10. Saved life

"How... when?" She stood flabbergasted in front of the newly renovated house.

The roof tiles were completely new, the walls were freshly painted and the paper windows were redone. The whole yard was cleaned and it took her a moment longer to remember the people behind her.

She swiftly opened the big yard door so they could enter with carriages. Looking at the heavy pots she sighed and smiled at them.

"Is it possible to bring the pots to that room over there. It's kind of too heavy for me." She felt ashamed to admit but saw them just nodding and bringing the pots without a problem.

Parro pointed at the bags with a smile. "They as well?"

Mina shook her head. "No, they go to the storage room." She wanted to take one of the bags but they were truly too heavy.

Parro sighed and softly pushed her a said. "Just open the door. This is heavy even for man and you tiny woman should not drag such heavy stuff around."

Mina became red in shame and rushed to open the storage door. She already took the pots with strangely smelling content so there was now enough space for oil pots and rice bags. The two men quickly took the bags with rice, flour and salt to one side of the storage while the other side had the oils.

Just then she remembered she forgot to buy meat but it was too late. ''Never mind I will just buy some here in the village.'' She mumbled as she felt things of hunger rising.

She saw them bringing the big honey pots to the empty room and smiled at them. ''I can't offer you much but at least lunch. My cooking skills are not bad.''

They shook their head. The woman patted her arm and smiled. ''We need to go back now. Don't worry about the food we already ate good breakfast and we plan to eat again when we go back to town. I need to buy many things as well.''

Mina sighed and nodded. ''I hope then to see you all again in one month.''

When they left she went to squeaky clean kitchen and chuckled. ''They really made effort. Let see what could I make for lunch... didn't even eat breakfast.''

With lard, vegetables got another layer of taste. She finally tried Sakhmo and it tasted amazing. With rice, greens she bought and a few seasoning her lunch was quite delicious. Second-grade white rice was of good quality and fitted with vegetable dish quite well.

As she sat down on her repaired table in the kitchen she smiled brightly. It was clear as a day that Elder Kang rallied villagers to do this after what happened with that woman.

She took one of smaller pots and went to her spare room where she stored honey.

Having honey from wild bees is something rare and she got it for such a small amount. But she needed it to make honey soap and honey cream for her skin. She filled the small pot with deliciously smelling honey and licked the ladle afterwards as she felt sorry to waste even one drop of it.

The sugar rush made her energized and she rushed with swift steps quickly to Elder Kang's house. On her way, she met few villagers and she gratefully bowed to them multiple times making them on end shyly stop her as they saw how happy she was.

Just when she arrived at Elder Kang's home, Gong Min appeared. "Oh, miss Leng, you came just on time. I have some things for you to do for me."

Mina nodded seriously as she listened to his words. "So you want me to copy the Book of Codes ten times and Financial Report three times?"

Gong Min nodded. "Yes."

But at that moment Elder Kang opened the gate and looked at him with narrowed eyes. "I said all the work can be done only if I approve. Book of codes has over a thousand pages. And you want ten of them? And Financial Report can't be copied as only original writing is permitted. Are you stupid? You can be fined for that."

Gong Min froze. ''But my friends told me it can be copied.''

Elder Kang almost jumped out her skin as she started yelling. ''You idiot. They are your friends but at the same time not. Don't they own the same stores as you do? Moron! Idiot!...'' She started cursing him out while he paled more and more as she explained in heat of her causes. ''You can get a huge fine and even working permit in the city could be taken away from you. You know how strict the Empire laws are.''

Gong Min became now not pale, his face got strange white colour and he suddenly started coughing while holding his chest. "They said..." His whole body just fell over like a tall tree with a big thud under their eyes.

Mina was completely flabbergasted while Elder Kang started yelling. "Quickly, help me!"

Two burly men rushed out and draged Gong Min into the house and put on the floor.

Elder Kang rushed quickly to the nearby table and took out a strange-looking tube that she put into his mouth and then started blowing in while one of her servants pushed Gong Min's chest rhythmically.

After a while, she stopped and pressed her ear onto Gong Min's chest and sighed in relief. "This was close. This damnable child never listens to me not to eat that much and to start drinking his medicine." Elder Kang saw Mina looking at the Kang Min with a calm expression and nodded. ''You don't seem to be afraid?''

Mina sighed. ''My mother died same way after my father's concubines made her angry almost every day. I just wonder if I knew this way before would she still be alive?''

Elder Kang checked his health while pressing on his hand and concentration, but after while she opened her eyes and sighed in relief. ''He will be fine now. He is strong as horse but has a weak heart as he is way too fat. Never mind. He was just lucky I was around. Next time he will be dead.'' Then she looked at Mina that had absent eyes. ''Your mother, tell me more. How long was she angry about that situation?''

Mina looked trough window as she remembered her last days. ''Mother had me and my little brother and was quite happy. Father had two concubines even before she came but they never bothered her and had quite respect to her so she treated them well. But one day my father brought some strange woman that not only too him completely, but she also complained about mother and us. The strange thing was that the father listened to her words and started arguing with mother almost every day, demanding more and more from her.''

She looked at Gong Min. ''My mother was not a beautiful woman but had wealth that was left from our family that was eradicated long ago from the pirates. Only mom survived as she got married to father. But after that woman came he started changing. One day my little brother started puking and died not long after. Father became angry at mother as that was his only male child. Not only that, but he also brought more and more women that were set on to make her angry. Every day would be something. This one had no clothes, that one had no accessories, but those things she could handle with money. But father started having more and more women. The two women that first came chose to leave him and he let them go. Mother gave them enough money to start a new life so the other concubines became greedy and asked for the same amount.''

Elder Kang pressed her lips. ''Let me guess. She denied and her stupid husband got angry and argued with her.''

Mina sighed. ''Argue? Argue is good. He brought more women. When I left he had over three dozen of them. Luckily he let me off easily. I could only bring some clothes with me when I left and paper that I have nothing to do with my family or inheritance if I want to leave.''

Elder Kang jumped. ''You fool. Did you sign a contract? Those people...'' But saw Mina smiling brightly. ''What happened?''

Mina chuckled. ''As you can see I learned from my father how to read and write, from my mother how to cook and sew. When mother died I was already big enough to help him in the store. The money mother brought was used a long time ago. Father started gambling a few years ago and lost so much money that soon all he has will be lost. Those people count on wealth and fight inside the house. Only my younger sister knew about his troubles so she chose to even marry that old man just to escape poverty. No matter how much I begged her to come with me, she listened to her mother and married him. Father... he did it to save the company. But I believe it is impossible to save anything.''

Elder Kang saw her calm smile and sighed. ''You left on time then. By the way, the way you were telling me about your mother she could have been saved if she left your father. Stress is deadly for heart and mind.''

Mina nodded and looked towards the bed as she heard Gong Min waking up. ''What happened is in past. Those that are dead are gone and never can return. I promised mother I won't live such a life. Living alone is really relaxing. Truly.''

Elder Kang smiled and then approached Gong Min that tried to open his eyes. ''Little moron. I know you since you were a child. I told you so many time to watch out with food, drinks and stress. And to drink your medicine. You almost died in anger. Why waste your life for such people? Not worth it.''

Gong Min slowly opened hsi eyes and dizzily tried to stand up while his voice was clear and calm. ''I know. Elder Kang, thank you for saving my life. Miss Leng, please copy the books. There is no rush. I will pay you per book hundred silver. But there is no rush.''

One of the burly servants came in and helped him standing as he slowly bowed to Elder Kang and Mina Leng. ''Elder, miss Leng, have a nice day. I think its time I start cleaning people around me.''

When he left only two silent women sat there and listened to his unsteady steps.