Help! The Frosty Noble's Son Is in Love With Me!-Chapter 310: Why Not Tell Cousin the Truth?

"Jirou, is that you, Jirou?"

Qu Fulan looked up and saw a middle-aged woman above, also dressed in tea-picking attire, carrying a basket, her head wrapped in a kerchief, looking at her in disbelief.

Qu Fulan was sure she had never seen this woman before, but she could call out the original name. Could she be another acquaintance from the past?

The woman saw her confused expression and couldn’t help but walk over excitedly, but a tall, elegant figure blocked her way. This person was handsome and noble, even in simple clothes, exuding an air of grandeur. The woman was startled but couldn’t help but call out to Li Jirou.

"Jirou, I’m your mother’s sister, Mrs. Li. Don’t you remember me?"

Mrs. Li?

Qu Fulan quickly searched her mind for this person, and indeed she found her.

Li Jirou’s mother was also surnamed Li, and had a sister named Li Xian who married a merchant. This Mrs. Li often visited the original owner’s home and was very kind to her.

Later, when trouble befell the Li Family, Mrs. Li was not implicated; instead, she visited them in prison several times, spending silver in attempts to make their time there better. But what could a merchant’s family change?

The Li Family ultimately faced banishment, death, and being sold off.

After Li Jirou went to the Xiao Family, she even mentioned Mrs. Li to Xiao Shiqing several times, hoping he could help search for her.

It turned out that her hometown had suffered a plague, causing many to leave their homes; Mrs. Li’s family was among them, and they could no longer be traced.

Li Jirou had no relatives left, feeling increasingly sorrowful and pained.

Unexpectedly, she appeared here today, allowing Qu Fulan to encounter her.

Midway up the mountain.

Qu Fulan and Pei Ji’an stood in front of a thatched house.

Mrs. Li was also visibly uneasy, wiping down the tables and benches in the yard, "The thatched eaves are humble, and there’s no clean place for you to sit. Please sit here; I’ll go inside and brew some tea."

Qu Fulan quickly said, "Auntie, there’s no need to trouble yourself. We’re not thirsty. Let’s sit together and talk slowly."

Mrs. Li felt too embarrassed to sit. Being a peasant woman, she dared not sit with noble guests, not even daring to glance at Pei Ji’an.

Pei Ji’an noticed and said, "The environment here on the mountain is quite nice. I’ll take a walk. Call me if you need anything."

The oppressive aura was gone, and Mrs. Li quietly sighed in relief before daring to sit down. She wanted to take her niece’s hand to speak, but seeing her soft, delicate hands, while her own were rough, she quickly retracted her hand, "The last time I saw your mother in prison, she told me to ensure your safety. But by the time I arrived, it was too late. You had already been sold off to who knows where. Over these years, even while far from home, I haven’t forgotten to look for you. But being a widowed woman with two children, my strength was limited, and I could never find any trace of you. Now that I see you’re well, I can finally rest easy. But tell me, how have you been all these years? Were your days tough?"

After asking, she realized the inappropriateness of her words and quickly rephrased, "Look at me, you look well now. You must have been living well. I was worrying needlessly."

Qu Fulan shook her head and recounted her experiences simply, about being a servant and eventually getting married.

Mrs. Li’s eyes turned warm, "Poor child, it seems your hardships have come to an end. Your mother in the afterlife should be at peace now."

Qu Fulan continued, "I have now changed my name to Qu Fulan, and that gentleman is Heir Pei, who is now my husband."

Mrs. Li’s expression changed to unease, "When I called you Jirou earlier, did I expose anything? If your husband finds out about your true identity, will it..."

After all, since the Li Family committed a crime, it’s best if others don’t know. She had been very discreet in her search over the years, fearing something would go wrong.

"No, he knows everything," Qu Fulan reassured her.

"That’s good, that’s good," Mrs. Li felt a sense of relief. Otherwise, if her negligence affected her niece’s marriage, she would be unforgivable.

Qu Fulan asked, "Has Auntie been living here all these years?"

If that were the case, the fact that the heroine in the original work couldn’t find her suggests it was all the will of fate.

"Not exactly." Mrs. Li then recounted her experiences over the years. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

It turned out she was a lone mother roaming from place to place with her children, settling in several locations, only to move again when life became too tough.

"Later, I heard that there was a tea plantation here that always hired workers. So, I came with my two children. We’ve been living here for three years now. There’s tea to pick all year. Your brother and sister, one named Cheng and the other Jinxiu, now Cheng helps with commerce as an apprentice, and Xiu, like me, picks tea daily. Life is smooth."

When Mrs. Li spoke of these things, her eyes shone with light, showing her satisfaction with her life. The only regret was not finding her niece. Now that she had found her, and she seemed to be doing well, she could be completely at ease.

In the evening, they naturally dined at Mrs. Li’s place.

Mrs. Li truly slaughtered the home-raised chickens and ducks to properly entertain her niece and her husband.

Qu Fulan could not stop her.

"They’re home-raised; it won’t cost much. I’ll gather some mushrooms and wild vegetables from the mountain to stew. The mountain mushrooms are especially delicious." After saying this, she left with a basket, asking Qu Fulan to wait at home.

Not long after, Mrs. Li returned with a bountiful harvest, accompanied by a girl. There was no need to mention who it was.

The little girl appeared to be thirteen or fourteen, wearing coarse linen clothes, with fine skin, a pair of bright, curious eyes looking at her.

They say eyes are the windows to the soul. Looking into this girl’s eyes, as clear and pure as mountain spring water, it was evident she grew up cherished, the family treasure, lacking nothing in love.

"This child, not even calling anyone, this is your Cousin Qu, do remember," Mrs. Li quickly said.

"Cousin," Jinxiu initially didn’t react, but when she did, she smiled and called out.

The little girl had very pronounced dimples when she smiled.

Qu Fulan responded and then called her cousin back.

"Cheng might be back late tonight, that’s just how it is with run errands for people."

Then Aunt started preparing the meal with Jinxiu to help.

When it was time to eat, Mrs. Li became troubled. The family’s tableware was old, none new. Usually, they didn’t mind when eating alone, but now it felt lacking for hosting her niece and her husband.

"I’ll go buy some tableware."

There were also places nearby that made ceramic bowls and teapots, all easily purchased.

Pei Ji’an said, "There’s no need to buy, what we have will do."

Mrs. Li still felt embarrassed, but since her son-in-law said so, she couldn’t insist.

The family sat to eat together.

Due to Pei Ji’an’s undeniable presence, the meal was a bit stifled, if not for Qu Fulan occasionally enlivening the atmosphere, one couldn’t tell how awkward it might have been.

After the meal, the two took their leave.

"We are staying at an inn; we’ll visit Auntie again tomorrow."

Although Mrs. Li wanted to chat longer with Qu Fulan, she ultimately dared not insist, watching them leave.

"Mother, why didn’t you tell Cousin the truth?"

What truth? There was no need to ask; Mrs. Li already knew.

"No need to say it. Since she’s living well, there’s no need to mention it."