I Got Rich in Period Fiction-Chapter 401: Can’t Look Straight

He Xuerong also had a holiday, and their family of three could stroll around Xichuan and buy some things.

Rongrong wanted a single Simmon’s bed, and this time she wanted to see if they had one in stock. If so, they could just buy it and take it back, but she had to say that Simmon’s beds are so expensive now, even a single bed costs two thousand yuan.

This was no exaggeration—it was the absolute truth.

Qiao Qingyu didn’t know about the prices of Simmon’s beds in her time, but she was shocked to learn that buying just one bed, if you were a worker, would take ten years of labor.

But then again, these days a regular family, an ordinary worker wanting to buy a bicycle, would have to save nearly a year’s wages without eating or drinking.

Yet now, the temporary employees at the Agricultural Base could buy a bicycle with just two years of work.

This was already a monumental progress, a milestone of its time, but from Qiao Qingyu’s perspective, the gap was still too vast.

Fortunately, the gap was gradually closing.

Although the change was almost imperceptible, progress was still being made.

She also needed to buy some things for Fang Xiaomei.

Fang Xiaomei got married last month and was now pregnant, although she would only be three or four months along by harvest time. She needed to take extra care, so they needed to bring in two more people to the finance department.

She had to discuss this with He Xiuyu first, and then she could go to Old Wei.

Liu Hong and Liu Min had already packed their things and, after exchanging a few words with Qiao Qingyu, hurried off. Now, only Qiao Qingyu and Li Bo remained in the dormitory.

Qiao Qingyu glanced at Li Bo, who seemed to have something to say but hesitated, and knew she must have troubles.

Li Bo now had a paternal half-brother.

And she had lost a lot of weight.

She had become even more silent than before.

Clearly, life at home was not going well for her.

The love between her suppose-father and Shao Hui, stripped of its beautiful façade, was a dagger aimed straight at her.

Even if she regretted it, it was too late.

No one took care of her, so she had to make her own secret plans.

Qiao Qingyu inquired with her eyes but didn’t take any initiative.

Sometimes, being overly proactive was not a good habit.

Li Bo sat opposite Qiao Qingyu, hands intertwined and head lowered, her voice soft, "Qingyu, my stepmother found me a match, but I don’t like him... I’m thinking of going to the Base to help out during the summer vacation..."

This was a decision she had thought long and hard about, as it seemed that going to the Base was the only way to avoid her stepmother’s malice. Shao Hui might be powerful within the confines of her home, because she could control her father, making her plans with ease, but if Li Bo went to work at the Base, that woman’s reach couldn’t extend that far, as she was not allowed to interfere there.

But that seemed somewhat underhanded, as if he were shifting the risk to someone else. Therefore, after Li Bo finished speaking, his cheeks were flushed red with embarrassment.

Unexpectedly, Qiao Qingyu smiled, "I thought it was something serious. There’s nothing wrong with going to the base to work. Right now, Sister-in-law Li’s Greening Farm is really short-staffed. If you want to go, just give me a call. I’ll ask Sister Li to arrange a place for you to stay. Don’t worry about food; we have a big cafeteria."

Li Bo suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with shock as he stared at Qiao Qingyu.

He hadn’t expected that what seemed to him an incredibly difficult situation was resolved so easily by Qiao Qingyu. He couldn’t quite describe the feeling in his heart; it was just very complex.

Qiao Qingyu put the last organized notebook into her backpack and looked around the dormitory before asking Li Bo, "Are you going home tomorrow?"

Li Bo nodded, "I’ll stay in the dorm for one day. I’ll give you a call tomorrow night. Can you help me contact them?"

"No problem."

Li Bo looked at Qiao Qingyu with gratitude. She had her unspeakable hardships that she had not voiced, but Qiao Qingyu didn’t pry, and that eased her mind a bit. Although they were classmates, there were still some things she hoped they would not find out.

Meanwhile, He Xiuyu had already arrived.

It was the middle of the afternoon, the July sun was blisteringly bright, and He Xiuyu leaned lazily against the hood of the jeep, his deep gaze fixed on the direction of the school gate. Overhead filtered spotty sunlight through the tree canopy, his eyes brimming with luster, and his refined features all the more heart-stopping.

In a white shirt and black pants, his tall figure was bathed in a subtle golden glow, as if a deity had inadvertently fallen into the mortal world. He had a beauty that made people glance and then hastily avert their eyes.

The instigator was unaware, and the passing students would look over here and then quickly shift their gaze away.

People who are too good-looking, whether men or women, sometimes intimidate others from looking directly at them.

Standing under another tree, waiting for her family’s car, Sun Xiuyuan took a glance at him and hurriedly looked away; yet, feeling unsatisfied, she cast her gaze back, subtly sizing up the man she had only met once. She knew he was Qiao Qingyu’s husband, Chief Engineer He of Tenghai Research Base, and even her own father praised him highly.

She had never thought much of it before, but for some reason, at this very moment, Sun Xiuyuan suddenly felt her heartbeat racing chaotically, experiencing a very unfamiliar emotion.

She had never considered coveting someone else’s husband before, nor did she have such thoughts.

But right now, she knew she would never forget this scene in front of her for the rest of her life.

She even wondered if he would glance at her tenderly, might she be willing to give up anything in return?

But just at that moment, his brows softened, and his entire presence shifted. Sun Xiuyuan’s heart pounded like thunder, her hands clenched tightly together; but then, she saw a familiar figure joyously walking toward that striking figure from the school gate.

Then she saw a little shadow, like a small butterfly, flying towards Qiao Qingyu.

Qiao Qingyu had come out, and Chief Engineer He had been watching his wife. It was said that their relationship was incredibly strong...

Otherwise, this man would not have taken time out of his busy work schedule to pick up his wife from home.

Her family had always wanted her to date Lu Ye, but she didn’t feel much for Lu Ye. Actually, speaking of which, Lu Ye was no less impressive than Chief Engineer He.

But now, looking at it, if Lu Ye were to stand beside He Xiuyu, in terms of presence, he would indeed be somewhat less.

When Sun Xiuyuan noticed Qiao Qingyu looking in her direction, she took a deep breath and bravely waved to Qiao Qingyu. Despite the tumult in her heart, she still walked towards Qiao Qingyu.

Qiao Qingyu’s expression was somewhat indifferent. Sun Xiuyuan’s demeanor had been too obvious — looking at her man with such desire, as if she wanted to devour him.