Chapter 72: Filial Piety

◎ Father's Overnight Fortune ◇

Just as the sky began to darken, Hua Zhan finally returned.

First, he delivered the widow Zhao and her son safely back home. Along the way, some villagers saw them and asked why he was so kind to take them to the clinic.

Some even cleverly wondered how a poor family like the widow Zhao's could afford to visit a town clinic. Perhaps Hua Zhan's family had provided the money?

However, they were too embarrassed to ask this question directly, and instead, they pondered it in their minds.

Hua Zhan was not an eloquent man, especially when dealing with these villagers. When they asked him questions, he would nod if he knew the answer, but remain silent if it required a more complicated explanation or if he wasn't sure.

His personality and aura intimidated most people; upon approaching him, they instinctively felt uneasy. After asking one or two questions, they found it difficult to continue and didn't dare to inquire further.

Hua Tianqu, known as the gloomy child in the village, was equally unreachable for questioning. After Hua Zhan helped the widow Zhao into her house, the boy bowed to express his gratitude without uttering a word. Hua Zhan remained silent, turned around, and left, creating a silent, wordless scene between the two of them.

Upon Hua Zhan's departure, the widow Zhao regained consciousness.

In the time between her treatment at the clinic and returning home, she had roused a few times. However, under the influence of the medicine and her weakened state, each awakening was fleeting, leaving her in a hazy half-consciousness. She vaguely recalled being brought to the clinic by a tall man with her son, but beyond that, her memory was blank.

"Tiān, who took Mother to see the healer?"

Hua Tianqu silently prepared hot water for his mother, showing no sign of joy at her awakening. He simply replied, "The Marquis."

"What marquis?"

"The new family that moved into our village, they were originally the East Yuan Marquis." Recalling the noble demeanor of his benefactor's father, his eyes shimmered with admiration. Such a strong and powerful man was the image of a father he held in his heart, though he couldn't remember what his own father looked like, only knowing him as a farmer.

Widow Zhao stretched out her hand, asking her son to help her sit up, leaning against the headboard. She caught her breath and asked, "Tian'er, why are they being so kind to us? Did you promise them something?"

Hua Tianqu tossed the towel into the water basin, creating a large splash. He had a stern expression, slightly displeased. "Their family is my benefactor, and Duke Hou is also a good person."

"Duke Hou's daughter-in-law is a young and kind sister. She treated me very well. Seeing you in a coma, with no food or clothes, she even hired me as a tutor to teach their three children."

Widow Zhao, accustomed to being criticized all her life, replied instinctively, "That's because Tian'er, you have a natural talent. They saw how well you read and study, so they invited you, hoping that their children could benefit from your brilliance."

The teenager turned his head and stared at his mother for several moments. "Brilliance? I have no official rank, no reputation, and no knowledge. How could I possess such brilliance?"

"How can you be so narrow-minded, Mother? Sometimes, I wish you were gone. Then, I'd have no worries or anyone to hate as much as I do you. Your passing would set me free. But deep down, I know you're my birth mother. No matter how much trouble you cause, you still care for me. I must repay your kindness and take care of you, not just let you die."

"When I fell off the cliff that night while gathering herbs, I was scared but also relieved, feeling a sense of liberation. If my life was taken for you, then it's returned to you. No one else in this world could bind me as tightly or weigh on me like you do."

Finished with his speech, the young man carried the water basin out, leaving his mother's face unwashed. The water remained clean.

He stepped into the courtyard, gazing at the bright moon in the sky. Some people were like that moon, hanging high and radiant, even if temporarily obscured by dark clouds, their inner light still shining, always warm.

Unlike them, he was a rat in the ground, trapped in a hole, unable to escape.

The widow Zhao called her son a few times but received no reply. Confusion and desolation filled her heart. Although she didn't fully understand, she sensed the growing estrangement between them. Yet, she couldn't grasp why—didn't she believe her son was the best, wanting to give him everything and protect him from harm? Was that wrong?

Were that family truly so kind? Why would anyone be good for no reason? They were poor, without status or connections. Their only asset was their son. What could others possibly gain from them?

Throughout the night, Hua Tianqu didn't eat anything himself. Instead, he cooked a small bowl of rice porridge for his mother, as the doctor said a nutritious diet was necessary for recovery, ideally with meat soup or eggs if possible.

Their house was empty of rice; the jar of rice was a gift from their benefactor. Before cooking, he weighed it, planning to deduct its market value from his own earnings.

Recalling the silver spent on his mother's medical treatment, he couldn't help but smile bitterly. Even if he taught at his benefactor's home for an entire year, he might not be able to repay the debt.

The sound of carriages and horses echoed from outside the courtyard. The three children rushed out excitedly to greet their father. Yu Lian also went out to open the door for her father-in-law. The newly built house had a spacious entrance that could accommodate a carriage with a plank of wood as a ramp. After parking the carriage, Hua Zhan unhitched the horse and tied it to the trunk of Dashu, allowing it to graze on grass.

The twins chattered with their father for a while before Hua Zhan instructed them to feed the horse. Both were reluctant, wanting Guo'er to do the task instead. However, upon catching their sister's glance, they obediently obeyed.

Their sister had told them to cherish and not bully their younger sibling. In the past, they hadn't been so compliant, but now, with the anticipation of canned fruits, they didn't dare defy her for fear of losing their treat!

Remembering this, the twins eagerly told their father, "Sister said she's making fruit preserves for us to eat!"

Yu Lian: "…Snap out of it. It's not exclusively for you two; it's a livelihood for our family. If you behave well, you might occasionally get to enjoy a can."

Twins: "…" Oh, how miserable they were!

Hua Zhan asked, "Preserves in cans?"

Yu Lian then explained, "In the capital, there are many shops selling sweet syrup, but their shelf life is short, and they're only available in summer. I've thought of a way to preserve them for a longer time by sealing them in cans. They can be sold far away and even during winter, regardless of the season. This will bring income to our family, and we can plant fruit trees on that land, putting it to good use."

Yu Lian's explanation was quite detailed, and Hua Zhan understood the concept. However, he still wasn't clear about the actual process of making such canned preserves. Nevertheless, he wasn't one to pry, so he kept his questions to himself and simply nodded, saying, "You have my support."

He had initially assumed that his granddaughter-in-law would cultivate grain crops, not considering any alternatives. He had even taken the effort to observe how others tilled the land, planted their crops, and tended to them with weeding and watering.

Yu Lian smiled and said, "Let's keep one acre for ourselves to grow grains and vegetable seedlings, and another as a reserve. The rest will be planted with trees. I've thought it through. Since the land by the river is close to water, planting trees would be more beneficial than cultivating crops. We'll also place the trees around the perimeter, and only need to reserve two acres near our home."

Hua Zhan nodded in approval and didn't inquire further. He had truly entrusted all household matters to his granddaughter-in-law, so his questions were more of a formality. Anyway, he didn't understand a word she said.

Yu Lian didn't let him go just yet and asked about Hua Tianqu and Widow Zhao's situation.

He frowned and replied, "The physician said that the Red Juehua could be of use. They boiled it into a decoction right away and gave it to Widow Zhao."

Yu Lian: "Didn't the barefoot doctor say that the herb needed to be processed before it could be used?"

Hua Zhan, having military experience, had a keen interest in medicine and elaborated, "Red Juehua is a potent herb. The physician said its raw form has a milder effect. If it were to be processed and then made into a medicine, it could harm instead of heal. Widow Zhao has been weak for a long time, and her body can't withstand such a strong medicine. After consuming the Red Juehua, they prescribed a gentler remedy for her to take continuously for half a month, which should help her recover."

Upon hearing this, Yu Lian couldn't be more clear. Either the barefoot doctor was inexperienced and recklessly harming people or intentionally claimed that the herb needed processing to seize the opportunity to profit from it.

She sighed and asked, "How much did it cost? Would five taels of silver suffice?"

Hua Zhan pulled out a tael of silver and a string of copper coins, "I spent over three taels, but there's still this much left."

Yu Lian shook her head, urging her father-in-law to keep the money, "You should go out occasionally too, keep the silver on you in case it comes in handy."

Hua Zhan nodded and put the money away.

Upon hearing the sound of the coins, the twins, who were still watering their horses, ran over with a ladle full of water, "Dad, we want some silver too! Today we fed the horses and grass, shouldn't you give us some pay?"

Hua Zhan glanced at his two sons without a word, then walked into the house with his hands behind his back.

The twins hurried after him, pestering their suddenly wealthy father for wages and copper coins.

Little Guo'er whispered to his sister-in-law, "Second Brother and Third Brother are being disobedient!"

"Sister-in-law, the little chickens and pigs I'm raising have grown so much, soon they'll be big enough to sell for silver, and I'll give it to you as a gift!"

Yu Lian's lips twitched. Where did this child learn such words, talking about giving gifts?

She patted the boy's head affectionately, "You're a good boy."

For dinner, they had egg and vegetable white noodles, a dish that Stepmother Mei was particularly skilled at making. Rolling out the dough was laborious, but the noodles were fragrant, thin, and soft. A couple of scrambled eggs, some greens, a sprinkle of green onions, and a few drops of oil made for a delightful meal. Back when they lived in the Marquis' residence, she hadn't appreciated it, but now it had become the family's favorite dish, as well as her preferred one to prepare.

However, Grandma was not entirely pleased. Once the noodles were served, each person filled their bowl to the brim. She addressed Stepmother Mei, "Now that you're in charge of the kitchen, you need to understand the situation. Lian is too busy to handle these matters. We don't have much silver left since we built the house. We can't afford to have white noodles, eggs, and rice every meal. How can we manage our finances if we consume such costly dishes daily? Moreover, we currently don't have our own crops; everything is bought with silver. We must practice more restraint."

Stepmother Mei lowered her head. "I understand, Grandma. But could you tell me how many extravagant meals I should prepare per month so I can plan accordingly?"

Yu Lian responded, "From now on, I'll entrust all the household chores to you, including deciding what we eat. I'll give you five hundred copper coins each month for provisions. Just ensure that you manage those five hundred coins properly."

Stepmother Mei had never imagined she would have control over the family's finances. She asked in surprise, "I can really do this?"

Yu Lian nods, her philosophy in managing people has always been straightforward: trust those she employs and dismiss those she doubts. The ultimate strategy in leadership is, in fact, to delegate tasks effectively, allowing others to work at their full potential while sparing oneself unnecessary exhaustion.

To achieve this, Yu Lian believes that the most crucial aspects are empowerment and trust. People tend to perform better when given responsibility and confidence in their abilities. Of course, this depends on the individual, but those who seek shortcuts or deceive will not find a place under her.

Mei Concubine started as a dancer and later became a concubine. Though not an entirely virtuous person, she was by no means wicked.

In her life, she had never been entrusted with anything significant, nor had anyone believed in her capabilities or given her any authority. Even the modest sum of five hundred copper coins a month was more empowering than the value of a single hairpin she owned back when she was a concubine in the Marquis's residence. Yet, the feeling was utterly distinct.

When Yu Lian smiles and nods her approval, Mei Concubine's eyes shine with excitement, and every cell in her body ignites with enthusiasm. Eager to prove herself, she is now ready to embark on a new journey, no longer preoccupied with cooking delicious meals. Instead, her first thought is how to conserve silver while providing nutritious and tasty meals for the family, aiming to nourish them into plump, healthy beings with the smallest budget possible!

Yu Lian nodded in agreement, and the elder matriarch, despite her reservations and disbelief that a concubine could manage the household effectively, chose to remain silent.