Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 107 Catching Green Plums

Li Youcai lay reclining on a camphor wood couch covered with a dark velvet carpet, a corner of his moon-white undergarment faintly visible beneath the thin quilt.

His eyes were slightly closed, and even his breathing seemed weak, as if the disease had drained his energy.

Yang Can accompanied He Youzhen to Canglang Gorge, and Qingmei, as the housekeeper, naturally took on the responsibility of comforting the patient.

There was a doctor in the village who had already prescribed herbal medicine, so much so that a faint smell of medicine still lingers in the house.

When Qingmei arrived, she saw that Li Youcai showed no signs of improvement, and she was afraid that the medicine was not working.

Although Qingmei didn't know anything about medicine, she knew that Jingyao was quite knowledgeable in medical principles, so she wanted to ask Jingyao to come and take a look at Li Youcai.

Madam Xiaowan hurriedly said, "Miss Qingmei, how could I trouble you?"

It is my duty to fetch a doctor for my husband, but I should go with the young lady; that would be more respectful.

After saying that, Madam Xiaowan turned to Laixi and instructed him, "You wait at the door."

If the master wants to get out of bed and walk around, quickly go and help him. Be alert and pay close attention to his movements.

After giving her instructions, Pan Xiaowan went out with Qingmei and headed to Master Jingyao's residence.

The door creaked shut, and the room fell silent instantly.

The next moment, Li Youcai's half-dead appearance disappeared.

He opened his eyes and stared intently at the carved beams of the roof, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly.

"I led Yang Can away; this is called luring the tiger away from the mountain."

Afterwards, Zhang Yunyi will cooperate with you to thoroughly investigate the Yang residence; you must find the armor!

He Youzhen's instructions echoed clearly in his ears, and Li Youcai couldn't help but sigh softly.

Steward He was a confidant of the clan leader. He was the one in charge of investigating the smuggling of armor. How could I not obey such orders?

But he felt that such behavior was absurd.

Yang Can had the audacity to conceal over a hundred sets of armor? That's simply a fantasy.

Putting myself in someone else's shoes, of course, I meant putting myself in the shoes of Steward He.

Li Youcai felt that Steward He had clearly failed in his investigation and, unable to find any clues, was trying to find someone to take the blame.

He muttered to himself: It's fine to find someone to take the blame, but why does it have to be Yang Can?
This man is clearly favored by the lord and is now a rising star. Offending him would be unwise!

He still vividly remembers the scenery along the way when he was ordered to return to the mountain from Lingzhou and then rushed from Phoenix Mountain to Feng'an Village.

The farmers busy in the fields all had a look of anticipation on their faces that was rarely seen before.

After some questioning, he learned that Yang Can had won over the major landowners and ranch managers, and had also brought improved plows and waterwheels.

When the farmers on the ridges talked about these things, their eyes lit up, and they all said that with these things, they would definitely have a good harvest this year.

With the high-cylinder waterwheel, it's hard to say how far into the future, but at least in the next five or seven years, the arable land on the Yufa surface will definitely increase year by year as it is reclaimed.

Why would Steward He provoke such a powerful person who could bring real benefits to the family?
It's important to understand that Steward He primarily manages commerce under the valve authority. What Yang Can did poses absolutely no threat to his position.

Li Youcai couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

He did try to make Yang Can a scapegoat, but that was because the Second Master had returned the six estates and three ranches, but no one was willing to take them over.

As everyone knows, the process of receiving crops is bound to be turbulent, and turbulence means that there is a great possibility that the harvest will be affected.

In that case, when the autumn harvest comes out, Second Master will surely cause trouble. Who will take responsibility then?
The valve owner cannot be held responsible, so someone has to take the blame.

Therefore, in order to protect himself, he tried his best to push Yang Can out and make him take charge of the properties that the Second Master had handed over.

It seems that Yang Can actually took over these industries smoothly and successfully, and after the harvest, no one needs to be held accountable.

That would be a win-win situation! As long as it doesn't implicate me, I, Deacon Li, am quite willing to make friends with others. Why offend people for no reason?
Besides, you lured people away and made me search their residence. I'm the one who's offending people, okay?

Li Youcai has always been the kind of person whose opinions are determined by his own interests. When he needed a scapegoat, he could be on friendly terms with Yang Can while pushing him into a pit of fire.

Now that Steward He is looking for a scapegoat, he feels that this external affairs steward is not a decent person.

Feeling conflicted, he thought about Yang Can's relationship with the young mistress.

I heard that Yang Can has completely charmed the young mistress, not only seducing her personal maid but also getting her into his business group and giving her a lot of shares.

In this way, he has secured his position in the eldest branch of the family. With the young mistress backing him up, if he really holds a grudge against me, I can't get rid of him. In the future, someone will always be trying to sabotage me, so life won't be easy.

Li Youcai rubbed his throbbing temples, feeling a terrible headache.

Just then, Lai Xi's voice came from outside the door: "Master, Master Zhang has arrived."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Yunyi strode in.

Upon seeing Li Youcai still lying on the couch, barely clinging to life, Zhang Yunyi couldn't help but sneer.
"Deacon Li, stop pretending. I've brought the people. Shall we make our move now?"

Upon hearing this, Li Youcai immediately threw off the covers and sat up abruptly.

“Master Zhang, I’ve thought about this a lot, but I still feel that something is not right.”

He Zhi didn't have a single piece of evidence; he just relied on a little deduction to order you and me to raid Deacon Yang's house.

"What if we don't find anything? Wouldn't we have offended them terribly?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunyi's brows furrowed instantly, and his eyes turned cold: "Is Deacon Li trying to back out?"

Li Youcai got off the couch, slipped on a pair of soft-soled straw sandals embroidered with cloud patterns, and slowly paced around the room, constantly stroking his hooked beard with his right hand.

“Master Zhang, it’s not that I don’t want to investigate, I’m just thinking, is there any safer way?”

We should always leave ourselves an out. Even if we don't find anything, we won't completely offend Yang Can, and we can still face each other in the future.

Zhang Yunyi had been waiting impatiently for a long time, and was almost driven crazy. He had been hoping for just such an opportunity to bring down Yang Can.

Even now, he still doesn't know that Master Shan is He Youzhen, but that doesn't matter. He'll help whoever can bring down Yang Can!

In Zhang Yunyi's view, he would do anything to bring Yang Can down.

It's a pity that those were a hundred sets of armor, which he couldn't get. Otherwise, he would have been willing to go bankrupt to buy them and frame someone else.

In fact, Zhang Yunyi had already devised a plan with the butler, Wan Tai:

If we find armor, then we've got what we wanted; but if we don't, it's alright.

Once Yang Can returns and learns that his residence has been searched, he will surely be furious.

It's normal for someone to do something excessive when they're enraged.

Even if Yang Can didn't lose his composure, he had ways to make Yang Can "lose his composure," and then they would use the excuse of "stopping Yang Can" to accidentally kill him...

Therefore, it's not a big deal that He Youzhen and Li Youcai are at the forefront, since they are tall.
Is Li Youcai now going to back out?
Zhang Yunyi's face darkened, and his tone carried a hint of warning: "Deacon Li, do you think we won't offend Deacon He just because we don't follow his orders?"
"Don't you know who carries more weight, Steward He or Yang Can?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly sobering Li Youcai up.

He lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, recalling He Youzhen's usual imposing manner, and then thinking of the consequences if he disobeyed orders. Finally, he stomped his foot hard. He shouted towards the door, "Laixi! Go and summon all the guards to stand by in the courtyard!"

Zhang Yunyi breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face: "That's more like it, Deacon Li."

We are now on the verge of disaster, with no choice but to act. A momentous event is imminent, and we must not hesitate even for a moment, lest we create unforeseen complications.

Li Youcai rolled his eyes inwardly at his confident look.

You, Zhang Yunyi, were tricked to the point of death by Yang Can, and all you want is revenge. But I have no grudge against Yang Can!
If you're so eager for revenge, go do it yourself! Why drag me down with you? You're such a bastard!
Despite his inner grumbling, Li Youcai suppressed his emotions and asked, "So, Master Zhang, what exactly are your plans? We can't just act haphazardly, can we?"

Zhang Yunyi waved his hand dismissively: "What else is there to do? Right now, the only one in charge of the Yang family is that girl Qingmei. What can she possibly accomplish?"

Li Youcai's expression tightened, and he hurriedly stopped her, saying, "No! She is the young mistress's person, and her status is special. She cannot be touched!"

If we hurt her, the young mistress will definitely not let it go, and then we'll be in big trouble.

Zhang Yunyi frowned impatiently and patiently explained, "Of course I won't kill her, I'm just temporarily capturing her and locking her up."

Without her as the pillar of support, no one in the Yang household will be in charge. We can search every nook and cranny, even digging three feet into the ground, and who will stop us?

Li Youcai stroked his goatee, pondered for a moment, and finally nodded, tacitly agreeing to the plan.

Just then, Madam Xiaowan's voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard, carrying a hint of cheerfulness: "Master, I've invited Abbess Jingyao here. Quickly, let the abbess take a look at you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Youcai's pupils contracted sharply, his reaction was astonishingly fast.

He leaped up, abruptly twisting his direction in mid-air, moving from vertical to horizontal, and "shoveled" into the blanket like a leaf, his movements fluid and graceful, barely lifting the corners of the blanket.

Immediately afterwards, he closed his eyes, tilted his head to the side on the pillow, and his breathing became weak, returning him to his sickly, half-dead state.

Zhang Yunyi was stunned and speechless for a long time before he came to his senses.

Zhang Yunyi hurriedly whispered, "Deacon Li, what are you pretending for!"

"Since Abbess Jingyao is here, Qingmei will definitely come with her. If we take advantage of this, we can seize Qingmei, and then we can do whatever we want with the Yang family!"

Reminded by him, Li Youcai opened his eyes again with a start: Huh? That seems to make some sense.

The door creaked open, and Madam Xiaowan walked in first, then turned back to the door and respectfully said, "Little Master Jingyao, please come in."

Dugu Jingyao, dressed in plain clothes, walked in slowly.

Although she was not dressed as a monk, her face was serene and her appearance was solemn. She seemed to be enveloped in a faint light of wisdom, as serene as a stick of incense burning before a Buddha.

Zhang Yunyi hurriedly looked behind the two women, but did not see Qingmei. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked, "Madam Pan, why isn't Steward Qingmei here?"

As Pan Xiaowan ushered Dugu Jingyao into the house, she casually replied, "Such a large Yang mansion is entirely managed by Steward Qingmei. She doesn't have that much time to run around with people."

Now that we've invited Jingyao, there's no need to waste Qingmei's time, so I didn't let her come along.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunyi couldn't help but exchange a helpless glance with Li Youcai. Seeing this, Li Youcai, who had just opened his eyes, immediately closed them again.

Pan Xiaowan moved the brocade stool in the corner of the room closer to Dugu Jingyao and said with a face full of eagerness, "Little Master, please sit down."

My husband suddenly fell seriously ill today, suffering from incessant diarrhea and almost collapsing from exhaustion. I'm troubling you with your miraculous healing skills to save him.

Dugu Jingyao remained calm and composed, displaying a dignified demeanor. She nodded slightly and said, "Madam, you flatter me. I only have a slight understanding of medicine and dare not claim to have 'miraculous healing skills.' Let me take a look first."

After saying that, she sat down on the brocade stool.

Pan Xiaowan quickly stepped forward and carefully pulled Li Youcai's hand out from under the blanket, gently placing it on the small table in front of Dugu Jingyao.

Dugu Jingyao stretched out her fingers and placed them on Li Youcai's wrist to carefully examine his pulse. She then looked up to observe his complexion, and after a moment, she slightly furrowed her brows.

Pan Xiaowan originally thought that Li Youcai was just a good-for-nothing who had an upset stomach, so she didn't take it too seriously.

But when he saw Dugu Jingyao frown, he panicked: "Little Master, is my master alright? Is he seriously injured?"

Dugu Jingyao lowered her head slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "Madam, please don't be anxious. Let me take another look at your other hand."

Pan Xiaowan hurriedly helped Li Youcai turn over and then handed his other wrist to Dugu Jingyao.

Dugu Jingyao checked Li Youcai's pulse again before looking up at him and asking softly, "How are you feeling now, Steward Li?"

Recalling his previous experience with diarrhea, Li Youcai weakly said, "I... my stomach is empty now, so I don't feel the urge to have diarrhea anymore."

I felt completely weak, and I kept experiencing sharp, intermittent cramping pains in my lower abdomen.

After hearing this, Dugu Jingyao nodded slightly and turned to Pan Xiaowan, saying, "Madam, you don't need to worry too much."

Deacon Li's diarrhea is due to his recent irregular eating habits, overeating, and catching a chill while resting at night. It's not a difficult condition to treat.

She paused, then added, "The medicine prescribed by the village doctor is not the problem; it's just that the illness comes on suddenly and goes slowly. I need to continue taking the medicine as prescribed and gradually recover."

If Madam is still worried, this humble nun will prescribe another mild tonic, and have it decocted and delivered directly to you shortly.”

Upon hearing that Li Youcai was alright, Pan Xiaowan's heart instantly settled, and a joyful smile appeared on her face. She quickly thanked him, saying, "Thank you so much, little master!"

Dugu Jingyao smiled slightly, stood up and nodded slightly to Zhang Yunyi who was standing to the side, then left with a composed gait, graceful and Zen-like.

Once Pan Xiaowan confirmed that Li Youcai had just eaten something bad, she stopped being nervous and turned to him, saying, "Master Jingyao has already told you to rest and recuperate."

I'll go to the kitchen and cook you some light vegetable porridge. Drink some while it's hot to help you recover.

After saying this, she apologized to Zhang Yunyi again, lifted her skirt, and slowly left.

After she left, Li Youcai immediately opened his eyes, and there was no trace of weakness on his face.

He smiled at Zhang Yunyi and said, "Master Zhang, look at my wife. Although she is usually a bit feisty, she is quite considerate and attentive when I am really sick."

Zhang Yunyi's lips twitched as she looked at him, who had been terminally ill one second and was now beaming with happiness the next.

Zhang Yunyi, keeping a straight face, said, "Deacon Li is very fortunate. But now is not the time to talk about these things."

Since Manager Qingmei hasn't come, we should act immediately and seize her as soon as we see her, lest things get complicated.

Li Youcai then snapped out of his wife's rare tenderness and solemnly said, "Alright, but remember, you must not accidentally hurt Qingmei."

She is, after all, the young mistress's woman. If we harm her, even if we find the armor, any merit we gain will turn into a demerit. You must understand this!

……

Dugu Jingyao stepped out of the inn, her brows still serene, her sleeves fluttering as if carrying the sound of wind through the pines, every movement in harmony with the rhythm of bells and chimes, inspiring awe and respect.

But as soon as she stepped out of the guesthouse courtyard, she moved like a flowing cloud passing over a mountain peak, seemingly unhurried, but in reality, she had sped up considerably.

In the flower hall of the Yang family's back residence, Qingmei was sitting at the table, her fingers deftly moving across the abacus.

The clattering sounds were particularly clear in the quiet room as she intently checked the accounts.

Rena was clever and resourceful. When she found a craftsman to make an abacus according to the drawings Yang Can made, how could she only make one for herself?

Dugu Jingyao darted into the flower hall and said urgently, "Qingmei, a demonic obstacle is approaching! We must react quickly!"

Little Green Plum rolled her eyes and said irritably, "Little nun, speak like a human being!"

(End of this chapter)