Chapter 48: Trouble Resolved, New Beginnings

The onlookers dared not intervene, wary of getting involved in the conflict.

Seeing this, the elderly couple grabbed their bundles and tried to slip away, no longer interested in arguing.

“Hey, you can’t just leave like that,” Manager Yongjin from the neighboring shop said, swallowing his snack and stepping forward to block their path. “The manager you pushed is unconscious. You’ll have to cover the physician’s fee.”

The old woman glared at him fiercely. If he hadn’t meddled, none of this would’ve escalated.

“Why can’t we leave? I didn’t push him,” the old man snapped, hoisting his bundle onto his back and striding down the steps. Gone was the frailty he had displayed moments before.

“How can you deny it? We all saw you push him,” a kind-hearted bystander said.

The couple found themselves trapped, unable to leave or stay.

Just as the stalemate stretched on, He Ningwen arrived with the physician.

He Yunhuai had hit his head when he fell. Su Yi’an, afraid that moving him would worsen the injury, decided to wait for the physician. If there was no serious harm, they could carry him inside.

“Physician, please examine him quickly. My Second Brother’s mind has always been… weak,” He Ningwen said, catching herself. She meant to say he was frail and had suffered previous head injuries.

“Don’t panic,” the physician said, crouching down to take He Yunhuai’s pulse.

His furrowed brow alone was enough to frighten anyone.

After checking the pulse, the physician withdrew his hand and instructed the burly man behind him, “Carry him back to bed.”

Hearing this, He Ningwen assumed her brother was on the verge of death. Her eyes brimmed with tears, and she cried out, “Second Brother!”

“Don’t cry,” the physician said gently. Seeing her distress, he chose his words carefully. “His constitution is weak, and this head injury will keep him bedridden for several days. He needs proper rest and care. Overexertion now could lead to lasting issues.”

His tone was mild—after all, frailty was common—but to the elderly couple, it sounded like a death sentence: their son would be bedridden for life.

If that were true, why delay any longer?

They exchanged a glance, tempted to make a break for it while everyone was distracted. But it wouldn’t be so easy.

Manager Yongjin and Zhuang Shan stood firm like gatekeepers, blocking the exit.

“You!” the old man roared, his face red with anger. “What right do you have to stop us? Are you bullying us because we’re old?”

Seeing the old man about to pull the seniority card again, Su Yi’an countered sharply, “You deliberately blocked our shop all day, accusing us of stealing your son’s property, and now you want to hurt someone and just walk away? There’s no justice in that!”

“Exactly!” the neighboring shopkeeper chimed in, addressing the crowd. “Why should they get away with causing trouble? If everyone acted like this, what kind of world would it be?”

Su Yi’an added coldly, “In that case, let’s report this to the authorities. Let the magistrate decide whether slander and assault warrant a few lashes in jail.”

Now the couple truly panicked. They’d meant to seize the shop while the younger brother was away, hoping he wouldn’t be able to reclaim it later. But everything had gone wrong, and their excuses were unraveling.

“Manager, let it go,” Yun Niang cut in, pretending to plead on their behalf. “If you report them, their old bones might not survive it. They clearly regret their actions. Just let them go.”

Grasping the opportunity, the couple nodded hastily. “Yes, yes, we’re old fools! We came here in a moment of madness.”

“Mistaken? He injured someone,” Su Yi’an said, glancing inside the shop, unsure if He Yunhuai had regained consciousness.

“We’ll pay! We’ll pay!” the old man cried, snatching a cloth bag from his wife’s arms. He fumbled inside and pulled out an ounce of silver. “Is this enough?”

An ounce of silver sounded like a lot, but the physician and medicine would cost more.

Su Yi’an wasn’t greedy. She gathered the onlookers and spoke clearly, “As everyone here has seen, Anhe Restaurant didn’t forcibly take over this property. These two elders likely acted without understanding the situation. Today’s events have cleared our name.”

She turned to the couple. After today’s commotion, they likely wouldn’t return, but she wanted more than just peace.

“You’ve paid for today’s medicine, so we’ll call it even. But if you cause more trouble, we’ll go to the yamen and let the magistrate decide if Manager Yongjin really gave your son this shop.”

Just then, the physician came out. He had prescribed several doses of herbal medicine and advised proper rest.

The total came to two ounces of silver.

With a grim expression, the elders handed over another ounce to the physician.

And with that, the matter was settled. Su Yi’an had no time to dwell on them.

She thanked the onlookers who had spoken up. “Thank you all. I have urgent matters at home, but I’ll host a banquet tomorrow. Please do come.”

“Sounds great! I’ll be there early,” the shopkeeper replied cheerfully.

The elderly couple, having made a scene all morning only to lose two taels of silver, seethed with resentment but had nowhere to vent it.

Once they were out of sight, they began bickering.

“If not for your harebrained scheme, would we have lost our silver?” the old man cursed.

“Oh, so it’s my fault now? What about your precious brother? If he hadn’t given the shop to our son, none of this would’ve happened!” the old woman shot back.

After going in circles, they finally settled on blaming Yongjin. If only he hadn’t given the shop away, everything would’ve been fine.

Once the crowd dispersed, Su Yi’an closed the shop. It was only midday, but she’d lost all desire to continue business.

She hurried to the backyard. Even before she reached the house, she heard her sister’s anguished sobs.

She paused at the doorway, tempted to turn back.

“Yi’an, we’re heading out for now. We’ll return tomorrow,” Yun Niang said, patting her hand gently. “She’ll be alright.”

Su Yi’an nodded and personally walked them to the gate, urging them again to come for dinner tomorrow.

“Go back now,” Yun Niang said, waving goodbye.

Su Yi’an stared at the shut courtyard gate, her thoughts slowly returning. Even if He Yunhuai is crippled again… so what? she thought. It’s something I’ll have to face eventually.

Even when he was unconscious, she had still gotten by and made a living.

She took a breath and went inside.

He Ningwen sat by the bed, dabbing her red eyes with a handkerchief.

“Second Brother, you scared me half to death!” she sniffled, on the verge of tears again.

He Yunhuai tugged her braid playfully. “But I’m fine now. What’s there to be afraid of?”

Su Yi’an entered just in time to catch this scene.

He was safe. He was awake.

Before she could speak, He Ningwen ran to her like a child, burying herself in Su Yi’an’s arms.

“Sister Su, look at Second Brother! He scared us on purpose,” she said, still shaken. Despite his assurances, her fear hadn’t eased.

Su Yi’an patted her arm. “Alright, I’ll handle it. Why don’t you go brew the medicine for him?”

The girl nodded, shot a glare at her brother, and hurried out.

Now, only the two of them remained.

He Yunhuai had squeezed Su Yi’an’s fingers earlier, assuming she knew he was fine. But judging by her face, she clearly hadn’t believed it.

“Was it fun to lie?” Su Yi’an stepped closer, looking down at him.

He Yunhuai’s heart pounded. He reached for her hand, but she pulled away.

“Why didn’t you dodge when they pushed you? You actually fell! Is your head made of iron?” Su Yi’an was truly worried, but no words of comfort came—only anger. Anger that he’d treated his body so carelessly.

He Yunhuai wanted to explain, but didn’t know how. The men had been unreasonable—taking the matter to the yamen might not have helped.

Besides, the man hadn’t deliberately pushed him. It was…

“It was my fault,” he said, meeting her eyes. “I promise I’ll warn you next time.”

Su Yi’an flicked his forehead. “You think there’ll be a next time?”

“There won’t be,” he said earnestly.

The old man hadn’t meant to push him—just feign a fall to pin the blame on Su Yi’an.

“How did you know?” she asked. She hadn’t noticed that detail.

He Yunhuai’s smile faded. “They came to drive us out. Even after we refused, they didn’t back off. They had other motives. They wouldn’t dare start a fight—they’d lose all credibility.”

An eye for an eye. Enough.

He Ningwen entered with the steaming medicine. Seeing them calm, she slipped in with a grin. “Sister Su, did you scold Second Brother?”

“I did,” Su Yi’an replied flatly. “Now drink. That medicine cost two taels of silver.”

Though He Yunhuai had fallen deliberately, the doctor had found signs of true weakness. His constitution was still fragile.

“Rest for the next few days. There’s plenty of work waiting for you,” Su Yi’an warned before leaving.

He Ningwen, her tears dried, looked gleeful to see Sister Su scolding her brother.

“You were crying just a moment ago. Why so happy now?” He Yunhuai asked from the bed.

“Sister Su was so worried! We thought you were dying, Second Brother. Don’t scare us like that again!” she huffed. “I’ll cover for you this time, but if you do it again, I’ll tell Mother. She’ll give you a beating too!”

He Yunhuai sighed and nodded obediently.

That afternoon, Su Yi’an went to the blacksmith shop and brought home the circular iron plate.

With it, frying sausages would be much easier.

She placed the iron plate on her stove and scooped in a spoonful of lard.

Once the oil was hot, she lined up the boiled and dried sausages on the plate, frying them until they sizzled and glistened with oil.

She packed two plates—six sausages each—into a food box.

Although tomorrow’s banquet was for those who had helped, she already felt grateful and wanted to show it.

She carried the box to the neighboring shop.

“You didn’t need to go to all this trouble,” the shopkeeper said, waving her off as she offered a plate.

“Please accept it. I’m delivering to other families too. I truly appreciate your help today,” Su Yi’an insisted.

Seeing her sincerity, the shopkeeper finally accepted.