Chapter 11

Chapter 11

[Bedside] “Miss Yang, please show some mercy and let me go! I have old and young relatives to care for, and it was only because Miss Yao threatened them that I made such a mistake…” The assassin handed over several broken silver coins and a fifty-two silver note. Yang Yu said coldly, “You were a servant of the Yao Family, but my Yang Family supported you and your master. Stop pretending to be pitiful!” With that, she turned around and handed the silver note and broken silver coins to Su Liang. Su Liang shook her head, “You take it as your travel expenses and head home.” Yang Yu looked embarrassed, “It’s a long journey, and I am a woman alone…” Su Liang also realized that she was being too simplistic. This was ancient times, after all, and the chances of a woman traveling alone without incident were slim. “I can go back and send a message to the young master to come to pick up the young lady!” The assassin offered eagerly. “After you escape, you will run away. Do you think I’m stupid?” Yang Yu scolded, then mocked herself, “I am stupid, otherwise how would I have ended up like this?” “What do you plan to do?” Su Liang asked directly. Yang Yu looked at Ning Jing, “Could you send someone to deliver a message to my brother?” Ning Jing shook his head, “I have no one to send.” Yang Yu hesitated and sighed, “I’m sorry, I thought… If there’s anything you need the Yang Family’s help with, as long as I can safely reunite with my brother, I will do my best.” Ning Jing looked at Su Liang, “Shall we shelter her for a few days?” “I have no objections.” Su Liang agreed. Yang Yu’s face lit up, “Thank you both!” The assassin named Yao Wei led them to where the trafficker was staying, but he was long gone. Ba Zihu sent someone with a carriage to take Su Liang home. Without any hesitation, Su Liang picked up a stone, knocked Yao Wei unconscious, and threw him into the carriage. She ordered the coachman to wait at the entrance of the town. … Walking into the Book Shop, Ning Jing said, “Settle the bill.” The manager smiled and brought out the neatly packed bundle of books and stationery items, counting the cost on his abacus, “These items cost a total of twenty-nine taels of silver and six coins. Wipe away the six coins, and it’s twenty-nine taels!” In total, she spent nearly sixty taels of silver, half of which was gone in an instant. But Su Liang had always believed that money is not saved, but earned. She needs to learn the words and laws of this world as soon as possible to feel confident. She brought some miscellaneous grains, brown sugar, red dates, various condiments, and some blood-nourishing medicinal materials from the Pharmacy. Then they went to the Clothing Store, picked out two thicker garments, found the price expensive, and switched to cheaper materials. Yang Yu knew Ning Jing bought those books for Su Liang and admired her even more. She was willing to spend a lot of money on books but was not concerned with her appearance. “You should choose something to change into,” Su Liang looked at Yang Yu. This was necessary, and Yang Yu didn’t put on airs. She chose a skirt made of the same material Su Liang had bought. “Can you make underwear?” Su Liang asked Yang Yu quietly. Yang Yu nodded. So Su Liang bought a piece of the finest cotton cloth, scissors, rulers, needles, and thread, as well as a set of tools for making clothes. She had to make her underwear, and she could learn from Yang Yu. When they were about to leave, Su Liang remembered Ning Jing, “Do you need clothes?” Ning Jing didn’t answer and turned away. Yang Yu chuckled, “Master Ning must be upset that you neglected him. Pick something for him, and he will surely like it.” Su Liang coughed lightly, “He just doesn’t like to talk, don’t overthink it.” “The two of you are really interesting as a couple,” Yang Yu couldn’t help but say. Su Liang thought, a charlatan and a lonely soul, how could they not be interesting… When they left the Clothing Store, Ning Jing was already sitting at a noodle stall. “See, he was just hungry and thought we were taking too long shopping,” Su Liang said. Yang Yu couldn’t help but smile, “Master Ning must be afraid that you’re hungry.” When they approached him, Ning Jing said, “If you want to eat, order for yourselves.” Yang Yu hesitated, but Su Liang laughed at her and gave her an “I told you so” look. The noodles were chewy, but the seasoning was not satisfying. They were only suitable for filling one’s stomach. After finishing the noodles, it was just past noon. The three of them walked into the market. Yang Yu thought Su Liang and Ning Jing were going to buy things. Instead, she saw Su Liang stop at a vegetable stand, bend down to talk to an old woman, and then stand up and ruffle a young farmer’s hair, showing a familiar manner. “Master Ning,” Yang Yu hesitated, then asked the question that had been on her mind, “Is your wife from a military family?” In Qian Country, very few women practiced martial arts, and she was impressed by Su Liang’s skillful fighting abilities. Ning Jing shook his head, “No.” Seeing that he didn’t want to say more, Yang Yu didn’t ask further, but grew more curious about Su Liang’s background. She assumed that Su Liang’s appearance and temperament, coupled with her marriage to Ning Jing, made her no ordinary person. … As soon as they got into the carriage, the driver raised his whip but hadn’t yet brought it down when Ning Jing said, “Wait a moment.” He then got out of the carriage and walked away. “Did Master Ning leave something behind?” Yang Yu asked. Su Liang shook her head, leaning against the carriage wall and closing her eyes to rest. Yang Yu thought Su Liang didn’t want to say anything, but in fact, Su Liang didn’t know what Ning Jing was up to either. After about two quarters of an hour, footsteps approached, Su Liang pulled back the curtain, and saw a handsome man carrying a large wooden tub coming over. It was the bathtub Su Liang needed. She had forgotten about it, but Ning Jing still remembered. … On the way back to the village, Yang Yu kept looking at the scenery outside the carriage. The cool breeze blew in, she took a long breath, her eyes filled with gratitude for having survived the ordeal. Had she not run into Ning Jing and Su Liang, she didn’t know what would have happened to her next. The carriage stopped at the front door, and the coachman helped unload everything and carried it into the courtyard, while the unconscious Yao Wei was tied up and thrown into the firewood room. “My Second Master said, if Mrs. Ning has any instructions, just go to the good luck gambling house in town to find him!” The coachman said, raising his whip and leaving. … Yang Yu followed Su Liang into her room and sat down, looking around with undisguised surprise. “Did you not expect that Young Master Ning Qi would live in such a place?” Su Liang asked. Yang Yu nodded, “I didn’t expect it. The Ning Family is one of the four major merchants in Qian Country, and the Seventh Son is from the main family, I thought that even if he was expelled from the family, he would have a wealthy life, with no worries about food and clothing.” Su Liang asked curiously, “Who are those four major merchants?” “Wan, Li, Ning, and Yang, respectively engaged in food, ceramics, tea, and silk businesses.” Yang Yu said. “Yang is your family?” Su Liang asked. Yang Yu nodded, “Yes, my eldest brother is now the head of the family.” “So, the head of the Ning Family is…” Su Liang asked. Yang Yu looked through the window at Ning Jing, who was carrying things to the kitchen, and sighed softly, “It’s his father, Ning Zhihe, not a good person.” “Did you know him?” Su Liang asked. Yang Yu shook her head, “Only met once. My elder brother said that Ning’s family leader is a hypocrite.” “Do you know why he was expelled from the family?” Su Liang asked. Yang Yu sighed softly, “Rumor has it that he got drunk and set fire to the Ning Family’s warehouse, which stored precious tea leaves, and that it caused a huge loss to the family, who were almost charged with a crime. But it may not be true.” Su Liang didn’t ask any further, just got up and went out. It was not until the evening that the Bai Family returned from town. Bai Xiaohu brought half a basket of eggs and a bunch of wild vegetables that Su Liang had agreed to buy from his family. Having been tense for many days, Yang Yu relaxed and fell asleep at the table, waking up when it was already dark. As she approached the kitchen door, she smelled the enticing aroma wafting out. “There’s hot water in the pot for you to wash up. Get ready for dinner.” Su Liang said as she took out the stuffed pastry she had cooked. Although Yang Yu was a little embarrassed, Su Liang didn’t seem to mind, so she didn’t say much. Braised chicken with radish, stir-fried leafy greens, and pan-seared meat buns. Su Liang also made two red sugar and red date eggs for herself and Yang Yu, with the sweet and fragrant aroma of the two medicinal ingredients added inside. “Why don’t I have any?” Ning Jing couldn’t understand. Yang Yu covered her mouth and laughed, “Young Master Ning, this is to replenish qi and blood for women.” Ning Jing didn’t appear embarrassed, looking at Su Liang and asking, “Can’t men eat qi and blood nourishing food?” Su Liang held her forehead, “Yes, very much so.” She finished speaking, took Ning Jing’s bowl, and gave him half. Ning Jing tasted it, “Not bad.” Yang Yu ate gracefully, complimenting Su Liang’s cooking and offering to clean up the dishes. “You go teach me how to cut and sew clothes, let him clean up.” Su Liang told Yang Yu to put things down. After her surprise, Yang Yu followed Su Liang to the door, suddenly turned back and asked Ning Jing, “Can you contact my elder brother, Young Master Ning?” Ning Jing shook his head, “I can’t.” Yang Yu stared blankly, “Then why did you…” “Your brother isn’t dead, and he’ll come looking for you.” Ning Jing said indifferently. Yang Yu furrowed her brow, “What if he’s bewitched by Yao Qianqian and believes that I eloped with someone, and is so disappointed that he doesn’t come looking for me…” “You don’t need such a foolish brother anyway.” Ning Jing said. Yang Yu’s gaze turned firm, “That won’t happen. My brother must trust me enough to find me no matter what!” Yang Yu carefully taught Su Liang how to cut and sew clothes and make undergarments. The muscle memory of the original owner was still there. When Su Liang picked up the needle and thread, after a brief awkwardness, she quickly got the hang of it. Su Liang brought hot water for washing up, and after saying thank you, Yang Yu told her, “It’s late. You go get some rest, don’t worry about me.” Su Liang was taken aback, as this seemed to be her own room. The bed was not big, and sleeping two thin girls would be crowded. The place was originally prepared by Ning Jing for the original owner, who was supposed to leave after marrying in. Su Liang was also not used to sleeping with others, so she planned to sleep on the floor. She asked Ning Jing for a mat, wiped it down, and hung it in the corridor. Ning Jing said he had a new set of bedding in his room, and Su Liang intended to go get it later. “Young Master Ning must be waiting for you.” Yang Yu said with a gentle smile. Su Liang: … So this girl assumed that she was going to share a bed with Ning Jing next door. But explaining the situation would indeed be difficult. “Su Liang.” Ning Jing called her. “Go ahead!” Yang Yu sighed again, “Though I’ve never seen a couple like you two, I still feel that your relationship is really good, with a kind of indescribable tacit understanding.” Su Liang turned around, wondering what on earth Yang Yu was talking about? It was all fake, all of it! Entering Ning Jing’s room, she heard him say, “Your bed is too small to sleep two people, you sleep on this side.”