TSWPF -Chapter 140 Rival in Love

Liu Zhimou had no idea what happened at the Tong household after he left.

As soon as he returned home, he saw Li Qingling standing at the doorway, waiting for him.

He immediately dismounted, walked up to her quickly, reached out and gently patted her head, asking softly, “It’s foggy out—why didn’t you go inside?”

Feeling that her hair was a little damp, he took her hand and led her briskly into the main hall.

“Why are you back so late tonight?” Li Qingling looked up at him as he walked ahead. “Do you have a lot of coursework?”

His exams were coming up next month, and his workload had increased significantly.

Still, seeing him return so late made her worried.

“I had to make a trip to Teacher Tong’s place, so I came back late,” Liu Zhimou said, pressing her shoulders to seat her on a chair. “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.”

Because he knew she would worry if he came back late, he usually made sure to return on time.

“You haven’t eaten yet, right? I’ll bring the food over for you.”

“No need. Sit down—I’ll get it myself.”

Liu Zhimou gently squeezed her shoulder and turned toward the kitchen.

After bringing the dishes out, he served two bowls of rice and pushed one toward Li Qingling, asking her to eat a little with him.

Li Qingling smiled, didn’t refuse, and picked up the bowl.

As she ate, she helped him to food and casually told him about things that had happened at home.

Liu Zhimou watched her with a gentle expression. He loved listening to her talk about these everyday trifles—it made him feel like he was part of it all.

He really liked that feeling.

Li Qingling grew a little shy under his gaze. She shot him a glare and said coyly, “What are you staring at me for? Hurry up and eat!” As she spoke, she added a piece of rabbit meat to his bowl. “Ahuang caught a wild rabbit—it’s quite plump.”

Liu Zhimou smiled faintly, lowered his head, and ate seriously.

After he finished, Li Qingling took the bowls to the kitchen to wash them. Liu Zhimou followed her, sat on a small stool, and fed a piece of firewood into the stove under the pot where water was boiling.

She glanced at him, thought of what the village head had said earlier, frowned slightly, and asked, “Brother Zhimou, we’ve set the wedding for next month—will it affect your exams?”

She had confidence in him, but just in case—if it really did affect his exams, she would feel terribly guilty.

“No,” Liu Zhimou shook his head firmly. If getting married would affect his exams, he wouldn’t have chosen the tenth day of next month. “Did someone say something to you? Don’t mind what others say. Just trust me.”

Li Qingling smiled and said no—she had just thought of it suddenly and asked.

Since he felt it wouldn’t be a problem, she would believe him and respect his choice.

Liu Zhimou hummed in response and told her not to overthink it—she only needed to be a happy bride.

Li Qingling answered softly, the corners of her lips lifting as she put the bowls into the cupboard.

Turning around, she lifted the pot lid and tested the water temperature with her hand. “The water’s ready. Go take a bath.”

“Alright.” He stood up and rubbed her head again. “Go rest early.”

After reminding her, he couldn’t help himself and bent down to kiss her on the forehead.

“…”

Li Qingling glanced at him and floated out of the kitchen.

Ever since the last time they kissed, he’d been kissing her from time to time.

Had she corrupted him?

…

Tong Wanrong thought about it all night, growing more and more unwilling to accept it. She really wanted to see what kind of woman had caught Liu Zhimou’s eye.

She had someone inquire about his fiancée. When she learned that Liu Zhimou’s fiancée was a village girl—and was even living together with him—she snorted, contempt flashing in her eyes.

How could such a country girl compare to her?

If she spent more time with Liu Zhimou, he would definitely choose her.

She was confident of that.

Today, she would go meet Liu Zhimou’s fiancée and let her know just how unworthy she was of him.

When Tong Wanrong arrived at Niutou Village with Xia He, Li Qingling was in the middle of giving instructions to Zeng Tietou.

After she finished, Zeng Tietou said, “Boss, that carriage over there has been parked for quite a while now. Not sure who it’s here to see. Should I go ask?”

Li Qingling glanced casually at the carriage and nodded.

Seeing her agreement, Zeng Tietou walked over and asked the driver with a smile, “Brother, are you here looking for someone in our village?”

At that moment, Xia He lifted the carriage curtain and poked her head out, asking arrogantly, “Do you know Li Qingling?”

Looking for the boss?

Zeng Tietou glanced at Xia He’s haughty expression, feeling displeased. He answered flatly, “Mm.”

“Since you know her, go call her over. My young lady is looking for her.”

Call her just because she said so? Who did she think her mistress was?

Some servant from some household, being so overbearing?

Zeng Tietou’s face darkened slightly, his tone turning colder. “May I ask your young lady’s surname?”

Xia He lifted her chin and said it was Tong.

“I’ll have to ask my boss whether she has time to come over,” he said, tossing out the words before turning and striding back to Li Qingling.

“Boss, that maid says her young lady’s surname is Tong and she’s here to see you. Do you know her?”

Li Qingling looked up. “No. What did she say? What does she want with me?”

She hadn’t dealt with any Miss Tong before and didn’t know why she was being sought out.

“She didn’t say—just asked you to go over. Her attitude wasn’t very good. I’m afraid she’s not here with good intentions.”

Li Qingling pondered for a moment, told Zeng Tietou to go back to work, and said she’d go see what was going on.

Zeng Tietou worried about her and insisted on accompanying her—if anything happened, he could protect her.

With no choice, she nodded.

Li Qingling walked quickly to the carriage. She glanced at Xia He, and before she could speak, Xia He sneered, “You’re Li Qingling?”

She looked Li Qingling up and down from a superior angle. Her looks were decent, but her clothes were shabby—worse than even a maid’s.

Someone like this couldn’t even compare to her young lady’s little fingernail.

Young Master Liu’s taste was really questionable—how could he fancy such a village girl?

Being scrutinized with contempt, displeasure flashed through Li Qingling’s heart, but she kept a smile on her face. “Yes. May I ask what Miss Tong wants with me?”

She wanted to see exactly which noble young lady had come to pick a fight.

Xia He snorted. “Wait here.” With that, she withdrew into the carriage again.

Moments later, Tong Wanrong stepped out.

She looked Li Qingling over and had to admit that Li Qingling did indeed have qualities that could attract Liu Zhimou.

Her delicate oval face and clear, bright eyes were enough to draw many gazes.

But the washed-out cotton dress she wore greatly diminished her presence.

Tong Wanrong lifted the corner of her lips and asked, “You’re Senior Brother Liu’s fiancée, Li Qingling?”

Li Qingling took a few steps back and said calmly, “Miss Tong, could you come down? I’m not used to looking up at people when I talk.”

It really did seem she hadn’t come with good intentions.

Could this Miss Tong be in love with Liu Zhimou?

Tong Wanrong stared at her for a moment longer before stepping down from the carriage with Xia He’s support.

“Miss Li, may I speak with you privately?”

Raising an eyebrow, Li Qingling refused outright. “I still have things to do. If Miss Tong has something to say, you can say it here.”

If she weren’t curious about her purpose, she wouldn’t even bother responding given that attitude.

Hearing this, anger surged in Tong Wanrong’s heart—this Li Qingling was far too ungrateful.

“What do you mean? My young lady speaking to you is giving you face!” Xia He snapped angrily.

“Xia He—”

Li Qingling looked at the mistress and servant, let out a soft laugh, and said, “If your young lady’s face is really that valuable, she’d better keep it for herself.” With that, she turned and left.

Zeng Tietou shot Xia He a cold look and followed after her.

Tong Wanrong hadn’t expected Li Qingling to be so dismissive—to turn hostile after just a few words.

Her anger flared even more as she shouted after Li Qingling, “Miss Li, don’t you want to know what my relationship with Senior Brother Liu is?”

Li Qingling stopped and turned, looking coldly at her. She remembered that Liu Zhimou’s teacher was also surnamed Tong—could this be his daughter?

“Miss Tong, your father is a good teacher. Don’t disgrace him.”

“You—”

Seeing Tong Wanrong’s expression change, Li Qingling knew she had guessed correctly.

It also confirmed that this Miss Tong liked Liu Zhimou.

Tonight, when Liu Zhimou came back, she would definitely have a good talk with him—just how had he attracted such a rotten peach blossom?

If he didn’t coax her properly, she’d make him pay.

Tong Wanrong took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, then walked up to Li Qingling. After staring at her for a long moment, she said, “Miss Li, you’re not worthy of Senior Brother Liu. I hope you’ll leave him.”

Where did she get the confidence to say something like that?

Li Qingling looked at her with a half-smile, a hint of mockery in her tone. “May I ask, Miss Tong, in what capacity are you saying this to me? Hmm?”

This was the first time a love rival had openly provoked her.

Strangely enough, she felt a bit excited…

Tong Wanrong choked on her words. She bit her lower lip and glared at Li Qingling. “You’re of no help to Senior Brother Liu’s career. If you truly love him, you should leave him.”

If Liu Zhimou married her, her father would use his connections to help him, smoothing his path in officialdom.

This was just like the novels she’d read in her previous life!

Li Qingling rubbed her hands together and said with a bright smile, “Then why are you telling me this, Miss Tong? Why don’t you go tell Liu Zhimou directly?”

Hehe—since she had a chance to torment her love rival, she’d be doing herself a disservice not to enjoy it a little.