Chapter 391
**Chapter 389: Determined to Leave**
In Donglin Kingdom, Yuan Family Fishing Village.
Shen Wei and her younger brother Yuan Fu returned home with their catch, enjoying a delightful seafood feast that evening. As night fell, the fishing village gradually quieted down, and Shen Wei retreated to their small house to rest.
The house they shared was modest, consisting of a single main room surrounded by a makeshift wall of wooden planks and fishing nets. Shen Wei lay in bed while Yuan Fu, clutching a fish spear, spread a fish skin on the floor beneath the window and lay down with a thin blanket.
The sound of crashing waves kept Shen Wei tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
It’s easy to fall from frugality into extravagance, but hard to return to simplicity from luxury.
In the past few years, Shen Wei had lived in a wealthy household, enjoying the finest comforts. Now, inexplicably cast away to a small fishing village, she found herself in a drafty shack, disturbed not only by the relentless waves but also by the chill seeping through her thin bedding, making it unbearable.
As she lay in the cramped bed, the sound of the waves brought back memories from many years ago—perhaps from a previous life when she had lived in such poor conditions.
Unable to sleep, Shen Wei watched the silvery moonlight spill through the window, illuminating her brother’s face beneath the window frame. Her gaze fell on the fish spear in Yuan Fu's hands, and she asked curiously, “Little brother, why do you always hold onto that spear when you sleep?”
Since Shen Wei had taken on the identity of Yuan Xi'er, she had noticed this peculiar habit.
The twelve-year-old Yuan Fu always slept beneath the window, clutching the spear, only hanging it back on the wall at dawn.
Yuan Fu silently gripped the spear, not responding.
“Creak—”
A strange noise came from outside.
Shen Wei perked up her ears. “What’s that noise outside?”
The room was dark, the pale moonlight casting an eerie glow, making it feel like a funeral parlor.
Yuan Fu sprang up like an angry fish, spear in hand, and stormed out of the house.
Shen Wei heard a scream from outside.
“Ouch, Fu, don’t poke me! I’m just here to see your sister. I’m like your brother-in-law, and I’ll even give you some copper coins.”
“Get lost!”
“Tsk, you two have such bad tempers. That broken girl Xi'er has been spoiled by so many, and I’m not complaining. Don’t worry, I’ll pay.”
“If you don’t leave, I’ll stab you in the throat!”
“Alright, alright, I’m going. Your sister’s just flaunting herself on the beach today to attract men. I’m not refusing to pay, so why poke me with a spear!”
“Get lost, and don’t come back!”
A commotion erupted outside.
After a while, the noise subsided.
Yuan Fu returned to the house, his small face stern, holding the sharp spear, visibly upset. He closed the door and sat back down on the makeshift bed beneath the window, clutching the spear and wiping away tears.
Shen Wei’s heart sank as she began to understand.
Widows attract trouble, and so do lonely girls. Ever since their parents died in a shipwreck, the siblings had lost their support and were often bullied in the fishing village. Yuan Xi'er, in her prime, was considered the most beautiful among the dark-skinned fishing girls.
Without any elders to back her up and with only a younger brother at her side, Yuan Xi'er was seen as an easy target by the village's single men.
Recently, after Yuan Xi'er attempted to drown herself but was saved, she had been recuperating at home. Today, she had ventured out on the beach, drawing the attention of the village's bachelors.
They foolishly thought they could sneak in at night and take a taste of this “delicacy.”
Suddenly, Shen Wei understood why Yuan Xi'er had been so eager to marry Prince Wu. Perhaps, in her eyes, marrying Prince Wu would be the only way to escape the lecherous gazes of the village men.
“Alright, stop crying.” Shen Wei knelt down in front of Yuan Fu, gently wiping his tears.
Yuan Fu sniffled, his voice choked. “Sister... I won’t let them bully you, sob sob.”
Shen Wei patted Yuan Fu’s shoulder, speaking softly, “Thank you, little brother.”
In the cold, biting night of the fishing village, the siblings had become each other’s only warmth.
Shen Wei made up her mind; she had to leave Yuan Family Fishing Village as soon as possible.
In a place where the mountains are poor and the waters are treacherous, it was not a place to linger.
...
...
The next morning, just as dawn broke, Shen Wei was awakened by Yuan Fu’s calls.
“Sister, wash your face first; the soup will be ready soon!” Yuan Fu’s voice came from outside.
Shen Wei threw on her clothes and got out of bed.
Yuan Fu was a very sensible child. Having been bullied by his sister for so long, his character hadn’t turned sour. For breakfast, they had two bowls of clam soup, made simply with fresh clams boiled in water.
Yuan Fu’s bowl contained only two clams.
The rest were all in Shen Wei’s bowl.
Shen Wei sighed silently, dividing her clams in half and giving them to Yuan Fu.
“Sister, I... I’m not hungry. You’re still sick; you should eat more,” Yuan Fu protested, surprised.
Shen Wei replied, “If you don’t eat more, how can you protect me?”
Yuan Fu held the shell bowl, feeling a lump in his throat.
The clam meat was delicious, and the siblings enjoyed a hearty meal. They had gathered plenty of seafood the night before, and Yuan Fu had dried some for storage while keeping the rest in a bucket to sell at the market.
Shen Wei didn’t stay home to recuperate; she chose to accompany her brother to the market. After getting ready, the siblings set out with their bucket of seafood.
They soon encountered Qiao Jie, a fisher girl from the neighboring house.
Qiao Jie was busy mending fishing nets. Her eyes scanned Shen Wei’s delicate face, and she said sarcastically, “Oh, Xi'er is out again? Dressed up so fancy, are you off to seduce Prince Wu?”
Yuan Fu, indignant, retorted, “Qiao Jie, don’t talk nonsense! Sister and I are going to the market to sell seafood! She’s not looking for the prince!”
Qiao Jie clicked her tongue. “Who doesn’t know the market is right next to Prince Wu’s residence? Your sister has a thief’s heart, dreaming of climbing the social ladder—marrying a village old bachelor is already a stretch, and now she wants to marry a prince? What a joke.”
Yuan Fu’s face turned red with anger.
Shen Wei tugged at her brother’s arm. “Ignore her, let’s just go to the market.”
...
The market was in the center of Wu County, close to Prince Wu’s residence.
The county was bustling with people, and the market was lively, filled with the rich scent of seafood.
After Prince Wu Zhao Ziqi arrived in Wu County, he found the place to be incredibly poor, with the citizens looking gaunt and starved. He decided to waive all taxes for the people.
Without the burden of heavy taxes, the citizens of Wu County found their pockets fuller, and life began to improve. Many merchants from other regions also came to Wu County to do business.
Shen Wei followed her brother through the market. Yuan Fu, like a little adult, skillfully set up their stall to sell seafood.
Shen Wei, on the other hand, curiously observed her surroundings, catching glimpses of Wu County’s prosperity. This young prince seemed to have a knack for managing the county.
Prince Wu employed a strategy of “governing by doing nothing,” revitalizing a poor county.
Shen Wei even thought that the prince’s daily horseback rides, “searching for beauties,” were just an excuse; his true purpose was to understand the lives of the people.
As Shen Wei followed her brother, she fell into deep thought, completely unaware of the commotion coming from the other end of the market.
Prince Wu Zhao Ziqi was patrolling the streets.
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