Chapter 69.
After purchasing various items including cooking oil, salt, rice, vegetables, pottery jars, a clay stove, and utensils, which were not expensive individually, the total cost still amounted to a considerable sum of silver.
As it neared the hour of Shen, Yu Ying bought a broom and dustpan to clean the house.
When they opened the doors and windows to set up the beds earlier today, the previously dark and gloomy room brightened up, revealing layers of dust and cobwebs from long neglect.
Yu Ying cut several pieces of cloth. She folded two square pieces into triangular shapes to use as masks and covered her hair with another cloth to prevent dust from settling on it.
Both of them put on masks and head cloths.
Yu Ying couldn't help but laugh when she saw Fu Wei's attire.
His usually graceful and handsome appearance seemed somewhat comical with his face covered and hair hidden.
Fu Wei, seeing her, also smiled gently.
Together, they swept the dust out of several rooms and brushed away the cobwebs at the corners. Yu Ying also burned medicinal herbs brought from home in the corners of the rooms, including the kitchen and latrine, to repel insects and reduce dampness.
They sealed the doors and windows while fumigating to ensure effectiveness.
After half an hour of fumigation, and just as they finished clearing the weeds in the courtyard and setting up a clothes-drying area, Yu Ying stood up to open the doors and windows to let out the smoke.
The corners of the walls inside the house were littered with the bodies of insects. Having lived in poor village conditions for so long, Yu Ying was accustomed to this and calmly swept the insects outside.
Fu Wei was cleaning up the weeds in the courtyard and, seeing the insects she swept out, he dug a small hole to bury them without needing any instruction from Yu Ying.
After working together to tidy up, the small courtyard and house finally looked habitable. By then, it was dusk, and time to prepare dinner.
Since they had rented their own ox cart, Yu Ying brought along everything they could possibly need.
In addition to various medicinal herbs, they also brought several heads of cabbage that were not fully grown but ready to be picked, and even a small bundle of firewood.
Since trees in the city were not allowed to be cut down randomly, they needed to either buy firewood or go outside the city to chop it themselves.
They had firewood, so the next concern was water.
There was a well at the end of the alley, providing water for the entire alley.
Yu Ying, carrying a bucket, heard Fu Wei say, "You've been busy all day, don't fetch too much water. I'll get more after nightfall."
The alley was dimly lit at night, making it hard to distinguish people passing by, and Fu Wei planned to fetch water at that time.
Living together, Yu Ying wouldn't shoulder all the chores herself. Besides, Fu Wei would soon be living in the county town with Fu An and Mrs. Luo, an old and a young one, so he needed to take responsibility.
Since he insisted, she decided to fetch water three times, enough for the evening.
For their first meal in this new home, Yu Ying didn't want to settle for something too simple.
She used half a pound of pork with a mix of fat and lean for braised pork, and half a pound of pork fat to render lard.
To prepare the braised pork, Yu Ying specially bought two liang (about 100 grams) of sugar.
She first blanched the pork with wine and scallions, setting it aside for later use.
She heated a clean pot on the clay stove, and once hot, added sugar and some rendered pork fat. When the sugar and fat melted together, she added the pork and stir-fried it until it changed color, then added soy sauce for aroma, followed by a bowl of boiling water.
After adding water, she seasoned it with a little salt, star anise, wild magnolia bark, and fennel, simmering it until the sauce thickened.
While gathering herbs, Yu Ying had found wild star anise, magnolia bark, and wild fennel.
These herbs could be used as medicinal ingredients or spices.
There weren't many, only about two or three jin (1-1.5 kilograms) in total, so Yu Ying decided not to sell them but to keep them for now.
Braised pork and a green vegetable dish made up their dinner for the evening.
Their small courtyard was quiet with only the sound of their activity, but soon, the neighboring courtyard erupted with the noise of children crying and adults scolding.
Compared to the tranquility of Lingshui Village, Yu County was filled with a bustling, lively atmosphere.
Perhaps it was because the houses in Lingshui Village were far apart; even if someone cried out in the middle of the night, only a few nearby households might hear it, making it seem more serene and quiet.
Yu Ying enjoyed tranquility, yet she was not fond of silence.
In these turbulent times, silence could be frightening; a lively atmosphere was generally preferable.
The meal was served, with only Yu Ying and Fu Wei dining together.
Fu Wei's eyes landed on the glossy braised pork. After tasting a piece, his eyes showed amazement, and he looked up in astonishment at Yu Ying sitting opposite him.
Seeing his expression, Yu Ying asked, "Is it tender and melting in your mouth, fatty but not greasy?"
Fu Wei nodded, "I've never seen pork prepared this way."
Yu Ying thought to herself that braised pork became famous because of Su Dongpo, but it had appeared earlier in "Qi Min Yao Shu" (Essential Techniques for the Welfare of the People).
The only difference was that the recipe in the book didn’t include the spices she had added.
The current era, chaotic, resembling the Northern Dynasties, had simpler culinary styles. She hadn't seen any iron pots, so stir-frying was likely rare, and it was normal for Fu Wei not to have seen this dish before.
Yu Ying decided, "Let's serve this dish tomorrow when we invite Huo Yacha over."
For the housewarming feast, Yu Ying planned to prepare just two tables.
After all, most of their close neighbors were back in Lingshui Village.
It would be just their family, along with the owner and waiter of Wu's Eatery, Uncle Chen, and a few others; two tables would be sufficient.
Inviting Huo Yacha alone would allow Fu Wei to gather information discreetly and also avoid any suspicion.
Fu Wei, usually indifferent to culinary delights, couldn't resist trying another piece of meat and nodded, "This dish is excellent. Paired with some wine, we won't have to worry about Huo Yacha getting tipsy."
Yu Ying: ...
He was openly sharing his plans with her, showing how much he trusted her.
After some thought, she added, "Besides the braised pork, let's prepare a braised fish and crispy pork too, followed by a green vegetable and stewed tofu. That should be enough even if two more people join us."
This meal also finalized the menu for the next day.
After dinner, Yu Ying took out the medicinal herbs she had prepared at home, soaked them in alcohol, ready to make face cream once she bought sheep tail fat the next day.
With winter approaching, the demand for face cream would increase, and she didn't want to waste time but rather seize the opportunity to produce better quality cream.
After finishing her preparations, the hot water was ready.
Yu Ying went to bathe first.
Coming out warm and cozy, she entered the room and found the window slightly open and a clay basin with burning firewood under the bed.
The previously cold room was now warm, even with the window open, thanks to the basin of fire.
Without a doubt, she knew who had placed the fire basin there.
They were sleeping in separate rooms tonight.
A set of bedding had been prepared at home, initially intended for Fu An. Since Fu An was staying in Yu County, they brought it along.
With two beds and two sets of bedding, naturally, they wouldn't be sharing a bed anymore.
She spread the bedding on her bed; although it was a bit small, it was sufficient for her.
After making the bed, the room was warm enough. Thinking of Fu Wei's room without a fire basin, Yu Ying dampened a cloth, carried the small fire basin to his room.
She bumped into Fu Wei, who had just returned from his bath.
She said, "My room is warm enough, so I brought the fire basin to your room. Remember to take it out and douse it with water before you sleep."
Fu Wei hummed softly in acknowledgment, then thoughtfully said, "If you need anything, just call me."
Yu Ying nodded, "You should rest early too. We need to rise early for the yamen tomorrow."
"You should rest early as well," he said softly, his face illuminated by the light shining from the room. In the dim light, his gaze towards her was exceptionally tender.
Their eyes met, creating a subtle and heart-quickening moment.
It was strange; they had often slept on the same couch before without this peculiar tension. Now, being apart seemed to evoke a sense of ambiguity.
Yu Ying coughed lightly and said, "I'm going back to rest."
With that, she turned and entered her room.
As she closed the door, she saw Fu Wei still standing at his doorway. His upright posture, so different from when he lay in bed, was unaffected by his simple hemp clothing, showcasing his distinguished demeanor.
His eyes shone like bright stars; he was the epitome of grace and nobility.
A good-looking person with a fine character always tends to win hearts easily.
Yu Ying gave him a faint smile before closing her room door.
With the door shut, the smile on her face faded. She involuntarily touched her chest over her heart.
She must have felt a flutter of emotion, but it was not yet strong enough for her to make a decision.
Even if she were to decide, she would wait until she fully adapted to this era.
This was a matter of responsibility to herself and to another person.
Yu Ying didn't dwell on these thoughts, quickly pushing them to the back of her mind.
Once in bed, she took out all the silver coins and counted them carefully.
After all the recent purchases, from the initial seven hundred wen brought with her and the five hundred wen from the yamen, she was left with less than two hundred wen.
She needed to prepare a feast tomorrow, and also had to buy some sheep tail fat for making face cream. How would she manage the housewarming feast the day after?
Yu Ying felt overwhelmed.
She wished she had bought only one bed at first.
But what could be done now that the purchase was already made?
She could only wait and see how much silver was left tomorrow. If it wasn't enough, she might have to swallow her pride and borrow some when her elder brother and sister-in-law arrive in Yu County.
After arranging all the coins, Yu Ying lay down.
It had to be said, thatched cottages were cool in the summer, but come autumn and winter, they offered no warmth at all.
This house was not only windproof but also soundproof, enhancing its security.
When Yu Ying first arrived in this world, what struck her most was the sound of wild beasts howling outside, so clear even inside the house, making her constantly fear a fierce animal might burst in at any moment.
Later, as more people joined the household, her fears diminished.
The sturdy, warm house and the wooden bed quickly lulled Yu Ying to sleep, without any sense of unfamiliarity.
However, in the middle of the night, Yu Ying had a dream.
She dreamed that after Fu Wei went to the yamen for duty, he was humiliated by people there.
They deliberately knocked over his wheelchair, then took it away, leaving him unable to rise from the ground. People surrounded him, pointing and ridiculing him for being disabled.
Fu Wei lay on the ground, isolated and helpless, like an abandoned dog.
Yu Ying, unable to bear the sight, was about to step forward to help him up when she awoke from the dream.
Sitting up, Yu Ying looked around the unfamiliar surroundings before realizing this was their newly rented house.
As she was recalling the dream, she heard a faint sound of water outside.
She went to the window, opened a small gap, and saw a familiar figure busy in the dimly lit courtyard.
Remembering Fu Wei's struggling and isolated figure in her dream, and then seeing him standing in the courtyard, Yu Ying smiled.
She was worrying unnecessarily; Fu Wei was not actually disabled, and with Huo Yacha in the yamen to look after him, even if he faced difficulties, it wouldn't be as tragic as in her dream.
Putting her worries aside, Yu Ying put on her coat, tidied her hair, and stepped out of the room.
Seeing Fu Wei adding water to a pot, she asked with a smile, "What are you doing?"
Fu Wei looked at her and replied, "I'm planning to make porridge."
After a moment of thought, he showed her the rice in the pot and asked, "Is this enough?"
Yu Ying glanced at the rice in the pot and laughed, "Of course it's enough, we could even invite your elder brother and sister-in-law to join us with this much."
Realizing he had put too much rice, Fu Wei hesitated before asking, "Should I take out half?"
Yu Ying approached, looked at the full water tank, and said, "No need, a handful of rice from your hand is enough for the two of us."
Understanding her hint, Fu Wei went into the kitchen to remove the excess rice.
Yu Ying taught him how to wash the rice and measure the water, also explaining the rice-to-water ratio for cooking.
With Yu Ying's guidance, the breakfast preparation went smoothly.
After breakfast, Yu Ying and Fu Wei left the house together.
She wanted to go to the east market early to see if there was fresh lamb available. If so, she could get sheep tail fat.
After dropping Fu Wei off at the yamen, she headed straight for the east market.
The morning market was busier than usual, crowded and bustling with people and voices.
Not only was it livelier, but the variety of goods available was also more extensive.
There was medicinal wine infused with centipedes and scorpions.
The centipedes were as thick as thumbs and about four inches long, sold with small pottery jars for twenty wen each, perfect for treating bruises and injuries.
Yu Ying examined the quality of the medicinal wine, which was very good. In modern times, it would cost several hundred yuan.
Although it was twenty wen per jar, some people were buying it. She was tempted but decided to wait until she had enough silver to purchase it later.
In the morning, there were stalls selling lamb meat. Not long after they opened, half of the meat had already been sold.
While lamb might have a gamey taste if not prepared well, it was more popular than pork among the common folk, especially in this weather. A bowl of lamb soup was particularly warming.
Lamb meat is a bit more expensive than pork, but not by much.
Pork costs twelve wen per jin, while lamb meat is sixteen wen per jin.
After some consideration, Yu Ying decided not to make crispy pork, as it requires a lot of oil. Instead, she chose to prepare a lamb and radish stew, which is both warming and nourishing.
As for sheep tail fat, it seems most people use pork fat for oil, making sheep tail fat similarly priced to pork fat at eighteen wen per jin.
This was an unexpected boon. Switching from pork fat to sheep fat wouldn't significantly increase the cost of the face cream.
Yu Ying bought one jin of lamb meat and one jin of sheep tail fat.
She also purchased one and a half jin of pork, a fish weighing about two jin, and a few pieces of tofu.
She spent sixty-eight wen in the morning, leaving her with just over one hundred and thirty wen, enough for the lavish feast for tomorrow.
Back at her small home, Yu Ying began working on the face cream.
She repeated the steps she had used before, substituting pork fat with sheep tail fat this time.
After finishing, it was not yet the hour of Si. Fu Wei would have a break at around the third quarter of noon for rest and lunch, so she only needed to have lunch ready by then.
Stepping out of the kitchen, Yu Ying looked thoughtfully towards the direction of the yamen, silently hoping everything was going well for him.
At the yamen.
After reporting in, Fu Wei was left alone in a side hall, with no tasks assigned to him and receiving odd looks from those passing by.
Fu Wei faced it all calmly, waiting patiently.
An hour passed, and it was only when the magistrate went to relieve himself that he noticed Fu Wei.
Magistrate Zhou asked, "Didn't Mr. Qian assign you any tasks?"
Fu Wei responded evenly, "Perhaps he forgot in his busyness."
Magistrate Zhou knew it was the clerks trying to put Fu Wei in his place, but he understood and said nothing.
After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Today is indeed busy. You can sit behind the court hall and listen to today's trials. Tomorrow, write down your observations on all the cases heard today."
Thus, Fu Wei found a new place to sit quietly, finally having something to do.
Inevitably, he encountered Luo Dianshi, the younger brother of Director Luo.
Luo Dianshi frowned upon seeing Fu Wei.
In the next instant, as their eyes met, Luo Dianshi's face showed disgust. As he walked past, he muttered as if to himself, "The yamen has become a shelter for all and sundry."
Fu Wei, lightly tapping his fingers on the armrest, remained composed and acted as if he hadn't heard.
Fu Wei was ignored all morning, only allowed to leave at noon.
However, as he wheeled himself towards the side gate, he stopped abruptly.
The two stone slabs that had been placed there just yesterday, still seen this morning, were now gone.
Without needing to think further, he knew it was done intentionally.
This was within Fu Wei's expectations.
After a moment of silence, Fu Wei heard Huo Yacha's displeased voice from behind, "These people, they really did move the stone slabs away!"
Fu Wei turned back, smiling wryly, "I guessed as much, but didn’t expect to be right. Thank you, Huo Yacha, for lending a hand."
Huo, the clerk, walked behind him, grasping the horizontal bar of the backrest. He exerted a little force to tilt the plain carriage backward, lifting the front wheels over the threshold before raising the back wheels slightly.
After this maneuver, he successfully pushed the plain carriage over the threshold.
"I'll retrieve the stone slab and put it back in place this afternoon," Huo said.
Fu Wei expressed his gratitude, "You've been a great help today, Huo."
Huo replied, "This little favor is nothing troublesome."
Mrs. Yu has some abilities, and Mr. Fu's legs are disabled, yet the magistrate still accepts him as a clerk. There must be a patron supporting them from behind.
Both husband and wife are no ordinary people; befriending them brings only benefits and no harm.
The only potential harm could be offending Luo, the scribe.
However, having been in the government office for over a decade, Huo was an old hand, well aware of the intricacies and nuances there.
Although Luo, the scribe, wasn’t dismissed because of his brother's incident, he had fallen out of favor with the magistrate and would likely not be reused significantly in the future.
Mr. Fu, despite his disability, is sharp-minded. Having lived as the son of a governor for twenty years, his experience and perspective surely surpass those of locals.
With these thoughts, Huo naturally treated Mr. Fu well.
He planned to take Mr. Fu home on his way and then grab a quick lunch nearby.
As he escorted him to the alley entrance, he saw Mrs. Yu hurriedly emerging from the alley.
Seeing Fu Wei returning with Huo Yacha, Yu Ying was momentarily stunned but quickly showed a smile, "Fu Wei, how could you trouble Huo Yacha to bring you back?"
Huo Yacha replied, "It's on my way, no bother at all."
Yu Ying said, "Since you're here, why not stay for lunch at our place, Huo Yacha?"
Huo Yacha responded, "No need, I should be going."
Knowing he wouldn't stay, Yu Ying added, "My husband has instructed me to host a dinner exclusively for you this evening, Huo Yacha. The ingredients are already prepared, so please make sure to come after your shift."
She emphasized the words "exclusively for you."
Huo Yacha, understanding the implication, nodded in agreement and then left.
Since there were other people in the alley, Yu Ying didn't ask Fu Wei any further questions.
Upon reaching the door, Yu Ying entered first and then took out two wooden ramps, placing one outside and one inside.
Fu Wei asked, "Where did these ramps come from?"
"I paid a carpenter twenty wen for them yesterday when we bought the bed. He made them as per my instructions. Try and see if you can get in by yourself."
Hearing this, Fu Wei made an attempt.
Fu Wei, having practiced martial arts since childhood, had strong arms and soon managed to wheel himself into the courtyard.
As Yu Ying was about to close the courtyard door and had not yet asked why Huo Yacha was the one to bring him back, Fu Wei immediately stood up and went to the latrine.
Yu Ying: ...
Sitting in the wheelchair all day, pretending to be disabled, must have been quite uncomfortable for him.
After he came out and washed his hands, he was the same composed Fu Wei as always.
Yu Ying asked him, "How come Huo Yacha brought you back today?"
Fu Wei responded with a light smile, choosing not to share the unpleasantness of the yamen, "I ran into him when leaving the yamen. He happened to be going in the same direction, so we walked together."
Yu Ying accepted his explanation without doubt and said, "Let's have lunch quickly, then you can take a short rest."
With only forty-five minutes left for his break, accounting for travel time, he had just half an hour for lunch and rest.
During lunch, Yu Ying remembered her morning dream and tentatively asked, "Did anyone give you a hard time at the yamen?"
Fu Wei replied, "They just ignored me, which I wouldn't count as a hardship."
Hearing this, Yu Ying felt somewhat relieved.
Knowing that they finished work at the hour of Shen, Yu Ying calculated that the yamen operates for four hours, similar to the modern world.
With the early end of the workday, she needed to start preparing for tonight's dinner earlier.
After lunch, Fu Wei rested briefly before returning to his duty.
Back at the yamen, he spent his time idly listening to trivial cases in the back hall.
These cases were mostly brought by the townspeople, with hardly any reports coming from the villages.
Evidently, villagers were wary of the yamen and preferred to solve both minor and major issues through their village leaders. In the end, major issues were minimized and minor ones disregarded, even potentially turning a matter of life and death into a triviality.
By the end of his shift, the most significant case Fu Wei heard was about someone stealing a chicken from a neighbor.
Occasionally, when seeing the magistrate stretch his legs and relax, one could notice an expression of impatience on his face.
Fu Wei gave a faint smile.
No wonder Magistrate Zhou was tempted when he heard Fu Wei could help him advance and leave Yu County, given such monotonous days.
It wasn't the magistrate's ambition that was worrisome, but rather the lack of it. Ambition could lead to a longer tenure, and Fu Wei could use the magistrate’s influence to protect his loved ones.
When Fu Wei finished his shift, he called for Huo, the clerk.
Huo invited another junior clerk who was quite considerate to join them.
As it was a gathering of several men for food and drink, Yu Ying preferred not to join them at the same table, so she kept some food for herself in the house.
Huo, seeing the spread of fine food and drink, knew that the couple held him in high regard, feeling gratified and unable to hide his joy.
The junior clerk, often looked down upon by other clerks in the office and used without even being called by name, felt appreciated by today's treatment. Though incidental, he decided to follow Mr. Fu, as well as Huo, more closely in the future.
Chapter 69.
After purchasing various items including cooking oil, salt, rice, vegetables, pottery jars, a clay stove, and utensils, which were not expensive individually, the total cost still amounted to a considerable sum of silver.
As it neared the hour of Shen, Yu Ying bought a broom and dustpan to clean the house.
When they opened the doors and windows to set up the beds earlier today, the previously dark and gloomy room brightened up, revealing layers of dust and cobwebs from long neglect.
Yu Ying cut several pieces of cloth. She folded two square pieces into triangular shapes to use as masks and covered her hair with another cloth to prevent dust from settling on it.
Both of them put on masks and head cloths.
Yu Ying couldn't help but laugh when she saw Fu Wei's attire.
His usually graceful and handsome appearance seemed somewhat comical with his face covered and hair hidden.
Fu Wei, seeing her, also smiled gently.
Together, they swept the dust out of several rooms and brushed away the cobwebs at the corners. Yu Ying also burned medicinal herbs brought from home in the corners of the rooms, including the kitchen and latrine, to repel insects and reduce dampness.
They sealed the doors and windows while fumigating to ensure effectiveness.
After half an hour of fumigation, and just as they finished clearing the weeds in the courtyard and setting up a clothes-drying area, Yu Ying stood up to open the doors and windows to let out the smoke.
The corners of the walls inside the house were littered with the bodies of insects. Having lived in poor village conditions for so long, Yu Ying was accustomed to this and calmly swept the insects outside.
Fu Wei was cleaning up the weeds in the courtyard and, seeing the insects she swept out, he dug a small hole to bury them without needing any instruction from Yu Ying.
After working together to tidy up, the small courtyard and house finally looked habitable. By then, it was dusk, and time to prepare dinner.
Since they had rented their own ox cart, Yu Ying brought along everything they could possibly need.
In addition to various medicinal herbs, they also brought several heads of cabbage that were not fully grown but ready to be picked, and even a small bundle of firewood.
Since trees in the city were not allowed to be cut down randomly, they needed to either buy firewood or go outside the city to chop it themselves.
They had firewood, so the next concern was water.
There was a well at the end of the alley, providing water for the entire alley.
Yu Ying, carrying a bucket, heard Fu Wei say, "You've been busy all day, don't fetch too much water. I'll get more after nightfall."
The alley was dimly lit at night, making it hard to distinguish people passing by, and Fu Wei planned to fetch water at that time.
Living together, Yu Ying wouldn't shoulder all the chores herself. Besides, Fu Wei would soon be living in the county town with Fu An and Mrs. Luo, an old and a young one, so he needed to take responsibility.
Since he insisted, she decided to fetch water three times, enough for the evening.
For their first meal in this new home, Yu Ying didn't want to settle for something too simple.
She used half a pound of pork with a mix of fat and lean for braised pork, and half a pound of pork fat to render lard.
To prepare the braised pork, Yu Ying specially bought two liang (about 100 grams) of sugar.
She first blanched the pork with wine and scallions, setting it aside for later use.
She heated a clean pot on the clay stove, and once hot, added sugar and some rendered pork fat. When the sugar and fat melted together, she added the pork and stir-fried it until it changed color, then added soy sauce for aroma, followed by a bowl of boiling water.
After adding water, she seasoned it with a little salt, star anise, wild magnolia bark, and fennel, simmering it until the sauce thickened.
While gathering herbs, Yu Ying had found wild star anise, magnolia bark, and wild fennel.
These herbs could be used as medicinal ingredients or spices.
There weren't many, only about two or three jin (1-1.5 kilograms) in total, so Yu Ying decided not to sell them but to keep them for now.
Braised pork and a green vegetable dish made up their dinner for the evening.
Their small courtyard was quiet with only the sound of their activity, but soon, the neighboring courtyard erupted with the noise of children crying and adults scolding.
Compared to the tranquility of Lingshui Village, Yu County was filled with a bustling, lively atmosphere.
Perhaps it was because the houses in Lingshui Village were far apart; even if someone cried out in the middle of the night, only a few nearby households might hear it, making it seem more serene and quiet.
Yu Ying enjoyed tranquility, yet she was not fond of silence.
In these turbulent times, silence could be frightening; a lively atmosphere was generally preferable.
The meal was served, with only Yu Ying and Fu Wei dining together.
Fu Wei's eyes landed on the glossy braised pork. After tasting a piece, his eyes showed amazement, and he looked up in astonishment at Yu Ying sitting opposite him.
Seeing his expression, Yu Ying asked, "Is it tender and melting in your mouth, fatty but not greasy?"
Fu Wei nodded, "I've never seen pork prepared this way."
Yu Ying thought to herself that braised pork became famous because of Su Dongpo, but it had appeared earlier in "Qi Min Yao Shu" (Essential Techniques for the Welfare of the People).
The only difference was that the recipe in the book didn’t include the spices she had added.
The current era, chaotic, resembling the Northern Dynasties, had simpler culinary styles. She hadn't seen any iron pots, so stir-frying was likely rare, and it was normal for Fu Wei not to have seen this dish before.
Yu Ying decided, "Let's serve this dish tomorrow when we invite Huo Yacha over."
For the housewarming feast, Yu Ying planned to prepare just two tables.
After all, most of their close neighbors were back in Lingshui Village.
It would be just their family, along with the owner and waiter of Wu's Eatery, Uncle Chen, and a few others; two tables would be sufficient.
Inviting Huo Yacha alone would allow Fu Wei to gather information discreetly and also avoid any suspicion.
Fu Wei, usually indifferent to culinary delights, couldn't resist trying another piece of meat and nodded, "This dish is excellent. Paired with some wine, we won't have to worry about Huo Yacha getting tipsy."
Yu Ying: ...
He was openly sharing his plans with her, showing how much he trusted her.
After some thought, she added, "Besides the braised pork, let's prepare a braised fish and crispy pork too, followed by a green vegetable and stewed tofu. That should be enough even if two more people join us."
This meal also finalized the menu for the next day.
After dinner, Yu Ying took out the medicinal herbs she had prepared at home, soaked them in alcohol, ready to make face cream once she bought sheep tail fat the next day.
With winter approaching, the demand for face cream would increase, and she didn't want to waste time but rather seize the opportunity to produce better quality cream.
After finishing her preparations, the hot water was ready.
Yu Ying went to bathe first.
Coming out warm and cozy, she entered the room and found the window slightly open and a clay basin with burning firewood under the bed.
The previously cold room was now warm, even with the window open, thanks to the basin of fire.
Without a doubt, she knew who had placed the fire basin there.
They were sleeping in separate rooms tonight.
A set of bedding had been prepared at home, initially intended for Fu An. Since Fu An was staying in Yu County, they brought it along.
With two beds and two sets of bedding, naturally, they wouldn't be sharing a bed anymore.
She spread the bedding on her bed; although it was a bit small, it was sufficient for her.
After making the bed, the room was warm enough. Thinking of Fu Wei's room without a fire basin, Yu Ying dampened a cloth, carried the small fire basin to his room.
She bumped into Fu Wei, who had just returned from his bath.
She said, "My room is warm enough, so I brought the fire basin to your room. Remember to take it out and douse it with water before you sleep."
Fu Wei hummed softly in acknowledgment, then thoughtfully said, "If you need anything, just call me."
Yu Ying nodded, "You should rest early too. We need to rise early for the yamen tomorrow."
"You should rest early as well," he said softly, his face illuminated by the light shining from the room. In the dim light, his gaze towards her was exceptionally tender.
Their eyes met, creating a subtle and heart-quickening moment.
It was strange; they had often slept on the same couch before without this peculiar tension. Now, being apart seemed to evoke a sense of ambiguity.
Yu Ying coughed lightly and said, "I'm going back to rest."
With that, she turned and entered her room.
As she closed the door, she saw Fu Wei still standing at his doorway. His upright posture, so different from when he lay in bed, was unaffected by his simple hemp clothing, showcasing his distinguished demeanor.
His eyes shone like bright stars; he was the epitome of grace and nobility.
A good-looking person with a fine character always tends to win hearts easily.
Yu Ying gave him a faint smile before closing her room door.
With the door shut, the smile on her face faded. She involuntarily touched her chest over her heart.
She must have felt a flutter of emotion, but it was not yet strong enough for her to make a decision.
Even if she were to decide, she would wait until she fully adapted to this era.
This was a matter of responsibility to herself and to another person.
Yu Ying didn't dwell on these thoughts, quickly pushing them to the back of her mind.
Once in bed, she took out all the silver coins and counted them carefully.
After all the recent purchases, from the initial seven hundred wen brought with her and the five hundred wen from the yamen, she was left with less than two hundred wen.
She needed to prepare a feast tomorrow, and also had to buy some sheep tail fat for making face cream. How would she manage the housewarming feast the day after?
Yu Ying felt overwhelmed.
She wished she had bought only one bed at first.
But what could be done now that the purchase was already made?
She could only wait and see how much silver was left tomorrow. If it wasn't enough, she might have to swallow her pride and borrow some when her elder brother and sister-in-law arrive in Yu County.
After arranging all the coins, Yu Ying lay down.
It had to be said, thatched cottages were cool in the summer, but come autumn and winter, they offered no warmth at all.
This house was not only windproof but also soundproof, enhancing its security.
When Yu Ying first arrived in this world, what struck her most was the sound of wild beasts howling outside, so clear even inside the house, making her constantly fear a fierce animal might burst in at any moment.
Later, as more people joined the household, her fears diminished.
The sturdy, warm house and the wooden bed quickly lulled Yu Ying to sleep, without any sense of unfamiliarity.
However, in the middle of the night, Yu Ying had a dream.
She dreamed that after Fu Wei went to the yamen for duty, he was humiliated by people there.
They deliberately knocked over his wheelchair, then took it away, leaving him unable to rise from the ground. People surrounded him, pointing and ridiculing him for being disabled.
Fu Wei lay on the ground, isolated and helpless, like an abandoned dog.
Yu Ying, unable to bear the sight, was about to step forward to help him up when she awoke from the dream.
Sitting up, Yu Ying looked around the unfamiliar surroundings before realizing this was their newly rented house.
As she was recalling the dream, she heard a faint sound of water outside.
She went to the window, opened a small gap, and saw a familiar figure busy in the dimly lit courtyard.
Remembering Fu Wei's struggling and isolated figure in her dream, and then seeing him standing in the courtyard, Yu Ying smiled.
She was worrying unnecessarily; Fu Wei was not actually disabled, and with Huo Yacha in the yamen to look after him, even if he faced difficulties, it wouldn't be as tragic as in her dream.
Putting her worries aside, Yu Ying put on her coat, tidied her hair, and stepped out of the room.
Seeing Fu Wei adding water to a pot, she asked with a smile, "What are you doing?"
Fu Wei looked at her and replied, "I'm planning to make porridge."
After a moment of thought, he showed her the rice in the pot and asked, "Is this enough?"
Yu Ying glanced at the rice in the pot and laughed, "Of course it's enough, we could even invite your elder brother and sister-in-law to join us with this much."
Realizing he had put too much rice, Fu Wei hesitated before asking, "Should I take out half?"
Yu Ying approached, looked at the full water tank, and said, "No need, a handful of rice from your hand is enough for the two of us."
Understanding her hint, Fu Wei went into the kitchen to remove the excess rice.
Yu Ying taught him how to wash the rice and measure the water, also explaining the rice-to-water ratio for cooking.
With Yu Ying's guidance, the breakfast preparation went smoothly.
After breakfast, Yu Ying and Fu Wei left the house together.
She wanted to go to the east market early to see if there was fresh lamb available. If so, she could get sheep tail fat.
After dropping Fu Wei off at the yamen, she headed straight for the east market.
The morning market was busier than usual, crowded and bustling with people and voices.
Not only was it livelier, but the variety of goods available was also more extensive.
There was medicinal wine infused with centipedes and scorpions.
The centipedes were as thick as thumbs and about four inches long, sold with small pottery jars for twenty wen each, perfect for treating bruises and injuries.
Yu Ying examined the quality of the medicinal wine, which was very good. In modern times, it would cost several hundred yuan.
Although it was twenty wen per jar, some people were buying it. She was tempted but decided to wait until she had enough silver to purchase it later.
In the morning, there were stalls selling lamb meat. Not long after they opened, half of the meat had already been sold.
While lamb might have a gamey taste if not prepared well, it was more popular than pork among the common folk, especially in this weather. A bowl of lamb soup was particularly warming.
Lamb meat is a bit more expensive than pork, but not by much.
Pork costs twelve wen per jin, while lamb meat is sixteen wen per jin.
After some consideration, Yu Ying decided not to make crispy pork, as it requires a lot of oil. Instead, she chose to prepare a lamb and radish stew, which is both warming and nourishing.
As for sheep tail fat, it seems most people use pork fat for oil, making sheep tail fat similarly priced to pork fat at eighteen wen per jin.
This was an unexpected boon. Switching from pork fat to sheep fat wouldn't significantly increase the cost of the face cream.
Yu Ying bought one jin of lamb meat and one jin of sheep tail fat.
She also purchased one and a half jin of pork, a fish weighing about two jin, and a few pieces of tofu.
She spent sixty-eight wen in the morning, leaving her with just over one hundred and thirty wen, enough for the lavish feast for tomorrow.
Back at her small home, Yu Ying began working on the face cream.
She repeated the steps she had used before, substituting pork fat with sheep tail fat this time.
After finishing, it was not yet the hour of Si. Fu Wei would have a break at around the third quarter of noon for rest and lunch, so she only needed to have lunch ready by then.
Stepping out of the kitchen, Yu Ying looked thoughtfully towards the direction of the yamen, silently hoping everything was going well for him.
At the yamen.
After reporting in, Fu Wei was left alone in a side hall, with no tasks assigned to him and receiving odd looks from those passing by.
Fu Wei faced it all calmly, waiting patiently.
An hour passed, and it was only when the magistrate went to relieve himself that he noticed Fu Wei.
Magistrate Zhou asked, "Didn't Mr. Qian assign you any tasks?"
Fu Wei responded evenly, "Perhaps he forgot in his busyness."
Magistrate Zhou knew it was the clerks trying to put Fu Wei in his place, but he understood and said nothing.
After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Today is indeed busy. You can sit behind the court hall and listen to today's trials. Tomorrow, write down your observations on all the cases heard today."
Thus, Fu Wei found a new place to sit quietly, finally having something to do.
Inevitably, he encountered Luo Dianshi, the younger brother of Director Luo.
Luo Dianshi frowned upon seeing Fu Wei.
In the next instant, as their eyes met, Luo Dianshi's face showed disgust. As he walked past, he muttered as if to himself, "The yamen has become a shelter for all and sundry."
Fu Wei, lightly tapping his fingers on the armrest, remained composed and acted as if he hadn't heard.
Fu Wei was ignored all morning, only allowed to leave at noon.
However, as he wheeled himself towards the side gate, he stopped abruptly.
The two stone slabs that had been placed there just yesterday, still seen this morning, were now gone.
Without needing to think further, he knew it was done intentionally.
This was within Fu Wei's expectations.
After a moment of silence, Fu Wei heard Huo Yacha's displeased voice from behind, "These people, they really did move the stone slabs away!"
Fu Wei turned back, smiling wryly, "I guessed as much, but didn’t expect to be right. Thank you, Huo Yacha, for lending a hand."
Huo, the clerk, walked behind him, grasping the horizontal bar of the backrest. He exerted a little force to tilt the plain carriage backward, lifting the front wheels over the threshold before raising the back wheels slightly.
After this maneuver, he successfully pushed the plain carriage over the threshold.
"I'll retrieve the stone slab and put it back in place this afternoon," Huo said.
Fu Wei expressed his gratitude, "You've been a great help today, Huo."
Huo replied, "This little favor is nothing troublesome."
Mrs. Yu has some abilities, and Mr. Fu's legs are disabled, yet the magistrate still accepts him as a clerk. There must be a patron supporting them from behind.
Both husband and wife are no ordinary people; befriending them brings only benefits and no harm.
The only potential harm could be offending Luo, the scribe.
However, having been in the government office for over a decade, Huo was an old hand, well aware of the intricacies and nuances there.
Although Luo, the scribe, wasn’t dismissed because of his brother's incident, he had fallen out of favor with the magistrate and would likely not be reused significantly in the future.
Mr. Fu, despite his disability, is sharp-minded. Having lived as the son of a governor for twenty years, his experience and perspective surely surpass those of locals.
With these thoughts, Huo naturally treated Mr. Fu well.
He planned to take Mr. Fu home on his way and then grab a quick lunch nearby.
As he escorted him to the alley entrance, he saw Mrs. Yu hurriedly emerging from the alley.
Seeing Fu Wei returning with Huo Yacha, Yu Ying was momentarily stunned but quickly showed a smile, "Fu Wei, how could you trouble Huo Yacha to bring you back?"
Huo Yacha replied, "It's on my way, no bother at all."
Yu Ying said, "Since you're here, why not stay for lunch at our place, Huo Yacha?"
Huo Yacha responded, "No need, I should be going."
Knowing he wouldn't stay, Yu Ying added, "My husband has instructed me to host a dinner exclusively for you this evening, Huo Yacha. The ingredients are already prepared, so please make sure to come after your shift."
She emphasized the words "exclusively for you."
Huo Yacha, understanding the implication, nodded in agreement and then left.
Since there were other people in the alley, Yu Ying didn't ask Fu Wei any further questions.
Upon reaching the door, Yu Ying entered first and then took out two wooden ramps, placing one outside and one inside.
Fu Wei asked, "Where did these ramps come from?"
"I paid a carpenter twenty wen for them yesterday when we bought the bed. He made them as per my instructions. Try and see if you can get in by yourself."
Hearing this, Fu Wei made an attempt.
Fu Wei, having practiced martial arts since childhood, had strong arms and soon managed to wheel himself into the courtyard.
As Yu Ying was about to close the courtyard door and had not yet asked why Huo Yacha was the one to bring him back, Fu Wei immediately stood up and went to the latrine.
Yu Ying: ...
Sitting in the wheelchair all day, pretending to be disabled, must have been quite uncomfortable for him.
After he came out and washed his hands, he was the same composed Fu Wei as always.
Yu Ying asked him, "How come Huo Yacha brought you back today?"
Fu Wei responded with a light smile, choosing not to share the unpleasantness of the yamen, "I ran into him when leaving the yamen. He happened to be going in the same direction, so we walked together."
Yu Ying accepted his explanation without doubt and said, "Let's have lunch quickly, then you can take a short rest."
With only forty-five minutes left for his break, accounting for travel time, he had just half an hour for lunch and rest.
During lunch, Yu Ying remembered her morning dream and tentatively asked, "Did anyone give you a hard time at the yamen?"
Fu Wei replied, "They just ignored me, which I wouldn't count as a hardship."
Hearing this, Yu Ying felt somewhat relieved.
Knowing that they finished work at the hour of Shen, Yu Ying calculated that the yamen operates for four hours, similar to the modern world.
With the early end of the workday, she needed to start preparing for tonight's dinner earlier.
After lunch, Fu Wei rested briefly before returning to his duty.
Back at the yamen, he spent his time idly listening to trivial cases in the back hall.
These cases were mostly brought by the townspeople, with hardly any reports coming from the villages.
Evidently, villagers were wary of the yamen and preferred to solve both minor and major issues through their village leaders. In the end, major issues were minimized and minor ones disregarded, even potentially turning a matter of life and death into a triviality.
By the end of his shift, the most significant case Fu Wei heard was about someone stealing a chicken from a neighbor.
Occasionally, when seeing the magistrate stretch his legs and relax, one could notice an expression of impatience on his face.
Fu Wei gave a faint smile.
No wonder Magistrate Zhou was tempted when he heard Fu Wei could help him advance and leave Yu County, given such monotonous days.
It wasn't the magistrate's ambition that was worrisome, but rather the lack of it. Ambition could lead to a longer tenure, and Fu Wei could use the magistrate’s influence to protect his loved ones.
When Fu Wei finished his shift, he called for Huo, the clerk.
Huo invited another junior clerk who was quite considerate to join them.
As it was a gathering of several men for food and drink, Yu Ying preferred not to join them at the same table, so she kept some food for herself in the house.
Huo, seeing the spread of fine food and drink, knew that the couple held him in high regard, feeling gratified and unable to hide his joy.
The junior clerk, often looked down upon by other clerks in the office and used without even being called by name, felt appreciated by today's treatment. Though incidental, he decided to follow Mr. Fu, as well as Huo, more closely in the future.
