TSWPF -Chapter 158 Resentment

Li Laifu felt a surge of resentment in his heart, but there was nothing he could do about Old Li. After all, it was 150 taels of silver. If Old Li refused to handle it and insisted he produce the 150 taels himself, his only option would be to go to Huang Meiniang.

With a face full of grievance, he turned and left the courtyard, heading straight to Huang’s house in the neighboring village to find Huang Meiniang.

Seeing Li Laifu arrive, Huang Meiniang’s expression was far from pleasant. “Why are you here? Didn’t you say you’d let me rest for a while?” Li Laifu had taken those items from her hands earlier, which left her feeling annoyed.

If it weren’t for the need to win him over, she would have already turned on him and cut ties long ago.

Looking at the coquettish Huang Meiniang, Li Laifu put on a pleading smile. “Meiniang, why do you say that? I’m just… missing you.” As he spoke, he reached out to wrap his arms around her waist.

Smack! Huang Meiniang swatted his hand away, glaring at him furiously. “Don’t touch me like that. If anyone sees, my reputation will be ruined.”

Li Laifu thought to himself that her reputation was long gone, but he didn’t show it. He kept up his ingratiating smile and forcefully held her waist. “Meiniang, are you still mad at me? I had no choice. If I had a way, I wouldn’t have had to ask you to return those things.” He paused, gritting his teeth. “You have no idea how stubborn my niece is. If we hadn’t returned those things to her, who knows what might have happened to me?”

He made Zhang Huan sound pitiful, hoping Huang Meiniang would pity him.

But Huang Meiniang didn’t even flinch. She looked up at Li Laifu, tapped his chest lightly, and said, “Why are you getting worked up? I was just joking with you.” Her smile became even more dazzling. “Isn’t your niece loaded? Why care so much about these few things?”

Those items had returned to her hands and now had to be given back—it felt like her heart was bleeding.

Li Laifu shrugged helplessly. “Those were her fiancé’s betrothal gifts. Maybe she values them a lot and insists on taking them back.” He cautiously studied Huang Meiniang’s expression. Seeing her still smiling, his tension eased slightly. He tentatively asked, “Meiniang, do you really want to marry me?”

If she truly wanted to marry him, she would surely side with him.

Although he had already asked her to return the items, she was indeed angry, which made him uncertain about her feelings. Was she really as eager to marry him as he thought?

Huang Meiniang was clever enough to keep Li Laifu spinning in circles. She smiled coquettishly, poked his chest with a finger, and silently reminded him that he already knew the answer.

She was indeed beautiful and alluring. Seeing her like this, Li Laifu felt weak in the knees. He grabbed her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it, behaving like a devoted dog. “I know, I know… I just can’t help asking again.”

He genuinely believed Huang Meiniang wanted to marry him and, elated, spoke openly: “Meiniang, my niece insists we return all the hairpins and buyao she lost before. If we don’t, we have to compensate her 150 taels in cash…”

Before he could finish, Huang Meiniang shrieked, “Li Laifu! What do you mean by that? Explain yourself!” Furious, she pushed him away and glared at him.

If he didn’t give her a good reason, she would never forgive him.

“Meiniang, just let me finish!” Li Laifu grew anxious. He quickly pulled her into his arms again, holding her tightly. “My father said that if we don’t return those items to my niece, we have to give her 150 taels. If my family had that much silver, I wouldn’t be asking you for help.”

He observed her closely. Seeing her still angry, he softened his tone to coax her: “Meiniang, those items have my niece’s name on them. Keeping them would also make you feel uneasy, right? Don’t worry—after you marry me, I’ll buy you new ones, okay?”

Huang Meiniang’s expression darkened. She glared at Li Laifu. If he hadn’t brought her those items, she wouldn’t have grown fond of them.

After liking them, she now had to hand them over—how could her heart bear it?

Never having had something doesn’t hurt. But once you’ve had it and someone forcibly takes it away—that’s heartbreak.

“Why all the nonsense? Just tell me straight—you want to take all those things back.”

“Meiniang, I have no choice! If I had a way, I wouldn’t be doing this.” Li Laifu was afraid of his father. His father, when angered, would act without restraint. If he were driven from home, where would he go to cry?

It wasn’t that he loved his parents too much; if he left, he wouldn’t have a way to get silver from his mother.

Huang Meiniang, still seething, pushed him, wanting him to let go. She didn’t want to stay with him any longer.

If she stayed with this man, she might be driven to death by his stupidity.

She had never seen such a foolish man. His niece wanted him to return the items, and he really intended to do it? Couldn’t he come up with some clever way to smooth things over?

Seeing her struggle and attempt to leave, Li Laifu held her tighter, whispering sweet nothings to appease her.

Huang Meiniang, exhausted from struggling, finally stopped. But she still glared at him. “Can’t your father come up with a solution? I just don’t believe your niece would dare speak to him like that without fear of backlash.”

She thought Li Laifu exaggerated the situation. She simply considered him too dumb to devise any plan to finesse the matter.

Li Laifu shook his head helplessly. “What do you mean, no plan? My father already threatened to sever ties with her, but she remained unmoved, decisively choosing to cut ties and reclaim all her betrothal gifts. If my niece weren’t so stubborn, I wouldn’t be at a loss like this, nor would I risk my face asking you to get them back.”

“Impossible!” Huang Meiniang’s eyes widened. She could hardly believe someone would disregard reputation just to reclaim something. “Laifu, you’re not lying, right? Your niece is really that bold?”

Li Laifu raised his hand and swore a fierce oath—if a single word he had spoken was false, may heaven strike him down.

Seeing him swear, Huang Meiniang believed him, though she was still astonished. She hadn’t expected someone like this to exist, so heedless of reputation.

Li Laifu, perceptive as ever, noticed her resolve softening. He pressed on: “Meiniang, trust me. I’ll earn money and buy you more beautiful hairpins and buyao. Those belong to someone else; let’s return them, okay?”

If she refused, he would truly be disappointed—and she might think, as her father said, that she loved him for his wealth, not himself.

Huang Meiniang met his gaze and read his intentions. Lowering her head, she rolled her eyes and slowly nodded.

“In that case, I’ll pack the items and give them to you.”

At her words, Li Laifu’s face lit up. He hugged her again and whispered sweet words, feeling certain her heart was with him, that she loved him.

Suppressing her displeasure, Huang Meiniang forced a smile. “Let go of me first. I’ll bring the items.”

Li Laifu nodded, releasing his hold.

Huang Meiniang’s expression darkened as she turned away, teeth gnashing. If not for fearing Li Laifu’s suspicion, she wouldn’t return the items at all. For her own future, she would compromise this time.

She quickly packed the items and ran out to give them to Li Laifu.

He took the items from her, held her hand, and kissed it lightly. “Meiniang, you’re amazing. I can’t wait to marry you soon.” This way, they wouldn’t have to meet in secret anymore.

Huang Meiniang tapped his forehead, urging him to take the items home and promising to visit another time.

Li Laifu, understanding the urgency, reluctantly nodded, kissed her again, and left in long strides.

Back home, he tossed the items to Old Li and said, “The items are back.” Without waiting for a reaction, he returned to his room.

Old Li opened the package in surprise. Indeed, they were Li Qingling’s hairpins and buyao. He sighed, took the items, and ran to find Li Qingling.

Seeing how quickly he returned her belongings, Li Qingling raised an eyebrow. Some people only respond when one is firm. Once firm, everything resolves quickly.

She compared the items to her list, confirmed they matched, and nodded to Old Li. “All complete.”

Old Li, without a word, turned and left.

Once he was gone, an unexpected visitor arrived at the house.