Chapter 26: Make Do

Grandma Qin made the decision:
“Then stay home. The climate in the Northwest isn’t as good as ours. After four years there, A-Mian is so much darker than before. You finally managed to get fair again, don’t go tanning yourself all over.”

Li Luo eagerly agreed, “Great minds think alike!”

Grandma Qin laughed. “That’s not how that saying is used.”

“I’m not very educated! From now on, I’ll be counting on you, Mom, to guide me.” Li Luo flattered sweetly.

“So modest.”

“Hehe.”

Qin Mian secretly rubbed his forehead. She always had an excuse, always a way to talk her way out, and the way she called “Dad” and “Mom” was so sweet—if someone didn’t know better, they’d think she was their biological child.

With Grandma Qin’s support, Li Luo lifted her chin proudly at Qin Mian, then went inside to rest.

Qin Mian began packing his luggage.

When Li Luo saw, she went to help. “You’re wasting space like that. Let me.” She folded and rolled his clothes tightly, fitting them into the bag neatly. Underwear and socks went into paper bags, tucked into the corners.

Then she took out a long, slim box from the wardrobe. “Mom said this year is your zodiac year. I missed your birthday, but I can’t miss your gift. Here.” She handed it to him.

Qin Mian was surprised at first, then the corners of his lips lifted slightly. For someone as careless as her to prepare a gift for him—it unexpectedly lightened his mood. “When did you get this?”

“Before you came back. Open it. If you don’t like it, you can exchange it.”

Qin Mian’s expression quickly returned to calm as he accepted it. It was a black fountain pen. Removing the cap, he found it was exactly the kind he usually used. His old pen had been giving out and he was planning to replace it—this one was just right. But he didn’t want to praise her, in case it made her cocky. “It’s… okay. I’ll make do with it.”

Li Luo muttered inwardly: Who needs you to make do?

That pen cost three whole yuan.

It was one of the best in the department store.

Shouldn’t he be complimenting her? So ungrateful!

The very next moment, she let go of her complaints. He’d given her living expenses again.

Since she was staying home for the summer, he gave her fifty yuan directly.

So generous!

And Grandma Qin always gave her money for errands, even just to buy soy sauce. With food and lodging covered, she barely had any expenses beyond her daily necessities.

Thinking it over, living under someone else’s roof like this… wasn’t bad at all.

The only problem was Qin Xinyi, too harsh and too annoying.

The whole family spoiled her, so Li Luo couldn’t just rip into her.

Then Qin Mian said, “If it’s not enough, write to me in advance or call the unit.” He handed her a slip of paper with a phone number.

Li Luo happily tucked away the money and the note. “Got it!” If he offered, she’d take it.

If not, she’d never ask.

Holding out her palm and begging was the most humiliating thing.

Later, when Li Luo went out running, she passed a bun shop. Freshly baked mantou, steaming hot, smelled like bread.

She thought about how Qin Mian would leave early the next morning and wouldn’t arrive until the next day.

Food on the train was expensive and terrible.

So, at ten cents for three, she bought six baked mantou.

With dried radish and shiitake at home, and a little pork, she could make a savory paste—delicious and convenient to carry.

She detoured to the market, bought a small piece of pork leg, and once home, slipped straight into the kitchen.

Grandma Qin said, “Luoluo, it’s not mealtime yet.”

“A-Mian leaves tomorrow morning. Train food is pricey and bad. I’m making him something to take along.”

Grandma Qin’s face broke into a smile. “How thoughtful of you! What’s this you’re making?” Looking at the chopping board, she asked, “Meat with dried radish, shiitake, and sesame stir-fried together?” She’d lived half her life and never tried that combination. Would it even taste good?

She wanted to ask, but felt awkward—it was, after all, her daughter-in-law’s first time cooking.

Li Luo explained, “No, the dried radish goes with chili, stir-fried into a spicy relish. The shiitake and pork get stewed into a sauce.”

That’s more like it, thought Grandma Qin. “Should I light the fire?”

“No need, I’ll do it myself.” Li Luo prepared everything and started frying the radish.

The spicy aroma filled the courtyard, making people cough.

Neighbors came by, asking what was cooking to smell so fiery.

After finishing the radish, Li Luo began the sauce. When its fragrance wafted out, Qin Mian walked in. “So you can cook. Why don’t you at home?”

Li Luo glanced up. “Are you interrogating me?”

Qin Mian shook his head. “Not interrogating. Just… don’t understand.”

“No one asked me to. Why should I go looking for trouble? Besides, now that I’ve lost some weight, my appetite’s better than before. While this sauce simmers, I’m practically drooling.” She swallowed.

The truth was, no one asked her to cook—and Grandma Qin’s food was too salty for her taste. Skipping it was like a diet plan.

Qin Mian was at a loss for words. After a while, he said quietly, “This is already very good. You look… quite nice.”

But Li Luo didn’t hear over the clatter of her spatula against the pot. Annoyed at him hovering, she shoved him. “What are you nagging for? Can’t you see I’m busy? Out you go!”

Such a troublesome man!

If not for his steady stream of money, she wouldn’t even bother cooking for him.

Qin Mian: “…”

When the sauce cooled, Li Luo packed it into a clean jar and placed it with the mantou in his luggage.

Qin Mian sat at the desk pretending to read, stealing glances at her.

Only when she zipped the bag and stood did he finally look away.

Just then, a neighbor aunt stormed in, grumbling to Grandma Qin. “That old hag from the west end is awful! She introduced a woman to my son—turns out she’s thirty-six! And she had the nerve to say she’s a ‘never-married maiden.’ A thirty-six-year-old maiden?!”

Grandma Qin said, “That is a bit old. But if she’s never married, it’s not wrong to call her a maiden.”

“That still won’t do. My son’s only twenty-seven.”

“Then don’t pursue it.”

“Say, in your Luoluo’s hometown, are there any younger girls? Conditions don’t matter too much. Even if she’s a bit plump—like Luoluo now—I could accept that.”

Grandma Qin bristled. “Accept? Does she need your acceptance? And look at my daughter-in-law—pretty face, bright eyes, clear skin. She’s not the 250-pound girl she used to be, she’s healthy and well-proportioned.”

Much prettier than that stick-thin Liu Qian.

And your scrawny son dares think he’s a match?

Inside, Li Luo grinned ear to ear at the praise, muttering under her breath, “Thirty-six… that’s two eighteens. They should be grateful, yet they complain.”

Qin Mian: “…” Is that how math works? “If that ‘bargain’ were offered to you, would you take it?”

Li Luo said matter-of-factly, “If he’s nine years older but successful in his career, I could accept it. If he’s nine years younger, handsome, and calls me ‘sister’ sweetly—I could accept that too.”

Qin Mian froze. Sister? Who but a pervert would think of that?! He scolded, “You’re always talking nonsense.”

Li Luo: “…”