Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 536 - 500: Actually, I Did It for the Good of the Family (1)
Lou Chengye wore a glum expression, "I’ll go talk to my father."
"Will Lord Prefect actually manage affairs of the rear courtyard?" Li Xingsheng raised his eyebrows.
Lou Chengye felt uncertain inside. Indeed, his father rarely meddled in matters of the rear courtyard.
His father was the prefect, with all sorts of miscellaneous affairs to handle.
He had to manage documents coming from the Capital, report the situation to the State Mansion, convey imperial intentions, arrange population and military matters for the counties below, oversee river engineering and mountain paths, and keep city law and order under control.
Sometimes he wouldn’t be home for several days, always busy with tasks outside.
Li Xingsheng saw him with a gloomy face, sighing and remaining silent. He let out a cold laugh, "See, I was right, wasn’t I? Your father doesn’t manage rear courtyard matters, and you can’t handle them either, so Yu En just continues to endure grievances?"
Lou Chengye’s brows furrowed even more deeply, unsure of what to do for the moment, "I... I’ll talk to my mother properly about this matter."
Li Xingsheng looked at him, noticing Lou Chengye’s troubled expression. This matter surely involved Lady Lou.
And Lou Chengye couldn’t stand up to Lady Lou.
If they directly clashed, it would give others a handle and create gossip against Han Ermei.
Li Xingsheng’s eyes flickered, and an idea flashed through his mind.
"Alright, if it’s best Lord Prefect can resolve this matter, but if not, just speak well to Lady Lou." Li Xingsheng patted his shoulder, softening his tone.
Lou Chengye felt very touched; his second brother-in-law truly was understanding.
"Mm, second brother, I’ll definitely resolve this issue." Lou Chengye breathed a sigh of relief.
"Alright then, let’s go pay our respects to Lord Prefect together." Li Xingsheng smiled slightly.
Lou Chengye gratefully nodded, and together with Li Xingsheng, followed Prefect Lou’s attendant to Prefect Lou’s study.
When Prefect Lou saw them coming, he was very pleased and immediately set aside his documents, instructing the attendant to prepare breakfast.
Breakfast was prepared lavishly.
Prefect Lou kept conversing with Li Xingsheng, inquiring about his family’s situation.
Asked whether his parents’ health was good, if his siblings were living comfortably. What was the main livelihood of the family? With winter arriving, was life in the countryside well?
Like a kind elder inquiring to a junior, showing care and concern.
Rarely seeing his father in good spirits, Lou Chengye dared not open his mouth about the charcoal matter.
Moreover, he couldn’t get a word in; whenever he tried to speak, his father would steer the conversation elsewhere.
Lou Chengye sighed inwardly, what could be done?
After breakfast, Prefect Lou told them to each go rest, as he needed to attend to business.
Leaving Prefect Lou’s study, Lou Chengye wore a guilty expression, "Second brother, don’t worry, I will find my father later."
Li Xingsheng squinted at him, "Lou Chengye, you really fear your father, don’t you?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Lou Chengye made a bitter face; wasn’t that obvious?
Who doesn’t fear their own father?
He was the most useless one in the family; if he didn’t fear him, he wouldn’t have run away from home.
Li Xingsheng said, "Lou Chengye, I have to go out for some business. I’m not familiar with the Prefecture routes, if you’re free, could you accompany me?"
Lou Chengye nodded gladly, "No problem, second brother, I’ll first take Yu En to serve tea to my parents and visit my grandmother, then I’ll come find you."
Li Xingsheng said, "Alright then, let’s agree on that. Hurry along."
"Got it, second brother."
Li Xingsheng parted with him and returned to his guest room.
His guest room was arranged in a small courtyard next to Prefect Lou’s study; the Liu family’s accommodations weren’t arranged yet, so they were currently living with him.
Lou Chengye returned to the Lotus Fragrance Courtyard.
He saw Lady Lou’s two nannies standing there with grim expressions, glaring at the door to Li Yu En’s bedroom.
The door was closed; in the main room, neither Li Yu En nor her four servants could be seen.
Lou Chengye raised his eyebrows and asked, "Are the two nannies here for something?"
One nanny replied, "Returning Fifth Young Master’s words, the lady instructed us to come and escort Fifth Young Madam over."
Lou Chengye said calmly, "You can go back now, I’ll personally take Yu En to see my mother shortly."
The nanny smiled and said, "But the lady said we couldn’t return empty-handed."
Lou Chengye glanced at her, "Then you wait here."
He walked up and knocked on the bedroom door, "Yu En, it’s me, Chengye."
After shouting a couple of times, the door opened.
But soon, the bedroom door closed again.
The two nannies were so infuriated, their faces turned pale.
Inside the bedroom, Li Yu En was wrapped in a thick cloak, nestled in a chair.
In front of her, a table full of food was laid out.
A pot of hot tea was leisurely steaming.
Lou Chengye, "..."
He had thought his little wife was scared and hiding in her bedroom, but it turned out she was having morning tea.
