Liu Yizhu was simply an annoying fellow who couldn't be avoided!
Li Mingwei harrumphed twice, smoothed out some paper and an inkstone, took out a brush, dipped it in water and ground some ink. She took out the unfinished article from her drawer. To her, only writing could best soothe her mood.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded again. She turned back to see it was Liu Yizhu again. She hurriedly tidied up the article she was writing, knitted her brows and said, “Why have you come back again?”
So soon? It couldn’t be done that quickly, could it? When did Old Lady Wang become so easily persuaded?
Liu Yizhu held up a letter: “Someone wrote you a letter. I happened to run into the person when I went out just now, so I brought it up to you.”
“A letter for me?” Li Mingwei pointed at her own nose, somewhat incredulous. Who would write her a letter?
Had her family found her?
Impossible. If her family had discovered her whereabouts, her mother would have definitely rushed over immediately to seize her back home. Why would they write a letter?
Could it be...Lord Tang? Did something happen at home?
When she thought of this possibility, Li Mingwei instantly became flustered. She anxiously ran toward Liu Yizhu, wanting to take the letter from his hand. But Liu Yizhu stretched out his arm and held up the letter high.
“What are you doing! Give it to me!”
Li Mingwei jumped vigorously, but she only reached Liu Yizhu’s shoulder with her height. Liu Yizhu extended his arm, and she absolutely couldn’t even touch his fingertips.
“So anxious. Who is it? A man?”
There were rather big differences between men’s and women’s handwriting. With one look at the three big characters “Li Mingwei” on the envelope, Liu Yizhu knew it was a man’s writing.
When Li Mingwei heard it was from a man, she became even more anxious. That must be Lord Tang undoubtedly! Here, she only knew three literate men, and the other two were right by her side now, so they had no need to write any letters.
“Quickly, give it to me!”
“You tell me who it is first.”
Li Mingwei was angry. She simply didn’t jump for it anymore and gave him a kick instead. “How would I know who it is if you don't give it to me first?”
Seeing that she didn't seem to be lying, Liu Yizhu was half suspicious and half trusting as he handed the letter to her. Li Mingwei quickly tore open the envelope and unfolded the letter. With just one glance, she felt relieved and even somewhat delighted.
She pushed away Liu Yizhu's head that was peeking over and warned, “Don’t read it!”
Then she sat back down in her spot and read it carefully.
The letter wasn't from anyone else - it was from Sister Yun. Or rather, it was written by Sister Yun's husband on her behalf. She said that because there were outsiders around, there were many things Sister Yun couldn't say directly. She only said that she was doing quite well, her parents-in-law treated her very nicely, and told Li Mingwei not to worry. She also said Qingshan Village was a beautiful place and that Li Mingwei could come visit if she had time.
Li Mingwei smiled. This was just Sister Yun missing her and wanting her to go over to see her, right? She had promised her that earlier, so she would definitely fulfill Sister Yun’s wish.
After putting away the letter, Li Mingwei already had an initial plan in mind to travel to Qingshan Village.
Sitting to the side, seeing that ever since opening the letter, the corners of her lips hadn’t dropped down once, Liu Yizhu felt very awful inside. Just what kind of man was he that could make her so happy!
He felt a sense of threat and suddenly felt an urgent need to quickly persuade his mother.
One thing that she had been somewhat worried about finally had a resolution, and Li Mingwei was extremely delighted. Seeing Liu Yizhu's face as dark as ink, she directly chased him away, “Why aren't you leaving yet?”
“Leaving, leaving right now!”
Liu Yizhu left in a huff.
Hmm, this guy really had quite the temper. Li Mingwei stuck out her tongue at his retreating figure. She flipped through the papers on the table and continued working hard.
When Liu Yizhu was halfway down the stairs, he suddenly remembered his original purpose for coming today - Li Mingwei had angered him so much that he almost forgot again! He turned back to head up, and suddenly recalled Li Mingwei’s panicked motions to tidy up the papers when he brought the letter up earlier. He paused and lightened his footsteps.
Li Mingwei was engrossed in her writing and completely unaware that someone was quietly walking toward her.
“Ah!”
“Go away!”
“Teacher, they’re fighting!”
“Teacher!”
A shriek accompanied by some clamoring sounds traveled up. Li Mingwei and Liu Yizhu simultaneously rushed to the window and collided right into each other.
“Ow!” Seeing who it was, Li Mingwei glared, “Why did you come back again?”
Liu Yizhu didn't answer. Instead, he frowned and looked downstairs, where two children were currently scuffling. He was just about to go break them up when Mr. Jin had already stepped forward and separated the two.
Mr. Jin shouted loudly, “What are you doing?!”
One child pointed grievously at his own face for Mr. Jin to see, “Teacher, he smeared mud on my face.”
He blinked his eyes rapidly, squeezing out a few translucent, glistening teardrops. They rolled down his grimy face and fell to the ground with a splat.
Mr. Jin also felt distressed seeing this. He hugged and coaxed the child gently, then fished out a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe the child’s face. Seeing this, the other child dashed up two steps and clung onto Mr. Jin’s hand, saying he had dirt on his face too and also wanted it wiped.
Seeing the two children competing for Mr. Jin’s affection below, Li Mingwei couldn’t help but smile. She slyly glanced at Liu Yizhu, whose mouth was also upturned in a smile, when she suddenly had an idea.
She laughed, “Children are so cute. Just now they were fighting but in the next second, they've already forgotten all about it.”
Liu Yizhu also smiled. “Yes, they are rather cute.”
“Do you like children then?”
“No, I don't.”
Hearing his decisive answer, Li Mingwei pursed her lips in obvious disbelief. “Yet you were laughing just now, saying how cute they were.”
The corners of Liu Yizhu's lips quirked up as he looked at her. “I was only smiling because I saw you smile, not because of them.”
Li Mingwei rolled her eyes hard upon hearing this. She patted Liu Yizhu on the shoulder, “Save that kind of talk for the young ladies. This older sister doesn't fall for your tricks anymore.”
“Oh really?”
Liu Yizhu's gaze landed on the corners of her mouth that she couldn't help perking up slightly. Some people just had hard mouths. She said she didn't fall for his tricks but who knew what she was actually thinking inside.
Feeling somewhat unnerved by his faintly smiling eyes, Li Mingwei withdrew her own gaze. Looking at the children frolicking wildly downstairs during this break, she heaved a long sigh.
“What’s the matter?”
Li Mingwei shook her head. “Nothing.”
Even if she didn't say it, Liu Yizhu knew what she must be worrying about in her heart. But for now, he still hadn't persuaded his mother so he could only let her keep waiting a little longer.
“Why did you come back again?”
“To buy ink. I was practicing calligraphy this morning when I discovered there was no more ink at home. That's why I came over to find Mr. Jin. I got sidetracked chatting with you for a bit that I almost forgot.”
Liu Yizhu walked over to the shelves where Mr. Jin stored paper, inkstones, brushes and ink and took a ink block. He was just about to take out money to pay when Li Mingwei stopped him.
“How much were those medicinal wines you bought for me last time? I forgot to pay you back.”
“Not much, don't need to pay me back.”
Li Mingwei firmly rejected his offer. His family's situation was already strained to begin with. Even if it was just a couple dozen wen, it was money that she owed him and she wouldn’t feel at ease without repaying him.
Liu Yizhu conceded helplessly, "There's really no need. You don't have to stand on such ceremony with me."
“I must pay you back!” Li Mingwei stubbornly barricaded the front of the desk to block Liu Yizhu’s way.
The two were at an impasse, one refusing to name a price and the other refusing to let him leave without telling her.
Her actions clearly treated him as an outsider. Liu Yizhu's brows were tightly knitted as he pulled out Mr. Jin's chair and plopped right down on it. If she wanted to drag this out, he had all the time in the world to accompany her.
Li Mingwei was annoyed but could do nothing about it. She fished out some coins from her purse and put them on Mr. Jin’s desk, compromising, “Consider the medicinal wine as your gift to me and the ink as my return gift.”
Liu Yizhu gave her a deep look before getting up to leave.
