TSWPF -Chapter 67 Jealousy

Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan exchanged a glance. Feeling a bit reluctant, they shook their heads and said no.

Hearing their response, Liu Zhirou felt even more dejected. She let out a small “oh” and weakly rested her little head on Liu Zhiyan’s shoulder.

“Rourou, until Second Brother and Third Brother are done with school, why don’t you stay at home and play with your little sister? Once they’re home, then you can play with them.” Liu Zhiyan held Liu Zhirou and walked home, comforting her as they went.

Liu Zhirou responded with a soft “hm,” her mood quite low.

Seeing this, Liu Zhiyan and Li Qingfeng had to try everything they could to make her laugh.

Li Qingling, holding Li Qingning, stood at the doorway watching. After a day of worry, she finally relaxed.

“Ah…” Li Qingning, drooling slightly, looked at Li Qingling, turned her head, and reached toward Li Qingfeng and the others.

She wanted Li Qingling to bring her over to them.

“Little sister misses the brothers, huh?” Li Qingling patted Li Qingning’s little head, holding her as they went to the doorway. Excited, Li Qingning wiggled her little bottom and giggled at Li Qingfeng and the others.

“Little sister…” Li Qingfeng, seeing Li Qingning, ran over quickly. After calling out “Sister,” he scooped her up. Li Qingning wrapped her chubby little hands around his neck, smearing her saliva on his face—but he didn’t mind.

Li Qingling patted Li Qingning’s little bottom and smiled. “You two weren’t home today, so the little ones weren’t very happy—they’ve been looking for you! Alright, go play with them for a bit; I’ll start cooking.”

After saying this, she turned and entered the kitchen, with Liu Zhimou following to assist.

After the family had dinner, Li Qingling asked the two children how school was. Could they understand the lessons? Were their classmates easy to get along with?

She asked several questions in a row, and Li Qingfeng and the others answered one by one.

Hearing their replies, Li Qingling nodded and encouraged them.

Liu Zhimou’s questioning was more thorough. He asked what they had learned today, glanced at their textbooks, and casually posed a few questions. Only after they answered correctly one by one did he nod in satisfaction.

“We can’t slack off on writing either. Same as usual!”

“Okay…” Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan answered in unison. After attending school, they realized that their older brother had been strict with them for their own good.

Even the teacher praised their handwriting today, telling them it was good and encouraging them to continue, not to neglect it.

For this skill in writing, they had to be willing to practice diligently.

“Brothers go write, and we’ll go wash up!” While Liu Zhimou was educating the children, Li Qingling didn’t interfere. If she truly disagreed with his methods, she would discuss it with him privately, not contradict him in front of the children.

She knew that if she contradicted him in front of the children, it would undermine his authority, making the kids harder to manage. So, she never did that.

Hearing “wash up,” Liu Zhirou immediately got up from her chair and followed Li Qingling, shouting “wash up, wash up!” all the way.

Li Qingling laughed, ruffling her little head, and called Liu Zhimou to help heat some water.

She stood with the two little ones, waiting. Once the bath water was ready, she led them over. Ever since her younger sister could crawl, she insisted on bathing with Liu Zhirou.

She didn’t know why this was such a habit.

After bathing the two little ones, Li Qingling was soaked herself. She called Liu Zhimou to take the kids away to bed so she could have her own bath.

Once she finished bathing, she boiled a large pot of water for Li Qingfeng and the others to bathe. Then she went to check on the two little ones—seeing them asleep, she finally felt at ease and went to sleep herself.

Taking care of children was exhausting. After a whole day, her back ached. It was tough even for Li Qingfeng and the others to manage for so long.

And this kind of life would continue for quite some time. Patience was key.

Time passed amid the chaos of daily life, and finally, their new home was complete.

Looking at the newly built house, a smile appeared on Li Qingling’s face.

The children ran around the new house, their smiles uncontainable.

“Big sis, is this really our house? Are we going to live here?” Li Qingfeng asked. Seeing such a beautiful house, he still felt uneasy, as if it were a dream.

He had previously only hoped to eat enough and stay warm; he never imagined having a school or a new house.

Such a big change made him feel like he was dreaming.

Li Qingling patted Li Qingfeng’s head. “Even pearls aren’t this real. This is truly our house. We really are going to live here.” Holding Li Qingning, she walked slowly. “Hurry and choose a room you like! From now on, each of you can have your own room.” She worried that the children, used to sleeping together, might find it hard to adjust.

The children cheered and ran to pick their rooms.

Seeing them so happy, Li Qingling’s heart swelled with joy. She turned to Liu Zhimou, asking if he liked it.

He looked over the house and nodded, saying he liked it.

From every angle, the house looked perfect to him.

“Follow me; I’ll show you an even bigger surprise.” Li Qingling held Li Qingning in one arm, pulling Liu Zhimou with the other, leading him inside. When they reached the backyard, she pointed to a room and let go of Liu Zhimou’s hand to let him open the door.

He glanced at her and, signaling with his eyes, pushed the door open—and discovered it was a toilet.

But unlike any ordinary toilet.

“This…” He looked at the oddly shaped squat toilet, puzzled, glancing at Li Qingling for an explanation.

Li Qingling walked in and demonstrated how it worked. Afterward, she asked for his thoughts.

“Good, really good.” Liu Zhimou praised it. “Such a toilet isn’t just convenient—it doesn’t smell. After use, just flush with water. Very practical.”

Having seen this, he realized that previous toilets were… inadequate.

“How did you come up with this? Amazing.” He noticed Li Qingling’s mind was full of clever, whimsical ideas, yet every one of them was brilliant. “This toilet, I’d say, isn’t just unique in our village—it’s one of a kind in the whole country.”

Li Qingling had been thinking of finding an excuse to brush this off, but before she could, Liu Zhimou moved on. That saved her the trouble of explaining.

After seeing the toilet, Li Qingling walked Liu Zhimou through the rest of the house. Once they finished, they each chose their rooms and even decided where the study would be.

“Before moving in, shouldn’t we invite the villagers for a meal?” Li Qingling asked. What was the proper way to celebrate a new house in the village?

Whenever a new house was built, a meal was customary—to attract good fortune and share the joy.

Liu Zhimou nodded.

Li Qingling felt a bit overwhelmed; she wasn’t familiar with these customs.

“I don’t know much about this. Maybe we should ask Aunt Huang to help. She’d probably be willing.”

“That works. Let’s ask Aunt Huang.”

Without further hesitation, Li Qingling handed Li Qingning to Liu Zhimou and set off.

On the way, they ran into villagers, who greeted her and asked when she’d host a meal. She smiled and promised they’d be invited.

“Xiaoling is truly remarkable. Not only did she send the boys to school, she also built such a big house.” One woman spoke with a hint of jealousy. “Xiaoling, whatever work you do to earn money, remember to let us join in. Maybe we can also get a house like this someday.”

Li Qingling glanced at the envious woman, smiled faintly, and strode toward Aunt Huang’s house without slowing.

People like that, she really had nothing to say to.

Arriving at Aunt Huang’s, she found her weaving baskets. Smiling, Li Qingling called out.

Aunt Huang looked up and, seeing Li Qingling, quickly set her basket down, dusted herself off, and said, “Xiaoling’s here? Come in! I’ll pour you some sweet soup.” Every time Li Qingling visited, it meant good news.

“Don’t bother, Aunt Huang,” Li Qingling quickly interrupted, stopping her from pouring the water. “I came to ask you something.”

Aunt Huang paused, turned to her, and asked what it was.

“I want to ask about hosting a meal for the villagers—what’s the proper process? I don’t quite understand.”

Hearing this, Aunt Huang chuckled. “It’s simple.” She rattled off the steps, then asked if Li Qingling understood.

Li Qingling listened carefully and nodded. “When the time comes, I’ll need you to help—and maybe get a few others to assist as well.”

Hearing this, Aunt Huang patted her chest. “No problem, leave it to me.”