TSWPF -Chapter 236 Moved

Feeling the long, soft beard, Li Qingning grinned, “It’s true! Grandpa Luo, your beard is much nicer than my grandfather’s. Mine is stiff and prickly—it’s not pleasant to touch.” Every time her grandfather had used his stiff beard to poke her face, she had gotten scared, and now even seeing a beard reminded her of it.

Hearing Li Qingning’s innocent words, Mr. Luo laughed heartily, a sound of pure joy. It had been a long time since he had felt this happy.

Even the steward looked on in surprise. He had always thought his master was a calm, composed man—but he never expected him to laugh so heartily.

It seemed that these children had truly won his favor.

He beckoned to the maid behind him and strode toward the pavilion.

“Sir, the kitchen has prepared some chestnut cakes and red bean cakes. They taste quite good; the young ladies and young masters can try some.”

The steward had the maids bring out the treats and place them on the table.

Mr. Luo nodded at the steward and waved them away.

Once they had left, Mr. Luo invited Li Qingning and the others to enjoy the cakes.

Li Qingning smiled and politely thanked Mr. Luo, then unhesitatingly reached out with her chubby little hand to grab a chestnut cake.

After finishing one piece, she nodded thoughtfully and said that the chestnut cake wasn’t as good as the one her sister made.

“Oh? I didn’t know your sister was such a skilled cook. I must try it someday.”

Li Qingning proudly puffed out her small chest and nodded, “Of course! My sister not only bakes cakes but also cooks meals, and they’re delicious. Grandpa Luo, if you taste one of her meals even once, you’ll definitely want a second helping. I’m not lying.” After all, no matter how many meals she had eaten, none were as good as her sister’s.

Hearing Li Qingning, Li Qingling blushed a little. “She’s just a little girl talking nonsense. I only know how to cook simple, home-style meals—how could I compare to a professional chef?” Being praised so enthusiastically by this little one made her feel embarrassed.

“I’m not lying at all!” Li Qingning puckered her lips and directly contradicted Li Qingling. “Grandpa Luo, I’m really not lying. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Second Brother, Third Brother, and Rou Rou.”

Before Mr. Luo could ask, Liu Zhiyan and the others had already nodded in agreement.

The children chattered excitedly around Mr. Luo, sharing amusing stories from Niutou Village.

Mr. Luo listened with a warm smile, learning about their lives through their words.

When they mentioned the tigers they kept at home, he widened his eyes in surprise and asked, worried, “Isn’t that dangerous?”

“How could it be dangerous?” Li Qingning asked in confusion. “Ah Huang and Ah Bai are very good; they wouldn’t bite anyone.” Thinking of Ah Huang and Ah Bai made her miss them immediately.

It had been a very long time since she had seen them, and she wondered how they were doing.

Li Zhimou noticed Mr. Luo’s concern and explained the story of Ah Huang and the others, including how they had saved the children once.

Listening to this, Mr. Luo was filled with admiration. He never imagined tigers could be so loyal.

Had he not heard it from the children, he wouldn’t have believed it.

The world was vast and full of wonders. He realized that staying in the capital for too long had limited his perspective. He should travel more and see the world.

“Sister, I miss Ah Huang and the others. When will we go home to see them?” Li Qingning snuggled into Li Qingling’s arms, her mood a little down.

Li Qingling patted her head gently and comforted her, “We’ll wait until brother-in-law finishes his exams and see how he does. Then we can find time to go back and visit Ah Huang and the others, okay?” She, too, missed Ah Huang and the others. They had never been apart for this long before.

Li Qingning rubbed her eyes. “Why can’t Ah Huang and the others come visit us? Grandpa’s house is so big—they could fit here!”

Taking a deep breath, Li Qingling held Li Qingning on her lap and patiently explained everything to her.

Mr. Luo watched Li Qingling and nodded with satisfaction. The children were so obedient and sensible—it was clearly due to her guidance.

He admired how she taught—not treating children casually, but taking them seriously, speaking to them as equals. Honestly, he realized he was not as skilled as Li Qingling at teaching children.

Li Qingning wriggled her fingers in response and softly said, “Mm.”

Seeing that she had listened, Li Qingling ruffled her little head and said, “Good girl.”

“Xiaoling, you’ve done a good job teaching these children.”

Li Qingling blushed at the praise. She hadn’t actually taught them.

“Master, I must tell you, these children weren’t taught by me—they were taught by Brother Zhimou. He’s very good with kids.” She felt proud as a parent, seeing how well-mannered and virtuous they were.

Li Zhimou pinched Li Qingling’s hand and said, “If it weren’t for you running this household inside and out, we wouldn’t be where we are today. You’ve worked the hardest and achieved the most. Truly, thank you, my dear.” Seeing her work so hard sometimes made him feel a little helpless.

This spring examination, he vowed to do his best and achieve good results, to make her happy and ensure her years of effort weren’t wasted.

In front of Mr. Luo and the children, hearing Liu Zhimou’s words, Li Qingling felt even more embarrassed. She pouted slightly at him, “What are you saying? Hard work or not doesn’t matter. As long as our family is safe and happy, I don’t feel tired at all.”

Seeing the young couple’s love and harmony, Mr. Luo’s eyes narrowed into a joyful slit.

Although he couldn’t see his young disciple with his wife, seeing his grand-disciple contented made him satisfied.

“A family supporting each other is how they endure. Master hopes you continue this way in the future.”

“We will, Master,” Li Zhimou and Li Qingling said in unison, exchanging a glance.

Mr. Luo personally poured two cups of tea and placed them in front of Li Zhimou and Li Qingling. “I never got to drink the tea of your parents; today I’ll have the pleasure of tasting yours. It fulfills a wish of mine.” Not having tasted that brat’s tea had been a lifelong regret.

Understanding his meaning, Li Zhimou and Li Qingling knelt and raised the tea in their hands.

“Master, please have tea.”

Mr. Luo, his eyes slightly red, accepted the cup, sipped gently, then set it on the table. From his sleeve, he took out two jade pendants engraved with magpies and placed one in each of their hands.

“Master wishes you a lifetime of happiness together.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“Now stand up.” After they rose, Mr. Luo produced a few more zodiac jade pendants and handed them to the children. “It’s our first meeting, and I don’t have much to give, so these small trinkets are for you to play with.”

The children thanked him in unison.

Li Qingning held her little tiger pendant tightly, unwilling to let go. “Master, I didn’t prepare a gift for you. Next time you visit us, I’ll show you fun things to do.” If she had known he would give gifts, she would have brought her toys to reciprocate.

Li Qingfeng carefully placed his pendant and teased Li Qingning, “Sister, what could you show Master? Do you think this is still Niutou Village? Could you take Master up and down mountains?” This little girl, besides playing, what else could she do?

She realized she had forgotten.

Li Qingning slumped her small shoulders and scratched her head, embarrassed. “Master, if we were in Niutou Village, I could take you to pick wild vegetables, gather bird eggs, catch and roast fish… But… here in the capital, I really don’t know what to show you. I… I… don’t know anything but playing.” She was nearly in tears.

Mr. Luo quickly hugged her and patted her back. “It’s fine. Master has an estate—we can go there, and Ningning, you can take me to pick wild vegetables and catch fish. How about that?” He had never done these things in his life.

Hearing this, Li Qingning’s eyes lit up, and she excitedly asked Mr. Luo if it was true.

He nodded, saying they could go to the estate tomorrow.

Li Qingning didn’t dare agree immediately; she turned to Li Zhimou and Li Qingling, asking if it was okay.

Seeing she asked their opinion at the crucial moment, Li Zhimou and Li Qingling were pleased and let her decide.

Of course, she chose to go.

Although the capital was nice, she still missed the freedom of Niutou Village.

“Let’s go, Grandpa Luo. Tomorrow we’ll go to the estate together; it’ll be lively with everyone!”

“Alright, tomorrow we’ll go.”

With this decided, Li Qingning was so excited she could barely contain herself, holding Mr. Luo’s hand and chattering about her past exploits.

Many of her stories were new to Mr. Luo, and listening to them made him eagerly anticipate what was to come.

He realized that with these children around, his days would never be lonely again.

When the steward came to find Mr. Luo, the children and Mr. Luo were animatedly discussing their plans. Seeing Mr. Luo so lively brought a moisture to the steward’s eyes; he hadn’t seen his master so full of life in a long time.

Indeed, he thought, he should bring these children to the mansion more often to keep Mr. Luo happy.