Li Xianglu was feeling conflicted. Actually, Qin Xi was her lifesaver. If it hadn’t been for that note, her third brother wouldn’t have found the Wang family, and if Qin Xi hadn’t brought He Chongguang from the Armed Forces Department to inspect the house, her fate could’ve been tough to predict.
Then came the adoption, gradually getting to know each other, studying together, fishing together, and later on, him protecting her multiple times. He did a lot, and she would think of him whenever she had nice food or useful items to use, making her cheeks flush red with the thought. But was it too early to be thinking about this?
It was almost as if Qin Xi could read her mind, he chuckled deeply: "Actually, I think it would be better to get the certificate in April when you turn eighteen. Once you start school, I won’t always be able to be by your side. You are so wonderful, with so many boys around you, it makes me feel anxious."
Such cheesy love words! But she really liked them!
Li Xianglu’s face turned as red as a shrimp. She is a decisive young woman of the 21st century, knowing what she wants and how to assess the situation. She knew long ago about her feelings for Qin Xi and his for her, but many things were still unclear, such as whether Qin Xi truly felt the same way.
Li Xianglu decided to take a gamble, get the certificate first and then see. Setting up a legal relationship should help unravel some mysteries quickly.
Once the decision was made, Li Xianglu immediately said: "Then let’s get registered. Should we tell Uncle Qin?"
Qin Xi, not knowing what she had thought, was stunned for a moment but then said: "I’ve already told him."
Li Xianglu, slightly annoyed, placed her hand on Qin Xi’s waist again.
When they arrived at the Overseas Chinese Store, the doorkeeper, having recognized Li Xianglu, graciously welcomed her. As usual, she bought some bread and cakes, and at the grocery section, she purchased some packaged oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, including a two-year brewed soy sauce which she bought four bottles of, and a ten-pound jug of peanut oil.
She bought all kinds of staples, chicken, duck, fish, and even a special leg of lamb. She got five vacuum flasks, all made of metal, extremely good at insulation. It seemed like she was shopping without a care about money.
Just as they were about to leave, Li Xianglu spotted a copper pot and got terribly excited.
Qin Zhen, who had been carrying stuff, was already impatient. Seeing her fuss over a pot, he exclaimed, "We’ve got so much already, let’s go!"
Li Xianglu, looking at the copper pot, smiled and said: "This pot is much better than our kerosene stove’s hot pot, see, it can hold water equivalent to two flasks, and it will warm up the room when burning."
The saleswoman, a middle-aged woman in her forties, overheard and proudly said: "Young lady really knows her stuff. This is pure copper, many foreigners buy them for collecting. In cold weather, load it with meatballs, chicken, ribs, cabbage, add some bone broth, once it boils, the aroma is so good, your tongue would fall off just from tasting!"
Hearing this, Qin Zhen drooled like a fool and asked, "Why’s that?"
The saleswoman laughed heartily: "Because the aroma will make your heart melt!"
Others around laughed along.
Li Xianglu looked over the pot again, thinking it’s a great pot, that if treated delicately, it could last twenty to thirty years. This is copper, she recalled a similar one from her grandfather’s house in her past life, bought in the 1990s for over four hundred yuan, but it wasn’t as thick as this one.
Li Xianglu asked the price, just ninety, she bought it!
They had come with a big basket for the flasks, which Qin Zhen tied on the bike’s rear seat along with other items stacking up like a mountain. He kept complaining to Li Xianglu on their way back: "We must eat from this pot, otherwise, this trip would be a waste."
Li Xianglu replied unimpressed: "How can we eat at home unprepared? Wait a couple of days to get everything ready. I’ll fry some meatballs and cook some chicken and broth early, and we can quietly enjoy the meal. What’s the hurry?"
Hearing this, Qin Zhen finally nodded, seemingly satisfied: "That sounds better!"
There were many items, Qin Xi’s bike was full in front and at the rear, forcing him to ride slowly. Li Xianglu, meanwhile, clutched bread and cakes at the back, and they arrived home by twelve noon.
Grandpa had already gotten home, holding the new household registration and food rations book for Li Xianglu to see. They were lucky to have it sorted before the 15th, meaning they could buy grain in a few days.
But seeing the hoard of items his granddaughter brought back, the old man felt that the Foreign Exchange Voucher was much more useful than a grain booklet.
After buying some cooked food because the stove was inconvenient, just for frying upfront and warming food at the back, Li Xianglu quickly stir-fried cabbage, vermicelli, and boiled pork, then finally made a soup when the dish was served.
After the meal, Qin Xi washed the dishes, while Qin Zhen, sitting comfortably with a big belly airing out said: "Grandpa Li’s place is really nice!"
Li Xianglu raised an eyebrow: "Why, isn’t your home good?"
Hearing this, Qin Zhen remembered the situation back home and said angrily: "What’s so good about it? Qin Miao is back, along with his brother and mom. The whole family is back, and grandfather’s house isn’t even as big as this one. We can hardly fit in, so we have to sleep in dad’s work dormitory, it’s so cramped."
After blurting out his annoyance, he pitifully added: "Chou Xiang, let me and my brother stay over, my large frame can’t stand that bed!"
Li Xianglu, looking at Qin Zhen’s tall and plump figure, sighed: "Alright, we’ll go buy a bed this afternoon."
Qin Zhen then ’oh’d toward the ceiling and started howling like it was a return to the days in Li Family Village.
ps: This Chapter is 3000 characters long, difficult to divide, so 540 monthly tickets will prompt an additional update. I owe you all 1000 characters which will be made up in the , if not today then tomorrow.