and invited Yu Man to sit down.
Yu Man took off his straw hat, revealing his thin face, and replied with a smile, "Aunt Pan, you look healthier than you did a few years ago."
Aunt Pan held her hand with emotion: "It's all thanks to you! If it weren't for your kindness that year, letting Pan Yue use the money you borrowed to get a doctor and medicine, I would have lost my life long ago! I will always remember this kindness!"
Yu Man smiled and comforted her, "Aunt Pan, don't say that. It's all in the past. You're healthy now, which is better than anything. You're still waiting for Brother Pan Yue to find you a filial wife so you can enjoy your life."
As the two were talking, heavy footsteps and the sound of firewood falling to the ground came from outside the courtyard. A strong and honest young man walked in; it was Pan Yue. When he saw Yu Man, his dark face lit up with surprise: "Man-meizi? What brings you here?" Then, as if he had thought of something, his expression changed slightly, and he quickly told Aunt Pan to go and get some water.
While Aunt Pan was in the kitchen, Pan Yue leaned close to Yu Man, lowered his voice, and said with concern, "Man-mei, I heard what people in the county said about your family's shop! It's utter nonsense! I, Pan Yue, trust your family's character and the food you make! You would never do such a shady thing!" He pulled out a faded old money pouch from his pocket and tried to stuff it into Yu Man's hand without saying a word, "This is what I've saved up. It's not much, but take it and use it when you need it!"
Yu Man was touched, but resolutely pushed the money bag back: "Brother Pan Yue, I appreciate your kindness, but I can't accept this money. I came here today because I want to ask you for a favor."
"What is it? Tell me! As long as I can do it, I won't hesitate!" Pan Yue patted his chest.
Yu Man's expression turned serious, and she lowered her voice even further: "I want to ask you about a few people." She described in detail the characteristics of the troublemakers that Deng Sanniang had described yesterday, especially the person being carried: "...about thirty years old, with a sallow complexion, a small fleshy growth on his left eyebrow near his hairline, wearing a gray cloth short jacket with patches on his knees. Judging from his accent, he seems to be from your village."
Pan Yue frowned, racking his brains. After a long pause, he said uncertainly, "I've never heard of the scarred guy with the broken eyebrow who's the leader. He's probably not from our village. The dark-skinned, fat guy... looks a bit like the second son of the Wan family at the west end of the village? The tall, thin guy with a mole on the corner of his mouth... I can't remember him right now. As for the person you mentioned..." He kept repeating the feature "small fleshy growth above his left eyebrow," his brows furrowing tighter and tighter. He felt a sense of familiarity, but couldn't quite place him.
Just then, Aunt Pan came in carrying two bowls of hot water. Hearing the rest of their conversation, she casually asked, "Aman, who are you looking for? What do they look like?"
Yu Man described the man's features again.
Upon hearing this, Aunt Pan blurted out almost without thinking, "Oh my! Isn't that Cao family's boy? Cao Daniu! That mischievous monkey who used to follow your brother Pan Yue around calling him 'Brother Erdan' when they were kids!"
Pan Yue suddenly realized, "That's right! Cao Daniu! It's him! He has a small fleshy bump above his left eyebrow! How come I didn't remember it for a moment!" But then he looked puzzled, "It's actually Cao Daniu..."
Aunt Pan didn't notice her son's strange behavior and continued talking to herself, "Yes, it's Cao Daniu. I saw him last night when I went to the nest to collect eggs! He's very thin."
"You really saw Cao Daniu?" Pan Yue and Yu Man exchanged a glance and asked hurriedly.
"How could it be fake? It wasn't completely dark yet, and the person narrating the scene even called out 'Da Niu.' Isn't he the only one in the village named Da Niu?"
Pan Yue wasn't stupid either: "Sister Man! This...this Cao Daniu isn't dead at all?! He pretended to be dead and came to your shop to cause trouble?!"
Yu Man felt a huge weight lifted from her heart. She was relieved that no one was hurt and that it had nothing to do with business. If someone had really killed someone for the sake of scheming, it would have been too heartless.
And all the guesses have been confirmed! The so-called "eating the dead" was a setup from beginning to end.
Looking at Pan Yue's shocked and angry face, she pleaded with him, "Brother Pan Yue, I have to trouble you again. Could you take me to find this Cao Daniu, the Wan family you mentioned, and the one with the mole on his lip? I want to ask them in person!"
Pan Yue readily agreed, filled with righteous indignation and eager to expose these scoundrels who had tarnished the village's reputation and framed his benefactor. However, after quietly searching the village, the two found no one at Cao Daniu's house, the Wan family's house, or even at the house they had inquired about, especially the one with the mole on its lip. The houses were either locked or only the elderly, women, and children were home, and they knew nothing, only saying that the head of the household had gone out to work and their whereabouts were unknown.
"Looks like they got wind of it and went into hiding!" Pan Yue angrily slammed his fist on the earthen wall next to him.
Although Yu Man was disappointed, she wasn't surprised. Since the person behind it all had planned so meticulously, they wouldn't have left any obvious clues for anyone to catch. She calmly said to Pan Yue, "Brother Pan Yue, there's no need to look anymore. Since they've gone into hiding, there's no point in forcing them. I'll have to trouble you to keep an eye out for me, especially on that Cao Daniu. If you see him return, or hear anything about them, please find a way to let me know."
"Don't worry, Manmei! Leave this to me! As soon as I have any news, I'll go to the county to let you know!" Pan Yue patted his chest and assured her.
After bidding farewell to the Pan family, Yu Man returned to Dongqing County. Feeling somewhat relieved, she stopped at the market and used her money to buy some of the cheapest seasonal vegetables and a small piece of fatty meat. She had noticed the kitchen was almost empty when she cooked yesterday; Aunt Xiang, having been so worried these past few days, probably hadn't been in the mood to eat properly.
Carrying simple ingredients back to the small courtyard in Yulin Lane, Yu Man pushed open the gate and started a fire to cook. Soon, the aroma of food wafted from the simple kitchen—simple stir-fried vegetables with pork cracklings and a pot of brown rice.
She filled two bowls with rice and vegetables, then took out an extra clean large bowl and piled it high with rice and vegetables. She carried this bowl to the courtyard, placed it on the dusty stone table, and facing the empty wall, said, "Eat." Without waiting for a reply, she turned and went back to the kitchen.
In the shadows separated by a wall, Gu Qiu touched his rather empty stomach, looked at the bowl of steaming food in the yard, and his lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
He naturally understood that this Lady Yu was shrewd and had probably already noticed his presence. Now that he'd been discovered, he stopped being coy, silently scaling the wall and entering, picking up the bowl of food, then quickly disappearing back into the shadows. He took a bite, his eyes lighting up slightly. The seemingly ordinary home-cooked meal was cooked to perfection; the vegetables were crisp and tender, the pork cracklings fragrant, and the steam from the rice made it taste surprisingly good even to someone like him, accustomed to eating outdoors. He silently and quickly finished the meal, then quietly placed the empty bowl back in its place.
After Yu Man finished tidying up the kitchen, she heard the sound of the courtyard gate being gently pushed open. Deng San Niang had returned, her face showing the weariness of her journey.
“Aman…” She wanted to speak as soon as she saw Yu Man.
Yu Man pulled her into the house and sat her down first, handed her chopsticks, and said gently, "Aunt Xiang, no rush, let's eat first and talk while we eat."
Looking at the steaming food in her bowl, and thinking of her husband still in prison and Xiuxiu staying at her parents' home, Deng Sanniang felt a lump in her throat and her eyes instantly reddened. She forced back her tears, shoveled a few mouthfuls of rice into her mouth, composed herself, and began to recount the information she had gathered that day:
“I did as you said this morning and went to see your second aunt’s family first.” Deng San Niang frowned. “That child… is really sick. Her little face was burning red. I touched her forehead, and it was hot to the touch! She was lying on the kang, half asleep, and it was heartbreaking to see. After I left, I specifically asked her neighbors. They all said that Xing’er’s illness has been going on for a month or so, and she has seen many doctors but hasn’t gotten better. It’s no doubt about it.”
She paused, a deeper look of confusion on her face: "But I remember what you said. After leaving the neighbor's house, I didn't go straight ahead. I went back to your second aunt's yard and peeked in from a corner. I saw your second aunt and uncle brewing medicine in the corner of the yard, talking quietly. Your second aunt was fanning the stove while wiping away tears, saying, 'As long as Xing'er can get completely better this time, I'll do anything, even shorten my own lifespan...'"
"Your second aunt's husband was comforting her, saying, 'Don't think too much, it'll be alright, okay? Once this period passes and Xing'er recovers, they...they will naturally get better too.'"
After Deng Sanniang finished recounting the story, she looked at Yu Man and said, "But why do I always feel... something's off?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Man's brows furrowed deeply. It seemed her aunt's child was indeed ill, and quite seriously. The worry in her aunt and uncle's voice sounded genuine. However, the phrase "wait until this period passes," combined with the family's previous behavior, carried an unusual undertone. What were they waiting for? For Xing'er to recover? Or something else entirely?
Could it be that her second aunt's family wasn't the mastermind, but was also involved, or even coerced? Were they using the child's illness to blackmail them into coercing them into cooperating? This thought flashed through Yu Man's mind.
“Aunt Xiang, your feeling is right, there is definitely something fishy about what you said.” Yu Man said in a deep voice, “Second Aunt’s family may not be the masterminds, but they definitely knew about it, and may even have been forced to participate. Xing’er’s illness may be a weakness that was being used.” She temporarily put aside this suspicion.
Now that Cao Daniu has found a breakthrough by feigning death, Yu Man has decided to take the initiative.
“Auntie, I’ve found crucial evidence to prove that the claim about eating dead people is a frame-up,” Yu Man said to Deng San Niang.
Upon hearing this, Deng San Niang's eyes widened suddenly: "Really? Aman! You found evidence?!"
"Yes." Yu Man nodded. "So, our food stall can't stay closed like this. Keeping it closed is tantamount to admitting we're in the wrong. Tomorrow, why don't you go and find Aunt Zhang and the others who used to work in our stall, and ask them if they'd be willing to come back to work if we offered them more money?"
Deng Sanniang hesitated: "Opening now? I'm afraid... I'm afraid no one will dare to come and eat. With its reputation already like that..."
Yu Man also thought of this: "Precisely because our reputation is ruined, we need to open the shop even more! Only by opening the shop can we have the opportunity to prove our innocence to everyone! Go and ask around; those who are willing to come back can earn 30% more than before. Those who are unwilling, we won't force them." She paused, then continued to arrange, "After asking about the helpers, go and visit Granny Wang, Aunt Li, and other familiar people you often visit. Don't talk about anything else, just tell them about our family's current difficulties. Father is still in jail, the shop can't stay open, and we're in debt... The important thing is to find out more carefully who started those bad things about our shop and how they started spreading?"
Deng Sanniang remembered every word Yu Man said: "Okay, Aman, I'll do whatever you say! I'll take care of it tomorrow!"
After settling things with Deng San Niang, Yu Man tidied up the dishes and sat down under the oil lamp again. She took out the restaurant's account book and began to recalculate.
The idea of eating dead people has begun to emerge, so the next tough battle will be against this exorbitant interest that appears out of nowhere!
After much thought, she realized she would probably have to meet with Manager Wang again tomorrow.
Yu Man checked the figures in the ledger three times, confirming that the family's current disposable copper coins weren't enough to buy an old hen to nourish her father. Only then did she rub her throbbing temples and let out a long sigh. She stretched, her bones making a slight cracking sound, and turned to see that Deng Sanniang had fallen asleep against the headboard at some point, her brows unconsciously furrowed even in her sleep.
She got up quietly, blew out the oil lamp, and, using only the faint moonlight seeping in from the window, groped her way out of the house.
The moonlight in the courtyard was still pleasant, and the evening breeze carried a slight chill. She looked up, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards the general direction of Shanqing Academy. After a moment of silence, she suddenly spoke softly to the air, in a tone that was both self-talk and subtly admonishing:
"Don't tell him about these messy things."
In the shadows by the wall, Gu Qiu, who was silently wiping his short blade, paused: "..." He thought expressionlessly, is it a bit... too late to say this now?
Sure enough, Yu Man waited a few breaths without hearing a response. Just as he was thinking that the legendary secret guards were indeed professional and tight-lipped, he heard a muffled, emotionless voice coming from the shadows:
"I've already said that."
Yu Man: "...?"
She paused for a moment, then instinctively asked, "When did you say that?"
Gu Qiu's voice remained flat and emotionless as he stated the facts: "The Lord instructed that all your movements must be reported promptly. The first message was sent out the moment you arrived in the county and settled into the courtyard."
Yu Man blinked, her tone a little subtle: "...That's quite early, huh?" So, they knew all about her long and arduous journey, her anxieties, and the embarrassment of racking her brains to calculate the accounts?
The air suddenly became quiet, filled with a faint sense of awkwardness.
After a while, Yu Mancai tentatively asked again, "Then... he shouldn't... come back on purpose, right?" She thought to herself, Pei Ji obviously has his own plans now, and he must have a lot of things to do in the prefecture and the academy. He can't just abandon his duties and rush back because of her, can he? Then she would have to wonder what kind of script she was given.
Gu Qiu paused again while wiping his dagger, this time remaining silent for a slightly longer time, as if he were carefully choosing his words. Finally, he spoke at length in his usual calm tone, "...Given the Lord's temperament, knowing that you have been framed here and are in danger...I speculate that he would...spur his horse onward." The image of Old Chen's tragic end flashed uncontrollably through his mind, and he felt a chill run down his spine.
“…” Yu Man was speechless again.
You seem to know him quite well?
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