Li Yuzhu laughed, "An empty basket is not heavy at all."
The Second Young Master Li patted her on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Third Sister, if Third Brother doesn’t carry the basket for you, he will be scolded by Big Brother. You should understand him."
In other words, Li Xing’an wasn’t really worried about Li Yuzhu; he was just afraid of being scolded by the Princely Heir.
Li Xing’an got angry, "Second Brother, you scoundrel! You’re judging others by your own low standards!"
"Shh, don’t quarrel. Who’s coming?" Second Young Master Li suddenly tugged on Li Xing’an’s arm and whispered.
Everyone looked in the direction he indicated.
He was carrying a basket on his back and holding a bow and arrows, coming along another path, heading down the mountain.
Li Xing’an immediately retreated backward and whispered, "Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Sister, let’s run!"
Li Yuzhu was speechless. They had agreed to act nonchalantly, so why had they forgotten?
What’s the point of running?
The more scared you seem, the more suspicious he’ll become!
"Let’s not run, just keep walking forward." Li Yuzhu didn’t run and instead walked forward with large strides.
The Princely Heir was puzzled, "What’s going on?"
"Nothing...nothing... Hurry and follow Third Sister, she’s walked far ahead." Second Young Master Li had no choice but to bravely catch up.
Li Xing’an had no alternative and followed them.
The Princely Heir was completely baffled, frowning.
"Mu Yuanxiu, you’re also heading down the mountain." As they got closer, Li Yuzhu waved at him.
Mu Yuanxiu had already seen Li Yuzhu.
With a good meal and a night’s rest, her complexion was much better than the day before; her eyes twinkling under her fringe, appearing very clever.
The bamboo-green dress accentuated her slenderness like bamboo.
Indeed, she was called Yuzhu (Jade Bamboo).
Mu Yuanxiu’s eyes flickered slightly as he nodded at them, "Are you also going down the mountain?"
"Our family wants to build a house. We’re going to the village to ask the village chief where we can find builders." Li Yuzhu said.
"Old Liu and his three sons in Taohua River Village are all masons. Most houses nearby are built by them, but their family recently encountered some problems, so going would be in vain." Mu Yuanxiu said.
Li Yuzhu asked in surprise, "What happened to their family?"
Mu Yuanxiu said, "Their situation is quite complicated. In short, the family is in chaos, quarreling and fighting every day. The three father and sons have no heart to work."
"What exactly happened?" The Princely Heir was also curious.
Mu Yuanxiu had to say, "Old Liu’s eldest son only has daughters, while the second son only has sons. The eldest daughter-in-law was pregnant at the end of last year, and the village witch said it was a boy, but an accident happened three days ago."
"Three days ago, the second daughter-in-law knocked down the eldest daughter-in-law, causing her to miscarry. The eldest daughter-in-law claims the second daughter-in-law deliberately harmed her to prevent the main house from getting the Liu family’s inheritance."
"The second daughter-in-law says the eldest daughter-in-law falsely accused her, saying she wasn’t actually pregnant and used a fake miscarriage to frame her. Now, whenever the two families meet, they either quarrel or fight."
Li Yuzhu understood the root of the conflict: gender preference!
The family with more grandsons would get land and houses, while the family with granddaughters would, at most, receive a bit of dowry from sensible elders.
After finally getting a pregnancy, they lost it again, and of course, the Liu family’s main house wouldn’t be willing.
Li Yuzhu looked at Mu Yuanxiu and teased with a smile, "You’re quite young, but you know a lot."