Chapter 358 - Chapter 358: Chu Sihai’s Help
Chapter 358: Chu Sihai’s Help
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
In the Liu family, Li Mei had returned from town and was tidying up the dowry with Zhaodi. Laidi ran over and smiled at the two of them. “Mother, let’s bring a letter to Cousin! Tell Cousin about my marriage.”
Li Mei glanced at her wordlessly. Zhaodi glanced at her and smiled. “Aren’t you ashamed? Can’t you wait to get married?”
Laidi glanced at Li Mei and said unhappily, “It’s not that I can’t wait to get married. Father and Mother can’t wait to kick me out of the house so that I won’t be an eyesore at home.”
“Alright, don’t act like you can’t bear to part with your parents. Your father has already gone to Tongzhou to hire someone to bring a letter to your cousin. Your sister is also here. Let me make things clear. The two of you have the same amount of dowry. The 20 acres of land in the village will be used to marry you, but the title deed has to be placed in your mother’s house. I’ll give you the silver on time. Also, I’ll bring you the additional box of gifts your cousin brought back in the past.”
As Li Mei spoke, she walked up to Laidi and looked at her coldly. “I only hope that after you marry over, your mind will be clearer and you won’t let others mess with you. Don’t cause trouble for your cousin’s family and your cousin. What they did for our Liu family is a kindness that can’t be repaid for generations. If I find out that you were urged by someone to cause trouble for Ah Qing and the others, our Liu family will cut ties with you.”
Laidi looked at Li Mei’s cold gaze and took two steps back. She said sadly, “Mother, Fengqi is already your son-in-law. Why do you look down on him so much? Why are you so sure that he can only rely on Cousin’s family and Ah Qing to be successful?! Alright! Today, I swear here that after I, Liu Laidi, marry into the Li family, I won’t cause trouble for Cousin and Ah Qing even if I die of poverty, let alone cause trouble for them. If I violate the heavens, may I be struck by lightning!” After saying that, Laidi ran out crying.
Li Mei held Zhaodi’s hand. “I heard that Li Fengqi accepted the silver, house deeds, and shops from those squires and landlords. Your cousin and cousin-in-law also only received some gifts. The money and shops have been returned to them. He’s just a junior High Scholar, yet he dares to accept these things. Also, why did those people give him such lavish gifts? They just want to use him to cozy up to your cousin’s family! They’re causing trouble for your cousin and the others!” Li Mei cried sadly.
Zhaodi patted Li Mei and comforted her. “Mother, tell Cousin all this and let her be on guard. Laidi doesn’t listen to you now. Don’t be too sad. She chose the path herself. If anything really happens in the future, we’ll just bring her home.”
“I’ve already asked your father to bring a letter to your cousin. I wonder if they’re doing well. I keep dreaming about your uncle and aunt these days.”
“Why wouldn’t it be good?! You’re the one who’s happily talking about Uncle and Aunt. You must have dreams at night!”
Li Yu still did not know that Li Mei had fallen out with Laidi in order not to let
Li Fengqi drag them down. Since she had nothing to do, she was tinkering with the sulfur and saltpeter at home. She even used a small clay pot to try making a few homemade bombs. Just as she was about to find a place to test the power, Chu Sihai came looking for her. Li Yu hurriedly stored the clay pot and gunpowder in her space and went to the front hall.
When Chu Sihai saw Li Yu, he bowed and said, “Madam Li, I have a presumptuous request.”
Li Yu glanced at Chu Sihai. “Shopkeeper Chu, please speak.”
Chu Sihai smiled apologetically. “I want to ask you to make a trip to Mount
Spindle.”
“Oh! Why do you want me to go to Mount Spindle? I know that General Shen has already gone to Mount Spindle.”
“Madam, it’s true that everyone in the bank has been sent out. There’s no one left to use. We received an urgent report from Great Qi saying that General Shen’s deputy general, Yang Rui, is from Great Qi. Yang Rui also followed General Shen to Mount Spindle this time. I can only ask for your help.” Chu Sihai looked at Li Yu in a daze.
“General Shen and the others have been gone for so many days. Whether I can catch up is a problem. If General Shen has already been murdered by Yang Rui, how can I make the other soldiers believe that Yang Rui is a traitor?”
Chu Sihai took out a black wooden token and a copied blueprint from his sleeve pocket. He bowed and handed them to Li Yu. “Madam Li, with this token, you can order those soldiers.”
Li Yu took it and saw that the blueprint was printed with a road map copied from the booklet. The wooden token was made of the same material as the small wooden sword given to her by the emperor. There were four words engraved on it.
“Alright, I’ll set off for Mount Spindle now. Shopkeeper Chu, please go to the front office and help me call Lord Zhou,” Li Yu replied to Chu Sihai.
Chu Sihai bowed to Li Yu and strode away.
Li Yu went to the room to pack two sets of clothes and tied up the hidden sword and dagger. She asked Gu Yu to get Old Madam Liu to prepare water bags and food while she went to the storeroom to put the crossbows and arrows Chu Feng had given her into the space.
When Zhou Jia saw Li Yu come out of the storeroom, he rushed over worriedly and grabbed Li Yu’s hand. He said anxiously, “Yu’er, did you promise Shopkeeper Chu?”
Li Yu smiled at him and showed the wooden token to Zhou Jia. She hugged Zhou Jia and whispered in his ear, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll definitely come back safe and sound. Wait for me at home with your son.”
Zhou Jia choked and nodded. He kissed the corner of her eye. “Yu’er, my son and I will wait for you to come back. You have to be fine.”
When Chu Sihai saw Zhou Jia and his wife hugging each other affectionately, he suddenly felt like a bad person and prayed in his heart that Madam Li could return safely.
Old Madam Liu came out with the water bag and pancakes. When she saw Chu
Sihai standing at the side with red eyes, and observed Master looking at
Madam worriedly, she looked at Li Yu uneasily. ‘Madam, can you not go?”
Li Yu shook her head. “Take good care of Young Master and Master at home. I’ll be back soon.’
Old Madam Liu nodded heavily. “Got it. Madam, come back early.”
Li Yu took the bag containing the food and returned to the house to pick up the clothes she had prepared and the crossbow and arrows outside. She walked out of the classroom with Zhou Jia and the others and glanced at Yangyang and Seven Pounds, who were obediently teaching. The few of them walked to the outer courtyard and saw Ji Xiang and Ruyi waiting there with their luggage.
The two of them looked at Zhou Jia and Li Yu and smiled. “Master, Madam, we will go with Madam.”
Li Yu smiled at the two of them. “You have to stay behind to protect Master and
Young Master. I’ll be back soon.”
Ji Xiang smiled at them. “Brother Ruyi, stay. I’ll accompany Madam.” “Alright, Ji Xiang will accompany Madam. Ruyi will stay at home,” Zhou Jia decided.
“Alright! Then let’s set off!” Li Yu could only agree helplessly.
Zhou Jia watched Li Yu and Ji Xiang leave. After seeing them get on the horse and quickly disappear, he turned round sadly.
Chu Sihai bowed apologetically to Zhou Jia. “Brother Zhou, when the people from the bank return, I’ll send someone to pick up Madam.”
Zhou Jia helped Chu Sihai up. “Brother Sihai, you don’t have to feel guilty. You had no choice at this critical moment.”
Chu Sihai felt even more guilty. He wanted to report everything that Zhou Jia and his wife had done for Great Yong when he returned and let His Majesty know their loyalty..