Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 549 - 0510 Li Yu En Wins (1)

To the right of Li Yu En sat the eldest daughter-in-law of Third Aunt Lou.

This eldest daughter-in-law, coming from a family of scholars, was already highly skilled at the drinking game.

She saw Li Yu En’s token and covered her mouth, laughing, "Fifth cousin-in-law, if you can’t handle it, just drink three cups yourself. This drinking game piece is quite difficult."

Li Yu En held the token and looked at her, "Eldest cousin-in-law, during an ensemble, if anyone can’t keep up with the rhythm, they lose, right?"

The eldest daughter-in-law of Third Aunt Lou was taken aback; does she understand ensemble rhythm?

"Yes, that is indeed the rule." She nodded with a smile.

Second Lady Lou’s eyes moved, and she looked at Li Yu En with a slight smile, "I remember, we can also have a bet, fifth sister-in-law, shall we make a wager?"

The eldest daughter-in-law of Third Aunt Lou was amused inside; dare to mention wagering? Whether Li Yu En could win was still uncertain. "Indeed, some people have played with stakes before."

Third Aunt Lou laughed and said, "Just playing around for fun, forget about the wager."

But Second Lady Lou laughed and said, "It’s no fun without a wager."

"Alright, a wager it is." The eldest daughter-in-law of Third Aunt Lou took a ring off her finger and placed it on the table, "I bet on my win."

Li Yu En looked at herself; she didn’t have extra jewelry on her, only a jade hairpin in her hair, which was a gift from the Princess Consort Luling, and she really liked it. If she lost, the Princess Consort would definitely scold her.

Li Yu En was reluctant, but since her opponent placed a bet, it would be inappropriate for her not to.

Li Yu En looked at Second Lady Lou, "Second sister-in-law, lend me a hairpin, I’ll return it to you later."

Second Lady Lou was so angry that her eyebrows stood up; she dared to ask her for something to use as a bet?

She hesitated, unwilling to give it.

Li Yu En said, "Second sister-in-law, I don’t have silver on me, and only have a jade hairpin in my hair, if I lose, what about my hair? Lend me a hairpin; you have two in your hair."

The nanny sent by Old Lady Lou, upon hearing Second Lady Lou mention a wager, was already displeased, worried that Li Yu En would lose. Hearing Li Yu En asking Second Lady Lou for a hairpin, she followed with, "Second young mistress proposed a wager, why not help the Fifth Young Madam?"

She was an old servant by Old Lady Lou’s side, even Prefect Lou indulged her a bit, and Second Lady Lou dared not retort a word, reluctantly took down a hairpin from her hair and placed it on the table.

It was a golden hairpin inlaid with jade, weighing about an ounce, her favorite. If lost, she’d resent Li Yu En to death.

Li Yu En placed the golden hairpin next to the eldest daughter-in-law of Third Aunt Lou’s ring, smiling, "Bring the instruments, let’s play music together."

Third Aunt Lou called to the maid, "Bring the pipa and flute."

"I’ll play the flute." The eldest daughter-in-law of Third Aunt Lou said first, "Fifth cousin-in-law, you play the pipa."

Li Yu En was indifferent, "Alright."

Can she play? The daughters-in-law of Third Aunt Lou looked on with glee.

Second Lady Lou was so nervous her face turned pale, praying in her heart, please don’t lose, please don’t lose! Her jade-inlaid golden hairpin, her beloved hairpin!

If she lost, she would demand Li Yu En pay her back double!

The instruments were brought in.

Li Yu En took the pipa; she hadn’t played for a year and didn’t know if she was rusty.

Li Yu En put on finger protectors, tried two strings, not bad, she still remembered how to play the pipa.

Among the Li Family, except for little sister Li Yuzhu, who didn’t know instruments, the others knew a bit.

Especially Li Yuwen’s pipa, it was unmatched in the Capital.

Li Yu En didn’t dare compare her pipa skills to Li Yuwen’s, just dared to compare with the house musicians.

She held the pipa and tuned it, which amused the people of Third Aunt Lou’s family.

The posture was incorrect, the sound produced was like cotton being spun.

"’Drinking Song’ starts with pipa, I’ll go first." Li Yu En glanced at the eldest daughter-in-law of Third Aunt Lou and began to play.

The sudden clang of the pipa startled everyone.

Even Lou Chengye and Third Aunt Lou’s sons, who were drinking and playing outside, curiously came in to watch.

Lou Chengye saw his plump wife playing the pipa and was dumbfounded.

Didn’t she say she could only handle a rolling pin? How is she playing the pipa?

Li Yu En’s fingers played the strings tightly, one sound followed another.

The flute sound of the eldest daughter-in-law of Third Aunt Lou couldn’t keep up with the pipa, always lagging a few beats.

Her face turned red from blowing but still couldn’t keep up with the tempo.

Those who didn’t understand thought they were playing a different tune, but those who did, like Second Lady Lou, began to smile.

Third Aunt Lou also understood, her face gradually looking displeased.

Clang—

Li Yu En made an abrupt end to the music, her fingers pressed down on the pipa strings, finishing the tune.

Meanwhile, the eldest daughter-in-law of Third Aunt Lou was still playing the melody, significantly slower than Li Yu En by a whole verse.

"You can’t keep up with my speed, cousin-in-law," Li Yu En tilted her head, "Your flute sounds are far less impressive than my eldest sister’s."

She always speaks her mind, never holding back.

Second Lady Lou, thrilled not to lose her hairpin, praised Li Yu En, "Who would’ve thought the pipa skills of my fifth younger sister-in-law are so exceptional? What a surprise!"

"Oh, it’s just average. If my pipa playing was really good, I wouldn’t be struggling to make money by baking cakes; I’d be teaching others how to play. Compared to my family, besides being slightly better than my third sister who has never held an instrument, I’m no match for my elder sister and brother." Li Yu En sighed, "My eldest sister’s pipa playing is truly excellent, I never dare to play the pipa in front of her, she’d laugh at me."

Playing so well and yet claiming it’s not good?

Is she being humble or mocking?

The faces of Third Aunt Lou’s family turned sour.

With his wife bringing him pride, Lou Chengye was delighted, inviting two cousins, "Come on, let them play their games; we’ll go drink instead."

The two sons of Third Aunt Lou awkwardly replied, "Drink, drink," and retreated outside.

Inside the room, Li Yu En cheerfully returned the golden hairpin to Second Lady Lou, "Thank you, Second Sister-in-law," and then unreservedly accepted the gold ring inlaid with pearls from the eldest daughter-in-law of Third Aunt Lou, "Thanks, cousin-in-law, I won’t hold back."

"A willing bet means a willing loss, so take it," said the eldest daughter-in-law of Third Aunt Lou, forcing a smile, though secretly resenting Li Yu En.

This village girl won over her? Unbelievable!

After one round, everyone continued with their drinking games.

Third Aunt Lou’s family lost a round, losing face, and her two daughters along with two daughters-in-law wanted to offset their defeat, casting secret glances among themselves to set up Li Yu En.

Li Yu En accepted the challenge without hesitation.

Whether it was word chain, drinking games, drum passing, or impromptu musical performance, she won every round.

If there were stakes, she won them all.

Li Yu En gleefully adorned herself with the rings, hairpins, bracelets, and small jade pendants she won.

She flaunted her wrists proudly, "Come on again."

Third Aunt Lou’s face fell.

Her daughters and daughters-in-law were unwilling to continue playing.

Play more?

Nothing left to lose! Continuing would just lose dignity!

"Playing the same thing repeatedly is quite dull," Third Aunt Lou said with a smile, pulling Li Yu En up, "Let’s go outside and admire the plum blossoms."

"Sounds good," Li Yu En replied cheerfully.

Everyone stood up, following them to admire the plum blossoms outside the Warm Pavilion.

The plum blossoms in the small garden were in lively bloom.

Third Aunt Lou glanced at Li Yu En, smiling, "My dear niece-in-law, there used to be many plum trees in front of your He Feng Courtyard. If you hadn’t cut them down, their blooms would definitely be more beautiful than those here in this garden. I remember these were your mother-in-law’s favorite plum trees, right? You truly are bold, daring to cut down her trees."

Upon these words, her daughters and daughters-in-law all turned to Li Yu En with peculiar expressions.

Someone laughed and said, "Little sister-in-law, how did you manage to cut down the plum trees your aunt liked? Were you always so reckless with trees in the countryside?"

What was that supposed to mean? The nanny sent by Old Lady Lou instantly wore a stern face.

Second Lady Lou couldn’t hide her chuckles.

Liu Er Niu glared at the people from Third Aunt Lou’s family.

Li Yu En, unperturbed, continued to smile, "Ah, it was with my mother-in-law’s permission, cousin-in-law. Didn’t you know?"

The eldest daughter-in-law of Third Aunt Lou raised her eyebrows, "How is that possible? How could Aunt possibly agree to let you cut down the plum trees?"

Li Yu En said, "Third Aunt didn’t want you to cut her tree, so you think my mother-in-law wouldn’t want me to cut mine? Cousin-in-law, that’s not quite right; my mother-in-law agreed, she didn’t say a word against it. I heard she disliked the way the plum blossoms looked, always upset, saying the plum tree varieties weren’t chosen well. Wasn’t it your family that sent those plum trees? Strange, why do the plum blossoms at your place look good while ours don’t? How come? One batch of plum trees, yet they differ? Could there be two kinds of trees in one batch?"

Third Aunt Lou: "..."

Eldest daughter-in-law: "..."

How to continue this conversation?

Suppressing her displeasure, Third Aunt Lou said, "Niece-in-law, let’s go take a look in the front."

If the plum tree is mentioned again, who knows what this village girl will say!

Today, inviting Li Yu En to play resulted in the whole family of Third Aunt Lou in dissatisfaction because they gained nothing. After arranging lunch for Li Yu En’s group, they sent them back to Lou Mansion.