Chapter 121: Li Xiulan Comes to Deliver a Thank-You Gift

After applying the medicine and leaving a bamboo tube of water for Shitou, Luo Qiao and Lu Yichen returned to the village together.

Lu Yichen was silent for a long time before he said, “You’re still young. Since you want to help Shitou, let me handle it. I’m more suitable for this, and the villagers will give me some respect.”

Luo Qiao looked at Lu Yichen in surprise. At this moment, the two of them were not riding bicycles but walking side by side while pushing it.

Lu Yichen continued, “However, can I ask for a small favor?”

Luo Qiao responded, “Go ahead.”

Lu Yichen said, “Can I join you for meals?”

After hearing this, Luo Qiao didn’t really want to agree when she heard this. After all, she had her secrets. She couldn’t just openly enjoy good food without sneaking around. It might be fine for a meal or two, but doing it for a long time would be too troublesome.

Lu Yichen said, “Besides frying a whistle, making some stew, and boiling porridge, oh, and yes, I can cook porridge. I don’t know how to make anything else. After eating the food you make, I really can’t eat my own cooking.”

Worried that Luo Qiao might feel burdened, so he added, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the ingredients. I just don’t want to eat my own cooking anymore.”

Luo Qiao also knew that if Lu Yichen intervened, it would save her a lot of trouble.

After thinking for a moment, she said, “Okay, I agree.”

Lu Yichen was concerned about Luo Qiao’s foot injury getting worse from walking too much, so he suggested, “Let’s ride our bikes instead. Be careful not to hurt your foot again. You should pay more attention during this time.”

Along the way, Luo Qiao also shared her thoughts. Lu Yichen nodded in agreement, thinking to assess the situation tomorrow and discuss with Shitou. If Shitou agreed as well, Lu Yichen would proceed accordingly.

The next day, Luo Qiao got up and cooked porridge. After finishing a set of punches in the yard, she was thinking of steaming an egg for Shitou when she heard someone approaching. Soon, there was a knock on the door.

Luo Qiao asked, “Who is it?”

Outside, Li Xiulan’s voice came, “Luo Qiao, please open the door. I’ve come to deliver a thank-you gift.”

Luo Qiao opened the door and saw Li Xiulan standing outside with a basket, accompanied by four or five women.

Luo Qiao said, “Auntie, you all are up quite early.”

Li Xiulan replied, “Let’s talk inside.”

Out of politeness, Luo Qiao said, “Please come in. I don’t have much to offer, but I can wash some cucumbers for you ladies to eat.”

There happened to be freshly picked cucumbers in a basket in the courtyard. She washed three of them, snapped them into pieces, and handed them to the women who had come.

As Li Xiulan ate, she said, “Luo Qiao, it’s not easy for a young girl like you to live alone in the village. You saved my husband’s life. If you ever need anything in the future, just let us know, we’ll definitely help you.”

Luo Qiao smiled faintly and replied, “Auntie, please don’t say that. It was just luck, and I happened to know a little about it. The main thing is that Uncle Shunyi is lucky.”

Li Xiulan ate the cucumber and pointed to the basket on the ground, saying, “Luo Qiao, this is just a token of my gratitude. Please accept it.”

Looking at the seemingly generous basket, Luo Qiao smiled and replied, “I can’t accept these. We’re all villagers here, helping each other out is what we should do.”

Li Xiulan insisted, “No, you saved my husband’s life. You’re our Gao family’s lifesaver. This gift must be accepted. Otherwise, people will say we’re too particular.”

Luo Qiao reassured her, “It’s alright, Auntie. It’s been a while since this happened. No one is going to criticize.”