Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 489 - 0463: The Fugitive Noble Son (2)

Lou Chengye said with a stern face, "Do not speak of my father’s identity!"

Li Lixing sighed, "Brother Ye, the Li Family brothers are quite formidable, oh, and except for the second sister who is a bit muddleheaded, the other Li Family sisters are also quite capable. Even if I don’t say anything, if they want to know, they’ll still find out."

Lou Chengye frowned, "The Li Family is that formidable?"

Li Lixing nodded, "Yeah, if you don’t believe me, just try it."

Lou Chengye was troubled; he had finally found a place to stay, only to find out it was someone Li Lixing knew.

What if his identity is revealed?

Doesn’t he care about his face?

Li Lixing said, "Brother Ye, you haven’t told me how you came here?"

"I... I’m here to experience the life of the common people. If my identity is exposed, how can I continue to experience it? So you must not reveal it," Lou Chengye warned Li Lixing.

Li Lixing uttered an "Oh," "I thought as much, given your identity, why would you dress like a beggar?"

Lou Chengye further said, "Remember what I said: in any case, don’t speak the truth. If they ask what my father does, say... say he does some small business, runs a grocery store, a miserly one."

Li Lixing nodded, "I’ve got it."

"Let’s go, we need to get back." Lou Chengye pulled Li Lixing down from the cotton tree.

The two patted the dead yellow cotton leaves off their robes and returned together to the Li Family house.

Li Xingsheng was still standing where he was, waiting for them, "Let’s go, my father has returned too."

As the two left, Li Xingsheng went to the school to summon Prince Luling back.

A guest had arrived at home, and it was proper to meet them.

Li Xingsheng favored Lou Chengye as potential groom for his second sister, but it wasn’t up to him; it depended on his parents’ permission.

Regarding matters of the Li Family, as Lou Chengye left the cotton field, he asked Li Lixing, learning that though the Li Family was large, it was a kind family, which eased his tension.

Li Lixing kept pace with Li Xingsheng, excitedly asking about Prince Luling acting as a teacher; he hadn’t seen how Prince Luling conducts classes.

Li Xingsheng gave him a glance, "The school is right next door, you can go take a look. By the way, the students there are quite accomplished, each daring to challenge my father. However, my father subdued them with strength."

Li Lixing listened, wide-eyed, "Their knowledge, that impressive?"

"Yeah, if you don’t study hard, be careful not to lag behind." Li Xingsheng added.

Li Lixing furrowed his brows; he couldn’t afford to fall behind; how could he lose to the village children?

He had to work hard.

Everyone entered the North Courtyard Main House, and sure enough, sitting at the upper seats in the hall were Prince Luling and his wife, alongside Li Xingmao.

Li Xingsheng introduced Lou Chengye, "These are my parents, and this is my elder brother."

Lou Chengye stepped forward and greeted them, "Uncle Li, Aunt Li, Brother Li."

The Prince Luling and his wife, having learned that Li Xingsheng brought back a youth who was known to Li Lixing, were full of joy, thinking that someone known by the county magistrate’s son must be quite decent. But unexpectedly, he turned out to be a little boy with a grubby face.

Was he found among the beggars?

Prince Luling and his wife didn’t speak to Lou Chengye’s face only smiled and gestured for him to sit down, asking Li Xingmao to pour tea.

Lou Chengye thanked them and sat down in the guest seat.

The Princess Consort Luling sized up his words and actions, discovering that he was a child who understood etiquette, which added to her good impression of him.

Li Lixing also greeted and sat beside Lou Chengye.

Prince Luling then inquired about Lou Chengye’s family situation.

Lou Chengye said his family ran a grocery store, he had four older brothers, who ostracized him at home, leading to hard days which prompted him to search for work. Unfortunately, he lost his funds, fortunate that Li Xingsheng took him in.

After speaking, he cast a glance at Li Lixing.

Li Lixing received his look and nodded along, "Yes, I’ve bought goods from his store before."

"Oh, and where is this store located? My third son also has a shop in the county town, perhaps they’re in the same trade." the Princess Consort Luling smiled.

Lou Chengye, "..." She’s even asking for the address? His mind quickly turned, "The store is in the prefecture, not in Qingyang County."

"Then that’s quite far. The prefecture has more people, business should be better than in the county, right?" the Princess Consort Luling continued to smile.

Lou Chengye replied with some difficulty, "Yeah, yeah, it’s alright."

Prince Luling further asked about his studies; Lou Chengye’s was not very good, but he wasn’t entirely clueless either.

Out of five questions, he could answer three.

He wasn’t as good as the eldest Li Xingmao or the second Li Xingsheng, but he wasn’t worse than the third, Li Xing’an.

Prince Luling found him satisfactory.

The Princess Consort asked him how much luggage he brought. Lou Chengye replied, "Two pairs of shoes, four sets of undershirts, and four pairs of pants."

His jacket and thick cloak were in another package, which, along with the horse, went missing.

The Princess Consort shook her head, "In such cold weather, how can you endure just with undershirts and pants? If you don’t mind, I’ll get some of my sons’ clothes for you."

Having endured the cold for several days, Lou Chengye was eager to accept any offered clothing.

"Thank you, Aunt Li." Lou Chengye gratefully expressed his thanks.

"Just a few old clothes, nothing much," the Princess Consort said generously, waving her hand.

Prince Luling then instructed Li Xingsheng to take Lou Chengye to the guest room to rest and give him some clothes to change into.

Lou Chengye bowed to Prince Luling and his wife, and followed Li Xingsheng away.

Li Lixing also wanted to go along, but was stopped by Prince Luling.

"Tell me, who is he?" Having acted as a teacher for several days, his words carried authority, and Li Lixing inexplicably felt a chill down his spine.

He stood properly, "He’s... just the son of a general store owner."

"Really?" Prince Luling raised an eyebrow and looked at him.

"Yes, really." Li Lixing nodded.

In his heart, though, he sighed, pleading them to stop asking. If they asked a few more questions, he’d have to spill the truth.

If he told the truth, Lou Chengye would beat him into a pulp.

"Is his name truly Lou Chengye? No lie?" the Princess Consort also asked.

This question he could answer, "Yes, it’s true, very true."

"Alright, we know now, you can go rest." The Princess Consort waved him away.

Li Lixing exhaled and joyfully ran off.

Li Xingmao then said, "Father, Mother, I have an idea. I’ll go to the county town to ask Lord County Magistrate whether what they said is true or false. As long as the name is true, we can certainly trace his identity."

The parents were considering marrying Lou Chengye as their second son-in-law, so not knowing his identity wouldn’t do.

The Princess Consort agreed, "That’s a good idea. The friends their son makes, even if Lord County Magistrate doesn’t know everything about them, he at least knows the names."

Prince Luling said, "You should ride to the county town right now."

Li Xingmao then asked, "Should we inform Third Brother about the family news?"

Prince Luling said, "Not yet, let’s wait until the three sisters’ matters are decided before telling him. The county town is only a few dozen li away, riding hastily, it won’t take more than half a day to go back and forth."

"Understood, Father."

Li Xingmao left the North Courtyard, explained the situation to Chai Eying in the South Courtyard, then mounted the family’s large black horse and headed straight for the county town.

By the time the first lamps were lit, Li Xingmao had returned, and he immediately went to the North Courtyard Main House to see his parents.

Prince Luling asked him as soon as he saw him, not waiting for him to sit, "Eldest, did you get clear information?"

Li Xingmao brushed the snowflakes off his clothes and smiled, "Father, Mother, you won’t be able to guess Lou Chengye’s identity!"

Prince Luling’s face darkened, "If I knew, why would I have sent you to inquire?"

The Princess Consort urged him too, "Eldest, hurry and tell us!"

Li Xingmao smiled and said, "He’s the youngest son of the Prefect of Zhen’an, and his disposition is similar to Li Lixing’s. County Magistrate Li and the Prefect of Zhen’an are old friends. When Lou Chengye was young and unwell, he was sent to the parents’ house of County Magistrate Li for recovery. Li Lixing also grew up there, and they lived together for five years. They’re closer than brothers."

The Princess Consort laughed angrily, "That Li Lixing, he’s covering for his righteous brother!"

Prince Luling said, "He’s the son of Prefect Lou, so why is he appearing here in such a state? The second son said, he looked like a beggar wandering the streets, penniless, and even volunteered to work at the second son’s store."

Li Xingmao laughed, "Father, have you forgotten that Li Lixing also once ran away from home?"

Prince Luling was taken aback, "Is this pair of brothers learning from each other?"

"Pretty much," Li Xingmao laughed, "but Lou Chengye has more ambition than Li Lixing. Li Lixing ran out to play, while he intends to accomplish something big. Lord County Magistrate said, Lou Chengye ran away from home once before in the spring two years ago. He was young at the time, only got twenty li away before his family found him. This time he got three hundred li away. I guess his family doesn’t even know he’s here."

The Princess Consort asked Prince Luling, "Husband, should we notify Prefect Lou’s family?"

Prince Luling stroked his beard, pondering, "Let’s ask Lou Chengye first, see what he thinks."

Li Xingmao said, "I’ll go talk to him."

He went to Lou Chengye’s residence, where Li Xingsheng was talking with Lou Chengye and Li Lixing.

After bathing and changing clothes, Lou Chengye’s smooth face showed more smiles.

Li Xingmao thought secretly, what a blessed young man, he’s completely different from the beggar-like image from before.

Indeed, clothes make the man.