CHAPTER 189: CHAPTER 187 INQUIRING ABOUT THE PEI FAMILY MATTERS (1)

The shopkeeper waved his hand, "Young master, don’t say such things anymore. You’ve never met with the master, so how could you know his true intentions? He is always busy with work..."

After a pause, the shopkeeper continued, "Alright, alright, young master, let’s not talk about this anymore. The shop has been sublet, and there’s no need for you to tire yourself by coming to the shop. Just stay home and take good care of your health."

Pei Shenyan glanced at the shop, "Pei Ji, make sure to deal with the remaining shoes today, clean up the shop, and let it go."

The shopkeeper said, "Understood, young master, I’ve already found someone to take these shoes. I’ll start cleaning the shop now."

Pei Shenyan nodded slightly and turned to leave.

The shopkeeper was worried he might faint, so he asked a young fellow to follow him home.

"Life is tough, isn’t it? Your mother’s poor background, your poor health, being thrown into this impoverished backcountry with only fate to rely on." The shopkeeper sighed, shook his head, and went to sort the shoes.

Li Yuzhu and everyone walked back.

The Second Princess rubbed her belly, "I’m so hungry, let’s get something delicious to eat?"

She spotted a noodle shop ahead.

Inside the noodle shop, people were constantly coming and going, and steam was rising from the shed at the entrance.

The shop’s stove and pot were set up under the shed.

From a distance, the aroma of noodles wafted through the air.

It made the Second Princess drool hungrily.

Li Yuzhu said, "Alright, there was so much going on today, we missed lunch." She looked at the sky, "It’s already afternoon now."

The Great Princess patted her pocket, "Li Yu En, you’ve rented the shop, your business is expanding, shouldn’t you treat us?"

The Second Princess blushed, "Although I’ve rented the shop, there will be rent to pay in the future, and I also need to spend money to renovate the shop. I don’t have enough money..."

"Let me treat you." Mu Wuxiu said, "I sold a wild goat today and made some money."

The Second Princess said joyfully, "Neighbor, you’re really a good person."

"Thanks! We brothers can surely support our sister. Second sister, brother has money here, come on, I’ll treat you all to noodles, eat a big bowl of beef noodles." The Second Young Master waved to everyone and led the way forward.

"Wow, that’s great, Second Brother is so kind." The Second Princess smiled sweetly.

Li Xing’an also said, "Hey, count me in as well, Second Brother."

"Wishful thinking! I only said I would support sisters, not brothers." The Second Young Master sneered.

Li Xing’an ground his teeth, "Hmph!"

They arrived at the noodle shop, and the Second Young Master went to order food.

Li Yuzhu walked into the shop, observing the different kinds of noodles people were eating, beef noodles, lamb noodles, vegetable noodles, egg noodles, there were quite a few options.

At that time, all the noodles were handmade, the dough was rolled flat with a rolling pin and then cut into thin strips with a knife.

When the water boiled, the noodles were dropped in, then scooped out when cooked, drained, and placed in a bowl already prepped with broth.

Then beef or lamb was added, sprinkled with green onions, drizzled with sesame oil, and the fragrant noodles were ready.

The three sisters ate beef noodles, and the Second Young Master ordered lamb noodles for himself, Li Xing’an, and Mu Yuanxiu.

"Brother Mu, you helped out today, plus it’s to celebrate my second sister renting the shop successfully, so this meal is on me." The Second Young Master said heartily as he patted Mu Yuanxiu’s shoulder.

If we keep letting this kid treat, it would make us brothers seem useless and look down upon by the sisters, the Second Young Master thought to himself.

"Thank you, Brother Li." Mu Yuanxiu smiled slightly.

"No need to be polite, you helped out, after all, it’s only right to treat you to noodles."

They had achieved a lot today, and everyone enjoyed their meal happily.

After the noodles, Li Yuzhu and the others bought some daily essentials and headed back to the village.

When they arrived at the Li Family’s house, Mu Yuanxiu parted ways with them and went back up the mountain, while the brothers and sisters returned home.

The brothers carried large items, like bags of rice, while the sisters took smaller things, such as cloth remnants and sewing supplies.

Once everything was organized, they all gathered in the main room of the North Courtyard to report today’s gains to the Prince Luling and his wife.

"You rented a shop? Isn’t that expensive?" Princess Consort Luling, adjusting Guoguo in her arms, asked worriedly.

Though the family had some income, there were many mouths to feed, and expenses were high, so they could hardly save any money.

Li Yuzhu said, "It’s not expensive, Mother, only eight hundred wen a month."

"Eight hundred wen a month? That cheap? What kind of shop did you rent? Is it usable?" The Xue Family raised an eyebrow and asked.

The Princely Heir also said, "I asked around, the cheapest shop in the market is at least twelve hundred or so, what kind of shop did you rent? How come it’s only eight hundred wen a month?"

The Second Princess said proudly, "Not only is it just eight hundred a month, but there’s also no deposit needed, and the rent is waived for the first three months."

The Princess Consort Luling was surprised, "Is there such a good thing?"

"Yes." The Second Princess said with a smile, "However, it’s all thanks to Third Sister and Eldest Sister."

"Oh, how did that happen?" Princess Consort Luling asked curiously.

The Second Princess, in quite a good mood today, quickly recounted how Li Yuzhu and the Great Princess saved someone.

"No wonder, that young man does know how to be grateful." Princess Consort Luling sighed.

"There’s something very strange." The Second Young Master thought for a moment before speaking, "That kid looks like someone from the Capital’s Pei Family, and he also happens to have the surname Pei."

Li Xing’an also nodded, "Yes, yes, that’s what I thought too. As soon as I saw him, I thought I’d seen one of the Pei family’s young gentlemen."

The Princess Consort Luling asked in surprise, "Looks like someone from the Pei Family? Does the Pei Family have relatives here?"

Prince Luling stroked his beard, "Coincidence perhaps? The Pei Family has lived in the north for generations, and recently the whole clan is residing in the Capital. How could there be descendants in the south, and in such a poor place? Don’t jump to conclusions and cause trouble."

"Yes, Father." The Second Young Master and Li Xing’an responded in unison.

The Princess Consort Luling and the Prince Luling exchanged a glance, both furrowing their brows.

Back then, Prince Luling’s advice had offended the Little Emperor. Many people in the court urged the Little Emperor to show leniency considering Prince Luling’s impeccable record, honest character, and seniority, suggesting a small punishment instead of a severe one.

But Prime Minister Pei sided with the Little Emperor, exaggerating and listing some of Prince Luling’s minor mistakes, even fabricating unfounded accusations.

As a result, Prince Luling was demoted to Zhen An Prefecture.

Prince Luling harbored deep resentment towards Prime Minister Pei.

When the sons speculated about meeting someone from the Pei Family, Prince Luling directly dismissed their assumptions, cutting off their interest in seeking out Pei Family members.

The Xue Family, who was sitting by, listened with a glimmer in her eyes.

After some more idle chatter, everyone left the main room and went about their respective tasks.

The Great Princess and Li Yuzhu went to their bedroom, where they had bought some fabric and thread to sort through.

The Second Princess went to the kitchen.

Nowadays, besides sleeping in her bedroom and seeing her parents in the main house, she basically spent her time in the kitchen.

The Xue Family handed Guoguo over to the Princely Heir, "It’s almost time to make dinner, I’m off to the kitchen."

"Alright, I’ll take care of Guoguo." The Princely Heir lifted Guoguo high, teasing the little girl, "Come on, Dad will take you to look at the picture book."

Guoguo giggled happily.

The Xue Family entered the kitchen and found only the Second Princess there. She looked around outside the kitchen and asked the Second Princess in a low voice, "Second Sister, what kind of person was that Mr. Pei you met? Did he really look like the young gentlemen of the Pei Family?"

She was curious and eager to find out.

The Li brothers wouldn’t talk, as she didn’t get along with them well.

The Great Princess, being aloof, couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to her, and Li Yuzhu was like a smiling fox, with a smiling face but hidden intentions, so asking her would be pointless.

Only this Second Princess, who lived thoughtlessly between eating and sleeping, would speak up when asked.

The Second Princess, while mixing the dough, glanced at her and said, "Oh, just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy, about the same height as Third Brother, a bit thinner, equally handsome with eyes, a nose, and a mouth, wearing clothes similar to Third Brother’s, and speaking... seems to talk like Third Brother too."

The Xue Family, "..." What even was that? "No, I mean, do you think he’s from the Pei Family? Do you think he looks like them?"

The Second Princess tilted her head, "I didn’t notice, but he smelled of osmanthus, he must have eaten osmanthus candy or cake. Ah, I didn’t expect guys to love the osmanthus flavor too. I should make more osmanthus-flavored pastries. Oh, I’ll have to buy some dried osmanthus when I go to the market tomorrow, I must remember not to forget."

The Xue Family, "..." with a huff, turned and walked out.

Clueless!

Just putting on weight without gaining brains?

The Xue Family inwardly cursed the Second Princess.

...

The next day, the Second Princess was so excited that she got out of bed early.

At that time, the roosters had just crowed for the first time in the distance.

She was plump, and her movements were not light, jingling and clattering wherever she went.

The Great Princess couldn’t help but shout angrily, "Li Yu En, can you be quieter!"

"I’m leaving, I’m leaving now." She wasn’t upset in the slightest and left happily.

"Elder Sister, she’s going to the market today, so she has to wake up early." Li Yuzhu said.

"I’m not going to the market, why is she bothering me?" The Great Princess turned over and went back to sleep.

The Second Princess arrived at the kitchen and was surprised to find the Xue Family there as well.