Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 568 - 529: Liu Family One-Month Banquet (2)
When Mu Yuanxiu was chatting with Guoguo and Uncle Gui, Li Yuzhu went to the North Courtyard Main Hall.
Princess Consort Luling was sitting in the main room, rushing to make small clothes for the child in Chai Eying’s belly.
Jingjing was playing with a rocking horse in the room.
Li Yuzhu patted Jingjing’s head and walked over to the Princess Consort Luling, "Mother."
The Princess Consort Luling looked up, smiled, and said to her, "Yu Zhu is back? Your second sister and second brother are back."
Li Yuzhu smiled and said, "I just got back from Da Niu’s house and heard from Er Niu and San Niu. Mother, is Second Sister doing well at the Lou Family? Has she lost weight?"
The Princess Consort Luling rubbed her forehead speechlessly, "She hasn’t lost weight. On the contrary, she came back looking radiant."
Princess Consort Luling talked about some things from the Lou Family, of course, all learned from Li Xingsheng. Li Yu En couldn’t say much, and the Princess Consort didn’t ask her too much.
"I’ll go see her," Li Yuzhu said.
"Go ahead, you sisters have been apart for so long, have a good talk. She’s in her old room," the Princess Consort Luling smiled.
Li Yuzhu came to the bedroom the three sisters once shared. Li Yu En was already awake but still curled up in bed yawning like a lazy cat.
Li Yuzhu walked over with a smile, "Second Sister."
Li Yu En was surprised, "Third Sister, you’re back? Come, come, let’s talk."
She moved inside the bed and patted the edge of the bed.
Li Yuzhu sat down, looking at her face. Just as the Princess Consort Luling said, Li Yu En not only hadn’t lost weight, she even seemed a bit plumper, with good complexion.
It seems Li Yu En isn’t going to lose weight. She didn’t lose weight after getting married, it’s unlikely she ever will.
Li Yu En saw Li Yuzhu staring at her, and frantically looked at herself, "Third Sister, why are you looking at me like that?"
Li Yuzhu pinched her face, "At the Lou Family, you not only didn’t lose weight, you actually gained some, impressive."
She had worried that Li Yu En might be taken advantage of or bullied by the Lou Family, but it seemed she underestimated this seemingly simple-minded yet actually sharp-minded second sister.
Li Yu En sighed, "I want to lose weight too, but the old lady at the Lou Family insists I eat more, how can I slim down?" She spread her hands, looking innocent.
Li Yuzhu laughed in exasperation, fine, when it comes to charming others, Li Yu En indeed has her way.
.
In the evening, Li Xingmao arranged for Uncle Gui to drive the mule cart to bring over Er Niu and San Niu to keep Li Yu En company.
The two little girls went to the prefecture, gained new experiences, ate well, and looked smarter and more sensible than before, greeting everyone they met.
The Princess Consort Luling liked them both very much.
.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was the day of Liu Da Niu’s son’s one-month celebration.
Early that morning, Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu went to the Liu Family to help out.
Er Niu and San Niu, who were accompanying Li Yu En at the Li Family, were released early by Li Yu En to return home.
Liu Laoda had four daughters and had always hoped for a son but never got one. Now with a grandson, he couldn’t be happier.
His son-in-law agreed to marry into the Liu Family and even agreed for their grandson to take the Liu surname.
Liu Laoda decided that on the day of the grandson’s one-month banquet, he would announce the addition of his grandson to the family genealogy.
Early in the morning, Liu Laoda invited the elders of the Liu Family to come for a drink.
Neighbors also got up early to help out.
Li Yuzhu carried baskets filled with candies, dried fruits, and red eggs, distributing them to everyone she met.
The eggs and peanuts were boiled with sapanwood, turning into red eggs and red peanuts, complementing the colorful candies, creating a festive atmosphere.
Today the weather was fine, with the warmth of spring blossoming, as Liu the bricklayer and the neighbors sat in the courtyard of Liu’s house, chatting and laughing.
Mu Yuanxiu carried a teapot, serving tea to everyone.
Hu Shuangcheng, Liu Laoda, and Liu Jinbao stood at the courtyard gate welcoming guests.
In the backyard, Lady Liu led Er Niu, San Niu, and two neighboring women in preparing dishes for the banquet, with Si Niu helping to stoke the stove.
Lady Liu’s face had never been so full of excitement before.
In the bedroom, Liu Da Niu held her son, talking with a few relative women.
Everyone praised her son, commenting on his chubby and well-nourished appearance, praising her milk supply, with someone saying her son resembled her, while another said he looked like Hu Shuangcheng.
Liu Da Niu, a new mother, was flattered to the point of shyness, but also harbored some concerns.
Her mother-in-law, Aunt Hu, hadn’t shown up since causing a scene that day, but she knew her mother-in-law wouldn’t let it go.
With so many guests today, her mother-in-law would certainly come to make trouble.
The thought of this made Liu Da Niu’s smile quite forced.
By late morning, the food was ready, and the Liu family first arranged for their own elders and a few respected individuals from the village to take their seats.
Among the respected individuals, besides a few elders over eighty, were the village chief and Prince Luling.
The village chief had already arrived.
Prince Luling was teaching the students and didn’t have the time to arrive early.
Liu Laoda counted the attendance and found that Prince Luling had not yet arrived. He immediately called his son-in-law, Hu Shuangcheng, "Shuangcheng, hurry and invite Mr. Li’s family to come, we’re just waiting for them."
Mu Yuanxiu handed the teapot to Liu Er’s son, Liu Jinbao, and said, "I’ll go invite them. I’m quick on my feet. Shuangcheng should stay and continue discussing the clan genealogy for the children with the clan elder."
Liu Laoda laughed and said, "Yuanxiu, I’m bothering you again."
Mu Yuanxiu laughed and said, "We’re all from the village, don’t mention it."
Hu Shuangcheng said bashfully, "Brother Yuanxiu, thank you for the trouble."
Mu Yuanxiu waved his hand with a smile, exchanged a greeting with Li Yuzhu, and left Liu’s house, striding towards the Li family’s residence.
Walking along the path behind Liu’s house, he glanced around and eventually spotted the familiar ox cart near a haystack ahead.
Mu Yuanxiu squinted but did not approach it, and instead, walked away.
Upon reaching the Li family’s residence, Mu Yuanxiu saw Uncle Gui at the gate organizing the whip; the carriage was ready and facing the road.
"Oh, Yuanxiu is here?" Uncle Gui waved at him.
"Uncle Liu sent me to take everyone to the feast," Mu Yuanxiu replied with a smile.
"Master is assigning homework to the students, he’ll be here soon. Madam is helping Guoguo and Jingjing change clothes, they’ll also be ready soon. The second girl was the fastest, already seated in the carriage," Uncle Gui laughed.
Li Yu En lifted the curtain and said with a smile, "Having the host wait for the feast shows poor manners, I’m just being conscientious."
Mu Yuanxiu held back a laugh, "Second sister is right."
Uncle Gui also chuckled, "Ah yes, yes, the second girl is right." Those who love to eat always have an excuse.
Soon, Prince Luling came out of the school, and the Princess Consort Luling walked out with the two kids from the house.
Guoguo wore a red dress, with red silk flowers tied in the braids on her head, looking like a lucky doll.
Li Jing was also dressed in new clothes, wearing a new hat.
The two little ones ran towards Mu Yuanxiu, sometimes calling him Uncle Yuanxiu, sometimes Little Uncle.
Calling in chaos, the Princess Consort Luling corrected them, "Call him Little Uncle."
Mu Yuanxiu didn’t mind much. He picked the kids up and placed them in the carriage, "Sit in the carriage and play with your second aunt."
Li Jing asked, "Little Uncle, where is Little Aunt?"
"Little Aunt has already gone to the Liu family, just waiting for you," Mu Yuanxiu said as he helped him sit properly.
"Little Aunt went to help," Guoguo added.
"Oh." Li Jing looked enlightened.
"This kid knows everything. How did he even know Little Aunt went to help?" the Princess Consort Luling laughed as she also got into the carriage.
Mu Yuanxiu saluted Prince Luling, "Father, I haven’t seen eldest brother and second brother? Liu’s family invited all of us for the feast."
Prince Luling pointed to the school, "I asked second brother to watch the kids. If I leave, those little rascals will turn the place upside down. Eldest brother is at home accompanying your sister-in-law. He will come after we return."
Mu Yuanxiu smiled slightly, "So that’s the arrangement, well then, let’s go to the Liu family first."
Uncle Gui drove the carriage onto the village road, and Mu Yuanxiu and Prince Luling also got into the carriage, and everyone headed to the Liu family together.
The arrival of the Li family at the Liu family’s house immediately caused a stir. Everyone stood up and walked towards Prince Luling’s family.
Although Prince Luling’s current title was just a teacher, he had connections, having relations with the county magistrate and acknowledging distant relatives, and he even secured a magistrate’s family for his younger daughter’s marriage.
Li Yu En followed behind the Princess Consort Luling, occasionally receiving greetings from everyone.
"Second girl, you’re back?"
"Come sit over here, second girl."
"How long will you stay at your parents’ home this time, second girl?"
"Second girl, you look much better than before."
Li Yu En was not used to such treatment, becoming so excited and flustered she didn’t know how to greet people.
"Ah, yes, yes, ah, indeed, indeed." She replied with a perfunctory smile.
Li Yuzhu suppressed a laugh and stepped out of the crowd, inviting Li Yu En and the Princess Consort Luling to sit with the female guests.
The two children were carried over by Uncle Gui and Mu Yuanxiu, who then accompanied Prince Luling to the men’s seating area.
Li Yu En’s public identity was as the magistrate’s younger daughter-in-law, making her the highest status person there. Today she was the center of attention at the feast, with everyone respecting her, catering to her, and all the best foods were brought to her first.
Li Yu En was so thrilled she didn’t know what to do. The Princess Consort Luling discreetly pinched her several times, reminding her to remain composed.
