TPW – Chapter 8 Don’t Want a Dad

When Qiao Yan got home, Qiao Lu was already back, tidying up the stove area in the hallway. Next door, Song Yulian had started making a fire and cooking, chatting casually with her sister.

“Qiao Yan’s back.”

Qiao Yan smiled and stepped around the scattered clutter into the room. “Sister Song.”

Song Yulian raised an eyebrow and pointed toward the room’s doorway, “Your sister’s very diligent, she’s working over there.”

Qiao Yan looked over and saw Qiao Lu carrying an iron pot, pouring water into an enamel basin.

Her lips curved up slightly. “Staying home all day as a layabout, of course she has to work.”

Song Yulian covered her mouth and chuckled, “Look at you talking, that’s actually praise.”

That was Qiao Lu — wherever she went, people liked her. Her natural charm in front of elders always made Qiao Yan envious.

Qiao Yan didn’t chat long, putting down her bag as she went inside, then asked about Qiao Lu’s matchmaking situation.

“When did you get back? How did it go? Smooth? Did it work out?”

“Pretty smooth.”

While speaking, Qiao Lu dropped a large bunch of fresh chives into an enamel basin filled with water. There were some rotten leaves and dirt inside that needed to be picked out by hand. The water had just been heated on the stove, warm enough so washing wouldn’t feel cold on the hands. If Qiao Yan had come home earlier, she might have scolded her for wasting gas.

In ’82, gas usage in cities was less than 30%, more expensive than coal briquettes, and the gas tanks required a deposit, so ordinary families generally didn’t buy gas to use. But Qiao Lu’s brother-in-law was the workshop director, so gas was affordable for them.

Qiao Lu just smiled silently, ignoring Qiao Yan’s eager gaze, leisurely selecting and washing vegetables.

Qiao Yan was almost frantic, tapping her arm, “Why keep me in suspense? Just tell me, how exactly is it?”

Rubbing her arm, Qiao Lu covered her observing eyes with a smile, “It’s pretty good, I’ve decided to give it a try.”

As she spoke, Qiao Yan’s expression became a mix of joy, regret, and disappointment — a fascinating combination.

“Are you sure? Really want to get involved with that stall vendor?”

“Yeah. Although it was only our first meeting, we both have a good impression of each other. Sister, you didn’t see him — Xu Haizhou is really handsome, like a magazine star!”

“Look at you, such ambitions!” Qiao Yan laughed, poking her forehead. “Why can’t you just live a steady life? You have to find a stall vendor. So what if he looks like a star? Stars don’t put food on the table.”

Thinking about the celebrities thirty years later earning millions a day, Qiao Lu nodded seriously, “Actually, they can!”

Qiao Yan: “…”

Seeing her sister speechless, Qiao Lu smiled and quickly changed the topic, “Why be so stable? Life’s so boring if it’s always stable. I like challenges.”

“I think you’re just smitten by his face!” Qiao Yan saw right through it.

Qiao Lu smiled but suddenly felt something was off. Her sister’s reaction today wasn’t as intense as last time. Why no strong opposition to the news that they liked each other? At least a lecture, right? But she only muttered a few half-hearted words.

Qiao Lu gave her a puzzled look, but Qiao Yan still showed no abnormal resistance or nagging.

“This guy is only twenty-five, right? Young fellows like that, who knows if they’re steady. Look at your brother-in-law — even though he’s six years older than me, he treats me so well. That’s the kind of guy you want for a steady life.”

Qiao Lu saw through her little scheme and laughed, “How many good men like my brother-in-law will you meet in a lifetime? Besides… sister, actually many men are old but not steady. Do you really think all older men are as excellent as my brother-in-law?”

At first, when she heard “old men,” Qiao Yan thought her sister was a bit rude, but after the last sentence, she felt it was actually quite a compliment.

Qiao Yan was successfully led off-topic by her sister: “That’s true. Your brother-in-law graduated from Changda—who else could compare to him?”

Qiao Lu nodded in agreement, “Exactly. Anyone who dares to compete with my brother-in-law is just asking for trouble.”

Qiao Yan smugly enjoyed this for a while, then suddenly sensed something was off and shot an inquisitive gaze like a spotlight.

“You’re suddenly so eloquent. You weren’t this talkative before.”

Her sister was good-looking, well-figured, everything perfect except her brain — she’d always been a little slow, stubborn and simple-minded, even after being tricked would still help count the money. But recently, she’d been so witty and smooth-talking that Qiao Yan wondered if this was really her sister.

“Qiao Lu, you really have changed,” Qiao Yan said meaningfully.

Qiao Lu thought maybe she’d noticed something suspicious and started sweating nervously.

“We’ve only been apart for four or five years. I didn’t know your thinking could change so fast,” Qiao Yan sighed.

“Yeah, sister, we haven’t seen each other for four or five years; anyone would change.”

“No, you’re different. You were always the same person growing up, no change for twenty years, but in the last few years you’ve changed.”

Qiao Lu gave a dry laugh, “I haven’t changed, I’ve just grown up!”

That strange line hit Qiao Yan’s funny bone hard, making her burst out laughing, “You sure know how to argue.”

Qiao Lu gave a half-smile, half-smirk, speeding up washing the vegetables. When finished, she carried the basin to the washbasin at the end of the hall to pour out the water. When she returned, Qiao Yan was hugging Qiao An, pressing her face to his.

The little guy’s skin was tender. When second aunt rubbed his face, he squirmed and twisted, escaping her clutches to quickly snuggle into Qiao Lu’s arms.

Qiao Lu put down the basin and picked up her son, heading inside.

“Bad second aunt, you made his face all red from kissing. Hurry up and have your own baby, so you can kiss your own little one.”

They were supposed to be having a baby? The couple had been living apart for over half a month.

Qiao Yan was both annoyed and amused, waving her hand to brush Qiao Lu off: “Go! You’re getting more and more improper.”

Qiao Lu laughed so hard she collapsed on the bed and couldn’t get up, “How can that be improper? I’m just worried about you and my brother-in-law! You’ve been married three years, don’t you want a baby?”

Qiao Yan: “Of course I do.”

Qiao Lu: “Then hurry and let me go make room for you two!”

A blush spread over Qiao Yan’s face. “Shameless!”

Though she said shameless, Qiao Yan suddenly realized she had been neglecting Yuan Jianghe for her sister too long. That man was steady and gentle; if he had complaints, he wouldn’t say them, just bottle them up. Thinking it over, she really shouldn’t have…

“It’s okay for me, but my brother-in-law has feelings too!” Qiao Lu laughed like a sneaky cat. “You didn’t see how he looks at you every time he comes home for dinner — so pitiful, oh oh oh — Sister! I’m telling the truth! I’m just trying not to disturb your married life — ah — don’t tickle me hahaha —”

“I’ll tickle you if I want!”

Qiao Yan was shy from Qiao Lu’s teasing and started tickling her in return as punishment.

Qiao Lu laughed so hard she couldn’t breathe. She’d been ticklish since she was little — just a little touch on her waist was unbearable.

She collapsed on the bed, gasping, “An’an, help me! Son, save me!”

Qiao An, like a little wolf cub, pounced at Qiao Yan at lightning speed, then nimbly climbed into Qiao Lu’s arms, spreading his arms protectively over his mom, his features tense: “No! No!”

Qiao Yan glared, “You little rascal—eat at your second aunt’s, live at your second aunt’s, but in the end you only help your mom! You little ungrateful brat.”

“No!” The little guy stubbornly blocked in front of Qiao Lu.

“Really took that seriously, huh?” Qiao Yan laughed nonstop, then lifted the little one and started teasing his face, “With your tiny body, second aunt could pin you down with just a finger. How can you protect your mom?”

Despite this, Qiao An still howled like a little wolf cub, “No! No!”

Qiao Lu was deeply touched and quickly rescued her son from her sister’s hands, cupping his round head and rubbing it gently.

“Mua~ My son is the best, a kiss is a kiss, can’t be the same as anyone else, huh?”

Qiao Yan poked her forehead angrily, “What about me, your sister? Don’t I get kisses?”

Qiao Lu hurriedly backtracked to coax her sister, “Kiss kiss kiss! Come on, one for you!”

Qiao Yan pushed her away with disdain, “Go away, go away, I don’t want to talk to you anymore. Hurry up and get married early so I don’t have to see you and don’t get annoyed.”

After saying that, the two sisters suddenly froze.

Qiao Lu’s eyes shone with suppressed joy, “Sister, does that mean… you’re not against it anymore?”

An unnatural expression appeared on Qiao Yan’s face, and she waved her off, “What use is it if I’m against it? If opposing did anything, you wouldn’t even have Qiao An.”

Well then. Although she didn’t know why Qiao Yan suddenly lost her prejudice against Xu Haizhou, this didn’t stop Qiao Lu from being wildly happy.

“Thank you, sister!”

Excited, she hugged Qiao Yan hard, causing her to get pounded on the body, “So clingy!”

Qiao Lu laughed heartily, then picked up Qiao An and kissed his little face fiercely: “An’an, did you hear that? Your second aunt says I have to hurry up and get married!”

“No,” the little guy reflexively hugged her neck tightly, his voice tinged with urgency.

He liked it here. It was better than the countryside—better food, better clothes, better housing, and no one bullied him. Second aunt was good; she brought them to the city. Uncle-in-law was good; he bought him cookies.

“No, we can’t stay at second aunt’s house forever. We have to go find our own home,” Qiao Lu lowered her head and kissed his forehead, speaking softly.

“Exactly, you little rascal, second aunt won’t let you live here forever,” Qiao Yan joked with him.

“I want mommy.” No matter where he went, as long as mommy was there, even back to the countryside, he would follow her.

Qiao Lu affectionately pinched his nose, “Don’t worry, we’ll take you with us, you little rascal pig.”

Qiao An squirmed uneasily in her arms, “I’m not a pig, I’m Qiao An.”

The little guy snuggled into her and whispered softly, “I’m mommy’s Qiao An.”

Childlike words pierced straight into Qiao Lu’s soft heart.

She simply couldn’t bear to abandon such a little angel.

Rarely in good spirits, the sisters worked together to prepare dinner. Not long after they finished, Yuan Jianghe came home from work, carrying not only a briefcase but also a box of sesame peach cookies from the grocery store—crispy and fragrant, specially bought for the child at home.

“An’an, look what uncle brought you to eat?”

Qiao An didn’t recognize the peach cookies. He seemed to have eaten them once before but no one told him what they were.

The little guy obediently shook his head. Yuan Jianghe laughed, tousling his hair, “These are peach cookies—very tasty.”

Qiao Lu set the bowls and chopsticks on the table, smiling, “An’an, quickly thank uncle.”

“Thank you, uncle~”

The little guy’s voice was soft and sweet. Yuan Jianghe had been married three years without children; Qiao An’s presence truly made him long for one.

If his own future child could be even a fraction as well-behaved as Qiao An, he would have no regrets in life!

Word got around that Qiao Lu’s marriage plans were falling into place. Yuan Jianghe, feeling happy, went to the grocery store and bought a bottle of “Nu’er Hong” (a type of sweet Chinese rice wine). Since getting married, Qiao Yan didn’t really let him drink much, but today, in her good mood, she made an exception to let him enjoy a bit.

The four of them sat down, and Yuan Jianghe noticed something was off about today’s dishes—they didn’t look like they were made by his wife.

After asking, sure enough—

Qiao Lu smiled brightly and said, “I made tonight’s dinner. My sister helped me a bit. You all try it and see if it suits your taste.”

The chives were freshly picked that morning, vibrant and dripping with dew. They were placed on the windowsill to keep cold and fresh. The pork was bought yesterday; the family didn’t eat pork often, so a pound could last for three meals in winter—quite a luxury.

The chives were finely chopped and mixed with scallions, ginger, garlic, and pork, then minced until soft and smooth, wrapped in dumpling wrappers, and pan-fried in a cast-iron skillet with lard until golden. Eating it hot, crispy, fragrant, tender—it was so delicious one could almost swallow their tongue.

Then there was a bite of potato and eggplant stew with rice, which smelled fresh and savory. Because they used plenty of lard, the eggplant absorbed it fully and tasted incredibly flavorful!

Qiao Yan was very surprised. Compared to her memory, her little sister had changed a lot—not just in eloquence but also in cooking skills.

“Your cooking’s pretty good! When did you learn? Did Mom teach you?”

But Qiao Yan’s mother’s cooking was actually just average, edible at best. Qiao Yan was a bit better but only after coming to the city and having money to buy ingredients. What was going on with Qiao Lu? Back in the countryside, their mother didn’t allow Qiao Lu to cook, saying that if she cooked too much, she’d become a ‘yellow-faced old woman’—so all the cooking was left to Qiao Yan.

Qiao Lu looked calm, with no hint of lying: “Not really, I watched how she did it and taught myself.”

“Not bad, you’re quite capable, self-taught,” Qiao Yan said without suspicion.

Yuan Jianghe couldn’t help praising too: “Not bad, better than what your sister makes.”

“As long as it tastes good. I was worried you wouldn’t like it.”

“Look at you,” Qiao Yan smiled, “With such precious meat and veggies, how could we not like it?”

The grown-ups happily ate big bites while chatting and teasing the child; the atmosphere was very harmonious.

As they talked, the subject of Qiao Lu’s lifelong matter came up again.

“Qiao Lu, you’re serious this time, right? Don’t break up in a few days again.”

“No, I was too hasty before. This time I thought it through carefully.”

“You’ve only met him once. It’s not like you spent longer with Wang Bin. Which is more hasty?” Qiao Yan rolled her eyes.

Qiao Lu was speechless, gave an awkward smile, “Anyway, this time I’m serious.”

Mainly she wanted to move out quickly; dragging it out a month more would be unfair to her brother-in-law.

Yuan Jianghe nodded, lifting his small cup to sip: “If it’s decided, bring him over this weekend. Neither your sister nor I have time during the week.”

“Okay.”

“You just agreed? Didn’t ask if he’s free?” Qiao Yan glanced at her.

Qiao Lu shrugged casually, “He should be, running a stall isn’t like working a job, the time is flexible.”

“That won’t do. Tomorrow when you have time, ask him. You two can see how things go. Maybe you’ll want to break up again.”

“Sister, don’t jinx me,” Qiao Lu looked worried.

The couple glanced at each other and laughed heartily, then looked at Qiao An and joked, “An’an, you’re finally going to have a dad, happy?”

At first, little Qiao An, busy digging into his rice, paused for half a second. He seemed to be processing what second aunt said. When he finished, his face visibly fell.

In the couple’s eyes, the kid got shy again!

“Alright, tough to open your mouth.”

Qiao Lu rubbed her son’s hair, “It’s okay, our An’an will become brave.”

Qiao An bit his lip and silently looked at Qiao Lu, sitting on the stool with a sulky expression.

“An’an, what are you looking at? There’s still rice in your bowl. Aren’t you going to eat?”

The little guy didn’t move, looking like he was about to cry: “Mom.”

“Hm?”

Only then did Qiao Lu notice something was wrong; his eyes were already misty with tears.

“I don’t want a dad.”

What?

Qiao Lu was stunned, looking at him in confusion, “Why don’t you want a dad?”

The child, speaking, suddenly burst into tears.