Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Benefactor
Qin Hui Yin climbed hand over hand, breath rasping in her throat. By the time she hauled herself over the edge, her arms were shaking and her knees were smeared with mud.

No one was there.

Only the vine, neatly knotted around the trunk of a big tree nearby.

“Is anyone there?” she called, turning in a slow circle.

“Who saved me?”

“Benefactor? Are you there?”

Silence answered her.

Whoever it was had helped quietly and didn’t want to show their face. Without that knot, she might have believed the vine had gained a spirit.

Qin Hui Yin lifted her chin toward the trees. “Thank you. You’re a really good person. If you ever need my help, don’t be polite—just come find me. I’m heading down the mountain now, all right?”

She didn’t wait for a reply.

On the way down, she glanced back at the shadowy, dangerous mountains and quickened her pace.

Hardly anyone went that deep. Only Song Rui Ze came regularly. But Song Rui Ze had deep grudges with the original mother and daughter—saving her didn’t match his nature.

If it really was Song Rui Ze, burying her in a pit would fit him better.

Could there be someone else out there?

The thought made Qin Hui Yin shiver.

From now on, she couldn’t come up alone. Even if she did, someone needed to go with her—someone who could help if something like this happened again. She’d been lucky today. She might not be lucky next time.

Behind her, Song Rui Ze came down the mountain with a rabbit and a wild chicken slung over his shoulder. Watching Qin Hui Yin sprint away, his dark eyes narrowed with disdain.

So timid—yet she still dared to go deep into the mountains.

She really didn’t know how to spell death.

“I’m back!” Qin Hui Yin burst into the wicker-fenced yard.

Li Tao Hua was sorting the pea flour. She looked up, saw Qin Hui Yin caked in mud, and instantly set everything down. “Where did you fall? Are you hurt?”

“I’m not hurt.” Qin Hui Yin dropped her basket with a thud. “Look—wood ear mushrooms. I found a bunch. I didn’t have time today, but next time we can add some to the chilled jelly noodles. It’ll taste even better.”

Late at night, Li Tao Hua went in with an oil lamp to check on Qin Hui Yin. Seeing her asleep, cheeks soft and peaceful, Li Tao Hua’s eyes warmed with a tenderness she didn’t show in daylight.

Tang Lu Wu lay beside her. Even in sleep, Tang Lu Wu looked neat and proper—obedient, composed.

Qin Hui Yin, on the other hand, slept like she had no sense of decorum at all, hair scattered, blanket kicked half away.

Li Tao Hua’s mouth twitched, as if she wanted to scold her even now. Instead, she turned and left quietly.

Back in her own room, she set the oil lamp on the cabinet and blew it out.

In the dark, Tang Da Fu reached for her waist.

“What are you doing?” Li Tao Hua’s voice was impatient.

“Tao Hua,” he whispered, thick with longing. “It’s been so long…”

“Your leg is crippled and you still can’t behave?” Li Tao Hua rolled away. “I’m tired. Don’t bother me.”

Tang Da Fu lay stiffly beside her, guilt pressing on his chest. “It’s my fault. I’m useless. If I hadn’t gotten hurt, you wouldn’t have to work this hard.”

“Since you know you’re useless, then stop causing trouble.” Li Tao Hua’s tone turned sharp as a blade. “Even if your leg can’t fully heal, once it’s better you can get out of bed. You don’t expect us to support you for the rest of your life, do you? I, Li Tao Hua, don’t have a habit of raising men.”

Her voice dipped into something colder. “Don’t forget, I’ve married three times. If you’re a good-for-nothing, I can still pick someone capable again.”

“My wife is right,” Tang Da Fu said quickly, panic threading his words. “I’ll heal properly. I won’t move around.”

Li Tao Hua stared out the window into the black night, sleep refusing to come.

She had promised that person she would take good care of Hui Yin. But now she was letting Hui Yin work herself to the bone. If that person knew in the afterlife, they would probably blame her.

The next day, Tang Yi Xiao went to hire Third Master Tang again to take them into town.

Today wasn’t market day, so Third Master Tang didn’t have to take passengers. He didn’t wake as early as usual. When Tang Yi Xiao showed up to rent the ox cart, he almost thought he was dreaming.

Still—business was business.

This time Qin Hui Yin hired him for a round trip and had him wait in town for them.

Third Master Tang knew they were doing business, but he didn’t pry. After he dropped them at the market entrance, Qin Hui Yin handed him another bamboo bucket of chilled jelly noodles. He took it with a grin, eating as he walked.

Many people had never seen chilled jelly noodles before. Watching how happily he ate, they asked what it was. Third Master Tang pointed toward the market entrance and told them to buy it there. He also warned them the quantity was limited—go too late, and it would be gone.

By the time Qin Hui Yin and the others finished setting everything out, returning customers from yesterday were already waiting.

A wooden sign stood beside the stall:

Chilled Jelly Noodles: five wen per portion
Five pieces of braised meat free
Another five pieces: one wen

“Today’s bamboo buckets really are bigger than yesterday’s.”

“Boss, one portion—and add five more pieces of meat.”

“Me too! My little grandson ate it yesterday and cried for it all night. I was so worried. I’ve been waiting since early morning. Give me mine first!”

“Everyone, line up!” Li Tao Hua planted her hands on her hips. “If you push and shove, you’ll only make it worse. If you put that energy into lining up, you’d already have your food and be on your way.”

Li Tao Hua shouted and kept order. Qin Hui Yin collected the money. Tang Lu Wu added meat. Tang Yi Xiao handed bowls to customers.

There was a burst of chaos at the start, but once they found their rhythm, everything moved smoothly.

Today’s portions were three times yesterday’s. Yesterday they’d sold out in an hour. Today it shouldn’t be that fast—

But the line still stretched.

“Sis.” Tang Yi Xiao’s eyes flicked up. Across the way, a young man stood watching. “Do you think that’s Elder Brother?”

Tang Lu Wu followed his gaze, her face brightening. “Yes. It’s Elder Brother.”

Then she thought of something, and the light dimmed. Her eyes slid toward Li Tao Hua, full of unease.

Qin Hui Yin noticed her hesitation. “What’s wrong?”

Tang Lu Wu lowered her voice. “My elder brother is here.”

Only then did Qin Hui Yin spot Tang Yi Chen. He was far enough away that, with the crowd packed in front of their stall, she might have missed him entirely.

“Then go talk to him,” Qin Hui Yin said, still taking coins and making change. “I’ve got things here.”

Tang Lu Wu hurried over.

Li Tao Hua saw her slip away at the busiest moment. Following her line of sight, she spotted Tang Yi Chen, clicked her tongue, and kept working.

Among the Tang children, the one she liked least was Tang Yi Chen. Everyone praised him for studying well and having a promising future. Li Tao Hua only thought he was the hardest to read, the one with the deepest thoughts.

Tang Lu Wu returned quickly. “Elder Brother said a few classmates at the private school want to buy our chilled jelly noodles.”

“How many?” Qin Hui Yin asked.

“Five, I think.”

“All right. Third Grandpa is over there.” Qin Hui Yin nodded toward Third Master Tang. “Go tell him. Minimum five to deliver, and the delivery fee is one wen.”

“My brother can just carry it over,” Tang Lu Wu blurted. “Do we really need to hire someone to deliver?”

“Can your brother come pick up goods every day?” Qin Hui Yin asked without looking up from the money box. “They’re classmates—equals. If he carries things for them every day, they’ll stop respecting him sooner or later. Your brother already has it hard. Don’t make it harder.”

Tang Yi Chen came over at some point. When Qin Hui Yin finished, he was close enough to hear every word. The look he gave her was complicated.

“You’re here,” Qin Hui Yin said as if nothing was strange. “Go back first. I’ll have Third Grandpa deliver to your classmates. Third Grandpa’s been in town since early morning—he should get the chance to earn money.”