Chapter 234: Chapter 234
Li Yuzhu asked at this time, "Second Brother, is Dad back?"
"He’s back." The Second Young Master said irritably, "Earned a hundred coins, lost two hundred coins’ worth of stuff, only he could manage that."
Since coming to Zhen An Prefecture to suffer hardships, everyone in the family more or less has been doing something, earning money, except for Prince Luling, who just teaches Li Jing a few characters every day and then idles around the yard, or chats away about everything with the passing villagers.
Living days of leisure like a prince.
Li Yuzhu said, "It was his first time at the market, he didn’t have experience. He’ll do better next time."
The Second Young Master widened his eyes, "Next time? Forget it, what if he loses even more next time? He’s so obsessed with maintaining his dignity, he wouldn’t stoop to work. I think setting up a stall to sell calligraphy and paintings is something he’s never going to manage."
Li Yuzhu frowned, "Alright then, let’s find something else for him to do."
The siblings walked back, as the Second Young Master looked at the bustling street, Li Yuzhu was observing the men’s trades, trying to find a suitable job for Prince Luling.
At this time, an old man carrying a load passed by them.
On the old man’s shoulder pole hung a string of freshly woven baskets, small winnowing fans, small baskets, and hats.
As he walked, he shouted his sales, "Selling baskets and winnowing fans here, baskets for fifteen coins, big baskets for thirty coins, hats for twenty coins, good for keeping rain and sun off."
The calls sounded like mountain songs, rhythmic and melodious, very pleasant to hear.
"Second Brother, look at that old man." Li Yuzhu tugged on the Second Young Master’s sleeve, "He’s carrying a load of woven baskets."
"Hmm, so what?" The Second Young Master raised an eyebrow.
"That old man is in his sixties or seventies, still weaving baskets to sell, our father is only in his forties, why not let him weave baskets to sell too." Li Yuzhu suggested.
It’s a good idea, just whether our old dad would be willing to learn is another matter.
The Second Young Master turned to look at the old man.
Perhaps his craftsmanship was good, or maybe there were many people at the market. Fresh chapters posted on novᴇlfire.net
The old man sold three items in a row, two baskets and a hat.
Li Yuzhu said, "Two baskets for thirty coins, a hat for twenty coins, that’s fifty coins earned so quickly."
The Second Young Master rubbed his chin, "But items like these don’t get woven quickly, do they?"
Li Yuzhu said, "Though they don’t weave fast, these things don’t spoil. If they don’t sell this year, they can be sold next year. He could do other things normally, weave a bit when there’s downtime. The best part is, he can weave at home, without showing his face, and let others sell them once they’re done."
The Second Young Master thought for a moment, "This job would suit our dad quite well indeed."
The two walked and talked, before they knew it, they had reached the Second Princess’ shop.
The Great Princess, having failed to find Li Yuzhu, had returned earlier.
Seeing the siblings return, she huffed, "Finally, you’re back. I spent all this time looking for everyone, what a waste of time."
With that, she glared at Prince Luling, implying he was the one to blame.
Prince Luling had been scolded by his daughters for quite some time now, he sat hunched on a stool, head down.
Nonetheless, seeing his third daughter return, he was delighted, "Yuzhu, you’re back?"
Li Yuzhu replied testily, "Yes."
Prince Luling chuckled awkwardly.
Li Yuzhu frowned, "Dad, how did you end up in an argument?"
When she went there, Prince Luling was already gone.
After some discreet eavesdropping, she found out that Prince Luling had quarrelled with someone who wanted compensation from him.
Prince Luling refused to admit it was his temper that offended others.
He stubbornly said, "Too many troublemakers!"
The sachets made by the Great Princess and Li Yuzhu sold very well, selling out by noon.
In the hot weather, the Second Princess’ baked goods weren’t selling too well.
Li Yuzhu and the Second Young Master agreed to pack up early.
They had noodle soup at the market and bought some daily necessities before heading back.
The afternoon started hot, but as they walked, the sun began to set, and it didn’t feel as hot anymore.
By the time they returned to the village, each household had begun preparing dinner.
Near the Li Family’s house, they encountered Li Xing’an and Mu Yuanxiu.
Both had bows and arrows slung over their shoulders.
Li Yuzhu was surprised, these two weren’t bickering? They were actually walking together.
Mu Yuanxiu cupped his hands in greeting to Prince Luling, "Uncle Li." Then he called out the Second Young Master, "Li Er."
The Second Young Master replied coolly, "Hmm."
Prince Luling nodded happily, "Yuanxiu, were you out hunting?"
Mu Yuanxiu replied, "Third Brother Li wanted to hunt too, so we took a walk in the mountains. I caught a wild rabbit, and Third Brother Li shot a pheasant."
"Not bad, not bad, you’re both doing well." Prince Luling chuckled heartily.
"How was your trade today? Third Sister?" Li Xing’an greeted with a smile.
Having followed Mu Yuanxiu to hunt today and making a success of his first venture into the mountains, he was in a great mood.
Li Yuzhu laughed, "All fifty sachets that Big Sister and I made sold out. Second Sister’s baked goods business is about the same as the past few days."
"It’s hot, so sales are slow; barely a hundred cakes sell each day," the Second Princess sighed.
Li Xing’an patted her shoulder, "Once the weather cools, business will pick up. Don’t worry too much."
The Second Princess was more dejected, "But it’s only just May, and the heat has just begun."
"Isn’t business always ? It has slow periods and busy periods; what’s there to fear?" The Great Princess said nonchalantly.
The Second Princess sighed inwardly, words are easy, but a drop in business always put her in a sour mood.
Li Yuzhu pulled a sachet from her cloth backpack and handed it to Mu Yuanxiu, "I made this one, saved the best for last as a gift for you. It contains twenty kinds of detoxifying herbs."
She guessed that Li Xing’an’s success today must have been helped by Mu Yuanxiu.
Because Li Xing’an doesn’t know how to hunt, and his archery skills are even worse than hers!
Back in the capital, the Li brothers were often looked down upon for their poor archery.
Those people wouldn’t take the Li brothers hunting or on outings from the city.
Their friends were mostly literati, not the horseback archers.
Mu Yuanxiu was momentarily surprised, then accepted it, "Thank you."
Li Xing’an stared enviously at the sachet, "Third Sister, where’s my Dragon Boat sachet?"
The Second Young Master chimed in too, "Yeah, Third Sister, where’s mine?"
Li Yuzhu glanced at the two brothers, speechless. How childish could they be, demanding one out of jealousy?
She said, amused, "Didn’t Sister E Ying give you sachets? Hers are better than mine."
"It’s not the same, hers are hers, you didn’t give us yours," Li Xing’an shook his head.
"Exactly!" The Second Young Master agreed.
"I don’t have any left; I’m tired," Li Yuzhu said, speechless. Truly, these two hadn’t grown up.