How I Tamed My Wolfish Husband Back in 80s-Chapter 142: Truly Fragrant_1

As dusk approached, the sky was tinged with a thin layer of red, beautified into a rouge-like coquettishness.

Li Qiao and Ma Ling finished work and walked together to the bus station, chatting about food—from which street’s noodles tasted best, to the most fragrant pies, with the latter speaking authoritatively on the topic.

Li Qiao inquired about the exact addresses, silently memorizing them, planning to find time to visit them with Qin Jin.

Since it was rush hour, the bus was crowded, and they were separated in the throng, halting their conversation.

After a while, Ma Ling got off first, and Li Qiao said goodbye. As she turned around, she felt someone touch her buttocks; turning her head, she saw a dark-skinned auntie.

She assumed it was an accidental brush.

She didn’t think much of it.

After alighting from the bus, she discovered the change in her pocket was gone, and the face of the auntie on the bus gradually came to mind.

Only then did she realize she had been distracted and robbed of her money.

"Damn it!"

She cursed.

"No swearing!"

Li Qiao turned her head to meet Qin Jin’s mournful gaze, his eyebrows and eyes hidden regret, as if the gentle and virtuous wife he had led astray.

"I’m so pissed off, six and a half dimes stolen on a single bus ride," Li Qiao complained angrily.

Qin Jin couldn’t hold back his swearing either, "Damn it! Someone dares to steal from my wife? Catch them and I’ll skin them alive!" His tone then softened, "From now on, I’ll pick you up instead."

"No need, Director Xun proposed to help me apply for a monthly bus pass, that way I can just show the ticket when I board," Li Qiao ended the topic, mentioning that tomorrow was a day off and Li Jinhua was hosting a dinner as a returning bride.

Qin Jin didn’t say anything else, leaving the decisions to his wife.

Nearing their home, Li Qiao smelled the aroma of meat cooking; she peered into the kitchen shed, lifted the pot lid, and saw half a pot of meat chunks paired with dried long beans, and a scattered decoration of bright red heaven-facing chilies, all simmering in dark gravy bubbling invitingly.

"It smells so good! Hey, when did we catch the two big carps in the bucket?"

Qin Jin: "Caught them fishing with some educated youth by the reservoir."

Li Qiao entered the house to take off her shoes, slipped into a pair of flip-flops, and prepared to cut some rabbit grass. As she picked up the sickle, her eyes inadvertently glanced at the rabbit cage, which was empty.

She exclaimed in shock, "The meat in the pot is my rabbit!"

Qin Jin laughed softly, "You finally realized. It stank so badly, I could even smell it in my sleep."

Li Qiao felt distressed inside; she’d thought of slaughtering the rabbit several times but never had the heart to do so, and yet he’d killed it while she was out.

"I’m not eating today!"

Qin Jin: "That’s why I prepared a vegetarian dish for you, and Grandma and I will eat the meat."

Li Qiao: "...."

Once dinner was served, she ended up eating two large bowls of rice with the rabbit meat, involuntarily exclaiming, "It’s really delicious."

The grandfather and grandson pair burst into laughter.

Li Qiao blushed: "..."

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The next day dawned.

Li Qiao got up and was pulling on a short-sleeved shirt when Qin Jin snatched it away: "Why aren’t you wearing the dress I bought for you?"

"Nobody in the village wears them, so I’m afraid to."

Qin Jin: "Be the first one to wear a dress." He rummaged through a trunk and pulled out a red, doll-collared long dress: "Wear this one, it’s beautiful."

"It’s not good to wear red to someone’s wedding, is it?"

Thinking it over, Qin Jin agreed: "Wear the one you picked out, the one that’s neither black nor flowery."

Li Qiao was speechless; it’s called florals, okay?

She put on the floral dress, which reached her calves.

Pairing it with plastic sandals felt awkward.

She slipped on slightly taller white socks to go with her white sneakers and tied her hair into two braids.

Qin Jin was captivated: "Beautiful! Like a fairy." There was an indescribable sense of western chic about her, completely out of place with the shabby dwelling.

Li Qiao, flattered, gave a shy smile.

....

Old Mrs. Qin lavished praise upon them, and before they left, she had Qin Jin carry two big fish as a gift when visiting.

Li Qiao: "How come I never saw my sisters bring any gifts like this for me."

"This is for your parents, not related to the bride."

Li Qiao didn’t quite understand the customs, but thought since she had chosen to return to her parental home, she might as well be thorough to avoid being the subject of gossip for coming empty-handed.

Around eight o’clock.

Li Shengcai finally saw Li Qiao and Qin Jin, and he smiled with wrinkled delight, "I thought you wouldn’t come today. Such big fish, you’re too kind!" The second son had a way, not only persuading the youngest daughter to return, but also bringing gifts.

Li Qiao glanced around; there were no bicycles at the door. "Aren’t my sisters here either?"

Li Shengcai: "Their homes are further away than yours; it is only right for you to arrive first."

Li Jinhua’s partner, Li Jianguo, came out from the courtyard, greeting them proactively.

Li Qiao’s gaze shifted to him, a man in his late twenties, with well-proportioned features, and tall, around 178 centimeters by estimation.

Though a bit old.

But judging by looks alone, Li Jinhua was not at a disadvantage.

This was their first meeting, and feeling frustrated with Li Jinhua, Li Shengcai, and Dong Lamei, it wouldn’t be right to vent on an innocent party, so she responded with a smile, "Good morning."

Li Jianguo just grinned modestly.

Li Qiao and Qin Jin stepped into the courtyard.

Li Shengcai called into the house: "Jinhua, your third sister and brother-in-law are here."

"Jinhua, quick! Go out, this is a good opportunity to mend relationships. I heard that that little wretch got a job in the city, something called a ’forensic’, and when she goes to university, you should ask her to give that job to you," Dong Lamei urged.

Li Jinhua secretly grimaced; she looked down on the city job Li Qiao had.

It was merely a corpse examination job, something criminals and slaves did in ancient times.

Nevertheless, she went out, wanting Li Qiao to see her new clothes.

Indeed, the material was cool and very expensive, unique in the whole village.

But she was startled the moment she stepped out.

Li Qiao was wearing an elastic-waisted skirt that no one in the village had ever worn, revealing a small patch at the chest, the black outfit setting off her skin that was so pale it glowed.

Her hair parted in the middle, braided into two plaits, showcasing a face that was smooth and full.

She could compare favorably with those fashionable and delicate young ladies on smartphones decades later.

And then there was Qin Jin, wearing his rustic trousers and short-sleeved shirt, who managed to look as matched to Li Qiao as one could get with his just his face and build.

Looking back at herself, she appeared utterly rustic.

And Li Jianguo!

Why was he crowding around Qin Jin? Was it to make himself look even uglier?

Reluctantly, she called out to her third sister and brother-in-law.

"Qiaoqiao?"

"Big sister, second sister!" Li Qiao greeted them happily.

Li Jiaoyang laughed, "You’re dressed in a whole skirt, I almost didn’t recognize you! You look so beautiful, how much did it cost?"

"Just over two yuan, Jin bought it for me." Li Qiao’s main purpose was to signal to her sisters’ husbands that it was about time they bought clothing for her sisters.

The shirts they were wearing were beginning to fray.

"That expensive, he really is generous," Li Jiaoyang said as she touched the fabric, which was soft and undoubtedly breathable and absorbent, much better than the newly popular cool fabric.

Li Jiaojiao also said it was too expensive.

"I’ll buy you one later," the elder brother-in-law offered.

Li Jiaoyang smiled, "No need for me, I’m always working and taking care of kids, wearing a skirt would be so inconvenient, right?" No one in the village wore them, and she wouldn’t dare.

As the three sisters chatted and laughed, Li Jinhua was left out, looking displeased. She vented her frustration on Li Jianguo, "Aren’t you going to bring chairs for the brothers-in-law?"

Li Jianguo looked at her silently and just moved the chairs without a word.

Li Qiao heard everything, dumbfounded.

Reprimanding her partner in front of everyone, wasn’t she dishonoring him?