Chapter 133: Philosophy of Life

When the grandmother and granddaughter returned to the market, only a few ingredients remained. It was well past noon, and there were few customers left.

"We won't sell the rest; we'll finish it ourselves. Let's pack up," said Li Taohua, rubbing her slender waist with a spoiled air. "We prepared so much today, and we stayed open an hour longer than usual. It’s truly exhausting."

"Third Grandfather, Mother, please sit and wait a moment. Luwu and I will finish preparing the remaining ingredients. We’ll just make do with this for lunch."

"You call this 'making do'?" the woman at the neighboring stall said, her mouth watering with envy. "We’ve been watching from the side, drooling with jealousy. We wish we could 'make do' like that."

Qin Huiyin smiled. "Your vegetables are so large and fresh; they’re the best-selling ones in the entire market. I suppose these are brought in from the countryside, too?"

The woman chuckled in response. "Indeed. Like your family, we only come into town every three days."

Qin Huiyin handed over a skewer of grilled meat. "Please, ma'am, have a taste of my cooking."

"Oh, no, no! Your meat skewers are meant to be sold for money; I can’t accept this." Though she said this, the woman’s resistance was weak, and her eyes remained fixed on the skewer.

Qin Huiyin tucked the skewer into her hand. "We’re neighbors now; there’s no need to be so formal between neighbors."

The woman laughed. "Then I’ll be shameless and accept it." She passed the skewer to the middle-aged man beside her. The man, looking quite honest, gave Qin Huiyin a shy word of thanks.

The woman then picked up two large cabbages and handed them over. "These are from my own garden, nothing precious, but please take them to add to your meal. Don’t look down on me for being stingy!"

"These are wonderful; I’ll be sure to put them to good use." She happened to have a few jars at home, perfect for making pickled cabbage. Thinking of this, she bought another twenty-one heads from the woman. The woman refused the money, but knowing how difficult life was for ordinary folk, Qin Huiyin insisted on pressing the coins into her hand.

Seeing the intense, lingering look in the woman’s eyes, Qin Huiyin felt a shift. The woman took her hand and asked, "Young lady, are you betrothed?"

Li Taohua, who had been rubbing her waist, strode over, pulled Qin Huiyin’s hand away, and said with a stern face, "My daughter is still young; we aren't considering such things."

"She may be young now, but the years fly by in the blink of an eye. You can arrange the engagement now and have her marry at fifteen," the woman urged enthusiastically.

"My daughter won't be marrying at fifteen. I intend to keep her by my side," Li Taohua glared at her.

The woman gave a dry laugh. "What kind of mother are you? Your daughter is so capable—don't tell me you’re just keeping her around to earn money for you? She protects you so well, I never imagined you were this sort of person."

Qin Huiyin spoke calmly, "Ma'am, my mother is wonderful, and her thoughts are my own. At fifteen, one is still a child. I won't consider marriage before I’m twenty."

The woman was stunned. Clearly, she had never heard of a girl waiting until twenty to marry. Twenty? Wouldn't that make her a spinster? The woman immediately gave up on her matchmaking ideas. The girl was fine, but she was far too strange.

"Mother, Second Sister, lunch is ready," Tang Yixiao called out.

"Coming." Qin Huiyin pulled the pouting Li Taohua away. "Mother, don't be angry. That lady didn't have bad intentions; it’s just that this society makes everyone feel that a woman’s only path is marriage, and that not marrying early is a grave sin. The world is like this, which is why people’s hearts have become so narrow-minded."

"I don't care how ridiculously expensive the bachelor tax is, even if I have to go back to my old ways, I will pay it rather than let you marry off early," Li Taohua said, holding her hand with tears in her eyes. "Yinyin, if one day you do marry, you must find someone who treats you exceptionally well. If you can't find that person, then don't ever settle for less."

"I promise you, no one can force me to marry," Qin Huiyin said, smiling at her. "Mother, these things haven't even happened yet; why are you crying?"

"It’s all that old woman’s fault. My daughter was kind enough to give her food, and she had the audacity to try to snatch my daughter away. Her intentions were written all over her face; who couldn't see that?"

Third Grandfather shook his head with a chuckle. "Dafu's wife, your daughter is beautiful, kind-hearted, and capable; there are few on this street who aren't eyeing her. If you start crying now, you'll have plenty more to cry about later."

Tang Yixiao asked timidly, "But isn't Second Sister known for being fierce?"

Tang Luwu glared at him. "How is Yinyin fierce? She only acts that way toward bad people, never without reason."

"I just meant that after Second Sister outsmarted those villains, with so many people watching, how could anyone still dare to target her?" Tang Yixiao scratched his head. "I didn't mean anything bad. Second Sister is perfect as she is. It would be best if no one dared to target her, so no one could take her away."

"With so many onlookers, everyone knows the truth of that day. Your sister does have a reputation for being fierce, but many admire her ability and character. Many households with spineless men want a daughter-in-law who can take on the family's burdens."

"So it’s just that their own sons are useless, and they want a capable daughter-in-law to work like a beast of burden for them. They’ve calculated well, but unfortunately, we aren't fools."

"Don't assume I’m such a hot commodity. By the time I’m fifteen, I might not even have a single suitor," Qin Huiyin said. "You should worry about Luwu instead! She has such a gentle nature; that is the kind of daughter-in-law people truly want."

"I don't want to marry early either. If I act a bit fiercer, would that scare them away?" Tang Luwu asked shyly.

"Then show me how fierce you can be," Li Taohua challenged.

Tang Luwu mimicked Li Taohua’s old habit of hands on hips, chin tilted high, and eyes widened, trying her best to look intimidating.

"Pfft..." The whole family burst into laughter. Tang Yixiao, who had been drinking water, sprayed it out.

"You brat, where are you spraying that?" Third Grandfather scolded with a smile.

Tang Yixiao pointed at Tang Luwu, laughing until his stomach hurt. "Haha... Big Sister, stop trying to be fierce. You look so silly when you do it."

Li Taohua wiped her tears while laughing, the earlier sadness completely vanished. Qin Huiyin took Tang Luwu’s hand. "Sister, just stay as you are. You look too cute when you try to be fierce; it just makes people want to tease you more."

Seeing them laugh, Tang Luwu felt bashful, her small face turning the color of a ripe peach.

Li Taohua handed her a meat sandwich. "Eat up, and then we’ll head home."

"Thank you, Mother." Tang Luwu began to smile as she sat beside Qin Huiyin. "Yinyin, when you saw Big Brother, did you tell him about Father’s injury?"

Qin Huiyin shook her head. "I didn't mention the bad news from home. Big Brother is at a critical juncture; we shouldn't let him be distracted."

"Yinyin, you are so kind," Tang Luwu said, leaning against her.

"You are kind too; we are all good people." Qin Huiyin tapped her meat sandwich against Tang Luwu’s like a toast. "We will always be this happy together."