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Chapter 20

"Shan Zhu, is big brother in?" Li Xia asked as she approached.

"Master is in the room. Second Young Lady, please wait a moment," Shan Zhu greeted Li Xia into the courtyard and went into the room herself to report to Li Hui.

Li Xia stood in the courtyard looking around. She saw a wax plum tree in full bloom in the northeast corner. Li Xia turned her foot and walked over to take a close look at the plum tree.

Seeing that Li Xia was not only looking but also fiddling with the plum blossoms, Qiu Shui asked in a low voice, "Miss, what are you looking for?"

"Why doesn't this plum tree have plums?" Li Xia searched carefully and said the last thing Qiu Shui wanted to hear.

"Miss, what are you looking for plums for?" Qiu Shui thought that she must not say to eat them.

"To eat them, stewing plums in wine, doesn't it sound so poetic?" Li Xia's words left Qiu Shui at a loss for how to respond.

Li Hui, who had just come out of the room, happened to hear Li Xia's words and couldn't help laughing out loud, "The plums on this tree are very bitter and cannot be eaten."

Hearing Li Hui's laugh and answer, the disappointed Li Xia withdrew her hand and no longer looked at the plum blossoms. Something that couldn't be eaten was not worth her remembrance. She went to Li Hui and stopped to greet him, saying her purpose for coming "Big brother, I came to borrow some books to read".

"Oh, what kind of books do you want to read, The Great Learning, The Doctrine of the Mean, Records of the Grand Historian or Book of Changes?" Li Hui deliberately teased her with these books that Li Xia would never read. He didn't know why, but every time he saw Li Xia, Li Hui always wanted to laugh.

"Why would I read The Great Learning and The Doctrine of the Mean for exams? Records of the Grand Historian can be read. But big brother, do you have any travel notes here? Or storybooks would work too," following behind Li Hui into the study.

Seeing Li Xia at the beginning, the corners of Li Hui's mouth had not fallen. This girl really was a delight.

Li Hui went to the corner of the bookshelf and took out two books for Li Xia. Li Xia took them and saw that they really were travel notes. Her face showed a look of surprise. She didn't expect Li Hui to really have travel notes in his room. Li Xia sincerely thanked Li Hui, "Thank you, big brother."

"If you want to read anything in the future, just come over directly," Li Hui was quite satisfied with this younger sister Li Xia and was willing to give her the same treatment as Li Xin.

Holding two travel notes, Li Xia walked lightly back to the orchid courtyard. Entering the study, she came to the couch by the window, took off her shoes and sat down, half leaning on the pillow to read.

The first book mainly introduced mountains, rivers, culture and so on. Li Xia read it with some disappointment. She quickly finished reading it and put it down, then picked up the second book. Fortunately, this book introduced quite a few local specialty foods. Reading the comprehensive descriptions of the color, aroma and taste of the food, Li Xia was craving to eat them in her heart.

She stretched her head out the window and called out, "Qiu Kui!"

Hearing the sound, Qiu Kui walked out of the tea room and came to the study, "Miss, what can I do for you?"

"Qiu Kui, can this be made?" Li Xia pointed to a delicacy in the book and asked.

Qiu Kui took the book and looked at it. This was a kind of pulled noodles food from Shaanxi. Looking at the detailed method written on it, "Miss, I'll go to the kitchen to ask Cook Lady Bai in the kitchen," Cook Lady Bai White was the best chef in charge of banquets in the mansion.

"Well, remember to give Cook Lady Bai more rewards," said Li Xia, taking out her purse from her arms and handing it to Qiu Kui. Qiu Kui took the purse and left.

Li Xia's mind was all on the pulled noodles. She didn't even have the mood to read books anymore. But what was waiting for her was not the delicacy she had been thinking about, but a summons from Mrs. Lu. Li Xia changed her clothes and went to Yan Gui Academy.

Going in, she saw not only Li Shan was there, Qiu Kui, Cook Lady Bai, and Lame Auntie were there as well.

Li Xia stepped forward and bowed, "Mother".

Mrs. Lu nodded, "Sit down".

Li Xia straightened up and walked to a chair to sit down. After sitting down, she saw Li Shan sitting opposite her, looking at her gloatingly. Li Xia ignored her and asked Mrs. Lu about the situation, "Mother, what is this about?"

"Second sister, let me explain," said Li Shan, briefly recounting what had happened. "Mother, you didn't see it. This Lame Auntie actually poured out the perfectly good noodles and knocked over the oil bucket, nearly causing a fire." As Li Shan went on, she got angrier. The oil splashed from the overturned bucket had splattered quite a bit on her.

Mrs. Lu looked at Li Shan, "Third girl, how do you think Cook Lady Bai and Lame Auntie should be punished?"

"Fine Cook Lady Bai two months' wages, as for Lame Auntie..." Li Shan looked at Lame Auntie in disgust, "drive her out of the Li family."

Hearing this, Lame Auntie immediately knelt down and kowtowed, begging for mercy, "Madam, please don't drive me away, I was wrong, I was wrong, I won't dare do it again in the future. Madam, please don't drive me away."

"Mother, this all happened because of my greed, please punish me," said Li Xia, standing up and taking all responsibility upon herself.

"You should be punished. Cook Lady Bai's wages will be deducted from your wages," said Mrs. Lu. As for Lame Auntie, she can no longer enter the kitchen in the future." As Mrs. Lu finished speaking, Lame Auntie collapsed on the ground, not knowing whether this meant not driving herself away or driving herself away.

Li Shan glanced at Li Xia gloatingly, "Mother is wise."

"All right, you go clean up the kitchen. Dinner cannot be delayed," Mrs. Lu told Li Shan.

Li Shan left with Cook Lady Bai. Lame Auntie lay on the ground not knowing what to do. She couldn't enter the kitchen anymore, so what was she going to do in the future?

"Mother, there is a lack of someone to sweep in my yard. Do you think letting Lame Auntie work in my yard would be okay?" Li Xia looked hopefully at Mrs. Lu.

"You should ask Lame Auntie," said Mrs. Lu. His words brought a gleam to Lame Auntie's eyes as she repeatedly said, "I'm willing, I'm willing!"

"Thank you, Mother," said Li Xia as she got up and bowed to Mrs. Lu in thanks.

Li Xia took Lame Auntie out of Yan Gui Academy and instructed Qiu Kui, "You go with Lame Auntie first to pack up her things and move them to the orchid courtyard to live."

Qiu Kui responded and turned to pull Lame Auntie, who was three steps away from the two, to pack up her things.

Li Xia returned alone, first to Mei Academy to ask Auntie Mei for money.

"Why do you want money again?" Although Auntie Mei asked, her hand was holding out the money to Li Xia.

"Auntie, this is the last time I'll ask you for money this month," said Li Xia, taking the money.

"There are still three days left in this month. You're thinking of asking me for money again?" Auntie Mei rolled her eyes at Li Xia. "Be frugal with the money you spend."

"I know, I'll be frugal," said Li Xia, putting away the money and chatting with Auntie Mei for quite a while before returning to the orchid courtyard to call Qiu Shui over.

Qiu Shui came up, "Miss, what can I do for you?"

"When no one is around, give this money to Cook Lady Bai," said Li Xia, handing over the two broken silver coins to Qiu Shui.

Qiu Shui took them and put them away, but was puzzled why Li Xia was giving money to Cook Lady Bai, "Miss, did something happen?"

"I'll tell you when Qiu Kui comes back," said Li Xia. She certainly didn't fully believe what Li Shan had said about the matter, there must be something else going on here.