The Exiled Life of the Noble Girl

Chapter 74

Knowing that Liu Yizhu still hadn't left, Li Mingwei continued to play the turtle at home for a few more days. She knew that perhaps she would lose a person who truly cared for her, but sometimes she really didn't know how to face him.

She was a little tangled now, should she just leave directly, or give him some time?

"Auntie, auntie."

Dong Lei pulled at her sleeve, drawing her back from her thoughts, and said, "Aunt Meng is here. Mother told you to go to the main room and read Sister Yun's letter to her."

"Okay, coming right away."

Li Mingwei hadn't originally planned to tell Aunt Meng about this letter, because in it, Sister Yun hadn't mentioned anyone from the Meng family at all. She had only occasionally spoken to Wang Chunhua about the matter. Wang Chunhua felt it would still be best to let Aunt Meng know.

Sister Yun had married out and hadn't come back since. Aunt Meng often reminisced about her, so since a letter had arrived, they still had to let her know, at least to make her aware her daughter was doing well, and put her mind at ease.

Li Mingwei reluctantly agreed. Wang Chunhua then went to notify Aunt Meng.

She took out Sister Yun's letter. Wang Chunhua waited for her in the courtyard. When she approached, she whispered, "You know Aunt Meng can't read. Later you should add a couple sentences and ask after her, don't truly not mention anything, that would hurt her feelings too much."

Li Mingwei certainly didn't want to tamper with the contents of Sister Yun's letter. But after she entered the room and saw Aunt Meng's expectant eyes, her heart softened a little. In the end, she did add a sentence on the original letter's basis, having her send regards to everyone at home.

"Very good, very good, as long as she's doing well." Aunt Meng's eyes brimmed with tears as she grasped her hand tightly, "When you return, I'll give you money to send a letter back to her, telling her everything at home is also good, and to come back with her son-in-law when she has time, I'll make fish for her to eat."

Sister Yun loved to eat fish the most.

Li Mingwei's eyes turned a little red. She grasped Aunt Meng's hand in return, "No need to send a letter back. I plan to go see her sometime, I can relay it to her directly then."

"Ah?" Aunt Meng was stunned, "That's so far away, how will you get there?"

Hearing her say this, Li Mingwei became unhappy again, "Just two days, how is that far?"

For someone you want to see, even ten days of travel would be worth it. For someone you don't want to see, two steps is an abyss.

Aunt Meng, who had been deeply affectionate with her daughter just a moment ago, awkwardly retracted her hand and shut her mouth. Li Mingwei knew it would be this way. Seeing that Aunt Meng didn't seem to miss Sister Yun's appearance much, she gave a soft huff and stood up to return to her room.

Wang Chunhua saw Aunt Meng out, then ran into Li Mingwei's room, "Are you really going to see Sister Yun?"

"Of course it's real," Li Mingwei said sarcastically. "I'm not like some people, saying they want to go but unwilling to travel two days. If she said she wanted to go with me, I could even make her pay her own expenses."

"You and that mouth," Wang Chunhua grabbed her mouth, not letting her continue chattering. She thought for a moment, and still nodded a little reluctantly, "Go on and go then. You said the letter was written by her husband. There must be some things she didn't feel right saying directly. It's good for you to go take a look, seeing is believing. We'll feel at ease after you've seen for yourself."

"I'll have your brother-in-law go with you then. That way, at least the villagers won't casually bully you two."

"Brother-in-law has things to do, no need to delay him."

Recently, Dong Shan went up the mountain to hunt every day. He always managed to get some game each day, going back and forth would waste four or five days, and cost him quite a bit of money.

"What's there to delay? Just that 100 taels of silver you gave him, he can't earn back in a year. What's it matter if he goes with you for four or five days?"

Wang Chunhua certainly wouldn't feel at ease with her going alone. The matchmaker from their village had noticed her at first glance last time, saying there were several suitable families in their village. If she went alone, they might force her to stay and certainly pick a husband for her.

It would be best to have Dong Shan accompany her, only then would she feel more at ease. If something really happened, he could also carry her sister and run.

"Sis, you really think too much."

Li Mingwei thought she looked decent enough, but not to the point where people would snatch her on sight! Her sister was really confident in her looks.

Mr. Jin really couldn't show a good face to Li Mingwei asking for more leave when she had just returned from an extended break a month and a half ago. He huffed grumpily and turned his head away, "No."

"Mr. Jin~" Li Mingwei coaxed, "Just five days. Four days will be traveling back and forth. I'll just rest one day in the middle, it's quite rushed already."

"Sir, you know Sister Yun too. She used to come with me to bring you soup before she married. She hasn't been back since marrying out. I really can't stop worrying about her."

"Sir, please, I beg you."

Mr. Jin sighed. He couldn't stand Li Mingwei pleading with him like this. Gloomily, he knocked on his teacup lid.

Li Mingwei immediately understood. She beamed brightly and lifted the teapot, "Sir, let me refill your tea."

She poured a little, but only a tiny bit of water came out. Lifting the pot lid, she discovered there was hardly any water left.

"Sir, there's no water left. Let me go and add some more for you."

She pushed open the door to the back yard and walked into the kitchen, calling out, "Granny Wang, is there any hot water? The master wants to brew tea."

Granny Wang vaguely pointed her toward a large kettle on the stove. Li Mingwei set down the small teapot on the table, and casually tried to grab the large kettle with one hand, thinking it would be easy. But she couldn't lift it up immediately, the kettle shook and scalding water splashed out from the spout.

"Ah!"

She cried out in shock and quickly took a step back to avoid it.

Granny Wang rushed over in just a few steps. She looked at her worriedly, "What are you doing?"

Li Mingwei pouted, "It's a little heavy."

Granny Wang sighed, and helped her fill up the small teapot. She truly didn't know how her son could like this kind of woman who couldn't lift a shoulder-pole or pick up a pot. Why marry her back home? To serve her like an ancestor?

Though Granny Wang had helped her, Li Mingwei still thanked her politely. As she raised her head to look at Granny Wang, she noticed her complexion didn't seem well, and her forehead had some fine sweat.

"Granny Wang, are you not feeling well?"

Granny Wang waved her hand, "Nothing, I'm fine. Just got a little hot cooking."

Really?

Li Mingwei was a little skeptical. She reached out and touched Granny Wang's forehead, discovering it was extremely hot, "You have a fever."

Granny Wang uncomfortably pushed her hand away, "No fever. I was just by the fire cooking, got heated up."

Li Mingwei wasn't a three year old child anymore, how could she possibly believe this kind of excuse? She said firmly, "You definitely have a fever."

Granny Wang still wanted to say something, but Li Mingwei grabbed her arm, "Let's go see the doctor."

"No need, no need. I'll finish cooking then go lie down for a while and I'll be fine."

"You..."

Li Mingwei didn't have as much strength as her. For now she really couldn't drag her away, so she could only call Mr. Jin over. But who knew Granny Wang would be so stubborn, still insisting on cooking before going.

"Mr. Jin, look at her."

Even Mr. Jin was a little speechless, "You should still go see the doctor first. Your complexion really doesn't look well. I can find someone to replace you cooking for a day."

"Mr. Jin, really no need. If you go find someone now, won't that delay things? It's almost noon already, how will the children eat if they're hungry?"

Seeing Granny Wang still declining, Li Mingwei was truly exasperated. Just what kind of mother raised a son like Liu Yizhu?

A flash of inspiration hit her, "Will you go or not?"

"If you don't go, next time when Liu Yizhu comes back, I'll go cling to him!"

Granny Wang: Was that supposed to be a threat?

Mr. Jin: Isn't that good news for Yizhu?