The Exiled Life of the Noble Girl

Chapter 32

"You may not accept my apology, but please stay away from me and stop talking to me. I can't do it."

With these words, Liu Yizhu walked away, leaving Li Mingwei standing in place, sighing in relief. She stood there for a while, staring at her toes.

Today, she had lost her composure.

Perhaps it was the first time she had been so despised by someone, or perhaps the lingering resentment in her heart had been triggered. It all came bursting out.

She had spoken too harshly just now. Should she apologize to him next time? No, it's impossible. It's better to make a clean break and not drag things on with anyone.

Liu Yizhu returned home in anger, wanting to question his mother about what she had said to Li Mingwei. He pushed open the courtyard gate and searched around until he found his mother doing laundry in the kitchen.

"I... I'm using hot water to wash so that my hands won't freeze."

Old Lady Wang was startled by his sudden appearance. She straightened her body and stammered, explaining like a guilty child.

Liu Yizhu's anger was instantly extinguished. He helplessly said, "Mother, didn't I tell you not to do the laundry anymore?"

"It's just a few pieces. They are old customers. I can't refuse." She wiped her hands on her apron and asked in a low voice, "Weren't you supposed to study at the school for a while? Why did you come back so soon?"

"You should go back to your room and study. I'll finish here soon. Studying is hard work, and once I earn money, I can buy some meat to supplement your diet."

At this moment, how could Liu Yizhu go and study? He squatted down directly and helped his mother wash the remaining clothes. Old Lady Wang understood her son well enough to know that she couldn't persuade him, so she quickly squatted down as well, speeding up the laundry.

The mother and son remained silent, with only the sound of rubbing clothes and the rushing water in the room.

After they finished hanging the clothes, Liu Yizhu stopped his mother from doing other chores and helped her sit down, intending to discuss Li Mingwei's issue with her.

Seeing him being so serious, Old Lady Wang was initially a bit nervous, but when he spoke and asked if she had gone to see that woman behind his back, she became furious.

"Do you know what she said? She actually said that you were pestering her, that she didn't like you at all. I..."

"She's right. It was me."

Huh?

Old Lady Wang froze. Did her ears deceive her? Did her son just say something?

"Mother, please don't go and see her again. It was me who had feelings for her, but she doesn't like me."

"You!" Old Lady Wang pointed at her son, her hand trembling. "What are you saying?"

Liu Yizhu reaffirmed his answer, "It was me who had feelings for her."

She was the most beautiful, knowledgeable, and adorable girl he had ever seen.

"What do you see in a woman like her? Did she seduce you? They say she was throwing herself at you. I'll go find her and make sure she dares not to pester you again!"

The more Old Lady Wang spoke, the more agitated she became. Unable to control herself, she stood up and wanted to find a suitable tool to go to the Dong family and teach Li Mingwei a lesson.

"What do you mean by 'throwing oneself at someone'?" Liu Yizhu had not heard about this matter yet. He stopped his mother and raised his voice, "Mom, why don't you understand? It has nothing to do with her. It's because I like her. I think she is a very good girl."

"What girl!" Old Lady Wang's anger erupted, "She's already married, she's no longer a girl!"

"I just don't understand what you see in her. Is it just because she's pretty? There are plenty of beautiful girls in this world. I can ask the matchmaker to find one for you. Why do you insist on liking her?"

A village woman, so arrogant and proud, dare to look down on her son. What's so good about her?

"Mom, I..."

"I don't care what you say. Let me tell you, as long as I'm alive, she won't set foot in our house."

She pushed Liu Yizhu back into his room, closed the door, and issued the final command, "You are not allowed to go to school to study anymore. If you want to study, do it at home!"

Listening to the fading footsteps, Liu Yizhu pushed the locked door and weakly sat in front of his desk, his heart surging like waves.

Li Mingwei's clear rejection and his mother's disapproval exhausted him mentally.

To avoid him, after class, Li Mingwei directly spent a large sum of money to buy fifty kilograms of coal. She would no longer go to the school to copy books. She would come straight home after class.

She paid the money and said to the shopkeeper, "Wait a moment, my brother-in-law will come to help me move it."

Since they were acquaintances, the shopkeeper readily agreed, "Alright! You go back and call him, I'll pack it for you."

"Okay!"

Li Mingwei agreed and went back to tell Wang Chunhua about it. Wang Chunhua immediately jumped up and lectured her about not knowing how to be frugal and wasting money, blah blah blah.

She didn't argue back, just listened with her head held up like that, and also handed her a glass of water, slipping it into her hand while she was catching her breath.

"Sister, let's drink some water first to moisturize your throat."

Wang Chunhua...

Li Mingwei chuckled, "Sister, aren't you going to say anything else? Are you tired? If you're tired, let Big Brother Dong help me move the coal."

Wang Chunhua felt an inexplicable surge of energy rushing through her body, stumbling from the top down, straight to her forehead. She shouted, "Dong Shan!"

Dong Shan, who was working in the backyard, froze for a moment. He kept reflecting on whether he had done anything wrong today and walked steadily towards the main hall.

He smiled at Wang Chunhua, trying to please her, "What's wrong? Wife."

"Go and carry the coal that the girl bought."

Upon hearing this, Dong Shan straightened his back. Carrying something was no small matter. Why make such a serious fuss? It's so hot in the middle of winter. Eating too much mutton, isn't it?

While Wang Chunhua turned her head, still wanting to continue lecturing her, Li Mingwei took the opportunity to quietly slip back into the house.

With the stove, Li Mingwei felt warm at home every day and didn't feel like going out at all. Yun Sister from next door also loved to come over and play with her. She was currently sewing her wedding dress, and her legs would get cold if she sat for a while.

Snuggling up next to Li Mingwei was warm, and occasionally she would even receive guidance on embroidery techniques.

Li Mingwei drew several new patterns on paper for her, and she chose one to start embroidering.

As she carefully stitched the pair of mandarin ducks, Li Mingwei couldn't help but feel puzzled. "You're not willing to marry over there, so why are you putting so much effort into this? I would think you're marrying someone you love."

"Regardless of whether I'm willing or not, this may be the only time in my life that I'll have a wedding. How can I not take it seriously?"

Li Mingwei felt a tinge of sadness. Taking the opportunity, she took out the money she had left for her and handed it over. Yun Sister touched the money but refused to accept it.

Li Mingwei said, "This is a wedding gift I prepared for you. If things don't go well over there, you can use this money to come back."

Yun Sister chuckled with a hint of tears in her eyes. "What kind of wedding gift is this?"

She hung her head, her eyes slightly red. Even if she came back, what would happen? Her parents would either beat her or send her back again.

But this was Li Mingwei's sincere gesture, so she eventually accepted it.