Li Yao tucked the 20 taels of silver into her bag, not forgetting to retrieve the 500 wen in copper coins as well. Though it wasn’t a fortune, it marked the end of a troublesome chapter.
Just as she was about to depart, Zou Youcai rushed in from outside. “My apologies, Mistress Li, for being late,” he said. “Have you managed to source the materials? How many boxes of herbal balm can you produce this time?”
Herbal balm?
Ding Xiaoyan felt a jolt in her chest. She certainly knew what herbal balm was; she had a box in her own purse, a gift Yun Jingyu had given her that very day—the very same one she had flaunted to Li Yao earlier. But could something so precious really be made by Li Yao?
Li Yao calculated quickly. The beeswax she had acquired was substantial, but she couldn’t use it all; she needed to keep some for emergencies. “One hundred boxes,” she replied.
Upon hearing such a large number, Zou Youcai was overjoyed. “Splendid! Allow me to provide a deposit immediately!” He reached into his robes and placed a banknote on the table.
Ding Xiaoyan’s eyes sharpened. She saw instantly that it was a 100-tael note, and she couldn’t help but gasp. She hadn’t cared much about the 20 taels earlier—after all, once she married into the Yun family, she would be a woman of means. But 100 taels? Even the Yun family couldn’t just toss that kind of money around lightly.
“Mistress Dazhuang, I’ve finally found you!”
Just as Li Yao pocketed the money, the Village Chief, Wang Jiafu, hurried in.
“What is the matter?”
“Only good news!” Wang Jiafu beamed. “The County Magistrate reported the matter of the well-digging to the Yizhou Prefecture. The Prefect was delighted and heaped praise upon the initiative. Now, the Magistrate is ready to bestow rewards for merit, and Wang Er is at the top of the list! The Magistrate specifically said that Wang Er is reliable and well-versed in the classics. He wants him to come to the magistrate’s office immediately—he intends to personally reward Wang Er with 10 taels of silver!”
Proprietor Fan and Zou Youcai immediately offered their congratulations. “Congratulations, Mistress Li! For your son to receive such an honor from the Magistrate himself—he surely has a limitless future!”
“Indeed, how many people in all of Baichuan County have ever caught the Magistrate’s eye?”
“You are too kind, both of you. It was merely a small matter,” Li Yao replied modestly.
As Li Yao gathered her things and headed outside, Dazhuang and his three brothers pulled up with the ox cart. Upon hearing that Wang Er had been honored by the Magistrate, the brothers were thrilled for him.
“Go quickly now, don’t keep the Magistrate waiting.”
The Village Chief hurried Wang Er off toward the government office, while the Ding father and daughter stood nearby, utterly dumbstruck. Not in a thousand years would they have guessed that Li Yao, who was starving and broke only half a month ago, had become so wealthy. And Wang Er, whom they had mocked for being unable to find a wife, was now being personally rewarded by the Magistrate!
At that moment, Old Man Ding felt such crushing regret that his gut twisted. If he had known this would happen, nothing would have made him dissolve that betrothal!
Ding Xiaoyan, however, regained her composure quickly. She held fast to her belief that her choice was correct; becoming the lady of the Yun family would surely be better than marrying into the Wang family.
Magistrate Song was in a rare, pleasant mood, reviewing official documents in his study when Wang Jiafu arrived with Wang Er. He had met Wang Er once before and found him to be articulate, well-mannered, and sharp-witted; he had taken a liking to the boy then. Having now solved the drinking-water crisis in Baichuan County—a feat that would shine brightly on his own political record—the Magistrate looked upon Wang Er with even greater favor. Compared to his own good-for-nothing son, Wang Er was a shining star.
“There is no need to be formal,” Magistrate Song asked kindly. “Wang Er, where do you pursue your studies?”
“Answering the Magistrate,” Wang Er replied, “my mother hired a tutor to teach me at home.”
A tutor at home? Magistrate Song, hailing from the capital, was accustomed to the wealthy hiring private tutors. But this was Baichuan County, a place so poor it clattered with emptiness! Furthermore, he had heard that Wang Er’s father was deceased and that the family had four brothers who could barely afford a meal, yet they were still willing to pay for a private tutor.
“Then why do you not attend an academy?”
“I did go, but Master Liu at the academy said…” Wang Er paused, then continued, “He said my character was flawed, so he refused to admit me.”
“Preposterous!” Magistrate Song cursed.
He had been monitoring the well-digging project closely the entire time. He had questioned the bailiffs immediately upon their return, and they confirmed that during those days, Wang Er had been diligent and hardworking. He hadn’t returned home for days, sleeping on nothing but a layer of dry straw when exhausted, never uttering a single complaint. How could such a fine boy be described as having a flawed character?
He trusted his own judgment, and he knew he wasn’t wrong. It seemed the Baichuan County Academy was an institution he would need to find time to investigate. Fortunately, the boy’s mother was far-sighted enough to spend her hard-earned money on a private tutor, ensuring his studies wouldn’t be neglected.
“These 10 taels of silver are your reward.”
“I thank the Magistrate for his generosity.”
After they left, Magistrate Song’s curiosity only grew. How could a woman disparaged as a shrew and a fool raise a son so sensible and well-mannered?
As he pondered this, his wife entered the study. “My lord, shall we have dinner now?”
“Yes, let’s.”
Seeing that he had finally regained his appetite, she promptly ordered the servants to set the table. “I had someone pick up some braised goose from the He Family Restaurant. Do try it.”
It was Magistrate Song’s first time tasting the dish. One bite revealed meat so tender it melted on the tongue, infused with a rich, aromatic brine. He couldn’t help but marvel: “The flavor of this braised goose is truly on par with the roasted duck from Quanjufu in the capital!”
“It was made by a farm woman named Li from Hewan Village—the very same mother of that boy, Wang Er,” his wife explained. “To be able to create such a delicacy, this Mistress Li must be a remarkably capable woman.”
Magistrate Song nodded slowly. If she could produce such flavors, it was no wonder she could turn a profit.
“Oh, and there is one more thing.” His wife produced two small boxes of herbal balm and placed them on the table.
“What is this?”
“This is ‘herbal balm,’” his wife replied. “I have tested it myself. Any mosquito bite it touches stops itching and swelling immediately. A little dab during the day also repels insects and clears the mind.”
“You should just use it yourself; why give it to me?”
Seeing he had missed the point, she reminded him, “Such an excellent product—have you ever seen its equal back in the capital?”
Magistrate Song thought for a moment. Similar ointments could be bought in the capital, but none with such remarkable efficacy.
“The common folk have hidden talents; it is nothing to be surprised about.”
“My lord, why do you still not understand my meaning?” she asked. “You were demoted to this desolate, backwater county. If you do not achieve something significant here, returning to the capital will be as difficult as ascending to heaven. But there is always a way out—this herbal balm is an opportunity. If you send some to the capital and have them presented to the ladies of the court, and if they find favor with the imperial consorts…”
“Absolutely not!” Magistrate Song cut her off sharply. “Does my lady think me the sort of man who would resort to sycophancy to curry favor? Let us hear no more of this.”
Seeing his resolve, his wife could only sigh softly. No matter how delicious Mistress Li’s goose was, or how effective her balm, how could this remote Baichuan County ever compare to the splendor of the capital?
Seeing her somber expression, Magistrate Song offered a gentle, comforting word: “Do not worry, my dear. I am certain I will make my mark here in Baichuan. Perhaps in a few years, we will be able to return.”
“I hope so.”
“By the way, where is this balm purchased, that it should be so miraculous?”
“At Zou’s Cosmetics,” she replied. “But I heard it, too, was made by that Mistress Li from Hewan Village.”
Her again?
Magistrate Song sat in a daze.
She could locate underground springs, ensuring every well struck water. She could craft braised goose that rivaled the finest roasted duck in the capital. She could concoct ointments with immediate, miraculous results.
Any one of these things alone would be unremarkable. But when all three were concentrated in a single person—a woman mocked by all as a fool and a shrew—the situation became truly inconceivable.
Just who exactly is this Mistress Li?