TSWPF -Chapter 206 Sleeping Outdoors

Fearful of having to sleep outside, Li Qingling and the others kept moving without stopping. They hurried along the road and, before night fell, finally reached the county town. They found an inn and booked four rooms to stay in.

After sitting in the carriage all day, Li Qingling felt every bone in her body aching.

She now missed modern transportation more than ever—everything had been so convenient back then.

Seeing her repeatedly patting her own waist in discomfort, Li Zhimou put down the clothes in his hands and helped her onto the bed, making her lie down so he could massage her.

“No need, I can tap it myself. You go take a bath quickly!”

She wasn’t the type to be overly fussy or insist on being pampered.

“It won’t take that long. Come on, lie down.” He pinched her shoulder, refusing to let her refuse, and pushed her onto the bed, pressing his body lightly against hers.

Caught off guard, Li Qingling sank into the quilt. He lifted his head with effort, exhaling sharply and calling out, “You’re so heavy, get up!”

She had always underestimated him. He looked tall and slim, but he was actually quite heavy.

Worried she couldn’t breathe, Li Zhimou propped himself up on his hands, no longer pressing on her. “Still heavy like this? Hmm?”

He asked softly by her ear, his warm breath brushing against it, making her instinctively shrink back a little.

She… was he teasing her again?

Blushing slightly, Li Qingling rolled her eyes and said sharply, “Aren’t you supposed to massage me? Why aren’t you starting?” She just wanted him to finish the massage so she could take a bath without being teased.

His audacity was growing thicker by the day. With little tricks like this, she feared that one day she might just give in to him.

Seeing the tips of her ears turn pink, Li Zhimou smiled softly. His little wife was becoming more and more adorable.

His magnetic voice whispered in her ear, sending a shiver through her heart like a soft brush stroke, tickling her in the sweetest way.

She thought Li Zhimou was naturally gifted—not only handsome but even his voice made one feel weak in the knees.

Thinking that such a handsome man with a lovely voice was her husband made her heart feel sweet, though she continued to scold him with her words. “Hurry up, hurry up! Massage me.” If he kept teasing her like this, she might actually get angry in a passionate way.

He chuckled lowly again, leaned over, kissed her little ear, and said, “Coming.”

He got up and sat beside her, pressing on her waist with moderate strength, asking as he went, “Is this pressure okay?”

She never imagined he had such skill. The massage felt so good she nearly dozed off. “Enough… a little lower…”

“Here?” He moved his hands slightly lower and pressed gently.

“Yes… there… a little harder.”

Following her instructions, he applied a bit more pressure, making Li Qingling sigh in relief.

This little woman…

“Don’t make sounds…” he finally could not resist and told her to stop.

“Huh?” She turned to look at him in confusion, unsure what had happened.

Seeing her innocent expression, Li Zhimou sighed and bent down, kissing her.

He kissed her until she was dazed before letting her go. “Next time, I won’t let you off.” He nipped her lips lightly in slight irritation, then jumped off the bed, grabbed his clothes, and ran to bathe.

If he didn’t bathe soon, he felt he might explode. He was already counting the days until her birthday next year, when they could finally consummate their marriage.

For now, he could only endure…

Coming back to her senses, Li Qingling heard the sound of flowing water and smiled softly. Every time he teased her, it ended up being himself who suffered.

A man who could endure so much for you without hurting you truly loved you from the heart.

She felt both sweet and tender toward his love.

Next time, she would give him a little taste of her own affection—let him know she loved him too.

Li Qingling touched her flushed face, smiled, spread the quilt, lay down, and closed her eyes to sleep.

By the time Li Zhimou finished his bath and returned, she was already asleep. He quietly lay beside her, kissed her forehead gently, hugged her, and closed his eyes as well.

The next morning, after breakfast, the group set out again.

Li Qingling found this kind of constant travel by carriage incredibly painful.

No wonder people in ancient times rarely traveled far. Reaching even a nearby place took so long, and riding in a carriage was exhausting—who would want to travel?

After this ordeal, she didn’t want to go far from home again.

“Is your waist sore again?” Li Zhimou asked worriedly when he saw her pale expression. “Come, lean on me while you sit.” He pulled her close so she could rest against him, which would be more comfortable.

Li Qingling didn’t refuse, exhaling lightly. “Maybe it’s from sitting in the carriage too long. My stomach feels a little off.” The constant rocking made her, who normally never got motion sickness, feel a bit nauseous.

“Drink some water to ease it.” He handed her the water pouch, opened it, and lifted it to her lips.

Li Qingling obediently took a sip and then pushed it away, shaking her head.

“Driver, stop the carriage for a moment.” He couldn’t bear to see his wife tired. It was better to travel slowly.

To him, nothing was more important than his wife.

Li Qingling quickly said, “No need. I just feel a little uncomfortable. Resting a bit will be fine.” She didn’t want this minor issue to delay their journey—she wanted to reach the capital quickly so the old man could find a good tutor to guide her studies.

“It’s not good to stay in the carriage too long. We should stretch our legs.” Li Zhimou said this and signaled Li Qingfeng and the others to help persuade Li Qingling.

The children immediately said they were tired from the carriage and wanted to walk.

Hearing this, Li Qingling couldn’t ignore their wishes. She nodded and told the driver to stop.

The driver found a shaded area and halted the carriage.

After the children ran off like a gust of wind, Li Zhimou helped Li Qingling down and guided her to sit under a large tree.

Zeng Tietou, seeing her pale face, worriedly asked if she was unwell.

Li Qingling smiled. “Nothing, I just felt a bit stuffy from sitting in the carriage too long. Resting a moment is fine.”

“My wife brought some homemade salted plums. Sir, would you like to try some?”

Hearing “salted plums,” Li Qingling’s mouth watered. “Thank you, uncle.”

“You’re welcome.” Zeng Tietou quickly fetched a small jar of plums for her.

Li Qingling tried one. The taste was good, and her previously upset stomach felt better.

Liu Zhimou, watching her face regain color, relaxed slightly from his previously tense expression.

He softly asked if she wanted more.

When she opened her mouth, he put another plum in for her.

Seeing her enjoy it, Zeng Tietou smiled. “I have more. If you finish these, just ask me for some.” He felt happy to help their benefactor.

Their benefactor had saved his family, and he would never forget that favor.

Li Qingling considered Zeng Tietou part of her own people and thanked him with a smile, accepting his gesture.

Just then, the driver approached. “It’s about to rain. We should move quickly, or the roads will become dangerous.”

“Alright, let’s go,” Li Qingling agreed. She called the children back, and they got into the carriage to continue the journey.

However, they couldn’t avoid the downpour. Midway, rain poured heavily, accompanied by thunder and lightning.

Traveling in such weather was reckless and risky.

The driver looked at the darkening sky, wiped rain from his face, and loudly said, “Sir, we can’t continue. We need to find shelter from the rain. Traveling now would be courting disaster.”

“Alright, I’ll listen to you.” Li Qingling clasped her hands, her worry rising. She hoped nothing would happen.

The driver continued scouting for a place to take shelter.

Li Zhimou took her pale hand in his, holding it firmly. “It’s okay, don’t be afraid.” Though worried, he hid it from her and the children.

As the head of the family, he had to be their anchor and shield in all circumstances.

With his reassurance, Li Qingling gradually felt less anxious. She turned to him and smiled softly.

Unconsciously, he had become her pillar of support, someone she could rely on.

“Rou Rou, Ning Ning, come here. Sister will hold you.” Seeing the two younger sisters covering their ears, Li Qingling quickly opened her arms, pulling them into her embrace. “Sister’s here, don’t be afraid.”

Li Rourou and Li Qingning, nestled against her, felt their fear lessen.

“Sir, there’s a temple ahead. Shall we take shelter there?” the driver called out.

“Alright…”

They rode through the rain to the temple. Everyone got out and ran inside.

The temple looked decent outside but was dilapidated inside, covered with cobwebs and dust.

Li Qingling and the others didn’t mind. They tidied up a corner and sat down to rest.

But they hadn’t been sitting long before more people arrived outside.