Return of the Antagonistic Lady Boss

Chapter 1171: Chapter 1143: Male or Female?

The beauty suspiciously sniffed around, feeling that the box carried a slight hint of a scent that made it wary, but the natural smell of ginseng was too strong. Coupled with that tiny bit of makeup water from Qian’s bag, the mixture was too overwhelming.

The beauty sniffed again but still couldn’t sense anything, so it sniffed Qian’s hands again, which lacked the scent after she washed them.

Was its sense of smell messed up after tasting that oddly flavored duck neck? The beauty decided it would sneak into Qian’s wardrobe and gnaw on her scarf for revenge when she wasn’t looking.

Yu Minglang returned late at night, seeing Qian asleep on the sofa, his heart softened.

Was she waiting for him to come back?

He went over to pick her up and take her to the bedroom, but as soon as he touched her, Qian woke up.

”You’re back!”

He still carried the coolness from outside. She rubbed her face against his chilly cheek, finding it refreshing.

”Hmm, why aren’t you asleep yet?”

”I wanted to wait for you to come back and have some midnight snacks together. I asked Mrs. Liu to make some ginseng chicken soup today, have some.”

”Alright then. You seem a bit sluggish lately, you need some nourishment. Once I’m done with this busy period, I’ll make you something delicious.”

Yu Minglang felt a bit guilty. He’s been too tied up with work and hasn’t spent much time with her lately.

”It’s okay; work comes first—oh, is Dalong doing well these days?”

”He’s pretty good, always glaring at me with crossed eyes, but his performance is consistently impressive. He even hit a ten-ring today, and unless something unexpected happens, he should pass the assessment.”

Qian felt relieved hearing this, knowing her efforts to play the stern role weren’t in vain.

After Yu Minglang washed his hands and changed into pajamas, Qian had already taken out the ginseng chicken soup, freshly made by his aunt, from the thermos pot, still warm.

”You really work too hard every day; it’s timely that someone sent me some ginseng for you to replenish.”

”Who’s so considerate, a male or female?”

”A female, my patient’s daughter—though it’s not nice to talk behind someone’s back, she’s been quite nice to me, but there’s something odd about her.” Qian recalled the woman’s calloused fingers when she shook hands, feeling something was off.

”What’s odd?”

”Can’t really pinpoint... let’s not dwell on it; let’s eat.” Qian thought it isn’t appropriate to criticize someone after accepting their gift, so she dropped the topic.

Mrs. Liu is exceptionally skilled at cooking, which is why Qian is satisfied with her. Her meals are always perfectly portioned and never wasted. Xiaoqiang, seeing only one bowl served to him, wondered aloud with Qian serving herself some millet porridge.

”Why aren’t you eating? Is your stomach still uncomfortable?”

”Not really, I just worry about whether it might be bad for the baby if I drink this.” Qian wasn’t keen on drinking after what her aunt from home said, recalling the late-night IV adventure Yu Minglang once took her on.

”Did you test?” Yu Minglang asked with anticipation, as Qian regularly tested with strips.

”I tested in the morning; still nothing. But I’d rather stay cautious; test strips aren’t always accurate. If something’s missed and I take something odd, that’d be bad. You’re so meticulous about being a dad, am I lacking as a mom?”

”If you’re uneasy, once Dalong’s assessment is done, I’ll accompany you for a blood test. It’s more accurate than strips,” Yu Minglang considered and gently added, ”Don’t stress too much; if nothing happens, it’s just not the right time.”

They’ve been trying for months without success, and he feared Qian might become anxious, particularly with others always talking about it.

”It’s fine; I’m open-minded.” Qian didn’t feel pressure; it was Yu Minglang’s actions of changing medication that reminded her. It’s always good to prepare for the future.

”Oh, Xiaoqiang, I remembered something—do dogs have allergic reactions to ginseng?” Qian thought about the beauty’s strange behavior today.

”What happened?” Yu Minglang put down his bowl.

Qian narrated the beauty’s abnormal behavior today, and Yu Minglang frowned.

He went to the kitchen to fetch the leftover ginseng for the beauty to sniff, but the beauty turned away, completely uninterested.

”It’s not allergic to ginseng.”

”Could it be the beauty caught scent of something unusual?” Qian let her imagination soar, contemplating if the beauty—a sniffer dog—detected... something indescribable?

Yu Minglang shook his head.

”That’s unlikely. Sniffer dogs are trained, if they smell something bad they’ll react specifically rather than barking crazily at you. Maybe it’s been cooped up at home and getting bored. You should take it out for walks when you have time.”

Qian thought the beauty’s reaction wasn’t due to boredom, but she couldn’t find a better explanation, leaving the couple to temporarily forget the matter.

Two days later, Qian just returned from school to find her mom standing at the gate with bundles, hurriedly parking the car.

”Mom?”

”Oh my, I’m freezing!” Qian’s mother put everything in Qian’s car, eagerly jumping inside.

”Why didn’t you notify me so I could pick you up? How long have you been freezing here?” Though she hadn’t seen her mom in a while, Qian was genuinely glad to see her, warming her mom’s ice-cold face with her hands.

”Not long. I was just about to call you when you showed up.”

”Where’s Uncle Liao?”

”He’s at a provincial meeting that’ll last several days. I figured I’d come to see you and Fugui.”

”Don’t tell me you took the long-distance bus yourself?”

”What’s wrong with that? If I tell you folks, you all insist on picking me or driving, this is better. Ten bucks for the ride, then a bus transfer, and here I am.”

Even though Qian’s mom has money now, she remains thrifty from her days as a small vendor.

”I’ve gotta hand it to you, saving a few bucks for all this trouble, what’s the point? What did you bring that’s so heavy?”

”Oh, 100 pounds of wild hickory nuts, 3 free-range chickens, some cured meat, vegetables, oh, right, over 50 pounds of frozen pears! And two large squashes!”

Qian’s mouth twitched, ”All this adds up to nearly 200 pounds, are you treating us like pigs?”

”It’s not just for you; it’s also for Liumei. Plus your sister-in-law in college is nearby, how could I just bring for you? Besides, your brother’s here too; he’ll spend the New Year with you. I’m just prepping some New Year’s goods in advance; this is only part of it, can’t carry everything. When your Uncle Liao returns, he’ll bring the rest.”

Speaking of which, Qian’s mom looked pleased. She had been preparing for her daughter and son for a while.

Qian secretly sighed, thinking thankfully she didn’t bring the home pickle jars along, else their place would be unlivable, reeking of pickles!

”Oh yes, I’ve still got pickled vegetables—a whole jar! I’ll have your Uncle Liao bring it next time!”

Qian froze, ”Mom, keep the pickles for yourself or give them to Liumei!”

”No way, I can’t finish them, plus Liumei can’t have pickled veggies now; she’s pregnant, finds the smell nauseating.”

”But I’m nauseated by the smell too, don’t bring them.”

Qian’s mom glared at her, ”How dare you be picky! Why are you looking thinner? I almost didn’t recognize you; who’s this monkey that escaped?”

Qian took a deep breath, reminding herself to endure—this was her dear mom, her dear mom!