TSWPF -Chapter 365 Humiliation

When Liu Zhimou returned and heard about the matter, he smiled and gently rubbed her head, telling her not to feel pressured—just accept it with peace of mind and leave the rest to him.

The goodwill the common people showed Li Qingling, he would keep firmly in his heart and repay by working even harder for them.

Li Qingling gave a soft “mm,” lifted her head to look at him, and asked where he had gone.

Liu Zhimou sat down beside her and said he had gone to the yamen—there had been a turning point in Ying Jie’s case.

“Oh? What kind of turning point?” she asked.

Liu Zhimou glanced at her and lightly flicked her forehead, telling her not to worry about such things and to just live happily every day.

Li Qingling pouted and stopped asking, smoothly changing the topic.

The two were chatting happily when Xichun came over and said that Madam Hu had arrived.

Hearing this, Liu Zhimou stood up and told Li Qingling to chat with Hu Juanjuan while he went to the study.

No sooner had he left than Xichun brought Hu Juanjuan in.

Hu Juanjuan looked at Li Qingling apologetically and asked if she had disturbed her and Liu Zhimou.

Li Qingling shook her head and said no—he had gone to the study to deal with some matters.

“I heard that Madam plans to invite the townsfolk for a meal, so I thought I’d come by and see if there’s anything I can help with.”

She knew there weren’t many servants in the magistrate’s residence. Preparing so much food at once would likely be overwhelming.

“Thank you for your kindness, Madam Hu. With the guards helping, we should manage,” Li Qingling replied. Two chefs were in charge of cooking, while the guards handled the rest—it was manageable.

Hearing this, Hu Juanjuan let out a sigh of relief. As long as they could manage, that was good. She was afraid things would get too busy and delay the townsfolk’s mealtime.

“Madam, I heard from Miss Nianxia that Ah Bai gave birth?” Hu Juanjuan asked.

Thinking of the adorable little Dot, Li Qingling’s lips curved into a smile. She nodded lightly and said, “She gave birth this morning. It’s a very cute little one.”

Hu Juanjuan looked surprised. “Ah Bai only had one cub?”

She hadn’t asked Nianxia how many cubs there were—she had assumed there were several!

“Yes, just one.” And that single cub had exhausted Ah Bai terribly—far more painful than when she had given birth to several before.

“That cub really knows how to pick the timing,” Hu Juanjuan said with a smile. “Born on the same day as Madam’s birthday.”

Come to think of it, it really was Ah Bai’s birthday gift to her. Li Qingling smiled, lips curling upward.

The two chatted for a long while. When it was almost time, they linked arms and headed to the dining hall.

When Li Qingling saw that the courtyard in front of the dining hall was filled with tables and stools, she lightly slapped her forehead. How had she forgotten something so important?

Fortunately, Xichun had been thoughtful and made up for what she had overlooked.

Otherwise, when it came time to eat and there were no tables or stools to sit at, that would have been utterly embarrassing.

Seeing Xichun rushing about busily, Li Qingling’s eyes filled with satisfaction.

“Madam, Miss Xichun is truly a capable and good girl,” Hu Juanjuan said. After interacting with her, she had grown quite fond of Xichun. “Madam, is Miss Xichun engaged?”

She thought of her younger brother back at her parents’ home—if he could marry Xichun, it would truly be a blessing from heaven.

Li Qingling turned her head to glance at Hu Juanjuan and spoke frankly. “There are a few young men in the household who are somewhat interested in Xichun, but I don’t know what Xichun herself thinks.” She knew Hu Juanjuan was trying to play matchmaker. “I’ve discussed this with Xichun before. She said she’s not in a hurry—if she truly wants to marry, she’ll tell me herself. So I’m letting her decide.”

Thinking of the guards in the magistrate’s residence and then comparing them to her own brother, there was simply no comparison. Hu Juanjuan knew this match was hopeless.

She covered her mouth and laughed lightly. “I’ve truly never seen such a good master as Madam.”

She had met plenty of people, yet never one who cared for servants as much as Li Qingling did. If it were someone else, they would not only guard against their maids, but the more vicious ones would even casually marry them off to undesirable servants.

For Xichun and Nianxia to encounter such a good master—it was truly a blessing earned from past lives.

No wonder those two maids were so utterly loyal to Li Qingling, defending her in everything.

And not just them—even she herself had fallen under Li Qingling’s personal charm, hadn’t she?

Li Qingling smiled at this but said nothing.

After all, she wasn’t native to this world and didn’t have such a deeply ingrained master–servant mindset. In her daily life, she treated them as employees she had hired, viewing them as equals.

However, the two girls weren’t quite able to let go. Aside from changing how they addressed themselves from “this servant” to “I,” no matter what else she said, they refused to change.

With no other choice, she let them be.

Under her influence, the children in the household also treated Xichun and the others with great respect, never seeing them as mere servants.

For that, she felt quite gratified.

“Madam Hu, how’s your alcohol tolerance?” Li Qingling asked.

“It’s decent. Madam, don’t worry—I’ll block the drinks for you,” Hu Juanjuan replied at once, understanding Li Qingling’s meaning the moment she spoke.

Li Qingling thanked her sincerely.

Hu Juanjuan said she was being too polite—it was only what she should do.

Not to mention that her husband was a subordinate of the magistrate, just based on her friendship with Li Qingling alone, she would help her.

By the time of Shen hour, the townsfolk began arriving one after another. After entering the courtyard, they didn’t dare look around, sitting stiffly on the stools.

Their hearts were both nervous and excited—they had never imagined they would one day eat at the county magistrate’s residence.

Just saying it out loud would be a matter of great pride!

Men and women were seated separately, divided by a screen. On the men’s side, Liu Zhimou and Mr. Luo hosted the guests; on the women’s side, Li Qingling and Hu Juanjuan did the honors.

“Madam, Madam Cui, as well as the wives of the Zhao, Wang, and Lin families, have arrived,” Xichun said.

No sooner had she spoken than Cui Cuicui walked in gracefully.

“County Magistrate’s Madam, congratulations, congratulations.”

“Shared joy,” Li Qingling replied with a composed smile, nodding to Cui Cuicui. Then she looked at the three women standing beside her and asked with some confusion, “And these three are…?”

She truly had never met the wives of the Zhao, Wang, and Lin families before.

A woman with a somewhat sharp, mean-looking face stepped forward, cast Li Qingling a sidelong glance, and said arrogantly, “This common woman is Zhu Xiulan. Greetings to the County Magistrate’s Madam. I didn’t expect the magistrate’s wife to be… so young.”

A mere little girl daring to embarrass the Wang family? Truly growing guts on her.

“And which family does this auntie’s husband belong to?” Li Qingling asked coolly.

Daring to look down on her for being young? Hah… didn’t she bother to find out what kind of temperament Li Qingling had, to think she’d let herself be bullied so easily?

“Auntie?!”

Zhu Xiulan’s face twisted. Gritting her teeth, she said her husband’s family name was Wang, and asked whether Li Qingling knew the Wang family.

Li Qingling nodded. Of course she knew—the Wang family, one of Ninghua County’s four great wealthy families. Who wouldn’t know them?

Hearing this, Zhu Xiulan proudly lifted her chin, almost raising it to the sky.

Li Qingling sat upright in her chair and said lightly, “Madam Zhu, have you not cleaned your nostrils? I see—”

She didn’t finish the sentence, but everyone present understood.

With a puchi, someone burst out laughing.

Hearing the suppressed laughter around her, Zhu Xiulan turned livid, glaring at Li Qingling. “You—”

Before she could finish, Li Qingling interrupted her. “Today is my birthday. If Madam Zhu has come sincerely to wish me a happy birthday, I am most welcome. If not, then please excuse me.”

Her master had likely anticipated today’s scene and had instructed her: if anyone dared to disrespect her or stir up trouble, she needn’t be afraid—retort directly. Even if the sky were to fall, he would find a way to patch it up for her.

With those words backing her, what was there to fear? Whoever dared to make her uncomfortable—she wouldn’t bother saving their face and would strike back directly.

“The County Magistrate’s Madam truly has great authority,” Zhu Xiulan sneered.

“Not greater than Madam Zhu’s,” Li Qingling replied, still smiling. “May I ask, Madam Zhu—have you come to wreck the occasion? Hmm?”

“County Magistrate’s Madam, Madam Zhu is very straightforward by nature—she didn’t mean to offend you,” a dignified-looking woman stepped forward. As she spoke, she quietly tugged on Zhu Xiulan’s sleeve, signaling her to stop before ruining her husband’s affairs. “This common woman’s surname is Miao, given name Miao. My husband’s family name is Zhao. Greetings to the County Magistrate’s Madam.”

Zhao He’s wife?

Li Qingling understood at once. She smiled at her and addressed her as Madam Miao.

At this moment, the petite woman standing to Cui Cuicui’s left stepped forward, lowered her head, and introduced herself.

Only then did Li Qingling learn that she was Kong Hua, wife of Lin Sen.

If it had been her own birthday, she likely wouldn’t even have seen the wives of the Zhao, Wang, and Lin families.

She didn’t believe they were here simply to celebrate her birthday.

Well then—She would see what these women were really up to.

“Thank you, ladies, for taking the time to attend my birthday banquet,” Li Qingling said, nodding slightly to them. Then she looked around at the women standing stiffly nearby and smiled, inviting them to take their seats and eat.

The wives of the four families were arranged to sit with Li Qingling at the main table. Cui Cuicui lifted a wine cup toward Li Qingling. “County Magistrate’s Madam, this common woman offers you a toast—may you have this day every year, and this joy year after year.”

Li Qingling lifted her teacup. “Thank you, Madam Cui. However, my health is not well, and I’m not suited to drinking alcohol. I can only substitute tea for wine.” With that, she took a sip of plain water.

Yes—plain water. Liu Zhimou hadn’t allowed her to drink tea and had instructed Xichun long ago to replace it with plain water.

Seeing this, Zhu Xiulan frowned. “County Magistrate’s Madam, you’re being quite disrespectful to Madam Cui—not even willing to drink a cup of wine.”

“Madam Zhu, are your ears faulty?” Hu Juanjuan looked up at her with a smiling face. “Didn’t you hear the County Magistrate’s Madam say she’s unwell? If something were to go wrong after drinking, would you take responsibility?”

Zhu Xiulan snorted coldly at Hu Juanjuan, not taking her seriously at all. The wife of a mere county deputy—what right did she have to speak to her?

Li Qingling held her teacup, gently turning it in her fingers. She raised her eyes to look at Zhu Xiulan and slowly said, “Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiulan’s expression changed. She bit down hard and swallowed the words that had reached her lips.

Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants—Li Qingling was pointing out that her status was the lowest. What was there to be so arrogant about?

Fine. Very fine.

She would remember today’s humiliation well—and one day, she would repay Li Qingling in full.