Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 590 - 550: Why not give birth to one yourself and see? (1)
Pei Shenyan and Li Yuwen entered the South Courtyard.
Pei Shenyan, being a man, found it inappropriate to enter the bedroom, so he sat in the main hall outside.
Li Yuwen walked into the bedroom with a tray, "Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law Chai, Tian Lang, come have some sweet soup."
Tian Lang cheered at the sight of the white fungus sweet soup, "It’s white fungus, yay!"
Sister-in-law Chai took the tray and smiled, "Miss Yu Wen, you left in such a hurry earlier, I forgot to ask you. It’s been two months since you married Mr. Pei, right? When are you planning to have a baby?"
On the bed, Chai Eying glanced at her son sleeping on the inside and also smiled, "Yu Wen, you’re older than me by half a year, it’s about time you start thinking about it."
Li Yuwen sighed. Could she go back to her place on Market Street?
She didn’t want to stay with the Li Family anymore.
"Well... these things can’t be rushed," Li Yuwen said, blushing.
"You two are young and healthy, just give it some attention and it’ll happen soon," Sister-in-law Chai patted her on the shoulder with a smile.
Li Yuwen, "..."
After Sister-in-law Chai and the others finished the sweet soup, Li Yuwen was about to collect the bowls when from outside, Pei Shenyan’s voice called out, "Yu Wen? I want to see Nephew Yu, can you ask Sister-in-law if I can hold him?"
Sister-in-law Chai and Chai Eying looked at Li Yuwen with strange expressions.
"Sure, brother-in-law, I’ll let Yu Wen bring him out," Chai Eying replied with a smile.
Sister-in-law Chai smiled and said, "I’ll carry him."
She walked over, took the baby handed to her by Chai Eying, and smiled, nodding to Li Yuwen, "Miss Yu Wen, let’s go together."
Li Yuwen, feeling awkward, followed her.
Worried about drafts in the outer room, Sister-in-law Chai adjusted the baby’s blanket, covering his head, and used her sleeve as an additional shield.
But upon reaching the outer room, she found the door was already closed.
There wasn’t a hint of wind in the main hall.
Sister-in-law Chai chuckled to herself.
She thought only the Li Family’s eldest son was meticulous, but here was another one.
The Li Family’s eldest son was detailed because he already had two children. Pei Shenyan was newly married, much younger than him, yet knew to close the door to keep the wind out.
Pei Shenyan, seeing Sister-in-law Chai glance at the main hall door, quickly explained, "There’s a draft, and the child is so little, I worried the wind might chill him."
Sister-in-law Chai laughed even more, realizing she was right.
She glanced at Li Yuwen walking by her side and teased, "Miss Yu Wen, your Pei Wulang sure is thoughtful. When you have kids, you can relax more." She sighed, "Unlike your Brother Chai, who knows nothing and needs reminding of everything. It exhausts me."
Li Yuwen, "..." Why does everything lead back to her? 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
If she wasn’t at the Li Family house, would they run out of things to talk about?
Li Yuwen let out an awkward laugh, "No, no, Sister-in-law Chai praises him too much."
Pei Shenyan took the baby and held him. The newborn, having just fed, was sleeping peacefully.
"Yu Wen, come and see Nephew Yu," Pei Shenyan called out to Li Yuwen.
Li Yuwen stood at a distance, idly twisting a handkerchief in boredom.
She replied irritably, "I’ve already seen him."
"Come see again, hey, he seems to have smiled," Pei Shenyan said, surprised, looking at the baby in his arms.
Li Yuwen shot him a look, "This baby is only two days old, how could he smile? Besides, he’s asleep; stop joking!"
Sister-in-law Chai chuckled, "Miss Li, you may not know, but newborns can smile in their sleep. Tian Lang did it too, just a mysterious little grin. The older folks say it’s because the baby is satisfied with the family they’ve been born into."
This was news to Li Yuwen; she’d never heard such a thing before, "Really?"
"Yes, if you don’t believe me, you can ask Mrs. Li," Sister-in-law Chai laughed.
Li Yuwen thought better of it. If she asked her mother about babies smiling in their sleep, her mother would likely say, "Why not have one and see for yourself?"
"I’ll take the bowls away; there’s still work to do in the kitchen. I’ll go check," Li Yuwen said, heading back to the bedroom to gather up the empty bowls onto the tray before leaving.
Chai Eying laughed, "Yu Wen, didn’t you used to dislike going to the kitchen?"
"The kitchen’s warm; I can warm my hands," Li Yuwen replied with a dry laugh.
When she reached the outer room, she shot a glare at Pei Shenyan.
Pei Shenyan smiled subtly, glanced down at the child in his arms, and handed him back to Sister-in-law Chai.
Sister-in-law Chai smiled, "Pei Wulang, Miss Li, come visit the baby again when you have time."
Li Yuwen didn’t respond, she opened the door and quickly dashed out.
Pei Shenyan chuckled, having no choice but to catch up quickly.
After walking a bit, Li Yuwen turned back to glare at Pei Shenyan, "You, as a grown man, what are you doing holding a baby?"
"He’s my nephew, not someone else’s child. I’m his oldest uncle, can’t I hold him?" Pei Shenyan asked earnestly.
Li Yuwen, "..." She didn’t want to chat with Pei Shenyan anymore, how boring!
.
The Three-Day Wine Banquet is set for tomorrow, and it’s only for the closest family.
Today is only the second day, and Li Yuwen is supposed to return to her home on the market street. Princess Consort Luling said, "It’s not like you just got married, why go back? Just stay here."
Li Yuwen was so frightened that she felt her head spin.
Could it be that they want her to share a room with Pei Shenyan?
Outside, she could fool the servants by pretending they shared a bed in one room, but at home, she couldn’t fool her own parents.
"Mother, this... this isn’t very appropriate, is it? The way back isn’t too far..." Li Yuwen sought an excuse.
Princess Consort Luling said, "You usually watch over the shop and rarely come home to rest. Aren’t you happy about this chance? What, are you disdaining your former room?"
Li Yuwen blinked, living in her previous room? That room was shared by the three sisters, and Li Yu En still lived there. So, was she overthinking?
Princess Consort Luling nodded at her, "Come on, let’s get another room ready for Pei Wulang. Put him next to your second brother’s room, which has been empty and has a bed, cabinet, table, and chairs, just missing blankets. Take two quilts from my room over there."
Li Yuwen breathed a sigh of relief, so grateful that they wouldn’t be sharing a room.
The Li brothers have three bedrooms.
One room is shared by Li Xing’an and Li Xingsheng, and sometimes Li Jing stays with them. Two rooms have been empty as guest rooms.
Last year, when Li Lixing and Lou Chengye came to the Li Family, they stayed in the guest rooms.
After they left, Princess Consort Luling aired the blankets and put them away.
Li Yuwen, accompanied by the little maid Cui Xi, moved the blankets from Princess Consort Luling’s room to the men’s guest room, adding pillows and laying clean sheets.
Pei Shenyan’s servant, Pei Fusheng, also stayed in the same room with Pei Shenyan, and Li Yuwen arranged a small couch there.
After setting up the bed, Princess Consort Luling asked Li Yuwen to arrange Pei Shenyan’s bath and changing of clothes.
Li Yuwen nearly exploded upon hearing this.
She held back her impatience, "Mother, he has a servant to take care of it. He doesn’t need me to arrange bath water and clothes for him."
Princess Consort Luling lowered her face, "Yuwen, servants are meant to handle the master’s outside affairs. After the master marries, indoor matters should be arranged by the wife. Didn’t I teach you this before? Look at your father and me, back when your father was in the Capital, he had so many servants and guards. Did I ever let servants arrange what blanket he used, what he wore, or what pillow he slept on?"
Li Yuwen thought to herself that her situation with Pei Shenyan couldn’t be compared to others.
But she dared not speak out.
Princess Consort Luling saw her staying silent, just staring down in impatience, and pinched Li Yuwen’s forehead, "I know what’s on your mind. You don’t fancy Pei Shenyan, do you?"
Li Yuwen glanced at her mother but didn’t respond.
"See, I was right, wasn’t I? You’re married now, what’s there to fancy or not? I’ve looked him over from head to toe, he matches you in every way! His looks, learning, conversation, temperament are all faultless." Princess Consort Luling continued.
Li Yuwen stared at her feet, still silent.
"And don’t forget, if it weren’t for him, you’d have gone off for a political marriage by now." Princess Consort Luling’s expression grew stern.
Li Yuwen finally looked up, "I owe him a debt of gratitude, but that doesn’t mean I have to offer myself as repayment. I could find him a better bride."
"You dare!" Princess Consort Luling fiercely said, "Try it and see if I don’t break your legs!"
Li Yuwen was so startled by Princess Consort Luling’s gaze that she dared not mention it again.
"Alright, go arrange for Pei Shenyan to rest. Feelings will develop over time, like for so many others." Princess Consort Luling looked at her, "You’re already half a year older than E Ying, and she’s already a mother, yet you’re still throwing tantrums!"
Li Yuwen felt depressed but reluctantly said, "Got it, Mother."
It’s just one night, after the banquet tomorrow, she’ll head back home in the afternoon.
.
The day quickly passed, and soon it was nightfall.
After dinner, Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu returned to their mountain home.
Li Yuwen took Pei Shenyan to the guest room, "You’ll sleep here tonight. I’ll go arrange bathwater for you."
Pei Shenyan, not knowing they were to stay separately, pointed at the two beds in the guest room, one big, one small, and asked, "Should I take the couch, and you the bed?"
Li Yuwen glanced at the two beds, then scowled at Pei Shenyan, he really dared!
Pei Shenyan, seeing she was upset, quickly changed his tone, "Sleeping on the bed is fine for me too..."
Li Yuwen sneered, "You wish! This is yours and Fusheng’s room."
"Yuwen, Shenyan?" Princess Consort Luling came over carrying a lantern, speaking from outside.
Li Yuwen’s expression changed swiftly, she helped Pei Shenyan sit on the bed, "Husband, is this bed comfortable enough?"
Her smile bloomed like a flower.
Pei Shenyan, "..."
