Chapter 316: Chapter 316

Second Young Master Li received the expensive gift from Li Yuzhu and immediately retorted, "You don’t have to print pictures, so why are you opposed?"

Li Xing’an glared at him, "I’m worried that Third Sister will be overworked."

Second Young Master Li scoffed lightly, "Hypocritical."

Li Xing’an glared angrily.

Prince Luling agreed with his children doing tasks, "Yuzhu, give it a try, if it doesn’t work out, just let it go." Latest content publıshed on novel⟡fire.net

The Princess Consort Luling didn’t object either, but she was concerned that Li Yuzhu might be too tired.

Li Yuzhu smiled, "Mother, it’s not tiring, only the initial process is a bit troublesome."

Li Xingmao did not oppose Li Yuzhu’s idea, "Third Sister, I’ll talk with your sister-in-law later, you can do it together."

Li Yuzhu smiled and said, "Thank you, Big Brother."

Seeing it was nearly noon, the Princess Consort Luling instructed the Great Princess to go to the kitchen and tell Nanny Sang to prepare lunch. There were three additional people at home today, so more had to be made. After speaking, she invited Mu Yuanxiu to stay for lunch.

Mu Yuanxiu smiled slightly and thanked her, "Thank you, Aunt."

After becoming familiar with Mu Yuanxiu, the Princess Consort Luling no longer disliked this young neighbor. Whenever Mu Yuanxiu came by, she would invite him to join the meal.

The Princess Consort Luling also called over the Second Princess, "Go quickly and call your sister-in-law to come and divide these things we’ve bought."

The Second Princess, having already eyed the gifts with envy because she smelled the aroma of food.

"Okay, Mother." She happily ran off to find Chai Eying.

Since Chai Eying married into the family, the major household matters remained under the Princess Consort Luling’s authority, but the minor ones she no longer concerned herself with.

For instance, what items needed purchasing for the house, what to eat that day, what gifts to take when attending banquets at other houses, she left all these decisions to Chai Eying.

When villagers sent gifts, even if they were specifically meant for Prince Luling and his wife, the Princess Consort Luling would have Chai Eying receive them.

When it was time to divide the gifts, the room would get very busy.

Li Xing’an suggested everyone go see his new horse carriage.

Prince Luling, Li Xingmao, Second Young Master Li Xingsheng, and Mu Yuanxiu followed Li Xing’an outside.

Li Lixing saw everyone heading to the front yard to look at the carriage, so he went along to join in the fun.

After they left, Chai Eying took the two children into the main house.

Li Lixing’s little flower dog was led inside by Li Jing.

The little flower dog didn’t recognize strangers at all, especially listening to Guoguo.

The Second Princess patted Xiao Hua’s head, and the little flower dog ignored it completely.

The Princess Consort Luling got up, picked up Guoguo and placed her on a special baby chair, smiling, she said, "These were all sent by the County Magistrate’s Wife, and what Yuzhu and the others bought. I haven’t even seen what they all are, you’ll have to take a look and divide them."

"Mother, it’s actually the same if you divide them." Chai Eying smiled.

"Didn’t we agree earlier? Household matters are under your management. A head wife must learn to handle the affairs from a young age. Experience accumulates over time, so when big things need handling at home, you won’t be flustered or make mistakes." The Princess Consort Luling smiled as she spoke.

When the Xue Family married into the Prince Mansion, she treated Xue Family the same, but although Xue Family shouted about wanting to manage matters, when it came down to it, she found it bothersome and quit as soon as she was unhappy.

So she had to manage the household chores herself.

But when there were major banquets or festivals to host guests, Xue Family would step in and take charge.

At such times, it was indeed appropriate for the wife to take the lead.

But because Xue Family didn’t manage daily affairs, she couldn’t even distinguish what each servant did, so she would panic and make frequent mistakes during big occasions, causing a few jokes.

Consequently, she decided not to let Xue Family manage affairs anymore.

She still had to deal with social obligations outside the mansion and the ladies at the court, as well as managing household chores at home. The Princess Consort Luling was so exhausted that she couldn’t even tend to the children’s matters. She hadn’t realized whether the third daughter was smart or foolish.

Thinking back on the past busyness, the Princess Consort Luling felt it wasn’t worthwhile and her head pained.

"Mother, what’s wrong? Don’t fabric? How about I switch it for another? What about this one?" Chai Eying held a piece of dark green fabric, intending to place it in front of the Princess Consort Luling. Seeing her mother-in-law’s unwell expression and absent look on the fabric, she assumed that her mother-in-law didn’t like it and immediately switched to a light green one.

The Princess Consort Luling regained her composure and smiled, "Oh, I was thinking about what type of garment would look good with this fabric. Your father is rather stout, and this kind of dark green wouldn’t suit him, although it would suit me. However, I haven’t thought of a suitable design yet. Well, the dark green one is good; the light colors suit you youngsters, you keep it."

She was adamant about not needing the light-colored one and insisted on the dark one.

Chai Eying smiled and nodded, "Alright." She swapped the fabrics back.

The Princess Consort Luling exhaled gently.

Fortunately, Chai Eying was not like the Xue Family; Chai Eying was capable, and these household chores didn’t worry her as Chai Eying handled them well.

After selecting fabrics for Prince Luling and his wife, Chai Eying also chose for several sisters-in-law.

She was meticulous, remembering exactly which color each sister-in-law liked.

The eldest sister-in-law preferred red, the second sister-in-law loved bright colors, and the youngest sister-in-law liked plain colors.

She handed the fabrics to the three women, and each was very pleased.

"The County Magistrate’s wife is very thoughtful. Last time she sent cloth, and now she’s sending gifts again," Chai Eying said with a smile.

The Princess Consort Luling smiled and replied, "Last time was to congratulate you on your wedding, hence the cloth. This time she has a request from us."

Chai Eying, who had just taken the two children out to play and missed the conversation, curiously asked, "What could the County Magistrate’s Wife want from us?"

"It’s about Li Lixing. This child will be staying with us as a guest, and she sent the gifts in hopes that we will take good care of him," the Princess Consort Luling explained.

Chai Eying laughed, "So that’s it. He is a guest, and of course we will take good care of him."

After distributing the fabric to the ladies, Chai Eying divided the share for the men.

This was easy to divide: the dark brown was given to Prince Luling, and the lighter color was equally divided among the three brothers.

The extra material, the Princess Consort Luling told Chai Eying to take them all to make clothes for the children in the future.

Chai Eying accepted it with a smile.

After distributing the fabric, Chai Eying also divided other gifts.

These were easy to divide too; most items were purchased according to everyone’s preferences.

For example, some were toys, definitely for the two children, while the rouge was for the Great Princess and Chai Eying, and the food was for the Second Princess.

The shoes were for the Princess Consort Luling, and the painting supplies were for Prince Luling.

The books were for the brothers.

The Great Princess was delighted to receive the rouge.

She looked at Li Yuzhu and asked, "Yuzhu, is this the popular color in the county town?"

Li Yuzhu nodded, "Yes, I asked the shopkeeper’s wife, and she said it’s the latest fashion."

The Great Princess said with pleasure, "Third Sister, you’re so kind."

Li Yuzhu raised her eyebrows, "Big Sister, how will you thank me then?"

The Great Princess quickly tucked the rouge box into her pouch and laughed as she tugged Li Yuzhu’s shoulder, "How about I give you a shoulder massage?"

Li Yuzhu shook her head, "Tomorrow, come with me to dig herbs." Her medicine business is so good that she should dig more herbs to sell.

But how much can she dig alone? Many hands make light work.

The Great Princess grimaced, she hated digging herbs the most but, being indebted, she reluctantly nodded, "Alright."

The Second Princess laughed out loud, "Big Sister hates digging herbs the most, Third Sister, did you know?"

The Princess Consort Luling looked sternly at the Second Princess and said, "Yu En, you should also go dig herbs. Your shop hasn’t been open much lately, and you are idle anyway, right? You’ve been idle for a few days and gained weight again!"

The Second Princess, "..." The smile on her face vanished instantly.

The Great Princess was instead happy, "Second Sister, let’s go together."

The Second Princess sighed, "Alright." She didn’t gain that much, just one and a half pounds.

Nanny Qin prepared the family’s lunch and came over to call everyone to eat.

The Princess Consort Luling smiled, "There are many people today, Nanny, making lunch must have been tiring."

Nanny Qin smiled, "Mistress is always so polite, isn’t it what I should do? Just three more people, only cooked two more dishes and steamed a few more bowls of rice, nothing much."

Of course, the Princess Consort Luling had to be polite because Nanny Qin wasn’t her servant.

She was part of the dowry from the daughter-in-law’s family.

Typically, such dowries wouldn’t do kitchen work.

But Chai Eying let her dowry do it, and the Princess Consort Luling had to remember the good deed.

The Princess Consort Luling then asked the Second Princess to go to the front yard to call the men from the house to eat.

The Second Princess sighed, walking to the front yard under the blazing sun.

Among the siblings, she was the chubbiest, so the Princess Consort Luling often sent her on errands.

It was said that running more would shed the weight.

Qin Hu also joined everyone for lunch, just like last time, so he wasn’t too restrained.

After lunch, Mu Yuanxiu took his mule back up the mountain.

Li Xing’an waved to bid him farewell, "Mu Yuanxiu, your mule runs slow. Feel free to come ride our fast horse anytime!"

This Mu Yuanxiu, ever since he bought his mule, would ride to their house to show off, even following them to the county town.

Now with a horse, which is worth more than a mule, let’s see how Mu Yuanxiu continues to boast.