The Lady’s Sickly Husband

Translator: Antonia

The valley was empty and spacious, covering an area of thousands of acres. Under white snow, everything that greeted the eye was white. Mo Qianxue exclaimed again. What a great place to build the factory to produce soy sauce!

“Our master doesn’t receive guests.”

Mo Qianxue let Awu take her there by Light-Feet but was still blocked outside the forest.

“Please send a message to your master that I’m very interested in this valley.”

“My master has already passed the words. If you don’t leave, sorry I’ll be rude.”

Mo Qianxue could see the huge courtyard looming not far behind the forest. Ignoring the gurad’s warning, she shouted to the courtyard, “I’d like to share with you a good poem.” Since the owner live here in seclusion, he must be a man of learning who loved beautiful poetry and proses.

Mo Qianxue thought for a second and recited a famous poem, apologizing in her mind. Sorry, I had no choice but to plagiarize.

“From hill to hill no bird in flight/ from path to path no man in sight/ A lonely fisherman afloat/ is fishing snow in a lonely boat.” Such a great poem perfectly described the scenery as well as the owner’s frame of mind. She supposed that he might want to meet her because of the poem.

A voice floated from over there, “It’s indeed a good poem, but I’m too old to be interested in literary. Please go back.” The sound was withered and sad with infinite despair and loneliness of life, as if he had seen through the vanity of life.

The sound just faded out when two more guards came out of the forest, looking stern, and made the posture of sending away guests, “Our master wishes you a nice day.”

These two men were obviously more respectful than the previous one but also more determined.

As the snow floated in the air, the temperature quickly dropped to make the weather piercingly cold. On the way heading for the valley, Mo Qianxue, full of hope, didn’t feel that there were so many turnings of the mountain road or that this road was so long.

Now when they are leaving the place, Mo Qianxue’s mood was exactly the same as the thick dark clouds hanging in the sky. The mountain wind kept blowing the snowflakes. In this world of snow and ice, Mo Qianxue was a little disheartened.

It was getting colder and colder recently. In the days to come, it wouldn’t be suitable to get out and find a good site for factory.

Ning Shaoqing had seriously given her an ultimatum last night that this was the last time she went out in this winter. Whether she nailed it or not, it was the last time.

If she really wanted to set up a factory, then wait until next spring when the weather got warmer. He would accompany her to find a suitable place to build the factory.

Yet, not now!

Mo Qianxue knew that he said that out of good intention and that he cared about her.

But—

Last time when they got the village doctor, the medicines cost hundreds taels of silver. Mo Qianxue heard that in this world, there were few great doctors and medicines were surprisingly expensive. As the old saying went, you could have everything but illness, nothing but money.

Some capable but astute doctors charged so high that even the diagnosis fee reached as much as at least a thousand taels.

If she waited until next spring to find the site, she was afraid that a few more months of time would be wasted.

Could Ning Shaoqing make it?

The oxcart made its way slowly, and Mo Qianxue gradually felt exiled in this desolated place. The dark grey color of winter days got denser. There was only coldness accompanying her.

*

In the Tong courtyard in the forest, two old men was sitting in the main hall.

One was all grey-haired while the other looked skinny and weird.

“A lonely fisherman afloat/ is fishing snow in a lonely boat. A good line indeed to pass down for thousands of years. If I could travel back to twenty years ago, surely I’d like to appreciate poetry and tea with her…but my Jing…” The grey-haired old man recited the poem and murmured to himself, shaking his head and looking sorrowful.

The skinny weird man seemed to be pondering, brilliance shining in his eyes, “Old Tong, I think maybe the girl can heal Jing’s illness.”

“Ah? She can? Wang, why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Mr. Tong was excited.

The strange old man coughed, “I said maybe. Not one-hundred percent.”

“As long as there is a glimmer of hope, I won’t give up.”

“…”

Two fast steeds galloped out of Tong mansion.

“Please stay. Our master invites you to our mansion.” The one who was speaking was exactly one of the two serious-looking guards coming out of the forest just now.

For a moment Mo Qianxue didn’t understand what trick the owner was playing. She and Awu looked at each other in confusion.

Awu was irritated, “Who is your master? Why should we be pushed around by him?”

Lady was also of high-ranked identity. How could he allow them to treat her so disrespectfully?

The two guards apologized in a hurry, displaying an attitude totally different from a moment ago.

Seeing that lady didn’t speak, Awu raised the whip to drive the oxcart.

The two guards’ faces were ashy grey. If she wasn’t willing to, they couldn’t force her. But just now their master had ordered to invite them with due courtesy, especially the lady who recited poem.

Now if they didn’t agree, the guards would be punished for not finishing the task because Tong family had always carried out a set of strict rules of reward and appreciation.

The complicated expression on these people’s face didn’t escape Mo Qianxue’s eyes. There seemed to be an opportunity. She said coldly, “Awu, turn around. Let’s meet the master.”

Hearing this, the two guards were overjoyed. They glanced at each other and hurriedly turned around the horse to lead the way.

Mo Qianxue entered the Tong mansion.

Awu was blocked out of the door.

The mansion was situated by a mountain in a grandeur style. Along the way, there were pavilions, long corridors and arch bridges connecting one another. Strolling inside turning from left to right and going up and down was quite unique and interesting.

The tasteful design of this garden was even better than that in Jian mansion. What was more, this design contained elements of Zen.

Mo Qianxue couldn’t help exclaiming that maybe accumulation of wealth could be achieved through one generation, but culture cultivation required endeavor of several generations. This was the discrepancy between a rich-merchant family and a traditional noble family. No wonder that noble youngsters looked down upon people of humble origin or the emerging merchants.

In the main hall for hospitality, a white-beard old man sat there next to another old man of similar age. The servants served on the side.

The old man had withered hair and pale face, yet sharp eyes and straight back. The face and temperament could easily give a glimpse of what a handsome young man he used to be as a young man—a cute and smart noble young lord.

Seeing Mo Qianxue arrived, the servants retreated.

“My surname is Tong.”

“Nice to meet you Mr. Tong. I’m Mo Qianxue.” Even Mo Qianxue was a little shocked at his domineering presence.

Mr. Tong was satisfied with her manner and softened his attitude.

“I heard that you want my valley?”

“Yes.”

“So what are you offering?”

The valley was as large as a thousand ares with sufficient sunshine. If used to plant crops, it would be a fertile land. Mo Qianxue supposed that the price couldn’t be merely a few thousands of taels of silver. She lowered her head, because that question was too straight forward for her to give an answer immediately.

There was a moment of silence in the hall.

Mr. Tong didn’t intent to embarrass her. Sipping his tea, he asked, “You know medicine?”