Cauliflower, also known as broccoli, was habitually referred to as cauliflower by Qiao Wanqing and the others.

Gu Yanqing actually recognized it, but he was momentarily misled, causing such a big misunderstanding that even he laughed at himself.

When IQ drops, it probably looks something like him.

Qiao Wanqing didn’t make him go pick again.

She just stir-fried the “cauliflower” he brought back.

Since they were all blooming, the dish was as tough as an old man and too tough to chew.

Forget about it being old; the cauliflower was also bitter.

Mischievously, Qiao Wanqing picked up a chopstick and offered it to Gu Yanqing with a smile. “Mr. Gu, is the cauliflower delicious?”

Gu Yanqing: “……”

Kouko had learned to use a spoon by now, insisting on eating by himself.

When he heard his mother’s question, he happily tapped his bowl with the spoon and said, “Good, good!”

Gu Yanqing scooped some of Qiao Wanqing’s serving into Kouko’s bowl. “Then baby, eat more.”

“…You’re shameless.”

Kouko didn’t realize he was being tricked.

With great difficulty, he managed to scoop the food into his mouth with the spoon.

Since his hands weren’t very nimble yet, he tried several times before succeeding.

Not being much of a chewer, he found the tough cauliflower hard to bite into and cleverly pursed his lips.

His serving happened to include cauliflower, which was bitter.

After a quick taste, he wrinkled his little face and spat it out with a “bleh bleh bleh.”

Seeing Kouko’s reaction to the bitterness, Gu Yanqing and Qiao Wanqing couldn’t help but laugh heartlessly.

Clueless Kouko didn’t realize he’d been tricked.

Seeing them laugh, he twisted his little mouth in response and joined in with a “haha.”

So, with such a mischievous dad, he was bound to have an equally mischievous son.

…

After breakfast, Qiao Wanqing took advantage of the cool weather to quickly go up the mountain to pick mushrooms.

Originally, she had planned for Gu Yanqing to stay home with Koko and accompany Grandma Qiao, but someone insisted on going with her, so they ended up going together while Grandma Qiao stayed with Kouko.

Now that Koko was clinging to people, they couldn’t openly walk together.

Qiao Wanqing asked Gu Yanqing to go out first, and she would find a chance to slip out later.

Gu Yanqing chuckled, “Why does it sound like we’re having an affair?”

Qiao Wanqing glared at him, “It’s because your son is so clingy.”

“Yeah, blame it on my son.” Gu Yanqing ruffled her hair, cooperatively went outside with the basket prepared for collecting mushrooms, and waited by the roadside lamp near their house.

Leaning against the lamppost, his long legs crossed, his handsome face wore an indifferent expression, giving off a cool and aloof aura.

This man… actually belonged to her.

Qiao Wanqing couldn’t help but smile. Every girl has a prince charming dream, but it’s just a dream.

Very few girls actually get to marry a prince.

Gu Yanqing was so outstanding, and yet he fell for her.

In reality, she couldn’t even dare to dream about it.

So, she really was a girl living in a novel.

When she came out, Gu Yanqing looked up.

The faint smile on his normally reserved face brightened slightly as he reached out his hand to her. “Let’s go.”

Qiao Wanqing looked at his hand, fair and slender, with distinct knuckles.

She smiled and reached out, intertwining her fingers with his.

“It’s a bit far,” Qiao Wanqing teased him preemptively. “If you can’t keep up later, just wait for me at the foot of the mountain.”

“Where did I give you the impression that I’m weak?” Gu Yanqing chuckled helplessly, then as if remembering something, he lowered his voice. “Is it… because I didn’t satisfy you that night?”

“……” Qiao Wanqing was flushed with anger. This person was shameless beyond belief. “Just go away, that night was definitely not…”

“Hmm? Not what?” Gu Yanqing turned his face towards her, asking as she suddenly paused.

Panicking, Qiao Wanqing instinctively wanted to say it wasn’t her that night at all.

Though she had memories of the original owner of this body, she didn’t feel that way at all.

How would she know if her body had been satisfied?

This topic was too inappropriate.

If they kept discussing it, she’d surely be teased.

Qiao Wanqing decided to steer the conversation back.

“I saw you rarely go up the mountain, afraid you’ll get blisters. The first time I went up, I got four blisters at the foot of the mountain. It hurt for days. If you’re not afraid of blisters, why not come with me?”

“Is that so,” Gu Yanqing scratched her palm with his fingers. “Don’t worry, I’m quite capable.”

“……”

Qiao Wanqing had never thought her palm would be so sensitive.

Just a gentle scratch from Gu Yanqing made her whole hand tingle.

Why could Gu Yanqing always flirt with her at any moment?

In theory, she should be the more experienced one, having read plenty of erotica.

Qiao Wanqing silently resolved to regain control.

Ahem.

Now was the time when mushrooms in the mountains were abundant, especially at this time when Grandma Qiao was not around.

Qiao Wanqing didn’t know which were good to eat and which were poisonous, so she specifically picked King Trumpet mushrooms.

Having a man around meant she didn’t have to carry the basket herself.

Sometimes the slope was too steep to climb, and she didn’t have to do it herself; she could just leave it to him.

After half a morning of foraging, their basket was full.

They weren’t greedy and slowly made their way back.

The scenery in the mountains was beautiful.

The two slowly descended along the path, listening to occasional bird calls and other insect sounds in the trees, feeling that life was peaceful.

Qiao Wanqing stepped on some soft twigs, made a grass ring, and put it on Gu Yanqing’s head.

Looking at him sideways, she said, “You look handsome, General Gu.”

Gu Yanqing knew she was teasing him, and he indulgently smiled, allowing her to put the grass ring on his head. Seeing her happy smile, he said, “Wanqing, my mom wants to meet you and Koko.”

Qiao Wanqing’s smile froze on her face. “So soon?”

Not knowing how Lady Gu would treat her, Qiao Wanqing habitually tried to avoid thinking about it. “And… does she know about Koko?”

“Yeah, after the incident at the maternity store last time, it made the news, and she saw it. She thought Koko looks a lot like me when I was young. Later, when we were shopping together, she bumped into us and made the connection.”

The maternity store incident from last year, and their encounter with Lady Gu today, months apart.

Yet Lady Gu remembered Qiao Wanqing’s appearance from just one photo.

“Can we wait a little longer? I… I’m not ready.”

Although they were now considered boyfriend and girlfriend, for her, meeting parents was still too soon.

She needed time.

Plus, her background…

Gu Yanqing wouldn’t mind, but Lady Gu might.

Not everyone could accept a daughter-in-law who grew vegetables in the countryside.

Gu Yanqing nodded. “Sure, no rush. I’ll wait for you.”

They returned home together.

Feeling guilty towards her son, Qiao Wanqing picked some wildflowers on the way and made a small flower crown, his favorite, to cheer him up.

The front gate of the courtyard was open.

As they entered, they both froze in place.

Madam Gu, who had just been mentioned in their conversation, was in the courtyard playing with Kouko.

Grandma Qiao stood nearby, looking anxious.

Kouko seemed to have already passed the “stranger phase” with Lady Gu.

He was happily picking a small flower and eagerly handing it to her.

“Mum,” Gu Yanqing reacted first, squeezing Qiao Wanqing’s hand to comfort her, then leading her inside. “Why did you come?”

Qiao Wanqing managed a forced smile. “Madam Gu.”

“Hmph.” Lady Gu took the small flower from her grandson’s hand, stroked his head affectionately, and commented, “Kouko is such a good boy.”

Then she looked up at the two of them. “If I didn’t come, would you two have come to me?”

“……” Qiao Wanqing felt inexplicably guilty upon hearing this.

Lady Gu had been waiting for these two to come clean with her.

Thinking about her adorable grandson, she decided to go easy on them for now.

She had waited and waited, and three months had passed without them making a move.

A few days ago, when Gu Yanqing returned home for something, Lady Gu directly confronted him.

Gu Yanqing neither agreed nor refused, only saying he would discuss it with Qiao Wanqing and respect her decision.

Seeing him like this, Lady Gu knew there was probably more to it.

Gu Yanqing had been traveling between Qiao Wanqing and the city of C recently.

Madam Gu couldn’t find Qiao Wanqing, but a simple inquiry revealed where she lived.

When Madam Gu found out the address, her mindset collapsed.

Born with a silver spoon, from a noble lady to a wealthy wife, she had never experienced poverty.

Her understanding of rural life was limited to what she saw on television—children in rags, unable to go to school, sunburnt like charcoal.

Thinking of her grandson suffering in such a place, Madam Gu couldn’t sit still.

She immediately booked a flight over.

Unexpectedly, she bumped into the two of them just as they were leaving.

However, the reality here was different from what she had imagined.

Especially Qiao Wanqing’s home—her courtyard was beautifully maintained with many flowers and plants, well-arranged and picturesque, not inferior to the courtyards tended by gardeners.

Though the house was old, it was spacious and bright, far from poverty.

It was just scattered with toys thrown around by her playful grandson, probably too busy to tidy up, looking a bit messy.

Most importantly, her adorable grandson was not like the muddy child she had imagined.

On the contrary, he was clean and cute, like a little snowball.

Initially shy, he grew bolder as he became more familiar, even picking a small flower to give to her.

Much cuter than her son was at his age!

Upon seeing his mother return, Kouko ran over joyfully, calling out, “Mommy, Mommy!”

“My darling.”

Qiao Wanqing leaned down and placed the flower crown on Kouko’s head.

When she lifted him up, his little mouth pouted high, clearly upset that she and Gu Yanqing had secretly gone off.

“Mommy, bad!” Kouko said unhappily.

Qiao Wanqing found herself included in the “bad” series too.

She sighed and gently rubbed her son’s soft head, but didn’t say anything.

She didn’t want to keep playing with the child in front of Lady Gu.

Seeing her grandson sulking while burying his head in Qiao Wanqing’s arms, Lady Gu couldn’t help but melt at his cuteness, but she had to maintain a stern demeanor.

Gu Yanqing handed the basket to Grandma Qiao without changing his expression. “I was planning to bring Wanqing and Kouko to see you in a few days anyway, but you’ve arrived just in time. We just picked a lot of King Trumpet mushrooms; you can taste them fresh.”

Madam Gu wasn’t buying it. “You’re always holed up here. Why bother picking mushrooms? What about your company? Aren’t you neglecting your work?”

“The company’s revenue doubled this quarter compared to the last,” Gu Yanqing replied confidently. “Mom, when I was only working and not dating, you said I should find a girlfriend. Now that I’ve found one and it’s affecting my work a bit, you’re still not satisfied. Isn’t that too much?”

Madam Gu: “……”

“Alright,” Gu Yanqing softened his tone and approached her. “I know you’re worried about your grandson. But seeing you with such a stern face, even Koko is scared.”

Koko looked pitifully at Qiao Wanqing from her arms, sneaking glances at Lady Gu. Seeing his innocent look, Lady Gu’s anger dissipated.

She reached out to him, “Kouko, can Grandma hold you?”

Seeing Lady Gu making a gesture of goodwill, Qiao Wanqing quickly coaxed Koko, “Sweetie, don’t be upset. Let Grandma hold you, okay?”

Koko was still upset with Qiao Wanqing, but after some thought, he actually reached out to her.

Madam Gu pulled him close, adjusting the little flower crown on his head, and said, “Kouko is such a good boy.”

Qiao Wanqing gestured for Gu Yanqing to keep Madam Gu company while she went to cook.

Since it was Madam Gu’s first visit, Qiao Wanqing decided she had to entertain her properly.

She decided to slaughter a chicken and then a goose to show her sincerity.

Since she had chosen to be with Gu Yanqing, she couldn’t afford to neglect her future mother-in-law.

If she did, it would be awkward not just for Gu Yanqing but also for herself.

As for whether Madam Gu could accept a country girl like her, that was another matter.

Qiao Wanqing decided to focus on doing what she had to do.

Grandma Qiao was timid with strangers but decisive in her actions.

She was not afraid to handle chicken and goose necks.

Qiao Wanqing heated a pot of water to scald the birds for feather removal.

Since the kitchen was small, Qiao Wanqing moved a basin to the yard to pluck the feathers.

Madam Gu sat under a tree in the yard, playing with Kouko, and watched Qiao Wanqing skillfully pluck feathers from the chicken and goose.

Qiao Wanqing then gutted them without flinching, cleaning out what she found a bit gross.

“This daughter-in-law is quite tough,” Madam Gu thought silently.