TSWPF -Chapter 329 Warning

Wang Yang’s words plunged He Fourth Uncle and the others into silence.

After a long while, Wang Yang frowned and spoke again, asking what they were thinking. He told them not to keep quiet—if they had anything to say, they should say it directly so everyone could discuss it together.

According to his thinking, they had to bring Liu Zhimou down. They couldn’t let him keep pressing down on their heads.

He Fourth Uncle thought for a moment before saying, “This matter can’t be rushed. Let’s observe for a while first and decide later. If we want to bring Liu Zhimou down, it has to be done in one strike. We can’t give him any chance to turn things around. Otherwise, there won’t be a second opportunity to make a move.”

“I agree with Fourth Uncle,” the Registrar He added. “Liu Zhimou isn’t like the previous county magistrate who had no background and was easy to suppress. Not only does he come from the Liu family, he also has a close relationship with the Emperor. If things go wrong, the four of our families could be wiped out completely.”

Under Cui Cuicui’s warnings, the registrar no longer dared to be as impulsive as before. He forced himself to calm down and think through the consequences.

He was still young and wanted to enjoy life a bit longer. He didn’t want to die so early.

The heads of the Zhao and Lin families exchanged glances and all agreed with He Fourth Uncle.

Before understanding the enemy’s true strength, they really couldn’t act rashly.

Impulsiveness was a grave taboo.

With the other three opposing action, Wang Yang couldn’t do anything on his own. There was no way he could charge ahead alone.

“Fine,” he said. “Then for now, we’ll observe and see exactly what abilities Liu Zhimou has.” Thinking about being pressed down by a snot-nosed kid made his mood sour. “But if Liu Zhimou dares to do anything that harms my family’s interests, I won’t let him off easily.” This was his bottom line.

He Fourth Uncle smiled and said that since they were all in the same boat, they certainly wouldn’t just sit by and watch Liu Zhimou damage their interests.

If it really came to that, he wouldn’t show Liu Zhimou any mercy either.

He only hoped Liu Zhimou valued his life enough not to crash headfirst into their blades. Otherwise, if he died, he could only blame himself.

The four families then went into more detailed discussions about how to guard against Liu Zhimou.

After listening silently to everything, the registrar returned home. As soon as he arrived, Cui Cuicui asked him what decision He Fourth Uncle and the others had made.

The registrar didn’t hide anything from her. He poured out everything He Fourth Uncle and the others had decided.

After hearing it, Cui Cuicui frowned slightly. This decision was only temporary. Who knew what decisions they might make in the future?

Forget it. She couldn’t control others anyway. She just needed to keep He Xin in check.

“Hubby, for the sake of our family, you absolutely must not target the county magistrate, understand?”

The registrar irritably waved his hand. He said he knew and told her not to nag him every day.

If he heard it too much, it would really start to annoy him.

Cui Cuicui bit her lower lip hard and glared at him. If he weren’t her husband—if she weren’t afraid he’d drag the whole family down—would she really remind him so tirelessly?

She wasn’t that bored.

“He Xin…” she ground out his name through clenched teeth. “Shouldn’t you be going to the yamen?”

“What’s there to go to the yamen for? There’s nothing to do anyway,” the registrar said, slumping lazily into a chair. He reached out, picked up a bodhi seed, popped it into his mouth, and squinted his eyes in enjoyment.

Eat when full, sleep when satisfied—this was the life he wanted.

Cui Cuicui squeezed her eyes shut and took several deep breaths before barely suppressing the anger in her heart. “He Xin, are you a pig? Can’t you see the situation clearly? Do you think the current county magistrate is still like the previous one—letting you do whatever you want and not daring to touch you?”

How many times had she said it? He needed to cling tightly to the county magistrate’s thigh and not do anything that would annoy him. Why just wouldn’t he listen?

“Right now, immediately, get out and go to the yamen. Even if it’s just for show, go sit there. Don’t wander around at home.”

The registrar lifted his head and glanced at Cui Cuicui. Seeing the stormy look on her face, a chill ran through his heart. He obediently stood up, grabbed another bodhi seed and stuffed it into his mouth, then tucked his tail between his legs and ran out.

Since his wife told him to go to the yamen and put on a show, then he’d go put on a show.

Cui Cuicui gently patted her chest. After calming the fire in her heart, she instructed the maids to prepare gifts. She planned to go visit Li Qingling.

She had offended Li Qingling a few days ago. Today, she wanted to make up for it, hoping Li Qingling would be magnanimous and not hold it against her.

If she had known earlier that Liu Zhimou’s background was so powerful, she would never have casually offended Li Qingling.

What a miscalculation…

Li Qingling had no idea that Cui Cuicui was coming to see her. At this moment, she had already arrived at the outskirts of Ninghua Mountain.

Over the past two days, Ah Huang had cleared away the dangers in Ninghua Mountain. Unable to withstand Li Qingning’s constant pleading, Li Qingling reluctantly agreed to take her up the mountain to play.

The moment Li Qingning heard her sister agree, she immediately ran off to share the good news with Master Luo and the others.

So now, apart from Xichun and a few guards staying behind, everyone else had followed them up the mountain.

Fortunately, their back gate was close to Ninghua Mountain. Leaving from there, they didn’t encounter many people. Otherwise, a whole group moving together would have been far too eye-catching.

“Wow… this mountain is huge! Even bigger than Niutou Mountain,” Li Qingning exclaimed, craning her little head upward. “I wonder if there are wild fruits on the mountain? Or have they all been picked already?”

Li Qingling tapped her lightly on the head, telling her not to run around and to stay close.

Li Qingning hummed in agreement. She wasn’t familiar with this mountain and didn’t know if there were dangers. For the sake of her precious little life, she wouldn’t run around recklessly.

Once she got familiar with the mountain, then she could wander freely.

“Ah Huang, Ah Bai, go play. You don’t need to watch over us,” Li Qingling said, rubbing the big heads of Ah Huang and Ah Bai, then patting their bodies and telling them to go enjoy themselves.

This was just the outer area of the mountain. There wouldn’t be any danger.

Ah Huang snorted twice, nudged Li Qingling affectionately, and then ran off with Ah Bai.

“Alright, our Ninghua Mountain adventure begins now!” Li Qingling raised her hand and cheered. “Let’s go—” It was rare to come up the mountain to play, and she was in a great mood. It was also a good chance to test whether her archery was still accurate.

Li Qingning and the others responded with giggles and laughter, following behind Li Qingling as they explored Ninghua Mountain.

For lunch, Li Qingling and the guards hunted wild chickens and rabbits. Everyone was unusually relaxed, eating to their hearts’ content until their bellies were round.

“So full! If we could come up the mountain often to roast wild chickens and rabbits, that would be great,” Li Qingning said, patting her little belly as she sprawled on the grass, letting out a comfortable sigh. “Doesn’t anyone hunt on this mountain? Why are there so many animals here?”

Li Qingling flicked her on the forehead and pulled her up, telling her not to lie on the ground right after eating—it was bad for her health.

“Sis, should we come up the mountain to hunt once in a while?” Li Qingning hugged Li Qingling’s arm, lifting her little face to look at her expectantly.

When she didn’t hear her sister’s answer, she refused to give up.

Li Qingling’s expression darkened as she looked at Li Qingning. She wasn’t worried about Li Qingfeng and the others—she was worried about this little one, afraid she wouldn’t listen and would sneak up the mountain on her own.

“We’re not coming up the mountain. And you’re not allowed to sneak up here either. Do you hear me?”

Li Qingning nodded obediently, saying she understood.

Seeing that she had really taken it in, Li Qingling finally let out a quiet sigh of relief and promised to bring her again next time when she had time.

Coming up the mountain occasionally to relax was actually quite nice.

“I heard that Ninghua Mountain has wolves,” Master Luo added at the right moment. “They once bit someone to death. Since then, no one has dared to come up the mountain.” He glanced at Li Qingning. “Ningning, when there’s no one to protect you, you absolutely must not sneak up the mountain alone. Remember that.”

“I remember,” Li Qingning pouted, saying aggrievedly, “You have to trust me. Anything I promise, I will definitely do.”

Seeing the little girl look wronged, Master Luo laughed. “Alright, alright, that’s my fault. Our Ningning is a person of her word—once she promises something, she’ll keep it and won’t go back on it.”

“Ningning, I believe you,” Rourou said softly, reaching out to hold the little girl’s hand.

Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan also loudly said that they believed her.

Li Qingning puffed out her little chest, grinned broadly, and nodded her little head vigorously, saying she wouldn’t let down their trust.

At most, she’d just act cute with her sister a bit more whenever her sister was free, until her sister agreed to bring her up the mountain again.

She knew her sister was very soft-hearted. As long as she kept pestering her, her sister would usually give in.

With her little schemes in mind, Li Qingning cheerfully chirped about going to pick wild fruits.

Li Qingling simply split the group in two. She had half the guards protect Li Qingning and the other children to pick wild fruits, while the remaining guards stayed to protect her and Master Luo.

“Great-Grandpa, we’ll go pick wild fruits and bring them back for you to eat. You wait here,” Li Qingning said, patting Master Luo’s hand comfortingly, telling him not to be sad.

Master Luo smiled and nodded, saying okay.

After watching the children leave, he shot Li Qingling a dissatisfied glare and complained that his stamina was perfectly fine—so why wasn’t he allowed to go with them?

“…”

Li Qingling smiled helplessly. This old child was throwing a tantrum again.

“Great-Grandpa, I just thought that picking maowowo by myself would be a bit slow, so I wanted you to stay and help me.”

If she said he was old and might get tired, this old child would definitely flip out at her.

She felt her skill at coaxing old children was getting better and better.

Hearing Li Qingling’s words, Master Luo finally smiled. Excitedly, he took the basket from Li Qingling’s back and put it on his own, urging her to hurry up and take him to find maowowo.

The guard captain’s eye twitched. He wanted to help carry the basket for Master Luo, but Master Luo scowled and slapped his hand away, saying he didn’t need help—he could do it himself.

Li Qingling quickly blinked at the guard captain, signaling him to go along with Master Luo’s wishes and not upset him.

Anyway, the basket wasn’t heavy. If he wanted to carry it, let him carry it.

The guard captain helplessly withdrew his hand. Master Luo was really becoming more and more down-to-earth.

“What are you standing around for? Hurry up and go!”

Li Qingling responded with a sound and led the old child off to pick maowowo.