He Yungsheng felt this dream was lasting too long.

His sister had gone up the mountain with him early today, cut firewood, and finally took out the uneaten pastries from her cloth bundle to share one with him. He Yungsheng meant to refuse, but with the sweet fragrance filling his nostrils and He Yan already biting into her portion, he found himself mysteriously reaching out to accept it.

He took a bite, the sweet taste unfamiliar. He Sui showed extreme favoritism, giving all the good food to He Yan, and He Yan was not one to share.

Seeing him eat slowly, He Yan pushed the remaining pieces into his hands, saying, “The rest are yours, I’m full.”

He Yungsheng was at a loss.

The He family had only these two siblings. He Sui had once been a caravan guard transporting goods to the capital when he happened to save a scholar’s daughter from bandits on the road, leading to a perfect marriage. The scholar’s family had only this one daughter, and He Sui was without parents, so he willingly became a live-in son-in-law.

Though a live-in son-in-law, his children still took his surname.

Later, the scholar couple passed away from illness, and Madam He became depressed daily. When He Yungsheng was three, Madam He departed from this world, leaving the three of them to depend on each other.

He Sui and his wife had shared deep conjugal affection, and He Yan strongly resembled Madam He. Perhaps because of this, He Sui especially doted on He Yan. Although the He family wasn’t wealthy, He Sui always tried his best to fulfill He Yan’s needs. Over time, He Yan developed an unlikeable personality – at least He Yungsheng couldn’t bring himself to love this sister.

But since her illness, many of her behaviors had become inexplicable, and He Yungsheng didn’t know how to face her anymore.

“Do you just cut firewood on the mountain every day?” He Yan asked him. “What do you do in the afternoon? Don’t you go to school?”

He Yungsheng was only a year younger than He Yan, fifteen this year – an age when children should still be studying.

“After returning, I make Da Nai Cake and sell it in the stall in the afternoon. Forget about school,” He Yungsheng said casually. “The family has no money, and I’m not cut out for it anyway. It’s enough to recognize a few characters.”

Though he tried hard to hide it, He Yan still caught a glimpse of regret and longing in the young man’s eyes.

After a pause, she asked, “What do you want to do in the future?”

“Why are you asking this?” He Yungsheng was suspicious, but after a moment he still answered her question, “I go to the training grounds daily now. Later, if I pass the inspection, I can join the city garrison, gradually become a captain, and earn an official salary.”

“Just that? Be a minor military official?” He Yan laughed. “I thought you’d want to do something else.”

“How else?” He Yungsheng said self-mockingly. “Should I be like General Fei Hong? Though we share the surname He, he’s far more impressive than us.”

Hearing her name suddenly from He Yungsheng’s mouth, He Yan was stunned. After a moment of silence, she asked, “You know of General Fei Hong?”

“Of course, I know! Who is Great Wei doesn’t? Back then, General Fei Hong pacified the Western Qiang, General Feng Yun subdued the Southern Man – the Northern He and Southern Xiao brought peace to our Great Wei! Young heroes with noble spirits, full of vigor! If I could become someone like them, even death would be worth it!”

He Yan burst out laughing.

He Yungsheng was exasperated: “What are you laughing at?”

“But just cutting firewood and selling Da Nai Cake won’t make you such a person. Back then, General Fei Hong and General Feng Yun didn’t succeed by just casually learning at the training grounds.”

“I know that,” He Yungsheng’s face reddened. “But I…”

What young man doesn’t yearn to achieve merit and fame? He Yungsheng was at the age of youthful passion, and his current situation was truly holding him back.

He Yan said, “Starting tomorrow, I’ll go with you every day to cut firewood and sell Da Nai Cake.”

“What?” He Yungsheng jumped up from the rock. “He Yan, have you gone mad?”

Today’s events could be called a sudden whim, but to come every day… Had He Yan’s illness damaged her brain?

Before He Yungsheng could speak again, He Yan had already stood up, patting the dust from her clothes: “If you’ve finished eating, let’s continue working. Spring waits for no one.”

He Yungsheng: “…”

After the spring rain, there were over ten consecutive days of fine weather.

Qing Mei had been worried lately. The Young Miss who used to constantly order her around and require her attendance no longer called for her.

During the day, she went out with He Yungsheng, and at night when Qing Mei wanted to help He Yan wash up, He Yan would send her away. The only time she was needed was in the morning to help He Yan arrange her hair.

Qing Mei was anxious – would she end up like those servants He Sui had dismissed, thrown out because the Young Miss no longer needed her?

He Yungsheng was equally troubled.

For over half a month, He Yan had gone with him to Long Huan Peak every morning to cut firewood. She rose even earlier than him, and not only did she climb the mountain, but she also tied sandbags to her hands and feet. He Yungsheng had secretly weighed them – they were very heavy. He Yan carried these things with her every day as they went up the mountain to cut firewood.

She never complained once, as if she didn’t know fatigue. However, He Yungsheng saw her palms – the delicate skin had been rubbed raw countless times, so she simply wrapped cloth around her hands.

The benefits of this were obvious – after half a month, He Yan could walk faster than him and cut more firewood. He Yungsheng wondered if those sandbags were so magical – should he secretly tie some on too?

Two people cutting firewood was faster than one, and the extra time meant they could sell more Da Nai Cake. Though He Yan was a woman, and it wasn’t quite proper for her to do such public work, He Yungsheng had reminded her of this, but He Yan didn’t care at all. He Yungsheng found it very troubling – if He Sui knew that He Yan had been with him these days, either cutting firewood or selling cakes, he would surely whip him.

Fortunately, He Sui didn’t know.

Not only did He Sui not know, but he was even happier each day. His children, who used to constantly quarrel, had grown much closer recently, able to eat at the same table and even chat occasionally. He Sui was very satisfied, becoming more kindly to the new recruits at the training grounds – after all, when the family is harmonious, all affairs prosper.

At this moment, He Yan was sitting at her dressing table.

Qing Mei watched her anxiously.

Since recovering from her illness, He Yan hadn’t liked looking in mirrors or fiddling with her rouge and powder. Now that she was handling them again, Qing Mei was nervous. Recently, the household’s expenses were very tight, and if He Yan wanted to buy a new lip rouge now, they couldn’t afford it.

He Yan rummaged through the face powders and creams on the table, feeling somewhat headaches. These things had been used and couldn’t be sold. She searched a bit more and found several hairpins and ornaments.

They were all made of silver, of ordinary quality, not as good as what she had used before in the Xu family, but now wasn’t the time to be picky.

She gathered all the ornaments and handed them to Qing Mei.

“Take these to the pawnshop, outright sale for more money.”

Qing Mei’s eyes widened: “But… but…”

“We’re very poor now,” He Yan explained earnestly. “These can’t be eaten.”

She needed to pawn the ornaments and get some money, hopefully, enough to pay for He Yungsheng’s schooling.

Since she had taken over Young Miss He’s body, she should at least do something for the He family. After settling these matters, she could focus on her affairs.

For instance, settling an old score.

Yan Yan: Poor to the point of collapse…