Tao Xiaohong’s uncle, Li Mushuan, came again to freeload, carrying a few freshly pulled white radishes.
The moment he entered, his eyes locked onto Qin Yanzhou’s bowl of sugar water.
“That’s sugar water, right? Xiaohong, go make a bowl for your uncle too.”
Li Mushuan tossed the radishes onto the ground, sat down, and began ordering her around.
To avoid any mishaps, Tao Xiaohong thought to send her uncle away first, so she turned to prepare another bowl of sugar water.
Mianbao lay in Qin Yanzhou’s arms, no longer crying. Her damp eyes secretly glanced at Li Mushuan as her little mind spun, coming up with a very good idea.
Seeing that she had stopped crying, Qin Yanzhou unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.
Soon, Tao Xiaohong finished making a bowl of sugar water.
“I want to drink sugar water too,” Mianbao’s soft, clear little voice sounded.
Tao Xiaohong had been worrying about how to deal with the little brat, so she immediately handed the bowl to Mianbao.
Li Mushuan was displeased. “What about mine?”
“I’ll make another one.”
Tao Xiaohong turned to prepare yet another bowl.
Looking obedient and well-behaved, Mianbao pushed Qin Yanzhou’s bowl toward Li Mushuan.
“Uncle, drink this one. Sugar water is very sweet.”
As she spoke, she licked her lips like a little glutton.
Li Mushuan didn’t stand on ceremony and took it right away.
“This kid is quite pretty,” he said happily.
Mianbao smiled shyly and set her own bowl down.
Qin Yanzhou thought she didn’t want to drink again and paid no attention.
Tao Xiaohong returned with the third bowl and noticed the one in front of Qin Yanzhou hadn’t been touched. She slowly walked over.
“Brother Yanzhou, you should drink too.”
When she was making the sugar water, she hadn’t seen that Mianbao had already given the drugged bowl to Li Mushuan.
Qin Yanzhou was indeed a bit thirsty. He picked up the bowl Mianbao had just set down and drank it in one go.
He stood up.
“This little radish is too troublesome. I’ll take her back first.”
This time, Tao Xiaohong didn’t stop him.
The medicine her father had gotten from the countryside was very potent—Qin Yanzhou wouldn’t even make it out the door before it took effect.
Watching Qin Yanzhou’s tall, upright figure, Tao Xiaohong’s heart raced. She was about to become the daughter-in-law of the factory director’s family!
…
“Hey, Tao Dazhuang, is your Xiaohong really going to marry the factory director’s son from the textile factory?”
Under a big tree on the street, several people gathered around Tao Dazhuang, who had “recovered” from years of paralysis.
Tao Dazhuang lifted his chin high, snorting arrogantly. “Of course. Why else would that boy Qin Yanzhou protect my Xiaohong so much? Besides doing it for Xiaojun’s sake, he must also fancy her.”
His smug expression made it seem as though he were already the factory director’s in-law.
The neighbors all knew how much the Qin family had helped the Tao family over the years, often bringing gifts, and Qin Yanzhou had indeed protected Tao Xiaohong.
“What about Li Minghui? Didn’t he bring a matchmaker to propose just a few days ago?”
A neighbor asked again.
Tao Dazhuang’s eyes flickered as he snorted. “What else? My Xiaohong didn’t like him. That boy tried to force the marriage. As her father, of course I wouldn’t agree.”
He spoke convincingly, and several familiar neighbors believed him.
Old Wang, who often drank with him, rubbed his hands eagerly. “Old Tao, when you become the factory director’s in-law, don’t forget to look after us old friends.”
“Exactly, Old Tao. You raised such a capable daughter. Once she marries into that family and rises in status, don’t forget us.”
Tao Dazhuang basked in their flattery, his vanity greatly satisfied.
Judging the time, he looked around but didn’t see Li Juhua.
Where did that woman go? She better not mess things up!
Afraid of missing the chance to catch them in the act, Tao Dazhuang decided to bring people back himself.
“Alright, no point keeping good things to myself. Come on, come on—let’s go to my house for a drink.”
Old Wang’s eyes lit up. “Let’s go, it’s been a while since we drank together.”
“Bring your wives too. Today I’ll have my wife cook a couple of dishes. Everyone come eat.”
These women loved gossip. If they saw Qin Yanzhou and his daughter lying together, the news would spread across the entire street in no time.
By then, even if the Qin family tried to deny it, they wouldn’t be able to!
Tao Dazhuang waved generously, leading a large group along.
In those days, every household had limited food. Many families didn’t have enough to eat, so when Tao Dazhuang was suddenly so generous, everyone wanted to take advantage.
The Tao family’s door was open, and the house was quiet. Seeing his daughter’s door closed, Tao Dazhuang felt delighted.
It worked!
“Dazhuang, where’s your wife? Why isn’t she home?”
With so many guests, yet no one coming out to serve tea, everyone stood around awkwardly.
Tao Dazhuang pretended to search the house.
“Juhua, Xiaohong, come out!”
There were three rooms in the house. He opened each one before naturally arriving at Tao Xiaohong’s door.
He pushed it open effortlessly.
The sky was gloomy that day. It looked like it might snow but hadn’t yet. The windows were shut and covered with newspaper, making the room dim.
As expected, the moment the door opened, a scream rang out.
“Ah—!”
The sharp cry drew everyone’s attention.
“What happened?”
“Xiaohong! Yanzhou! What are you doing?!” Tao Dazhuang acted shocked, angry, and secretly pleased.
“What? What?”
Sensing gossip, everyone crowded inside. But the room was too dark—they could only make out two figures on the bed.
Someone found the light cord and pulled it. A dim yellow light filled the room, revealing Tao Xiaohong lying together with a man.
“Oh my… I can’t look,” one woman said, covering her eyes but peeking through her fingers.
“They’re not even married yet, and already doing this in the room.”
“Young people just can’t hold back, so impulsive.”
Tao Xiaohong’s heart raced. She suppressed her excitement, pretending to be frightened as she shrank into the corner of the bed.
As she moved, the blanket that had been covering “Qin Yanzhou’s” face slipped away, revealing a dark, greasy face.
“Oh my… isn’t that Li Mushuan?”
“What?!”
Everyone leaned in for a closer look at the unconscious man on the bed.
“It really is her uncle!”
A collective gasp filled the room.
And Tao Xiaohong was completely stunned, frozen in place.
Wasn’t the person on her bed supposed to be Qin Yanzhou?
How did it turn into her uncle, Li Mushuan?!
What on earth was going on?!