Chapter 303: Chapter 303

Xiao Chengzi glanced at Madam Cheng with timid weakness as he followed Li Yuzhu.

Li Xing’an and Mu Yuanxiu walked behind them.

Madam Cheng still clung to her son, and seeing them leave, she shouted urgently, "Hey, wait, my eldest son is skilled, he can carve models!"

Her eldest son, lying on the ground, mumbled incoherently, "Wine, wine... wine? Where’s the wine..."

Passersby laughed and said, "Why is he so drunk early in the morning?"

"Mind your own business!" Madam Cheng cursed.

The woman pouted and pushed a courtyard door open, going inside.

The door slammed shut loudly.

Madam Cheng shouted again for Li Yuzhu and the others to wait for her eldest son.

Li Yuzhu and the group paid her no mind and simply continued on their way.

Xiao Chengzi looked back fearfully and saw that Madam Cheng hadn’t chased after them, still pulling her drunken son. He let out a long sigh of relief.

At the alley entrance, the government official who was guarding the carriage quickly walked toward Li Yuzhu and the others.

Seeing the official, Xiao Chengzi hid swiftly behind Li Yuzhu and the group, whispering, "Uh... Benefactor, a government officer is coming."

Li Yuzhu laughed, "Don’t worry, he’s one of us."

Xiao Chengzi was puzzled, "One of us?"

Li Xing’an also laughed, "He’s the one driving the carriage for us, you don’t need to be afraid."

Xiao Chengzi was even more surprised; the official was their driver? So, they are...

"We are guests of Lord County Magistrate’s mansion. We’re out on some errands, and the Lord County Magistrate arranged a carriage for us for transport," Li Yuzhu explained.

Xiao Chengzi suddenly understood, so that’s it.

No wonder they mentioned going to the government office; turns out they are guests of the county magistrate’s family.

Xiao Chengzi felt even more respect for Li Yuzhu and the group.

The government official approached them, bowed, and said, "Third Young Master Li, Miss Li, Mr. Mu, you’ve been gone for so long. I was worried that you got lost and was just about to look for you. Glad you’ve returned." Updates are released by 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⁂𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⁂𝓷𝓮𝓽

After speaking, he curiously examined Xiao Chengzi.

Wasn’t I supposed to find an old man? How come it’s a child?

Li Xing’an pointed at Xiao Chengzi and said, "Oh, we went looking for his father, but didn’t expect he passed away last month. Fortunately, he inherited his father’s craft, so we had to invite him instead."

"I see," the official nodded.

He returned to the carriage and turned it around.

Everyone got into the carriage, and it retraced its path back.

Xiao Chengzi rode a carriage for the first time, very nervous, sitting there not daring to move.

When the carriage stopped at the County Magistrate Mansion, everyone got off.

Seeing the imposing government office, Xiao Chengzi felt even more anxious.

Li Yuzhu noticed his unease and smiled, "You don’t need to be nervous; you haven’t committed any crime. We’re not going to the main hall of the government office; we’re headed to the rear residence."

Sure enough, Li Xing’an led everyone into a slightly smaller gate beside the government office.

Once inside, there were rockery pavilions and many beautiful houses in sight.

Xiao Chengzi felt as if one eye was not enough to take it all in.

The people walking inside were also dressed quite ornately and richly.

Some looked at Xiao Chengzi, scaring him into shrinking his neck.

Those people greeted Li Yuzhu and the group, "Miss Li, Mr. Li, Mr. Mu."

Li Xing’an asked a servant, "Where is Lixing?"

"The young master is with the lady."

"Go tell them we’ve found someone and are waiting in his study," Li Xing’an instructed.

Since Li Yuzhu and Li Xing’an arrived at the mansion, they had been calling out Li Lixing’s name, and the County Magistrate couple never regarded the siblings as ordinary visitors, always treated them as guests, dining with them daily.

The servant heard Li Xing’an call his young master’s name and was not surprised, "Alright, I’ll relay the message."

But Xiao Chengzi was surprised, calling the county magistrate’s son’s name; these benefactors are indeed guests at the mansion.

Li Yuzhu, Li Xing’an, and Mu Yuanxiu took Xiao Chengzi to Li Lixing’s study, where Li Lixing came from a small path running.

"You’re back? Why did it take so long?" Li Lixing ran quickly, seeing Xiao Chengzi, was surprised, "How come you only have one eye? Can you see well enough to carve a model with one eye?"

"His eye will be better by tomorrow; as long as he carves quickly, there won’t be much issue," Li Yuzhu said.

Xiao Chengzi quickly said, "My benefactor healed my eye, and I will carve the model for you as fast as I can."

Li Xing’an patted Xiao Chengzi’s shoulder and pointed to himself, "You keep calling us benefactors. Others will think we helped you with some huge favor. Don’t call us benefactors anymore. My sister healed your eye because she needs you; it’s a fair exchange, you don’t need to call us that. I’m Li Xing’an; I’m older than you, call me Third Brother Li. As for my sister, call her Miss Li." He then pointed at Mu Yuanxiu, "He’s Mu Yuanxiu, younger than you, just call him by his name."

He then pointed at Li Lixing, "He’s the county magistrate’s son, call him Mr. Li."

Xiao Chengzi hesitantly replied, "Alright, Third Brother Li." Then he respectfully bowed to Li Lixing, "Mr. Li."

Li Lixing waved his hand, indicating not to be too restrained, "We only have three days, but your model needs to be carved in advance because it has to be printed later. Don’t keep bowing, it wastes time."

Xiao Chengzi quickly nodded, "I understand, Mr. Li, Miss Li told me about the urgency on the way."

Li Yuzhu said, "Lixing, his home is quite far from here. I decided to take him out and plan to settle him at an inn first. Let’s choose the one directly opposite the government office; it’s the closest, and we can find him whenever needed."

Xiao Chengzi was tremendously shocked; he had never stayed in such a nice place.

Frightened, he waved his hands repeatedly, "No, Miss Li, staying at an inn costs money. I’ll just find a random place nearby; the weather is hot, I can sleep anywhere."

Li Xing’an raised an eyebrow, "Finding a random place to sleep? If someone drives you away, where would we find you?"

Mu Yuanxiu said, "Even though it’s hot now, the weather cools at night. What if you fall ill?"

Xiao Chengzi felt troubled and didn’t dare agree.

Li Lixing also said, "Yes, if something happens to you, it delays our important affairs. My house is spacious; just stay at my place."

Li Yuzhu said, "Lixing, how can this be appropriate? He’s someone we found."

Li Lixing waved his hand, "Just staying a few days, nothing serious. I’ll instruct the housekeeper to arrange it, let him share a room with some servant, it’s no big deal. When our servants’ relatives come from outside the city, they tell the housekeeper, and that’s how it’s arranged, just staying briefly, my parents never mind it."

Li Yuzhu said, "Better report to the lady first since there’ll be one more person in the household."

Li Lixing said enthusiastically, "That’s easy, I’ll do it."

He immediately ran back to the County Magistrate’s Wife’s bedroom and explained the situation.

The County Magistrate’s Wife smiled, saying, "It’s just a child slightly older than you, nothing serious; tell the housekeeper to make arrangements."

This is the first significant thing her son did, and it’s even a money-making venture. Although the money isn’t much, it’s still proper business, isn’t it? The County Magistrate’s Wife had no objections.

Having received the approval, Li Lixing happily returned to Li Yuzhu and the group to inform them.

Thus, Xiao Chengzi stayed at the County Magistrate Mansion.

While his eye hadn’t fully recovered, he began preparing, such as searching for wood needed for carving models.

Xiao Chengzi mentioned the materials, and Li Lixing immediately ordered the housekeeper to search.

If they didn’t have the right size, the housekeeper found someone to saw it smaller.

When Xiao Chengzi left home, he already carried carving tools like small knives.

When the housekeeper delivered the wood, he asked for Li Lixing’s already drawn picture and, after placing it over the wood, started carving the outline.

Li Xing’an and Li Lixing were worried his eye wouldn’t work well and urged him to carve tomorrow when the eye swelling subsided.

But Xiao Chengzi said, "Today, I’ll carve the basic shape; I’ll refine it tomorrow, so as not to delay."

As a craftsman, he naturally had confidence, so everyone didn’t rush him.

Xiao Chengzi scarcely took a break, not even moving when called for meals.

The housekeeper had no choice but to bring his meals to his room.

After eating, Xiao Chengzi continued carving.

Meanwhile, Li Lixing worked tirelessly painting.

On one painting, there were at most two or three beasts, resembling modern times’ simple sketches.

As long as the expressions were right, complemented by vivid language, it sufficed.

But if carved as per every painting, it’d require many models; not three days, even thirty days would barely suffice.

As Li Lixing continued painting, he grew anxious again.

Li Yuzhu entered the study to see his paintings, noticed his worried look, and asked, "Why are you worried again? Isn’t the problem solved?"

Li Lixing sighed, "Carving images and text are different. A character can be reused; it appears on one page and can appear on the next. But a painting can’t, since expressions vary."

Li Yuzhu laughed, "I’ve already devised a solution, don’t worry."