How I Tamed My Wolfish Husband Back in 80s-Chapter 391 - 393: Profound Meaning_1

Li Qiao said hello to each one.

Zhong Qiongsui sized up Li Qiao after responding, "You are really pretty, and your skin is so fair. You look like you’re not even twenty, and I heard you’re married. I can’t believe your family agreed to it when you’re so young."

"In the countryside, people my age get married all the time. If you’re over twenty-five and unmarried, people talk," Li Qiao excused.

"Let them talk. A woman shouldn’t sacrifice her freedom and independence because of other people’s words," Zhong Qiongsui objected.

Li Qiao asked, puzzled, "What does freedom and independence have to do with whether you’re married or not?"

"After you get married, you have no freedom. Look at Zhuang Shu—she used to be the star talent of our translation department, and now she’s busy all day with having children and taking care of them, not even making friends," Zhong Qiongsui said with a mix of reproach and complaint.

Li Qiao’s gaze softly shifted to Zhuang Shu.

Zhuang Shu was a bit embarrassed, "Qiongsui, don’t bring that up."

Zhong Qiongsui said, "I’m speaking up for you. You were the most promising one in our translation department, and now you’ve had four kids in eight years."

Old Mr. Shangguan and Madam Shangguan began to look displeased.

As the latter was about to speak, Li Qiao couldn’t help interjecting, "When two people come together to marry and have children, it’s inevitable that one will have to make sacrifices, and that’s something you can’t escape. You seek freedom and independence, but you lose the joy that children bring, as well as the sense of security that a partner provides. There’s no such thing as having the best of both worlds; you can’t have your cake and eat it too. You have your choice of lifestyle, and she has hers. As good friends, you should encourage and support each other, not constantly remind her of her radiant past when she’s all tired from taking care of the children. If it were me, I would be depressed, and even looking at my partner would be distressing."

Especially to say someone had four kids in eight years right in front of their in-laws and partner.

Isn’t that blatantly suggesting that the in-laws see their daughter-in-law as just a birthing machine?

Old Mr. Shangguan and Madam Shangguan were clearly not to be trifled with.

Zhuang Shu really picked the wrong kind of friend to bring to such an important occasion; she’s bound to be scolded when she gets home.

If it were Li Qiao, she would immediately distance herself from such a friend.

Perhaps it was jealousy.

After all, Shangguan Qingfeng was mature and stable; he stood out in height and looks.

Qin Jin, a big boss, acted like a little brother in his presence, indicating a high social status. In the eyes of women, he was the epitome of an ideal partner; it’s not just unmarried girls who would be tempted to take a second glance—married ones would too.

Having a conversation with someone of his stature could elevate one’s thoughts and perspectives.

Madam Shangguan nodded slightly, appreciating that despite her young age, this girl was perceptive and spoke and behaved much more reliably than Zhong Qiongsui. This was the kind of friend one should make.

Zhong Qiongsui’s smile froze on her face, cursing inwardly at the girl. What status did she have to criticize her? She’d wait and see!

As Li Qiao was speaking, she had already approached the children, unaware that her comments had offended someone. She extended her hand to the child with an inadvertent gentleness, "Manman, want a hug?"

The child kicked about with small feet.

"She still needs me," said Li Qiao as she took the child and laughed, "I thought you’d forgotten me, but you remember quite well. Have you missed me these past two days?"

The child kicked again with her small feet.

Madam Shangguan said, "Don’t underestimate a child; they understand everything. When Qiongsui holds her, she cries, but with you, she doesn’t. Children are the most genuine— they know who treats them well and who doesn’t." "But why give her a name like ’Manman’? Doesn’t it sound too languid and slow?"

Only then did Li Qiao grasp that the child was named Jiayue. She explained, "It’s ’Manman’ with the ’grass’ radical on top, implying vigorous growth. I hope she can grow against the wind like wild grass, unyielding and tenacious. And ’Jiayue’ sounds lovely," she added.

Zhuang Shu smiled, "That’s a nice meaning." Her own Jiayue, reportedly abandoned in a wilderness during the dead of winter, surely must have had a tough fate too.

Madam Shangguan said, "I have no idea which scoundrel stole the child, but we must find out!"

Li Qiao added, "The travel plans should only be known to family members, right? Could it have been someone close to us?"

"It’s impossible that it was someone close," Zhuang Shu said with certainty. "At the time, only father-in-law, mother-in-law, my brother-in-law, and Qiongsui knew."

Zhong Qiongsui’s eyes flashed, "Maybe it was Shangguan brother’s rival who did it."

Li Qiao caught the slightly unnatural expression on the other person’s face. She had handled many cases before and encountered various criminals. Those who do wrong, unless they have exceptionally strong mental fortitude, always reveal panic.

The panic in Zhong Qiongsui’s eyes was fleeting, but anyone paying attention could certainly catch it.

This matter probably has something to do with Zhong Qiongsui.

She spoke with profound implication, "Without an insider, how would the enemies learn of it? Back in my hometown, I worked as an assistant in the forensic department, and along with my colleagues, we’ve solved dozens of big and small cases. To the average person, a murderer would certainly seem like a diabolical, fierce-looking individual. In reality, most murderers look even more ordinary than the average person, hiding right beside their victims, making them incredibly hard to guard against."

Zhong Qiongsui took the hint, her complexion subtly changing.

Her hands also trembled slightly.

Shangguan Qingfeng noticed this and his gaze grew heavier.

Shangguan Qingyuan was quite interested in Li Qiao’s experience: "How did you get into the forensic department?"

"There was a murder case in our village, and a forensic investigator came to examine it. He didn’t have an assistant at the time, so I volunteered to be his recorder. He praised my handwriting and organized record-keeping. Later on, when a suspect was mistakenly caught as the murderer, I went to find that forensic investigator to help investigate and identify the real murderer. Since then, when they needed a substitute, they would call me over, pay me a salary, and then I was quite happy to do it. Eventually, they didn’t even want to let me go," Li Qiao said proudly.

However, there has been a significant personnel shift in the team now.

Director Tong got promoted and transferred, and it was said that Xun Dong was leaving as well.

With the two of them who were in charge gone, chances are no one will seek her out anymore.

At this moment, the child in her arms grew restless, and Li Qiao handed the child back to Zhuang Shu, "She might have wet herself."

Zhuang Shu checked and laughed, "Indeed she has."

Li Qiao must have taken the child seriously, otherwise, she wouldn’t understand the child so well. She handed the child to an auntie nearby, and spoke with Li Qiao in detail, asking about the child’s situation during this period, and Li Qiao knew all about it. Zhuang Shu was tearfully grateful: "You’ve worked hard." A pregnant woman who could take such good care of her child isn’t something an ordinary person could do.

"I didn’t do much, the hard work was done by grandma and Jin. They did more to coax her; I just helped out occasionally."

Old Mr. Shangguan and Madam Shangguan earnestly thanked Old Mrs. Qin.

She held Old Mrs. Qin’s hand, inviting her for tea at the Shangguan family home.

"....."

......

The atmosphere at the dinner table was lively. After the meal, Qin Jin and Shangguan Qingfeng talked together and passed through the hall to the gateway. Anyone who recognized Shangguan Qingfeng and Qin Jin was stunned.

Those two actually got together.

Qin Jin’s background really isn’t small!

Word spread from one to another.

Soon, everyone in the circle knew that the two had interactions in private, and those who had previously found excuses to ask Qin Jin for a "tea water fee" decided to take the time to return the money.