Full House Spring

Chapter 7 Getting closer

Aunt Xie frowned and a sneer appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"That barrel is heavier than your tiny body. If you didn't do it on purpose, how could you have happened to break her legs?"

Xia Li smiled and said calmly:

"Grandma knew that the wooden bucket was heavy. Even if I used all my strength, I might not be able to pour out all the water. It was time-consuming and laborious to carry water in a wooden basin. There happened to be a wooden stick on the ground. I used all my strength to pry up the wooden bucket. How could I care about Grandma Wu's legs?"

Aunt Xie narrowed her eyes slightly, leaned forward, and asked suspiciously: "How do you know that you can use a wooden stick to pry up heavy objects?"

Xia Li raised his eyebrows and chuckled, "As long as you find the right fulcrum and the stick is strong enough, you can pry up anything no matter how heavy it is. I can't remember which book I read this from."

Nanny Xie guessed that she came from a noble family, but since she had entered the Duke's Mansion, no matter how smart she was, she had to be humble.

Madam Xie said indifferently, "You know that Wu Po was brought in as a dowry by the old lady. She had performed meritorious services for the old lady. Although she was a rough servant, she was trusted by the old lady."

Xia Li really didn't know this. She thought Mrs. Wu was just a senior, but she didn't expect that she was the old lady's confidant. She rolled her eyes and said with a smile:

"No matter how powerful Mrs. Wu is, she is yesterday's news. She is not as important as grandma. The old lady can't even enjoy her meals without you."

Madam Xie had never heard such blatant compliments before, and the maids did not dare to approach her in this way. Her expression was blank for a moment, and she said dryly:

"Don't talk nonsense to me. Mrs. Wu is not someone you can mess with. When her leg heals, she will have time to deal with you. Let's see how you can get away."

Xia Li said nonchalantly: "When the enemy comes, we will fight him. When the water comes, we will block it with earth. After all, she is old and her legs will recover slowly. By the time she remembers me, I may have already stood firm on my feet."

Madam Xie's eyebrows were furious, and she said unhappily, "Do you think this Duke's Mansion is your home? How can you stand firm at such a young age?"

Xia Li's expression was slightly restrained, and she said seriously: "Grandma, don't worry about me. I have good embroidery skills and can make some rare and beautiful gadgets. I'm not too stupid, so I can find a way to make a living no matter what."

Madam Xie didn't believe what she said at all. She rubbed her swollen eyebrows and said coldly, "It's useless to talk about what has already happened. Don't cause any more trouble in the future. Be quiet in front of Mrs. Wu. Don't cause trouble in my name again. If you do it again, I will not let you off easily."

Xia Li's intuition was very accurate. Although Nanny Xie seemed difficult to approach, she was actually cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so compassionate as to bring her back home.

Xia Li raised the corners of his mouth and said obediently, "Don't worry, Grandma. I won't offend others unless they offend me. If something really happens, I won't implicate Grandma."

Aunt Xie said indifferently, "You and I have nothing to do with each other. Your affairs will not affect me."

Xia Li didn't take these cold and heartless words to heart. She pouted and said aggrievedly, "Grandma is so cruel. The day you saved me from the jaws of death, I treated you as my own grandmother. I wanted to take care of you and see you to the end of your life in the future."

Aunt Xie's heart trembled for a moment, and she said with a stern face, "You can coax people to death with your mouth, but you just think I am useful. When I am old and useless, you will run away faster than anyone else."

Xia Li smiled and said slowly:
"I'm not that stupid. An old person in the family is like a treasure. Grandma has experienced a lot of things in the world. A few words of advice from her in the future will be enough to benefit me a lot."

Seeing that Aunt Xie was unmoved, Xia Li did not feel disappointed. She said calmly:

"Time will tell. When you feel that I am capable of being relied upon by you, it won't be too late to give me an answer. Anyway, I have put my words here, and they will count no matter when."

Madam Xie couldn't hold it in any longer, so she forced herself to remain calm and said, "It's getting late, you should go back and rest, and work hard in the future."

She probably didn't even notice that her tone of voice had become much softer when speaking to Xia Li. Xia Li knew when to stop and politely left, closing the door before leaving.

She came out of the house and felt noticeably hotter. She had noticed when she entered the house that there was an ice basin at her grandma's feet, which showed that the old lady really relied on her.

The moonlight on a summer night is like water, and the breeze blows gently by the lotus pond, bringing a hint of tranquil coolness. There is no other sound in the ears except the chirping of insects, and Xia Li's heart also becomes quiet.

What she said to Grandma Xie just now was all from the heart. Grandma's aura was very similar to her grandmother's, especially the way she looked at people.

Her grandmother passed away before she could achieve success, and she didn't even get to see her for the last time. This is a pain that she will never be able to get over in her life.

Grandma was kind to her. Seeing her, it was as if her grandmother had traveled through time with her. She treated her as her grandmother who had not retained any memories. Isn't this God's compensation to her?

Xia Li calmed down and went back to the room. Everyone else was still asleep. Seeing her coming back, Zi Fu couldn't help but sneered, "Oh~ Why are you back so soon? Madam Xie, why don't you stay a little longer?"

After Xia Li turned around and bolted the door, he said calmly, "Grandma has to serve the old lady. Why are you asking so many questions? Are you planning to do something bad to her?"

Zi Fu was lying on the bunk bed. Upon hearing this, she raised her body and retorted, "You are talking nonsense! I have never had any bad intentions towards Madam Xie. I am just afraid that Madam Xie will be used by people with bad intentions."

Xia Li smiled and said, "Are you saying that grandma is not as smart as you? If even you can easily see through my intentions, how can grandma not understand it?"

Zi Fu said angrily: "You took my words out of context. That's not what I meant at all."

Man Qing couldn't bear to see her sister being humiliated, so she shouted:
"It's already this late and you're still bickering. You all have to work tomorrow. If you don't sleep, do others want to rest?"

Zi Fu lay back down tactfully. Xia Li curled her lips slightly without making any comment. The room fell silent again, except for the flickering sound of the candlelight.

Xia Li blew out the candle and climbed onto the big bunk bed in the dark. She took off her coat and just lay down when Mai Dong came over and whispered to her quietly, "You are really amazing. She was slandering you in the room just now."

Xia Li yawned and said drowsily, "Let her be. I don't care what others say. It won't hurt me anyway. I don't need to argue with irrelevant people. She is not qualified..."

Maidong was very envious of her open-minded and transparent mind, while Xiangru, who had heard the conversation between the two, was slightly stunned. As long as she didn't care, everything would be fine? How could this be possible? She was afraid that she had never experienced the power of people's words. A mouthful of spit from someone was enough to destroy her. Xia Li was too naive after all...

The girls who shared the room that night had different thoughts, but Xia Li was the only one who slept soundly. Before, she had always been on guard against Jiang Yapo and did not dare to relax even when sleeping. Now that she had entered the Duke's Mansion, she could settle down for the time being and plan her future slowly without having to rush.

Before daybreak, there was a rustling sound in the house. Xia Li sat up in a daze. Mai Dong, who was standing beside him, had a messy mess of hair and said in a hoarse voice:
"Xia Li, are you awake? I was just about to call you. We have to clean the courtyard before the master pays his respects. If we are late, we will be punished."

Xia Li used to be a night owl and would sleep until she woke up naturally every day. After traveling through time, she was forced to slowly adjust herself to this routine. It was really torturous at the beginning.

Although she sat up now, she couldn't open her eyes. She fumbled for her clothes and put them on while asking, "Are the rules in the mansion so strict? Do people get beaten often?"

Mai Dong shook his head and said with a smile, "How can that be possible? The courtyard is cleaned every day, so it's not dirty at all. We won't be punished if we do our duty on time. Anyway, I've been here for so long and I've never seen anyone get beaten."

As he was talking, Xia Li's mind gradually came to its senses. This was, after all, the residence of a duke. There were many people in each courtyard. It would be too ostentatious to beat people with sticks for no reason. The upper class people valued respectability, and if they really disliked someone, they would get rid of him quietly behind his back. The lives of slaves who had signed indentures were worthless, and no one would take them seriously.

Xia Li didn't have time to think too much. He put on his clothes and folded the bedding neatly. After a quick wash, he joined everyone in the chores.

Mai Dong was very righteous and took the initiative to work with Xia Li. After they swept the courtyard, they took a towel to wipe the ornaments on the antique shelf. Without the housekeeper watching, Mai Dong came over and said:
"I see you're working really hard. Aren't you afraid of roughening your fingers? My mother said that it's very important to split the threads when doing embroidery, and you can't have rough hands."

Xia Li kept moving his hands, and said nonchalantly: "I am still young now, and I can recover my rough fingers. It won't have much impact."

Her grandmother has a special recipe for nourishing her hands. When conditions improve in the future, she can restore them. She is only a third-class maid now. Even if she has excellent embroidery skills, she has no chance to show them. She will just take it one step at a time.

Man Qing, who was standing opposite the antique display case, said in an ambiguous tone, "There are countless maids in this mansion who can embroider. If you want to be valued by the master with this skill, I'm afraid it will be difficult."

What she said was true. Xia Li was still young. In the eyes of normal people, even if she was good at embroidery, she was only slightly better than her peers, and could not surpass all the other girls.

Without waiting for Xia Li to respond, Mai Dong said unhappily:

"Sister Manqing, why do you have to say that? What you find difficult may not be difficult for Xia Li. A girl with a skill will be valued by the master sooner or later. Instead of pouring cold water on her, you might as well learn more useful things."

Xia Li put the towel in her hand into the copper basin to wash it. She said calmly, "It doesn't matter whether the master values me or not. Embroidery is for making a living. As long as I embroider well, I can always have a meal."

Mai Dong didn't quite understand what Xia Li meant, but Man Qing seemed to be thinking about something. Zi Fu, who was not far away, sneered, "You are really ignorant. You only know how to work hard all your life. If there is any girl with a little bit of potential, who doesn't want to turn things around..."

Xia Li licked his dry lips and said with a teasing look in his eyes, "How old are you? You're already thinking about marrying up? Your family tradition is really outstanding."

Zi Fu didn't hear the hidden meaning and said carelessly: "Our family tradition is not bad, it's just that I am inferior to others in the mansion. Everyone outside calls me respectful..."

Before she finished her words, Man Qing stopped her with a sullen face, "What are you talking about? Our father is just running the business for the old lady. No matter how respectable he is outside, it's all because of the old lady."

Zi Fu said with a confused look in her eyes: "Although the business was the old lady's dowry, if it weren't for our father's hard work, how could we have earned so much money."

Xia Li, who was watching the fun, asked, "Have you seen the money that Shopkeeper Wang earns?"

Zi Fu said with disdain, "I have certainly seen it. The silver ingots piled up like a mountain would dazzle your eyes."

Xia Li's eyes were full of teasing, "So what if you have seen it? The money belongs to the old lady, you are just feasting your eyes."

Zi Fu was unconvinced and said, "Who said that? Even if my father didn't make any contributions, he worked hard. How could he deserve the money..."

Man Qing's face turned pale. He covered Zi Fu's mouth with his hand, fearing that she would say something treasonous. He said in a trembling voice, "What are you talking about here? Get out of here when the work is done. The masters should come over to pay their respects."

After that, she took the lead to pull Zi Fu out. Xiangru turned her head and looked at Xia Li, with complicated eyes, "The old lady may not be aware of the trick. You revealing it will only increase the suspicion of the two sisters of the Wang family. It is useless."

Xia Li put the towel into the copper basin and said calmly: "Some things should not be put on the table to talk about. Those who are self-righteous think that others don't know. Besides, I have never said nonsense. Isn't it Wang Zifu who said it herself? I know nothing..."

The smile on her face was wanton and ostentatious. Xiangru recalled what she had said, and there really was no flaw in it. Manqing's fear and worry just now were real. Xiangru looked at Xia Li with much more caution.

Mai Dong took a piece of dessert from his purse and stuffed it into his mouth, asking in confusion, "What are you two talking about?"

Xiangru looked at her with some helplessness. Her cousin was very sensitive about things that interested her, but was really dull about other things.

Xiangru and Xiali smiled knowingly, and they both said in unison: "Nothing!"

Mai Dong didn't think much about it. She generously shared the snacks between the two of them and said happily:
"My father asks someone to bring me food every few days, so it's okay for you to eat more, Xiali."

Although Xia Li didn't have a serious mysophobia, she couldn't eat the dirty hand she handed over. She said with a smile, "You keep it for yourself. I'm not hungry yet. I'll have breakfast soon."

Xiangru said angrily: "Look at your hands, can't you wash them before eating?"

Maidong laughed cheerfully and didn't argue with her in a good-tempered manner. The three of them packed up the cleaning items and then went out.

After walking a short distance, they happened to meet the prince who came to pay his respects to the old lady. Xiangru and Maidong immediately stepped back and bowed. Xia Li was a little slow to catch up with them. She squatted down and secretly looked up.

The prince was in his early teens, wearing a brocade robe and had a handsome face. He had a strong aura and it was obvious at first glance that he was a carefully educated heir. When he passed by the three people, he asked for no courtesy and asked his attendants to reward the three people with gold ingots.

Maidong smiled so hard that his teeth were showing. Xia Li hesitated for a moment, but finally reached out to take it, and then thanked Xiangru and the others profusely.

(End of this chapter)