TSWPF -Chapter 374 A Sudden Change of Face

Diandian couldn’t stand hearing Li Qingling talk about how embarrassing it was. It lifted its head, opened its mouth, and tugged hard on her sleeve, signaling her to stop. It was too ashamed to face anyone now.

Li Qingling lowered her head and glanced at it, smiling as she tapped its little head. “Alright, alright, I won’t say anything more.”

This little fellow even knew how to feel shy—really…

Hu Juanjuan smiled at Diandian and tactfully changed the topic, afraid that if they continued, Diandian might get embarrassed and angry.

Understanding Hu Juanjuan’s kindness, Li Qingling followed along with the new topic.

Seeing that Li Qingling had stopped talking about it, Diandian happily hummed twice and lay back down on her legs, ears perked up as it listened to their conversation.

It wasn’t until close to noon that Hu Juanjuan took her leave and went home.

After seeing her off, Li Qingling took Diandian back to the courtyard. Recently, the children had been going out sketching with Mr. Luo and didn’t eat at home. Since she was alone, she usually ate in her room instead of going to the dining hall.

Not long after she returned, Liu Zhimou came back. Seeing the solemn look on his face, she asked worriedly what was wrong.

Had something happened?

Since coming to Ninghua County, she had never seen him look like this before.

Liu Zhimou sat down, adjusted his expression, and shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

That clearly meant something was wrong.

Li Qingling frowned. “Is it something confidential? Something you can’t tell others?”

“That’s not it. I just don’t want you to worry.”

“Brother Zhimou, I’ve been idle at home all day. If I don’t use my brain anymore, I’ll become useless,” she said helplessly.

Ever since she became pregnant, everyone had been overly nervous—this couldn’t be done, that couldn’t be done. She was nearly bored to death. “Tell me. Maybe I can help.”

Liu Zhimou looked at her. After a long while, he finally told her what had happened.

After listening, her brows knitted even tighter. “Something’s wrong with Wutong Village?”

He nodded.

He had been investigating Ying Jie’s case, and the more he looked into it, the more he felt that Ying Jie’s death was not simple.

It was definitely not an accident.

Although Ying Jie’s family insisted that it had been an accident, he didn’t believe them. So he continued investigating in secret—and unexpectedly discovered something strange about Wutong Village.

“Could it be that Wutong Village is hiding some big secret, and Ying Jie accidentally discovered it, so he was killed to silence him?” Li Qingling blurted out casually.

Unexpectedly, the moment she said this, Liu Zhimou straightened up abruptly. His eyes lit up as he stared at her. He leaned over and kissed her lightly.

“Wife, thank you. You’ve cleared up my doubts.”

He stood up excitedly and said apologetically, “I can’t have lunch with you today. I’m going to Wutong Village.” With that, he hurried out.

“Hey…” Li Qingling raised her hand, then lowered it helplessly. “He could’ve eaten first… honestly.”

Skipping lunch again—wasn’t he going to be hungry?

She raised her voice and called for Nianxia.

Nianxia rushed in. “What’s wrong, Madam?”

Li Qingling told her to pack some food and have Ling Yi send it to the magistrate’s office for Liu Zhimou—quickly, before he got too far.

Seeing how urgent she was, Nianxia nodded and hurried to the kitchen.

Li Qingling sighed softly, feeling a little worried. Would this trip go smoothly?

On Liu Zhimou’s side, he first went to Ma Xiancheng’s house and called him out. Then the two of them returned to the yamen together.

Seeing Liu Zhimou’s gloomy expression, Ma Xiancheng felt uneasy. “What’s wrong, my lord?”

With his hands behind his back, Liu Zhimou frowned. “We’re going to Wutong Village.”

Again?

Why again?

Ma Xiancheng was puzzled. They had gone there several times already.

“My lord, why are we going there?”

“To observe public sentiment.”

Before everything was clear, Liu Zhimou didn’t intend to tell him his suspicions.

Observe public sentiment?

He had rushed him out just for that?

Ma Xiancheng felt he was being fooled, but after hesitating, he swallowed his questions.

Better not guess the lord’s thoughts.

Liu Zhimou glanced at him, tugged at the corner of his mouth, and quickened his pace.

When they were about to get into the carriage, Ling Yi hurried over.

“My lord, your lunch. Madam asked me to deliver it.”

Hearing this, Liu Zhimou smiled, took the food box, and got into the carriage.

Ma Xiancheng looked at it with envy and jealousy.

Why didn’t his wife ever think of sending him food?

The lord was really blessed.

Liu Zhimou noticed his expression, smiled, opened the small table, set out the dishes, and handed him a pair of chopsticks.

“Come, eat.”

Ma Xiancheng waved his hands. “My lord, you eat. I’m not hungry.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t help swallowing.

Liu Zhimou said calmly, “Madam prepared enough for two people.”

He stuffed the chopsticks into his hand. “Eat. You need strength to work.”

In the end, Ma Xiancheng couldn’t resist and started eating.

Liu Zhimou’s eyes curved slightly. That’s better.

After eating, Ma Xiancheng leaned back and asked again if they were investigating Ying Jie’s case.

Liu Zhimou, eyes closed, replied lightly, “Observing public sentiment.”

Ma Xiancheng said nothing more and rested.

When they arrived at Wutong Village, Liu Zhimou woke him up.

“Wipe the drool from your mouth.”

Ma Xiancheng wiped and realized he’d been tricked, blushing as he got down.

They had arrived.

Feeling embarrassed, he followed quietly behind.

Liu Zhimou told the villagers not to bother with formalities and let them continue working.

Only the village head stayed.

After walking around, Liu Zhimou said he wanted to go up the mountain.

The village head was startled. “My lord, there are wild beasts up there. It’s too dangerous!”

Ma Xiancheng also tried to dissuade him.

But Liu Zhimou insisted he wanted to see whether the soil was suitable for planting crops.

Plant crops on a mountain?

Both men were confused.

“For now, I can’t explain,” Liu Zhimou said mysteriously.

“Village head, please find a hunter to guide us.”

The village head reluctantly agreed.

Soon, a middle-aged hunter named Mutou arrived.

He agreed to lead them.

Liu Zhimou told Ma Xiancheng to wait in the carriage.

“What? I’m not going?” Ma Xiancheng protested.

Liu Zhimou sized him up and said disdainfully, “With your old bones, can you even climb?”

Then he left with two constables.

Ma Xiancheng was speechless.

Am I really that old?

He touched his face and asked the village head.

The village head shook his head, suppressing a smile.

Ma Xiancheng returned to the carriage to wait.

But he waited… until nightfall.

Still, Liu Zhimou hadn’t returned.

Panicking, he rushed to the village head.

“Has that man come back yet?”

The village head’s face changed. “The lord still hasn’t come down?”

Could something have happened?