TSWPF -Chapter 145 Taking Action

After telling Mr. Tong about Tong Wanrong’s behavior, Liu Zhimou stopped paying it any further attention. He knew Mr. Tong would handle the matter properly.

What occupied his mind now was the betrothal gifts.

In the village, the silver given for a marriage proposal was usually no more than sixteen taels. But he wanted Li Qingling’s wedding to be more grand, so he considered increasing the amount.

Still, he had a concern. The betrothal gifts would be carried directly to Old Li’s house. If there was too much silver, it might provoke jealousy and greed, and someone could end up pocketing it.

When he brought this up at home, Li Qingling objected immediately. She told him to follow the village custom and give the standard amount, not to set a precedent. She didn’t trust her grandfather’s side of the family and didn’t want the betrothal gifts to end up in their pockets.

With Li Qingling opposing the idea, Liu Zhimou gave it up and prepared the betrothal gifts in a proper, conventional manner.

On the day the betrothal gifts were delivered, the entire village became lively. People flocked to Old Li’s house to watch the excitement.

Li Qingling arrived early and waited at Old Li’s house for Liu Zhimou to bring the gifts.

For such an important event for their sister, Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan had asked their teacher for leave and returned home in advance.

Li Qingfeng and Li Qingning stayed with Li Qingling at Old Li’s house.

“Elder Sister, there are so many people outside—it’s so lively!” Li Qingning was the kind who thrived on excitement. The moment she saw so many people, she darted outside to take a look, then happily ran back to report to Li Qingling.

Li Qingling glanced at her and knew she wanted to go play. She didn’t restrain her. “If you want to go play, then go. You don’t need to stay here.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Li Qingning cheered and ran off in a flash.

Seeing this, Li Qingfeng said helplessly, “It’s only been a short while, and my little sister has gotten even wilder.” If not for her hair being done in a girl’s style, others might have thought she was a boy.

“She’s still young. Let her be free for a couple more years,” Li Qingling said indulgently with a smile. Looking at Li Qingfeng, who had grown a bit taller, she asked, “How is the academy? You haven’t caused trouble, have you?”

Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan only had two days off every half month, so they rarely came home.

“Elder Sister, you really don’t have any faith in me, do you? If someone were to cause trouble, it definitely wouldn’t be me!”

“That’s hard to say…”

Though the two boys usually seemed sensible, they were still kids. Hot-blooded and impulsive—if someone provoked them, who knew, they might end up fighting.

She wasn’t by their side, and she didn’t know what went on at the academy. She couldn’t help worrying.

Li Qingfeng shot her a look and protested, “Elder Sister, am I really that kind of person in your eyes?”

She opened her mouth to reply, but before she could speak, a cold snort sounded.

The siblings turned their heads at the same time and saw Li Qingfu waddling in, his big belly sticking out.

Acting like some grand master, he walked straight to the seat of honor and plopped himself down.

With his chin lifted, he swept a disdainful glance over Li Qingling and Li Qingfeng, saying nothing.

Li Qingling and Li Qingfeng ignored him completely and continued talking in low voices.

Li Qingfu had never been ignored like this before. Feeling displeased, he knocked on the table and shouted, “Li Qingling, what does your marriage have to do with my family? Why are you getting married from my house?”

He had disliked Li Qingling and Li Qingfeng since they were young. Whenever he saw them, he wished he could kick them a couple of times.

If not for his grandparents’ warnings, he would have beaten them long ago. How could he have allowed them to sit in his house?

Was he here looking for trouble?

Li Qingling looked at him calmly, her expression indifferent. “If Grandpa hadn’t insisted that I marry from his house, do you think I would have come here? If you don’t believe it, go ask Grandpa and Grandma.”

She truly couldn’t be bothered to argue with him.

Li Qingfu was choked by her words. He glared at her viciously, wishing he could tear her flesh from her bones. “Don’t act all innocent after taking advantage!”

“What advantage have I taken?” Li Qingling asked coolly. “Tell me—what advantage have I taken from the Li family?”

If anyone was trying to take advantage, it was the Li family eyeing her betrothal gifts.

But this time, their plans were bound to fail.

She was no longer the little child she’d been years ago. Anyone thinking of taking advantage of her could forget it.

“Getting married from my house—aren’t you just hoping Grandpa and Grandma will prepare a dowry for you?” He had figured it out long ago. Otherwise, why would she insist on marrying from his house when they weren’t close at all?

At that thought, Li Qingling almost wanted to applaud him.

“Elder Sister, why waste words on someone like this?” Li Qingfeng said impatiently. “It’s a waste of breath.”

He had long disliked Li Qingfu’s smug face. He wished for a chance to teach him a lesson.

He still clearly remembered how Li Qingfu had bullied him when they were young.

Even slapping him twice wouldn’t be excessive.

But today was his sister’s happy occasion. He couldn’t ruin it.

Besides, a gentleman’s revenge could wait ten years. He’d find his chance sooner or later.

Hearing Li Qingfeng’s words, Li Qingfu immediately bristled. He turned to glare at him, eyes wide. “What did you say, Li Qingfeng? Say it again if you dare!”

“It’s a waste of breath talking to someone like you,” Li Qingfeng replied, meeting his gaze word for word. “Did you hear clearly this time?”

Did he think this was still when they were little, when he could bully him at will?

Now, he wasn’t afraid of him at all.

When a person had enough confidence, they feared no one.

His sister had told him that, and he remembered it well.

Li Qingfu hadn’t expected Li Qingfeng to talk back. His eyes turned red with anger, his chest heaving violently.

“Li Qingfeng—!” he shouted and suddenly stood up, striding toward him.

With every step, the fat on his body jiggled.

Li Qingfeng really couldn’t understand how he managed to get so fat. If he went to sit for the imperial exams, he probably wouldn’t even last three days before fainting.

Just as Li Qingfu was about to reach Li Qingfeng, Li Qingling stood up and blocked his path, lifting her head to look at him.

“What are you trying to do? Start a fight? Hm?”

Though she was a bit shorter than Li Qingfu, her presence completely overwhelmed his.

Meeting her cold gaze, Li Qingfu’s heart trembled involuntarily.

Her eyes felt like knives—if he dared move, she would stab him without hesitation.

He pressed his lips together and swallowed, then looked past Li Qingling’s shoulder at Li Qingfeng, mocking him. “Li Qingfeng, hiding behind a woman—what kind of man does that make you?”

Li Qingfeng shrugged lazily and raised his brows. “If you’ve got the ability, get your sister to protect you too.”

He wasn’t foolish enough to fall for Li Qingfu’s provocation.

Normally, he might have gone up and punched him a couple of times. But today was a special day, so he’d let him strut for now.

“…Move,” Li Qingfu ground out, turning his gaze back to Li Qingling.

Li Qingling tugged at the corner of her lips and asked calmly, “And if I don’t?”

Having lost all patience, Li Qingfu reached out to shove her aside.

Before his hand could touch her, Li Qingling grabbed his wrist and twisted hard.

A sharp pain shot through his arm, and he couldn’t help screaming.

The cry was loud enough for people outside to hear it. Madam Liu rushed in at once.

At a glance, she saw Li Qingling gripping her precious grandson’s wrist, her face cold.

Her grandson’s face was pale with pain.

“What are you doing? What are you doing?!” She hurried over and raised her hand to strike Li Qingling.

Li Qingling abruptly released Li Qingfu and dodged aside, narrowly avoiding the blow.

Madam Liu no longer cared about Li Qingling. She ran to Li Qingfu and anxiously asked if he was all right, if his hand hurt badly.

With someone backing him up, Li Qingfu’s courage returned.

Pouting, he cried to Madam Liu, “Grandma, it hurts so much! If you hadn’t come in time, Li Qingling would’ve twisted my hand off!”

It really did hurt—she hadn’t held back at all.

“Let me see, let me see…” Madam Liu examined his hand nervously. When she saw the red marks, her anger exploded. She turned and glared at Li Qingling through clenched teeth. “Li Qingling! Were you trying to break your cousin’s hand?!”

How could her heart be so vicious? If her precious grandson’s hand were ruined, how would he take the imperial exams?

The more Madam Liu thought about it, the angrier she became. If looks could kill, Li Qingling would have died a thousand times over.

“Well now… your sister didn’t come to protect you, but Grandma did. Li Qingfu, you’re quite something yourself,” Li Qingfeng said leisurely as he stood up and walked over to Li Qingling. Smiling at Madam Liu, he added, “Grandma, scolding people without knowing the full story isn’t a good habit.”

Madam Liu looked at him coldly, clearly displeased with this grandson. “I saw with my own eyes Li Qingling twisting Qingfu’s hand. Could that be fake?”

Li Qingfeng spread his hands, the smile on his face unchanged. “Then why didn’t Grandma ask why Elder Sister twisted his hand in the first place?”

Without waiting for a reply, he continued, “Elder Sister is the gentlest person there is. If Li Qingfu hadn’t tried to hit her, she wouldn’t have had to stop him.”