How could Li Jiao possibly know what Qin Lie was thinking?
Her impression of this man was that he was insecure, pitiful, unloved by both parents—just like her, they were both miserable—but he truly loved himself.
Moreover, Li Jiao clearly knew that Qin Lie would never do anything inappropriate to her.
Even with his leg injured, he still wanted to share the burden for her.
Nestled in Qin Lie’s arms, feeling the warmth radiating from him, Li Jiao let out a soft hum and made up her mind: one way or another, their family had to produce a college graduate.
She definitely couldn’t go back to school herself—she couldn’t focus on studying, her mind was entirely on making money, plus… killing that bastard Li Wenbo!
Once Li Jiao made up her mind, she climbed out of Qin Lie’s embrace. “Starting today, you focus on studying. I’ll have Da Niu handle all the chores. Once we make money from the Purple Cloud Ointment, we’ll pay Da Niu a bit more. It just so happens he hasn’t had much to do lately.”
Ever since the black mine collapsed, Da Niu, who had always worked with Qin Lie, naturally lost his job too. Although it was just him and his mother in their family, there were still two mouths to feed.
Li Jiao planned to give Da Niu the remaining three meat buns for him and his mother to eat. Later, when she made braised pork, she’d set aside a portion for them as well.
Hearing her words, a flicker of jealousy stirred in Qin Lie’s heart.
He wished Li Jiao would focus all her attention on him, but he couldn’t reveal that. “Mm, that’s fine. I’ll just have to trouble you more from now on.”
“What’s this talk of trouble between us?” Li Jiao chuckled, looking at Qin Lie’s lips so close to hers and inexplicably swallowing.
The closeness during their earlier excitement had left her somewhat nostalgic, but she was a girl and had to be reserved.
Li Jiao gently pressed her hand against Qin Lie’s lips, her voice softening. “Qin Lie, I…”
Before she could finish, noises came from outside. Li Jiao immediately snapped back to reality, her face flushing bright red. “Um… let’s catch up on some sleep first. I’m so tired.”
Qin Lie glanced discreetly at the back window, his face darkening. That damn thing actually dared to interrupt them!
But Li Jiao yawned, and Qin Lie immediately felt heartache, urging her to lie down. “Alright, sleep.”
Li Jiao immediately buried her head under the blanket, inwardly wailing. How embarrassing! She had actually wanted Qin Lie to kiss her just now!
Ugh, how could she be so unreserved? Thankfully, the noise outside interrupted them.
Wait, that’s not right either, Li Jiao paused. He was her husband—what was wrong with a kiss?
Li Jiao prepared to act boldly, but sleepiness hit her fiercely. Just as she turned over, her eyes were already completely closed.
When she was with Qin Lie, she felt utterly safe—so safe that she fell asleep as soon as she closed her eyes. Even Li Jiao herself envied this quality of sleep.
She slept until noon, then got up to prepare braised pork.
“Today, our family produced a genius! We have to eat something substantial!”
Muttering to herself, Li Jiao walked to the stove and started bustling about.
Qin Lie also wanted to help. Unable to dissuade him, Li Jiao adjusted his position so he could sit and tend the fire.
The pork belly was easy to handle—blanched, then stir-fried with sugar to caramelize.
The bright red meat chunks tumbled in the wok, joined by star anise and cinnamon. As the sauce reduced over high heat, the rich aroma of meat drifted out through the chimney.
With everyone lacking oil and meat in their bellies, the smell of braised pork was like a heavy club, ruthlessly striking their noses.
The one suffering the most was Da Bao from the Qin family’s old house. Last time, he had cried from craving pork fat, and this time, he threw his bowl in a rage, wailing loudly.
Wang Cuifen was so furious that she pointed in their direction and cursed wildly at home, saying they must have borrowed from loan sharks and were about to have their fingers chopped off, which was why they were eating so recklessly!
Li Wenbo, hiding behind the haystack at the back of the house, was driven mad by the smell.
He had frozen all night, watched them eat meat buns in the morning, and now was smelling braised pork.
Hunger and jealousy instantly twisted his face beyond recognition!
“Jiaojiao must know I’m here. She’s giving me a way out. I told her before that I love braised pork. She must have made it especially for me!”
Li Wenbo swallowed his saliva, beginning to delude himself.
It must be true. Soon, he would see Li Jiao bringing him the braised pork!
Suppressing the urge to rush in, Li Wenbo stared intently at the dilapidated thatched cottage.
Sure enough, Li Jiao suddenly opened the door and walked out.
Li Wenbo immediately rushed forward, only to see Li Jiao holding a basin of vegetable washing water.
“Jiaojiao!”
Li Jiao was startled. Looking closely, she saw Li Wenbo with hair like a bird’s nest, his face swollen and bruised from the cold, two clear streams of snot hanging from his nose, greedily staring into the house.
His gaze seemed desperate to pierce through the thatched cottage and devour the braised pork, soup and pot included!
“Are you insane? What are you doing popping out like that?” Li Jiao took a step back in disgust, tightening her grip on the basin.
“Jiaojiao, stop pretending.” Li Wenbo sniffled his snot, shamelessly inching forward. “I can smell it. You’re making braised pork, aren’t you? I knew you made it for me. If you let me in to eat now and give me fifty yuan, I’ll forgive you for hitting me those two times before…”
As he spoke, he even tried to reach out and grab Li Jiao’s arm.
Inside the house, on the kang bed, a pair of gloomy eyes stared intently through a gap in the poorly sealed window.
The book in Qin Lie’s hand was crumpled out of shape.
Li Wenbo was still pestering her? Right in front of him, knowing full well he was inside, he still dared to covet?
But before Qin Lie could react, Li Jiao outside had already sneered coldly.
“Forgive me? You think you’re worthy?” Li Jiao snorted, and with a splash, the basin of icy, bone-chilling vegetable washing water, along with rotten vegetable leaves, was dumped directly over Li Wenbo’s head!
“Ah!” Li Wenbo screamed, drenched to the bone.
The weather was so cold that the water on him instantly froze into a hard crust.
“I suggest you get lost! If you come bothering me again, next time it’ll be boiling water!”
After cursing, Li Jiao turned and went inside, slamming the door shut with a bang.
Li Wenbo was stunned by the water, his teeth chattering and body trembling from the cold. He pointed at the door, cursing and grumbling, but didn’t dare approach.
He could only shiver his way back to the educated youth point.
Li Jiao entered the house, angrily throwing the basin aside.
“What’s wrong? Who made you angry?” Qin Lie asked knowingly, wearing a gentle and harmless smile.
“No one, just a stray dog acting crazy.” Li Jiao waved her hand dismissively, instinctively hiding Li Wenbo’s name.
She brought the braised pork to the table, picked up the largest piece, and held it to Qin Lie’s lips. “Alright, let’s not talk about others. It’s too annoying. Here, open up. This piece is fatty and delicious, specially for nourishing your brain.”
Qin Lie’s eyes were shadowed with gloom, but he obediently ate the meat.
A commotion sounded outside the house, and both of them craned their necks to look. It was Da Niu, carrying a large bundle of willow branches as he walked over.
Qin Lie waved his hand. “Da Niu.”
Li Jiao also clapped her hands happily. “Da Niu, you came just in time. I made braised pork—come and have some first.”
While Li Jiao went to fetch rice and meat buns, Qin Lie called Da Niu to his side. There was not a trace of warmth in his eyes, only a chilling coldness that made one shudder.
“After you finish eating, go fetch two buckets of water and pour them on that path—pour plenty.” Qin Lie pointed toward the small path behind the window where Li Wenbo had just run off, the darkness in his eyes unmistakable.
“In this freezing weather, the road gets slippery. Some people like sneaking around the back door. If they happen to slip and fall, it might teach them a lesson.”