Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 582 - 0543: Li Jing Calls for Mother (2)

On Luo Zikun’s exam paper, there were only a few scattered lines written carelessly, and in the end, he naturally failed the exam.

Luo Zikun no longer dared to face people.

On this day, if he hadn’t written a divorce letter to visit Chai Erniang, he might have stayed in the small house in the county for good.

Because going home would only bring more pointing and whispering.

Luo Zikun got off the carriage in front of the county government office and encountered Mu Yuanxiu and Li Xing’an.

The two of them were walking together with Li Lixing, the son of the county magistrate’s family.

Li Xing’an deliberately humiliated him, "Ah, isn’t this Mr. Luo? Mr. Luo’s literary talent has always surpassed others, you must have ranked first this time, right?"

Luo Zikun’s face turned ugly, and with a sullen expression, he walked away.

Li Lixing spoke the truth, "He didn’t pass. I heard his exam paper only had three lines written on it, and the chief examiner wrote a few words on it, ’Incomprehensible’. An incomprehensible article, it’s no wonder he didn’t pass."

Luo Zikun was so ashamed that he covered his face with his sleeve and ran off.

Mu Yuanxiu commented, "Overconfident people often do not succeed."

Li Xing’an shook his head regretfully, patting Mu Yuanxiu’s shoulder, "Hey, I say Yuanxiu, you really are something. Couldn’t you have told him about his wife being locked up a bit later? Let me make some more money off him. Although the kid is arrogant, he’s easily swayed, and he bought plenty from my shop. He’s the most generous spender this month."

Mu Yuanxiu teased, "If I had told him later, he might have ranked first. With his character, would you want him harassing other young ladies in the future?"

Li Xing’an squinted his eyes and shook his head, "Absolutely not, let him dream on!"

Mu Yuanxiu added, "Last time he mocked Sister-in-law, today he failed the exam, it’s his comeuppance."

"Heh heh, serves him right," Li Xing’an sneered.

Li Lixing nodded in agreement, "Yes, serves him right!"

.

Mu Yuanxiu stayed in the city for five days, helping Li Xing’an with some matters, and it was time to return to the village.

He was the errand runner between the Chai Family and the Li Family.

On the way back, Sister-in-law Chai and Elder Young Master Chai didn’t forget to load onto his mule cart the gifts they bought for Chai Eying.

Sister-in-law Chai also instructed him, "Your sister-in-law is due soon. If there’s any sign, remember to notify me and your Brother Chai immediately."

Mu Yuanxiu nodded, "I understand, Sister-in-law Chai."

Li Xing’an also piled things into his cart, all the best food and supplies unavailable at the village market, for the whole family, young and old.

Mu Yuanxiu had his breakfast, and drove the heavy mule cart out of the city back to the village.

.

As soon as February arrived, on any sunny day, Taohua River Village seemed as beautiful as a fairyland.

In reality, the village was just the same as last year.

But last year at this time, the Li Family had just been exiled here, with no food or shelter, constantly worrying about what to eat the next meal, and praying it wouldn’t rain or that everyone stayed healthy.

A whole year has passed.

Now the Li Family has fields, houses, land, vehicles, and horses.

The family is safe and sound.

Li Yuzhu found everything pleasing to the eye wherever she looked.

She still stayed with Mu Yuanxiu on the mountain every day, but always came down after breakfast to accompany Chai Eying.

On this particular morning, Li Yuzhu went to the Li Family house and immediately checked on Chai Eying.

She had Chai Eying lie on the couch to check the fetus’s movements and heartbeat.

"The fetal head has descended into the pelvis, it should be in the next few days," Li Yuzhu said. "Sister-in-law, take care these next few days, do everything slowly."

Chai Eying caressed her belly and smiled, "I know, lately I’ve only walked around the courtyard, occasionally watching the two kids from the doorstep, haven’t gone far."

While Li Yuzhu was examining Chai Eying, Li Xingmao stood nearby with Guoguo and Jingjing watching.

The two children looked at Chai Eying’s belly with curiosity.

Chai Eying smiled and asked, "Do you want to feel it?"

Guoguo grinned broadly and placed his small hand on it.

Li Jing glanced at Guoguo and also put his hand on it.

Just then, the baby inside Chai Eying’s belly suddenly moved.

Guoguo’s eyes widened with surprise.

Li Jing exclaimed, "It’s moving! Did it hear us talking?"

Li Xingmao stroked the children’s heads and said with a smile, "Yes, it can hear us talking. It’s calling brother and sister."

"Really?" Li Jing found it magical and pressed his ear to Chai Eying’s belly, "But I didn’t hear it speak."

Li Yuzhu laughed, "With the belly in the way, even if it talks, you won’t hear it."

Li Jing half understood and responded with an "Oh."

Outside the door, Li Yu En came running, "Third Sister, you’re here indeed, quickly go check on mother."

Li Yuzhu hurriedly asked, "What’s wrong with mother?"

Li Yu En replied, "Mother has a fever, her forehead is very hot, and she also vomited."

Chai Eying pushed Li Yuzhu, "I’ll keep watch here, you go check on Mother."

"Alright, I’ll head over now." Li Yuzhu packed the silver needles, medicine bottles, and other items into her backpack and headed towards the North Courtyard with Li Yu En.

Chai Eying also urged Li Xingmao to go and have a look.

"If I leave, what about here?" Li Xingmao was worried about Chai Eying, "I’ll wait until Third Sister returns before I go see Mother."

Chai Eying stroked her belly and smiled, "He’s very well-behaved, I’m fine, you can go see." She added with a blush, "And check the kitchen on your way to see if there’s anything I usually eat, I’m hungry."

Since she got pregnant, Chai Eying’s appetite had increased.

But Li Yuzhu did not recommend adding extra meals for each meal, suggesting instead smaller, more frequent meals, ideally five or six times a day, with some fruits if she got hungry between meals.

This morning, Chai Eying got up early and had a small bowl of red date chicken porridge and a fried egg, but over an hour had passed since then, and she had already digested it.

Li Xingmao smiled and said, "Okay, I’ll get you something to eat."

On his way out, he patted the heads of the two children, telling them to behave and not to make Chai Eying angry, promising he’d be back soon.

"Got it, Dad." The two children replied together.

Chai Eying waved at him with a smile, without getting up from the small couch, continuing to lie down.

In recent days, she constantly felt a heaviness in her lower abdomen, and after walking a few steps, it felt like the baby in her belly might fall out, pulling painfully at her stomach, so she preferred to rest whenever possible, lying down whenever she could.

However, she had woken up just at dawn, and with less sleep, she quickly felt drowsy again after lying down for a while.

Chai Eying yawned, "Guoguo, Jingjing, be good, don’t run around, I’ll nap for a bit."

When she was unmarried, even if she was very sleepy, she managed not to let herself doze off, but now she couldn’t help it; once she yawned, she could fall asleep with her head tilting to the side.

She couldn’t control it.

"Okay." Guoguo nodded.

Li Jing retrieved a feather duster from the side of Chai Eying’s small couch and nonchalantly dusted around the room.

At that moment, the fat orange cat raised by Nanny Jiang in the kitchen showed up at the doorway, meowing at Li Jing.

Li Jing, feeling bored, immediately chased after the fat orange cat.

"Fat Orange, stop right there!"

Xiao Hua, given to Li Jing by Li Lixing, suddenly leapt out from the corner.

Seeing Li Jing chasing the fat orange cat, it also joined the chase, barking all the way.

The fat orange cat, most afraid of Xiao Hua, meowed loudly as it dashed forward.

Xiao Hua the dog barked loudly, sprinting after it.

Li Jing followed them, running, "Stop, both of you stop!"

"Brother, stop!" Guoguo stomped her foot anxiously and chased after them.

This series of shouts woke Chai Eying from her sleep.

Turning her head, she saw the two children chasing after something and running off.

Chai Eying threw off the woolen blanket over her, holding her waist as she went out to take a look.

The two children ran out through the gate of the house, one after the other.

Chai Eying had no choice but to follow, "Guoguo, Jingjing, slow down!"

Uncle Gui stepped out from the side room, calling after Chai Eying, "Third Miss, I’ll look after the children, you go back quickly..."

He had just finished speaking when they heard a scream from Li Jing up ahead, "Ah—"

Guoguo cried out anxiously, "Brother, don’t move, I’ll go get help!"

As it turned out, the fat orange cat had been chased onto a swampy area in front of the house by Xiao Hua.

That swampy area had parts that were about half a foot deep with water and mud where the cattails grew, but there was also a section that was a person-deep pond.

That small pond was dug by Li Xing’an last year, specifically for fishing for shrimp.

Li Jing slipped on the weeds and fell into the pond.

He grasped a few stalks of weeds, terrified, splashing about in the water.

"Mother, help! Mother—"

Seeing his little head go under, Uncle Gui and Chai Eying turned pale with fright.

Each ran faster than the other.

"Third Miss, don’t go, I’ll go!"

"He calls for his mother, I must rescue him!" Chai Eying ran forward, holding her belly.

"Jingjing used to call you Aunt, he’s not calling for you, don’t go, I’ll go!" Uncle Gui stamped his foot anxiously.

But he couldn’t outpace Chai Eying.

Chai Eying reached the small pond first, and without hesitation, jumped in to pull Li Jing up, holding him in her arms, "Jingjing, don’t be afraid, Mother’s here to save you."

"Mother—" Li Jing was petrified, clutching Chai Eying’s neck and crying loudly.

Chai Eying patted his back to comfort him, "Don’t cry, Mother is here, don’t cry."

Li Jing clung tightly to Chai Eying’s neck, his cries growing louder.