Come Sit At My House - Chapter 12
Chapter 12
As soon as Luo Qingmeng said that, many people in the store heard it. Chen Xin looked at her with a shocked expression. Because a customer needed help finding a book, she went back to help them. The way Chen Xin rushed back, it was clear she was very curious about Luo Qingmeng’s “widowed on her wedding night” story, but she couldn’t ask during work hours.
Aunt Cai, who was closer to the door, walked over and asked, “What’s going on, Xiao Luo? Why are you saying your husband died? You shouldn’t say things like that.”
“Auntie, please go back to what you were doing. We can talk later.” Luo Qingmeng’s teeth started to hurt. She lowered her head and replied while scanning the customer’s purchase. The customer also looked at her with curiosity. “You…”
Luo Qingmeng didn’t want to explain, but several people were looking at her, and with Qiu Shuxue, a walking lamp, next to her, she felt like she was going crazy. Worried about a customer complaint, she gave up and said, “I’m sorry, my husband died, and I’m a little emotional.”
“…” The customer was stunned. “Is that true?”
Luo Qingmeng said, “89.6. Do you have a membership? If not, I recommend you get one.”
“Uh, no thanks.”
Luo Qingmeng said, “If you get one, I’ll tell you how my husband died on our wedding night.” As long as the customer got a membership and she got the commission, she would tell everyone how she used a curling iron and almost burned that scumbag’s p3nis.
The customer fell silent, still hesitant.
She squinted. “Then, I… um, I’ll get one?”
A “thud” sound came from the side. The aunt at the door accidentally dropped a book. Luo Qingmeng turned her head to look and saw a smile on Qiu Shuxue’s lips. Qiu Shuxue’s eyes were a little bright, probably because she didn’t expect her to say something like that.
Luo Qingmeng came back to her senses, quickly adjusted her mindset, and continued to talk to the customer. “It looks like there’s a signed copy of this one. Would you like me to look for it?” Luo Qingmeng saw that she was holding a very popular novel that she had also read a little of. She didn’t particularly like it. It was about a marriage arranged before love.
“There’s a signed copy in the store?” The customer was surprised. “I didn’t see it online.”
Luo Qingmeng said, “Yes, members have priority for signed copies. Do you want one?”
“Yes, yes!” The customer gave her her phone number and asked in a low voice, “Are you still going to tell me about your husband dying on your wedding night?”
Luo Qingmeng was speechless.
Qiu Shuxue chimed in, “Give her some time to grieve.”
The young customer held back her curiosity and left with regret.
Luo Qingmeng quickly set up her card, getting a membership. She asked Chen Xin to get the customer’s novel. After that, she was busy for a while as several customers came in a row.
She glanced at Qiu Shuxue again.
Qiu Shuxue was still smiling, and Luo Qingmeng didn’t know what was so funny. She wanted to slap her so badly.
It was time to get off work.
However, two more customers came in today, a mother holding a little girl’s hand, and one who was just browsing. Luo Qingmeng also had Qiu Shuxue, a big lamp, next to her. She could ignore the latter. Luo Qingmeng didn’t even see her as a person.
Normally, Luo Qingmeng didn’t want to work for an extra minute. When it was time, she would remind customers that the store was closing. Now, with Qiu Shuxue staring at her, she felt so annoyed that she didn’t want to say anything.
Chen Xin didn’t wait for Luo Qingmeng to speak. She went to get the “closed” sign and reminded the customers that they were closing.
Luo Qingmeng turned her head and said to Qiu Shuxue, “Did you hear that? We’re closing.”
Qiu Shuxue nodded. “I’ll wait for you outside.”
Luo Qingmeng gave up on her. She just pretended she didn’t hear her. She lowered her head and looked at the physical exam report on the floor. As expected, Qiu Shuxue had understood what she meant that day, that she was calling her dirty.
Luo Qingmeng felt that she had been quite insulting. The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t say them. Chen Xin came over and talked to her, and she was startled. She had planned to step on it again, but Chen Xin had already seen it.
Chen Xin glanced at it, but her interest wasn’t in the physical exam report. She didn’t ask about the report but was curious about Luo Qingmeng being a widow. She said, “Sister Qingmeng, let’s walk together later.”
Luo Qingmeng guessed what she wanted to say and frowned. “I have to do the cash count first.”
The cash was correct. She locked the cash register and went to take off her apron. She looked at the item on the floor, picked it up, and rolled it up, planning to throw it at Qiu Shuxue, but Qiu Shuxue was a little far away outside.
She had no choice but to take it to the locker room in the back. When she came out from behind the cash register, Qiu Shuxue’s eyes were on her, staring at the apron she was wearing.
Luo Qingmeng felt her gaze and scoffed in her heart. Is she that perverted? I’m just wearing an apron, and she’s already losing control.
Passing by the mother and daughter, Luo Qingmeng heard the little girl pointing at a bookshelf and saying, “Mommy, I want to buy that Father and Son. My teacher said we have to read it.”
Luo Qingmeng was about to help get it for her when she heard the mother complain, “Father and Son, Father and Son. Your teacher is good at talking. Your dad, that heartless man, should have been hit and killed by a car. I’ve worked so hard to raise you. Why isn’t there a Mother and Daughter?”
Her tone was very agitated. The little girl was immediately scared and took a step back, her eyes teary as she looked at her mother.
The little girl’s excitement vanished instantly. She wanted to say something but held it back. Luo Qingmeng was silent for a moment. She was about to go and change, and getting books was Chen Xin’s job. She took two steps and then turned back. She walked over and agreed, “You’re right. Some people should be hit and killed by a car.” Then she introduced another book. “Why don’t you buy that one, Mommy’s Fortune List? It’s written from a child’s perspective, looking at her mother. The child sees her mother dressed beautifully and giving her candy every day. She thinks her mother is a queen from a certain country, but later she finds out that her mother is a widow working several jobs because she had suffered herself and wants her daughter to be safe, happy, and free from the bitterness of poverty. It’s very educational. Do you want me to get it for you?”
“But my teacher told me to read Father and Son.” The little girl said in a low voice, her eyes still glancing at her mother.
Luo Qingmeng squatted down a little. She was wearing a pink apron with a little bear. She smiled at the little girl and said, “But, Mommy is the one who came with you today. The teacher wants you to read that book so you can know who loves you the most and who wants you to grow up happy. When you go back, you can say this to your teacher and write an essay about your mom, and then read it to her.”
She smiled at the little girl, her lips curved slightly. She then looked at the child’s mother. “That book is an illustrated book, similar to Father and Son. I can give you the member price. It’s okay if you don’t need it. I’m just suggesting.”
The little girl looked at her, blinking. The girl’s mother was still angry, her face tight. After a few minutes, she nodded.
Luo Qingmeng patted the little girl’s hair. “Look, your mom tied your hair in pigtails. Do you feel like she’s very cool?”
The little girl nodded. “My mommy’s cooking is also super delicious. She even makes spicy hot pot, and it’s better than the ones sold at the stalls outside school.”
Luo Qingmeng stood on her tiptoes to get the book for her. At the cash register, she also gave the little girl some bubble stickers. The girl’s mother said, “I’ll get a membership. You can recommend some books to me later. Now, teachers just have ideas on a whim. We used to read books like Rickshaw Boy and Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk, by Lao She and Gorky. Now it’s all a mess.”
Luo Qingmeng said, “The times are different. There were no cell phones and the internet wasn’t so developed back then. Teachers now choose based on popular educational views. It used to be about hard work and endurance, but now it’s about developing children’s minds.”
“That’s true,” the girl’s mother nodded, thinking what she said made sense.
Luo Qingmeng put the book in a paper bag and handed it to the little girl. “Make sure to read it carefully. You might just be the most unique and radiant kid in your class.”
The little girl nodded repeatedly. “Thank you, sister.”
After the mother and daughter left, Luo Qingmeng sighed in relief. Chen Xin gave her a thumbs-up. “Sister, you’re amazing.”
“What’s so amazing about it? It just delayed my leaving time.” Luo Qingmeng held back a smile. There were no other customers in the store. She took off her apron directly. She noticed a burning gaze on her. She frowned and looked over. Qiu Shuxue was still outside, with an appreciative look in her eyes. She was leaning against the railing, and her emotions were unmistakable.
Luo Qingmeng tried her best to ignore her. She went to the break room in the back to hang up her apron. As she closed the door, she looked at her figure. She was wearing the store’s uniform, which was form-fitting, making her look quite full-figured. She put on her thin coat to cover her body. That was much better.
She took her bag and the lunch box she had brought. When she came out, Chen Xin hurriedly called out to her, asking her to wait so they could walk together.
Luo Qingmeng pretended she didn’t hear her, wanting to leave as soon as possible. But the boss had given her two boxes of fruit. She thought, I guess I’ll just carry one box. Qiu Shuxue walked over and took the boxes for her. “Ready?”
Luo Qingmeng went to carry the other box.
Chen Xin couldn’t wait. She took the garbage bags from the store and asked before she even left, “Sister, are you unhappy in your marriage? What happened?”
Luo Qingmeng pretended she didn’t hear. She walked quickly to Qiu Shuxue. Although she didn’t want to talk to her, she had no choice. She said, “Give me a ride since you’re on your way.”
Qiu Shuxue said, “Okay.”
She stopped for a moment, walking side-by-side with Luo Qingmeng, occasionally looking at her.
Chen Xin was too slow. By the time she caught up, they were already at the elevator.
There were quite a few people waiting for the elevator. Qiu Shuxue leaned in and whispered to her, “Sister, you have a lot of charm.”
Luo Qingmeng couldn’t refute her words. After all… Qiu Shuxue was complimenting her.
“Gentle,” Qiu Shuxue said. “You’re glowing.”
Luo Qingmeng really liked the last word. She had always felt that her life was dull and dark. Now, she could actually glow.
Qiu Shuxue was very annoying, but she was kind of cute when she complimented people.
The two of them took the elevator down, with the fruit boxes in the elevator with them.
They went straight to the underground parking garage. Qiu Shuxue put the fruit in the trunk. She opened the passenger door. Luo Qingmeng still had a trauma from this spot, remembering the moments she was pinned against it and kissed. She didn’t get in and went to the back seat instead.
Qiu Shuxue drove, occasionally saying a few words. Luo Qingmeng mostly didn’t reply. Qiu Shuxue asked, “What are you eating tonight?”
Luo Qingmeng didn’t reply. She hadn’t decided yet. After a day of work, she was tired. She would go home, take a shower, and then lie down and just make some instant noodles. She had stocked up on two boxes of sour and spicy noodles, which were pretty good, but since she had bought so much stuff at the supermarket a few days ago, the noodles were forgotten.
When they got to the residential area, Qiu Shuxue didn’t stop but drove to the supermarket in the complex, saying she had to pick up some group-bought pineapples.
Luo Qingmeng didn’t want to bother with her business, but the pineapples the boss gave her would surely go bad before she could finish them. She said, “I’ll give you one.”
Qiu Shuxue said, “Oh?” and thanked her.
She parked the car and said, “But I still have to go and get mine. I already paid for them.”
Luo Qingmeng followed her to get the pineapples. She had bought a lot of things last time, and her house was full. The vegetables were piled on the floor and weren’t finished. Now, she didn’t need to buy anything. Qiu Shuxue, on the other hand, hadn’t bought anything that day. The only finger cot she threw into the shopping cart was still in Luo Qingmeng’s nightstand drawer. Qiu Shuxue pushed the cart and also took two coconuts.
Qiu Shuxue said, “I like pineapples, coconuts, and oranges.”
It was the season for oranges, but they weren’t as delicious as the ones during the Chinese New Year. Qiu Shuxue picked two and put them in the shopping bag. Luo Qingmeng couldn’t help but stop her. “No. You can’t eat these. They’re too sour.”
“You know how to pick them?” Qiu Shuxue looked at her.
Luo Qingmeng picked one up and let her smell it. “Can’t you tell they’re very sour?”
Qiu Shuxue sniffed it. “You’re good. They are a little sour.”
Luo Qingmeng put the oranges back and picked a few small ones for her. Qiu Shuxue went to pay. There were still two boxes of fruit in the car. Luo Qingmeng got in her car again. They went from the garage to her building.
The two boxes of fruit were heavy. They each carried one. Luo Qingmeng opened her box at her door. Inside were six pineapples and four small fragrant pineapples. Luo Qingmeng gave her half. She then opened the other box of strawberries and gave her a container of strawberries.
Qiu Shuxue gave her the coconuts and oranges.
“No, thanks,” Luo Qingmeng said.
“Half for each of us. That way, it’s clear,” Qiu Shuxue said. “Didn’t you also buy a chicken last time? We can make coconut chicken with it, right?”
That was true. Luo Qingmeng had bought a three-yellow chicken. She felt that this kind of chicken didn’t taste good stewed. Her original plan was to make pork stomach chicken soup, but it was too much trouble for one person. She didn’t want to go through the effort. With the coconut, it would be much easier.
She nodded, ready to accept them.
Qiu Shuxue said, “Can I have a taste?”
Luo Qingmeng didn’t say anything.
“Coconut chicken soup is so creamy and fragrant. It must be delicious,” Qiu Shuxue said, looking at her, as if she was craving it. Her eyes were full of expectation. “I remember sister has made this before.”
Coconut chicken was one of Luo Qingmeng’s signature dishes. It was a relatively simple dish. She learned it from a video and got it right on the first try. When Li An’s colleagues came over, she would often make this dish.
Luo Qingmeng went to enter the password to open the door.
Qiu Shuxue was behind her. She said, “…Watching you comfort that child at the bookstore today… you really look like a wife.”
“I told you, I’m a widow. Didn’t you hear me?” Luo Qingmeng turned her head to explain. “I’m no longer his wife. We’re divorced.”
Qiu Shuxue nodded. “I heard you.”
She said, “I don’t have many hobbies. I just really like widows.”
She called out, “My widow sister.”
Maybe because they were in the hallway with no one else around, Luo Qingmeng inexplicably felt that she was deliberately creating a flirtatious atmosphere, intentionally making her take on the identity of a widow.
Luo Qingmeng quickly tried to push the door open, but Qiu Shuxue grabbed her hand. Qiu Shuxue didn’t let her go inside.
Qiu Shuxue said, “Sister, you really are so charming. Especially when you’re standing in the bookstore, reading, and explaining books to customers. You’re gentle and quiet, and all the light in the world is on you. I want to become that little girl and be treated like that by you, with my head patted.”
She got closer to her. Her pupils reflected Luo Qingmeng. Her gaze was very focused. Luo Qingmeng saw herself in her eyes.
Qiu Shuxue lowered her head to look at her and smiled. “Especially a widow who lost her husband right after getting married. You smell so good, and you’re so alluring.”
Luo Qingmeng said, “I’m a jinx to husbands.” She was completely disillusioned with marriage now, and she didn’t care if she would ever have a husband again.
“Hmm, that’s even better. I love widows who are a jinx to their husbands,” Qiu Shuxue said, then asked softly with a hint of confusion, “Then won’t you be lonely? You can’t be in a relationship anymore.”
“I’m not… I told you, I’m a widow…” Luo Qingmeng didn’t understand what she meant, thinking she was bringing up her marriage again.
Forget it. Luo Qingmeng pretended she didn’t hear.
Qiu Shuxue suddenly laughed, looking like she was about to go on the attack again. All her expressions said… that she loved it.
She quickly stopped the topic and said, “Let’s talk after I make the coconut chicken.”
Qiu Shuxue got closer to her and said, “I’m a little twisted. What I meant was, I want to eat this…” Her gaze was no longer on Luo Qingmeng’s face, implying that she wanted to eat her.
Luo Qingmeng had nowhere to run.
“I like a lonely widow even more… Sister, are you widowed?” As she spoke, Qiu Shuxue pushed her with her foot, pinning her against the door.
Luo Qingmeng’s back was against the door. She couldn’t struggle. She didn’t know how to explain. She just wanted to say that she wasn’t anyone’s wife anymore, and now she couldn’t even be a widow… Qiu Shuxue liked both wives and widows. She really wasn’t picky.
She tried to calm down and reminded Qiu Shuxue, “There’s a security camera here. Don’t do anything crazy.”
“But… isn’t the camera in your house? Aren’t you the one who watches me every day?”
Luo Qingmeng wanted to explain that she didn’t, but it was too late. Qiu Shuxue’s face came closer.
Luo Qingmeng was thinking, should I pat her head? Then will she leave?… But, Qiu Shuxue seemed to be acting spoiled.