The Exiled Life of the Noble Girl

Chapter 96

Li Mingwei hazily half-opened her eyes. It was still dark in front of her. She thought it was still early and was about to go back to sleep. But she found that the other side of the bed was already empty, and when she reached out, that half of the bed was cold, indicating that he had been up for a while.

She struggled to stretch her body and rolled over twice in bed, rolling to the edge of the bed. She lifted the bed curtain a small gap, and it was already bright outside. She squinted slightly and looked at Liu Yizhu sitting at the desk.

"It's so late?"

"It's still early. The sun is high today."

One look told her it was another sunny day. Liu Yizhu retracted his gaze and poured a cup of hot water to sit on the edge of the bed. He had just heard Li Mingwei's voice was a little hoarse and wanted her to moisten her throat.

Li Mingwei took a few sips and cleared her throat, resting her head on his lap, "You got up so early just to read my etiquette book for kids?"

"You drew it very comprehensively."

Chang Li had probably studied it too, but Li Mingwei's booklet even had what rituals to perform for sacrificial offerings and praying for rain. It did broaden his horizons.

Seeing her eyes closed again, seemingly not fully awake, Liu Yizhu gently placed his hand on her arm, "Do you want to sleep a little longer? I'll call you when it's time to eat."

Speaking of eating, Li Mingwei's eyes popped wide open immediately. She pouted and said unhappily, "Let me make a bet with you."

Liu Yizhu frowned slightly, "Bet on what?"

"Bet on whether we're having porridge or noodles for breakfast today. I bet it's porridge. If you lose, you have to buy me candy."

Liu Yizhu directly announced the result, "You win."

Li Mingwei pinched him, "We haven't bet yet! How did I win?"

Liu Yizhu said helplessly, "We always have porridge at home in the morning."

There was no need to bet at all. She had already won for sure.

Li Mingwei said indignantly, "We ate noodles after you left!"

Finally Liu Yizhu realized what she was betting with him. He had never liked noodles, so they were rarely made at home. His mother had probably changed to noodles for her after he told his mother that she didn't seem to like drinking porridge.

But now he had returned.

Liu Yizhu suddenly felt amused. He stroked Li Mingwei's hair, "Then even if you win, you lose."

Li Mingwei let out a dissatisfied huff. Just then, a knock sounded from outside, followed by Old Lady Wang's voice, "Son, is your daughter-in-law awake yet? It's time to eat!"

Liu Yizhu responded, "Alright, mother. What are we eating today?"

"Porridge!"

"Okay."

Liu Yizhu turned his head and met Li Mingwei's aggrieved gaze. She fiercely pinched Liu Yizhu's thigh. She just knew, "I win!"

"Yes, you win."

Liu Yizhu let go of her and went to the desk. He took out a paper package and handed it to Li Mingwei. When she opened it, it turned out to be candy.

"When did you buy this?"

"A few days ago."

On their wedding day, he saw that all the dates and red dates in the room were untouched, except for a few candy wrappers on the desk, so he figured she liked them. When he saw some being sold on the street, he bought some on a whim.

Li Mingwei looked at him for a moment, but didn't say that most of the candy wrappers were left by Sister Yun who had eaten them. She had just boredly eaten one herself.

She smiled and hooked his neck to stand up, rubbing against him, "Alright, time to get up."

After the meal, Liu Yizhu was going to accompany his mother to buy groceries. He gestured to Li Mingwei to bring her etiquette book.

Old Lady Wang saw her son still reading while helping her start the fire and hurriedly shooed him upstairs to the school or into the yard. She could do it herself.

"No need." Liu Yizhu turned a page and showed it to her, "It's just a picture book for kids, just casually looking."

"Picture book?" Old Lady Wang walked over to him. Indeed, it was full of little cartoon kids. She was puzzled, "You're a grown up, why are you still looking at picture books?"

"It's for learning etiquette, not just looking at the pictures." Liu Yizhu closed the book casually and handed it to Old Lady Wang, "Read it later, mother."

"Me? I can't read!"

"Learn some etiquette. In the future if I become an official and take you out, if you don't bow or bow incorrectly when we meet superiors, who knows what they'll think."

"You're right!" She was free anyway, mustn't delay her son. Old Lady Wang wiped her hands on her apron and hurriedly took the book, "Mother will learn right away."

"When I'm not home, go find Mingwei if you can't understand something." He paused and tentatively said, "You and Mingwei are getting along fine, right?"

"It's fine, don't worry, I haven't forgotten anything you told me."

"Is that so?"

Although they both said they were getting along fine, Liu Yizhu was still somewhat skeptical because his mother's attitude towards Mingwei had been quite unfriendly before. But at lunch, when he saw his mother reach across him and put the steamed egg directly in front of Li Mingwei, he finally believed a little.

It seemed they really were getting along well. Liu Yizhu felt very gratified.

Old Lady Wang glanced at her daughter-in-law, then at her son. Oh no, she was used to it and forgot her son was here today. Embarrassed, she withdrew her hand. It would be inappropriate to move it now, so she could only hastily scoop several large spoonfuls into Liu Yizhu's bowl.

Li Mingwei rolled her eyes. She knew it!

She stretched her chopsticks to take another dish, then said, "Sister Chunhua came this morning and asked us to go eat dinner at their home tonight."

Earlier today, the couple had gone to find Mr. Liu to sign the contract and retrieve the deed. After many years, the Dong family finally had land again, so Dong Shan also wanted to celebrate a little and invited their whole family over for dinner tonight.

Since it was Old Lady Wang who had asked someone about the seller of the land, they should also thank her.

When they said they were going to the Dong family, Mr. Jin put down his chopsticks and looked at Li Mingwei, "Dong Lei's homework has been a bit slack recently. You used to supervise him doing it, right?"

"Yes."

Not since marrying into the Liu family.

Mr. Jin suggested, "Then this afternoon you can go take a look."

She didn't even need the afternoon. After eating, Li Mingwei went upstairs and took out all of Dong Lei's homework from the past few days. His comprehension was stuttering but still normal for learning, but she couldn't stand his handwriting.

In class he wrote so neatly, but as soon as he got home it became a mess, with the strokes all disorganized. This child probably just wanted to hurry up and finish so he could go out and play.

Li Mingwei was angry.

Good! It seemed he couldn't do it without supervision after all.

Li Mingwei collected all his homework and blocked Dong Lei at the door after class, "Going home?"

"Yeah." For some reason, Dong Lei seemed a little guilty meeting her gaze. He lowered his head, "Auntie, you're not going home?"

"I am. Auntie is coming over for dinner at your home today. Let's go together."

"Great!"

Dong Lei happily jumped up and held her little hand as they walked home, completely oblivious to what he would suffer next.

Li Mingwei glanced at the unaware child, gripping the papers in her other hand tighter. Still so happy, let's see if he'll still be happy later. He really needed to be dealt with.