TSWPF -Chapter 127 Shameful

The moment she saw Liu Zhimou, Li Qingling’s small face couldn’t help but flush red.

She shot him a glance and teased softly, “Aren’t you supposed to go to the academy today?” It was obvious he should have been at the academy, yet here he was at home, clearly skipping school.

Liu Zhimou felt a warmth in his heart. Looking at her, his gaze seemed almost watery, making her heart race. “I asked the teacher for leave,” he said. Today was too important a day for him to be away. “Uh… the matchmaker must have told you already, right?”

Just thinking that Li Qingling would soon be marrying him, he couldn’t hide the smile on his face.

Li Qingling cleared her throat, nodded lightly, and murmured that yes, the matchmaker had told her everything. She had even handed over her birth details to the matchmaker and was just waiting for the wedding date to be set.

Liu Zhimou slowly walked to her side, scanning the surroundings. Seeing no one around, he boldly reached for her hand. “I’ve waited so long, and finally, you’ve grown up.” His lifelong wish was about to come true.

Meeting his eyes, she could see the joy radiating from him. Her heart, swept along by his happiness, lifted slightly, and she pressed her lips together in a smile. “So you’ve been waiting for me to grow up just so you could marry me?”

Hearing her playful tease, his ears didn’t redden, his heartbeat didn’t speed up. Calmly, he nodded and admitted that indeed, he had been waiting all this time.

He had once thought that his relationship with Li Qingling would just be a duty, but he didn’t expect to genuinely adore her.

It’s rare to find someone who truly touches your heart in a lifetime. Fortunately, he had been lucky enough to meet her.

And it was all thanks to his father. If his father hadn’t arranged this marriage, he wouldn’t have been able to marry Li Qingling.

Someday, he would kneel at his father’s grave in gratitude for his wise decision.

Seeing him so candidly admit this only made Li Qingling’s face flush even more.

She had thought he would, like before, get flustered and run away when teased.

But unexpectedly, his confidence had thickened; he didn’t flee, but openly admitted it.

This was so unlike him!

“Well… then you should rest at home. I’m heading out,” Li Qingling said, turning to leave.

Once outside the yard, she reached up to pat her flushed cheeks.

She couldn’t understand why her face was so sensitive. Liu Zhimou didn’t blush, yet she did.

Taking a deep breath, she waited for the heat in her face to subside before striding toward the chicken farm.

But as soon as she arrived, she didn’t know how the people at the farm had gotten wind of the news. Seeing her, they all hurriedly congratulated her.

“Madam! When’s your big day? Don’t forget to tell us in advance so we can help!”

If not for Li Qingling helping them become prosperous, they wouldn’t have the good life they had now.

In their hearts, Li Qingling was like a second mother.

Li Qingling hadn’t expected the villagers to learn so quickly. She pinched her fingers, trying to suppress her embarrassment, and smiled. “I don’t know yet. Once the date is set, I’ll let you all know. Everyone is welcome to come celebrate.”

“Of course, of course! We wouldn’t miss your big day!”

Fearing they would continue teasing her, she said a few words and hurried away.

She felt it was better to go home—at least at home she only had to face Liu Zhimou, while outside she had to face the entire village.

She wondered if the matchmaker had spread the news herself. The villagers seemed to know almost instantly.

The speed was like light!

She quickened her pace, emotions tugging at her heart as she ran toward home.

Upon arriving, she saw her grandmother, Madam Liu.

She stopped and greeted her faintly, “Grandmother.”

She didn’t feel much affection toward Madam Liu; out of filial duty, she had no choice but to call her that.

Madam Liu looked up, noticing Li Qingling, and with a displeased hum said, “I heard you’re going to marry Liu Zhimou. Is it true?”

She had heard this from the villagers; otherwise, she would have been kept in the dark.

Such an important matter, and Li Qingling hadn’t even told her—Madam Liu felt completely disregarded.

If it weren’t for the dowry, she wouldn’t have bothered to approach Li Qingling.

“Hm…” Li Qingling glanced at her, knowing that Madam Liu was displeased, but she didn’t intend to coax her. “Grandmother, what did you want to discuss?” she asked, avoiding giving anyone an excuse to laugh.

She stepped into the yard first, heading straight for the main hall.

Madam Liu snorted, following closely. Sitting down in the hall, she asked sternly, “Your parents are gone, but I and your grandfather are still here. Why didn’t you discuss this with us? You really have no sense of propriety!”

Li Qingling poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Madam Liu, smiling lightly. “Grandmother, what is it you want to discuss today? I don’t know much about marriage customs, so I thought I could learn from you.”

She wanted to see just how thick-skinned Madam Liu could be. If it wasn’t too unreasonable, she might comply—but if it was too much, she wouldn’t bother.

Madam Liu was taken aback. She hadn’t expected Li Qingling to be so approachable. On her way, she had prepared many criticisms to scold Li Qingling.

Yet she didn’t expect Li Qingling to come with such a conciliatory attitude.

She picked up the cup of tea and, like a cow being fed, drank it all in one go.

Wiping the corners of her mouth with her sleeve, she finally addressed Li Qingling: “The groom must give a dowry. How much is Liu Zhimou offering? Once the dowry reaches me, there’s no way it will be returned.”

Li Qingling had earned a lot over the years; Liu Zhimou’s dowry surely wouldn’t be small.

Raising her eyebrows, Li Qingling shook her head honestly. “I don’t know.”

“How can you not know? Haven’t you discussed it with him?” Madam Liu’s voice rose, disbelief in her eyes. She thought Li Qingling was lying. “Which family marries off their daughter without a dowry? Go ask around the village—see if any family doesn’t collect a dowry.”

This was her chance to get a sum of silver, and she wouldn’t let it slip.

If she let this opportunity pass, she’d regret it terribly.

Li Qingling gave her a faint, teasing smile. “Grandmother, don’t you know our family is special? We’ve always lived together. Whether there’s a dowry or not, it doesn’t make a difference.” She truly couldn’t understand where Madam Liu had gotten such audacity.

Madam Liu’s heart skipped a beat. She inhaled deeply, steadying her emotions.

She could not let Li Qingling see her intentions; if she did, all her plans would fail.

She forced a faint smile and spoke earnestly: “Xiaoling, this isn’t your fault. Your parents passed early, and no one taught you these things.” She held Li Qingling’s hand gently, patting the back like a kind grandmother. “The groom must give a dowry. If he doesn’t, the bride will be mocked her whole life. I don’t want that for you. You must discuss this properly with Liu Zhimou, understand?”

Li Qingling’s skin prickled at Madam Liu’s grasp. She naturally withdrew her hand, picking up her tea and taking a sip.

Setting the cup down, she sighed. “Grandmother, you know Zhimou has been studying all along. Where would he have money for a dowry?”

Madam Liu truly went to great lengths to get even a small dowry.

“Isn’t it yours anyway? You live together—why fuss over so much?” Over the years, dealing with Li Qingling, she realized that getting anything from her was harder than climbing to heaven.

So she thought she could use this opportunity to make Li Qingling obediently hand over the dowry.

“Xiaoling, think about it—if Liu Zhimou can’t provide a dowry, the villagers will laugh at him. He’s going to be an esteemed official someday. Can he afford to be ridiculed?”

Madam Liu’s thinking was a real challenge. Li Qingling almost wanted to applaud her.

“Then… if you say so, the dowry must be given.”

Seeing Li Qingling seemingly relenting, Madam Liu’s heart leapt. Her face broke into a genuine smile. “Of course it must. Without it, both you and Liu Zhimou would be mocked. How would that be for your future?” She feared Li Qingling might back out, so she added, “Grandmother truly wants what’s best for you. You’re not my granddaughter, so I wouldn’t tell you all this otherwise.”

Li Qingling felt touched. “Grandmother, you’re so kind. Others wouldn’t tell me so much.” Suppressing a cold snort, she smiled and asked, “Grandmother, since we live together, if he gives a dowry, does he have to carry it around the village first and then bring it into our home again?”

“That’s impossible!” Madam Liu exclaimed, flustered. Seeing Li Qingling’s confused expression, she forced a smile. “I mean, that would be against custom.”

“Then how should it be done, Grandmother?”

The bait was taken.

Madam Liu’s smile deepened. “Your parents are gone, but your grandfather and I are still here. The dowry must pass through our hands. We will see that you are married off properly and gloriously.”