Chapter 19: Showing Off

Qin Mian asked with concern, “Dad, how’s your health?”

“Still good. Let’s talk inside.”

“Mm.”

Because Qin Mian had stood on her side earlier, Li Luo secretly rejoiced. She took the initiative to carry his luggage back to the room and began unpacking.

Aside from clothes, there was also a large paper bag.

What was inside?

At that moment, laughter and chatter drifted in from the courtyard.

Li Luo glanced out the window. It was Qin Xinyi’s parents. Qin’s mother was chatting with Liu Qian’s mother, and Liu Qian herself stood beside them. For a brief moment, her gaze flicked toward Qin Mian’s room, which Li Luo caught.

Knowing full well the man was married yet still trying to climb into his bed—

One could call that a problem of character. But Han Qiuyu was the same way.

Tsk tsk, Qin Mian really was a walking disaster.

Li Luo stayed in the room for half an hour. From next door in the living room came bursts of laughter, making her feel increasingly isolated and lonely.

Better just lose weight!

She stepped outside, and no one paid her any attention. Walking down the street, she ran into Liu Erwang and Cheng Jianshe.

“Big Sis, how’s that deal we introduced you to?”

Li Luo: “I’ll know tomorrow. What are you two doing loitering around the streets all day? Don’t you need to feed your families?”

“We’ve got nothing to do.”

Li Luo rubbed her chin. “How about joining me at the night market tonight? We’ll split the profits three ways.”

Liu Erwang couldn’t have been happier. He’d always wanted to earn money to get married, but without education, skills, or connections, he had no way forward. If someone could lead him, wouldn’t marriage be just around the corner?

Li Luo agreed on a meeting time, then kept running. At noon she rested at a teahouse, then when the sun leaned west, she went to pick up goods from the soap factory. Meeting Liu Erwang and Cheng Jianshe, they headed to a private trading market nearby to set up a stall.

Before long, business came rolling in.

As Li Luo pocketed the first customer’s money, her right eyelid began twitching.

Before she had time-traveled, it had also been twitching.

A bad omen.

Surely she wasn’t about to be sent back?

She hesitated, then said, “Let’s move somewhere else.”

Liu Erwang wasn’t happy. “But sales are going well here.”

Li Luo picked up the goods on the ground without caring about the rest. “Go! Quickly!”

Left with no choice, Liu Erwang and Cheng Jianshe each grabbed a box and followed. Exiting the yard, Liu Erwang grumbled, “Why move when business is fine? Women are always making trouble.”

Li Luo decided to head east. Closer to the city meant more crowds—and the most dangerous places were often the safest.

After winding through alleys, they arrived at the destination.

“Big Sis, you know a lot of places! I didn’t even know there was a market here,” Liu Erwang said.

Li Luo smirked. Credit went to the scrap collector uncle—he had told her about it.

The market was already bustling.

The three found an empty spot and set up.

Li Luo began calling out—not too loud, not too soft, just enough to reach people nearby.

Whenever someone approached, she enthusiastically explained the benefits of the soap, claiming that her own pale complexion was the result of long-term use.

The customers were easily persuaded and couldn’t help but pay.

As buyers increased, she stopped promoting, letting the demand fuel itself.

Liu Erwang and Cheng Jianshe were busy collecting money. With the heavy foot traffic, three boxes of soap sold out quickly.

Some disappointed customers asked, “Will you be here tomorrow?”

Li Luo: “Not sure.”

“We’ll be here!” Liu Erwang cut in. “Definitely, definitely! Come early tomorrow to buy!”

…

After discussing plans for the next day, the three went to a quiet spot outside.

Li Luo stretched out her hand. “Hand over the money.”

Liu Erwang reluctantly glanced at Cheng Jianshe, exchanging looks.

Li Luo read the greed in their eyes—the urge to pocket everything. Of course they’d be tempted; it was over sixty yuan! Narrowing her eyes, she let her aura bear down. “I’ve been hustling since I was a teenager. One look at your faces and I can tell you’re up to no good. Want to cheat me? Don’t be stupid. Don’t ruin your future for petty gains!”

“…Holy crap.” Liu Erwang shivered. Could she read minds? He forced a laugh. “Big Sis, just kidding! Here you go.”

Li Luo snorted coldly, took the money, counted it, deducted the soap factory’s share, and split the rest evenly.

“Only six yuan?” Cheng Jianshe muttered.

Li Luo: “This was cost-free for you. Where else can you earn six yuan in under two hours? A meat bun costs five cents, and even carpenters don’t make a yuan a day. Don’t be so greedy!”

“If you want more, buy your own stock. Fifteen yuan a box, and after selling it, you’ll only make about five yuan yourself. I was generous to even give you this much.”

With that, she turned and left.

Working with street punks was too risky. She needed a trustworthy partner instead.

Humming with satisfaction, Li Luo carried her share of the money home. About a kilometer from the Qin household, she spotted Qin Mian with a flashlight. Their eyes met in the distance.

Li Luo laughed. “Couldn’t sleep, so you’re out for a stroll?”

Qin Mian: … Couldn’t he be more obvious—he was looking for her.

Three hours ago, the neighbor had been caught selling illegal fried goods. Since Li Luo hadn’t come back and she had a record for shady business, Qin Mian assumed she was involved. He even asked around before confirming she wasn’t. Relieved, he said, “Do you always stay out this late for your diet?”

Li Luo: “Of course. All for you, so I can be worthy of you.”

Qin Mian gave a faint smile. Hard to tell if she meant it.

Li Luo added, “By the end of summer, I’ll be back to normal weight. Then we can have ten or eight sons together.”

Cough, cough!

Qin Mian choked violently. What girl talked like that without shame? Still, if she truly wanted sons, he wouldn’t refuse. But he was too embarrassed to discuss it, so he changed the subject. “It’s unsafe to stay out so late. Try to come home earlier.”

“No worries. I’m ugly enough to be safe,” Li Luo said.

Qin Mian glanced at her under the flashlight. She had once been “safe,” but now… not so much. “I heard the lanterns at home were made by you?”

“Yeah. I stayed up all night making them. My hands turned red—see here? Got a cut while chopping bamboo.” She lifted her hand to show him a nearly healed wound.

Qin Mian lowered his gaze. Her chubby hand was smooth and fair, like fine jade. Recently, he had read countless medical texts but never found a case like hers—skin turning from dark to fair. “Thanks for your hard work. I asked someone to bring you pastries from your hometown.”

Li Luo scowled. She was already fat enough, and he was buying her food? Did he want to sabotage her diet? “I’m losing weight! Pastries just make me fatter.”

Qin Mian looked awkward.

They walked the rest of the way in silence. When they got home, only Qin Xinyi’s room was lit. Inside, her voice carried as she read aloud:

“…Even in shabby clothes, I did not envy the rich. Content with what I had, I cared little for material pleasures…”

Li Luo took over smoothly: “Though now aged and without achievements, I am still fortunate to be among gentlemen, basking in the emperor’s grace, following in the steps of ministers. See? I don’t even study, yet I can recite it better than you. How are you going to pass your exams? Forget about college at this rate.”

With Qin Mian present, Li Luo took the chance to throw back at Qin Xinyi all the frustration she had swallowed before.

“You—you dare laugh at me?” Qin Xinyi shouted, flinging open her window. “Even if I fail college, can you even take the exam? Reciting a few lines of classics, big deal.”

“I can recite the whole essay! If I stumble, you can twist my head off and sit on it,” Li Luo said smugly.