BXBX NOVEL Chapter 454 - 454: Reunion, Disappointment
Zhou Jia stood at the side and knew at a glance that the chess skills of Han San and Mr. Wen were not on the same level.
Han San looked at Zhou Jia and revealed a bitter expression. “Master, accompany Old Master for a few rounds! I’ll go to the lotus pond to pick up a few lotus roots and bring back two fish. Madam likes to eat Granny Chen’s honey lotus roots and glutinous rice. Also, Auntie Zhang’s pickled vegetable fish tastes very good.”
Mr. Wen looked at Han San’s bitter face and smiled at Zhou Jia. “Jiahe, come and play two rounds with me. This kid can’t be carved.”
Zhou Jia nodded and sat down. He turned to Han San and said, “Look, the lotus roots in the lotus pond can be dug out. Find someone to dig out more and bring them back to your relatives tomorrow.”
“Aye!” Han San agreed with a smile and turned to go to the lotus pond.
Zhou Jia said to Mr. Wen, “Sir, how’s Yu’er’s body? How’s the child?”
Mr. Wen smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I think Xiaoyu wakes up early every day to cultivate when she’s pregnant. There won’t be a problem with her body. One of the two children likes to move, and the other doesn’t like to move. They even scared Xiaoyu. Granny Chen cooked according to the recipe. As long as the children are not big, there won’t be a problem.”
Hearing Mr. Wen’s words, Zhou Jia was a little relieved. The two of them played chess and talked about interesting things in the village.
Han San found a few tenants and went into the pond to pick up a few baskets of lotus roots. The next morning, Li Yu, Zhou Jia, and Mr. Wen brought Xing Hua and Granny Chen to the capital.
Just as they arrived at the entrance of the capital, four to five carriages drove over from behind. Li Yu and the others heard Tiezhu shout happily, “Old Master, Master, Madam, we’re here.”
Then, there was the voice of Seven Pounds. They turned around and saw Tiezhu and Seven Pounds sitting in the car, smiling and waving at everyone. There was also Xiaoyu, who was looking at them with a smile.
Ruyi stopped the car. After Seven Pounds jumped out, he ran to Zhou Jia and Mr. Wen and bowed. He stood in front of Li Yu and looked at her in surprise. “Madam, Seven Pounds missed you. Is Young Master at home? Do you have a baby too?”
Li Yu looked at the happy child and asked him about Seven Pounds repeatedly.
She smiled and rubbed his gray face. “Yes! Young Master went to school. Seven
Pounds has grown taller. Did your mother give you a brother or sister?”
Seven Pounds looked disgusted. “It’s a brother. He’s so ugly! He;s even uglier than Xiao Bai. Madam, I couldn’t bring my Xiao Hua over. Where’s Young Master’s Xiao Bai?”
“Young Master’s Xiaobai is at home!” Li Yu said with a smile.
Zhou Jia stood beside the car and picked Auntie He and Uncle Zhou up. When they met, everyone’s eyes were filled with tears and their faces were filled with the joy of reuniting.
Uncle Zhou smiled and said to Mr. Wen, “Sir, you’re getting more and more energetic. Look, I’m old.”
Mr. Wen chuckled. “You’re not old. Look, Jiahe, Ruyi, and the others have already started families. We old things should eat and drink. According to your Madam, we should enjoy life.”
Uncle Zhou smiled and nodded. “Madam is right. That’s true. One has to be content to be happy.”
After greetings, Ji Xiang, Uncle Liu, and the others also ran out after hearing the news. Zhou Jia smiled and said, “Go home first. Go home and wash up. Rest for a while before chatting.”
Auntie He and Xiaoyu looked at Li Yu’s big stomach and smiled in surprise.
Auntie He happily helped Li Yu into the house. “Madam, that’s great. Eldest
Young Master has company. I’ve never seen Eldest Young Master before!”
“Yang’er is still in school. He’ll only be back in the afternoon,” Li Yu said with a smile.
After entering the house, Xiaoyu carried her sleeping youngest son and showed him to Li Yu. He was fair and chubby, and his arms were fair and chubby like lotus roots. “He’s so cute!”
Xiaoyu smiled and said, “He sleeps after eating. He was just born like a
monkey. Seven Pounds despises him a lot!”
The family had long arranged for accommodations for Uncle Zhou, Auntie He, and Tiezhu. Everyone helped pack their luggage. After washing up and eating, Seven Pounds was busy looking for Little Loach and the others and bringing him to the Lin family to learn how to look at Yangyang. Zhao Cai brought Ruyi and his wife to the house that had been prepared for his family.
Zhou Jia brought Uncle Zhou to rest. Auntie He took out the clothes Li Mei had made for the children of Li Yu and Laidi and the congratulatory gift for Li Qing. She said to Li Yu, “Madam, Aunt said that if Miss Laidi is pregnant, please help take care of her. Don’t worry about other matters and let them do whatever they want.”
“Alright, Auntie He. Go and rest for a while. I’ll tidy up.”
Auntie He smiled and said, “Sigh! I’m old. After traveling for a few months, I feel like I’m still swaying in the car when I stand on the ground.”
“It’s all like this. Let Xing Hua massage you to relieve your fatigue.” Li Yu smiled and asked Xing Hua to accompany Auntie He to rest.
Looking back at the clothes in her bag, Li Yu thought to herself, Poor parents. No matter how angry she was, she couldn’t bear to part with them.
Li Yu distributed the things and asked Ji Xiang to send the children’s clothes that Li Mei had made for Laidi to the Tongzhou Guild Hall. She also brought some food for pregnant women and sent Li Qing’s wedding invitation to Laidi.
After Ji Xiang agreed, he drove to the Tongzhou Guild Hall. When he arrived outside the small courtyard she rented, he knocked on the door for a moment.
The old woman came to open the door. The old woman glanced at the things in
Ji Xiang’s hand and asked, “Who are you looking for?”
“Excuse me, I’m looking for my Miss Laidi,” Ji Xiang said with a smile.
Laidi looked up from under the eaves of the porch when she heard the voice. She saw Ji Xiang stand up and walk to the door. She looked at Ji Xiang and smiled sarcastically. “Yo! Isn’t this Steward Xiang from my cousin’s family?
Why are you so free today?”
Ji Xiang glanced at Laidi, who looked a little swollen after being pregnant. He bowed and smiled. “Miss Laidi, Madam instructed me to bring something over for you. Also, Uncle and Young Master are about to get married. She sent you a wedding invitation to invite you to the wedding.”
Laidi glanced at the smiling Ji Xiang and the two big bags of things in his hand.
The shrewishness disappeared from her face and she retreated to the side. “Come in!”
Ji Xiang smiled and walked into the courtyard. Seeing that the courtyard was still clean and neat, he smiled and placed the things on the table in the central room. He took out the wedding invitation and handed it to Laidi with both hands. “Miss Laidi, Young Master-in-law is getting married on September 18th. He invites you to the wedding banquet.”
Laidi took the invitation and smiled. “Got it.” After thinking for a moment, she asked, “Do my parents have something to bring me? Are they healthy?”
Ji Xiang replied politely, “Madam asked me to send it over after receiving it. I’m not very sure about the health of the two elders. They didn’t send you a message. It’s just this bag of clothes. Aunt, I’ll take my leave.”
Laidi nodded in disappointment. “Thank you.” Ji Xiang smiled and left.
Seeing Ji Xiang leave the courtyard, Laidi turned around and opened her bag. She saw that it contained clothes, shoes, hats, cotton clothes, and jackets for children for all seasons. There were small coats and clothes for the child from infancy to three years old. She opened the other bag and saw that it was filled with food. Laidi knew that Li Yu had given it to her and placed it aside.
She turned around and rummaged through the bag containing the clothes. She shook open all the clothes and looked at them. She was anxious to find the letter that Li Mei and her husband had brought her. She searched but could not find anything.
Laidi sat on the bamboo chair in disappointment. She held a pair of small cotton shoes in her hand and muttered to herself, “Father, Mother, I miss you. Why didn’t you bring me a message?” Tears flowed down her face unknowingly.
Laidi did not understand why she just wanted Li Mei and her husband to send her a message. She would feel very comfortable even if Li Mei and her husband scolded her. She did not feel aggrieved. It also made her feel that she was not alone and that her parents missed her..