If anyone spoke ill of Lin Ruoshan again, others would speak up for her. The crowd was puzzled; wouldn't it be insane to like someone like Lin Ruoshan? Soon, a rumor spread quickly. It turned out that the reason those people spoke up for Lin Ruoshan was because they were afraid she would do something rash and stop brewing wine, as it was very beneficial to her health.
This claim attracted everyone's attention. At first, they scoffed at the idea that wine was more effective than medicine. But later, some busybodies bought Lin's wine for their family members when they had a fever, and the patients recovered quickly. This caused a sensation throughout the town. Anyone with spare money wanted to buy a pot of Lin's wine to try it out. As a result, the claim that Lin's wine was better than medicine spread wider and wider, and even the county magistrate heard about it.
The county magistrate specifically ordered his officials to find Lin Fu's family and ask, "Does your wine really have medicinal effects? This concerns the health of the people, so you cannot speak carelessly about this matter."
Lin Fu broke out in a cold sweat upon seeing the magistrate, subconsciously fearful. He lowered his head and said, "Sir, this wine was entirely brewed by my daughter alone, without the help of anyone else. I have no idea what was added to it, but it has indeed been very good for my health. I haven't been sick for almost a year, so I suppose it must have some medicinal effect. But how effective is it, sir? My family and I know nothing about medicine, so we probably don't know much about it. We only know that this wine is good."
The magistrate looked at Lin Ruoshan, whose face was pale and said fearfully, "Sir, I really don't know anything about medicine, but the wine is good."
The magistrate frowned. "Bring out the brewing recipe and let the doctor examine it. Don't worry, I guarantee the recipe won't be leaked."
Lin Ruoshan's heart pounded. She took out a recipe and stammered, "My lord, this is the recipe for the wine I brew. But even with the same recipe, everyone's wine is different. Perhaps my brewing method and time are different, which is why it's good for your health."
After examining the prescription, the doctor said it was just a common brewing recipe. The magistrate's expression darkened, as he assumed Lin Ruoshan didn't trust him and wasn't showing him the real recipe. Since there was no evidence, he couldn't force Lin Ruoshan to produce the real recipe, so he simply opened a jar of wine on the spot and had the three doctors examine it together.
The three doctors tasted it again and again, but in the end they all shook their heads. They couldn't tell what medicinal ingredients were in the wine, but they were certain that the wine could prolong life, rejuvenate the complexion, replenish qi and blood, and treat diseases and nourish the body.
This was truly astonishing. The county magistrate couldn't get any information out of them, so he let them leave. After much thought, he considered this a remarkable event and reported it in his memorial to the emperor.
Prefect Liang, intrigued by the memorial, ordered an investigation and discovered that Lin Ruoshan and Xu Zifan had a close connection. After learning the details, he developed a strong aversion to Lin Ruoshan and her parents. However, if the wine Lin Ruoshan brewed truly had miraculous effects, it could benefit the people. He immediately dispatched people to the town to investigate.
When Lord Liang's confidant arrived in the town, he demanded to see Lin Ruoshan brew wine with his own eyes. The matter had already reached the prefect's ears, and Lin Fu was quite frightened. He repeatedly urged Lin Ruoshan not to keep anything secret and to hand over the real recipe immediately. They dared not hide anything from the prefect, who was a high-ranking official of the fourth rank!
Lin Ruoshan had no way to express her suffering. She only thought that the fact that the wine could cure her illness would make her more important and stop people from gossiping about her. She never expected that the government would get involved in this matter. She only had the spiritual spring but no prescription. What should she do?
Lin Ruoshan couldn't avoid it, so she had to brew the wine step by step in front of the county magistrate and the prefect's confidants. Fortunately, she had also learned how to brew wine that year, so she didn't make any mistakes in the steps. Taking advantage of the fact that the stream was hidden from others, she waved the stream aside and, using her sleeve as cover, poured the spiritual spring water into the jar. The wine she brewed was still spiritual wine.
This was quite puzzling. After repeated investigations, all that was confirmed was that the wine had some therapeutic effect on all kinds of illnesses; minor ailments could be cured directly, and serious illnesses could be alleviated. Although the cause was not found, and Lin Ruoshan was suspected of concealing something, it was still a great piece of news. The prefect's confidant hurriedly led the Lin family to Anyang Prefecture to report to Lord Liang.
There were far more capable people in the prefectural city than in the town, but none of them had been able to uncover the secret of the wine. After careful consideration, Lord Liang wrote this extraordinary matter into a memorial and reported it to the Emperor. However, Anyang Prefecture was far from the capital, and it would take some time for the Emperor to see the memorial. Fearing that something might go wrong, Lord Liang left the Lin family in Anyang Prefecture and lent them a small courtyard to stay in temporarily.
After this investigation, the news that Lin Ruoshan's wine could cure diseases had spread throughout Anyang Prefecture, and everyone was very curious about the legendary Lin family wine.
That day, Lin Ruoshan went shopping with Madam Wang. Everything they saw was new and exciting. Even though Lin Ruoshan was reborn, she had never been to such a bustling place as the prefectural city before. She felt like she couldn't take it all in.
They walked to a corner and saw many people queuing up with bowls. Curious, they squeezed forward and immediately saw Xu's mother standing at a table by the wall, distributing porridge.
Madam Xu wore a bright smile, dressed in a dark red dress with exquisite embroidery. Her hairpins and earrings were also set with rubies. She exuded an air of nobility, like a pampered lady.
However, in the minds of the mother and daughter, Xu's mother was always smiling with a hint of sorrow, looking ten years older than her peers due to her exhaustion, as if she could never see any hope and was living only to struggle in a miserable life.
It's only been half a year since I last saw her, how come Xu's mother has changed so much?
Neither Lin Ruoshan nor Wang Shi spoke. They didn't know what to say, but judging from Xu's mother's expression, they knew how well the Xu family lived. Looking down at themselves, they felt like country girls who had entered the capital.
When Xu's mother looked up, they immediately covered their faces with their sleeves and hurriedly left, hiding behind the crowd. They didn't want to be seen by Xu's mother; it would be too embarrassing.
Once they were away from the crowd, Madam Wang spat, "I don't know what kind of luck the Xu family had, they're getting better and better off." She then glared at Lin Ruoshan and complained, "Are you stupid? If you had married Xu Zifan back then, our family would be related to a scholar by marriage now! I heard even the high and mighty prefect admires Xu Zifan and often invites him to dine with him. You just gave that good husband to that slut, and look how well she's doing now! She might even be an official's wife!"
Lin Ruoshan said impatiently, "Didn't you agree to the marriage exchange? Why are you blaming me now? Besides, am I any worse than them? Even the prefect values the wine I brew. If it weren't for me, would our family have been able to come to the prefectural city? The restaurant that the prefect helped sell has made us a lot of extra money, all thanks to me."
Madam Wang sneered, "Oh, so you've got some skills and you're starting to show off again. Don't forget, I'll always be your mother. Don't try anything funny."
Lin Ruoshan took a deep breath and turned to ask someone for the location of the Xu family's cloth shop. "Let's go see what the Xu family is really like. We've only heard about them from others before. Maybe they're just putting on a show."
Lin Ruoshan herself didn't quite believe what she was saying, but she was even less willing to believe that the Xu family was really doing so well. The mother and daughter found the Xu family's cloth shop along the way. Lin Ruonan was inside, smiling and greeting customers. There were also two young girls and two young boys greeting customers, who seemed to be hired help by the Xu family.
The cloth shop was indeed nearly twice the size of the one in town. Lin Ruonan was dressed even more beautifully than when she returned to the village. The way she stood there talking gave her the air of a shop owner. At this moment, Xu Zifan walked into the shop carrying a food box. As soon as he saw Lin Ruonan, he smiled and said, "Ruonan, take a break. I made your favorite osmanthus cake."
Lin Ruonan immediately turned to look at him, her eyes seemingly filled with stars in an instant, making her much more vibrant and radiating happiness. She quickly walked up to him and said, "Brother Zifan, what brings you here? Didn't you say you were studying at home?"
Xu Zifan led her to a small table by the wall and sat down. "It's not good to stay cooped up at home studying all the time. You have to come out and get some fresh air. The osmanthus flowers in the yard are beautiful today, so I made you some osmanthus cake. It's still warm, have a taste."
A woman standing nearby covered her mouth and laughed upon hearing this, "Everyone says that a scholar dotes on his wife, and now I see it's true. I've never eaten a single meal cooked by a man in my entire life. The proprietress is so lucky!"
Xu Zifan laughed and said, "I just like to think things through. Cooking is an art; it's not easy to make ingredients taste good. It's quite enjoyable to research things in my spare time."
"The scholar is right. There are very few men who think like him. The proprietress is so lucky. We will never enjoy such a blessing."
The nearby guests made some jokes, then wisely walked a few steps away so as not to disturb them. After all, Xu Zifan was a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, so they didn't dare to joke with him too much.
Lin Ruonan took out the osmanthus cake, took a small bite, and her smile deepened. "Delicious! Brother Zifan, you can do everything so well. This is the best pastry I've ever eaten."
Xu Zifan smiled at her and poured her a cup of tea. "Eat more. You've been very busy lately, you should nourish yourself. I'll make you some chicken soup when we get home tonight."
Lin Ruonan nodded and smiled at him.
Wang Shi and Lin Ruoshan, who entered the shop under the cover of other customers, were both shocked. They knew the Xu family treated Lin Ruonan well, but they never expected it to be this good. In all their years, they had never seen a daughter-in-law spoiled like this. Moreover, Xu Zifan had clearly cooked before, and Lin Ruonan's natural acceptance of the task, as if it were commonplace, aroused intense jealousy in them, as women.
The young girl hired by the fabric shop saw them and came forward to inquire. Lin Ruoshan snapped out of her daze and quickly pulled Wang Shi away. Xu Zifan glanced back, a slight smile playing on his lips.
[Shaohua: Host, the prefect has reported Lin Ruoshan's matter to the emperor. It seems Lin Ruoshan will go to the capital and try to get close to a powerful figure. Shouldn't you stop her?]
[Xu Zifan: No, isn't it good that she's climbed to a high place? Falling from a rooftop is different from falling from the clouds. She hasn't seen enough of the world, and her ambition isn't big enough. She should be sent to the most prosperous capital city to climb higher and higher.]
[Shaohua: Understood. I will record all her activities, which you can view at any time.]
Many things can cause a person pain, and Xu Zifan, a master of psychology who has experienced so much of the world, knows best how to gradually break down a person's heart. He effortlessly laid a trap, but in reality, there was no way out. As long as Lin Ruoshan lived an honest life, what could he do to her?
Unfortunately, her character sealed her fate; she could not harm others, but ultimately harmed herself.