Ninth of the Ninth Month’s Wine

T/N: Chapter (5/8) sponsored by Madam Daim! Thank you for sponsoring!

They were people from the same village after all, so seeing Du Quan look this remorseful, Li Ming Fu also somewhat softened. But recalling that he not only wanted to steal Du Xiao Li’s money, but also wanted to kill her, his anger in the end didn’t go down. He absolutely can’t allow something this malicious happen in his village!

“Xiao Li, how do you want this matter to be handled?” Li Ming Fu looked to Du Xiao Li and asked.

Although this Du Quan cried very sorrowfully, Du Xiao Li still saw a trace of resistance in his eyes. Knowing that he wasn’t really regretful, she said, “Um, village chief, if we have him beaten to death, it would be a bit too cruel. We can’t just selfishly decide his life and death after all. How about have him sent to the authorities, how it should be handled, the authorities will definitely know.”

Li Ming Fu thought for a moment and felt it was doable. Thus, he said to Shi Da and the others, “You all escort him to my house. Tomorrow, we’ll send him to the authorities together. Xiao Li, go rest early.”

“Thank you village chief.” Du Xiao Li said bowing to Li Ming Fu.

Li Ming Fu waved his hand at her and lead the crowd down the mountain.

Compared to being suspended on a tree and beaten for a whole night, life and death difficult to predict, getting sent to the authorities seemingly was a bit better. Thus, Du Quan obediently followed Li Ming Fu and the others.

“Just now really scared me. When he pounced over, why didn’t you dodge?” After everyone had left, Luo Qi looked to Du Xiao Li and asked.

“I knew that you’d arrived. Besides, he can’t hurt me anyways.” Du Xiao Li said with a smile. “Alright, now that the matter has been settled, time to go back and sleep. Silver, time to sleep.”

Silver followed Du Xiao Li back into the room. He curled up on the ground and closed his eyes. Du Xiao Li also lied down and fell asleep.

Luo Qi stood in the courtyard, helplessly shaking his head. Afterwards, he returned to his room to rest.

Meanwhile, Leng Er came to Han Ming Yi’s room.

“Young master, Du Quan had gone to the girl’s house to steal and got caught. Right now, the village chief has already taken him away, preparing to send him to the authorities tomorrow.” Leng Er had what he saw just now reported to Han Ming Yi.

Han Ming Yi was silent for a while, before saying: “Tomorrow, go tell Sun Zheng, isn’t the coal mine at the border of the town short on manpower, let him go do some contributions.”

“Yes, young master.” Leng Er turned around and went out. Han Ming Yi had a lousy money pouch carrying money taken and stared at it for a while, before finally putting out the lantern and returning to bed to sleep.

In the following days, Li Xue Qing didn’t come to find Du Xiao Li again. Only Hong Jie came a few times to buy tangerine. On the first of the ninth month, after selling the last batch of tangerines, Du Xiao Li told Hong Jie that the tangerines have all sold out, and that she was preparing to have the tangerine trees transplanted over to this side some time later.

Hong Jie also had predicted as much and said that she’ll return to tell madam. After handing over the money, she then left.

Ninth of the ninth month; climb high and drink wine.

(T/N: This is also know as the Double Ninth Festival; the date has a bad omen according to the traditional Chinese spiritual concept of yin and yang, because nine is a yang number. So on this day it’s customary to climb a tall mountain and drink wine to cleanse yourself. Also the date is in accordance to the lunar calendar.)

The morning of this day, Han Ming Yi and party came to Du Xiao Li’s house, inviting her and Luo Qi to come up the mountain to drink. Du Xiao Li prepared some side dishes and desserts, and carried them up the mountain with a few baskets.

Leng Yi and the others spread a blanket on the ground and had the dishes and snacks Du Xiao Li prepared, and also the wine they prepared placed on the blanket.

“Really not scared of the troubles.” Du Xiao Li although already knew that Han Ming Yi was rather picky about these things, she still didn’t expect that he would even need to bring a blanket to climb a mountain.

Du Xiao Li didn’t want to drink baijiu. Fortunately, she had her remaining two small jars of grape wine brought along too. She poured a cup for herself.

Back when the grape wine was ready to be consumed, she had given Han Ming Yi and the others several jars. However, it had long been finished by them. Seeing how Du Xiao Li actually had more, Ji Liu Feng had her pour him a cup. “How come you still haven’t finished drinking them yet?”

Du Xiao Li also poured a cup for Han Ming Yi and Luo Qi, replying: “I only have these two jars left.”

These jars were both very small. One jar was only able to pour about ten or so cups.

“Speaking of which, this wine of yours sure is good. If not for the fact that your age is too small, you can even go open a winery.” Ji Liu Feng said.

“Even if I’m young, I can still earn money.” Du Xiao Li said, and then told them about Li Xue Qing coming to find her.

Ji Liu Feng finished drinking and poured himself another cup. “She hasn’t come looking for you in this long, perhaps she’s given up.”

“Even if she’s given up, it’s nothing! Then I’ll just wait until I grow up and open a winery myself. It’ll also be the same.” Du Xiao Li unconcernedly said. But she knew, very soon, Li Xue Qing will come looking for her.

Seeing the brightly colored chrysanthemums blooming by the cliff, Du Xiao Li got up and went to pick some, weaving them into a garland for herself. She played with it in her hands and didn’t put in on either.

“This year’s chrysanthemums are blooming rather beautifully.” Luo Qi looked to the garland in Du Xiao Li’s hand and said.

“Right! When there’s free time, I’ll go pick some back to dry and make flower tea.” Du Xiao Li said, “That’s right, big brother Yi, do Leng Er and the others have time in two days?”

“What’s wrong?” Han Ming Yi looked to her and asked.

“In two days, I want to have the tangerine trees transplanted to my house’s mountain. In the future, don’t need to run that far out.” Du Xiao Li said, “But isn’t that place too far, so I wanted to ask Leng Er and the others to help me.”

“Okay, how many people do you want?” Han Ming Yi asked.

“Eh, however many I want will be however many there are?” Du Xiao Li asked.

Han Ming Yi couldn’t help but tap her once on the head, saying: “There’s only however many you saw that day.”

“Oh. Then the more the better.” Du Xiao Li said. Afterwards, while Han Ming Yi was distracted, she put the garland in her hand on his head. Then thinking back to her past life where everyone all used chrysanthemum to describe a certain place, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

(T/N: In chinese chrysanthemums is a modern slang for b.u.t.thole.)

Who told you to hit my head!

Han Ming Yi took down the garland and said, “Keep laughing and there won’t be anyone to help you.”

Du Xiao Li immediately shut her mouth, inwardly sighing at how this guy was this small, yet this black-belly. Who knows what he’ll be like when he grows up.

“Ah, this kind of life really isn’t bad!” Du Xiao Li laid on top the blanket, her two hands behind her head, as she gazed up at the azure blue sky, sighing. Seeing the three sitting perfectly upright, she said, “You all lie down too. This way, it’s more satisfying!”

Han Ming Yi, Ji Liu Feng, and Luo Qi all chuckled and lied down side by side, looking up at the vast cloudless blue sky, feeling warmth brought by the breeze brush over the mountaintop. They all couldn’t help but close their eyes.

Leng Yi and the others were at a place slightly further away, casually drinking wine. Seeing the four all lie down on the blanket at once, he couldn’t help but sigh, “Ever since young master’s come here, he’s loosened up quite a bit.”

“Right, before coming, even thought that the village life will be boring. Yet unexpectedly met that girl, and the days gone by quite pleasantly.” Leng Er said.

“Never thought that there would be a day where we would get to be farmers too.” Leng San said with a laugh.

Thinking back to what Du Xiao Li had said just now, letting them help her transplant tangerine trees, the group all couldn’t help but laugh.

Perhaps because the weather was too beautiful, or perhaps because her mood was very good, Du Xiao Li actually ended up falling asleep. While sleeping, she even carried a satisfied smile on her lips. As for the other three, they all lied there with her until she woke up. During this time, no one said anything, only indulging in the hard to come by tranquility with their eyes closed.

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