How I Tamed My Wolfish Husband Back in 80s
Chapter 261 - 263: Tomb Sweeping_1

Chapter 261: Chapter 263: Tomb Sweeping_1

Old Mrs. Qin readied water, and he immediately took a bath, getting completely cleaned up before coming out, "I need to get a haircut." He left.

Li Qiao watched him leave and then said, "Grandma, have you noticed that Jin is acting strange?"

Old Mrs. Qin said with some heartache, "He might have lost money in his business."

Li Qiao said, "I guessed as much. I’ve saved quite a bit of money that I can take out for emergency use."

Old Mrs. Qin said, "If he really needs it, he will mention it. Let’s let him cool down for now."

Li Qiao, not reassured, flipped through her savings book. Her translation work had earned her a substantial amount, plus scholarships and allowances, amounting to more than two thousand yuan, which was enough to buy a house. Could it not be enough for his use?

She placed it under Qin Jin’s pillow.

.....

After Qin Jin got his hair cut, he stopped by the street office and got a letter of introduction before heading home. Upon entering the house and not seeing Li Qiao, he asked, "Grandma, where’s Qiaoqiao?"

"She’s out walking the dog," Old Mrs. Qin said. "Qiaoqiao said she’s taking the early train tomorrow. Do you want to go to bed early?"

Qin Jin indeed felt sleepy. Lately, he barely slept due to business matters. He had hoped to make a good profit but ended up losing even the money he had saved. On his way here, he had almost not had enough for the fare.

He was so unlucky!

Li Jinhua had even said he would soar to great heights, but he hadn’t even taken flight before taking a tumble.

What a damn stroke of bad luck!

He lifted the covers and crawled into bed.

The scent wafting from the blankets made him feel a bit more at ease.

But there was something uncomfortable at the back of his head, it felt obstructive.

He reached back and felt something.

It was only when he pulled it out that he realized it was a savings book.

Exactly two thousand one hundred yuan.

It must have been Qiaoqiao who put it there. She was really kind.

Knowing his business had failed, she didn’t utter a word of blame and even offered her hard-earned savings.

His heart felt warm and sweet.

He put the savings book back into the box and fell into a deep, reassuring sleep.

Li Qiao was the one who woke him up.

"Jin, time to get up for the train."

Qin Jin opened his eyes, and it was already bright outside. He had been sleepless for nearly half a month, but once he returned to her side, he managed to sleep until dawn.

Having had a good sleep, his mood was also good.

He stretched, got up, and washed his face and brushed his teeth.

Li Qiao could clearly sense his improved mood and smiled slightly, her eyes curving, "I bought two baskets of your favorite soup dumplings."

"Just in time, I’m hungry." Qin Jin finished them all in one go and drank a large bowl of porridge. His gaze swept over the dog beside him, "How has this dog gotten so fat? It’s completely round. Can it still guard the house?"

Li Qiao laughed, "It’s been like this since we got back after the New Year. Its bark has gotten louder than before. Sir Xue said Professor Xue often takes it to the school cafeteria to gnaw on bones."

"I appreciate his concern." Qin Jin pointed at the dark stuff in the kitchen basin and asked, "What’s that?"

"I baked some dry food for the dog," Old Mrs. Qin said.

Qin Jin said sarcastically, "I never saw you bake dry food for me when I went on a long journey."

Old Mrs. Qin replied, "You’re not a dog."

Qin Jin: "..."

....

After the family got everything ready, they arrived at the train station and boarded the train, reaching their destination in the evening.

Li Qiao looked around, noticing that although the infrastructure of the train station couldn’t compare to Beijing, it was dozens of times better than their old northern home. The South truly was prosperous.

Old Mrs. Qin felt complicated emotions.

After many years, she was returning to her ancestral home without a shred of joy. Anxiety and tension filled her heart.

Leaving the train station, the three of them found a nearby hostel to stay in.

After resting for the night, they prepared paper money, incense candles, and purchased some liquor and dishes before heading straight to the Qin family’s ancestral graveyard in the suburbs the next day.

At first glance, there were many gravestones, neglected over time, with some fallen and others tilted.

Wild weeds grew all around.

Li Qiao was led by Qin Jin to a gravestone, and from the small characters beneath it, she learned that grandpa was named Qin Wangshu, and father-in-law Qin Shiyue—an echo in their names.

Mother-in-law was called Ding Muzhao.

"Grandpa, dad and mom have such nice names, why is yours so simple?"

"I picked it," Old Mrs. Qin said.

Li Qiao: "..." She corrected herself, "The character ’Jin’ is actually quite good, too. It implies prudence and caution."

"It’s not really about that. Your parents-in-law were a bit lazy. I was afraid the child would inherit their flaws. ’Qin’ shares the same pronunciation with the ’qin’ in diligence. Qin Jin means to be diligent. Naming him that, I hoped he would be more industrious than his parents."

Li Qiao covered her mouth and laughed, so that was the reason.

The family of three cleaned the weeds around the gravestone, placing incense sticks, ceremonial paper gold, and food and drinks.

Qin Jin formally introduced Li Qiao to the elders.

"Great-grandpa, great-grandma, grandpa, dad and mom, today your son has brought his wife to see you. Her name is Li Qiao. She’s pretty, right? And a Top Scholar, too. You must bless her so her studies will go smoothly..." Qin Jin said a lot.

Li Qiao respectfully greeted the elders.

After exchanging pleasantries, Qin Jin lit the incense sticks and ceremonial paper gold, and poured out the drinks and food.

After the burning was done, the family didn’t rush to leave.

Qin Jin sat on his parents’ grave, his head bowed, lost in thought.

Li Qiao moved away on her own.

She too missed home. How wonderful it would be if she could take her grandma and partner back to her world?

...

After the candles had burned down, the family of three finally left.

They passed by a street.

Old Mrs. Qin and Qin Jin both looked towards a high-walled grand residence, which didn’t have a plaque above the door.

Li Qiao said, "This family must be local rich folks, right?"

"It used to be ours," Old Mrs. Qin replied.

Li Qiao was surprised; so, the Qin family really used to be of high status.

As they were speaking,

Old Mr. Xue and his group appeared from the other end of the street.

Li Qiao greeted them.

Jiang Wanqiu said, "What a coincidence to meet you here. Have you already done the grave cleaning?"

Old Mrs. Qin: "We just finished cleaning. The gravestone is a bit damaged, and I’m thinking of finding a craftsman to repair it. Xue, do you know anyone?"

Jiang Wanqiu: "We haven’t lived here as long as you have; where would I know such a thing?"

"I know. There’s a craftsman nearby who repairs gravestones. I’ve hired him before," Xue Lingqing provided detailed directions.

Jiang Wanqiu turned away in embarrassment, looking away.

Qin Jin immediately went to find the person.

Old Mr. Xue asked, "Have you all eaten yet?"

"Not yet."

"Then let’s eat together."

Old Mrs. Qin: "You go ahead, I have some other matters to attend to." She wanted to meet an old friend. When she left, she hadn’t had a penny to her name, relying entirely on old friends to help her out. She didn’t know how they were faring now; she needed to repay their money.

She led Li Qiao away first.

After Jiang Wanqiu and the others had walked a distance, Old Mr. Xue’s gaze lingered, and Jiang Wanqiu chided him without making eye contact, "They’ve left, and you’re still watching."

Old Mr. Xue: "I was merely seeing them off, am I bothering you?"

Jiang Wanqiu: "Seeing them off? You were staring intently at them." Like an old fox with a young one.

Xue Jingyi couldn’t bear it: "Grandma, what do you mean ’staring intently’? Don’t you get tired of saying this all the time? Who doesn’t like to look at a beautiful woman? Don’t men and women of all ages stare at Qiaoqiao as they pass by her? We’re just part of the common crowd."

Old Mr. Xue agreed: "Exactly! Your grandma thinks too much, never any good thoughts."

Jiang Wanqiu: "..."

.....