Chapter 359 "When will my sister give birth?"
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The day before the Lantern Festival, Li's mother and Shi Tou, along with Li Shiliang, drove to Li's Paper Shop in the prefectural city.
Li's mother, who hadn't seen Li Shiyue for over two months, burst into tears the moment she saw Li Shiyue carrying a basket into the paper shop.
Li Shiyue couldn't bear to see women cry, especially her mother's silent, tongue-biting sobs, which broke her heart.
She handed the basket directly to the quick-witted young waiter who came forward, saying, "Cui's meat pies, two for each of you. You and Manager Qian, take them quickly and share them while they're still warm."
After saying this, she stepped forward and hugged Li's mother tightly.
She gently stroked Li's mother's back and whispered in her ear, "Mother, I'm alright, I'm alright."
You're alright, Mother, don't cry.
"My heart aches terribly when my mother cries."
Shi Tou stood aside and watched as Li Shiyue's mother, who was hugging Li Shiyue's waist, finally burst into tears amidst Li Shiyue's comforting words. He then followed her forward.
Li Shiyue looked at the stone walking over, reached out her other hand and pulled the stone over to her again.
Shi Tou then opened his arms and pulled Li Shiyue, who was holding Li's mother, into his own embrace.
He imitated Li Shiyue, stroking her back gently, while only calling out "Sister, sister..."
After crying for a while, Li's mother finally calmed down.
After greeting Manager Qian, the group headed to the backyard of the paper shop.
"If I had known that my mother, brother, and third brother were coming, I would have bought a few more meat-filled pies."
For now, let's just make do with this little something to tide us over. I'll order a proper meal later, and we'll have a good feast for dinner."
Li Shiliang naturally knew that Li Shiyue had not been in Lijiatun since mid-November of last year;
The official explanation was that Li Shiyue went to the Turks for wool, but what he actually did was unknown to anyone except his family.
During the journey, Li Shiyue only returned once, in December.
That time, she led the villagers to the prefectural city to make purchases, but she left again halfway home after leaving the prefectural city.
It wasn't until the new year had passed, and the Lantern Festival was just around the corner, that Li Shiliang finally saw Li Shiyue again.
However, Li Shiliang was not a talkative person, so he didn't ask if Li Shiyue didn't say anything.
At this moment, he was only talking to Li Shiyue about the two months or so that Li Shiyue had been away from the village, about the major and minor things that had happened in the village that he felt he should tell Li Shiyue.
"...According to what you said before, all the wool was sent to the storeroom behind the council hall;
The money was settled with them in silver, just as you had agreed beforehand.
Jiang, the accountant, gave me more money, which I then gave to the Turk. We signed the contract as agreed, and this is the deposit for buying the sheep.
...And then, in October," Li Shiliang sat up straight, his expression becoming more serious, "we heard on our way here that the entire Zhenbei Prince's family had died."
Is this true or false?
In the month or so since Li Shiyue woke up, tabloids and gossip have been circulating in the city every day.
Li Shiyue was once curious and spent five copper coins to buy a tabloid printed by some unknown paper shop.
The report described the fire at the Prince of Zhenbei's residence on New Year's Eve in great detail, as if the writer had witnessed it firsthand. The tabloid even claimed that the Turks had assassinated the Prince of Zhenbei.
During this extra time, although Li Shiyue did not visit the General's Mansion, she went to the back door of Xingsheng Restaurant and met with Manager Jin.
Li Shiyue also learned from Manager Jin what happened in the Prince's Mansion in the latter half of New Year's Eve.
Li Shiyue witnessed the death of the Prince of Zhenbei with his own eyes;
Liu Shu's death was indirectly caused by Li Shiyue.
Only the death of Princess Zhao Changying was somewhat unexpected for Li Shiyue;
However, considering Liu Tan's character, Li Shiyue wasn't really surprised by this.
Although the rumors circulating outside say that "the princess and the prince were deeply in love, and after the prince's death, the princess could not accept it and committed suicide."
However, such rumors are only meant to fool outsiders who are unaware of the truth.
How could people like Li Shiyue and Manager Jin, who had contact with people inside the Prince's Mansion, possibly believe it?
At that time, Manager Jin said to Li Shiyue in a veiled way, "Since that's what's being said outside, let's just assume it's true."
At this moment, upon hearing Li Shiliang's question, Li Shiyue saw that both her mother and Shitou were looking at her. She then gestured to Shitou to close the doors and windows tightly.
Then, after Li Shiyue and Li Qiutian exchanged a glance, she nodded to Li Shiliang.
“I was thinking that even if you don’t come for the Lantern Festival, my sister and I will have to go back after the Lantern Festival.”
You all need to know this news.
Our Lijiatun is quite far from the prefectural city, and by the time news reaches our village, who knows how much time has passed.
Immediately afterwards, Li Shiyue told Li Shiliang and his mother about the rumors circulating on the street that the entire Zhenbei Wang family had died.
"...Regardless of what's being said outside, the fact is that the Prince of Zhenbei, his son, and his wife all went there."
Currently, the person in charge of affairs in the Prince's Mansion is the Chief Secretary of the Prince's Mansion, but the women's side is handled by Madam Jiang.
Third brother, don't worry. Go back and tell the villagers that even if the sky falls, there's always someone taller to hold it up.
I have always been close to the General, and now it seems that the title of Lord of Andong will be inherited by the General in the future.
"Let's keep our mouths shut, stay out of all that nonsense, and just follow my plan. We villagers should just work hard and live our lives well."
Li Shiliang nodded to Li Shiyue, "Yes, I'll listen to you."
Don't worry, I'll talk to them about what you said when I get back.
Having asked what he wanted to ask, Li Shiliang withdrew from the room, giving the Li family members some space so that Li Shiyue and the others could have a proper private conversation.
So Li Shiyue then asked her mother, "Is Aunt unable to come because she had to take care of Sister Xia Tian?"
How is my older sister doing these days?
Li Xiatian's mother frowned whenever Li Xiatian was mentioned.
Upon seeing Li's mother frown, not only Li Shiyue, but also Li Qiutian, the older sister, began to frown as well.
"Aunt, Xia Tian, she..."
"Sigh," Li's mother's sigh interrupted Li Qiutian's words.
"Her belly is frighteningly big now!"
At the end of last year, Mr. Jiang didn't even return to his clan; he only sent New Year's gifts to Jiangjia Village through a messenger.
From the end of the year until now, he has been staying by Xia Tian's side every day, afraid that if he misses her for even a moment, something might happen to her.
Dr. Jin is very dedicated; he now checks Xia Tian's pulse every five days.
Even so, Xia Tian's entire body was swollen beyond recognition!
Li's mother looked at Li Shiyue and said, "Your aunt packed her things and moved there before the first month of the lunar calendar was even over, to take care of your older sister."
As if imagining what Li Xiatian's belly looked like, Li's mother's voice carried a hint of reluctance.
"In the summer, she can't even go to the toilet by herself anymore; she needs someone to help her."
Even getting up is difficult for him; he needs someone to help him.
Mr. Jiang isn't very strong, it's fortunate that your aunt is quite strong, otherwise this would have been difficult to handle.
After listening to Li's mother say so much, Li Shiyue finally asked her mother with some hesitation, "Mother, did Doctor Jin say when my sister will give birth?"
Looking at the days, we should go home.
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