TSWPF -Chapter 347 Excitement

Ma Zhi ran up to Li Qingling and asked if she could teach him archery.

Li Qingling looked at him and smiled. She said that if he really wanted to learn, she could give him some guidance. However, if he wanted a more systematic, thorough instruction, it would be best to hire a proper teacher.

She only knew the basics herself; she couldn’t teach beyond that.

Upon hearing this, Ma Zhi’s cheeks flushed with excitement. He nodded vigorously and said he would learn from her first. Once he had a foundation, he would find a way to ask his father to hire a proper teacher.

Li Qingling agreed and said she would start teaching him the next day.

“Thank you, Madam,” Ma Zhi bowed to her and, like a loyal servant, took the wild rabbit from her hands. “Madam, I’ll hold this for you.”

Li Qingling smiled at him and then turned to continue walking.

Ma Zhi, excited, gestured wildly to his three younger brothers: “Madam agreed to teach me archery!” He felt like shouting with joy.

The three brothers looked at him enviously. Big brother is so lucky—being taught archery by the county magistrate’s wife.

Seeing his brothers’ envy, Ma Zhi chuckled and patted their shoulders. “Once I’ve learned, I’ll teach you guys too.”

The three nodded in agreement.

Li Qingfeng glanced at the four well-behaved brothers and asked, after thinking for a moment, “Do you guys want to learn martial arts?” Since they were close to him, he didn’t mind helping them a little.

“Martial arts?”

The four brothers’ eyes lit up. They looked at Li Qingfeng eagerly and asked where they could learn martial arts.

“These past few days, the head of the guards has been teaching us martial arts. If you can come over at dawn, you can learn with us.” They had started learning from the head of the guards recently.

They had to wake up at dawn and squat in horse stance.

On the first day, before dawn, the head of the guards dragged them out of bed and had them squat in the courtyard, nearly making them fall asleep while squatting.

After a few days, they were starting to get used to it.

Ma Zhi asked Li Qingfeng worriedly if the head of the guards might refuse to teach them.

“It won’t matter if there are a few more of you. The head of the guards won’t mind.” After saying this, Li Qingfeng suddenly felt it might not be appropriate to decide on the guards’ behalf, so he quickly added, “Why don’t you ask him first and see if he agrees?”

The four brothers nodded in agreement.

If they could learn martial arts from the head of the guards, it would be wonderful.

“Xiaofeng, thank you,” Ma Zhi said gratefully to Li Qingfeng.

Li Qingfeng and his family had been so good to them; they were truly grateful.

If they had the chance in the future, they would definitely repay them properly.

Li Qingfeng laughed heartily, “We’re good friends; no need to be so formal.”

The four brothers smiled foolishly at this.

“Brother Ma Li, come quickly! Ah Huang has hunted two wild rabbits for you!” Li Qingning’s shout made Ma Li leap with excitement, and he ran toward her.

“Little Ningning, did Ah Huang really hunt two wild rabbits for me?”

Li Qingning smiled and nodded. She picked up the two wild rabbits from the ground and handed them to Ma Li. “Here, these are what Ah Huang hunted for you.”

Ma Li took them happily, looked around, and, not seeing Ah Huang, asked Li Qingning, “Where did Ah Huang go?”

“He went to hunt for Ah Bai.”

Ma Li nodded and looked down at the plump rabbits, grinning from ear to ear. “Little Ningning, can we roast one for lunch and take the other home for my parents to taste?” These fat rabbits must be delicious.

“That’s up to you.”

“Alright, it’s decided then,” Ma Li nodded. “Thank you, Little Ningning.”

Li Qingning waved her small hand. “No need to thank me.”

Watching the two little ones laugh and chat, Mr. Luo turned to Li Qingling and said, “Our Ningning is really nice. She’s so young, but she already knows how to be considerate of others.”

He thought of the children from the noble families in the capital—so arrogant and domineering, it was unbearable to watch.

His own children were much better—thoughtful, kind…

Talking about his children’s virtues, he could go on for days.

Li Qingling smiled and nodded. Her children’s temperaments really were quite good.

As a parent, she felt proud in her heart.

“Ah, could it be that my little Ning is starting to fancy that silly Ma Li?” Mr. Luo whispered to Li Qingling.

“….” Li Qingling gave him a blank look. “Grandmaster, you’re overthinking. They’re just kids.”

Mr. Luo frowned and sighed worriedly, “No, no, I don’t approve. That Ma Li boy is too silly; he could easily be tricked. He won’t take care of little Ning properly.”

Grandmaster, weren’t we supposed to keep this pure?

Li Qingling twitched the corner of her mouth. “Grandmaster, you really are thinking too much. They’re still little brats. How could they even have thoughts like that?” She had no idea why he’d go there in his mind.

Mr. Luo glanced back at the two little ones. His worry only increased. He realized he needed to find a way to keep that brat Ma Li away from his little Ning.

His little Ning, such a delicate treasure, shouldn’t be casually messed with.

Ma Li, who had been laughing happily, suddenly shivered, feeling a chill run down his spine.

For some reason, he felt a wave of malice behind him.

“Brother Ma Li, are you cold?” Li Qingning asked, noticing his shiver.

Hearing her, he instantly shook off the feeling, forcing a smile. “No, I’m not cold.”

Li Qingning nodded and continued talking about other things.

An hour later, Li Qingling had hunted six wild chickens and five wild rabbits herself. Combined with what the guards had hunted, it was enough for lunch.

The group returned to the spot where they had roasted chicken last time. Without Li Qingling lifting a finger, the guards worked together to clean the wild chickens and rabbits by the river.

Seeing fish in the river, Li Qingling’s eyes lit up. She put her hands in the water, and in a moment, the fish swam toward her. With quick reflexes, she caught four or five fish.

The guards, seeing the fish wriggling on the bank and glancing at Li Qingling, broke into a cold sweat. Madam, must you be this amazing?

They were completely outclassed by her.

Li Qingling chuckled at the stunned guards. “These fish in the river are a bit slow.” She paused. “We’ll have grilled fish later.”

The guards snapped back to attention and agreed, sending a few of them to continue catching fish.

Those guards had wanted to imitate Li Qingling and catch fish with their bare hands.

Unexpectedly, they caught nothing and ended up soaked.

Madam, weren’t the fish supposed to be slow?

Li Qingling noticed their resentful looks and sheepishly touched her nose. “Keep trying. I’ll start the fire and roast the chickens and rabbits.”

This time, they were well-prepared, bringing not only various seasonings but also clay pots.

They could roast some and stew others.

The four brothers were experiencing this for the first time. Following Li Qingling, they asked questions constantly out of curiosity.

Li Qingling patiently explained everything and even gave them little tasks, keeping their smiles bright and continuous.

When they tasted the wild chicken Li Qingling had roasted, they didn’t even care about burning their mouths, finishing the chicken in a few bites.

It was so delicious.

So delicious that they wished they could swallow their tongues.

Li Qingling cut another chicken leg and handed it to them, reminding them to eat slowly so they wouldn’t choke.

“Little Ningning, do you often get to eat such delicious roasted chicken?” Ma Li asked, chewing on the chicken leg.

Li Qingning licked her fingers and said that back in Niutou Village, they ate it all the time, but not here. Her sister didn’t allow them to go up the mountain much.

Eat it all the time?

Ma Li was instantly envious of Li Qingning. He wished he could eat it anytime.

Such delicious roasted chicken—it would never get boring in his lifetime.

“Brother Ma Li, have you ever eaten roast duck?”

Ma Li shook his head honestly. “No. Is it good?”

“Yes,” Li Qingning nodded. “My sister runs a roast duck shop in the capital. The ducks there are especially tasty. If you ever go to the capital, I’ll treat you.” She realized she hadn’t had roast duck in a while and missed it.

Ma Li couldn’t help swallowing. “Can Madam also open a roast duck shop here?”

If Little Ningning said it was especially delicious, it must truly be so.

“I’ll ask my sister and see if it’s possible,” Li Qingning said. If her sister opened a shop here, they could eat roast duck anytime.

Ma Li nodded repeatedly and dug into his chicken leg with delight.

After finishing the roasted wild chicken, rabbit, and fish, they moved on to the stewed wild rabbits and chicken in the clay pot. The fragrant chicken soup instantly cleared the heaviness from the roasted meat.

“Life like this is heavenly,” Mr. Luo sipped the chicken soup and sighed.

Even if the emperor called him back to the capital, he wouldn’t want to go.

This leisurely life was what he truly wanted.

Li Qingling glanced at Mr. Luo and reminded him not to drink too much, or he would feel bloated.

Mr. Luo hummed in acknowledgment and continued sipping the soup.

This lunch left everyone stuffed, especially the four brothers.

It was their first time eating such a meal, and they had overeaten.

Seeing them uncomfortable, Li Qingling helplessly took digestive pills from her pouch and gave each of them one to help them digest.

Mr. Luo popped a pill into his mouth, tasting its sweetness, and looked at Li Qingling in surprise. “Was this made by Old Xue?”

Li Qingling nodded. “Yes, my grandfather gave it to me before coming to Ninghua County.” She paused. “He was worried Ningning and Rou Rou wouldn’t take it if it was bitter, so he made it sweet.”

The old man’s concern for the children moved her deeply.

Li Qingning pouted. “I miss grandpa. When will he come see me? Sister, can we dry the wild chickens and rabbits and send them to grandpa?”

Li Qingling patted her little head and nodded. “We can do that.”

Thinking of her grandfather made her feel nostalgic. She wondered how he was doing and if he was taking care of himself.