Living like a widow? My rough neighbor is coaxing me to have a baby every night.

Chapter 97 1. Once he gets it, he's a romantic.

Upon hearing this, Qin Rushan's tense jawline relaxed slightly.

Thanks.

He pulled a box of good cigarettes from his pocket, unopened, and tossed it to Wei Donghai.

Wei Donghai took the cigarette but didn't put it away immediately. Instead, he looked at Qin Rushan with a mocking expression and said, "Hey Qin, we've been through thick and thin together back in the day. Why are you being so polite with me?"

He paused, glanced at the hotel window, and lowered his voice to ask, "But speaking of which, all this fuss, going to such lengths and using your old connections to get rid of this prominent figure, was it all for the person inside?"

Qin Rushan followed his gaze.

Through the slightly blurry glass window, you could see Li Xianglian eating steamed buns in small bites, looking so adorable that it broke your heart.

Qin Rushan looked away, rubbed his fingers along the seam of his pants, and did not deny it.

"That's the person I cherish most."

Wei Donghai clicked his tongue twice. "Back when you were over there, so many female members of the cultural troupe wrote you letters, but you didn't read a single one. I thought you were going to spend your whole life with that gun. Turns out you were just clueless before, but now that you've figured it out, you're a hopeless romantic."

"Enough nonsense." Qin Rushan toyed with the cigarette in his hand. "Now that Zhang Xiangui is in jail, you keep an eye on his family's mess for me. I'm not afraid of open conflict, but I'm afraid of those rats in the gutter eyeing my wife."

"Don't worry," Wei Donghai patted his chest. "As long as it's on my turf, I, Wei Donghai, will be the first to object if anyone dares to lay a finger on my sister-in-law."

With the matter settled, Qin Rushan didn't linger and turned to leave.

"Hey, Lao Qin!"

Qin Rushan turned around.

"You need to tone down that reckless drive you used to have."

Wei Donghai pointed to his back, "Now that you have a family, don't act like before, fighting anyone who provokes you. Your wife is so frail, she can't take a scare."

Qin Rushan was taken aback for a moment, then grinned, "I know. I'm valuing my life now; I need to keep this life to serve my wife."

Wei Donghai held the cigarette butt between two fingers, took a deep drag, and only when it burned his hand did he throw the cigarette butt on the ground and stomp it out.

"Hey, Lao Qin."

Wei Donghai didn't look up. He took the cigarette off his ear, held it in his hand, and took a deep drag of air. "I'm serious. The criminal investigation department is short-staffed, especially for someone like you who's seen blood, quick-witted, and skilled. How about it? Come help me? If you agree, I'll talk to the higher-ups about the staffing issue."

This is a road leading to heaven.

In those days, wearing that coat meant you were on the government payroll and you were superior to everyone else wherever you went.

Qin Rushan took out a match from his pocket, struck one with a "hiss," lit the cigarette in his mouth, and took a deep drag.

"Old Wei, times have changed. The winds are blowing hard in the south; I want to go and see."

Qin Rushan flicked his cigarette ash. "Playing with digital watches is just small-time stuff. I'm planning to start a fleet of trucks and do long-distance driving. That's real money."

"You brat..." Wei Donghai's brows furrowed deeply. "Driving long distances is a job where you risk your life. Don't you know how many highway robbers and bandits there are on the road?"

"Does being afraid of death mean you shouldn't participate in revolution?"

Qin Rushan patted Wei Donghai on the shoulder, the force so strong that Wei Donghai swayed. "I have to give her a good life. I want her to be able to go out without having to look at the price, whether it's buying face cream or a gold bracelet. Working for you, at best she's a hero's family member, earning a fixed salary of a few dozen yuan a month, and having to worry about daily necessities with me. I won't do it."

After saying that, Qin Rushan flicked the cigarette butt against the wall, and the sparks drew a red line in the air.

"I'm off. I still need to go back and buy her a hair tie."

Watching Qin Rushan's broad back disappear into the alley without a backward glance, Wei Donghai stood there stunned for a long time. Finally, he cursed under his breath, but a grin spread across his face.

That kid still has that stubborn mule temper.

Qin Rushan returned to his seat, while Li Xianglian was still eating in small bites, though more than half of the meat in her bowl had disappeared.

Seeing him return, Li Xianglian quickly handed him a peeled clove of garlic: "Here, if you eat meat without garlic, it won't be half as flavorful."

Qin Rushan took the garlic clove, popped it into his mouth, and chewed it with a crunching sound. Looking at the woman in front of him who had nothing but him in her heart, he felt incredibly comfortable.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Qin Rushan took Li Xianglian to the supply and marketing cooperative.

This time, he really went all out.

He bought several feet of Dacron fabric, the most fashionable pattern at the time, more than enough to make two outfits; he also bought the largest bottle of face cream, as well as clam oil and scented soap—he stuffed everything that was for women into his pockets.

What made Li Xianglian blush the most was that he insisted on dragging her to the counter and buying her two sets of brightly colored underwear.

The saleswoman looked at Qin Rushan's burly figure, then at Li Xianglian, who was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear into the ground, and smiled meaningfully: "Oh my, this comrade really dotes on his wife; he's got the measurements spot on!"

Li Xianglian was so embarrassed that she pinched Qin Rushan's waist, but Qin Rushan was completely at ease and paid the money without hesitation.

When Qin Rushan came out of the supply and marketing cooperative, his bicycle handlebars were already covered with bags and packages.

"Let's go home."

Qin Rushan got into the car, and Li Xianglian jumped onto the back seat, hugging his waist tightly.

This trip to the town not only broadened Li Xianglian's horizons, but also put her mind at ease.

This man truly cherished her like a treasure.

The two men, their cart full of spoils, drove toward the small mountain village where smoke was rising from the chimneys.

By the time we got back to the village, the sun was already setting.

With so many bags and packages in his car, Qin Rushan couldn't possibly keep a low profile.

As soon as I entered the village, I was stopped by several old women who were cooling off there.

"Hey! Isn't this Dashan? Goodness, what's that hanging on the handlebars? Dacron? Such a bright color, it must cost several yuan per foot, right?"

"Is that malted milk powder in that mesh bag? That's expensive stuff! A jar like that costs several dollars!"

"Look at that on the back seat, is that face cream? Or Friendship brand? Dashan's struck it rich!"

The eyes of the crowd swept over the two of them like searchlights.

Especially when they saw the cloth bag containing new clothes that Li Xianglian was holding, their envious and jealous eyes could practically burn a hole in the bag.

In the past, the villagers all laughed at Li Xianglian, calling her a worthless woman, and Qin Rushan, calling him a bachelor who couldn't find a wife.

But now, both of them are more glamorous than the other.

Qin Rushan was willing to spend money, and Li Xianglian was pampered; they lived a more comfortable life than people in the city.

Wang Qiao, the loudspeaker, was naturally present as well.

Just as she had said, she had already secured a spot under the big locust tree. Now that the person in question had returned, she immediately approached, fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan.

"Oh my, Dashan, you're so capable! This trip to town must have cost you a lot of money, right?"

Wang Qiao's eyes darted around the pile of things, clicking her tongue in amazement. "Look at this fabric, this pattern! Isn't that the latest style from the supply and marketing cooperative? I wanted to buy it last time but couldn't bring myself to! Girl, you're so lucky! You've fallen into a paradise!"

Li Xianglian was shy, and with so many people surrounding her, her face turned as red as a large red cloth.

Qin Rushan made no attempt to hide it. Instead, he parked the car, took out a handful of White Rabbit milk candies from his pocket, which he had bought at the supply and marketing cooperative.

"Gentle ladies and aunties, have a taste of this sweet treat."

He handed out candy to the group, grinning broadly. "I'm having a good time today, buying some household items for my wife. I hope you'll all help me out in the future."

"Oh my, White Rabbit candy! This is a real treat!"

"The mountains are majestic! We're sure to have a prosperous future!"

The saying goes, "He who eats another's food is bound to do his bidding; he who takes another's money is bound to do his bidding."

Once these few candies were distributed, those originally sour words instantly turned into auspicious ones.

No one mentioned Li Xianglian's second marriage anymore; everyone praised her as if she were a flower.

Qin Rushan didn't linger. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he pushed his cart into his own yard.