That night, Su Manman learned from Old Master Qin the reply from Qin Dingguo:
The work location was No. 61 Dongmen Street. Tomorrow morning, she was to report with her identification documents.
Working hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Rest days: Saturday afternoon to Sunday.
Monthly salary: 52 yuan, paid mid-month.
She was very satisfied.
She had already begun calculating how to use her salary.
Earlier today, Qin Lin had bought her two sets of clothes, spending nearly two hundred yuan.
At the very least, she should give him a belt in return.
When she came to Yanjing, the village chief’s wife had secretly given her five yuan for emergencies. She needed to return that.
The neighbor aunt who gave her the wedding outfit also deserved a gift in return.
What should she give?
Fabric coupons.
Old Master Qin had given her many fabric coupons earlier, saying they could be used nationwide.
The aunt would definitely like them.
There were also snacks from Old Master Qin—bags and boxes of them.
He said some were state-issued holiday gifts, some were from children showing filial piety, and the old couple simply couldn’t finish them.
Once she received her salary, she would package everything and send it back.
So everyone could taste the specialty pastries of Yanjing City.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
“Aunt Zhao said, ‘Girl, the water is ready. Are you bathing now?’”
Su Manman pulled back her thoughts. “I’m bathing now. Sorry to trouble Aunt Zhao to mix the water.”
Aunt Zhao muttered under her breath, thinking: this country bumpkin who probably hasn’t bathed properly in eight generations is getting addicted to bathing. Washing every day in winter—she’s going to scrub her skin off sooner or later.
After bathing, Su Manman tidied the bed and slipped under the covers.
Wrapped in the fluffy quilt, smelling the scent of sunlight, she felt comfortable and at ease.
……
In the main house, separated by a courtyard.
Qin Lin sat in front of the television, occasionally glancing toward the door.
She had come over early last night—why was there no movement now, almost eight o’clock?
Realizing he was actually thinking about her, he was slightly startled.
Old Master Qin had already slept and gotten up to drink water. Seeing his son still awake, he was surprised.
“Third son, still not sleeping? Manman not bothering you anymore?”
Qin Lin replied, “…I haven’t seen her.”
Old Master Qin felt a jolt in his heart. “Did you quarrel?”
“She’s young and grew up in the countryside. Her grandmother isn’t in good health and couldn’t watch her all the time, so she developed a wild temperament. You’re seven or eight years older—be more patient.”
Qin Lin nodded. “We didn’t argue. Since she left the main house, she hasn’t come back.”
Old Master Qin pondered for a long time. “Did you… not perform well last night?”
Qin Lin: “……”
Old Master Qin continued seriously, “Back when I was young, newlyweds couldn’t get out of bed the next day. That girl was jumping rope in the courtyard all afternoon without resting.”
Qin Lin: “Let’s not discuss this.”
Old Master Qin felt a bit awkward too, but still continued earnestly, “If you’re not… capable, you should find a doctor you trust. This is natural, like eating—you can’t lack it. A friend of mine’s wife even ran off with another man because her husband couldn’t.”
Qin Lin: “……It’s not what you think.”
Old Master Qin was dissatisfied. “Then what is it? Say it clearly.”
Qin Lin: “……”
How was he supposed to say it?
That nothing happened last night?
With such a delicate and beautiful girl lying next to him, and he didn’t even touch her—if he said that, the old man would probably be even more convinced there was something wrong with him.
So he gave up explaining. “I’m going back to my room.”
Old Master Qin was frustrated. “Are you even normal or not?”
Qin Lin quickly left and closed the door.
Old Master Qin slapped his thigh in anger, then grabbed his cane and went to Su Manman’s room.
Seeing the light still on, he knocked gently.
“Manman, are you asleep?”
“I’m not asleep yet, Dad. What’s wrong?”
After a moment of hesitation, Old Master Qin asked, “Why didn’t you go to the main house tonight? Did the third son upset you?”
“No,” Su Manman replied. “His bed is too hard. I’m not used to it. Also, he’s too hot. Sleeping next to him makes me sweat.”
She had thought carefully and concluded her symptoms hadn’t improved because she sweated next to him, making her skin damp and worsening the itching.
But she still liked him.
He was handsome and willing to spend money on her.
Most importantly, it wasn’t his fault—men are naturally yang and warm.
Old Master Qin laughed helplessly. “Young men should have some heat. If you find it hot, just move away a bit.”
Su Manman said, “Aren’t I already far away?”
Old Master Qin: “……”
“That’s too far. How can a newlywed couple separate after just one night?”
Su Manman thought it made sense. In the village, newlyweds were always inseparable. “Then I’ll go find him now.”
……
After Old Master Qin left, Su Manman put on her shoes, wrapped herself in her cotton coat, and went to the main house with the clothes she planned to wear tomorrow.
She knocked once, and the door opened on its own.
Inside, the young man sat by the desk facing away from her, slightly leaning forward.
His broad back and slightly curved waist looked especially striking.
She suddenly wanted to hug him.
“Brother, I’m here again,” she said with a smile.
Qin Lin had already noticed her earlier. When Old Master Qin came in, he had mentioned she would come. But he didn’t greet her immediately, pretending to be calm as he turned around.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing. I wasn’t planning to come, but Dad said newlyweds shouldn’t live separately, and I thought he was right.”
Qin Lin asked, “Did you sleep well last night?”
“Pretty well.”
Su Manman took off her cotton coat—and then her inner layer as well, revealing the white undergarment beneath.
Qin Lin’s eyes instinctively glanced over.
The classical-style undergarment exposed her pale shoulders and back. The embroidered peony flowers stood out vividly, and her slender waist formed a perfect curve.
Her legs, though covered by thin pants, were clearly long and graceful.
When she raised her arms, her underarms were smooth and fair.
She had no body hair.
Rumor had it that if there was none here, there would be none anywhere.
His breathing suddenly became unsteady.
Impure thoughts arose.
Good heavens.
Was this a test of his self-control?
Was she deliberately tempting him into misconduct?
He forced himself to stay calm, suppressing his thoughts and focusing on the book in front of him.
The next second, her soft body leaned against him, arms wrapping around his neck—her skin smooth and cool like fine jade.
His face instantly turned red to his ears, breathing unsteady.
To avoid being noticed, he turned slightly and said as calmly as possible, “Aren’t you cold without your outer clothes?”
“You’re too hot. I’ll sweat if I wear it. I have to take it off.”
She rested her chin on his shoulder. “What’s so good about reading? Look at me instead.”
Qin Lin: “……I still need to read.”
Su Manman got annoyed. Wooden block.
She pushed him away and crawled into the bed in a huff.
Qin Lin leaned forward slightly, helpless. “Mad again?”
She pulled the blanket over her head and ignored him.
After a moment, he said, “I have a few days off. Unlike you, you start work tomorrow. You should rest well.”
She peeked out. “So you’re doing this for my sake? Fine, I forgive you.”
There was a faint smile in Qin Lin’s eyes. “Sleep early.”
Su Manman closed her eyes.
After a long while, he looked again—she had already fallen asleep.
Lying on her side, one hand resting loosely on the pillow, completely relaxed and adorable.
How could a person be this cute?