Chapter 41: Reunion

Chapter 41: Reunion

Zheng Shancheng: "Thank you, but we're not here to look for work."

Zheng Shancheng whispered something to Lin Geer, and the three of them made their way to the county office together.

The young man's eyes lit up when he saw Lin Geer and Zheng Qingyin; it had been a long time since he had seen such beauties in Xin Feng County.

Lin Geer was filled with anticipation. When they arrived at the entrance of the county office, they were intimidated by the two stone lions at the gate, hardly daring to imagine how grand it must be to work inside.

The county office boasted red tiles and white walls, with two Yamen Runners standing by. Zheng Shancheng gulped and stepped forward to ask, "Sir, I am Lord Zheng's elder brother, here from Qingxiang Village to see him."

The Yamen Runner, who initially didn't want to bother with Zheng Shancheng's shabby appearance, perked up at the mention of being Lord Zheng's brother. He shot a suspicious glance at Zheng Shancheng, who looked embarrassed.

"Wait here; I'll go inside to report." The Yamen Runner didn't know if it was true or not, but if it were, they couldn't afford to offend Lord Zheng by being rude. So, whether it was true or not, he felt compelled to report it. If it were false, at worst he'd get a scolding, but if it were true and he didn't report it, well, that would be trouble.

The Yamen Runner hurried off to find Zheng Shanci.

"What is it?" Zheng Shanci glanced up from his paperwork.

"Lord Zheng, there's someone at the gate who claims to be your elder brother, here from Qingxiang Village to see you," the Yamen Runner quickly said.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Shanci immediately stood up: "I'll go see."

This season was about the time people from Qingxiang Village would arrive. Zheng Shanci felt a rush of excitement and hurried out. It was still snowing, and Wang Fu rushed forward with an umbrella to shield Zheng Shanci from the snow.

The Yamen Runner who had come to report, seeing Zheng Shanci's hurried steps, also quickly followed behind.

Zheng Shancheng and his group had come on foot without umbrellas. The snow started falling suddenly, and they took shelter under the eaves of the county office. Their cotton clothes were too thin, and the cold wind sent shivers through them.

Zheng Qingyin's nose was turning red from the cold.

Lin Geer, being bold, peeked inside the county office. The other Yamen Runner turned a blind eye, letting her be. Lin Geer heard footsteps and quickly ducked back, whispering, "Someone's coming."

Zheng Shanci stepped out of the office and immediately saw Zheng Shancheng, Lin Geer, and Zheng Qingyin. The three looked much as he remembered them, though they looked a bit haggard from the journey.

"Wang Fu, fetch three hot water bottles, and make sure the charcoal fire in my room is burning well. Also, bring three cloaks," Zheng Shanci turned and instructed.

"Yes, sir," Wang Fu passed the umbrella to the Yamen Runner and hurried off to attend to the tasks.

Zheng Shancheng almost didn't recognize Zheng Shanci at first. Seeing him in a light green official robe and an official hat, with the Yamen Runner standing respectfully behind him, Zheng Shancheng's eyes welled up.

"Big brother, why didn't you let me know you were coming? I could have prepared in advance and sent someone to meet you at the city gate," Zheng Shanci stepped forward and said.

"It's too cold outside; let's go inside to talk."

Zheng Shancheng nodded and followed Zheng Shanci's lead: "We thought to finish the autumn harvest first, take care of the crops at home, and then come. Once we arrived in Xin Feng County, we came straight to the county office to find you, saving the trouble of writing a letter." Zheng Shancheng followed Zheng Shanci into the county office, feeling a bit intimidated, his steps light.

Everyone around was dressed in official robes, and they greeted Zheng Shanci as "Lord Zheng" when they saw him.

Zheng Shancheng was nervous, not daring to look around. His cotton clothes were of poor quality, and he felt embarrassed, wishing he could disappear into the ground.

Lin Geer and Zheng Qingyin followed behind. Lin Geer glanced around at the people and scenery of the county office. The corridors were long, and wherever Zheng Shanci walked, people greeted him. This was the authority of a county magistrate.

Zheng Qingyin tightly gripped Lin Geer's sleeve, not daring to let go.

They reached the office area, which had its own courtyard. Only Zheng Shanci worked here, and he quickly ushered Zheng Shancheng and the others inside. Wang Fu had ordered more charcoal to be added, and the room was warm when they entered.

"Come in and sit down," Zheng Shanci quickly pulled Zheng Shancheng to sit, and also had Lin Geer and Zheng Qingyin sit down.

As soon as they entered the room, they felt comfortable all over. It had been extremely cold outside, but sitting here, they felt warm all over. Lin Geer finally turned her gaze to Zheng Shanci. Zheng Shanci's residence was truly impressive. As an official, he exuded a completely different aura.

Wang Fu presented three cloaks: a black one for Zheng Shancheng and two green ones for the two young men. It was no small feat for Wang Fu to procure three new cloaks so swiftly and even choose the colors.

Zheng Shanci felt pleased: "Elder brother, sister-in-law, and younger brother, I notice you're dressed rather lightly. When you venture out later, don the cloaks. After I finish my duties, I'll take you out to explore Xinfeng County."

Lin Geer glanced at the new cloaks hanging on the coat rack and couldn't help feeling pleased. Zheng Shanci had observed that he was dressed lightly, which showed that he had indeed matured significantly since becoming an official. Zheng Shanci's dislike made Lin Geer remain somewhat reserved, not as relaxed as she was at home. Zheng Qingyin merely glanced at Zheng Shanci before lowering his head, his face flushing.

It had been a long time since he last saw his second brother, and he was at a loss for words upon seeing him. He still harbored a bit of fear towards him.

Zheng Shancheng: "Why spend money on this?"

Though Zheng Shancheng said this, he was still pleased that Zheng Shanci cared for and remembered them. The tea was still steaming, and Wang Fu served a cup to each of them. The aroma alone told them it was fine tea.

"Are you hungry? There are still some pastries available. If you're hungry, I'll take you out for a proper meal."

"It's just past noon. We had some dry provisions on the carriage, so we're not hungry yet."

Lin Geer pouted. Dry provisions were no match for a restaurant meal. What they ate on the carriage was merely enough to stave off hunger. Now that they had the opportunity to dine well, her husband had declined. Lin Geer was discontent but couldn't voice her displeasure, so she kept it to herself.

"By the way, second brother. The coachman who brought us is still waiting at the inn. Our luggage is still on the carriage." Lin Geer thought of this and finally spoke to Zheng Shanci.

This matter needed to be dealt with sooner or later. The coachman couldn't be kept waiting.

"Wang Fu, send someone to move the luggage from the carriage to the residence. Also, give the coachman some travel money. The snow is heavy, so it's fine if he stays in Xinfeng County for a few more days. It's not safe to travel back in such heavy snow."

"Yes, sir."

Zheng Shanci handled this matter well, without any hesitation or resistance. In the past, whenever he said something, Zheng Shanci would either sarcastically mock him or sneer, making his attitude clear.

Today, it seemed like he had changed.

"How are father and Mr. Zheng? Why didn't they come along?" Zheng Shanci asked. He was happy to see Zheng Shancheng and the others, but he felt a bit regretful not seeing his father and Mr. Zheng.

"They said they wanted to spend the New Year in Qingxiang Village this year, and the weather is cold, so they probably didn't want to come. We just came to see you." Zheng Shancheng said this, feeling like a poor relative who had come to take advantage.

"Brother, what are you saying? If it weren't for you earning money to support my studies, how could I have become an official? Just stay here peacefully. After seeing me, don't go back. I'll find you a leisurely job here." Zheng Shanci smiled.

Hearing this, Lin Geer felt even more that Zheng Shanci was reliable. Perhaps after going to the capital, he had opened up some meridians and suddenly understood human relationships, becoming more considerate of his elder brother.

She secretly took a piece of mung bean cake, took a bite, and her eyes widened. Damn, it was so delicious. Was this the kind of good pastry officials ate?

No wonder so many people wanted to study and become officials. Life was really good.

As Zheng Shanci talked with Zheng Shancheng, Zheng Shancheng gradually relaxed: "Don't worry about things at home. Father and Mr. Zheng, along with the Zheng family, are taking care of everything. I also asked my childhood friends to help father and Mr. Zheng."

"I'm glad you're doing well. I wrote so many letters but didn't receive a reply. I thought you weren't coming." Zheng Shanci smiled gently.

Hearing this, a warm feeling flowed through Zheng Shancheng's heart. He couldn't help but overcome his reserve, moved closer, and reached out to pat Zheng Shanci's shoulder. The official robe was cold, but it had finally absorbed a bit of warmth.

"Since you became an official, everyone in the village has been envious of me. I'm so happy to have a brother like you. My brother is now a county magistrate. I can't tell you how happy I am. When you wrote to ask me to come, I shamelessly followed."

Zheng Shanci looked at Zheng Shancheng's ashamed expression and narrowed his eyes, feeling somewhat speechless.

The Zheng family really...

"Brother, what are you saying? You're being too polite. If you keep talking like this, I'll get angry. You're not treating me like a real brother." Zheng Shanci said.

"I didn't mean that," Zheng Shancheng hurriedly explained.

"Elder brother, have some pastries," Zheng Shanci said, handing a piece of pastry to Zheng Shancheng. Noticing Zheng Qingyin with his head down, he called his name and handed him a piece of horse-hoof cake: "Qingyin, have some pastry, see if you like it."

Zheng Qingyin quickly looked up, thanked his second brother, and took the horse-hoof cake from Zheng Shanci.

Zheng Shanci found the situation somewhat amusing.

...

Wang Fu headed to the inn and spotted a carriage parked right at the entrance, with a coachman standing outside. Wang Fu approached and asked, "Are you the coachman who brought Lord Zheng's older brother here?"

"Yes, that's me."

The coachman, sensing Wang Fu's demeanor was different from his own, quickly responded.

"Take the carriage to the Zheng residence, and I'll give you extra money."

The coachman quickly agreed.

When the coachman took the carriage to the Zheng residence, servants came to move the luggage. Yu Lanyi, after hearing from Wang Fu that Zheng Shanci's older brother, sister-in-law, and younger brother had arrived, stepped out and asked, "Are they still at the county office now?"

"Young master, they probably are. I noticed that Lord Zheng's older brother was dressed rather lightly."

Wang Fu gave the coachman five taels of silver, which delighted the coachman. He could hardly earn five taels in a year of hard work. This trip earned him five taels, making him feel it was worth the effort.

Wang Fu also mentioned to the coachman that Zheng Shanci had suggested he stick around a few more days because of the heavy snow. The coachman readily agreed, as he was there to earn money, not to risk his life, and staying a few more days in Xinfeng County was no problem.

Yu Lanyi told the servants to take the luggage to the guest rooms: "Lord Zheng's father and his father-in-law did not come?"

"Lord Zheng's father and his father-in-law did not come. Young master, I've finished my tasks, so I'll head back now."

Yu Lanyi: "Go ahead, go ahead."

Yu Lanyi went back inside to warm up by the fire, pacing back and forth, which left Jin Yun pretty puzzled.

He was still on edge and had changed into a fresh outfit.

Meanwhile, Zheng Shanci had Zheng Shancheng, Lin Geer, and Zheng Qingyin board the carriage to take them home for a rest.

"Lan Yi has a good disposition, older brother and sister-in-law, you don't need to worry. Take a rest at home first, and I'll be back as soon as I'm done with my duties."

Zheng Shancheng nodded.

When they arrived at the residence and stepped out of the carriage, they spotted a young man in a red cloak emerging from inside. This young man had a striking appearance, radiating nobility and grace, clearly no ordinary person.

Yu Lanyi quickly composed himself. Noticing the people with Zheng Shanci, he approached and asked, "This must be the older brother, sister-in-law, and younger brother, right?"

Zheng Shanci smiled at Yu Lanyi: "This is my older brother Zheng Shancheng, sister-in-law Lin Geer, and my younger brother Zheng Qingyin. They just arrived in Xinfeng County, and I have urgent matters at the county office, so I entrust them to you to take them to rest. This is my husband, Yu Lanyi."

"We're all family, so you can head back to the county office," Yu Lanyi said reservedly.

He certainly seemed dependable.

After a moment's thought, Zheng Shanci left Zheng Shancheng and his family in Yu Lanyi's hands.

As soon as Zheng Shanci left, the atmosphere became awkward. Zheng Shancheng, a grown man, wasn't sure how to interact with his brother-in-law, and considering Yu Lanyi's high status, he was at a loss for words.

Zheng Qingyin glanced at Yu Lanyi, a flash of admiration in his eyes, thinking how handsome his second brother-in-law was.

"Big brother, sister-in-law, and little brother, let me take you to rest first," Yu Lanyi said, taking the lead.

Lin Geer: "Thanks for your help, Second brother's wife."

Hearing Lin Geer call him that, Yu Lanyi found it somewhat novel. He nodded with a smile, "Sister-in-law, you can just call me Lanyi. If there's anything you need, please let me know. I'll have the servants replace or add things as needed."

Yu Lanyi personally escorted Zheng Shancheng and Lin Geer to their room. Since they were a married couple and might want some privacy, Yu Lanyi did not linger.

"Brother and sister-in-law, hot water will be brought over soon. After your long trip, you should freshen up and rest."

Zheng Shancheng carefully chose his words, "Thanks for your help."

"Brother, it's my pleasure," Yu Lanyi replied gracefully.

He quietly sighed in relief. Zheng Shanci and his brother looked somewhat alike. Zheng Shancheng had rugged good looks, while Zheng Shanci was strikingly handsome. In a crowd, Zheng Shanci was hard to miss, mainly due to his outstanding demeanor.

The younger brother, Zheng Qingyin, was absolutely stunning.

But where was the younger brother?

Yu Lanyi: "..."

Yu Lanyi thought he'd lost Zheng Qingyin, only to realize that Zheng Qingyin was following behind him. Right, he still needed to take Zheng Qingyin to his room.

The younger brother was so good-looking, yet he seemed almost invisible.

"Qingyin, this is your room. See if it works for you. If not, please let me know," Yu Lanyi said, pushing open the door to the room.

He had kept in mind that Zheng Qingyin was an unmarried young man and had decorated the room with vibrant colors. The room was mostly bright blue, with a freshly picked wintersweet in a vase on the table. The bed curtains were thin gauze, flowing gently as if alive.

There were also two large wardrobes in the room. Yu Lanyi said, "Check if the inner clothes fit. I chose larger sizes."

Zheng Qingyin looked at the room and was momentarily stunned, "Thank you, Second brother's wife. This is more than enough."

"Rest for now. Someone will bring hot water and pastries later. Do you have any favorites in particular?"

Zheng Qingyin shook his head, "I don't have any favorites in particular."

Yu Lanyi generously said, "Then I'll have them bring a few common flavors. Try them all; you might find one you like."

Seeing Zheng Qingyin always keeping his head down, Yu Lanyi smiled, "Qingyin, I'll take you all out for a stroll tonight. There are some interesting places here."

"Thank you, Second brother's wife," Zheng Qingyin smiled.

With everything settled, Yu Lanyi decided to let them rest for a while. When he and Zheng Shanci first arrived in Xinfeng County, they were out of sorts for days. Even though they traveled by carriage, it was still tiring and mentally draining.

He stepped out of the room and finally relaxed. He looked at Jin Yun with pride, "How did I do just now?"

Jin Yun gave a thumbs up, "Master, your performance was impeccable."

Yu Lanyi became even more pleased. He tried to downplay it, "There's still much to do. I need to instruct the kitchen to prepare more hearty dishes tonight, maybe a chicken soup to nourish everyone."

"Alright, Master. I'll pass on the instructions."

"When they wake up, Zheng Shanci should be back," Yu Lanyi mused. "Zheng Shanci and his brother look so alike. The sister-in-law is also very beautiful, and his younger brother looks so well-behaved."

"The whole family is so good-looking?!" Yu Lanyi exclaimed in astonishment.

Jin Yun thought to himself that the master's family was also quite good-looking.

Yu Lanyi was hosting relatives for the first time by himself, and they were from Zheng Shanci's side. He was excited and determined to do well, hoping to impress Zheng Shanci.

The thought alone gave him motivation.

...

Someone brought hot water, fresh fruits, and pastries, with the pastries still steaming. Lin Geer opened the wardrobe, finding nothing but two cotton-lined undergarments. He reached out to touch them—soft and made of good material.

"Wow, this life is like a dream come true," Lin Geer murmured, touching the bed curtains and gazing at the array of bottles and jars on the dressing table, his eyes gleaming with delight.

The table, the vase, the bed... it felt like living in heaven.

Zheng Shancheng said, "If you're not bathing, I'll go ahead."

"I'm coming. Who wants your used bathwater?" Lin Geer happily went to soak in the bathtub, humming contentedly and even asking Zheng Shancheng to feed him oranges.

Zheng Shancheng was speechless.

"I wish I could live like this forever," Lin Geer said with a grin.

He put on the cotton clothes prepared by Yu Lanyi and sat on the bed, feeling as if he were sinking into it, as though sleeping on a cloud. Lin Geer rolled around on the bed, his eyes sparkling.

The bed was so soft, so soft.

After finishing his bath, Zheng Shancheng came out and saw Lin Geer lying contentedly across the bed, hugging the bedding.

Zheng Shancheng: "..."

"The furnishings here are ten, no, a hundred times better than what we saw at the Xiangs' place," Lin Geer said, looking up at the bed canopy. "Honey, I've never slept on a bed like this. It's so comfy."

Zheng Shancheng replied, "Don't get too carried away."

Zheng Shancheng knew Lin Geer had always yearned for the life of the wealthy. When he was a servant, he had even considered climbing the social ladder, but after thinking about his status, he gave up. It was better to settle down with a man and live a steady life.

Now, living with Zheng Shancheng in the magistrate's residence, Lin Geer felt utterly delighted.

There was a knock at the door, and Lin Geer immediately sat up straight.

"Master, we've brought some snow pear syrup. May we come in and set it down?"

"Come in," Zheng Shancheng said, though the title "Master" still felt awkward to him.

The servants entered, heads bowed, placing the snow pear syrup on the table. A few others brought in charcoal heaters and then quietly left. The snow pear syrup was made with ingredients like rehmannia root, kudzu root, radish, ophiopogon root, ginger juice, fritillaria, and honey. It was not only delicious but also nourishing, a medicinal concoction. Lin Geer got out of bed, scooped a few spoonfuls into a small bowl, and began to eat.

He closed his eyes, savoring the bliss. Seeing Lin Geer so entranced, Zheng Shancheng curiously sat down, scooped some for himself, and tasted it. It was good, but nothing special. Zheng Shancheng didn't find it particularly remarkable.

Zheng Qingyin, after his bath and having eaten the snow pear syrup, lay down on the soft bed and quietly closed his eyes. The bed was so comfy he fell asleep right away.

...

Xin Feng County had heavier snowfall than other areas. Zheng Shanci issued a notice urging the people to clear the snow in front of their homes. If they failed to do so, they would face fines. Hearing about the fines, even the laziest folks gritted their teeth and cleared the snow. It wasn't much work, and paying a fine would be a nightmare. Once the snow piled up, walking became difficult, and the roads had to be cleared by the yamen officers. Zheng Shanci offered a daily allowance of five coins to those who cleared the snow.

Getting paid for clearing snow, even if it was just a little, was better than nothing.

The yamen officers, encouraged by this, felt motivated.

Having finished his official duties for the day, Zheng Shanci didn't linger at the yamen and headed straight home.

"Lord Zheng bolted out today," Deputy Magistrate Qi wondered if something big was about to happen.

Scribe Jiang said, "I heard that Lord Zheng's family has arrived. He probably went to see his family."

Scribe Jiang pondered, thinking that he should visit the Zheng residence during this period, bringing some gifts for Lord Zheng's family. His wife came from a small place, and that area had some local specialties. He would bring some of those, so Lord Zheng couldn't say anything and it would show that he was thoughtful.

Deputy Magistrate Qi, upon hearing that there was nothing urgent, waved his hand and left.

The winter snow and rain were heavier than usual, but the people of Xin Feng County were generally happy. A heavy snowfall was a sign of a good harvest year, and next spring should be prosperous. If the heavens were pleased, the people would be pleased too.

As soon as Zheng Shanci returned home, he saw Yu Lanyi talking to Lin Geer. Zheng Shanci greeted her respectfully, calling her "sister-in-law."

"I was just talking to sister-in-law. She said she wanted to buy clothes for them, but the clothes we brought are still enough. There's no need to go to the trouble of buying more," Lin Geer said, still feeling a bit embarrassed. Spending money like this would surely cost a lot.

Although she had never managed a household—Mr. Zheng had always been in charge—she knew that supporting an entire household like this would require a lot of money. They had come here to enjoy life, but they couldn't be too greedy.

They couldn't just rely on Zheng Shanci all the time. They needed to find some work to do, or else the goodwill between them would eventually fade.

Zheng Shanci said, "It's no trouble. I see that your clothes are a bit thin. You probably didn't expect Xin Feng County's winter to be so cold. Buy a few thick cotton clothes. If you get sick, going to the doctor will cost even more money."

"Sister-in-law, my husband is right. Don't worry about this. After dinner tonight, we'll go to the shops and take a look. Pick out whatever you like and buy it," Yu Lanyi said, unconsciously exuding an air of extravagance.

Lin Geer looked at him in surprise.

Yu Lanyi quickly corrected himself, "I mean, Zheng... my husband has money. Sister-in-law, you don't need to worry."

Zheng Shanci nodded with a smile, "My husband is right."

For dinner, Yu Lanyi had specifically instructed the cook to prepare a feast. He even had a chicken leg brought out for Zheng Shancheng, "Brother, I heard from Zheng... my husband that your legs aren't in good shape. You should eat what you need to nourish. Have a chicken leg. It's from an old hen that's been stewed for a long time. It's very nourishing."

Zheng Shanci: "..."

He said with a smile, "Yes, brother, eat more meat and drink more soup."

The dinner was indeed lavish. Lin Geer tasted every dish. Although there were many dishes, the portions were not large. By the time they finished, the table was nearly cleared. Zheng Qingyin also ate more than usual, as it was his first time having such delicious food.

Zheng Qingyin thought to himself, why does sister-in-law always look at me like that? It feels so kind, but sister-in-law looks so young.

"The cooks know the portions well. You can try more dishes, but don't waste too much food."

Zheng Shancheng nodded approvingly, "Second brother is right."

They came from the countryside and were used to being frugal. Seeing so much food wasted was hard for them to bear.

After dinner, they all went out.

The snow had stopped falling. Lin Geer and Zheng Qingyin didn't have to clean up the dishes. They could just put them down and go out for a stroll. This was something they had never imagined before—having servants to take care of everything, making life so much easier and more comfortable.

Yu Lanyi had learned from Wang Fu that Zheng Shanci's family had arrived, so he boldly went to the accountant and withdrew fifty taels of silver, using the excuse that it was for household expenses. The accountant glanced at Yu Lanyi's arrogant demeanor and silently approved the request.

With fifty taels of silver in his pocket, Yu Lanyi's usual confidence returned.

Lin Geer and Zheng Qingyin were looking at trinkets at a small stall. Some were bracelets made of red beans, and Lin Geer's eyes sparkled with interest.

Yu Lanyi glanced over and waved his hand grandly, "Buy it!"

Lin Geer's eyes lit up.

Zheng Shanci: "..."