Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 517 - 0485: Guoguo’s Leopard Pet, Uninvited Guest (2)
Li Yuzhu suppressed a laugh, "Big sister, Mother is right. With Pei Shenyan’s frail demeanor, how could he endure your bullying?"
Li Yuwen glared at her, "You’re siding with him too?"
Li Yuzhu shrugged, "I’m just speaking the truth."
Princess Consort Luling patted Li Yuwen’s shoulder, "Seriously, we’re not joking about this."
Li Yuwen sighed, "I know, Mother, I promise I won’t bully him."
.
While talking, it was already time for lunch.
Prince Luling wanted barbecued meat, so Mu Yuanxiu carried down the grill from the mountain, bringing it straight into the North Courtyard Main House.
The grill was something Mu Yuanxiu had prepared earlier. Last night’s dinner, Mu Yuanxiu, Li Xing’an, Li Yuzhu, and Li Lixing had grilled meat.
Princess Consort Luling laughed and said, "You really brought the grill over, look how pleased your father is." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
"The kids are honoring me, and you, you old biddy, just won’t stop talking." Prince Luling puffed his beard.
Princess Consort Luling shot him a look, "Look how pleased you are."
Mu Yuanxiu and Li Xing’an brought the sliced meat, and Li Xingmao fetched the spices and salt for grilling.
The variety of spices was limited at the time, with only cumin available.
But the meat was original flavor, and even with just salt, it was fragrant. Li Yuzhu didn’t mind whether there was cumin or not.
There was a guest at home today.
Chai Eying also came.
Li Yuwen and Li Yuzhu went together to assist her.
She looked at the grill and smiled, "Venison is good, but I can’t eat much of it. I’ll just sit and chat with you all."
Mu Yuanxiu said, "Sister-in-law, if you don’t eat venison, have chicken instead. I brought two live chickens over; I believe Nanny Jiang has already stewed them."
"Sister-in-law, I caught the chickens. There are about twenty chickens raised behind Mu Yuanxiu’s wooden house," Li Yuzhu added, "Once you’re done, I’ll catch two more for you."
Chai Eying laughed, "How can I accept your chickens so easily? Yuanxiu, better keep them for Yuzhu to nourish her health."
Li Yuzhu skewered the meat with bamboo sticks and laughed, "I’ll eat with Sister-in-law. Just catch them then."
Sister-in-law Chai didn’t understand what she said.
Li Xing’an quickly explained, "Sister-in-law, since you’ve been resting indoors, do you know where these two have their meals every day? Even after getting married, they still come home every day to freeload meals. After two meals, they started feeling embarrassed, so they bring ingredients for Nanny Jiang to cook."
Chai Eying laughed and said, "Her place on the mountain is quiet. I think they might as well come home to eat."
Li Yuzhu smiled smugly, "Third brother, Sister-in-law agrees, so you can’t reprimand me anymore."
Li Xing’an glared at her, seeing how pleased she was.
Inside, the stove was roasting meat, filling the room with warmth.
Li Xing’an and his brothers, along with Pei Shenyan and Mu Yuanxiu, accompanied Prince Luling for a meal.
Li Lixing, although a boy, was young, so he sat with the women including Princess Consort Luling and Li Yuzhu.
The two little children sat between their aunts.
Chai Eying couldn’t eat venison, so Nanny Jiang brought her some stewed chicken soup.
Guoguo and Li Jing ate only a little grilled meat, and followed Chai Eying in having chicken soup and rice.
Once they finished eating, they began urging Li Lixing to hurry, so they could continue playing.
Earlier, while the adults talked, Li Lixing took the two children to play a game of cops and robbers in the wild grass and cotton fields outside the Li Mansion.
Li Lixing was the robber, while the two kids were the cops.
The three children were having a great time.
"Coming, coming," Li Lixing finished eating but reluctantly eyed the fragrant grilled venison.
With a skewer in each hand, he followed the two kids excitedly.
Li Xingmao called out to Li Xing’an, "Third brother, follow them and have a look."
As the two kids got up, Li Xing’an also stood up, holding a teacup to rinse his mouth.
"Don’t worry, I’ll watch over the three of them." Li Xing’an chased after them.
"Slow down, Guoguo, Jingjing! You’re full, so don’t run fast," Chai Eying loudly reminded them.
"I’m going slow, really slow," Guoguo panted as she ran.
Guoguo led the way, running into the cotton field next to the house.
Li Xing’an followed behind her, "Guoguo, the branches in the cotton field are too prickly. Let’s play somewhere else?"
Guoguo stopped, surveyed the surroundings, then walked out of the cotton field towards a patch of tall wild grass.
The tall grass, waist-high to an adult, enveloped Guoguo completely.
Li Xing’an trudged after her, "Guoguo, why are you playing here?"
Li Lixing, having finished his grilled meat skewer, threw away the bamboo stick and wiped the oil from his mouth with a handkerchief, "Third brother, we were playing here earlier too."
Li Jing nodded, "It’s fun here."
"Look at the spot you chose, it’s all wild grass. What’s so fun about it?" Li Xing’an stood akimbo, surveying the area, as a cold wind blew through with no amusement to be found.
