Chapter 54
54 Young Master’s Sweetheart
Li Yu did not expect that the people who chased Zhou Jia up the mountain to kill him were his family. Looking at Zhou Jia, she felt that Zhou Jia was quite pitiful. The people who loved him had all left, and the rest wanted his life.
Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia and smiled. “How about this? I’ll treat you to barbecue during the Lantern Festival?”
Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu and smiled brightly. “Sure! I couldn’t ask for more.”
Li Yu was stunned by his bright smile. She hurriedly turned to look out of the house and then turned back to hide her loss of composure. “I made some sausages. You might not have eaten them before. You can bring them back to try.”
“Alright, take the banknotes and put them away first.” Zhou Jia stopped Li Yu. “These are banknotes from the Four Seas Bank. If you don’t like banknotes, I can help you exchange them for silver and bring them back.”
Li Yu pushed the banknotes back to Zhou Jia and smiled. “Alright, thank you.”
Li Yu sent Zhou Jia and his servant away. She patted her cheek and thought to herself, Li Yu, so you’re also from the Appearance Association.
Li Yu rubbed her face and smiled at Madam Qian and her son, who were packing up the pork. “Auntie Qian, I also want to give you and Xiao An red packets for the New Year.”
Madam Qian looked at Li Yu and smiled. “Mr. Zhou gave us each a red packet of one tael of silver and even pork. We can already celebrate the New Year!”
Li Yu entered the house and took a little of the spicy chicken, dried rabbit, cured meat, and sausages. She mentioned the courtyard and handed the red packets to An and Madam Qian. She smiled and said, “I’ll also give you a red packet of one tael, as well as these dried sausages. Go home and prepare for the new year!”
Madam Qian and her son hurriedly wiped their hands clean and took the things from Li Yu’s hands. They bowed gratefully. “Thank you, Xiaoyu. I’ll go back and prepare the things for the new year. Xiao An still has to help herd the cows.”
Xiao An smiled happily. “Sister Xiaoyu, I know what they like to eat. I’ll come over every day to serve the livestock in the backyard!”
“Sure! I can’t wait!” Li Yu smiled and agreed. She sent Madam Qian and her son away and began to deal with the pork Zhou Jia had left behind.
Li Qing returned with his bag and smiled happily at Li Yu. “Sister, Sir gave us a New Year’s holiday. We can only go back to school after the New Year.”
Li Mei came out of the room with the new clothes and waved at Li Qing. “Ah Qing, come and try the new clothes Aunt made for you.”
Li Qing put down his bag and took the dark purple new clothes from Li Mei’s hand. After putting them on, he smiled and said, “Aunt, you don’t have to make new clothes for me in the future. I have enough clothes.”
Li Mei looked at Li Qing in relief and helped him straighten his clothes. She turned to look at Li Yu. “Yu’er, look at Ah Qing. Doesn’t he look even more handsome in this?”
Li Yu looked at Li Qing, who was getting more and more handsome and praised him with a smile, “Our Ah Qing is really getting more and more handsome. I wonder how many young ladies he will charm in the future!”
Li Qing looked at Li Yu with a red face. “Sister, you’re teasing me again.”
Li Mei looked at Li Yu and her brother and smiled in relief. “The two of you are getting better-looking. In the future, the matchmakers will break our doorstep.”
Li Yu carried the meat into the kitchen and placed it there. She washed her hands and said to Li Mei, “Aunt, come into the house with me.”
“What’s the matter? Let’s talk inside.” Li Mei smiled and followed Li Yu into the house. Li Yu took out 200 taels of silver and placed them in a small backpack. She handed it to Li Mei and said, “Aunt, this is for you. Whether you tell Uncle or not is up to you.”
Li Mei pushed her bag away and looked at Li Yu reproachfully. “Child, I know you’ve earned money. This time, our entire family has earned money. How can we still take your money?”
Li Yu stuffed the bag into Li Mei’s arms. “This silver is for you. You can use it however you want. Also, pick two pieces of cloth from the central room and make new clothes for my cousins. Let them dress beautifully and anger that old woman to death.
Li Mei wiped the tears of joy from the corners of her eyes and pulled Li Yu into her arms. She said emotionally, “Yu’er, thank you for giving me the confidence to face the old woman.”
Li Yu was not used to being so intimate with others and felt a little awkward. She came out of Li Mei’s arms and smiled with a red face. “That’s right. We have to let her understand that you also have your family backing you. Let’s see if she still dares to bully you in the future.”
Li Yu pulled Li Mei to the central room and opened the gift boxes. There were osmanthus cakes, glutinous rice cakes, and peach cakes. After Li Mei took a box and opened it, she was stunned. “Yu’er, look at how beautiful these pearl flowers are. There’s also this jade hairpin, jade bracelet, and this silk bracelet.” Li Mei’s voice suddenly stopped. She recalled Mr. Zhou’s gaze when he looked at Yu’er and seemed to understand something. She looked up at Li Yu and said in a negotiating tone, “Yu’er, we’ll return these gifts for Mr. Zhou. These things are not for a man outside of our family to give.”
Li Yu did not expect Zhou Jia to give her some expensive jewelry. She nodded and said, “Aunt, give it back to Mr. Zhou! It’s not appropriate for me to use these things.”
Seeing that Li Yu agreed to return these things to Mr. Zhou without hesitation, Li Mei looked at Li Yu in relief. “We women have to have backbone. We can’t be so shallow that others will look down on us.”
Li Yu smiled and replied, “Yes! I’ll remember. Go ahead!”
Li Mei packed the jewelry and rushed to the Zhou family. When Ji Xiang opened the door and saw that it was Li Mei, he asked curiously, “Aunt Li, what’s the matter?”
Li Mei smiled faintly. “Brother Ji Xiang, please take me to see Mr. Zhou.”
“Alright, Young Master is in the study. I’ll bring you there.” Ji Xiang brought Li Mei to Zhou Jia’s study and reported at the door, “Young Master, Aunt Li wants to see you.”
“I’m here.” Zhou Jia stood up and opened the study door. He cupped his hands and bowed to Li Mei. “Aunt Li, why are you looking for me?”
Li Mei took out the jewelry from her bag and placed it on Zhou Jia’s desk. She smiled slightly. “Mr. Zhou, thank you for the gift. We’ll accept those cloth skins and food but please take the jewelry back.” Li Mei smiled bitterly at Zhou Jia. “My Xiaoyu has a bitter life. Her reputation has been tarnished by that ungrateful Zhang family. I can’t let others gossip about her.”
Zhou Jia looked at Li Mei and bowed. “Auntie Li, I was rude. Xiaoyu deserves better.”
Li Mei smiled faintly. “Thank you for your praise, Mr. Zhou. I still have something on at home, so I’ll take my leave.”
After Zhou Jia sent Li Mei away, he returned to the study and placed the jewelry in the drawer. He sat on the chair and fell into deep thought.
Uncle Zhou carried a stack of ledgers into the study. When he saw Zhou Jia sitting there in a daze, he was a little worried. “Young Master, what’s wrong?”
Zhou Jia looked up at Uncle Zhou. “It’s fine, Uncle Zhou. There are some things in my heart that I haven’t figured out yet.”
Uncle Zhou looked at Young Master and smiled mysteriously. “Young Master, you’re already at the age where you should get married. From the looks of it, you’ve taken a fancy to some young lady, right?”
Zhou Jia shook his head. “I don’t like any of those young ladies who pretend to be delicate. What I like is…” Li Yu’s figure appeared in front of Zhou Jia and he couldn’t help but smile.
Uncle Zhou looked at his young master and smiled happily. “Young Master, I know that you have someone in your heart just by looking at you. People often say that marrying is better than having money for the new year. It’s time for you to propose marriage.”
Zhou Jia agreed solemnly. “Alright, I’ll propose after the new year.”