TSWPF -Chapter 200 Making a Ruckus

Li Qingling stared at them for a moment, so intently that Li Qingfu and Li Baozhu both shrank back slightly. Only then did she speak calmly, “You come here every day making a scene like this—do you really think it’s interesting? Hmm?”

For the past few days, as soon as dawn broke, they would run to her gate and start causing trouble. Because of them, her sleep had been seriously disrupted, and just seeing them now made her feel irritated.

Seeing this, Liu Zhimou wanted to drive them away, but she stopped him.

People are naturally sympathetic toward the weak. The old Li household now only had Li Qingfu and Li Baozhu left at home. If they made another move against them, it would easily leave others with the impression that they were heartless, giving people something unpleasant to gossip about behind their backs.

Besides, he still had to continue sitting for the exams. He absolutely could not afford to have a blemish on his reputation because of this matter.

After what had happened, Li Qingfu already knew that Li Qingling was not someone to mess with. He didn’t dare confront her directly anymore and hid behind Li Baozhu, replying to her,
“If you don’t release my grandpa and grandma, then… then we’ll come every day to make trouble for you.”

He never imagined that after he and his sister went to their maternal grandparents’ home and returned, such a huge change would have happened. His father had disappeared to who-knows-where, his grandparents had been thrown into prison, and with no adults left in the family, he felt as though the sky had collapsed.

He had asked around to find out what had happened, and he felt that all of this was Li Qingling’s fault. If it weren’t for her, his family wouldn’t have ended up like this.

It was just a pond of fish being poisoned—was it really necessary for her to report it to the authorities?

Her heart was simply too vicious, that was why she did such a thing.

Li Qingling raised her hand and knocked lightly on the doorframe of the courtyard gate, snorting coldly. “Li Qingfu, if you’ve got the guts, step out and talk to me. You’re a grown man—hiding behind a young woman, what kind of behavior is that?”

She intended to take this opportunity to deal with Li Qingfu and Li Baozhu once and for all.

Their daily ruckus at the gate had seriously disrupted Liu Zhimou’s studies.

He was in the middle of a tense preparation period for his re-examination, and she could not allow these external factors to affect him.

Being called out like that, Li Qingfu’s heart skipped a beat. He lifted his chin and said,
“You think I’ll come out just because you tell me to? Wouldn’t that make me lose face?”

How could he, a dignified man, possibly listen so easily to the words of Li Qingling, that vicious woman?

“I think you’re just a coward, only daring to hide behind a woman.”

“Bullshit! You’re the coward!” The moment Li Qingfu heard that, he exploded. He immediately stepped out from behind Li Baozhu, glaring at Li Qingling and shouting, “I just don’t want to see you! Seeing someone as vicious as you makes me so sick I want to puke!”

That’s right—exactly like that. He was definitely not a coward!

Li Qingling tugged at the corner of her mouth and let out a soft chuckle, her face full of mockery.
“Since that’s the case, then let’s settle accounts.”

They had been making a fuss for days now—it was time to settle things.

Otherwise, they might really think she was afraid of them.

Li Qingfu clasped his hands together, eyes wide as he stared at Li Qingling. “Fine, let’s settle it! No matter what, you’re the murderer who sent my grandpa and grandma to prison. Your heart is so vicious—you’ll definitely suffer retribution!”

He was waiting to see Li Qingling get her punishment.

Li Qingling clapped her hands twice. “Good. Having courage is good. I was most afraid you’d lack courage and take the chance to run away.”

As she finished speaking, she turned toward the house and called out for Li Qingning. When Li Qingning ran out, she said, “Ningning, go invite Grandpa Village Head over. Tell him I have something to discuss with him.”

It would be best to leave this matter to the village head—he would surely handle it properly.

“Okay!” Li Qingning answered briskly and, with a quick flick of her legs, ran off.

She was also extremely annoyed with Li Qingfu and Li Baozhu. If she hadn’t been afraid of getting scolded by her sister, she would’ve let Ah Huang and Ah Bai out long ago to scare them.

“You… what are you calling the village head for?” Li Baozhu stammered.

The current Li Qingling was no longer the same Li Qingling who could be bullied at will. Facing her now, Li Baozhu felt short of breath and didn’t even dare speak loudly.

Li Qingling glanced at Li Baozhu. She wasn’t sure if Li Baozhu had been worrying too much these past few days, but she looked a bit thinner than before—and even a little better-looking.

“Won’t you know once Grandpa Village Head arrives? Why are you in such a hurry?”

“I… I’m not in a hurry.”

Li Baozhu shot Li Qingling a glance, then pulled on Li Qingfu’s hand and whispered, “I don’t know what scheme Li Qingling is planning. How about we go home first?”

Seeing the cold indifference in Li Qingling’s eyes made her heart jump. She was afraid Li Qingling might do something they couldn’t handle.

Her grandparents and her father had all fallen into Li Qingling’s hands—let alone her and her younger brother.

If they weren’t careful, she and her brother might also fall into Li Qingling’s trap.

Li Qingfu was already feeling a little cowardly. Hearing Li Baozhu say this, he quickly nodded. “Let’s go home first. We’ll come again tomorrow.”

He was deliberately trying to make things uncomfortable for Li Qingling. If she was uncomfortable, then he’d feel satisfied.

Who told her to be so heartless and harm his family?

This was the only bit of trouble he could cause her.

“Hurry up.” Seeing Li Qingfu agree, Li Baozhu let out a quiet sigh of relief, grabbed his hand, and turned around to run off.

Watching Li Baozhu and Li Qingfu flee, Li Qingling didn’t mind at all. The monk might run away, but the temple wouldn’t. Once the village head arrived, she would ask him to go talk to them.

If even the village head’s words didn’t work, she would think of another solution.

Li Qingling stood at the courtyard gate for a while longer before turning and heading into the kitchen.

Liu Zhimou, who was making breakfast, looked up when he saw her and smiled. “They’ve gone?”

“Yes. When they heard the village head was coming, they ran off in fright.” Li Qingling leaned over to peek into the pot. Seeing the golden corn cakes inside, she smiled and sat down on a stool to tend the fire.

Before going to bed last night, she had casually said she wanted to eat corn cakes. She hadn’t expected him to remember it.

Being cared for so attentively made her feel quite happy.

The little bit of unhappiness caused earlier by Li Baozhu and Li Qingfu had already vanished like smoke in the wind.

Liu Zhimou flipped one of the corn cakes and said softly, “Wait a bit longer—soon they’ll be ready.”

Just looking at her expression, he could tell she was craving them.

“Okay…” Li Qingling replied lightly, turning the fire down a little. Smelling the aroma of corn, she couldn’t help swallowing. “It smells so good.”

Hearing that, he smiled.

The way she looked now was exactly like the gluttonous Li Qingning—just like a child.

He took out the cooked corn cakes, picked one up with his chopsticks, blew on it, and brought it to her mouth. “Try it. See if it tastes good?”

Li Qingling opened her mouth with an “ah” and took a bite. The crispy, fragrant corn cake filled her mouth. She nodded vigorously, giving him a thumbs-up to say it was delicious.

His cooking skills had really improved—better and better.

“I’ll do it myself.” After swallowing the bite, she reached for the chopsticks, wanting to eat on her own.

He dodged her hand and insisted on feeding her.

Unable to argue with him, she could only nod helplessly.

He dotingly fed her an entire corn cake. Only after that did he bend down and kiss her lips lightly, then ask if she wanted more.

“I’ll eat later.” She shook her head and declined. She felt embarrassed eating alone in the kitchen.

He gave a soft “mm,” stood up, and carried the corn cakes to the dining room. Li Qingling followed with the bowls and chopsticks.

They had just finished setting everything out when Li Qingning returned with the village head.

Before even entering the house, she loudly called out, saying that the village head had arrived.

Hearing this, Li Qingling and Liu Zhimou hurried out. Seeing the village head, they greeted him with a smile and asked whether he had eaten breakfast.

“I have, I have…” The village head nodded repeatedly, his hands clasped behind his back.

He had just finished breakfast when Li Qingning came over. Upon hearing her purpose, he immediately followed her back.

“Please, have a seat inside.” Li Qingling and Liu Zhimou led the village head into the main hall, poured him a cup of tea, and pushed it toward him. “Grandpa Village Head, we invited you here today because there’s something we’d like to discuss with you.”

Before she could continue, the village head asked whether it was about Li Baozhu and Li Qingfu.

Li Qingling nodded. “It is indeed about them. Grandpa Village Head, you also know that Brother Zhimou has been reviewing intensely these days, preparing for the next exam. But Sister Baozhu and Qingfu come to make a scene at our gate every day, to the point that Brother Zhimou can’t study properly. This…”

She sighed lightly. “Grandpa Village Head, could I trouble you to talk to them and ask them not to come again? This isn’t good for anyone.”

Hearing this, the village head’s expression turned serious.

Li Baozhu and the others were affecting Liu Zhimou—this was a big deal.

Everyone was hoping Liu Zhimou could pass the provincial exam, even make it all the way to jinshi.

If the village produced a jinshi, what an honor that would be!

For this reason alone, he had to go and give Li Baozhu and Li Qingfu a proper talking-to.

“Alright. I’ll go find them later and have a good talk with them.” After agreeing, the village head looked at Liu Zhimou. “Zhimou, are you confident about the next exam?”

Liu Zhimou smiled. “That’s hard to say. I’ll just do my best.”

“Indeed.” The village head sighed, lifted his teacup, and slowly finished the tea. Then he reached out and gently patted Liu Zhimou on the shoulder. “Study hard. Grandpa Village Head believes in you.”

Among the villagers, Liu Zhimou was the most studious. He might really pass in one go.

If that truly happened, he would definitely set off plenty of firecrackers to celebrate.

Liu Zhimou gave a soft “mm.” “I’ll work hard.”

For this family, he had to pass the provincial exam.

“Good, good—ambitious.” The village head stood up, smiling broadly as he said several words of praise. “I won’t disturb you any longer. I’ll be off now.”

Liu Zhimou and Li Qingling walked the village head to the courtyard gate and said in unison, “Take care, Grandpa Village Head.”

Just as those words fell, they heard Zeng Tietou calling out Li Qingling’s name.

Li Qingling’s heart jolted. She hurried forward a few steps and urgently asked what had happened.

Could it be that something had gone wrong at the chicken farm?

Zeng Tietou took a breath, then smiled and said, “Li Laifu has been arrested and sent to prison.”