Chapter 80: Visiting Family

Today, without Li Peach Blossom, even with Third Master Tang staying at the stall to help, they were still flustered and overwhelmed.

The ingredients that usually sold out within two hours took three hours today.

"Second Sister, why is there still some braised meat here—did we forget to bring it out earlier?" Tang Yixiao asked as he tidied up, noticing a few pieces of braised meat wrapped in oil paper.

"I left those on purpose," Qin Huiyin replied. "I need them for something, and I’ll be taking them with me later. Oh, Third Master, could you take me to the dam entrance?"

"What business do you have at the dam?" Tang Yixiao inquired. "That place is full of men, noisy and chaotic. I heard Auntie Li from the village went to see her son there and was chased away before she could even say a word."

"You all go wait for me at the teahouse," Qin Huiyin instructed. "Listen to the storytellers, have some tea, eat a little—I’ll be back soon."

"I'm not going," Tang Yixiao protested. "The tea at the teahouse is expensive—a single cup costs dozens of coins. And the food there is even more overpriced. Even if we've made some money now, we shouldn't waste it on unnecessary expenses. If you're going to the dam, we'll go with you. Afterwards, we can buy things together."

Tang Lǜwu nodded repeatedly.

Third Master Tang remarked, "Are you going to see that boy from the Song family?"

"Yes," Qin Huiyin admitted. "He has no other family. No matter what, my mother was once his stepmother, and I count as his sister. He’s so young, working on the dam—I want to see how he’s doing."

Hearing that they were going to see Song Ruizhe, Tang Yixiao said sourly, "He's strong enough to scare even the mountain tigers—what’s so interesting about him?"

"You boy..." Third Master Tang reproached him. "Your second sister is loyal and compassionate—why pour cold water on her?"

Tang Yixiao pursed his lips and said nothing.

Tang Lǜwu patted Tang Yixiao’s shoulder. "His father is already gone—he won’t take mother or Huiyin away."

Tang Lǜwu understood Tang Yixiao's feelings best. They loved their current life and didn’t want anyone to disrupt their family harmony. After all, Song Ruizhe had been Qin Huiyin’s stepbrother, living under the same roof for a year. Tang Yixiao worried that Qin Huiyin’s concern for Song Ruizhe meant she might neglect them.

The ox cart arrived at the dam entrance.

Qin Huiyin gathered some scattered copper coins and walked toward the gate.

"Who are you?" a stern, uniformed constable barked.

"Big brother, is Constable Feng here?" Qin Huiyin asked with a cheerful smile. "Thanks to him, we’ve often received help. I wanted to thank him."

"Friend of Boss Feng? All right, wait here. I’ll check if he’s come today." The constable left, returning shortly to say, "You’re out of luck—he just left. If you want to find him, try your luck at the magistrate’s office."

Qin Huiyin slipped five coins into his palm. "Thank you, big brother, for helping me out. My brother is working here at the dam—could I see him for a moment? If it’s inconvenient, it’s fine. There’s nothing urgent, I just miss him."

Her eyes reddened, and she forced a bitter smile. "I know you’re just doing your duties, and you have strict rules. I won’t trouble you."

The constable saw her red eyes, the way she struggled not to cry, and felt a surge of tenderness in his rough heart. "What’s your brother’s name?"

"My brother is Song Ruizhe."

The dam project was large, with over three thousand workers. They ate, slept, and worked together, and only the foremen of each crew could barely recognize their men. The constables rotated shifts to keep order, and unless someone was especially troublesome, they couldn’t recall names.

"Song Ruizhe..." the constable murmured, uncertain. "I think I’ve heard of him."

Beneath the towering piles of rubble, muscular men, bare-chested and caked in dirt, hauled stones.

Some smashed rocks, some carried stones, some dug earth, some chopped wood in the mountains, others hauled timber…

Jiang Qibin paused, pounding his shoulder and grimacing. "Ruizhe, stop working so hard. The foreman isn’t watching us all the time—rest when you need to."

Song Ruizhe replied calmly, "Your leg isn’t healed yet. Even if you don’t work, they won’t do anything to you."

"Missing a day means losing ten coins. My family is counting on me to bring money home—I can’t slack off. Besides, I’m clever. I only load stones into baskets, no walking around," Jiang Qibin said. "When I get paid this month, I have debts to repay. I have to work. If I don’t, I feel restless all over."

Song Ruizhe said nothing more.

Jiang Qibin had long stopped expecting a response from Song Ruizhe. If it weren’t for that day when he was injured and Song Ruizhe was the only one willing to carry him to the doctor—and even argued with the doctor on his behalf—Jiang Qibin’s fiery spirit would have been doused by Song Ruizhe’s cold demeanor.

Still, he’d glimpsed a side of Ruizhe few knew: despite his aloofness, he was actually kinder than anyone.

"Song Ruizhe, the foreman wants you—come over," someone shouted.

Jiang Qibin paused, nervous. "Ruizhe, here we go again. Who knows how he’ll trouble you this time? Ruizhe, just swallow your pride and say something nice."

Song Ruizhe put down his tools and headed towards Yang Foreman’s tent.

Those who passed him wore expressions of malicious glee.

For the men working on the dam, watching Yang Foreman torment Song Ruizhe was one of their few amusements—otherwise, endless labor would be too dull.

"What do you think Yang Foreman will make him do this time?"

"He’s already assigned the dirtiest, hardest, most exhausting jobs. His workload is heavier than anyone’s. For someone so slight, lasting this long is impressive. Even if Yang Foreman hates him, he can’t go too far. The county magistrate and that official from the capital often come to inspect progress—if things got out of hand, Yang Foreman would be in trouble."

"That boy’s not human, with all the work he manages. Honestly, watching him sometimes gives me chills."

"Yesterday, Li Su deliberately rammed him, but Song Ruizhe didn’t budge, like a stone, while Li Su went flying and hit his head. It cost a tael of silver, and the public funds covered it. When Song Ruizhe gets paid, they deduct two hundred coins each month for it, leaving him only a hundred for food and necessities."

"Strange indeed."

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