TSWPF -Chapter 154 Resoluteness

The village chief nodded, signaling Li Qingling to speak freely.

Li Qingling said, “Village Chief, I won’t say much more about this matter. But I also don’t feel safe leaving my betrothal gifts here.” If she left them here, by the time she got them back, nothing would be left.

The village chief let out a small sigh. One couldn’t blame Li Qingling for not giving Old Li face. If he were in her shoes, he would have made the same decision.

“Alright, then take your betrothal gifts back home.”

At this moment, he even felt a bit guilty toward Li Qingling. If he hadn’t softened and agreed to Old Li’s request to persuade her to stay at the Li residence, she wouldn’t have had to deal with such a stressful situation.

Since Old Li’s family had acted shamelessly, he saw no reason to give them any advantage now.

Without asking for her opinion, the village chief agreed with Li Qingling’s decision. Old Li’s face darkened. He clenched his fists and said in a low voice, “Fourth brother, shouldn’t we discuss this further? Just taking the gifts back…” He didn’t finish; the village chief understood the meaning.

He couldn’t allow Li Qingling to just take back her betrothal gifts. Doing so would not only cost the Li family face but also ruin their reputation.

Even the jewelry that Madam Liu had secretly taken would have to be returned.

The village chief tapped the table, pondered for a moment, and looked at Li Qingling, asking for her opinion.

She couldn’t make the decision alone, but if she insisted on taking the gifts back, he couldn’t stop her.

Li Qingling spoke firmly, “I can’t trust them. I want all my betrothal gifts returned.”

Her merciless words left Old Li and his family alternately pale and flushed, fueling their anger toward Li Qingling even more.

They thought she was being excessively disrespectful.

Even though they were annoyed, Old Li had to speak: “Xiaoling, truly, Baozhu was wrong, and she knows it. Can’t you forgive her this once?” He felt Li Qingling was making a mountain out of a molehill, being overly narrow-minded.

The jewelry Baozhu had taken had already been returned. She shouldn’t be so petty.

To be honest, Old Li and Madam Liu were very similar in mindset. Madam Liu just expressed it more openly. Old Li thought she was overbearing, not realizing he came across the same way to others.

“Grandfather, if it were anything else, maybe I wouldn’t be so upset. But in this matter, I simply cannot forgive her casually.”

Old Li probably had a hand in this himself. How could he dare to speak to her with such boldness? Truly, people who are despicable are unbeatable.

If possible, she wouldn’t want anything to do with this family, but that wasn’t possible.

Old Li’s face darkened further at Li Qingling’s refusal.

He had assumed that if he spoke, Li Qingling would give him at least a bit of face. He hadn’t expected her to give him none at all.

It seemed she really didn’t consider him her grandfather.

Without waiting for Old Li to speak again, Li Qingling turned to the village chief. “Village Chief, I’ve made up my mind. I’m taking all my betrothal gifts home. You won’t stop me, will you?” She still needed to show some respect to the village chief.

The village chief nodded in agreement.

Seeing what the Li family had done, he couldn’t side with Old Li.

Moreover, it was clear that Li Qingling was determined. Even if he opposed, she would hardly compromise.

Li Qingling thanked the village chief, then stood and looked at Old Li. “Grandfather, please open the room door. We’re going to take the betrothal gifts now.”

She suspected there might still be some tricks hidden among the gifts, but she needed to check them herself first.

If Li Liqing saw the gifts, she would have to take back the hairpins and the buyao. Madam Liu jumped up immediately, before Old Li could even speak, loudly opposing.

“Those gifts belong to my family! You can forget about taking them!” Once something entered her home, there was no way she would let it leave.

The thought of Li Qingling taking so many gifts made her heart ache.

Li Qingling’s expression remained calm. “That’s funny. These are obviously my betrothal gifts. How did they suddenly become yours, hmm?”

She suspected that Baozhu’s shamelessness was inherited by Madam Liu. Their similar behavior truly astonished her.

Madam Liu placed her hands on her hips and shouted, saliva flying, “They’re in my house, so of course they’re mine!”

To get those gifts, Madam Liu would say anything.

Li Qingling couldn’t help but laugh at her audacity. She admired no one more than Madam Liu in sheer nerve.

“Village Chief is in your house too. Is he yours as well?” Li Qingling mocked sharply.

That single remark made Madam Liu flush with embarrassment.

Li Qingling glanced at her again, then at the village chief, whose expression was equally grim. “Village Chief, I need you to intervene in this matter.”

She didn’t want to waste more time with Madam Liu and just wanted to take her gifts home decisively.

Dealing further with someone like Madam Liu, who lacked any sense, would only anger her.

“Don’t worry. I will handle this properly for you,” the village chief promised. He squinted at Old Li. “Old Li, as the head of your family, what do you think of this?”

Giving Old Li one more chance, the village chief knew if he didn’t act wisely, he would have to enforce stricter measures to show the villagers the Li family’s true character.

After some shame, Old Li calmed himself and said with lowered eyes, “If Xiaoling really wants to take back the betrothal gifts, then let her. But after this, we have no relations.”

He tried to threaten Li Qingling into compromising.

Breaking ties with elders would make a younger generation vulnerable to abandonment.

His words shocked not only Li Qingling but also the village chief, who looked as dark as ink.

He thought Old Li had gone mad to even say such a thing.

After a brief silence, while Old Li smugly assumed he had intimidated Li Qingling, she spoke.

“Then so be it, as you wish!” Li Qingling replied coldly. “Village Chief, may our family become independent?”

She had long wanted to sever ties with Old Li’s family. She just hadn’t found the right excuse—now Old Li had provided it, so she seized the opportunity.

She held no goodwill toward them, and cutting ties would also benefit her family.

“Have you really thought this through? Do you really want to sever ties?” Old Li’s face darkened further. He hadn’t expected her to be so stubborn and indifferent to his threats.

Li Qingling looked at him and replied, “Grandfather, wasn’t this your idea? I’m just accepting it.” Old Li had assumed she would yield—ha, he really overestimated himself.

No one could intimidate her just like that.

She was no longer the young Li Qingling, easily manipulated.

“Sever ties, then sever ties. Who cares?” Madam Liu chimed in, not liking the three siblings anyway. She wouldn’t feel sorry for them.

Old Li glared at Li Qingling. Hearing Madam Liu, he shouted, “Shut up! Nobody thinks you’re mute just because you don’t speak!” Madam Madam Liuvered and quickly shut her mouth, fearing his wrath.

“Xiaoling, are you sure? I’ll give you one more chance to reconsider.” Old Li inhaled deeply, gritting his teeth. “You probably can’t decide this alone. You need to ask Xiaofeng, since it affects his future.”

He assumed Xiaofeng was too young to agree to cut ties after hearing this.

Li Qingling immediately noticed his thoughts. She smiled slightly, then signaled Liu Zhimou.

Liu Zhimou quickly stepped outside and returned shortly with Li Qingfeng.

Li Qingfeng went straight to Li Qingling’s side. Seeing she was unharmed, he felt a slight relief.

Outside, he had been worried that Li Qingling might be bullied by Old Li’s family.

Luckily, she was fine.

“Xiaofeng, there’s something you must decide for yourself. Whatever you choose, I will respect your decision.” Li Qingling recounted the situation to Li Qingfeng.

Everyone in the room turned to Li Qingfeng, awaiting his decision.

Without hesitation, Li Qingfeng said, “Since Grandfather said it, let’s follow his wishes!” He wasn’t a fool. There was no way he would side with Old Li.

He secretly hated Old Li’s family even more than his sister but hadn’t shown it before.

Now, with the chance to break free, he would be a fool not to seize it.

Old Li’s face darkened. He had thought Li Qingfeng wouldn’t choose to sever ties, yet he made the same decision as Li Qingling.