The Rise of a General's Daughter-in-Law Doctor

Li Muxia and Wei Shuyue watched the two little ones chat the whole time, exchanging smiles like parents watching their own children play.

Seeing that the two were silent, Li Anran asked, "Sister Wei, do you want to come along? I'll have my sister make barbecue for us. You don't know how delicious my sister's barbecue is."

Upon hearing this, Wei Shuyue also became somewhat interested. Although she wasn't a big eater, who wouldn't want to enjoy delicious food?

He began by asking, "Barbecue?"

Seeing Wei Shuyue's puzzled look, Li Anran explained, "It's just cooking food over a fire and then adding special seasonings. It tastes really good!"

Wei Shuyue understood. Just like when they were traveling, they would hunt some wild game along the way to roast and eat. But to be honest, the roasted meat didn't taste very good; it was only better than dry rations.

However, considering that Li Muxia could make such delicious cakes, she was somewhat looking forward to it.

He said, "I really want to try some barbecue. I'll talk to my brother about it when I get back today and ask him to take me to Mount Hua."

Upon hearing this, Li Anran cheered, "That's fantastic!"

Wei Shuyue then seemed to have thought of something and asked, "Mu Xia, what is the purpose of your trip to Mount Hua this time?"

Li Anran then remembered the purpose of their trip to Mount Hua, and wondered if it was inappropriate for her to act so happy earlier.

Feeling a little guilty, he glanced at Li Muxia, only to find that she didn't seem displeased, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Muxia: "My parents' death anniversary is in two days. The Li family's ancestral graves are in Huashan. We are going up the mountain to offer incense to my parents."

Li Muxia didn't appear that sad, but she also suppressed her earlier joy.

Wei Shuyue thought she had touched on someone's painful past, and said "I'm sorry" somewhat awkwardly.

Li Muxia smiled slightly and said, "It's alright."

The atmosphere was somewhat somber. Although Li Muxia didn't show anything, everyone felt that she must be thinking about her parents' sadness.

Li Anran was also somewhat annoyed at herself for getting carried away earlier.

Li Muxia noticed the awkwardness among them and suggested, "I heard there's a flower boat parade at the Lake Pavilion tonight. Shall we go check it out?"

Li Anran and Su Lanzhi, being children at heart, immediately shifted their attention as soon as they heard there was something to play.

Li Anran: "Oh right, how could I forget about that? Father also said he wanted to rent a flower boat today."

Su Lanzhi also spoke up, "I heard it from my father too, but that flower boat is quite expensive, so my father didn't rent it."

Seeing that Su Lanzhi was a little down, Li Anran quickly said, "It's okay, you can just come to our ship later."

Wei Shuyue: "My grandfather also rented a flower boat. But I'd like to join you, is that alright?"

Li Anran: "Of course."

Seeing that everyone's attention had shifted, the atmosphere became relaxed and pleasant again because of the evening's activities.

And so, the group chatted and laughed for quite a while, until Wei Shuyue's maid reminded them to go back and prepare for the evening's activities, and only then did they leave.

Li Muxia returned to the manor and made a plan for the things she had discussed with Manager Wang that day. The weather wasn't too cold yet, but if she wanted to prepare vegetable greenhouses, she should start preparing as soon as possible. After all, she still needed to find a manor. She didn't have the money to buy a manor now, so she could only use her mother's dowry for the time being. She remembered that her mother's dowry included a manor near the capital.

Thinking of this, Li Muxia went to the old general's courtyard and told him her thoughts. The old general told Li Muxia to go and talk to Shangguan Wanyun, who was now managing all the affairs of the family.

When Li Muxia arrived at Shangguan Wanyun's courtyard, Shangguan Wanyun was combing Li Anran's hair. Seeing Li Muxia coming, she quickly said, "Muxia is here, come quickly."

Li Muxia sat down next to the two of them. Looking at Shangguan Wanyun's loving face as she patiently helped Li Anran tie her hair up, it would be a lie to say that Li Muxia wasn't envious. After all, in both her lives, she seemed to be cursed, never having parents.

After Shangguan Wanyun finished tidying up Li Anran's hair, she looked at Li Muxia and said, "Come on, Muxia, let me help you comb your hair into a bun too."

Li Muxia did not refuse. Li Anran got up, and Li Muxia sat down where Li Anran had just been sitting.

Li Anran then asked, "Sister, why did you suddenly come to my mother's yard?"

Shangguan Wanyun had already started combing Li Muxia's hair. Hearing Li Anran's words, she was also a little curious because Li Muxia usually didn't come to her courtyard. Her sudden appearance today must mean something was wrong.

Li Muxia: "It's nothing much. I'm planning to build a greenhouse, so I need to use the estate. My mother had an estate near Kyoto in her dowry, and my grandfather asked me to come and ask my second aunt about it."

Shangguan Wanyun didn't know what "greenhouse" meant, but she knew about the estate Li Muxia mentioned. After all, that estate was very close to the capital and was also very large. It was once something that all the major families wanted to own.

“I know the manor you’re talking about. It’s called Shuiyue Manor. It was your mother’s dowry. You can use it anytime you want. Just have Butler Wu take you there.”

Steward Wu was in charge of managing the General's Mansion's external affairs, including all the large and small businesses and estates of the General's Mansion.

Upon hearing this, Li Muxia said, "Thank you, Second Aunt. I'll find a chance to go and take a look another day. Once the greenhouse is built, we'll be able to eat vegetables in the winter."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Wanyun asked curiously, "What exactly is this greenhouse, that allows us to eat vegetables in winter?"

Li Muxia smiled slightly, offering no explanation, but simply said, "You'll find out when the time comes. Once the greenhouse is built, Second Aunt can go and take a look."

Shangguan Wanyun didn't blame Li Muxia for keeping her in suspense, and said with a smile, "Then I really have to go and see."

Li Anran quickly said, "I want to go too."

Shangguan Wanyun chuckled and joked, "You're indispensable everywhere."

She was very satisfied with Li Anran's lively personality and felt even more grateful to Li Muxia.

Li Muxia, thinking about getting Li Anran to do business with her, said, "Second Aunt, Anran, there's something else I want to tell you."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Wanyun and Li Anran exchanged a glance, then looked at Li Muxia, waiting for her to continue.

Li Muxia: "I want to open a pastry shop and I'd like to get An Ran involved. If you agree, I'd like to let An Ran manage the shop."

After listening, Shangguan Wanyun considered the feasibility of the matter, while Li Anran excitedly asked, "Sister, really? You're really willing to let me open a shop with you?"

Although Shangguan Wanyun had never done business before, she knew that doing business was not a simple matter. At this moment, Li Muxia's hair was finished, so she put down the comb and sat down opposite Li Muxia. She said with some difficulty, "Anran, wait a moment. Doing business is not as simple as you think."