Chapter 73

Chapter 73

After setting up the morning market stall, Lu Yuan began arranging the table, discussing with Qi Cheng whether to hire an oxcart or a horse carriage for their return journey.

After some deliberation, they both agreed that a horse carriage would be the better option.

Though more expensive, a horse carriage was faster, sparing the elderly and children much discomfort. Moreover, with the current unrest outside, a quicker trip meant less time spent in worry.

Qi Cheng said, "I'll go to the West Market later to inquire when the furniture will be ready. Then we can finalize the return date."

Before setting a date, they needed to check on the furniture's progress. After all, they couldn't bring everyone into the city only to have them stay at an inn because their house wasn't yet furnished.

Lu Yuan replied, "Perfect. I've had a new idea too."

Qi Cheng asked curiously, "What new idea?"

Lu Yuan explained, "Since we're new to the city, we likely won't have many belongings. The back rooms can serve as temporary accommodation for Chun Hua and Qiu Hua. When the children are older, we can move to a larger house."

She envisioned transforming that room into a children's nursery.

Qi Cheng questioned, "Didn't we initially plan for them to share a room with Grandma? Why the change of heart?"

Lu Yuan, still arranging the long bench, replied without looking up, "Even though the children are young, they still need some personal space."

Hearing this, Qi Cheng raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Personal space"—this was the first time he'd heard the term, especially applied to two children whose combined ages didn't even reach ten.

Qi Cheng didn't press further, simply saying, "You can arrange it however you like."

As the crowd thinned, Lu Yuan headed to the West Market.

While inquiring about the furniture's progress, she also conveyed her additional requests to the carpenter.

She asked him to shorten the legs of one bed by half to create a low bed.

She also ordered an extra low table with two small drawers and provided the carpenter with the dimensions of the back rooms to make floor planks.

The back rooms were similar in size to the room she and Qi Cheng currently occupied. Since the area under the bed didn't require flooring, fewer boards would be needed.

In colder weather, even if the children stayed indoors, they could lay out a mat on the floor to play.

These additional requests would cost over four hundred *wen*.

Lu Yuan gritted her teeth and agreed.

The furniture was nearly complete and was originally scheduled for two-day delivery, but with her new requests, it would now take four days in total.

After clarifying everything, Lu Yuan returned to the East Market to find Qi Cheng.

Just as she exited the West Market and reached the entrance of the East Market, she heard the rapid clip-clop of horse hooves and someone shouting, "Make way!" She quickly stepped aside to the roadside.

Soon, she saw the Deputy Magistrate, mounted on a large horse, leading a group of people riding briskly towards the city gate.

Lu Yuan watched the departing riders, a frown of worry creasing her brow.

If she wasn't mistaken, the Deputy Magistrate was likely heading out due to the matter concerning Liu Yang Village.

At the morning market, many people were discussing the bandits' attack on the village, and she learned that the affected village was called Liu Yang Village.

Many men had been killed, and some women and children had been abducted by the bandits. Early that morning, a letter had been sent to the public office demanding a ransom.

Lu Yuan could discern that while the bandits were openly demanding ransom, they were secretly provoking and threatening.

They were threatening the authorities that if the bandit suppression continued, they would escalate their actions, and Liu Yang Village was merely the beginning.

No wonder previous officials' attempts to suppress the bandits had all come to nothing.

These bandits were so ruthless that officials were unwilling to shoulder such a heavy responsibility.

She had heard from Qi Cheng that although these bandits typically only robbed wealthy merchants and households, they never harmed ordinary civilians. However, during harvest season, they would descend from the mountains to steal grain and abduct people.

It was almost like raising livestock—fattening them up before the slaughter.

The long-standing harassment meant that every harvest season, people were on edge.

If the bandits weren't suppressed, they would only grow bolder, and more people would die as a result.

Lu Yuan was also filled with apprehension.

Moreover, Qi Cheng planned to return to Weishan Village in four days to fetch everyone, right when the Deputy Magistrate's crackdown on the bandits was happening. The thought made her anxious.

But if they didn't go, neither she nor Qi Cheng would sleep soundly.

Lu Yuan returned to the stall in low spirits and informed Qi Cheng about seeing the Deputy Magistrate leave the city.

Qi Cheng was quiet for a moment before saying, "In four days, I'll go back to bring Grandma and the children to the city."

As for other matters, it was beyond his power to resolve.

After packing up and returning home, they had lunch and went to the livery stable to book a horse carriage for the return trip. They also inquired if any drivers had passed through Anping Town recently, hoping to send a message back, but no one had traveled that way in the past few days.

Seeing this, they had no choice but to ask a postal runner to deliver a letter to Youjian Eatery in Anping Town. When Liu Sanlang delivered vegetables to the restaurant, he could pass along the message.

Four days passed in the blink of an eye.

Early in the morning, the booked horse carriage arrived outside their home.

Lu Yuan walked Qi Cheng to the door, reminding him, "Bring everyone back as early as possible. Don't delay too long."

Qi Cheng nodded, "Understood."

Lu Yuan handed him a basket and said, "All three bed warmers are inside. It'll be cold on the road, and Grandma and the two children are delicate. Make sure they use them during the trip. There are also some buns inside for you to eat on the way there and back."

Qi Cheng chuckled, "Did you get up so early just to buy these buns?"

Lu Yuan muttered, "As if I've never gotten up early before."

Qi Cheng smiled, "I was just worried you'd catch a cold. If you'd told me you were going to the morning market to buy buns, I could've gone instead."

Lu Yuan said, "You have a tiring trip today. It's better for you to conserve your energy."

With the unrest on the roads, she definitely wanted him to be well-rested.

After deciding on the date for the trip, they had been closing their evening market stall earlier than usual—an hour and a half ahead of time, packing up as soon as it turned *hai shi* (9–11 p.m.).

Qi Cheng nodded and said, "Go back inside. It's cold out."

The carriage was waiting in front of the shop, and they had to cut through an alley back home.

Lu Yuan: "I'll go back after I watch you leave."

Qi Cheng didn't try to persuade her further. He took the basket and the hatchet he had brought to the city earlier and boarded the carriage.

To avoid the coachman getting the wrong idea, he explained, "The roads aren’t very safe these days, so I brought this for self-defense."

The coachman nodded, "I understand, I understand. If it weren’t for making a living, I wouldn’t be driving during this time either."

As the carriage drove away, Lu Yuan watched it gradually disappear into the distance, pressing her palms together and praying that they would smoothly bring everyone back to the city.

Lu Yuan returned home and, after about three-quarters of an hour, went out to the East Market to buy provisions for the new house, also taking the opportunity to tidy up the children’s rooms.

The furniture had been delivered yesterday afternoon, but they were in a hurry to set up the stall and hadn’t had much time to organize it.

She and Qi Cheng had agreed that once they arrived in the city, they would go straight to the new house and wouldn’t need to come back here.

At the East Market, Lu Yuan bought a chicken and paid an extra five *wen* to have it slaughtered. She also bought two *jin* (about 1 kg) of mutton and a sugarcane, planning to make mutton soup.

Mutton is warming and nourishing; drinking mutton soup in winter helps keep the body warm.

There weren’t many green vegetables to choose from in winter, only napa cabbage. She bought a few heads, planning to use some mutton broth to blanch the cabbage and tofu skin.

Lately, she had been making soy milk and tofu, and had also saved up two or three *jin* of tofu skin.

She was also thinking that in a few days, when more people started making fried dough sticks (*youtiao*), she would stop making them. By then, she would have saved enough tofu skin to make some old-fashioned spicy tofu skin slices.

Now, in winter, soy milk can help cut through the greasiness and spiciness. When the weather gets warmer, she could also try making some refreshing drinks.

After eating heavy, flavorful snacks, one definitely needs a drink.

These were all things to do later; there was no need to rush into thinking about them now.

After buying groceries, Lu Yuan went straight to the new house.

Yesterday, she and Qi Cheng hadn’t gone to the morning market and had come early to tidy up, so today the place was already clean and inviting.

Lu Yuan put the groceries in the kitchen and began tidying up the rooms.

Each room had an extra new quilt. The old quilts brought from the village would be used as under-quilts for the elderly lady and the children.

The room that took the most care was the children’s.

A straw mat was spread on the floor, and a table against the wall held a cloth tiger toy and a rattle drum that Qi Cheng had bought, along with two cups.

The low bed had a row of short guardrails along the edge, so there was no need to worry about the children falling off while sleeping at night.

Light fabric curtains were hung around the bed to keep out drafts.

On the bed were two small soft pillows made by Lu Yuan, as well as a soft-colored quilt.

Though the room was small, it was very cozy.

Chun Hua and Qiu Hua would surely be delighted when they saw this room.

Although she couldn’t yet see these two children as her own, she would do her best to provide them with the best care.

The two children relied on her, and she, in turn, relied on them, as well as on Qi Cheng and the elderly lady.

In an unfamiliar world where she knew no one, after solving the basic problems of food, clothing, and shelter, the most challenging thing was facing loneliness.

Lu Yuan knew herself—she was someone who loved social interaction and couldn’t bear being alone for long periods.

But she also didn’t dare to rush into marriage just to avoid loneliness.

If she had been alone when she first arrived, she probably wouldn’t have married for several years.

During those years, her lively self might have become withdrawn and solitary, or she might even have developed depression.

After tidying up the rooms, Lu Yuan went into the kitchen to start making the mutton soup.

Her mother was best at stewing mutton soup, and she had learned a thing or two from her.

Unlike clear broth mutton soup, hers was richer in flavor.

She stir-fried the mutton with ginger, garlic, and spices, seasoning it with soy sauce and salt. When the fragrance became pronounced, she poured in boiling water and added a section of sugarcane to stew together.

It took about an hour for the mutton to become tender enough for the elderly and children to eat.

As the mutton soup was nearly ready, Lu Yuan glanced at the sky.

It was probably almost 1 p.m. Qi Cheng had left around 7 a.m., so it had been about six hours now.

Before leaving, Qi Cheng had said they would return in about six hours.

The carriage was fast; if they didn’t make any stops, the round trip would take about four hours. The extra two hours would be enough for them to pack and say goodbye to the villagers. They should be arriving soon.

Lu Yuan couldn’t sit still. After turning off the fire, she went out to the road and paced back and forth, waiting.

An older neighbor from the alley saw her and asked, "Are you the new resident?"

Lu Yuan recognized her as the woman from the next courtyard and smiled in response. "We just moved in today. Once the family is here and settled, I’ll come by to visit you, Auntie."

The neighbor asked with a smile, "Is your family not in the city yet?"

Just as Lu Yuan nodded, she heard the sound of a carriage. She craned her neck to look.

Soon, a carriage with a blue canopy turned onto the street.

Lu Yuan recognized it—it was the same carriage and coachman who had picked up Qi Cheng that morning.

Excitedly, she said to the neighbor, "They’re here, they’re here!"

She quickly raised her hand and waved to the coachman.

The coachman drove toward her. When he reached her, she pointed to the alley and said, "Go down this alley—the fifth courtyard is ours."

Hearing the noise, someone inside the carriage lifted the curtain, revealing two small heads.

"Mother!"

"Mother!"

Two clear, lively voices melted Lu Yuan’s heart.

After greeting them, Lu Yuan quickly led the carriage into the alley and stopped it in front of the house.

The coachman jumped down, and Lu Yuan began helping the children down one by one, then helped the elderly lady.

The elderly lady seemed listless, a clear sign of the long journey, and didn’t greet her.

Lu Yuan assumed she was just tired from the carriage ride.

It wasn't until everyone had gotten off that Lu Yuan noticed Qi Cheng was missing. Her smile froze, and she asked the expressionless old woman, "Madam, where is my husband?"

The old woman glanced at her but said nothing, wearing a troubled expression.

Instead, the coachman spoke up, "We encountered the Deputy Magistrate on the road. Your husband was pressed into service by the Deputy Magistrate as a guide. The Deputy Magistrate then sent a few men to escort us to the city gate."

Having driven a carriage for seven or eight years, this was the first time the coachman had been given an escort by public office personnel.

Hearing the coachman's words, Lu Yuan froze; she stood completely stunned for a moment.

Qi Cheng was pressed into service by the Deputy Magistrate as a guide?

A guide? Guide for what?!