Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Reward Silver

Song Rui Ze understood the moment he heard they could stay.

The honored guest must have been pleased—very pleased. Otherwise the Second Steward wouldn’t be treating them like family.

Song Rui Ze had indeed once done the Second Steward a favor, but that debt had already been repaid when the steward bought the wild ox at a generous price. That old fox calculated everything down to the last breath; he’d never allow Song Rui Ze to profit beyond what he deserved.

Their comfort now had nothing to do with him.

It was Qin Hui Yin’s own ability that had caught the Second Steward’s eye.

Ying Hai appeared again not long after, smiling so widely his cheeks looked ready to split. His warmth toward everyone was obvious, but toward Qin Hui Yin it was almost eager—like a wolf trying to charm a rabbit into trusting him.

“The Second Steward told me to arrange lodging for you,” he said. “These are the guest rooms. Only two are empty, so you’ll have to share—two people to a room.”

“That’s more than enough,” Qin Hui Yin said, all gratitude. “Thank you for taking care of us, Brother Ying. If it weren’t for you just now, nothing would have gone so smoothly.”

She tilted her head, the compliment sharpened just enough to land. “You’ve been serving in the manor a long time, haven’t you? The Second Steward values you, and with your talent you’ll be promoted within a few years. When that day comes, Brother Ying, you have to look after your little sister.”

Ying Hai looked as if he’d been lifted off the ground. “Don’t worry,” he said, chest swelling. “I had wine and dishes prepared for you. Eat well, rest early. If you come to the city again and need anything, come find your elder brother. As long as it’s within my ability, I won’t refuse.”

“Brother Ying is truly warmhearted,” Qin Hui Yin said, eyes shining. “My mother always says fools are blessed. The moment I step outside, I meet a benefactor—and it turns out the benefactor she meant is you!”

Tang Lu Wu stared, stunned. Not long ago, Ying Hai had been indifferent, doing the bare minimum even when ordered to cooperate. Now his smile was cheap and eager, as if the cold-faced man from earlier had never existed. At this rate, would the two of them end up swearing brotherhood?

Third Master Tang grunted and nudged Tang Lu Wu. “Little Lu Wu. Learn anything?”

Tang Lu Wu blinked, at a loss. “L-learn… learn what?”

“Silly girl,” Third Master Tang said, shaking his head. “Not a scrap of your sister’s cleverness. She’s right about one thing—fools are blessed. But the fool isn’t her.”

Tang Lu Wu flushed, mortified.

Song Rui Ze gave a quiet snort.

Third Master Tang reached over and clapped Song Rui Ze on the shoulder. “She called you brother earlier. How’d that feel?”

“Her mouth is full of lies,” Song Rui Ze said flatly. “Not one word true. She’s more dangerous than her mother. Who knows how many people will suffer at her hands in the future.”

Third Master Tang’s smile faded. He didn’t like the way Song Rui Ze spoke, but the warning wasn’t entirely wrong. Beauty, talent, and a head full of tricks—once Qin Hui Yin grew up, who knew how many men would be pulled into trouble.

Before Ying Hai could say anything else, another servant arrived, bowing.

“Brother Ying,” the servant said, “the Second Steward sent me to deliver something to Miss Song.”

Miss Song.

Of course. Qin Hui Yin had called Song Rui Ze her brother, so the Second Steward assumed she carried the Song surname.

Several pairs of eyes swung to her at once.

Qin Hui Yin smiled, unruffled. “Brother Ying, my surname is Qin, not Song. My mother married Song Rui Ze’s father and brought me with her. He’s my stepbrother.”

Song Rui Ze lifted his gaze.

She said it easily. Smiled easily. Met everyone’s eyes as if there were nothing awkward in the tangled truth at all.

Ying Hai froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard, then recovered quickly. To him, the relationship didn’t matter. What mattered was that Qin Hui Yin was valuable.

“So you’re Qin Family Girl,” he said, waving it away. “Sister, your surname doesn’t matter. Your elder brother values you as a person. Little Li—what did the Second Steward send?”

The servant straightened. “The honored guest was very satisfied with Miss Qin’s cooking and specifically bestowed reward silver. Our master was also very pleased and also bestowed reward silver.”

He presented a small bundle. “Two taels from the guest. Five taels from the master.”

Qin Hui Yin accepted it with a smile—then paused. She weighed it in her hand, counted, and frowned. “That’s not right. Little brother, there are 10 taels here.”

The servant bowed again, as if he’d been waiting for her to notice. “Another three taels are from the Second Steward. He said Miss Qin helped him solve a big problem, so this is his thanks.”

Qin Hui Yin tucked that away with the silver. A steward handing over three taels without blinking meant only one thing: there was plenty of fat in great households, and stewards knew exactly where to skim. More importantly, his words confirmed it—she’d solved something for him today, something that benefited him enough to make him generous.

No wonder his mood was so good.

Ying Hai’s eyes gleamed. If the Second Steward rose, his people rose with him. His smile became even more sincere.

The servant reached into his sleeve again and produced another bundle. “These 10 taels are for this young man.”

He handed it to Song Rui Ze. “The steward said that if Young Man Song has any other game in the future, he should bring it here.”

Qin Hui Yin kept her smile sweet. “The Second Steward is truly generous. Little brother, please help us thank him.”

The servant bowed and withdrew. Ying Hai gave a few more reminders, told them to rest well, and left with the guards.

When the door finally shut, Qin Hui Yin put away the silver and looked at Song Rui Ze. “Now that you have money, you can go cancel your slot at the Dam Worksite.”

Song Rui Ze didn’t respond.

Qin Hui Yin didn’t take it to heart. His temper had always been strange. If he suddenly turned warm toward her, that would be far more frightening.

A manor servant brought in their meal.

The dishes were clearly made by the head chef next door. Somehow, the banquet that was supposed to go to the honored guest ended up on their table. If that head chef ever found out, he’d probably want to poke a few holes in them.

Qin Hui Yin tasted everything carefully. The skill was real—clean flavors, precise balance. If she had any advantage, it was novelty. People like that honored guest had eaten the manor’s food a hundred times. It was natural to grow tired of familiar tastes.

She could open a shop here, she thought, and she wouldn’t starve.

Third Master Tang took a drink and smacked his lips. “This wine’s good.”

“Hui Yin,” he added with a grin, “you’re still young. You can’t drink wine. Come—Third Grandpa will drink it for you.”

Qin Hui Yin pulled out five strings of copper coins—500 wen—and set them in front of him. “Third Grandpa, thank you for helping us. This is your pay. Don’t think it’s too little.”

She’d just received 10 taels of silver, yet she was offering him only 500 wen. If he were petty, he’d resent it.

Third Master Tang wasn’t petty.

He pushed the coins back without looking. “Keep it. This wine sells for a fortune outside. A small bottle costs one tael of silver. I’ve already made a killing today just drinking in a rich man’s house.”

His gaze softened, the drunkenness making him blunt. “Third Grandpa’s a lonely old man. As long as I have enough, that’s fine. You have plenty of places you’ll need money. Keep it.”

Qin Hui Yin held his eyes for a moment, then nodded and put the coins away.