by N/A
"You won't." Han Ming Yi said, "Your tangerines, although are special, for the most part, wouldn't be counted as wealth. So even if Sun Zheng were to get arrested, no one would came looking for you."
"Then I'm relieved." Du Xiao Li let out a breath. She didn't expect that after getting closer with Han Ming Yi, discover that his character was quite good, and also he was not like before, where he would ignore her when she tried talking to him. Now, whatever she asked, he would always give her an answers. Especially these analysis on politics, he would explain them quite well.
"You're just a little girl, what are you thinking this much for?" Ji Liu Feng saw Du Xiao Li's appearance and teased.
"Of course I need to consider! In this feudal society, with the imperial power above all else, officials hold the life and death of ordinary commoners like us. Dealing with officials, one can't just go against them, so of course I need to consider these things." Du Xiao Li somewhat dejectedly said, "Just like today's matter, that madam was merely just notifying me of the matter. Regardless of whether I agree or not, she'd taken a fancy to these tangerines, so I can't just say no. Sigh......"
This feudal society really isn't as good as the harmonious society of her past life!
"Then just establish a power that will make her not dare to treat you like such." Luo Qi suddenly spoke.
Sweat. "Then how busy would everyday be, how tiring would one's life be, I still prefer this farming life." Du Xiao Li immediately shook her head rejecting.
Having obtained this kind of easy and comfortable life with great difficulty, no fighting and killing, she didn't want to ruin it. But she didn't expect that not long in the future, she'll have no choice but to abandon this kind of life.
"You thinking about these now is indeed still early." Ji Liu Feng said, "Besides, you're a girl, after you grow up and get married, these troubles, you can just throw to your husband to worry over. You can just focus on assisting your husband and educating your children."
This reasoning again! Du Xiao Li pouted and said, "I don't wanna!"
Just then, Leng San walked out from the house. Du Xiao Li saw him and said, "Leng San, you can get down from the bed now! How's your body recovering?"
Practitioner of marital arts, their wound's recovery rate seemed to all be faster than normal people's.
Leng San had long known that Du Xiao Li had saved himself. He slightly smiled at her and said, "It's already much better. Thank you!"
Du Xiao Li waved her hand and said, "You don't need to thank me. You're big brother Yi's bodyguard, and Leng Er's brother, so of course I can't just watch you die and not save. However, your recovery rate really is shocking."
Leng San laughed. He naturally can't say that's because he'd used the top quality injury medicine used in the imperial palace. "It's all thanks to doctor Niu's superior medical skills."
"Regardless of reason, having the body recover sooner is always a good thing. Alright, big brother Luo Qi and I will head back now, need to prepare the afternoon meal." Du Xiao Li got up and said.
Speaking of food, the gluttonous bug in Ji Liu Feng's stomach began stirring again. "Girl, when will you make food for us again? Last time, after eating your cooking, then eating grandpa Niu's cooking, I simply can't eat it anymore!"
Coincidentally, Niu Jing came out from the house and heard Ji Liu Feng's words, saying: "Alright then, since you can't eat it anymore, then in the future, all the food will be cooked by you."
"Hehe, grandpa Niu, the things I say, how can you take them seriously, no?" Ji Liu Feng didn't expect that he would be caught by Niu Jing and immediately smiled apologetically.
"Hmph!" Niu Jing didn't bother with Ji Liu Feng either. He looked to Du Xiao Li and said, "Li girl, when will you also make a meal for this old man?"
Last time, Han Ming Yi and the others ate their meal at Du Xiao Li's place. After coming back, they continuously had her cooking skills praised to the heavens, making him depressed for a long time.
"That's right, that's right, how about you cook here this afternoon, well?" Ji Liu Feng asked.
"I also want to eat." Han Ming Yi spoke. Afterwards, he even glanced twice at Luo Qi. This guy was together with her everyday, annoying just thinking about it.
Du Xiao Li looked at the all the people here. She couldn't help twitching her mouth. Letting her cook here, she can't guarantee that after cooking, she'll still have the strength to eat.
Suddenly an idea appeared in her mind. If they eat like that, then she won't get too tired!
Ch. 047 – Purchasing Tangerines From the Tree
Purchasing Tangerines From the Tree
T/N: Chapter sponsored by Azurixa and Gilly! Thank you for sponsoring! (´,,•ω•,,)♡
Du Xiao Li looked to Ji Liu Feng and Niu Jing's eager gaze and said, "I thought of a way to eat, simple and convenient, and the taste is also very good."
"Is that so? Then quickly go make it." As soon as Ji Liu Feng heard, his entire body began string with excitement.
"Can't make it right now, not everything is prepared yet!" Du Xiao Li said, "Moreover, it's very simple when eating this, but need some time to prepare. Isn't it going to be mid-autumn in a few days? When the time comes, everyone can just get together and eat then. I still need to go find blacksmith Wang to craft something.
"What are you getting blacksmith Wang to craft?" Han Ming Yi asked, "If possible, you can tell Leng Yi and the others and let them go."
"I'm worried they won't explain it clearly. It's better if I go personally. Also need to buy some materials." Du Xiao Li said, "When time comes, just let me borrow the horse carriage."
"Alright, you can come at anytime." Han Ming Yi said with a nod.
"When time comes, also send some people to assist me." Du Xiao Li thought of how when the time comes, there's going to be a lot of things, and she won't be able to carry them all on her own.
"Leng Shi and Leng Wu will be at your beck and call at any time." Han Ming Yi very generously agreed.
Seeing Du Xiao Li's look right now, even he was somewhat looking forward to that eating method she mentioned.
"Alright, then it's settled. Let's celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival together then. We're gonna head back first now." With that said, Du Xiao Li left together with Luo Qi.
"Shouldn't Mid-Autumn Festival be celebrated with one's own family? Why did you chose that day to spend with them?" Luo Qi asked, somewhat confused.
By the roadside, Du Xiao Li plucked a piece of foxtail, flinging it in her hand. Hearing Luo Qi's words, her expression turned somewhat sentimental. "In the past, during mid-autumn, mother would always make mooncakes for us to eat. This year, mother isn't here anymore. I'm scared big brother will be sad, so that's why I wanted everyone to get together and be lively. Our relationship with grandpa Niu is quite good anyways, so let's just celebrate mid-autumn together then!"
Green Foxtail
Mooncakes
Luo Qi looked at the figure in front swinging her two little hands. He didn't expect that at such a young age, her thoughts were already this meticulous. Seeing her thinking of this much for Du Xiu Heng, he couldn't help feeling somewhat envious of him.
Although he still couldn't remember his past right now, but mentioning Mid-Autumn Festival, he didn't have a trace of happiness. This meant that this day didn't give him a beautiful feeling before.
"Ah! But no matter what, in the future, don't need to take the tangerines to the county seat to sell ourselves. This rather saves us the trouble. Feels happy inside just thinking about it!" Discarding the unhappiness inside her heart, Du Xiao Li lamented, "From now until the tangerines mature, we don't have anything to do!"
"Then you can properly study those things of yours." Luo Qi said.
"En, speaking of which, that medical techniques chapter was relatively easy to figure out. But the poison techniques, I still haven't started!" Du Xiao Li turned around and looked to Luo Qi. Originally, she wanted to talk to him, but suddenly bursted into laughter.
&nb
sp; "What's wrong?" Luo Qi was somewhat confused by Du Xiao Li's look, and asked.
"Your beard." Du Xiao Li pointed to his face.
Luo Qi reached out to touch, finally realizing that half his beard had fell off, only leaving half sticking to the side of his face. He calmly had the beard pressed back and said, "Alright, stop laughing."
Du Xiao Li finally got a good look at Luo Qi's disguise today. Stroking her chin, she said, "Didn't expect that you wearing this outfit, then disguising yourself as such, with a basket on your back, would make you look quite like a peasant farmer."
"Of course, I'm naturally born good-looking, I can disguise myself as anything." Luo Qi lifted his chin and proudly said.
Du Xiao Li thought back to when she'd just met him, that graceful one glance. She smiled and turned around, continuing to walk forward. "Let's go, the sun's too poisonous."
The next day, she and Luo Qi traveled to the county seat again. They stayed at the blacksmith shop for a while, and after telling him what she wanted to have made, they then returned to the village, waiting for the arrival of mid-autumn in ten days.
During this time, Li Xue Mei sent people to come buy tangerines twice, even coming together with a cargo cart. In the beginning, the villagers were even suspicious of what they wanted to do. But afterwards, seeing the tangerines Du Xiao Li brought down from the mountains, and also the money Hong Jie gave her, they finally learned about the matter of Du Xiao Li selling the tangerines.
"Never thought that you lived here." Hong Jie sat in the courtyard, looking at Du Xiao Li's shabby house, and said.
"Heheh, as long as it can block the wind and rain, anywhere is a home. Just, it's too messy inside, so can only let you sit here." Du Xiao Li said and poured Hong Jie a cup of tangerine peel tea.
"This is tangerine skin?" Hong Jie looked at the tangerine peel in the cup and said, slightly surprised.
"Yes." Du Xiao Li nodded and said, "This tangerine skin infused in water can make sweat and moisten the throat. It also has the ability to whet the appetite, improve circulation, and sharpen one's mind. We don't have tea leaves in our house, so can only invite Hong Jie to try this tangerine tea I made myself. Asking Hong Jie to not disdain."
"Didn't expect that this tangerine skin can also be used like this." Hong Jie lamented. All say children of poor family mature early. Seeing Du Xiao Li this small and already have to earn money to support the family, Hong Jie couldn't help pitying Du Xiao Li. "Truly tough on you."
"Not just that, using this tangerine skin to cook porridge can even improve one's beauty!" Du Xiao Li said with a smile.
"Is that so? Tell me about it. Later, I'll let the kitchen try it." Hong Jie said.
Du Xiao Li explained to Hong Jie how to cook tangerine skin porridge shocking Hong Jie as she listened.
"Alright, the tangerine should be done loading below. I also need to go back to report to madam." Hong Jie stood up and gave the money to Du Xiao Li.
"Hong Jie wait a moment." Du Xiao Li entered the house and had the money properly put away, then sent Hong Jie down the mountain.
Because it was convenient going up the mountain, the county magistrate's cargo cart thus parked at the foot of the mountain. Luo Qi, Leng Er, and Leng Shi helped to have this more than a hundred catties of tangerine picked back and carefully placed onto the cargo cart.
By the time Du Xiao Li and Hong Jie came down, the tangerines were already loaded. Hong Jie looked it over and nodded her head in satisfaction. She turned to Du Xiao Li and said, "Today's tangerines looks pretty good, I believe madam will also like. Alright then, we'll be heading off now."
"En en, see you later Hong Jie." Du Xiao Li waved her hand at Hong Jie.
"Xiao Li, which family's miss is that? What did you sell her?" Hong Jie still haven't walked far, and there were already villagers coming up to ask.
"That's the county magistrate's family's servant girl. She bought the fruit I discovered in the mountains." Du Xiao Li said.
"Discovered in the mountains?" When some villagers heard, their two eyes started to spin, especially Cui-shi, whose leg had just recovered and had came out for stroll, and the hoodlum in the village that liked to do shady things.
"That's right." Du Xiao Li didn't say anymore. She turned and said to Leng Er and Leng Shi, "The day after tomorrow is mid-autumn. Tomorrow, let's go to the city together to buy things."
"Okay, we'll wait for you at home." Leng Er said, and then left with Leng Shi.
Du Xiao Li and Luo Qi also returned home.
In the beginning, the people in the village were also very curious towards Luo Qi, but after hearing that he's Su Su Xin's nephew from her maiden family, they no longer paid attention.
The afternoon of that day, Du Xiao Li stayed at home and had the grape meat and skin in the grape wine filtered out. She knew that quite a few villagers had all passed by her house to enter the mountains, wanting to find that tangerine tree.
Du Xiao Li smiled. That mountain valley wasn't easy to find, and she didn't worry about them finding it either.
The next day, some villagers, unwilling to give up, went into the mountains again early in the morning. As for Du Xiao Li, she carried a jar of filtered grape wine and headed to the county seat.
T/N: Madam Daim has blessed us with 8 more sponsored chapters this week and I will be churning them out ever so slowly. ⊂(´• ω •`⊂)
Ch. 048 – Grape Wine Meets an Intimate Friend
Grape Wine Meets an Intimate Friend
Du Xiao Li and Luo Qi, along with Leng Er and Leng Shi arrived at the county seat. The horse carriage directly headed to the blacksmith shop.
"Uncle Wang, I came to fetch the thing." Du Xiao Li entered the blacksmith shop, and seeing that no one was around, shouted towards the inside.
Blacksmith Wang came out from inside, saw Du Xiao Li and said, "The thing you want I've already finished."
"I precisely came to get it." Du Xiao Li said.
Blacksmith Wang had three pot racks and three basin-like pots brought out, saying: "Look and see if there's any place that needs to be altered."
Du Xiao Li crouched down and looked it over. This time, she planned to let everyone eat hot pot, so that's why the racks she let blacksmith Wang forge were made according to design of those bases from her past life. The top was shaped like a cylinder, and below, there was a twenty centimeter high support. The outside was wrapped using iron sheets, and on one side of the iron sheet, there was an opening that can be used to put charcoal inside. The three pots rested on top perfectly.
T/N: rack/base similar to one underneath the pot in this picture
She then looked at the three pots. Two of them had a divider in the middle, used to eat 'mandarin duck pot'. The remaining one didn't have a divider.
Mandarin Duck Pot: spicy soup base in one side and mild soup base in the other.
"How is it?" Blacksmith Wang, seeing Du Xiao Li carefully looking at the pot rack, spoke out.
This little girl, although was very small, the things she had made every time were all strange and odd. However, they were all very creative. Du Xiao Li stood up and said, "The things uncle Wang makes are very good. It's fine like this. This is the remaining money."
When she came out, Han Ming Yi had given her a hundred taels of silver, saying it was the expenses of the festival this time. When she saw that hundred tael of silver, she couldn't help but sigh: 'This kid sure has money!' Afterwards, she unhesitantly accepted it.
After getting the things from the blacksmith shop, Du Xiao Li had Leng Er drive the carriage to the county magistrate's back door.
"You all wait here." Du Xiao Li got down from the horse carriage, intending to take the grape wine prepared yesterday. Luo Qi had already picked up the wine jar and jumped down from the carriage, saying: "I'll go in together with you."
"Alright." Du Xiao Li saw Luo Qi's persistence and nodded in agreement. Afterwards, she went to go knock on the door.
The door very quickly opened. The guards
at the gate had seen Du Xiao Li before last time, so when they saw her, they asked: "Is something the matter?"
"Trouble you to notify, I want to see Hong Jie." Du Xiao Li said with a smile.
Hong Jie had once instructed them before that if Du Xiao Li comes looking herself, to go call for her. "Wait here, I'll go call for you."
Du Xiao Li waited outside the door. A while later, she heard Hong Jie's voice, following which she saw her appear at the back gate.
"This girl, why didn't you tell me yesterday that you were coming today?" Hong Jie pulled along Du Xiao Li's hand and asked, "For you to have come today, is something the matter?"
"Not really." Du Xiao Li smiled at Hong Jie and said, "Isn't tomorrow mid-autumn? I came to town today to buy some things, and along the way bring madam this jar of wine."
"Wine?" Hong Jie never thought that Du Xiao Li had come for the sake of delivering a jar of wine. Would this dignified county magistrate estate lack wine?
Du Xiao Li nodded and said, "This is grape wine I fermented myself and can be drunk right away, so I wanted to come give madam a jar."
"Grape wine, what kind of wine is that?" Hong Jie asked.
"It's a fruit wine fermented using grapes, erm, also a kind of fruit." Du Xiao Li explained, "This kind of fruit wine doesn't have high alcohol content, so even pregnant woman can also drink some."
"Is that so?" Hong Jie brought them to the main courtyard, letting Du Xiao Li and Luo Qi wait outside, while she herself carried the wine inside.
Li Xue Mei at the moment was currently chatting with her own younger sister, Li Xue Qing. Ever since she got pregnant, Li Xue Qing would often come over to visit her. Seeing Hong Jie enter carrying a jar of wine, she said, "Didn't you go see that little girl? Why are you carrying a jar of wine?"
Hong Jie bowed towards Li Xue Mei and said, "Replying madam, this is precisely what Xiao Li came to give madam. Said tomorrow is mid-autumn, so she wanted to give you this jar of grape wine that she fermented herself."