Qin Yining first went to help the old gentleman up. “Scholar Ni, please rise quickly. Big Brother Lu, Ninth Sister, I shouldn’t need to help you two up, should I?”
“How dare we, how dare we. Upon seeing our benefactor, it’s only natural to pay respects.” Old Scholar Ni bowed again.
Ni Liping was over seventy years old. When he first arrived on the mountain, he was already gravely ill. Qin Yining hadn’t abandoned the elderly and children, which allowed him to survive that ordeal. Scholar Ni spoke with reason and evidence, and during this time had become like the “village chief” of Ning Garden. He had also organized several literate people to teach the children to read, earning great respect on the mountain.
“Indeed, how dare we, how dare we.” The middle-aged man also bowed respectfully. “Kowtowing is absolutely necessary. Without our benefactor’s support, where would Lu Dehan be today?”
Lu Dehan was thirty-two years old. He had studied in his early years, but because his mind wasn’t sharp, he spent all his family’s money without making progress in his studies and could only farm for a living.
When he fled as a refugee with his family, his wife and daughter both died along the way. He arrived on the mountain carrying his sick elderly mother on his back. Old Mrs. Lu was also extremely ill, but Bingtang had personally treated and cured her. Lu Dehan’s gratitude toward Qin Yining simply couldn’t be expressed in words.
However, hearing Lu Dehan also say “how dare we,” the common people who had rushed over upon hearing the news couldn’t help but laugh.
The young woman in men’s clothing kicked Lu Dehan. “You big oaf, now you’re copying Scholar Ni’s fancy words. Don’t tell me you’re waiting for our benefactor to help you up?”
This spirited woman had something of Sun Er’niang’s temperament. Her surname was Liu and given name Jiu’er. She was a widow with great influence among the women. Being from a hunter’s family, she was excellent at hunting on the mountain. With these skills, many men also respected her.
Seeing Lu Dehan getting kicked by Ninth Sister again, the onlookers all burst into laughter.
The Qin family members standing behind Qin Yining were all shocked by the mental state of this group of refugees in Ning Garden.
When they came, they thought the people living here would be a group like beggars.
Hungry beggars would certainly be like tigers and wolves, each protecting their own small chance of survival. Even among themselves, they’d be competitors—whoever grabbed food would live, whoever had no food would die. How could they willingly allow outsiders to enter?
But now seeing these people, though their clothes were somewhat worn, they were all very clean. Everyone had smiles on their faces and kind hearts. The respectful attitude they showed toward Qin Yining was so obvious that the Qin family couldn’t help but be amazed.
Manager Zhong stood beside the Old Madam and others, speaking in a low voice: “The master has been supporting these common people all along—giving them work opportunities, giving them grain, treating their illnesses, letting the children study. The master didn’t make them go out as refugees, didn’t let them starve or die of illness under the drought, and didn’t abandon any elderly person or child. You don’t know what a great thing the master has done.”
Hearing this, the Qin family’s shock was beyond words.
“Everyone, please come inside. Hearing that our benefactor’s family was coming, we’ve already cleaned up the best rooms.” Ninth Sister smiled as she welcomed them.
Qin Yining said: “How can that be? Let’s stick to the old rules—save the best rooms for the elderly and children. We’ll just go with the flow.”
“Benefactor, don’t be so stubborn with us. Having your family stay together will help you get used to things.”
Qin Yining thought about it and realized this made sense. Living on the mountain wasn’t just for a day—they could settle in first and arrange things gradually later.
Qin Yining smiled as she went to help the Old Madam, calling for her family to enter.
The Qin family members supported each other as they walked into Ning Garden.
At this moment, the people of Ning Garden who had come upon hearing the news all gathered at the entrance. Seeing people enter, they neatly cleared a path, smiling kindly at the Qin family members. Some called out greetings to Qin Yining loudly, while others spoke in low voices:
“These are our benefactor’s family members. We mustn’t be negligent.”
“They’re the family of the Wise Pan An. Is the Wise Pan An among them? Is that tall gentleman the Wise Pan An?” someone asked, pointing at the Second Master.
Someone well-informed replied: “The Wise Pan An is currently defending the capital—he’s a hero!”
“Our benefactor’s family are all good people. We must take good care of them.”
…
Hearing the people’s discussions, all the Qin family members truly understood just how remarkable the things Qin Yining had been doing outside were. The Old Madam even felt her face burning because she had once complained about Qin Yining spending money to support unrelated people.
But now it seemed this was exactly planting good seeds and reaping good rewards. When Qin Yining had helped these people before, now that they were in trouble, so many people immediately came to help them with goodwill. They were all benefiting from Qin Yining’s merit.
Everyone entered the courtyard with deep feelings. Within Ning Garden’s tall walls, it was just like a small village, with houses built everywhere. The legendary rare flowers and trees had long been sold off to support the common people.
Following the small path to the magnificent, palace-like building in the center, Ninth Sister said: “We’ve cleaned up all the rooms on the second floor. Benefactor, please settle your household first.”
Qin Yining thought for a moment and didn’t immediately decline, only asking Manager Zhong to help settle the servants while she led the Qin family upstairs. “We’re here as refugees now. It’s already wonderful that our family can be together. Not just now, but in the future we’ll have to learn to work and support ourselves. Everyone please make do.”
The Old Madam felt somewhat uncomfortable but didn’t speak.
Instead, the Second Madam said: “This is already very good. As long as the family is together, what is there to be dissatisfied with?”
The Second Master smiled as he looked at the Second Madam.
Thus, the Old Madam and Nanny Qin squeezed into one room with the Third Master and Qin Yu, the Second Master and Second Madam shared a room with the Han couple, Sun Shi and Nanny Jin squeezed into a room with Qin Yining and three maids, while the Eighth Miss and Qin Huining stayed with their senior maids next door to Qin Yining’s room. They were temporarily settled this way.
Initially, everyone was very uncomfortable. There were mosquitoes on the mountain, none of the household rules from home applied, they couldn’t have maids serve them personally, and except when sleeping, there were voices everywhere—as noisy as a marketplace, making these people who had lived in luxury for years quite uncomfortable.
But Qin Yining adapted well.
Early this morning, after Qin Yining got up and washed, she put on coarse cloth dress and skirt, braided her long hair into a single braid hanging in front, and went downstairs with Ji Yun, Bingtang, and Qiu Lu, who were dressed similarly, to prepare breakfast.
The vast Ning Garden was already bustling with activity. Seeing four beautiful girls who looked like figures from paintings going to fetch water, many of the men would glance once and then lower their heads to avoid looking, their faces turning bright red.
Qin Yining and Ji Yun chopped wood and tended the fire while Qiu Lu and Bingtang washed rice and cooked.
While lighting the stove, Qin Yining didn’t forget to chat and laugh with Ninth Sister and several women nearby, during which she also received pickled vegetables and dried salted fish from several women.
A group of children returned with fresh wild flowers and wild fruits.
A little boy wearing patched clothes, with rosy cheeks, ran over and stuffed a bouquet of colorful wild flowers and various wild fruits wrapped in large leaves into Qin Yining’s hands before turning and running away, making Qin Yining burst into laughter.
Her clear, bell-like laughter drew everyone’s attention.
Ninth Sister laughed loudly: “Li Gou’sheng, you little rascal, you only know to give flowers to our benefactor and don’t know to give your old lady one!”
Seven-year-old Li Gou’sheng stuck his tongue out at Ninth Sister and ran away.
On the second floor, the Old Madam watched the scene below from the window, her eyes showing deep thought.
The Second Madam smiled as she spoke to the Second Master: “Our niece is remarkable. We adults can’t fall behind either. Master, please change your clothes. Let’s go down and do some work too. We can’t just wait to be served.”