How I Tamed My Wolfish Husband Back in 80s
Chapter 260 - 262: Decadent_1

Chapter 260: Chapter 262: Decadent_1

Li Qiao smiled, "It’s not hard."

Xue Sufen asked, "Not hard, but you’re spending all day in the library? You’re probably falling behind with your studies, right?" She had clearly felt this semester was not as relaxed as the last one.

Li Qiao replied, "That’s because I want to go to graduate school. I’m worried that I won’t have enough time to write my thesis in my senior year."

"Since your uncle started taking on graduate students this year, why don’t you choose him? It would be convenient for him to guide you," Xue Sufen suggested, thinking with Xue Lingqing’s high standards, Li Qiao might not be able to graduate.

Old Mr. Xue and Old Mrs. Qin thought it was a feasible idea. It would be good to have someone to look out for her if she followed Xue Lingqing.

Jiang Wanqiu frowned, "What if people misunderstand, given they are about the same age?"

"Stop talking nonsense," Old Mr. Xue scolded.

"I’m just thinking of the two children’s best interests," Jiang Wanqiu muttered.

Li Qiao tried to smooth things over: "Professor Xue often needs to write papers; I’d better not disturb him. My physics teacher from freshman year, Professor Dai, still teaches me, and I plan to apply to his program. I mentioned it to him a few days ago, and he was very pleased with my choice."

Xue Lingqing looked at her, the red sweater making her skin appear delicate and fair. Her eyes sparkled like clear water, so beautiful. He lowered his gaze and paused, "Professor Dai is indeed good, and very responsible." He really wasn’t suited to mentor her, as being around her led him to have scattered thoughts.

Jiang Wanqiu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Xue Sufen was quite disappointed; Professor Dai was known for his good temper but never took students, yet he had welcomed Li Qiao.

"Sufen, since it’s the New Year, play the flute for everyone to enjoy. Qiaoqiao, you can play the erhu. I’ve specifically borrowed one for you. Play a festive duet with Sufen," Jiang Wanqiu said as she handed the erhu to Li Qiao.

Old Mrs. Qin was displeased; Qiaoqiao didn’t have an instrument and hadn’t practiced before. Pairing her with Xue Sufen for comparison was obviously meant to show her up. "What’s so good about it?"

"You don’t appreciate it," Jiang Wanqiu urged Xue Sufen to play the flute.

Xue Sufen said, "Li Qiao, I’ll follow your rhythm."

Li Qiao responded, "Sure, I don’t know many pieces."

She improvised a lively and festive piece.

Xue Sufen, who had a bit of a talent for music, kept up with the rhythm, and at the end, Old Mrs. Qin applauded, "It sounds nice; Sufen performed well too."

Xue Sufen lifted her chin proudly, "Li Qiao, who did you learn that piece from? Is it easy to learn music in your county town?"

Li Qiao thought for a moment and said, "When I was young, performers would come to our village to perform, and I followed them for a few days."

Old Mrs. Qin raised an eyebrow; this must have been something she heard from Jin, right?

He was always wandering outside, keenly aware of any village performances.

But the villages near the Feng Family Village were too poor to host such events, and those performers, who relied on food as much as audiences, never went there.

Xue Sufen scoffed, "As if you could play like that just from following performers for a few days. Could village performers even play that kind of piece?" She thought it must have been composed by a professional.

Li Qiao replied, "There’s nothing I can do if you don’t believe me."

Old Mrs. Qin said, "It’s getting late; we have school tomorrow. We should head back now."

"I’ll walk you out," offered Jiang Wanqiu.

"No need, you’re busy," Old Mrs. Qin said.

The entire household still saw Old Mrs. Qin and Li Qiao to the door, and the two of them walked home in the moonlight.

Old Mrs. Qin said, "It’s really chilly outside. Qiaoqiao, are you cold in your coat?"

Li Qiao replied, "Not for the time being."

Once home, they each washed up and went to bed.

Life went on as usual, and in the blink of an eye, it was the end of March.

With the Tomb Sweeping Festival approaching, the Xue Family made preparations to return to their ancestral home in the south for the ancestral worship.

Old Mr. Xue asked Old Mrs. Qin if she would like to join them.

Old Mrs. Qin, using waiting for Qin Jin as an excuse, declined. She privately asked Li Qiao, "Have you received a reply from Jin? That darn kid said he’d be back by the first month, and now it’s already March. I hope nothing has happened?"

Li Qiao shook her head, "No." She comforted Old Mrs. Qin, "Don’t let your imagination scare you."

Old Mrs. Qin laughed, "Eh."

Li Qiao added, "Today is the 30th; in two days, if Jin still hasn’t come back, we can go back to the South to pay respects to our ancestors just the same."

Old Mrs. Qin agreed, "Okay." This year, they had to make a trip back home to tend to the graves of Jin’s grandfather and parents.

......

Very quickly, April 1st arrived. Li Qiao had taken leave, her student ID in hand, ready to go to the station to buy train tickets to the South.

Just after getting off the tram,

a familiar voice called out to her.

"Qiaoqiao."

Li Qiao turned around to see Qin Jin with luggage in tow, a look of exhaustion on his face. She expressed her surprise, "Jin, why did it take you so long to come to Beijing?"

Qin Jin managed a smile, "Didn’t I tell you I was in business? Why are you here?"

Li Qiao replied, "I’m here to buy tickets to go back to your hometown in the South for the tomb-sweeping."

Qin Jin said "Oh" in response.

Li Qiao continued, "I didn’t expect to meet you here. With my ID, I can only buy tickets for grandma and myself. The Xue Family is leaving tomorrow as well; maybe you could follow them in their private car?"

Qin Jin replied, "I’ll go back and get a letter of introduction, come here tomorrow and buy a ticket on the spot. It’s all the same."

"That works. Just wait here for me." Li Qiao went into the station to buy the tickets.

When she came out, she spotted Qin Jin immediately, a cigarette between his fingers, smoking by the side of the road.

Li Qiao felt it strange—he had quit smoking, hadn’t he? Why had he started again?

Seeing Li Qiao, Qin Jin quickly threw away his cigarette butt, stamping it out and brushing it aside, "I’ll quit again tomorrow. Did you get the tickets?"

Li Qiao glanced at the crushed cigarette on the ground, her sixth sense telling her he had problems on his mind. She didn’t press him about it, simply responding, "Got them." Then they both took the tram home together.

On the way, Qin Jin, who was normally talkative, remained silent.

Li Qiao tilted her head to look at him. Had his business venture lost money?

When he had made money before, even though he hadn’t given her any, he would buy her many presents and then excitedly share his money-making experiences.

This time, the bag he carried looked deflated, and he seemed wilted, like a frostbitten eggplant. She felt a pang of sympathy and took the initiative to reach out and hold his hand.

Qin Jin turned to her, his eyes brimming with a smile, "Your dad, stepmom, and stepsister won’t trouble you anymore."

Li Qiao’s heart skipped a beat, deliberately lowering her voice, "Did you kill them?"

Qin Jin laughed, "Am I stupid? I scared them off. They wouldn’t dare cause trouble anymore."

Li Qiao didn’t believe him. Li Jinhua was the type to forget the pain as soon as her wounds healed. It wouldn’t be long before she caused trouble again. Out loud, Li Qiao said, "Impressive." Then she leaned her head on his shoulder. The smell of sweat on him was overwhelming, making her feel lightheaded.

Qin Jin straightened her up, "I haven’t bathed in over a month; stay away from me."

"I don’t mind." Li Qiao, resisting the discomfort, stayed close to him.

Qin Jin’s lips curved up; the dark cloud from his business failure seemed to dissipate a bit.

After arriving home. Old Mrs. Qin, overjoyed, said, "You’re back?" She inspected him and commented, "Why do you look so disheveled?" It was just like the first time he’d been swindled of all his money selling antiques on a trip. Had he lost money in business again?

Qin Jin replied, "I couldn’t be bothered to tidy up."

"I’ll heat some water for you to have a good wash," Old Mrs. Qin said.

"Mm." Qin Jin responded indifferently, laying down on the bed, relishing the fragrant and soft blankets.

It was such a shame to dirty the clean bed—so he got up and sat in front of the dressing table instead.

The person in the mirror had greasy hair, wrinkled clothes, and a dark ring of grime around his neck.

Damn!

How had he become like this?

Then he looked at Li Qiao, in her simple coat and fitted trousers, her hair casually tied back—clean and sharp.

How did his slovenly appearance ever match up to her?