TSWPF -Chapter 466 Apology

After finishing a hearty meal, Old Xue hurried back home to prepare medicine for the bruises on the little one’s hand, hoping to remove them quickly. After applying it once, the results were quite good—the bruising had faded by half. Another application before bedtime, and by tomorrow, it should be completely gone.

Seeing how quickly the little one’s bruises were healing, Li Qingling and the others felt a twinge of regret. If they had informed Old Xue earlier, the little one wouldn’t have had to wait for the bruises to heal naturally.

Old Xue, quietly pleased, nodded and said, “The effect is good. When I have some free time in the next couple of days, I’ll prepare a little extra for you to take back to Ninghua County. Once it’s used up, write to me, and I’ll send more over.”

Li Qingling quickly agreed. How could she refuse such effective medicine?

The little one held up her tiny hand, looking left and right, amazed and praising Old Xue for being so skillful, having healed her injury in no time.

Old Xue’s heart swelled with pride. He had heard countless compliments before, but praise from the little one felt particularly gratifying.

Mr. Luo wanted to speak up, but the Liu family’s servant interrupted him.

“Old General, it’s time to attend.”

Hearing this, Old Liu stood up. “Let’s go, it’s time for the welcoming banquet.” This was an important meal to greet and honor guests, so attendance was mandatory.

Liu Zhimou and the others responded and followed Old Liu to the dining hall.

As soon as they sat down, Li Qingling heard Liu Zhixin’s concerned voice, “Fourth sister-in-law, is Xiaoxiao’s hand okay?” She had wanted to check on Xiaoxiao, but her mother had advised her to wait until tomorrow so as not to disturb her rest.

Li Qingling, who liked Liu Zhixin, smiled at her. “My grandfather prepared some medicine for her. After applying it, it’s much better. Thank you for your concern, Xinxin.” She then tapped the little one’s nose. “Xiaoxiao, Auntie Xinxin cares about you. Shouldn’t you say thank you?”

The little one tilted her head, looked at Liu Zhixin, and sweetly said, “Thank you, Auntie Xinxin.”

Hearing such a proper and sincere expression of thanks for the first time, Liu Zhixin’s cheeks flushed slightly. She shook her head and said, “You’re welcome.”

She also liked Xiaoxiao; the child was truly adorable.

Seeing this, Zhang Yun’er commented, “Xiaoxiao has been very well taught. I’ve never seen such a young child speak so clearly.”

Indeed, she was the granddaughter of the fourth brother, inheriting his intelligence.

Li Qingling smiled humbly. “She’s at the age where she likes to imitate adults, so she often copies the way we speak.”

The little one had started speaking quite early—before she was even two years old, she could already form long sentences.

“Also thanks to her parents’ good teaching.”

As the saying goes, if the upper beam is crooked, the lower one will be too. If the parents are not upright, how could the child be proper? Children imitate their parents.

Hearing this, Li Qingling felt even more embarrassed and quietly said, “Usually, Zhimou and I are busy, so it’s actually Grandpa who spends more time teaching her. If anyone deserves the credit, it’s him.” She really didn’t want to steal Grandpa’s credit.

Zhang Yun’er, after a pause, suddenly nodded in understanding. No wonder…

With such a good teacher, how could a child not be clever?

“No wonder Xiaoxiao is so close to Mr. Luo.”

“Indeed…” Li Qingling sighed as if helpless. “Every morning, the little girl wakes up and immediately goes to see her great-grandfather, to have breakfast with him.” According to her words, “Great-grandfather eating breakfast alone is so lonely. I go with him so he isn’t lonely.”

So, she would go every day, rain or shine, to accompany her great-grandfather at breakfast.

It was no wonder Grandpa was so good to her.

Zhang Yun’er praised her again, saying Xiaoxiao was filial.

For a child so young to be so caring, it was no surprise Mr. Luo doted on her so much.

Li Qingling was about to modestly respond when she heard Jiang Yingying say, “Second sister-in-law, why haven’t you come yet? Could it be that you’re too embarrassed?”

The second branch had lost face and might be too shy to show up; it wasn’t surprising.

Just thinking of Zhong Qing being scolded by her father-in-law lifted her spirits immensely. If it happened a few more times, she would feel even better.

“Eldest sister, you’re exaggerating. I didn’t do anything shameful, why would I be embarrassed?” Jiang Yingying’s words were overheard by Zhong Qing, who entered and, smiling, refuted her.

Jiang Yingying glanced at Zhong Qing and, noticing her expression, snorted coldly and fell silent.

Zhong Qing shifted her gaze to the little one sitting nearby and nudged her daughter, signaling her to apologize.

Originally, she had planned to apologize privately the next day, but since her daughter had refused to attend the banquet, she changed her mind—her daughter had to apologize publicly, to remember this lesson well and never repeat it.

Liu Zhilan reluctantly stepped forward, looked at Xiaoxiao, and quietly apologized.

“Too quiet. Louder! Xiaoxiao can’t hear you.” Zhong Qing allowed no room for retreat, determined that she would learn her lesson well.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Zhilan shouted, “Xiaoxiao, I’m sorry. Auntie Zhilan was wrong. I hope you can forgive me.” She would remember the humiliation of today and never forget it.

The little one blinked and nodded, saying, “Xiaoxiao forgives you this time, but it can’t happen again, okay?”

The childlike yet commanding tone made Liu Zhilan slightly embarrassed. She lowered her head. “Understood.”

Li Qingling glanced at the small hair ornament on Liu Zhilan’s head, a flicker of complex emotion in her eyes before she quickly regained her composure.

Zhong Qing placed her hands on Liu Zhilan’s shoulders and also apologized to Xiaoxiao, asking for her forgiveness.

The little one hesitated, then extended her injured hand forward, saying sternly, “This time Xiaoxiao forgives Second Aunt, but you shouldn’t grip a child’s hand so hard in the future. Look at Xiaoxiao’s hand—it was really scary.”

Everyone present glanced at Xiaoxiao’s bruised hand and then at Zhong Qing, thinking her heartless for hurting a child so severely.

“Oh my, it’s so bad?” Jiang Yingying exclaimed. “Second sister-in-law, you are too…” She realized she had said too much and quickly stopped.

Everyone present understood her unfinished words perfectly.

“Before applying the ointment, it was even worse,” Old Xue snorted coldly, his eyes shooting daggers at Zhong Qing, wishing he could teach her a lesson.

He shifted his hands, truly wanting to give this woman a few needles to let her feel some pain.

Zhong Qing’s grip on Liu Zhilan’s shoulder grew tighter, making Liu Zhilan bite her teeth in pain but stay silent.

“Thank you for reminding me, Xiaoxiao. Second Aunt will be careful from now on.”

Seeing Zhong Qing’s sincere attitude, the little one withdrew her hand and giggled, winking at Mr. Luo.

Her mischievous expression made Mr. Luo laugh.

Old Liu, seeing the matter settled, announced it was time to eat.

After the banquet, Liu Zhimou and the others returned early to bathe and sleep.

At dawn, the little one woke up on time. Groggily, she sat up, looked at Li Qingling, then Liu Zhimou, tilted her head in thought, and after a moment, climbed down from the bed, barefoot, wobbling as she went to find Mr. Luo.

Mr. Luo was exercising in the courtyard. Seeing her, he hurried over and scooped her up.

“Why aren’t you wearing shoes?”

Clinging to his neck, the little one spoke softly, “I miss Great-Grandfather.”

Hearing this, Mr. Luo’s heart melted. He kissed her cheek. “Great-Grandfather misses Xiaoxiao too.”

Li Qingning and the others were used to this scene by now—it happened every morning.

“Xiaoxiao, come practice horse stance.” Li Qingning waved to her with a smile.

Perhaps the fighting spirit of the Li family ran in her veins; Xiaoxiao was very interested in martial arts and practiced daily with Li Qingning and Li Qingfeng. She was already doing it quite well.

“All right, we’ll wait for Xiaoxiao.”

“Put on your shoes first.”

The little one agreed, ran back to her room, put on her shoes, and joined Li Qingning and the others in practicing horse stance.

Old Liu came to the courtyard and saw this scene. He chuckled and walked over.

“Xiaoxiao can do horse stance too? Very good! True blood of the Liu family, full of potential.”

The little one pouted, silent.

Mr. Luo, understanding her, smiled. “When Xiaoxiao practices horse stance, don’t talk to her.”

“All right, all right, I won’t, I won’t. Great-Grandfather is watching.” Old Liu sat nearby in a great mood, watching her practice.

After fifteen minutes, he stood, patted Liu Zhiyan on the shoulder, and asked him to spar with him, to see how his training was going.

Liu Zhiyan, a bit nervous, swallowed and asked, “Can I spar with Xiaofeng instead?”

Old Liu agreed.

He stepped back, gesturing to Liu Zhiyan and Li Qingfeng to use all their moves.

Liu Zhiyan and Li Qingfeng exchanged a glance, then cooperated to attack Old Liu.

Old Liu announced every move he would make as he struck.

After two rounds, he pinned both of them to the ground, tapped them with his toes, and pointed out their shortcomings. He added, “Come again tomorrow.”

Liu Zhiyan and Li Qingfeng lay on the ground, gasping heavily, but their eyes shone with excitement—they had enjoyed the fight.

“Grandfather Liu, you’re amazing!” Li Qingning clapped, looking at Old Liu with admiration.

Old Liu laughed heartily, patted Li Qingning’s head, and asked if she and Rourou wanted to try.

Before Li Zhirou could answer, Li Qingning eagerly nodded.

“…“

She said nothing, leaving Li Zhirou feeling helpless.

Here, Old Liu fully demonstrated his favoritism toward the girls.

He sparred gently with Li Qingning and her friends, teaching them the moves along the way.

Liu Zhiyan and Li Qingfeng could only clench their jaws, thinking, So biased, so biased.