Chapter 122: Why Is She So Good to Him?

Wei Ruo’s question left Madam Yun at a loss for how to respond. Although she was somewhat reluctant, she had to admit that Wei Ruo’s reasoning was sound. After a long silence, Madam Yun replied with visible reluctance, "Since you have already made up your mind, then proceed as you said."

"Then I shall take my leave now, Mother."

"Very well." Madam Yun nodded, then recalled her husband’s instructions. "Take that whip and give it to Yilin personally. Your father asked you to keep a closer eye on him; take the opportunity to check on his recent progress in his studies, and if there is anything he is doing poorly, urge him to improve."

"Understood."

After acknowledging the request, Wei Ruo left the Cangyun Courtyard and turned toward the Aoju Courtyard. Today was a rare day off for Wei Yilin, yet he remained holed up in his room, buried in his bed and sleeping soundly. Hearing someone enter, Wei Yilin lifted his head. Seeing it was Wei Ruo, he pouted and burrowed back under the covers. In truth, he was not even sleepy; he was simply too exhausted to move.

Wei Ruo walked to the bedside and looked down at the lump beneath the quilt, remarking, "It seems your master has been teaching you quite well lately." The training load must be sufficient if he couldn't even drag himself out of bed on his day off.

Wei Yilin poked his head out from under the blanket, huffing, "Are you here to mock me?"

"Do you have any shortcomings worthy of my mockery?"

"None! If you came here hoping to see me fail, weeping and begging to quit, you are going to be disappointed. Martial arts may be grueling, but I am happy to learn! One day, I will become a great hero just like my father!"

"Oh?" Wei Ruo looked at him with a hint of surprise.

"Are you questioning me?" Wei Yilin demanded, his face stiffening.

"Should I not?" Wei Ruo retorted.

"Hmph!" Wei Yilin grunted in defiance and turned his face toward the inner side of the bed. In truth, he knew Wei Ruo had grounds to doubt him; the former version of himself would never have uttered such words. The reason he now aspired to be like his father was due to an experience during his martial arts lessons. On his first day, his fellow students had looked at him with admiration simply because he was the son of the man who had defended Xingshan County.

However, that admiration vanished after two days of training, replaced by disdain and scorn. His peers had realized that the "hero's son" was not impressive at all and could not endure the slightest hardship. Wei Yilin, being a prideful boy, could not stomach the disparity. He did not want to be looked down upon, nor did he want to disgrace his father’s name. Thus, no matter how grueling the training became, he never missed a session, enduring every ounce of pain and exhaustion.

This persistence gradually earned him the genuine respect of his peers—a respect not based on whose son he was, but on his own efforts. In that moment, Wei Yilin felt a sense of satisfaction and pride he had never known before. It was from that point on that he resolved to work harder to become someone worthy of being called a hero, just like his father.

Wei Ruo, having no interest in guessing what was going through Wei Yilin’s mind, tossed the whip onto the bed. Startled by the impact, Wei Yilin was about to flare up in anger when he realized a brand-new whip lay on his quilt. He picked it up, examined it closely, and his eyes lit up in surprise. "This is a top-quality oxhide whip!"

"You actually know your stuff, kid."

"How do you have such a fine whip?" Wei Yilin asked. It seemed he had truly been so focused on his training that he was completely unaware of what was happening in the household.

"I found it."

"You’re lying!" He wasn't stupid; such a whip could not simply be found lying around.

"It doesn't matter where I got it. I gave it to you, didn't I?"

"Really?" Wei Yilin was incredulous. Wei Ruo was actually being this kind to him?

"Don't read too much into it. I had no choice but to give it to you." Even if she had no use for it herself, it was a valuable item! If she hadn't been forced to, who would want to give it to this annoying brat?

Wei Yilin, however, assumed she was just being coy. "You gave it to me, so why claim you had no choice?"

"I don't have the energy to explain it to you."

Wei Ruo stood up and left. Her task was complete; there was no need to waste more time with Wei Yilin. He grunted at her departing back, then picked up the whip and began playing with it, unable to put it down. His master had been teaching them how to use a whip, and having watched his seniors practice, he had felt quite envious. Once he built a stronger foundation, he would be able to learn it properly, and then he would put this whip to good use.

Wei Ruo remained oblivious to his thoughts. Upon returning to the Tingsong Courtyard, she immediately set to work. The planting window for the one thousand mu of fertile land in the prefecture was not to be wasted. Since the original rice crop had already been harvested and the land was currently vacant, she needed to organize laborers to sow wheat immediately. She had been worried about the initial investment, but now, with those one hundred taels of gold, she had more than enough to cover the startup costs of the farm.

###

By the latter part of the ninth lunar month, the temperature dropped sharply. In previous years, it would only have been pleasantly cool by this time, but the recent cold had forced everyone to don their winter garments early. Those who had failed to procure their winter supplies in time began rushing to purchase them in a panic. Even more dire was the persistent, freezing rain that had fallen for days, causing the lake levels to rise. This was highly unusual; such rainfall typically occurred only in summer, and it was nearly the tenth lunar month.

Wei Mingting had not returned home for two days, having taken a contingent of soldiers to patrol the lakeside and clear the river channels in an attempt to alleviate the pressure from the rising water. Yet, this was merely a temporary fix. If the rain did not cease, it was only a matter of time before the lake overflowed, swallowing homes and fields alike.

Wei Ruo, Wei Qingwan, and Wei Yilin were all confined to the house due to the weather. Watching the torrential downpour outside, Xiumei sighed, "Miss, the people of Xingshan County have it so hard. They finally survived the Japanese pirates and were hoping for a few peaceful days, but now the heavens are being cruel."

Wei Ruo gazed at the relentless rain. The vegetables she had planted in her own courtyard that had yet to be harvested were already ruined. She did not mind, but for the farmers who relied on those crops for their livelihood, life had become desperate.

"Meimei, prepare to leave with me in a moment," Wei Ruo said. "We must arrange to relocate the settlers who are reclaiming land in the south of the city. They are living in makeshift straw shacks; if this rain continues, their dwellings will be in grave danger. Besides, even if the structures do not collapse, they cannot survive in such freezing, drafty conditions."