Chapter 112 Qin Tao's Past.
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Even if the old bandit leader was a gangster, how could his rabble compare to the best soldiers in the army?
In just three days, Zhao Dahuzi led his men to capture the old bandit leader and his gang, and even shot and killed a villain who tried to escape on the spot.
With a knife to his neck, the old bandit leader looked at the smile on Zhao Dahuzi's face and knew that his days were numbered.
Zhao Dahuzi waved his hand to his subordinates, and someone tied the old bandit leader's hands and dragged him away.
"At least we caught them; this time we can atone for our sins!"
During these three days, life in Liujiatun was much more lively than when they first arrived.
Leaving aside the valuable horses that Li Shiyue and his group brought back this time, the soldiers with swords in and around Qin Tao's courtyard were enough for the people of Liujiatun to gossip behind their backs.
In Qin Tao's kitchen, Qin Tao cooked the fine rice that Liu Tan had sent into a thick porridge. Then she picked out large pieces of pickled radish from the jar, finely shredded them, and placed them on a porcelain plate.
This beautiful porcelain plate was also sent by someone sent by Liu Tan.
"Li Niang, hurry, send it to the young master while it's still hot."
When Li Chunli heard Qin Tao say that, her cheeks turned slightly red.
For the past two days, Qin Tao had been doing the same thing, having Li Chunli bring the food to Liu Shu's room every time she prepared it.
Li Chunli wasn't an ignorant young woman. She knew that although Qin Tao hadn't said it explicitly, Qin Tao's intention was to let Li Chunli show her face more in front of Liu Shu, the heir of the Prince of Zhenbei. She didn't aspire to anything lofty; it would be good if she could be taken in as a maid by Liu Shu's side.
After all, Liu Shu is the heir apparent!
He is the future Prince of Zhenbei!
Moreover, Liu Shu was only one year younger than Li Chunli, and she was also good-looking. What was wrong with Li Chunli, a village girl, being a maidservant to such a man?
Li Chunli was somewhat pleased. In the past, the only men of similar age she had met were her own brother Li Shigui and people from Lijia Village.
She had never met a young man of such noble status, easy to talk to, and good-looking as Liu Shu.
Even though she didn't understand what romantic love between men and women meant, a girlish heart still couldn't help but flutter with excitement.
Liu Shu, lying on her back with her eyes closed on the kang (a heated brick bed), was listening to her page read aloud.
Yes, the pageboy had already been sent over by Liu Tan. When the master and servant met, the pageboy cried his heart out and had to be comforted by Liu Shu.
Two short knocks sounded at the door. The page boy, holding a book, turned to look at the door, and a guard who had stayed behind to protect them said from outside, "Young Master, Miss Li has come to deliver breakfast."
The page stopped reading and turned to look at Liu Shu, who had already opened her eyes on the kang (a heated brick bed). Having grown up with Liu Shu, the page understood her meaning at just one glance. So, the page put down his book and called out to the door, "Please invite Miss Li in."
Li Chunli walked in carrying a tray. She first placed the food on the square table under the kang (a heated brick bed), then raised her face and looked at Liu Shu, who was lying on the kang with a charming expression: "Young Master, my mother has cooked rice porridge and cut some pickled radishes from our own garden."
"Thank you very much, Madam Qin and Madam Li. You've been very kind to me these past few days."
"It's no trouble at all. The eldest young master has already given money; we should be thanking the young master."
Li Chunli was momentarily stunned by Liu Shu's fair complexion and noble air even when she was ill. It was only when Liu Shu called her "Little Lady Li" twice that Li Chunli was brought back from her reverie.
Li Chunli blushed and immediately lowered her head. After a couple of breaths, she mustered her courage and raised her head again. She looked at Liu Shu and asked, "When I was at the door, I vaguely heard you reading?"
Liu Shu found it interesting, so she directly asked Li Chunli to stay and listen to the pageboy read.
Li Chunli knew that it was somewhat impolite for a man and a woman to be alone in a room, even with a pageboy present; it was still a bit out of line.
After all, Liu Shu is an outsider, not a brother or relative, so they should at least avoid him to some extent.
However, Li Chunli really wanted to spend more time with Liu Shu, so she blushed and nodded in agreement to Liu Shu's invitation.
Qin Tao, who was standing at the door of the kitchen, kept her eyes on the room where Liu Shu lived. When she saw that Li Chunli had not come out for a while, she smiled broadly.
Qin Tao had always longed for a good life. She felt that she was beautiful when she was young, and that she was not as beautiful as those ugly girls in the countryside. Even in the county town, she was the prettiest among the girls. She thought that she should have married into the prefectural city.
But when Li Wangtian went to work in the county town, he saw Qin Tao carrying a basin of clothes to wash by the river. He took a liking to her and asked a matchmaker for a long time before finally finding Qin Tao's house.
Little did they know that Qin Tao's parents, knowing her beauty, had long planned to sell her for a good price. They declared that without a dowry of twenty taels of silver, there was no point in discussing anything else.
If it were an ordinary farm boy, he would have given up long ago after hearing that Qin Tao's family wanted twenty taels of silver as a betrothal gift.
However, for some reason, Li Wangtian was not discouraged and wanted to save money to marry Qin Tao.
But Qin Tao was proud and arrogant; how could she possibly look down on a peasant from the countryside?
However, that year, Qin Tao's younger brother caught a cold. He took several doses of medicine but did not get better and his condition worsened. Qin Tao's parents spent a lot of money. Later, they heard from a passing Taoist priest that they needed to have a happy event in the family to bring good luck and give Qin's younger brother a chance to catch his breath.
Under these circumstances, Qin Tao's marriage was brought up.
But at this time, how could those families who had previously favored Qin Tao agree to her parents' request to marry her? Qin Tao's younger brother looked like he only had one breath left to live, and no one wanted this unlucky person.
Even if Qin Tao's parents said they didn't want the twenty taels of betrothal money anymore, only five taels, they would marry Qin Tao off for five taels.
At this moment, Li Wangtian appeared, bringing with him the eight taels of silver he had saved up.
Qin Tao married Li Wangtian and moved to Li Family Village.
Strangely enough, the day after Qin Tao got married, Qin's younger brother's condition improved, and after more than half a month, he was completely recovered and could even get out of bed.
At first, Qin Tao also intended to live a good life with Li Wangtian, and she was filled with gratitude towards him.
But as life went on, even though Li Wangtian was reluctant to let Qin Tao do farm work, he only let Qin Tao stay at home to take care of the children, serve her mother-in-law, and cook some meals. Li Wangtian did all the work himself, such as carrying water and washing clothes.
However, even so, after all these years, Qin Tao had had enough of this kind of life.
She still longed for the city, for bustling places, for beautiful clothes, for exquisite food. She knew that Li Wangtian had been good enough to her, and she could see for herself what kind of lives the other wives in the village were living.
But she was still unwilling to accept it!
On one occasion, Li Wangren, following Li Youfu's instructions, came to Li Wangtian's house to inform him about tax matters, and thus met Qin Tao face to face.
Li Wangren took a fancy to the beautiful Qin Tao at first glance!
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