037 – Thick-skinned

There were several more female voices outside the room, making Qin Mian lifted his head from the drawing and put the pencil back into the space before he opened the door.

Du Shi, Zhao Shi and Qian Shi stood in front of the kitchen with their heads held high. Lei Dabao and Lei Xiaobao, who were holding Zhao Shi’s legs, looked at the uncooked pheasants in the basin while drooling. Lei Xinxin was also there, holding Qian Shi’s hand while sucking her finger.

Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang stood awkwardly by the water vat as they wiped their hands on the aprons with a furious expression.

Qin Mian understood. Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang must have been bullied. He raised his voice and spoke, “Mother, second younger brother’s wife and third younger brother’s wife, why are you guys here?”

Zhao Shi coquettishly laughed. “Eldest sister-in-law, don’t you want to treat people meal at noon? We came to help you cook. But, we didn’t expect you to invite other people.”

Du Shi’s face was grim. “Eldest’s wife, don’t you take me and your father seriously?”

“Yeah, inviting outsiders rather than the relatives, eldest sister-in-law, this is going....” Qian Shi intentionally spoke halfway.

Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang were silent while frowning. Just now, the words of Du Shi and her company were rude which made them both angry. They both were invited by Qin Mian and Lei Tie, which had no relation with Du Shi and her company. What’s going on with Du Shi and her company being arrogant and bossy here?

Qin Mian looked at Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang with an apologetic look. Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang shook their heads to signal that they were fine.

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“Mother, second younger brother’s wife and third younger brother’s wife, you guys misunderstood. I have to pay for inviting Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang to cook. I do want to ask you guys to help me cook, but should I pay or not? If don’t pay, I feel apologetic to trouble you guys; if I pay, it’s too outlandish and hurts the relationship between the two families. Mother, don’t you think so? I didn’t invite you guys after much thinking, but didn’t expect mother, second younger brother’s wife and third younger brother’s wife to misunderstand. I’m really sorry.”

Du Shi, Zhao Shi and Qian Shi were speechless for a while. They had inquired that the salary of Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang to help cook for a day was the same amount as those men. They earned 20 wen for doing a meal, which was quite a lot, and it also included free lunch. If Qin Mian asked them to help cook but didn’t pay for it, they would be unwilling, but how could this be said directly?

Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang, upon seeing that the three people’s faces had changed, they laughed secretly and busily turned around.

“I was also afraid you’ll be bored if come early. I was going to call you guys at meal time.” Qin Mian looked at the sky. “Mother, it’s roughly another two hour or so before meal time, why don’t you sit down, have some tea and chat for a while? Just leave the work in the kitchen to Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang.”

Sister Zhang and Aunt Wang smiled at each other and went to the kitchen to keep busy.

Du Shi, Zhao Shi and Qian Shi were annoyed by Qin Mian’s disregard of their “face”, but they couldn’t refute his flawless words. Moreover, they were all looking forward to the lunch at noon and didn’t want to argue with Qin Mian at this time.

The three people looked at each other. Ignoring Qin Mian, they really sat at the table in the hall, drinking tea and chatting.

Qin Mian secretly admired their thick-skinned. As long as they didn’t make trouble, it was only a matter of adding a few pairs of chopsticks at noon.

“Sister Zhang, Auntie Wang, I’m going to trouble you both with the work in the kitchen.”

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“Don’t worry.” Hearing the implication in his words, Sister Zhang responded in clear sound with a smile, looking at Du Shi and her company indiscernibly.

Qin Mian also smiled, calmly locked the door of the bedroom and went to the construction site to deliver tea.

Du Shi, Zhao Shi and Qian Shi stared at the locked door, their chests felt suffocated. They wanted to say something, but Qin Mian had walked away quickly. That back figure looked very carefree and leisurely.

On the construction site, everyone was working very hard. Many hands made light work. At present, the foundation pit had been almost dug. Lei Tie was not idle. With his jacket off and shovel in hands, he shoveled up the soil in the pit. The strong and tight muscles moved with the movement of the arms, completely showing the power of masculinity.

“Everyone has worked hard. The tea has been delivered, everyone is welcome.” Qin Mian took out water pot and teacups from the bamboo basket and put them on the table.

“Okay.”

There were few people who answered and came to drink two cups of tea before continuing the work.

When Wu Di came over, he smiled at Qin Mian. He was also a steadfast worker. After drinking water, he continued to dig up the soil.

Qin Mian didn’t want to go back to face Du Shi and her company, but he also couldn’t help any by staying here. He simply moved some bricks to the shade under the tree and sat down against the tree trunk, feeling somewhat bored stiff.

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Lei Tie noticed that Qin Mian didn’t go home. He put down his shovel and lifted his long legs to walk out of the foundation pit easily. He went to the table and drank a cup of water before walking up to Qin Mian and casually asked: “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Qin Mian glanced at the construction site and said with a forced smile: “I didn’t see your father.” He thought that Lei Daqiang would be a little late at most, but he didn’t think that he was still not here.

“En.”

Qin Mian raised his eyebrow. En what?

“I’m just a little curious about what he thinks — whether he wants to be to coax and plead or afraid that others don’t know that he has a bad relationship with us.” The three Lei brothers had all come, it was totally impossible for Lei Daqiang to be busy that he couldn’t come. Qin Mian said these words without thinking whether Lei Tie would be unhappy because he mentioned his father, but perhaps subconsciously, he believed Lei Tie must be on his side.

From time to time, the busy people at the construction site secretly looked over and wondered how the two got along.

Lei Tie didn’t say a word. His cold expression obviously shown he didn’t care whether Lei Daqiang would come.

Qin Mian didn’t want to hear his answer, so he added: “It’s not a formal treat. I think, if he still doesn’t come at lunch, not need to go invite.” He smiled somewhat cunningly. To be honest, seeing Lei Daqiang incurred his dislike.

Lei Tie nodded, “I’ll go work.”

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“Go.” Qin Mian waved him away.

It was only until the sun was up, which indicated lunch hour, did Qin Mian go back. Once he saw that the meal was indeed ready, he went back to the construction site to call for the big guys to eat.

The men stopped working with a clear loud laugh and easily moved the tables and chairs as they walked to the back of the village while laughing and talking.