After a simple lunch, Duan Yan went to the city's stable to personally select a good horse. He planned to follow the pharmacy's advice and make a trip to the county town.
The distance from Yan Town to the county town was over a hundred li. If he rode at a gallop, he could be back by the afternoon of the next day.
"Brother, you'd better let me go. Looking at the sky today, it doesn't look good. It might rain at any time. How can I let you make this round - trip journey?" Gou San'er advised when he heard that Duan Yan was going to the county town.
Duan Yan waved his hand. "You can't ride a horse. This matter needs to be handled urgently. The sooner I go and come back, the better."
Gou San'er gave a sheepish smile. It was true that he didn't have this skill. Then he said, "If not, we can arrange one of the brothers from the shop to go. It's better than making you go out and endure the hardships."
If Chen Hu hadn't come to the mansion to cause trouble today, Duan Yan might have considered arranging one of his subordinates to go to the county town to buy the medicinal herbs. But after this incident, he didn't dare to use people rashly anymore.
The original him had trusted Chen Hu before and let him handle most of the big and small matters, including the deployment of personnel. As a result, now that he didn't use Chen Hu, there was no one else he could directly rely on.
He had subordinates, but their hearts were not united. For a moment, he really didn't know who was on his side and who was on Chen Hu's side. Finding the medicinal herbs was no small matter. If they were really effective against the epidemic, and the prescription fell into the hands of Chen Hu's people, God knew how many troubles would arise.
For the sake of caution, it was best for him to make the trip himself.
Duan Yan looked at Gou San'er and started to make some plans in his mind. He pretended to sigh and said, "Earlier, Chen Hu and Wang Quan came to the mansion. I came back a little later. Privately, I saw that the things they did here were really not right.
Over the years, I've always regarded him as my most capable subordinate and let him handle everything according to his will. I didn't expect that I've spoiled him so much that he acts one way in front of me and another way behind my back."
Gou San'er was stunned. He had expected Chen Hu to come, but he didn't expect such a pleasant surprise. That scoundrel had actually managed to incur Duan Yan's dissatisfaction.
He felt greatly relieved. Good brother! He had finally seen through Chen Hu's duplicity.
"What really breaks my heart is that all my subordinates only do things for him."
"Brother, you're overthinking. Brother Hu has your trust. Sometimes he may be a bit too hasty in his actions, but he must respect you. Usually, Brother Hu often shouts at the brothers to do things, so they get closer."
Duan Yan waved his hand. "You don't need to make excuses for them. I already have a clear idea of the situation in my heart."
Saying that, he looked directly into Gou San'er's eyes. "Right now, I think the most considerate one is you. You came here late. Before, I didn't know your character, so I didn't put you in an important position. However, time reveals a person's true nature. Only after a long time can we tell who is good and who is bad.
You've suffered a lot from Chen Hu and the others before and swallowed a lot of grievances. Now, I promise you that from now on, you'll work only for me. Whether it's Chen Hu, Zhang Hu, or Wang Hu, you don't need to pay attention to their orders and don't need to have any scruples."
Duan Yan continued, "From today on, you'll move into the mansion and take care of the affairs of my mansion specifically."
Gou San'er was completely startled. He never expected to suddenly gain Duan Yan's appreciation at this time. Since the words had been said, if he still shied away with polite remarks, it would be a sign of lack of progress.
He immediately bowed and clasped his fists. "Brother, you've opened your heart to me. I'm extremely happy. Since you think highly of me, Gou San'er, from now on, I'll serve you whole - heartedly!"
Duan Yan was silent. He knew he had to gradually cultivate his own talents. No matter how capable a person was, he couldn't handle everything on his own.
Moreover, if he still relied on Chen Hu, once Chen Hu stopped obeying his orders, God knew how much of his property and how many of his subordinates would be taken away by him. At that time, he would be like a leader without any followers.
For all these reasons, Gou San'er was the first person he could win over.
Then Duan Yan told Gou San'er about the matter that Chen Hu had arranged to go to the countryside to collect grain. "He shouldn't be free to come to the mansion for the time being. If he finishes his work and comes back tomorrow and I'm not back yet, you go and check on the situation of the grain storage and secretly keep an eye on Chen Hu.
And most importantly, don't let him into the mansion, no matter what."
Gou San'er guessed that Chen Hu had come today to provoke Song Fengsui, which was why Duan Yan was so angry and repeatedly instructed not to let him in.
He replied, "I've written it all down. Since you've given the order, I'll know how to handle things with due measure."
After giving the instructions, Duan Yan felt relieved and went out on time.
Gou San'er couldn't get out of the joy of being promoted for a long time. He perked up and asked Madam Li and An Ge'er to help clean a side room in the outer courtyard. Then he moved his things in and settled down according to Duan Yan's arrangement.
After everything was in place, he walked out of the room. He saw that the sun was gone, the wind was blowing strongly, and there was thunder in the distance. It seemed as if it was getting dark.
Looking at the sky, he couldn't help but feel anxious. "It's really going to rain. These summer rains are so sudden and heavy. If he meets the rain while on the road, it'll be a disaster!"
When Duan Yan left, he didn't take many things with him. He just tied a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat to himself. Although he had rain gear, it wouldn't be very useful in heavy rain. He also silently prayed that it wouldn't rain.
Just as he was worried, he saw An Ge'er coming out and called him over.
The thunder was getting louder. After taking the medicine, Song Fengsui had slept for a while. He was in a light sleep and woke up when he heard the sound of the wind blowing the leaves in the yard.
The weather before it rains in summer is extremely stuffy. It not only makes people feel irritated but also makes the light in the room dim.
Song Fengsui sat up and his hand accidentally touched the letter paper he had placed beside his pillow before going to sleep. It seemed that he had been restless in his sleep and had knocked the letter to the bed.
He picked it up and put it back under the pillow. Looking at the pillow pressing on the letter, he lost himself in thought.
Was it really just because he couldn't manage his subordinates well and was just taking remedial measures that the man had made all these arrangements? He always felt that what Duan Yan had done went beyond the reasons he had given.
Not being able to see what the man was up to made him uneasy. There was always a string taut in his heart.
Unable to relieve his uneasiness, he felt that the room was like a steamer full of hot air. He couldn't stand it anymore and got out of bed to go for a walk outside.
He opened the door and a gust of wind blew in, bringing a bit of coolness. However, the wind seemed a bit too strong, and it was hard for him to open his eyes.
He walked aimlessly. When he was approaching the outer courtyard gate, he suddenly heard two people talking.
"Looking at the sky, it seems as if it's going to collapse. We're probably in for a sudden downpour. I wonder where our master is on the official road and if he can find a place to take shelter from the rain."
Gou San'er sighed slowly. Previously, he had thought that his elder brother was too dull to know how to be considerate. But in his opinion, he was actually a real romantic. "To do things for Young Master Song, even though he knew the weather was going to change, our master would still go to the county town in the rain, afraid that Young Master Song would be anxious waiting."
He said earnestly, "Our master is extremely meticulous and considerate when it comes to matters concerning Young Master Song. He takes a lot into account but never seeks credit or lets Young Master Song know, for fear of burdening him. In the future, when you An Ge'er get married, you must keep your eyes peeled and find a steadfast man like him. Don't be deceived by those who are good at sweet - talking but actually have ulterior motives."
As he spoke, Gou San'er slapped his own head and said, "Look at what I'm rambling about. I'm telling you this to remind you that the master cherishes Young Master Song like the apple of his eye. When you serve Young Master Song, you must do your best. If you serve him well, you'll surely get your rewards. But if you're negligent in your service, you won't be let off easily!"
Song Fengsui stiffened all over, and his eyes seemed to be fixed.
Does Duan Yan... like him...? Oh! How could he like him?
He had thought of many reasons and motives but never considered this aspect. Perhaps it was because after the incident with the Chinese medicine, Duan Yan could have easily subdued him and done as he pleased, yet he didn't overstep the mark and highly valued his feelings.
But then he thought that apart from this reason, other motives didn't seem to hold water.
If it was said that Duan Yan was just trying to keep him around for the medicine to treat the epidemic, before he said he could treat the epidemic, Duan Yan was still very self - disciplined. Even after he said he could, it was just an empty claim as he hadn't really cured anyone to prove it.
So, that person really had feelings for him...
After that, Song Fengsui didn't hear a single word of An Ge'er's reply to Gou San'er. He buried his head and rushed back into the room.
Not long after, there was a pattering sound on the roof. The dense and urgent summer rain fell like a shower of arrows. Soon, the entire sky was engulfed in a gray curtain of rain.
Song Fengsui sat by the window, looking at the rainwater flowing in a straight line from the eaves.
He knew the road from the county town to Yan Town. Although there was an official road, it was not only narrow but also uneven, with steep slopes and sudden descents. On either side were either dense forests or terrifying cliffs.
When he and his family were escorted here by the soldiers on foot, they almost died on the way.
With such a storm, the road conditions on the way to the county town must be terrible.
His mind was in a mess, and he couldn't help but worry about Duan Yan. He didn't want Duan Yan's infatuation to end in vain and for him to get into trouble because of him.
Normally, as a young man from a noble family with a handsome appearance, he was used to being pursued and flattered since childhood, so knowing that a man was in love with him wouldn't usually stir many emotions in him.
However, he had a bit more respect for a man like Duan Yan who kept his distance and didn't seek credit. Even in the capital city, among the high - ranking nobles and refined scholars, few could be like him.
Men from wealthy families, once they had feelings for someone, would want the whole world to know. For those from lower - class families who couldn't be so ostentatious, they would be eager for the person to know as soon as they did something touching.
Now, he no longer had a prominent family background and was even a criminal. He had nothing to be coveted for, yet he met a man like Duan Yan who respected him and didn't want to burden him. He couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental.
It wasn't until An Ge'er brought the evening meal that it interrupted Song Fengsui's train of thought.
He ate the food, but it tasted like wax in his mouth. Hearing the sound of the wind tugging at the branches outside, he not only worried about Duan Yan's journey but also about his family.
His family, the Song family, now lived in a thatched cottage. On sunny days, it was just full of bugs, but when it rained, it was a big problem as all the rooms would leak.
At the beginning of the month, there was such a situation. The whole family hardly slept all night, constantly going back and forth between the rooms to repair the roof. Fortunately, his second uncle had worked in the Ministry of Works before; otherwise, they wouldn't even know how to repair the roof.
Even though his second uncle could repair it, the bare - walled thatched cottage had few things to use for roof repair. There wasn't even a ladder. His father stepped on a stool and let his second uncle stand on his neck to reach the roof.
Just thinking about his father and second uncle staggering in the rain that night made Song Fengsui feel scared.
The rain lasted most of the night. Song Fengsui lay in bed, listening to the sound of the rain all night, tossing and turning in agony. He thought about Duan Yan who had gone to the county town to buy herbs, and about his family who must be repairing the roof. He couldn't fall asleep for a moment.
He didn't know when the rain stopped, but when he finally got a little light sleep, he could already hear the rooster crowing.
