Mu Yuanxiu slightly raised his eyebrows, indicating he didn’t understand.
"We’re also going to Qingshui River Village, don’t you think it’s destiny?" Second Young Master Li walked towards Mu Yuanxiu, patting him on the shoulder.
Mu Yuanxiu glanced at Li Yuzhu and nodded, saying, "Li Er, it seems we truly are destined."
"Since it’s destiny, let’s follow fate and not go our separate ways. Let’s go together, shall we?" Second Young Master Li patted the cow cart, "The cart’s so empty, and Niuniu pulling an empty cart on a muddy road might slip. We ought to add some weight, don’t you think, Brother Mu?"
Mu Yuanxiu twitched his mouth, "Li Er, you’re absolutely right."
"In that case, why don’t you all come sit up here and help Brother Mu add some weight, so his cart doesn’t slide and travel slowly?" Second Young Master Li waved to his siblings.
"Sure thing, Er." The Second Princess was absolutely delighted.
She was nearly driven to tears by the muddy ground, happily lifting her skirt and was the first to climb onto the cow cart.
Li Xing’an also came over with Li Yuzhu on his back.
He first placed Li Yuzhu onto the cow cart, then dusted off his sleeves and sat down, "Brother Mu, you’re lucky to have met us to help weigh down the empty cart. Otherwise, this empty cart of yours might tip over."
Second Young Master sat next to Mu Yuanxiu.
He nodded seriously, "Exactly, Brother Mu, you should thank us."
Mu Yuanxiu thanked sincerely, "Many thanks to you two brothers."
"No need to thank us, we’re neighbors after all." Second Young Master waved his hand.
"Exactly, there’s no need for formalities between neighbors," Li Xing’an echoed generously.
The Second Princess, not understanding a word, concentrated on using a small twig to scrape the wet mud off the edge of her shoes.
Li Yuzhu couldn’t help but laugh.
These two brothers, are they bullying Mu Yuanxiu for his good nature?
Mu Yuanxiu indeed had a good temper, not voicing any complaints, simply saying, "Li Er, Li San, what are you going to Qingshui River Village for?"
He whipped the ox’s back, urging Niuniu to pick up the pace.
"We suspect Eldest Sister ran off to Qingshui River Village, so we’re going to find her," the Second Princess said.
"Ah, the little girl is going to ask a friend something," Second Young Master said.
He couldn’t exactly tell people his sister ran off to have a fight.
With a reputation that fierce, how would she ever get married?
Mu Yuanxiu merely uttered an "Oh," not saying much else.
However, Li Xing’an turned to ask Mu Yuanxiu, "Oh, Brother Mu, where did you get this cow cart?"
"It’s Liu the Bricklayer’s cow cart. His family asked me to go to Qingshui River Village to pick someone up."
"Liu the Bricklayer’s cow cart?" Li Xing’an and Second Young Master exchanged a glance, aghast, realizing they were headed to the same place.
If the Great Princess got into a fight and this guy saw and spread rumors, what would they do?
The two were troubled. If they didn’t take the cart, who knows when they’d ever arrive?
But if they took the cart...
Never mind, they’ll play it by ear and get off midway.
The two exchanged a glance in agreement.
"Oh, who are you going to pick up?" Li Xing’an asked casually.
"Not sure, they just gave me a family name and asked me to find them," Mu Yuanxiu replied.
Hearing this, the two brothers felt relieved.
Maybe he’s not going to Liu the Bricklayer’s granddaughter’s husband’s family after all?
Riding the cow cart, they made swift progress.
Seven or eight miles took less than half an hour.
Thinking about it, if they had walked, they might not have arrived before dark. If the Great Princess really got into a fight, she might have already been beaten to a pulp.
Upon entering the village, Second Young Master said, "Hey, Brother Mu, don’t you have other matters to attend to? You go ahead, we’re busy too. Let’s catch up over a meal another day."
As he spoke, he waved to his siblings, signaling them to prepare to get off the cart.
The Second Princess frowned, reluctant to get off.
The roads in Qingshui River Village were even worse than those before Niu Tou Mountain.
There, at least there was grass on the road, not much mud.
Here, there’s no grass, all mud. Stepping down, her shoes might get stuck.
Li Yuzhu didn’t mind. In her past life in the countryside before the cement roads reached the village, it was much the same.
She lifted her skirt, thanked Mu Yuanxiu, and was about to get off.
This time Mu Yuanxiu said, "Wait a minute, look, who’s that?"
He pointed to a courtyard ahead.
Everyone looked in the direction he pointed and were all shocked.
Goodness, it was the Great Princess!
She was wielding a broom, fighting with a tall, middle-aged woman!
The fight was fierce, even more formidable than the village girls.
The woman was evidently losing, her hair a mess, her body covered in mud marks from the broom.
Beside them stood a young woman with a bandaged arm, anxiously saying something to the Great Princess.
Second Young Master covered his face, it was over. Their once elegant sister, the Great Princess, known as the Capital’s number one lady, had blended into the countryside ways.
"That must be Eldest Sister Li." Mu Yuanxiu remarked.
Li Xing’an closed his eyes, refusing to acknowledge this foolish younger sister.
Li Yuzhu widened her eyes and indeed saw the Great Princess.
The Second Princess, unable to lie, admired earnestly, "That’s my Eldest Sister, wow, she’s great at fighting, she hasn’t lost yet. That woman is taller but still can’t beat her."
Second Young Master and Li Xing’an both glared at her, "Keep your mouth shut!"
The Second Princess blinked, "..." What did she say wrong?
"What a coincidence, finding Eldest Sister as soon as we enter the village. Let’s go over and have a look, make sure she doesn’t get hurt." Mu Yuanxiu drove the cow cart over.
Concerned for their sister, Second Young Master and Li Xing’an jumped off the cart together before it even stopped.
Not caring if their robes got splashed with mud, they rushed up to restrain the middle-aged woman, "Little Sis, go back! We’ll help you!"
"Great, brothers, hold her down. This old hag has cursed me terribly, I’m going to knock out her teeth today!" Seeing reinforcements, the Great Princess felt even more emboldened.
The broom in her hand swung like a windmill, fiercely attacking the old woman.
"Oh, where did this little wretch come from, daring to cause trouble at my house? Your mother ran off with another man, leaving you so ill-mannered!" The woman still cursed.
"You’re still cursing, I’ll beat you to death!" The Great Princess hit her twice with the broom.
The woman, held left and right by Second Young Master and Li Xing’an, took the hits squarely.
"Stop, stop, you shouldn’t interfere with my family’s matters!" The young woman with the bandaged arm rushed over to pull the Great Princess away, "Miss, you shouldn’t interfere with my family’s affairs, just leave, all of you leave."
The Great Princess put down the broom, pointing at the young woman in disappointment, "Liu Da Niu, have some backbone, will you? Your arm is broken cooking for her, yet you still get beaten and scolded. You won’t even let me stick up for you or scold her back. How can you be so spineless?"