哈哈漫画

Chapter 10

"Xing'er wasn't so obedient and sensible before," said Ms. Liu as she watched Zhou Dingxing playing in the yard. "My Xing'er was very mischievous in the Capital City. He would jump and skip around every day. Now he is too well-behaved."

"He will get better," Mrs. Lu comforted Ms. Liu.

Ms. Liu sighed softly, "I've already written back to my elder brother in the Capital City."

Ms. Liu's elder brother, the current Yongshun Earl, was a pragmatic man who was highly regarded by the current emperor. As the Yongshun Earl working in the Ministry of Personnel, he was mainly in charge of transferring officials. When Mrs. Lu heard this, he was overjoyed and expressed his gratitude to Ms. Liu, "Sister Liu, thank you so much."

"On the way here, I also observed quite a bit. The people of Bailang County governed by Prefect Li live in peace and prosperity, with abundant livelihoods. Even if I didn't write the letter, Prefect Li would still get a promotion," said Ms. Liu. On her journey to find her son, she had also seen quite a bit, which led to great changes in her mindset.

"To be honest, when I first came to Bailang County nine years ago, I really didn't want to stay. Back then, even just this courtyard..." she pointed to the roof, "Sister Liu, look at the main beam of the roof, there was a huge hole in it originally. When we first arrived and it rained, it really poured outside and inside the house!" Recalling the hardships when they first arrived in Bailang County, Mrs. Lu shook her head and laughed.

Ms. Liu looked up in the direction Mrs. Lu was pointing. She examined closely and saw there were repairs done. "I remember nine years ago there was a major case in Liuzhou."

"Back then, the prefect and county magistrates of several counties under Liuzhou's jurisdiction exploited loopholes to collect all kinds of taxes from the common people and passing merchants, making life unbearable here. Later, from the prefect to the county magistrates, they were all executed and had their families' properties confiscated. The position of county magistrate in Bailang County was vacant, so my father-in-law was dispatched here after his term ended. At that time, Bailang County was in an awful state, it's not an exaggeration to say it was a complete mess. After nine years of development under Prefect Li's pragmatic governance, Bailang County has become what it is today. But how could he have not gotten a promotion in nine whole years? Moreover, my family also has connections in the Capital City." Ms. Liu was puzzled in her heart but did not show it on her face.

Zi Yu walked in, "Mistress, Auntie Wang has given birth to a baby boy."

Mrs. Lu came back to her senses, "Has the master been notified?"

"Granny Chun has sent someone to inform him already. Master has named the child Yao," Zi Yu carefully reported.

"Have someone properly take care of Auntie Wang during her postpartum confinement month," Mrs. Lu did not ask further. Zi Yu withdrew to make arrangements.

Seeing Ms. Liu's concerned expression, Mrs. Lu said, "Don't worry, my Hui'er has grown up. No matter how glorious he becomes, he cannot surpass me, cannot surpass my Hui'er." Ms. Liu held Mrs. Lu's hand.

When Auntie Mei heard the name, she looked at Li Xia with pained eyes. Back then, Auntie Mei was bought and given to Li Ming as a concubine. Li Ming did not like Auntie Mei, but after intimate relations occurred once, she became pregnant.

Mrs. Lu benevolently allowed Auntie Mei to stay and took her in. Because Auntie Mei gave birth to her daughter in the summer, Mrs. Lu named her "Xia." Auntie Mei suffered a lot, but now that she had a daughter, life was stable and she was very content. However, when she heard that Li Ming named the child born to Auntie Wang "Yao," her heart inevitably felt sour.

Li Xia understood why Auntie Mei felt this way, but she thought the name was quite nice. In her past life, her name was Li Xia, and this life she was still called this. She really liked it - summer was such a nice season!

"Auntie, I've used up all my pocket money, can you give me some more?" Li Xia's words immediately dissipated Auntie Mei's heartache. This wretched girl, only knows how to ask for money.

"Where did the money go?" As Auntie Mei spoke, she saw the empty seed shells on the table from the watermelon seeds Li Xia had finished eating. "Eating too much of this stuff causes internal heat, look at the sores still around your mouth that haven't healed yet," she said as she reached out and poked the sore at the corner of Li Xia's mouth.

Li Xia quickly dodged, "Auntie, be gentle, it hurts!"

"Hurts but you still eat it. There's no allowance for you this month." Auntie Mei now felt that her previous heartache was completely wasted on this ungrateful girl.

As soon as she heard there would be no allowance, Li Xia stopped yelling about it hurting. Looking at Auntie Mei's incredulous expression, she pleaded "Auntie, I won't eat seeds anymore. Please don't deduct my allowance."

"No," Auntie Mei was completely unmoved by Li Xia's coquetry. Afraid that Li Xia would pester her into going soft, she turned and left. Watching Auntie Mei's departing figure, Li Xia did not chase after her but smiled instead. If there was no allowance then so be it, as long as Auntie Mei stopped feeling heartache for her.

Looking at the sore at the corner of her mouth in the bronze mirror, it really did hurt. She really could not eat seeds for a while.

Marquis Zhou brought his men to Bailang County. Servants from the Marquis Mansion had booked an inn in advance. Marquis Zhou did not stop to rest at the inn but went directly to the county magistrate's yamen.

Li Ming received notice and was waiting at the entrance early. He welcomed Marquis Zhou inside the yamen. Mrs. Lu and Ms. Liu brought the children to greet them as well. Marquis Zhou held his recovered son in his arms with red-rimmed eyes. Ms. Liu dabbed at her tears on the side. Zhou Dingxing kept his face pressed against Marquis Zhou calling "Father...Father...Father..." Marquis Zhou held Zhou Dingxing tightly. He almost lost another son.

Marquis Zhou handed his son to Ms. Liu and bowed deeply to Li Ming and Mrs. Lu.

"Please don't, Marquis, you humble me too much," Li Ming quickly went up to help Marquis Zhou stand and not bow.

"No, Prefect Li and Madam, if it weren't for you saving my child, my family of three would not be reunited. You two deserve my deepest bow," Marquis Zhou said solemnly as he bowed to them again.

Li Ming accepted his bow and humbly said, "Eradicating human traffickers is just within my duties as county magistrate."

"Prefect Li..."

"Marquis, I am Ming De plainly, please call me Ming De," Li Ming felt awkward being addressed as Prefect Li.

"Alright, Ming De," Marquis Zhou changed how he addressed him. "Ming De, as county magistrate you cracked such a major case, you have the talents of Bao Qing in this generation!"

"You praise me too much, Marquis," Li Ming was secretly pleased but showed increasing modesty on his face from the Marquis' high praise.

Standing at the back, Li Xia could not see their expressions clearly but listening to the two men mutually complimenting each other made goosebumps break out all over her. She really could not stand such occasions. Li Xia lowered her head to control herself from revealing an awkward expression.

Finally, after they finished praising one another, they went inside to separate guest and host seats. Li Hui led his younger siblings to pay respects to Marquis Zhou. Marquis Zhou already knew from his subordinates that it was Li Hui who first discovered the human traffickers and personally led people to capture them. The facts about Li Xia discovering the human traffickers first were concealed by Mrs. Lu and Li Ming, which would not be good for Li Xia's reputation if it came out.

Looking at the handsome and vigorous youth before him, Marquis Zhou could not help but praise, "Good, the young hero is courageous and resourceful, the Li family will prosper soon!"

"You praise me too much, Marquis," Li Ming was also proud to have a son like Li Hui.

Marquis Zhou accepted the box handed over by a subordinate, "This is the imperial gift of an engraved inkstone bestowed by His Majesty," he said as he gave it to Li Hui.

Li Hui looked to Li Ming. Li Ming was somewhat apprehensive, "Marquis, this gift is too valuable."

"Nephew, you deserve it. The elders have granted this, you must not decline," Marquis Zhou said as he held out the box in front of Li Hui. Li Hui accepted it respectfully and bowed.