novelraw Chapter 473 - 0448: Urged by the Family to Return Home (2)
Chapter 473 - 0448: Urged by the Family to Return Home (2)
Mu Yuanxiu nodded earnestly and said, "Don’t worry, Third Brother."
Li Xing’an instructed Xiao Chengzi and Liu Yanbai a few things and went to the County Magistrate Mansion with Mu Yuanxiu to find Li Yuzhu.
Li Yuzhu calculated the time; she had been in the county for over a month, and it was already December.
It was natural for her parents to worry about her.
Li Yuzhu went to see the County Magistrate and his wife and talked about her parents sending a message.
The County Magistrate said, "I originally intended to keep you for a few more days and send you back in mid-month. But since Mr. Li and Mrs. Li are worried about you, I won’t insist on keeping you."
He asked Li Yuzhu when she planned to return.
Li Yuzhu smiled and said, "It’s already past noon now. I’ll return tomorrow morning."
The County Magistrate said, "That’s perfect. I’ll prepare some gifts for you to take back."
Li Xing’an and Li Yuzhu repeatedly insisted there was no need for such courtesy, but the County Magistrate insisted on giving the gifts.
The two had no choice but to stop persuading.
Li Yuzhu checked the health of the County Magistrate’s Wife and reminded her of some precautions before packing her things to return to the shop with Li Xing’an and Mu Yuanxiu.
They had come here in Mu Yuanxiu’s mule cart.
The County Magistrate and his wife gave them many gifts.
Half of the mule cart was filled.
There were food items like dried meat and fish, as well as various dried goods, such as walnuts, almonds, raisins, pine nuts, and dried jujubes, plus two pieces of cloth for Prince Luling and his wife.
Of course, since Li Yuzhu had stayed at the County Magistrate Mansion for a month and checked on the health of the County Magistrate’s Wife daily, she received gifts; besides the consultation fee of twenty taels, there was also a thick lamb wool cloak.
When they returned to the shop, Sister-in-law Chai sent more items.
Li Yuzhu laughed, "If we pack any more, there won’t be room."
Sister-in-law Chai smiled and said, "It’s nothing special, just some food that’s not commonly sold in the villages, but easily available in the county. I bought a few things for you to take back to your family since it’s nearing New Year. There’s no harm in having more food, so feel free to accept it."
Eldest Young Master Chai also persuaded Li Yuzhu and the others to accept.
Chai Tianlang stood beside the cart, saying, "Li Xiaogu, if you don’t accept it, give it to me."
He was spanked by his father.
Li Yuzhu had planned to buy some gifts to take back, but seeing this situation, she realized there was no place to put them even if she bought them.
She decided not to buy any, especially since last time Uncle Gui returned, she had bought everything needed.
After a night’s rest, early the next morning, as the sky was just faintly lit, Li Yuzhu got up.
She went to the kitchen in the backyard and found everyone had woken up even earlier than her and were sitting in the kitchen.
Li Xing’an was giving instructions to Xiao Chengzi and Liu Yanbai, while Mu Yuanxiu was making breakfast.
Li Yuzhu walked over, smiling, "Chef Mu, what delicious treat are you making?"
Steam was rising from the pot, from which plump fish balls floated.
They weren’t glutinous rice balls but fish balls.
She smelled the aroma of fish.
Mu Yuanxiu glanced at her, smiling, "Fish ball noodles."
Li Yuzhu was surprised; fish balls don’t taste good if left overnight, so Mu Yuanxiu must have gotten up early to make them?
Freshwater fish balls are made from grass carp meat.
Take a grass carp weighing over four pounds, butterfly it, remove the central backbone, and scrape the meat from the back with a knife bit by bit. This method turns the bones into shreds. Mix it with corn starch, shape into balls, and boil until they float.
This sounds easy, but scraping fish meat takes both skill and time.
Determining how much starch to mix is crucial; too much makes the fish balls hard, too little makes them break apart when cooked.
Cooked fish balls can be eaten as a standalone dish or added to noodle soup.
People who love fish but fear bones can enjoy fish balls.
Fish balls are boneless yet still have a fishy aroma.
"Brother Chai brought over two big grass carps. I got up early and scraped the fish meat to make fish balls." Mu Yuanxiu glanced at her again, "I remember you love them, so I made fish balls."
Li Yuzhu couldn’t recall having mentioned her fondness for fish balls, "Did I say that?"
Mu Yuanxiu served the fish ball noodles in a large bowl, "You mentioned it, a long time ago."
Li Yuzhu laughed, "Well, I’ve said so many things that I can’t remember anymore."
"Then don’t think about it, just have some noodles." Mu Yuanxiu placed the bowl on the table, added a small amount of vinegar, and sprinkled some green onions in the bowl.
Li Yuzhu sniffed, delightedly rubbing her hands, "So aromatic, so aromatic."
Smelling the fish and vinegar aroma, Li Yuzhu swallowed and grabbed her chopsticks to start eating. Taking a bite, she realized Li Xing’an and the others hadn’t come over yet and beckoned them, "Third Brother, Xiao Chengzi, Liu Yanbai, come and eat."
The trio waved at her, "You go ahead."
"Then I’ll help myself." Li Yuzhu smiled.
The noodles were so delicious, especially in the cold winter, enjoying hot fish ball noodles was truly delightful.
As she ate, Li Yuzhu noticed Mu Yuanxiu hadn’t eaten and was still busy by the stove, "Mu Yuanxiu, why aren’t you eating?"
"I’ll eat with Third Brother and the others. You can eat first. When you’re done, head to the mule cart," Mu Yuanxiu said, glancing back at her with a smile.
"Alright." Li Yuzhu smiled and continued eating.
They were being polite to her, so she just didn’t hold back.
Li Yuzhu finished eating, and only then did Li Xing’an and the others come over to eat.
Mu Yuanxiu served bowl after bowl of soup noodles to the table.
Everyone chatted and laughed as they picked up their chopsticks to eat.
But Li Yuzhu noticed that their soup noodles had no fish balls, just noodles in soup.
While she had eaten ten fish balls and a small amount of noodles.
Does this mean all the fish balls went to her?
"What about the fish balls? Are they gone?" Li Yuzhu looked toward the stove.
Mu Yuanxiu also ate a bowl of soup noodles, "Gone, the meat from two grass carps wasn’t enough to make a lot of fish balls."
Li Yuzhu chuckled, "So I was really enjoying myself today?"
Li Xing’an said, "Here, you’re the only young lady, of course, the good food is saved for you. Why be modest? Eat well and quickly tidy up your things. When Mu Yuanxiu finishes eating, you both can set off."
Li Yuzhu laughed, "Got it, Third Brother."
Actually, there wasn’t much to pack, everything had been moved to Mu Yuanxiu’s donkey cart, so she didn’t need to do anything.
Once Mu Yuanxiu finished eating, Li Yuzhu got into the donkey cart.
Sister-in-law Chai and Eldest Young Master Chai also opened the shop’s door, standing at the entrance to see them off. Mu Yuanxiu waved to them and drove the donkey cart away.
At that time, the sky was not fully bright yet, and a lamp with a candle inside hung in front of the donkey cart, lighting the way ahead.
The road in the county was smooth, no worry about hitting bumps, so Mu Yuanxiu drove fast.
When they reached the city gate, they happened upon its opening.
Even though it was early in the morning during the twelfth lunar month, quite a few people were already waiting at the gate, some coming into the city to sell mountain goods for New Year’s money, others leaving to visit relatives.
When the city gate first opened, there was a brief congestion.
But soon, everyone moved along smoothly.
Outside the city, the road wasn’t as smooth.
Mu Yuanxiu’s donkey cart ran slowly.
Li Yuzhu sat alone inside the cart, feeling bored. She lifted the curtain, climbed out to the driver’s seat, and sat beside Mu Yuanxiu.
Mu Yuanxiu looked at her in surprise, "It’s warm inside the cart. Why did you come out? Go back in quickly."
Saying this, he tried to pull her arm to push her back inside the cart.
Li Yuzhu laughed, brushing his hand away, "It’s boring sitting alone. Let’s chat, shall we?"
Mu Yuanxiu had no choice but to let her, "Keep your cloak wrapped tight, the north wind is biting, don’t catch a chill."
In the dark pre-dawn, not only was the north wind howling, but it also carried fine snowflakes.
Li Yuzhu bundled up her cloak and with a mischievous smile said, "If you’re not afraid of the cold, neither am I. The two of us together, right?"
Mu Yuanxiu looked at her in a daze.
Li Yuzhu laughed and said, "Mu Yuanxiu, let’s chat."
Mu Yuanxiu smiled gently, "Alright."
"What to chat about... Let me think... Oh right, Mu Yuanxiu, what kind of girl do you want to marry in the future?" Li Yuzhu tilted her head, blinking at him.
Mu Yuanxiu glanced at her, ruffled her hair, "I’ll tell you in the future."
"Hehehe." Li Yuzhu rolled her eyes, "Can’t you say it now? It’s just the two of us here, don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone."
Mu Yuanxiu paused his hand that was ruffling her hair, then patted her shoulder, "Go inside the cart, it’s cold out here."
"I’m not cold, I’m wearing a lot, perfectly warm." Li Yuzhu continued smiling and looked at him to ask.
Mu Yuanxiu reached out to touch her face, "Your face is cold, don’t say it’s not. Be good, go inside the cart."
This time, he didn’t haggle with Li Yuzhu, grabbed her arm, and forcefully pushed her back into the donkey cart.
Li Yuzhu fell onto a pile of soft cushions.
She laughed with exasperation; if Mu Yuanxiu wouldn’t say it, then he wouldn’t say it. Would he even dare to marry someone else?
If he dared to marry someone else, she’d break his legs!
.
Leaving early, they returned to the village early too.
When the sun had climbed to the tree tops, Mu Yuanxiu and Li Yuzhu returned to the Li Family.
The mansion’s door was wide open, and Uncle Gui was sweeping the fallen leaves in front of the courtyard gate.
Seeing them return, Uncle Gui immediately walked up to greet them.
"Third Miss, go see Madam quickly. Madam is very anxious to see you." Uncle Gui said urgently before Li Yuzhu even got down from the cart.
Li Yuzhu asked in surprise, "What’s going on, why is she so anxious to see me?"
Uncle Gui said, "Yesterday morning, Mr. Pei from the countryside came to visit. After he left, the master and madam’s expressions changed noticeably. Madam sat crying, repeatedly asking to find someone to fetch you back. It happened that one of Young Master’s men came to deliver New Year’s items to your sister-in-law, and as he was heading back to the county, the master asked him to pass a message to Third Miss. They must be eager to see Third Miss due to some urgent matter."