How I Tamed My Wolfish Husband Back in 80s
Chapter 280 - 282: Being with Excellent People Makes You Excellent_1

Chapter 280: Chapter 282: Being with Excellent People Makes You Excellent_1

Li Qiao packed up her bedding and carried it home.

She entered the house, drenched in sweat, put down her things, and gulped down a large cup of cool boiled water.

It took a long while for her to catch her breath before she locked the door and headed back to school to fetch the rest of her belongings.

On her second trip, Qin Jin was at home.

Li Qiao, surprised, asked, "Aren’t you working today?"

"I came back to get my graduation certificate; the leaders recommended me to get a driver’s license," Qin Jin said, with joy written all over his face.

Li Qiao was happy for him, "That’s great! I also have good news to tell you. I won a three hundred yuan scholarship."

Qin Jin gave her a thumbs up, "You’re the real deal!" Noticing the sweat on her forehead, he quickly grabbed a towel to wipe it off.

Li Qiao casually took the towel from his hand, tilted her head slightly and said, "I can do it myself."

Qin Jin said, "I’ll buy you a ladies’ bicycle tomorrow; it will be convenient for you to cycle to and from school."

"No, please don’t buy it," Li Qiao refused, "I want to walk." It’s good exercise.

After Qin Jin got his graduation certificate, he bid farewell to Li Qiao and hurriedly left. Li Qiao peeled off the quilt cover and aired out the bedding.

She also washed the quilt cover and sheets and cleaned the house.

After busying herself, she took a long, deep breath.

So tired.

The courtyard was ablaze with roses of different colors.

She admired them for a while, went back inside to get scissors, cut some and put them in a vase, and arranged the rest in a bamboo basket.

Carrying it, she headed for the Xue Family’s house.

Old Mr. Xue and Madam Xue were both there, as was Professor Xue.

"Qiaoqiao has come," said Old Mr. Xue.

Li Qiao greeted them and then said, "The flowers in my yard have bloomed. I cut some especially for you."

Jiang Wanqiu muttered, "You just picked the leftovers, didn’t you?" A couple of days ago she had asked Ruan Xiangjun for some, and Ruan Xiangjun said, "The flowers are planted by the granddaughter-in-law; I need to ask the child first."

A few days, and still no word.

Not willing to give them away, yet finding so many excuses.

Old Mr. Xue said, "They’re beautiful. You’re so capable, not only good at studying but also at gardening. Tomorrow, when Lingqing is looking for a partner, I want him to find someone like you."

Li Qiao felt embarrassed, Professor Xue probably didn’t like her type; he never looked her in the eye when talking to her. "How could I know how to plant flowers? I bought these during the tree planting festival, and many of them died. It was only after Jin came back and frequently loosened the soil and fertilized that so many survived."

Jiang Wanqiu said, "Your grandmother said you planted them."

Li Qiao smiled, "Whatever I touch that turns out well, my grandmother always says I did it. If it’s something bad, it’s Jin’s doing." She looked around and asked, "Should I just put the flowers on the table?"

Lingqing said, "I have a vase in my room, can you arrange them for me?"

"Sure," Li Qiao replied cheerfully.

Jiang Wanqiu glanced at Xue Lingqing.

Xue Lingqing brought a vase, and Li Qiao asked for scissors. She pruned the stems and inserted them into the vase. "Done."

"Looks good," Xue Lingqing said as he carried the vase upstairs.

Jiang Wanqiu remarked, "What’s a big man like you doing putting flowers in his room? They should be in the living room!"

"With so many flowers in the basket, can’t you find a vase for them yourself?" Xue Lingqing didn’t play along with Jiang Wanqiu’s antics.

Old Mr. Xue said, "Isn’t there a vase by the TV cabinet? Just take it. Why are you competing with the child?"

Jiang Wanqiu clenched her teeth, strode forward, picked up a vase, and slammed it down in front of Li Qiao.

Li Qiao glanced up, a hint of surprise on her face.

Had she offended Madam Xue again?

Old Mr. Xue tapped his cane, his face darkening as he said, "What are you getting fired up at Qiaoqiao for? Did you forget to take your medicine this morning?"

Jiang Wanqiu said, "When did I ever get angry? With old age, my hand shakes a bit, Qiaoqiao, don’t mind it, eh."

Old Mr. Xue let out a cold huff.

Li Qiao, good-naturedly smiling, said, "I’m used to it, it’s okay." The implication was that Jiang Wanqiu often inexplicably lashed out at her.

Jiang Wanqiu: "....."

Old Mr. Xue said, "Your Madam Xue is just jealous that you’re more outstanding than Sufen."

Li Qiao thought to herself that this was a bit too direct. "Sir Xue is joking, I really don’t think I’m that outstanding. There’s always someone better out there, people more outstanding than me are a dime a dozen."

Old Mr. Xue nodded slightly, thinking how highly aware this child was!

Sufen really should learn from her.

He said, "Summer break is coming, you should come by more often when you have the time."

Li Qiao said, "I used to work as a forensic assistant back in my hometown, and a colleague went for further studies, so the director asked me to fill in." Xun Dong had written to say that Xu Feng was approved to study in the provincial capital for a month.

After taking over for her colleague, her monthly salary would be based on her allowance.

On top of that, there were other benefits like meat tickets and ration coupons for other food products.

She agreed to it.

The university’s accounting courses were on break during the summer, the thesis wasn’t being written, the translation had been submitted, and Qin Jin was learning to drive, too busy to spend time with her.

She might as well go back home to earn a salary.

And her grandmother wanted to go back and have a look as well.

"A forensic assistant, huh? I’ve heard Sufen mention that before. Aren’t you scared? When are you leaving?" asked Old Mr. Xue.

"I’ll leave once the summer break starts." It was hot in Beijing now, but by mid-August, the weather would gradually cool down, making it a perfect time to return.

Xue Lingqing came down from upstairs and joined the conversation, "You’ll have plenty of free time during the summer break. Aren’t you planning to write a couple of new papers?"

"I want to have some fun during the vacation, do something different," Li Qiao replied. "Don’t you hit a wall when you spend all year long browsing through materials and writing papers? The summers aren’t too hot in our hometown, and the rural scenery is really nice. How about visiting?"

Before Xue Lingqing could reply, Jiang Wanqiu cut in, "Lingqing go with you? What for, running off to the countryside?"

Li Qiao scratched the tip of her nose to hide her embarrassment; she had only thrown in a casual suggestion, after all. She turned to Xue Lingqing with a silly smile.

Xue Lingqing tried to smooth things over, "I do want to travel around a bit, but I don’t know where to go. If Jin is also going back, I might as well join."

"Jin has been recommended for driving lessons and he’s also working, so he won’t be going back to our hometown. You could go with Sufen though, we have room in our house," Li Qiao politely offered.

Jiang Wanqiu was agitated, "Jin is learning to drive? How come I didn’t hear anything from your grandmother about this? Is it some kind of trick? When your Xue started, it was after two years of working, and Jin has only been at his job for a few months. He must have given some gifts." Just like Ruan Xiangjun, Qin Jin was adept at pulling strings behind the scenes.

Old Mr. Xue’s face showed displeasure, "Can’t someone succeed on their own merits? Jin’s pretty clever, I heard his grandmother say that he speaks English and is preparing to take the accounting qualification exam. Right, Qiaoqiao?"

Li Qiao nodded affirmatively, "Mhm! I taught him. He’s been learning English for just over two months but should have no problem communicating. He memorizes an English word every day, and I spot-check him from time to time. If he gets more than two wrong, I don’t let him come inside to sleep."

Old Mr. Xue laughed heartily.

Jiang Wanqiu retorted, "He’s not going abroad, why learn that?"

"You never know; what if some day Jin makes good? When working with foreigners, he can communicate properly even without a translator," Li Qiao said, even if it’s not immediately useful, learning is always good.

Jiang Wanqiu scoffed, thinking with Jin’s abilities, working with foreigners? He’d probably never even see a foreigner in his lifetime!

Old Mr. Xue remarked, "There’s a saying, isn’t there? ’You are influenced by the company you keep’—be with the outstanding, and you’ll become outstanding yourself."

Li Qiao’s eyes twinkled with mirth as she spoke modestly, "Well, it’s just to pass the time when he’s otherwise idle, learning something new."

....