Perfect Match – CH 040

Chapter 40

At Liumingxuan.

Deng Ruyun carefully tidied the room, gathering up her scattered belongings and putting the Teng family’s items back in their original places.

The room looked much tidier. She opened the window wide, letting in the dry, cold wind, which washed away the lingering medicinal scent from her.

Without her belongings or her scent, Deng Ruyun looked at the empty and clean room and slowly exhaled.

Linglang toddled over to find her aunt, cautiously peeking through the curtain. Seeing her aunt standing at the door, she squeezed in, looked up at her aunt, and asked a question.

“Is Auntie leaving?”

Deng Ruyun snapped out of her reverie, bent down, and patted Linglang’s head. She nodded. “After dinner, you can go to your teacher’s. Auntie wants to go back to the east of the city to stay with Great-Grandma for a while. If you want to go too, have Xiuniang take you there after school each day.”

Upon hearing that she was temporarily leaving the Teng Mansion to return to the east of the city, Linglang quickly tugged at her sleeve. “I will go back with Auntie too!”

But then the little one thought of someone else. “Then… is Uncle going too?”

Deng Ruyun shook her head. She said no, squatting down and smiling at Linglang.

“This is his home. He’s not with us.”

Besides, he was just someone else’s uncle.

But for some reason, Linglang did not call him someone else’s uncle today. Perhaps, in these days of spending time together, even the vengeful little one had become close to him and forgotten about the other family.

People were often like this; seeing those they walked alongside every day, they forgot the direction they were originally meant to go.

Deng Ruyun ate with Linglang, then sent her to school to study with Teng Xiao.

She herself had Xiuniang pack her winter clothes and some medicine-making equipment from the side courtyard, preparing to go through the entire winter.

She left a message for Teng Yue, saying that her maternal grandmother had been feeling unwell for the past two days and she was returning home.

Having said this, she left Liumingxuan without looking back, taking her belongings with her.

*

Teng Yue returned home to find that even Linglang had left after school.

He was surprised and asked around, learning that his wife had gone back to her parents’ home to care for her maternal grandmother.

“Has something happened to Madam’s maternal grandmother?”

“It seems not; she’s just feeling unwell,” the servant replied.

Teng Yue breathed a sigh of relief. He saw that the lights in Liumingxuan’s house were dim, and neither the exquisite rabbit-shaped lantern in the west wing nor the main room where he and she lived was lit. Only the howling north wind filled the courtyard.

“Did Madam say when she would return?”

The servant shook his head. “Madam did not say.”

Teng Yue wanted to go to the east of the city to check, but he had returned quite late, and it was already dark. He did not care about the darkness itself, but he was afraid of waking the whole family if he went to the east.

He changed his clothes, but he was not sleepy. He walked a few steps in the courtyard.

He remembered that Liumingxuan had a side courtyard, but it had not been renovated and was blocked off.

Yunniang’s maternal grandmother was old, and the old woman’s confusion made her uneasy. The best solution was to bring her grandmother and Aunt Juan over.

Besides the main courtyard and his mother’s Canglang Pavilion, the largest courtyard in the family was Liumingxuan. He planned to renovate the side courtyard for her maternal grandmother, Aunt Juan, and Linglang to live in, leaving the side courtyard for them to make medicine. He and Yunniang would move into the main courtyard.

As he said this, he looked towards the main courtyard.

Originally, he planned to live in the main courtyard with his new wife after his marriage, but his mother insisted that the main courtyard had not been repaired in years and needed to be properly renovated before they could move in. He’d been married for half a year, and the main courtyard should be nearly finished by then.

It was time to move there with Yunniang, but he did not know if she would like it.

Thinking about this, Teng Yue went to the east of the city early the next morning after breakfast.

But when he arrived, he only saw her maternal grandmother, sitting beside the mortar and pestle, slowly grinding medicine.

Teng Yue went forward to greet her, and noticing that she looked well and could still grind medicine, he asked, “Are you feeling better?”

His grandmother only smiled at him, without speaking.

Teng Yue was used to her condition, but seeing that she was doing well, he thought Yunniang should not worry too much.

He could not help but ask again.

“Why did Yunniang let you pound medicine here?”

The old grandmother smiled, a kind smile.

Just as Teng Yue thought she was not going to answer again, a look of tenderness appeared on her aged face, and she said softly, “Little Yunniang, she’s a silly child.”

Teng Yue paused slightly, but then saw the old grandmother finish speaking and continue pounding the medicine.

Just then, Aunt Juan came over. “The General has arrived?”

Teng Yue bowed to her and asked, “Why have I not seen Yunniang?”

“Yunniang,” Aunt Juan said, “she went to the market early this morning to buy medicinal herbs. She’s not home.”

Aunt Juan then turned to help the old grandmother. “It’s windy here; let me find you another place.”

The two quickly moved to another spot. Teng Yue did not see his wife, but he helped move the heavy stone mortar to a sheltered place before taking his leave.

However, for the next two or three days, he still did not see Yunniang.

Sometimes she’d get up early and go to the market, sometimes she’d take Xiuniang to sell medicine, and sometimes even Aunt Juan did not know where she was.

Teng Yue initially wondered why his wife was so busy.

At this rate, was she not going to dominate the medicine industry in Xi’an Prefecture?

But two days passed, and he still had not seen her; only he could not find her.

She did not even come home to see him once, and Teng Yue felt a pang of indescribable sadness.

Did she really not care about him at all?

However, after several rounds of “interrogation” by Tong Meng, the bandit leader Yuan Youmu confessed everything he could.

This man had many underlings who previously only bought and sold antiques and paintings on the black market, or items from dubious aristocratic families, and also frequently helped bandits distribute stolen goods, taking a cut of the profits.

However, his dealings with Baifeng Mountain and his band of bandits in military supplies began when the bandits approached him. They had stumbled upon some military supplies and wanted to sell them, but fearing detection by the army, they found him reliable and sought his help.

This was his first time doing such a thing, and he spent over a month trying to find a way to sell them, managing only a few small amounts.

Unexpectedly, at this time, someone approached him, saying they wanted the entire batch of military supplies. Not only did they want them, but they also asked if he could acquire more, offering to buy them all at a high price, regardless of the quantity, and even paying a deposit.

How could Baifeng Mountain’s bandits refuse? They also managed to smuggle a considerable amount of military supplies from the imperial transport to Ningxia, which the depositor promptly swallowed.

The bandits had never seen these people before, and each time they simply followed Yuan Youmu’s instructions, placing the military supplies in the designated location, where someone would collect them several hours later.

Tong Meng naturally asked Yuan Youmu if he had seen these people and where their influence came from.

Yuan Youmu replied, “No, I only met the first person who contacted me. He was masked; only his eyes were visible. He would not tell us; how could we, in the black market, possibly ask? We’d be asking for trouble!”

“You must have a way to contact him.”

But Yuan Youmu said that the means of communication had been cut off when Teng Yue wiped out the bandits of Baifeng Mountain.

That was true, but Yuan Youmu was a minor figure in the Shaanxi black market; how could he know nothing?

Tong Meng treated him well, and he finally revealed some information.

He said he had secretly observed this group of people coming to collect military supplies. Because the amount was substantial, each time a group of ten to twenty people would come. “These people were well-trained and efficient, and their movements resembled those of government soldiers.”

Yuan Youmu said he was initially startled. These military supplies were stolen from government soldiers in Ningxia, but the buyers were still government soldiers.

However, this meant that even if these people used the weapons and armor, no one would notice.

But Yuan Youmu added something to save his life: he said that the group of soldiers who came to collect the supplies had a leader. This person was cautious the first two times, but on the latter two times, because of the heat, he pulled down his black mask.

Although it was night, Yuan Youmu had been involved in the black market for many years, spending most of his time at night, and had excellent night vision.

He only begged Teng Yue to spare his life and thus gave Teng Yue a sketch of the leader.

In this way, Teng Yue could not kill him but detained him for future use. As for the portrait, he put it away for now. The atmosphere was tense; it was not the time to search for someone within the army.

However, Yuan Youmu had swindled a considerable amount of money over the years. Teng Yue confiscated his property, giving most of the silver to the Xi’an Prefectural Government and to those who had reported the crimes.

As for Deng Yunniang, the young victim, Teng Yue naturally kept one hundred taels of silver for her but instructed his personal guard, Tang Zuo, “Take another two hundred taels from my account. Do not tell Madam; just tell her it’s a reward from the government for providing us with important intelligence.”

A total of three hundred taels. Teng Yue had it delivered directly to the small courtyard in the east of the city.

Deng Yunniang was present when the money arrived.

She had previously heard from the constables that her information was meritorious, so she was not surprised to see the reward money. However, she had not expected such a large sum. Could it be that Teng Yue had deliberately exaggerated her achievement, causing the government to bleed more money?

Regardless, this money would be used to make medicine and save lives, and she had indeed caught a key thief, so she accepted the money.

Xiuniang counted all the money she had recently earned.

“Miss, have you been secretly praying to the God of Wealth? We’ve made so much money these past few months, enough to buy Cixin Hall!”

These words made Deng Ruyun incredibly tempted.

Inspector Sun’s Cixin Hall was only moderately successful; it was originally his only pharmacy, and Shopkeeper Qin had only been a manager there for a few years, so he did not have complete control over the business.

Deng Ruyun had identified several areas for improvement at Cixin Hall, but she always had to tell Shopkeeper Qin, which seemed like overstepping her bounds. But what if Cixin Hall was originally hers?

Deng Ruyun only wanted to focus on making money. She personally counted the money and went to Cixin Hall to sound out Shopkeeper Qin’s opinion first.

Upon arriving at Cixin Hall, she briefly mentioned it, and Shopkeeper Qin immediately spoke up.

“A few days ago, people from Yanchun Hall came knocking, asking our owner if they wanted to sell Cixin Hall.”

“Yanchun Hall?” Hearing this name, Deng Ruyun immediately thought of the bandit leader Yuan Youmu and his two henchmen, all using the Yanchun Hall name to swindle people.

Hearing the name Yanchun Hall again, she instinctively asked, “Could it be another thief using the Yanchun Hall name to swindle people?”

Shopkeeper Qin said no, “It was the second manager of Yanchun Hall who came. I’ve met him before. He said he saw our business was doing well and was willing to buy it at a high price.”

Hearing the high price, Deng Ruyun inquired about it. Shopkeeper Qin gave her a figure, and Deng Ruyun felt overwhelmed.

Yanchun Hall truly lived up to its reputation as the top pharmacy in Xi’an Prefecture; even when acquiring an insignificant little pharmacy, they offered eight hundred taels more than the market price.

Deng Ruyun’s hard-earned savings were barely enough to cover the market price. Where could she possibly get another eight hundred taels?

However, Inspector Sun did not seem too keen on selling.

This puzzled Deng Ruyun. “Does the Inspector think the price is too low?”

Shopkeeper Qin lowered his voice, saying, “No, the owner has heard that Yanchun Hall has a reputation for being arrogant and overcharging, which he does not approve of. But Yanchun Hall’s price is indeed high, and the owner is hesitant. He said that if someone else wanted to buy, he’d be willing to lower the price by two or three hundred taels.”

Unfortunately, Deng Ruyun’s entire savings were barely enough to cover the market price. Even if she lowered the price by two or three hundred taels, she could not afford it.

Since that was the case, she did not press the matter further. Just then, Physician Fu, who had been urgently summoned by the neighbors to help an elderly man who had dislocated his arm, returned and nearly bumped into Deng Ruyun at the back door.

Deng Ruyun, having received the reward from the government, had not forgotten him and Zhu Huang.

Now she brought over thirty taels of silver and presented it to Physician Fu.

“This is not much, but it’s my way of thanking you and Zhu Huang for your help.”

Bai Chunfu, seeing that she was still dressed as a man and had not forgotten him and Zhu Huang even after getting her money back, smiled slightly. But seeing that no one was in the hall, he suddenly asked,

“Did General Teng help you get it back?”

He suddenly mentioned Teng Yue, and Deng Ruyun instinctively replied,

“I have nothing to do with him.”

As soon as she said it, she regretted her words.

What was her relationship with Teng Yue, and what was her connection to this man?

She did not want to speak anymore, but Bai Chunfu paused.

That day, when Teng Yue appeared, she hurriedly pushed him out the door; clearly, she was not unrelated to him.

He had Zhu Huang inquire about it and learned that the young Xi’an general had married a country girl, who happened to be from Jinzhou.

Bai Chunfu was truly surprised that the woman who worked so hard selling medicine at Cixin Hall was the wife of a third-rank military officer. She sold medicine so diligently, so determined to earn a living through it—how could she be a general’s wife?

Was it because she feared being looked down upon, and even after marriage, she only wanted to earn money on her own? Or was there another reason?

Bai Chunfu did not know what was wrong with him; he had been pondering this question for the past few days, and upon seeing her today, he could not help but ask.

He had not expected her answer, but she quickly said, “I have nothing to do with him.” After saying this, she clearly regretted it and pursed her lips.

Her lips were not painted with black powder; the light rosy color was her natural appearance, like a small lotus bud in summer, just waiting for a dragonfly to alight on it.

Bai Chunfu’s gaze lingered on her face several times.

However, although she had clearly said something she did not want to say, his heart stirred as if touched by a spring breeze, and a slight, inexplicable smile curved his lips.

“I vaguely heard you talking to Shopkeeper Qin about Yanchun Hall in the backyard just now. Could it be that Master Liang is going to spend a fortune to buy our Cixin Hall?”

He changed the subject, and Deng Ruyun thought this man had some sense.

She said she could not afford it. “Yanchun Hall’s offer prices have made it go up so much; how can I buy it?”

But then she saw this Physician Fu look at her and say, “If you want to buy it, I can help.”

Deng Ruyun laughed, “How can you help? Sell your donkey?”

Or did he really have another identity and more money?

She laughed it off, and the man’s gentle eyebrows curved with a smile.

“Then do not worry about it, just tell me if you are willing or not.”

Deng Ruyun had not decided yet, but coincidentally, someone came to get medicine, so she let him go.

“I think you should earn more consultation fees first.”

She finished speaking and left.

But after Bai Chunfu had seen the patient, Zhu Huang leaned closer.

“Sixth Master, are you going to send me to the money exchange?”

These days without being the heir were truly unbearable.

As soon as he said this, he saw that his Sixth Master did not object anymore but only looked in the direction from which someone had left behind the door.

“We will do it once she agrees.”

“Alright!” Zhu Huang replied readily.

Bai Chunfu, however, recalled her earlier words.

If there was any explanation for this—that a general’s wife had to work so hard to earn money—it was only her casual remark, “I have nothing to do with him.”

So, the title of “general’s wife” was just that—a title. She really had nothing to do with Teng Yue, right?

… …

Deng Ruyun, pondering the matter of Yanchun Hall, found herself standing at its entrance.

Yanchun Hall was bustling with people. Its grand and bright entrance, a black plaque with gold paint gleaming in the sun, stood prominently. Like the most profitable silk and money shops on the street, it occupied a three-story building, exuding an air of wealth and power.

This ostentatious display of wealth made Deng Ruyun’s eyes dazzle.

But if she wanted to own such a pharmacy, money alone was not enough; she also needed a reputable name in the pharmaceutical industry. And to have a name, she needed a few unique and highly regarded medicines.

Deng Ruyun felt she was far from that level, and besides, she was focused solely on making money; it was not something that could be rushed.

Just as she was about to leave, she unexpectedly encountered a man riding towards her from the opposite direction.

Deng Ruyun did not move at first glance. He was riding a tall horse across the street with someone else, while she, dressed in men’s clothing, was inconspicuous in the crowd; he might not even notice her.

She remained still and silent, intending to wait until he did not see her and simply brushed past her in the crowded throng.

But his eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s in the field. He merely glanced at her with his head slightly before fixing his gaze on her.

He then simply told his companions to go first and dismounted.

Deng Ruyun had been watched like prey by him the entire time, unable to escape, and could only wait for him to approach.

He strode forward; even the crowd on the street parted to make way, and he walked straight up to her.

Seeing this, Deng Ruyun had no way to run away and obediently stepped forward to greet him.

“General.”

Teng Yue calculated that he had not seen her for five days since she left home with a letter.

If he had not met her on the road today, he suspected she would have forgotten about him, her husband.

And now, she was just standing there when he saw her. If he had not been watching her, would she have even come forward to call him?

He could not help but look at her and ask the question aloud.

Upon hearing this, Deng Ruyun quickly shook her head. “How could that be? I just saw the General with others, and I am dressed like this; it’s not appropriate.”

What lady would dress like this?

But Teng Yue said, “Then can you not just say it’s a servant’s reply or a soldier’s greeting?”

With her clever mind, if she was thinking of him, she could naturally think of a hundred ways to make him see her.

But if she was not thinking of him, would she not also have a hundred ways to prevent him from seeing her…?

The latter was not the scenario Teng Yue wanted to consider. He simply pulled her hand to the side of the road.

“What have you been busy with these past few days? What are you doing here?”

She did not answer his question but instead tried to pull her hand away from his. “General, do not hold me back. I have not committed a crime, have I? Besides, it’s inappropriate for two men to be pulling and tugging in the street.”

Hearing this, Teng Yue could not help but find it amusing, wanting to soften his heart towards her. But thinking of how she had not seen him these past few days and seemed indifferent, an indescribable bitterness welled up in his heart. He could only ask her, “What’s wrong with Grandmother? She seems quite well these past two days.”

Grandmother’s condition was, of course, a lie Deng Ruyun told him, but she said, “I had a dream. I dreamt that Mother told me to take good care of Grandmother, so I thought I’d go back and keep her company for a while.”

But Teng Yue said, “You’ve been keeping her company for several days already? When are you coming home?”

Did she not want to go home and keep him company, too?

He did not dare say this directly, but instead said, “I’ve caught a bit of a cold these past two days. Should Yunniang not come back and take care of me?”

Deng Ruyun heard that his voice was completely smooth, and his complexion was perfectly fine. Whose cold had he caught?

She lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, and only smiled at him.

“Does the General want me to buy medicine for your Yanchun Hall? It seems the General knows I took the government’s reward money and wants me to contribute some.”

Her words truly made Teng Yue laugh.

He only stared down at her. “Your little mouth, always chattering away. When did I ever make you bleed?”

She did not even know the money came from his account. The government was not that generous.

Now she was even arguing with him over buying medicine. What a wicked girl!

But her antics made him laugh, and his anger towards her lessened considerably.

Seeing her dressed as a man and her face covered in black powder, he knew she was up to something again.

He could not help but soften, squeezing her hand. “Going to Yanchun Hall now?”

Deng Ruyun nodded readily. “Yes, I am going to see what kind of medicine they sell and why it’s so expensive.”

She looked indignant, so Teng Yue could only say, “Alright.” Given his status, it was not appropriate for him to accompany her. He simply said, “If there’s nothing else, go home early. Do not take any risks, understand?”

She nodded obediently.

Teng Yue had no choice but to release her, but as soon as he let go, she disappeared like a fish swimming away.

Teng Yue pinched his brow; perhaps he was just overthinking it, or perhaps this little thing was simply born carefree…

However, he planned to finish his business early today, take her back to Liumingxuan, and discuss with her the matter of bringing her maternal grandmother and Aunt Juan over.

Teng Yue glanced back at Yanchun Hall twice, then had to leave.

But through the crack in the door of the bustling Yanchun Hall, Deng Ruyun secretly watched him from behind the door.

She watched him until he was far away before letting out a long sigh and returning to her small courtyard in the east of the city.

She first told Aunt Juan and Xiuniang about how they could not buy Cixin Hall right away. Both of them were extremely disappointed. Xiuniang even went so far as to badmouth Yanchun Hall, saying, “They not only bully their customers because they are big, but they also bully small merchants like us.”

Deng Ruyun chuckled, “Sister Xiuniang, you should give them a good scolding. If they give up willingly, we can finally get Cixin Hall.”

As they joked, it got late. After a while, Linglang also returned home.

Deng Ruyun checked the time, calculating that a certain general was probably about to leave his post.

She secretly wondered if he had run into her today and would come to her small courtyard in the east of the city to take her back after leaving his post.

But spending so much time together was far less secure than being separated like this.

Changxing was tidying up behind the gate when Deng Ruyun went over and called him.

“What can I do for you, Miss?” Changxing asked.

Deng Ruyun said there was nothing else, “But if the general comes later, will you just say I am not here, like you did the past few days?”

Just as she finished speaking, a sudden gust of cold wind rushed in through the crack in the door, and someone pushed the door open from the outside.

… …

Nothing much happened today, so Teng Yue left his post two quarters of an hour early and went straight to the east of the city.

She had been busy all day, dressed like that; should she not be able to relax and go home with him in the evening?

She was like a slippery fish; if he did not catch her and put her in the pool in front of his face, he did not know when he would see her again.

He left his post early today to catch her, but as soon as he arrived at the door of the small courtyard in the east of the city, before he could even knock, he suddenly heard her instructing Changxing from inside.

“…But if the General comes back, will you just say I am not here, like you did the past few days?”

Just like a few days ago, he said she was not here?!

Teng Yue’s heart tightened. He raised his hand and pushed open the door.

The wind rushing in through the wide-open doorway made his robes flutter loudly.

He only looked down at her, seeing that when she saw him, she did not step forward but instead took a step back.

That step back made Teng Yue feel as if his heart had been squeezed.

He repeated her instructions incredulously.

“Say you are not here?”