Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 743 - 696: Generous Gift (2)

"Greetings, grandmother." The two introduced themselves and kowtowed to Old Mrs. Wei.

Old Mrs. Wei, with tears in her eyes, smiled as she personally helped them up, "Get up, hurry and get up."

The two expressed their thanks, stood up, and rose to their feet.

Old Mrs. Wei held each of them by the hand, looked left and right, her face full of joy, "Very good, very good indeed, both are good children."

Pei Shenyan had visited the Wei Family twice and had spoken with Old Mrs. Wei, so she knew a bit about him, but was not familiar with Mu Yuanxiu.

Nonetheless, Mu Yuanxiu, whether in appearance or behavior, did not fall short compared to Pei Shenyan.

He was younger in age but slightly taller than Pei Shenyan. Several young maidservants secretly eyed Mu Yuanxiu.

The maids and elderly women gathered around Old Mrs. Wei as they entered the room. Once everyone was seated, the servants paid respects to the guests.

The atmosphere in the room was very cheerful.

Old Mrs. Wei called Li Yuzhu and Li Yuwen to sit by her side, sometimes asking about the life of Prince Luling’s couple, sometimes inquiring about Pei Shenyan and Mu Yuanxiu’s financial situations.

Currently, Pei Shenyan is recognized by the Pei Family, has a large house in the Capital, and holds an official position, so Old Mrs. Wei did not worry about him, asking only out of fondness.

She did not know Mu Yuanxiu well, so she asked more questions.

Li Yuzhu was worried that Mu Yuanxiu’s humble origins might cause dislike from Old Mrs. Wei, and make the Wei Family look down on him, so she quickly interjected, "He knows a multitude of things, stays quite busy, hunts during leisure, and usually helps the County Magistrate of Qingyang with miscellaneous affairs."

Handling miscellaneous affairs could mean a wide range.

It could be county affairs or village affairs. Li Yuzhu did not specify, leaving them to guess.

Old Mrs. Wei’s generation did not stress fame or fortune much. Having lived to eighty, she had received what should be received, and at this age, what should not be received would not come anymore. She was no longer seeking anything and had settled down.

As long as her descendants lived comfortably, lacked nothing, and were free of illness and disaster, she was content.

"Very good, very good indeed." She laughed cheerfully.

The maids and elderly women, though inclined to judge based on appearance, could not help but have a favorable impression of Mu Yuanxiu due to his good looks.

Soon, Pei Ji arrived with the gifts.

Li Yuzhu and Li Yuwen took out the gifts, Mu Yuanxiu and Pei Shenyan moved them to the table beside Old Mrs. Wei.

"These were personally chosen by my parents. These two pieces of deerskin are from the Lord County Magistrate, for grandmother. These marten skins, two for each of the three uncles’ families. This box of South Sea pearls and coral beads is from the Prefect of Zhen’an, for the girls at home. These Nanyue jade pieces were brought back by my second brother, for our cousins to make pendants for fun. These boxes of medicinal herbs were collected in the mountains, all hundred-year-old ginseng; these two boxes are for grandmother, and the other six boxes are for the uncles and aunts. This is the old Ganoderma, one pair for grandmother and uncles."

These items, purchased in the Capital, are worth a fortune.

Without thousands in silver, they are unattainable.

Who says the Li Family is digging for roots in the countryside? Clearly, they are digging up gold and jade.

The maids and elderly women looked wide-eyed.

Old Mrs. Wei was very pleased, repeatedly saying, "I am happy just for you to visit me, what need is there for gifts?"

At this moment, a maid passed on a message from outside, "Old Madam, the master and the mistresses have arrived, along with the young masters and young ladies of each branch."

"Let them all come in." Old Mrs. Pei waved cheerfully at the maid who delivered the message.

From the doorway came low murmurs and the tinkling sound of clothing adornments.

In no time, a group of people came in.

There were elders in their fifties to sixties, as well as children around seven to eight years old.

Li Yuwen and Li Yuzhu, Pei Shenyan, and Mu Yuanxiu all stood up together.

The incoming people were unrecognizable to Li Yuzhu. Li Yuwen mentioned that her last visit to the Wei Mansion was when Li Yuzhu was seven, so Li Yuzhu had no recollection.

Li Yuwen frequently visited the Wei Mansion, so she recognized almost everyone and promptly called out, "Big Uncle, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Big Aunt, Second Aunt, Third Aunt."

Among the others, some were the Wei Family’s great-grandchildren. Upon seeing Li Yuwen and Li Yuzhu, they had to call them ’Aunt,’ like the twelve-year-old Miss Yu and the ten-year-old Miss Qin, the two granddaughters of Mr. Wei.

And the eight-year-old boy, Young Master Heng, the grandson of the second branch.

From the third branch came two daughters, both fairly young—Miss Wei Ruoqiu, fourteen this year, and Miss Wei Rumei, only twelve.

Peers and juniors, Li Yuwen only called them by name.

Yet Wei Family’s juniors paid respects to them.

Old Mrs. Wei pointed to the gifts on the table and smiled at her sons and daughters-in-law, saying, "These are gifts from Yuwen and others. I said, they came from afar just to see us, yet they insisted on bringing gifts."

After arriving in the Capital, Pei Shenyan had mentioned the Li Family’s situation at the Wei Family.

He did not go into detail, only mentioning that the Li Family now lacked nothing, nor suffered illness or disasters, that they had land and houses, and lived harmoniously and smoothly.

However, the Wei Family never expected such valuable gifts to be sent.

Although not as grand as those given in the past, they were still superior to what an average family could manage; even when the Wei Family gifted their relatives, it did not measure up to this.

Having been implicated by the Lu Ling Royal Mansion, official positions were stripped, and salaries cut for the Wei Family. Upon learning the Li Family sisters had arrived, they initially intended to voice some complaints, but faced with the generous gifts, they hesitated.

The Wei family brothers glanced at each other, with none speaking ill of the Li Family; the three mistresses constantly gazed at the medicinal herbs.

Those medicinal herbs are even better than those in the Capital’s medical halls.

Though the mountain village is poor, it produces quality herbs.

"Your family is still so formal," said the sixty-one-year-old Mr. Wei, with a sheepish smile.

"It’s only proper, uncle," Li Yuwen replied with a smile.

"Is everything well at home? I heard there’s a new grandson?" Mrs. Wei found a topic to chat about.

Li Yuzhu didn’t mention the Xue Family matter, and said with a smile, "Born last February. When we left, he had just learned to walk and looks a lot like Jingjing."

"That’s wonderful," the ladies responded with kind smiles. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

They glanced at the gifts, curious about how the Li Family could still have money.

In the first month of the year before last, when the Li Family was exiled, even their outer garments were stripped off, and they traveled wearing plain clothes. How could they be well-off in just two and a half years?

Mr. Wei curiously asked the sisters.

Li Yuwen smiled gently, "It’s because we’re clever, of course."

She was always proud when she spoke and wouldn’t miss a chance to boast at the moment.

She praised Li Yuzhu’s medical skills, saying she cured the County Magistrate’s Wife’s chronic illness, and although she hasn’t officially opened a medical hall, people seek her for treatment incessantly.

Then she praised Li Yu En’s business acumen, saying the pastries he makes are so good that even the Prefect of Zhen’an and his wife praised them and considered him as a potential son-in-law.

She said Li Xingsheng is skilled in both literature and martial arts, now acting as a strategist for the Prefect of Zhen’an.

She said Li Xing’an is a natural businessman whose enterprise has expanded beyond the county, allowing him to make money easily and give thousands of taels as pocket money to their sisters.

Furthermore, she said Prince Luling’s scholarly reputation is so great that people from miles around are eager to send their children to the Li Family’s school.

She also mentioned how Li Xingmao’s noble character prompted the village chief to teach him how to farm and clear land, and now their family owns hundreds of acres of fertile land.

Basically, she praised at every opportunity, knowing that no one would personally visit Taohua River Village to investigate.

Besides, her words contained half-truths and weren’t entirely fabrication.

Li Yuzhu listened and chuckled quietly to herself.

Pei Shenyan curved his lips into a smile, gazing warmly at Li Yuwen, realizing for the first time how eloquent his wife was.

Even Mu Yuanxiu couldn’t help but smile.

Wei Family members widened their eyes in surprise, amazed at the Li Family’s prowess; this wasn’t suffering, it was fortune-making.

It seemed that in a few years, the Li Family would earn as much money as the Prince Mansion.

.

The old saying goes, one does not hit someone bearing gifts.

Li Yuzhu and Li Yuwen brought great gifts and were so courteous that it made the Wei Family feel embarrassed to make things difficult for them or to hold them accountable.

At the urging of Mrs. Wei, the Wei Family’s head, Mrs. Wei arranged a lavish banquet.

While eating, they chatted about family matters, and by the time Li Yuzhu and her companions left the Wei Family, it was the second watch.

.

The Pei Family, separated by several blocks, was relatively quiet.

Once night fell, everyone from the various courtyards closed their gates, and the entire mansion fell silent.

After dinner, Pei Jingxiu grasped a round fan and, accompanied by her maid, went to see Old Madam Pei.

During the day, she had visited her mother, Mrs. Pei, complaining that Pei Shenyan’s wife had arrived in the Capital but hadn’t come to their mansion.

Her mother wasn’t particularly concerned about Pei Shenyan’s wife; whether she came or not was irrelevant to her, and she even remarked, "Why worry about a village woman? The real concern should be your fiancé’s family."

Clearly, it was the brothers bickering over the inheritance that provided her fiancé’s family an opportunity to ridicule. Why accuse her?

Pei Jingxiu felt unwelcomed.

Since her mother didn’t care, she decided to seek out the old madam.

After all, the old madam raised Pei Shenyan.

The weather was hot, so Old Madam Pei hadn’t yet gone to bed, sitting by the lamp while the maid read stories to fend off boredom.

Pei Jingxiu walked over with a smile, "Grandmother, you haven’t gone to bed yet?"

Old Madam Pei, feeling bored, was pleased to see her, and cheerfully beckoned, "Is that Jingxiu? Come, come, sit here."

Pei Jingxiu sat beside the old madam, fanning her.

"What brings you here?" the old madam asked with a smile.

"I couldn’t sleep, so I took a walk, and ended up here," she replied with a light smile, her eyes glancing around before saying, "By the way, grandmother, has Fifth Brother’s wife arrived in the Capital? Has she visited you yet?"