Han Yuling drove the carriage at high speed along the road, arriving at a small town at the foot of the mountain. However, upon arrival, she found the situation in the town far from calm.
A crowd had gathered, and cries of grief rose and fell in waves. Han Yuling's heart tightened instantly; she knew something bad had happened. She stopped the carriage, got down, and walked toward the crowd.
She asked an old man, "Excuse me, what happened here?"
The old man raised his head and looked at Han Yuling with red, swollen eyes, his face full of sorrow and helplessness. His voice trembled as he replied, "It's the little boy from our family. He was kidnapped by bandits, and they are demanding a ransom in exchange for his life."
A pang of pain shot through Han Yuling's heart. Suppressing her anger, she comforted the old man, "Old sir, please don't worry. I have two very capable friends, and they will definitely help you rescue the child."
At her wits' end, the old man shook his head and said, "Young lady, thank you for your kind intentions, but I really don't see anything extraordinary about you or your friends."
Understanding the old man's doubts and wishing not to expose her strength too prematurely, Han Yuling said to him, "Old sir, you just need to tell me where the hostage is being held. Leave the rest to us."
The old man fell silent for a moment, then told Han Yuling the location where the hostage was kept. Han Yuling nodded, walked back to the carriage, and gave instructions to Liu Cunxiu.
Han Yuling told Liu Cunxiu to keep a close eye on the children and not wander about casually. Liu Cunxiu nodded repeatedly in nervousness, her vigilant gaze sweeping across the surroundings. Liu Ye'er, the lively and adorable little girl, didn't quite understand and wanted to follow along to see, but she received a fierce glare from Han Yuling.
"Do you still want to cause trouble?" Han Yuling's tone carried a hint of sternness. Seeing her angry look, Liu Ye'er had no choice but to stay obediently to the side. Her mood, however, was exceptionally good: she already had six hundred taels of silver in hand, and once the child was rescued, she would receive further compensation. Life from now on would be worry-free.
She mused about what kind of business she could start in the future to live the peaceful life of a wealthy young woman, and how much better it would be if she could also take in a satisfactory young husband. This young husband definitely had to treat her and her family well, so they could live a happy and fulfilling life together.
Liu Ye'er stood by the village path and said to the gathered crowd, "Everyone might as well disperse. Waiting here is just a waste of time. My mother said that whenever she steps in to save someone, she will definitely succeed." Her tone was firm, her gaze clear, filled with an indescribable confidence.
The crowd looked at each other, and realizing this was indeed true, they dispersed one by one. They knew that Liu Ye'er was right. All the major and minor affairs in this village had been resolved by her mother. It was only to be expected that her mother would step in to save someone this time.
However, a young woman in the crowd was still weeping and could not let go of her grief. Watching her, Liu Ye'er felt a twinge of sympathy. She walked over and gently advised, "Auntie, you should go home and wait. My mother has immense skills, and saving someone is as easy as pie for her."
The woman wept, "If my son cannot be saved, I don't want to live anymore." Her voice was weak and sorrowful, impossible to ignore.
The old man standing nearby looked somewhat displeased. "Nonsense! My grandson is blessed with natural fortune; how could he not come back?" His words carried a trace of overbearingness, but they could not hide his deep worry for his grandson.
Looking at the still-weeping woman, Liu Cunxiu felt a sense of helplessness. She knew that words of comfort were no longer of any use to this woman. Therefore, she said to her, "Sister-in-law, worrying blindly here won't solve anything. You'd better go home and wait."
The woman raised her head, her gaze resolute. "I will wait right here. I'm not going home without seeing my son." Her tone was firm, yet laden with deep sorrow.
Liu Ye'er looked at the woman with mixed feelings. She knew that when a child went missing, the family was bound to be frantic, and persuasion was useless. Thus, she said to Liu Cunxiu, "Aunty, let's wait here too. I want to see how my mother saves people." Her tone was firm and persistent.
So the three of them waited by the roadside. The sunlight washed over them, reflecting their expectant expressions. The surroundings were dead silent, save for the wind and their own breathing.
Half an hour later, Han Yuling returned carrying a child. The waiting woman hurried forward to take the child, pulling him tightly into her arms, refusing to let go ever again. Seeing this scene, the old man was overjoyed beyond measure. He immediately knelt before Han Yuling and said gratefully, "Thank you, benefactor, for your great kindness!"
Han Yuling hastily stepped aside and said softly, "Old sir, please don't do this; I cannot accept such a gesture." The old man stood up and said, "My name is Lü Xianming. Young lady, if you have any requests, just name them, and I will surely fulfill them." Han Yuling smiled and said, "It is getting late; I am merely looking for a place to stay."
Lü Xianming immediately ordered, "Someone prepare the finest guest rooms for our benefactors. Please follow me." Liu Ye'er and the others followed Han Yuling into the courtyard and sat down in the parlor. Lü Xianming had tea served, then asked, "May I ask the honorable name of the young lady?"
Han Yuling shook her head. "I am just a passerby, staying for a night and leaving tomorrow. There is no need to leave my name." Lü Xianming remarked, "The young lady's refusal to leave her name shows contempt for this Lü." Han Yuling smiled. "Is the old sir trying to force me?"
Lü Xianming cupped his fists. "I wouldn't dare. The young lady is righteous, and this Lü admires you. I'll go arrange tea and food." With that, he turned and left the parlor. Han Yuling picked up her teacup, took a light sip, and was overcome with emotion.
After enjoying the fragrant tea, they partook in a lavish meal. It was Liu Cunxiu's first time tasting such delicious cuisine, and Lü Xianming and Madame Lü accompanied them personally, picking out food and meat for him from time to time. Liu Shande, still a child, faced a table full of delicacies and gorged himself until his mouth was gleaming with oil.
After the meal, Lü Xianming produced a bank note for one thousand taels and handed it sincerely to Han Yuling, saying, "This is just a token of my meager appreciation, a slight gesture of respect. Please do not look down on it, young lady." Han Yuling smiled as she accepted the bank note, saying gratefully, "I gratefully accept your kind intentions, old sir."
Afterward, she made a request, hoping to have the child brought over. Hearing this, Lü Xianming was overjoyed and immediately ordered the boy to be brought in. Han Yuling placed both hands on the child's head, and the boy felt a stream of energy flowing within his body. It was a wonderful sensation, like the warm winter sun, or a mother's embrace.
After a moment, Han Yuling withdrew her hands and said, "This is a set of internal energy cultivation techniques. Practice diligently and you will become strong and healthy. I will also teach you a set of boxing forms." She slowly demonstrated a set of boxing forms, and the little child tried hard to memorize every single movement. Liu Ye'er also memorized them intently.
After finishing the boxing routine, Han Yuling added, "How much you remember depends entirely on your own comprehension. From here on, we part ways, and I'm afraid we won't meet again." With that, she left.
As the night grew dark like ink, Liu Ye'er lay beside Han Yuling. The moonlight spilled through the window upon them, imbuing the small room with a mysterious and tranquil beauty. Finding a sense of security in Han Yuling's embrace, Liu Ye'er mumbled softly with a hint of sleepiness in her voice, "Mother, you haven't even taught me kung fu yet, but you taught someone else first."
Han Yuling chuckled softly, her voice filled with doting warmth, "Jealous, are you? All right, I'll teach you right now." Gently, she placed her hand on the top of Liu Ye'er's head to help her circulate her internal Qi.
Liu Ye'er felt the flow of energy inside her body—a wonderfully comfortable sensation. She began trying to guide the energy flow with her mind, and gradually, she felt her body become seemingly more acute and powerful.
"I'll teach you another skill: the art of ground-listening." Han Yuling's voice was low and clear. She placed Liu Ye'er's hand against her own ear. "This skill does not require internal energy to train your auditory sharpness. Now that it is dark, it is the perfect time to practice your hearing. Let your heart settle and listen to the sounds around you. This technique can be practiced simultaneously with circulating Qi."
Liu Ye'er followed Han Yuling's instructions. Closing her eyes and concentrating, she perceived everything around her. Suddenly, she heard many sounds she had never noticed before. The chirping of insects, footsteps, and the wind outside all became crystal clear. At the same time, she felt that the circulation of her energy left her feeling refreshed and invigorated.
That night, under Han Yuling's guidance, Liu Ye'er learned a new skill. She felt as though she had stepped into a brand-new world, brimming with infinite possibilities.
Morning sunlight streamed through the window, and Han Yuling rose early. After a quick breakfast, she bid farewell to the Lü family. Although it had only been a single day, the Lü family had already forged a deep emotional bond with her. Reluctantly, they saw her off for a long distance until the carriage vanished from sight.
On the wide ancient road, a carriage sped past, leaving a trail of flying dust. Inside the carriage, Liu Ye'er's mood gradually calmed. The money problem that had been plaguing her was solved with sixteen hundred taels, and a faint smile appeared on her face. As the carriage bumped along toward an unknown distance, Liu Ye'er's heart settled with its motion.
Liu Ye'er had always known that relying on her father was difficult. Despite enduring much unfair treatment, her father stubbornly clung to blind filial piety, using the money he earned through hard labor to support an entire family of freeloaders. In this household, Liu Ye'er could only rely on her mother. Having weathered many storms, her mother possessed far greater personal capability and life experience than her father. With her mother's help, Liu Ye'er finally had the capacity to prop up this family.
Now, with both people and money on her side, Liu Ye'er no longer had to worry. She knew her next task was to shake off the entanglement of those toxic relatives in the Liu Family as quickly as possible. Those people were lazy and gluttonous, constantly plotting how to take advantage of others. Liu Ye'er had no desire to entangle herself with them any further; she just wanted to live a good life and secure a comfortable future for her own family.
The carriage sped onward, and Liu Ye'er's mind grew much more at peace. Gazing at the scenery flashing past her window, her heart was filled with anticipation and hope. She knew that with the backing of money and people, she would certainly be able to sustain this household and grant her mother a happy life. At the same time, she understood that shedding the entanglements of those toxic relatives was an essential stepping stone toward a happy life.
As the carriage jolted, Liu Ye'er's heart rose and fell with it. She knew the road ahead was still long, but she had the confidence to walk it. Because she was no longer alone—she had her mother's support, along with ample money and manpower. She believed that as long as she persevered, she would surely realize her dreams and march toward a joyful future.
However, as a time traveler, Liu Ye'er faced numerous troubles. She was completely clueless about culinary arts and farming techniques, making it impossible for her to get rich by selling recipes or farming like other transmigrated heroines. Furthermore, she was a complete stranger to medicine and knew nothing about herbs. Liu Ye'er had considered going into business, but was stumped over what to sell; small-scale trading felt far too slow to her, while large-scale business offered no foothold.
In this unfamiliar world, Liu Ye'er felt somewhat lost. Yet she did not give up; only through continuous experimentation and effort could she find a way of making money that suited her.