It Will All Be Ours
Zhang Wanqing gently refused, "Mama Zhang, taking care of Young Master Su is my responsibility. Before he recovers, I will do my best. As for your suggestion, I am very grateful and touched, but we should take time to think it through."
Mama Zhang understood the underlying meaning and didn't press further. "We'll leave it to you, my lady."
Mama Li came out from the eastern kitchen holding a bowl of medicine and unexpectedly ran into the two at the door. Without hesitation, she handed the bowl to Zhang Wanqing. "The physician said he needs to take another dose after waking up. The stove is still burning. Miss Wanqing, please take this to San Lang (Young Master Su)."
When Zhang Wanqing entered the room, Su Hanshan's eyes lit up again. She placed the porridge on the table and bent down to ask, "Do you need my help?"
Su Hanshan obediently shook his head and leaned against the headboard.
Zhang Wanqing handed him the porridge. He glanced away and took the bowl with both hands, but hesitated before taking a sip. He raised his eyes and asked, "Is it bitter?"
The medicine smelled bitter, and Zhang Wanqing didn't intend to lie to him like coaxing a child. She answered honestly, "Yes, it's bitter."
Su Hanshan already knew it was bitter but wanted her confirmation, as if her words gave him a kind of assurance, enabling him to drink it despite the taste.
He held his breath and buried his face in the bowl. After barely a sip, he furrowed his brows tightly. "It's hot!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Zhang Wanqing quickly took the bowl and handed him a handkerchief. "Hurry, spit it out!"
Su Hanshan, with his long, phoenix-like eyes wide open and lips pursed, replied, "I swallowed it!"
"This…"
"It's okay. Just blow on it for me!"
Zhang Wanqing stirred the soup spoon, blowing on it continuously. After about a quarter of an hour, she handed it back to him. "It shouldn't be hot now."
Cautiously, Su Hanshan tried a small spoonful. It wasn't too hot anymore. He blinked and smiled at Zhang Wanqing, pinching his rounded nose as he gulped it down.
When Su Hanshan finally went back to sleep, Zhang Wanqing left the room. By midnight, she was lying down with Cuier, who was sharing her bed. The twelve-year-old maid was still shaken by the day's events and couldn't fall asleep, chattering non-stop.
"Your young master is staying at Taohuali (Peach Blossom Alley) to recover from an illness?" Taohuali was a picturesque place, perfect for recuperation with its lush greenery and serene ambiance. Mama Zhang had said Su Hanshan had fallen into the water two years ago. Since then, she had neither seen his parents nor heard of them. Only four servants tended to him, likely because he was here for his health.
"Yes, the young master was saved in Taohua Stream. Master Lang said Taohua Stream is his lucky place. Its moist climate, spring peach blossoms, summer lotuses, and year-round mild weather make it ideal for recovery."
So, that little river had the beautiful name "Taohua Stream."
"The young master returns to the Su residence in Luzhou before the full moon every month, stays for a few days, and then comes back here."
"Did your young master get injured?" Zhang Wanqing asked, puzzled.
"Don't you know, sister?" The little maid became excited as if her young master's extraordinary secret was something Zhang Wanqing had to hear.
"My young master didn't just lose his memory from falling into the water. They say when he was rescued, he had a severe arrow wound, and the arrow was poisoned. It was dreadful!" The maid, without a filter, spilled everything like beans from a jar. "Everyone present had red eyes. Madam even fainted on the spot, and Master Lang vomited."
She recalled the scene vividly as if it had happened yesterday. Her body trembled as she said, "Mama Zhang wouldn't let me look, but I peeked from behind her arm. Oh heavens, I regret not listening to her. I wish I could have gouged out my own eyes afterward."
She sat up, gesturing dramatically with her hands. "Sister, you don't know how terrifying it was. The young master was so pitiful. His whole body was purple and red, like a ghost from one of Mama Li's horror stories—except he was purple. I didn't sleep for days, dreaming that the young master turned into a ghost."
Zhang Wanqing had never seen someone poisoned before, but she still vividly remembered how her sister looked after being rescued from drowning. She could only imagine Su Hanshan's condition was even worse.
Cuier propped her hand against the bed and stared with bright, round eyes that shone brighter than an oil lamp. "Sister, do you think falling into the water can change someone's personality?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I was young, but I remember the young master used to be mischievous and unruly. He would often hit me on the head. But ever since he fell into the water, he hasn't hit me once. Sometimes, he even seems silly." She tugged on a strand of hair, unable to figure out the change, and finally lay back down.
"What, are you itchy now that he doesn't hit you?" Zhang Wanqing teased her, brushing off her words as childlike nonsense while feeling sympathy for Su Hanshan's many hardships.
"Cuier, do we have any bamboo baskets at home?" Tomorrow morning, she planned to pick mushrooms and wood ear fungus. The fresher, the better.
"Yes, I'll get it for you tomorrow." Cuier's voice was soft and muffled.
The little maid fell asleep as quickly as she had woken up. Zhang Wanqing smiled, tucked her in, blew out the lamp, and went to sleep herself.
The next day, Zhang Wanqing woke up early. The room was pitch black, but outside, faint moonlight danced on the flowers, bringing in a sense of damp coolness with the breeze.
Seeing Cuier snoring sweetly, she couldn't help but chuckle. She gently patted Cuier's round, chubby face. "Cuier, wake up!"
Her original plan was to go to the mountains alone. Although she had gone to the foot of the mountain with Mama Zhang yesterday, the forest was dense and unfamiliar. She would likely get lost, so someone needed to guide her.
It seemed she would have to bother little Cuier. Last night, the maid had enthusiastically shared many of her mountain adventures, so she should know the area well.
Cuier grumbled a bit and continued sleeping. Zhang Wanqing leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "Cuier, the candied hawthorn is so sweet!"
The little maid immediately sat up, her sleepy eyes darting around. "Where's the candied hawthorn? I want some!"
Zhang Wanqing flicked her forehead with a laugh. "There's no candied hawthorn, but there are mushrooms and wood ear fungus. Do you want those?"
Realizing her sister's prank, Cuier finally woke up fully. Remembering their plan from the night before, she wiped the sleep from her eyes and jumped up. "Sister, I'll go get the basket. Let's head out now."
The two of them, carrying a paper lantern, trudged forward in the dark, their feet sinking into the uneven path.
"Cuier, why did you become a servant for Young Master Su?" The countryside was eerily quiet in the dark, with only the occasional sound of insects breaking the silence. To distract herself from her fear, Zhang Wanqing started a conversation.
"I was picked up by Mama Zhang at the market!" The little maid answered matter-of-factly, without any sign of sadness about her unfortunate background.
Zhang Wanqing was stunned for a moment, sympathizing with her tragic story.
"Mama said that day, after shopping at the Luzhou market, she heard my hoarse cries from under a pile of rotting vegetables. She almost walked past but couldn't help uncovering the pile. That's when she saw me, red-faced and crying my lungs out. She said I stopped crying as soon as I saw her and even giggled!"
"That's amazing. It must have been fate between you and Mama Zhang."
"She also said she was worried Master Lang and Madam would scold her for bringing me back. But surprisingly, they agreed to raise me, saying I could be a companion to the second young lady of the Su family."
"Picking people up seems to be a Su family tradition!"
"So, it's not just you and Mama Zhang who are fated. You're also fated with the Su family." Zhang Wanqing chuckled, realizing the Su family's kindness must stem from their good upbringing.
"Watch out!" The little maid, too absorbed in talking, took a large backward step and nearly fell. Luckily, Zhang Wanqing grabbed her arm in time.
Despite her young age, her optimistic and cheerful nature despite her hardships impressed Zhang Wanqing.
They chatted intermittently as they walked. After about half an hour, they reached the foot of the mountain. By then, the sky was beginning to brighten, a faint red glow spreading across the horizon.
"There are mushrooms and wood ear fungi along the path. We'll pick as we go, but we shouldn't go too far; it's easy to get lost," Cui'er reminded, skillfully leading the way.
Zhang Wanqing signaled her understanding and immediately hunched over to search.
As expected, after half a day's rain and a night of nourishment, clusters of gray-white mushrooms and black wood ear fungi had sprung up from the ground, each one glistening with freshness and looking irresistibly tender, making one's heart itch with desire.
Zhang Wanqing was overjoyed, her eyes practically sparkling with gold. To her, these weren't just mushrooms and wood ear fungi—they were piles of silver coins scattered across the ground. She eagerly pounced to the ground, quickly grabbing handfuls with both hands, her dark head almost burying itself in the soil, wishing she could scoop up everything in one go.
Cui'er crossed her arms and shook her head, puzzled by her sister's excitement. "Sister, don't rush. It will all be ours." She was confused, as Nanny Li hadn't mentioned needing mushrooms for today's meal.
But no matter. If her sister was happy, she was happy too—happiness was contagious.
Luckily, the two had not only brought a basket but also a cloth bag. After an hour, they had filled them both completely.
Zhang Wanqing wiped the sweat off her forehead with her sleeve, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction. The sky was now fully bright, and although they had picked most of the mushrooms and wood ear fungi from the patches on the grass, there were still some left. She decided to return the next day for another round.
The two quickly descended the mountain, and Zhang Wanqing asked Cui'er to take her to the market in Yunzhong Town.
The market was bustling with activity, lively and crowded. The air was filled with the scents of vegetables, fruits, steamed buns, and fried dough sticks. Various cries of vendors and haggling voices mingled in the cool morning air. Zhang Wanqing tilted her head back, took a deep breath, and exclaimed, "Ah, the sweet and savory scent of earthly life!"
She strolled from one end of the street to the other, finding both sides packed tightly with vendors, leaving no room to squeeze in.
"Cui'er, let's go over there!" She pointed to an open space at the end of the street corner.
"Alright!"
That spot wasn't part of the main street. Although there weren't many passersby, a few scattered vendors had set up stalls there. Since it was on the way to the market, it was worth a try.
The two spread out the oilcloth they had brought, poured the mushrooms and wood ear fungi from their basket into two separate piles, and left the bag's contents for later. They sprinkled water over the fungi to keep them fresh, planning to refill the display once the initial piles sold out.
She imitated the neighboring women, calling out, "Fresh mushrooms and wood ear fungi! Come and take a look, granny, madam!"
Beside her, Cui'er stood on tiptoe and leaned close to whisper in her ear, "Sister, we don't have a scale."
"No problem, we won't sell by weight!" Zhang Wanqing replied. She didn't have silver to buy a scale, and her initial excitement had made her forget. But as soon as she stood in the bustling market, she remembered.
Still, the business had to go on.