CHAPTER 172: CHAPTER 172: PREVENTING HER FROM STEALING SECOND SISTER’S BUSINESS (1)

Mu Yuanxiu said, "It’s getting late, let’s talk as we walk."

The Princely Heir also said, "The way back is still long, let’s talk as we go."

The walk from the village to the Li Family’s new house is three miles, plenty of time to chat on the way back.

So everyone started heading back.

The Second Young Master placed Li Yuzhu onto a cart and pushed her along.

Li Yuzhu gladly sat down.

How wonderful it is to have a caring brother.

Li Yuzhu remembered the earlier incident and turned to look at Mu Yuanxiu walking by her side, "Mu Yuanxiu, has that child’s arm been broken for long?"

Mu Yuanxiu’s gaze was deep and somber, "He often gets beaten by that woman. I mentioned it offhand, and it must have touched her sore spot, so she got scared."

Li Yuzhu thought about what Liu Da Niu told her, how the Liu Family’s Aunt married a second time; her husband’s first wife died early, then he married Aunt Liu.

When Aunt Liu married into the family, the child was still an infant, raised by Liu Guta.

Is it possible that child is that stepson?

"I remember she has a stepson, it must be that child, right?" Li Yuzhu asked.

Mu Yuanxiu nodded, "Indeed, it’s that child. Not long after he was born, his biological mother died, and he always called Aunt Liu ’mother’."

Li Yuzhu scoffed, "After raising him for seven or eight years, she still hasn’t developed any feelings for him? And even broke his arm? Looks like Aunt Liu’s heart is quite ruthless."

"Holding a grudge against a seven or eight-year-old child, is that woman a wolf?" Second Young Master scoffed too, "Breaking the child’s arm, and no one speaks up against that woman, where’s his biological father? Dead?"

"Once there’s a stepmother, the real father turns into a stepfather, Second Brother, have you heard this saying?" Li Yuzhu looked at Second Young Master.

"I’ve heard it! Ah, luckily, our parents are both biological, I wouldn’t want to have a stepmother or stepfather!" Second Young Master shrugged.

The Princely Heir said sternly, "Second, what nonsense are you talking? Our parents are old; do you think they’ll find us a stepmother or stepfather?"

Second Young Master replied sheepishly, "I was joking, hey, Brother, you better not tell our parents, you know Dad will beat me with a broom for this."

The Princely Heir smirked, "It’s good you know."

Li Yuzhu glanced back towards the direction of Taohua River Village, "I wonder if that child’s arm will be treated."

Mu Yuanxiu said, "It definitely will, after all, he is a boy, and his grandparents are still around, they will notice something is wrong, don’t worry."

Li Yuzhu breathed a sigh of relief, "I hope so."

.

By the time they reached the Li Family’s new house, it was completely dark.

Realizing everyone hadn’t had dinner yet, the Princely Heir said, "Brother Mu, we’ve delayed your meal because of our family matters. You still have to cook when you return. Why not eat at our place?"

Second Young Master winked at the Princely Heir, thinking, this guy has more money than our whole family combined! He won’t starve!

But the Princely Heir ignored it, continuing to warmly invite Mu Yuanxiu.

Mu Yuanxiu smiled and nodded, "Thank you for the invitation, Brother Li."

"Among neighbors, why say such polite things, come, come, let’s eat together." The Princely Heir patted Mu Yuanxiu’s shoulder, and the two of them, like brothers, headed into the house together.

Second Young Master and Li Yuzhu walked at the back.

He pulled Li Yuzhu aside, "Wait a moment, Third Sister."

Li Yuzhu looked at him confused, "What’s up, Second Brother?"

"Don’t you find that Mu kid very annoying?"

Li Yuzhu chuckled, "Why is he annoying? He just helped you out, how can you say that about him? Don’t be petty!"

"That’s a different matter! He helped me out, so I’ll return the favor another time. But for him to thick-skinnedly come over and freeload meals is too much, once is okay, but time and again, does he think this is his home? His skin’s as thick as the city wall." Second Young Master sneered.

Li Yuzhu was speechless, "Second Brother, don’t fuss over such little matters between neighbors!"

Second Young Master sneered, "You’re almost taken away by him, and you tell me not to fuss?"

Li Yuzhu laughed angrily, "I’m standing right in front of you, how am I taken away? What nonsense are you talking about?"

"So one day, you’ll be taken by his sweet words and money." Second Young Master frowned deeply, looking worried, "I’m telling you, there are plenty of good men out there, don’t get fixated on that smelly boy Mu Yuanxiu!"

Li Yuzhu found it both funny and annoying, "Second Brother, I’m not so shallow to run off for a bit of money. I judge people by character, not wealth. Even if you give me a million taels, I wouldn’t pay attention to someone with bad character. Rest assured."

Second Young Master looked at Li Yuzhu seriously, "Really?"

"Yes, I’m not a three-year-old child." Li Yuzhu laughed.

"You’re not much older either, just eleven; it’s a very easy age to be deceived by bad people." Second Young Master sighed worriedly.

"Don’t worry, Second Brother, if I see a bad guy, I’ll just give him a beating. I won’t chase after him." Li Yuzhu laughed.

"Alright, I’ll relax for now."

The Second Young Master pushed the cart to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, the lights were on, and the Xue Family was cooking with the Second Princess.

"Second Sister, come and help," the Second Young Master called out to the Second Princess.

The Second Princess ran out cheerfully, "Second Brother, they didn’t give you a hard time, did they?"

"How could they? Your second brother is wise and mighty, quite formidable." The Second Young Master chuckled, patting his chest.

Li Xing’an came from elsewhere, chuckling, "How come I heard Mr. Mu saved you? Old Two?"

"He was just passing by, watching the excitement, how is that saving me? You’re talking nonsense," the Second Young Master sneered.

"You’re boasting, aren’t you!" Li Xing’an laughed.

"You’re talking nonsense!"

"You’re boasting!"

Li Yuzhu laughed angrily, "Move the stuff! It’s noisy!"

The two brothers immediately stopped arguing, glared at each other, and each carried a jar into the kitchen.

The pancakes were almost sold out, so the jars were relatively light.

Only the Xue Family and the two children, along with Prince Luling and his wife, had dinner, as well as the old servant from the Chai Family who came to help.

After dinner, the old servant from the Chai Family went back before it got dark.

Li Xing’an and the Second Princess didn’t eat; they were waiting for Li Yuzhu and the Princely Heir to return and eat together.

At this moment, several young people were sitting under the light, eating and chatting casually.

With outsiders present, the Xue Family couldn’t lose their temper and just cooked silently.

Making dinner twice a day was really vexing for her.

She was terribly sleepy and really wanted to go to bed.

The Princely Heir and Mu Yuanxiu were chatting about interesting stories in nearby towns and villages.

The Second Princess was talking to Li Yuzhu about selling pancakes.

"Third Sister, I’m afraid I can’t continue this pancake business," the Second Princess sighed.

"Why?" Li Yuzhu asked in surprise, "Aren’t your pancakes usually sold out every day? Although you came back halfway today, there wasn’t much left in that jar, which shows the business is doing well."

The Second Princess frowned, "That woman I ran into today said I’m stealing her business and threatened to throw away all my pancakes if she sees me selling in the village again, and she’d beat me up."

"How dare she!" the Second Young Master and Li Xing’an slammed the table together, "That rude woman sure has a big mouth! Let her try to touch a single finger of yours!"

"You’re too useless. She throws your stuff around and even threatens to beat you, you should fight her, who is afraid of whom?" The Xue Family placed a dish on the table, glaring at the Second Princess.

The Second Princess sighed, "She’s a local born and bred in the village, with her maternal and in-law family all here, along with other relatives. I’m an outsider, how can I dare to provoke her? What if I fight her and she calls her family to beat me up? There were quite a few people surrounding us just now. If it weren’t for Mr. Mu, I wouldn’t have been able to run back."

With that said, Li Yuzhu understood why Liu Da Niu’s aunt was blocking the Second Princess and the Second Young Master from making false accusations.

Because the Second Princess had taken away Liu Family’s Aunt’s business.

She remembered once asking Liu Da Niu, why doesn’t she use her pancake-making skills to earn some extra money for the household.

Liu Da Niu mumbled that her family didn’t support her.

At the time, she thought it was Hu Niangzi who wanted Liu Da Niu to look after her nephew, preventing Hu Daniu from making pancakes.

Now it seems it might be Liu Da Niu’s own family not allowing her to make pancakes because Liu Da Niu selling them would compete with Liu Guta.

Given Liu Guta’s temper, she wouldn’t stop causing trouble, would she?

To avoid family chaos for some petty cash, Liu Da Niu had to give up.

But unexpectedly, Liu Guta started sidelining the Second Princess.

Li Yuzhu thought of an idea and said, "I have a way to keep her from stealing Second Sister’s business."

Everyone looked at her, "What’s the idea, Third Sister?"

Li Yuzhu said, "The pancakes that Second Sister makes are ordinary and lack uniqueness; anyone with patience can make them.

But if you change the style and flavor of the pancakes, making them a bit special, surpassing what ordinary people can make, the business won’t be so easy to take away.

Liu Da Niu’s aunt says not to let Second Sister sell, but can she stop the villagers from buying? When people who love to eat have money in their pockets, they’ll come to buy even if it’s ten miles away."