TSWPF – Chapter 20 The Aftermath

Once everyone had left, Li Qingling asked Li Qingfeng to fetch water and wash away the bloodstains in the courtyard, while she helped Madam Zhao back into the room.

“Mother, are you all right?” Li Qingling asked anxiously as she saw Madam Zhao’s pale face.

Madam Zhao pressed a hand to her chest and shook her head lightly. “I’m fine… it’s just that you’ve suffered, my child.” Her reputation had already been bad before — after today, it would only get worse.

Li Qingling understood what her mother meant, but she smiled indifferently. Helping Madam Zhao lie down and covering her with a quilt, she said softly, “Don’t think too much, Mother. Just sleep. When you wake up, everything will be better.”

A reputation couldn’t feed them — what was the point of worrying about something she couldn’t eat?

Madam Zhao sighed heavily and nodded silently. Under Li Qingling’s gentle gaze, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

When she saw that her mother was resting, Li Qingling quietly stepped out. At the doorway, she saw Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhimou cleaning up the bloodstains on the ground.

The moment Li Qingfeng saw her, he ran over, his eyes sparkling with admiration. “Sister, you’re amazing! When I grow up, I want to be just like you!” Then no one would dare to bully him again.

Li Qingling chuckled. “Your sister isn’t that amazing. When you grow up, you’ll definitely be even more capable than me.” She could only rely on brute strength; she hoped Li Qingfeng would rely on his mind instead.

Li Qingfeng grinned happily. He had already made up his mind — he’d become stronger than his sister so he could protect her and their mother.

Liu Zhimou set the bucket back in the kitchen and came out, saying he should go home. He reminded Li Qingling to lock the doors and windows before she went to bed.

Seeing his calm expression, Li Qingling couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Aren’t you afraid?”

After all, seeing his fiancée so fierce — shouldn’t he be a little worried about his future?

Liu Zhimou gave her a wordless look and asked in return, “Why should I be afraid?”

“Uh…”

“Would you ever treat me like that?” he asked.

Li Qingling shook her head. Liu Zhimou hadn’t done anything wrong — how could she treat him that way?

“Then there’s nothing to be afraid of,” he said simply.

Li Qingling couldn’t help but laugh. Maybe she really was overthinking things. Leaning against the doorframe, she asked again, “What do you think of how I handled everything today?”

Liu Zhimou nodded approvingly. “You did well — you were firm when you needed to be, and gentle when the time was right.” After a pause, he added, “Having the village head deal with that rascal Li was a good decision. If you’d insisted on sending him to the magistrate, people would think you’re too cruel, and they’d distance themselves from your family. That would’ve done more harm than good.”

He had actually planned to persuade her if she’d insisted on involving the authorities, but she’d already thought it through herself — she hadn’t needed his help at all.

Li Qingling smiled. “That’s what I thought too. Letting him off lightly this time will make him look ungrateful if he ever tries to retaliate. When that happens, even if I say nothing, the villagers won’t forgive him.”

“I’ll head back then. Zhiyan and Zhirou are still at home,” Liu Zhimou said, walking toward the gate. “Remember to lock your doors.”

“Mm.” Li Qingling watched him until he entered his own house before closing the gate and pulling Li Qingfeng inside.

The next day, she learned of Lame Li’s punishment. The village head had ordered him to kneel in the ancestral hall for three days after his wounds healed — he wasn’t allowed to get up early. If he was ever caught stealing again, he’d be expelled from the village forever.

That was a heavy punishment for someone like Lame Li. Hopefully, he’d learn his lesson and turn over a new leaf.

Although Madam Huang felt sorry for her son, she didn’t dare say a word. She could only sob while applying medicine to his wounds. She also followed the village head’s orders to personally deliver the arrow to Li Qingling’s house, bringing a basket of eggs as an apology.

Li Qingling didn’t make things difficult for her and accepted the apology calmly. But as she glanced at their shabby courtyard walls, a sense of unease crept in.

Unfortunately, she had no money to rebuild. So she made several sharp bamboo spikes and planted them at the base of the walls.

Those bamboo arrows were sharp enough to pierce prey — let alone people. If anyone dared to climb over, they could only blame themselves for courting death.

To make it even safer, she carried in piles of stones from outside and built a layer of rocks to shield the bamboo spikes.

When the villagers saw her constantly hauling stones, they asked curiously what she was doing. Li Qingling used the opportunity to explain that she’d set up traps in her yard — so they should warn their children not to climb over her walls, or she wouldn’t be responsible if anyone got hurt.

Everyone gasped when they heard that. They immediately went home to warn their kids: never climb over the Li family’s walls — or you might end up like Lame Li.

Especially those mischievous children — their parents tugged their ears and scolded them every day. “You can play anywhere, but not near the Li house! If you get shot like Lame Li, don’t expect us to save you!”

Thinking of Lame Li’s miserable state — and under their parents’ threats — the village children finally behaved themselves.

From then on, everyone in the village had seen what kind of person Li Qingling was. Even the gossiping women didn’t dare to badmouth Madam Zhao anymore. At most, they’d whisper that Li Qingling was too fierce.

But such gossip didn’t bother her at all.

When she had free time, she helped Madam Zhao make handcrafts or went to Liu Zhimou’s house to learn how to read and write.

In her past life, she’d been a top student — but here, she was completely illiterate. Most of these traditional characters were unfamiliar to her, so she had to start from scratch.

Still, as an adult, she learned quickly — often mastering things after seeing them once. That drove Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan to study even harder, determined not to be left behind.

Liu Zhimou often sighed. “If only Li Qingling were a man — her future would be limitless.”

Hearing that, Li Qingling could only rub her nose sheepishly and laugh. She didn’t dare reveal that her soul was actually an adult woman — otherwise, she’d probably be burned as a witch.

“Brother Zhimou, let’s go to Song Mountain again in a few days!” she said, stretching her hand and frowning at the large characters she’d written. Comparing them to Liu Zhimou’s elegant writing, hers looked like a bunch of chicken scratches.

The brush was too soft — she really missed modern pens!

Liu Zhimou set down his brush and nodded. “All right.” After paying off his debts, he was broke again. He needed to hunt to make money — not just for his family, but also to send Zhiyan to school. He knew Li Qingling also wanted to send Li Qingfeng, so the two boys could go together.

“Have you told your mother yet?” he asked, remembering that Aunt Zhao had always been against her going hunting. If his parents were still alive, they wouldn’t have agreed either — hunting was dangerous, after all.

Li Qingling sighed softly and shook her head. “Not yet. But after last time, I think she won’t stop me anymore.” Though she said that, she still felt uncertain — she dreaded having to persuade Madam Zhao every time.

Noticing her hesitation, Liu Zhimou smiled faintly and patted her head. “Don’t worry. If she objects, I’ll help you convince her.”

This time, he planned to be fully prepared — no more falling ill again. Thinking of what happened last time when he’d had a fever, a blush crept up his cheeks.

Luckily, Li Qingling was focused on practicing her writing and didn’t notice his expression — or she’d definitely tease him again.

Around her, his calm composure always seemed to crumble.

“Thanks!” Li Qingling said cheerfully. With Liu Zhimou’s help, she was sure her mother wouldn’t object.

In Madam Zhao’s eyes, Liu Zhimou represented steadiness and reliability — his words carried more weight than her own.

Liu Zhimou cleared his throat and said, “You’re welcome.” Once his face cooled down, he bent over to guide her writing again. She was clever, yes — but her handwriting… was truly beyond saving.

Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan exchanged mischievous looks, raising their eyebrows at each other. They were secretly delighted — their brother and sister getting closer was something they’d long been hoping for.

But Liu Zhiyan couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for Li Qingling. Though she seemed fierce, she was still no match for his cunning older brother.

That night, after dinner, Li Qingling finally told Madam Zhao she planned to go to Song Mountain again.

Madam Zhao froze for a moment, then sighed and nodded helplessly. After everything that had happened, she’d learned her daughter’s temperament — no amount of persuasion would stop her. Better to let her go freely than to argue and hurt her feelings.

Seeing her mother agree, Li Qingling finally relaxed. She’d been bracing for another round of convincing — thank goodness she didn’t have to.

“You…” Madam Zhao poked her daughter’s forehead, half-scolding, half-loving. “All right, I won’t stop you anymore. Just remember — I’ll be waiting for you at home. You must come back safely, do you understand?”

She only worried her daughter might overreach — chasing after dangerous prey and forgetting her own safety. Every time, she had to remind her to be careful before she could feel at ease.

Li Qingling’s eyes reddened. She hugged her mother’s arm, resting her head on her shoulder, and nodded. “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll come back safely.”

For the sake of her family, she couldn’t afford to have an accident. If something happened to her, their home would fall apart. She never forgot that.

Madam Zhao sighed and gently patted her head. In the blink of an eye, her daughter had grown up — strong enough to hold up the family.

If only she, as a mother, had been stronger — her daughter wouldn’t have had to bear so much at such a young age.

It was she who owed her child.