“Fishing in Seclusion on Pine Creek” by Li Tang of the previous dynasty was a famous painting, an antique.

Asking for two hundred taels of silver wasn’t expensive.

Moreover, Yu Wen was extremely fond of it, and Lu Xin’s current appearance was like that of someone fallen on hard times. As Lu Xin’s friend, Yu Wen should buy this painting both emotionally and rationally.

But just these past two days, his daughter Yu Tang had calculated an account for him.

If he bought the painting, there would be no silver to treat his wife’s illness.

But his hobby wasn’t the most important thing—his wife’s illness was the most important.

Although Yu Wen had a gentle temperament and acted indecisively, he could distinguish clearly what was light and what was heavy.

“Brother Lu,” his face flushed red, “this matter is my fault to you. As you know, our family’s shop burned down, and right now I can’t produce that much silver…” As he spoke, he was about to fetch the painting for Lu Xin, “See if there’s anyone else who might like it…”

Lu Xin didn’t believe him, saying, “Your family foundation is solid, and you have no particular burdens. How could you not produce two hundred taels of silver?”

Yu Wen felt even more ashamed, saying, “I still need to keep the silver to treat my humble wife’s illness.”

Lu Xin was displeased.

But Yu Wen absolutely refused to relent, only saying, “It is I who have wronged you, elder brother!” He bowed deeply and wouldn’t rise.

Lu Xin persisted, saying, “Don’t you still have one hundred mu of good farmland?”

Lin’an had many mountains and little farmland. In ordinary places, one hundred mu of good farmland was worth five or six hundred taels of silver, but in Lin’an, it was worth at least one thousand taels of silver.

Yu Wen murmured, “The silver for treating my humble wife’s illness originally wasn’t enough. I’m afraid when the time comes I’ll still need to sell the farmland. I can’t let my affairs delay her medical treatment.”

Lu Xin was about to say something more when Yu Tang, having heard the news and rushed over, pushed open the door and entered with a beaming smile, “If Uncle Lu urgently needs the silver, why not temporarily pawn the painting? When funds are more abundant, you can redeem it. The Pei family pawnshop is quite fair.”

In her previous life, she had pawned things there. Although the prices were pressed quite low, compared to others in the trade, they were still considered good.

Lu Xin felt he had lost face. His expression changed, and he said to Yu Wen, “Although the Yu family is only a merchant household, after all, you are a scholar who came from it. Young ladies should learn more needlework and women’s crafts at home!”

Yu Wen was embarrassed.

Yu Tang sneered inwardly, opened her big almond-shaped eyes wide, and said with feigned innocence, “Uncle Lu, that’s not right. I often help my father run errands to the pawnshop too.”

Yu Wen wanted to speak but stopped.

He could see his daughter was afraid he would lend silver to Lu Xin.

This showed how worried his daughter was that he would break his promise to her.

Yu Wen felt somewhat hurt, but then thought this was actually good—Lu Xin wouldn’t need to blame him for not helping when he saw him in trouble.

Lu Xin left in a rage.

Yu Tang was very happy and told her mother Chen Shi about this matter, “You see, Father offended Uncle Lu for your sake. When you see Father later, you must comfort him well.”

Hearing this, Chen Shi’s eyes moistened. She returned to her room to thank Yu Wen, which need not be mentioned.

Early the next morning, Yu Tang and her mother brought the prepared dried provisions and preserved vegetables and followed Yu Wen to see off Yu Bo and Yu Yuan.

Yu Bo instructed Yu Wen, “Don’t worry about matters at the shop. We’ll discuss it when I return.”

Yu Wen nodded repeatedly.

But after seeing off Yu Bo, he still visited several merchant households whose situations were similar to their family’s with great concern. When he returned in the evening, he couldn’t help sighing to his wife and daughter, “Everyone is waiting to see what the Pei family will say! Two more families want to return to the countryside to farm and sell their land. But at this time, besides the Pei family, who else would be willing to take over? Who knows when the Pei family’s affairs will be settled.”

Yu Tang was very curious about the Pei family’s affairs and asked, “Did the Pei family really quarrel as Uncle Lu said?”

“Uncle Lu must have exaggerated,” Yu Wen said. “The Pei family are scholars, well-read and reasonable. How could they quarrel? At most, the brothers disputed a few words with each other. Besides, Old Master Pei is still alive. In the end, isn’t it all just a word from Old Master Pei?”

The fear was that Old Master Pei’s life was also not long.

Yu Tang was thinking this when Lu Xin came calling again.

She was getting a bit annoyed and made a fuss about following her father to the study.

This time Lu Xin didn’t come to sell his painting, but to bring another piece of news to the Yu family, “Wang Bai has also come from Mount Putuo!”

Yu Wen was both surprised and delighted.

Lu Xin said with no small amount of jealousy, “The Pei family is still formidable! What retirement and seclusion—the Pei family sends one invitation, and don’t they all come running eagerly to Lin’an?”

Yu Wen said, “You can’t put it that way. Old Master Pei is a good man. He’s fallen ill, and whether it’s Imperial Physician Yang or Imperial Physician Wang, if they can help, they’ll help!”

“Hmph!” Lu Xin disagreed, saying, “Who has such a kind heart!”

Yu Wen laughed sheepishly.

Lu Xin said, “I’ve already made arrangements for you. Tomorrow morning you’ll follow me to the Pei residence to see the old master and ask him to intervene so that Imperial Physician Yang or Imperial Physician Wang can come examine your sister-in-law.”

Not only Yu Wen, but even Yu Tang was overjoyed.

Yu Tang even felt somewhat guilty.

No matter how poor Lu Xin’s character was, he still treated her father quite well. Just for this point alone, when he came to their home to freeload food and drink in the future, she would definitely pretend not to notice.

Yu Wen thanked Lu Xin repeatedly, saying, “Whether or not my humble wife’s illness can be cured, you are my great benefactor.”

Lu Xin was not polite, saying, “Just look at what kind of friendship we have. Your affairs, I will definitely keep in mind. It’s just that my abilities are limited, so I can’t help you much.”

“Elder brother, such words are too formal!” Yu Wen exchanged a few polite words with Lu Xin, then called A’Tiao to order a table of dishes from the restaurant and instructed Chen Pozi to fetch wine.

“Fetch good wine!” Yu Tang said with a beaming smile, even giving Chen Pozi one tael of her own private silver, “Uncle Lu has helped us greatly.”

Chen Pozi went off laughing.

That evening, Lu Xin again got thoroughly drunk at the Yu residence. Fortunately, he hadn’t forgotten about going to the Pei family with Yu Wen. He rose at dawn, and after washing up, ate a bowl of scallion oil noodles and drank two bowls of soy milk at the Yu home before going out with Yu Wen.

Yu Tang waited anxiously at home.

In the afternoon, Lu Xin and Yu Wen each carried a medicine chest on their backs, attentively and humbly accompanying two unfamiliar men through the door. The one walking beside Yu Wen was taller with completely white hair and beard. He looked at least sixty years old, full of vigor with a stern expression. The one walking beside Lu Xin was clean-shaven and chubby, smiling warmly with a forehead covered in sweat, giving people an approachable feeling.

Yu Wen glared at Yu Tang, signaling her to withdraw.

Yu Tang retreated to her side room but sent Shuang Tao out to gather information, feeling uneasy.

Shuang Tao didn’t return for a full hour, but when she came back, her eyes and brows were full of joy, giving Yu Tang infinite hope.

“Young Miss,” Shuang Tao didn’t disappoint Yu Tang’s expectations. She opened with a string of good news, “Old Master Pei is truly a benevolent person. His own illness isn’t yet cured, but he sent physicians to our home to examine the mistress. Moreover, two imperial physicians came at once—both Imperial Physician Yang and Imperial Physician Wang came. Both imperial physicians took the mistress’s pulse and said this was an old ailment left from childbirth. As long as she avoids excessive labor and anger in daily life and rests well, that’s enough. Taking medicine daily would actually be counterproductive. That Imperial Physician Yang even prescribed a formula for the mistress to be made into pills, taking one daily. She could even feed her great-grandchildren without problem. The master was overjoyed and kept saying he wanted to set up longevity tablets for the two imperial physicians!”

She hadn’t expected Old Master Pei to send both imperial physicians.

“Amitabha!” Yu Tang couldn’t help pressing her palms together and reciting once, feeling infinite gratitude toward the Pei family in her heart.

Regardless of how the Pei family conducted themselves, it was true that Old Master Pei had saved her mother’s life and saved their whole family.

Yu Tang recalled that Old Master Pei’s death would occur in these next few days, and her heart immediately became anxious.

Should she report information to the Pei family, or give them a warning?

Perhaps Old Master Pei could escape this calamity because of it?

But how could she report information and warn the Pei family without being suspected of having gone mad? Yu Tang’s mind was in chaos, without a plan. She just followed her heart’s impulse and unconsciously headed toward Yu Wen’s study, just in time to see Yu Wen seeing off Lu Xin and the two imperial physicians.

“You have a patient at home, so don’t bother with these empty courtesies,” the white, plump, and kindly one said with squinted, smiling eyes. “Old Master Pei is still waiting for us to report back!”

The other one with completely white hair and beard coldly nodded at Yu Wen, saying, “We came over because of Old Master Pei’s face. If you want to thank someone, thank Old Master Pei.”

Yu Wen was very modest, saying, “I will definitely go kowtow to Old Master Pei, and I must also thank you two divine physicians.”

These were just a few polite words of courtesy, but the white-haired and bearded one already showed impatience.

Lu Xin quickly said, “Hui Li, you stay home and care for your sister-in-law. I’ll escort the two imperial physicians back to the Pei residence on your behalf.”

Yu Wen had no choice but to agree. He quietly slipped a few pieces of broken silver to Lu Xin before seeing the three out the door.

Yu Tang immediately rushed out and said to her father, “Now Mother can be saved. How did you petition Old Master Pei?”

Yu Wen smiled, “We must thank your Uncle Lu. He persuaded the head steward, who reported it to Old Master Pei. Old Master Pei, being compassionate and benevolent, immediately sent the two imperial physicians to examine your mother. I didn’t even see Old Master Pei.” Speaking of this, he stroked Yu Tang’s glossy black hair, “You must remember this kindness!”

Yu Tang repeatedly agreed and asked about Old Master Pei’s illness, “Do you know where he’s uncomfortable?”

Yu Wen said, “They say it’s depression weighing on his heart. Perhaps it’s because the white-haired are sending off the black-haired, and he can’t accept it for the moment.”

If that was the case, why did he die in her previous life?

Could there be some other inside story?

Yu Tang thought of Lu Xin’s earlier mention of the dispute over the Pei family patriarchy and felt very uneasy, but she had no ability to prevent what had happened in her previous life.

What should she do?

Just as Yu Tang was worrying, she suddenly discovered that her father, as in her previous life, had sold the family’s ancestral twenty mu of good farmland.

“What did you use this silver for?” The matter of Old Master Pei hadn’t yet produced a solution, and now something had happened on her father’s side. She couldn’t help being somewhat exasperated, and her words were quite impolite, “Didn’t I tell you again and again not to casually sell the family’s farmland? Now that Mother’s illness has been addressed and the family shop has no income, even if the land must be sold, it should be sold slowly to exchange for medicine for Mother!”

Yang Douxing’s prescription included ginseng, which over the years would be no small expense for a family like the Yu family.