TSWPF -Chapter 246 Quarrel

Liu Zhimou coughed lightly, finally making the two childish old men stop. When they noticed the row of children standing at the doorway, their old faces flushed slightly.

This was truly embarrassing beyond words—they had completely lost their dignity in front of the kids.

“Ahem…” the old man cleared his throat, forcing himself to maintain a dignified expression. “When did you all arrive?”

Liu Zhimou struggled to suppress the laughter rising in his throat. “Just now.” Though everything that needed to be seen had already been seen.

He hadn’t expected the two elders to be so childish.

“Just now is good, just now is good,” the old man chuckled twice, waving them inside.

After Liu Zhimou led Li Qingling and the others into the room, he looked at Liu Zhen lying on the bed and solemnly introduced them. “Grandfather, this is my wife, Li Qingling.” Then he turned to her. “Xiao Ling, this is Grandfather.”

Li Qingling had already guessed as much. There was no shock on her face as she greeted Liu Zhen graciously.

Seeing how composed and poised she was, Liu Zhen nodded in satisfaction.

Next, Liu Zhimou introduced Liu Zhiyan and the other children. After they finished greeting him, Liu Zhen called out Liu Zhiyan’s and Liu Zhirou’s names, asking them to step forward so he could take a closer look.

The two children obediently stepped forward, smiling at Liu Zhen.

When their eldest brother had gone to fetch them, he had already roughly explained everything, so they knew that the elderly man before them was their real grandfather.

With moist eyes, Liu Zhen looked at Liu Zhiyan and Liu Zhirou. Liu Zhiyan resembled his youngest son by five or six parts, while Liu Zhirou’s brows and eyes were somewhat similar, though the rest likely took after her mother.

“Good children… good children…” Liu Zhen was so emotional that he didn’t know what else to say, repeating the phrase over and over.

Although his youngest son was gone, he had left behind three grandchildren. He should be content.

“Grandfather, are you sick?” Perhaps due to their blood connection, Liu Zhiyan felt a natural closeness toward Liu Zhen. Seeing the silver needles in his body, he asked with concern.

Hearing the child’s caring words moved Liu Zhen deeply. Not wanting them to worry, he shook his head and said it was nothing—he would be fine after some rest.

Liu Zhiyan didn’t press further, only reminding him to take good care of himself and not fall ill.

Liu Zhen smiled and said yes.

“Come, Xiao Yan, step aside. Grandpa needs to pull out Old Liu’s needles,” the old doctor squeezed in. While removing the needles, he deliberately made it hurt a little.

Liu Zhen squinted at him and quietly asked whether he was jealous.

The old man shot him a glance and denied it outright.

He would absolutely never admit that he was jealous.

Considering how Old Xue had taken care of his grandchildren, he decided not to argue with him this time.

“Old Liu, I’ll warn you one last time—if you lose your temper again so casually, don’t come looking for me. I don’t have the ability to snatch people back from the King of Hell.”

Even strong young men could die after vomiting so much blood, let alone an old man like him. If he vomited blood again, the King of Hell would really take him away.

Since it concerned his health, Liu Zhen’s face turned serious. He nodded earnestly, saying he would be careful.

For the sake of his grandchildren, he had to take good care of his body.

The old man hummed in acknowledgment, packed away the silver needles, and told someone to prepare the meal.

After eating outside, Liu Zhen slowly returned home.

If not for fear of exposing his grandchildren, he wouldn’t have wanted to leave so soon.

Having only just reunited with them, he wanted to spend more time together.

But before bringing his grandchildren back to the Liu family, he had to thoroughly clean house.

“Father…” Liu Wenjie ran into Liu Zhen at the gate and called out to him.

Liu Zhen nodded and asked whether Liu Zhishan had been sent to the military camp.

Liu Wenjie paused, choosing his words carefully. “Father, the doctor said that if Shan’er’s injuries aren’t fully treated, there may be lasting complications. I plan to send him after he recovers.”

If he sent Liu Zhishan to the camp right now, Jiang Yingying would make such a huge scene that he’d never have peace.

In truth, he was also hoping that with time, he could plead again for Liu Zhishan not to go at all.

Liu Zhen gave him a deep look and said gravely, “Fine. I’ll give him ten more days. Once ten days are up, send him to the military camp immediately.”

With that, he ignored Liu Wenjie and walked straight into the Liu residence.

How could he not see through his eldest son’s intentions? He was simply trying to delay things.

But this time, he was determined to send Liu Zhishan to the military—no changes.

A chill ran through Liu Wenjie’s heart. He felt that his little scheme had been seen through.

It seemed that Shan’er truly couldn’t escape this time—he would have to go to the military for training.

When Liu Wenjie returned to his courtyard, Jiang Yingying once again asked whether he had pleaded on Liu Zhishan’s behalf.

Already irritable, and now hounded day after day, Liu Wenjie finally lost his temper and slammed the table with a loud bang.

The sudden move startled Jiang Yingying badly. She clutched her chest and frowned. “What’s wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong?” Liu Wenjie glared at her angrily. “You still have the nerve to ask? If you hadn’t indulged Shan’er all these years, would he dare to be so reckless?”

“I just saw Father. He said Shan’er only gets ten days to heal. Once that’s over, he’s going to the military camp—no room for negotiation.”

“What? Only ten days? Isn’t that asking for Shan’er’s life?” Her precious son, whom she had carried for ten months—how could she bear to let him suffer in a place like the military camp? “Can’t you go beg Father again? Huh?”

Liu Wenjie pressed his lips together. “If you’re capable, you go beg him yourself. Don’t make me do it again. You know very well what Father’s temper is like.”

Once his father made a decision, it was never easy to change.

Even the fourth brother, who had once been so favored, couldn’t defy him.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen to leave home—leaving for over ten years without a single word.

For some reason, Liu Wenjie had been thinking of his fourth brother more and more lately.

Rubbing his temples, he let out a tired sigh.

But his wife was still there, making a huge fuss, leaving him no peace at all.

“Liu Wenjie, I think you only have your eldest son in your heart—there’s no place for Shan’er at all!”

“Jiang Yingying, you really dare say that?” Liu Wenjie snapped. “Ask your conscience—how old was Hao’er when he went to the battlefield? And how old is Shan’er now?”

He took a heavy breath and suddenly stood up. “If there’s anyone I’ve wronged the most in my life, it’s Hao’er.”

With that, he turned and strode away.

After Liu Wenjie left, Jiang Yingying sat there in a daze for a long while before letting out a scream and sweeping all the teacups off the table onto the floor.

She collapsed onto the table and burst into tears.

…

The Liu household was in utter chaos, while Liu Zhimou and the others returned to their former routine.

Every day, Liu Zhimou went to report to Mr. Luo, but now he had two little followers behind him—Liu Zhiyan and Li Qingfeng.

Originally, Liu Zhimou and Li Qingling had planned to find an academy for the two boys.

When Mr. Luo found out, he told Liu Zhimou to bring the boys along whenever he came to the Luo residence, and he would personally guide their studies.

Countless people begged for Mr. Luo’s instruction and couldn’t get it—yet these two boys received it so easily.

If outsiders knew, they’d die of envy.

With the boys settled, Li Qingling no longer had to worry about which academy to send them to. She focused on her own work every day.

Checking on the ducks, planning her greenhouse.

If she managed to get the greenhouse up and running, she’d have a substantial income even in winter!

Truth be told, she was desperately short on money—very, very short.

One day, after checking on the ducks at the lotus pond, she was about to return home to think over her greenhouse plans when Zeng Tietou hurried over, saying he’d found a shop that was up for sale and asked her to take a look.

Hearing the good news, Li Qingling didn’t hesitate and went with him.

Standing at the entrance, she assessed the location and found it quite good—she just didn’t know how much silver it would cost.

“Miss, are you here to look at the shop?” An elderly man dressed simply saw her standing outside and spoke up.

Li Qingling smiled at him. “Sir, is this shop yours?”

“It is,” the old man replied. “You can come in and take a look. If it suits you, we can discuss the price. How about that?”

That was perfect. Li Qingling thanked him and went inside with Zeng Tietou.

The shop had only one floor and wasn’t very large, but what she valued most was the backyard, which could be used for living.

“Sir, are you selling only, not renting?”

“Selling only.” The old man glanced at the shop with reluctance. “If I weren’t leaving the capital, I wouldn’t part with it.”

“How much are you planning to sell it for?”
If the price was too high, she wouldn’t be able to afford it.

Seeing how young she was, the old man asked whether she could make the decision.

Li Qingling said she could.

“I feel a certain affinity with you, miss. Let’s say 380 taels.”

Zeng Tietou’s eyes widened. That expensive?!

With 380 taels, one could buy a large mansion back in their town.

The old man glanced at Zeng Tietou, then looked back at Li Qingling. “Miss, this is already the lowest price. You can ask around—shops in this area really don’t go for less than this.”

He had run this shop for decades and treated it like his own child. If he didn’t believe this young woman would take good care of it, he wouldn’t have set the price so low.

“Alright, 380 taels.” Li Qingling nodded. “Sir, when can we go handle the transfer?”

Just as she finished speaking, a domineering voice cut in—

“Old man, I’ll give you 500 taels. Sell it to me.”