Chapter 25

Qi Ye had always regarded Zhao Jiuye as a loyal and righteous man, and seeing Zhao Jiuye speak with neither arrogance nor humility, he felt a measure of respect for him.

The two women first showed surprised expressions, then chuckled: "This young man, this isn't for you to drink—this was bought by your steward for your young lady to bathe in."

The man frowned slightly, clearly feeling that although Qi Ye's reasoning was far-fetched, it wasn't entirely without merit—in these troubled times, anyone who could cut down refugees was a man of talent.

If the matter were exposed, no one knew how the Li family would treat Fu Tingjun.

Fu Tingjun stared at Zhao Jiuye in shock.

Zhao Jiuye had bought water!

Qi Ye was somewhat surprised. Recalling that Fu Tingjun had just whispered something to Zhao Jiuye, he assumed it had been her suggestion and didn't suspect otherwise. But if she would rather seek refuge with Master Xie than with an aunt she hadn't seen in years, the two families must not have been close. Yet since the young lady of the Fu family had made up her mind, he couldn't very well force her to stay.

At this moment, she should have graciously brought out silver to reward him, smiled warmly, and bid him farewell.

Qi Ye knew that if he couldn't give his clansmen a reasonable explanation now, he would be branded with a reputation for coveting beauty. He thought for a moment, then whispered to the man: "A few days ago, refugees from Anhua County surrounded the village, and several of my nephews were badly injured. The village is short-handed right now. Since those refugees burned down Master Xie's estate in Fengyuan, they might well come to our Li Family Hollow. If these two managed to escort their young lady safely from Pingliang to this place, they must have some real skill. If they stay in Li Family Hollow, do you think they'd be eating for free!"

Fu Tingjun quickly wiped away her tears, forced a smile, and walked out: "Exactly!" As she stepped out, she saw two sturdy women carrying buckets of water standing at the door of the house.

He was extremely annoyed.

Fu Tingjun's face gradually fell.

He was about to say some pleasantries when Zhao Jiuye spoke first: "Our young lady will always remember Qi Ye's great righteousness. But there is one more matter—I ask Qi Ye, in consideration of your close ties with Master Xie as neighbors and former business partners, to lend us your assistance!"

This Qi Ye keeping Fu Tingjun in Li Family Hollow was probably nothing more than a momentary whim of pity!

Was she supposed to leave Zhao Jiuye here to toil for the people of Li Family Hollow, just to earn her own keep?

But whenever she thought of being utterly alone from now on, of that rogue in the parrot-green cocoon silk robe who had looked at her with such stunned and greedy eyes, of the ferocious faces of the refugees who had robbed them, of the woman who had died beneath the great tree wearing nothing but a bellyband—she was afraid... Neither the thanks nor the farewell could be brought herself to offer, nor the words spoken.

She was truly useless!

Fu Tingjun's legs gave way, and she sat down on the kang.

A woman called out loudly from outside the house: "Is this the household of Master Xie's relatives?"

He—he simply didn't want to respond!

A man with a mole between his brows standing beside Qi Ye glanced at Fu Tingjun, whose face was streaked with tears like pear blossoms in rain, then at Qi Ye's wistful expression. His demeanor turned slightly cold as he said: "Seventh Granduncle, the village's grain supply is tight. This matter should probably be discussed with the clan elders first!" His voice was neither loud nor soft, but just enough for everyone present to hear.

In the quiet room, only the sound of A Sen tidying the handcart could be heard.

She turned her face away, furiously wiping at her tears, but the tears had a mind of their own and never seemed to stop.

Gold bars were commonly known as "big yellow croakers" or "small yellow croakers." A big yellow croaker was typically ten taels, while a small yellow croaker was typically one tael of silver. Three small yellow croakers meant three taels of gold. One tael of gold could usually be exchanged for ten taels of silver, and one tael of silver could usually be exchanged for a thousand copper coins. In times of peace and prosperity, two copper coins could buy a steamed bun... even now, in Weinan city, five hundred coins could buy one.

Even if she were entrusted to a friend, someone would first need to send word to her mother, and then wait for her mother's people to come fetch her... If she went with him, someone would still need to send word to her mother first, and then wait for her mother's people to come... Rather than trouble others, it was better to keep her by his side, so as not to owe a friend a favor.

What would happen to Fu Tingjun then?

Fu Tingjun thought of her deceased uncle and aunt... Her smile gradually faded, and she covered her mouth, sobbing quietly.

Now that seeking refuge with relatives had failed, she couldn't very well keep clinging to him just because he was an honorable man who had looked after her along the way, could she?

A Sen had already run over at the commotion. Seeing the four full buckets of water, he happily threw himself at the wooden buckets: "So much water—how will we ever drink it all!" His expression was one of pure joy.

He once again solemnly thanked Qi Ye and proposed resting in Li Family Hollow for two days before continuing on their journey.

The people around Qi Ye looked noticeably brighter-eyed than before.

She was instantly immersed in an inexplicable joy, something bubbling up from within her heart, leaving her eyes brimming with tears.

He said magnanimously, "I'd better first ask whether the clan has any surplus grain!" and did not accept the small gold bar.

Seventh Master had someone bring them to a secluded side room beside the village ancestral hall to stay, while he himself accompanied the arriving Eleventh Aunt from the Li family into the three-courtyard compound a bowshot away.

"Not hard work at all, not hard work at all!" the two women said with beaming smiles, carrying the water buckets all the way into the side room. "My husband ranks fourth in the family, and hers ranks sixth. If you need more water, miss, just send someone to call us and we'll fetch more." As they spoke, they stole glances at Fu Tingjun, as if they found her quite strange.

Since he was the one who had brought her here, he couldn't very well just abandon her like this.

Marry her off to some Li clan youth and be done with it!

That way, he would have something to account for to the clan.

What the Fu family would plan to do then, no one could know.

The two women's faces flushed slightly, and they said, "One small gold bar per bucket of water!"

What was she to him?

He turned and caught a flicker of chagrin in that Seventh Master's eyes.

This was hardly the conduct of a true man.

He cursed inwardly.

Since Lijiawa could organize its clan youths to resist the refugees, it was clearly a large clan with abundant male members. Though Seventh Master held a high generation rank and was quite respected by those people, judging by his age and how he came running to check at the slightest commotion... he was clearly not the clan head. Nowadays, grain was life itself—one more mouth to feed meant one more burden, one more risk of starving to death from shortage. Not to mention he wasn't the clan head; even if he were, he couldn't rashly take in strangers and share the clan's grain.

Fu Tingjun felt wetness on her face and was overcome with shame and embarrassment.

Besides, he had to reach Xi'an Prefecture before the Mid-Autumn Festival!

The people of Lijiawa said nothing, but their faces all showed expressions of "that's only proper."

He said he was going to Xi'an to seek refuge with relatives... What relatives did she have in Xi'an... Clearly he was going to meet up with his companions there... He was going to take her there...

Fu Tingjun's eyes widened.

Seventh Master secretly praised Zhao Jiuye for handling matters well.

Zhao Jiuye's face was cold as frost.

His voice was neither too loud nor too soft—just enough for everyone present to hear.

As it involved private matters, her voice was light and quick. Seventh Master and the others were too far away to hear—they only saw her walk up to Zhao Jiuye and murmur something. But Zhao Jiuye, standing beside her, heard every word clearly.

It was merely a moment of soft-heartedness in sending this woman to seek refuge with relatives, and now it had turned into such a situation!

Seeing that the man with the mole between his brows said nothing, the others followed suit and remained silent.

"Ninth Master!" She forced a slight curve to her lips. "Please take me to Weinan! Find me an inn to stay at, and help me find someone to send a letter home... If you have matters to attend to, go ahead—my affairs can't be resolved in a day or two anyway."

Fu Tingjun and A Sen were both stunned for a moment, and A Sen hastily said, "This, this, this—how much would that cost?"

Fu Tingjun felt even more distressed.

A cold, bluish tint spread across his stern face.

Realizing this, tears once again flowed uncontrollably from her eyes.

Damn it all...

Thinking that from now on she would be all alone, she felt both afraid and helpless, both heartbroken and lost.

Zhao Jiuye was merely making a statement of position, so that the people of Lijiawa wouldn't treat them as penniless refugees. If they couldn't procure grain, they would starve to death on the road to Xi'an.

Zhao Jiuye said, "Earlier we thought we'd have support once we reached Weinan, so we only prepared about ten days' worth of water and provisions. Now that we're going to Xi'an..." He paused, then said, "I ask Seventh Master to help us, to relieve our young lady's pressing need." With that, he drew three small gold bars from his sleeve: "We need fifty steamed buns and ten waterskins of water. Please ask around to see who has surplus grain and water."

And conveniently leave her in Lijiawa?

His expression turned serious, and he said, "Speak!"

They were merely chance acquaintances—he had been entrusted by his mother to escort her to Weinan to seek refuge with relatives!

Zhao Jiuye's thin lips pressed tightly together, and a cold, ruthless look appeared on his face.

Not to mention that business in Huayin.

Fu Tingjun and A Sen looked at the room—though somewhat worn, it was clean and tidy, with all necessities in order—and felt as if they had ascended to heaven in a single step, arriving in a fairyland. Both wore delighted expressions.

What was the point of crying and sobbing in front of him at a time like this! He must think she was putting on a delicate act to win his pity...

Fu Tingjun hurriedly opened the door and welcomed the two women inside: "Thank you for your trouble, sisters!"

Yet there she stood before him with swollen red eyes, her gaze clearly betraying fear while her mouth spoke generous, proper words that didn't match her heart... fragile yet stubborn, stubborn yet tinged with a plaintive grace... making it hard for anyone to bear.

"Seventh Master, thank you for your kindness!" He bowed to Seventh Master. "Since Master Xie's family has already met with misfortune, we might as well head to Xi'an Prefecture—our mistress has a cousin married there, though we haven't had much contact over the years... But with things having come to this pass, we'll have to swallow our pride and impose on them!"

Enough! Enough!

If she had merely been willful, insisting he escort her back to Huayin, or had wept and begged him for help, he might have hardened his heart and taken her to Lintong, then found a friend to send her back to Huayin to her mother, and that would have been the end of it. As for how her mother would settle her, and what would become of her afterward, that would have had nothing more to do with him.

This wasn't hers... How did he have this thing on him?

Zhao Jiuye smiled, had A Sen tidy up the handcart, told Fu Tingjun to rest for a while, and left without a word.