TSWPF – Chapter 44 Shyness

Li Qingling leaned against Liu Zhimou’s chest. It wasn’t particularly broad, but at this moment, it gave her a sense of security.

She had always held herself up, refusing to collapse, because if she did, the younger children at home would have an even harder time.

But she was human too. Facing all these things sometimes left her exhausted—mentally and emotionally drained.

She would honestly rather go into the mountains and fight wild animals than engage in the schemes and intrigues of human society.

Liu Zhimou gently patted her back, feeling deeply for her. If it weren’t for the sake of their family, she wouldn’t have had to face the storms of the outside world like a warrior.

Every time he saw her raise all her defenses to fend off those who wanted to bully them, he felt useless, unable to truly help her.

“I’m sorry. If I were stronger, you wouldn’t have to work so hard.” His voice was a little hoarse. Seeing her drooping shoulders, he felt truly miserable. “Am I… completely useless? Can’t help you with anything?”

Hearing the guilt in his tone, Li Qingling shook her head lightly. Her voice came from his chest: “How could that be? If not for you, I wouldn’t have made it this far on my own.” It was precisely because he walked with her that she could hold her head high and face the world without fear.

“But other than helping you run the stall, I can’t do anything else for you.” Like what had just happened earlier, he could only stand behind her and support her. Everything else relied entirely on her, and that helplessness weighed on him.

Patting Liu Zhimou’s back, Li Qingling looked up at him seriously. “No, you’ve helped me a lot. Take the children at home—you’re the one teaching them. You should know that raising children is easy, but guiding them is the hard part. I’m really not good at it, but you are.” She paused. “Don’t belittle yourself. You’re better than you think, and you’re my spiritual support. Truly, without you, I would find it very difficult to carry on. I mean that from my heart.”

Perhaps at first, she had drawn him in because he was her fiancé, wanting him to lend a hand. But over time, she grew to rely on him.

He truly was the spiritual pillar of this family. If he faltered, the entire family would collapse with him.

Hearing this, Liu Zhimou fell silent, furrowing his brows as he quietly thought about what Li Qingling had said.

Li Qingling didn’t disturb him. She gently loosened her arms around his waist, intending to leave his embrace, but his hands still held her tightly.

Not wanting to interrupt his thoughts, she leaned back against his chest, quietly listening to his heartbeat.

Slowly, she too felt calm.

She truly wanted to sigh: it’s so good to have him.

After a long while, Liu Zhimou finally smiled gently. Really, he had trapped himself in a mental dead end, unable to realize such a simple truth. He was even less capable than Li Qingling in this regard!

“Thank you!” He really was grateful to her. Without her, his family wouldn’t have such a good life.

He silently vowed that in this lifetime, he would never betray her.

Li Qingling smiled casually. “Why are you being so formal with me?” She patted his hand. “Alright, let go. I should get cooking.” If the children saw this, they’d probably tease her behind her back.

As if electrocuted, Liu Zhimou suddenly withdrew his hand and dashed out of the kitchen, saying, “I’ll go see what the kids are up to.”

He didn’t realize his ears were flushed red. Li Qingling chuckled softly. She found Liu Zhimou so shy; teasing him a little easily made his whole face blush.

Humming happily, she went to wash the rice and start cooking. Business had been good today as well, and they had bought meat to nourish the children.

With proper nutrition, the kids could grow quickly.

After eating well for some time, the once thin, pale children had changed dramatically.

Whenever they went out, everyone in the village would remark on how lovely their children looked.

Hearing her singing from the kitchen, Liu Zhimou smiled, his eyes twinkling. He walked briskly into the house.

The main hall was empty, so he turned and entered the bedroom.

All four children were asleep, heads close together, looking so intimate.

Liu Zhimou tiptoed over and straightened the blankets for them.

He and Li Qingling worked so hard so that they could live well and grow up happily.

“Big brother…” Just as Liu Zhimou was about to leave, Liu Zhiyan woke up and called out, “Are you alright?” He rubbed his head and sat up slowly, wondering why he had also fallen asleep while putting his sister to bed.

Liu Zhimou picked him up and set him on the edge of the bed to put on his shoes.

“I’m fine.” He patted Liu Zhiyan’s head. “Were you scared?”

With no adults at home and only a few kids, a sudden disturbance could be frightening.

Liu Zhiyan puffed out his chest. “Not scared.” But under Liu Zhimou’s gaze, he shyly lowered his head. “At first, a little. But when my sister started crying, I wasn’t afraid anymore. If I, as her brother, were scared too, she would have been even more afraid.”

Rubbing Liu Zhiyan’s head, Liu Zhimou praised him, “Good, being a role model as a brother.” When the younger brother was standing firm, he could do other things.

Receiving praise, Liu Zhiyan grinned.

“Did you finish writing today’s big characters?”

Hearing this, his smile dropped. Scratching his head, Liu Zhiyan said, “I’ll go write now.” Those troublemakers had come earlier, and he hadn’t finished his writing. Wiggling his eyes, he nudged Li Qingfeng, wanting company to motivate him.

Li Qingfeng, groggily awakened, rubbed his eyes. “What is it?” He was sleepy—why wake him?

Liu Zhiyan grinned, pointing at Liu Zhimou. “Big brother wants to know if you finished your big characters?” If not, there might not be dinner tonight—Big Brother was strict.

Hearing “big characters,” Li Qingfeng instantly became alert, scrambling out of bed. “I’m going, I’m going…” No dinner meant serious trouble.

Holding hands with Liu Zhiyan, he quickly went out of the room, sat at his desk, and continued writing the unfinished characters.

Liu Zhimou nodded with satisfaction and returned to the kitchen.

“Do you need any help?”

Li Qingling glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. “Not shy anymore? Not avoiding me?” She had thought he wouldn’t look at her until dinner.

This time, he recovered quite quickly.

Teasing him like that, Liu Zhimou cleared his throat, grabbed the knife from her hand, and started chopping.

In their house, there was no idea of a gentleman staying away from the kitchen.

Li Qingling smiled silently and sat on a stool, tending the fire.

With his help, dinner was prepared faster: sweet and sour ribs, braised fish, and bok choy—a quite sumptuous meal.

If villagers knew their meals were so good, they might gossip endlessly.

Because of this, Li Qingling and Liu Zhimou often reminded the kids not to reveal this secret.

Low profile… without adults at home, everything had to remain low-key.

“These days, we make fifty egg pancakes a day. Should we increase it tomorrow?” After dinner, Liu Zhimou washed the dishes and asked Li Qingling.

Li Qingling thought for a moment. “Let’s add thirty more, see how long it takes to sell eighty. If selling takes too long, we’ll keep it at fifty so we can return early.”

“Alright…”

The next day, when Li Qingling and Liu Zhimou arrived at the town but hadn’t set up their stall, the shopkeeper of Fumanlou arrived.

Li Qingling was surprised but smiled politely. “Shopkeeper, why are you here?” Seeing him looking at her molds, she added, “Do you want some egg pancakes? You’ll have to wait a moment.” She hurried to set up the stall.

The shopkeeper said, “Young lady, how about a business collaboration?” He had tasted her egg pancakes and thought they were excellent, and he wanted to buy them.

Collaboration? Could it be that he wanted her recipe?

Li Qingling’s heart leapt with joy, but her face remained calm. She stood and said, “Shopkeeper, it’s not convenient here. Shall we go to that teahouse?” She pointed to a nearby one.

“No need for that. Let’s go straight to Fumanlou!”

“Alright…”

Li Qingling wasn’t slow to act. Exchanging a glance with Liu Zhimou, she packed up quickly and followed the shopkeeper to Fumanlou.

Sitting in a private room, she sipped her tea slowly, waiting for the shopkeeper to speak.

The shopkeeper unobtrusively observed Li Qingling and Liu Zhimou, mentally praising them. Though young, they were remarkably composed.

Clearing his throat, he asked, “Young lady, may I know how much your egg pancake recipe costs?”

Trying to buy the recipe again…

Li Qingling lowered her eyes, sipping her tea slowly, then looked at Liu Zhimou, letting him speak.

She had her considerations—she was still young and could still be in the public eye. When she grew older, it would be harder.

Letting Liu Zhimou take the lead also emphasized that he was in charge.

Liu Zhimou thought for a moment and smiled at the shopkeeper. “I’m sorry, our recipe isn’t for sale.” Their egg pancake business was doing well; long-term, the recipe could be more valuable than selling it. “If you truly want to collaborate, how about a profit-sharing arrangement?”

Fortunately, Li Qingling had discussed this with him earlier, so he could respond calmly.