Chapter 121: Seeking County Magistrate Wu 1

Translator: 549690339

The mule cart quickly entered the county town, winding through a maze of streets before stopping at a household’s front door.

The door to the house was wide open, and Xiu, Yanru’s maternal aunt, was eagerly awaiting their arrival at the front door. Seeing the cart pull up, she immediately rushed over. “Oh my, Yanru is back!”

Jiang Erlang helped his young niece off the cart, assisted his wife to dismount, and then began to unload the gifts.

Two bolts of fabric, four boxes of pastries, two jars of wine, and eight kinds of gifts in total — all neatly packed, not one too many or too few.

“Auntie,” Yanru paid her respects to her aunt, and introduced Yingbao, “This is

Uncle’s daughter Yingbao. She is here with us, and later she will be visiting the

County Government to meet the official.’

Yingbao bowed to the inn’s matron, “Hello, Auntie.”

“Good, good.” Xiu, seeing her smile spread across her face, hurriedly took her

hand and said, “Let’s go inside and chat.”

“We can’t, Auntie. We must return back,” said Yanru. As it was a visit back to her home, she had to visit her maiden family.

Although Yanru’s biological mother had passed away, her elderly father and stepmother were still at home.

Xiu didn’t insist. She just whispered, “If they don’t keep you for a meal there, bring your husband to my place.”

“Okay.” Yanru softly responded. She picked up the eight gifts from the cart and, accompanied by Jiang Erlang, headed towards her mother’s family’s home.

The Lu Family house was not far from Auntie Xiu’s, separated only by four or five houses.

As Yingbao, Lu Yanru, and Jiang Erlang walked into the Lu Family courtyard, they saw several people standing under the eaves of the main house.

In the center stood a man in his forties with a weathered face and long beard. He was dressed in lake silk with a brightly colored silk flower in his hair presumably Yanru’s father.

Next to him stood a middle-aged woman dressed in a light blue summer cloth dress. She didn’t say a word as they entered, her expression cold.

Next to the woman stood a girl about fifteen or sixteen years old. The girl’s face was fair, her eyebrows similar to Yanru’s, but her thin lips gave her a severe look.

There was also a boy about thirteen or fourteen years old, with a devil-may-care look. Seeing Jiang Erlang bringing in the presents, he shouted out loud, “New brother-in-law, what gifts have you brought? Did you bring anything for me?”

Jiang Erlang didn’t say anything. Yanru’s father, however, glared at the boy, rebuking: “Nobody would think you’re mute if you didn’t speak!”

The boy snorted and said carelessly, “I’m just asking, what are you glaring at me for, dad?”

The man paid him no further mind, took a glance at Jiang Erlang, and then frowned at Yingbao.

Jiang Erlang paid his respects to Yanru’s parents, and Yingbao did the same.

Then they heard the stepmother say in a sarcastic tone, “Oh, unable to have your own children, you bring someone else’s child to the house. Don’t blame me, the stepmother, for saying it, Yanru, you seem destined to raise children for others.

Yanru’s face turned red with anger. She was about to argue with her stepmother but was stopped by Jiang Erlang.

Jiang Erlang calmly said, “Auntie, you have misunderstood. This is my niece. We have brought her here because we had some business in town. If we have disturbed you, we will leave immediately.”

The stepmother huffed and went back to the room, followed by the girl next to her.

Yingbao felt as if the whole family was rather sick.

No wonder Yanru was so eager to get married and leave her family. With such relatives, every extra day spent there was a drain on one’s life.

Yanru’s biological father was very distant from his daughter and son-in-law. He left his son-in-law sitting alone in the room, then walked away.

Yingbao and her Uncle Jiang exchanged glances.

Yanru went back to her room to pack up her things, intending to take them away.

After a while, Yanru came out with a large bundle, telling her husband, “Let’s go.”

“Okay,” Jiang Erlang stood up, took the bundle from his wife, and asked, “What’s inside?”

“My old clothes, from when I was a little girl until now. I’m going to use them to patch up the soles of shoes,” Yanru casually said, “It also includes some of my mother’s old belongings.”

The three of them left the Lu house and headed straight for Auntie Xiu’s house.

Jiang Erlang put the bundle on the mule cart and then went into the courtyard of his aunt’s house with his wife.

“You’re back.” Auntie Xiu poked her head out of the kitchen with a smile on her face, “Erlang, you sit down first. Lunch will be ready soon.”

“Okay,” Jiang Erlang sat down under the persimmon tree in the courtyard with his niece.

In the kitchen, Xiu stir-fried vegetables while Yanru helped with the cooking fire.

“Is the Jiang Family treating you well?” Madam Xiu asked.

Yanru nodded: “Everyone in the family is good.”

Madam Xiu: “Are Jiang Erlang’s son and daughter respectful to you?”

“Both Erni and Huzi are good to me. Aunt, don’t worry, they consider me as their own mother, and are always respectful.”

“That’s good.” Madam Xiu felt relieved, sighed gently: “You have finally found happiness after suffering, my elder sister can rest in peace now.” Yanru remained silent.

Madam Xiu placed a fish into the pan, the hot oil sizzled loudly.

“Your stepmother wishes for nothing but your downfall. Today, she met me on the road and spoke sarcastically, humiliating me. Such a wretch!”

“I’m sorry for the worry, Aunt. Please don’t pay her any mind next time. After returning today, I don’t plan to go back to her again. From now on, I’ll come here, Aunt, as you are my true family.”

Upon hearing this, tears welled up in Madam Xiu’s eyes.

While wiping her tears, she sobbed: “Good child, from now on, this is your home.”

Her own niece had lost her mother at a young age, if it weren’t for her own care, the child would have been tormented to death by her stepmother. Thank goodness she finally married into a good family.

Madam Xiu cooked a few dishes, and then she bought some braised food from a store, managing to cook a simple meal.

By this time, her husband had returned, and he and his nephew had a few drinks together.

After dinner, Yanru stayed to chat with her aunt, while Jiang Erlang took Yingbao to the County Government Office.

The County Government Office was overgrown with weeds, looking even more desolate than in winter.

Yingbao jumped off the mule-drawn cart, running to the gatekeeper government official: “Uncle, I came to see Uncle Wu.”

The two officials recognized this little child and, chuckling, asked: “What do you need from the officer?”

Yingbao took out a few yellow apricots from her pocket and gave them to the official, “I brought apricots for Uncle Wu to eat.”

The official teasingly accepted the fruits, biting into an apricot while going into the inner hall to deliver the message.

Not long after, Wu Rui ran out, “Oh! It’s really Yingbao, come, come, come, follow me. The officer is free right now.”

“I also brought delicious food for Uncle Wu, Uncle Wu, can you help me carry it?” Yingbao went to the side of the mule cart, pointing at a bamboo basket, “This basket.”

Jiang Erlang quickly got off the cart to greet Wu Rui.

Wu Rui, waving his hand with a smile, said: “Just come in with me.”

Subsequently, Jiang Erlang followed Wu Rui and Yingbao into the inner yard of the County Government Office, carrying the bamboo basket.

In the middle of the inner yard was a huge vine trellis, lush and full of countless wisteria flowers.

Wu Daozi was sitting on a bamboo couch under the vine trellis, fanning himself with a Pu fan while reading a book.

“Uncle Wu!” Yingbao ran over excitedly, “Uncle Wu, do you still remember me?”

Looking at her, Wu Daozi smiled and said: “It would be difficult not to remember you. What brings you here today?”

Yingbao giggled, sitting down beside the small bamboo table next to the couch, and whispered: “I’ve prepared a very good medicine specially for Uncle Wu.” “Oh? What medicine is it?” Wu Daozi asked with the fan in his hand.

Under the intense sun, Jiang Erlang awkwardly stood holding the bamboo basket, not knowing whether to put it down.

Wu Rui went forward and helped him, moving the bamboo basket under the trellis.

Yingbao started taking things out from the basket one by one, mumbling to herself: “Our apricots ripened at home, I picked some last night to bring for you to taste. And this golden ears packet, I grew it myself, it’s for you to boil and eat, Uncle Wu. Oh, where’s my medicine? Oh, here it is.”

She found a clay pot at the bottom of the basket, took it out and gave it to Wu Daozi: “This is the medicine pellet I prepared for you, Uncle Wu, you must take it, one a day.”

Wu Daozi sat up, opened the pot lid, and instantly smelled an indescribable fragrance.

He squeezed out a pellet and looked at it, asking: “What ailment can this medicine cure?”