Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 501 - 475: The Brothers Want to Teach the Lou Family a Lesson (3)
Qin Hu patted his shoulder, "Now informing is the same."
"It’s not the same at all." Li Xing’an sighed.
Eldest Young Master Chai from the shop next door learned of the Li Family’s joyous occasion, laughed, and congratulated Li Xing’an, saying he would go back to the village together to celebrate, and also see the pregnant Chai Eying.
Li Lixing returned home and told his parents about the Li Family’s happy news.
The County Magistrate had already learned of the Li Family’s situation and was waiting for his son to come home.
The couple took out the prepared gifts and loaded most of the cart.
Everyone was eager to return to the village. Li Xing’an and Eldest Young Master Chai instructed their shop matters well, and after having lunch together, set off with Li Lixing who had arrived.
Qin Hu drove the cart, bringing Li Lixing, Li Xing’an, and most of the cart’s gifts.
On Chai Eying’s cart were Sister-in-law Chai and Chai Tianlang, also with half a cart of gifts.
To make the Li Family’s celebration seem grand, when Li Lixing headed to the village, the County Magistrate dispatched four government officials on horseback to escort him.
In the afternoon, the group returned to the Li Family’s house.
As the Li Family was hosting a celebration, the gates of the house had not been closed these past days and were wide open.
Inside and outside the house, red lanterns could be seen everywhere.
Uncle Gui and Liu Er, along with Jinbao and Yinbao, greeted them with smiles, helping to carry the gifts.
Li Xing’an, with a darkened face, strode into the North Courtyard Main House.
As Little New Year approached, the students from school were also on holiday, all having returned home.
Without students to teach, Prince Luling had been preparing for his daughter’s weddings for the past few days.
When Li Xing’an walked into the North Courtyard Main House, Prince Luling was discussing with Princess Consort Luling and Li Xingmao about the materials needed for the banquet.
"They’re getting married, why am I only told now?" Li Xing’an shouted impatiently without even a greeting as he entered.
Prince Luling wasn’t angry, pointed to a chair, "The journey must have been tiring, sit down and talk."
Li Xing’an was taken aback, was his father in such a good mood today?
Princess Consort Luling said, "Don’t be angry just yet, look at this letter first." She stood up and went into the bedroom.
Soon, Princess Consort Luling came out with a letter and handed it to Li Xing’an.
Li Xing’an looked at them suspiciously, opened the letter, and started reading.
He hadn’t finished reading the letter before he jumped up and down angrily.
Li Xing’an slapped the table and shouted, "That bastard Li Can, if I had known he would harm others today, I shouldn’t have saved him when he drowned back then."
The late Emperor had few heirs, making the palace not lively. When Little Emperor Li Can was young, he liked to play with the boys from Lu Ling Royal Mansion.
The Lu Ling Royal Mansion had many children, lively and noisy, as if celebrating the New Year.
Li Xing’an and Li Xingsheng had once been study companions to Little Emperor Li Can.
One day, Li Can fell into the water, and Li Xing’an ignored the cold and jumped into the water to save him.
Now, the family was facing hardship, and thinking of this, Li Xing’an more than once cursed the Little Emperor for being ungrateful.
But among the Royal Family, who remembers the affection of others for the sake of competing for that position?
Those who are close to the throne are the most dangerous.
And the Li Family’s men are the ones closest to that seat.
"Back then, he was the Crown Prince, if you didn’t save him, you would have been guilty." Prince Luling reminded Li Xing’an.
Li Xing’an opened his mouth, too angry to speak.
Li Xingmao said, "This letter was brought by Pei Shenyan risking his life. To prevent the three of them from being forced into political marriages, the family hastily found husbands for them. Pei Shenyan is willing to marry Yu Wen, Mu Yuanxiu will marry Yu Zhu. Their two sisters’ marriages have no problems, but the second sister’s situation is a bit more complicated. She is indifferent and never interacts with any men, being a muddle-headed person, so the selection process took some time, which is why we didn’t notify you earlier."
Second Princess Li Yu En will marry into the Lou Family of Prefect of Zhen’an, and on the return journey, Li Lixing had already told Li Xing’an.
Li Xing’an frowned, "With second sister’s timid personality, what if she gets bullied in the Lou Family?"
Princess Consort Luling said, "The family has made some preparations."
She explained the arrangements for Second Princess.
Li Xing’an frowned in contemplation, "This is the only way."
He understood the family’s arrangement.
Although marrying Second Princess to the Lou Family might bring many problems, as long as the Lou Family dares to marry her, they can ensure Second Princess’s safety.
Little Emperor won’t fall out with Prefect Lou over one Princess of Heqin.
.
With more people at home, meals can’t be like before, where everyone ate in the kitchen, because there’s not enough space.
Now they are eating separately.
Princess Consort Luling, with her three daughters, Chai Eying, Sister-in-law Chai, and her three children, accompanied Lady Lou to eat in the empty room next to Li Yuzhu’s bedroom.
This was originally meant to be a bedroom for the sisters, but since all three sisters lived in one room, two rooms were left empty.
One room became Li Yuzhu’s medicine room, the other remained empty.
Princess Consort Luling ordered Nanny Jiang and Second Lady Liu to set two large tables in the empty room.
Er Niu and San Niu, who would serve as maids in the dowry of the Second Princess, accompanied the maids brought by Lady Lou and sat at another table for their meal.
Liu Er, Jinbao, Yinbao, along with Uncle Qin Hu, and some officials from the county government, as well as the servants of the Lou Family, sat in the empty room next to the reverse room at another table.
As for the male members of the Li Family, they ate in the North Courtyard Main House with Lou Chengye, Mr. Lou, Eldest Young Master Chai, and Li Lixing.
Li Xing’an saw Mr. Lou at this moment.
He pointed at Mr. Lou in surprise, saying, "You, you, you... weren’t you the one who came to my shop to buy books?"
Mr. Lou pretended it was his first time seeing Li Xing’an, also showing a surprised expression, "Oh my, the little shopkeeper we saw that day was Third Young Master Li, hahaha, what a coincidence."
Prince Luling asked Li Xing’an what was going on.
Li Xing’an recounted the events of that day.
Mr. Lou tapped his forehead, looking ashamed, "I took the wrong path that day and ended up in the county town. I took the opportunity to buy some small items on the street, saw a bookstore, and went in to pick up a few books to read on the way to pass the time. I didn’t realize it was Third Young Master’s shop. If I had known, I would have bought more books."
Everyone thought it was just a coincidental event and didn’t pay much attention.
Li Xingmao urged everyone to enjoy the drinks and dishes.
But Li Xing’an narrowed his eyes.
He wasn’t serving customers for the first time, he knew the usual expressions customers would have.
This one didn’t look at the books but only at his face when he came in. Could it be that Mr. Lou knew he was Li Family’s old third long ago?
Was he scouting to find out about the Li Family?
Quite strategic indeed.
Meanwhile, the youngest, Lou Chengye, raised his glass to his older brother and brother-in-law.
Li Xingmao politely accepted and reciprocated.
Li Xingsheng and Li Xing’an, the brothers, weren’t so polite.
Li Xing’an didn’t accept his cup but pressed his wrist.
Lou Chengye’s round face turned red, having to exert force to keep up.
Li Xing’an exclaimed, "Good lad, quite strong, huh?"
"So you’re planning to commit domestic violence?"
Lou Chengye wondered why the two Li brothers poured drinks but wouldn’t let him consume it.
What did pressing his hand mean?
Prince Luling saw them competing for so long, the dishes were getting cold, and couldn’t help but cough. Only then did the brothers let go simultaneously.
Allowing Lou Chengye to drink.
.
After dinner, Li Xing’an called his two brothers into the bedroom to share his thoughts.
Li Xingsheng said, "The Lou Family is planning something, we shouldn’t let them underestimate us."
Li Xing’an slapped his leg, "Second brother’s ideas aren’t usually great, but this time it’s good. The Lou Family is playing tricks, let’s give them a show of force, let them know that the girls of the Li Family aren’t easily bullied."
Li Xingsheng sneered, "When have my ideas ever been bad?"
Li Xingmao pressed his two younger brothers’ shoulders, "Alright, stop arguing. Third brother is right, it’s time to give them a show of force."
Even the usually law-abiding eldest brother agreed with their idea, Li Xing’an and Li Xingsheng were excitedly rubbing their hands.
"Big brother, what should we do?" Li Xingsheng immediately asked.
Li Xing’an rolled up his sleeves, "Do you want me to give them a beating?"
Li Xingmao looked at them, "Disciplining someone must be justified. Just beating someone without a word is barbaric. Our family is a scholarly household, we must speak of reason in everything."
Li Xing’an smirked, right, isn’t that just finding an excuse before disciplining someone?
His mind quickly turned, "Big brother, I have an idea, invite the Lou Family to the vacant land in front of the school for a martial competition tomorrow."
Li Xingsheng laughed, "Tomorrow is only the eighteenth, there’s still time until the big wedding day the day after tomorrow. The weather these days is clear, perfect for playing archery, wrestling, and fighting."
Li Xingmao nodded in agreement, "Let’s also invite Mu Yuanxiu, his skills are good, especially in archery, being able to shoot through a willow leaf from a hundred paces."
