Something's Not Right

The fourth day since joining the inner courtyard.

At noon that day, Lin Yin did not stay in the manor to eat steamed buns as usual. Instead, he left the manor early.

Passing through the slightly desolate market, Lin Yin arrived in front of a small shop, about twenty square meters in size.

A familiar figure was sitting in front of the shop, calling out and bustling.

"Come and see, come and see—

Newly woven green hemp cloth!

The hemp stalks are soaked clean, the yarn is spun evenly and doesn't scratch the skin. Wear it for short tunics and hoes, tailor a pair of thin pants for the midsummer heat!

Three feet wide and two feet narrow, half a bolt for ten coins is enough for the whole family. Old man, wear this when you go to the fields; wife, it's also convenient for washing and starching. Miss this village, and you won't find this shop. Hemp cloth waits for no one!"

The skilled hawking voice seemed a bit hoarse from shouting for a long time, but it was exceptionally loud. Farmers and women would occasionally stop and linger nearby.

The old mother always greeted people with a smile, and her business seemed exceptionally prosperous.

Lin Yin stopped outside the crowd and watched for a while. Only when there were fewer people in front of the shop did he walk over.

"Mom..."

"Yin'er is here!"

Madam Wang's slightly tired face instantly lit up. She put down the piece of fabric she hadn't quite finished arranging and hurried over.

She first looked Lin Yin up and down, and after confirming that her son seemed to have gotten a bit stronger, she happily pulled him into the shop.

"Are you hungry? Mom made it all for you, right?"

"Mom, you should rest first. I'll do it myself."

The palm-sized area behind the tailor shop was crammed with pots, bowls, and pans. Lin Yin sat on a small wooden stool and began to eat with a "puchi puchi" sound.

Today, his mother made a rare bowl of beef rice for lunch. It could be seen that his mother's business had been good recently.

But that made sense.

Lin Yin had observed that there were almost no tailor shops selling hemp cloth nearby. Other larger tailor shops were mostly located in the center of Langshi Town, near the Langshi Tavern.

The clothes sold there were mostly expensive, and ordinary people couldn't afford them at all.

Selling coarse hemp cloth at affordable prices like his mother, Madam Wang He, naturally attracted the surrounding neighbors.

Perhaps it was only after experiencing hardship that one knew what people truly needed?

"Thick and warm cotton clothes, don't miss it if you pass by..."

His mother's hawking voice lingered in his ears. Lin Yin silently ate the beef rice in his bowl, finding it more and more delicious with every chew.

Ding-a-ling...

It sounded like the crisp sound of a bell.

Lin Yin, who had just swallowed the last piece of beef mixed with rice, looked up and saw his old mother pulling a figure into the shop.

"Big Brother!"

Her clear voice was like a yellow oriole's cry. Lin Yin saw a figure, like a colorful butterfly, pounce forward and hug him directly.

"Lin... Ai'er?"

With a look of confusion and shock in his eyes, Lin Yin subconsciously pushed the person in his arms away.

"Why did you come here?"

Looking at the excited and emotional girl in front of him, Lin Yin asked.

"Hmph, your sister finally came out to see you for a bit of fun, and this is all you have to say after so long!"

The girl turned her head away, looking sulky.

Even so, Lin Yin noticed a subtle shimmer in the corner of the girl's slightly turned-away eyes.

Clearly, this little girl was watching his reaction.

He glanced up at his mother, who was standing silently with a smiling face, and Lin Yin understood. He deliberately put on a troubled expression.

"Alas, this was my oversight. You came all this way, and I didn't prepare any gifts."

The girl's mouth pouted, and tears welled up. Lin Yin's seemingly troubled expression suddenly broke into a smile.

His palm produced a wooden hairpin, about a finger long. A flower resembling a rose was carved on its head.

Lin Yin had actually learned from his mother a few days ago that Lin Ai was coming. This small gift had been prepared for a while.

"Ah!"

The girl exclaimed in surprise and joy, snatching the hairpin from Lin Yin's hand. She examined it carefully, then happily pinned it to her temple.

"Does it look good?"

Her bright, sparkling eyes held anticipation.

Lin Yin smiled and nodded.

"Thank you, Big Brother!"

Her voice, like silver bells, was exceptionally pleasant, adding a touch of unique vitality to the now somewhat tranquil shop.

"Ai'er has been helping out at the shop frequently these past few days. Thanks to her, I've been able to relax quite a bit."

Beside him, his mother smiled, happily watching the siblings.

Lin Ai eagerly questioned Lin Yin about his life at Fist Manor, overwhelming him with her curiosity.

From the smallest details to the Martial Arts taught in the manor, the young girl seemed curious about everything.

It wasn't until close to the hour of Shen (3-5 PM) that the girl reluctantly departed.

Watching her retreating figure, veiled and heading towards the market, Lin Yin's smile slowly faded.

"Mother… Ai'er doesn't seem to be going home."

He frowned slightly. The world was chaotic now, and it was best for a beautiful young girl like Lin Ai to be cautious.

"She's going to go through the market and take a detour. There are many people there, so it's safer," his mother explained.

Lin Yin immediately understood.

It seemed Lin Ai wasn't an ignorant, naive girl after all. Third Uncle had clearly instructed her on some precautions.

Thinking of Third Uncle, Lin Yin couldn't help but ask about his recent situation. During their conversation, he noticed that whenever Third Uncle was mentioned, Lin Ai's expression turned somewhat dejected.

Lin Yin hadn't seen Third Uncle for days and suspected something was amiss.

"Haven't the meat prices been skyrocketing recently? Your Second Uncle, I don't know how he got connected, is planning to open a butcher shop.

Perhaps because of this, your Third Uncle, who manages the shop's business, is incredibly busy."

"A butcher shop?"

Lin Yin frowned.

However, his mother, Madam Wang, didn't seem overly worried.

"I heard he's partnered with a group of hunters, who can supply an endless stream of wild game?"

"An endless stream of wild game?"

The more Lin Yin listened, the more he felt something was wrong.

Tiger Head Mountain certainly had abundant resources, but to say it was an endless supply was an exaggeration.

Most importantly, there were unsettling rumors coming from the depths of Tiger Head Mountain lately, and few hunters dared to venture there. With only the outer areas, where could so much wild game come from to supply a butcher shop?

Despite his doubts, Lin Yin saw that his mother appeared unconcerned and decided to put the matter aside for now.

After helping his mother organize some fabrics, Lin Yin hurried back to Fist Manor.

For the next few days, Lin Yin's life was both regular and pleasant. Besides eating steamed buns at Fist Manor, he would go home for an extra meal every afternoon and occasionally disguise himself to hunt on the mountain.

However, this peace didn't last long.

One night.

BANG… BANG BANG!

The simple wooden door of the house was slammed against repeatedly.

Lin Yin was jolted awake from his sleep. He opened his room door to find his mother, wrapped in a robe, carefully approaching the door with incense and candles.

"Open the door! Hurry and open the door!" The shouts from outside grew louder.

Lin Yin frowned, signaling his mother not to move rashly, and then went to the door himself.

"Taxes! It's time to pay taxes! You're among the last few households, open the door quickly."

Taxes…

Through a gap in the door frame, Lin Yin saw several bailiffs in blue-grey short tunics, holding knives, standing at the entrance with impatient expressions.