by N/A
"Many thanks for madam's understanding." Du Xiao Li said. The current society held filial piety above all else. Bringing out her dead mother, even if Li Xue Qing had the intentions, she still wouldn't dare to use force.
Li Xue Qing finished drinking the wine in the bowl, and when Du Xiao Li was pouring another bowl for her, she stood up and strolled around the courtyard. Seeing the temporary stove at the edge of the courtyard, and also the medical ingredients drying in the basket, she asked, "These are all dug by you?"
"Yes." Du Xiao Li placed down the wine jar and came to Li Xue Qing's side, saying: "These were taught by grandpa Niu. He told me what kind of herbs I can dig, and after I dry them, I sell them to him, using this to supplement the family expenses."
"So it's like this. Then your life must be very difficult." Li Xue Qing said.
"Hehe, it's alright." Du Xiao Li said. "The tangerines we sold previously earned us a good deal of money. Big brother Luo Qi and I don't really spend that much money at home anyways."
Li Xue Qing returned to the stool and said, "Do you want to earn money?"
"Want!" Du Xiao Li said, "But I still can't sell that recipe."
"Is there no other way? Truth be told, I'm very much interested in this recipe of yours." Li Xue Qing said as she tapped the table with her finger.
"I actually have an idea." Du Xiao Li thought for a moment and said.
"Oh? Let's hear it." Li Xue Qing looked to Du Xiao Li.
"My mother also said on her death bed, if we don't have the capital, then go find someone to form a partnership." Du Xiao Li said.
"Partnership?" This was Li Xue Qing's first time hearing this word.
"It's where you work together with someone else. For example, we provide the skills, and someone else provides the money. And the profits everyone splits according to the agreed upon ratio." Du Xiao Li explained.
Li Xue Qing didn't speak, seemingly contemplating. At this time, the people that were loading the tangerines below came up and said the tangerines have all been loaded already.
"This, I'll rethink it over when I return. If I feel it's doable, I will come find you again." Li Xue Qing stood up and said.
"Madam please wait." Du Xiao Li went inside and grabbed another small jar of grape wine, saying: "Madam came yet I didn't have anything to entertain you, so I'll just gift madam this grape wine."
Li Xue Qing saw the wine jar in Du Xiao Li's hands. She did indeed quite like this wine.
"Thank you Xiao Li." Li Xue Qing accepted the wine jar and said with a smile. "But I can't just take your wine for nothing, right? So just treat this as me buying it."
With that said, she shoved a few taels of silver into Du Xiao Li's hands.
Du Xiao Li hesitated for a moment before accepting it. Regarding the partnership, she also didn't say anything more. If they can work together with them, it would save them a lot of effort, and can also draw support from their market. But she also wasn't dead set on them either. If she comes off too desperate, then it'll certainly be disadvantageous towards her negotiation.
Arriving at the bottom of the mountain, those people reported the weight of the tangerines bought this time. Hong Jie gave the money to Du Xiao Li and followed Li Xue Qing onto the horse carriage in front.
"Looks like we sold quite a lot again today." Luo Qi walked along the mountain path with Du Xiao Li and said, "However, these last few times, they've all bought quite a lot. There's already not that many tangerines left on the trees."
"En, later, I'll go with you to look." Du Xiao Li said.
The two eventually returned back to the courtyard. A figure walked out from the valley next to Du Xiao Li's house, gazing towards her courtyard with an evil smile. Just now, he'd seen that woman give that brat quite a lot of money. Thinking of the money, that person couldn't hold back his laugh. Afterwards, he turned and left.
At midnight, Du Xiao Li was on her bed, in the middle of cultivating her inner energy, when suddenly she sensed someone suspiciously enter the courtyard. She opened her eyes and took out a silver needle from the case at the head of her bed. Afterwards, she lied down, waiting for that person to enter.......
T/N: I had to order a new keyboard cover today because I tore a hole in my old one from all my aggressive typing _(:3」∠)_
Ch. 053 – A Thief With No Return
A Thief With No Return
T/N: Chapter (4/8) sponsored by Madam Daim! Thank you for sponsoring!
"Bang...."
The black shadow directly came to Du Xiao Li's room and tripped on the stool placed by the door. The stool got knocked over, and the sound startled him. Sensing no movements from the person on the bed, he finally let out a long breath.
"Where did this girl place the money?" The person circled around the room, running into a few furnitures, to the point where his leg started to hurt from the impact. While grimacing in pain, he said, "Why is there so many things in this room!"
Du Xiao Li laid on the bed, watching that person's every move in this room. This was a thief?! And was even the village's Er laizi* who liked to steal.
(*T/N: Laizi is just slang for hoodlum or delinquent; I felt just calling him hoodlum Er sounded weird so left it in pinyin since they all call him that like a nickname. There's a line about him back in chapter 47 that I mistranslated but have fixed now.)
Er laizi was called Du Quan, a thirty some year old bachelor, and also can be considered Du Fu* and the others relative separated by several twists and turns. This person normally likes doing things like stealing. Whenever he sees that a certain family's gourd has matured, or a certain family's corn can be eaten, he would go pick some when no one was looking. Occasionally, he would also go to the other villages and steal some chicken, duck, and whatnot. But unexpectedly, this time, he actually came to rob her house!
(*T/N: MC's eldest uncle; Cui-shi's husband; so technically this thief is kinda Du Xiao Li's distantly related relative somehow.)
Perhaps because even after getting so many bruises, he still didn't find the place where Du Xiao Li put the money, Er laizi couldn't help taking out the match. In the instant it was lit, Du Xiao Li immediately shut her eyes. This was a perfect time to train her other senses.
Ever since she started training her inner energy, not only did her vision improve, her hearing and senses all elevated quite a bit. She'd asked Luo Qi before, and Luo Qi said this was a normal phenomenon.
Du Quan searched around the room once, but still didn't find the money Du Xiao Li had gotten today from selling the tangerines. He looked again at the bed Du Xiao Li was sleeping on. When his gaze landed on the small satchel placed at the bedhead, his two eyes lit up. In the afternoon, he'd seen her put the money precisely inside this bag!
It was definitely in there! Du Quan carefully came to the bedside, preparing to reach into the bed to grab that bag, when Du Xiao Li suddenly opened her eyes, startling him. But before he could even react, he just felt his body go numb, and his entire person collapsed onto the bed.
Du Xiao Li, in the moment before Du Quan collapse, had the match in his hand snatched over, and afterwards had him kicked off the bed. Then, she got down from the bed and lit up the lantern Leng Er brought over last time.
"Are you alright?" Luo Qi appeared at her doorway. Seeing the person on the ground, his handsome brows slightly frowned.
"I'm fine." Du Xiao Li said. She knew that after Du Quan entered her room, Luo Qi had been standing guard outside the whole time. She lightly smiled, then came to Du Quan's side and gave him a few kicks.
He actually even dared to steal her money!
If she really was just a child, encountering this kind of thing would definitely have scared her to death. Moreover, the money she'd gone to great lengths to earn would also have been stolen too.
"Actually dared to steal a child's money!" Du Xiao Li felt that as long as he didn't steal from her, she can pretend to not see. But unexpectedly, this time, he had his sights set on her.
"What do you plan to do?" Luo Qi asked.
"Hmph, this type of person, if he comes the first time, then he'll come a second time. Even if he doesn't steal from me, he will still steal from others. In the past, everyone already suspected him for stealing, but no one had proof. This time, to have ended up in my hands, I'll just treat it as 'ridding the evil for the people'. Go to the village chief's house. Just say someone came to my house to steal, and let the village chief come over. Along the way, also shout for someone to catch the thief." Du Xiao Li said.
She didn't want to let Du Quan free and didn't want to have him killed or anything either. Letting the village chief handle this was the best solution.
"Okay." Luo Qi nodded and headed down the mountain, while also shouting a few times for someone to catch the thief with a panicked voice. The lights below the mountain very quickly lit up in several places.
Just then, Silver ran in from outside the courtyard. Arriving at Du Xiao Li's side, he called out twice.
Du Xiao Li stroked his head, and upon seeing the grass clippings on his leg, she said, "Went into the mountains again? Good thing I didn't plan on letting you watch the house. A thief has come and you don't even know."
"Awooo--" Silver called out, seemingly feeling ashamed.
"Alright, I'm not blaming you." Du Xiao Li said with as laugh as she massaged Silver's neck.
After a while, Luo Qi brought the village chief and several villagers up the mountain. Before they arrived, Du Xiao Li had already let Silver go outside, afterwards taking out the silver needle on Du Quan's body. Very quickly, he woke up.
Du Quan shook his head, not knowing why he'd fallen on the ground. Seeing Du Xiao Li standing to the side, he knew that the matter had fallen through. He stood up and stared down Du Xiao Li with a vicious look, saying: "Hand over the money from this afternoon, else I'm gonna hack you to death!"
"No, that's my money, I can't give it to you!" Du Xiao Li already had her little satchel slung over her back. Hearing Du Quan's threat, she quickly reached up and covered the bag.
"Are you gonna give or not?" Seeing Du Xiao Li's reaction, Du Quan was further certain that she had the money hidden inside.
"Not giving!" Du Xiao Li said, then turned around and ran out.
"Stop right there, give me the money!" Du Quan chased after her.
"Not giving, this is my money!" Du Xiao Li shouted loudly, "Du Quan, you couldn't steal my money, so you're just gonna use force, aren't you scared of getting caught?"
"Catch me? I've been stealing for this many years and have never been caught before." Du Quan arrogantly said, "Since I got discovered by you today, either obediently give me the money, and then have your mouth sealed tight, or I will help you seal your mouth. That way, you'll never be able to talk again!"
"You want to kill me?" Du Xiao Li appeared as if she was scared, motionlessly standing there at the courtyard entrance.
"Hmph, don't wanna die, then hand over the money!" Du Quan's patience seemed to have already reached its limits as he immediately pounced towards Du Xiao Li. But before he could even come near her, he was suddenly struck in the head with a rock. He loudly cried out and retreated two steps.
"Who?!" Du Quan held his head and bellowed.
"Xiao Li, are you alright?" Luo Qi came into the courtyard first and hugged the 'scared' and trembling Du Xiao Li.
At this time, Li Ming Fu and several others also entered the courtyard. Although the incident just now, they didn't see all of it, but they'd heard it all on the mountain path. Shi Da and Shi Er ran to Du Quan's side and had him pressed onto the ground. Another villager then found a rope and had his two hands tied behind his back. Afterwards, they had him sit on the ground.
Luo Qi carried over a stool for Li Ming Fu, and Li Ming Fu sat down, angrily saying: "What a good Du Quan, normally stealing this and that. And today you actually dared to set your sights on Du Xiao Li, unbelievable. She still a small child. The money she painstakingly earned, you even have the nerve to steal? Then getting discovered and even wanting to kill and loot? You sure are brilliant!"
"I....." Du Quan wanted to refute, but seeing that they'd all heard what he'd said just now, he couldn't explain even if he wanted to. Then, thinking of his ending, he couldn't help trembling all over in fear.
Normally whenever a thief is caught in the village, they are all directly hung on a tree and beaten. Beat you for a whole night, and if you survive, count yourself lucky. The villagers will then release you. And if you're unlucky and get beaten to death, it wouldn't be counted as homicide either.
"Village chief, I'm wrong. I'm begging you, don't beat me!" Du Quan said as he kowtowed. His body wasn't well, so if he gets beaten for a whole night, he'll definitely get beaten to death!
"Hmph! Now you know to be scared?" Li Ming Fu shot him a glare, saying: "Weren't you very impressive just now, wanting to kill and steal the money?"
"Village chief, village chief, I know I'm wrong. In the future, I'll never do those kinds of things ever again. Please, forgive me just this one time!" Du Quan seemingly was really frightened, endlessly kowtowing at Li Ming Fu with streaming tears.
T/N: We're actually only a few chapters away from the end of the first arc, which is the childhood arc, last chapter of the arc is 57. There's going to be a time-skip and we'll be seeing grown up Du Xiao Li soon. Gonna try to power through as many sponsored chapters as I can by Sunday.
Ch. 054 – Ninth of the Ninth Month's Wine
Ninth of the Ninth Month's Wine
T/N: Chapter (5/8) sponsored by Madam Daim! Thank you for sponsoring!
They were people from the same village after all, so seeing Du Quan look this remorseful, Li Ming Fu also somewhat softened. But recalling that he not only wanted to steal Du Xiao Li's money, but also wanted to kill her, his anger in the end didn't go down. He absolutely can't allow something this malicious happen in his village!
"Xiao Li, how do you want this matter to be handled?" Li Ming Fu looked to Du Xiao Li and asked.
Although this Du Quan cried very sorrowfully, Du Xiao Li still saw a trace of resistance in his eyes. Knowing that he wasn't really regretful, she said, "Um, village chief, if we have him beaten to death, it would be a bit too cruel. We can't just selfishly decide his life and death after all. How about have him sent to the authorities, how it should be handled, the authorities will definitely know."
Li Ming Fu thought for a moment and felt it was doable. Thus, he said to Shi Da and the others, "You all escort him to my house. Tomorrow, we'll send him to the authorities together. Xiao Li, go rest early."
"Thank you village chief." Du Xiao Li said bowing to Li Ming Fu.
Li Ming Fu waved his hand at her and lead the crowd down the mountain.
Compared to being suspended on a tree and beaten for a whole night, life and death difficult to predict, getting sent to the authorities seemingly was a bit better. Thus, Du Quan obediently followed Li Ming Fu and the others.
"Just now really scared me. When he pounced over, why didn't you dodge?" After everyone had left, Luo Qi looked to Du Xiao Li and asked.
"I knew that you'd arrived. Besides, he can't hurt me anyways." Du Xiao Li said with a smile. "Alright, now that the matter has been settled, time to go back and sleep. Silver, time to sleep."
Silver followed Du Xiao Li back into the room. He curled up on the ground and closed his eyes. Du Xiao Li also lied down and fell asleep.
Luo Qi stood in the courtyard, helplessly shaking his head. Afterwards, he returned to his room to rest.
Meanwhile, Leng Er came to Han Ming Yi's room.
"Young master, Du Quan had gone to the girl's house to steal and got caught. Right now, the village chief has already taken him away, preparing to send him to the authorities tomorrow." Leng Er had what he saw just now reported to Han Ming Yi.
Han Ming Yi was silent for a while, before saying: "Tomorrow, go tell Sun Zheng, isn't the coal mine at the border of the town short on manpower, let him go do some contributions."
"Yes, young master." Leng Er turn
ed around and went out. Han Ming Yi had a lousy money pouch carrying money taken and stared at it for a while, before finally putting out the lantern and returning to bed to sleep.
In the following days, Li Xue Qing didn't come to find Du Xiao Li again. Only Hong Jie came a few times to buy tangerine. On the first of the ninth month, after selling the last batch of tangerines, Du Xiao Li told Hong Jie that the tangerines have all sold out, and that she was preparing to have the tangerine trees transplanted over to this side some time later.
Hong Jie also had predicted as much and said that she'll return to tell madam. After handing over the money, she then left.
Ninth of the ninth month; climb high and drink wine.
(T/N: This is also know as the Double Ninth Festival; the date has a bad omen according to the traditional Chinese spiritual concept of yin and yang, because nine is a yang number. So on this day it's customary to climb a tall mountain and drink wine to cleanse yourself. Also the date is in accordance to the lunar calendar.)
The morning of this day, Han Ming Yi and party came to Du Xiao Li's house, inviting her and Luo Qi to come up the mountain to drink. Du Xiao Li prepared some side dishes and desserts, and carried them up the mountain with a few baskets.
Leng Yi and the others spread a blanket on the ground and had the dishes and snacks Du Xiao Li prepared, and also the wine they prepared placed on the blanket.
"Really not scared of the troubles." Du Xiao Li although already knew that Han Ming Yi was rather picky about these things, she still didn't expect that he would even need to bring a blanket to climb a mountain.
Du Xiao Li didn't want to drink baijiu. Fortunately, she had her remaining two small jars of grape wine brought along too. She poured a cup for herself.
Back when the grape wine was ready to be consumed, she had given Han Ming Yi and the others several jars. However, it had long been finished by them. Seeing how Du Xiao Li actually had more, Ji Liu Feng had her pour him a cup. "How come you still haven't finished drinking them yet?"
Du Xiao Li also poured a cup for Han Ming Yi and Luo Qi, replying: "I only have these two jars left."