Chapter 273: Chapter 273

Li Yuzhu said, "We need to borrow three hundred taels of silver; besides him, who else around here has that much money?"

Li Xing’an was slightly taken aback, it seemed that was the case.

The villagers were all poor, and there were few families who could lend a hundred taels of silver, let alone three hundred. Besides the Chai Family and Mu Yuanxiu, there was no one else.

But how could they possibly borrow from the Chai Family?

That left Mu Yuanxiu as the only option.

"He’ll become our creditor and might act all high and mighty." Li Xing’an sighed.

Li Yuzhu laughed and said, "I heard from our mother that it’s him who voluntarily offered the loan. The day he went to the county, he brought three hundred taels of silver notes to our house. He was worried that the Chai family would make things difficult for our brother. He’s genuinely kind-hearted, not as awful as you think."

After speaking, she turned around and went into the house to close the door.

Li Xing’an followed her and said, "Third Sister, you’re young and don’t judge people accurately. But I see that boy has ulterior motives."

Li Yuzhu was speechless, "We’ve been neighbors with him for half a year. Has he ever harmed us? I only remember him consistently helping us."

"Humph, that’s because he’s got other intentions." Li Xing’an sneered.

Li Yuzhu closed the house door, gave Li Xing’an a sidelong glance, and said speechlessly, "What intentions does he have?"

"He..." Li Xing’an rubbed his forehead, hesitated a bit, and said, "Third Sister, you must promise Third Brother to keep your distance from Mu Yuanxiu."

Li Yuzhu blinked, "Why? He has never harmed me."

"That boy wants to elope with you, you silly girl." Li Xing’an said angrily, "You’re a young lady; you can’t see it, but I see it clearly!"

Li Yuzhu laughed in exasperation, "Am I such a grown person that he can just elope with me if he wants to?"

Li Xing’an looked at her, "Third Sister, you won’t easily be led away by him, right?"

Li Yuzhu laughed and said, "Of course not. I’m quite clever."

Li Xing’an patted her shoulder, "That’s good, that’s good. Just be careful of him, don’t fall into his trap, and absolutely don’t be led away."

Li Yuzhu was speechless, "Got it! I only see him as a neighbor; I wouldn’t be so shallow to be easily led astray." If possible, she’d rather lead that young man away instead; it just seemed a bit difficult.

It appeared to be somewhat challenging.

The next day, when the rooster crowed for the second time, Prince Luling’s family was already up early.

At this time, the sky was still dark,

of course, Guoguo and Jingjing were still asleep.

The Princess Consort Luling tucked the curtains on the children’s small beds, took Prince Luling by the hand, and quietly headed to the inverted-roof house in the front courtyard.

The inverted-roof house was right by the mansion’s gate, next to the storage room.

The room was some distance from the few rooms in the North Courtyard, so talking loudly wouldn’t disturb the two children.

This room was reserved for visiting guests to rest and talk; it had a table, two rows of long benches, and a few bamboo chairs.

Their children were already there ahead of them, sitting on the long benches, waiting for their parents to make arrangements.

Prince Luling clearly hadn’t slept well and kept yawning.

The Princess Consort Luling said coolly, "When we were in the Capital, you attended morning court at this time, and I’ve never seen you doze off."

Prince Luling chuckled proudly, "Of course I did, I napped every day. Morning court was so boring that I slept through it."

The Princess Consort Luling, "..."

Seeing the family all glaring at him, Prince Luling hurried to explain, "I was actually pretending to sleep, but there was a reason. They discussed topics I disliked, then asked for my opinion and wanted me to support their decisions. It would have been difficult had I not pretended to sleep."

After saying this, the Princess Consort Luling was infuriated again, "Oh, so today, on our son’s wedding day, you also plan to pretend to sleep?"

Everyone else’s faces darkened, and they stared at him.

Prince Luling hurriedly waved his hands, "No, no, no, I’m definitely not pretending today. I just woke up early and yawned; why am I being reprimanded?"

Li Yuzhu laughed and said, "Mom, I also yawned. Last night was hot, and I couldn’t sleep. I woke up early today and couldn’t help but yawn."

The Princely Heir also said, "Yes, Mom, everyone slept late yesterday. I’m tired too."

"Are you two speaking up for your dad?" The Princess Consort Luling shot them a look, "Alright, alright, why such discussions early in the morning? Let’s get to business."

The Princess Consort Luling looked at the family and began making arrangements.

The Princely Heir was the groom, so he needn’t manage the mansion’s trivial matters; he merely followed Prince Luling to greet and bid farewell to guests.

The Second Young Master handled the accounting and collected the gift money.

The third son, Li Xing’an, managed the kitchen, supervising who chopped wood, who cooked, who served dishes, and who washed dishes—all under his charge.

"Third son, you have a lot to do, and you must be careful. Don’t make mistakes; this is our first banquet since we moved to the village, and any errors would be embarrassing." The Princess Consort Luling reminded Li Xing’an.

Li Xing’an also realized the responsibility was significant.

He patted his chest and said loudly, "Don’t worry, Mother, I will definitely do things well."

The Princely Heir also patted him on the shoulder, "If there’s anything you don’t know, feel free to ask, I will also help."

Li Xing’an waved his hand, "Big brother, you are the groom today, how can you be doing chores? It’s such a small matter, the third brother can handle it, don’t worry, big brother."

The Princely Heir nodded and smiled, "Alright, I’m assured."

Princess Consort Luling looked at her three daughters, "You all have tasks as well. Yu Wen will follow me to manage the reception and farewell for the female guests, Yu En will accompany your father to take charge of serving tea and setting out fruits and snacks to the male guests. As for Yu Zhu, you are young, you don’t have to do anything, just supervise and point out any problems you notice."

Li Yuzhu secretly admired, truly worthy of being the head of the Prince Mansion, everything was arranged in good order.

Everyone had no objections to the division of labor. After breakfast, they each started to get busy.

Soon, guests would arrive, and the Great Princess and Second Princess were taken by Princess Consort Luling to the kitchen to prepare tea and snacks.

Li Xing’an and the Second Young Master went to set up the dining tables and chairs.

Due to the relationship between the village chief and the Li Family, it was estimated that five or six tables of guests would come. There weren’t enough tables and chairs at home, so yesterday Prince Luling asked the village chief to help borrow some from the village.

In rural households, when hosting a banquet, the tables and chairs, as well as pots and bowls, all need to be borrowed.

Each family lends a bit, and everything is returned after the banquet.

Every household does the same for banquets, so borrowing is not difficult.

When returning things, they deliver some alcohol and snacks as a gesture of thanks.

The Li Family’s yard is large, five or six times larger than the Chai Family’s old house where Chai Eying lives.

Chai Eying’s small yard would be cramped with just two tables.

The empty space in the Li Family’s yard can accommodate around ten tables at the same time.

Due to the scorching sun, a canopy was set up.

Six tables were arranged under the canopy.

At this moment, there was a slight brightness in the sky.

The door to the house was also knocked.

Li Yuzhu and Li Xing’an went to open the door.

Outside the door stood Mu Yuanxiu and two families from the Liu Family.

Mu Yuanxiu had mentioned yesterday that he would come to help, so Li Yuzhu was not surprised, but what was surprising was that so many people from the Liu Family came.

For the family banquet, only Lady Liu and Second Lady Liu were originally invited to help in the kitchen, but unexpectedly, they also brought their children.

Lady Liu brought Liu Da Niu and Liu Si Niu, while Second Lady Liu brought her two sons.

Everyone was wearing aprons and holding a large dry cloth.

Li Yuzhu smiled and invited them into the house, "Thank you for coming so early."

Li Xing’an gave a dry smile towards Mu Yuanxiu, "Thank you, Brother Mu."

This was a creditor, so they couldn’t be turned away; he had to let him be.

Mu Yuanxiu smiled faintly, "We are neighbors, helping a bit is only right."

Li Xing’an, worried he might talk to Li Yuzhu again, led him into the house, "Ah, Brother Mu, come here, I have something for you to help with."

Mu Yuanxiu readily agreed, "Alright."

The Liu Family followed Li Yuzhu into the kitchen. The banquet had not started, and guests had not arrived, so the kitchen was the busiest place.

Princess Consort Luling laughed and said, "We’ll have to trouble you all today."

"What are you saying? In the village, everyone helps each other," Lady Liu laughed.

What she said was true. Wealthy families have their own servants to do the work, and the hosts don’t have to lift a finger. In the village, people are poor, they don’t have servants and can’t afford to hire caterers, so neighbors work together.

Neighbors take turns helping each other.

Lady Liu and Second Lady Liu were skilled at work; one washed the vegetables, the other sliced them. Li Yuzhu didn’t let Liu Da Niu, who was pregnant, do heavy work, but since she couldn’t sit idle, Li Yuzhu let her sit by the stove to tend it, which required just sitting.

The seven or eight-year-old girl, Liu Si Niu, was in charge of odd jobs, like fetching a bowl or handing over a spatula.

The Li Family’s kitchen was spacious. Over here they washed and chopped vegetables, over there the Great Princess and Second Princess boiled water for tea, and there was no crowding at all.

When the tea was ready, the Great Princess and Second Princess brewed the tea and carried pot after pot to the tables outside. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by n0velfire.net

When guests came, before the meal started, they’d have some iced tea and snacks before having the meal.

When the sun rose, Liu Da Niu’s husband, Hu Shuangcheng, also arrived.

He said he came to help carry water and pour out washing water.

Such heavy work indeed required a man to do it.

But so many people from the Liu Family came that Princess Consort Luling felt a bit embarrassed. She repeatedly said, "Your whole family is here, isn’t there no one to do the work at your place?"

Lady Liu smiled, "We’ve finished the work in the fields, and there’s no work at home."