Chapter 38
Seeing Qiu Kui's surprise at receiving dumplings with beef filling, Li Xia showed an expression of pleasant surprise. In the morning, when Qiu Kui went to Mrs. Huang's to get vegetables, she saw beef and knew Li Xia would like it.
"How could there be beef?" In this era, beef was a labor commodity. Without official permission, one could not slaughter cattle at will. Those who slaughtered illegally would be punished by the authorities.
"Qiu Kui heard from Mrs. Huang that the cow was old, so the farmer reported it to the officials and obtained permission to slaughter it," Qiu Kui explained clearly. She was able to buy ten pounds of beef because she usually gave Mrs. Huang sufficient silver, allowing her to snatch it up.
"Is there any more beef?"
"Mrs. Huang bought ten pounds. I gave her half a pound, and minced half a pound to make dumplings. The remaining nine pounds are in the tea room, and Wu Auntie is planning to make braised beef," Qiu Kui explained how the remaining beef would be used.
"Don't make braised beef. I remember my mother loves beef. Send five pounds of that beef to the Wild Goose Pavilion," Li Xia's words made Qiu Kui reluctant. She felt Mrs. Lu had been unfair in dealing with Wu Auntie's matter previously.
"Young but quite hot-tempered, eh?" Seeing Qiu Kui's expression, Li Xia reached out and pinched her cheeks. "It's been so long, and this little maid still remembers."
"Miss," Qiu Kui took a step back, avoiding Li Xia's hand.
"Do as I say, hurry and send it," Li Xia retracted her hand and ordered. Qiu Kui suppressed her reluctance with a low hum and left.
In the tea room, she told Wu Auntie of Li Xia's order. Wu Auntie wrapped the beef and put it in a basket, which Qiu Kui carried to the Wild Goose Pavilion and delivered the beef.
Zi Yu was sitting in the corridor, chatting with the maids. Seeing Qiu Kui approach with a basket, she asked, "Sister Qiu Kui, why have you come?"
"Hello, Sister Zi Yu. My young mistress ordered me to deliver beef to the lady of the house," Qiu Kui said, lifting the cloth covering the basket.
Zi Yu looked inside and saw a fresh chunk of raw beef. She knew Mrs. Lu loved beef, so she smiled, "The second young miss is filial."
"Sister Zi Yu, the beef has been delivered. I'll return to the Orchid Courtyard now," Qiu Kui said, handing the basket to Zi Yu.
Zi Yu took the basket with one hand and held Qiu Kui back with the other. "Qiu Kui, since you're here at the Wild Goose Pavilion, stay for a bit. I'll go and inform the lady." She placed the beef in a shaded spot on a bench in the corridor and went inside.
Soon, Zi Yu returned with a box. "The lady is pleased with the second young miss's filial gesture. Take this back for her." She handed the box to Qiu Kui and took out two golden hairpins from her pocket, putting them in Qiu Kui's hand. "These are rewards from the lady for you to wear."
"Thank you, my lady," Qiu Kui said, bowing towards the room. She then took one of the golden hairpins and gave it to Zi Yu. "Thank you, Sister Zi Yu, for your kind words on my behalf."
Zi Yu was pleased with Qiu Kui's manners and returned the hairpin. "Come to the Wild Goose Pavilion often when you have time."
Qiu Kui agreed and returned with the box. She handed the box to Li Xia, who opened it to find a box of golden leaves. Five pounds of beef exchanged for a box of golden leaves - a very profitable deal.
Li Xia looked at Qiu Kui. "Mother is very fair."
"Miss, I was wrong," Qiu Kui realized she shouldn't have questioned her mistress as a servant.
"It's over, don't mention it again. Go now," Li Xia said with a yawn, feeling sleepy after a good meal.
Li Xia returned to her room to rest. When she woke up, she saw Auntie Mei sitting silently beside her. "Auntie, why are you doing this again?"
"If you haven't done anything wrong, what are you afraid of?" Auntie Mei snorted.
"What have I done wrong? Tell me," Li Xia was certain no one had discovered her nightly misdeeds.
"I'll ask you, where did you get these jewels?" Auntie Mei pointed to the jade carvings in Li Xia's jewelry box.
"Those? They were gifts from the Wang family," Li Xia said, referring to previous gifts from Lord Wang.
Auntie Mei gave Li Xia a look that said, "Keep making up stories." She had asked Qiu Shui, and those jade carvings weren't part of Lord Wang's previous thank-you gifts. Seeing Auntie Mei's expression, Li Xia didn't say anything else and stretched out her hand. "Go ahead and hit me."
Seeing Li Xia's obedient willingness to accept punishment, Auntie Mei felt both angry and pained. She struck Li Xia's palm forcefully, leaving it red, and tears fell from her eyes. "Why didn't you dodge?"
"If I dodged, Auntie would be even angrier," Li Xia admitted her mistake sincerely.
"You always make me both angry and heartbroken," Auntie Mei said, holding Li Xia's hand with a mix of tears and laughter.
"Auntie, don't be angry. There are some things I can't explain. But you must believe your daughter won't do anything wrong," Li Xia said, unable to tell Auntie Mei about her previous life or her wind abilities.
Seeing Li Xia's remorseful acceptance of punishment, Auntie Mei sighed. "You're my own child. In this world, if I can't trust you, who can I trust?"
Li Xia hugged Auntie Mei, calling her "Auntie" but thinking "Mother."
After a warm moment, Li Xia withdrew from Auntie Mei's embrace and told her something she had forgotten to mention earlier. "Auntie, I've asked Elder Brother to write to Heir Apparent Lu for help in finding the Xu family."
"Young Master Li Hui is preparing for the county examination. How could you trouble him?" Auntie Mei worried that Mrs. Lu would be upset if she knew Li Xia had asked Li Hui for help when he was preparing for the important exam.
"Mother is a most reasonable person. She won't be angry," Li Xia knew Auntie Mei's concern.
Despite Li Xia's assurance that it wouldn't affect Li Hui's exam preparation, Auntie Mei was still worried, so she took the initiative to make shoes and socks as gifts for Mrs. Lu.
Mrs. Lu knew about Auntie Mei's wish to find her maiden family. She didn't make a big deal of it and accepted the shoes and socks Auntie Mei made for her.
The biggest matter in the Li family at the moment was that Li Chou and Li Guang were to take the children's examination and the government students' examination, respectively. Originally, they were supposed to take the exams next year, but this year's exams were moved up due to the rebellion of the Prince of Yongkang. Many officials were implicated, resulting in confiscations of property and dismissals of unknown numbers. Therefore, the Emperor issued an edict to open up the imperial examinations from the children's examination to the metropolitan examination. Those who passed the government students' examination could directly participate in the county examination. The hope was to recruit more talented individuals to serve in the imperial court.
Li Ming's successful suppression of the rebels and commendations from his superiors boosted his confidence even more. He wanted his two sons to become government students and children's graduates even more fervently. As a result, Li Chou and Li Guang faced an increasingly grueling schedule.
Li Xia also learned from her conversations with Li Xin the reason why Mrs. Lu had previously punished Auntie An. Auntie An felt sorry for her sons' hardships and wanted Mrs. Lu to ask Li Ming to use his position as a county magistrate to help Li Chou and Li Guang become government students and children's graduates.
"How could Auntie An think that way? That would be cheating in the exams," Li Xia was baffled that Auntie An could make such a request, truly deserving of her punishment.
"Indeed, Mother confined her for her own good," Li Xin said sympathetically for Mrs. Lu, who not only had to manage the entire household's food and drink but also had to be cautious of people occasionally making foolish requests.
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