Chapter 42

Actually, everyone knew that Keke had a bit of a crush on Qin Yi. It wasn't just her; many girls in the class had a good impression of Qin Yi. This was a kind of admiration that arose when they could freely date in college and saw someone they liked, but it didn't rise to the level of love.

The boys might not be very clear about these matters, but the girls had already spread the word. Even a girl named Liu Ying in the class loudly declared in public, "Qin Yi, you don't even know how many girls in our class like you!"

At the time, it was on the way back to the dormitory after class, and many people heard it. As a result, Qin Yi was cruelly surrounded! However, in college, Qin Yi had always been flirtatious with Weiwei, and the relationship was complicated. The girls gradually lost interest.

The meal lasted for three hours. After eating and drinking to their heart's content, they reminisced about their classmate bond, and everyone had a great time. After the meal, everyone had drunk a lot and had no interest in doing anything else, so they returned to the rooms Qin Yi had already arranged, to shower and sleep.

The next day, everyone went their separate ways, pursuing their own lives and embarking on new journeys. Qin Yi also set off on his way home, but there was one thing that always lingered in his mind: he had to find a way to help Wang Xixi and Ye Fang.

Ye Fang was a third-generation red, with the best family background among the dorm mates. However, when it came to helping his friends find a path to wealth, it wasn't appropriate. A family couldn't support an ordinary college student to achieve something great, as it wouldn't align with the family's interests. Small favors were fine, but if everything had to rely on Ye Fang, it wouldn't be a true friendship, but rather charity! This was something Qin Yi and his two friends couldn't accept.

He would think about it slowly; there would be a way eventually.

By the time he got home, it was around 3 or 4 in the afternoon. His father, Qin Jun, had gone out to play mahjong, and only his mother was at home. The deer leather boots and other gifts bought from the Augusta Fur Shop, Qin Yi had already moved from his spatial ring back to the car. When he got home, he gave them all to Li Guilan. If his two sisters came tomorrow, he would let them choose for themselves.

It had been about a month since he ate the snow ginseng. After absorbing and adjusting, Li Guilan's hair had turned black, and the wrinkles on her face had decreased significantly. She looked much younger. Now, when others saw her, they said that the two of them had spent their whole lives worrying and were now enjoying their lives, with their health improving day by day.

Li Guilan smiled brightly as she carried the gifts back into the house, then quickly came out again, as she still had something to ask her son.

A few days ago, Qin Feng had shown Li Guilan the pictures and videos Qin Yi had sent her. Li Guilan then realized that the ranch her son had bought in America was so large. Although she didn't know how much it cost, seeing the big house and the herds of cattle and sheep, it must have been a lot of money.

It turned out her son was so wealthy now, Li Guilan thought with deep emotion.

"Yi, are the cows and the house in your ranch really yours?"

"Yes." Qin Yi found it amusing to see his mother's shocked and pleasantly surprised expression. "So, I have a lot of money now. I need to think about how to spend it, or what's the point of keeping it in the bank!"

Li Guilan was happy that her son was willing to spend money on her, but she still said, "I'll find you a wife, and let her help you spend it!"

"Mom..." Qin Yi drew out the word, as he was only 25 and wanted to enjoy life for a few more years. "Don't say that to anyone, or I won't be able to stay at home these two days!"

"You're already 25, and if you wait any longer, it will be hard to find a good one!" Li Guilan was very worried about this. Others at her age had already become grandmothers.

"Don't worry, don't worry. We have a house and a car now, so there's no need to worry about not finding a wife!" Qin Yi was determined to stop his mother from thinking about finding him a wife. Otherwise, if he loosened his guard a bit, the matchmakers would be at his door the next day.

As Qin Yi said, with a house, a car, and a good job that earned money, he was 1.8 meters tall and handsome. In the countryside, such a match was hard to find. Now, the neighbors were all watching, and on the way back to the village, a few familiar neighbors had already started probing Qin Yi's intentions.

"You should find one soon. If you wait too long, the good ones will be taken!" Li Guilan saw that her son really didn't want to, so she didn't push further. She thought about waiting until the New Year to bring it up again. Maybe he had a girlfriend already, and with his good conditions, he should find a good wife. She would help look and see if there was a suitable match.

"Okay," Qin Yi quickly agreed, as long as she didn't bring it up again. "I travel a lot and know many girls. If I find a suitable one, I'll take care of it myself." He sounded confident, but it was uncertain whether this introvert could seize the opportunity. This guy was smart, but his emotional intelligence was a weakness!

Finally, he passed the test, and Qin Yi breathed a sigh of relief. Li Guilan was going to make leek filling for leek pancakes for dinner, and Qin Yi helped her. Actually, Qin Yi could make leek pancakes himself. When he lived alone before, he had tried to make the dishes he liked or was interested in. Although they weren't as good as those sold at stalls, they were enough for his daily life.

From simple dishes like stir-fried noodles, fried rice, cold noodles, stir-fried rice vermicelli, and stir-fried river snails, to more complex dishes like sparerib soup, chicken soup,大盘鸡, and hot pot, Qin Yi could make them all. Of course, the hot pot broth wasn't very good, as Qin Yi didn't buy the less commonly used seasonings, and making high-quality broth was too luxurious for him!

As for vegetables, meat dishes, and mixed dishes, they were basic for a food lover. He could also make egg pancakes, scallion oil pancakes, and steamed buns without much difficulty, but he couldn't make fried dough sticks, as they were too troublesome!

Qin Yi could make steamed cornmeal buns. Do you want to eat them?

To make leek filling, use low heat, heat the oil, and crack the eggs, sprinkling a little salt. There's no technical content; just stir until cooked, chop, and let it cool. Then mix it with the leeks, and it's ready to use. When you need it, just add the seasonings.

While making the leek filling, Qin Yi remembered the reason he came back: leek roots. He wondered if his neighbor Wei Hong still grew leeks.

"Mom, who grows leeks? Does Wei Hong still grow them? I need to take some leek roots back to America; it's hard to find leeks there."

"They still grow them. I'll go get some." Li Guilan had just finished kneading the dough and needed to let it rest to make it more tender. It was a good time to go get the leek roots.

Qin Yi nodded and didn't say he would go himself. In his view, his parents' happiness meant eating well, dressing warmly, having something to do, and living happily, rather than being idle and feeling bored, no matter how well they ate.

After making the filling, Qin Yi had nothing to do at home, so he started wandering around upstairs and downstairs. He noticed that the house was still not renovated, with only a washing machine, water heater, and refrigerator added. He thought he should ask his mother why they didn't spend the money, as a renovated house would be more comfortable to live in. After looking around, he went back to his room to play on his phone. After a while, he remembered the dozens of pounds of beef still in the car. He had been so focused on making his mother happy with the gifts that he had forgotten about the good food!

He put the beef on the kitchen cutting board. Li Guilan came back with a small paper packet, which wasn't leek roots. Seeing her son's puzzled expression, she explained with a smile, "These are leek seeds. Leek roots might be hard to carry."

Qin Yi took the seeds and put them in his pocket, thinking that leek seeds were fine as long as they could grow leeks. Without his spatial ring, neither seeds nor roots would be easy to carry, and they wouldn't pass security!

Li Guilan thought the dough had rested enough and went to roll out the dough. However, as soon as she went in, she saw a large piece of meat on the cutting board, red and fresh, not pork! She knew it must be what her son had brought back. She walked over and touched it, "What kind of meat is this? It looks so fresh."

"Beef, from America. I brought it back for you to try and see if it tastes different from here."

"Beef? Such a large piece!" Li Guilan was a bit angry when she heard this. She picked it up and weighed it; it was almost fifty pounds. How could they eat it all? What a waste!

"Why did you buy so much? Just because you have money doesn't mean you can waste it!" She was about to start lecturing her son to stop this wasteful behavior!

Qin Yi quickly explained, "Mom, it's not just for us. My sisters will come tomorrow, and I'll let them take some back. Besides, we have some money now, and I should visit our relatives and neighbors. Otherwise, people will talk!"

Li Guilan thought about it and realized he was right. They should give a pound or two to each close relative and neighbor. It was all about social obligations. "Then divide it and give some to everyone. You've really grown up; I didn't even think of it."

"It's not that I didn't think of it. We suddenly have money, and we're not used to this lifestyle yet. Mom, you need to learn how to spend money, ha ha!"

Li Guilan pretended to be angry and slapped him, but Qin Yi didn't dodge, and he went to divide the meat with a smile.

After dividing the meat, he put it in clean plastic bags, took two pounds, and went out, first to his cousin Yan Kun's house. Qin Yi had three close uncles, but none of them lived in the hometown. His eldest uncle had settled in Lian City nine years ago, his third uncle in Luo City five years ago, and his fourth uncle in the northern border more than twenty years ago! Therefore, in the hometown, the Yan Kun family, who shared the same great-grandfather as Qin Yi, was the closest relative.

"Aunt, are you home?" Qin Yi shouted at the door.

"Who is it?" A somewhat thin middle-aged woman ran out and, seeing Qin Yi, immediately smiled and pulled him into the house, "Xiao Yi, when did you come back? You didn't stay long last time, how long will you stay this time?"

"I just got home this afternoon. I can't stay long this time; work is too busy." As he spoke, he handed her the beef, "I bought some beef and brought two pounds for you. Add some spices and stew it; it's really delicious!"

The aunt had already noticed the meat Qin Yi was carrying. Hearing it was two pounds of beef, her face became even more welcoming. She couldn't believe her nephew was so generous; he must really care about her, unlike others! "Beef? That must cost a lot, and cooked beef costs about 50 yuan per pound!" She then pulled Qin Yi aside and whispered, "Xiao Yi, you're capable now. Can you help Bao Hua find a job? Look at our family; we haven't even built a house, and Bao Hua is 26 or 27 and hasn't married yet..."

Seeing his aunt's red eyes, Qin Yi felt a bit sad. Every family had its difficulties. Qin Yi had experienced hard times; his family had lived in three rooms for over twenty years, and it had been tough. So, now that he had the means to help his relatives find a path to wealth, he didn't want them to continue living in hardship.

"Aunt, we're family, and I won't hide anything from you. There are definitely opportunities, but I can't just talk and expect people to follow me. So, I won't say much now. I'll come back for the New Year, and my brother will be here too. We can talk then, okay?"

The aunt thought about it and realized he was right. They should wait until the New Year when everyone was together to discuss it properly.

Back home, Qin Yi took another piece of beef and went to Old Qian's house. The same routine: asking about their well-being and, when it came to work, Qin Yi didn't refuse. These were the closest families to his own, and he couldn't ignore their hardships.

Of course, Qin Yi wasn't a philanthropist. He wouldn't help everyone who came to him. He had only planned to help three families, and there were only a few families in the village with whom he had a close relationship. Those who only approached him when they saw others succeed, he wouldn't refuse, but they shouldn't expect to ride his fast-moving train. He had already helped two families, and the last one would be decided during the New Year.

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