Chapter 264: Chapter 264

On the morning of the fourth day, the County Magistrate’s Wife was still drinking rice soup.

She drank a small bowl every hour.

By the afternoon, Li Yuzhu had arranged for her to eat some liquid food, some rice paste with vegetable broth.

By the fifth day, the County Magistrate’s Wife could already eat some soft rice porridge mixed with fish broth or vegetable broth, and she also ate half a bowl of egg custard.

She still ate half a bowl every hour.

As a result, she didn’t go hungry.

With the root of the disease removed, proper diet ensured, good rest, and good spirits, she looked much better than before the surgery.

Aunt Tian praised her complexion, saying it rivaled the peach blossoms in March.

The County Magistrate’s Wife chuckled and said, "At my age, peach blossoms in March? I’m more like old cotton after frost."

Despite her modest words, she kept holding a small bronze mirror to look at her face occasionally.

She had to admit, her complexion was indeed much better.

It seems, the medical skills of the third daughter of the Li Family, Yu Zhu, are truly remarkable.

To help the County Magistrate’s Wife recover quickly, Li Yuzhu had Aunt Tian and the others assist her in walking slowly in the bedroom twice a day, morning and evening.

When the sun outside was not so hot, she also had Aunt Tian help the County Magistrate’s Wife sit under the porch eaves to enjoy the garden scenery and relax.

If a patient stays indoors all the time, it can negatively affect their mood.

With her health improving, no pesky concubines to bother her, the County Magistrate visiting her from time to time, and a well-behaved son, the County Magistrate’s Wife felt that life was perfect as it was.

Tomorrow was May 16th, the wedding day of the Princely Heir Li Xingmao and Chai Eying, so Li Yuzhu and the others needed to return this afternoon.

However, the County Magistrate’s Wife’s condition had not fully improved; she still needed Li Yuzhu to give her drips and checks from time to time, observing her dietary intake.

Fearing that the County Magistrate’s Wife would worry about having no one to care for her illness after she left, Li Yuzhu said, "We’ll go back tomorrow and come see you the day after. Don’t worry, I will personally ensure you’re well taken care of."

The County Magistrate’s Wife smiled and said, "I feel guilty for delaying you from attending your big brother’s wedding banquet. There’s no need for you to accompany me today; I’ll have someone take you around the town. You can’t possibly return empty-handed from a trip to the county, right?"

Li Lixing exclaimed happily, "Mom, I’m familiar with the streets of the town, I’ll take them out to have fun."

The County Magistrate’s Wife laughed and said, "It should be you going, your father is busy with official duties, and I can’t leave the house. If not you, who else?"

Li Lixing felt that he could finally show off his strengths in front of Li Xing’an and Mu Yuanxiu.

He cheerfully said, "I’ll arrange for a carriage."

The County Magistrate commanded someone to prepare a large carriage and instructed the coachman to drive carefully, taking them to the bustling market in the town.

Li Lixing ordered the coachman to park the carriage at the street corner, and he led Li Yuzhu, Li Xing’an, and Mu Yuanxiu to explore the market.

"I know the fun places, follow me," Li Lixing said with arms behind his back, walking ahead with an adult-like air.

He excitedly introduced the fun places.

Such as Furong Garden with its carp pond, where the monkey shows were, where to play archery, which teahouse had the best storytelling, which snack shop made the best pastries, and who molded the best clay figurines.

Although Li Xing’an was a few years older than him, he also had a playful nature.

He didn’t like studying, but loved odd and curious things, matching well with Li Lixing’s temperament.

After being cooped up in the mountain village for so many days, Li Xing’an felt repressed. Now in the county town, he felt as if he’d returned to the Capital, at ease and having lively discussions with Li Lixing.

Both spoke with great enthusiasm.

Mu Yuanxiu, being steady and not fond of playing, did not join in their conversation.

Li Yuzhu outright ignored the topics of the little rascals,

Having arrived in the county town that night without taking a good look at the streets, today she wanted to carefully observe the business dealings here.

The place where Li Lixing brought them was the most prosperous district in town.

Shops were lined one after another, all were two-story small buildings lining the street.

The first floor was a storefront, and the second floor probably served as living quarters.

Some shop businesses were better, turning the second floor into storefronts as well, such as those selling jewelry, books, and rouge.

There were also three-story double-front or even triple-front buildings, these kinds of small buildings conducting relatively larger businesses, dealing in either restaurants or larger music theaters.

Li Yuzhu only planned to open a pharmacy or medical clinic, so she focused on such shops.

Walking down one street, she saw two establishments, one was a fairly large pharmacy, and the other a double-front width medical clinic.

The pharmacy had three storefronts wide, with people going in and out from time to time.

By the long bench against the wall in the medical clinic, several people were waiting for treatment, indicating that the doctor’s skills were not bad.

There were many people on the street, and since Li Yuzhu was small in stature, Mu Yuanxiu worried she might be jostled by pedestrians and moved to her side.

Upon hearing that Mu Yuanxiu had also been to the county town, Li Yuzhu asked him about the town’s conditions, such as shop rents, foot traffic, taxes, etc. Updates are released by N0velFire.ɴet

Mu Yuanxiu explained in detailed depth what he knew, and for what he didn’t, he would stop a passerby to inquire.

In this way, they had lost track of Li Xing’an and Li Lixing.

When Li Yuzhu came back to her senses, she could no longer see where they had gone.

"Ah, where’s my third brother? Where’s Li Lixing? Where did they go?" Li Yuzhu looked at the people on the street, trying hard to search, but she couldn’t find them, "Did those two leave us behind?"

Mu Yuanxiu held her hand and led her forward, "Don’t worry, I know my way around here. I’ll take you back in a while."

"Alright, as long as you know the way." Li Yuzhu felt relieved.

So, the two of them walked and played, suddenly not caring about Li Xing’an and Li Lixing anymore.

Li Yuzhu noticed that Mu Yuanxiu was very familiar with the marketplace.

He knew where to find delicious red bean cakes, where to buy the best rouge, where to find needles and threads, where to buy writing paper and brushes — he knew it all.

Li Yuzhu laughed and said, "It seems that next time I go shopping, I’ll just follow you. No need to follow Li Lixing, that little brat can lose people on a shopping trip — I can’t trust following him."

Mu Yuanxiu smiled slightly, "Yes, just follow me."

"Hey, what’s being sold over there? It’s so lively, come on, let’s take a look." Li Yuzhu saw a bunch of people gathered ahead buying something and urged Mu Yuanxiu to walk faster.

When they got closer, they found it was people selling handmade clay figurines.

Colorful little clay figures the size of fists, only five coins each.

Li Yuzhu wanted to bring gifts back for Guoguo and Jingjing, so she asked the vendor to make a pair of boy and girl dolls.

The one wearing a black skullcap and a green coat was her nephew, Li Jing.

The one with two tiny pigtails and a bright red dress was her little niece, Guoguo.

The one green and one red figurine placed together looked very delightful.

Li Yuzhu happily paid for them.

Mu Yuanxiu looked at her, "Aren’t you going to have one made of yourself?"

Li Yuzhu glanced at her own outfit; today she wore a bamboo-colored dress embroidered with camellias, looking fresh and breezy, not bad at all.

Then I’ll have one of myself made, since it’s rare to come to the county market.

She laughed and said, "That’s a good suggestion."

She called the vendor and asked to have a figurine made resembling her.

The white-bearded old vendor, with skilled hands, quickly carved and molded the clay with a small knife, and in a moment, a lifelike "Li Yuzhu" was completed.

Li Yuzhu took it in her hands and laughed, "So, that’s how I look."

"It’s very similar," Mu Yuanxiu smiled.

It’s similar indeed, but exaggeratedly funny.

Like a comical caricature, it exaggerated the character’s features, making it a playful trinket.

Li Yuzhu turned back and saw the teasing smile in Mu Yuanxiu’s eyes. She blackened her face and asked him, "Aren’t you going to have one of yourself made?"

Ha, then she’ll make fun of him later!

Mu Yuanxiu’s eyes sparkled with amusement, "Yes, I’ll make one too."

He handed over some money and asked for a figurine of himself.

The vendor glanced at him, and earnestly carved and molded. With a few twists of the clay, a handsome young man figurine was made.

Mu Yuanxiu thanked the vendor quickly and put it into his cloth bag.

Li Yuzhu blinked. She hadn’t had time to see it clearly, "Mu Yuanxiu, where’s your figurine? Let me take a look."

Mu Yuanxiu covered his cloth bag, "No."

Li Yuzhu, "..." She snorted, "Why are you so stingy? You already saw my figurine."

The old vendor with the clay smiled and said, "No need to argue, I’ll make another one for you as a gift; no big deal."

He remolded a "Mu Yuanxiu" figurine based on the previous one and handed it to Li Yuzhu, "Here you go."

Li Yuzhu took it and started playing with it, comparing it with her own. She laughed and said, "Interesting, interesting."

Mu Yuanxiu reached out, "Let me see yours."

Li Yuzhu turned and walked away, "No, why should I? He wouldn’t let her see his, so she won’t let him see hers either.

Mu Yuanxiu watched her back with a soft smile, gave ten coins to the old vendor, "That’s for the earlier figurine, and could you make another one of the girl, just like the previous one?" He pointed to the departing Li Yuzhu.

The old vendor grinned, "I could tell the two of you were a pair, just wait, it’ll be done soon."

The vendor, with an excellent memory, quickly sculpted another girl figurine resembling Li Yuzhu.

Mu Yuanxiu accepted it and placed it in the cloth bag.

He watched Li Yuzhu, who was playing with the figurines ahead, smile at the corners of his mouth, and quickly caught up with her.

Just then, Li Xing’an came from the opposite direction, took Li Yuzhu by the arm, "Hey, third sister, there you are! Made me worry looking for you."

Mu Yuanxiu’s smile disappeared from his face, and he strode over with a dark expression.