TSWPF -Chapter 333 Rumors

After this incident, the outcome was that on that very day, all the people of Ninghua County learned that the new magistrate was under his wife’s strict control, and that the magistrate’s wife was not only a “tigress” but also an excellent cook.

This topic immediately overshadowed the previous rumors about Madam Cui’s gifts to the magistrate’s wife being returned.

Early the next morning, Hu Juanjuan came to visit with her four sons and kept glancing curiously at Li Qingling.

Li Qingling noticed and touched her cheek, asking, “Is there something on my face?”

Hu Juanjuan shook her head. “No.”

“Madam Hu, just say what’s on your mind. No need to beat around the bush.”

Hearing this, Hu Juanjuan cleared her throat and asked whether Li Qinglin had heard the rumors.

Li Qinglin looked at her, completely confused. “What rumors? I haven’t gone out, so I really haven’t heard anything.”

It seemed the rumors were about her.

Hu Juanjuan pursed her lips, trying to suppress the smile at the corner of her mouth. “Madam, it’s spreading outside that you’re a tigress and that you’ve turned the magistrate into a henpecked husband.” She had laughed a lot when she first heard it.

After interacting with Li Qinglin, she really wouldn’t have guessed she was a tigress.

Even if she didn’t completely understand Li Qinglin, she at least understood half of her character. She was the kind of person who knew love and hate clearly. If someone treated her well, she would return tenfold; if someone wronged her, she would ignore minor offenses but strike back at extreme ones.

Honestly, she liked Li Qinglin’s personality very much. Being around such a person was relaxing—you didn’t have to guard yourself all the time, and you didn’t have to worry about someone stabbing you in the back.

People like that were upright and straightforward, unlikely to harm others without reason.

Hearing Hu Juanjuan’s words, Li Qinglin was completely dumbfounded. She, a tigress? Turning Liu Zhimou into a henpecked husband? How could such ridiculous talk spread?

She hadn’t gone out except that one day with Hu Juanjuan. She hadn’t met anyone else.

Then who had spread such a fierce image of her?

“Ahem…” Li Qingling covered her mouth, coughing twice. “This is so unfair. How could I possibly be a… tigress? I… I’m clearly very gentle, right, Madam Hu?” She hadn’t expected that so soon after arriving in Ninghua County, her lifetime reputation would be ruined.

Who was the scoundrel that tarnished her good name?

Hu Juanjuan tried to compose her expression and nodded firmly.

If there hadn’t been a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, it would have been even more convincing.

Li Qingling silently rubbed her forehead. “If you want to laugh, just laugh. No need to hold back.”

At that, Hu Juanjuan burst into laughter. For some reason, seeing Li Qinglin’s helpless expression was especially funny to her.

Such a gentle person being rumored as a tigress was really… speechless.

After laughing so much her stomach hurt, Hu Juanjuan slowly stopped and wiped the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief.

“I’m glad I could provide you with some entertainment,” Li Qingling said with mock exasperation, giving her a side glance, then turned to the four obedient boys standing to the side, smiling. “What are your names? Who’s the eldest?”

The four Ma brothers stepped forward obediently, introducing themselves in order.

Li Qingling nodded, then handed out the prepared meeting gifts—one set of scholar’s tools to each boy, exactly without favoritism.

“Hurry and thank Madam Magistrate.”

“Thank you, Madam Magistrate,” the Ma brothers said, bowing.

Li Qingling smiled and said it was nothing, encouraging them to study well and become successful in the future.

The boys replied loudly, “Yes!”

Hu Juanjuan nodded in satisfaction. These four didn’t embarrass her after all.

“Xichun, go call the second young master and the others over to meet the new friends.”

Xichun responded and left.

Fifteen minutes later, Liu Zhiyan and the others arrived.

“Come, I’ll introduce you to Madam Hu’s sons. You’re around the same age, so you can play together,” Li Qingling said with a smile, standing up to introduce them. “Xiao Yan, Xiao Feng, you’ll take care of our little guests, okay?”

Liu Zhiyan and Li Qingfeng nodded confidently.

It was just taking care of some children—they could handle it.

Li Qingling lightly patted them on the head, signaling they could take the little guests to play.

“Sister, can I come too?” Li Qingning grabbed Li Qingling’s hand, asking.

“You want to play with the older brothers?”

Li Qingning nodded eagerly.

Li Qingling agreed but reminded her to listen to the older brothers and not act on her own.

“Okay…” As long as there was fun to be had, nothing else mattered. Li Qingning didn’t hesitate, holding Liu Zhirou’s hand. “Rou Rou, let’s go play.”

“No, I—”

“The second and third brothers aren’t careful enough to take care of our guests, so we have to help,” Li Qingning interrupted, pulling her along. Her sister had instructed her to take Rou Rou out more often and not let her stay in the dormitory all day—it would make her sick from boredom.

Hu Juanjuan looked at Li Qingling enviously and asked how she educated her children—they were really well-behaved.

Li Qingling smiled awkwardly, saying that the children were actually taught by the head of the household, and she hadn’t really done much.

She wasn’t very skilled at teaching children, and before, she had been busy earning money and didn’t have the time.

Still, she had to admit that Liu Zhimou had done a good job raising the children—they were sensible, thoughtful, and clever. Anyone who met them would praise them.

Hu Juanjuan blinked in surprise, never expecting that the magistrate himself had educated the children. No wonder they were so intelligent and well-behaved. If her own children were like that, she’d have much less to worry about.

She was genuinely envious of Li Qingling.

If the women of Ninghua County knew these things, they would definitely be jealous of the magistrate’s wife.

Li Qingling coughed awkwardly, “I… don’t really teach the children; the head of the household took over. Judging by this, he’s done a good job raising them.”

Not just good—very good.

Who wouldn’t want their children to be intelligent and well-behaved?

The magistrate’s wife truly had a good life, married to a devoted husband. She was probably the happiest woman in Ninghua County.

Though her own husband treated her well, the contrast with the magistrate’s dedication was obvious.

Tonight, she would definitely remind her husband to learn from the magistrate.

“Were these two young ladies also personally taught by the magistrate?”

“Yes, he taught them personally,” Li Qingling said calmly. “He treats all the children equally. If anything, he might be a bit biased toward the two girls.”

Liu Zhimou believed boys were rough and could be handled roughly, but girls had to be pampered.

Whenever they were punished, Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan would loudly protest that Liu Zhimou was biased.

But Liu Zhimou ignored their words and asked whether they wanted their sisters to receive the same punishment as them.

The boys cared deeply for their sisters and always shook their heads.

Liu Zhimou’s method kept them completely in line.

“Truly admirable, the magistrate is impressive,” Hu Juanjuan said. The magistrate not only personally taught the young masters but also the young ladies—a feat many families couldn’t manage.

Even in her own home, the children’s father only occasionally asked about homework—nothing more.

So her husband really needed to learn from the magistrate. Even mastering half of his method would be beneficial.

“Our parents are both gone; the eldest brother is like a father, so it’s his responsibility to teach,” Li Qingling said. She didn’t see it as anything extraordinary.

Hu Juanjuan chuckled. “Madam, you’re truly happy.”

“Madam Hu, you’re not bad either,” Li Qingling smiled. “I think true happiness is simple—contentment.”

Don’t spend your time imagining things that don’t belong to you—it’s meaningless.

Better to read and study, and make yourself outstanding. Once you are excellent, no one will underestimate you.

Hu Juanjuan nodded in agreement. Even though her family wasn’t wealthy, they lived happily.

Li Qingling thought for a moment and added, “Children raised with men around them tend to be more confident and strong.” Women teach children delicacy; men teach confidence and resilience. Both combined ensure complete growth.

Hu Juanjuan agreed again, realizing her own children weren’t confident enough in front of others and were reluctant to express themselves.

This would be bad for them in the long term.

For their sake, she would have to persuade her husband to spend more time raising them.

Li Qingling smiled and stood up. “Let’s go see what the children are playing.” She wondered if Li Qingfeng and the others had properly entertained the Ma brothers.

The Ma brothers’ names were interesting and proper, well-mannered.

“Alright…” Hu Juanjuan obediently stood up, following Li Qingling. She worried a bit about whether the four boys might cause trouble.

Hopefully, they would get along with the young masters.

If they played well together, they could come over more often. It would make it easier to learn from Master Luo.

When Li Qingling led Hu Juanjuan to the pavilion, they stopped.

They saw several children surrounding Master Luo, chattering and asking questions.

Master Luo patiently answered everything—even fantastical questions from Ma Li.

Li Qingling turned to Hu Juanjuan with a smile. “It seems the children are getting along very well.” This way, Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhimou would have more playmates.

Previously, she had wondered whether to send them to the academy—not for learning, but just to make friends.

In the end, they had refused, so she let it go.