TSWPF -Chapter 348 Furious

If they were going to send dried wild rabbits and pheasants to Old Man Xue, then the Liu family and the Lu family couldn’t be left out either.

By that calculation, they would need to hunt a lot of wild pheasants and rabbits in the afternoon.

Li Qingling thought for a moment and decided to split up: she would hunt, the children would pick fruit, and Master Luo would collect the down nests.

No one objected to this arrangement.

Li Qingling looked around, clapped her hands once, and smiled. “Since no one has any objections, let’s get moving.”

The children responded with a cheerful “Okay,” slung their baskets on their backs, and ran off happily.

Master Luo, thinking about all the down nests he could gather, smiled so broadly that his face seemed to bloom. He slung the basket on his back, hummed a tune, and headed toward the areas where the nests were plentiful.

After watching them leave, Li Qingling stood in place for a moment, then turned to the guards protecting her, smiled, and said, “Let’s go!”

It had been a long time since she had gone on a proper hunt—this time, she intended to really go all out.

Since no one came to disturb Ninghua Mountain, the wildlife had been reproducing quickly. Hunting some of them would actually benefit the forest.

By Shen hour (around 9–11 a.m.), Li Qingling returned to the rendezvous spot with a light step.

She set down the basket on her back, rubbed her shoulders, and looked at the basket full of game. Her eyes curved into a smile.

Combined with what the guards were carrying, there were several baskets full—enough to divide among everyone.

She exhaled deeply, ran to the river to wash her face, and finally relaxed.

Sitting on the grass and catching her breath, she checked the sky, cupped her hands like a megaphone, and shouted, “Grandmaster, children, gather!” They had to descend before nightfall.

It was dangerous to stay in the forest after dark; she dared not be careless.

Hearing her calls echo through the mountains, Li Qingling chuckled lightly and called out several more times before stopping.

Soon, Master Luo appeared from somewhere with the guards protecting him.

Li Qingling saw him and smiled. “Grandmaster, judging by your expression, you’ve had a good haul.” His smile was so radiant it was hard to ignore.

Master Luo laughed heartily and pointed to the baskets the guards were carrying. “All the baskets are full. We’ll take them home to dry and send them to Old Man Xue so they can taste Ninghua County’s down nests.” He also thought to make them a little jealous.

At this moment, he was grateful he wasn’t married—no family obligations, able to go wherever he pleased.

Unlike Old Man Liu and the others; even if they wanted to come to Ninghua County, they couldn’t. Pitiful, really.

Li Qingling glanced at the baskets the guards carried, overflowing with down nests, and gave Master Luo a thumbs-up. “Impressive.”

Master Luo stroked his beard contentedly. Looking at the down nests he had personally gathered, he felt a sense of accomplishment.

He planned to write to Old Man Xue, letting him know what kind of life he was living there, to make them envious.

Thinking of this made him smile even more.

“Where are the children? Could they have gotten lost?” Li Qingling frowned with worry.

In the forest, she couldn’t search recklessly, fearing she might get separated from them.

Master Luo, though worried, didn’t show it. He smiled and said, “They probably haven’t. Let’s wait a bit longer.”

They decided to wait two more quarters of an hour (half an hour). If the children still hadn’t returned, they would go look for them.

Li Qingling clenched her fist and forced herself to remain calm. She feared nothing except for the children getting into trouble.

When the half-hour was up and the children were still missing, her heart raced. She told Master Luo to wait there while she went to bring the children back.

Master Luo nodded, warning her to be careful.

Li Qingling, accompanied by a few guards, only took a couple of steps before her sharp eyes spotted the children returning.

She immediately exhaled in relief and rushed over. “Why are you so late?”

Liu Zhiyan looked a little embarrassed. They had picked up some chestnuts along the way and couldn’t resist gathering more.

Li Qingling saw the children’s baskets were full.

She turned to the youngest three—Li Qingning and two others—and asked if they could carry the weight.

She truly feared that the heavy baskets would crush the little ones.

“Sis, I’m tired.” Li Qingning, who had carried her basket for so long, said hesitantly.

Li Qingling immediately took her basket off her back and told Liu Zhirou and Ma Li to put theirs down too—no need to strain themselves.

They obeyed and set their baskets on the ground.

The three guards stepped forward and quickly lifted the baskets. Only then did they relax, glad the little ones had finally let go.

“Tired? Do you want to rest before heading back?” Li Qingling asked, worried about their fatigue.

The children shook their heads. They could still walk.

It was almost dark; staying in the mountains wasn’t safe. They could rest properly once home.

Li Qingling didn’t press. She led them down the mountain.

At that moment, a tiger’s roar echoed through the forest.

The guards immediately formed a protective circle around Li Qingling. Their presence sharpened, ready for battle.

The four Zhishu Dali brothers trembled with fear.

They had never encountered such a situation and were terrified.

“It’s fine, it’s Ah Huang,” Li Qingling said. “He’s letting us know he’s coming down the mountain too.”

Why did that guy roar for no reason? Wasn’t he afraid people down below would hear?

Really… once he got home, she would scold him properly.

Hearing her, the guards relaxed slightly—it wasn’t some other tiger.

“Ah Huang, stop calling. Come on!” Li Qingling shouted.

In a moment, Ah Huang appeared, carrying a silly little roe deer in his mouth.

Seeing Ah Huang, the guards fully relaxed.

Ah Huang glanced at the guards with disdain, held his head high, and ran in front of Li Qingling, swishing his tail at her before continuing forward.

The guards: “….”

They had just been scorned by a tiger…

Li Qingling chuckled, waved, and shouted, “Down the mountain!”

The four Zhishu Dali brothers lowered their heads in embarrassment—they had nearly knelt in fear moments ago.

“Ningning, how did you know it was Ah Huang?” Ma Li whispered to Li Qingning.

Li Qingning replied matter-of-factly, “I recognized his voice immediately.”

The four brothers: “….” They hadn’t heard it.

Seeing their awkward expressions, Li Qingning giggled. “Once you get familiar with Ah Huang, you’ll recognize him too.”

The brothers nodded—they would quickly get used to Ah Huang and wouldn’t be scared next time.

Back home, Li Qingling asked if the four brothers wanted to eat at her place.

They shook their heads—they wanted to eat at home.

Li Qingling didn’t insist and handed them two pheasants and two rabbits to take home.

Ma Zhi didn’t want to take so much, only took one pheasant, nudged his three brothers, and ran off with the basket.

Since they hadn’t hunted, they felt embarrassed to take so much.

One pheasant and the rabbit from the youngest brother’s basket would be enough for the family.

“Hey, Ma Zhi, what are you carrying?” A neighbor near the Ma household asked curiously when she saw the four brothers running home with baskets.

“Auntie, we went to get pigweed,” Ma Zhi shouted, giving his three brothers a signal. “Let’s go, home for dinner.” Then they ran.

The three brothers followed closely.

They ran non-stop until home, slammed the courtyard gate, and only then could they breathe heavily.

Luckily, they ran fast. Otherwise, if anyone had seen the contents of their baskets, who knew what trouble might have ensued?

Hu Juanjuan, hearing the commotion, came out of the kitchen. Seeing the four brothers panting heavily, she asked why they were so late.

Ma Li stood, beckoned her over mysteriously, and said, “Mother, come here.”

Hu Juanjuan, puzzled, walked over. “What is it, Ma Li?”

Ma Li carefully took out the rabbit and said excitedly, “Ah Huang hunted this rabbit for me.”

Ah Huang hunted a rabbit?

Who is Ah Huang?

Hu Juanjuan’s mind was full of questions.

“Mother, look at these,” Ma Zhi pulled her toward their baskets.

When Hu Juanjuan saw the contents of the four sons’ baskets, she was shocked.

She lifted her head sharply. “Where did these come from? Did you go up the mountain? Are you crazy?”

Seeing her so angry, the four brothers were terrified.

“Mother, don’t be mad. Let us explain.” The four ran over, patting her back gently.

“Fine. You better explain clearly. If not, don’t blame me for what happens to your backsides,” Hu Juanjuan said, taking a deep breath to suppress her anger. She told them to bring the baskets inside first.

The four brothers looked at each other, then obediently carried the baskets into the house.

Just as they sat in a row, their father, Magistrate Ma, returned.

Sensing the serious atmosphere, he asked, puzzled, “What happened?”

“These children went up the mountain. I was about to hear their explanation,” Hu Juanjuan said, glancing at him. “Husband, sit and listen too.”

Went up the mountain?

Magistrate Ma’s face darkened. He sat beside Hu Juanjuan, narrowed his eyes at the four brothers, and demanded a clear explanation.

The three younger brothers all looked at their eldest brother, Ma Zhi, signaling him to speak.

As the eldest, Ma Zhi couldn’t escape. He rubbed his hands nervously and explained quietly.

After hearing it, Magistrate Ma and Hu Juanjuan were wide-eyed with shock. After a long pause, Magistrate Ma stammered, “The… the… the magistrate’s household keeps two tigers?” Did they… hear wrong?

The four brothers nodded vigorously and repeatedly warned Magistrate Ma and Hu Juanjuan not to tell anyone.

Magistrate Ma and Hu Juanjuan exchanged glances, swallowed nervously, and both thought: The magistrate’s household is truly extraordinary—they even dare to keep tigers.

“Father, Mother, don’t worry. Ah Huang is very well-behaved and won’t bite anyone,” Ma Li earnestly reassured them. “Today, Ah Huang hunted two rabbits for me. We roasted one for lunch, and I brought the other one home for you. It’s delicious!” Thinking of the roasted pheasant, rabbit, and fish they had for lunch, he licked his lips, wondering when he could have it again.

Ma Zhi and the three brothers nodded in agreement, confirming it had indeed happened.