Li Wei's small stall had finally become a familiar sight in the bustling market street. She now spent most mornings happily greeting regular customers and preparing medicinal foods with steady hands. Her stall wasn't lavish, but it was tidy, charming, and carried a pleasant fragrance that attracted even passing strangers.
As she chopped fresh herbs this morning, Li Wei glanced up to see Xiao Mei approaching quickly, worry evident on her usually cheerful face. Xiao Mei was breathing hard, her eyes wide with concern.
"Li Wei, we have a problem!" Xiao Mei said urgently, placing her small woven basket down on the table.
Li Wei set aside her knife calmly, smiling softly at her friend. "Slow down, Mei. What happened?"
Xiao Mei leaned forward, lowering her voice as she glanced around nervously. "Someone from the market supervisor's office was asking about your stall today. I think they're going to inspect us!"
Li Wei felt her heartbeat quicken slightly, but she forced herself to remain calm. "Inspect us? Why? We've been paying our stall fees."
"I don't know. But it seems like they want to cause trouble for some vendors," Xiao Mei replied anxiously. "I heard some other stalls already had their goods confiscated yesterday. They accused them of selling unauthorized medicine and food."
Li Wei frowned, her mind racing. Her stall was small but essential to her family's survival. Losing it meant returning to uncertainty and hardship.
"It must be a misunderstanding," Li Wei said gently, trying to reassure herself as much as Xiao Mei. "I'll handle it. Don't worry."
Xiao Mei nodded hesitantly, though she still looked worried. "If you say so. But please, be careful."
As Xiao Mei returned to her own small fruit stall down the street, Li Wei took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She looked over her neatly arranged herbs and bowls of fragrant soups, suddenly feeling vulnerable and alone.
But Li Wei didn't have time to dwell on her fears. Soon, a group of stern-faced officials arrived, causing whispers among customers. Leading them was Supervisor Zhang, known for his short temper and ruthless methods.
"Whose stall is this?" Supervisor Zhang demanded loudly, his gaze sweeping disdainfully over her small setup.
"It's mine, sir," Li Wei replied quietly, stepping forward respectfully. "My name is Li Wei. Is something wrong?"
Zhang snorted, picking up a bowl of medicinal soup. "Selling medicine without a proper permit is against the law. Do you have permission?"
Li Wei bowed politely. "I sell simple herbal foods, not medicine, sir. They're healthy dishes meant to help people feel better, nothing more."
"You're saying I'm mistaken?" Zhang narrowed his eyes, voice cold and threatening.
Li Wei's hands trembled slightly, but she kept her composure. "I simply mean no harm. If I need additional permits, I'll gladly get them."
The crowd watching whispered sympathetically, seeing Li Wei's gentle, humble manner. Zhang noticed this and grew even angrier.
"Confiscate all goods immediately!" Zhang ordered harshly, turning away from her pleading eyes.
Li Wei watched helplessly as his men began taking her precious herbs and carefully prepared soups. She bit her lip hard, fighting tears. Without her stall, how would her family survive?
From a hidden vantage point nearby, a pair of eyes quietly observed the scene. The observer was none other than Feng, General Yan Chen's trusted aide. Yan Chen had secretly ordered Feng to keep watch over Li Wei, instructing him clearly: "Inform me immediately if there's trouble."
Seeing Li Wei's distressed expression and Zhang's cruelty, Feng frowned deeply. Without wasting a moment, he quietly disappeared into the crowd, heading swiftly back to his master.
Meanwhile, General Yan Chen was in his private chamber, quietly reviewing a map detailing strategic military positions near the northern border. His face, half-hidden behind his iron mask, revealed no emotion, but his eyes were intense, fully focused on his tasks. Around him, scrolls of paper and military reports lay carefully organized, signs of his disciplined nature.
A respectful knock at the door interrupted his concentration.
"Come in," Yan Chen said quietly without looking up.
Feng entered, bowing politely. "General, there is urgent news regarding the young lady's stall."
Yan Chen finally looked up, his eyes sharply attentive. "Speak clearly. What happened?"
Feng straightened. "Supervisor Zhang confiscated all goods from Li Wei's stall, accusing her of selling unauthorized medicine. She had no chance to defend herself."
Yan Chen's hand tightened slightly around the scroll he was holding, but his expression remained carefully composed. "Zhang again," he murmured, annoyed. He knew Zhang as a greedy man who frequently abused his power.
"Sir," Feng ventured hesitantly, "Li Wei appeared deeply distressed. Her family depends entirely on that small business."
Yan Chen stood up slowly, considering. He couldn't afford to openly intervene in minor city affairs—his position near the Emperor required discretion—but leaving Li Wei defenseless bothered him deeply.
After a moment, he turned back to Feng decisively. "Arrange quietly to compensate her for the losses, and ensure her stall remains open. Do it carefully; she must not know of my involvement. And… keep an eye on Zhang's movements. Inform me immediately if he causes further trouble."
Feng bowed quickly. "Understood, General. I'll handle it right away."
Yan Chen watched Feng leave, then sat back down slowly, sighing softly. He couldn't afford such distractions, yet the young woman lingered stubbornly in his thoughts. For reasons he himself didn't fully understand, he felt compelled to protect her from harm.
That evening, feeling heartbroken, Li Wei returned home empty-handed. She gently stepped into the small courtyard where her mother and younger sister were waiting, looking hopeful and anxious.
"Li Wei, you're back!" her sister smiled brightly, running up to greet her.
Li Wei smiled softly, hiding her sadness. "Yes, Xiao Ling, I'm home."
Her mother noticed her empty basket immediately, concern filling her eyes. "My dear, where is today's earnings? What happened?"
Li Wei hesitated briefly before smiling bravely. "Just a little trouble at the market. Supervisor Zhang mistakenly thought I needed more permits. Tomorrow I'll sort everything out."
Her mother sighed softly, gently touching Li Wei's cheek. "You don't have to hide the truth from me, my daughter. Are you alright?"
Li Wei nodded softly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I'll find a way, Mother. Please don't worry."
Her mother hugged her gently. "You're brave, Li Wei. You've always been strong for us, even when life is harsh. I believe you'll solve this too."
Later, sitting quietly by herself under the soft glow of the lantern, Li Wei pondered her uncertain future. A cool evening breeze rustled gently through nearby trees, soothing yet melancholy. She wondered how she would gather the strength to restart her stall from scratch.
Suddenly, a quiet knock at their courtyard gate startled her. Li Wei stood quickly, cautious. Who could it be at such a late hour?
Opening the gate slightly, she found no one outside—but at her feet lay a small wooden box, carefully wrapped in plain fabric. Curious, she picked it up gently and opened it slowly.
Inside was a pouch filled with silver coins—enough money to replace everything Supervisor Zhang had unfairly confiscated, and even more to improve her stall.
Li Wei's eyes widened, her heart beating fast. Who could have left this generous gift? Why would someone help her secretly, without revealing themselves?
She looked out again into the empty street, the shadows silent and still. Far off in the darkness, a masked figure quietly stood hidden, observing her silently before turning away to disappear into the night.
Yan Chen, his face still concealed behind the cold mask, quietly walked back through the dark streets toward his residence. He told himself firmly he was doing this only from simple kindness, nothing more. But deep within his heart, he felt an unspoken tenderness—a quiet warmth he had long forgotten.
He couldn't yet understand what bound him so strongly to Li Wei. But for now, it was enough just knowing she was safe.
Thanks for the first collection! 💙 More chapters are coming soon — your support means a lot!