Li Xia left without the slightest reluctance. Her brisk pace made Li Hui a little surprised. This younger sister really did not care about her father's attention.
Li Ming was very satisfied with the case summary Li Hui had made. Li Hui had performed outstandingly in this human trafficker incident. Having such an excellent son made Li Ming very happy. With Li Hui here, the Li family's future development was not worrisome.
"You wrote very well and improved a lot," Li Ming generously praised.
Even the precocious Li Hui revealed a delighted smile at being praised by his father as he took the summary, "Father, I will go hand over the summary to Private advisor Lin first."
"Okay, go on," Li Ming nodded.
With the summary in hand, Li Hui walked to the courtyard gate. There he met Li Chou and Li Guang who were just about to enter the study. Because Li Ming was satisfied with Li Hui these days, he hoped the two sons below would be equally excellent. Therefore, recently he had higher requirements on Li Chou's and Li Guang's schoolwork. Whenever he talked about them, he would cite Li Hui's excellence as an example for them to learn more from Li Hui.
This made life difficult for the two who were inferior to Li Hui in every way. Li Chou was still fine, being an honest person, he knew he was not good enough and so strove to study harder. Li Guang was different, he was not interested in reading books in the first place. He wanted to learn martial arts when he grew up so he could join the army and become a top general. Being reprimanded by Li Ming every day, naturally the two felt subtle when facing Li Hui.
Li Chou was still better and greeted Li Hui when he saw him, "Big brother."
Li Guang following behind was reluctant to acknowledge Li Hui. He just mumbled, "Big brother."
Li Hui also knew of the two's circumstances and had more or less guessed their feelings, but he did not care. "Father is inside waiting for you, hurry in."
The two brothers glanced at each other. Thinking of the scolding they would get when they went in, they looked at Li Hui's carefree back and rolled their eyes in unison as they strode grimly into the study.
Li Hui first went to the office area to find Private advisor Lin and handed over the summary. On his way back to Songtao Courtyard, he saw Li Xia listlessly kicking pebbles. In her hand was the inkstone stand given to her by Li Ming.
Hearing footsteps, Li Xia looked back and saw Li Hui walking towards her. She stepped forward two paces and bowed to Li Hui. "Big brother, this is for you," she said, holding out the inkstone stand to Li Hui.
Li Hui looked at the inkstone stand, then at Li Xia. "You're really giving it to me?"
Li Xia nodded and stared even more brightly at Li Hui.
Inwardly amused, Li Hui had not realized Li Xia could be so interesting. His expression remained unchanged on the surface. "Thank you, little sister."
Seeing Li Hui did not have any other reaction, Li Xia was a little disappointed and went back. How could he not give her benefits?
Just as she was feeling down, Qiu Shui ran in. "Young lady, the little attendant named Wenzhu who serves Big Young Master Li Hui sent over a box." Saying so, she handed the box to Li Xia.
Li Xia took the box and opened it. The silver gleam made her eyes light up as she looked at the 20 silver ingots inside. Big brother was really generous!
Before Li Xia could touch them enough, Auntie Mei who had rushed over snatched the box and closed it. When Li Xia reached out her hand wanting them, Auntie Mei slapped her hand away and took the box.
As she walked away, she mumbled to herself. She didn't know who this money madness took after. Following behind Auntie Mei, Qiu Ju gave her mistress a look but kept silent. In her heart she thought, "Who else could it be like? It's like you!
Li Xia's looks took after Auntie Mei by 60%, but that money worshipping expression was a perfect match to Auntie Mei's. It's just that Auntie Mei was good at concealing it in front of others. But people close to her knew about Auntie Mei money-grubbing personality. Unfortunately, the money-grabber met a spendthrift girl and the silver just kept flowing out.
Although she took away the silver, Auntie Mei could not withstand Li Xia's soft nagging. She exchanged one ingot for fragmented silver coins to give to Li Xia. It was also because Li Xia had been well-behaved these days. With the silver coins, Li Xia made a list for Qiu Ju to buy food and drinks. Qiu Ju bought the food back with the list.
Li Xia ate very happily. She was eating fried chestnuts when Qiu Shui ran in. "Young lady, Bingqing Courtyard is going into labor!"
Li Xia just "oh"-ed and continued peeling the chestnut in her hand. "These chestnuts are so fragrant. Qiu Kui, buy more next time."
"Yes, young lady." Qiu Kui was peeling pine nuts beside her.
"Young lady, aren't you anxious?" Qiu Shui looked at Li Xia worriedly.
"Why should I be anxious?" Li Xia looked strangely at Qiu Shui.
Qiu Shui also realized her thoughts were off. What did it have to do with them in Mei Courtyard that Bingqing Courtyard was giving birth?
"Qiu Shui, peel melon seeds. Why does the Ding melon seed shop sell them with shells? Wouldn't it be better to just sell the kernels?" Saying so, Li Xia handed a bag of melon seeds to Qiu Shui.
Qiu Shui took the melon seeds and pulled over a small stool to sit on to peel them. After peeling for a while, she reacted that something was wrong. "Young lady, aren't you worried? Now that Aunt Wang gave birth to a son, won't your father dote on her even more?"
Hearing Qiu Shui's words, Li Xia laughed. "Qiu Shui, I don't even know what your little head is thinking. No matter what Aunt Wang gives birth to, she still has a mother! Even if Aunt Wang gave birth to a son, father can dote on her but he can't bypass the eldest legitimate son. Even if Aunt Wang's son has ability, by the time he grows up, with Big Brother Li Hui's intelligence, he would have already reached the peak. It would be hard to catch up."
"You ah, just honestly work in the courtyard. Get involved less in outside matters," although Li Xia did not look at Qiu Shui, these words made Qiu Shui's heart shudder. She understood she had overstepped her boundary. "This slave thought wrongly."
"Who told you that?" Although Li Xia asked casually, Qiu Shui who had served her since young knew Li Xia was displeased. She honestly said, "Gatekeeper Granny Wu."
"Granny Wu's daughter-in-law works in Dream Cloud Courtyard," Qiu Kui peeling chestnuts beside added. Qiu Shui also realized she had been used by others. She got up wanting to go settle scores with Granny Wu.
"The melon seeds aren't peeled yet, where are you going?" Li Xia's words calmed Qiu Shui down to sit and continue peeling.
"Young lady, I will be more careful from now on," Qiu Shui felt very guilty for being so easily used by others.
Li Xia did not say anything. She peeled a chestnut and brought it to Qiu Shui's mouth to eat. "Is it tasty?"
Qiu Shui nodded heavily. "Tasty."
"Eat more if it's tasty. In the future, it'll be hard to eat such tasty fried chestnuts once we're in Bailang County," there was faint nostalgia in Li Xia's voice. Qiu Shui and Qiu Kui looked at each other but did not speak.
Mrs. Lu did not go to Bingqing Courtyard but sent Granny Chunlu to keep watch there. Compared to Aunt Wang, Mrs. Lu was more concerned with Ms. Liu's matters. "Sister Liu, you're going back to the capital?"
"My husband is hurrying over and can arrive at Bailang County in three days to fetch me and Xing'er." Ms. Liu spoke lightly. Towards Marquis Zhou, she had loved him when she first arrived at Gongshun Marquis Manor. But after everything that happened later, Ms. Liu was disillusioned with him. "Dear sister, I'm quite envious of you."
"What do I have that's enviable? All are illegitimate sons and daughters being born one after another," Mrs. Lu looked towards Bingqing Courtyard's direction, where a woman was giving birth to a child for her husband. She could not be jealous, instead she had to look after her and look after her well.
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