Chapter 38

Han Shuyi’s eyes glinted with venom as she stared at Xiao Wanling, cursing Xue Cui in her heart for being so useless.

Suddenly, several men burst into the general store and demanded she come with them to face the authorities.

She guessed Xue Cui had messed things up. Han Shuyi wasn’t worried about her—she brought Xiao Chai and headed straight to the village. Sweeping her eyes over the supervisors and the utterly useless village head, she didn’t take any of them seriously.

Xue Cui was lying on the ground groaning. As soon as she saw Han Shuyi, she cried out, “Save me!” Her voice was hoarse and barely audible.

The farm supervisor asked sternly, “Miss Han, what was your intention in ordering Xue Cui to poison others?”

Han Shuyi sneered, “You’re all in this together. It’s easy enough to frame someone!”

The supervisor retorted, “We have witnesses who saw you give Xue Cui two taels of silver and a packet of arsenic to mix into the beans.” He tossed the broken silver onto the ground.

Chen Gui stepped forward. “I saw it with my own eyes!”

Han Shuyi tried to argue, “How can you be sure it was arsenic? I just wanted to buy beans from her.” She ordered Xiao Chai, “Bring the beans; we’ll report this to the magistrate!”

The farm supervisor snapped, “Fine, let’s go!” He brought Chen Gui and Xue Cui along as well.

The eldest grandson of the Xue family and Cheng Qiao’er rushed to Xiao Wanling to report.
“Xue Cui almost caused a disaster! She mixed arsenic into the beans meant for you!”

A nearby customer, who had just bought a vegetable roll, nearly dropped it. He reacted quickly and threw it back into the teahouse.

Cheng Qiao’er gasped, “That was close!”

Xiao Wanling refunded the man’s two wens and pulled Cheng Qiao’er into the teahouse, shutting the door behind them, and asked, “Xue Cui tried to poison my food?” Was she insane?

Cheng Qiao’er nodded vigorously. “She was caught red-handed! We almost boiled those poisoned beans and fed them to both villages!”

She patted her chest. “That would’ve been a terrible sin!”

Xiao Wanling broke out in a cold sweat. She remembered that silver could test for poison. She took out some and asked Cheng Qiao’er to go have a pair of silver chopsticks made.

Cheng Qiao’er rushed off and planned to see what happened to Han Shuyi in town as well.

The Han family wasn’t easy to deal with. If Madam Ji was someone who eliminated those who defied her, Han Shuyi was the kind who hurt everyone around her out of malice.

The Chuanbei loquat syrup had been tested on the village head and did help his cough. Xiao Wanling introduced a new herbal tea and some vegetable rolls, testing them first with a silver needle.

Outside, everything seemed lively and peaceful, as if nothing had happened. The sun was already leaning west. Some brave folks still came to sell vegetables.

The teahouse business never slowed. As dusk approached, the women waiting at the village entrance began heading home.

More and more people came to the market to barter food for goods. Vendors crowded around the row of shops, filling up the ditches and paths with stalls.

Then a group of people entered from the village entrance. After arriving, they went straight to the shops to buy food, clothes, and supplies.

Cheng Qiao’er was setting a batch of vegetable rolls on the stove, sighing. “One group after another arrives, but the men still haven’t returned.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Han Shuyi strutting back smugly, and her face changed. “You poisonous woman!”

Han Shuyi walked proudly into the general store with Xiao Chai. A clerk brought them tea. Xiao Chai called out to Cheng Qiao’er, “What are you looking at? It’s just a matter of a tael of silver. So what if the beans were wasted?”

Cheng Qiao’er was itching to rip them apart. Last night, the authorities had ordered the Xue family to carry Xue Cui home. Her skirt was stuck to her flesh, and she had lost her baby. The doctor said she’d likely never conceive again.

Xue Cui was annoying, but Han Shuyi was outright vile.

Han Shuyi, for her part, was fuming inside. Her dessert and tea shops had been shut down. If she couldn’t sell food, how was she supposed to fight Madam Xiao? That woman was monopolizing everything!

Then came a shout from outside: “They’re back! The men have returned!”

The marketplace emptied instantly. Vendors abandoned their stalls, everyone eager to see the victorious heroes return. The newcomers wanted to meet their neighbors, and the young ladies wanted to spot a handsome husband-to-be.

Xiao Wanling was curious too, but with Han Shuyi around, she didn’t dare go far. She saw the group approaching the market.

At the head was a tall man in armor and a red-tasseled helmet, carrying a sword and radiating an imposing aura. It was Shen Qing.

He walked right up to Xiao Wanling, holding a bright yellow ox-horn scroll—the imperial edict.

Opening it, he read aloud in a firm voice, “By the decree of Heaven, we hereby recognize Madam Xiao of Zhongzhou, whose discovery of sweet potatoes has brought blessings to the nation. She shall henceforth be appointed as Director of Agriculture. All departments shall cooperate fully with her in the study of plants. Thus decreed.”

Xiao Wanling was stunned. “Director of Agriculture”? What exactly did that mean?

She snapped out of it and realized everyone around her had dropped to their knees. She hurriedly crouched down as well.

A strong hand grasped her arm, lifting her up.

Shen Qing’s deep voice rumbled in her ear. “Accept the decree and offer thanks.”

Xiao Wanling took the scroll. “Your servant thanks His Majesty for his grace!”

Everyone else stood up, and the soldiers began cheering, “Deputy General Shen and Director Xiao make such a perfect match!”

Shen Qing stepped in front of Xiao Wanling, face cold. “Go cheer somewhere else!”

Yin Sheng, seeing Shen Qing’s reaction, shot a look at Lu Dahai and grinned.

He whistled, and the soldiers lifted Lu Dahai into the air, chanting, “Officer! You owe us a feast!”

Lu Dahai, being tossed up and caught, yelled, “Put me down! I’ll treat everyone!”

No one noticed that Shen Qing and Xiao Wanling had already slipped away. Hand in hand, they walked out of the village and passed Hou Youcai, who was pushing Xue Cui in an oxcart.

Xue Cui lay in the cart, and when she saw Shen Qing, proud and radiant, she hastily grabbed a patchwork quilt to cover her head.

She suddenly remembered that Shen Qing had once held her hand as a child, but she had shaken him off, afraid others would call her a “barbarian’s wife.” Regret filled her heart. She hated the Han woman even more.

Xiao Wanling mentioned Xue Cui’s situation and how she’d been manipulated by Han Shuyi into poisoning others, beaten badly, and lost her child.

Shen Qing said, “So be it. At least the child won’t suffer in this world.”

Xiao Wanling also felt that Xue Cui herself hadn’t yet grown up.

Shen Qing gently kissed the top of her head and whispered, “Did I misread the decree just now? I memorized it all night.”

Xiao Wanling laughed. “Don’t say that in front of anyone else!”

“I’m not worried. None of them can read!” Shen Qing could read just enough to fool his subordinates.

“That won’t do! If you can’t read military manuals, you’ll be at a disadvantage!”

When they reached home, Shen Qing suddenly picked her up. Xiao Wanling yelped and grabbed his waist in surprise. He was just like before, always picking her up without warning.

He carried her to the courtyard gate and said, “Open the door.”

Blushing, Xiao Wanling fished out the key and unlocked it. Shen Qing turned around with her in his arms and told her to close the door.

“I can walk on my own!”

But Shen Qing wouldn’t let go. He waited patiently for her to close the courtyard gate before carrying her to the inner door.

Her face burning, Xiao Wanling said, “Put me down!”

Inside the courtyard, the gray and silver wolves were standing. Shen Qing turned his head. The silver wolf tilted its head at him, then went back to its den. The Grey Wolf lifted a paw onto Shen Qing’s chest and wagged its tail madly, as if asking why he’d been gone so long.

Shen Qing knelt down and patted the Grey Wolf’s fur. “You haven’t lost any weight!”

The Grey Wolf excitedly spun in circles and then brought over a few-month-old pup, dropping it at Shen Qing’s feet.

He stroked the little cub with curiosity. “Hui Lang, you’re a dad now?”

The silver wolf peeked from behind the house and bared its teeth. The Grey Wolf quickly picked up the cub and carried it away.

Shen Qing went to the kitchen to heat water. The house hadn’t changed—still two bowls, two sets of chopsticks, and two teacups. After bathing, he changed the water to wake Xiao Wanling, only to find her asleep, fully dressed, curled on the bed.

He sat down and removed the wooden hairpin from her hair. Holding her in his arms, he finally felt like he’d truly returned.

Xiao Wanling, sensing warmth, instinctively leaned in. She shifted into a more comfortable position, then suddenly opened her eyes. “Shen Qing!”

“Mm.” His chin brushed her hair. “I’m here.”

Yawning, she smiled sleepily. “You really came back?”

“Mm.” Shen Qing took her hand and pressed it to his face. “Touch me and see if I’m real.”

She traced his face with her fingers. His features were sharper now, the boyish look gone. His eyes held a sharpness she hadn’t seen before. She had wanted to wait and ask him about the situation.

He smelled clean from the bath. Shen Qing shut the door to block the cold air and used a cloth to dry her hair.

“You don’t like talking of war and killing.”

Xiao Wanling thought he’d learned to choose his words wisely. She shifted aside. “I can do it myself.”

But Shen Qing embraced her. His kisses fell like feathers on her face, breath hot while body burning. He carefully held back his desire, watching for the slightest hesitation.

Her mind went fuzzy under his kisses. She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning into his chest and gasping for air.

His lips traced hers slowly. Their breaths intertwined, and she could hear his heartbeat.

Then footsteps sounded outside. Shen Qing frowned and shielded her.

Lu Dahai’s voice rang out. “Deputy General Shen, come celebrate with us tonight with your wife! The food and wine are ready!”

After nearly half a year apart, it was natural for them to want privacy first.

Xiao Wanling grew nervous, clutching Shen Qing’s shirt.

He released her. If this continued, he wouldn’t be able to stop. He pulled her to her feet and helped straighten her clothes.

Blushing, Xiao Wanling tied her loosened hair with trembling fingers, then tiptoed up to wipe lipstick from his lips.

Shen Qing held her hand. “Let’s go have some fun.” Those neighbors had become his comrades in arms. He wanted Wanling to meet them.

Stepping outside, a chill hit them. Xiao Wanling wrapped her clothes tighter. It was nearly winter.

At the back of the village, bonfires were blazing. The men’s faces glowed red in the firelight as they drank and ate meat, boasting of how they skewered two enemies with one thrust.

Xiao Wanling felt queasy. She picked up a big clay bowl for water—only to find it spicy as it hit her throat. Across from her, Sister-in-law Lu and others frowned as they put their bowls down.

Yin Sheng and Lu Dahai raised their drinks and said in unison, “Congratulations, Director Xiao!”

Everyone raised their bowls to toast her. Xiao Wanling sipped just a little, feeling dizzy.

Her vision doubled. The people around her swayed. Just as she was about to collapse, she fell into a warm, familiar embrace.

Cultural Notes:

• • • • Director of Agriculture: A prestigious title in historical Chinese courts, overseeing agricultural policy and innovation. In fiction, it often symbolizes a protagonist being officially recognized for contributions to food or farming.

• • • • Imperial Decree: A royal edict from the emperor, typically written on yellow scrolls with ox-horn handles and read aloud ceremonially.