Xisheng Inn was located on Renshou Street in the northeast corner of Xi’an Prefecture, in a remote location. The street was named after the Renshou Pharmacy that had been there. A hundred years ago, Renshou Pharmacy was the largest pharmacy in Shaanxi. During spring and autumn, the pharmacy’s wagon trains transporting medicinal herbs would stretch from the pharmacy’s entrance to the adjacent street. Over time, herb merchants from other regions came after hearing of its reputation, and the area gradually became a trading hub for medicinal materials. Now, though Renshou Pharmacy was long gone, the street had become the largest medicinal materials trading center in the Northwest. Xisheng Inn, due to its convenient location, primarily accommodated herb merchants from distant places. For easier storage, the inn had many courtyards, typically with large rooms and small yards, equipped with kitchens and accounting rooms. The layout was simple, with everything arranged to facilitate medicinal material trading.

Fu Tingyun and her group had entered the city under the cover of night in a hanging basket, bringing only essential items. Now that they had entered Xi’an Prefecture and settled down, they needed to have clothes made, buy shoes, prepare medicines, and acquire all manner of household items from pots and bowls to rolling pins.

Zheng Sanniang was quietly reciting the list of items Fu Tingyun wanted her to buy, but was stopped by Xiao Wu at the courtyard gate.

“Where are you going?” he asked. “You’re unfamiliar with this place. Be careful, or you might not find your way back. Besides, who will look after Linchun if you go out? You’re not leaving her in Miss Fu’s room, are you?” Then he offered helpfully, “Tell me what you need, and I’ll take care of it for you! I guarantee I’ll handle everything properly without delay.”

“How could I trouble Brother Xiao Wu?” Zheng Sanniang said uneasily. “Miss Fu gave me instructions, so naturally I should run the errand.”

Mo Yi suddenly appeared under the eaves of the main house. “Just let him go! Otherwise, we’ll have to go looking for you later.”

Zheng Sanniang was indeed unfamiliar with Xi’an Prefecture, and upon hearing this, she hesitated.

Xiao Wu had already gone to the accounting room. “Come tell me, I’ll write it down. I guarantee not a single item will be missed.”

Zheng Sanniang looked at Xiao Wu in surprise. “So Brother Xiao Wu can keep accounts too! That’s truly impressive.” Her gaze was filled with admiration.

Xiao Wu’s smile became somewhat stiff.

Zheng Sanniang said, “Then I’ll go tell Miss Fu. If Miss Fu agrees, I’ll have to trouble Brother Xiao Wu to make the trip for me.” Then she went to Fu Tingyun.

Fu Tingyun was using a round fan to fan the sleeping Linchun.

“Miss, it’s so hot, you should rest!” Zheng Sanniang took the round fan from Fu Tingyun’s hand and started fanning her, then explained Xiao Wu’s offer.

“That works!” Fu Tingyun smiled. “If you got lost, that would be troublesome.”

Zheng Sanniang’s face turned slightly red. “Next time, I’ll have my husband go. He has traveled through Xi’an as a caravan guard before.”

At this moment, Zheng San had been sent by Mo Yi to sweep the back courtyard.

“It’s fine!” Fu Tingyun said. “I was already concerned about you, a married woman, going out alone. Since Xiao Wu is willing to help, that’s all the better.” She had Zheng Sanniang recite the list of items to buy, and then added a few more things. “Also, buy me a bolt of Lu silk, two bolts of blue silk, one bolt of red silk, one bolt of white silk, four bolts of white plain silk, four jin of good cotton, a copy of ‘Thousand Family Poems,’ a copy of ‘Four Books with Annotations,’ and a copy of ‘I Ching.'”

Zheng Sanniang asked curiously, “It’s summer, Miss. What do you need so much cotton for?”

“By my calculation, it’s time to make winter clothes,” Fu Tingyun said. “Since we have nothing much to do these days, why not make a winter garment for Master Nine and Ah Sen?”

Later, she didn’t know if they would have a chance to meet again. She could only express her gratitude to Zhao Ling and Ah Sen in this way.

Thinking of this, Fu Tingyun felt somewhat dejected.

“Miss is so considerate,” Zheng Sanniang was amazed. “Is this also a custom in your family?”

Fu Tingyun just smiled and said, “Hurry along, don’t keep Xiao Wu waiting, and be careful not to forget anything.” She added, “I’ve added some items, so I’m afraid the money I gave you won’t be enough. Just tell Xiao Wu what needs to be bought, and when he returns, I’ll give him the money.”

Zheng Sanniang left in response.

Fu Tingyun smiled, pressing her lips together.

Trying to confine us all to the courtyard isn’t such an easy task.

In the afternoon, Xiao Wu returned to the inn, sweating profusely.

Zheng San, Ah Sen, and Chen Liu moved pots, bowls, and ladles to the kitchen, while Zheng Sanniang took the ready-made clothes, cloth, and cotton to Fu Tingyun’s room.

Fu Tingyun gave Zheng Sanniang one bolt of blue silk, one bolt of red silk, two bolts of white plain silk, and two jin of cotton. These are for you and your husband to make winter clothes. For Linchun’s winter clothes, we’ll use Ah Sen’s measurements.”

“Miss!” Zheng Sanniang hadn’t expected this to include her and her husband, and was so grateful she didn’t know what to say.

Fu Tingyun smiled and patted her hand, then instructed her to bring water in so she could wash herself and her hair with scented soap. She called Ah Sen in to measure his size, and also asked him to find an old garment of Zhao Ling’s, instructing him not to tell Zhao Ling, and then began cutting and sewing.

Ah Sen was very happy, visiting Fu Tingyun every day to see how his clothes were progressing, even helping to thread needles, which made Zheng Sanniang, who was making clothes with Fu Tingyun, laugh.

“This is the first time someone has made clothes for me,” Ah Sen said somewhat indignantly, widening his eyes at Zheng Sanniang. “Before, we always bought them from pawnshops.”

Zheng Sanniang’s smile gradually faded. “Brother Ah Sen, I was talking nonsense.” Her eyes grew moist. “In a few days, I’ll make you a pair of shoes.”

Ah Sen became happy again. “Master Nine’s mother once made a pair of shoes for Master Nine. He cherished them so much he wouldn’t wear them, and would only take them out to air in June each year.”

Fu Tingyun was quite surprised and asked softly, “Then Master Nine’s mother…”

“She’s long gone,” Ah Sen said, sitting in the armchair with his elbows propped up and his chin in his hands. “Her death anniversary is in the twelfth lunar month, the ninth day of the twelfth month. The second day after the Laba Festival.”

To die the day after the whole family gathered to drink Laba porridge… Fu Tingyun shook her head, feeling for some reason that this date was not auspicious.

…

Mo Yi was fanning himself vigorously with a cattail leaf fan, yet large beads of sweat still rolled down continuously.

“This cursed weather!” he complained in a low voice, asking Chen Liu, “Are you sure?”

Chen Liu’s answer was definitive: “We’re certain, none of them have gone out. Zhao Ling lies in bed reading every day, Zheng San sits under the eaves making a basket for his son when he has nothing to do, Miss Fu and Zheng Sanniang make clothes in the wing room, and Ah Sen is either serving Zhao Ling or playing at Miss Fu’s place. Xiao Wu invited him to go out, but he said the weather was too hot and showed no interest.”

Listening to this, Mo Yi muttered, “Has Miss Fu mentioned anything about repaying us?”

“No!” Chen Liu’s expression was somewhat embarrassed. “Perhaps Miss Fu is used to drawing items on credit at home…”

Hearing this, Mo Yi’s fan-waving became even more vigorous, the fan making a loud whooshing sound. “Forget it, I’ll think of something.” Then he grumbled, “Damn it, Baoqing Silver Shop won’t exchange banknotes less than two thousand taels, and everything needs to be paid in silver. What kind of world is this?”

Chen Liu didn’t know how to respond.

Mo Yi stood up. “I’m going out for a while. Keep an eye on things here, don’t let any of them leave. In a few days, Tao Mu will arrive, and then we can relax.”

“Don’t worry, Master Mo, I understand,” Chen Liu saw Mo Yi out of the courtyard gate.

The innkeeper was showing a young man around a courtyard. “…three taels of silver per day, and we only have two courtyards left. Check elsewhere, and you’ll find every place is packed. These are hard times, and many people are coming to Xi’an Prefecture to escape the disaster.”

The young man was just over twenty, tall with a straight figure, sword-like eyebrows, and star-bright eyes. He wore a moonlight-white straight robe with a cloth belt of the same color, looking clean, neat, shrewd, and capable. His open and forthright demeanor made him resemble a young master who could already run the family business.

Seeing Mo Yi, he smiled, revealing a set of white teeth, as radiant as sunshine, instantly making people feel goodwill toward him.

“And who is this?” he asked the innkeeper.

The innkeeper quickly replied, “He’s also a guest at our inn. If you don’t believe me, ask this guest. He searched for a whole day before finding our place. Our location may be a bit remote, but being remote has its advantages…”

Mo Yi couldn’t be bothered with the innkeeper and merely nodded at the young man, preparing to leave.

But the young man stared at something behind him with an astonished expression. “Ah Sen?” His face immediately showed surprise and joy as he pushed past Mo Yi, striding toward the courtyard, shouting, “Ah Sen! Ah Sen!”

Mo Yi and Chen Liu looked at each other in bewilderment, turning to see Ah Sen standing under the eaves outside Fu Tingyun’s wing room.

“Brother Yu Cheng!” He jumped up and down excitedly. “Brother Yu Cheng!” He ran over.

“Oh my!” The young man called “Brother Yu Cheng” by Ah Sen had a face full of smiles. “I saw your figure from a distance and thought it looked familiar. I didn’t expect it to be you!” He continued, “Where is Master Nine? Is he with you? I heard that your area was hit by a disaster, and I’ve been worried. I didn’t expect to meet you in Xi’an Prefecture.”

“We’re together, we’re together,” Ah Sen nodded repeatedly. “Master Nine was injured on the journey and is recovering. I’ll take you to see him.”

Their faces radiant with the joy of encountering an old friend in a foreign place, they headed toward Zhao Ling’s quarters.

The innkeeper ran after them: “Master Yang, I didn’t expect you to meet an acquaintance here. It seems our inn is destined for you. Why not stay with us? When you’re free, you can chat and drink tea with your acquaintance. Besides, Xi’an Prefecture currently only allows people to leave, not enter. Even if you have good merchandise, you can’t transport it in. If you leave the city, you might encounter refugees. Those refugees love to rob people like you who have money…” His figure disappeared along with Yang Yu Cheng into Zhao Ling’s wing room.

Immediately, waves of cheerful laughter erupted from there.

Chen Liu looked at Mo Yi.

Mo Yi’s face turned ashen. “I remember when we left, Ah Sen was in Miss Fu’s room, right? Go find out for me clearly—did Ah Sen leave the wing room before this so-called ‘Yu Cheng’ entered, or after this Yu Cheng called him?”

Chen Liu’s face also looked grim as he respectfully acknowledged the order.

Mo Yi strode away.

Meanwhile, the innkeeper, bowing happily, exited Zhao Ling’s wing room. “Then I’ll have someone prepare the courtyard.”

This Master Yang was truly generous, having paid ninety taels of silver at once to reserve the adjacent courtyard for a month.

Ah Sen escorted the innkeeper out.

Yang Yu Cheng, with a face full of anxiety, had already rushed to Zhao Ling’s side. “Master Nine, how do you feel now? Do you want me to call a doctor to check your pulse? How did things come to this?”

“Sit down and talk,” Zhao Ling’s demeanor was calm and composed, which helped soothe Yang Yu Cheng.

He sat on the small stool by the bed.

…

Zheng Sanniang paused her work, pricking up her ears to listen to the commotion in the courtyard.

“How strange,” she muttered. “Who is this Yu Cheng, and why did Ah Sen dart out like a rabbit as soon as he heard him call?”