TSWPF -Chapter 156 Compromise

Li Qingling replied calmly, “If you won’t do it, that shows your guilty conscience. Then just stay here!”

Madam Liu, however, was thinking to herself that she absolutely did not want to stay behind and insisted she had to go feed the pigs, despite the hidden hairpin and buyao she had taken.

Li Qingling stared at her for a long moment, then slightly raised the corner of her mouth and had Li Qingfeng watch Madam Liu feed the pigs.

Upon hearing this, Madam Liu became agitated. Angrily, she said, “Li Qingling, what do you mean by this? Are you saying I stole from you? Huh?”

Even though she had indeed taken Li Qingling’s things, she would never admit it.

Li Qingling smiled faintly and told her not to get worked up. She merely wanted Li Qingfeng to observe how Madam Liu fed the pigs—nothing more.

No one would believe that, and Madam Liu’s anger boiled.

But if she didn’t go feed the pigs now, it would make her look even guiltier.

Gritting her teeth, she shot Li Qingling several venomous looks, snorted coldly, and stomped out of the room.

Li Qingfeng nodded at Li Qingling and quickly followed.

The room fell silent for a while. Li Qingling raised an eyebrow and looked at the village chief. “Grandfather, you may continue.”

The village chief sighed helplessly. Today he had sighed more than he had in his entire life; he was thoroughly disappointed in the Li family.

He looked at the list of betrothal gifts and continued reading it aloud. By the time he finished, his throat was dry.

Li Qingling, showing good judgment, went to the kitchen, poured a glass of water, and brought it to the village chief.

The village chief was very pleased with her gesture; he thought Li Qingling knew how to handle people well.

“Zhimo, take a look—what’s missing here?”

Liu Zhimou glanced at Old Li and then back at the village chief, calmly pointing out everything that was missing.

The village chief gasped, spun around, and glared at Old Li, his hand trembling as he pointed at him.

After a long moment, he finally said, “Old Li, old Li… I mean no offense, but isn’t this too much? I’ve never seen relatives so greedy for a granddaughter’s betrothal gifts. You’ve truly opened my eyes!”

Then he suddenly remembered Old Li’s previous visit. His expression changed drastically, and he glared at Old Li, demanding, “Old Li, tell me honestly—when you came to persuade Xiaoling to marry at your house, were you already planning to covet her betrothal gifts?”

If that were true, he had also been deceived by Old Li.

The thought made the village chief tremble with anger.

Old Li gritted his teeth desperately; he absolutely could not admit that coveting Li Qingling’s betrothal gifts had been planned in advance.

If he admitted it, the Li family would be finished.

“Fourth Brother, how could I ever think such a thing?” Old Li’s face was full of shame. He slapped himself and said bitterly, “I failed to watch over Baozhu, and she ended up doing this terrible thing.”

Li Qingling frowned at Old Li. He was cruel to push Li Baozhu out like that.

If outsiders found out about Baozhu’s misdeed, her life would be ruined; she would never marry.

She could not believe that Old Li didn’t know about it—no matter what, she wouldn’t believe it.

The village chief snorted coldly. “That’s your family’s business. I don’t care how you discipline her. Now, return everything that’s missing.”

So many items were missing—it couldn’t be ignored.

If it were just one or two, he could have persuaded Li Qingling and Liu Zhimou to let it slide out of respect for him.

But nearly half of the betrothal gifts were missing—this could not be overlooked.

Hearing the village chief’s words, Old Li nodded repeatedly, promising to retrieve all the missing items.

“Then we’ll wait for you in the main hall.” The village chief looked at Li Qingling and Liu Zhimou. Seeing no objections, he relaxed and led them to the hall.

After the village chief and others left the room, Old Li’s expression darkened completely. He turned to Li Laifu, asking how many items he had taken and urging him to return them immediately.

Those items had already been given to his mistress—how could they be retrieved? Li Laifu frowned, claiming he hadn’t taken much.

Old Li was no fool; he knew his son was lying. He gave him a cold glance, then turned to the trembling Li Baozhu and told her to call in Madam Liu.

Li Baozhu quietly responded and crept out, going to summon Madam Liu.

She had been afraid of her grandfather her whole life; when he got angry, she became even more fearful.

She could sense that retrieving the betrothal gifts would not be easy.

Soon Madam Liu ran in, nervously asking Old Li how things were and what Li Qingling had said.

Smack! Old Li struck Madam Liu across the face with a slap, drawing blood from the corner of her mouth.

Madam Liu felt a ringing in her ears, clutching her burning cheek, and turned to look at Old Li in disbelief. Anger surged in her chest, ready to explode, but when she saw the fury in his eyes, it vanished silently.

She had a premonition: if she dared make a scene, Old Li would not forgive her. Without a word, he would send her back to her parental home.

At her age, if sent back, what life would she have left?

Thus, the anger in her heart immediately died out.

Old Li lowered his voice and scolded her, “If it weren’t for you, greedy woman, wanting Li Qingling’s betrothal gifts, would today’s disgrace have happened, shaming our family completely?”

He truly regretted marrying this malicious woman—she accomplished nothing but caused trouble.

If she hadn’t been so biased, Li Qingling wouldn’t be so cold toward him, and he could have enjoyed her fortune, living in a big house.

He regretted it so much he felt sick.

Madam Liu could tolerate other things, but not this. She raised her voice, replying, “If you hadn’t agreed to my plan, how could I have done this? So you bear a large part of the responsibility. Don’t pin everything on me.”

She would never take the blame alone.

“You…” Old Li was furious that Madam Liu spoke so openly. His face darkened further. He barked at her, “If you talk nonsense again, back to your parents’ house! Our Li family cannot support a big idol like you!”

Threatened, Madam Liu fell silent. She dared not argue—she feared truly being sent home.

Although her son was grown and could support her, she could not bear the humiliation.

Seeing her silent, Old Li nodded in satisfaction and told her to retrieve Li Qingling’s belongings and return them.

“They’re valuable items… really for that little slut?” She was unwilling and reluctant to give them back.

She had never worn such fine things and had planned to show them off.

Now, to give them up was like cutting herself—painful beyond words.

Seeing her resistance, Old Li’s anger flared again. He shouted, “If you won’t retrieve them, then pay with silver!”

He knew Li Qingling’s temperament: if she didn’t get her betrothal gifts back, she would never let it go.

Hearing that silver could be used instead, Madam Liu became even more unwilling. She ran back to her room, gathering all the items she had taken, and handed them over.

Old Li checked the list; many items were still missing. He turned to Li Laifu, asking where the rest were.

Li Laifu’s eyes flickered; after a moment, he said they had been given to Huang Meinang.

In other words, they had been given away and could not be recovered.

Before Old Li could react, Madam Liu exploded. She shouted at Li Laifu, “You wastrel! How could you give away such valuable things when she hasn’t even married yet?”

The thought of the items hurt her deeply.

In her mind, she cursed Huang Meinang for seducing her son into taking so many valuable things.

Li Laifu was a little annoyed but remained silent.

“Enough, stop shouting.” Old Li scolded Madam Liu, then turned to Li Laifu, “Go get those items back. If you can’t, let her pay with silver.”

After all, she wasn’t his daughter-in-law yet; he wouldn’t side with her.

Besides, he agreed with Madam Liu: Huang Meinang shouldn’t have received so many valuable gifts before marriage—this was wasteful, not generosity.

“Father, how can we get back the items already given? If I do, can she still marry me? Are you trying to make me a lifelong bachelor?”

This time Old Li indulged Li Laifu. He shouted, “Are you that foolish? This is the test of her sincerity! If you take the gifts back, she won’t want to marry you, proving she only wanted your silver.”

Li Laifu thought this made sense and nodded, saying he would go retrieve the items from Huang Meinang.

He also wanted to see if Huang Meinang truly cared for him.

Old Li nodded approvingly.

After Li Laifu left, Old Li went out to the hall and told Li Qingling that some items had yet to be returned. Once they were, he would personally deliver them, and the rest of the betrothal gifts could be carried away.

Li Qingling raised an eyebrow and agreed, instructing Li Qingfeng to call people to help carry the gifts.

She didn’t fear being tricked—she had the gift list in hand and could not be denied.

Villagers outside, hearing Li Qingfeng, were curious about what had happened and why the gifts were being moved.

Li Qingfeng, following Li Qingling’s instructions, didn’t reveal anything and only said, “You’ll know later. For now, help carry the gifts.”

The villagers could only restrain their curiosity and help move the betrothal gifts.