In the kitchen, Shen Zhihuan swiftly blanched the pork ribs and pork belly that Li Qiuhua had just bought before putting them into the pot.

After adding the radishes to the stew, she picked up a basket and headed to the vegetable garden in the backyard.

“Is that guy blind or what?”

Just as Shen Zhihuan reached for a tender cucumber, a slender hand beat her to it and plucked the vegetable.

“Do you know an ophthalmologist? Maybe they can check his eyesight for him,” Shen Zhihuan chuckled lightly.

Everyone has different pursuits in life—what does it have to do with eyesight?
To be fair, if her son wanted to marry someone as frail as she was, she might not agree either.

Marriage…

Often, it’s not just about two individuals but about two families.

Especially in this era.

Given her current weak condition, even she didn’t know how long she could live.

Having children?

She didn’t even dare to consider it.

“Are you still thinking about him?” Qin Bin took the basket from Shen Zhihuan’s hand.

Some pretty boy…

What’s so special about him?

Qin Bin had overheard the conversation about a job opening at the machinery factory when Cao Dakang mentioned it to his mother.

A regular worker at the factory would earn a measly 30 yuan a month, barely enough to buy ten pounds of cherries.

Meanwhile, this girl could make more in one night than those workers could earn in a year.

If the Su family knew, they’d probably be furious enough to choke.

“Which eye of yours saw me still thinking about him?” Shen Zhihuan asked with a laugh.

Did she look that pathetic?

“If you’re not thinking about him, why do you care if he’s blind or not?” Qin Bin shifted his gaze from the pile of cucumbers to Shen Zhihuan, his expression accusatory—like a husband discovering his wife secretly giving their best food to the neighbor.

“Isn’t he your nephew-in-law? Are you okay with watching your niece marry a blind man?” Shen Zhihuan teased.

Uncle…

Just hearing the title made Shen Zhihuan want to laugh.

“Did you see me agree to that?” Qin Bin leaned in closer, his deep voice carrying a hint of something inexplicable and teasing.

Frowning, Shen Zhihuan instinctively stepped back, widening the distance between them.

Why was he getting so close just to talk? She wasn’t deaf.

Today, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about him.

When her scrutinizing gaze met Qin Bin’s, she quickly averted her eyes like a guilty thief.

Qin Bin chuckled, moving his gaze away as he casually plucked two fresh, green cucumbers from the vine.

“That’s enough cucumbers. Don’t pick any more,” Shen Zhihuan quickly reminded when she saw his hand reaching for another cucumber.

In this weather, cucumbers would wilt in a day if not eaten.

“Did you grow all these vegetables?” Qin Bin asked, pulling his hand back.

“I’m not that skilled. My mother grows them; I just eat them,” Shen Zhihuan said as she bent down to pick a handful of green chili peppers.

Back at her grandparents’ house, her grandparents used to plant seasonal vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, greens, chili peppers, and garlic in their backyard. Her sole responsibility had been eating.

After her grandparents passed away, the vegetable garden was left untended and overgrown.

As they were about to head back, they ran into Wang Lianhua, who was carrying a basket to pick vegetables.

“Aunt Wang, are you here to pick vegetables too?” Shen Zhihuan greeted her with a smile.

“Zhihuan, you’ve already picked yours,” Wang Lianhua replied with a nod, her eyes subtly scanning Qin Bin.

Qin Bin was perceptive enough to discern whether Wang Lianhua’s gaze was curious or impolite.

Since she seemed to be scrutinizing him with good intentions, he naturally wouldn’t brush her off rudely.

“Yes,” Shen Zhihuan nodded. “You go ahead. I’ll head back first.”

Even though Wang Lianhua tried to hide it, her probing gaze made Shen Zhihuan’s face flush slightly.

Back at home, just as Shen Zhihuan reached out to take the basket, Qin Bin carried it straight to the well.

“You’re a guest. Let me wash them,” Shen Zhihuan quickly followed him.

It was one thing for outsiders to misunderstand, but she didn’t want her family getting the wrong idea about their relationship.

“Zhihuan, it’s hot outside. Go sit with Xiao Qin in the house,” Li Qiuhua called from the kitchen, hearing their movements.

“Auntie, it’s no trouble at all,” Qin Bin replied while scooping water into a wooden basin, moving deftly and skillfully.

Shen Zhihuan watched in stunned silence, unable to intervene.

If Huang Xiao’er were here, he’d probably be questioning reality.

The spoiled young master, who always had everything handed to him, was washing vegetables?

“It’s too sunny. Go inside,” Qin Bin said, placing the washed chili peppers into the basket to drain, then looking up at her.

“Fifth Brother, aren’t you forgetting something?” Shen Zhihuan squinted at him with a playful smile.

“What’s that?” Qin Bin paused, his hand midway through washing a cucumber.

“This is my house,” Shen Zhihuan quipped, grabbing the cucumber from his hand. With a few quick rinses, she carried the basket into the kitchen.

“…”

Qin Bin watched her proud retreat, a faint smile playing on his lips, his eyes brimming with affection.

It was just an ordinary meal, but Qin Bin felt unusually content.

Noticing that Shen Zhihuan was growing impatient, he wisely decided not to overstay. After helping Li Qiuhua clear the dishes, he prepared to leave.

Seeing him so tactful, Shen Zhihuan quickly got up to send him off, worried her mother might insist he stay for dinner if he lingered any longer.

“The cotton is ready. Should I bring it to your place tomorrow?” Qin Bin asked softly, glancing around to ensure they were alone.

“No need. It’s too much trouble. Let’s do it tomorrow night instead,” Shen Zhihuan declined without hesitation.

Her reputation was already a hot topic.

If people saw Qin Bin delivering cotton to her house, rumors would spread across Panshi Village within half a day.

Whether the rumors were good—like finding a wealthy suitor—or bad—like engaging in improper relations with a rich man—neither was something she wanted.

Since she couldn’t leave this place for now, she had to learn to adapt and blend in.

“Do I leave a bad impression on you?” Qin Bin’s eyes twinkled with a faint smile.

Earlier at the Su family’s house, if he hadn’t spoken first, he was certain she would have pretended not to know him and slipped away.

“What makes you say that?” Shen Zhihuan asked, wide-eyed with surprise.

They’d been working together for a while now, and she’d always found him to be a reliable business partner.

“Then why are you so guarded around me?” Qin Bin raised an eyebrow. “Whether it’s during our nighttime transactions or today, you’ve been on edge. Am I that untrustworthy to you?”

“…”

“If you’re going to use someone, trust them. If you don’t trust someone, don’t use them. Got it?”