Li Xing’an couldn’t stand it anymore and said to Li Yuwen and Li Yu En, "Why don’t you let Third Sister sit for a while too? Make some room!"
The Great Princess Li Yuwen rubbed her aching calf, glanced at the wild rabbit in Li Yuzhu’s hand, and said, "Isn’t she going to make rabbit stew? Does she have time to sit and play?"
"Oh, so you’re just sitting and playing?" Li Xing’an snorted coldly.
"Enough, stop arguing. Why do you argue wherever you go? Can’t you be considerate of your parents?" The Princely Heir, Li Xingmao, as the eldest brother, reprimanded his unruly younger siblings.
Li Xing’an and the Great Princess glared at each other and turned their heads away.
"The house is small, really sorry." Old Qin said apologetically.
The house had no more stools, so he sat on the doorstep.
In ancient times, houses all had thresholds, some as high as a foot, some as low as half a foot.
Some were made of bricks, some of wood.
Old Qin’s house was a wooden house, and the wooden threshold had been worn smooth and shiny.
"Big Brother, Third Brother, shall we sit outside?" The Second Young Master Li, who never minded such details, went outside first to find a place to sit.
Under the wall of Old Qin’s house, several rough logs of varying lengths were stacked, probably leftover from building a house.
The Second Young Master Li picked a log to sit on.
The Princely Heir went to sit beside him. free we\bnove(l).com
The third brother, Li Xing’an, did not go but followed Li Yuzhu into the small courtyard behind the house.
Together, they started to clean and prepare the wild rabbit.
Mrs. Qin boiled a kettle of hot water, took three bowls to the main room, and smiled at everyone, "Have some hot water to warm your stomachs."
Xue Family frowned and said, "But we have nine adults, these three bowls aren’t enough."
Mrs. Qin became distressed, "We don’t have that many bowls at home..."
Princess Consort Wei gave Xue Family a glance, "It’s better than nothing."
Xue Family, unwilling to share a bowl with others, grabbed a bowl, poured some hot water, and rinsed it, suspicious that it wasn’t clean.
Seeing the white water in the bowl, she raised an eyebrow and said, "Why is it plain water, no tea leaves?"
Mrs. Qin became embarrassed, "Can’t afford tea..."
Princess Consort Wei glanced at Xue Family, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
Xue Family pursed her lips, held the bowl to warm her hands but did not drink.
Princess Consort Wei gave her a cold glance.
The other two bowls, one was taken by Princess Consort Wei to use with her daughters.
The other was used by Prince Luling Li Boxuan and his sons.
As for the two little children, they didn’t need to drink water.
Because the half-year-old Li Guoguo had already fallen asleep in Xue Family’s arms.
Two-and-a-half-year-old Li Jing also leaned against Li Yu En, yawning.
His little eyes blinked open and closed.
Li Yu En couldn’t bear his weight, placed him on the ground to sit, letting him lie on the bench to nap.
The hot water, once cooled and drunk, quickly dispelled most of the fatigue.
Prince Luling Li Boxuan felt much better and asked the old man.
"Old gentleman, we wish to find a place in this village to settle temporarily. Is there any family that could lend a house?" He had no money to buy; he would borrow a place to stay for a few nights first.
Once they had money, they would switch to a bigger house.
Old Qin shook his head, looking troubled, "Our village is small, with only eighty-nine households. Every family is poor, no extra houses."
Prince Luling Li Boxuan felt disappointed.
Xue Family was dissatisfied with the old man’s answer and asked, "Eighty-nine households, you know the situation of all these families?"
Old Qin nodded, "My eldest son is the village chief, he often tells me about each family’s situation."