“Master, was that firewood bearer a man or a woman? So good-looking…” After Wu Wei turned to leave, the young girl who had just reminded her about the embroidery pattern rubbing against her back covered the lower half of her face with her sleeve. She leaned close to the older woman at her table and whispered.
“Eat your meal.” The older woman replied flatly. She poured herself some wine and took a shallow sip, though her gaze drifted intentionally or not toward Wu Wei. Her eyes were deep and probing, as if searching for something.
Though Wu Wei maintained a relaxed posture, her mind was anything but calm. Her thoughts raced as she tried to recall exactly what she had glimpsed in that hurried glance.
The two women were clearly disguised with great skill. Without her deliberate observation, even Wu Wei might have overlooked it. From their clothing, they were definitely not from a poor family—and they had the money to dine out! That alone ruled out the trope of a destitute mother and daughter forced to dress as men to seek relatives…
The older woman’s gaze was exceptionally sharp. Since arriving in this era, Wu Wei had encountered plenty of men and women, but she had never seen eyes quite like those. She knew that people who stared others down with such intensity usually had confidence to back it up.
Either a solid background or, like Uncle Zhao, a profession-honed instinct…
By contrast, Wu Wei was a complete unregistered outsider. She just hoped they wouldn’t cause her trouble.
Wu Wei had already resolved not to let on that she had seen through their disguises. She would take her money and slip away quietly. That was the best plan.
Time seemed to crawl by, but she couldn’t let it show. She even felt the older woman staring at her back the whole time, yet she feigned ignorance.
At last, the waiter emerged with a man whose waist was wrapped in an apron. The man mimicked the waiter’s earlier motions, then nodded. “Not bad. Good size, properly dried. We’ll take it.”
“Thank you, truly.” Wu Wei was glad she had selected the load carefully before heading out.
“Your bundle isn’t a full cart, but the quality is fine. Shall we call it a full load at twenty coppers?”
“Agreed.” Wu Wei had no interest in haggling now. The waiter led her to the counter to settle up. On the way, she murmured to him, “Brother Waiter, if I bring more firewood in the future, could you take it here again?”
“I can’t make that call, but in winter, the building needs plenty of split wood. If you keep the quality and quantity as good as this, we should take it every time.”
“Thank you!”
Wu Wei pocketed the copper coins, thanked the manager and waiter once more, and headed for the door. Just as she was about to step out of the Hundred Flavors Building, an arm blocked her path.
“You’re a girl?” Before Wu Wei could speak, the question came from the young woman who had stopped her.
Wu Wei stepped back, frowning. “A man and a woman shouldn’t touch hands so casually. Please show some respect, young master.”
“Hey, you really are a girl!” The woman laughed, her eyes gleaming with mischief. She planted herself squarely in Wu Wei’s way, cleared her throat twice, and said solemnly, “You look tired. Why not come to my place and keep this young master company over a drink?”
Internally, Wu Wei rolled her eyes all the way to the heavens. So she had been teased by a little girl after all?
The girl before her was about her own build, and if it came to a fight, Wu Wei was confident she could subdue her in three minutes flat. What truly gave her pause was the woman still seated at the square table behind, calmly sipping her wine without a word from start to finish.
Wu Wei dodged left; the girl blocked her. She feinted right; blocked again. Helpless, Wu Wei retreated another step and whispered, “If you keep this up, young master, I’ll have to shout for help.”
At that, the girl clasped her hands behind her back, lifted her smooth chin smugly, and declared, “It’s a wide road—each walks their own side. I haven’t done a thing to you.”
Wu Wei clenched her fists and drew a deep breath…
“Help! Help!” As the girl’s expression turned to panic, Wu Wei snorted inwardly. You think I’m joking?
“Y-You, don’t shout!” Wu Wei’s cries had already drawn stares from all around. If she added “Someone’s trying to abduct a woman!”, this girl would surely get a beating. But Wu Wei’s goal was simply to escape. She shoved the girl hard and bolted out of the building. The push sent her stumbling; she backed up unsteadily, caught her heel on the threshold, and fell flat on her rear.
“Hey!” the girl yelled in humiliated fury, but she could only watch Wu Wei run farther and farther away.
By the time someone from the kitchen came out with the bamboo basket to return it, Wu Wei was long gone…
The waiter dragged the basket to the door, saw no sign of her, but spotted the customer on the floor. Puzzled, he asked, “Miss, why are you sitting there…? Did you see a guest in blue clothes?”
“Didn’t see him! Aren’t you going to help me up?”
“Oh, right…”
The waiter dropped the basket and helped the girl to her feet. She kicked the threshold in frustration and stormed back to her seat.
“Master, I’ve never met such a fiery-tempered girl! And so unreasonable too!”
The older woman’s face finally showed some expression. She gave her apprentice a helpless look and said, “She saw through us ages ago. What you call throwing a tantrum was just her seizing the moment to retreat unscathed. We’re almost there—don’t stir up more trouble. After I drop you off, I have other business.”
…
Wu Wei ran for two streets before glancing back and seeing no pursuit. She finally stopped. After all the morning’s commotion, she was starving. In a spot sheltered from the wind, she pulled out the pancake from her bosom and wolfed it down.
She jingled the copper coins in her hand, torn for a moment, then decided to settle her debt first. She could buy thread for the Embroider Maiden next time.
At the familiar apothecary, the clerk recognized her at once. Wu Wei smiled, offered fifteen coppers with both hands, and expressed her thanks. Just then, the resident physician returned from lunch. The old doctor stroked his beard and asked, “What’s your family name, miss? Where do you live?”
“Greetings, esteemed sir. I’m Wu Wei, temporarily residing in Qinglu County, out in the suburbs not far from here, staying with friends.”
The old physician paused slightly. In these parts, few women had proper names, let alone ones who gave them freely to strange men. Yet he rather admired Wu Wei’s candidness and reliability. “I’m surnamed Sun,” he replied. “Owner of Returning Spring Hall and its resident physician. You’ve got a strong voice and a healthy flush—nothing for you today. But if you ever need anything, just come by.”
Wu Wei’s face lit up. Rubbing her hands, she said, “Sir, I have just the thing. Could you lend a hand?”
Sun paused, then burst out laughing. He had lived a long life, run the clinic for over forty years, and built up a tidy nest egg. Money no longer mattered much, and it was rare to meet such an interesting young person. He invited Wu Wei into the consultation room.
Seated across from each other, he said, “Tell me, miss—what do you need?”
“Sir, a friend of mine requires some mugwort. Moxa floss would be ideal… I won’t take it for free. I’ve arranged to supply firewood to Hundred Flavors Building—they pay twenty coppers a load. Price it at market rate for me; I’ll sell wood and repay you ten coppers each time. The rest I’ll use for daily necessities. What do you say?”
Sun stroked his beard. “Mugwort’s no rare herb—wild all over the hills in summer. I could just give you some. But medicine must fit the ailment… Which doctor prescribed it? What illness does your friend have that calls for mugwort?”
“My friend gets cold hands and feet during her monthly cycle, sweats coldly on her brow, and feels utterly drained. I plan to make moxa sticks and do some moxibustion for her.”
Sun’s eyes lit up. “You understand medical principles?”
Wu Wei waved her hands hastily. “No, no—just a folk remedy.”
“No need for modesty, miss. Folk cures do speak of ‘moxibustion to prevent illness,’ good for chills, headaches, rheumatism, and frostbite. To my knowledge, though, none record it for that particular ailment. Still… moxibustion promotes blood flow, dispels cold and damp—it should help your friend. That said, it’s not the right season. Best to wait until late summer or fall.”
“You’re absolutely right, sir, but her condition is truly severe. I want to try anyway—even some relief would help…”
…
A quarter-hour later, Wu Wei departed Returning Spring Hall happily, a small sack of mugwort on her back. Sun had wanted to give it free, but she insisted on paying. They settled on ten coppers for the bag, with the rest to be balanced on her next firewood delivery to the market.
Leaving the clinic, Wu Wei found a decent-sized clothing shop and marched straight in, announcing she wanted to discuss business with the boss.
The clerk eyed her—a girl, raggedly dressed but fair-skinned and delicate—and went to report inside. Moments later, he returned and ushered her to the back room.
The shop’s owner was a woman too. The Boss Lady was cracking melon seeds when Wu Wei entered. She looked her up and down before asking, “Planning to supply fabric here, miss? Or…?”
Wu Wei let out a sly chuckle and sweetly called out, “Sister,” before getting to the point. “Here’s the deal—there’s a girl back home who’s really skilled with a needle and thread. Do you need embroidery done on any of your ready-made garments, Sister?”
The Boss Lady eyed her up and down. “Which family are you from? You don’t look familiar. Our clothes aren’t cheap, you know. Leave a deposit of five hundred wen, and you can take one home to try. If the needlework’s subpar, I won’t buy it back!”
“Understood. I brought some embroidery samples along. Have a look first and decide, Sister.”
With that, Wu Wei set her sack of mugwort down and turned her back to the woman. “Sister, I snagged and wore through the fabric a bit today while carrying firewood into town. Just take a rough look. If you’re interested, next time I can…”
Clatter! The Boss Lady dumped the handful of melon seeds back into the dish and snapped, “See her out!”
