Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands

Chapter 451 - 430: Li Yuzhu Drives Away Liu Family Mother and Son (1)

Chai E Ying had just finished making a small baby blanket and was lifting it up to admire her work when Li Yuzhu walked into the room.

"Sister-in-law." Li Yuzhu greeted her with a smile.

Chai E Ying turned around with a smile, saying, "Come, take a look at the little blanket I made. Does it look good?"

This was a small blanket about the size of a tabletop.

Chai E Ying’s baby was due next March, which is also March in the lunar calendar.

By then, it would be spring, warm with flowers blooming, perfect for a small blanket during the day.

Li Yuzhu took it over to look at and said with a smile, "It’s not easy to make this blanket."

It’s a patchwork blanket, a tradition in the village where even wealthy families would make these blankets for their babies using various leftover fabric pieces.

It’s even more favored by the elderly if made from fabric collected from various households, symbolizing longevity.

Chai E Ying smiled, "Well, it’s not too hard. I pieced a bit together whenever I had free time and finished it in half a month."

Li Yuzhu laughed, "Only you, sister-in-law, have the patience. I can’t do this."

"But you can do other things, like preparing these medicine pills. I’m completely clueless." Chai E Ying responded with a smile.

Li Yuzhu put the blanket down and said, "I almost forgot, sister-in-law, please sit down. Let me take your pulse again."

Her serious demeanor made Chai E Ying tense, "Sister, what have you forgotten? You just checked me and said I was fine, didn’t you?"

"I can check whether it’s a boy or a girl now." Li Yuzhu smiled gently at her.

Chai E Ying became tense, "Sister... sister..."

Li Yuzhu looked at her with a smile, "Sister-in-law, do you prefer boys or girls?"

Without hesitation, Chai E Ying replied, "I like them both."

Li Yuzhu continued with a smile, "But there must be a preference, right?"

"They are all your brother’s children, how can one choose?" Chai E Ying laughed, "Sister, when you become a mother, you’ll understand. There’s no distinction, they are loved equally."

Li Yuzhu announced, "Sister-in-law, you’re carrying a boy."

Chai E Ying was stunned for a moment and then smiled delightedly, "Really... really?"

Li Yuzhu nodded with a smile, "It’s true, I didn’t see it wrong." The baby was cooperative, allowing her to see clearly.

Sometimes the baby is mischievous, grabbing the umbilical cord and blocking the view so the gender can’t be determined.

Chai E Ying laughed, "Thankfully, I didn’t tear apart Jingjing’s little clothes to make diapers. Now I can wash them for the second child."

Li Yuzhu pointed to a pile of baby clothes on the small bed, laughing, "Sister-in-law, these clothes should be enough, no need to use Jingjing’s old clothes, right?"

Chai E Ying, being diligent, had made clothes for up to three years old.

"We need them, old clothes are good for a child, they shouldn’t be raised too lavishly." Chai E Ying said as she truly went to organize Li Jing’s old clothes.

As Li Yuzhu thought about whether to tell Li Xingmao the news, Uncle Gui found her and said, "Miss Li, the Liu Family from Qingshui River Village is here to talk with you."

Li Yuzhu chuckled, Liu Yanbai’s mother and his elder brother really came!

"I’m coming." Li Yuzhu greeted Chai E Ying and followed Uncle Gui to the front courtyard entrance.

Lady Liu didn’t beat around the bush upon seeing Li Yuzhu, saying directly, "Miss Li, I’m here to see Er Dan."

Li Yuzhu responded, "He’s in class at the academy."

Lady Liu craned her neck to peer into the house, "Then... can I see him?"

As she looked, her eldest son did too.

The mother and son looked enviously at the Li family’s house.

Li Yuzhu stood outside the house, not letting them in.

Uncle Gui stood beside Li Yuzhu, glaring disdainfully at Lady Liu and her son.

Li Yuzhu said to Uncle Gui, "Uncle Gui, please ask Liu Yanbai to come out."

Uncle Gui was reluctant, thinking this woman claimed to be Liu Yanbai’s mother, but she hadn’t visited even once in the past two months.

And today she came empty-handed, which showed she wasn’t sincere about seeing her son.

Of course, the son was kicked out, how could it be sincere?

Liu Yanbai came wearing shabby clothes, Uncle Gui felt sorry and gave him some of his own clothes.

He sneered coldly, "You have the nerve to meet Liu Yanbai? Do you even see him as your son?"

Lady Liu became angry, "I gave birth to him, why can’t I see him?"

"I’ve lived to sixty and have seen many things, but you’re the first to kick out your own son!" Uncle Gui shouted angrily.

Lady Liu wanted to retort but was silenced by Li Yuzhu’s stern gaze. Afraid that Miss Li wouldn’t take Liu Yanbai to town, she lowered her voice, "I heard he’s going to town soon, I came to remind him to behave. If you don’t let me see him, I’ll find him myself."

"Uncle Gui, let her see him." Li Yuzhu said, it would let Liu Yanbai see his mother’s true nature, making him stronger.

"Yes, Miss." Uncle Gui glared at Lady Liu and headed to the academy beside the courtyard.

While waiting for Liu Yanbai, the eyes of the Liu family mother and son were constantly shifting, especially Liu Yanbai’s brother who kept sneaking glances at Li Yuzhu with a sleazy expression.

Mu Yuanxiu walked out from the house, noticing his sneaky look, and coldly said, "Liu Dalang, where are you looking?"

This being someone else’s home, Liu Dalang shrank back, standing properly.

Soon, Uncle Gui brought Liu Yanbai over.

Before Liu Yanbai could speak, Lady Liu started, "Er Dan, I heard you’re going to town tomorrow, is that right?"

She noticed Liu Yanbai wasn’t wearing the clothes from home, though they were semi-worn, the material was good.

Liu Yanbai looked at her indifferently, "What do you want?" He didn’t sound like a son speaking to his mother.

Lady Liu angrily said, "I’m your mother, I can find you anytime, do I need a reason?"

"You’re not my mother." Liu Yanbai’s lips trembled, "Speak your business, don’t talk nonsense, or I’ll leave." He said and turned to walk away.

Lady Liu was furious, reaching to grab Liu Yanbai, "You brat! I gave birth to you and you treat your mother like this?"

Her hand couldn’t reach Liu Yanbai, Mu Yuanxiu grabbed her arm and pushed her aside, nearly making her fall.

"Say what you’ve got to say, cause trouble in the Li family and I’ll deal with you myself." Mu Yuanxiu glared fiercely.

Lady Liu was scared, not daring to pull Liu Yanbai again, "Er Dan, your brother is going on a matchmaking today. The marriage will soon be settled. Once you earn money in town, make sure to bring it home. He’s planning to buy a carriage — you can ride it too, I’m thinking a carriage costs thirty silver, plus twenty for your brother’s bride price, and the cost of the banquet and home renovations, at least prepare sixty silver."

Li Yuzhu listened and laughed, amazed at Lady Liu’s thick-skinned request.

She chuckled, "Lady Liu, who said he’d earn money once he goes to town?"

"You let him work but don’t pay him?" Lady Liu snapped.

Li Yuzhu lifted her chin, "Of course not! He’s been living at our home, eating our food, wearing our clothes; there’s no rent paid. He should have to pay for food and lodging, right? A day’s meal costs ten coins, he’s stayed fifty-five days now, so that’s five hundred and fifty coins, plus three outfits and two pairs of shoes, another four hundred coins."

"..."

"Oh, there’s also last month and this month’s tuition — and last year’s tuition for Mr. Song that hasn’t been paid. Mr. Song says Liu Yanbai owes him money, so he’ll have to pay him back once he earns it. Lady Liu, you wouldn’t cheat a nearly seventy-year-old, sick old teacher out of his coins, would you?"

These words frightened Lady Liu, "Wh... what? Wasn’t it supposed to be free? Why is there a charge?"

Li Yuzhu sneered, "Who said it’s always free? Being supported isn’t charity! Charity is free, support is to be repaid!"

Lady Liu’s eldest son counted on his fat fingers, "Mom, how much do we have to pay?"

Lady Liu was confused with numbers, it seemed quite a lot.

Li Yuzhu smiled, "I’ve calculated — the total is twelve thousand one hundred and fifty coins, exchanged into silver, it’s twelve silver and one hundred and fifty coins."

Lady Liu’s face turned pale — that much?

Li Yuzhu added, "Oh, and when he goes to town he’s only an apprentice. We’re fair not to charge them a fee. You all still think we’d pay him?"