11 Chapter 11: Inquiry_1

As she exited the alley, she was stopped by two young men wearing duty badges on their sleeves.

"What are you doing? Answer honestly."

"Walking." Li Qiao replied.

"What are you doing here?"

"Buying books."

"Show me the receipt."

Li Qiao couldn't produce it, as it was all with Qin Jin. "It's my first time in the city and I'm lost. I haven't been able to find the bookstore yet. Could you big brothers tell me which way to go?"

She looked sweet and spoke in a gentle and modest tone.

Calling them big brothers softened their stern expressions considerably, and they even kindly pointed her in the right direction and warned her not to wander off before letting her go.

Li Qiao continued to walk straight ahead for a while and ran into Qin Jin.

Excited, she ran over, "Did you come looking for me?"

"Who else would I look for?" Idiot!

"What about Du Xinxin and the others?" Li Qiao asked.

"How should I know?"

Li Qiao was quite concerned and was about to go back to look for them, but Qin Jin stopped her, "They're not three-year-old kids who can't find their way home."

"I'm afraid they might be taken in by the authorities."

"At most they'll write a self-criticism and get a verbal warning. What's there to be afraid of?"

Reassured by what he said, Li Qiao headed with him to the bus stop. They waited for less than ten minutes before they saw Du Xinxin and the others.

Relieved, Du Xinxin said, "I was afraid you got caught. Principal Han said if he returned to the village and didn't see you, he'd have someone inquire at the detention spots, and if you were there, to bail you out."

Qin Jin scorned, "No one's as concerned for my wife as I am."

Du Xinxin and the others exchanged looks. It was unreasonable – they were clearly worried.

The atmosphere around them grew tense.

Li Qiao wished she could give the young man beside her a big hug; it was clear he was concerned! To ease the awkwardness, she laughed and changed the subject, "Jin didn't mean that. But I didn't realize not following the rules had such serious consequences. It's good that nothing happened to any of us. Next time we buy books, we should still go to a proper place. Ah, here comes the bus."

Everyone's attention turned to the minibus, and the subject was swiftly changed.

Having arrived home safely, Li Qiao organized her daily necessities and took out her new workbook to do.

As someone came to call for Qin Jin, he uncharacteristically did not leave the house, but leaned against the headboard flipping through Li Qiao's books. She discussed studying with others authoritatively.

He wanted to see just how she took notes, with such insight and hard work, yet still failed to pass the college entrance exam.

It didn't make sense.

The book contained two different types of handwriting, both neat, but one was childish and clumsy, while the other was elegant and beautiful.

The inner page bore the name Li Qiao in handwriting that clearly belonged to the former.

Was the beautiful handwriting that of an educated youth?

He stepped forward to verify her handwriting, which was neat and elegant.

He found a certain added interest and curiosity.

Interesting, one person could produce such unrelated handwriting.

At that moment, he heard a series of knocking and banging sounds, followed by Old Mrs. Qin shouting, "Qiaoqiao, come see the bride!"

Curious, Li Qiao put down her book and went outside. From a distance, she saw a group of villagers approaching from the village entrance, carrying some things. The man at the front was riding a bicycle with a woman seated in the front.

As the procession drew nearer, Li Qiao spotted Cai Hechuan among them, still dressed to the nines and holding a pair of pillows.

Was he helping to bring over the bride?

Cai Hechuan also saw her, and as he lifted his head and puffed out his chest, he reached out to casually toss his hair.

Li Qiao was speechless, this guy was really too full of himself, always trying to display his charm, acting as if he was so handsome.

Ridiculous.

All Qin Jin did was snort and curse, "Peacock in a latrine, so vain. Look how he combs his hair, a fly would have to do the splits just to get off it. Those who don't know might think he's the groom."

Old Mrs. Qin lightly scolded, "Don't start trouble."

Qin Jin pouted, but her gaze fell on Li Qiao, who at that moment was looking at the bride, dressed in red from head to toe, her appearance neat and pretty.

The groom, however, was not up to par, rough and dark and old, a fresh flower stuck on a cow pat.

She must not have married willingly.

She couldn't bear to look any longer and turned back to the courtyard.

Qin Jin thought that Cai Hechuan's appearance had stirred up Li Qiao's emotions. Her face immediately darkened, and even before she could utter an angry curse, Li Qiao suddenly faced her, nearly colliding with her.

Li Qiao chuckled, "You walk without making any sound, I almost bumped into you. By the way, accompany me back to my parents' home. Jinhua fell and got hurt, and since I am her sister and aware of it, it doesn't seem right to stay silent, does it?"

Though Dong Lamei was a stepmother, she had seen to it that the original owner completed high school.

The village's reputation must be spotless. If she were to neglect her, would the stepmother grasp onto this to badmouth her to others?

The girl's voice was soft and sweet, her eyes twinkling with laughter.

The words of refusal in Qin Jin's throat made a full circle, "Alright then."

Li Qiao discussed it with Old Mrs. Qin, and finally taking two pounds of white sugar, they got into Qin Jin's car and soon arrived at her parents' house.

When Dong Lamei saw the white sugar in Li Qiao's hand, her face broke into a delighted smile. That wretched girl finally showed some conscience.

After greeting her parents and chatting for a bit, making sure that Li Jinhua's ear was alright, Li Qiao finally entered Jinhua's room and asked with concern, "Jinhua, are you feeling better?"

Li Jinhua learned that Li Qiao and Qin Jin had come.

Panicking, she wrapped her face with a scarf, "Why did you come? Did Loser Qin send you?"

Li Qiao, in an effort to change the fixed image of Qin Jin in others' minds, immediately said, "Of course, he was regretting not having checked on your injury last night, realizing how serious it was. So, we came straight to you after returning from the county town."

Li Jinhua's heart finally felt a bit better, "What did you all go to town for?"

"Just hanging around." Li Qiao didn't plan to give Jinhua the details.

"You didn't buy anything?" Li Jinhua didn't believe her, "Are you afraid I'd ask for something, and that's why you won't tell?"

Li Qiao secretly massaged her forehead, her sister was indeed quite cunning. "Loser Qin gave me a red cashmere coat. It's too cold to wear it right now, and it looks ugly on its own. If you want it, I'll give it to you." It didn't match anything she had, and was just taking up space otherwise.

Li Jinhua's eyes lit up, just as she remembered, Li Qiao had a red coat. In a few days, she would have to divorce Qin Jin in advance. Qin Jin would regret hitting her, and when he wanted to marry her, she'd still have to play hard to get.

With that in mind, Li Jinhua teasingly said, "I don't want something that was bought for you. I'm more curious where Loser Qin got the money from. Did he strike it rich somehow?" Could it be that from this time on, Qin Jin had started dealing in antiques on the sly?

She hadn't paid much attention to Qin Jin in her previous life, nor did she understand much about him.

She only knew that every time he visited relatives here, he never came empty-handed.

Unlike Cai Hechuan, even entering the 21st century, when visiting relatives, he still insisted on bringing two pounds of twisted honey.

Stingy to the extreme.

Li Qiao told the truth, "Not sure, he didn't tell me, and he's so fierce I wouldn't dare ask. But he must have told grandma, it wasn't stolen or robbed, maybe he just found it."

Li Jinhua sneered secretly, Li Qiao was still as foolish as ever. If it was just a small amount of change that was found, that would be believable, but a coat that surely cost several dozen yuan? Could it be that easy to find? "Could it be speculative profiteering?"

"Don't talk nonsense without evidence," Li Qiao said sternly. She often mingled with the young intellectuals and knew the consequences of speculative profiteering; it wasn't a matter of being detained for a day for causing trouble and then released.

If it was serious, one might really be imprisoned.

Li Jinhua was surprised. Shouldn't Li Qiao despise such news? Why did she seem concerned? "Are you worried about him? You haven't fallen for him, have you?"

Li Qiao looked disgusted, "Who would fall for him? The first criteria for being my boyfriend is that he can't swear, and he curses all the time."

Li Jinhua felt relieved then brought up Cai Hechuan again.