Chapter 230: Chapter 230
Mu Yuanxiu generously said, "Alright."
Li Xing’an rolled up the painting and happily left.
Although most of the Li Family members had gone out, it was not deserted.
In the morning, just as the sun reached the rooftop, people kept sending things to the residence.
First, Hu Shuangcheng came with some salted duck eggs and rice dumplings, and then Miss Chai sent a driver with wine and some seasonal fruits, a basket of lychees, and a crate of golden loquats.
The Princely Heir was still busy in the fields, having gone far, and couldn’t be called back. Li Xing’an took the portrait to find someone.
Only the Princess Consort Luling was home.
She watched everyone bring things into the courtyard, smiling as she said, "You’re all too kind."
Hu Shuangcheng earnestly said, "Big Niu said that Si Niu has been bothering you a lot, so it’s only right to send some things."
Chai Family’s driver added, "These are sent by our eldest young master. The young lady can’t finish them alone, it’s nothing, madam just take them."
The two laborers didn’t let the Princess Consort Luling lift a finger, and they moved the items to the kitchen.
Princess Consort Luling called for them to have a drink of water, but both waved their hands good-naturedly and left.
Li Jing looked at a basket of loquats, salivating, "Looks delicious."
Without bothering to peel, he picked one up and bit into it.
To his surprise, the taste was bitter, and he immediately burst into tears. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novelFirｅ.net
Guoguo stood by the basket, grabbed a big loquat, and started peeling it bit by bit.
Peeling halfway, she handed it to Li Jing, "Eat, eat."
Li Jing blinked, oh, it needs to be peeled.
The Princess Consort Luling brought a clay basin, intending to wash and eat a few lychees and loquats, but found the two little ones already eating them.
Moreover, it was nine-month-old Guoguo taking care of nearly three-year-old Li Jing.
The Princess Consort Luling was amazed and picked up Guoguo, "Guoguo, you know how to peel loquats?"
Guoguo gave the Princess Consort Luling a smile and started peeling another loquat.
Just like before, she peeled halfway and offered it to the mouth of the Princess Consort Luling, "Eat, eat."
The Princess Consort Luling took a bite.
"Such a good child." She put down the clay basin and sat Guoguo on her lap, "So sweet, Guoguo picked such sweet loquats."
Li Jing, having finished his loquat, also grabbed one for the Princess Consort Luling, "Grandmother, eat loquat."
"Jingjing is good too." The Princess Consort Luling brought Li Jing into her embrace.
She smiled on the outside but sighed inwardly.
Such good children, yet the Xue Family didn’t want them!
Could it be that the Xue Family’s other children are smarter than these two?
Humph, maybe they won’t even have any more!
The Princess Consort Luling fumed at the Xue Family for a while, but then remembered they were already gone. Why worry so much about an ex-daughter-in-law who has left?
She then set aside the matter and thought of something else.
Today’s market was quite lively because it was festival time, so it was a big event day.
The streets were almost packed wall to wall.
The main street of the rural market was set along the river.
Many were at the riverside watching dragon boat races.
Others were standing on both sides of the three-zhang wide stream, singing duets.
The Second Young Master, Second Princess, Great Princess, and Liu Si Niu were busy in the shop.
Li Yuzhu accompanied Prince Luling to set up a painting and calligraphy stall.
Prince Luling was fidgety, refusing to set up the stall in a crowded place.
Li Yuzhu, both amused and annoyed, was still acting like a Prince!
"Dad, setting up the stall where there are fewer people means no one will buy!" Li Yuzhu advised.
At this moment, the father and daughter were standing in a small alley behind the market.
Prince Luling pulled down the brim of his hat, craned his neck to look at the street, and whispered, "Daughter, how about I write here, and you take it to wherever there are more people to sell?"
Li Yuzhu frowned, "I’m not going!"
"If I go to sell, my face will be lost." Prince Luling shook his head, unwilling to go.
Li Yuzhu, amused and annoyed, thought, do you still have any face?
Your face was already lost back in the Capital!
Among so many Princes, only you got driven to the countryside to farm; everyone else was fine.
"Dad, when you went out, what did you tell Mom? You said you’d sell twenty paintings and calligraphies. When we go home later, I can’t lie; I’ll tell Mom the truth." Li Yuzhu shook her head, refusing to help him.
With the family in decline, everyone was working, even the noble-born, pampered Princess Consort washing clothes and taking care of children every day. Yet, Prince Luling was still unwilling to do anything?
She was determined to teach Prince Luling a lesson today.
Prince Luling feared the Princess Consort. Hearing that his daughter wouldn’t help lie, he got anxious.
"Fine, fine, fine, I’ll go, can’t I?" Prince Luling sighed. He thought of an idea, taking out the dry cloth he had prepared to wipe sweat, and wrapped it around his face, "Let’s go, daughter, let’s set up the stall."
Li Yuzhu, "..." Sure, pretending to be a masked hero! "Dad, I think you shouldn’t cover your face, cover your eyes instead."
Prince Luling was puzzled, "Daughter, cover my eyes? How will I write then?"
Li Yuzhu mischievously smiled, "You’ll find out shortly, maybe business will boom."
She shook the cloth and covered Prince Luling’s eyes with it, "Just like that, write and paint with your eyes covered."
Prince Luling touched the cloth over his eyes and immediately understood.
He greatly admired his daughter’s cleverness.
Because this cloth, though covering the eyes, still allowed sight!
It was gauze, very breathable!
"Hahaha, alright, alright, this works too." Prince Luling laughed heartily.
With his eyes covered, half his face was mostly masked too, so no one should recognize him.
Prince Luling didn’t mind anymore.
Reluctantly, under much persuasion, cajoling, and coaxing, Li Yuzhu finally got Prince Luling to a busy area on the street.
They set up a table in the corner of a house next to a teahouse.
The table was merely a wooden board placed on two wooden frames.
The stools were small ones they had carried from the Second Princess’s shop.
Though old, they were still sturdy.
They could easily support Prince Luling’s hefty frame.
Li Yuzhu took out a piece of indigo fabric, washed and worn, to cover the table, and a clean table was ready.
Then, she took out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from the back basket, placing them neatly on the table.
Behind them was a family’s house. Li Yuzhu hung up two paintings and two pieces of calligraphy Prince Luling had done at home, using some branches to stick them into the gaps between the bricks.
Prince Luling shook his sleeves and sat down squarely on the stool.
Li Yuzhu ground the ink and spread the paper.
She cleared her throat and shouted to the crowd on the street, "Ah, passing villagers and townsfolk, come see a blind man write and paint. He can write any word you want and paint whatever you request!"
Her voice was clear, sweet, matched with her pretty appearance, and seemed very clever.
Immediately, a few people came to watch.