How I Tamed My Wolfish Husband Back in 80s-Chapter 334 - 336: The Letter_1

Xue Lingqing and Nan Chuyi left, and Li Qiao also washed up and went to sleep.

The next day she attended class as usual, and in the afternoon after school, she and Qin Jin went to the large courtyard where they had agreed on a price the day before.

The homeowner had been waiting for quite some time: "Finally, you’ve arrived. It’s almost dark."

Li Qiao looked at her watch: "We’re still five minutes early according to the agreed time."

"Did you bring the rent?"

"Of course," Li Qiao said.

Qin Jin requested to check the relevant documents again, and the homeowner reluctantly took them out, a bit displeased: "Could I even deceive you?"

"Better safe than sorry!" Qin Jin affirmed that there was nothing amiss and took out the agreement.

The landlord patiently reviewed it once more. It stated the terms to rent for three years, with the rent paid in full upfront. However, there was one requirement: after receiving the rent, the landlord was not to visit when the house was unoccupied. Especially, private entry into their rooms, even with consent, was forbidden.

The room Li Qiao rented in Hu Family Alley had been entered by the landlord more than once when he and his grandmother weren’t home.

The last time he caught him in the act, he’d thought his grandmother was at home.

Walking into the courtyard, he came out of his own room and infuriated him immensely.

Even beating him up wouldn’t have settled it.

If the landlord dared to enter the room again when collecting rent this month, he would break his legs.

The homeowner immediately agreed. A one-time payment, huh? Thirty yuan a month, thirty-six months for three years, 1080 yuan, was that too generous? Had he encountered a rich person? "Done. What do you do to be so rich?"

Li Qiao: "Don’t you have a house? Aren’t you even richer?"

"We hardly count as rich. Without the unit allocating houses, we wouldn’t have a spare place to live."

After the negotiations were concluded, the landlord handed over the keys and left.

Li Qiao said: "We might as well move in here too. It’s convenient."

Qin Jin stubbornly refused: "I don’t want to move!" They had originally agreed to rent for four years.

"This place has a toilet, and we don’t have to worry about the Hu Family Alley landlord finding out about our business," Li Qiao emphasized.

She had been tolerating him, also because she feared making an enemy who would watch them closely and expose their business.

That would create big trouble.

Qin Jin firmly disagreed. He had been paying attention to the content published in the newspapers recently, and there seemed to be a trend toward allowing independent business operations. Moreover, he now had stalls in all the major markets in the city.

After paying the protection fees, no one had inspected his business anymore.

It was unlike before when they barely dared to receive what was due to them.

Li Qiao was frustrated, puffing up her cheeks; not listening to reason would lead to trouble sooner or later!

By the time the two returned home, it was already dark. Old Mrs. Qin and Yu Cuiying were waiting for them to have dinner.

"Back already? Where did you go?" Old Mrs. Qin said.

Li Qiao mentioned the matter of renting the large courtyard house and suggested that everyone move into the bigger house to live together. She said: "But Jin has been disagreeing all along."

Old Mrs. Qin: "Just follow him." She knew her grandson’s temper best; once he decided something, not even nine oxen could pull him back.

Yu Cuiying said: "Isn’t this house pretty good?" Though small, it was many times better than the adobe houses in the village.

Li Qiao brought up the issue with the landlord again.

Yu Cuiying: "Then it’s time to move. A dragon cannot suppress a local snake; as outsiders, we definitely suffer competing with the locals."

Qin Jin was silent.

Seeing he didn’t respond, Li Qiao finally shut her mouth, and the matter was settled.

.....

That day during class, Li Qiao received a package from her hometown sent by Yu Xiu, which also contained two English textbooks for senior year, both parts.

In the letter, Yu Xiu exchanged pleasantries with her, then told her that she’d been assigned to teach senior year and requested her to purchase two English books according to the standard of the textbooks, moderately challenging would suffice.

The end of the letter was filled with gossip.

After the engagement between Yu Xiu and Cai Hechuan was called off, Cai Hechuan’s mother spread negative rumors about her everywhere, saying she had accepted the betrothal gifts from the Cai family and then called off the engagement, and even caused a scene at the school. Because of this, her new prospect fell through, and her reputation in the local area was ruined.

Where before suitors practically broke down her door, now not a single one showed up.

The parents frowned and wore worried expressions all day.

The old father even said, "Otherwise, just marry Cai Hechuan, it’s better than being an old maid for life."

Li Qiao immediately responded, "Absolutely not!" She detailed the process for reporting someone for the crime of slander, and worrying about Yu Xiu being left unattended, she also included a letter for Yu Xiu to hand over to Xun Dong in the forensic department of the criminal police when making the report.

With Xun Dong’s support, let’s see if Cai Hechuan’s mother is still scared!

She carefully put away the letter and found some time to look through the senior high English textbook.

It had only been a year since she took the college entrance examination.

The difficulty of English had increased significantly, including even a listening comprehension section. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

For a rural child who had never been in contact with Pinyin since childhood, this was undoubtedly a daunting task.

Now that there were radios that could play cassettes, she planned to buy one with her own money.

She also intended to prepare some listening tapes to send back so that her classmates could study spoken English.

They hoped to achieve good results next year, jump out of farm life and change their destinies.

.....

After the afternoon classes, Li Qiao went to the shopping mall. Radios that could play cassettes were coveted imported goods that required coupons and were expensive; one cost six hundred eighty.

She had the money, but for the coupons, whom to ask?

She thought of Counselor Xiang.

It was too late today, better to seek him tomorrow.

As she passed a bookstore, Li Qiao paused and went in to look for English materials, but found none satisfactory.

She decided to find time to visit the largest bookstore in Beijing.

As she was about to take a bus home, a black sedan stopped at her feet.

As the rear window rolled down, a young man’s handsome face came into view.

She smiled, "Xue, long time no see."

Xue Jingyi also smiled, "Heading home? Hop in." He reached to open the door and then slid over to make room for her.

Li Qiao took the seat without hesitation and asked, "Where are you coming from?"

"Business trip to South Province," Xue Jingyi replied.

Li Qiao, touched on a sore spot unwittingly, "You know about Professor Xue’s marriage, right?"

Cough, cough, cough...

Xue Jingyi choked on his saliva. Of course, he knew, and he also understood what had happened; poor little uncle! It was also the reason he dared not face home, fearing a beating from his grandfather, and awkward to meet the new little aunt. He changed the subject: "Why are you out alone?"

"Buying materials. Could you get a radio coupon that fits cassettes?" Li Qiao asked casually.

If Xue could find a way, then she wouldn’t need to trouble Counselor Xiang.

"I should be able to," said Xue Jingyi.

Li Qiao responded, "Then I’ll wait for your news." She paused briefly, "Can you let me know by next Wednesday at the latest?"

"I’ll get you the news tomorrow."

Li Qiao couldn’t hide her joy, "Thanks, I’ll treat you to a meal someday."

"Sure thing."

The two fell silent as the driver occasionally glanced at them through the rearview mirror, unable to restrain himself, he asked, "Miss, what’s your relation with our Director Xue?"

Xue Jingyi replied, "My grandfather and her great-grandmother were childhood sweethearts."

Li Qiao: "...." You’re not afraid Madam Xue will hear and be furious.

But the description was indeed accurate.

The idiom originally only described boys and girls who grew up together; only later did it take on other connotations.

In front of the family courtyard, the car stopped, and after thanking him, Li Qiao exited the vehicle and walked home.

Qin Jin had already finished work and was flipping through the newspaper in the courtyard, a smile on his face.

Upon seeing Li Qiao, he stood up and pointed to the content of the newspaper she looked at, "Qiaoqiao, in the future, we can do business openly and legitimately."