How I Tamed My Wolfish Husband Back in 80s-Chapter 287 - 289: Shield_1

Old Mr. Xue asked, "Qiaoqiao, what did you think of that girl just now?"

"She’s pretty. Is that her mom with her?"

Old Mr. Xue replied, "Matchmaker. Before coming here, she raved about the girl, making her sound incredible. I thought she would be very beautiful, but I ended up quite disappointed. Her face is flat like a pancake from the front, and her chin juts out when viewed from the side, a typical husband-curse face. Only you young folks would call that attractive."

Li Qiao chuckled, "You’re too superstitious."

"Superstitious? You better believe it. A friend of mine married a woman with that face type for his second marriage, and he met with disaster the following year. Later, I heard she divorced him and married a businessman, and it wasn’t long before she ruined the tradesman too."

Li Qiao replied, "The second guy was probably just down on his luck."

"Even so, someone like her who carries bad luck can affect those around her," Old Mr. Xue commented disdainfully.

Li Qiao didn’t offer an opinion—what can a face represent anyway?

Isn’t it personality that determines fate?

She hesitated for a moment, then said, "Sir Xue, I’ll be taking my leave now."

"Won’t you stay a while?" Old Mr. Xue asked, trying to keep her.

"No, thank you." Li Qiao stepped out of the room first.

The matchmaker and the girl were still there.

The latter was sitting with Xue Sufen, chatting away; both looked up at Li Qiao at the same time.

Xue Jingyi said, "Qiaoqiao, have a seat."

"I’ve got something to take care of, so I can’t stay. Madam Xue, Sufen, see you later." Li Qiao said as she picked up her empty food container, ready to leave.

Xue Lingqing said, "Li Qiao, let me walk you out."

"Oh." Li Qiao obediently agreed. On the way, he mentioned that he would attend Counselor Xiang’s wedding and asked her how much money to put in the red packet.

Li Qiao said, "Five bucks. Counselor Xiang has helped me a lot, she even took care of Jin’s employment issue."

Xue Lingqing said, "Then I’ll do the same." Once they stepped out of the residential compound, he said, "I’ll leave you here."

"Alright." Li Qiao was puzzled. Professor Xue initiated conversations with her only a handful of times throughout the year; today he not only appeared in time to call her over but even walked her out to chat.

What was he playing at?

Could it be because the Xue family’s middle-aged woman was a professional matchmaker, and after introducing a partner for Xue Jingyi, the next in line might be him?

Was he deliberately getting close to her, using her as a shield to suggest to the matchmaker that if they were to find him a partner, it should be by her standards?

Qin Jin always says she looks like a fairy descended to earth.

Perhaps Professor Xue also thought she looked good, and it wouldn’t be easy for the matchmaker to find someone like her.

She couldn’t think of any other reason.

.....

Li Qiao returned home and placed the food container in the bottom of the cupboard. Old Mrs. Qin lifted the door curtain and came in, "Did Sir Xue eat the hot and sour rice noodles? Did he say anything?"

"He did. He asked if it was made by you, but didn’t say anything else." Li Qiao gossiped to Old Mrs. Qin about Xue Jingyi’s matchmaking encounter and how Old Mr. Xue picked her apart.

Old Mrs. Qin said, "Your Sir Xue is experienced, so his concerns are not without reason. You mentioned Yu Xiu; I remember her. She and her mom came by our place before to look for you. That girl really is quite remarkable—tall and pretty, smart and polite. It’s a pity she lives so far away."

The grandmother and granddaughter thus began an earnest discussion.

At that moment, the dog started barking at the front door.

Li Qiao and Old Mrs. Qin both peeked out from the kitchen.

It was the lady from next door, carrying a basket of tomatoes, "I grew these myself; they’re for you to enjoy."

Old Mrs. Qin smiled, "You’re too kind. Come in and have a seat."

"Ah." After sitting down, the neighbor said, "I came here for a reason. We have a relative who will be starting his third year of high school in September. His grades are average, and he’s looking for a tutor to help with his studies. Ten bucks a month, studying only in the mornings. I immediately thought of Qiaoqiao."

Old Mrs. Qin: "Oh, that’s unfortunate. We plan to go back to our hometown on the 11th."

"What’s the point of going back to your hometown in such hot weather? Stay in the city and make money," said the old lady.

Li Qiao explained what she was going to do next.

The old lady didn’t understand what the forensic work entailed, but when she heard it was something connected to the criminal police, she didn’t insist. She said somewhat apologetically, "I should have asked you earlier. I’ve already promised someone else. I’ll go and let them know right away."

Li Qiao’s expression changed slightly, "Many students stay at school during the summer vacation to participate in work-study programs. I’ll go back to school and ask if any of our classmates would like to tutor."

"That would be great, thank you," said the old lady happily.

Li Qiao immediately returned to campus and after inquiring around, she finally found a tutor, Hong Tao, who was one of the top students in their class. He thought the salary of ten yuan was too low, asking for fifteen, and his morning time was already scheduled.

After finding out, Li Qiao relayed the message to the old lady, emphasizing, "He’s a male classmate who has almost the same grades as me, and he also received quite a few scholarships this year."

The old lady was very satisfied and, in the dark of the evening, she went to inform her relatives, who agreed and even provided a five yuan deposit.

Li Qiao hurried back to school to tell Hong Tao the outcome.

Hong Tao took the money and asked carefully about the address and the dates for the tutoring.

Li Qiao told him everything.

"What are your plans for the summer holiday?" asked Hong Tao.

Li Qiao: "I’m going back to my hometown to work as a forensic assistant. If I stayed in Beijing, I would have accepted this job." Tutoring others was also something she was good at, and teaching older children was easier.

"Forensic? Autopsying the dead? Aren’t you afraid, being a young girl?"

"I don’t do those things. I just write reports or print out materials," Li Qiao said. "It’s getting late. Let’s chat when we have time."

With people coming and going, they kept looking at them.

It felt somewhat embarrassing.

.....

After Li Qiao and Hong Tao parted ways, she headed home. As she reached the entrance of the alley, she met Qin Jin who had come to pick her up. She immediately asked, "Have you finished your papers?"

"Yeah," Qin Jin said. "We haven’t roamed around together for a long time. Let’s go."

"I don’t feel like wandering around late at night," she said.

Qin Jin dragged her along, and she had no choice but to walk side by side with him toward the park.

The sequestered path had only the occasional passerby.

After a long stroll, they returned the same way and bumped into Xue Jingyi and Xue Sufen, brother and sister.

Li Qiao was curious about his matchmaking results.

Xue Sufen rushed to answer, "The girl graduated from university, she’s pretty and gentle, and she has a good job. Of course, my brother took a liking to her."

Xue Jingyi: "Don’t talk nonsense. I just said she’s not bad, but we still need to get to know each other."

Li Qiao: "Xue’s being pragmatic, but from what Sufen says, it’s as if the girl is already set to marry you, and just from the first meeting you know she’s gentle? That’s too hasty a judgment."

Xue Sufen lifted her chin proudly: "Anyway, she’s more pleasing to the eye than you, you shrew!"

Li Qiao: "....You’re the shrew! I’m not going to be your sister-in-law, nor do I need you to find me pleasing. But even if I were unmarried, I wouldn’t have the slightest interest in Big Brother Xue. Having you as a little sister-in-law would be enough to make one sick. If I did marry into the family, it would be as your aunt to put you in your place."

"You, you, you!" Xue Sufen became agitated. What was wrong with being a little sister-in-law? She was good-looking and a top student with scholarships every semester. That damn Li Qiao was humiliating her, making her out to be worthless, and even wanting to be her aunt! A country bumpkin like her was not worthy!

Pah!

Emboldened by Xue Jingyi’s support, she was ready to take on Li Qiao physically.

Xue Jingyi held her back, "Don’t be impulsive."

"I must teach her a lesson today," Xue Sufen said, pushing forward.

"Xue, let her go. I’ll take her on one-on-one!" Li Qiao was also ready to go all out. After all, her previous conflicts with Xue Sufen didn’t affect Sir Xue’s attitude towards her, so she wasn’t afraid to have another round with Xue Sufen.freewebnσvel.cøm