TSWPF -Chapter 438 Diandian Escapes

“M…Master, your… your little master Diandian has arrived.” A clerk ran in to report to Liu Zhimou.

Hearing the clerk, Liu Zhimou’s mouth twitched involuntarily. Little Master Diandian?

No wonder Diandian was so full of himself—it was being fawned over by all these people.

“Let it be,” he said. He had no time to see it.

“Master, Little Master Diandian is pushing a pretty little girl over here.”

The clerk’s words had barely fallen when Liu Zhimou was already dashing outside.

“…?”

Didn’t Master say to leave it be? Why is he running so fast?

The clerk scratched his head and followed. He had never seen a tiger taking care of a child—he wanted to see more.

If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed a tiger could take care of children.

Completely unheard of…

When Liu Zhimou ran out, he saw the entrance to the yamen surrounded by villagers. He took a deep breath, slowed his steps, and walked over with his hands behind his back.

The villagers, seeing Liu Zhimou arrive, greeted him one after another.

Liu Zhimou smiled and nodded in return, his eyes scanning the crowd for his daughter, and he felt a sense of relief.

“Xiaoxiao…”

Xiaoxiao, hearing the familiar voice, happily let out a squeal.

The villagers cleared a path for Liu Zhimou. He strode over, and Xiaoxiao reached out her little hands for him to pick her up.

He bent down, lifted her, and kissed her cheek. “Xiaoxiao came to see Daddy, huh?” He glanced at Diandian, planning to settle the score later—how dare it take his daughter out to play? Quite bold.

Diandian looked left and right but didn’t dare to look at Liu Zhimou.

“Brother-in-law…” Li Qingning nervously called out to Liu Zhimou, afraid she would be implicated.

Liu Zhimou responded with a nod, then patted Li Qingning on the head. “Come on, let’s go inside.” One hand held Xiaoxiao, the other pulled Li Qingning along, and he quickly entered the yamen.

Diandian had no choice but to follow reluctantly.

Seeing the male master’s expression, it didn’t know what kind of punishment awaited it.

It was scared…

After all, the female master wasn’t there; no one could save it.

Should it try to escape?

Thinking this, Diandian slowed down.

As if sensing Diandian’s thoughts, Liu Zhimou looked back and raised an eyebrow, asking if it hadn’t eaten and therefore lacked the strength to walk.

Oh no, oh no, oh no, this time it was finished.

The male master was angry, and the consequences would be severe.

Waaah… it was so scared…

“Awwooo awwooo…” I just remembered something, better go first.

Not caring whether Liu Zhimou could understand it, it let out an awwooo and turned to run.

Liu Zhimou: “…”

Was he really that scary?

Li Qingning: “…”

That traitorous Diandian, running away on its own, without even taking her along.

She cautiously glanced at Liu Zhimou and saw his face even darker—her heart beat faster.

She wanted to escape too, but what could she do?

“Brother-in-law…”

“Hm? You want to go back too?” Before Li Qingning could speak, Liu Zhimou asked.

“…?”

How could she even say anything?

“No…no…”

Brother-in-law was too terrifying; she probably couldn’t withstand his anger…

“Mmhm, good, that’s best.” Liu Zhimou sat at his desk with Xiaoxiao in his arms, looking at her gently. “Xiaoxiao, why did you think to come out and see Daddy? Did your mother know?” He took the sugar-coated hawthorn stick from her hands and gently wiped her hands with a handkerchief.

After a while, feeling it wasn’t clean enough, he carried her to wash her hands properly.

Once she was tidy, his mood improved slightly.

The difference was huge…

Li Qingning couldn’t help but envy Xiaoxiao, wishing she were in her place—then she wouldn’t be scolded.

“Ningning, did your sister know you went out to play?”

Li Qingning’s heart skipped a beat, feeling like salvation had arrived. She shook her head gently.

Regret hit her. She shouldn’t have been soft-hearted and let Diandian take Xiaoxiao out—the traitorous Diandian, running off and leaving her behind.

You can run from a monk, but not the temple. Let’s see where you can run now.

She would be right behind to supervise and punish it.

She couldn’t allow herself to be scolded while it went unpunished.

She was so unfaired!

Liu Zhimou frowned, his expression turning serious. Before he could speak, a small soft hand held his cheek.

A toothless smile appeared in front of him, and before he could react, his face was smeared with saliva.

With this little one messing with him, his stern expression completely melted, and he smiled at her indulgently.

“You, so little and already protecting your aunt?” He helplessly tapped her forehead. “Not telling your mother you snuck out, aren’t you afraid she’d worry?”

Li Qingning quietly breathed a sigh of relief, giving Xiaoxiao a thumbs-up—no wonder she was spoiled, protecting her at the crucial moment.

At home, only her sister and Xiaoxiao could control brother-in-law. She had to hold onto them both for protection—they were her shields.

Xiaoxiao looked at Liu Zhimou and giggled, bouncing her little feet to show her delight.

Liu Zhimou’s thoughts were completely diverted by the little one; he had no time to scold Li Qingning.

He stood up with Xiaoxiao. “Come, Daddy will take you to tour the yamen.” He glanced at the clerks whose eyes were glued to his daughter and his expression darkened. “Don’t have anything better to do?”

The clerks quickly nodded, “Yes, yes, yes,” then scurried off.

Little Miss Xiaoxiao was already so beautiful at this age—how could she not be when grown up?

No wonder the magistrate didn’t allow them to see her.

If they had a daughter this beautiful, they’d hide her too.

Seeing the empty yamen, Li Qingning’s heart pounded. She cleared her throat softly. “Brother… brother-in-law, should I go home and tell my sister Xiaoxiao is here?” She was brave enough to admit her mistake—would he punish her?

Liu Zhimou’s tone was calm. “No need, someone has already gone to tell your sister.”

“…?”

No chance even to make amends.

When her sister arrived, it would be even worse.

“Brother-in-law, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have softened and let Diandian take Xiaoxiao out to play.” Li Qingning looked pitifully at Liu Zhimou. “Brother… brother-in-law, it won’t happen again, okay?” Thinking of her sister angry made her heart pound.

Not excitement—fear.

Her sister’s punishments were even harsher than brother-in-law’s, always terrifying her.

What punishment would she face this time?

Should she run away? Stay at the Ma family for a day or two before returning?

By then, her sister’s anger might have subsided.

“Save that explanation for your sister. Telling me doesn’t help,” Liu Zhimou gave Li Qingning no chance, determined to teach her a lesson so she would know what should and shouldn’t be done. “Don’t even think about running away; if you do, the consequences will be worse.”

Li Qingning: “…?”

She suspected brother-in-law could read minds. He knew exactly what she was thinking.

“I would never run away, brother-in-law, you’re overthinking.”

Her plan to stay at someone else’s house for a couple of days had failed. What next?

Li Qingning’s little brows knitted in frustration.

Liu Zhimou secretly chuckled, then continued touring the yamen with Xiaoxiao.

When they finished, Li Qingling arrived—right on time.

Li Qingning groaned in her heart and quietly called out, “Sister.”

Li Qingling glanced at her and asked in a low voice what had happened.

Li Qingning’s eyes lit up—still hope!

She quickly explained everything, hoping her sister wouldn’t scold her.

Li Qingling gave a half-smile, “So, Diandian is the mastermind, and you’re an accomplice?” She looked around but didn’t see Diandian. “Where’s Diandian?”

Li Qingning pouted. “It escaped.” That traitor ran away. “Sister, I don’t think I’m an accomplice; I just followed to prevent Diandian from getting Xiaoxiao into trouble.”

She wasn’t exactly shifting blame—she was genuinely worried the one tiger would cause chaos in the streets, so she followed.

“If I hadn’t followed, Diandian and Xiaoxiao would have taken the villagers’ things for nothing.”

Considering that, her sister shouldn’t punish her.

Li Qingling looked at Li Qingning and asked why she hadn’t called someone to inform her.

Li Qingning blinked. “The uncle in the shadows didn’t tell you?”

“…?” Quick-thinking little one—she realized that the uncle in the shadows was protecting them and didn’t have time to inform her. “Next time, if something like this happens, tell me immediately, understand?”

“Yes.”

Li Qingling nodded slightly, explaining the stakes so Li Qingning would understand why they were angry.

Li Qingning nodded sincerely. She understood and wouldn’t make the mistake again.

Seeing her attitude, Li Qingling was satisfied and said she wouldn’t punish her this time.

“Ah?” Li Qingning thought she misheard, staring at her sister.

“What? Not satisfied?”

“Satisfied, satisfied, satisfied…” Of course, she was satisfied.

Finally, she breathed a full sigh of relief.

Li Qingling chuckled and walked over to Liu Zhimou, pinching Xiaoxiao’s little ear. “You scared your mother.” When Diandian returned, let’s see how she punishes it.

Xiaoxiao, thinking her mother was playing with her, tilted her head and giggled.

“All right, all right, let’s go home. Don’t disturb your daddy at work.”