Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands Chapter 229 - 227: Preparing for the Wedding Banquet (2)

"Already eaten, Uncle Li." Mu Yuanxiu smiled slightly, "I’ve brought so zongzi leaves for you."

The Princess Consort Luling said with embarrassnt, "You have such perfect timing. It just so happens that we haven’t wrapped the zongzi yet, so it’s really useful."

After spending more ti together, the Princess Consort Luling no longer disliked Mu Yuanxiu.

Instead, she thought this young man was quite impressive, not wandering the streets to beg for food, having the courage to live alone on the mountain, hunting and digging herbs to support himself—he was a clever person.

The Second Princess said with a smile, "I know how to wrap zongzi. I’ll go soak the rice now."

She took the zongzi leaves, laughed, and ran to the kitchen.

Prince Luling pulled Mu Yuanxiu to sit down for so idle chatter.

"Have you heard? The County Magistrate’s son is missing, and there’s a bounty." While chatting, Mu Yuanxiu ntioned a secret from the county, "A few days ago, I went to the county town, and a familiar governnt official told ."

Li Yuzhu said, "Ah, I haven’t seen you for many days. So you went to the county town."

Mu Yuanxiu glanced at her, "Yes."

Li Xing’an and the Second Young Master cursed their father in their hearts, grumbling as it was getting dark while their father kept an outsider chatting idly, prompting them to say impatiently, "It’s just the County Magistrate’s son. If he’s lost, then so be it. It’s not like he’s the Emperor’s son."

"The County Magistrate said there would be a great reward if found," Mu Yuanxiu added.

"How much is the reward?" Li Xing’an and the Second Young Master beca interested. They dragged chairs together and sat opposite Mu Yuanxiu, asking for details.

"Did not specify the exact amount, but according to my acquaintance in the governnt office, it won’t be less than a thousand or eight hundred silver. After all, he’s the County Magistrate’s only son." Mu Yuanxiu said.

A thousand?

Eight hundred?

A great reward!

"What does the County Magistrate’s son look like, Mr. Mu?" Li Xing’an and the Second Young Master rubbed their hands in excitent.

Mu Yuanxiu said, "Ten years old, shorter than , a slim build."

Li Xing’an made an effort to rember, "A ten-year-old boy, not very tall, and skinny—easy to rember. When I see a boy walking alone, I’ll imdiately go ask."

The Princely Heir shook his head, "There’s a bounty, so many people will probably be looking. How could it be our turn to find him? Most likely, soone else has already taken action."

Mu Yuanxiu said, "Though it’s a bounty, it hasn’t been publicly announced. The County Magistrate only told the governnt officials. I have a good relationship with one official, and he quietly told , advising not to spread the word for fear that enemies might harm the County Magistrate’s son."

Li Xing’an made a sound, "Mu Yuanxiu, but you’ve told us."

The Second Young Master teased, "Aren’t you afraid we’ll blab it around?"

Mu Yuanxiu said, "I trust your character; you won’t harm the County Magistrate’s son."

"You sure know how to judge people. Why would we hold grudges against a little kid?" Li Xing’an laughed heartily.

These brothers, if they were to trouble any kid, it would be a Prince’s son. A County Magistrate’s rank is too low; they wouldn’t bother.

"Besides, if you let everyone in the village know, then the reward might go to soone else," Mu Yuanxiu added.

The Second Young Master and Li Xing’an both said, "We definitely won’t say anything outside!" How could they let others benefit?

The Princess Consort Luling frowned, "This kind of unexpected wealth is like finding money; it’s not sothing you can just think of and have. It can’t be your main job. You should focus on your livelihood. If you co across the child, bring him to the County Magistrate; if not, don’t search deliberately. Don’t waste our ti."

The brothers replied together, "Understood, Mother."

After Mu Yuanxiu left, Li Xing’an and the Second Young Master imdiately discussed the matter of finding the County Magistrate’s son.

"A thousand or eight hundred silver, finding that kid would be a big fortune," Li Xing’an rubbed his hands.

The Second Young Master said, "Father’s going to the market tomorrow; I’ve got to accompany him." He squinted at Li Xing’an, "Third Brother, I’ll give you advice on how to search for the kid. Once you find him, the reward money has to be split with ."

Li Xing’an sneered, "Dream on!"

"Haha, without my advice, you won’t find the kid even if you break your leg looking," the Second Young Master coldly laughed.

"Co on, I can find him even without your advice." Li Xing’an waved dismissively.

"Third Brother, Second Brother, stop arguing, co and help!" Li Yuzhu stood at the kitchen door and called out to her brothers.

The two of them glared at each other and went into the kitchen.

...

At night, the family sat under the lamp and wrapped zongzi.

The Great Princess didn’t know how to wrap, so she was responsible for washing and organizing the zongzi leaves, while Prince Luling and the three brothers didn’t know how either, only tending the stove.

When the Princess Consort Luling entered the palace, to please the Empress Dowager, she learned wrapping zongzi from the Mansion’s cook, but her movents were not fast.

The Second Princess loved food and had researched all the delicacies around her.

Zongzi, such a common dish, she had studied carefully for years.

Li Yuzhu could wrap them in her past life.

So, the wrapping task fell to the three of them—mother and daughters.

White rice zongzi, sugarcane zongzi, red date zongzi, and so salted at zongzi were wrapped as well.

The family was busy until the second watch, wrapping seventy to eighty zongzi.

After the three sisters went to bed, the Princely Heir and his two brothers cooked the zongzi.

Early the next morning, the Princess Consort Luling picked several of each type of zongzi and put them in a basket as travel food for everyone going to the market.

The Second Young Master, taking the Second Princess and Great Princess, along with Prince Luling and Li Yuzhu, went to the market.

Li Xing’an and the Princely Heir stayed ho.

The Princess Consort Luling picked a few more zongzi, tied them with hemp rope, and handed them to Li Xing’an, "Give them to Mu Yuanxiu."

Li Xing’an lifted the zongzi, "Ten? Can he finish them?"

"Whether he finishes them is his business. You just need to deliver them," the Princess Consort Luling said sternly, "These zongzi leaves were sent by him, and also, once you see him, inquire further about the County Magistrate’s son."

Li Xing’an was imdiately filled with joy, "Understood, Mother."

He happily ran up the mountain.

Mu Yuanxiu was at ho, not out yet.

Li Xing’an pushed open the courtyard gate and handed over the zongzi, "Brother Mu, my mother sent these to you."

Mu Yuanxiu was sitting in the main room, looking at a portrait, and hearing the calling, he put down the drawing and walked over.

"Thank you, Aunt, thank you, Third Brother Li." Mu Yuanxiu took the zongzi in hand and said with a smile, "A lot, ten of them."

Li Xing’an rubbed his hands, chuckled, and said, "Brother Mu, by the way, about the County Magistrate’s son, is there anything else special about him? Like, what he likes to eat, things he often says, what he likes to play with—knowing more details would help find him."

Mu Yuanxiu said, "I don’t know other details, but I have a portrait of him here. You can take it to find him."

Li Xing’an was pleased, "A portrait? That’s great."

He followed Mu Yuanxiu into the main room.

Mu Yuanxiu handed him the drawing from the table.

"Oh, the kid looks like this... Easy to rember." Li Xing’an stared at the young boy in the portrait, feeling joyful.

Relying on this kid to make a fortune.

"Can I have this drawing? I’m better at finding people than you. Rest assured, when I find him and earn the reward, I’ll share half with you." Li Xing’an patted his chest and said cheerfully.