TSWPF -Chapter 346 Terrified

Seeing Li Qingfeng’s smile, Ma Zhi didn’t know why, but a bad premonition grew stronger in his heart.

What kind of terrifying things could there be in the county magistrate’s backyard?

Ma Zhi clenched his hands tightly and nervously followed Li Qingling and the others into the backyard.

As soon as they arrived, they heard Li Qingling call out, “Ah Huang, let’s go.”

“Ah Huang?”

Who was Ah Huang?

The four Ma brothers—well-educated and well-mannered—felt a rising sense of doubt. The next moment, they were dumbfounded. What did they see?

A tiger?

It was actually a tiger?

No, no, no… there were two!

A yellow one and a white one stepped out of a room—this… this… this was terrifying.

Ah Huang saw Li Qingling and the others and gracefully bounded toward them.

Seeing Ah Huang baring its sharp teeth in a wide grin, the four Ma brothers turned pale with fright.

Ah Huang ran up to Li Qingling and stopped, nudging her with its big head.

Li Qingling smiled and rubbed its head, whispering softly, “I’ll leave their safety to you in a moment.”

Ah Huang snorted in agreement. “No problem.”

They… they… what were they seeing? A tiger acting spoiled in front of the county magistrate’s wife? Spoiled?

This… this… was terrifying.

“Eh… why aren’t you screaming? Aren’t you scared?” Li Qingfeng glanced at the four Ma brothers and asked curiously.

Ma Zhi twisted his stiff neck, his teeth chattering violently. “S-scared… to death.” He didn’t want to scream—it was fear that made it impossible.

The other three brothers were the same, too scared to make a sound.

Li Qingfeng patted Ma Zhi on the shoulder heartily and laughed, “Not bad, not bad. Your courage isn’t small.”

He had expected them to scream in terror, but their courage was greater than he imagined.

Ma Zhi stretched his neck, swallowed hard, and stammered, “How… how come your family has tigers?”

“We raise them.” Li Qingfeng hooked Ma Zhi’s shoulder with a hand, smiling warmly. “Ah Huang and the others were raised from when they were cubs. Don’t worry, they won’t bite randomly.”

“Raised…?”

The four Ma brothers widened their eyes and stared at Li Qingfeng, forcing a trembling smile. The county magistrate’s family was truly extraordinary—raising tigers… remarkable.

Li Qingning cuddled Ah Huang’s big head, acting spoiled, then looked at Ma Li. “Ma Li gege, come here…” She smiled and beckoned him.

Ma Li glanced at Ah Huang, then at Li Qingning, shaking his head violently. He wouldn’t go.

Such big tigers could swallow him in one bite—he… he dared not go.

“Ah Huang is very gentle. It won’t bite you. Come, pet Ah Huang.” Li Qingning coaxed Ma Li mischievously. “If you dare to come and pet Ah Huang, I’ll let it hunt two wild rabbits for you.”

Hearing food, Ma Li’s heart wavered a little. “It… it’s really that capable?”

“Of course! Ah Huang is very capable. It even hunted wild boars before!” Li Qingning looked proud. “Ma Li gege, don’t you want some roasted wild rabbit? It’s delicious.”

Ma Li’s mouth watered. He wiped his lips and asked Li Qingning timidly, “Ah Huang… really won’t bite me?”

Li Qingning nodded firmly.

Hearing that—and thinking of roasted rabbit—Ma Li’s courage grew a bit. His legs trembling, he slowly walked toward Li Qingning.

“Li…” Ma Zhi reached out, wanting to pull Ma Li back, but Li Qingfeng pressed his hand down.

“Don’t worry. Ma Li will be fine. I guarantee it.”

Li Qingling smiled and reassured the three other Ma brothers, telling them not to worry—Ah Huang wouldn’t harm them casually.

The three brothers felt their tension ease slightly. They trusted the county magistrate’s wife.

Hand in hand, they nervously watched Ma Li take each step toward Ah Huang.

It felt like a century before Ma Li reached the tiger. “N-Ning… Ningning… sister, I… I’m here.” This… this tiger was huge. He… he was terrified.

Li Qingning smiled and placed Ma Li’s hand on Ah Huang’s head. “See? Nothing happened, right? Go ahead, pet it yourself. Feels good, doesn’t it?”

Seeing Ah Huang lower its head submissively, Ma Li’s courage grew. His small hand gently petted Ah Huang’s head, feeling the soft fur, and he smiled, nodding.

Soft and smooth—sleeping on it must be so comfortable.

“See? I told you, right? Ah Huang is very good and often brings back game for us to eat.”

“Really?” Ma Li’s eyes widened in surprise as he leaned closer and gently rubbed Ah Huang’s head. “Ah Huang, you’re amazing.”

The three older brothers thought: “…This little brother is so brave, not even afraid of a tiger.”

Li Qingfeng looked at the three and asked if they wanted to pet it too.

The three brothers exchanged glances, hesitating, then slowly nodded.

Li Qingfeng chuckled lightly and guided the three timid brothers to Ah Huang, letting them extend their hands.

They took a deep breath, then cautiously touched Ah Huang. Seeing it didn’t react, they relaxed and gently petted its body.

After a while, the four brothers were no longer afraid. They leaned on Ah Huang, laughing and joking.

Mr. Luo, hands behind his back, glanced at the guards and chuckled, “These kids are braver than your lot by far.”

The guards spent some time with Ah Huang and Ah Bai before gradually losing their fear.

They glanced at the four Ma brothers and were surprised—who knew these four would be so brave? Truly, the young calves aren’t afraid of tigers.

Their courage was growing.

Ah Huang impatiently lifted its head at Li Qingling, snorting, asking when they would go up the mountain. Its fur had almost been messed up by the four kids.

Li Qingling giggled and called the Ma brothers, saying it was time to go to the mountain.

Ah Huang shook its fur, instructing Ah Bai to wait at home while it went hunting to bring back food.

Ah Bai responded, promising it would stay put.

Ah Huang licked Ah Bai’s fur and strode out confidently.

“Ma brothers, our tigers’ existence is a secret. Don’t tell anyone.” Li Qingling warned, concerned they might cause panic among the townspeople. “If others find out, Ah Huang could get hurt.”

Hearing this, the four covered their mouths and shook their heads vigorously—they wouldn’t tell anyone.

They liked Ah Huang and didn’t want it harmed.

“Good kids.”

Ma Li looked at Li Qingling cautiously. “Can we tell our parents?”

Li Qingling thought for a moment, then nodded. She trusted Ma Xiancheng and his wife wouldn’t leak the secret.

Ma Li grinned, excited to share the news with his parents that evening.

“Madam, how did you find Ah Huang? Can I take one home?” Ma Li’s eyes followed the majestic tiger running ahead.

If he had a tiger, no one would dare bully him.

“…“

Li Qingling glanced at him, sighed, and explained how they found Ah Huang, warning that tigers cannot be raised casually.

“Why?”

Li Qingling patiently explained until he understood.

“You can come visit Ah Huang and Ah Bai anytime,” she added, ruffling his head with a smile.

Ma Li’s eyes lit up. He nodded vigorously.

Excited, he called out to Ah Huang and ran forward.

“This child has a good temperament, pure-hearted.” Mr. Luo said, glancing at Ma Li.

Li Qingling smiled and nodded. If the Ma family weren’t decent, she wouldn’t have associated with them.

At the mountain foot, the four Ma brothers looked around curiously.

They had never been to Ninghua Mountain and had no idea what it was like.

“What are you standing there for? Let’s go up.” Li Qingfeng shook his head at the frozen brothers. “Poor kids… never been up a mountain at this age!”

The four brothers nodded and followed him obediently.

Li Qingfeng warned them not to wander off.

They responded obediently.

“Xiao Feng, are there no wolves on the mountain?” Ma Shu asked, puzzled.

Li Qingfeng, worried they might wander off, said firmly, “There are. That’s why we didn’t bring you further. Never go up the mountain alone, got it? We only dare because Ah Huang and the guards are here.”

Hearing “wolves,” the four brothers staggered in fear.

“We… we’ll stick close to you.”

“Good. I’ll take you to pick something to eat later.”

Li Qingling suddenly stopped ahead, signaling Li Qingfeng and the others to stay put.

Holding a bow, she tiptoed forward, squatting near a tree. Moments later, she drew and released an arrow.

Next, she smiled and ran over with a wild rabbit. “We’ll have roasted rabbit later!”

The four Ma brothers gaped in shock.

“Ma… madam is amazing!”

Li Qingfeng nodded proudly. “Yes, during the Great Famine, my sister’s archery saved us.”

If she hadn’t been there back then, they wouldn’t have survived.

Ma Zhi clenched his fist, inspired. He would learn archery too, and be as skilled as Madam.

He was destined to become a general—how could he not learn to shoot?