Under the effects of the miracle pill, the injuries on Qi Mianmian's feet were almost fully healed.
But she didn't dare to let anyone know.
She limped about, pretending to be injured. Other than making a trip to the toilet with Qi Tian, she did not leave the bedroom.
Qi Tian had also brought her dinner in the bedroom.
Dinner was very simple.
Some fried winter melon, pickled green beans, and fish wort salad was piled atop a bowl of corn noodles.
There was also a small bowl of egg soup specially prepared for her, the invalid.
Qi Zhen's culinary skills were indeed not bad.
The noodles and vegetables were not particularly delicious due to the lack of oil used, but their color was impeccable and they looked as beautiful as the chef.
Qi Mianmian did not like to eat noodles. These corn noodles were coarse, and she disliked them even more.
However, the circumstances did not allow her to pick and choose. Slowly, she finished the meal.
Her father, Qi Jingtang, her stepmother, Wan Meiling, and her younger brother, Qi Yang, all returned home when dinner was about to start.
She had thought that they would… or at the very least, Qi Jingtang would immediately enter the room to see how she was doing. But she saw none of them after dinner, much less before the meal began.
It wasn't that they were unaware.
As soon as they entered the house, Elderly Lady Qi had begun loudly telling them about Luo Qingwen pushing her off Luoying Bridge, as well as all about the nasty business with Qi Moli.
Therefore, Qi Jingtang either really disliked the original Qi Mianmian, or was just an especially cold person.
Qi Mianmian tried hard to recall Qi Jingtang, but she found that her original self barely interacted with him. She couldn't even remember his face. Her impression of him consisted of four characteristics: tall, silent, not at home often, and rather stupid with money.
In her previous life, she did not know her biological parents, and her adoptive father was cold-blooded. Qi Mianmian had actually been looking forward to ordinary, generous fatherly love.
However, she was also very happy with the current situation. If no one was looking after her, she would have so much freedom…
After dinner, Qi Mianmian watched an interesting scene unfold.
Elderly Lady Qi and Qi Shan moved a small table from the courtyard into the sisters' room. They began making matchboxes under the light in the room.
She searched her memory and realized that this had always been the case at home.
Qi Tian had to stay up late to sew clothes. As long as the electricity was not cut, the lights in their room would be switched on until midnight every day.
In order to save money, Elderly Lady Qi and Qi Shan would visit their small room every night to "borrow" some light.
The original Qi Mianmian did not like any kind of noise or bustle. Every time this happened, she would hide in a corner and read, paying attention to no one. This made her appear even more taciturn.
Today, Qi Shan saw that Qi Mianmian was knitting instead of reading, and was stunned for a moment. She asked with a smile, "Mianmian knits so fast. When did you learn to knit? Why didn't I know?"
"I learned it from Grandma Yu that year when she was sick."
Grandma Yu was bedridden for more than two months before her death. At that time, Qi Mianmian was studying medicine under Grandpa and often visited the Yu family.
There was no contradiction. Qi Shan said nothing else and focused on slotting the internal boxes of the matchbox into the cardboard sleeve. Then, she pasted on a red sticker with the character for "Happiness".
Troubled by the business with Qi Moli, Elderly Lady Qi was sullen ever since she entered the room. However, when she saw Qi Mianmian knitting so fast that her hands had turned into a blur, she rubbed at her eyes and stared blankly at Qi Mianmian for a while. In surprise, she asked, "Mianmian, you're so fast. Why don't you make some matchboxes with us? Looking at your dexterity, I'm sure you can earn at least forty cents after one day of practice."
Qi Mianmian: "…"
Forty cents a day, twelve dollars a month…
That was so little. In her heart, she rejected the suggestion.
She replied with a smile, "Grandmother, if Second Sister and I fail in our small business, I'll come make matchboxes with you."
She refused to let her small business fail, even if it were solely so she could avoid making matchboxes.
Elderly Lady Qi shook her head disapprovingly. Just as she was about to say something, Qi Mianmian said, "Grandma, why don't you buy some wool and I'll knit a shirt for you? Wait a minute, I'll sketch a design for you."