Chapter 13: Anyone Who Didn’t Know Would Think You Saved Her Life

Besides, she was even more convinced now. They had just mentioned buying chickens and ducks, and soon after, that family came and bought a bunch too. Who would believe that wasn’t intentional?

Even Qin Kaishen couldn’t help but smile. Qin’s mother was beaming with joy and decided, considering all the things they’d bought, to let bygones be bygones and have a nice chat with the family later.

Just as Bai Yalan was about to pick a duckling, she heard someone call her name—a familiar voice.

“Yalan!”

Bai Yalan shivered. Her whole body broke out in goosebumps. That was Qin’s mother’s voice. Since when had she gotten so chummy with her? She’d never addressed her that affectionately before.

Turning around, sure enough, Qin Kaishen was walking over with his mother, both of them smiling warmly, as if nothing unpleasant had ever happened between them.

Bai Yalan gave them a cold glance and said nothing.

Qin Kaishen, out of politeness, still greeted her parents with courtesy.

“Uncle Bai, Aunt Bai, what a surprise to run into you here.”

After saying that, his gaze landed on Bai Yalan.

Even though it had only been a day, she seemed to look even prettier and more radiant—so much so that he found it hard to look away.

But Bai Yalan didn’t spare him a single glance. She turned her eyes away and continued picking chickens and ducks.

Seeing how distant their daughter was, Mr. and Mrs. Bai only gave polite nods in return.

Qin’s mother, still in high spirits, wasn’t bothered by the Bai family’s cold attitude. When she saw Bai Yalan picking poultry, she eagerly walked over and began pointing at the cages.

“Oh, that one’s good! That chicken’s nice and fat. And that one too… yes, we’ll take all three. Raise them a bit and they’ll be ready to eat.”

The vendor glanced at the mother and son, unsure, and asked, “All three?”

Still, he deftly picked out the two chickens and one duck Qin’s mother had pointed at, tying their wings and legs. The birds flapped around on the ground.

Qin’s mother was delighted, grinning from ear to ear. When the vendor asked, she laughed and said, “Yes, all three! Kaishen, three might be too few. Should we get a few more?”

Qin Kaishen looked at the poultry cage with an air of restraint and said only, “Pick two more.”

“Alright, my son said pick more, so let’s pick more.” Qin’s mother smiled at Bai Yalan, thinking that since she liked her son, she wouldn’t embarrass him.

The Bai family, after all, was among the first wave of private business owners. They’d definitely made some money, so they could surely afford a few chickens and ducks.

So, she picked out two more hens.

Old hens were great—very nutritious. They could stew them until her son returned to the military, and even send a couple with him. After all, it wasn’t her money being spent, so why not?

“Alrighty,” the vendor said cheerfully, nearly overjoyed. He wondered which deity was blessing him today. He’d definitely go home and offer incense in gratitude.

Bai Yalan coldly watched the mother and son’s shameless behavior, too disgusted to even react.

Qin Kaishen noticed she hadn’t even looked at him and found it amusing.

What a performer, this woman. Still pretending.

Bai Yalan, feeling his brazen gaze on her, only felt more repulsed. After picking her ducklings, she quickly selected five large chickens and ducks, asked the vendor to prepare a cage, handed it off to her parents, paid in full, and got ready to leave.

But of course, Qin’s mother wasn’t about to let her go so easily. She immediately shouted, “Wait! Wait! These haven’t been paid for yet!”

She pointed at the four hens and one duck by her feet, looking at the Bai family with dissatisfaction.

Mr. Bai’s face darkened, and Mrs. Bai frowned, tugging her daughter to step behind them.

But Bai Yalan smiled calmly, nodding to reassure her mother, silently saying she could handle it.

The vendor asked confusedly, “Miss, are you with them?”

Qin’s mother quickly nodded. “Yes, yes, we know each other very well!”

But Bai Yalan laughed. “Auntie, you may know me, but I wouldn’t say we’re close.”

She didn’t bother wasting more words and directly told the vendor, “Uncle, I’m not close with them. Everyone should pay for their own things. Ours are paid for—we’re leaving now.”

In front of the growing crowd, Qin’s mother’s face turned red with anger. “Comrade Bai, you… you all…”

Qin Kaishen’s face darkened. “Stop right there!”

Bai Yalan looked at him coldly, not the slightest bit afraid. “Seriously? I’ve heard of forcing sales, but now you’re forcing people to pay for your stuff? What exactly do you want?”

Qin Kaishen stared deeply at her. Since her parents were there, he couldn’t be too harsh, so he tried to speak patiently. “Don’t make a scene, Comrade Bai. If this is an attempt at reconciliation, why make things so stiff?”

Bai Yalan looked confused. “Reconciliation?”

Qin’s mother jumped in, “Exactly!” She pointed at the poultry. “Didn’t you hear me say I wanted to buy chickens and ducks? That’s why you bought so many—to send to our house, right? Since it’s for us anyway, just cover the cost of the ones I picked too.”

Bai Yalan nearly laughed in disbelief. “Ridiculous. I didn’t do anything wrong, so what exactly am I apologizing for?”

And now she was supposed to pay them? This was insane!

“You…”

Before Qin Kaishen could speak, Bai Yalan pointed at him and continued, “As for you, Comrade Company Commander, you did help me once—when I got mugged and injured after work, you took me to the hospital. I was grateful, and I showed that by sending your family many things. Should I start listing them all to see if I’ve paid you back enough?”

“That’s enough!” With more and more people gathering, and Bai Yalan clearly about to bring up his military title, Qin Kaishen panicked and cut her off before things got worse.

Bai Yalan looked coldly at the mother and son and said only, “Since you’ve said it’s enough, then we’re square. Goodbye. Mom, Dad—let’s go.”

She turned to leave decisively, without hesitation.

Qin’s mother was furious and tried to run after them, but Mr. Bai blocked her path while Mrs. Bai stepped in to stop her.

Mrs. Bai smiled politely, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Miss, if you have something to say, let us adults talk it out. No need to embarrass the children in public. We elders can lose face, but the young ones still need theirs.”

As she spoke, she met Qin Kaishen’s eyes—calm but full of warning.

Like a mother hen protecting her chick, she stood in full battle mode.

Even Qin Kaishen, normally so composed, was momentarily stunned. Qin’s mother, usually so brash, was also caught off guard and hesitated.

Qin Kaishen dared not speak. After all, they were elders and women. He couldn’t outtalk them and didn’t want to be accused of disrespect.

At that time, reputation was everything—especially for someone in his position.

Qin’s mother blushed and avoided Mrs. Bai’s gaze. She muttered, acting wronged, “It’s just a few chickens and ducks—what’s the big deal? We just wanted to make amends. Why are you treating us like this?”

Hah. Now they were the ones being bullied?

Bai Yalan chuckled, “You people are unbelievable. I already said, I’ve done nothing wrong—why should I apologize? And as for your son’s help, didn’t he just admit I’ve repaid it? So let me ask you again—not counting the gifts I gave, during my days off, I was scrubbing floors and doing laundry in your house for free for almost half a year as repayment. What more do you want?”

Mr. and Mrs. Bai looked at their daughter in shock. Cleaning? Laundry? For half a year? Their hearts ached.

Mrs. Bai grabbed her daughter’s hand, pained. “Sweetheart, even at home we never let you touch a broom. What kind of favor is worth sending gifts, cleaning, doing laundry, and being a housemaid for half a year?”

By now, the surrounding crowd couldn’t stay quiet anymore. They began whispering.

One old man, dignified and stern like a cadre, walked over, hands behind his back, and scolded Qin’s mother:

“Now I understand. Miss, your family is really abusing gratitude. This is shameless!”

“The Chairman himself encourages us to learn from Lei Feng—do good without expecting anything in return. You saved someone once and have been clinging to it ever since? What kind of decency is that? Anyone who didn’t know better would think you saved her life!”

The crowd nodded in agreement.

“Exactly! Doing good deeds is honorable. Why twist it into something so ugly?”