TPW – Chapter 21 Chen Simei or Chen Shimei

Li Xiuxiu really was an ungrateful wretch. It might be understandable if her father refused to give her the house, but how did it end up being inherited by an outsider like Xu Haizhou?

After all, a house isn’t some trinket you can casually hand over—it’s valuable and a serious matter.

Legally speaking, since the contract was signed, the house did belong to Xu Haizhou. But from a moral standpoint, the house should have gone to the original owner’s daughter. Why should an outsider take possession of something so valuable? Even if Li Xiuxiu was a bit ungrateful…

Xu Haizhou glanced at his wife, a bit surprised that she had thought through such a subtle point.

“There was a dispute over it, but the property transfer followed the legal process—raising a fuss wouldn’t help.”

Now that the house was in Xu Haizhou’s name, there was still a possibility of “returning” it to Li Xiuxiu. But if it had been handed over to those greedy relatives who were circling like vultures, it would’ve been like throwing a meat bun at a dog—gone for good.

Say what you will, the ungrateful streak in the Li family was clearly hereditary. Li Xiuxiu was like that, and so were her relatives. All they ever thought about was claiming the house. When Old Li was suffering in agony from cancer, not one of them stepped forward to take care of him.

They might cause a scene, but legally they had no leg to stand on. And if it came to emotional arguments, they stood even less of a chance.

“I see… then if Li Xiuxiu comes back, will you give the house back to her?”

“We’ll see. We’ll talk about it later.” He looked at Qiao Lu with deep affection. “Even if I do give it back, it’ll only be after we have our own new home. I’d never let you and our son sleep on the streets.”

“Pfft—” Qiao Lu was amused by his teasing.

Since the matter was cleared up, Qiao Lu felt relieved. After lunch, the family of three lay down for a nap. By the time she woke up, Xu Haizhou had already left again. Qiao Lu went ahead and tidied up the house one more time.

But after going over everything, the place was so clean there was nothing left to clean.

Qiao Lu flopped onto the bed, bored out of her mind. The little one crawled around her excitedly: “Mama, can we go out shopping?”

Qiao Lu pulled him into her arms and pinched his cheeks.

“Mama’s a bit tired today. Maybe another day.” Mostly, her legs were sore—thanks to Xu Haizhou…

“Oh, okay.”

Life as a stay-at-home salted fish was dull beyond belief. The house was small, so cleaning took barely two minutes. The kid was well-behaved and didn’t need any coaxing. There were hardly any entertainment options in those days, and as a full-time housewife without a job, what else could she really do?

Qiao Lu was bored out of her skull and walked out of the bedroom, only to spot the sewing machine sitting in the corner. Her eyes lit up.

Didn’t Xu Haizhou need a pair of gloves? She just happened to have an old knitted sweater that had turned fuzzy from too many washes. Might as well take it apart and make him a pair. This was her forte!

She went out to the market and bought some knitting yarn, measuring tape, scissors, pens, buttons, and other materials. Since it was winter, she also bought some fleece fabric from the department store. It was a bit pricey, but she’d cut a little for the gloves and save the rest for making clothes later.

Back home, she first took measurements and then started cutting. She had made so many things like this before time-traveling that she could roughly estimate Xu Haizhou’s hand size without even measuring. Adult men only had so many size options anyway—and she had held his hand before, so she couldn’t be far off.

Gloves were easy to make, and with the sewing machine, it didn’t take much time. Thinking about how most winter gloves on the market were plain and boring, Qiao Lu got creative and designed a pair of two-piece flip-top gloves.

This kind of glove had the benefit of being warm and stylish while also allowing for flexible finger movement.

They were not only practical but also pretty. She wasn’t sure whether this kind of design existed in the early 1980s, but she made them anyway.

The front of the glove featured a semi-circular flap attached to the main body, secured by a button at the back. The flap had a fastening tip that could be looped onto the button. Qiao Lu chose dark gray buttons that matched the color of the old sweater and embroidered flowers and vines around them. The colorful threads were meticulously arranged on the knitted fabric—it looked just like something bought from a store.

“Mama, so pretty.” The fine stitching danced across the fabric, and little Qiao An was dazzled.

It was his first time seeing such a big sewing machine in action. It was so interesting—though a bit loud and fast, he could barely keep up with it!

Qiao Lu freed her right hand and rubbed his head. “These are for Daddy. Do you want a pair too?”

“Yes!” Of course he did—Mama made them!

Qiao Lu winked. “Then I’ll make a pair for you too, in a bit.”

The little guy nodded hard. “Yeah! Mama too—we all want a pair!”

Qiao An’s words gave Qiao Lu an idea. “Alright, I’ll make all three—matching parent-child gloves!”

Qiao An blinked his pretty eyes. “Mama, what are parent-child gloves?”

“They’re gloves where An’an and Mama and Daddy all wear the same kind.”

He cheered with delight. “Yay! I want to match Mama and Daddy!”

Since she was making them for her son and husband, Qiao Lu put in extra care. Not only did she embroider flowers, but she also added their names—Qiao An’s and Xu Haizhou’s. That made it a bit time-consuming, so she only managed to finish two pairs that afternoon.

Fortunately, the final result turned out great. The gloves were exquisitely made—anyone would believe they came straight from a department store.

Qiao An’s pair had two little bunny ears sewn onto the flip cover of the gloves, cut from plush velvet fabric. They were fuzzy and wobbled adorably when he wore them.

He absolutely loved them and kept rubbing them against his face. “So soft~ Thank you, Mommy!”

Seeing her son so enthusiastic, Qiao Lu began to look forward to Xu Haizhou’s reaction.

Dinner was simple tonight: each person got a bowl of steaming hot noodle soup. There was still some meat sauce left from lunch, so she added chopped radish to mix in—leftovers always made the best noodle soup.

Qiao An’s bowl was mild with no chili, while Qiao Lu liked hers spicy and added quite a bit. She wasn’t sure about Xu Haizhou’s taste, so she didn’t add any spice to his and let him add it himself.

Watching him spoon just two drops of chili oil, she understood—he wanted to eat spicy food but couldn’t handle it.

Qiao Lu suppressed a laugh and took note of his tolerance level.

The noodles were handmade from a stall at the New Street entrance—delicate yet chewy, tasty and filling. Halfway through the meal, she suddenly remembered the gloves, put down her chopsticks, and dashed into the bedroom.

“Ta-da!”

“What’s this?” A hand suddenly appeared in front of him, startling Xu Haizhou.

“A pair of gloves I made for you! They have flip covers—not bulky, easy to work in, super practical. Try them on!” She’d spent the entire afternoon making them and couldn’t wait to hear him praise her handiwork.

Xu Haizhou was very cooperative and immediately put down his chopsticks to try them on.

And they fit perfectly, like magic—super comfortable!

More importantly, the design was fresh, the embroidery was intricate, and when he looked closely, he even saw his name sewn near the wrist!

Xu Haizhou kept touching and examining the gloves. Though the outer layer was knitted and looked thin, there was a hidden layer inside—lined with warm, soft fleece. It was both warm and stylish.

As his fingertips brushed along each stitched line, he could almost feel the love Qiao Lu had poured into making them.

Qiao An also jumped up in excitement. “Daddy, I have a pair too!”

The little guy darted into the room and came out carrying his treasure box. It was a gift from his second aunt, who told him to ask Daddy for pocket money and save it in there.

Currently, the box was still empty—he hadn’t asked Xu Haizhou for money yet.

“Look! Mine looks just like Daddy’s! Mine is small, Daddy’s is big. Daddy’s gloves are sooo big! But mine has two extra ears. Mommy said those are bunny ears. I’ve never seen a bunny before. Mommy said they’re furry animals with long ears like puppies.”

The little one was surprisingly articulate. Xu Haizhou’s face showed both surprise and delight. “They really are the same. What’s this material? It’s so soft.”

Qiao Lu laughed. “The outer layer was made by unraveling an old sweater. The lining is plush velvet. There’s still a lot left—I can make more thermal underclothes later.”

Xu Haizhou put on the gloves, but the novel design left him unsure of how to use them.

“What’s this part?”

“That’s the flip cover. Look—just like this.” Qiao Lu flipped it down, and his fingers were instantly wrapped up. If he needed to use his fingers, all he had to do was unbutton the flap. There was a button on the back of the glove for securing it open—very convenient.

Xu Haizhou’s eyes lit up in surprise as he touched it repeatedly. “This is a great design. You came up with it?”

Qiao Lu blinked. “Learned it from a book.”

She wasn’t the inventor, after all.

Xu Haizhou loved it and kept nodding. “Nice, really nice. I’ve never seen gloves like this in the market.”

They looked at each other, and in that moment, a shared spark lit up in both their eyes.

“What if… we mass-produce these gloves—do you think there’s a market for them?”

Qiao Lu’s eyes lit up. “How are you thinking exactly what I’m thinking? As soon as you mentioned it, I felt we should try selling them!”

Just one look was enough. No extra words needed—husband and wife reached a quick consensus and decided to seriously consider the feasibility.

“You’re already selling small accessories—might as well add gloves.”

“Yeah, especially with the weather getting colder. If we produce a batch before the New Year, we might see some surprising results.”

They grew more and more excited, chatting away even as their noodles went cold.

Only then did they realize they’d found a new shared passion—turns out they could also connect when it came to business. Their similar entrepreneurial instincts thrilled them both.

“You’ll be in charge of the labor, and I’ll handle the sales. Doesn’t seem quite fair,” said Xu Haizhou, imagining how exhausting it would be to hunch over the sewing machine every day.

Unexpectedly, Qiao Lu winked mischievously. “What’s unfair about that? As long as all the money you make goes to me, it’ll be fair!”

She said it half-jokingly.

Xu Haizhou raised an eyebrow, smiling wide. “Deal. From now on, every cent we earn goes to you.”

That way, it would be fair indeed.

Qiao Lu laughed so hard she couldn’t straighten up.

Qiao An looked at his mom and dad in confusion. He didn’t understand what they were talking about, but they looked very happy.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard.

“What are you looking at!”

Tian Jianzhong was startled. As soon as he turned his head, Chen Simei’s big face was right in his face.

“Can you not be so annoying? I’m sweeping the ground!” He swung the broom around haphazardly and glared at her in irritation.

“Sweeping?” Chen Simei crossed her arms and sneered, “It’s freezing cold, and there’s no trash in the yard. What are you pretending for with that broom? I saw your eyes keep drifting toward Xu Haizhou’s house. What are you looking at?”

As she spoke, she raised her eyebrows and peeked toward Xu Haizhou’s house herself. The door was slightly ajar, and inside, the family of three was eating dinner, chatting and laughing. What’s so interesting about that?

“What’s it to you? You’re so nosy!” Tian Jianzhong turned around and walked away, his steps full of irritation.

Chen Simei chased after him and tugged on his sleeve. “Who are you calling names? You’re the nosy one!”

As she spoke, she gave him a shove. “Nosey!”

Tian Jianzhong stumbled and nearly fell flat. He steadied himself and then pointed at her, swearing furiously, “You tomboy! Are you even a girl? Always putting your hands on male comrades—who would marry you like this?!”

“What’s it to you? You’re the one who’s nosy!” she shot back with his own words, leaving Tian Jianzhong speechless.

The neighbors were already used to these two bickering. Qiao Lu came out with her bowl and chopsticks in hand and curiously glanced over at them.

By the time she finished washing up, those two youngsters were still arguing.

“Tiger Girl! Tigress! I’m telling you, as a girl, why are you always hanging around with adults?”

Chen Simei threw down her ball of yarn, stood up, and glared at him. Even standing on tiptoe, she barely reached Tian Jianzhong’s chest. With her bared teeth and angry face, she didn’t look threatening at all.

“You’re so annoying! What business is it of yours?! And I told you, stop calling me Tiger Girl or Tigress! I have a name! It’s Chen Simei!”

“Pfft—” Qiao Lu had just walked into the crowd and couldn’t hold back her laughter.

“Chen… Chen Shimei¹?” The name slipped out instinctively, and she swore she didn’t mean it!

Everyone went silent for a moment, then burst into uncontrollable laughter.

“Hahaha—Chen Shimei! Chen Shimei?!”

Qiao Lu’s comment was like a wake-up call. Chen Simei had gone by that name for fifteen years, and in all that time, no one had made the connection. Only now, thanks to Qiao Lu, did everyone realize the ridiculous coincidence.

Chen Simei was slow to catch on, but once she did, she burst into tears, her face red with embarrassment. “I want to change my name! I want to change it! Waaaah—”

She was beside herself, looking now at Qiao Lu, now at the smug-faced Tian Jianzhong, feeling utterly wronged.

Aunt Chen glanced at her daughter, utterly baffled, still knitting: “Alright, alright, it’s just a name. What’s wrong with Simei? Sounds nice. No need to change it. I’ll make sure no one calls you Tiger Girl anymore.”

Then Chen Simei’s second older brother, Chen Ershun, pulled his mom aside and told her the story of the scumbag Chen Shimei. After hearing it, Aunt Chen’s face turned as green as if she had eaten something nasty.

“Oh dear, this… But the name’s already set. Can it really be changed?”

“I don’t care! I want to change it! I won’t be called Chen Shimei! Never—”

Seeing this, Qiao Lu quickly grabbed her son’s hand and slipped away.

Xu Haizhou followed behind the mother and son, trying not to laugh. “You really stirred up trouble.”

Qiao Lu glanced back and stuck out her tongue guiltily. “Better lay low for the next few days.”

“Mama, what trouble did you cause?” Qiao An asked, puzzled, looking up at her. “Why do we need to lay low?”

“Because Mommy might’ve said something wrong.”

“Then where will Mommy hide?”

“Hide at home, of course.”

Hearing that, Qiao An’s little face became serious. He put a finger to his lips and whispered, “Shh— I won’t tell anyone Mommy is at home.”

Qiao Lu nearly burst with laughter. Her son was just too adorable.

“My sweet boy, give Mommy a kiss.” She barely puckered her lips when the little guy leaned in.

“Mama, I’ll kiss you.” He stood on tiptoe, cupped her face, and gave her a sweet, milky-smelling kiss.

“Mhm, such a thoughtful little darling.”

Meanwhile, after Chen Simei ran off in a fury, Tian Jianzhong looked absolutely delighted.

This new widow was amazing—she actually managed to put that brat Chen Simei in her place.

He couldn’t help but glance over at her again. What he saw was a heartwarming moment between mother and son. Then, noticing the sparkle in her eyes, something flickered in his mind. His face grew inexplicably warm, and he turned away.

1. _{The joke comes from the similarity between the girl’s name “Chen Simei (陳四美)” and “Chen Shimei (陳世美),” a notorious figure in Chinese folklore known for betraying his wife to marry a princess. Though “Chen Simei” is a normal name meaning “Four Beauties,” it sounds nearly identical to “Chen Shimei,” a byword for a heartless, unfaithful man. When Qiao Lu accidentally calls her “Chen Shimei,” the crowd bursts into laughter, and Chen Simei is mortified, demanding a name change. The humor lies in the phonetic pun and the cultural association with treachery, which makes the situation both funny and embarrassing.} ↩︎