Chapter 156 The Governor Arrives

Chapter 156 The Governor Arrives

Meng Qing gave Du Min a deep look and said, "Your second brother and I will go pack our luggage. You can go and rest in Wangzhou House for a while, or sit in the courtyard."

"Don't you need my help?" Du Min glanced around and said, "I can help carry things."

Meng Qing scoffed, "Come on, I know you too well. You're not a diligent person at all."

"Second sister-in-law, you're wronging me," Du Min protested. "I've never been lazy."

"Alright, stop with the empty talk." Du Li suddenly couldn't stand seeing him like this, so easily manipulated emotionally without even realizing it. It was absurd; he actually felt sorry for Du Min. What was so pathetic about it? Du Min had genuinely benefited from Meng Qing, whether it was financially or emotionally; he had tasted the sweetness before willingly putting the noose around his own neck.

"Go check the horses in the front yard. Is there any spare space in the government office to keep them? Should we take Wangzhou's pony away?" Du Li intended to send him away.

“Let’s keep it here. There are too many people in the government office, and there’s no extra space.” Du Min walked to the stone table under the shade of a tree and sat down. He said, “Second Brother, have the servants bring me a pot of tea.”

"Go ask the servants for it yourself. You're here and you still act like a guest?" Du Li said this and then turned and left.

Du Min found this statement quite agreeable. He tapped on the stone table, got up, and went into Wang Zhou's study to look at the calligraphy Wang Zhou had practiced, the paintings he had made, and the various things he had folded from paper.

Inside the main house, Du Li told Meng Qing to rest on the cool couch, "Don't move, I can tidy up by myself."

"Just pack a little, take the clothes and shoes you need for the time being, the warm clothes are still here." Meng Qing trusted his ability to do things, so she took off her shoes and lay comfortably on the tatami.

Du Li responded and quickly began to pack up.

Before the clutter was tidied up, the sound of crying grew louder and louder from outside the courtyard. Sister Wang carried Wangchuan into the side courtyard. When she saw Meng Qing come out to greet her, she explained, "The young master is probably hungry. He keeps crying and we can't soothe him."

"Let me see." Meng Qing took the child away and said, "You go ahead and do your work. I'll call you if I need anything."

Sister-in-law Wang rubbed her hands together and asked, "Wife, I haven't asked yet, should I go with you to the government office to take care of the young master, or stay and work at the Meng family?"

“Stay with the Meng family. I’m free these days and have recovered. I can take care of the child myself,” Meng Qing said. “I’ll call you over if needed.”

Sister-in-law Wang said "Ah" and left.

Meng Qing carried Wang Chuan into the house, closed the doors and windows, and began breastfeeding after taking off her clothes.

Du Li came over with a palm-leaf fan and sat at the foot of the couch to fan the mother and daughter.

Meng Qing felt increasingly at ease. She stroked Wang Chuan's sweat-damp baby hair and said, "Born in the sweltering heat, he suffered too. Every time he cried, his head was covered in sweat."

"Being born into your womb is a blessing from birth. What's a little suffering compared to being born in the sweltering heat? This discomfort is nothing to worry about," Du Li disagreed.

Meng Qing glanced at him and said, "What are you talking about? I'm talking about the east and you're talking about the west."

"I'm telling the truth." Du Li was filled with many emotions.

Meng Qing smoothed her hair. "Why do I hear a strong hint of sourness in your words? What? Are you envious of your son?"

Du Li smiled. Wang Zhou and Wang Chuan enjoyed Meng Qing's genuine affection without any ulterior motives, which was indeed enviable, and he was definitely not the only one who envied them.

A wicked smile crept across Meng Qing's lips. She made a gesture as if to open the other side of her dress and whispered seductively, "Call me Mother, and Mother will breastfeed you."

Du Li suddenly stood up. He was blushing from her teasing. He glared at her, amused and annoyed, then put down his palm-leaf fan and walked away.

"What are you thinking? You really dare to say such nonsense, I can't stand you!" he shouted in a panic.

Meng Qing laughed heartily, "It's not like you haven't eaten it before."

"You, you stop talking!" Du Li snapped, "Don't ever say that again."

"What did you say?" Meng Qing asked knowingly. "Oh, it's about your mother feeding you milk..."

Du Li rushed over and covered her mouth. He felt uncomfortable all over and pinched her face hard before he felt a little better.

Wang Chuan stared at Du Li and burst into tears, refusing to drink her milk.

Meng Qing gestured for Du Li to look down. Du Li glanced at it, then let go of her hand and pulled her collar down to cover the wet area, but his hand didn't leave.

"Are you craving it?" He stared into her eyes, slowly rubbing his palm in a circle. "You're excited after winning over the third brother?"

Meng Qing did not deny it.

Du Li felt his palms were wet and he also felt something strange down there. He didn't dare to make a fuss anymore, so he withdrew his hands and took the child away.

"I'll serve you after it gets dark," he said.

"Are you all packed up? Why is Wang Chuan crying so hard?" Du Min asked, stepping out of the study and standing under the eaves.

Du Li and Meng Qing were both startled by the sudden noise. Du Li came to his senses, opened the door and went out, saying, "It'll be soon, just wait a little longer."

After calming Wang Chuan down, Du Li went in. Meng Qing had changed into a short jacket.

Du Li handed the child to her, then, without further delay, tidied up the remaining clothes and said, "We can go now."

Du Min took the two bundles and carried them out. As he walked out of the courtyard, he met Meng's mother. Meng's mother gave him a glare without making it obvious, but said in a kind tone, "Please take good care of your brother and sister-in-law."

"Don't worry, Auntie." Du Min felt completely relaxed. "Aunt Pan, if you and Uncle Meng miss your daughter and grandson, you can visit them at the government office anytime. Don't be shy. I've never considered myself an outsider in your family, so you should treat me the same way."

"Alright, alright," Mencius' mother nodded, surprised that he would say such a thing.

Du Li and Meng Qing came out with their child. Meng Qing said, "Mom, have someone clean the house. We don't need to touch the clothes and utensils we left behind."

Mencius' mother nodded, took a bundle, and saw her daughter and son-in-law out.

Everything was loaded onto the carriage, and the people followed. Du Min gave the order, and the carriage started moving.

After watching the carriage drive away, Meng's mother went back into the house to give some instructions and then went out to work at the paper horse shop.

Half an incense stick later, the carriage arrived at the government office. Du Min jumped down first, then took Wang Chuan and carried him into the government office.

"Your third uncle has come to take you home," Du Min said, looking down.

A servant brought their luggage, and Meng Qing and Du Li came in empty-handed. They heard from Granny Sun that Yin Caiwei and Wang Zhou were painting in the bamboo grove in the backyard, so they didn't disturb them and went back to their room to put away their luggage.

Du Min sat quietly on the balcony, holding Wang Chuan in his arms. He listened intently to the faint, scattered voices coming from the front and back yards. At this moment, all the unease, anxiety, and bewilderment that had filled his heart for more than a month vanished. This was his territory, his home, and the married life he had dreamed of before his marriage.

Suddenly feeling a warmth on his leg, Du Min reached out and touched it. The next moment, he felt a warm liquid flowing down his leg. Realizing what was happening, he shouted, "Second Brother, your son peed on me!"

Wang Chuan was so frightened by him that he started to cry. Du Li rushed over, took the child away, and scolded Du Min, "What are you yelling about? You scared him."

"He peed on my leg, and the urine even flowed into my shoe." Du Min couldn't stand it anymore, so he took off his shoe on the spot.

“You’ve peed on me before, and you’ve even pooped on me,” Du Li complained, adding that he was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Du Min caught sight of Yin Caiwei and Wang Zhou appearing at the door, and an uneasy look flashed across his face. "Shut up! Stop talking nonsense."

Du Li chuckled and carried Wang Chuan away.

"...Third Uncle, stop shaking me, go back inside and change your clothes." Wang Zhou said with a hint of disdain.

Du Min glared at him, then noticed that Du Li was gone. He rambled on, "Your brother is just like you, always causing trouble. You used to pee all over me when you were a kid too."

Wang Zhou didn't believe it at all. "If it were true, you would have brought it up to laugh at me long ago."

Yin Caiwei chuckled, and in Du Min's eyes, she pinched her nose and walked away.

Du Min: ...

"Have the servants fetch water," he shouted.

When he came out after changing his clothes, he saw a magnificent sunset on the horizon, which instantly lifted his bad mood. He then called Wang Zhou to go out for a horse ride.

Just as Du Min was about to leave, a yamen runner came to deliver a message: "Sir, the governor is here, and the imperial carriage is almost at the county yamen."

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Author's Note: I added over 700 words to the end of the previous chapter. If you haven't read it, please scroll back.

There will be another update at 12 o'clock.