Fortune Across the World

Chapter 12: Accepting Gratitude and Securing a Promising Position

Ding Qiyu ushered the guests to their seats while Madam He instructed Lian'er to serve water. Lian'er clenched her fists momentarily at Ding Qiyu's back but complied with the request.

"You don't need to call me a hero; just call me Qiyu or Ayu," Ding Qiyu said as she sat down, setting her tool bag on the table and casually slipping the flying arrow inside. "Anyone passing by would have done the same. There's no need for thanks."

"Alright, I'll call you Brother Yu then! You can call me Weiming," Lu Weiming replied, feeling a strong affinity for the charming young man before him. Although Lu Weiming had been unconscious when Ding Qiyu appeared, the tales from Weixi's maid, Qing'er, had painted a vivid image of a heroic youth. Meeting Ding Qiyu in person only solidified this impression. Lu Weiming had always admired heroes like his father and elder brother, though he lacked the enthusiasm for martial arts, much to the General's disappointment. Consequently, he led a leisurely life as a young noble. The incident occurred after Lu Weiming, wanting some freedom, had dodged the accompanying attendants while returning home with his sister, resulting in the dangerous encounter that Ding Qiyu had helped avert.

Ding Qiyu was internally grumbling about being called "Brother Yu" when Lu Weiming enthusiastically pointed at the flying arrow in his hand. "Hey! Is that what you used to save us?"

Everyone's attention turned to the arrow in Ding Qiyu's hand. She handed it to Lu Weiming, explaining, "No, I just made this recently. It's called a flying arrow." She then retrieved the short arrow from her bag, adding, "I used these ordinary short arrows that day."

Lu Weixi watched the exchange thoughtfully, curious about whether Ding Qiyu had crafted the weapon himself. It seemed unique even compared to the weapons her father owned.

"You're quite talented, Brother Yu! How about joining the General's Mansion?" Lu Weiming suggested, returning the arrows. Based on Qing'er's account, he imagined Ding Qiyu heroically taking down the bandits and was determined to bring him into their fold. After discussing with the General, they had decided that offering Ding Qiyu a good position would be a more meaningful way to repay him than simply giving money.

Madam He and Lian'er turned their attention to Ding Qiyu, who hesitated before responding. "Well, I'm just a carpenter's apprentice. What could I possibly do at the General's Mansion?" Although it was an excellent opportunity, Ding Qiyu couldn't envision what role she might play there.

Lu Weiming's eyes twinkled with confidence as he replied, "Don't worry about that. Weixi and I already spoke to our father. The General's Mansion oversees many estates and businesses, and there's an opening for an overseer in Xingcheng. If you're willing, you can start immediately!"

"What does an overseer do?" Ding Qiyu asked.

Lu Weiming explained patiently, "In short, an overseer manages the daily supervision of the General’s Mansion’s assets, collects rents, taxes, and so on. It’s not too strenuous, and the pay is good! Weixi and I thought hard about how to thank you, and this position needs someone trustworthy. Everyone says it’s a lucrative job, and we believe you'd be perfect. Besides, being an overseer beats working as a carpenter in Hejia Village. It would surely improve life for Madam and the others."

Madam He chimed in, "But can our Ayu really handle it? He's young and only knows some carpentry."

While Madam He recognized the potential benefits of the position, she worried about Ayu’s youth and his ability to manage dealings with merchants and officials. Lian'er remained silent, feeling uneasy about Ding Qiyu working at the General’s Mansion for reasons she couldn’t quite articulate.

"Madam, you have nothing to worry about. Brother Yu will be under the General’s Mansion’s protection. As an overseer, anyone he deals with will treat him with respect; opposing him would mean opposing us!" Lu Weiming assured her, adding with a smile, "And don’t be modest, Madam. I believe Brother Yu will achieve great things!"

Everyone loves to hear praise for their children, and Madam He was no exception. She, too, believed Ayu would achieve success in the future, so she shared a warm exchange with Lu Weiming, leaving the decision to Ding Qiyu.

Ding Qiyu recognized the opportunity as a promising one. According to Lu Weiming, the "overseer" position seemed like an easy and rewarding job, requiring little technical skill—just overseeing operations and collecting money, all under the prestigious name of the General's Mansion. It sounded like a comfortable life, akin to being a "slacker" in modern terms. However, Ding Qiyu had her own goals and priorities.

Accepting the position would provide a stable and lucrative job, allowing her mother and Lian'er to enjoy a better life. Additionally, it would give her a chance to assess the development level of mechanical devices used by Xingcheng's businesses. As a major city in the north, Xingcheng's technological advancements were likely representative of the state-of-the-art in Qian's northern region. This would be invaluable for Ding Qiyu's future designs of wooden mechanical devices. Yet, she hesitated.

"The thing is, Xingcheng is quite far from home. If I take the job, I’d have to spend two hours traveling each day, leaving little time for family," she expressed her main concern.

"We'll be fine. Ayu, if you want to go, just go! Don’t worry about us," Madam He encouraged, understanding Ding Qiyu’s desire to seize the opportunity. She didn’t want him confined to a village carpenter's life when such a chance was at hand.

Lu Weixi then suggested, "If you’re willing, you and your family can stay at the General's Mansion. We’ve already arranged a private courtyard for you. This way, you won’t have to worry about being away from home."

"No need for that," Ding Qiyu and Madam He replied simultaneously. They exchanged a glance, and Madam He continued, "We’re used to living in the village, and moving would be an inconvenience to you. We appreciate your kindness, but we’d rather stay where we are." Madam He genuinely loved Hejia Village, where she had spent her life, and felt uneasy at the thought of living in someone else's home. Lian'er preferred their own home, and the idea of Ding Qiyu living at the General's Mansion was unsettling for reasons she couldn't explain.

"Yes, as Mother said, moving would be too much trouble for you," Ding Qiyu added, also reluctant to live in someone else's residence.

Seeing their insistence, Lu Weixi proposed a compromise after exchanging a glance with her brother. "Then we’ll provide you with a carriage. This way, traveling to Xingcheng will be much quicker. You’ll have no restrictions on which businesses to visit or how many, leaving it entirely up to you."

With a carriage, the trip to Xingcheng would take less than half an hour, making the daily commute just an hour round trip. This seemed a feasible solution, allowing Ding Qiyu to balance work and family. After considering it for a moment, she nodded in agreement, accepting the position of overseer in Xingcheng.

With the arrangements settled, they agreed that Ding Qiyu would report to the General's Mansion in a month, giving her time to wrap things up with Master He. After a pleasant chat, Lu Weixi and Lu Weiming prepared to leave. Naturally, Ding Qiyu escorted them to their carriage. The presence of such distinguished guests drew the attention of many villagers, who came out to watch.

After bidding farewell, Ding Qiyu watched as the carriage left the village. The onlookers gradually dispersed, speculating about the visit. Ding Qiyu didn’t notice that Lian’er’s uncles and aunts were among the crowd, nor did she see the envious glances cast her way.

Returning home, Ding Qiyu found Madam He sewing in the outer hall, but Lian’er was nowhere in sight. She pulled up a small stool, sat in front of Madam He, and looked up at her. "Mother, will you blame me for taking the overseer job? I might not be home as much."

Madam He set her work aside, lovingly patting Ding Qiyu’s head. "You’re often away anyway. Ayu, don’t overthink it. We all support you. Do what you want to do. Just remember, no matter where you go, we’ll always be here waiting for you."

Ding Qiyu’s eyes welled up, recalling the warmth and comfort of this home and another place she once called home. She held Madam He’s hand, calming herself before asking, "Where’s Lian’er?"

"That girl..." Madam He said, gazing into Ding Qiyu's eyes. "Maybe she’s upset, knowing you’ll be home less often. I guess she’s especially bothered that you won’t be home for her cooking at noon. She’s resting inside."