CHAPTER 366: CHAPTER 0352 COUNTY MAGISTRATE’S WIFE ADORES GUOGUO ALONE (2)

Mrs. Zhao said, "Yes, yes, yes, I remember now, that young girl volunteered that she could cure our old madam’s illness. Why not invite her to take a look? We’ve got nothing to lose, she might be able to help."

Old Master Zhao thought about it and decided that was the only option.

The doctors they found refused to even write prescriptions, while the young girl claimed she could treat illnesses right from the start. Whether she can cure it or not, it’s worth trying a few doses of medicine first.

"Then let’s have her come and see the old madam," Old Master Zhao said.

Mrs. Zhao arranged for the housekeeper to go to the shop of Eldest Young Master Chai and Sister-in-law Chai to invite the person.

However, by this time, it was already the third day since Li Yuzhu had left the county city.

"E Ying’s sister-in-law has returned to her home in the countryside; her elder brother came to pick her up," said Sister-in-law Chai. "You’re not in luck."

She said this, but she was secretly pleased.

It seemed Li Yuzhu’s suggestion was indeed effective.

The Zhao family started to worry.

As long as the Zhao family was anxious, the great-aunt had hope.

The housekeeper was very anxious, "Will she come back to the county city?"

"I don’t know that; she doesn’t live in the county city," Sister-in-law Chai shook her head.

"Where does her family live? Does Miss Yun know?" the housekeeper asked again.

Sister-in-law Chai nodded, "I know."

She gave the address of Li Yuzhu’s home.

The housekeeper silently memorized it.

After returning to the Zhao family, the housekeeper immediately went to see Mrs. Zhao.

"The Miss Li brought by Miss Yun has gone back to her countryside home; she left the county city three days ago."

Mrs. Zhao urgently asked, "Will she come back?"

"Miss Yun said she didn’t know either, but I got the address of Miss Li’s home," the housekeeper mentioned the address, "Madam, should we go to invite her?"

The housekeeper was thinking that since the madam could write to the old master, asking him to bring two doctors from over a hundred li away in a neighboring county, traveling fifty li to a local county town to invite someone shouldn’t be a difficult task, should it?

As expected, Mrs. Zhao said, "It’s just a few dozen li. Go to the Li family and invite Miss Li. Tell her that if she cures the old madam’s illness, our family will naturally reward her handsomely."

"Yes, Madam."

After leaving Mrs. Zhao’s main room, the housekeeper boarded a carriage and rushed all the way to the Li family in Taohua River Village, Xingfu Town.

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Now, let’s talk about Li Yuzhu.

Li Yuzhu wrote a short letter and entrusted Mu Yuanxiu to deliver it to Sister-in-law Chai.

After Mu Yuanxiu delivered the letter and returned to the County Magistrate Mansion, Li Yuzhu immediately asked for the opinions of Sister-in-law Chai and Eldest Young Master Chai.

"They said your suggestion was good, and Sister-in-law Chai said she would go to the Zhao family right away," Mu Yuanxiu replied.

Li Yuzhu laughed and said, "It was clearly your suggestion. I just wrote it down for you."

She understood the situation with the Zhao family, while Mu Yuanxiu did not. She was worried that if Mu Yuanxiu conveyed it, Sister-in-law Chai might be unhappy, feeling that she was spreading the Zhao family’s affairs.

After all, Old Mrs. Zhao was someone that Sister-in-law Chai respected greatly, and she probably didn’t want too many people to know about Old Mrs. Zhao’s matters, right?

She used writing letters as a subtle way to offer suggestions.

Mu Yuanxiu smiled slightly, "My suggestion is also your suggestion."

"What suggestion are you two talking about?" Li Xingmao’s voice chuckled out.

Li Yuzhu turned to see Li Xingmao and the County Magistrate approaching.

"Elder Brother." Li Yuzhu smiled and walked toward him, then saluted the County Magistrate, "Master."

Mu Yuanxiu followed suit, addressing the County Magistrate and Li Xingmao.

The County Magistrate still smiled affably, "Miss Li, I just asked your elder brother. He came to the county city specifically to take you and your sister-in-law back home."

"The family plans to hold a first birthday banquet for Guoguo," Li Xingmao said with a smile. "The invitations have been sent out, yet the little birthday star is still in the county city, so I have to come and fetch her."

Li Yuzhu found it amusing in her heart, but on the surface, she spoke of fetching his daughter, while he was actually coming to fetch his wife, wasn’t he?

The County Magistrate said, "It’s already lunchtime; you should have lunch before leaving the city."

Li Xingmao cupped his hands in thanks to the County Magistrate, "Thank you for your hospitality, My Lord."

The County Magistrate laughed heartily, "Mr. Li, there’s no need for formalities. Miss Li and Third Young Master Li already consider this place their familial home, and you can do the same."

However, Li Xingmao was, after all, the eldest son in his family. He couldn’t be as casual as Li Xing’an and Li Yuzhu. Even though the County Magistrate said so, he remained courteous and respectful.

This demeanor greatly impressed the County Magistrate.

When Li Lixing came running, he repeatedly told Li Lixing to learn from Li Xingmao.

While waiting for lunch, Li Xingmao and Chai Eying went to pay respects to Eldest Young Master Chai together.

Eldest Young Master Chai invited Li Xingmao to have lunch, but when he heard that Li Xingmao was going to eat at the County Magistrate’s house, he didn’t insist.

He laughed and said, "Alright, I’ll invite my brother-in-law another day."

After Li Xingmao and Chai Eying left, Eldest Young Master Chai laughed at himself ruefully.

At first, he was determined to marry his sister into a distinguished family, thinking of ways to get close to the County Magistrate, hoping to ask him to be a matchmaker.

But he never had a chance to meet the County Magistrate.

Now, his sister had found a man herself to marry, who turned out to be a relative of the County Magistrate!

If he had known, what was all the effort he put in back then for?

Hosting guests and giving gifts has cost quite a bit of silver coins.

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Lunch was served in the main house of the County Magistrate’s Wife. At the table, the county magistrate frequently poured wine for Li Xingmao.

His enthusiasm made Li Xingmao quite suspicious.

The County Magistrate’s Wife was even more hospitable, holding Guoguo during the meal.

After everyone finished lunch, Li Xingmao took Li Yuzhu and Chai Eying along with their child, as well as Mu Yuanxiu, back to Taohua River Village outside of the city.

Uncle Gui drove the cart, Li Xingmao rode a horse, and Mu Yuanxiu rode his mule.

The two men guarded around Chai Eying’s mule-drawn cart.

Behind them followed Li Lixing’s carriage.

For Guoguo’s first birthday, the county magistrate also sent Li Lixing along.

There were naturally plenty of gifts; the County Magistrate’s Wife personally selected them, filling an entire wicker box.

Most of the box was filled with cloth, along with four pairs of tiny shoes for spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and a small purple fox hat.

The cart carried two small children; the group didn’t travel quickly, only reaching home around dinnertime.

After the mule-drawn cart stopped, Li Xingmao guided the men to unload the belongings.

Chai Eying held Guoguo, Li Yuzhu led Li Jing, and they entered the mansion first.

Princess Consort Luling, hearing the noise from the front courtyard, guessed that Li Yuzhu and Chai Eying had returned, and went with Prince Luling to welcome them.

Li Jing and Guoguo let go of their hands and ran together towards Prince Luling and his wife, "Grandpa, Grandma."

Guoguo’s short little legs ran faster than Li Jing’s.

The Princess Consort stepped forward and hugged her tightly, "Guoguo is amazing, running even faster than her brother."

Li Jing lost the race, and to regain his dignity, he said with his neck stretched, "I used to run faster than Guoguo; today I let her win because I’m the older brother, and older brothers should yield to their younger sisters."

His words made everyone laugh.

Prince Luling praised him, "Not bad, not bad, that’s how a brother should be."

Chai Eying laughed, "Father, Mother, let’s go inside and talk; it’s hot outside."

"Alright, alright, let’s talk inside," Princess Consort Luling said with a smile.

Everyone went inside.

Nanny Jiang, upon hearing that Chai Eying had returned, brought a pot of cold tea into the main house, "The tea has cooled down; it’s just right to drink now."

Guoguo called crisply, "Nanny."

Nanny Jiang clapped her hands joyfully, "It’s been a few days since we last saw, and our little Guoguo has grown prettier."

Guoguo grinned widely at the compliment.

"I’ll go make some tasty food for Guoguo and Jingjing," Nanny Jiang waved at Guoguo and Li Jing with a smile and left.

Prince Luling held Li Jing, and Princess Consort Luling held Guoguo; they asked about Chai Eying and Li Yuzhu’s time in the county town.

Chai Eying didn’t mention much about the Zhao family, only said that the old madam liked children and rewarded each child with a small silver ornament. She focused on talking about the County Magistrate’s Wife.

"The wife likes children and gave each child a silver necklace."

"Grandma, this is from Uncle Lixing’s mother," Li Jing immediately pulled on his silver necklace, showing it to Princess Consort Luling.

Guoguo also patted her necklace, "Guoguo’s."

Princess Consort Luling was surprised, "The County Magistrate’s Wife really is generous; how could she give such expensive gifts?"

The silver necklaces of the two children were exquisitely made, requiring at least ten taels of silver.

Chai Eying laughed again, "The wife also gave a first birthday gift for Guoguo; Mother can take a look later."

"Oh, what did she give?"

"A box of gifts, including fabric for clothes for all seasons, shoes for all seasons, and a small purple fox hat," Chai Eying laughed.

"Hmm, a lot," Guoguo added.

Prince Luling looked back at Guoguo and said with a smile, "Guoguo’s words have increased, much more than a few days ago. She speaks more."

Guoguo grinned broadly.

"In the County Magistrate Mansion, every day a maid came to speak with her; she probably learned during those times," Li Yuzhu smiled.

To let a child’s language develop quickly, the best way is to let them interact with more people.

Guoguo normally stayed at home, only interacting with family members.

The Great Princess, Second Princess, and Second Young Master go out early and return late every day, and others are busy with their own tasks. Guoguo only talked with Li Lixing and Li Jing.

With few communication partners, her language development was slow.

These past few days in a new environment, she met more people, and her language developed tremendously fast.

She learned many new words.

"So that’s how it is," Princess Consort Luling suddenly realized.

After Li Xingmao and the others had unloaded all the items from the cart, Princess Consort Luling went to Chai Eying’s main house in the South Courtyard.

Upon seeing the box of gifts, she was even more surprised.

Because what was given exceeded her expectations.

She thought it was only the quantity that was large, but unexpectedly, the quality was extraordinarily exquisite.

"Among the two children, she has a particular fondness for Guoguo," Chai Eying said with a laugh, "I don’t know why either."