Chapter 58

With everything that needed to be settled taken care of, Qiao Xinyi and the others left the textile factory’s family compound. Since they had to prepare lunch, after getting off the bus, Chen Yubing took Qiao Baihe and Qiao Yunbai to the vegetable market to buy groceries, while Qiao Xinyi went alone back to the Li family’s home.

At the intersection, she ran into Li Jun returning from work. Li Jun simply pushed his bicycle and walked alongside Qiao Xinyi. The two chatted and laughed together, and on the way they stopped to exchange a few words with neighbors from the Li family.

Liu Guilan hadn’t arrived home yet, so only Li Xiuying was at the Li house. Hearing voices at the door, Li Xiuying poked her head out of the kitchen.

“Sister Xinyi, you’re back too? Want to eat with us at noon?” Li Xiuying asked.

“No thanks, my mom went to the market to buy vegetables. She’ll be back soon to cook. It’s just our family,” Qiao Xinyi said, casually slipping a handful of candy into Li Xiuying’s hand.

While the three were chatting, Liu Guilan returned carrying groceries, her expression somewhat serious. Hearing the laughter in the yard, Liu Guilan glanced at her children and then at Qiao Xinyi, her eyes showing some inner conflict.

“Mom, you’re back. Why are you just standing there quietly?” Li Xiuying was the first to notice Liu Guilan standing silently at the door.

“It’s nothing. I just remembered something after getting home,” Liu Guilan shook her head and said, “I’m going to wash the vegetables.”

Li Jun had to finish a report at noon, so he didn’t help and instead scratched his head and went back to his room to write.

Qiao Xinyi greeted Liu Guilan and also went back to her room. Besides steaming rice first, she had to pack some clothes to change into.

Only after Qiao Xinyi returned to her room did Liu Guilan quietly ask Li Xiuying, “Is it true your eldest brother and Qiao Xinyi are really close?”

“Of course! They’re friends,” Li Xiuying said with a goofy smile, patting her own pocket. “But I think Sister Xinyi and I are really close too. We’re good friends.”

“Do you think your brother’s relationship with her is the same as with you two girls?” Liu Guilan gently tapped her daughter’s arm and lowered her voice. “Just now, Aunt Lin asked if your brother and Qiao Xinyi were dating because she often sees them walking together, chatting and laughing.”

“Aunt Lin said she tested your brother and Qiao Xinyi’s attitude. She asked your brother what he thought of Qiao Xinyi. Guess what he said?” Liu Guilan asked, but before her daughter could answer, she went on.

“Your brother said Qiao Xinyi has a good personality, is straightforward, and is a really good girl. He also said that since Qiao Xinyi doesn’t have long hair now, once it grows out, she’ll be a beautiful girl.”

Li Xiuying strongly agreed, “What my brother said is absolutely right~”

Liu Guilan continued, “Aunt Lin also asked Qiao Xinyi what she thought of your brother. Qiao Xinyi praised your brother as a rare good young man and called him the ideal son-in-law.”

“Sister Xinyi wasn’t wrong; my brother really is great!” Li Xiuying nodded enthusiastically.

Liu Guilan was momentarily speechless, looking at her goofy daughter.

“Do you think your brother and Qiao Xinyi are secretly dating?” Liu Guilan had worried all the way home after hearing the neighbor’s talk. Seeing the three together, chatting and laughing, she became even more concerned.

She liked Qiao Xinyi very much and felt sorry for her, but her fondness wasn’t enough to accept Qiao Xinyi as her daughter-in-law. Not to mention the mess that was the Qiao family, just considering Qiao Xinyi herself: she had no education and no job. Liu Guilan did not want a daughter-in-law like that.

Li Xiuying thought for a moment and shook her head, “No.”

Then she sighed, “Sister Xinyi is so good. If only she could be my sister-in-law, that would be nice.”

Anyway, Li Xiuying really liked Qiao Xinyi.

“How is that ‘not bad’!” Liu Guilan got a little worked up. “That’s just not a good match! Your brother went to technical school, then joined the army, and after he retired he was assigned to work in public security. He has a job, an education, and a bright future. How could he possibly…” Liu Guilan couldn’t find harsh enough words to describe Qiao Xinyi. After all, she knew it hadn’t been easy for Qiao Xinyi to grow up like this. Qiao Xinyi’s mediocrity wasn’t by choice, but because she had no other options. Being a tenant, being looked down on — Liu Guilan liked Qiao Xinyi. But she really couldn’t accept Li Jun dating Qiao Xinyi.

Her ideal daughter-in-law was a girl as outstanding as Li Jun — someone with a respectable job, at least a junior high school graduate, and with easygoing, low-maintenance parents.

“Mom, I know what you mean,” Li Xiuying was no fool; her mom was making it pretty obvious.

“You just look down on Sister Xinyi from the bottom of your heart. You think Sister Xinyi doesn’t deserve my brother,” Li Xiuying objected, “Sister Xinyi just lacks a diploma, but she’s not uneducated or incapable.”

“But society only recognizes diplomas! Jobs only recognize diplomas!” Liu Guilan said.

“People with talent will shine one day,” Li Xiuying said. Thinking about yesterday again, she added, “I really think you’re overthinking, Mom. I think Sister Xinyi has someone she likes, but it’s not my brother.”

Liu Guilan was about to ask more when Chen Yubing came in with the two kids. The three greeted her. Chen Yubing put down her things and immediately started preparing to cook. Liu Guilan thought for a moment, then called out, “Sis, come wash with me so we can talk.”

Chen Yubing didn’t hesitate, smiled, and went over with the vegetables and basket.

Liu Guilan chatted about many random topics, then when it felt right, suddenly said that a colleague of hers wanted to introduce a match for Li Jun. She described the girl as a primary school teacher, whose parents were both teachers, and said the girl was gentle in nature, and so on.

Chen Yubing didn’t think much, and followed along praising, “That girl sounds well matched for your Li Jun. Being a teacher is good—respectable, and people admire that. My Baihe also said she wants to be a teacher in the future.”

Chen Yubing’s reaction showed she hadn’t once thought of Li Jun as a potential son-in-law, which secretly relieved Liu Guilan.

“Your Xinyi is already nineteen. Do you have any thoughts about who she should date?” Liu Guilan tentatively asked. “Does your Xinyi like anyone?”

Chen Yubing laughed right away, “This girl hasn’t caused me a bit of worry.”

Since Fu Qingshan was a good friend of Li Jun’s and was coming soon anyway, Chen Yubing didn’t hide it: “My Xinyi already has a boyfriend—you all know him, he’s Li Jun’s friend, called Fu Qingshan.”

Liu Guilan’s face was full of shock. Li Xiuying threw the vegetables she was holding into the sink, more excited than anyone.

“I knew it!” Li Xiuying was over the moon. “Yesterday I just felt something was off about how Brother Qingshan looked at Sister Xinyi! The whole afternoon, Brother Qingshan’s eyes never left Sister Xinyi!”

As the saying goes, speak of the devil and he appears. Fu Qingshan came in carrying a lunchbox just in time to hear Li Xiuying’s words. He paused, lowered his head, and rubbed the tip of his nose. Was he really that obvious yesterday?

“Qingshan’s here~” Chen Yubing smiled hearing Li Xiuying’s words and looked over at Fu Qingshan, smiling even wider.

“Xinyi is inside packing her things. You haven’t eaten yet, right? Go talk to her in her room, and dinner will be ready soon.” Fu Qingshan nodded and said okay, then passed by Li Jun’s room and called out to him.

When Li Jun heard Fu Qingshan was here, he grabbed paper and pen and hurried out.