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Helper Jing continued her rounds, collecting letters from the young apprentices—Xiao Han, Xiao Bai, and Xiao Lin—who were writing to their mothers and families. Xiao Lin and Xiao Han were racing to see who could finish their letters first, while Xiao Feng wrote two letters: one for his family and another for Cook Gu's daughter. Xiao Bai handed hers in first.
When asked why he had written two letters, Xiao Feng replied shyly, "I wanted to check on Yiyi and asked if she wanted a souvenir."
Chief Jing took Xiao Feng's letters and then received two more, almost shoved at her simultaneously, from Xiao Lin and Xiao Han.
"I finished first!" Xiao Lin declared triumphantly.
"No!" Xiao Han exclaimed in defeat.
"It doesn't matter who finished first," Chief Jing said, examining the letters with resignation. "Both of your handwriting is terrible. I'm afraid no one will be able to understand these."
"Bunch of idiots," Xiao Bai and Xiao Feng muttered in unison from the side.
Helper Jing then approached Zhao Tao, who had just finished writing to his wife, Zhang Mingyu, asking about their twin sons, Zhao Fang and Zhao Jing, and inquiring about his newly married younger brother on behalf of his father, Master Zhao Baiyi.
Lastly, Helper Jing reached Master Jiang Liheng, who was seated at his workbench, delicately carving a piece of timber. "Master Jiang, a letter for your wife and young daughters?"
Master Jiang smiled and handed her a sealed letter. "Yes, thank you, Chief Jing Xiu."
Hua Meilin had observed all this while she waited for Zhu Changli to return with their letters. When he finally emerged, looking flustered, she asked knowingly, "You haven't written your part of the letter, have you?"
Zhu Changli had scratched his head sheepishly. "I completely forgot. And Bao Hong was already asleep."
Helper Jing collected the letters in a neat bundle, except for Bao Hong's, who had gone to bed early.
Finally, Bao Hong returned with his letter. As Hua Meilin took it from him, she remarked, "Helper Jing collected all the letters yesterday, except yours," raising the letter in her hand.
Bao Hong's eyes widened in realization. "I slept early and missed it."
Hua Meilin nodded. "Yes, but don't worry. Mistress Wu has been busy with administrative work in addition to her daily ancestral vigil. She's only now finding the time to write her personal letter home. She's finishing it up as we speak. Once she's done, we'll head to the courier station at the river dock before going to the ancestral home." She then instructed, "Stay here, guard the cabin, and assist if needed. I won't be gone long. I'll return after escorting Mistress Wu."
With a final nod, Bao Hong watched as Hua Meilin went back inside to complete her preparations.
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Hua Meilin gave a brief smile before heading back into the cabin, ready to assist Mistress Wu with their tasks for the day.
Wu Meifen, having gathered herself after her early morning encounter with Cook Gu, finished her ablutions and a quick breakfast to dispel her lingering fatigue and awaken her sleepless spirit. She settled at her desk in her quarters, retrieving parchment and ink with deliberate and graceful movements. Each stroke of her brush reflected her practiced hand and calm demeanor. She began composing a letter to update her family about her extended stay and to inquire about her son, Ling Yu, while also drafting another letter for the Dragon's Edge Woodcutters.
In her letter to home, she explained the need to extend her stay at the cabin due to the unpredictable weather, which had delayed her ancestral vigil. She also inquired about her son, Ling Yu, asking how he was faring and how the household was managing in her absence. Her elegant, flowing script translated her thoughts seamlessly into words on the page.
In her letter to Scholar Li, Wu Meifen provided an update on the wood harvest operations at the new site and assured him of the safety of both herself and the workers at the hunters' cabin following the recent fierce storm. She requested information on the current status of the Dragon's Edge shop and outlined the administrative tasks requiring attention in the coming days. Additionally, Wu Meifen included an incident report scroll that documented the unexpected discovery of an unconscious stranger by one of their workers. The stranger's mysterious arrival and situation remained unclear and were being closely monitored by Physician Chu Feichen of Zen Clinic and Pharmacy. Wu Meifen stressed the importance of delivering the report to the magistrate promptly.
Satisfied with her letters, Wu Meifen sealed them with a small stamp bearing her family crest.
Hua Meilin noticed that the door was wide open, allowing a faint scent of ink and parchment to drift into the hallway. She knocked gently on the wooden panel to announce her presence before stepping into the sleeping quarters, her footsteps light and respectful. Wu Meifen looked up from her work just as she finished her letters.
"Mistress Wu, are you ready to go?" Hua Meilin asked softly.
Wu Meifen nodded. "Yes, let's head to the courier station first. We have quite a few letters to send." She carefully folded her last letter and placed it alongside the incident report scroll and her other letter in a satchel made of sturdy, weather-resistant fabric.
Hua Meilin gathered the collected letters and secured them with Wu Meifen's letters and the report scroll in the satchel. "Everything's ready. Shall we?"
Wu Meifen stood up, her movements graceful despite the sleepless night. "Let's go," she said.
They left the cabin and made their way to the river dock. The path was tranquil, with morning light filtering through the trees, creating a mosaic of light and shadow on the forest ground. Birds sang in the canopy above, and the air was fresh with the scent of pine, earth, and blooming wildflowers.
The river dock was almost empty, with only a few stores open. A handful of merchants were setting up their sturdy stalls, their voices low as they discussed the day's slow business. Stores that could withstand storms continued to operate, but smaller stalls that could be easily swept away by heavy rain had long since closed. The smell of the river mingled with the scent of fresh produce, creating a quiet and solemn atmosphere. The dock itself was a hub of sparse activity, with only a couple of larger passenger boats tied up and workers loading and unloading goods and passengers. The larger boats, sleek and designed for speed, were ready to depart at a moment's notice to avoid the oncoming storm and navigate strong currents.
Wu Meifen and Hua Meilin passed the few rows of small shops and closed stalls by the river dock. The place was quietly bustling with sparse morning activity, and the occasional call from a vendor announcing their wares. They made their way to a small courier station at the very end corner of the river dock. The station, a modest structure with a simple sign reading "Yizhan," was the hub for sending and receiving messages.
The Yizhan system was a sophisticated network of relay stations and couriers, established centuries ago to ensure swift communication across the empire. Strategically placed along major trade routes and in remote villages, these courier stations handled a variety of correspondence needs, from simple personal letters to urgent state documents. The system offered multiple levels of service to cater to the urgency and security requirements of the senders. Couriers traveled from one station to another, facilitating the efficient transmission of official documents and communications, even in the middle of a storm, highlighting the importance and danger of their job.
Each station was staffed by trained couriers who utilized a combination of land, water, and even avian routes to ensure timely deliveries. Land routes typically involved couriers on horseback or foot, navigating through established roads and trails. Water routes used sleek, fast boats capable of traversing rivers and coastal waters. For the most urgent messages, trained birds, often hawks or pigeons, were employed, their reliability honed through rigorous training.
The station itself was a busy place, in contrast to the desolated and idle street outside, with two couriers sorting through packages and letters with practiced efficiency. Wu Meifen and Hua Meilin approached a young courier, who was diligently working behind a wooden counter. His uniform, though simple, bore the insignia of the imperial courier service—a symbol of reliability and speed.
Wu Meifen greeted him with a nod. "Good morning. We have letters and a report that need to be sent to Fènghuáng."
The courier, a young man with a serious expression, nodded and took the items from Hua Meilin. "Of course, Miss. Is the report scroll urgent or does it require priority handling?"
Wu Meifen shook her head. "The incident report scroll is not urgent, but it is an official document and needs to be handled securely."
The courier nodded and began the process. "For personal letters, we log them and include them in the next scheduled dispatch. Official documents, even if not urgent, require an identification stamp to verify their authenticity and ensure secure handling. If you desire, any letter or package can receive security services for an additional fee. Priority service, however, is much more expensive."
He pulled out a small ledger and continued, "The fees are as follows: a single personal letter costs one Yùlíng (Jade Spirit) token, while a bulk of letters costs five Yùlíng tokens. Single packages range from three Yùlíng tokens for a small package to ten Yùlíng tokens for a large package."
As he spoke, he pointed to the wooden boards hanging on the walls that listed the fees for different services. "You can also see the fees listed there," he said, but he continued to dictate them from his ledger as per protocol.
"Official documents, letters, parchments, and reports require an additional two Yùlíng tokens for the security service. Urgent verbal messages cost fifteen Yùlíng tokens, and the same message sent by birds is twenty Yùlíng tokens. Priority service, which ensures the fastest possible delivery, doubles the cost by land or by water."
Both Hua Meilin and Wu Meifen glanced at the wooden boards hanging on the walls, which detailed the fees for various services. Wu Meifen, however, noticed something intriguing in the carvings. The elegant script and complex designs seemed familiar. On closer inspection, she recognized them as the handiwork of Master Jiang Liheng, evidenced by a small, intricately drawn signature in the bottom corner. The discovery amused her, but she chose not to mention it, keeping the observation to herself.