TSWPF – Chapter 10 Asking for a Beating

The waiter poked his head out and glanced into the basket — inside were two pheasants and two hares, all cleaned neatly and quite plump. He immediately said, “Wait here a moment, I’ll go ask the shopkeeper if he wants to buy your game.”

“Thank you, brother waiter,” Li Qingling said with a smile. The waiter shook his head and hurried inside. Not long after, he came back out again.

“The shopkeeper said you can come in. He’ll take a look at the game first.”

The prey was fresh and fat — the shopkeeper would definitely buy it. Confident, Li Qingling hoisted the basket onto her back and followed the waiter into the restaurant.

Inside stood a tall, thin, sharp-looking middle-aged man. Li Qingling was quick to read the room — she bowed politely and greeted him.

The shopkeeper nodded and gestured for her to put the basket down. He inspected the game and asked, “Little girl, did you come alone? Where are your elders?”

Li Qingling wasn’t about to reveal her family’s true situation. “My father’s not feeling well, so he couldn’t come. He asked me to bring these to sell.” She lifted her eyes to look at the shopkeeper. “Shopkeeper, how much do you think they’re worth?”

The shopkeeper didn’t press further. “Your game’s not bad. I’ll give you eighteen wen per jin for the hares, and fifteen for the pheasants.”

The restaurant needed game anyway, and seeing that this little girl’s family didn’t look well-off, he decided to be a little generous.

The price was fair. Li Qingling nodded in agreement. The shopkeeper had someone weigh the goods — together, the pheasants and hares brought in 163 wen.

He counted out the copper coins and handed them to her. “That’s 163 wen in total, little girl. Make sure it’s right.”

Li Qingling didn’t even count it — she slipped the money straight into her pocket.

“Shopkeeper, my father’s a hunter. Next time he gets something, can we still sell it to your restaurant?”

It would be best to build a regular arrangement — then she wouldn’t need to look for other buyers.

The shopkeeper nodded, telling her to bring any game directly next time and he’d offer a fair price depending on the catch.

Li Qingling thanked him again and turned to leave. At the door, she took out a handful of coins — about ten or so wen — and handed them to the waiter as thanks for his help.

The waiter accepted without fuss. He thought the girl was quite tactful, so he gave her a little tip in return — “If you bring in live game, it’ll fetch a higher price. Bigger prey’s worth even more.”

“Thank you, brother waiter,” she said again, smiling before striding off. She didn’t have anything else to buy, so she didn’t waste time browsing and headed straight home.

At the town gate, she ran into some villagers who’d come for the market. A gossipy aunt spotted her. “Oh, Xiaoling, heading home so soon? What did you buy?” She craned her neck to peek into the basket, only to see it was empty, then drew back.

Li Qingling recognized her — the village’s biggest gossip. Anything good or bad that reached her ears would spread across the entire village in no time.

Thankfully, she’d come early and hadn’t bought anything. Otherwise, the woman would surely make a spectacle of it.

“I just chopped some firewood in the mountains yesterday and brought some down to sell,” she said timidly, lowering her head.

“Oh, sold it that fast, did you?”

Li Qingling curled her toes and smiled shyly. “A family just happened to need some, so I sold it cheap.” She paused for a moment, then quickly changed the subject, “Auntie, what are you selling in town today?”

She glanced curiously at the woman’s basket.

The aunt lifted the cloth covering her basket with pride. “I embroidered some handkerchiefs and came to deliver them.”

“Wow, Auntie, your embroidery’s really beautiful,” Li Qingling praised. The woman preened even more at the compliment.

“Auntie, you should go deliver them quickly. I’ll head home first,” Li Qingling said.

“Why not wait for us? You could ride the ox cart back.”

“No need, I’d rather get home early to help my mother with the chores.” She declined politely, nodded to the others, and left quickly. The farther away she could stay from them, the better.

After she left, the villagers began sighing. “If Laigui were still alive, that poor girl wouldn’t have it so hard.”

“Right? The Li family really went too far. As soon as Laigui died, they drove his wife and kids out — didn’t even give them grain. Heartless, truly heartless! Those are their own grandchildren!”

“Exactly…”

The group chatted for a while before the topic shifted back to their own business.

By the time Li Qingling returned to the village, it was already the hour of si. Most people were busy working in the fields.

She wondered if her mother was in the fields too. Thinking that, she quickened her pace.

Some idle children were playing along the road. Seeing her return with a basket, one of them shouted, “Li Qingfu! Isn’t that your sister? She’s back from town — bet she’s got something tasty in that basket!”

Li Qingfu wiped the sweat off his face and scowled. “That stupid girl’s not my sister!” Still, curiosity got the better of him. What if she did have something good to eat?

Drooling a little, he waddled over, blocking her path with his round body and outstretched arms.

“Hey, stupid girl, take out whatever tasty things you’ve got in there and give them to me!”

Li Qingling narrowed her eyes, her voice cold. “Move.”

After all, it was this little fatty who’d caused the original Li Qingling’s death. She hadn’t even settled that debt yet — he should be counting his blessings she hadn’t come for revenge. And now he dared to stand in front of her, ordering her around?

The old Li Qingling would never have talked back — she’d always obey him, too scared to resist. But today, she dared to tell him to move aside?

“Hand over whatever’s in your basket! If you don’t, I’ll tell Grandma — she’ll beat you to death!” he shouted, puffing up.

Li Qingling sneered. “Besides tattling, is there anything else you can do?” She gave a cold chuckle, pushed him aside, and started walking off.

She didn’t have time to waste bickering with this brat.

Her strength was greater than expected. The push sent Li Qingfu stumbling, nearly falling over. The village kids burst out laughing.

“Wow, Li Qingfu, you’re so useless! Can’t even handle your scrawny sister! What a disgrace!” They even rubbed their fingers across their faces, mimicking the word “shame.”

“Li Qingfu’s a disgrace!”

Humiliated, Li Qingfu’s face turned beet red. He couldn’t stand being laughed at. “Li Qingling! Stop right there!” he bellowed.

As if she’d stop just because he said so. Who did he think he was?

Li Qingling curled her lip and didn’t even slow down.

“Ahh—Li Qingling!” Furious, Li Qingfu grabbed a rock from the ground and charged at her. If she wouldn’t listen, he’d beat her!

Hearing his angry shout, Li Qingling turned slightly. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him charging at her, stone in hand.

Her brow furrowed. What a vicious little brat — such a poisonous heart at his age. If she didn’t teach him a lesson today, she wasn’t worthy of her surname Li.

Just as Li Qingfu lunged near, she sidestepped swiftly, tripped him lightly with her foot—

Thud!

He fell hard to the ground, a cloud of dust rising around him.

Li Qingling covered her nose with one hand and waved the air with the other. When the dust settled, she looked down at him, still sprawled and unable to get up, and mocked, “Li Qingfu, how old are you? Still can’t walk without falling? Isn’t that embarrassing?”

“You… you bitch! You tripped me!” he shouted, clutching his split lip. Spitting blood, he glared up at her. “You’re dead! I’m telling you, you’re dead!”

Li Qingling smiled coldly. “Can’t even walk properly and you blame others? Pathetic.” She crouched down and whispered darkly, “You’d better not mess with me again. If you make me mad, I’ll have my dad come find you in the middle of the night.”

Seeing his face turn pale with terror, she straightened up, dusted off her clothes, and walked away calmly.

Only after she’d gone did Li Qingfu, trembling, drag himself up amid the laughter of the other kids and run home crying.

Li Qingling ignored the matter and headed home. When she arrived, she saw Madam Zhao about to go to the fields.

“Mom, wait for me — I’ll come too,” she said with a smile.

Madam Zhao quickly put down her hoe, fetched some water for her daughter to wash up, then poured her a bowl to drink.

Li Qingling gulped it down in one go. After walking all that way, she’d been parched. “Another bowl, please.”

Her mother quickly poured another and warned her to slow down. Li Qingling nodded and finished that one too. Setting the bowl down, she pulled out the money from her pocket and placed it on the table.

“I sold the game today for 163 wen, Mom. Keep it.”

“You keep it,” Madam Zhao said, pushing the coins back. “You’re the head of this house now.”

Knowing her mother’s temperament, Li Qingling didn’t argue. “All right then. If you need money, just ask me.” She turned to her room, pulled out a small chest from under the bed, lifted a loose brick, hid the money underneath, replaced the brick, and slid the chest back. Only then did she relax.

Just as she finished, a shrill voice screeched from outside.

“Li Qingling, you wretched little girl! Get out here!”

Ah, here it comes…

That fat little tattletale really had no other skills. Tch.

Li Qingling stepped out calmly, where her mother was already at the door.

“Mom, what’s going on now?” Madam Zhao looked bewildered, glancing from her mother-in-law to Li Qingfu, whose mouth was still bleeding.

Could it be… that Xiaoling hit him?