Encountering Rain at West Lake

In the wee hours, past Chou time (1-3 AM), Su Tan'er awoke.

When she opened her eyes, the light was dim and yellowish, and the night outside the window was still silent, yet she felt no peace. Her mind and body were filled with discomfort, agitation, and unease, but she couldn't pinpoint the source of her distress. Why was she so upset? Fragmented images flashed through her mind, she was caught between a rock and a hard place, and something was collapsing… Amidst this chaotic sensation, she heard the voices of her family.

"Miss is awake."

It was Xiao Chan's voice; she recognized it instantly without needing to think or identify it. She closed her eyes, struggling to recall what had happened, and tried to sit up, but Xiao Chan pulled the quilt back down, pressing her gently back. The little maid didn't use much force, mainly because Su Tan'er had little strength left. In Xiao Chan's eyes, she saw redness and concern.

"What time is it?" she asked, her voice a bit hoarse, sounding almost unrecognizable.

"Almost past Chou time."

"Miss, don't get up…"

"I'll go heat up the medicine…"

The voices ringing in her ears were Chan'er's, Juan'er's, and Xing'er's, but it was Li Heng who told her the time. He had stayed here as well. Her mind was still troubled, but she felt a warmth in her heart. She recalled what had happened earlier: "Shopkeeper Liao and the others…"

"Miss, please don't think about these things…" Juan'er, by the bed, choked out. Su Tan'er shook her head apologetically, opening her mouth weakly, "I can't help it…"

"Shopkeeper Liao and the others have gone back to rest," Ning Yi's voice sounded beside her. He then said softly to Chan'er and Juan'er, "I'll talk to her. You go help Xing'er."

The two maids nodded and went out to the next room to brew the medicine. When it quieted down, Su Tan'er's vision and spirit focused a little. The man who was her husband, dressed in the same blue robe as during the day, moved a stool over and sat down to look at her. His expression was similar to when they chatted upstairs, tilting his head casually, with a scholarly indifference and composure. Although his young appearance didn't make him seem particularly mature and steady, he was indeed the talented scholar she had imagined in her heart.

His talent was far greater than many, but he was not ostentatious. The deep, quiet strength within him was considerable. Su Tan'er had never thought much about this before. Logically, the title of "First Talent" should always give people a strong impression, but at home, including herself, Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er didn't seem to feel it that deeply. They interacted with him with ease and naturalness. Others might feel proud when they mentioned it, or be startled when they suddenly found out, but... they seemed to only see the person from beginning to end. If viewed from afar, others would see the halo of the "First Talent," but those who saw him up close seemed to only see this simple person.

But for some reason, seeing him now, she suddenly thought of that halo. He, too, had stayed up all night and hadn't rested. Even though he was her husband, she had ultimately affected him. Her husband was, after all, a scholar; he shouldn't be dragged into these business affairs, but now… she smiled apologetically and was about to speak when Ning Yi held a piece of cake out to her.

It felt like they were chatting upstairs. Su Tan'er almost subconsciously reached out to take it, but she didn't have the strength. The cake spun in the air and was put into his mouth, chewed for a moment, and then he took a gulp of tea, swallowed it, his expression calm.

"I can eat these things, but you can't. You can only drink medicine."

She wanted to laugh, but the surge of emotion brought a wave of dizziness and fatigue. She felt helpless. Why did this man have to make her laugh?

Then she heard Ning Yi say, "And… there are some things I need to talk to you about."

"Hmm?" The weak woman on the bed wearily opened her eyes again.

******************

The charcoal fire burned, and medicinal fumes began to rise from the earthenware pot. The three maids stood guard beside it, occasionally turning their heads to look at the wall, their eyes filled with worry.

Xiao Chan was slightly better, but Juan'er and Xing'er were preoccupied. Miss had finally woken up, but she still had a high fever. This long night was only the beginning. With Miss falling ill, things would be difficult for the First Branch. They had all grown up with Miss and knew the effort and sacrifices she had made. She would never back down. She wondered if the Master could persuade Miss, but even if he did, what would happen to the First Branch? Would they just watch all her hard work go to waste?

“… What Master asked us to do just now, what was that for?”

“I don’t understand…”

“Master has something like that in his lab…”

“But what good can it do…?”

“I don’t know…”

While brewing the medicine, the three maids shared their doubts. Earlier, Ning Yi had them draw grids with ink lines on rice paper, and then he started marking things on it with accounting books from three years ago. Some were place names, names of the Su family's shops, and more were strange, crooked symbols – a simple vertical line, a circle, a semicircle, etc. They couldn't understand any of it. Master remembered things quickly, but he would occasionally frown and think. Twice he called the three of them over and asked why there were problems with income and expenses in certain places, and then he noted it next to the symbols.

Master wanted to understand the Su family's situation, but how could this help? No one could figure it out. For the past year, Master had given them the feeling of being very kind and knowledgeable, but he didn't get involved in business matters after all. Now that the entire Su family felt a crisis, and so many shopkeepers and managers with decades of experience were busy, Master was, after all, a scholar. Even if he wanted to help, it was probably just a last-minute, bookish effort that wouldn't be of much use – everyone had their own expertise, that was surely the case.

“Master…” Xiao Chan, who was closest to Ning Yi, said quietly, “Master is very capable…”

She had always known that Ning Yi was very capable. Since having intimate relations with Ning Yi, this feeling had naturally intensified, but it was also limited. In the past, she had wanted to ask Master to help Miss share some of the burden, mainly for the sake of the intimacy between Master and Miss. If someone helped Miss share the burden, Miss would of course be happier. But Master certainly couldn't replace Miss in business matters. Even in Xiao Chan's heart, Master was much more capable than the average person in these matters, which was already very impressive. But it was impossible to say that Master was better than everyone in everything. Xiao Chan couldn't think that way.

“We also know that Master is very capable, very smart, but he can't be as good at everything as he is at writing poetry…” Juan'er said softly.

“Master promised he has a way, he won’t lie,” Xiao Chan could only stubbornly believe in this at this moment. Xing'er, next to her, stared at the charcoal fire for a long time, finally wiping the corner of her eye again.

“I know Miss’s temper, but this time, as long as Master can persuade Miss to rest well, that’s all that matters.” Perhaps because she was holding something back in her heart, Xing'er, who was usually the strongest, shed tears many times that night, her voice choked with sobs. “As long as Miss is okay, even if she doesn’t become the head of the family, Miss is still Miss, Master is still Master, and we’ll still be together… As long as that’s the case, that’s enough…”

Her emotions infected Juan'er and Chan'er, and a sad, gray cloud enveloped them again. As Juan'er began to sob, Chan'er said softly beside her, “Master will have a way…”

“Yeah.” Xing'er and Juan'er nodded beside her, but probably no one really believed it.

As long as Miss is okay, that’s the best thing. As for the others, they can only let the other members of the family work hard. Old Master, Shopkeeper Liao, Shopkeeper Xi, Second Master, Third Master… Such a big family, someone will be able to handle it…

*******************

While the maids were brewing the medicine, the oil lamp in the bedroom was still flickering. Ning Yi sat in front of the bed, took a sip of tea, and slowly relayed Doctor Sun's diagnosis.

"It's not just a cold, not just a cold, you know it yourself. I know you're feeling terrible right now, but you can't calm down. If you can't solve the problem, you can't be at peace. If you can't be at peace, you can't solve the problem even more, it's becoming a dead end… I know you're annoyed by my nagging…"

He paused slightly. Su Tan'er shook her head slightly and then opened her mouth, her voice so light it seemed like a wisp of smoke about to break in the wind: "Husband, I understand… but how can I let go…" Her expression was a little sad.

"Whether you let go or not is up to you." Ning Yi placed his hand on her forehead. "You're like this now, so we can't discuss too much, so I'll just explain it briefly. I just finished looking at the account books of the First Branch from three years ago."

"Hmm?" Su Tan'er was a little confused.

"I just finished looking at the account books of the First Branch from three years ago." Ning Yi looked at her quietly and repeated, "Father-in-law is still not out of danger, and neither are you. Grandpa may consider sending someone to take over, but you won't agree. But from now on, you can't get out of bed. Everything is in front of you, so next I will help you. Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er are here too, but some things, only I can act on your behalf. This is the only way…"

"I know all the questions, but there's no need to say too much now. Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, when you're a little clearer, we'll talk slowly. There are also some things I want to talk to you about. But for now, there are only a few points: We've known each other for more than a year. I want you to know one thing now, what I say I can do, I can do. I'm very serious about this. About the matter at hand, I will help you do it…"

Su Tan'er held his hand and shook her head with difficulty, showing a smile that was about to turn into tears: "Husband, this matter… you don't know…"

Ning Yi stopped her from shaking her head, leaned in slightly, and looked at her: "No, I know the nature of these things. I said this after I knew, and I also want you to know this. Whether you believe me depends on how you see my character and our friendship, but for now, just remember that I said that, that's the most important…"

"Then, these days, dealing with things and discussing things will be in your room. You can listen in bed, you can watch, it doesn't matter if you think. Any decision made, I will tell you the reason, you nod, and then we send it out. I know you won't let go, it's impossible to leave you aside, so I won't leave you aside, I'll just reduce the process of you thinking. You only need to consider whether what I said makes sense… Is that okay?"

Su Tan'er closed her eyes. After a long while, a tear slid down from the corner of her eye. Ning Yi slowed down his words.

"The Su family hasn't reached the point of having an accident yet. They haven't made a move over there. Now you need to prepare to drink medicine, think less, remember that I've said that, I said I'll solve it, and I will solve it. Then get a good night's sleep, at least temporarily put your mind at ease. The family will be okay, because I'm here. Okay?"

Su Tan'er closed her eyes and nodded.

"Good, we've agreed."

Ning Yi stepped back and took a sip of tea. After a moment, Su Tan'er opened her eyes, "Husband, I feel much better…"

"You business people have no persuasiveness at all." Ning Yi curled his lips and shook his head to show disbelief.

Su Tan'er smiled slightly, and another wave of dizziness swept through her mind.

Then Xing'er, Juan'er, and Chan'er brought in the bowls of medicine, helped her up, and after she finished drinking the medicine, under their concerned gaze, she finally fell into a deep sleep, saying one sentence as she fell asleep: "Husband, you should rest too…"

"I know."

She woke up once in the middle of the night. The sky was faintly lit. Xiao Chan was dozing on the chair beside her. That figure was still sitting at the table by the window, writing something. So, she closed her eyes and entered dreamland again. Perhaps because of that figure, this time, her heart seemed a little calmer…