TSWPF -Chapter 174 Retribution

Li Qingling watched Madam Liu crying and wailing on the ground, her brows slightly furrowed. Madam Liu always pulled this stunt—it was truly irritating.

“Village Chief, let’s go!”

No one was paying attention to her act anymore. Let’s see if she could keep wailing now.

The village chief, disgusted by Madam Liu’s behavior, turned his head in avoidance, thinking it best to not see her at all. “Alright, let’s go!” he said, hands clasped behind his back, leading the way toward the courtyard gate.

Originally, they had come to congratulate Liu Zhimou, but Madam Liu had forcibly stirred up trouble. The chief was extremely annoyed.

Seeing everyone about to leave, Madam Liu refused to back down. She lunged forward, wrapping both arms around Li Qingling’s legs. Li Qingling, caught off guard, stumbled and nearly fell to the ground.

Fortunately, Liu Zhimou grabbed her in time, preventing her from falling.

“Let go…” Liu Zhimou stared at Madam Liu, whose actions almost caused Li Qingling to fall, his gaze icy enough to make one shiver. “Don’t make me say it twice.”

He had no goodwill toward anyone who treated Li Qingling poorly.

Besides, Madam Liu repeatedly harming Li Qingling only deepened his disgust.

Madam Liu lifted her head to glance at Liu Zhimou, shivering all over. She gritted her teeth and pretended not to hear him, continuing to clutch Li Qingling’s legs.

“Xiaoling, are you really going to be so heartless? To sever ties with your grandparents? Doing this will make your father sad.”

Li Qingling’s feet were trapped by Madam Liu’s grip; she couldn’t move. She looked down at her and said coldly, “If my father knew how you treated the three of us, he would despise you. My father is too soft and blindly filial, always listening to you. In the end, what did that get him? A broken family. How did he treat you when he was alive, and how did you treat us? Don’t you realize? Has your conscience been eaten by a dog?”

She would never compromise with Madam Liu like her father did. Once she gave in, she would never rise again.

Upon hearing this, Madam Liu stiffened her neck and retorted, “Have I treated you badly? When your father was alive, I cared for him the most, always considering his well-being. If not for me, how could he have married your mother?”

As soon as she said this, the villagers burst into laughter.

The village wasn’t large; news spread quickly. It was absurd for Madam Liu to say such a thing without shame.

Everyone in the village knew exactly how Madam Liu treated Li Laigui’s family: rising before the roosters, sleeping later than the dogs, eating worse than pigs. The family was all thin and pale; a strong wind could blow them away.

In comparison, Li Laifu’s family was living in complete contrast.

Huang Da Niang, fearing Li Qingling might be deceived by Madam Liu, quickly stood up.

“Liu Chunhua, I won’t even speak of how you treated Laigui’s family—anyone with eyes can see that. Let me tell you how Xiaoling’s mother came to marry him.” She put her hands on her hips and glared at Liu Chunhua. Today, she wasn’t going to let Liu Chunhua’s thick skin go unexposed.

“At first, you forced Laigui to marry that niece of yours, black, fat, and short, utterly ugly. Laigui refused. He liked Xiaoling’s mother and insisted on marrying her. You cried, made a fuss, even threatened to hang yourself. The whole village knew. Only after the village chief intervened and Laigui went hunting, giving you five taels of silver, did you finally agree.”

Taking a deep breath, Huang Da Niang continued, “What’s worse, you gave Laigui no money for the bride price; he earned the money for Xiaoling’s betrothal himself, even the banquet cost was his. Liu Chunhua, tell me, did you help Laigui marry Xiaoling’s mother? Back then, I thought Laigui was cursed to have such a mother. And now, you still have the nerve to mention him? If Laigui hadn’t gotten up in the middle of the night to find you, you should have been sneaking a laugh. You not only nearly ruined Laigui’s life, you nearly killed his wife too. Such a heartless person—you’ll get your retribution.”

Having said everything she had been holding in, Huang Da Niang felt immensely relieved.

She had always been dissatisfied with Madam Liu’s actions but had remained silent out of respect for family matters. Today, she finally had the chance to speak freely—it was exhilarating.

Hearing Huang Da Niang’s words, Madam Liu’s face turned red and pale by turns. She tightened her grip on Li Qingling’s legs, feeling as if her secrets had been stripped bare in front of her, utterly exposed.

Li Qingling herself was hearing these revelations for the first time. She realized her mother had been chosen by her father despite Madam Liu’s opposition. No wonder Madam Liu hated her mother and treated the three siblings badly—she must have hated them all along. Probably the only time her father defied Madam Liu. Sadly, he still failed to protect their family…

“Let go, you’re hurting me.” Li Qingling’s gaze toward Madam Liu grew dangerous. If Madam Liu didn’t release her soon, she wouldn’t hold back.

Li Qingling’s tone made Madam Liu feel like a wild beast had its eyes on her, chilling her to the bone.

Afraid of provoking her, Madam Liu slowly loosened her grip and quietly shifted her legs a couple of steps away, careful not to get hurt.

Finally able to move, Li Qingling lifted her feet and looked at Madam Liu. “I won’t pursue the past, but if you ever dare say anything that harms my family’s reputation again, I will not forgive you.”

Family ties? Grandparents? They were meaningless to her. She knew exactly who treated her well and who didn’t.

Madam Liu realized that Li Qingling truly meant what she said—she was a person who followed through.

Yet Madam Liu still felt dissatisfied with simply backing down. She quickly got up, glaring fiercely at Li Qingling.

“Who has a granddaughter like you? Huh? Can you find a single one in ten miles around who would treat her own grandmother like this?” Only someone as strong-willed as Li Qingling would dare do this.

Had she known Li Qingling would be like this, she would have strangled her at birth—no need to wait until now to be humiliated.

Li Qingling, hearing this, remained calm. “Sorry, I’m not that kind of lowly person. If someone treats me badly, I won’t give them my heart and soul. Besides, I’m not really your granddaughter; I don’t care for you at all, so why would I stick to your cold backside? I’m putting it plainly: if I ever hear words harming Xiaofeng, I’ll hold you accountable. You better keep your mouth shut.”

Madam Liu, though not intelligent, was like an indestructible cockroach—always trying to annoy and ruin your mood.

Li Qingling planned to settle her once and for all so she wouldn’t cause more trouble. She had too many other matters to attend to.

“You… how dare you? What if someone else said it? Is it my fault? Isn’t this excessive? I’m still your grandmother!” Madam Liu jumped in outrage at Li Qingling’s words, not stupid enough to take the blame for such things.

“Who else would spread such rumors besides you? People have better things to do.” Li Qingling glanced at the assembled villagers, smiling faintly. “Right, uncles and aunts?”

“Yes, yes, we would never speak ill of Xiaofeng.”

Everyone nodded, agreeing with Li Qingling. They weren’t foolish; flattering her family was a matter of survival.

Only someone as foolish as Madam Liu would act so senselessly.

Li Qingling glanced at Madam Liu again. “Did you hear that?” Seeing Madam Liu’s red face, she happily looked at the village chief. “No more delays, shall we go?”

The chief sighed inwardly, nodded, and turned to leave again.

From then on, he would no longer speak up for old Li’s family. Doing so would put him in an impossible position. He couldn’t risk Li Qingling’s family feeling wronged.

Madam Liu still wanted to approach but was blocked by Huang Da Niang.

“You wicked woman, move aside!” Madam Liu tried to shove Huang Da Niang, but Huang Da Niang, accustomed to farm work, was unmovable.

“Do you still want to hurt Xiaoling? I’m telling you, with me here, you won’t succeed! Liu Chunhua, this is your retribution.” Li Qingling’s family had protected her; if Madam Liu had treated them well, she would have enjoyed her life instead of coming to this point.

Indeed, people who do evil will receive retribution. Madam Liu was the perfect example.

“You… you sycophant! I couldn’t deal with that brat Li Qingling, but I won’t let you off!” Madam Liu shouted, rushing toward Huang Da Niang.

Huang Da Niang naturally didn’t let her attack freely and resisted.

Li Qingling and the others, having walked away, were unaware of this.

She only thought of seeing old Li later and wondered what his reaction would be. Would he, like Madam Liu, regret agreeing to sever ties with them?