In July, Li Mingwei successfully gave birth to a daughter. As she looked at her daughter, who was as rosy as her son when he was born, she couldn't help but think of how her son looked when he was about a month old. She held back her tears because this child had to be better looking than her brother.
Old Lady Wang hesitated as she held the child. "Should we still celebrate the full moon banquet for the reunion?"
They had been living in the county town for almost half a year now. Except for when Liu Yizhu, the top scholar, was announced, Li Mingwei hadn't gone back home since then.
Old Lady Wang was always concerned about their home and thought that they should go back for the reunion and then stay there, no longer troubling Lord Tang.
"Forget it," Li Mingwei said wearily, leaning against the stool. Tuanyuan was not like her brother; she was very fussy at night, and Li Mingwei couldn't get a good night's sleep. How could she have the energy to organize a banquet?
Old Lady Wang felt a bit uneasy. It was so lively when they celebrated Xiao Bing's full moon banquet. It didn't make sense that they wouldn't celebrate the reunion.
"Let's skip the full moon banquet for now. We can make it up when she's a hundred days old or on her first birthday," Li Mingwei suggested.
Li Mingwei looked up at her hesitant mother-in-law and smiled. "If you want to go back, then go back. Anyway, we won't be staying here for much longer. When we leave next year, we probably won't come back for a long time."
"Do I really have to go with you to the capital city?" Old Lady Wang asked, even though Li Mingwei had told her many times. She had spent most of her life in this town, and the county town was the biggest place she had ever been to, let alone the wealthy capital city.
"I don't know anything. I hope I won't be a burden to Yizhu," she said, afraid.
"If you don't go," Li Mingwei said, raising an eyebrow and no longer trying to persuade her, "you won't be able to see the child."
Old Lady Wang held her little granddaughter tightly. "Fine, I'll go. I'll go and pack up. Please ask Lord Tang to send us back home. There are still many things to take care of at home. When we leave, Yizhu's father won't be able to visit his grave, so we'll have to hire someone to go and check on it from time to time."
Li Mingwei shook her head and laughed. She knew her mother-in-law couldn't bear to be away from the child. After all, she was her heart and soul.
"Lady," a young maidservant gently knocked on the door and entered. "There's a guest."
A guest? Besides Lord Tang and Lady Tang, who else could it be? Li Mingwei knew them, and her sister and brother-in-law were also familiar with the servants.
"Let's go and see," Li Mingwei said, getting up from her seat. The maidservant hurriedly supported her and they went to the front hall.
When she saw the visitor, she was slightly surprised. "You're back?"
Zhong Liangyu stood up and bowed. "Sister-in-law, I came back to take a look before I go to my new post."
Li Mingwei smiled. "Congratulations, Lord Zhong."
"You're too kind," he replied.
Li Mingwei shook her head and asked him to sit down. She sent the maidservant to Old Lady Wang to bring the child over.
Knowing Li Mingwei's identity, Zhong Liangyu felt a bit awkward sitting across from her. He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
Li Mingwei noticed that Zhong Liangyu seemed a bit gloomy and smiled as she asked, "What's wrong? Is there something you want to tell me?"
Zhong Liangyu shook his head slightly and glanced at her before lowering his gaze.
Although they hadn't spent much time together, Li Mingwei knew that this wasn't his usual demeanor. She gently set down her teacup and casually asked, "Is Yizhu not doing well in the capital city?"
"Do you want to hear the truth or a lie, sister-in-law?"
Li Mingwei didn't need to ask further; she was certain that things weren't going well. She sighed softly, "The capital city can be a challenging place."
"Indeed."
Zhong Liangyu nodded. At first glance, he had thought it was bustling and vibrant, and he had high expectations for that lofty place. But as time went on, he realized that the more prosperous a place was, the more impurities it harbored. It wasn't a suitable place for ordinary people like them to stay.
Old Lady Wang hurriedly arrived with a child, and Zhong Liangyu immediately changed his tone, saying, "It's all good, everything is fine and safe."
"That's good." Old Lady Wang was relieved and handed the child to him, asking him to stay for dinner.
"No need to trouble yourself. I have plans with someone else tonight."
Li Mingwei guessed that he had made plans with Yang Jingyuan, so she didn't keep him for long and saw him off.
However, because of his words, Li Mingwei decided not to wait until Yizhu turned one year old before going to the capital city. It had only been a few months, and Yizhu was already in poor health. If she delayed her visit, she couldn't guarantee his safety.
She made up her mind to set off in the spring of the coming year. She could take it slow on the journey, stopping and resting for a day or two every few days. It wouldn't be too hard on the child.
Old Lady Wang naturally agreed with her decision and began preparing. Once news of the land being sold spread, many people came knocking on their door.
It wasn't so much about asking for the price of the land but rather questioning why they were selling it all.
Old Lady Wang maintained a bit of dignity and said, "It's nothing much. My daughter-in-law will take me to the capital city next year. There's no one to cultivate this land, so it's better to sell it and save up for travel expenses."
"Yizhu is already an official. Does he still need your travel expenses?"
"Hmph!" Old Lady Wang didn't like hearing those words and retorted, "He has only been an official for a few months. Where would he get so much money? I've told him that if he wants to be an official, he should be a good one. No need to extort money from the common people."
"That's true. Yizhu's personality doesn't seem like that of a corrupt official."
Granny Zhao held her hand and said, "Now you can enjoy a good life!"
"Yes, the capital city, such a wealthy place. Your son will hire a few maids to serve you every day. I guarantee you'll live longer!"
Old Lady Wang smiled and declined. She was still young and active. Who needed maids? Her son's job as a compiler didn't pay a high salary, so she preferred to save money to raise her child.
Some people came just to gossip, while others were genuinely interested in buying the land. Old Lady Wang listened to their intentions and took them to see the land. It was currently leased to someone else for cultivation this year, so they would have to wait until next year to sign the contract. They could at least take a look and see if the land was suitable for growing good crops.
Just as Old Lady Wang left with the visitors, Wang Chunhua arrived.
"I heard you're selling the land?"
"Yes." Li Mingwei turned around to look at her. "Do you want to buy, sister?"
Wang Chunhua glanced outside and said, "My mother-in-law just took some people to the field to have a look. Do you want to catch up and see together?"
"That's not what I meant." Wang Chunhua grabbed her arm anxiously and asked, "If you're going to the capital city, why are you selling the land? Does that mean you're not coming back?"
"It's unlikely that I'll come back." Li Mingwei looked at Wang Chunhua's downcast face and explained, "I haven't told my sister yet, but my family is in the capital city. I'm going there to find him, to go back home, so..."
"What?!"
Wang Chunhua covered her mouth in shock. No wonder this girl was so wealthy. It turned out she came from that kind of place.
She trembled and asked, "So, what does your family do exactly?"
"We're educators. I've told you before."
They simply run a private academy at their own home, and that's all.
