Chapter 19: Someone he Likes

Lin Su seemed oblivious to the intimate gesture, but Qin Sui felt uncomfortable and wanted to avoid it.  However, remembering something, he paused for a moment before opening his mouth to take the cookie.

His fingertips suddenly touched something soft. Lin Su belatedly realized that her feeding action was very intimate.

Quickly withdrawing her hand, she didn’t dare to look at Qin Sui.  She hurriedly placed the bowl beside him and quickly left.

Watching her fleeing back, Qin Sui raised an eyebrow.

Had she finally learned to be shy?

No.

Lin Su rubbed her fingertips, lost in thought. Qin Sui’s lips, though thin, were quite soft.

The touch was unexpectedly pleasant.

Wait, he wouldn’t think she was deliberately taking advantage of him, would he?

The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Lin Su slapped her forehead in annoyance.

She was sometimes careless and thoughtless, not thinking about maintaining distance. Now, she had caused a misunderstanding.

But it had already happened; there was no use in being annoyed.

“Su Su, someone’s looking for you,” Grandma Lin suddenly called out.

It was already dark; who could be looking for her?

Lin Su curiously went out to see, only to find several dark figures standing at the gate.

Because someone in the crowd had turned on a flashlight, Lin Su recognized some of them as the women who had gossiped about her at the gathering point.

Seeing Lin Su approach, those few looked uneasy.  However, thinking of their own noisy children who refused to sleep, they smiled at Lin Su.

“Sister, we’re really sorry about today.”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

They apologized to Lin Su first, afraid she wouldn’t agree later.

Lin Su showed no expression on her face, but her heart was filled with complaints.

Who is your sister?

“What do you all want?” Lin Su didn’t respond to them, only looking at the others.

Seeing Lin Su’s silence, the few felt uneasy.

She wouldn’t be so petty just because they gossiped a few words, would she?

The others didn’t care about their awkwardness.  As soon as Lin Su spoke, they quickly stepped forward, “Sister, did you make cookies today?”

Lin Su raised an eyebrow, “Yes.”

“The thing is, your cookies smelled so good that our children wouldn’t stop crying after smelling them.  We wanted to ask how you made them. Of course, we won’t ask for free.”

Lin Su only then noticed that they were all carrying things vegetables, local products, and other grains.

The quantity was large and valuable, much more generous than what Zhao Cuifeng had given, and it showed sincerity.

Even those who had gossiped about Lin Su brought gifts, a considerable amount, probably to ensure Lin Su would teach them.

Seeing Lin Su’s silence, the first woman to speak looked anxious. She knew that a cookie recipe could be used to make money, so it couldn’t be taught for free.

Their group asking for the recipe was a bit cheeky, even a bit coercive.  The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she felt about the gifts.

Someone couldn’t hold back, the parent of a troublesome child.

Parents of troublesome children often have short tempers, but before she could speak, someone next to her quickly stopped her.

Their asking for the recipe was already impolite; offending her further would be disastrous.

Lin Su pretended not to see and feigned difficulty before nodding in agreement. “I can tell you the recipe.  As for the gifts, please take them back.  The only condition is that I hope your children will play with my three children and won’t bully them like today.”

Hearing that they didn’t need to give anything for the recipe, the parent of the troublesome child quickly promised, “I’ll beat them when we get home, and I’ll have them play with your three children tomorrow.”

Others agreed, “Yes, yes, yes. I’ll have my children play with them. They won’t dare to bully them. If anyone dares to bully them, we’ll beat them up.”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

“Qin Sui’s wife, you’re beautiful and generous. Qin Sui married well.”

“Yes, I believe you didn’t mistreat your stepdaughters now.”

After all, using such a precious cookie recipe just to get them to play with her three children, which stepmother could do that?

To their praise, Lin Su only smiled without speaking.

Their voices were quite loud, and Qin Sui, standing behind the door, naturally heard them. He looked down at the three little ones.

“What to do, Dad is a little jealous of you.”

His own mother never gave him anything, only giving it to his elder brother.

His childhood wounds were unhealed. Now that he was grown up and had children, his children had a good stepmother who could heal them with her words and actions.

What about his childhood? Who could heal it?

The three children naturally heard what their stepmother said, and their hearts were touched. Hearing that their father was even jealous of them, they felt an indescribable joy and pride.

Lin Su was telling them the recipe and didn’t notice Qin Sui eavesdropping.

The recipe was simple; anyone with hands and ingredients could make it.

After remembering the recipe, the women no longer disturbed Lin Su.  Before leaving, they threw the gifts into the yard, forcing Lin Su to accept them.

She couldn’t bear to refuse.

They had all given gifts, and the parent of the troublesome child was hesitating whether to give theirs, but a neighbor suddenly snatched it and threw it into the yard.

Now, there was no need to hesitate.

The group came and went quickly. Lin Su called out to them, but no one answered.  She could only go back.

Grandma Lin felt sorry for the food and was picking up the fallen grains.

Qin Sui led the three children out to help pick them up.

Lin Su worried, “How do I return these things? I didn’t even remember their faces.”

Qin Sui looked at her, “No need to return them. You deserve them.”

And there was something he didn’t say.

Since arriving here, he had found her to be very solitary, not liking to socialize or interact with people, spending all her time with the children.

Of course, he was satisfied and happy, but he wasn’t selfish; he wanted her to be happy too.

And those women taking this step today meant they would actively socialize tomorrow.  After all, Lin Su’s cooking skills were excellent, and those who wanted the recipe would have to curry favor with her.

Naturally, they wouldn’t spread rumors anymore, which was beneficial to her.

After hearing Qin Sui’s words, Lin Su didn’t insist and squatted down to help pick up the things.

Qin Sui also had a flashlight, but it wasn’t very bright.  It took them a long time to pick everything up.

After Grandma Lin organized the things, she smiled, “We won’t have to worry about food this week. Qin Sui, you don’t have to eat at the canteen anymore; we have enough here.”

Qin Sui responded.

After finishing their work, the family went to bed.  Lin Su woke up at seven o’clock the next morning.

After Qin Sui brought the furniture back, the house looked much better. The three children woke up one after another. Lin Su let Qin Yao and Qin Ni wash their faces and brush their teeth while she helped Qin Keke.

Grandma Lin opened the yard gate and was about to pick up the gravel at the entrance when a woman came over and greeted Grandma Lin enthusiastically.

Grandma Lin was still a little unaccustomed to this.

Lin Su was also unaccustomed because the neighbors started to come and chat, secretly looking at Qin Sui’s three children.

Finding that their faces and clothes were clean, and even their fingernails were clean, they were amazed by Lin Su as a stepmother.

Who said she mistreated her stepdaughters? She took good care of them.

Compared to their own children who were covered in snot and drool and dirty, they, as their mothers, felt disgusted.

They must have been warned last night.  These troublesome children, for the sake of cookies, didn’t dare to be naughty. On the contrary, perhaps they envied the three children for having a stepmother who could make cookies, and they were very enthusiastic towards the three children.

Some even offered marbles to Qin Yao, hoping he would share some cookies.

Lin Su watched from the side.  Seeing that they were no longer bullying the three children, she was relieved.

Wanting the troublesome children to take better care of the three children, she turned back to the house and took some cookies for Qin Yao to share with them.

The long-awaited cookies were finally in their hands. The children surrounded Qin Yao and cheered excitedly.  Some children even directly called Qin Yao “brother”.

Seeing this, the children’s mothers shyly thanked Lin Su.

They got the recipe for free and now cookies.  They had taken advantage, and since food was precious, especially snacks, to show their gratitude, they didn’t go to work but helped Grandma Lin clean the gravel in front of the door.

Lin Su wanted to help, but they wouldn’t let her, saying she was weak and should rest more.

Grandma Lin also advised her.  Hearing this, Lin Su had to stop.

Thinking of Wang Qiu, Lin Su asked, “Do you know where Aunt Wang lives?”

“Which Aunt Wang?”

“Wang Qiu.”

“Oh, her? She lives at the far west end, with a cactus planted in front of her door.”

Lin Su secretly memorized the location.  In the afternoon, she took some cookies and some local specialties and put them in a basket.

Having learned her lesson, she covered it with a cloth to prevent others from seeing it and spreading gossip.

Just as she was about to leave, Qin Keke clung to her.

Thinking it wasn’t far, she took him with her.

Walking to the far west end, Lin Su found the house with a cactus planted in front of the door.

The yard gate was closed. She went forward and knocked.

“Coming.”

Wang Qiu’s voice quickly came, and she soon came to open the door.  Seeing Lin Su, she smiled in surprise, and seeing the little one clinging to Lin Su’s leg, she was even happier.

“Oh, why did you come? I was planning to go see you this afternoon. Come in.  Are you Keke? Grandma will hug you, okay?”

Wang Qiu reached out to hug him, but Qin Keke didn’t let her. He hid behind Lin Su.

Lin Su was about to explain when Wang Qiu said generously, “Still shy? Okay, I won’t hug you.”

“Didn’t the other two children come?” Wang Qiu moved chairs for them and took out candy to give to them.

“No.”

After Lin Su sat down, she hugged Qin Keke.  As for the candy Wang Qiu offered, she gave it to Qin Keke, but Qin Keke peeled it and put it directly in her mouth.

Lin Su’s heart softened, and she rubbed her face against his.

Wang Qiu watched enviously. She only had one daughter, and her daughter was now grown up and didn’t like to be close to her.

“Mom, who’s at our house?”

At this time, Gu Lin heard the noise and came out.  When she saw Lin Su for the first time, she was stunned.

She was even more beautiful than the women in the art troupe.

How to describe it?  Like a little flower, fresh and elegant, making people feel comfortable just looking at her.

Gu Lin had a quirk; she had no immunity to beautiful people.

“Who is she?” she asked.

“Your Brother Qin’s wife, Lin Su. You have to call her sister-in-law,” Wang Qiu replied.

Hearing that she was Brother Qin’s wife, Gu Lin’s attitude was no longer as warm as before.

While her mother went to pour tea, Gu Lin quickly whispered, “Actually, Brother Qin has someone he likes.”