Chapter 267: Chapter 267

She looked at Hua Yanrong and said coldly, "Because, you have a serious ailment in your belly. This condition is a result of having an abortion, and in such a case, it’s impossible for you to conceive. Do you understand, Aunt Hua!"

Indeed, even with modern medicine, it’s impossible to detect if a woman has had an abortion.

It’s understandable that Aunt Hua doesn’t believe she can discover her abortion.

But one thing is clear, Aunt Hua’s fallopian tubes are completely blocked, with a large amount of fluid inside.

This condition is mostly caused by improper abortion or childbirth, unclean marital life, poor hygiene during special days, and inflammation following unscientific and unsanitary gynecological surgery.

At this time, there’s no such thing as gynecological surgery, and the county magistrate’s family is wealthy, so it couldn’t be due to unhygienic marital relations or poor hygiene during special days. So, it leaves only one possibility: Hua Yanrong has either had an abortion or given birth.

So she boldly said that Hua Yanrong had given birth, and Hua Yanrong, with a guilty conscience, was immediately terrified and confessed the truth herself.

"You... you, I don’t believe your nonsense, I’m not sick!" Hua Yanrong cursed at Li Yuzhu through gritted teeth, "Stop cursing me."

"Alright, suit yourself." Li Yuzhu couldn’t be bothered to talk to Hua Yanrong anymore. She looked at the human trafficker, "Aren’t you going to take her away? If Lord County Magistrate finds out you’re still keeping her in the town, he will question you." Thɪs chapter is updated by novel-fire.ɴet

The human trafficker grinned nervously, "I’m leaving, I’m leaving, I’m looking for a carriage, once I find it, I’ll leave."

As he said this, he dragged Hua Yanrong away.

"Phew, finally gone." Li Lixing breathed a sigh of relief.

"It’s good that she’s gone, Li Lixing. If she stayed in your house, you’d surely suffer." Li Xing’an shook his head.

"Yeah, finally gone." Li Lixing nodded.

Then, he looked at Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu as if he had seen a ghost.

Li Xing’an squinted at him, followed his gaze, and saw Mu Yuanxiu holding Li Yuzhu’s shoulder the whole time.

Li Yuzhu was oblivious, all her attention on the departing Hua Yanrong.

"Ahem!" Li Xing’an pulled Li Yuzhu away and shoved her into the carriage, "Third Sister, it’s time to go home."

Li Yuzhu came to her senses, realizing she was already in the carriage.

She glanced inside the carriage, "Third Brother, did you pack everything?"

"Yes, if not, you’d be taken away." Li Xing’an glared at Mu Yuanxiu through gritted teeth.

Li Yuzhu didn’t understand, "Who dares to abduct me? They must be fearless." She thought he was referring to the human trafficker.

"Bolder than a leopard, hmph!" Li Xing’an snorted coldly.

Mu Yuanxiu also climbed into the carriage.

He sat facing Li Yuzhu.

Li Xing’an noticed that sitting allowed Mu Yuanxiu to keep looking at Li Yuzhu.

"Third Sister, sit beside me." Li Xing’an pulled Li Yuzhu to sit next to him.

He sat between Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu.

Li Lixing sat alone on the opposite bench.

He looked at the three of them, bewildered, "Third Brother Li, Li Yuzhu, aren’t you crowded?"

Li Xing’an said, "Ah, not crowded."

Yeah, right! Li Yuzhu didn’t know what he was up to again and moved to sit opposite.

Li Xing’an’s face turned dark.

"Alright, Third Brother, let’s head back quickly, there are enough things cluttering here, no need to switch seats." Li Yuzhu said irritably.

Having a peculiar brother is mentally exhausting.

"Alright." Li Xing’an sighed, having an unreasonable pretty sister is also tiring.

Li Xing’an and others prepared gifts, and the county magistrate was also preparing gifts at home.

Of course, he chose, and then let the county magistrate’s wife select.

"Sending gifts that are too heavy is inappropriate, too light seems insincere. Madam, I’ve chosen a few items, do you think they’re suitable?" The county magistrate asked his wife to look over the prepared list.

He had selected a few items and wrote them on the list.

The eldest son of Prince Luling is marrying a second wife tomorrow, so he must send a gift.

In case Prince Luling returns to the capital someday, perhaps he could benefit.

But if the gift is too heavy, it would arouse suspicion.

The county magistrate’s wife didn’t know the true identity of Li Xing’an’s siblings; she thought they were sending gifts according to their benefactors.

"Husband, no matter what, they saved our son, the gift shouldn’t be too light to be laughed at." The county magistrate’s wife said.

"I thought the same, but if it’s too heavy, our status doesn’t match." The county magistrate added, "After all, I’m still a dignified county magistrate, plus didn’t you already give the reward money? That’s already plenty."

In truth, he was mainly afraid that sending a too heavy gift would arouse Prince Luling’s suspicion.

If the county magistrate gave heavy gifts to a farming family, anyone would speculate.

Prince Luling would surely suspect that he recognized Prince Luling and would be displeased.

Prince Luling’s family, demoted here, never revealed their identity; they didn’t want to be recognized, as being recognized would be humiliating.

The county magistrate’s wife said, "Last time it was out of gratitude for saving our son, this time I’m grateful for Miss Li curing my illness, so it’s only right to send gifts to their family."

The county magistrate realized, "Yes, yes, yes, Miss Li cured your illness, we haven’t paid the consultation fee yet, so let’s give the gift as repayment."

Heavy gifts for a life-saving favor are justified.

After some discussion, the couple decided to send gifts that were popular yet neither flattering nor cheap.

The county magistrate chose a pair of peacock-feather wall hangings.

These hangings also featured his calligraphy, always reminding Prince Luling of him.

The county magistrate’s wife sent a dressing case containing pairs of items.

A pair of jade-handled toothbrushes, a pair of carved combs inscribed with "May we be blessed together", and a pair of jade hairpins.

The gifts weren’t extravagant, but deeply symbolic.

Besides that, the two discussed having Li Lixing represent them to celebrate with the Li family.

The county magistrate’s wife wasn’t fully recovered, making it unsuitable for her to go; the county magistrate’s identity was also inappropriate.

When Li Yuzhu and others returned to the County Magistrate Mansion, it was already past noon.

The time was not early, so the county magistrate promptly arranged a lunch for their farewell.

Upon learning that he was to represent the county magistrate at the banquet, Li Lixing agreed excitedly.

The county magistrate’s wife reminded him, "This time you’re going on behalf of your father and me, make sure to act properly."

Having been tutored extensively by the Li family and Mu Yuanxiu, Li Lixing was much more well-behaved and nodded seriously, "I understand, Mother."

After lunch, the county magistrate ordered a carriage to be prepared and sent two government officials to accompany them, and the carriage set off grandly towards the village.

Over fifty miles, a long and tedious journey.

Li Xing’an chatted with Li Lixing to pass the time.

"Li Lixing, your father said you have to represent him at the banquet, how are your manners?"

Li Lixing blinked, "Manners? What manners?"

"Banquet manners? How to offer drinks, how to respond, what to say when meeting people. Did your father teach you? You’re young, everyone at the table is older, but your status isn’t low. How will you handle them?" Li Xing’an asked.

This was a tricky question, Li Lixing felt he encountered a huge trouble for the first time.

He was so frightened, "How... how to say?"

Before setting off, his father repeatedly reminded him that he represented the whole family. Making a mistake would bring shame to his father the county magistrate.

Li Xing’an coughed lightly and started lecturing, "When you arrive at my home, watch my cues. If I say toast, you toast. If I say don’t toast, just smile and stand there, not a flattering smile, just an ordinary smile."

It seemed simple, yet somehow still hard.

Li Lixing, partially understanding, "Oh."

Li Yuzhu smiled and patted his shoulder, "Don’t worry, everyone will guide you when the time comes."

"Alright." Li Lixing exhaled, trusting Li Yuzhu more than Li Xing’an.

Li Xing’an grinned mischievously.

After Chai Eying’s marriage with the princely heir was arranged, she still lived in the old residence in Taohua Village.

Old Mrs. Chai sent people to bring her back to leave from the main house for her wedding, but she refused to return to the large house in the countryside.

The eldest young master Chai didn’t persuade her.

Her relationship with the second branch had become so irreconcilable that there was no need to seek displeasure.

No matter how fierce she was, it was impossible to win against the whole family alone.

However, because the farmland of the main branch was all held by Second Master Chai, the eldest young master Chai, despite not wanting to return, had to maintain a relationship with his stepfather.

He feared that the second branch might play dirty, leaving them with nothing.

He was unwilling to accept that.

On this day, as usual, he went to the main house in the countryside. After seeing Second Master Chai, he visited Old Mrs. Chai.

Since last year, after Second Master Chai’s third wife gave birth to a son, his attitude towards the eldest young master Chai, his nephew and stepson, became indifferent. Their relationship was merely that of acquaintances.