CHAPTER 384: CHAPTER 366: ENCOUNTERING AN ACQUAINTANCE WHILE SHOPPING AT NIGHT (3)

"She actually treated you like a maid? Outrageous! Let’s go, we’re going home, who needs her money?" Li Xing’an pulled Li Yuzhu along as he walked.

Li Yuzhu glanced towards the house and said in a low voice, "Keep it down!"

"I’m not afraid of them hearing! I’ve never seen such unreasonable people!" Li Xing’an snorted coldly.

Li Yuzhu laughed, "I’m not afraid either. I refused on the spot. I’m telling you to keep it down so you don’t wake up Old Mrs. Zhao. We might not care about the Zhao family’s face, but we must consider Sister-in-law Chai’s family’s reputation, right? She begged me to come and look after Old Mrs. Zhao. Old Mrs. Zhao is her benefactor, her direct paternal aunt. Sister-in-law’s brother and sister-in-law’s shop is still under Old Mrs. Zhao’s care."

"I’m just upset after hearing it." Li Xing’an mumbled, "Huh, why did the Zhao family listen to you then?"

He started speaking in a lower voice too.

Li Yuzhu smiled, "Did I agree so readily? This is Old Mrs. Zhao from the Zhao family. It’s certainly something the family should handle when it comes to looking after her."

She briefly explained to Li Xing’an about Old Mrs. Zhao’s condition.

Li Xing’an realized, "So that’s how it is. The family should indeed take care of her."

"I hope the Zhao family understands. As for me, I won’t be looking after their Old Mrs. Zhao." Li Yuzhu said.

She agreed to visit Old Mrs. Zhao twice a month for Mrs. Zhao, staying at the Zhao family for three days each time, but she wouldn’t stay overnight.

So after having dinner at the Zhao family, Li Yuzhu left with Li Xing’an.

The carriage was later taken by Li Lixing. It was the Zhao family that sent a carriage for her and Li Xing’an.

When they arrived at Chai’s shop, Li Yuzhu let the Zhao family carriage leave.

Seeing Li Yuzhu, Sister-in-law Chai immediately asked about Old Mrs. Zhao’s situation.

Li Yuzhu said, "After taking the medicine, Old Mrs. Zhao calmed down a lot. We left once she fell asleep. I also wrote some recovery exercises for the Zhao family, explaining that family companionship is needed when exercising memory."

Sister-in-law Chai sighed, "Cousin Aunt and Cousin Uncle are very busy. I’m afraid they don’t have time to accompany Old Mrs. Zhao themselves."

Li Yuzhu laughed, "I’m not so sure. This afternoon, it was Mrs. Zhao who accompanied Old Mrs. Zhao and even assisted with her needs."

Sister-in-law Chai was very surprised, "Is that true?" Cousin Aunt is quite particular!

Li Yuzhu smiled, "If Sister-in-law Chai doesn’t believe it, you can go ask the Zhao family."

Sister-in-law Chai laughed, "I believe you, I really do. I’m just surprised to hear this news."

Li Xing’an was talking with Eldest Young Master Chai, and after Li Yuzhu called out to Brother Chai, she went to the backyard to see Li Jing.

"The two kids are playing very well." Sister-in-law Chai laughed, "Jingjing didn’t cry at all."

"I won’t cry. I’m the big kid; Guoguo will cry." Li Jing glanced back at them and then went back to playing with Chai Tianlang.

The two kids were playing with a toy, having a great time.

Li Xing’an, having finished his conversation with Eldest Young Master Chai, also came over to watch Li Jing play.

"Aunt, this is fun!" Li Jing said, clapping his hands with a smile, "Aunt, have you played this before? If you haven’t, I can teach you. I’ve learned how to play."

Li Yuzhu wanted to say, please change that to an exclamation mark instead of a question mark!

Of course, she had played with this toy before.

In her past childhood, she was a master at this game!

Among the girls in her village, she was the best at it, having even challenged boys a few years older.

Li Jing was talking about a "top"! (a spinning top)

Select a tree as thick as a man’s arm, cut it into a piece two inches long, sharpen one end flat, and the other into a funnel shape. A small hole is drilled at the top of the funnel to embed a metal bead.

At that time, iron was scarce, and copper was more common.

The tops played with by the kids had copper beads embedded at the top.

Tie a two-and-a-half-foot-long leather band to one end of the small tree rod. When playing, wrap the end with the leather band hanging around the top, place it on flat ground, and quickly snap back the leather band. The top would spin on the ground due to inertia.

To prevent the top from toppling over, one must occasionally snap the top with a small leather whip.

There’s a technique to snapping it.

If you snap too hard, the top won’t be able to withstand the force and will fly off, eventually falling down.

If you snap too lightly, there’s not enough force to maintain the top’s inertial speed, and it will also fall.

Whoever’s top spins the longest wins.

Chai Tianlang played very well, the little top spun smoothly with every snap of his small whip.

Li Jing stood by, explaining very seriously how to play.

Li Xing’an, who had never played before, watched with great interest.

Li Yuzhu smiled quietly.

Chai Tianlang’s spinning top kept spinning until it hit a sweet olive tree in the corner of the courtyard, bang—

Collapsed on the ground and stopped spinning.

Chai Tianlang sighed and picked it up.

Li Xing’an rubbed his hands and said, "Let me try."

The two children immediately started chattering, telling Li Xing’an how to play.

This thing can’t be understood just by watching; you have to practice.

Li Xing’an got the hang of it after only looking at it twice, but the spinning top never spun for more than ten seconds.

He was ridiculed by the two kids, "Uncle, my top spins longer than yours." Li Jing laughed heartily.

Sister-in-law Chai explained, "He started playing as soon as he got here and learned very quickly."

Li Xing’an snorted, "Tomorrow you’ll be no match for me."

Li Yuzhu chuckled, "Third Brother, why are you competing with Jingjing?"

"Yeah, bullying a kid like me." Li Jing protested defiantly.

Li Yuzhu rubbed Li Jing’s little head, "Do you want to sleep here tonight or go with me to Uncle Lixing’s place?"

"Sleep here." Li Jing held onto Chai Tianlang and wouldn’t let go.

Chai Tianlang held him, too, "My pillow can be borrowed by Jingjing."

Li Yuzhu looked at Li Jing, "But Jingjing, your spare clothes are still at Brother Lixing’s place."

Sister-in-law Chai laughed, "What’s the big deal? Tianlang and Jingjing are about the same size. Jingjing can wear Tianlang’s clothes, can’t he? Tianlang has plenty of clothes, and there’s even a few sets he’s never worn before. I’ll pick out a set for Jingjing to wear first."

Li Yuzhu felt bad, "Thank you for the trouble, Sister-in-law Chai."

Sister-in-law Chai laughed, "What’s the trouble? Jingjing can keep Tianlang company here. You don’t know, when my husband and I are busy with business, we don’t have time to look after Tianlang. This kid gets bored playing and runs outside of the shop, where there are many carriages and bad people, and I’m worried sick. When Jingjing is here, he never runs outside; the two kids play together and talk together, which puts my mind at ease."

"Yes, we play together." Li Jing nodded.

Li Xing’an patted Li Jing’s shoulder, "Then tonight you play here, and your aunt and I will come to see you tomorrow."

"Okay." Li Jing agreed, beaming with joy.

After settling Li Jing, Li Yuzhu and Li Xing’an left Chai’s shop to stay at Li Lixing’s house.

They didn’t want Eldest Young Master Chai to drive them in a carriage; they preferred to walk.

Li Yuzhu said she had been to the county town several times but hadn’t had much chance to see the night view and didn’t want to take a carriage today, wanting to stroll to Li Lixing’s house.

Eldest Young Master Chai, hearing her words, didn’t insist.

Li Yuzhu and Li Lixing strolled through the streets.

This small southern county town, untouched by war, had a more peaceful life compared to northern county towns.

The town wasn’t under curfew; some shops and stalls stayed open for business until midnight.

Like teahouses telling stories, performance venues singing tunes and dances, taverns, brothels, and gambling dens.

At night, these places were bustling with people and noises.

Occasionally, pedestrians and carts passed by on the streets.

Li Xing’an bought a bag of roasted chestnuts at the teahouse, and the siblings enjoyed them while watching the street scenes.

As they strolled, Li Yuzhu suddenly stopped and tugged at Li Xing’an’s sleeve, "Wait a minute, Third Brother, I think I saw someone I know!"

Li Xing’an looked ahead; the sky was dim, and there was no storefront opposite them, just a small stall selling noodle soup. The lantern hanging on the stall swayed in the night wind.

Where they stood, however, there was a teahouse, lively with storytellers hitting bamboo clappers.

"Where? Who did you see? I didn’t see anything." Li Xing’an blinked hard.

Li Yuzhu pointed ahead, "Someone went into the Daoist Temple next to the noodle stall."

Li Xing’an was curious, "Hey, the Daoist Temple is still open at night? But, Sis, who did you see go in?"

"Old Mrs. Zhao." Li Yuzhu said.

Li Xing’an was surprised, "Sis, are you seeing things? Old Mrs. Zhao is sick, isn’t she? Why would she be out so late and go into a Daoist Temple?" He glanced around, "The temple doesn’t look large; there probably aren’t more than five Daoists inside."

"But it really looked like her." Li Yuzhu said, "Anyway, since we have nothing better to do, why don’t we take a look?"

Li Xing’an was also curious, "Let’s go, have a look."

The siblings crossed the street to the other side.

Li Yuzhu first questioned the old man selling noodle soup.

She handed him a coin, "Grandpa, did an old lady just go into the Daoist Temple? In her seventies, with a chubby face and a double chin?"

Li Yuzhu gestured at her neck.