“Quite lively today?”
Qin Dingguo walked into the courtyard with a smile.
Following him were three young men.
Su Manman recognized them as the other three nephews of Qin Lin.
Qin Xingzhi, Qin Xingjian, and Qin Xingyuan.
In person, they really were as Old Master Qin had boasted—upright and impressive.
Especially Qin Xingzhi, wearing a military uniform cinched at the waist, tall and straight, with long, strong legs.
He looked like someone who would excel at hunting in the mountains or doing farm work.
Su Manman silently thought: this one could also be a match.
The three of them noticed Su Manman at the same time and were slightly stunned.
Her skin was smooth like jade, her beauty striking.
But her clothes looked similar to the nieces at Aunt Qin’s house—though she appeared much cleaner and fresher, like a quiet white lotus.
They assumed she was a relative from the aunt’s family.
Qin Xingjian, lively by nature, laughed. “Auntie, hello! You’re here today? Which sister is this? I’ve never seen her before.”
The aunt looked confused. “Which sister are you talking about? Don’t you recognize those two girls?”
Qin Xingjian pointed casually. “That one next to Uncle.”
The aunt: “……”
Her heart sank.
She had thought the eldest sister-in-law was someone who kept the household in order.
Turns out the family relationships were just as messy.
They didn’t even know Qin Lin had already registered his marriage—fine, there hadn’t been a wedding banquet.
But not even his own family knew?
That showed how strained their relationships were.
Qin Lin’s face darkened. “What sister? Show some respect. This is your aunt-in-law!”
He then introduced them.
Su Manman nodded slightly in greeting.
Qin Xingjian couldn’t help asking, “Uncle, when did you get married? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
Qin Xingzhi and Qin Xingyuan were also shocked.
“We weren’t told either.”
“Me neither.”
Qin Dingguo cleared his throat. “It’s a long story. We’ll talk about it later.”
With more people in the house, the dumplings prepared earlier weren’t enough.
Su Manman went into the kitchen to help.
Old Madam Qin praised her nonstop. “Manman is really something.”
Feeling that words weren’t enough, she took off a gold bangle from her wrist.
“This was given by your father when I gave birth to the third son. It got bent a while ago, so I melted and reforged it. Not very trendy, but it’s real gold. I don’t wear it anymore—it’s yours.”
Su Manman’s eyes widened.
She had come into the kitchen to avoid the noise outside.
Seeing an elderly woman, about the same age as her grandmother, busying herself, she felt a little sorry for her and helped out.
She never expected to receive a gold bangle.
Without hesitation, she put it on her wrist and admired it.
She loved it.
“Thank you, Mom! I love you.”
She hugged Old Madam Qin’s neck and rubbed her face against hers.
The old lady’s heart melted completely.
No wonder she liked this girl—when had her other daughters-in-law ever been this affectionate?
Especially the second daughter-in-law, who entered the house like a queen and expected to be served.
Aunt Zhao was dying to expose her thoughts: She’s acting! She’s just sweet-talking you for that gold bangle!
But Su Manman, having received the bangle, worked even harder—washing vegetables, peeling garlic, doing everything.
On the cutting board was a piece of old tofu.
Aunt Zhao asked whether to fry it or stew it.
Old Madam Qin, having eaten tofu stew for days in the countryside, waved her hand. “Not really in the mood for that. Leave it.”
Su Manman said, “If it’s left overnight, the texture gets worse. I’ll make it.”
Old Madam Qin smiled. “Alright, make it however you like.”
“Okay! Aunt Zhao, can I borrow the apron?”
Aunt Zhao wanted to see what she could possibly do, so she handed it over.
Su Manman put it on, took the tofu from the water, sliced it into thick pieces, and pan-fried them in oil.
Old Madam Qin watched her skilled movements and felt extremely satisfied.
From now on, anyone who dared say anything bad about her granddaughter-in-law would have to deal with her!
……
Inside the room, Qin Xingzhi, Qin Xingjian, and Qin Xingyuan gathered around Qin Lin.
“Uncle, where did you even find your partner?”
“You didn’t have a wedding—why is she already living here?”
Qin Lin replied calmly, “Your second uncle knows. Xingyun also knows.”
Only then did they realize Qin Xingyun, who usually stuck with them, was missing.
Qin Xingjian couldn’t hold back. “Uncle, stop being vague. Just tell us.”
Qin Lin hesitated. “It’s not easy to explain. Ask your grandfather.”
Qin Xingjian immediately ran off to Old Master Qin.
“Grandpa, what exactly happened with Uncle’s marriage?”
Old Master Qin jerked his arm away. “You still have the nerve to ask? If you had answered my calls, would she have married your uncle?”
Qin Xingjian was confused. “What do you mean?”
“You blockheaded boy! I called all of you that day. If even one of you had answered, she wouldn’t have married your uncle!”
The old man was still furious. “None of you are reliable. In the end, I had to rely on your uncle.”
Qin Xingjian was stunned. “Her? Xingyun said she was dark, ugly, 300 pounds, and sounded like a duck.”
He had been scared out of his mind.
No wonder he didn’t dare come home.
He had been avoiding the house ever since.
Old Master Qin snorted. “Have you ever seen a grandfather trick his grandchildren?”
Qin Xingjian: “……”
……
After hearing the explanation, Qin Xingzhi and Qin Xingyuan turned to Qin Xingyun.
Qin Xingzhi frowned. “I knew he exaggerated.”
Qin Xingyuan said, “Maybe Xingyun wanted her for himself and lied to us on purpose?”
They immediately went to find Qin Xingyun.
Qin Xingjian grabbed his collar. “You little bastard! You’re my real brother and you lied to me? That girl weighs 100 pounds at most, and you said she was 300!”
Qin Xingzhi said coldly, “He tried to keep her for himself, but she didn’t even pick him—she chose Uncle instead.”
Qin Xingyun felt wronged beyond words. “Everything I said was true! Ask Aunt Zhao! When she first came, she was dressed poorly, wrapped up tightly, and her exposed hands were dark and rough! Who knew she’d completely change the next day!”
Qin Xingyuan sneered. “Do you think we’re idiots?”
“I swear it’s true!” Qin Xingyun panicked. “If I’m lying, may I never have a son!”
Qin Xingyuan gave him a cold look. “Get a partner first before making vows.”
Qin Xingyun shouted, “You guys! Don’t be fooled by her beauty! She keeps poisonous insects—centipedes, scorpions, even colorful spiders crawling on her!”
Qin Xingyuan laughed coldly. “What is this, poetry time?”
Qin Xingyun almost cried. “What do I have to do to make you believe me?”
“Nothing will make us believe you!” Qin Xingyuan said, and was the first to step forward.
Qin Xingyun screamed, “Help! Murder! My brothers are killing me!”
Looks like I’ll have to prove the poisonous insect thing about Su Manman…
“Hey. What are you all doing?”