Ling Wan spoke casually, but a hint of sadness crossed her face. As a daughter born of a concubine, she was not valued at all. Even her literacy was taught to her secretly by her mother.
Usually, only a nanny taught her needlework and similar things, but she disliked them.
Occasionally, she obtained a copy of the Huangdi Neijing and it became her treasure for passing the time.
"The contents of the Huangdi Neijing have always been difficult to understand. Without a teacher to guide and explain, it is hard to memorize. Yet, you have memorized it on your own. This is already remarkable. Take this medical book back and read it. If there is anything you do not understand, you may come and ask me."
"Thank you, sister-in-law." Ling Wan held the medical book as if she had found a treasure.
"Young Madam, Second Miss, Cousin Young Master, the food is ready. Let's eat first."
Cai Qing carried the dishes out, and the aroma of food filled the entire room.
Under Feng Jin's tutelage, Cai Qing's culinary skills had progressed rapidly. The dishes she made were even more delicious than those from the imperial kitchen.
Even Ling Muzhu, who was always a picky eater, ate two large bowls of rice in a row.
"Serve me another bowl." Ling Muzhu finished the food in his bowl and, still unsatisfied, handed the empty bowl to Cai Qing.
As Cai Qing took the bowl and was about to get up, she was reprimanded by Feng Jin, "If you want to eat, go get it yourself. This is not the Ling Mansion, and you are not some young master here."
Today, Feng Jin intended to teach Ling Muzhu the meaning of self-reliance. His pampered ways as a young master needed to be thoroughly corrected.
"I don't even know how to serve rice," Ling Muzhu said defiantly. He got up and picked up a spoon to serve himself, but more rice fell onto the table than into his bowl.
Feng Jin tapped the table displeasedly, "I provide this food for you to eat, not to waste here. After you finish eating, pay for the meal."
Hearing this, Ling Muzhu's hand, holding the bowl, froze. Instantly, the food in his hand lost its appeal, as he was currently broke and did not have a single copper coin.
Seeing his predicament, Feng Jin magnanimously decided to let him off this time, "Since you have no money, you can work to pay off your debt. After you eat, clean the room. The delivery will arrive soon; help move the goods to the storeroom."
"Understood." It was just asking him to work. Was there a need to be so roundabout? Only one sentence in the sages' books was true: women and villains are difficult to deal with.
After the meal, Ling Muzhu began his strenuous labor to pay off his debt, thoroughly cleaning the entire medical clinic inside and out.
He then moved two cartloads of medicinal herbs into the storeroom.
"Young Madam, if Second Master Ling comes looking for trouble because you're tiring out Cousin Young Master like this, how will we explain?" Cai Qing knew very well how much Second Master Ling and Madam Zhao doted on Ling Muzhu, afraid of hurting him or letting him melt if he were in their mouths. If they knew their precious son was doing hard labor here, they would surely cause a huge scene.
Ling Wan also spoke with some concern, "Yes, sister-in-law. Why don't we let him rest?"
He had been busy for several hours without even a sip of water. Even a strong man would not be able to endure it, let alone the pampered young master Ling Muzhu, who was afraid of getting tired just walking.
Feng Jin looked utterly unconcerned, leisurely cracking sunflower seeds in her hand, "Don't worry, he won't get too tired."
This little bit of work wouldn't tire him out. If you asked her, Ling Muzhu lacked exercise.
If Ling Mohan had done this much work, he wouldn't even be out of breath.
In contrast, Ling Muzhu had only done so much work and was already sweating profusely and panting. They were both descendants of the Ling family, eating the same food, yet the difference was too great.
Ling Muzhu's legs felt weak, and he was dizzy. The sack on his shoulder felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, pressing him so hard he could barely breathe. His hand loosened, and he fell to the ground with the sack.
As Ling Mohan entered the door, he saw Ling Muzhu sprawled on the ground and looked at Feng Jin expressionlessly, asking, "What happened?"
"He fell himself," Feng Jin replied truthfully.
Ling Wan and Cai Qing also nodded in agreement.
Ling Mohan cast a slightly disdainful glance at Ling Muzhu. He could fall while chopping wood, and he could fall while carrying a sack. He looked tall and strong, but he couldn't accomplish anything. What good could he be?
"Lu Shi, help him up."
Lying there was embarrassing enough.
Lu Shi stepped forward and helped Ling Muzhu up. This cousin young master, after not seeing him for two days, how had he become so frail and weak?
Ling Muzhu, utterly exhausted, slumped onto a chair, his body propped against the table, feeling as if his whole body had fallen apart, panting heavily.
He had nearly died of exhaustion just now. This work was truly not for humans; it was too tiring.
"Cai Qing, pour him a cup of water." Feng Jin instructed. He was too weak; she didn't want him to actually die of exhaustion under her care.
Ling Mohan looked at Ling Muzhu's half-dead appearance and sighed. He took Feng Jin's hand and asked, "What did you do to him? He's become like this."
When he had gone out earlier, he was still lively. After only a short while, he seemed to have lost half his life.
"I didn't do anything to him. I just had him clean up and move some things. I can do these things myself. I didn't know he was a straw-stuffed pillow, good to look at but useless. I even resent that he eats so much, eating so much of my food for nothing."
He ate a lot at dinner, but when it came to work, he caved. All that food was eaten in vain.
"You're the one who's good to look at but useless. I'm just tired. I'll go back to work now."
Ling Muzhu still had some pride. He stood up with determination and went to work, but after only two steps, his legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the ground.
"Don't push yourself. Just admit you're weak. No one becomes a fatty overnight. You have opportunities if you train more in the future."
Feng Jin kindly offered words of comfort, but they were worse than useless to Ling Muzhu.
He felt looked down upon by Feng Jin once again, and instantly became as stiff as stone.
Ling Mohan shook his head helplessly. Their grandfather had asked Feng Jin to teach Ling Muzhu, which was really making Ling Muzhu suffer, as if he had to shed a layer of skin.
It was not necessarily a bad thing for him either. He had been too doted on and protected by his second uncle, which had made him so weak and incompetent.
Letting Feng Jin temper him thoroughly was not a bad idea.
Looking at Ling Muzhu's state, he was clearly intimidated by Feng Jin.
"It's getting late. Pack up and return to the mansion," Ling Mohan said in a low voice. As dusk settled, it was time to return home.
On the way back, Ling Muzhu changed his usual behavior. He refused to ride in the comfortable carriage and insisted on riding back with Ling Mohan, citing his refusal to share a carriage with women as his reason.
Feng Jin did not indulge him. With one less person, the carriage was more spacious. She directly handed him over to Ling Mohan and let the carriage driver lead the way.
Ling Mohan could only reluctantly give Ling Muzhu a horse.