Chapter 21: Is This How You Ask Someone for Help?

Such thoughts were dangerous, and Yu Tingwan forced herself to dismiss them. She started heading up the mountain again.

She left at dawn, and by the time she descended, the sky had already darkened. Instead of returning to the old house, she ran straight to Old Man Qian’s place.

The elderly man, who had been preparing for bed, was puzzled.

“You want to sell me herbs?”

Yu Tingwan nodded.

Old Man Qian was about to chase her away—what nonsense, what could she possibly know about medicinal herbs? But when Yu Tingwan tipped over her basket, spilling out the contents, not a single weed was among them.

His expression changed instantly. “You know about these?”

Yu Tingwan: “No, but I remembered them.”

“These are the ones you pointed out to Aunt Hui on the mountain before.”

“But I only showed three types last time, and you’ve got six here!”

Before he could question further, Yu Tingwan explained earnestly, “When I came to get medicine for my uncle before, I saw these drying outside your house.”

That was three years ago! Sharp-witted and observant, indeed.

But Old Man Qian, known for his odd temperament, remained dismissive.

“I can dig up herbs myself. Why should I buy yours?”

Yu Tingwan earnestly promoted herself.

“You’re old now, so you’re bound to be slower than me.”

Is this really how you ask someone for help?!

Undeterred, Yu Tingwan pressed on.

“Each herb has its own price. Whatever you and the medical hall agree upon, I’ll only take 60%, and the remaining 40% will be your commission.”

“Besides, you already go to the county medical hall to sell herbs every few days. Taking more wouldn’t hurt, would it?”

It was a sincere offer. Yu Tingwan wasn’t greedy; she understood the principle of small gains accumulating over time.

Old Man Qian scoffed, “Take it away. Stop being an eyesore.”

Living alone, he earned enough for meals and occasional wine. What was the point of making more money?

Yu Tingwan was baffled. “How can you be so lacking in ambition?”

Old Man Qian: …

Equally confused, he retorted, “Why not take them to the medical hall yourself?”

Yu Tingwan shook her head calmly. “The county is too far. I don’t want to walk.”

“Then take the horse cart from the village entrance.”

Yu Tingwan counted her coins carefully. “One trip costs three coins.”

Besides, Old Man Qian had a long-standing relationship with the medical hall, and familiar people were easier to deal with. She barely knew anything about this—the clerks, seeing her unfamiliar face, would likely offer lower prices.

Old Man Qian: …

“Oh, right.” Yu Tingwan suddenly remembered something, her eyes brightening in a way that made Old Man Qian’s scalp tingle.

“There’s one more thing.”

He hadn’t even agreed to the herb deal, and now there was something else?!

Yu Tingwan continued, “You often treat patients, so you must know many people. If there’s anyone unmarried around, could you help introduce them to me?”

Old Man Qian: ??

Rendered speechless, he stared at Yu Tingwan in disbelief, searching for any hint of a joke but finding none.

Yu Tingwan added sincerely, “Thank you for your trouble. When the time comes, I’ll reserve a seat for you at the main table at the wedding feast.”

Leaving Old Man Qian’s place, Yu Tingwan tightly clutched the four coins she had earned. He had said these herbs weren’t in high demand at the medical hall, so they fetched a low price.

She then asked what the more valuable herbs looked like.

Old Man Qian didn’t tell her. Those grew deep in the mountains where fierce beasts roamed—what business did a young woman have asking about those?

Having worked nearly a full day, she had become a little girl who had saved up ten coins!

*

—The Wei Family—

Hui Niang sat mending shoes while Wei Shouzhong tended to the medicine. From time to time, the couple glanced at Wei Zhao, who lay on the couch.

He wasn’t sleeping. Instead, he stared lifelessly at his talisman peace charm, like a walking corpse.

These past few days, he hadn’t shown any extreme behavior, which already left the couple grateful.

Hui Niang said, “Tomorrow, I’ll stew radishes with bone broth. Ah lang needs to drink several bowls.”

Wei Zhao didn’t want to speak.

Wei Shouzhong answered for him, “He will.”

Hui Niang continued, “There’s still plenty of pig intestines left. Nobody’s buying them, so I brought them all back. I’m thinking of stir-frying half and braising the rest for New Year’s. What does Ah Lang think?”

Wei Shouzhong smiled, “He thinks it’s excellent.”

Wei Zhao: … So noisy, really.

Wei Shouzhong suddenly said, “Tomorrow, I’ll go see the village chief.”

Hui Niang looked up sharply.

Wei Shouzhong said softly, “All these years I’ve been useless, making you suffer along with me.”

Hui Niang shook her head, knowing full well that Wei Shouzhong had been enduring just as much.

When Wei Shouzhong reached out to wipe the moisture from her eyes, he noticed Wei Zhao watching them. Who knew how long he had been staring, with that strange look in his eyes.

Wei Zhao was indeed confused and bewildered. He had seen too much of humanity’s ugliness and hypocrisy. Among noble houses, weren’t there plenty of couples who only maintained appearances? Those corrupt people would put on a show of loving affection, just to cover up their filthy secrets behind closed doors.

They say poverty brings a hundred sorrows to married couples. So why had this Wei couple never once quarreled?

Hui Niang suddenly remembered something.

“Why hasn’t there been any movement next door? I saw Miss Wan leave early with her basket. I hope nothing’s happened.”

Wei Shouzhong reassured her, “Perhaps she’s already returned to rest.”

Still uneasy, Hui Niang insisted, “No, I must go check.”

The moonlight was dim. Yu Tingwan trudged through the darkness, the thick snow having soaked her shoes completely. She shivered uncontrollably from the cold.

Exhausted and famished, she took difficult steps forward, one at a time.

From afar, she heard someone calling her name.

Hui Niang stood at the old house, lantern in hand, knocking on the door.

“Miss Wan, are you home?”

“Miss Wan?”

After a long silence with no response, Hui Niang’s brows furrowed tightly.

This wouldn’t do—she needed to have her husband fetch the village chief and organize a search party.

“Auntie?”

A soft voice came from behind.

Hui Niang turned at the sound and quickly approached. Under the lantern’s light, she examined Yu Tingwan’s weary face and finally sighed in relief.

But she still spoke up, “For a young woman alone, it’s really not safe. Every village has its ruffians and hooligans. It’s not good to walk in the dark—better to return before sunset next time.”

She touched Yu Tingwan’s hands and exclaimed, “Cold as ice! Quickly, go inside.”

Yu Tingwan blinked. She wasn’t even that familiar with Hui Niang.

Hui Niang’s gaze moved downward, seeing her worn and soaked cloth shoes. Yu Tingwan was so cold she wanted to curl up into a ball, only her pitiful eyes were showing.

Hui Niang’s heart ached at the sight. “Wait here a moment.”

She returned to the Wei house and quickly brought back a pair of half-worn cotton shoes.

“If you don’t mind, make do with these.”

Yu Tingwan didn’t move. Her gaze held a layer of scrutiny. “What do you want to gain from me, Auntie?”

Hui Niang saw her wariness and couldn’t help but smile. “It’s good to be cautious of others.”

She pressed the shoes into Yu Tingwan’s arms. “These belonged to Xiao Niang when she was alive.”

“Auntie doesn’t want anything from you.”

“It’s just that…” Her voice grew softer. “I just feel that if someone had been willing to help Xiao Niang back then, she wouldn’t have…”

She trailed off, then added, “When cold seeps into the body, you’ll suffer for it later.”

“You’re still young, with a long life ahead of you.”

“We live close by. If you encounter any problems in the future, don’t be shy to ask. I know young girls can be reserved.”

Yu Tingwan remained silent.

She hugged the cloth shoes tightly, her head half-lowered.

The last time someone had fussed over her like this had been her mother.