In her previous life, Song Jin had been a diligent, honest worker. Every day, the moment her eyes opened, she was working. Among the twelve teams at the base, her team ranked first in workload year after year.
In that life, all she did was work, work, and more work—until the day she closed her eyes for good and woke up here, with Niu Tielan as her doting, overprotective mother.
Whether she tore up roofs, smashed tiles, got into fights, or cursed people out—as long as it wasn't her daughter's fault, Niu Tielan would always side with her girl.
"Not ladylike," "no one will want her in the future," "offending people left and right"… Niu Tielan didn't care about any of that. All she wanted was for her child to grow up well, grow up safe, be happy, and do as she pleased…
Of course, it would be even better if she showed a little restraint sometimes.
Looking at the aggrieved party standing at her doorstep, Niu Tielan's eyelids twitched. She found it hard to reconcile the person before her with the one she'd met before.
Last time they met, this man had been somewhat frivolous and flirtatious, but still fair-skinned as jade and elegantly composed—clearly a young gentleman from the capital.
Now, he wore simple black cloth robes and a plain wooden hairpin. All those jade pendants and gold-threaded ornaments were gone. He was so simple and plain that he might as well have been wearing prayer beads. Standing there, one might mistake him for an ordinary young man from town.
That wasn't the key issue, though. The key issue was the bruising on his face—abnormal and fresh. Though the swelling had gone down, it was clearly recent. And his walk: even with his best efforts to hide it, he still stumbled.
Clearly, he'd run into trouble.
Based on Niu Tielan's decade-plus of experience, when someone came knocking under these circumstances, they were either a victim… or a victim.
But this victim was clearly different. Someone from the capital with no simple identity, and not known for a good temper either.
In a single glance, Niu Tielan was already calculating how much the family assets were worth, whether they'd be enough to compensate, and where they'd need to move afterward…
While her mind raced with a thousand thoughts, Song Xingzhi on the other side was no less agitated—perhaps even more so.
Excitement, shock, confusion, suspicion, lingering fear.
Before coming, Song Xingzhi had only learned that the woman who looked so much like his father was named Song Jin, living alone with her widowed mother, Niu Tielan.
Those three characters—Niu Tielan—sounded tough and unyielding at first listen. Combined with the impression of Song Jin from their last meeting, an image of a fierce, formidable woman sprang to mind.
The name sounded a bit familiar, but names weren't important—they were the easiest thing to fake. He'd asked Town Mayor Lin for other details and learned that the mother and daughter had come from elsewhere…
Unknown past, surname Song, striking appearance, from out of town.
No matter how he looked at it, it all pointed to that possibility. He'd planned to approach and probe further, ideally learning exactly where they'd come from.
There were too many prefectures, counties, and towns to narrow it down, and he didn't have time to wait.
So Song Xingzhi came in person, hoping to test the waters. Even if he couldn't get a direct answer, he could at least get a read on the people and figure out how to handle them based on their personalities.
Yes—whether she was or wasn't, he would take her away regardless.
With such striking resemblance, it was fine while they remained unnoticed in this rural backwater. But in the future, if any of their enemies discovered her…
Song Xingzhi didn't dare imagine what vile methods those people might use to humiliate her.
For both public and private reasons, he couldn't just leave this alone.
That was—when Niu Tielan walked out of the house, Song Xingzhi's vision went dark.
Why her of all people?
So that's why the name had sounded familiar. He'd heard it so many times before. He'd only remembered the "Lan" from "hui zhi lan xin"—elegant and refined—and had praised the name in his heart.
Who knew that before "Lan" came "Tie Niu" (Iron Ox)?
Song Xingzhi couldn't smile anymore.
He'd traveled far and wide these past days, seen so many beauties, but she was the only one who truly captured his heart—so much so that even knowing he'd be punished upon return, he'd still planned to try.
He never expected…
In his shock and disbelief, Song Xingzhi stumbled again, a look of grief flashing across his face.
Whether true or false, he no longer had that chance.
How could it be such a coincidence?
Where did these mother and daughter look alike? Where?!
Niu Tielan was unmoved by his sorrow—if anything, seeing him like this made her heart sink even further.
Just how badly had he been beaten?
This unlucky daughter of hers.
She looked worriedly at Town Mayor Lin beside her. "Mayor, what's going on?"
Town Mayor Lin was just as puzzled. Earlier, when Song Xingzhi had come asking all sorts of questions, he'd thought the man wanted to take her away, so he'd specifically warned him that Song Jin wasn't to be trifled with, and had also told Song Jin about this man's inquiries.
Beyond that, a mere town mayor like him couldn't manage much more.
Who would've thought—he'd warned both sides.
Song Jin, fearless of heaven and earth, hadn't gone to find a savior either, just waiting there doing nothing.
And this Young Master Song had seemed to listen carefully, but now it looked like he hadn't heard a word—just standing there in shock. What was he so stunned about?
Town Mayor Lin didn't understand, but he valued his dignity, so he put on a knowing smile and drawled, "There's a wonderful piece of good news."
Though Niu Tielan and Song Jin's life was indeed decent, that was only by rural standards. And the mother and daughter depended on each other, lonely and isolated—one in poor health, the other with a poor temper. No matter how they looked for matches, it wouldn't amount to much.
This Song Xingzhi was different—a young master from the capital. His outfit alone was worth half their year's revenue. He had power, culture, and good looks to boot.
Town Mayor Lin, being a native ancient person, felt that becoming a concubine for a noble family wasn't any worse than being a wife to an ordinary man.
Although he had initially thought Song Xingzhi had taken a liking to Niu Tielan, after making further inquiries, it seemed he had set his sights on Song Jin instead.
Town Mayor Lin didn't understand, and was greatly shocked. He could only sigh that people from the capital knew how to have fun, but since he couldn't afford to offend them, he simply listened.
As for this matter, he had already given his warning—that was the best he could do.
That said, Niu Tielan hadn't been properly warned. She knew nothing, and could only frown at the strange expressions on these two grown men's faces.
Then—
She slammed the door shut, leaving a small crack. Through the gap, her pale face appeared as she coughed incessantly, her voice intermittent.
"Cough, cough… Last night I caught another chill. Jinjin went into town to get me medicine. Cough, cough… One of you is older and the other isn't in good health—you shouldn't risk catching this cold. Better keep your distance from me. If there's something to discuss, just say it from the doorway…"
The two men: …
Slander. This was pure slander.
Who was in poor health / who was old?
**
At the Huichun Hall in Si'an County—
Seeing the person who came rushing in like a whirlwind, Old Man Liu lifted his eyelids and asked, "What's wrong with your mother now?"
Song Jin said hurriedly, "She ate too many sunflower seeds and got heatiness—she can't stop coughing."
"…" Old Man Liu fell silent, then picked up a piece of tree bark and hurled it at her, saying irritably, "Is that worth all this fuss? What are you in such a hurry for? Just boil some loquat leaves, lily, and tangerine peel—two days of drinking that and she'll be fine. If that doesn't work, can't you simmer some bamboo sap?"
She had to come all the way here just to annoy him, this damned girl.
Song Jin caught the tree bark and set it aside, then placed the cloth bundle she was carrying on the counter, pursing her lips and muttering, "Well, I had to bring you something anyway. Besides, the stuff I have at home isn't as aged as what you've got here."
Old Man Liu fumed, "My good things are saved for treating patients! They can't withstand you treating them like daily meals."
Song Jin rolled her eyes at the sky. "Then do you want the stuff or not?"
Old Man Liu glared back at her. "…Why the hell wouldn't I want it?"
He set down his work and opened the cloth bag. A surprised "oh ho" escaped him as he couldn't help but stroke the contents.
"Such fine material—it'd make a great cloak. Making boots out of it would be a waste. And what would an old man like me need it for? I don't go up the mountain anymore…"
Song Jin stood to the side with her arms crossed, raising an eyebrow. "You don't need to tell me that—I know. It's not for you anyway. It's for Granny. She's getting on in years and still loves to walk around. Winters are cold, so a pair of deerskin boots will keep her feet comfortable."
Old Man Liu was left speechless. "…Fine, I was being presumptuous."
His old mother wasn't tall, but she had big feet—nicknamed "Bigfoot Ma" outside, sharing the same nickname as him.
Song Jin laughed. "How could that be? There are two pairs here—one for you and one for Granny. There are also gloves. Remember to wear them when grinding medicine. You're not as young as you used to be, you know."
"I'm only fifty-three—how is that old?" Old Man Liu was both touched and irritated, craning his neck stubbornly, his beard whiskers fluttering. No matter how you looked at him, he was every bit the old man.
Song Jin couldn't resist tugging at his beard.
Old Man Liu slapped her hand away with a smack, puffing his beard and glaring. "Damned girl, looks like you're asking for a beating."
Song Jin grinned sheepishly, then wandered over and skillfully picked out the medicinal herbs she needed—rejecting the slightly inferior ones, barely tolerating the decent ones, and taking all of the finest quality.
Old Man Liu's heart ached with every pick, muttering "damned girl" under his breath.
Song Jin had thick skin and let him curse all he wanted. After packing up her goods, she came back over, sat down in front of him, propped her chin on her hand, and stared at him with sparkling eyes.
"Old Man Liu, you were a proper imperial physician, weren't you? Not just putting on airs to fool people?"
Old Man Liu's mouth twitched, and he waved his hand in disgust to shoo her away. "Get out of here. Don't come here to rile me up."
Song Jin blinked. "Then let me ask you—have you ever seen the Emperor? What does he look like?"
Old Man Liu's expression changed. "Damned girl, you dare say such things! His Majesty is not someone you can casually discuss! I think you've got too heavy a head and don't want to keep it."
"I'm not saying it in front of outsiders. It's just the two of us here—don't be so serious." Song Jin pouted, her eyes darting around before she added, "Fine, fine, let's not talk about him. Then tell me about that great traitor Song Shang."
Old Man Liu's face changed even more drastically.
Song Jin was once again chased out of Huichun Hall. Standing at the door, she pursed her lips, feeling a bit frustrated. "This timid old coot."
She hadn't even gotten to what she really wanted to ask—about that Bamboo Prince who was with Song Xingzhi.
If she could find out about him, then she could dig into that other one with the same surname. She was quite curious about his strange reaction that day.
Unfortunately, Old Man Liu was too timid. Apparently, he'd once been caught up in a case, witnessed his colleagues being brutally dismembered right before his eyes, and was expelled from the palace. Even now, just hearing the name of that great traitor gave him flashbacks.
It looked like she wouldn't be getting anything out of him. Her eyes darted around, and she grinned as she pulled a long wooden box from Xiao Hei's back—inside was a fifty-year-old ginseng with full, plump roots.
She mounted Xiao Hei and trotted off toward the government office.
In Si'an County, besides Old Man Liu, only Magistrate Xiao knew the most about these things. As it happened, Magistrate Xiao's wife was in poor health, and he had been searching for ginseng.
That was something she had in abundance.
They say money makes the world go round; she refused to believe she couldn't get any information out of him.