Chapter 277: Chapter 277

"That... he keeps staring at me for no reason, and I don’t even pay attention to him. Why is he staring at me? If he’s not a scoundrel, then what is he?" the Great Princess said angrily. "I’ve never seen someone so shameless."

Back in the Capital, those who pursued her were all very considerate. When she was unhappy, they would always retreat politely and disappear from her sight.

But Pei Shenyan, even after she lost her temper, was completely unaffected.

She couldn’t beat him, scolding... well, that’s not ladylike.

Besides, there was no reason to hit or scold him.

And she couldn’t openly mention the foot-touching incident.

The more she thought about it, the more upset the Great Princess became.

Li Yuzhu laughed and said, "I thought it was something serious. Isn’t it just a few looks? Ah, some people look at me too, but not many. Most look at our eldest sister. Who told our eldest sister to be the most beautiful person in our family?"

"No, no, no, looking across the whole village, the whole town, there’s no one more beautiful than our eldest sister. Pei Shenyan looking at her is just out of curiosity. Eldest sister, you’re overthinking. Maybe one day he’ll see someone even more beautiful than our eldest sister, and he won’t look at her anymore. The love of beauty is a common thing."

Being praised as the most beautiful, the Great Princess’s self-esteem was satisfied.

She snorted lightly, "A country bumpkin of a poor scholar who’s never seen the world. When he gets to the capital, his eyeballs would pop out from all the beauties walking around there."

Fusheng, Pei Shenyan’s attendant student, rushed quickly on horseback and soon caught up with Li Xing’an, who was urgently traveling down the road.

Fusheng handed Li Xing’an a note from Prince Luling.

Li Xing’an was surprised, "More quantity is needed?"

"That’s right, Landlord Li is very anxious. Third Young Master Li, you should go and inform Mu Yuanxiu quickly," Fusheng said.

Li Xing’an jumped off the mule’s back, "Let’s swap; give me your horse to ride, and you take this mule back. This is Mu Yuanxiu’s mule. When you get back, just tie it to the small tree beside my house’s gate."

Fusheng agreed, "Alright."

The two exchanged mounts.

Fusheng headed back, while Li Xing’an hastened to the market.

On the market street, there were only three taverns.

Li Xing’an checked each one, and finally, at the one where he frequently delivered fish and shrimp, he found Mu Yuanxiu.

He relayed the family’s request for increased portions of food and drink to Mu Yuanxiu.

Mu Yuanxiu smiled and said, "Third Brother Li, I anticipated this. The number of guests might increase, so I already prepared accordingly in advance. Everything is ready, enough food for one hundred and fifty people, and the drinks have been bought and are being transported home on a mule cart."

Li Xing’an went over to have a look and saw several large bamboo baskets and clay basins set out in the tavern’s main room.

Inside the baskets were smoked fish and meat, dried shrimp, beef jerky, and some storable vegetables like potatoes, radishes, and green beans.

The large clay basins were filled with fried, ready-to-eat fish, shrimp, and meatballs, exuding an enticing aroma.

In the hot summer, steamed and boiled dishes spoil easily, while fried ones last longer. They can stay fresh for a day or two without issue.

The fried fish, meat, and shrimp can be made into soups by adding broth or stir-fried with vegetables.

The shopkeeper of the tavern added, "If it’s not enough, I’ll prepare more for you immediately. Frying fish, shrimp, and meatballs is not hard work."

Li Xing’an was amazed, "It’s all ready so quickly?"

The shopkeeper smiled, "If it were any other day, of course, it wouldn’t be this fast. This is for a nearby family’s banquet dishes. Their banquet is tomorrow, so I moved their dishes to your family to use first. Preparing theirs in the evening won’t be too late."

Understanding dawned on Li Xing’an, "I see. These dishes are enough for our family. Let’s hurry back and deliver them, as the family needs them urgently." Official source is novel·fire·net

The shopkeeper’s family only had a donkey cart, which moved slowly.

Mu Yuanxiu borrowed their flatbed cart, secured all the baskets and basins of food on it, and to protect it from dust, he covered the food with a clean oilcloth.

After setting it up, Mu Yuanxiu drove the cart swiftly toward the village.

Li Xing’an followed behind him on the horse.

By the time the dishes were delivered to the house, the wine had also arrived.

Five hundred catties of wine were packed into six large jars.

Seeing them return so quickly, Prince Luling was surprised and continually praised Mu Yuanxiu.

Li Xing’an felt jealous, "Dad, I deserve some credit too."

"You just played the role of an errand boy. Don’t I know what you’re capable of?" Prince Luling glared at him. "Stop wasting time and start helping to move things."

Everyone learned that Prince Luling was a relative of the county magistrate’s family.

Being relatives of the county magistrate, everyone came over to help move the items.

With two or three dozen strong men, they quickly moved everything into the kitchen.

Prince Luling looked on, dumbstruck.

The food and drinks were delivered to the house before noon, and the feast proceeded as planned.

Six tables weren’t enough to accommodate all the guests, so the village chief asked several families if they could lend some extra tables.

Immediately, about a dozen people replied, "Our tables are empty and sturdy. If Landlord Li needs them, I can carry them over right away."

The village chief selected a few families that lived closer to Prince Luling’s house to borrow tables and benches.

Everyone headed back to retrieve the tables and benches.

Those with ox carts offered to transport the tables, saying it was quicker.

With many helping hands, the villagers quickly transported a few more tables.

Along with the previous tables, there were now a total of twelve tables set up in the courtyard.

Twelve tables could accommodate nearly a hundred people at once.

Once the first round of diners had finished, Second Lady Liu and her two sons carried a clay basin to clear the dishes on the tables.

With few hands available and many dishes on the tables, the three were sweating profusely from exertion.

Seeing that they were overwhelmed, some villagers came over to help.

By mid-afternoon, the Princely Heir, dressed in wedding attire, rode on Li Lixing’s chestnut red horse, accompanied by Li Lixing, Mu Yuanxiu, Pei Shenyan, the village chief, and the village chief’s two sons. A two-man suona team and a small sedan chair carried by two people went to the Chai Family to bring the bride.

Some early diners followed along to join in the fun.

Unlike the lively scene at the Li Family, the Chai Family was much quieter.

Chai Eying had a falling out with her grandmother and the Chai relatives, so not a single one came, and only two elderly clan elders from the clan showed up.

Yesterday, Eldest Young Master Chai offended two clan elders with his words, making the old men so angry they forbade their family members from attending the feast.

The Chai siblings didn’t have much interaction with the villagers, so apart from a few guests from Liu the bricklayer’s family and two neighboring families, no one else came. Thus, there were only about three tables’ worth of guests at the Chai Family feast.

And half of those guests were from Chai Eying’s elder sister-in-law’s family.

Around twenty people, unable to create a lively atmosphere.

Nanny Jiang saw the lackluster banquet and couldn’t help but sigh under her breath.

Chai Eying heard this and said to her, "Nanny, don’t sigh. I’m about to marry into the Li Family. If the Chai Family doesn’t come, so be it; it’s just as well that I see some people’s true colors."

Nanny Jiang replied apologetically, "Miss is right. Once we leave here, we’ll go have better days at the Li Family, where there are more people and it’s lively."

"Has my sister finished dressing? I want to see the wedding gown." Suddenly, a voice with laughter echoed in the courtyard.

Upon hearing the visitor’s voice, Chai Eying’s face turned pale.

Nanny Jiang pressed down on her shoulder, "Miss, let me deal with Second Miss. You shouldn’t go; you’re the bride, and it’s not appropriate to have an argument today."

"I didn’t invite her; why is she here?" Chai Eying bit her lip, suppressing her anger, and nodded.

Nanny Jiang went out.

She saw Miss Chai and said with a stern face, "Why is Second Miss here?"

Miss Chai glanced around, smiled slightly, and said, "Oh dear, it’s truly shabby and quiet. Those in the know would say a Chai Family girl is getting married, those out of the loop might think my third sister is eloping, tsk tsk, not even any guests."

Such words were truly unpleasant.

Nanny Jiang swallowed her anger, "Is Second Miss here to offer congratulations or to cause trouble? You and Third Miss are sisters after all, can’t stand to see her happy?"

"Who is her sister? Isn’t she done with our family for good?" Miss Chai sneered, "I came on the grandmother’s orders to see her, otherwise, even an eight-man sedan chair couldn’t bring me here."

Chai Eying’s elder sister-in-law and Eldest Young Master Chai heard the commotion and quickly approached.

The two of them glared angrily at Miss Chai.

"Since you’re not here for the feast, Second Sister can leave now." Eldest Young Master Chai gestured for her to leave.

"I came on grandmother’s orders, and my task isn’t done yet. What, even grandmother’s words are ignored now?" Miss Chai glanced coldly at Eldest Young Master Chai.

"Brother, let her in." Inside the house, Chai Eying’s voice said.

"Did you hear that? She told me to go in." Miss Chai sneered and walked into Chai Eying’s bedroom.

Eldest Young Master Chai was furious, his face turning livid.

Chai Eying’s elder sister-in-law held his arm and said softly, "I’ll handle this, don’t worry. With me here, she won’t cause a scene." She glanced at the sky, "Judging by the hour, people from the Li Family should be arriving. It’s embarrassing if there’s no one to greet them at the door."

Eldest Young Master Chai suppressed his anger, "Alright, I’ll leave it to you."

Chai Eying’s elder sister-in-law entered the room, immediately speaking to the maid beside her, "Chuntao, close the door!" She then turned to Nanny Jiang, "Nanny, bind and gag Second Miss’s servants!"

Nanny Jiang’s eyes lit up, "Yes, Eldest Young Madam."

Miss Chai was startled, "You dare!"

"We dare! What now? Causing trouble at the wedding feast? Think my brother and I are dead? This is too much!" Chai Eying’s elder sister-in-law sneered.