110 Xiaoyu
When Xiaoyu saw Li Yu and Zhou Jia, she looked at Li Yu with a red face. “Sister Xiaoyu, aren’t you busy today?”
Li Yu smiled at her. “I’m not busy. Aren’t you working today?”
Xiaoyu pinched the corner of her clothes with both hands and whispered, “I passed by and saw Ruyi at the door. We greeted each other. I-I’m going back.” With that, she turned around and ran.
Li Yu looked at Xiaoyu’s back and shook her head with a smile. “This girl, I didn’t say anything about you. Why are you running?”
Ruyi glanced at Zhou Jia and Li Yu and said timidly, “Young Master, Miss, Miss He was just passing by.”
“You have to know your limits and not make a fool of yourself. If you’ve thought it through, I’ll come to propose marriage when I return,” Zhou Jia said.
“Yes, Young Master. Why are you and Miss looking for me?”
Li Yu smiled and said, “I’m going to accompany your young master to Tongzhou for the exam. I’m here to tell you how to harvest those two acres of farmland.”
“That’s good! No wonder Uncle Zhou is so happy today. It’s best to have you accompany Young Master.”
The few of them reached the side of the breeding field and looked at the heavy rice in the rice field. Their hearts were filled with the joy of the harvest.
Li Yu pointed at the rice tied with a red string and said to Ruyi, “When you harvest, put away these dozen or so rice stalks and store them separately. Then, you can harvest those wild rice stalks. After the wild rice stalks are harvested, you have to personally watch over these rice stalks and dry them separately before storing them. Also, you have to remember to demonstrate to them personally when you first use them so that no one will be injured.”
Ruyi noted it down seriously and repeated it to Li Yu. After seeing Li Yu nod in confirmation, she said to Li Yu, “Miss, go to the Tongzhou Medicine Hall and ask them how much they charge for a catty of cattail. The cattail at home hasn’t been sold yet!”
Li Yu nodded. “I’ll sell it at the Tongzhou Medicine Hall this time. After we leave, you and Uncle Zhou will take care of the family.”
Ruyi bowed and replied, “Of course. Don’t worry and accompany Young Master to the exam.”
After Li Yu returned home, she went to Li Mei’s house. She saw that Li Mei’s stomach was getting bigger and bigger. Even her legs were swollen. Li Mei supported her waist and looked at Li Yu. “Yu’er, Mr. Zhou said that he was going to take the county examination. Are you going with him? If you go, you can visit Ah Qing. Aunt misses him.”
“Aunt, you’re biased. Ah Qing just came back for the Zhongyuan Festival. How long has it been?! You’re already missing him,” Li Yu said, pretending to be jealous.
Li Mei pulled Li Yu and laughed. “You’re getting more and more mischievous.”
The aunt and niece sat on a stool. Li Yu told Li Mei about accompanying Zhou Jia to Tongzhou for the exam. Li Mei nodded. “Don’t worry. Your uncle and I are at home. Your uncle has been following Ruyi for a few days and has also gained experience. We will take care of the workshop with Uncle Zhou and the others.”
When Li Yu saw Li Mei’s blissful smile, she also felt that Liu Changmin had become more responsible after coming out to see the world. If the heavens could give them a son, their lives would really be perfect.
Li Yu instructed Li Mei, “Aunt, you’re pregnant, so you have to walk slowly. Don’t be in a hurry. You have to be careful.”
Li Mei touched her stomach and smiled at Li Yu. “Got it. I’ve already given birth to two children! Go back and pack your luggage!”
Li Yu came out of Li Mei’s house. He Xiaoyu arrived shortly after. She stood at the door of the central room and looked at Li Yu. “Sister Xiaoyu, I, I…”
“What’s wrong with you?! You’re stuttering. You’re not the Xiaoyu I know!” Li Yu pulled her to the sofa. Seeing her sweating profusely, he poured her a cup of cold tea and said gently, “Come, have a glass of water to quench your thirst.”
He Xiaoyu drank more than half of the cup in one go. She put down the cup and turned to look at Li Yu. “Sister Xiaoyu, I like Ruyi, but my mother doesn’t want him to be a slave. Sister Xiaoyu, can you tell Mr. Zhou about letting Ruyi go?”
“You and Ruyi? When did this happen?” Li Yu looked at He Xiaoyu. “Also! Your mother despises Ruyi for being a slave. What about you? Do you think Ruyi is a slave?”
“Ruyi helped me a few times when I was escaping. It was only two days ago that my mother asked Grandma Chen to talk to me about marriage. I realized that I… I liked Ruyi. I went to look for him and told him my thoughts, but he said that he hadn’t considered starting a family.” He Xiaoyu lowered her head and pinched the corner of her shirt helplessly. She said in a low voice, “But I like him and don’t care if he’s a slave. Sister Xiaoyu, do you think I’m a shameless woman?”
“There’s nothing wrong with liking someone. You didn’t ruin someone’s family. You didn’t forced others to like you too. How can you be shameless?” Li Yu said.
“But my mother said that I’m shameless to like a boy out of so many other boys in the village.” He Xiaoyu looked up at Li Yu and begged, “Sister Xiaoyu, please talk to Mr. Zhou and ask him to release Ruyi, okay?”
Li Yu looked at He Xiaoyu sincerely. “Xiaoyu, I think you should tell Ruyi your feelings and figure out if he likes you before discussing the issue of slavery.”
He Xiaoyu lowered her head under Li Yu’s gaze and said timidly, “I’ve never said these words to Ruyi. I don’t dare to say them to him.”
“Xiaoyu, there are some things that you should say in person,” Li Yu said calmly.
He Xiaoyu looked at Li Yu and stood up unhappily. “Oh! Sister Xiaoyu, I’ll go back first.”
Li Yu nodded and watched He Xiaoyu leave with her head lowered. She sighed and thought to herself, People in love always think that their thoughts and intentions are right. They think that they are thinking for the other party, but they did not consider that the other party might not be on the same page.
A few days later, Zhou Jia and Li Yu set off for Tongzhou. The villagers went to the village entrance to send them off. Chen Yaohui smiled at Zhou Jia and said, “Mr. Zhou, Xiaoyu, we’ll wait for your good news at home.”
Li Yu smiled and said, “Uncle Chen, Mr. Zhou will do his best, but everyone has to be calm!”
Li Mei patted Li Yu angrily. “Girl, you should say that Mr. Zhou will come back as the top scholar.”
Zhou Jia smiled at Li Mei and explained, “Aunt, the top scholar is appointed at the imperial examination in the capital. The top scorer of the township examination is the Top Scorer.”
“So there’s such a thing! You can be the Top Scorer then!” Li Mei said with a smile.
“Aunt, do you think the imperial examination is a dish on your plate for your choosing?”
Zhou Jia smiled and cupped his hands at Li Mei and Liu Changmin. “Aunt, Uncle, please take care of the family.”
Liu Changmin waved his hand happily. “Don’t worry! Your aunt and I will take care of them.”
The two of them got into the carriage and rushed to Tongzhou City. The next day, they arrived at Tongzhou City at noon. Uncle Liu, who had just arrived at Osmanthus Lane, said to Zhou Jia, “Young Master, Mr. Lin’s eldest son came early this morning to ask if you had arrived. He asked you to go to his place when you have arrived.”
“Alright, Uncle Liu.” Zhou Jia entered the house to wash up and change his clothes. He greeted Li Yu and went out.