Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 508 - 479: A Century of Good Unity (2)_2

At this moment, Li Yuzhu saw that the tea branches her second brother Li Xingsheng had planted next to the cave had grown into a cluster of flowering branches.

.

After strolling around the mountain top, Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu finally returned to the wooden house halfway up the mountain.

Li Xing’an was pacing anxiously at the doorway. Seeing them return, he scolded loudly with a dark face, "Where did you go? Running around in the middle of the night."

Li Yuzhu laughed and said, "The paths on this mountain; I wouldn’t go wrong even with my eyes closed. You’re worrying for nothing."

Li Xing’an, with a sullen face, pulled Li Yuzhu from Mu Yuanxiu’s side and dragged her towards the house, saying, "It’s cold outside, come in quickly."

He had many concerns on his mind.

Li Yuzhu turned back and called Mu Yuanxiu, "Mu Yuanxiu, come inside to warm by the fire."

Mu Yuanxiu followed her in with a smile.

Inside the main room, Li Lixing guarded a table full of dishes, eagerly rubbing his hands, saying, "If you come back any later, I’ll eat everything myself!"

There were eight dishes on the table, six stir-fried dishes, and two soups.

A small stove was placed on the ground next to the table. In its pot, some bone soup was simmering, bubbling and steaming.

Li Xing’an walked over, lifted the half-foot-high small stove onto the table, and took a pot of rice from a basket wrapped in cotton to serve everyone a bowl of rice.

The rice was still warm.

Li Xing’an glanced at Li Yuzhu and said, "Don’t laugh, if you both had come back any later, Li Lixing and I would have eaten everything."

Li Yuzhu picked up a pair of chopsticks, grabbed a slice of hot beef from the pot, and laughed as she asked, "Did Nanny Jiang make fun of me? Coming back home for meals after getting married?"

Having married so close, she planned to come back and eat often in the future, so she needed Nanny Jiang to get accustomed to it.

Li Xing’an glanced at her and helped her pick more food.

Even though Li Yuzhu’s bowl was already filled with food Mu Yuanxiu had picked, he still added more meat on top.

"Of course, how can you feel okay about coming for meals after marrying?" Li Xing’an looked at Mu Yuanxiu and snorted coldly.

Actually, no one at home made such comments. In fact, they told him to tell Li Yuzhu that she needn’t cook and should come home for meals every day.

But wouldn’t that make Mu Yuanxiu lazy?

How could that be?

After marrying a wife, a husband should learn to cook.

"Don’t worry, Yuzhu, I’ll prepare more rice and vegetables tomorrow and cook myself," Mu Yuanxiu smiled at Li Yuzhu.

"Mu Yuanxiu, remember what you said, both Li Lixing and I will hold you to that. Right, Li Lixing?" Li Xing’an patted Li Lixing’s shoulder.

Li Lixing was munching on a beef bone, "Ah, yes, yes."

He hadn’t been listening to what the three were discussing but agreeing was always safe.

Mu Yuanxiu smiled, "With Third Brother and Li Lixing as witnesses, I’ll cook every day."

"Hmm, seems our family didn’t see wrong, you brother-in-law, not bad," Li Xing’an patted Mu Yuanxiu’s shoulder.

Li Yuzhu was speechless, as Li Xing’an was teasing Mu Yuanxiu again, "Third Brother, no talking at the table, let’s eat."

"Eat, eat," Li Xing’an said, picking up his bowl.

Li Lixing noticed there was no wine on the table and asked Mu Yuanxiu if they drank during the marriage, "Did you not drink at your wedding?"

Drinking causes trouble, so can they drink? Li Xing’an said with a stern face, "What do you kids know about drinking? Eat your food." Worried that Mu Yuanxiu and Li Yuzhu might drink, he added, "With Li Lixing here, you better not drink, to prevent tempting Li Lixing."

Li Lixing, "..." What does this have to do with him? He wasn’t drinking, just asking.

The four finished eating, and Mu Yuanxiu went to the kitchen to make hot water.

He brought hot and cold water into the bathing room next to the bedroom to arrange a bath for Li Yuzhu.

Li Xing’an noticed that this brother-in-law was doing quite well.

After bathing, Li Yuzhu went straight into the bedroom.

The three brothers then took their turns to bathe.

Sleeping together was out of the question; for three years, they couldn’t sleep together.

To prevent the newlyweds from making mistakes, Li Xing’an wanted Mu Yuanxiu to sleep with him in another bedroom.

The other bedroom had two beds, enough for the three brothers.

However, Li Yuzhu was adamant; they could not share a bed on their wedding night, but she wouldn’t accept separate rooms, as it would be auspicious.

She even said if Li Xing’an didn’t agree, she and Mu Yuanxiu would sleep in the cave.

Mu Yuanxiu didn’t say a word and just smiled at her.

Li Xing’an relented, "Alright, alright."

But he wasn’t at ease, pulling Mu Yuanxiu aside to warn him repeatedly, "Mu Yuanxiu, remember what my parents told you. If you dare to make a mistake, I won’t forgive you."

Mu Yuanxiu nodded seriously, "Don’t worry, Third Brother, Father and Mother-in-law trusted me by giving Yuzhu’s hand to me."

Li Xing’an patted Mu Yuanxiu’s shoulder, "It’s getting late, rest."

"Rest early, Third Brother," Mu Yuanxiu also said.

Li Xing’an went into the western room, and Mu Yuanxiu walked into his and Li Yuzhu’s bridal chamber.

In the northern part of the bridal chamber was their wedding bed.

Under the bed was a brazier, warming the bed.

Li Yuzhu, fearing the cold, had already gotten under the covers.

She peeked her head out, smiling at Mu Yuanxiu, "Get some sleep."

Mu Yuanxiu closed the door, walked to the bedside, and quietly looked at Li Yuzhu.

Whether it was the warmth under the blanket bringing out the flush in her cheeks or the glow of the wedding candles, Li Yuzhu’s face was as red as a fiery camellia, delicate and charming.

Mu Yuanxiu was entranced.

He even wondered if he was dreaming.

Seeing him in a daze, Li Yuzhu nudged his arm with a smile, "Go to sleep." Don’t think of doing anything; there are four ears next door.

Mu Yuanxiu came back to his senses, smiled at her, "Okay."

He walked to the small couch by the south wall, only taking off his outer clothes before lying down.

Li Xing’an stood outside the bedroom, listening for any sound. Hearing nothing, he stretched and returned to the other room.

.

The Second Princess’s and Great Princess’s wedding processions parted ways on the road near the market street after leaving the Li Family.

Li Xingmao waved to Li Xingsheng, shouting, "Take care, Second Brother."

"Don’t worry, Big Brother," Li Xingsheng waved back, riding away with the Lou Family.

After that group disappeared from sight, Li Xingmao finally turned back.

Pei Shenyan’s small residence was in an alley behind the market street, and crossing the street was the shortest path.

Even though it was evening, because the New Year was approaching, there were still many people buying and selling new year’s goods on the streets.

Seeing the wedding procession coming, people made way to watch.

The two accompanying wedding maids scattered wedding candies and peanuts towards crowds.

The people recognized the groom, Pei Shenyan, riding on horseback, and congratulated him loudly.

Pei Shenyan smiled, clasping his hands as a salute, "Thank you, thank you."

The procession arrived in front of Pei Shenyan’s residence, its gates wide open, and the old steward, Pei Ji, dressed festively like for the New Year, stood smiling at the door to welcome them.

Behind him was a middle-aged woman who appeared very efficient and a girl about eleven or twelve with neatly combed hair.

Seeing the bridal sedan arrive, they approached it immediately, offering congratulations to the Great Princess inside, "Congratulations, young mistress. Wishing you a joyous new marriage and a harmonious union for a hundred years."

There were only the old servant Pei Ji and the young servant Pei Fusheng by Pei Shenyan’s side all along.

Because they were all men, Pei Shenyan was worried the Great Princess Li Yuwen would be uncomfortable being served by them, so a few days ago, he hired two maids to specifically attend to Li Yuwen’s daily needs.

Without waiting for the sedan to stop, Pei Ji quickly ignited firecrackers.

The long string of firecrackers extended from Pei Shenyan’s residence door ten steps down the alley.

The crackling sound excited a group of children who cheered loudly, "Look, the bride! Look, the bride!"

"Yu Wen, we’re home," Pei Shenyan dismounted and walked to the sedan, lifting the curtain and extending his hand.