Chapter 383 - 383: Idea, Novelty

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Ji Xiang watched as Ah Wei jumped out. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Ruyi proudly. “Brother Ruyi, look. I knew that Madam could think of a way to settle those injured soldiers who were unwilling to return to their hometown.”

Ruyi nodded in agreement and looked at Li Yu. “Madam, do you want to buy that wasteland to settle those injured soldiers?”

Li Yu shook her head. “I haven’t thought about what to do exactly. I just have a vague idea. I’ll go back and think about it first. Have those refugees who are short of food come to exchange for food?”

“They’re all here to exchange. I just find it strange that there’s not a lot of food in the storeroom.” Ruyi smiled and patted Ji Xiang. “I told this kid today that it’s still there!”

Li Yu thought to herself that other than those grain seeds, there was definitely a lot of food in her space! She smiled at the two of them. “It’s fine as long as there’s no less. Go ahead. I’ll go back.”

After Li Yu returned home, she sorted out her thoughts and took notes. She thought of the veteran called Cripple Xu and planned to look for Uncle Liu to ask him to find out more.

When she went to the entrance of the outer courtyard, she saw Uncle Liu sitting there and weaving something with a thin bamboo.

“Madam, are you going out? I’ll go get a carriage.” When Uncle Liu saw Li Yu come out, he hurriedly put down the bamboo strip in his hand and limped to get a car.

Li Yu stopped him. “Uncle Liu, you don’t have to set up the carriage. I’m here to ask you something.”

“Madam, please speak.” Uncle Liu bowed and stood at the side.

“You don’t have to do this.” Li Yu looked at the polite old man and smiled. “I want to ask you how much pension money you mentioned when you retired from the army. How much silver did you actually get?”

Uncle Liu smiled bitterly when he heard that. ‘Madam, when I retired from the army with crippled legs, the higher-ups said that I could receive 20 taels of silver. I didn’t go home and didn’t know how much money my family had received. However, when I was in Clearwater later, I heard from the injured soldiers who had retired and returned home that I only received less than 10 taels of silver. I heard that this is not considered greedy. In some places, they only received five to six taels of silver. Madam, why are you asking about this?”

Li Yu told Uncle Liu what Cripple Xu had said. “I want to know if it’s really as he said.”

“Madam, there are many tricks involved. He doesn’t dare to tell anyone,” Uncle Liu said with a bitter smile.

Li Yu nodded. “I know, so I came to look for you to find this veteran called Cripple Xu in the medical tent. Make friends with him and tell me more about the situation. At the same time, ask if those injured soldiers who don’t want to return to their hometown know how to do farm work.”

Uncle Liu looked up at Li Yu in surprise and bowed. “Madam, are you planning to help them?”

Li Yu looked at Uncle Liu’s surprised expression and smiled. “I have this thought. I can only confirm it after discussing it with Master. Don’t leak the news. Just mention it to them as usual. I’ll get Ruyi to pay for the food and drinks. ”

Uncle Liu chuckled. “Madam, there’s no need for money. I’ve never used my monthly money! ”

“Oh! Do you want to take it back to your hometown?”

Uncle Liu shook his head sadly. “No, Father and Mother have left. The brothers at home think I’m dead. I won’t go back and drag them down.”

“You can make the decision yourself. As long as you’re at home, Master and I won’t leave you to your own devices.” Li Yu smiled.

Uncle Liu bowed. “Thank you, Master and Madam.”

Li Yu really couldn’t stand this old man’s courtesies. She waved her hand and returned to the backyard. She saw Xiaoyu, Gu Yu, and the others sitting in the courtyara DasK1ng In tne sun ror needleworK. ?rne early winter sun was no longer so scorching and dazzling. Instead, it became gentle and warm.

When Xing Hua saw Li Yu return, she stood up and asked Li Yu, “Madam, I’ll bring you a chair. Do you want to rest too?” Li Yu nodded. “Go!”

Xiaoyu smiled and looked up at Li Yu. “Madam, you’ve been busy for so many days. You should rest well. Make a cup of tea, eat some snacks, and bask in the sun. Listen to the interesting things on the street.”

Li Yu smiled and nodded. “That’s a good idea. Tell me what you heard.”

Xiaoyu smiled and said, “There are really rare things. Sit down and I’ll tell you slowly.”

Xing Hua brought the rocking chair out for Li Yu. Li Yu sat down and lay on it, watching Xing Hua and Gu Yu busy themselves.

The two of them brought out a small table and made tea. They carried some pastries, stir-fried peanuts, pumpkin seeds, and pine seeds and placed them on the small table. Gu Yu even took a thin blanket and covered Li Yu’s legs. Li Yu narrowed her eyes and leaned against the rocking chair to slowly rock, enjoying the warm sun in the early winter.

Gu Yu looked at Li Yu, who was squinting and pretending to sleep. She smiled at Gu Yu and said, “Auntie Yu, tell me what rare thing Grandma Liu told you.”

“Anxious girl.” Xiaoyu smiled. Before she could start, Yangyang, Seven Pounds, and Little Loach returned from the back garden. On the veranda, Yangyang saw Li Yu. He left the other children behind to run to Li Yu. He held his hand and asked, “Mother, Brother Shuisheng and the others have returned to the manor. When are we going back to the manor to stay?”

“Look at you, you’re sweating profusely from running.” Li Yu reached out to touch his vest. Seeing that it was not wet, she wiped his sweat with a handkerchief. “We’ll go back next spring. Otherwise, it’s too cold for Father to go to the government office.”

Yangyang took the handkerchief from Li Yu’s hand and wiped his face a few times before placing it in Li Yu’s hand. “I understand. I’ll go play then.”

Li Yu glanced at the children waiting on the veranda and grabbed some snacks and handed them to him on a plate. ‘Go! Don’t run outside.”

“Got it.” Yangyang turned around and ran. Li Yu looked at the children who had split the snacks after meeting up and laughed. “It’s better to be children! You can cry and laugh whenever you want.”

When Gu Yu heard this, she stopped the needle and thread in her hand and looked at Li Yu. “Madam, it hurts to look at an obedient child. He’s so naughty that he’s rolling on the ground and making a scene! Young Master is really very sensible. You don’t know that those children in the village have been spoiled. I want to slap him twice.”

Xiaoyu looked up and smiled. “That’s true. Our young master has been taught so well! He’s good-looking, sensible, and polite. He’s not like the sons of some families who spoil their children too much. There’s a family in the village where my maiden family used to live. There was a precious child who is the only boy in his family. His mother doted on him too much. He ordered his sisters around like they are cows and horses and often rode his three sisters like they were big horses. If things didn’t go his way, he’ll throw a tantrum and roll around. That guy rolled from one end of the earth dam to the other. He refused to stop unless he got his way.”

“Then won’t this child be useless when he grows up?” Xing Hua asked in surprise.

Xiaoyu smiled. “I’m not sure. He’s probably useless by now. My family moved next door to Madam’s house in less than two years.”

“Doting will result in unfilial children,” Li Yu said indifferently..