TSWPF -Chapter 129 The Scheme

Madam Liu was so furious at Aunt Huang that her face went pale. Her hand trembled as she pointed at Aunt Huang, taking several deep breaths before she could get the words out. “You… you Huang woman! I can see your intentions aren’t good—you were only thinking of coming to ‘help’ to serve your own purposes.”

She had clearly intended to persuade Li Qingling, but this woman, Huang, completely ruined her plans.

Damn it.

Aunt Huang’s expression darkened slightly. She slowly stood up and glared at Madam Liu. “Liu Chunhua, who’s the one with ill intentions, huh? Today, if you don’t explain yourself clearly, we’re done here.” Truly a case of the thief crying ‘stop thief’—she had never met anyone so shameless. “If I hadn’t come today, you might have taken Xiaoling’s betrothal gifts for yourself.”

“Take? Take what? Do you think I’d take my own granddaughter’s betrothal gifts?” Madam Liu’s face darkened further, clearly struck at the heart by Aunt Huang’s words. She looked angrily, yet with a hint of shame, at Li Qingling. “Xiaoling, do you see me like that too? Huh? I thought, now that your parents are gone, as your grandmother it’s my duty to manage your marriage properly, but I never expected my good intentions to be twisted like this. Fine, I’m done with this—you handle it yourself!”

With that, she stormed out of the main hall in anger.

Once Madam Liu left, Li Qingling smiled and thanked Aunt Huang.

If Aunt Huang hadn’t stirred up trouble, she would have had to spend much effort convincing Madam Liu to leave.

Aunt Huang waved her hand with a smile, telling Li Qingling not to worry; she had long since grown tired of Madam Liu.

She was truly shameless.

Sometimes, she even questioned whether Li Laigui was really her biological son. If he were, how could he treat Li Qingling and the others so cruelly?

Logically, now that Li Laigui was gone, she should have been more concerned for Li Qingling and the others.

But she wasn’t. She not only failed to treat them properly but occasionally came over just to step on them. This was hardly the behavior of a loving grandmother.

“Xiaoling, tell me—what exactly are you thinking? Are you really going to take the betrothal gifts to your grandmother’s house?”

If Li Qingling actually took the gifts to her grandmother’s house, it would be like throwing meat to the dogs—once gone, never returned.

Li Qingling smiled and patted Aunt Huang’s hand. “Don’t worry. I’m not that foolish. I won’t let my grandmother control me.”

If Madam Liu had treated them well, she might have handed over the gifts without a second thought. But since Madam Liu had been so unpleasant, there was no way she would give her the betrothal gifts.

She wasn’t rich enough to be careless with her wealth.

Hearing Li Qingling’s words, Aunt Huang finally breathed a sigh of relief. “If you were stupid, no one would be clever.” She affectionately tapped Li Qingling’s forehead. “Your grandmother, if she didn’t take your betrothal gifts, might come back to bother you. You must stay vigilant and not let her find a loophole, understand?”

Madam Liu’s words might sound good—saying she would manage the dowry if she got the gifts—but who would believe that?

She was a stingy old bird. Once something was in her pocket, it was almost impossible to get it back.

They would need to be very careful with her.

“I know. I won’t let her succeed. Don’t worry, Aunt Huang.” Seeing Aunt Huang’s concerned expression, Li Qingling felt a little warmth in her heart. Over the years, she had helped Aunt Huang earn a lot of money and improve her family’s life, but Aunt Huang had always genuinely cared for them. That was something she could feel.

Aunt Huang patted Li Qingling’s hand again, a look of satisfaction on her face. With a sigh, she said, “I still remember when you were born, so tiny… and now, in the blink of an eye, you’re about to marry. Time really does fly. If your parents knew this from beyond, they could rest easy.”

Unfortunately, they had passed away too early and never saw Li Qingling’s marriage.

Surely, they would feel regret.

Once, people in the village had doubted Li Qingling and the others could survive without parents, yet now the villagers relied on her to make ends meet.

It truly proved the saying: Never underestimate a poor young person.

She had heard this from the head of her household, and she agreed with it.

Li Qingling smiled but said nothing.

Thinking of the chores waiting for her at home, Aunt Huang didn’t stay long. Before leaving, she told Li Qingling that if Madam Liu came causing trouble again and she couldn’t handle it, she should come find her for help.

Li Qingling obediently nodded, saying she would. She stood up and personally saw Aunt Huang out before turning back inside.

…

When Madam Liu returned home, she saw the still chubby Li Baozhu snacking on stir-fried soybeans. The little patience she had managed to hold back flared up again. “Eat, eat, eat! What else can you do besides eat?” With all that flesh and no brains, no wonder suitors left without a word. She was already eighteen—if she couldn’t marry, she would tarnish the family’s reputation by staying home.

Li Baozhu shrank her neck, afraid Madam Liu would grab her soybeans, and stuffed handfuls into her mouth until it bulged.

Seeing this, Madam Liu’s anger boiled over.

Why was there such a huge difference between her and Li Qingling? If Baozhu could earn money like Li Qingling, she’d let her stay at home for life, but she couldn’t do anything besides eat.

What a waste of food.

“Are the clothes washed? Did you feed the pigs?”

Li Baozhu struggled to chew the soybeans in her mouth and could only nod to indicate she had done the chores.

Having finished the household work, she felt hungry again. Seeing soybeans in the kitchen, she ran to steal a few, but her grandmother caught her in the act.

Next time she sneaked food, she would have to hide it properly. Otherwise, another scolding was inevitable.

Her grandmother wouldn’t stop until she vented her anger.

“Then quickly prepare lunch. Once done, send it to your grandfather and father.”

As soon as she said that, her eldest son’s voice came from behind. “Mother, did Baozhu make you angry again?” He put down his hoe, glaring at Li Baozhu with his fish-like eyes. “What are you still doing here? Go make the food!”

How could he have such a foolish daughter? At her age, still unable to marry—a real waste of the family’s resources.

Li Baozhu feared her father now. When her mother was alive, he had been kind. After her mother passed, it was all scolding and beating.

Sniffling, she obeyed and quickly went into the kitchen.

“Why are you back already? Finished the work in the fields?” Madam Liu’s expression softened slightly upon seeing Li Laifu. She looked behind him but didn’t see Old Li. “Where’s your father?”

Li Laifu, afraid of being scolded, slumped his shoulders and muttered, “The sun was too strong, making me dizzy. Father told me to come back.” The fieldwork was exhausting anyway—he hadn’t done much. “Mother, did someone make you angry again? Was it Baozhu?”

He wanted to divert her attention from the chores.

Upon hearing this, Madam Liu’s anger flared, and she started scolding him.

At the end, she spat hard. “That little brat! She really doesn’t know a good heart when she sees one!”

Li Laifu’s eyes lit up with an idea. He grabbed Madam Liu’s hand and pulled her into the main hall. He put down his hoe and eagerly asked, “Mother, did Li Qingling say how much betrothal gifts Liu Zhimou gave her?”

If he could get those gifts, he’d have money to marry.

Thinking of Huang Meiniang, his heart fluttered with excitement. He couldn’t wait to bring her home.

Madam Liu, still fuming, replied, “She didn’t say. I guess it won’t be too little.” If the gifts were too small, he’d lose face. “If it weren’t for that Huang woman, Li Qingling would have agreed to take the gifts to our house. It’s all her fault, ruining my plan.”

If it weren’t for Huang, she might have rushed over to attack her.

Thinking of the money Li Qingling had earned over the past three years, Li Laifu’s heart burned. He swallowed and said to his mother that they must find a way to make Li Qingling bring the gifts to their home.

Once the gifts were at their house, they belonged to them.

If Li Qingling wanted to take them back, it would be a fool’s dream.

“So, what do you think? How can we make that little brat Li Qingling voluntarily bring her betrothal gifts to our house?” Madam Liu asked eagerly. In her mind, Li Laifu was smart—he could surely think of a way. “If we get Li Qingling’s gifts, the house will have money for you to marry.”

“Of course, Mother, I was thinking the same thing,” Li Laifu said with a smile, flattering her. “Mother, before Liu Zhimou has delivered the gifts, you go to their house every day. You must make sure Li Qingling brings the gifts to our home.”

It wasn’t really his fault—it was Li Qingling’s hard heart!

Previously, he had wanted to work as a manager at Li Qingling’s chicken farm, but she had refused. If he had been manager, he wouldn’t have needed to worry about her gifts.

Madam Liu frowned, looking at Li Laifu with some doubt. “Can this… work? That little brat has a stubborn temper. Getting those gifts from her won’t be easy.”

If she were provoked, they’d get nothing.

Thinking of Li Qingling’s temperament, Li Laifu hesitated a little. He paused, seemingly thinking of a plan, and his eyes lit up.

“Mother, come here, I’ll tell you…”

“What?” Madam Liu leaned in. Li Laifu whispered something in her ear. As soon as he finished, Madam Liu clapped her hands in delight. “Not bad. That’s what we’ll do.”