Chapter 22

Just as Yun Shuang stepped out of the Luo family’s gates, Yan Fang came charging up excitedly. “Miss Yun! The General has instructed me to assist you over the next few days! I said all along — Miss Yun is so clever, she’ll surely figure out how to find Lady Luo! And now, the General finally took my advice!”

Yun Shuang glanced at the ecstatic Yan Fang, who looked like he was celebrating New Year, and tactfully chose not to mention that Jiang Xiao’s decision likely had little to do with Yan Fang’s “suggestion.”

Still, Jiang Xiao had sent Yan Fang directly to assist her — that in itself was surprising. Yun Shuang had thought he’d just assign a random soldier to the task. She didn’t dwell on it. “Just follow what I say, and you’ll definitely find Lady Luo.”

Yan Fang’s dark-skinned face practically lit up. “What do I need to do?!”

Their concern over the case wasn’t just because the General had ties with the late Master Luo. The bigger reason was that the Luo family donated a significant sum to their garrison every year.

Xiazhou, being a major military stronghold, consumed enormous military funds annually, and imperial allocations grew stingier by the year. Without the Luo family’s support, things would become even harder.

After Master Luo’s death, Lady Luo inherited her father’s wishes and continued donating annually to the Xiazhou garrison. But now that something had happened to her too, the future of the Luo family — and whether they’d keep donating — was uncertain.

If Yan Fang could help Miss Yun find Lady Luo, it would be a major achievement. Let’s see who’d still dare to mock him for being simple-minded!

Yun Shuang leaned in and quietly gave Yan Fang some instructions. He listened with a puzzled expression, scratching his head in confusion, but finally nodded in trust — inexplicably confident in Miss Yun.

She told him to go to the Tongxintang in town if he made any discoveries. If she weren’t there, he’d need to make the trip to Changsheng Village to notify her. It was tough — she had no cart, and her home was tucked far off. Staying in the loop wasn’t easy.

After leaving the Luo household, Yun Shuang took Goudan to have some winter clothes made. Children grew fast, so she asked the tailor to make the clothes loose-fitting, so they’d last a couple of years.

Erya wasn’t around to measure, so Yun Shuang used Goudan’s body for reference. Erya was about half a head shorter and more petite.

The tailor, introduced by Lao Li, was a kindly and honest woman. She smiled warmly: “I’ll use these measurements for now. Once the clothes are done, the little girl can come try them on. If the fit is off, it’s easy to alter.”

Yun Shuang nodded repeatedly. Truthfully, she could make adjustments herself. While she’d never done needlework before, the original Yun Shuang was skilled in women’s crafts, so she felt confident she could manage small fixes.

Next, Yun Shuang and Goudan bought a thick quilt. She had it bundled up and sent to the Tongxintang. Then came a full grocery run. Cornmeal, flour, brown rice, eggs, firewood, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar — Yun Shuang dove into shopping mode. At last, she bought a fine cut of pork, leaving Goudan utterly breathless. He’d never experienced shopping like this. Back then, every time his mother bought something, he’d instinctively prepare to bolt — fearing she wouldn’t have enough to pay and they’d need to escape to avoid a beating.

Yun Shuang was absorbed in an activity beloved by women everywhere and didn’t notice Goudan’s unease. To the villagers, the Yun family was still poor as ever. And since she couldn’t explain where the money came from, she bought everything in strict moderation.

At last, Yun Shuang asked the meat vendor for a burlap sack, packed all the food she’d bought inside, and hurried back to Tongxintang.

The things she bought that day were all excellent in value, and she’d haggled fiercely once more. Still, the total came close to three hundred wen — mostly due to the expensive fabric for the clothing and the thick bedding.

While she winced at the cost, Yun Shuang consoled herself: “Well, out with the old, in with the new.”

But the villagers were complex people, and until she had enough means to protect herself, it was best to stay low-key. Since Erya would need frequent follow-ups at the clinic over the next few days, Yun Shuang planned to divide up what she’d bought and bring things home in small batches.

Still, Lao Li had seen her enter Tongxintang that day, and she would be relying on him frequently to take them to the county seat. It was likely that Sister Hua’s family would no longer be kept in the dark. Fortunately, they seemed trustworthy. Yun Shuang decided that once she returned to the village, she would come clean about having a bit of silver on hand.

When she got back to the clinic, Erya’s fever had finally broken. Before Yun Shuang could thank Doctor Gao profusely, he said, “Your daughter’s fever subsided several times this afternoon, but it always spiked again shortly after. Her body’s still weak. If you’re willing, it might be best to spend the night in the county town — that way, any issues can be dealt with promptly.”

Yun Shuang’s heart clenched. Though accommodations in the county weren’t expensive, even the cheapest inns cost sixty or seventy wen a night. And being a border town, the nights weren’t particularly safe.

Sister Hua had once told the original Yun Shuang that before General Jiang arrived, bandits ran rampant in Xiazhou — even breaking into inns to rob guests. The nicer inns hired their own guards and had staff on night shifts, which made them safer. But the cheaper ones? Forget about guards — it was a relief if the owners weren’t in league with the bandits themselves.

Since General Jiang’s arrival, public safety has improved considerably. But he wasn’t a god, and couldn’t completely eliminate danger.

What if her luck ran out and something happened?

Unconsciously, Yun Shuang clutched her pouch — now more than half empty. She took a deep breath, preparing to book a better inn, when Doctor Gao kindly offered, “If you don’t mind, you’re welcome to stay here at Tongxintang tonight.”

Yun Shuang’s eyes lit up instantly.

Tongxintang was a medical hall, so the lodging conditions were basic. But its location — tucked in an alley just off the main street and near the county office — made it relatively safe. Constables patrolled nearby at night.

Grateful beyond words, Yun Shuang said, “Doctor Gao, thank you so much. Please let me pay for the stay.”

Doctor Gao waved his hands. “No need for such formality. I know it’s not easy for a woman traveling with two children. And since I live just nearby, I can easily check on your daughter at night if needed. You can give me just a few extra copper coins — whatever you feel is right.”

He then gave Yun Shuang a brief tour of the clinic. There was a small kitchen at the back, mostly used for brewing medicines — but she was welcome to cook something there, as long as she cleaned up afterward. He explained he would lock the front door, while the back had a latch from the inside that she could unlock if she needed to step out. After that, he left a young apprentice to stay overnight and headed home.

Yun Shuang sighed with emotion—there genuinely are kind people in the world. She stepped outside to tell Lao Li she wouldn’t need a ride home that evening. When she returned, she laid out bedding for herself and Goudan beside Erya.

They stayed in the rear courtyard of Tongxintang, in a room usually reserved for patients too sick to go home, or those — like them — who lived far away. A mat and quilt spread on the floor made a simple bed.

Ordinarily, people wouldn’t stay here unless absolutely necessary. But thankfully, the room had been thoroughly cleaned. Doctor Gao also mentioned it hadn’t been used in a while, which reassured her.

After tidying up, Yun Shuang smiled at Erya and Goudan. “I’m going to make you dinner.”

She stood up to leave, but from the bed, Erya suddenly reached out her tiny hand and gently tugged at Yun Shuang’s skirt.