Chapter Six: At the End of the Road, a New Path Emerges

A single coin can defeat even the bravest hero. Whether Xu You could be called a hero was uncertain, but when faced with the reality before him, he could not help but worry. As the fabled “Fox Marshal” of the private fund world, he had countless ways to make a fortune from nothing in his previous life, but here, none of those avenues were available to him. He pondered endlessly, and another half day slipped by. The sun crept past its zenith, inching westward, yet Xu You remained at a loss—how could he possibly raise a sizable sum for travel expenses in just a few days? And even if he managed that, it would not solve all his problems. Once in Qiantang, he would need a place to stay; if he could not buy a house, he would at least need to rent. Qiantang had always been a land of prosperity and pleasure, its long avenues shimmering under splendid lights, the price of housing self-evidently high—a thought enough to make his head ache.

Qiu Fen brought him another cup of warm water. It had been nearly two days since they’d eaten, surviving only by drinking water to stave off hunger. Xu You took the bowl, but a sudden wave of dizziness overtook him, and he dropped it; it shattered with a crash, shards scattering everywhere.

“Young master?” Qiu Fen cried out in alarm, rushing to steady him. “Young master, what’s the matter?”

Leaning against Qiu Fen’s support, Xu You closed his eyes for a moment. When the dizziness abated a little, he sat up, his voice weak: “It’s nothing serious, don’t worry.”

He knew no medicine, but was aware that he was suffering from overthinking and malnutrition, leading to insufficient oxygen to the brain. A bit of rest would set him right.

Qiu Fen gazed at his pale, bloodless face. After a moment of clenched resolve, she helped him to bed. “I’ll find something to eat,” she said. “You sleep a bit, young master. When I return, I’ll make you the fish in milk you like…”

Xu You tried to stop her, but as soon as he lifted his head, another dizzy spell struck, and he coughed before sinking into a deep sleep.

He did not know how much time had passed—it felt like days and nights. Suddenly, a delicious aroma tickled at his nostrils. Instinctively, he licked his dry, cracked lips. Qiu Fen’s gentle voice sounded at his ear: “Young master, wake up, come have some fish!”

With effort, Xu You opened his eyes to see Qiu Fen holding a plate. On it lay the milk-braised fish she had so often mentioned—a golden fish glistening in milky broth. For a starving man, even someone who had just eaten a basket of buns would find it hard to resist.

“Where did you get the fish? Did you go to the Xi River?” Xu You’s gaze was stern. Though Qiu Fen wore rough homespun clothes, her hair was still damp, hanging loose over her shoulders, her face tinged with a bluish pallor.

Due to the manor economy’s control over rivers and lakes, all the best fishing grounds in Yixing County had long been monopolized by powerful clans—especially the renowned lakes, every one a Xu family property, now sealed off by the authorities. The public lakes were surrounded by fishermen who made their living there. For a young woman like Qiu Fen, catching fish openly was out of the question. Her only option was to venture outside the county to the treacherous and chilly Xi River. At this season, even old Yu Bo, the experienced fisherman, would only fish from a boat; Qiu Fen had neither the tools nor the skills, and could only rely on her passable swimming to plunge into the icy water, chasing fish with bare hands. What hardship she had endured for a single fish!

Qiu Fen pressed her lips together in stubborn silence, ladling a spoonful of broth to Xu You’s lips. Looking at her childlike face, he found himself unable to utter a word of rebuke. He was not one to cling to empty scruples; what use was blame now? Better to regain his strength quickly and seek a way out of their predicament—was he supposed to emulate those self-righteous scholars, refusing a meal offered in hard times and tossing away the plate of fish?

“What are you waiting for? Feed me!”

“Ah?” Qiu Fen had braced herself for a scolding, but at his words, her eyes flickered in surprise and she nodded eagerly. “Alright… but eat slowly, it’s still hot.”

Propped against the headboard, Xu You ate mouthful after mouthful, finishing most of the fish. The hunger eased somewhat, but he still felt drained. He ordered Qiu Fen to have the rest, then drifted off again.

“Young master, I’m so cold… it’s so cold here…”

In his sleep, Xu You heard a faint, broken whisper. At first, he thought it was a dream, but as the voice grew clearer, he awoke with a start. Listening intently, he realized it was Qiu Fen’s murmuring from the next room. He quickly threw on his clothes and went to her. In the moonlight streaming through the window, he saw her lying on her small bed, face contorted in pain, cheeks flushed, arms hugging her shoulders, muttering incoherently.

He touched her forehead—it was burning hot. He called her name, but she did not respond, her body curling even tighter, teeth chattering uncontrollably.

“Silly girl…”

Xu You’s heart ached. The Xi River’s cold was no trivial matter. Who knew how long she’d stayed in the water just to catch a fish, and instead of warming herself upon return, she had gone straight to the kitchen to cook for him, letting the chill seep into her very bones and now suffering a high fever.

If this were his former life, a little fever medicine or a trip to the hospital would suffice. But here, a persistent high fever could be fatal—especially in the dead of night, with no doctor to be found, and after what happened with Yu Bo and the others earlier, no one would risk making a house call. Worse still, since Li Zhi had taken office, he had imposed the strictest curfew in history—to leave home after the first watch meant a public beating, no excuses. Xu You was not afraid of the beating itself, but if he were taken away, there would be no one left to care for Qiu Fen.

With no doctor to turn to, he had to rely on himself. As an orphan, Xu You had always toughed out illnesses, resorting to folk remedies when necessary. He knew a few methods for bringing down a fever. Without hesitation, he went to the kitchen, boiled water, soaked a cloth, and laid it on Qiu Fen’s forehead, repeating the process several times. When that proved insufficient, he loosened her collar to expose her delicate neck and wiped her gently with warm water, then did the same for her wrists and ankles, and finally, coaxed a little water down her throat.

So it went—water, wiping, covering her up. At last, her forehead was less scalding and terrifying, though her body still shivered with cold and her fevered words continued:

“I’m so useless… when the young lady from the Yuan family marries in… you won’t have to suffer anymore, young master…”

Xu You frowned. Only now, from the depths of the original Xu You’s memories, did he recall a shadowy impression of a woman. Sitting in a daze, a sudden flash of insight struck him—perhaps here was a way out of the predicament that had beset him since his rebirth.

Truly, when all seems lost, a path appears. Xu You fetched his own quilt, lifted Qiu Fen into his arms, and wrapped them both tightly, sharing his warmth with her.

Outside, the bright moon hung high, its cool light spilling past walls and treetops, illuminating a small patch of floor by the bed, just a step away from where they lay. That single step left Xu You and Qiu Fen in darkness—just as their lives were now, relying on each other alone.

“Water… water…”

Qiu Fen’s weak cry reached him as Xu You returned, a bowl of warm water in hand. Sunlight bathed his shoulders, as if a halo shone behind him. He strode to the bed, sat on the edge, gently lifted Qiu Fen’s head, and said softly, “Awake now? Here, have some water.”

She blinked open her eyes, and seeing him, tried to rise, but he pressed her back. “Your fever has just gone down. Lie still and don’t move.”

“…Am I dying, young master…?”

Xu You tapped her forehead with his finger. “Nonsense! It’s just a chill, nothing more.”

“But… I have no strength…”

“Come, open your mouth and be good.” He fed her a few sips of warm water and smiled: “You’re always so strong, never like a delicate girl. Only now, when you’re weak, do you actually look like a young lady!”

Qiu Fen pouted, breathless. “You… you’re teasing me…”

Xu You knew that illness made people vulnerable—physically and emotionally, weakening their will and causing all kinds of complications. So he made light of things, speaking calmly so she would feel relaxed and at ease.

Often, a person’s state of mind is more powerful than any medicine.

Sure enough, a few lighthearted words brought a marked improvement in her spirits. Looking at his gentle, jade-like gaze, Qiu Fen suddenly lowered her head. “You took care of me the whole night, didn’t you, young master?”

Xu You knew what she meant without needing to hear it. “Compared to the month you tended me without rest, one night is nothing. By the way, I forgot to tell you some good news. Early this morning I heard wild geese calling and suddenly thought of a way to make money.”

“A way to make money?” Qiu Fen was puzzled. “You mean business? But we don’t have any capital…”

“Business? Well, you could call it that.” Xu You smiled. “But this business is different—it needs no capital, and I guarantee we’ll earn enough in one day to cover all our expenses for the next year or two.”

Qiu Fen fell silent. How could any business yield such riches in a single day? Though she had never lacked for food or clothing, her lowly status meant she knew the value of money—if making a fortune were so easy, why would anyone be poor?

Xu You saw her doubts but did not explain. “Once we have the money, we’ll hire an ox-cart and travel to Qiantang at our leisure. I’ve rarely left Yixing County in all my years—only once, years ago, to Wu Prefecture, and even then stayed but a few days. I wonder if Qiantang is truly as splendid as they say…”

His certainty was infectious; Qiu Fen stopped worrying about whether his plan was realistic and began to dream—she’d heard the waters of Qiantang Lake were the most enchanting in the world. If she could see them just once, she would be content.

After making sure she was asleep again, Xu You sat beneath the eaves, basking in the sun, his robe loose at the neck, absentmindedly scratching an itch—a picture of the carefree sages of old.

The young lady of the Yuan family… Xu You squinted up at the sun. Her name was Yuan Qingqi, wasn’t it?

Though he had inherited Xu You’s memories, memory is a strange thing—some parts deep, some vague, some hidden unless brought to mind. Since his rebirth, he had been tormented by illness, then by Chen Mu’s troublemaking, then by hunger—who could remember a betrothal to the Yuan family’s daughter? If Qiu Fen’s fevered ramblings hadn’t reminded him, he might have forgotten entirely.

Yes, his grand plan depended on that young lady.

Xu You glanced at the gate. If his calculations were right, news of his recovery would have reached the Yuan family by now, and they would likely visit within a day or two. That would be his chance to strike a deal—given the family’s reputation, they would not be stingy.

The sun moved past its zenith, the heat growing intense. Xu You rose several times to give Qiu Fen water, spending the rest of the time quietly watching the gate, his clear eyes flickering to the entrance from time to time.

Noon, afternoon, evening—the hours had never crawled so slowly, or flown so fast.

Night fell again. An autumn breeze rustled the dead leaves at the treetops, carrying a chill into his collar. Xu You rubbed his hands together, brushed a few leaves from his hem, and sighed as he stood.

He was disappointed, but not in despair. As a seasoned man of finance, the first thing he had learned was never to call defeat until the very last moment.

There were still two days until Li Zhi’s promised date.

He could wait.

Just as he turned to go inside, the sound of hooves echoed down the stone path outside, joined by the creak of wheels.

“Is Master Xu at home? Steward Feng Tong of the Prefect of Jinling and the Left Army General’s Household requests an audience.”

Xu You stopped, raised his head, and, still facing away from the gate, allowed a faint smile to curl at his lips.