Chapter 70: The Exhibition

Chapter 70: The Exhibition

Ji Duo happened to be looking at Lin Qiao as well, and in that brief moment, their eyes met.

However, Lin Qiao quickly looked away, turning her gaze towards Xu Li, who was walking over.

Xu Li greeted the old man with a smile, “Isn’t this my daughter-in-law participating in the exhibition? I came to take a look.”

“Your daughter-in-law is participating in the exhibition too?” The old man seemed a bit surprised.

Xu Li nodded and smiled, glancing at Lin Qiao beside her. “This is my younger daughter-in-law, Lin Qiao.”

She then introduced Lin Qiao to him, “This is Yan Maoshan, a professor from the Chemistry Department at Tsinghua University.”

Lin Qiao had guessed that the man wasn’t as simple as he appeared, but she didn’t expect him to be a professor from Tsinghua. Yan Maoshan, the professor, seemed even more surprised.

Seizing the opportunity when no one was paying attention, he quickly slipped out of the exhibition area.

Lin Qiao noticed from the corner of her eye but didn’t pay any attention. She politely greeted the professor, “Professor Yan, thank you for your help earlier.”

“It’s nothing. Even without me, you wouldn’t have been at a disadvantage,” the professor said, waving his hand casually. Dressed as plainly as an old farmer, the professor clearly didn’t concern himself with trivial matters.

After he left, Lin Qiao learned from Xu Li that the professor had failed the college entrance exam for several years and had retaken classes in her course.

“If they had competitions back then, he could have gotten direct admission and saved at least two years of school,” Xu Li said with a smile.

Seeing that Lin Qiao was in a good mood, Xu Li beckoned to her son, “Come here.” She then gently said to Lin Qiao, “Let him help you with the booth for a bit. How about you take a walk with me?”

Lin Qiao couldn’t bring herself to refuse such a gentle request. Although she could hold her ground against tough people, it was hard to say no to someone being so nice. Besides, apart from keeping things from her, Xu Li had always treated her well. She could also guess why Xu Li had suddenly come back, so she didn’t refuse.

However, not far into their walk, Xu Li suddenly called her name softly, “Qiaoqiao.”

“I came back this time to apologize to you.”

Apologize?

Lin Qiao turned to look at her, meeting Xu Li’s sincere and gentle eyes.

Seeing that Lin Qiao was listening, Xu Li nodded to confirm, “I did come back to apologize. When we made that decision back then, we considered many aspects. We were afraid it would be embarrassing to talk about, that you and the eldest brother’s family would have a hard time, and that if you, a young girl, came all this way to rely on us, we might spread rumors and make things difficult for you. You might even find it hard to stay in the family. That’s why we decided not to tell you. But the whole family knew about it except you, which was unfair.”

Xu Li held her hand. “We also underestimated you. You are a resilient person. If we had been clear with you back then, you might not have been so hurt. But keeping it from you, it’s as if you were the only outsider in the family. Now that you know, it’s truly upsetting.”

Maybe only someone who’d been through something similar could really understand how she felt. Ji Duo had said so much, but it was Xu Li’s words that hit the mark.

Lin Qiao didn’t have delicate nerves. She’d rather be treated with respect than protected by lies.

Even if the elderly couple had treated her worse, like how Ye Minshu had, and the matter had been exposed, she wouldn’t have reacted much. After all, she had never considered them family in the first place.

The worst part was when you thought someone was important to you, but they were just playing you for a fool.

Lin Qiao remained silent for a moment before asking, “Did Ji Duo ask you to come back?”

Hearing this, Xu Li sighed inwardly.

Qiaoqiao was someone with strong opinions and clear boundaries. The elderly couple had always looked after her, and in return, she was willing to be good to them.

But at the same time, if someone treated her badly, like the eldest daughter-in-law, she would never hold back. Once someone like her lost trust, it was hard to win it back.

Xu Li shook her head. "He only told us that you know about this matter. Your father and I feel that what we did was improper, especially your father. He thought it would be best to come back and apologize to you."

He only apologized without mentioning anything else, which suggested that Ji Duo hadn't told the family about her wanting a divorce.

Given his personality, he wouldn't easily discuss personal matters with others.

Lin Qiao asked about Old Master Ji, "What about Dad? Did he come back this time too?"

"No, his hypertension acted up again," Xu Li said helplessly. "You should remember the incident during the Spring Festival, right?"

Lin Qiao nodded. When Ji Ze mentioned that he was the one involved in the business, everything became clear to her. It must have been Ye Minshu who found out and got so angry that she fell ill.

Xu Li sighed, "His blood pressure hasn't been good lately. After the matter of the eldest son being transferred was settled, the tension he was holding onto finally eased. These past few days, his blood pressure has been high again, so we didn’t want to trouble him by bringing him along. I'll head back after leaving your place."

"Then you should go back earlier. If necessary, return to Yandu for recovery."

"I know." Xu Li nodded. "If you win an award, remember to let us know."

Lin Qiao agreed and accompanied Xu Li for a while longer before heading back. However, she spoke noticeably less than before.

When she returned to the exhibition area, Ji Duo was still standing there, looking like a superior coming down for an inspection. But the moment he saw the two of them, his imposing manner seemed to shrink.

He first looked at Lin Qiao, who had already lowered her gaze and was talking to Liu Cuiying and Chen Zhaonan. Then he looked at his mother, who gave him a helpless look in return.

It was clear that even with his mother stepping in, nothing had changed. He couldn't help but press his fingers to his brow.

He had informed the elderly couple not only to update them about this matter but also to gauge Lin Qiao's attitude. He hadn't expected his mother to resolve their marital issues.

Knowing that Lin Qiao had no intention of softening, he didn't dwell on it. Adjusting his military jacket, he asked Lin Qiao, "Is there anything I can do?"

"Dad needs someone by his side. Why don't you send Mom back?" Lin Qiao wasn't ignoring him, but her words were pushing him away.

Ji Duo watched her for a while, but she kept herself busy and didn’t look up.

Noticing her son's troubled look, Xu Li gently pulled him aside. "Enough, stop causing trouble."

Ji Duo fell silent and only after walking for a while did he ask, "What did you say to her?"

"What else could I say? Just an apology," Xu Li glanced at him. "Do you think she wants to hear your explanation? Someone as smart as Lin Qiao wouldn't be able to guess why the family kept it from her? What are you trying to explain to her? Do you think you're not at fault and hope she'll understand?"

She gave her son a sharp retort and then, looking at this son who had rarely been at a loss, decided to be more explicit, "What Lin Qiao cares about isn't the reason. It's you. It's the attitude that our actions as a family reveal."

Regardless of the reasons, not consulting Lin Qiao and keeping her in the dark was disrespectful to her.

"Put yourself in her shoes. If you were in her position, being kept in the dark by everyone, could you handle it?"

Before Ji Duo could respond, Xu Li answered for him, "With your usual desire to control everything, if you found even the slightest clue, wouldn't you dig into it relentlessly?"

Ji Duo had nothing to say.

But even for someone who likes to be in control, life always has its surprises, like the unexpected arrival of Shao Ping, Shao Zhen, and Lin Qiao.

Whether it was the unexpected arranged marriage or the thoughts that arose later, Lin Qiao was a variable that had unexpectedly entered his life. He couldn't pin her down, but he didn’t want to let her slip away.

Ji Duo was silent for a long time before uncharacteristically asking someone for advice, "Then Mom, what do you think I should do?"

Xu Li wasn't blind. She could see that something was wrong between the young couple. After all, no matter how much the in-laws might interfere, nothing hurt more than a spouse.

"Leave that controlling attitude behind. Try to think from Lin Qiao's perspective." She knew the son she had raised, "Home is a place for love and understanding. No one wants to hear you bossing people around or lecturing them." "Your brother might be easy-going, but has your sister-in-law ever felt mistreated by him?"

Sometimes a man being a bit clueless and easier to handle is not necessarily a bad thing for a woman.

Take Ji Jun, for example; he’s practically obedient to Ye Minshu in everything. As long as Ye Minshu doesn’t stir up trouble herself, there’s no need to worry about her not living a good life.

But her son, on the other hand, is different. He’s too calculated in his actions, tends to hide things, and is cold, lacking any warmth. That’s why she’s always worried that Qiao Qiao might feel wronged.

"If I had a daughter and wanted to find her a good match, I’d pick you. But if I wanted her to have an easy life, I’d go with your older brother."

This was the first time someone had told Ji Duo that he wasn’t as good as his older brother, and it was his own mother who said it to his face.

He was rendered speechless. Xu Li, however, spoke from the heart, "Do you think I’ve never felt wronged in all these years with your father? Actually, sometimes I’m quite envious of your sister-in-law."

Ji Duo turned to look at his mother and noticed a fleeting look of melancholy on Xu Li’s face.

But it was just a flash. The two had already reached the entrance of the exhibition. Xu Li stopped, "You can see me off here. I can tell your mind is elsewhere."

In the past, Ji Duo would have had the patience to see someone off properly, but today he hesitated, "Then I’ll head back. It seems like she’s short-handed over there."

"Go on," Xu Li saw through him but didn’t say it outright. She then added quietly, "Since you’re already married, put some effort into it and make it work."

Ji Duo didn’t respond, but as he turned away, his steps quickened, almost as if he was trying to escape something.

Before he even reached Lin Qiao’s exhibition area, he noticed that quite a few more people had gathered there. They were all wearing white shirts and blue pants, with school badges pinned to their chests—students from Lin Qiao’s class.

Ji Duo had an excellent memory and recognized several familiar faces among them.

Junzi from Colonel Liang’s place next door, Li Xiaoqiu whom he’d met in the office once, and that troublemaker who called him "Teacher Lin" when they met at the hospital...

Liu Cuiying obviously hadn’t expected to see her own son there, "What are you doing here?"

"I heard from Qi Huaiwen that Teacher Lin was participating in this exhibition, so we came over to help since it’s Sunday," Junzi said, scratching the back of his head and looking toward the side.

The teenager with peach blossom eyes standing next to him was listening to Lin Qiao’s explanation. After hearing it just a few times, he had memorized most of it.

The other students were also assigned tasks. There were plenty of hands, more than enough, so there was nothing for Ji Duo to do. Lin Qiao was surrounded by a group of students who were only a few years younger than her. Her eyes sparkled, and her smile was bright, and she threw in witty remarks that made everyone laugh—something Ji Duo rarely saw when they were alone together.

Ji Duo’s steps slowed involuntarily, and he eventually stopped. He suddenly didn’t want to, and didn’t dare to, go forward and disrupt her good mood.

Lin Qiao didn’t notice the man in the distance. Shortly after the students arrived, the judges came to her exhibition area.

After viewing the projects from those prestigious schools, they arrived at her small, unknown middle school’s exhibition area. The contrast was quite stark, but when they looked up, they saw something familiar, "Liquid soap?"

"Yes," Lin Qiao nodded with a smile, "That whole row consists of liquid detergents, including hand wash, shampoo, dishwashing liquid, and laundry detergent."

"Breaking it down like this?" someone asked, leaning in for a closer look.

"The ingredients have been adjusted for different purposes. For example, dish soap uses stronger detergents for grease removal, but it’s harsher on the skin, while shampoo uses milder ingredients, and hand soap requires additional antibacterial agents..."

At a time when most people still used alkaline products for washing, this level of detail was ahead of its time. Lin Qiao gave a brief introduction and then shifted the topic to the industrial degreaser.

Hearing that it was an industrial-strength degreaser, many members of the judging panel showed interest. Several students immediately fetched water and the necessary materials.

"In addition to the degreaser, I’ve also prepared common detergents like laundry powder, soap, and detergent paste, as well as other degreasers we purchased earlier for comparative demonstration purposes. To avoid any issues, I swapped out the packaging, but everything inside is exactly the same. Feel free to check it out."

"For someone so young, she’s really on top of things," someone muttered from behind.

Comparing them side by side is the best way to show how well they work, but it could also ruffle some feathers. And since she plans to sell these formulas later, burning bridges with these companies wouldn’t help.

She had already switched the packaging beforehand, so this wasn't an issue, even for those familiar with the product. At least it wasn't a direct criticism of someone else's product.

"What I'm demonstrating here mainly includes oils and oil agents used for dyeing fabrics. Those of you familiar with the printing and dyeing industry should know that oils and oil agents are widely used in industrial printing and dyeing. The oils protect the fabric, and the use of lubricants makes the fabric easier to dye, with brighter colors..."

She explained everything clearly while engaging with the judging panel, who were listening intently. Liu Cuiying and Chen Zhaonan, who were mainly responsible for the demonstration, were particularly efficient in their movements.

It didn't take long for the comparison to become evident. When using Lin Qiao's industrial degreaser, at least one less wash was needed when cleaning the oils and oil agents.

Unbeknownst to them, the judging panel had spent a considerable amount of time at her booth, only moving on when someone quietly reminded them that time was running out. They continued discussing as they headed to the next area.

Once the crowd finally dispersed, Liu Cuiying finally seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. She took a long breath, "Xiaolin really knows how to handle a crowd. If it were me, I wouldn't even know what to say."

"Is that why I can't cook?" Lin Qiao said with a smile as she picked up the military canteen she had brought and took a sip.

At this point, the crowd who had been blocked outside by the judging panel finally had a chance to approach, asking about the industrial degreaser and the liquid cleaners from earlier. In no time, Lin Qiao had given out her unit's phone number several times. Since Ji Duo is in the military, she gave out the unit's phone number instead of their home number.

After this group dispersed, Lin Qiao noticed that Ji Duo had returned, carrying two boxes of soda.

As he placed the boxes on the ground, some students curiously looked over, while others, like Junzi, who knew he was Lin Qiao's husband, immediately called out, "Thank you, Shiniang!"

His mother promptly smacked him, "Shiniang? Do you even know how to address people properly?"

Ji Duo looked at him and opened the first bottle of soda, handing it to Junzi.

Junzi was thrilled, "See, Captain Ji doesn't mind. Plus, it was our Teacher Lin who said it."

Ji Duo passed out a bottle to everyone, including Liu Cuiying and Chen Zhaonan, before handing one to Lin Qiao, "Good job."

If Lin Qiao refused, it would put their relationship on display and make everyone uncomfortable.

She accepted it as usual, "Thank you." But she didn't want to drink it, so after watching Junzi chug his, she passed hers to him, "I don't like drinking this."

"Then thank you, Teacher Lin." Junzi said gratefully, and then, upon looking up, he noticed Ji Duo was looking at him again. This time, despite the same blank stare, Junzi felt a bit uneasy. Had he drunk too much cold soda?