Our Family's Daughter Has Grown Up (4)
T/N: Chapter (2/2) sponsored by Rika! Thank you for sponsoring!
Niu Jing took out a name plaque and handed it to Du Xiao Li, saying: "This is the Medicine King Valley's name plaque. Take it. From now on, it is a symbol of your identity."
(T/N: Technically translates to 'command' plaque, but same idea; can be silver or gold)
Seeing the prepared name plaque, Du Xiao Li just knew this definitely wasn't a temporary decision. Looks like he'd long planned for this!
"Kehkeh." Niu Jing felt somewhat awkward being stared at by Du Xiao Li. Actually, this matter he'd indeed long discussed with his shifu, just this medical book, it wasn't until afterwards did he think of wanting to give her. Shortly after, he took out another small booklet, saying: "This is some introductions to our sect. After I leave, no one will be able to tell you, so you'll just have to read this booklet's explanations on your own. Additionally, the location of the Medicine King Valley is also inside. If you have time, go visit shifu! Take good care of these things, I'll be going now,"
Niu Jing took two steps, turned around, and warned, "The capital city is a dangerous place, take cautious going."
With that said, he returned to Han Ming Yi's side and got on his own horse.
Ji Liu Feng waved his hand at Du Xiao Li and said, "Girl, I'll wait for you in the capital to come play!"
Han Ming Yi looked to the little figure by the riverside, pulled his horse's reins and said, "Let's go."
Following Han Ming Yi's command, the crowd successively rode north on their horses.
Du Xiao Li watched as the dust flew upwards from the horses hooves, knowing that something big definitely must have happened in Han Ming Yi's home. Recalling the things she received today, she was somewhat speechless.
After Han Ming Yi and the others left, the carriage driver drove the horse carriage over. Du Xiao Li climbed onto the horse carriage. Luo Qi helped her sit down and asked, "Why did they leave so urgently?"
"Big brother Yi said, something happened at home, so they're rushing to go back." Du Xiao Li
When the horse carriage passed by Niu Jing's house, Du Xiao Li had the driver let her down there.
The driver agreed on a time to come pick her up tomorrow and then drove away on the horse carriage.
Du Xiao Li stood outside Niu Jing's courtyard and looked to the deserted courtyard. She let out a sigh and pushed open the gate to go in. Luo Qi didn't enter with her and just leaned against the gate, waiting for her.
Du Xiao Li went and looked into every room. She had the messy piles books in Niu Jing's study neatly put away, then had Leng Er's clothes that he didn't have time to put away folded and placed at the head of the bed. Ji Liu Feng's room was rather clean, but thinking to his pet peeves, she understandingly laughed.
Lastly, she came to Han Ming Yi's room. The same as Ji Liu Feng's, neat and tidy. The guifei couch was still placed by the window, but this time, there was already no one on top.
Du Xiao Li looked to the empty guifei couch, a burst of melancholy suddenly rose in her heart. Ever since coming to this world, aside from Du Xiu Heng, she was the closest with Niu Jing and the others. Now that they have left without any prior indication, she suddenly felt a bit empty inside.
"This is?"
Du Xiao Li came to the desk and saw that placed on the desk was a pouch with a piece of paper below it. She opened the pouch, discovering one thousand taels of silver in banknotes inside. She then unfolded the slip of paper below. Written on there were the two words 'medical fee'. Du Xiao Li thought, it was probably the medical fee she mention when they had gotten attacked last time.
"Truly a rich person." Du Xiao Li muttered and had the banknotes put back. Suddenly, she noticed at the bottom of the slip of paper there was also a row of small characters. She picked it up and began reading: "A shame next year's flowers are even more beautiful, but how to know when time comes, who to admire with me? What did this mean?"
(T/N: This is a line from Ouyang Xiu, a Northern Song dynasty writer's, 'Waves Washing the Sand'; the full poem and meaning is roughly, 'This year's flowers bloomed even brighter than last year's, however, even if next year's flowers bloom even more beautifully, how will I know when time comes, who will be admiring the flowers together with me?' It's not really a love poem, but I like to think that ML intended for it to be in a way.)
Unable to guess the meaning, she had the slip of paper and banknote put away into her little satchel. She then turned around and went out.
On the way back, Du Xiao Li told Luo Qi about the banknotes, in addition said she was planning on using this money to have the house demolished and rebuilt. While the house is being rebuilt, they will go and live in Niu Jing's house.
Luo Qi naturally didn't have any objections, and when Du Xiu Heng came back and learned of this matter, he didn't have any objections either. Thus, the matter of rebuilding the house was put forth on the schedule just like that.
When Li Xue Qing learned that Du Xiao Li wanted to rebuild her house, she recommended someone who specialized in building homes to her, nicknamed Sai Lu Ban*. Du Xiao Li had design blueprint that she drew that combined the terrain explained to great master Lu, discovering that he could completely understand her meaning. Thus, she had the matter completely handed over to him to handle, while Luo Qi was put in charge of supervising. This was because she still needed to go to the county seat to teach those people how to ferment fruit wine and didn't have time. And Du Xiu Heng needed to attend school, thus didn't have time either.
(*T/N: The name translates to 'better than Lu Ban'; Lu Ban is a legendary master craftsman, called the father of Chinese carpentry.)
Setting aside some time, Du Xiao Li and Luo Qi went into the deeper areas of the mountain and selected some elm wood back to be the house's roof beam. They also chopped some wood back to make furniture. By the time great master Lu finished gathering people, Du Xiao Li picked a suitable date to begin construction and had someone move all the things into a temporarily set up grass shed to the side. Afterwards, they had the crooked house pushed over, and thus officially began building the new house.
When construction started, Du Xiao Li and Luo Qi moved into Niu Jing's house to live, only bringing along the small box that contained her mother's belongings, everything else was all left on the mountain. They weren't scared of someone going to steal their things either, because the already grown up Silver would stand guard there at night. If you're not scared of getting bitten, then give it a try!
After Du Xiao Li had the wine fermenting method taught to those apprentices, she no longer needed to frequent the county seat. She finally was able to have some free time. The new house's construction was also progressing in good order. Probably before the end of the year, it'll be able to finish.
This day, Du Xiao Li lied on top the guifei couch that Han Ming Yi left behind. Don't know where Luo Qi has gone again. Thinking to Luo Qi recently disappearing from time to time, Du Xiao Li knew, another day for parting was approaching.......
In the afternoon, just as Du Xiao Li was looking at the hairpin and jade pendant that Su Su Xin left behind, Du Xiu Heng returned home for break. Seeing the things in Du Xiao Li's hands, his entire person suddenly shook.
Du Xiao Li saw Du Xiu Heng and waved her hand at him, "Big brother, you're back!"
Du Xiu Heng walked over and looked to the hairpin in Du Xiao Li's hand, "Younger sister, where did you find this?"
"In the case mother left behind!" Du Xiao Li brought over the case and said, "Previously, when I was cleaning things up, I found it under that wood cabinet in our house. Big brother, look, there's also a jade pendant inside!"
Du Xiu Heng looked to the jade pendant inside the case and his entire body began trembling, making Du Xiao Li quite curious. She had the hairpin put back and said, "Big brother, you know about mother's matter, right?"
"Mother....." Du Xiu Heng muttered.
"Big brother?" Du Xiao Li looked to Du Xiu Heng and lightly grasped his hand, saying: "Big brother, if there's something, say it, we can share the burden together."
Du Xiu Heng stared at Du Xiao Li, then slowly calmed down his own feelings. Slowly, he spoke out, about a past he was unwilling to recall.
"Actually, Du Hai isn't our father!"
Du Xiu Heng's first words smashed right onto Du Xiao Li's heart, making her beyond shocked.
Although Du Hai died early, in her fuzzy memories, he was very good to the former host. That unruly personality of the original's was even brought about by Du Hai spoiling her.
Now, saying that Du Hai wasn't her father, this bit, Du Xiao Li never thought of. At the very start, she'd only just suspected Su Su Xin's identity.
Seeing Du Xiao Li's look of disbelief, Du Xiu Heng continued, "Our father is actually an official in the capital. Eight years ago, when you were still in mother's stomach, and at the time I was also only three, mother got schemed against by someone and had no choice but to take us away from that ruthless place. Afterwards, while fleeing, we encountered Du Hai. Mother saw him collapsed at the side of the road, about to starve to death, and thus saved him. On his body, there was also a lot of injuries. Afterwards, he told us that he was beaten by his employer and was preparing to return home to work in the fields. Once he learned of our situation, he said he would take us back to Du village, announcing to the public that mother was his wife and we were his kids. For our sake, mother finally agreed after some hesitation. From then on, we settled down in Du village."
Saying to here, his eyes filled with tears. He covered his face with both his hands and said, "That jade pendant was given to mother by father that year, and it is also the only proof of our identity."
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