TSWPF -Chapter 170 Humbling

After a moment of eye contact with Madam Tong, Li Qingling spoke slowly, “I’m sorry, Madam Tong—you won’t be able to get any of my fine chickens. They’ve already all been reserved by Fuman Restaurant.” She paused for a moment, letting out a sigh that was half troubled, half exaggerated, “Ah… even if I wanted to eat them myself, I couldn’t.”

Madam Tong nearly rolled her eyes in anger at Li Qingling’s words. It was clear bragging, yet acted as if it were a hardship.

She had thought that this country girl raising so many chickens wouldn’t sell them all, and that when she offered to buy them, she would be overjoyed. Yet all the chickens had been booked by Fuman Restaurant.

How did she get so lucky? Hooking herself up with Fuman Restaurant like that…

This shouldn’t have been a secret, right? How had her people not discovered something so important? And now here she was, embarrassed in front of Li Qingling.

“What a pity…”

Li Qingling didn’t even know what she was pitying—was it that she couldn’t insult her anymore? She felt a surge of silent amusement, not wanting to waste any more time with Madam Tong.

“Madam Tong, do you still have business here? If not, I’ll be going.”

If Madam Tong wasn’t sensible and wanted to keep making trouble, Li Qingling wouldn’t give her any face.

It was best if she understood moderation and didn’t make things too ugly. After all, Tong Xiansheng was still Mr. Liu Zhimou, and too much conflict would be unpleasant for everyone.

Madam Tong didn’t want Li Qingling to leave so quickly. She wanted to reclaim her dignity, but when she saw Tong Xiansheng approaching from a distance, she dared not provoke Li Qingling any further.

“Mm, take care.”

Li Qingling nodded and turned to leave. She paused to greet Tong Xiansheng as she passed him.

He nodded in return, keeping his pace, brushing past her without stopping.

Seeing this, Li Qingling shrugged. She was one hundred percent sure now—Tong Xiansheng held a grudge against her.

Well, perhaps he resented her for tarnishing his daughter’s reputation.

Fortunately, it hadn’t affected Liu Zhimou.

It was also possible that Tong Xiansheng saw potential in Liu Zhimou and didn’t want to lose such a promising student, so he restrained himself.

Li Qingling’s speculation was almost spot-on. If Tong Xiansheng knew her thoughts, he would probably be shocked.

He stopped in front of the carriage, glanced at the receding figure of Li Qingling, his expression darkening for a moment before shifting his gaze to the maid standing nearby. “Is Madam in the carriage?”

From a distance, he had already spotted his carriage and seen Li Qingling standing by it. A bad premonition arose, so he hurried over.

The maid, intimidated by Tong Xiansheng’s aura, dared not lift her head. She quietly confirmed.

Tong Xiansheng closed his eyes briefly, swung his sleeve, and stepped onto the carriage. Upon seeing Madam Tong inside, he coldly said, “Didn’t I tell you not to trouble Li Qingling? Huh? Repeatedly ignoring my words… you really have nerve…”

Madam Tong glanced at him, her face pale, swallowing nervously, afraid Tong Xiansheng would be furious enough to throw her out.

Seeing her bowed head, his anger flared even higher. “Why are you shrinking like that? Answer me.” He lowered his voice but still demanded an answer.

Madam Tong’s heart skipped a beat. She explained in a small voice, “I…I didn’t trouble her. I just wanted to see what she looked like.” Previously, she had been loud and bold in front of Tong Xiansheng, but now the roles were reversed, and she dared not argue.

She knew Tong Xiansheng well—he tolerated her mischief, but once his bottom line was crossed, there was no leniency.

Last time, she ignored his warning and let their daughter go out shopping, which ruined her reputation and discouraged suitors. Tong Xiansheng had been extremely displeased and refused to indulge her since.

He repeatedly warned her at home not to provoke Li Qingling.

Knowing that Liu Zhimou was taking an exam today, she had secretly ventured out to see if Li Qingling would show up. To avoid being seen, she instructed the coachman to park the carriage farther away—but Tong Xiansheng still spotted her.

Would he forgive her like last time?

Tong Xiansheng snorted coldly. “A third offense, and if I catch you doing this behind my back again, don’t even think about asking for forgiveness.” He gave her a small punishment. “When you get home, copy 99 scrolls of Buddhist scriptures. Only when they’re finished can you go out again.”

Hearing this, Madam Tong quietly exhaled and obediently nodded. This was a minor punishment she could endure.

Tong Xiansheng turned away, no longer looking at her, and called for the carriage to return home. He leaned against the wall of the carriage, closing his eyes to rest.

…

Li Qingling went to the teahouse, where a few children were already eating. The old man waved at her. When she sat down, he asked, “What did Madam Tong want with you? Did she bully you?”

Li Qingling thought of Madam Tong’s angry, greenish face and burst into laughter. “Old man, you know my character. How could I be bullied?”

She wasn’t weak, and if anyone tried to bully her, she would fight back.

If she were that kind of person, she would have been dead long ago.

Seeing her laugh so freely, the old man knew she hadn’t been bullied, so he teased her, “Lucky for you that Xiao Mo married you. Otherwise, you’d have remained an old maid forever.”

Li Qingling raised her eyebrow. Before she could boast, her little sister interrupted.

“Grandpa, that’s not true… Brother Zhao just wants to marry sister.” Li Qingning mumbled with her mouth full, speaking awkwardly.

When her sister was about to wed her brother-in-law, Brother Zhao had interrupted. She thought Brother Zhao wanted to elope with her sister, which made her extremely anxious. If her brother hadn’t held her back, she would have jumped in to stop him.

Later, she heard that Brother Zhao also liked her sister. But her sister didn’t like him, so he had to watch her marry her brother-in-law.

She thought Brother Zhao was kind of pitiful.

This little rascal was so young—how did he understand all this?

“Eat, but don’t talk too much!” Li Qingling covered Li Qingning’s mouth with her hand. “Don’t say that again. If your brother-in-law hears, you’ll be in big trouble!”

That little man was extremely jealous; she dared not provoke him.

Hearing this, Li Qingning shrank her neck and nodded firmly. She dared not provoke her brother-in-law at all.

“Scaring the kid again, huh?” The old man glared at Li Qingling, ruffling Li Qingning’s hair to comfort her. Then he asked again, “What exactly did Madam Tong want with you?”

If it was nothing, why would she have come? Clearly, she came with ill intentions.

Li Qingling rested her chin on her hand and replied calmly, “She wanted to see what kind of person I am.” She silently thanked her parents for making her not too ugly, so her presence didn’t lose face. “Also… she tried to insult me, but I left her speechless and walked away.”

People like Madam Tong, who wear their emotions on their face, were easy to handle.

It was the quiet, subtle types that were truly frightening. Those people could destroy you without warning.

Having satisfied her curiosity, the old man stopped paying attention to Li Qingling, holding his teacup and watching the people passing by leisurely.

Days like this, without a care in the world, were truly nice.

Too bad, in a few days, he’d have to return to the capital.

He really wanted to resign from his Imperial Physician position and live a leisurely life. But the emperor wouldn’t let him leave so easily this time.

“Old man, when are you going back to the capital?” Li Qingling asked. He had been back for almost a month; it should be time to return.

“Why? Can’t wait to see me leave? Don’t want to see me at all?” The old man glared at her, feigning indignation.

He’d only been back a short time, and she already wanted to send him away?

Li Qingling glared back. “Yes. The sooner you leave, the sooner no one will pick on me.” The old man always found reasons to tease her. If he didn’t, it seemed life couldn’t go on—making her both angry and amused. “So, tell me… when are you leaving? Let me enjoy myself…”

The old man puffed out his cheeks in frustration. He muttered that he wouldn’t leave, that he’d stay with her for life, teasing her every day to make her unhappy.

Now, Li Qingling broke the expected pattern and smiled, “Thank you, old man, for making my days less boring.”

“…”

The old man had no words. He felt that one day, Li Qingling would drive him to an early grave.

He couldn’t understand how her parents raised her to be so sharp-tongued—a single sentence could make one’s heart ache from anger.

Seeing the old man so frustrated, Li Qingling laughed happily, poured herself a cup of tea, and sipped it with a grin.

The children, used to this scene, remained unaffected, continuing to eat.

“What are you all talking about? Laughing so happily?” A familiar male voice suddenly called out.

Li Qingling turned and saw Zhao Yichen standing a few steps away, fanning himself and smiling at them.

She didn’t feel awkward and greeted him as usual. “Zhao Gongzi, what a coincidence.”

Seeing that she wasn’t distant, Zhao Yichen relaxed, walking over to sit in the empty spot next to Li Qingning.

“I was passing by and saw you, so I came over to greet you loudly,” he said naturally. “What were you laughing about just now?”

Li Qingling poured him a cup of tea. “I was asking the old man when he’s returning to the capital, so I can prepare some local specialties for him to take back.”

She hadn’t actually said that before. The old man shot her a disdainful glance but didn’t expose her lie.

“Oh? I’ll also return to the capital in a few days. If the timing works out, we could go together.”

Li Qingling’s eyes lit up. She looked at the old man, asking when he would leave.

With the old man and Dahe traveling such a long way, she was a little uneasy. Going with Zhao Yichen would be much better.