FID – Chapter 748

Chapter 748: What is corporal punishment?

“It’s like how you hope the Li family will become more prosperous and flourishing, while the Liu family values not the family as a whole, but every individual within it. They want each person in their family to be happy and joyful. They cherish every member of the family. That’s why the Liu family is united, harmonious, and protective of each other. I thought that’s the true meaning of family.”

When mentioning the Liu family, a smile unconsciously appeared on Liu Muqiu’s face.

As soon as you step into the Liu family courtyard, you can feel a certain atmosphere.

Warmth.

People are drawn to warmth.

So, those who enter the Liu family, in order to protect that warmth, would unknowingly put in effort and do everything they could.

Just like the Regent, Feng Qingbai, the rich Young Master Qian Wanjin, and the mysterious Xue Qinglian.

And she, too.

Matriarch Li looked at the satisfaction that naturally showed on the woman’s face. Her expression remained indifferent as she remained silent. 

Meanwhile, Liu Zhiqiu left the hall and was about to ask the servants about Li Junyao’s whereabouts when his ears suddenly twitched. He turned on his heel and walked in another direction.

He circled around the hall and, by the window behind the hall, he saw a little bum sticking out in the garden.

Li Junyao was crouching halfway, quietly hiding by the window, with his hands gripping the windowsill and his ears perked up as he eavesdropped.

His lips were tightly pressed, and his expression was serious.

Liu Zhiqiu raised an eyebrow. He didn’t walk over but instead crossed his arms and leaned against the corner of the wall, watching the little brat’s antics.

This look… He had to admit, it reminded him a little of his younger self.

When he was a child, he often listened to walls, especially when his family chased after him to scold him. After running out of the courtyard, he didn’t dare to go back immediately, so he would secretly listen at the wall to see if his parents’ anger had subsided.

If they had calmed down, he would go home right away. If not, he would find a nearby uncle’s house, have a meal, play around for a bit, and then go back.

The little one seemed to have heard something, his face darkened, and he quickly ran off towards the main door of the hall.

Perhaps in his haste, he didn’t even notice the person standing at the corner.

Watching Li Junyao enter the hall, Liu Zhiqiu didn’t follow him. Instead, he leisurely walked over to the windowsill where the child had been, leaned against the wall, and openly eavesdropped.

“Grandmother!” Upon entering the hall, Li Junyao didn’t care about the displeased expression on the old lady’s face. He immediately dropped to his knees. “Grandmother, please don’t call my sister back, please. I beg you! I promise, from now on, I will study hard and become a person of great accomplishment. I will bring many benefits to the Li family in the future!”

“You’re just a child, what do you know? Go back!” Matriarch Li’s face darkened.

“Grandmother!” Li Junyao clenched his fists, his eyes reddening. He stubbornly refused to leave. “I know that everything you do is for the Li family’s rise. But a family can’t reach the top relying only on others’ blessings. Even if they enjoy glory for a time, it won’t last forever! If we want the family to prosper, it can only be done by the family’s own children! We must rely on our own abilities to rise higher, to earn respect and stand tall! Otherwise, we’ll always have to look up to others, and is that what you want, Grandmother? Please let my sister go, and I swear I won’t disappoint you!”

Liu Muqiu sat quietly to the side, watching the young boy plead for her.

It felt like the first time she truly understood this younger brother of hers.

And with his words, warmth surged in her heart.

“How shameless! Anyone can make grand promises, but how do you know you can keep the promise you’ve made today?” Matriarch Li snorted coldly, picking up the fire tongs next to the stove and stoking the charcoal, the rising heat obscuring her expression.

Li Junyao, unable to gauge his grandmother’s thoughts, bit his lip and thought for a moment. “The people of the Liu family are all good. They treat my sister very well, and they treat me well too. They know I am still studying in the academy, and Brother Zhixia has personally guided my studies and explained things to me. Brother Zhiqiu also took me to the county town and introduced me to prominent people in the city. Grandmother, they treat me as one of their own because of my sister! Although I do not dare to be arrogant, I also won’t belittle myself. In the future, I will surely bring real glory to the Li family with my own abilities! Please give me this chance, Grandmother!”

“After all this talk, your condition is just that I should not make things difficult for your sister?” Putting down the fire tongs, the old lady raised her eyes and glanced at the two of them indifferently. “You siblings are both really good with words. Hmph! Did I force your sister to come back? She made that promise herself. If she didn’t want to, would she have spoken up?”

“Grandmother!” Li Junyao’s face lit up with joy.

Liu Muqiu also looked at the old lady in surprise.

“The person has returned, but their heart is not here. What use is that to me? At least you came, so you did make an effort. Now go,” Matriarch Li shooed, no longer looking at them. She closed her eyes and feigned sleep, signaling the end of the conversation.

“Thank you, Grandmother!”

“Liu Muqiu thanks Elder Madam!”

The siblings exchanged a glance, thanked her in unison, and stood up to leave.

They walked quickly, fearing that if they delayed even a moment, their grandmother might change her mind.

Behind them, the matriarch opened her eyes at some point, watching the pair retreat in haste. Her gaze grew dim.

“Granny Zhang, do you think I’m truly getting old? I can’t see things as clearly as a little child anymore?”

“Madam has worked so hard for the Li family, managing the household with wisdom. You are not old; it’s just that our Li family finally has a young calf.” 

“A young calf?” The matriarch thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “I… I hope he will become a dragon one day.”

Admitting one’s mistakes was not so difficult.

The prosperity and flourishing of the Li family should depend on the efforts of the family’s younger generation. Otherwise, even if they relied on others to bring temporary glory, it would only lead to dependence. Over time, the descendants of the Li family would lose their strength and character.

What she wanted was never like this.

At the back window, hearing the sighs coming from inside, Liu Zhiqiu smiled and took a step to leave.

The way back was completely different from when they arrived. Liu Muqiu had become unusually lively, chatting nonstop all the way.

Even though the man was mostly too lazy to respond to her nonsense, it did not dampen her enthusiasm for talking.

When they reached the door, just as they were about to get out of the carriage, the man suddenly reached out and pinched her cheek. “If you ever hide something from me again, there will be punishment.”

Liu Muqiu froze for a moment, staring at the man. “What is punishment?”

“Spanking. Just like how my mother used to beat me when I was little.”

After saying that, the man jumped out of the carriage and immediately picked her up, carrying her into the yard.

Looking at his back, Liu Muqiu’s eyes gradually formed a crescent shape. “Alright.”

The man stumbled for a second, his cool demeanor completely shattered.

He turned around and bared his teeth, growling, “You wait!”

“I’ll be waiting!”

“…” Liu Zhiqiu quickened his pace as he walked inside.

Damn, who’s teasing who now?

Where did this Little White Lotus learn these moves? Every time she teased him, it worked perfectly!

Behind him, Liu Muqiu smiled widely, revealing a toothy grin. 

From now on, she had no worries. No matter how he treated her, she wasn’t afraid!