Chapter 23: One Scheme Fails, Another Emerges

The neighbors followed up with their chatter:

“Luo Luo is really clever. Not many people around here know how to swim.”

“And she’s so diligent and capable. She even went to the outskirts to chop bamboo, cleaned it up herself, and stayed up late to make those red lanterns…”

…

Hearing the praises outside, Li Luo curved her lips in a mocking smile. Not long ago, these same people were saying she wasn’t good enough for Qin Mian. Now they were the ones singing her praises.

From what Old Madam Qin had said, ever since Qin Mian started university, whenever he returned to his hometown, neighbors would flock to him for medical advice.

At first it was just common colds and fevers he could easily handle.

Gradually, even difficult and complicated illnesses were cured by him.

Because Qin Mian publicly stood by her earlier, the neighbors probably feared offending her and provoking Qin Mian’s anger. That must be why they changed their tune so quickly.

People… so realistic!

At the moment, she wasn’t too keen on stepping out to claim she had saved someone. From what she recalled, the original Li Luo couldn’t swim. If she revealed that she could, trouble might come later. But with everyone waiting, she couldn’t just ignore them. After a brief pause, she opened the door and walked out with a smile.

“It was just a small effort. Really, there’s no need to make such a fuss.”

“A life-saving grace must be thanked in person. We originally wanted to bring the child along, but his grandmother took him to visit relatives and he hasn’t returned yet. We were worried if we came too late it would be inconvenient, or worse, that you’d be gone. We were so flustered we didn’t even prepare much.”

Old Madam Qin chuckled. “You’re too polite.”

“No, truly, it comes from the heart.”

They repeated their gratitude again and again.

Li Luo quietly listened, and only when their emotions had settled and they were ready to leave did she politely see them out.

Now only the Qin family, a few neighbors, and Liu Qian remained. Liu Qian said meaningfully, “I didn’t expect Luo Luo to know how to swim. When summer vacation comes, you should teach me.”

Old Madam Qin, tidying the gifts, interjected: “That river outside town is very deep. Every summer someone drowns there while bathing. If something happens while you’re learning to swim, who’s going to be responsible?” After rebuking Liu Qian, she turned to Li Luo. “Next time, don’t go into the water so easily. It’s too dangerous.”

Li Luo obediently promised.

Liu Qian opened her mouth but had nothing to say, so she turned to Qin Mian instead. “Brother Qin, when are you leaving?”

“In a couple of days,” Qin Mian replied coolly.

“Oh.” Liu Qian’s eyes flickered. “Luo Luo has such nice handwriting—she must be able to draw too, right? Our school happens to need an art teacher. The job doesn’t require high qualifications, just genuine ability.”

Old Madam Qin’s eyes lit up. “Really? That sounds like a great opportunity. Luo Luo, what do you think?”

“I don’t agree,” Qin Mian cut in.

The first time, Liu Qian had deceived him by saying Li Luo was too busy to attend. Yet Li Luo still showed up.

The second time, she wanted Li Luo to teach her swimming, but Old Madam Qin had refused.

When had Liu Qian ever gotten along with Li Luo?

Clearly, she was scheming against her again.

One plan failed, another plan was brought up. If Li Luo agreed, who knew what kind of traps awaited her?

Old Madam Qin was tempted. “You’re not Luo Luo, so you don’t get to decide for her. Luo Luo, what do you say?”

“I don’t agree either,” Li Luo said flatly. Since Liu Qian was close to Qin Xinyi, she clearly didn’t mean well. Li Luo added, “Besides, A Mian and I are trying for a baby now. Mom, Dad, don’t you want to hold a grandchild soon?”

Qin Mian silently pressed his forehead. To say such things publicly—she really wasn’t embarrassed.

Old Madam Qin, however, wasn’t bothered. In fact, she hesitated after hearing that. A child was far more important than any job. If Luo Luo stayed in the hometown, how would the child be conceived? “Then you’d better stay with A Mian. Being a teacher doesn’t pay much, and it’s tiring. If you really want work later, A Mian can arrange something for you.”

Old Master Qin was more traditional. To him, men worked outside while women managed the household. “Why must Luo Luo work anyway? A Mian earns enough to support her. What’s wrong with resting at home?”

Li Luo smiled at him. Now this was real male chauvinism—domineering, but also protective of women.

Not like men decades later, who wanted to control women, force them to earn money, and still expect them to cook and raise kids when they got home. Completely unreasonable.

Liu Qian wanted to persuade more, but Li Luo went back to her room, shut the door, and drew the curtains before doing some aerobic exercises.

Seeing this, Liu Qian made an excuse to leave.

Qin Xinyi walked her out. Once outside, she muttered, “Sister Qianqian, why bother thinking for that fat woman? I don’t want to see her every day at school.”

“Our junior high and your high school are in different buildings,” Liu Qian said. “Besides, what’s there to be afraid of? Isn’t Luo Luo fine? Fair-skinned and… well-fed.”

“That’s called well-fed? She’s fat like a pig,” Qin Xinyi sneered. Even if the two school sections were separated, she still dreaded her classmates finding out her young aunt was a fatso. How humiliating would that be?

Liu Qian secretly loved hearing others compare Li Luo to a pig. Outwardly, she denied it, but inside she was thrilled.

As dusk settled, neighbors urged Li Luo to set off the fireworks.

“Let me light the lanterns first,” she said. Taking lamp oil and wicks, she stepped onto a stool. Qin Mian, considerate as ever, stood by to help.

She lowered her gaze at him, then swept her eyes across the courtyard.

Old Master Qin and Old Madam Qin, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, and nearby neighbors—all clustered together chatting.

The younger ones sat under the eaves, playing cards under the light. Not a single person offered to help.

Suppressing a sigh, she cooperated with Qin Mian to light all the lanterns in the yard.

The courtyard soon glowed with a warm red light, creating a beautiful scene.

“Wow! The lanterns look amazing when lit!”

“Brother, grab the camera and take a photo!”

The yard grew lively and noisy.

Suddenly, a loud boom sounded at the gate. A bright flare shot into the sky before exploding into a shower of starlight.

Li Luo lit two fireworks barrels, then hurried back to Qin Mian’s side to watch.

Qin Mian twitched at the corner of his eyes. “A young lady, acting just like a boy.” He recalled how girls around here would shriek and squeal at the mere sound of firecrackers. Yet she looked genuinely thrilled after lighting them herself.

The two barrels finished quickly.

Li Luo sighed wistfully. “Three yuan for just twenty seconds? Making firecrackers must be a huge moneymaker! If I ever do business, I want to try that too.”

Qin Mian: “…” Try? That didn’t sound like a good word. He couldn’t help asking, “You love money this much—then why reject the job Liu Qian offered you earlier?”

“Weren’t you the one who rejected it first?” Li Luo tossed the question back.

“…And you rejected it afterwards too,” Qin Mian muttered.

Li Luo didn’t bother answering. She didn’t care for such petty wages. She wanted big money—the kind that would free her from living under someone else’s roof.

When the fireworks ended, the relatives began heading out.

Qin’s eldest brother and sister-in-law went back to their unit housing, while Aunt Qinqin’s family checked into the guesthouse they had booked in advance.

Qin Mian and Qin Jun went to escort them.

Li Luo went out jogging. When she returned, all the room lights were out, though the oil lamps inside the lanterns still burned. Using their glow, she slipped back to her room, switched on the light, and fetched fresh clothes. Before heading into the bathroom, she hid her bag of merchandise money at the very bottom of the cabinet.