How I Tamed My Wolfish Husband Back in 80s-Chapter 62 - Sense of Belonging_1

62: Chapter 62: Sense of Belonging_1

62 -62: Sense of Belonging_1

The Yu family’s mother-in-law and daughter-in-law weren’t on the same page, but the Qin family next door lived together in harmony.

After Li Qiao finished her work, she poured some hot water to warm her hands for a while, then went to join Old Mrs.

Qin under the kitchen shed to wrap dumplings.

She talked about school and mentioned that a few educated youths had given her a notebook that seemed quite valuable.

“You deserve it, who else would make the effort to give them such detailed class notes?” Old Mrs.

Qin said.

Li Qiao smiled sheepishly, “Actually, I have my own reasons.

Today I help them, and tomorrow they will help me.”

“Some people are worth helping, and some are not,” Old Mrs.

Qin said with emphasis, “In life, you must be a bit shrewd.

Don’t be too honest, or you might get taken advantage of.”

As the grandmother and granddaughter were talking, there was a knock at the door.

“Is Li Qiao there?”

It was Du Xinxin’s voice.

“Yes, I am.” Li Qiao went to open the door, “Are you here by yourself?

Came to get the notes, right?

I’ve got them all ready for you.”

“Thank you so much.

Wang Nannan is cooking,” Du Xinxin entered the house somewhat awkwardly and said, “There’s another favor I need to ask of you, to help us check the test papers we did last time.”

“I brought my papers back with me.

They’re stuffed in the notebooks for each subject, with detailed solutions,” Li Qiao said, “Take them back and see how many points you can score.

Correct your mistakes promptly, and if you have any questions, come over early tomorrow, and I’ll explain them to you.

It’ll be a good opportunity to teach you some of the new English vocabulary we’ve learned.”

“That works.”

Du Xinxin took the notes and test papers and left.

Li Qiao closed the door and went back to her work in the kitchen shed.

“That little scoundrel still hasn’t come back.

The dumplings should be soaked by now, and we’ll only cook enough for ourselves.

He can boil his own when he gets back,” Old Mrs.

Qin muttered to herself as she cooked the dumplings.

Li Qiao gazed at the flames in front of the stove, smelling the aroma of dumplings and listening to Old Mrs.

Qin’s chatter, and found herself filled with an inexplicable sense of belonging to this home.

A gust of cold wind blew.

Her mind snapped to attention.

Looking at the rundown courtyard, the doors barely wide enough for one person to pass through, and the coarse porcelain bowls always with a chip or two, she sighed softly and blurted out, “I miss home.”

Old Mrs.

Qin smiled and said, “If you miss home, go have a look tomorrow.

Your stepmother, compared to others who beat their children, isn’t too bad, really.

If Jinhua angers you, you can just ignore her.”

Li Qiao responded noncommittally.

After dinner, Li Qiao washed up and prepared for bed.

Hearing some noise outside, she thought Qin Jin had come back, but when she went out, she discovered it was just a cat.

It must have been attracted by the smell of meat on the cutting board.

Enduring the cold, she scrubbed the cutting board inside and out before setting it upright.

She picked up the bucket of swill by the earthen stove to pour it out.

Just as she stepped outside, the weight in her hand lightened.

“You’re still up this late?”

A young, lively voice echoed in her ears.

Li Qiao said excitedly, “You’re back?

It’s so late, must have been tough on you.”

“I’m asking why you haven’t gone to bed yet,” Qin Jin repeated, clearly annoyed, “It’s freezing cold and you’re outside working around in your clothes.

What if you catch a cold?”

“A cat got into the yard and made some noise…” Li Qiao explained briefly then asked, “Did you give the meat and fruit to my brother-in-law?

Did he say anything?”

“Yes, I gave it to him.

He said he’d visit relatives when he’s free.

He praised you a lot when he heard you ranked first in the year,” Qin Jin slightly squinted his eyes, a shade crossing his face.

Li Qiao blinked, “Why do you seem unhappy about him praising me?”

Qin Jin’s eyes flickered, “How can you tell I’m not happy?”

“You’re frowning and not smiling,” said Li Qiao.

Qin Jin gave a forced chuckle, indeed he was not pleased because Song Lin’s praise of her had been followed by a subconscious remark that belittled him.

If it weren’t for someone holding him back, he might have gotten into a fight today.

Li Qiao also laughed, amused by his expression.

Was there conflict?

It wouldn’t seem likely, as Qin Jin’s meat gift should have been met with gratitude from his brother-in-law.

She sat down to start a fire by the earthen stove.

Qin Jin stepped forward and nudged her aside, “I’ll just make myself something simple to eat.

You go back to your room and sleep.”

Li Qiao said, “I’m not sleepy yet.

We didn’t finish the dumplings we made tonight; they’re in the house.

I’ll get them.” fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

Li Qiao brought back some wontons, pulled up a stool to sit next to him, and leaned her head on his shoulder.

Qin Jin’s arm resisted slightly, “I’m dirty and I reek of sweat, don’t let it bother you.”

Li Qiao sniffed lightly, “Not at all, it’s fragrant, like freshly cut grass.” It was strange; he’d always had an unpleasant smell of tobacco on him before, which was quite stifling.

Lately, it wasn’t there, and he didn’t seem to be smoking.

Had he quit?

I still have some in my pocket.

Could it be because, having fallen in love, even the foul smell of his smoke was ignored by her nose?

Qin Jin laughed loudly, “It’s more like the smell of wet earth, what kind of nose do you have?”

Li Qiao covered his mouth, “Keep it down, don’t wake up grandma.”

The water is boiling.

Li Qiao stood up to cook the wontons and upon sitting down again, she tilted her head, “Jin, how about a kiss?”

She got gently pushed away, “Kiss your head!

Stop messing around, I just want to eat and sleep right now.” He was nearly dead from a day’s work!

Even if she danced in front of him stark naked right now, he wouldn’t want to watch.

Li Qiao: “….Ah?”

Old Mrs.

Qin just happened to be up for a nighttime bathroom trip and heard Qin Jin’s words, not knowing where to channel her anger.

She cleared her throat, “Back already, huh?

How many work points did you earn today?”

“Ten.”

Only then did Old Mrs.

Qin hold back from saying anything else.

If the work wasn’t done properly and it delayed her from holding her great-grandchildren, she wouldn’t have let it go for that day.

After waiting for Old Mrs.

Qin to leave, Li Qiao covered her burning face, “I don’t know if grandma heard what we said, will she think I’m not serious?

I’m too ashamed to face anyone.” She started to pound on his arm.

“You jerk, so loud!”

Qin Jin caught her fist, still warm to the touch, and her skin really was nice, delicate and smooth.

He rubbed it gently as if it were a piece of fine jade, comforting her, “She definitely didn’t hear; grandma’s hearing isn’t good.

I used to have to raise my voice to talk to her, and she would always ask what I was saying?”

Li Qiao was speechless.

Wasn’t it because you were too loud that you disturbed her?

So frustrating!

Her demure ladylike image.

After stewing in self-pity for a while, she said sullenly, “I’m going to bed.”

Qin Jin replied, “I told you to go inside earlier, but you insisted on staying out here in the cold with me.

Can’t handle it now, can you?

Serves you right!”

Li Qiao: “….”

….

Old Mrs.

Qin came back from outside, and Li Qiao had already returned to her room, which suited her just fine.

She stepped forward and grabbed Qin Jin by the ear, whispering fiercely, “You little rascal!

Your wife is making such an effort, how can you still leave her hanging?”

Qin Jin yelped in pain, a confused look on his face, “What did she do?

When did I leave her hanging?” Everyone in the village said he was the most doting husband, didn’t they?

“If you weren’t leaving her hanging, why did you reject her just now?”

“Reject her how?” Qin Jin was utterly baffled.

Old Mrs.

Qin pouted.

Qin Jin’s face turned red.

So grandma did hear it after all, wasn’t she always saying she was hard of hearing?

So she was deceiving him.

Old Mrs.

Qin swept her gaze over him sternly, “If I hear something next time that I shouldn’t, you might as well not come back to this house.” With that, she walked away.

Qin Jin: “….”

…..

Before daybreak the next day.

Li Qiao was awakened by a knocking sound from outside.

Qin Jin cursed, “Who the hell is knocking on our door in the middle of the night?

Do they have a death wish?”

Immediately, there was silence outside, and Li Qiao suspected it was Du Xinxin, so she quietly got dressed and got out of bed to open the door for her.

Du Xinxin, holding her notes, was very embarrassed, “Sorry to disturb you.”

Li Qiao replied, “It’s no trouble.”