Jin Shanyao and the other two all looked towards the door, but saw nothing. Then they looked out the window and saw two men walking out with their arms around each other's shoulders.
"Hey bro... go have some fun, I know a hot chick."
"Go away... I have to head back tomorrow morning. Let's find a hot spring and soak in it to relax." The two said as they left.
Jin Shanyao her gaze and said sarcastically, "You run fast, don't you?"
Meng Anci, "It's related to those twenty-eight soldiers."
Jin Shanyao. "All three forces are looking for Xuanjizi; he must be the key to the internal power struggle within the court. Stop thinking about it and let's eat. Even if he's about to die, he won't flee to Qingzhou Prefecture."
After dinner, the three of them carried the crispy mountain back home. The cool evening breeze felt very comfortable on their skin. Once back at the Anzhi Hall, Meng Anci immediately went into his study.
The next day, Fan Er came to the shop to deliver the ointment. After unloading the goods, he sidled up to Jin Shanyao.
"Master... we've run out of medicinal wine on the estate, I'd like to take some back." Alcohol is prohibited on the estate; they only take as much as they need from the shop.
Jin Shanyao called out to the counter, " Xiaosi... bring over a few bottles of medicinal wine," then turned to Fan Er, "Who bumped into something?"
"No..." Fan Er hurriedly waved his hand, "Yesterday, Yu Manzi came looking for Sister Miao. Sister Miao came back limping, and there was a bruise on her face."
Zhou Xiaosi handed the medicinal wine to Fan Er and casually said, " Miao Dou got beaten up again. If you ask me, Miao Dou should go to the yamen to sue him. With Lord Su's temper, he'll give him a beating even if they don't get a divorce."
"It might cure it temporarily, but it won't last. I think it's still a poison..."
Meng Anzhi quickly covered Jin Shanyao's mouth, and said earnestly, "I understand... I understand everything."
Jin Shanyao at her sideways, as if asking if she really understood?
Meng Anzhi nodded repeatedly, her expression utterly sincere. It was nothing more than poisoning them all... poisoning them without anyone knowing.
Jin Shanyao revealed a satisfied smile. Not to brag, but her two children had the strongest comprehension abilities.
Her eyes fell on Fan Er, and seeing that he was embarrassed and hesitant to speak, she asked doubtfully, "Is there anything else?"
Fan Er scratched his head, "Master... the medicinal herbs at the foot of the mountain are almost ripe, shouldn't we hire some people?"
"Speak your mind."
Fan Er chuckled twice, "Sister Miao's son, Yu Mancang, seems like a fine young man to me. I figured since I'd be hiring people to harvest anyway, I might as well hire him and give him a couple of good meals."
He once saw Miao Dou giving Yu Mancang a steamed bun, which Yu Mancang ate ravenously. This reminded him of his childhood experience of gnawing on tree bark.
He didn't tell Wu Yong about this, but only told Miao Dou privately that it wasn't right to do this, and that if Wu Yong found out, he would fire her.
When the child comes again, we'll send his meals over. It's okay if he goes hungry for a meal or two, but he can't take anything from the host family anymore.
Sister Miao was extremely grateful to Fan Er. She was not from the village and had no way of talking to Jin Shanyao, so she begged Fan Er to help her son find a job with the master so he could earn a living.
The matter of hiring people has always been managed by Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci.
Meng Anzhi said to Fan Er, "The medicinal herb harvest will still be a while away, and I will consider Yu Mancang then."
"Hey, hey..." Fan Er chuckled, "Well, if there's nothing else, Master, I'll be going now..." With that, he left the shop carrying several bottles of medicinal wine.
Fan Er returned to the manor and immediately went to find Miao Dou with the medicinal wine in his pocket. "Sister Miao..." He knocked on the door, but there was no answer in the quiet courtyard.
Feeling puzzled, Fan Er turned and walked towards the kitchen, calling out as he went, but there was no one there.
Miao Dou wasn't from the village; her movements were limited to the front yard, and she couldn't even step into the second courtyard. Where could she possibly go?
Never mind, I'll give it to her tonight.
Fan Er put down the medicinal wine and planned to go to the back room to help with the work. He always liked to take shortcuts, which could save a lot of effort, but this shortcut required going through the side door of the small kitchen.
Just as I stepped over the threshold, I bumped into Miao Dou, who was furtively standing on the anchor stone, peering through the window of the back room—the ointment shop.
Fan Er strode forward, grabbed her, and warned in a low voice, "Are you crazy? How many times has Steward Wu warned you not to enter the inner courtyard? How dare you run here?"
Miao Dou lowered her eyes and said softly, "The main kitchen ran out of salt, so I came to the small kitchen to get some. I heard laughter and talking inside, and I couldn't help but want to take a look."
Fan Er, you know I don't have many friends. You guys are busy all day, so I only get to chat with you briefly during meals.
"I know it's not easy for you, but you can't peek," Fan Er thought for a moment. "The young master said that when it's time to harvest the medicinal herbs, he'll consider having Yu Mancang come and help, then you'll have someone to talk to."
Miao Dou was overjoyed and grabbed Fan Er's arm. " Fan Er, the young master has agreed to let my son come and help?"
Fan Er awkwardly withdrew his hand, "It's not agreement, it's consideration..."
Seeing the smile freeze on Miao Dou's face after he finished speaking, he quickly reassured her, "Don't worry, young master is kind-hearted. Since he said he'd consider it, it's probably settled. Go back quickly, don't let anyone see you."
Fan Er urged her to leave, then turned and went into the back room to help.
Miao Dou glanced longingly into the window, then warily scanned her surroundings before quickly leaving.
Fan Er felt something was off. Aunt Miao used to be very well-behaved and quiet. What had happened to her lately? He glanced at Wu Yong, struggling with whether or not to tell him.
But thinking of Miao Dou's plight, if he lost this job, he would be tormented by her husband's family when she got home... He would wait a little longer. If she was still peeking out the window, he would definitely tell Wu Yong.
Not long after Fan Er left, Xiao Huzi walked in with a satchel on his back, climbed onto a chair with practiced ease, and stared at Jin Shanyao with a bitter and resentful expression.
"Auntie, you were looking for me?"
Jin Shanyao smiled and nodded, "I still owe you one coin. If you have any questions, please ask."
Why ask?... He got five out of fifteen characters wrong on his exam this time. He'll be in deep trouble when he gets home. Xiao Huzi is facing certain death, so he's indifferent to everything.
"Since there's no problem, here's your money back," Jin Shanyao said, pushing the coin in front of Xiao Huzi.
Xiao Huzi stared at the one-coin coin for a long time, then his eyes suddenly lit up, and he said excitedly, "Auntie says your talismans are amazing, can you give me a defensive talisman? The kind that doesn't hurt no matter how much you hit me."
He gripped the bag strap with his small hands, his eyes full of anticipation. Since the outcome couldn't be changed, he could only think of some Evil Dao.
Jin Shanyao at his teasing, "Alright, but the talisman can only be used once."
Xiao Huzi looked astonished. These talismans really existed! He excitedly slammed his hand on the table, pushed a coin next to Jin Shanyao, and declared with boundless pride, "Give me one..."
Jin Shanyao casually drew a talisman and handed it to him, instructing, "It can only be used once. Make sure no one hits you, otherwise it will lose its effect."
Xiao Huzi clutched the precious bag in his hand, his little face serious, and said very earnestly, "Auntie, don't worry... even if I get scolded to death before we get home, I won't talk back."
After saying this, he climbed down from the chair and went back to the next room. Soon after, Wang Jinlian's angry roar came from next door.
"You got five out of fifteen characters wrong. How did you study?"
"Say..."
"You dare to glare at me... and speak..."
"Fine... give me a silent resistance, huh...?"
*Snap snap snap... Xiao Huzi felt no pain in his body, but his heart was bleeding because the talisman in his hand had turned to ash.
Seeing him staring at his palm, Wang Jinlian angrily said, "Instead of studying properly, you're playing with dust? I'm going to beat you to death today!"
Waaah... Xiao Huzi let out a heart-wrenching cry...
... A single penny was wasted...