Chapter 10: Excessive

That evening, when Qin Mian returned from work, Li Luo took the opportunity to bring up making clothes. “Do you have any fabric ration tickets?”

“I do.” Qin Mian opened the cabinet and pulled out two tickets, each worth ten chi. “This should be enough for one outfit.”

Li Luo accepted them and said, “When it gets cold, I’ll knit you a scarf to repay you.”

Qin Mian replied, “When you first arrived, you bought yarn for the old man. I haven’t seen you touch it since.” The unspoken meaning was clear—do you even know how to knit?

Li Luo pouted. “That’s only because I’ve been focusing on losing weight to match you. I had to put other things aside.”

Qin Mian was briefly caught off guard, then muttered, “That’s fine too.” In truth, her current look was already quite pretty. Her cheeks were plump, her features neat, her skin fair and glowing. Among a crowd, she stood out—though she herself didn’t realize it.

Li Luo sneered. “Heh.” As if I believe you!

Qin Mian: “…”

The next day, Li Luo went into town, exchanged her tickets for cloth, and ordered a custom outfit at the tailor shop. The labor fee was 1.2 yuan.

After paying, she jogged home.

On the way, she passed a calligraphy and painting shop. Seeing only the shopkeeper inside, she stepped in.

“Looking to buy a painting?” The shopkeeper wasn’t particularly enthusiastic.

Li Luo smiled. “Boss, don’t you recognize me?”

“Should I?” He looked her up and down carefully. “Wait—you’re not that dark, fat girl from before, are you?”

Li Luo scratched her head awkwardly. “…Uh, that’s me.”

The shopkeeper was astonished. “You’ve slimmed down a lot, and your skin’s so fair. Your features are really nice. You used to look like a country bumpkin, but now—you’ve got style. Still a bit chubby, but much more pleasing to the eye.”

“Haha.” Li Luo laughed openly. “I’ve been busy losing weight. Once the pounds came off, my skin lightened too.” She herself thought it strange, but increasingly, her body seemed to be returning to her true self. She changed the subject. “Boss, are you still buying calligraphy and paintings?”

Better to sell more now while the market was good and make some pocket money.

“Of course! However many you bring, I’ll take them.” The shopkeeper brightened. Her calligraphy always sold out the same day.

When she stopped coming, he even missed her work for a while. But he’d never admit that—otherwise, she might raise her prices.

Li Luo was delighted and promised to deliver in two days.

After chatting briefly, she returned to the courtyard, shut her door, pulled out her ink and paper, and began writing at her desk.

At one yuan per piece, she could keep writing until the shop closed down.

Still, rarity adds value. Flooding the market would only cheapen her work.

She wrote just ten sheets, dried them, rolled them carefully, tied them with cloth strips, and tucked them into her wardrobe before resuming her exercises.

When Qin Mian came home, he immediately noticed the lingering scent of ink. Selling calligraphy again? Is her money not enough? He remarked pointedly, “I heard today that someone was caught selling things privately. They were paraded through the streets with a placard.”

Li Luo shot back, “Aren’t you a coroner? Don’t your colleagues handle criminal cases? Why are they meddling in this? Seems like you all have too much free time.”

Qin Mian: “…”

Realizing that sounded bad, Li Luo quickly added, “But free time is good—it means the country’s peaceful.”

Qin Mian cleared his throat and said bluntly, “If you don’t have enough money, you can tell me. I’ll give you more. But you mustn’t secretly trade.”

Li Luo’s heart skipped. So he’s warning me… She hurried to answer seriously, “I’m not selling anything.” Technically true—she’d only written, not yet sold. But clearly, private trading carried serious risks.

Still… her calligraphy could fetch ten yuan.

Ten yuan!

It would be a waste not to sell them.

She decided this batch would be her last.

Qin Mian studied her face. This time, she didn’t seem to be lying, so he said no more.

That whole evening, Li Luo was on edge, afraid he’d open the wardrobe and find her scrolls.

The next morning, once he left for work, she slipped the calligraphy from the wardrobe into her wide sleeves and headed straight to the shop.

What she didn’t know was that Han Qiuyu had been tailing her. Han stopped outside, hiding behind a tree to spy.

The shopkeeper, having once been nearly exposed by Li Luo, now always checked his surroundings before making a deal. Pretending to be casual, he stepped outside, spotted Han Qiuyu lurking, and deliberately pulled Li Luo inside to look at wall scrolls instead.

At first, Li Luo was confused.

Then she realized—someone must be watching.

So she played along, chatting with the boss about the paintings on the walls.

Only when Han Qiuyu was satisfied and walked away did the boss beckon Li Luo to the counter.

“Some creases here—the presentation isn’t great,” he said after examining her scrolls.

“How much will you pay?” Li Luo asked. She planned to make this her last sale. No point risking herself for calligraphy anymore.

“Five yuan.”

Li Luo’s heart sank. Five yuan? Not bad, but half the price of last time. Clearly, he was lowering it on purpose, knowing she was producing more. “Then I won’t sell.” She wasn’t about to be cheated.

The boss blocked her. “Now, now, no need to be hasty. We can negotiate.”

“Ten yuan. Not a fen less,” Li Luo said firmly.

“Eight. Eight yuan—deal?” the boss countered.

Li Luo pursed her lips. Fine. Eight was still decent. And it would be her last time anyway. “Alright.”

The deal was made—he took the scrolls, she pocketed the cash, patted her pocket in satisfaction, and left.

She went to the tailor shop next.

Her clothes were finished—simple style, neatly made. Since they were custom-fit, she didn’t try them on there. After a quick inspection, she carried them home.

At home, she tried them on.

The fabric pinched at her thighs and elbows, restricting her movement.

She sighed.

Fat and poor—even custom clothes don’t fit properly. Life is too hard!

Feeling sorry for herself, she quickly pushed the thought away and returned to her exercises.

For a slim figure and pretty clothes, she’d fight to the end!

When Qin Mian came home, Li Luo was still working out. “Oh? You’re back early today.” Normally, he didn’t return until close to evening. “Is it even five yet?”

“My father called. He wants to celebrate his seventieth birthday. My brother and sister-in-law are busy with work, and my mother can’t manage alone. He asked you to go back and help. I already bought a ticket for tomorrow morning. Pack your things.”

Li Luo was speechless. Just like the old man—never asking her opinion, just informing her after the fact.

So excessive!

Was he tired of her and trying to send her away? But she’d been so diligent, cooking and serving him well.

Her heart sank, fists tightening as she quietly packed.

Then Qin Mian added, “I’ll come back to fetch you afterward.”

Li Luo’s spirits lifted again. So he’s not trying to get rid of me… but still, I really don’t want to go back!

She vowed to earn money—only then could she escape being at the mercy of others.

She didn’t have much—one bag was enough for all her things. She noticed the ticket lying on the table and tucked it into her luggage.

Then she busied herself cooking dinner.

“Dinner’s ready.” After half an hour, she set two dishes and a big bowl of rice on the table, then went out for a run.

Qin Mian glanced at her. So she’s unhappy about going home?

He tried a bite of the food.

His face twisted instantly. How much salt did she put in this?!