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70.49% Learning To Live As A Cultivator / Chapter 227: Chapter Twenty Seven - My aunt pays us a visit

Chapter 227: Chapter Twenty Seven - My aunt pays us a visit

The small second room also contained a heated brick bed as well as a small stool and a wooden chest. This room had belonged to Leo. Unfortunately, due to the side building being open to the elements somewhat, it had become a bit of a storage room with a metal casket of coal and a barrel with a bit of coarse rice at the bottom of it. These, and a few other things, were tossed to one side, a worn out futon rolled out on top of it and three youths spent the night sitting in cultivation above that.

Leon came out of the meditative state before dawn, blinking as he tried to recollect where he was. He certainly hadn't been expecting to see Sun's face first this morning! That person was now leaning uncomfortably against the wall, snoring with dribble sliding down his chin. The heat of another body came from behind him and Leon turned to see Jin Li lazily looking his way with a contented expression upon his face. Realising that he had his small alchemist's attention, he stole a kiss, before inquiring about breakfast.

Breakfast was a simple affair, though Leonard grumbled about the coins his grandson must have wasted on the dried salt pork that was added to the white rice porridge and just how much had it set him back to purchase such fine rice anyway? His bowl was completely cleaned regardless and he even fought with Jin Li over seconds.

Sun's carriage returned to the village not long after breakfast; he had to return home to spend the new year with his family. It was already clear that Leon was going to remain in the village to reacquaint himself with his grandfather and where Leon was, Jin Li was naturally going to be also. However, before hand, the two drivers were recruited to help patch up the roof of the side building and Sun's servant helped clean out the room.  Wu Ye, Jin Li and Sun had left to explore the woods, likely for prey, while Leon remained in the doors sitting beside his old grandfather with Li Ming dozing at his feet.

Leonard was binding papers into blank books ready for scholars and students to purchase and use, while Leon was carving a strip of wood hoping to replace a rotten window frame.  It was all very harmonious.

"Who the hell are you people!"  The shrill voice was so familiar, Leon couldn't help but wonder how it could ever have been forgotten.  He glanced up at his grandfather, as his stomach felt as if it were sinking suddenly and echoes of past nerves caught his unawares.  The old man sighed then grabbed his cane to help him to his feet. Leon automatically stumbled to his own in order to be additional aid. "What are you doing to my father's house?!"

"Pipe down, Lessa," growled Leonard as he stood in the doorway of the house upon Leon's arm, whose glasses had begun to fog due to the mix of the cold air of the outside and the escaping warmth from inside. "These 'ere men are jus' kindly fixing a few things for this old man on account o' their Master's request. Didnae have anythin' to do with ye."

Leo's aunt was just as Leon had pictured her, though some of those frown lines had etched more permanently upon her face, proving age will claim any outer beauty in the end. There was white in her hair which he recalled was once more a mousy brown. Most of the villagers had tones similar, ranging from a dark ash brown to a colour similar to straw. It had never occurred to him before, but Leon's own midnight locks were actually unique here. So with Yang streaks, naturally he would stand out more in the future.

It wasn't certain if that's what the older woman noticed first about him, because she blinked twice before her eyes narrowed in both thought and speculation. But whatever crossed her mind was dismissed in the next moment as she saw that while the cut of his clothing was better than the second hand, oversized clothes he'd left in, he was still dressed in hemp, like any other commoner. Her own was at least dyed an attractive plum and embroidered with peonies.

"So long as they aren't trying to con you out of coin, father," she grumbled, though her tone clearly held hidden meanings.

"What are ye doin' here anyway," demanded the old man, gruffly, causing her eyes to snap to attention.

"Can't a daughter pay respect to her father now and then?" She asked, despite the lack of any respect in her tone. His dark eyes peered out from beneath his bushy white brows and he stared her down until she added; "I also was told that my nephew had returned. I thought it best to see for myself."

"Ye've seen," Leonard waved a dismissive hand. "Ye can leave now. Wouldn' wan' to keep ye when ye are busy with all of them responsibilities." He turned, continuing to lean on Leon as he reentered the house. Behind them, Lessa's eyes narrowed and her brows furled into a frown, as words from their past were flung back at her. She sent a sharp look at the men patching up the old side building before following her father and nephew into the house uninvited.

And then she shrieked.

"What in heaven's name is that?!" The little white and black striped Coeurl hissed unhappily. It was not a 'that!' It was Li Ming!

Leon knelt down and murmured softly to it. "G-go lie in m-m-my room alright." It nuzzled Leon's hand with a purr before giving the loud woman a practiced look of disdain (Wu Ye had taught it well) and then it padded off into the room. The woman clutched at her skirts as it passed and leaned close to the wall.

"Are you trying to get your grandfather killed, idiot boy!" She cursed at Leon, her courage somewhat returned now that the beast was not in sight. "Letting wild animals loose inside a house! It'll kill you in your sleep!"

Leon knew that it was futile to argue back.  From the moment he had seen her standing, scowling and angry for no apparent reason outside in the courtyard area, his mind had become filled with memories of this woman.  She had considered him a disgrace, a burden and a stain on her reputation.  Idiot boy was one of the more polite terms she had used rather than his name.  He recalled times when she had screamed at him so much that he had become flustered to the point he could no longer speak, let alone stammer out words.  Thus he sat back upon his stool and continued to carve as if she wasn't there.

Unfortunately, this infuriated her.  "Father, you are old," she said in righteous anger.  "You cannot support this burden any longer!  Wasn't that why you sent him to that school in the first place?  And look, kicked out and leaning on you once more, just like I stated back then!  A waste of that silver coin you gave him for the journey!  Give him to me, I'll train him into something useful, perhaps he can even be relied upon to til the fields in the spring."

"Lessa..." there was a vein pulsing at his grandfather's temple, Leon noticed as he glanced up at the old man.  However before Leonard could say any more, the door opened behind her and the woman nearly fainted in shock.  Wu Ye, this overly large feline who took up too much space within the small house, just sniffed the air before licking it's muzzle and padding nonchalantly into the second room.

Leon's aunt gasped for breath, pointing a trembling finger at the doorway of the second room before that finger then was redirected at her nephew.  "You...!"

"We captured a hare!" Sun said cheerfully as he entered revealing the spoils.  "It's just an ordinary one though."  Most of the animals that lived in the woods had gone into hibernation, so it was of no surprise that not much game was found.  The hare was a fair size though and fresh meat was always welcome. 

"Th-that's fine," Leon sent him a smile that did not hide the relief he felt for the interruption.  "G-grandfather c-c-can't eat m-meat from a sp-sp-spirit b-beast."

"Oh yeah!" Sun grinned and Leon inwardly laughed at him.  He reckoned that this innocent young master had never actually hunted for his family's dinner so wouldn't know of that ordinary people couldn't eat the meat from most beasts, with perhaps the exception of dire beasts.  In fact, he would not have known if it wasn't for the fact he had practiced cooking with Mino's mother a few times in the past few months, wanting to improve the skill.  His eyes lifted to see Jin Li enter and Leon's smile became warmer.

"Make this Lord a pot of tea," Jin Li demanded.  Leon rose to his feet and went to heat water in the kettle.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Ebonsolaris Ebonsolaris

To clarify, Wu Ye's height and size is a bit bigger than a lion or tiger Male... His body shape is more like a jaguar, more lithe than the big pair (lion/tiger).  In contrast, Li Ming is about the size of a big dog like a German Shepard.

plus this is part one of two! Double update! Sorry about the wait, I now work on Tuesdays as well as all the days I don’t make updates, so I completely forgot to post!

Chapter 228: Chapter Twenty Eight - She wants to make trouble

Lessa was the first born of Leonard and his deceased wife, who passed due to an illness not long after his second child celebrated her first birthday.  He chose not to remarry and his old mother never pressured him to, being aware just how much he missed the woman greatly.  So the two girls became the apple of his eye and he worked hard so that he could spoil them, especially his eldest, who resembled her dear mother so much. 

When his old mother passed, he chose to move from town into the village of his father's birth. This old courtyard house was in his family's name, while the townhouse was rented; he hoped to save the extra money for his daughter's dowries when they were old enough to wed. As for their husbands... truly, he only wanted them to be happy and looked around at prospective son-in-law's with this in mind. However one daughter had one eye on the ground and the other at the heavens and the other daughter was a bit of a wild child who did not want to settle and be some little wife at all!

Thus his older daughter married a widower for his wealth and his younger daughter ran away seeking adventure. The whole village felt pity for the old man, who was otherwise respected in their village for he knew some letters, would even help them read messages sent from loved ones who'd gone away for work or to enlist in the armies.

And then his younger daughter reappeared in his life, carrying a two month old baby; his grandson Leo.

Lessa never liked her sister. Aleonara was not a pretty girl, she looked too much like their father and acted more like a boy than a girl. She would sneak away when there were chores to be done, yet would avoid getting into trouble with peace offerings of wild mushrooms and vegetables to grace the pot. So the boys of the village would flatter Lessa with words regarding her appearance, suggesting they wanted to marry her when they grew up, but it was Aleonara they turned to when seeking wild plums in autumn.

After Lessa married into her husband's family, she had a hard time with her new mother-in-law because she was a peasant girl; all of the respect her father had from the village meant nothing in her husband's home. It became easier once she had given birth to her first son and better still after her second was born. But then Aleonara had to spoil things by bringing home a wild child of who knew what ancestry. Lessa tried to convince her old father to throw the brat away to an orphanage, claim he died or something, anything to improve the reputation of her birth family that had soured her relationship with her mother-in-law so badly. Leonard had refused.

When Leo was just five, Aleonara passed away, destined to die young and in a similar manner as her mother. A lot of villagers also lost family that year for the sickness that passed through the village was cruel. That left only Lessa's father and nephew in the old courtyard house and the old man was even more determined to raise him as the successor to their family.

Lessa felt that was unfair. She had always hoped to inherit her father's possessions and give them to her own children as her husband had already declared his eldest son from his first marriage would inherit his land and head the family. But now this wild child was going to take his things and his house and there was nothing she could do about it. So she bullied her nephew more in retaliation and tried to sway her father's mind, make him dislike the brat as much as she did. Leonard was not a stupid man, he knew that his daughter was unhappy with his decision, but he was not about to change his mind. A married daughter was like spilled water after all; her family was her husband's family, her children took his name and were part of his ancestry. Leo was Leonard's hope for his bloodline's future.

There was probably no one happier when Leo went away than Lessa, the woman thinking that his absence allowed her more opportunities to get the old man to change his mind or for accidents to happen;who knew if the little bastard would ever come home at all?!  But there was also no one unhappier when he then showed up out of no where and on a carriage that outshined any her husband could even hope to own.

The woman who came to gossip that morning hinted that Leo had been kicked out of his school and that he had become indentured to a wealthy young master, who brought Leo here along with many other servants.  However, Lessa was not a fool, she knew just how warped words spread from tongue to tongue could become through exaggeration and embellishment.  She came to see what was going on herself.  Just seeing that brat all comfortable, no master around and acting all loving and filial to her father, she was transported back to before the boy had left this place and blurted out what was on her mind.  But she did mean her suggestion of taking the boy away and making him work for her family.  She'd let him know his place then!

However, those two youths returned, the smaller one dressed in fine silks and wearing leather boots was definitely a notch above her landlord husband in social status and the taller one had an air about him.  She reckoned he was an illegitimate noble boy, acting as a companion to the young master.  She sneered when her nephew became subservient to the tall boy thinking that her nephew was so useless, couldn't even become a servant of the silk dressed young Master.

"Here G-Grandfather," Leo stuttered, handing a cup of hot and fragrant tea to the old man.  "This t-tea p-p-promotes b-blood circulation and warms the ch-chest.  G-g-good for w-winter ch-chills."  The old man couldn't help but smile as his grandson served him.  Lessa's eyes narrowed and brows lowered; she was the idiot boys' elder too, where was her tea?  Actually, Leon had not forgotten and did pour her a cup, passing it to her with a few words.  "I added honey t-t-to yours, Aunt.  T-to c-c-c... reduce the b-b-bitterness."

Leonard snorted with mirth.  His good grandson had gained a bit of backbone in school it seemed, perhaps gaining it after the bullying incident he'd mentioned.  He had no idea that the boy was still being bullied, just behind closed doors.  That person would also get retribution on any who dare attempt to harm what was his.

Whether Lessa decided to ignore the insult or whether she just was not aware of the double meaning, only she knew.  She placed down the cup, angry that the beverage was definitely of a quality that even her husband had never touched before inquiring; "Now that your plans to become educated have fallen through, what are your plans now, nephew?  I assume there's a reason you brought your masters here to this poor village?"

Said 'masters' looked at the woman with confusion.  Leon, on the other hand, barely looked over his shoulder at her, busy chopping the skinned hare into portions ready to cook.  He hadn't cooked with it before, but he figured one couldn't go wrong braising it into a stew.

"Why do ye insist on sayin' tha' Leo is no longer at school?" Leonard asked in a low tone.  A heavy sigh escaped him.  This eldest daughter of his so resembled her mother in face, but she had none of that woman's cheerful and optimistic temperament.  He could grudgingly admit that her sourness came from him as did her stubbornness, but her avarice nature and constant dissatisfaction with her lot, that was nothing to do with him nor his wife at all.  Perhaps it came from his own father, that man died chasing the next silver coin.  Either way, Lessa disappointed him.

"Isn't that why he's return all of a sudden?" She blinked as if surprised that her thought dared be questioned.  "Otherwise why didn't he come back before?"

"The Institute is s-several d-d-day's journey from here, Aunt," Leon advised her.  "And the j-journey c-c-can c-cost a lot.  This t-t-time, I had s-saved some m-m-money and had help from m-m-my friends as well.  B-b-but I have t-to g-g-go b-back to school after winter b-b-break."

"Yeah, there's no way Leon's Teacher and the Headmaster will let him leave school now!" Sun added, brightly.  "He's invaluable to the school!"  He really just wanted to help his friend get this unpleasant woman off his back, just as Leon and Jin Li had helped him cope with some of the drama in his own household.  Unfortunately, some words have a tendency to backfire.

"Invaluable you say..."


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Ebonsolaris Ebonsolaris

Second of double update x

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