Chapter 285: Chapter 285

The Princess Consort Luling said, "I trust her. Your father and I agreed to let your elder brother marry her, naturally because we trust her. Jingjing is still young and mischievous, I’m just afraid she might overthink things."

Li Yuzhu laughed, "I’ll talk to Jingjing about it."

The Princess Consort Luling nodded, "That’s good, Jingjing listens to you."

The siblings chatted for a while and then went about their own business.

After yesterday’s feast, the house was cluttered with things piled up messily, needing to be tidied up again.

The borrowed tables, chairs, bowls, and chopsticks from the villagers needed to be returned.

The Second Young Master and Li Xing’an volunteered to take care of these tasks. They hitched the horse to collect the tables, chairs, and stools.

The family’s handcart, with Li Lixing’s horse hitched, became a simple carriage.

Li Yuzhu and her sisters headed to the kitchen.

They were there to make breakfast.

But upon entering the kitchen, they found Nanny Jiang, Chai Eying’s dowry servant, already cooking.

She smiled at the three sisters and said, "From now on, you don’t have to come to the kitchen. I’ll handle the cooking at home. You young girls should take the time to learn some needlework. That’s the real asset for getting married."

The Great Princess was more than happy, exclaiming, "Nanny Jiang is so good, I’m going to learn needlework. I’ll take time to make a headband for Nanny."

Saying this, she cheerfully ran off.

Nanny Jiang was delighted, "What a wonderful girl."

Li Yuzhu couldn’t help but twitch her lip, when did the Great Princess learn to flatter?

The Second Princess didn’t leave, smiling as she said, "Nanny, I won’t learn needlework. I’ll learn to cook. I’ll learn from you."

Nanny Jiang knew she loves to eat. Standing in the kitchen meant she could taste everything first. "Not to mention, my cooking skills are always praised by our Eldest Young Master and Eldest Young Madam."

Li Yuzhu didn’t leave either, tidying some extra vegetables in the kitchen and packing them in a basket.

"I’m off to Mu Yuanxiu’s place. He helped a lot yesterday, so I’m taking him some food as a thank you." Li Yuzhu informed the Second Princess.

The Second Princess wasn’t interested in other people’s business and didn’t ask further, nodding, "I understand."

Li Yuzhu carried the basket and headed to Mu Yuanxiu’s house on the back mountain.

Upon reaching Mu Yuanxiu’s home, she found the courtyard gate open and walked straight in.

A bird flew out of the house, swooping over Li Yuzhu’s head.

Startling her into letting out a cry.

Mu Yuanxiu rushed out of the house and, seeing Li Yuzhu standing in the yard, let out a small sigh of relief, approaching with a smile, "Yuzhu? You’re up the mountain early."

Li Yuzhu patted her sleeve, offering the basket to him with a smile, "This is for you."

On top of the basket, there was a light blue floral cloth.

Mu Yuanxiu raised his eyebrow, "What is it?"

"Some beef jerky, dried fish, and dried shrimp. I noticed we had quite a bit leftover at home, so I packed some to give you. You helped a lot at my brother’s wedding yesterday. Consider this a thank you gift." Li Yuzhu smiled.

Mu Yuanxiu took it in his hand, "Why is there no wine? I remember there was quite a lot."

Li Yuzhu frowned darkly, "You’re not old enough to drink! Kids shouldn’t drink wine!"

Mu Yuanxiu moved two steps closer, looking down at her with deep eyes, "Li Yuzhu, who are you calling a kid?"

Li Yuzhu pointed to his throat, "Your Adam’s apple hasn’t even developed, and your voice hasn’t changed yet. What are you if not a child?"

Mu Yuanxiu suddenly chuckled, casually scooping her up and hoisting her over his shoulder.

Li Yuzhu, suddenly lifted off the ground, was shocked, "Mu Yuanxiu, what are you doing? Put me down."

This guy is surprisingly strong, easily lifting her like that?

Mu Yuanxiu ignored her, carrying her into the house and placing her on top of a cupboard.

In a steady voice, he said, "Sit tight!"

Li Yuzhu, "..." She chuckled in frustration, "You don’t have chairs at home? Why make me sit on a cupboard?"

Mu Yuanxiu brushed his sleeve, "You haven’t had breakfast yet, have you?"

Li Yuzhu patted her stomach, "Not yet, Nanny Jiang is cooking at home."

Mu Yuanxiu said, "I haven’t eaten either, so join me for breakfast."

He glanced at her, holding back a laugh, and took the basket into the kitchen.

Li Yuzhu kicked the cupboard, "Then you’d better put me down! This isn’t how you treat guests!" The cupboard was at least three feet high.

From the kitchen, Mu Yuanxiu said loudly, "You’re mocking me for being a child, implying you’re an adult? If you’re an adult, get down by yourself."

Li Yuzhu, "..." She was both annoyed and amused, "Fine, I’ll get down myself."

In the kitchen, Mu Yuanxiu walked back, reaching out his hand to her, "Come down, I’ll catch you."

Li Yuzhu laughed, "Mu Yuanxiu, are you teasing me this early in the morning?"

Mu Yuanxiu patted her foot, "I’ll catch you."

"No need!" Li Yuzhu frowned, "It’s not that high..."

She jumped down, but Mu Yuanxiu still caught her.

Li Yuzhu was momentarily disoriented, realizing she was being held by Mu Yuanxiu. The boy’s gaze was strange, staring at her intently.

Li Yuzhu reached out to tap his forehead lightly, "What are you daydreaming about? Let go of me, wouldn’t holding me be hot in such weather?"

Mu Yuanxiu snapped back to his senses, released her, and turned to walk back to the kitchen.

Li Yuzhu smoothed out her sleeves.

This early morning, why is Mu Yuanxiu behaving so oddly?

She recalled the bird that flew out of Mu Yuanxiu’s house earlier, which seemed to be a pigeon.

"Mu Yuanxiu, that bird that flew out of your house earlier, was it a pigeon?" Li Yuzhu entered the kitchen and asked.

Mu Yuanxiu, who was chopping vegetables, suddenly paused with the knife, "You must have seen wrong, I didn’t notice any birds."

"No, it was definitely a pigeon, a white pigeon. I didn’t see wrong, didn’t you notice it? It was an obvious splash of white." Li Yuzhu walked over and sat on the small stool near him.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded in the courtyard.

Li Yuzhu’s ears perked up, she queried, "Who’s here?"

She stood up, intending to go out and see.

Mu Yuanxiu held her back, "I’ll go have a look."

He put down the kitchen knife and walked over in large strides.

Li Yuzhu also walked out of the kitchen to see.

In the courtyard stood a boy of about the same age as Mu Yuanxiu, dressed in black, wearing a scholar’s square cap, with a bow and arrows slung on his shoulder. He was slightly shorter than Mu Yuanxiu but more robust.

His skin was lightly tanned, with a babyish face, but his eyes were exceptionally alert.

He glanced at Li Yuzhu and, after whispering a few words to Mu Yuanxiu, nodded, and turned to leave.

The boy’s footsteps were quick, and shortly, his figure disappeared into the dense forest on the mountain.

Mu Yuanxiu watched him disappear, then turned and walked towards the kitchen.

Seeing Li Yuzhu standing in the courtyard curiously watching him, he smiled slightly, "A boy from the neighboring village came asking me about something."

Li Yuzhu glanced in the direction where the boy had gone, "His attire doesn’t resemble that of a mountain boy, more like a city lad."

Mu Yuanxiu entered the kitchen, "He has been to the city, but he lives in the mountains, so he’s still a mountain person."

Li Yuzhu laughed, "That makes sense too."

She walked back to her place and sat down again, smilingly asking Mu Yuanxiu, "Inviting me for breakfast, right? Hurry up and cook then."

Mu Yuanxiu glanced at her, with a small smile, "Alright."

As he resumed chopping vegetables, his brows remained slightly furrowed.

Mu Yuanxiu chopped vegetables while Li Yuzhu moved to the side to start the stove and cook porridge.

The two of them had a simple breakfast together.

When Li Yuzhu returned, Mu Yuanxiu didn’t accompany her down the mountain. He only escorted her to the foot of the mountain before going back, saying he needed to feed the rabbits.

Li Yuzhu waved to him and went home.

At the door of the house, she encountered Li Xing’an.

Li Xing’an looked like he was about to go out.

Upon seeing her, Li Xing’an grudgingly said, "Third Sister, aren’t you having breakfast? Just running outside?"

Li Yuzhu replied, "Oh, I went to Niu Tou Mountain, brought some food for Mu Yuanxiu, and he invited me for breakfast."

Li Xing’an immediately exclaimed, "What? You had breakfast with him?" and left me aside? Third sister, that’s outrageous!

Li Yuzhu kept a straight face, "Third Brother, we owe him quite a bit of money, and besides, he helped my family so much yesterday, it’s right to give him food, shouldn’t be all that surprising, right?"

Mentioning the debt, Li Xing’an immediately shrank, "Alright, it’s right to give him food." Newest update provıded by 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝗇𝖾𝗍

As the two were talking, Chai Eying, who was playing with two children, walked up and said, "Owing someone money? Yuzhu? Third Brother?"

The two of them turned around.

Li Xing’an awkwardly said, "Uh, no, Eldest Sister-in-law, I was talking about owing a favor, yesterday the villagers helped our family, we owe them a favor."

Li Yuzhu also laughed and said, "The family isn’t in debt, Eldest Sister-in-law, you heard wrong."

Chai Eying seemed skeptical, "Really?"

Li Yuzhu laughed, "Yes indeed, our family doesn’t have a tradition of borrowing money, Eldest Sister-in-law, you really heard wrong."