Yang Qingqiu didn’t care what the father and his three children thought. The mother and her two children simply lay in the room to rest.
Early the next morning, just as the sun rose, both Lin Zijin and Yang Qingqiu sat up at the same time. When they saw each other’s movements, they exchanged a smile.
A trace of worry appeared on Yang Qingqiu’s face. “Girl, I couldn’t sleep all night. I just kept thinking about you meeting the Lu family today.”
“Mom, don’t worry. They’re not going to eat people,” Lin Zijin said, though in truth she was just as nervous and hadn’t fallen asleep until very late.
“You girl, I know you too well!”
“Worrying won’t help. You have to meet them sooner or later anyway.”
“Get up. I’ll make you something simple to eat. Go wash up properly and dress neatly. Don’t lose manners.”
“Okay!”
Lin Zijin got out of bed and changed into the new dress her mother had bought her a few days earlier, then went to wash up.
After washing, she dried her face with a towel and applied the snow cream her mother had secretly bought for her.
While she was combing her hair, Yang Qingqiu came in and took over the wooden comb. Instead of tying her hair into two braids, she gathered all her jet-black hair into a single thick braid and tied it with a pink hair tie.
She also tidied the loose strands on her forehead and quietly reminded her, “Girl, when you get to the Lu family, be sweet-tongued and observant.”
“And speak less—listen more. Think carefully before answering whatever they ask.”
“When eating, be a bit more refined. Don’t act like you’re grabbing food.”
Although her daughter wasn’t that kind of person, as a mother she still needed to remind her.
Lin Zijin nodded. “Mom, don’t worry. I understand. I’ll bring you good news.”
Yang Qingqiu chuckled softly and patted her shoulder. “Good.”
“My daughter is so good. They’ll definitely like you. Don’t be too nervous.”
She herself had been through this before and understood the thoughts of young girls.
Lin Zijin took a deep breath. “Mm, I’m not nervous.”
“Good, not nervous. Come, let’s eat. I’ve made steamed egg custard for you and your brother—it should be ready now.”
When Yang Qingqiu went out to bring the food, she saw Lin Xue and Lin Shu sneaking food in the kitchen.
When they saw her, both of their expressions turned awkward. Lin Shu quickly swallowed the steamed egg custard in her mouth, burning her tongue and turning her face red.
She didn’t dare look at Yang Qingqiu’s face. “T-this… this was bought with my dad’s money. What he bought is ours too—we also get a share.”
As she spoke, her voice was shaky, but she still tried to stand tall as if she were completely justified.
Lin Xue also felt awkward, pressing her lips together. Then, as if thinking of something, she looked at Yang Qingqiu with a provocative expression, as if agreeing with her sister.
Seeing these two stepdaughters sneaking food and still making up twisted logic, Yang Qingqiu only glanced at them calmly. She moved the pot aside, took another pan, added water, and washed three eggs.
She decided to make boiled eggs instead—and stood in the kitchen, not going anywhere.
Lin Ziyou had been following behind Yang Qingqiu. When he saw Lin Xue and Lin Shu sneaking food, he stood at the kitchen door glaring angrily. Then he ran back to the room to complain to his sister.
After finishing his complaint, he put his hands on his hips and pouted. “Sister, they’re bad people! They were stealing food!”
Lin Zijin also felt that the two sisters truly had no shame. She patted her younger brother’s hair. “Alright, alright, don’t bother with them.”
“You’re a generous little adult. Don’t be angry anymore.”
Lin Ziyou nodded. “Mm-mm. Next time Mom cooks, I’ll stand guard at the door. I won’t let them in, and I won’t let them steal food.”
Lin Zijin was amused by his cute expression. “Alright.”
After boiling the eggs, Yang Qingqiu rinsed them in cold water and brought them directly to Lin Zijin’s room. Each of them got one egg to fill their stomach.
They didn’t even dare drink the porridge anymore—who knew if the two greedy ones had drooled into it.
After finishing her egg, Lin Zijin drank half a cup of water. She was just about to admire the beautiful braids Yang Qingqiu had done for her in the mirror when she heard a clear bicycle bell outside, followed by Lu Jingyu’s low magnetic voice.
“Zijin.”
Her face lit up. “Mom, I’m going.”
“Mm, go ahead,” Yang Qingqiu said with a smile.
She walked out together with her daughter.
When Lu Jingyu saw how Zijin was dressed today, a flash of amazement passed through his eyes. After greeting Yang Qingqiu and Lin Ziyou, he immediately called out to Zijin.
“Zijin, hurry up, get on. Let’s go.”
Today, Zijin was wearing a skirt, so it wasn’t very convenient. She walked to the bicycle and hesitated for a moment before sitting sideways, since sitting the usual way would be too improper.
Lu Jingyu turned his head slightly. “Ready?”
Lin Zijin softly replied, “Mm.”
“Auntie, Ziyou, we’re leaving now.”
With that, he started pedaling.
Due to inertia, Lin Zijin, who had only been holding onto the back of the bicycle seat, instinctively wrapped her arms around Lu Jingyu’s waist and leaned closer to him.
When her hands wrapped around him, Lu Jingyu’s grip on the handlebars tightened suddenly, and a low, uncontrollable hiss escaped his throat.
Lin Zijin heard it, and her face instantly turned red. She wanted to pull her hands back—but in the end, she didn’t move.
Behind them, Yang Qingqiu watched their retreating figures with an uncontrollable smile on her face.
Lin Xue saw this scene and her eyes were full of jealousy. Why did all the good things always fall to that “burden” Lin Zijin?
She had already taken one man, and now she had found an even better one. No matter how you looked at it, this man was far better than Lu Jinyu.
Why?
She bit her lip so hard she tasted blood before snapping back to reality. She quickly straightened her clothes and ran out—she had to hurry and settle the marriage before Lin Zijin did.
If she was even a step too late, the down-to-the-countryside quota would fall on her.
Seeing Lin Xue rush past her, Yang Qingqiu sneered. The girl was getting anxious.
Even if she managed to set things up today, her daughter still wouldn’t be sent down.
Hu Cuihua walked over with a smile, teasing, “Qingqiu, where did you find such a good son-in-law?”
“This young man is quite handsome. His family probably isn’t bad either.”
Yang Qingqiu smiled. “He fell from the sky!”
Hu Cuihua widened her eyes. Knowing she was joking, she linked her arm with hers and asked softly, “Come on, who am I to you? Tell me.”
“When did you meet him?”
“I’ve never seen him in this alley before!”
Yang Qingqiu looked at her and said, “Thanks to you, actually.”
That made Hu Cuihua even more confused. “What does that have to do with me?”