243 Adoption

Li Yu thought of the child and said, “Have you found the relative of the child sent by the scribe? How do you plan to settle this child?”

“Mr. Tu has gone to arrange the funeral of the grandmother and granddaughter. He might not be back until later.”

“Fine! Get busy!”

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Li Yu sent Zhou Jia away and went to the front courtyard. Xiaoyu, Yu Niang, Aunt Zhang and Old Madam Liu sat on the brick bed and made a cotton-padded jacket for the child. The child and Seven Pounds lay on the brick bed and slept soundly. When the women saw Li Yu enter, they hurriedly stood up and bowed. Li Yu said in a low voice, “The scribe went to attend to the funeral of that child’s grandmother and brother. He might not be back until later!”

!!

Yu Niang hesitated for a moment and looked at Li Yu. “Madam, if no one adopts this child, can I raise him?”

Li Yu looked at Yu Niang’s determined gaze and thought for a moment. “If no one adopts this child and you’ve thought it through, I’ll tell Lord Zhou.”

“Sister Yu Niang, do you not want to get married after adopting this child?” Xiaoyu looked at Yu Niang in shock.

Yu Niang smiled bitterly and said, “I had no intention of getting married long ago. If Madam hadn’t taken me in, I wouldn’t even have the courage to live.” When Xiaoyu heard this, she recalled Yu Niang’s experience and held Li Yu’s hand sympathetically.

Aunt Zhang and Old Madam Liu looked at the child on the bed and said to Yu Niang, “Yu Niang, the three of us are all alone and have no one to rely on. It’s all thanks to the kindness of Madam and Master that we have a place to stay and live a stable life. Yu Niang, if this child’s relatives are unwilling to raise him, the two of us will help you raise him.”

Yu Niang reminded them, “The scribe isn’t back yet! Don’t be happy for nothing.” Li Yu turned around and walked out. “Yu Niang is right. You should hurry up and make the child’s clothes.”

As soon as she went out, she saw Ruyi walking into the courtyard with a big bag on his back. He was about to bow when he saw Li Yu.

Li Yu smiled and said, “Don’t be so polite. Look at how travel-worn you are. Your Xiaoyu is still waiting for you to come back!” When Xiaoyu heard Ruyi’s voice in the house, she threw down the sewing basket and ran out.

Li Yu looked at Xiaoyu and smiled teasingly. “Your hard work paid off. You’ve waited for a few days and he’s finally here today. Hurry up and eat something to warm up.”

Ruyi looked at Xiaoyu and blushed. “You’re not even wearing your shoes properly. Be careful not to fall.” Xiaoyu looked at Ruyi happily. “It’s all because it’s snowing these few days. I’m a little worried!”

Seeing the two of them blush, Li Yu smiled and returned to the backyard.

Ruyi washed up and went to the backyard. He reported to Li Yu, “Madam, as soon as the corn was handed to Shopkeeper Chu, he hurriedly sent someone to the capital. Shopkeeper Chu also said that we don’t have to specially go to Qingzhou to buy goods in the future. He will deliver it to us after a while.”

Li Yu shook her head and said, “We would be troubling him too much. Besides, this isn’t something that happens once or twice. How can we trouble him like this?”

Ruyi knew that Li Yu didn’t like to owe too many favors. “I refused at that time, but Shopkeeper Chu said that they wanted to send military salary to Staff General Zhong and deliver goods to us at the same time. I told him that I had to get approval from you and Master. Shopkeeper Chu agreed to let me come back and ask you and bring him a letter.”

When Li Yu heard that, she smiled and said, “They’ve already found an excuse to help us. If we reject them again, we’ll be ungrateful. Agree to them!”

“Yes, ma’am.” Ruyi bowed and left.

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Scribe Tu returned to the government office angrily and reported to Zhou Jia, “That family’s surname is Yang and he has a distant relative. That relative’s family is unwilling to adopt him. They said that he has a tough life and jinxed his mother to death when he was born. Not long after, his father died. Now, his grandmother and brother are also dead. They claimed that whoever gets involved with him will be unlucky! Ignorant!”

Even without these considerations, no one would be willing to raise that child! Zhou Jia frowned and said, “Then how do you plan to settle this child?”

“That house is already dilapidated. The money for the coffin was also paid for by me. There are still two acres of thin farmland and that old house at home.” Scribe Tu spread his hands. “Sigh! I really don’t know how we can settle the matter of this child!”

“Go and tell Madam about this first. I have something to discuss with you when you come back.”

Scribe Tu’s eyes lit up. “That’s right! Madam must have a way, sir. I’ll take my leave.”

Scribe Tu hurriedly went to the back office and explained the Yang family’s situation to Li Yu. “Madam, there’s no such thing as a jinx. Those people are just stupid. Help me think of a way to settle that child!”

Li Yu smiled and said, “You don’t have to worry about the official records. Yu Niang wants to adopt that child. Go to the front yard and talk to her.”

Scribe Tu cupped his hands happily and said, “I knew Madam had a solution. I’ll go look for Miss Yu.” Li Yu waved her hand and said, “Go!”

After Yu Niang heard from Mr. Tu about the child’s background, she said, “I have a hard life myself. I’m not afraid of him jinxing me. I’m willing to adopt him.”

Scribe Tu praised, “Miss Yu, you’re really chivalrous. This child will be absolved of lot of trouble without his clansmen. I’ll go settle the procedures for you now. The child still has an old house and two acres of thin farmland. Do you think you should sell it and leave it for the child?”

Yu Niang shook her head and said, “Scribe Tu, where would we live after selling the old house and farmland? Although I’m not afraid of being jinxed by the child, I’m afraid that the child will affect Madam if he lives in the county office. I plan to move out of the county office and live with in the Yang residence first.”

When Scribe Tu heard this, he shook his head and said, “I think it’s better for you to live in the county office first. Madam is not an ignorant woman. She won’t have believe in these taboos. Besides, aren’t you afraid of being alone with a child?”

Yu Niang still felt that she could not continue living in the county office. “I know that Madam won’t avoid it, but I can’t do this to her. Besides, Madam is about to give birth. It’s better to be careful.”

Old Madam Liu and Aunt Zhang also felt that Yu Niang was right to be wary. They smiled and said, “Scribe Tu, if you asked the magistrate officers to visit the Yang family often. Who else dares to have designs on Yu Niang?”

Seeing that Yu Niang was determined, Scribe Tu nodded and said, “Alright! Tell Madam that I’ll get the bailiffs to move your house.”

Yu Niang and Scribe Tu went to the backyard to tell Li Yu their thoughts. Li Yu smiled indifferently and said, “Yu Niang, you don’t have to worry about this. Even if there’s really something, are you afraid that the county office’s aura won’t be able to suppress it?”

Yu Niang looked at Li Yu and said sincerely, “Madam, who can say for sure? Although I like that child, compared to your safety, I’d rather not take the risk.”

Seeing this, Li Yu could only nod and say, “Alright.”

Yu Niang knelt down and kowtowed. “Thank you, Madam.”

Li Yu instructed the clerk at the side, “Please repair the Yang family’s house. Help prepare the courtyard walls and some daily necessities. I’ll pay the silver needed.”

“Yes, Madam.” Yu Niang and Scribe Tu left one after another.

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