She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

”Example? Example of what?” Wei Dabao squinted his eyes, casting a sideways glance at the two servants.

The two exchanged a glance and their mouths twitched hard.

”Master, it’s not ’example,’ it’s ’charity meal.’ Just like giving out porridge.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Dabao frowned slightly. In these times, anyone who could afford to give out porridge was already a great benefactor, but who would have such wealth to give out full meals?

”They recruited so many lowly people just to feed them?”

His words carried a tone of skepticism and incomprehension, as if he found the matter utterly unimaginable.

Yesterday, he heard from the steward that a restaurant in town was recruiting many farmers, and many of his own tenants were lining up in front of the restaurant to apply. The steward also saw the County Magistrate leave town with the farmers in a carriage.

Initially, he thought nothing of it, but upon reconsideration, he worried that if his tenants were all recruited by the County Magistrate, who would work the land come spring? Moreover, these farmers were merely peasants; where would the County Magistrate be going with them in a carriage?

So, he sent two servants to stand guard near the restaurant.

Last night, after dark, they saw carriages returning to the restaurant loaded with peasants. After a commotion inside, it seemed the peasants went to bed and no abnormalities were noted.

He intended to have the two servants disguise themselves as peasants and blend in. However, this morning, when the two went to the restaurant, there was no recruitment happening anymore. Nearby shopkeepers said the recruits left early in carriages. The servants found nothing.

Finally, there was some movement tonight as the peasants queued at the restaurant’s entrance for charity meals.

”Yes, Master. We saw many beggars lining up too.”

”More beggars? Are they drowning in silver?” Wei Dabao was even more astonished as his eyes widened, eyeballs darting around.

”Indeed! We heard those beggars loudly proclaiming, ’Thank you, Prince, for your great mercy!’” The servant continued reporting the intel.

Hmm?

The moment the servant finished speaking, Wei Dabao shot up from the rocking chair.

”Prince? What prince? Where is this prince from?”

Wei Dabao lost all interest in listening to songs in his shock. With a gentle wave of his hand, the melodious tunes stopped, and the singer took her leave after a bow.

The two servants were startled by Wei Dabao’s sudden movement and quickly replied, ”We don’t know where the prince comes from! Just heard the beggars shouting, ’Thank you, Prince, for your great mercy!’”

”Did you not see the prince yourselves?”

”Master, when the peasants returned, it was too dark and crowded, so we didn’t know who the prince was!” The servants were at a loss, unable to grab a peasant and ask who the prince was directly.

”What else?” Wei Dabao left the rocking chair, fingering his string of beads as he paced around the room.

One servant scratched his head, tried to recall, and answered, ”I saw officials from the county government maintaining order, and I recognized the head clerk from the County Magistrate’s office.”

”More county officials today?” Wei Dabao stroked his chin, muttering to himself, feeling inexplicably perturbed.

He knew all the princes in the Capital City, yet who could this prince visiting Qingshui County be? If a prince were indeed to visit Qingshui County, Mr. Wei would surely notify him, advising caution or hosting banquets! How could he not receive any hint?

In Qingshui County, aside from Mr. Luo, he was the most influential. Normally, he bullied and ruled over the villagers with Mr. Wei’s backing, Mr. Luo merely turned a blind eye, never daring to challenge him. He never regarded Mr. Luo seriously.

Now, seeing this prince and Mr. Luo together, seemingly on good terms, should he hurriedly ingratiate himself or feign ignorance of the prince’s arrival?

What puzzled him most was why a prince, whose status was so esteemed, had secretly come to Qingshui County only to meddle with so many farmers at the restaurant? Surely, he wasn’t opening a restaurant? Moreover, farmers have nothing to do with running restaurants!

Meanwhile, Wei Dabao was baffled by the mysterious prince’s presence in Qingshui County. At the restaurant, after everyone finished dinner, they went to rest. Han Lei and Zhao Zun returned to Mr. Luo’s residence with Ruohai.

Tomorrow, they would set off for the Capital City. Han Lei had many things to discuss with Luo Hai and wanted to bid farewell to Ms Luo and Luo Yuanyuan.

In Luo Hai’s study, illuminated brightly by the solar lamp, the whole family was there, along with Han Lei and Zhao Zun.

The solar lamp, a gift from Han Lei to Luo Hai a couple of days ago, provided him light for handling paperwork and reading at night.

In just a few days, Han Lei had grown quite familiar with Luo Hai’s family.

”Ms Luo, Yuanyuan, thank you for your hospitality. I truly enjoyed my time in Qingshui County,” Han Lei held the hands of Ms Luo and Luo Yuanyuan, her eyes filled with sincerity and reluctance.

”You were always busy running around outside, and we hardly had a chance to properly host you. When you and Zun get married in the Capital City, I’ll visit and we can have a nice gathering!”

Ms Luo chuckled heartily; she liked Han Lei very much and felt she was perfectly matched with Zhao Zun.

Mentioning the Capital City, Luo Yuanyuan quickly added, ”I want to go too; I want to see Zun and Han Lei’s wedding!”

”Great! I’ll be waiting for you in the Capital City. You must come!” Han Lei said as she took two prepared brocade boxes from Zhao Zun’s hands and handed them to Ms Luo and Luo Yuanyuan.

”Ms Luo, Yuanyuan, these are gifts I’ve prepared for you. See if you like them?”

”More gifts for us? Thank you so much, Miss Han!” Luo Yuanyuan was pleasantly surprised, grabbing the gifts immediately.

”Hehe, you silly girl, you know nothing of politeness,” Ms Luo playfully glared at her daughter, causing Luo Hai and Zhao Zun to laugh along.

”Yuanyuan, open it quickly and see if you like it?” Zhao Zun encouraged with a smile, curious too about what unusual items Han Lei gifted them.

”Okay!”

Luo Yuanyuan responded eagerly, opening the brocade box.

Inside Luo Yuanyuan’s box was a butterfly-shaped cloisonné enamel necklace. The butterfly’s eyes were set with water diamonds, sparkling under the solar lamp’s illumination.

Beneath the necklace lay an oval mirror rimmed with plastic, about the size of a soup bowl, perfectly suited for a dressing table.

These gifts weren’t particularly expensive, yet their rarity was a boon for this era.

In Ms Luo’s box, aside from a similar mirror, there was a framed embroidery piece, part of the intangible cultural heritage—a double-sided Shu embroidery. One side bore a lifelike kitten, while the other showcased blooming lotus flowers. The dewdrops on the lotus leaves appeared three-dimensional and enhanced the vividness of the lotus.

Though Ms Luo and Luo Yuanyuan were ladies of the household, such unique and exquisite gifts were unknown to them. Holding their gifts, they gazed at them fondly, reluctant to put them down.

Especially Ms Luo, she marveled repeatedly; despite a lifetime of crafting, she had never seen such intricate embroidery. Surely, even palace ladies wouldn’t possess such precious items!

Mother and daughter clung to their gifts, unwilling to release them, seemingly ready to admire them all night. Luo Hai smiled wryly, hastily sending them off to their room to admire the gifts slowly.

He had other matters to discuss with Han Lei and Zhao Zun!