TSWPF -Chapter 319 A Visit

Li Qingling thought for a moment and said, “Of course it’s true.”

Upon hearing Li Qingling’s answer, Li Qingning cheered, jumped up, and threw herself into Li Qingling’s arms. “Thank you, sister!” Finally, she wouldn’t have to stay cooped up at home all day and could go out to play.

Li Qingling smiled as she patted Li Qingning on the head. She told her to obediently practice her needlework with Rou Rou for a while, and she would take her up the mountain to play as soon as possible.

Just to go up the mountain, Li Qingning didn’t mind practicing the needlework she disliked. She grinned and nodded enthusiastically.

As long as she could go up the mountain, nothing else mattered.

Seeing the little one so excited, a spark of cunning flashed in Li Qingling’s eyes—she had a plan to handle this little rascal.

Unfortunately, the little one was too busy celebrating to notice he had fallen into his sister’s scheme.

“Madam, what should we do with this deer?” the guards asked, their mouths watering as they eyed the deer on the ground, imagining all the ways to cook venison.

Li Qingling glanced at the deer, instructed the guards to butcher it, reserving the four hind legs for Ah Huang, and to send the rest to the kitchen. She would cook it herself.

Hearing that Li Qingling would be cooking, the guards’ mouths watered even faster. Her culinary skills were excellent—being able to taste a meal cooked by her was like dining with the immortals.

“All right, we’ll get it done,” the guards said, lifting the deer to take it to the kitchen for butchering. They didn’t want the young ladies to see such a bloody sight.

Li Qingling let them be. Once they were done, they would call her anyway.

She mentally reviewed the recipes for venison, ensuring they would have a feast.

Of course, the consequences would be theirs alone—venison was highly nourishing, and eating too much could…

She’d need to remind Liu Zhimou not to eat too much, lest he get “heated.”

“Madam, a woman claiming to be the wife of the County Assistant Ma has come to visit you,” Nian Xia hurried over and respectfully said to Li Qingling. “I’ve had her wait in the flower hall.”

Li Qingling raised an eyebrow, glanced at her attire, and decided there was no need to change. She went with Nian Xia to the flower hall.

When she arrived, she saw a woman in light blue clothes sipping tea.

Upon seeing Li Qingling, the woman immediately set her cup down, stood up, and said with a smile, “You must be the County Magistrate’s wife, right?” She was smaller than expected. Had she already…?

Li Qingling’s lips curved into a smile. “May I ask who you are?”

“My husband is the County Assistant under your lordship. I am his wife, Hu Juanjuan.”

Thinking of the short, thin County Assistant Ma, and looking at the tall woman before her, Li Qingling’s lips twitched involuntarily. This pair was really…

“Mrs. Hu, please have a seat.”

Hu Juanjuan waved her hands nonchalantly. “Don’t call me Mrs. Hu. Just call me Juanjuan!”

In front of the County Magistrate’s wife, how could she dare call herself anything else?

Li Qingling’s lips twitched again, not following her lead. She still called her Mrs. Hu and asked what had brought her.

Seeing that Li Qingling was firm, Hu Juanjuan didn’t insist on changing the form of address. Smiling, she handed over the basket she had brought. A little embarrassed, she said, “These are vegetables grown in our yard. I thought I’d bring some for you to try.” Being from a poor household, she could only offer what she had. She hoped the County Magistrate’s wife wouldn’t mind.

Li Qingling accepted the basket and looked inside. There were cucumbers, choy sum, eggplants, tomatoes—fresh and vibrant.

She looked up at Hu Juanjuan and smiled. “Thank you so much. The timing is perfect—we’ve been short on vegetables.” She couldn’t refuse the County Assistant’s wife, and the vegetables genuinely looked good.

Hu Juanjuan relaxed upon hearing Li Qingling’s words. She could tell Li Qingling wasn’t being polite for form’s sake—she was genuinely pleased to receive the vegetables.

At first glance, this County Magistrate’s wife didn’t look down on people. She seemed quite easy to get along with—unlike some previous county magistrates’ wives who looked down on everyone.

But she would need time to truly judge her character.

Li Qingling handed the basket to Nian Xia to take to the kitchen, then sat down, looking at Hu Juanjuan. “Do you know what vegetables grow well around here? I plan to plant some in the yard in a few days.” The yard was too large to just grow flowers. She really intended to grow some fruits and vegetables.

Hu Juanjuan was surprised. The County Magistrate’s wife wanted to grow vegetables? Was she serious?

“Madam, do you really mean it?”

Li Qingling nodded firmly. “Homegrown vegetables are better than store-bought ones, and it saves some money, doesn’t it?” Plus, it would get the children working and prevent them from being ignorant of basic agriculture.

A win-win situation—why wouldn’t she do it?

Seeing Li Qingling wasn’t joking, Hu Juanjuan’s impression of her improved. She seemed like a frugal and diligent person. But would the County Magistrate agree?

She asked her that question.

Li Qingling smiled faintly. “My husband fully supports me planting vegetables at home. He even helps himself when he has time.”

“Really? The County Magistrate plants vegetables too?” Hu Juanjuan’s eyes widened. She thought her husband, the County Assistant, had told her the magistrate was some scholar-official. He actually worked the land? Incredible.

“He’s from a village himself. Of course he knows how to plant.”

Hu Juanjuan scratched her head and chuckled. “I thought the County Magistrate wouldn’t need to work in the field. I guess I was mistaken.” She felt a surge of warmth—perhaps a magistrate like this would make life better for his people.

“Of course. If he doesn’t work, how can he understand the hardships of the people?” Li Qingling shook her head. “Our children have been working in the fields since they were little. My husband says, ‘No work, no food.’ We don’t raise people to eat for free.”

Hu Juanjuan looked at Li Qingling with some envy. Though her husband was good, he didn’t manage household matters much. She believed he deserved rest at home. But hearing Li Qingling speak, she thought a magistrate like that would cherish his people more.

She fiddled with her fingers and smiled. “Why does the County Magistrate have to do it himself? Aren’t there servants at home?”

Li Qingling glanced at her, recognizing her genuine interest. She smiled. “We don’t have many servants, just one per person. They help occasionally, but most work is done by us.” Pausing, she saw Hu Juanjuan’s surprise grow, and secretly chuckled. “As my husband says: To bestow a great responsibility on a person, one must first test their will, exercise their muscles, starve their body, and deprive them… Only then can one become a useful person.”

Hu Juanjuan nodded thoughtfully. She felt the magistrate made sense. Once home, she would rethink her own children’s upbringing. She also planned to tell her husband about the magistrate later so he’d be aware.

A magistrate this wise could truly serve the people.

Li Qingling sipped her tea and subtly changed the topic.

Overall, the meeting went well. When Hu Juanjuan left, Li Qingling had someone give her a box of pastries and three jin of venison.

“These pastries are made by my maid—she’s skilled. Take them home for your children. And this venison was hunted by my guards in the mountains. Take it home and cook it tonight.”

Hu Juanjuan didn’t hesitate to accept. Smiling, she took the pastries and venison. “Thank you, Madam. Tomorrow, I’ll bring you some seeds.” They hadn’t eaten meat in a while; the venison would be a nice addition.

“All right, that’s very kind of you.”

“Not at all. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Good, take care,” Li Qingling said, smiling and nodding. “Nian Xia, please see Mrs. Hu out.”

Nian Xia stepped forward. “This way, Mrs. Hu.”

Hu Juanjuan smiled and nodded at Li Qingling, following Nian Xia out.

Li Qingling sat back down. Nian Xia returned shortly, smiling. “Mrs. Hu seems like a straightforward person.”

Li Qingling poured herself some tea, sipped it, and smiled. Straightforward but shrewd—so far, she seemed worth befriending.

But as they say, time reveals a person’s heart. True judgment would come with longer acquaintance.

“Indeed,” Nian Xia agreed.

Li Qingling finished her tea, set the cup down, straightened her skirt, and waved her hand. “Let’s go to the kitchen and prepare something delicious. They’ve probably been waiting a long time.”

At the mention of food, Nian Xia swallowed, eager for the feast. Finally, Madam would be cooking—they were in for a treat tonight.

That evening, when Liu Zhimou returned, Li Qingling told him about the visit.

He pondered for a moment and said, “We can observe her for a while. If she proves trustworthy, we can let her visit more often.” After all, he would be working with County Assistant Ma for several years. If Xiao Ling got along with his wife, it would make things easier on him.

Never underestimate the influence of interactions between wives—they could affect his future work.

Li Qingling nodded, planning the same. If Hu Juanjuan turned out to be deceitful, she wouldn’t let her off easily.

Liu Zhimou reached out, smoothing her furrowed brow, and asked with a smile, “Did you cook yourself today? I haven’t had your dishes in a while—I’ve missed them.”