TSWPF -Chapter 267 A Good Show

On New Year’s Eve, Li Qingling and the others got up early and began bustling about.

Li Qingling went to the kitchen to fry meatballs and other dishes…

Meanwhile, Liu Zhimou, along with Liu Zhiyan, Li Qingfeng, and Dahe, helped put up the couplets. After all, they were used to doing these things at home; it wasn’t difficult for them.

The servants of the Xue household, however, were taken aback to see their masters doing the work themselves. Some even tried to snatch the couplets from Liu Zhimou and the others, not wanting them to hang them.

They had never seen a family master actually do chores themselves!

Liu Zhimou told them it was nothing—they were used to it—and to focus on their own work and not to worry about them.

Seeing Liu Zhimou’s firm attitude, the servants could only comply and busied themselves with their own tasks.

By the time the couplets were up, it was already afternoon, and Li Qingling had prepared all sorts of delicious meatballs in the kitchen.

At this moment, she was preparing the dishes for the evening. Originally, she had planned to have hotpot, but after having it a few days ago, she changed her mind. She decided to keep it traditional and prepare twelve main dishes.

She had the kitchen staff ready the ingredients she needed; tonight, she would cook herself.

After giving instructions for what she needed, she left the kitchen.

“Are the couplets up? Are the lanterns hung?” Li Qingling asked, smiling, when she saw Liu Zhimou.

Liu Zhimou smiled back and said yes, then asked when he could eat the fried meatballs.

Li Qingling raised her eyebrow and teased him, asking if he was just being greedy.

He admitted it openly and nodded.

It was only during New Year that Li Qingling would fry meatballs for them. On ordinary days, he rarely made them, claiming he had no time.

During New Year, the things they craved most were always those meatballs.

Liu Zhimou was honest about it, making Li Qingling chuckle. “You can eat them now, but they’re still hot, so they’re left in the kitchen to cool.”

Hearing this, Liu Zhimou immediately called out to the children, asking if they wanted to eat meatballs.

The children cheered at the news.

“If you want some, go to the kitchen and take them to the main hall,” he said, taking Li Qingling’s hand and leading her toward their courtyard.

Li Qingling looked at him curiously. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

Liu Zhimou replied, “They’re still hot. I’ll eat later. First, let’s go back so you can change your clothes.”

Seeing how considerate he was, Li Qingling felt a sweetness in her heart, like honey dripping inside. Holding his hand tightly, she said, “Another year has passed… time really flies.”

She never imagined, when she first came to this world, that she would have a day like today.

The past few years had been extremely difficult, but fortunately, they had gotten through them.

Liu Zhimou nodded, deeply moved. Those years, if not for this little woman helping him, he might not have been able to continue his studies—or even have enough to eat.

If he had to name the person he was most grateful to in this life, it would undoubtedly be her.

“Wife, thank you.”

“For what?” Li Qingling understood his meaning. “We are husband and wife; we support each other. Don’t say such things in the future. Don’t be so formal.” She was truly grateful as well—without him, she might not have had today.

“Yes, wife. Whatever you say goes,” Liu Zhimou said, squeezing her hand, moved to think, With such a wife, what more could a husband want?

He remembered how resistant he had been when his father arranged this fiancée for him. Now, he was endlessly grateful to his father for that decision, giving him such a wife.

Back in the room, Li Qingling changed out of her clothes that smelled of oil, and then she and Liu Zhimou went to the main hall. By the time they arrived, the children were already eating.

“Sister, this is really so delicious! I wish you could fry these for us more often,” Li Qingning said, smiling at Li Qingling.

But in her heart, she felt a bit regretful—the sister usually didn’t fry these meatballs for them, and they could only eat them once a year. It was simply torturous.

Li Qingling reached out and tapped Li Qingning’s head, telling her not to eat too much, or she might get overheated.

She didn’t make these meatballs often because she had little time, and she didn’t want the children to get overheated from eating too much, so once a year was enough for them to taste.

Li Qingning ignored the warning and popped a meatball into her mouth, crunching happily.

Only once a year, and she wasn’t even letting them enjoy it freely—it was almost murderous.

Knowing the children wouldn’t listen to her, Li Qingling let it go and reminded them to drink some herbal tea after finishing.

The children nodded eagerly, mouths full, too busy to respond.

Li Qingling shook her head helplessly.

“Don’t worry about them. They’re grown now and can make their own choices,” Liu Zhimou said, pulling Li Qingling onto a chair and handing her a taro meatball to eat.

The taro meatballs smelled irresistible; she herself could hardly resist eating more, let alone the children.

Li Qingfeng finished one meatball and immediately grabbed another. He sighed, “Grandpa and Grandpa Luo didn’t get to eat these delicious meatballs first—they missed out. I wonder when they’ll be back?” He thought that slightly warm meatballs tasted better than cold ones, with a richer aroma.

“I heard the imperial chefs cook very well in the palace. I wonder what Grandpa and the others ate?” Li Qingning licked her fingers, curious.

At this moment, Old Master Xue and Old Luo could only watch in silence. They were eager to go back and eat Li Qingling’s cooking instead of watching these boring performances, which were the same every year—what was the point?

“When I left, I heard Little Qingling was going to fry meatballs. I wonder if there will be any left for us when we get back?” Old Master sighed and took a small sip of his wine, feeling frustrated.

Hearing this, Mr. Luo asked repeatedly what kind of meatballs they were and if they were good.

Old Master gave him a glance and replied helplessly that he hadn’t eaten them either, only hearing from Ningning that they were delicious. Little Qingling only made them once a year, not bothering on ordinary days.

Mr. Luo swallowed, knowing Li Qingling’s cooking was amazing—better than the imperial chefs’—so her meatballs must be just as good.

“The children will probably save some for us,” he comforted himself.

“But Xiaofeng said they taste best warm, with that aroma…” The more he thought about it, the more eager he became to go back and eat, along with the eight other dishes she had made. He really didn’t want cold palace dishes.

It wasn’t that the palace food was bad, but the palace was far, and in the cold, the dishes would arrive cold. Cold food was no longer enjoyable.

Every year, he attended the palace feast starving.

Before, it didn’t matter, but now, with Little Qingling around and so much delicious food, he couldn’t wait.

Mr. Luo swallowed again, jokingly asking if they should tell the emperor they felt unwell and wanted to leave early.

“You said that wouldn’t work, so why this bad idea now?”

“I have no other choice!” Old Master snorted twice and drank some wine to calm his anxious mind.

Mr. Luo copied him, taking a small sip to pass the time.

The banquet lasted until evening before dispersing.

During that time, they also witnessed a display of rivalry between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.

This was the added “good show” of the evening.

After leaving the palace, as Old Master and Mr. Luo were about to get into their carriage, Old Master Liu called out to them.

They turned to him. “What’s the matter?”

“Why are you in such a hurry to go back?”

Old Master rolled his eyes at him. “We’re hurrying back to eat the feast! The children are waiting for us!” He suspected Old Master Liu was deliberately calling them to make him jealous—they could eat Li Qingling’s meal. “Little Qingling is cooking tonight herself: twelve main dishes and fried meatballs. Doesn’t that sound delicious? Old Master Liu, want to join us?”

Knowing he couldn’t go, he still called him, making Old Master Liu stare silently. His own grandchildren couldn’t take him along to enjoy the reunion meal—it was suffocating.

“I’ll go tomorrow. Not tonight.” Tomorrow, he would demand his granddaughter-in-law prepare the exact same twelve dishes for him as compensation.

“Alright, see you tomorrow,” Old Master and Mr. Luo got into their carriage, once again aggravating Old Master Liu.

After some distance, Old Master laughed loudly. “Old Master Liu must be so frustrated.” He had brought several grandchildren, even if not his own, they respected him like a real grandfather.

When he grew old, they would still care for him.

Mr. Luo also laughed, a bit gleeful, grateful he wasn’t married and could freely decide where to spend the New Year.

“The relationship between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince is getting worse,” Old Master said, changing the topic after laughing.

The evening’s performance clearly showed it.

Specifically, the Second Prince’s ambition was growing.

Mr. Luo snorted. Foolish.

If he had ambition, he wouldn’t expose himself and become a target.

Even though the Crown Prince had been established, he still showed such sharpness—it was courting death.

“Indeed, foolish. As long as the Crown Prince doesn’t make a major mistake, he cannot be deposed. The Second Prince’s boldness is meaningless. One day, when the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he’ll be the first to be dealt with.”

Mr. Luo’s eyes narrowed slightly, deep in thought, not responding to Old Master’s words.