Li Mingwei was somewhat perplexed by her gaze. When she looked up at Ye Hui again, Ye Hui had already put away her expression, her eyes settling elsewhere.
Cui Yingshang went forward and looped her arm around Li Mingwei's, just smiling at her without saying anything. She pulled Li Mingwei towards the courtyard, and when they had walked far away, estimating that the people behind could no longer hear, she whispered: "Sister, don't bother with her."
"None of us like playing with her, yet she insists on horning in. My mother said that kind of person, who thinks highly of themselves despite not being much, I should stay away from her."
Li Mingwei did not know if Ye Hui thought highly of herself or not, but Liu Cuicui and Cui Ying's words contained quite a bit of malice towards her. She was probably not well-liked.
She glanced over at Ye Hui in the distance. She could be considered a beauty, with an oval face, a pointy chin, slender brows and eyes, and a little mole on the tip of her nose. She was quite attractive.
At least among the young ladies present today, she was one of the more outstanding ones.
However, Li Mingwei prefered Cui Ying's looks, chubby and round, truly adorable. If the child in her belly was a girl, growing up to look like this would not be bad either.
She could not resist the temptation and pinched Cui Ying's cheek. It really was tender, similar to little Lei's.
Cui Ying pouted: "Sister Ming, you're the same as my mother, always pinching my cheeks."
"Haha." Li Mingwei laughed out loud, a little embarrassed. She could feel Cui Ying's mother's joy. She praised: "Sister thinks you're cute. If I have a daughter like you, that would be wonderful."
"Really?"
"Mm!"
Cui Ying felt that this was high praise indeed. She was a little happy and felt closer to Li Mingwei: "Sister is also very beautiful. In the future if I have a child, it would be good if they look like sister too."
Li Mingwei pinched her again: "Have you gotten engaged?"
"Not yet." Cui Ying looked somewhat dejected, her mouth moved: "My mother is looking, but I don't want to get engaged yet."
"Don't want to? You're this old already and still don't want to?"
Aunt Cui walked over from afar and slapped Cui Ying on the head. She handed her the basket and vegetables in her hands: "Go pick the vegetables for me!"
Cui Ying obediently nodded and took the vegetables. Li Mingwei hurried to snatch them: "Let me do it. You go play with them."
It would be unreasonable for the host to let guests help while they were free.
Aunt Cui held onto Li Mingwei's hand and led her inside: "Alright, don't stay outside anymore. Too crowded out here is not good for you."
She had just overheard Wang Chunhua asking Old Lady Wang if Li Mingwei had finished her medicine, and when they would go to the county town again. Only then did she know about her unstable pregnancy and did not dare let her stay outside anymore.
She was also too happy upon hearing the news that she did not ask clearly before coming over.
Aunt Cui looked around and saw there were no stools inside, so she supported Li Mingwei over to sit on the bed: "You just stay here at ease. We'll take care of things outside. Don't come back out. If anything happens to you, it would be my fault."
After settling her down, Aunt Cui turned around and went back out. Li Mingwei let out a long sigh.
"Ah~"
She could let it go for others, but she still wanted to chat with the pretty young ladies she had just met today.
Now she could only lie on the bed again.
Too boring.
Knock knock~
There was a knock on the door. Li Mingwei perked up, wondering if someone had come to chat. She scurried to open the door, but it was Liu Yizhu.
She was a little disappointed. "Why is it you?"
Liu Yizhu closed the door behind him and pinched her cheek: "What's wrong with me? Who were you expecting instead that makes you look not too happy to see me?"
Li Mingwei huffed: "None of your business! There are no more stools left in the room for you anyway. Are you thinking of taking out this bed too?"
Liu Yizhu shook his head and walked to the cabinet to pack up. Only then did Li Mingwei remember that he was leaving today. She felt even more unhappy.
With so many guests suddenly today, there were not many things prepared at home. Dinner would probably be a bit late after it was ready. Liu Yizhu and Dong Shan moved all the tables, chairs, stools, and benches, thinking to pack up first so they could leave with luggage in hand after eating.
Having lived at the academy for years, what they needed had already been brought over. There were not many things left to pack now - just some clothes and books. He finished packing swiftly and placed them on the table. Only when he turned back did he see Li Mingwei with a very unhappy expression.
"What's wrong?"
Li Mingwei looked at him aggrievedly, not saying a word. But soon mist rose in her eyes.
Liu Yizhu hugged her distressfully. How he wished to accompany her more too. But the provincial examination was less than a year away now. He could not afford to delay. If he did not even pass the provincial exam, what face would he have to ask her not to embarrass him when it came to the imperial exam. He had promised to do his utmost.
He held the person in his arms tighter, and could only say sorry.
"You have nothing to be sorry to me about."
Li Mingwei was just feeling the sorrow of parting temporarily. She did not mean to blame him at all. It would be letting her down if he did not study diligently instead.
She pushed him. "Go on out. I'm fine."
"Really?" Liu Yizhu held her hand, seeing that she still did not look too good. He stroked her cheek lightly and hugged her again: "I won't go out. Just now you were reluctant to part with me, now I am reluctant to part with you. I want you to accompany me a bit more, alright?"
Li Mingwei complained: "But there are still guests outside~"
"I don't care!"
No matter what she said now, Liu Yizhu would not let go again. Left with no alternative, Li Mingwei could only let him be.
The two leaned against each other, greedily soaking up each other's warmth to withstand the separation for the next month.
Liu Yizhu reluctantly exhorted again and again: "If there's anything you want to eat or want while at home, you can tell mother or send me a letter. Don't endure it if you're uncomfortable, go see the doctor early. Don't hide it from me again."
"Let me know once you've decided on a date and I'll apply for leave early to pick you up. On the road, still have to trouble Sister Chunhua and the others to take care of you. I'll have to prepare some gifts for them later."
"I know all that. I'm not a child anymore."
Liu Yizhu laughed and rubbed her face he was holding: "I don't feel there's any difference."
Li Mingwei's gaze turned even more resentful. She retorted: "You're younger than me, little brother."
Alright, now it was the other person's turn to be unhappy.
Liu Yizhu suddenly did not feel like entertaining her anymore. He got up to go help out.
After eating, he bid farewell to everyone with his luggage, heading to the county town alone. With him taking the lead to leave, the other guests also gradually took their leave and went home.
Ye Hui was the last to remain. Li Mingwei saw her slowly walking towards herself and still felt a little nervous. Was she going to ask, was she going to question? How should she answer? Would saying it was just good luck lead to a beating?
But when Ye Hui reached her, she only lightly took her hand: "Sister Ming, I heard that you embroider very well. I also know a little. May I ask you for some guidance if it's convenient on another day?"
Not hearing the expected questions, Li Mingwei was startled for a moment. She quickly nodded: "Yes, yes, please come anytime."
"Then thank you, sister."
Ye Hui smiled and bid Old Lady Wang farewell before leaving.
Cui Ying wrinkled her nose and let out a quiet huff towards her back. She got glared at by Aunt Cui and could only obediently lower her head.
