Chapter 5: Discovering Something Fishy

“There are still things at the factory I need to handle. If you have anything to discuss, we can talk when I get back. For now, please make do with this room; I’ll make sure to tidy up a proper room for you another day.”

As he spoke, Ling Zhuoqun pulled several hundred-yuan bills from his pocket and pressed them into Li Luo's hand without allowing her to protest. “Take this money. I know you’ve just arrived and probably haven't prepared much. Buy whatever you feel is missing, and if you run out, just tell me.”

Looking at the spotlessly clean room and the five hundred yuan in her hand, Li Luo wondered: *Was this really "making do"?*

*He really is loaded!*

*Five hundred yuan could build an entire mud house in the countryside!*

Li Luo didn't stand on ceremony. She smiled and tucked the money into her pocket. “Then I won't be polite.”

Wang Qiumei, who was cooking in the kitchen, heard the commotion and hurried out to hover near Ling Zhuoqun.

She shot a glance at Li Luo and whispered, “Xiao Ling, you can't let her stay here! I think she’s just some wild girl the Lin family found to trick you. You can tell just by looking at her that she isn't fit for running a household. We can't have someone like that!”

“Auntie Wang, I am looking for a wife to provide a home for my children. I know what I'm doing, so you don't need to worry.” Ling Zhuoqun was in a hurry to leave, but he still felt uneasy. As he walked away, he instructed, “Auntie Wang, Comrade Li Luo is new here and doesn't know much. Please teach her. When I get back, I'll bring you half a jin of meat and drop it off at your house.”

At the mention of meat, the wrinkles on Wang Qiumei's face bloomed into a smile. She immediately tried to grab Li Luo's hand. “Oh, no need for the trouble, no need! Don't worry, Xiao Ling, I will treat Comrade Li like my own daughter.”

Li Luo's mouth twitched slightly, and she subtly dodged the touch. “I'll put my luggage down first. If there's anything I don't understand later, I'll ask you. You go ahead with your work.”

Wang Qiumei's eyes darted around, and she spoke with a beaming smile, “Go on then, Xiao Ling. Leave the house to us and rest easy.”

After Ling Zhuoqun left, Li Luo carried her suitcase inside by herself.

Ling Zhuoqun's room was very tidy. On the pink peony-patterned sheets lay a military-green quilt, with all four corners folded into perfect right angles.

Opening the wardrobe, she saw only black, white, and gray work clothes, along with a suit that had been impeccently pressed.

After Li Luo finished unpacking her own belongings, she looked at the wardrobe, now filled with colorful clothes, making the room feel much more lively. She stretched with satisfaction.

“Don't you go running around, you brat! Stop fooling around and eat your food!”

Suddenly, Auntie Wang's scolding echoed from outside, followed by the sounds of chasing and playing.

Li Luo went out and frowned at the scene: Auntie Wang was chasing a little girl all around.

*Is this Ling Zhuoqun's child?*

*Why does she look so malnourished? The Ling family is so wealthy, how could they raise their daughter like this?*

While she was thinking, the little girl ran to Li Luo's side, grabbed her leg, and hid behind her.

“What are you doing?”

Li Luo noticed the little girl was trembling, and her eyes were filled with fear as she looked at Wang Qiumei.

“What do I do? I'm trying to get the child to eat properly! This girl won't listen at all, otherwise, why would she be so thin?” Auntie Wang stood with her hands on her hips, holding a pot scrubber, looking furious.

“Let me see what you've cooked.”

Li Luo picked up the child and walked to the dining table.

The dishes on the table contained no meat or oil whatsoever. The bok choy had withered yellow leaves, looking as if it had merely been boiled in water, and the rice porridge had only a few pathetic grains at the bottom of the bowl.

*Is this food meant to satisfy a beggar?*

Ling Zhuoqun cherished his children so much—he had a TV, a washing machine, even an exhaust fan—how could he possibly fail to provide food?

Li Luo suddenly understood the situation. She turned a cold, sharp gaze toward Wang Qiumei. “Where are the eggs? Why is it nothing but greens? Ling Zhuoqun brought you here to look after the children, not to mistreat them!”

Wang Qiumei rolled her eyes, threw the pot scrubber onto the table, and spoke with her nose in the air. “This is my cooking style. Eat it or don't. If you don't want it, you'll just have to go hungry. If you're not satisfied, go cook for yourself.”

With that, Wang Qiumei sat on the sofa, crossed her legs, and pulled out some melon seeds to crack. She spat the shells everywhere, looking utterly leisurely.

She planned to leave as soon as it was time, doing nothing at all. She wanted to see what kind of waves this "wild girl" could actually make.

Li Luo's expression darkened instantly. Right now, cooking was the priority.

Just as she was about to enter the kitchen, her clothes were pulled tightly.

Li Luo knelt down and patted the child's head. As if by magic, she pulled a piece of milk candy from her pocket, unwrapped it, and fed it to her. “Don't be afraid. Your name is Yaya, right?”

Yaya nodded obediently. “Thank you for the candy, Auntie. It's so sweet.”

Wang Qiumei lifted her eyelid and said sarcastically, “Oh, so you really are from the city. Carrying such rare milk candy around with you. We certainly don't have such luxury here.”

Li Luo impatiently picked at her ear. “I'll definitely have a word with Old Ling tonight to see if this house belongs to the Lings or the Wangs.”

Wang Qiumei's hand stopped mid-crack. She gritted her teeth. “What are you saying, you little wench?!”

Li Luo ignored her and pulled Yaya toward the kitchen.

The kitchen was fully equipped with pots, pans, a gas stove, and a direct-vent water heater.

However, the vegetable basket was filled with leftovers and rotten leaves, and the flour and rice bins beside it were completely empty.

*Strange. How is Ling Zhuoqun acting as a father?*

Refusing to give up, Li Luo rummaged through the kitchen. Finally, she discovered a hidden compartment in the corner, concealed by a wooden board.

Inside was a whole jug of peanut oil, a basket of eggs, and piles of rice and flour.

In a large floral porcelain basin, there was a piece of pork belly covered with a blue floral cloth. When she lifted it, the meat was perfectly layered with fat and lean.

Seeing this, Li Luo immediately understood. “Heh, I knew it. It's impossible for there to be no food in the house. It turns out there's a rat in the house.”

Hearing the noise from the kitchen, Wang Qiumei's heart skipped a beat. *This wild girl is making such a fuss; she must have discovered something!*

She rushed into the kitchen and saw that all the rice, flour, and oil she had hidden had been unearthed. She felt like she was going to have a heart attack from rage.

This was her stockpile that she had hidden for a whole week!

That piece of pork belly had been bought by Xiao Ling this morning and was very fresh. She had planned to use it to improve their meal when she went back today, but she hadn't expected this girl to be like a scavenger, digging up everything!

Wang Qiumei pointed at the food on the floor and said righteously, “Put that down! That's mine!”

Li Luo couldn't help but burst out laughing. “Does Auntie Wang not have a home? You have no place to keep your own food, so you have to keep it in someone else's house? I'll take this meat to Old Ling right now and ask him whose meat this actually is.”

With that, Li Luo picked up the pork belly and prepared to walk out.

“I—I was just waiting for Da Mao and Xiao Mao to come back so I could use it to nourish them!”

Wang Qiumei blocked the doorway, preventing Li Luo from leaving.

“Ling Zhuoqun, why have you brought the children back?”

(End of Chapter)