Chapter 30: Praise

Liu Qian’s gentle smile stiffened at the corners of her lips. Glancing at the shadow outside the window, she sighed.
“Looks like my father will be disappointed.”

Li Luo was confused. What does she mean by that?

At this moment, Old Madam Qin spoke up:
“Qianqian, why would your father be disappointed?”

Liu Qian explained with a smile:
“It’s like this. At Uncle Xue’s birthday banquet the other day, didn’t Luoluo gift a calligraphy scroll? My father happened to visit afterwards, saw it, and kept praising it. So today I came specially to ask Luoluo for a piece. But Luoluo said she doesn’t give her calligraphy away anymore.”

“It’s just a piece of calligraphy. I’ll agree on her behalf.” Old Madam Qin readily replied.

Li Luo groaned inwardly. Why would you agree for me? Do you even know how valuable my writing is?!

She now understood why Liu Qian had just said that line about her father being disappointed—it was meant for Old Madam Qin’s ears, knowing full well the old lady would agree for her.
Scheming woman!

Liu Qian pretended to look troubled.
“But Luoluo just refused me. Now the two of you don’t agree—won’t this cause conflict?”

Li Luo retorted, “Since you know it’ll cause conflict, why bring it up at all?”

Liu Qian lowered her head, looking as though she’d been wronged.

Old Madam Qin smoothed things over:
“We’re all neighbors. Writing a couple of words isn’t that tiring. Besides, during the New Year Qianqian gave us couplets. Luoluo, you writing her a piece in return is only fair.”

Li Luo really wanted to say: Why should I repay the favors you owe?!

But if she said that out loud, it would immediately turn into a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law quarrel—exactly what Liu Qian wanted.

So she compromised with a reluctant, “Alright, I’ll find some time to buy rice paper and write one for you.”

“I have rice paper at home,” Liu Qian quickly offered, and went to fetch it.

Watching her leave, Li Luo sneered inwardly. Scheming, manipulative woman.

Before long, Liu Qian returned—bringing along two notoriously gossipy neighbors.

Li Luo instantly suspected her motive. She brought them on purpose to witness this, to see if I really wrote Uncle Qin’s birthday scroll. If they think my writing is ugly, then by tomorrow the entire neighborhood will say I bought the calligraphy instead of writing it myself.
So vicious! Half a month of absence, and she comes back just to pull this stunt?

With a bright smile, Liu Qian said,
“Luoluo, the paper’s ready. I’ll help you set up a table.”

Li Luo kept a straight face.
“Fine.”

She fetched her brush, ink, and felt pad from her desk. The table was already in place.

Glancing at Liu Qian, she saw the woman smiling at her, eyes sparkling with anticipation. A pity Qin Xinyi wasn’t home—otherwise this “performance” would be even more entertaining. Still, this alone was enough for Liu Qian to hope Li Luo would embarrass herself.

Li Luo shifted her gaze back, laid down the felt, placed the rice paper, and was about to write when Liu Qian interjected:
“Just write the same lines you gave Uncle Qin.”

“That won’t do! That was for a birthday. Your father isn’t celebrating one.” Li Luo replied, and with a few swift strokes, wrote four large characters: 厚德载物 (With great virtue, one can carry all things).

The meaning was clear—she hoped Liu Qian could cultivate virtue broad enough to tolerate others, instead of always targeting her with petty tricks.

Old Madam Qin immediately praised her:
“Excellent writing!”

The two gossiping aunties didn’t really understand calligraphy, but also nodded approvingly.

Just then, Old Master Qin returned.
“What’s all this about excellent writing? What’s going on in the courtyard?”

Old Madam Qin explained:
“Qianqian said her father wanted a piece of Luoluo’s calligraphy, so Luoluo wrote one. It’s quite bold—better than the one she gave you!”

Old Master Qin took out his reading glasses, carefully studied the scroll, and didn’t hold back his praise.
“Indeed, very good. Bold and vigorous. Has the air I had in my youth.”

Even while praising others, he didn’t forget to praise himself.

Liu Qian froze on the spot.

Impossible! Li Luo’s calligraphy is actually outstanding—no worse than what’s sold in art shops?!

Li Luo, brimming with pride, said:
“I practiced for a long time out west.”

“In just a month, to reach this level—you’ve got real talent.” Old Master Qin nodded repeatedly.

Old Madam Qin shared in the pride. From now on, if anyone dared laugh at her son for marrying an uneducated wife, she’d fight them!

After Li Luo put down the brush and returned to her room, the two gossiping aunties lingered to chat with Old Madam Qin.

Old Madam Qin ignored Liu Qian, who couldn’t get a word in. Holding the scroll, Liu Qian left in disappointment. After all her scheming, Li Luo wasn’t humiliated at all—on the contrary, she was praised to the skies. By evening, the two gossiping women would surely spread the story far and wide.

And Liu Qian’s ploy—pretending it was her father who wanted the scroll—would also be exposed to her own family.

The more she thought about it, the more upset she became.

Li Luo, on the other hand, was in high spirits. That night, once the old couple was asleep, she carried out three boxes of soap and went straight to the street.

Liu Erwang was waiting at their usual spot.
“Big Sis, you finally came. Lucky you didn’t show up yesterday.”

Li Luo feigned ignorance.
“What do you mean by ‘came and didn’t come’?”

Liu Erwang recounted what had happened the night before, ending with cursing Cheng Jianshe for being disloyal.
“And here I thought he was my good brother.”

Li Luo made no comment.

“Where should we set up tonight?”

Li Luo chose the same place as yesterday. If I could sell one box even that late, coming earlier today should mean even better business.

She asked, “Can you carry three boxes?”

Liu Erwang scratched his throat awkwardly.
“Two are already heavy enough. With your strength, no man would dare marry you. But if you came with me, I wouldn’t mind—I’d even listen to you.”

Li Luo rolled her eyes. You only listen because you’re scared of my fists.
“Even if no man wants me, I wouldn’t pick you! Don’t ever bring this up again. Stop daydreaming!” Her ambition was higher than the heavens. Even someone like Qin Mian wasn’t good enough for her—how could Liu Erwang be?

“…” Liu Erwang was speechless.

They set up their stall at a random open spot. As Li Luo expected, business was great.

In less than an hour, all three boxes of soap were sold out.

Just as she was packing up, the same boy from the night before appeared. His clothes now had new buttons sewn on, and he carried a bamboo basket full of tomatoes. He held it out to her.

Li Luo pointed at herself.
“You’re selling to me? How much?”

“They’re for you. Thank you for the soap and buttons yesterday,” the boy said shyly.

Li Luo smiled.
“You’re welcome. Those things wouldn’t have sold anyway—I’d have thrown them out. Here, take the money.” She pulled out fifty cents.

The boy set the basket down and ran.

Li Luo quickly chased after him, forcing the money into his hand.
“Then give me the basket too. Deal?”

Old Madam Qin had once asked her to buy a basket. A bamboo basket this size usually cost thirty cents. Though old, this one was clean—clearly scrubbed before he put the tomatoes inside. Together, it was worth about fifty cents.

“Thank you, big sister.”

Liu Erwang muttered,
“She’s thirty-eight. Probably older than your mom.”

“…” Li Luo had no words.

After this little episode, she returned home with her basket of tomatoes.

In the courtyard, she bumped into Old Madam Qin who had gotten up in the night.

They locked eyes.

Old Madam Qin spoke first:
“Where have you been so late? What’s that in your hand?”

Li Luo’s mind spun.
“I slept too much in the day and couldn’t sleep at night, so I went out for a run. I stumbled upon a night market nearby and bought a basket of tomatoes.”