Chapter 282 - Chapter 282: Phoenix Village
Chapter 282: Phoenix Village
Seeing that Li Yu had returned with delicious snacks, the two children picked one up each and stuffed it into their mouths. Li Yu smiled and said to the two of them, “Slow down. Go find a stool and sit down to eat slowly.”
After Xing Hua left with the two of them, Li Yu said to Ji Xiang, “I forgot that the Intoxicated Immortal Restaurant opposite is the Four Seas Bank’s business. Do you think we should look for Manager Chu and tell him about the plan for our villa and ask if he has any intention of investing?
When Ji Xiang heard this, she nodded and said, “Madam, the Four Seas Bank has teahouses and restaurants everywhere. I think they’re probably relying on these two entities to gather information. If we invited them to invest in our villa, so we can get things started quickly.”
“Alright, make a trip to seek out Manager Chu.”
Li Yu saw Xing Hua playing in the courtyard with Yangyang and Qi Jin. She brought the rocking chair to the courtyard and sat in it to bask in the sun. She thought about how Zhou Jia had said that he would be back after half a month.
It had been a month. There was also no news of Sir and Ah Wei. Half of the newly bought wasteland had been opened. Why weren’t they back yet? She wondered if they were alright. She also didn’t know if her aunt had received the letter.
In Phoenix Village, Li Mei had already received the letter Li Yu had asked the Four Seas Bank to bring. She quickly asked Uncle Zhou to help her read it.
When she heard Li Yu ask her if her mother had any relatives at home and if she had a twin sister, Li Mei couldn’t figure it out after thinking for a long time. She shook her head. “It’s been so many years, I can’t remember it for a while.
After I go back and recall the past, I’ll trouble Uncle Zhou to reply to Yu’er.”
Uncle Zhou smiled and said, “Aunt, you’re too polite. Your Brother Pig can write a letter to his cousin and brother-in-law, right?”
Li Mei shook her head in frustration when she thought of her son. “Don’t mention that kid. His two sisters are much easier to take care of than him. This kid always makes his father angry.”
Uncle Zhou thought of Brother Pig’s mischievous appearance and smiled. “He’s a boy! He has to be more mischievous, but you have to be stricter with him when you need to.”
At this moment, Auntie He came back angrily from outside. Li Mei smiled and said, “Aiyo! Who made our Auntie He, who has the least temper, angry?
Only then did Auntie He see Li Mei. Thinking of the gossip she had just heard, she pulled Li Mei and asked angrily, “In-law, has your daughter been married to a good family?”
Li Mei knew that something was wrong when she saw Auntie He’s expression. “What’s wrong? Did you hear some gossip?”
“When I went to the shop in town today, Chun Sheng’s wife, her mother-in-law, and Chen Changsheng’s Cui Xiang were gossiping about us.” Auntie He imitated Cui Xiang’s sharp voice. “Isn’t she relying on Xiaoyu’s power? Why won’t she take a look at herself? She could pick from all the boys in the village, but none of them caught her eye. Could it be that she wants to choose a top scholar?”
“I know why she said this. A few days ago, she went to the village chief’s house and asked Auntie Li to come to my house to be a matchmaker. She wanted my family’s Laidi to be her daughter-in-law. Auntie Li replied to her without a word.” Li Mei sighed. “There are indeed many families in the village who have such intentions, but that girl doesn’t like any of them. I don’t know what kind of person she wants to choose. Now that she’s in the workshop, I feel much less worried. However, it’s not good if she’s not betrothed! She’ll be 18 in the new year. Could it be that she’s waiting for the Imperial Court to marry her off?”
“That’s right! I forgot. I can’t delay it. Hurry up and urge her. If it really doesn’t work out, hire a son-in-law.”
Li Mei’s eyes lit up and she smiled. “That’s a good idea. I’ll go back first. Uncle Zhou, when I think of it, I’ll come and ask you to reply to Yu’er.”
“Alright, come again after you think about it.” Before Uncle Zhou could finish his sentence, Li Mei had already left.
Li Mei did not go home but went straight to the newly built workshop beside the manor. When the staff guarding the door saw Li Mei, he smiled and said, “Auntie Li, are you here to look for Miss Laidi? She just left not long ago.”
Li Meiqi said, “Just left? I just came from the village. Why didn’t I meet her?”
The shop assistant smiled and said, “She followed the cart from Tongzhou to town. Didn’t you know?”
Li Mei was confused and replied, “I know. Zhaodi’s daughter is one year old. I asked her to buy a few pieces of jewelry for her and she said she would go later. Whose cart did she take to town?”
The shop assistant smiled and said, “I’m from the bank. Aunt Li, do you want to come into the workshop to take a look?”
Li Mei was worried about Lai Di and had no intention of going in to take a look. She waved her hand and said, “No need. I still have something on.”
As Li Mei walked back anxiously, her thoughts ran wild. Her father had already gone to Tongzhou to buy a birthday gift. Why did she go to town without saying anything? Could it be that she was with someone? Thinking of this, Li Mei’s heart skipped a beat. She seemed to understand why Laidi didn’t seem to like anyone.
When Li Mei arrived home, she saw Brother Pig writing alone under the eaves of the corridor. She said to Brother Pig, “Go, get your sister to come back. I have something to ask her.”
Seeing Li Mei’s dark expression, Brother Pig didn’t dare to cause trouble. He obediently put down his pen and ran toward Zhaodi’s house. From afar, he saw his brother-in-law, Chen Xu, carrying Yaya. He stood in front of the vegetable field at the door and watched Zhaodi pick onions and vegetables. He ran to Chen Xu and panted as he said to Zhaodi in the vegetable field, “Sister, Mom asked you to go back. She seems to have something on.”
Seeing Brother Pig panting, Zhaodi glared at him with heartache. “Slow down! I’ll go after I wash this dish.”
When Yaya saw Brother Pig, she shouted incoherently, “Doudou, Doudou…” Brother Pig walked over and held Yaya’s small hand. He shook it a few times and taught her with a smile. “Little fool, it’s Uncle, not Doudou.”
“Doudou, Doudou.” Yaya still called out for Doudou. Brother Pig walked to the ditch dejectedly and looked at Zhaodi washing vegetables by the ditch. Chen Xu looked at Brother Pig and smiled. “Brother-in-law, I heard that you were praised by the school teacher today?”
Brother Pig raised his eyebrows proudly. “Of course. Brother-in-law, I was beaten up by the teacher in the past because I wasn’t serious. When I was serious, the teacher would praise me in every class.”
Chen Xu looked at Brother Pig, who looked immature and shook his head with a smile. “You still have the cheek to brag. Every time Ah Qing comes back, he has to give you special treatment. You’re also often hit on the palm by your teacher. You’re simply embarrassing Ah Qing. With Mother-in-law being so angry, you should be more sensible.”
Brother Pig remembered that day when Mr. Li called his parents and asked Li Mei to bring him back. He said that he was too naughty and that he could not teach him. Li Mei was so angry that she fainted on the ground. He was still terrified thinking about it. He lowered his head and said, “Brother-in-law, I’ll change.”
Seeing Brother Pig’s ashamed look, Chen Xu nodded and encouraged, “Okay,
Brother-in-law believes you.”
Zhaodi handed the green onion leaves and garlic sprouts to Chen Xu. “Take the vegetables back to Mom. I’ll go back and take a look.”
“Go!” Chen Xu nodded and took the dishes into the house.
When the siblings returned home, they saw Li Mei sitting on a chair in the central room. They strode in and sat beside Li Mei. “Mom, what happened?”
Li Mei glanced at Zhaodi and said to Brother Pig, “Brother Pig, close the courtyard door and practice writing.” Brother Pig nodded and turned to leave..