Siheyuan: I just came across and wanted to chase me away

Chapter 1190 Little Dang Helps Keep an Eye on Things

Qin Huairu stood there, her fingers repeatedly fidgeting with the edge of her blue apron, the fabric long since faded from washing and the edges frayed. Her mind was a jumbled mess, like a tangled ball of thread—her ambiguous relationship with He Yuzhu had always been hidden in the shadows, never brought into the open. Lu Jia was He Yuzhu's lawfully wedded wife, her marriage certificate in hand, standing rightfully beside him. If Qin Huairu were to approach her now, she would feel inferior and utterly lacking in confidence.

She stole a glance at Jia Zhangshi, who was smoking a pipe on the kang (a heated brick bed). The old lady was curled up in the corner of the kang, the embers in her pipe flickering as she puffed away. Qin Huairu lowered her voice and said, "Mom, I'll go cook then. Xiaodang and Huaihua have been playing in the yard all morning, they must be hungry."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Jia Zhangshi suddenly sat up abruptly, tapping her pipe against the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), ash falling in a flurry. Her sharp eyes caught sight of Lu Jia leaving the courtyard with a bamboo basket at the gate. Her small eyes darted around, her calculations clicking rapidly, and she grabbed Qin Huairu's arm with the strength of an iron clamp: "Qin Huairu, why are you in such a hurry to cook? Stop for a moment!"

Qin Huairu was pulled so hard she almost bumped into the leg of the kang table. She frowned and struggled, saying, "What are we going to do if we don't cook? The rice in the jar is almost gone, and there's only half a jar of pickled vegetables left on the stove. If we don't cook, the children will have nothing to eat tonight."

Madam Jia spat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), tucked her pipe into her waistband, and glared at her with exasperation: "Are you stupid? What are you cooking! Lu Jia just left, this is a golden opportunity! Why don't you go to He Yuzhu's house and ask for some vegetables? What are you waiting for?" She craned her neck to peek into the kitchen, raising her voice, "Look at Xiao Dang and Huaihua, their faces are as thin as monkeys, their cheekbones are protruding. If we don't give them some oil and fat, they might not be able to hold on! How can you, as their mother, be so heartless?"

Xiao Dang was squatting by the stove tending the fire when the firewood in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud," sending sparks flying and burning her trouser leg. She actually craved meat too, and could even dream of the aroma of meat buns at night, but every time her mother brought back vegetables from He Yuzhu's house, her grandmother would snatch most of them up, leaving her and her younger sister Huaihua with only a few drops of oil from the soup, which already made them feel disgusted.

But Jia Zhangshi's triangular eyes were fixed on her, her gaze like poisoned needles, clearly saying, "If you dare disobey me, you'll be in for a world of hurt tonight." Xiao Dang shivered, a chill running down her spine—she knew her grandmother's methods all too well. Last time she'd argued back, three bruises had been pinched on her arm, and they hadn't faded for days. She quickly gathered firewood and stuffed it into the stove, whispering to Qin Huairu, "Mom, yes, there's nothing on the stove today except pickled vegetables. Go ask He Yuzhu for some. I'll keep an eye on things in the yard for you. I'll tell you as soon as Aunt Lu gets back."

Qin Huairu was a hundred times unwilling, but she couldn't resist her mother-in-law's urging and her daughter's persuasion. After hesitating for a long time, she finally nodded. The family was indeed almost starving. The rice jar was empty, the flour bag was empty, and the children were at the age of growing up. They couldn't really let them eat pickled vegetables and drink thin porridge every day.

As they left, Qin Huairu held Xiaodang's hand, her fingertips trembling, and repeatedly instructed, "Xiaodang, you have to keep a close eye on things. Lu Jia is sharp-eyed and meticulous. If she comes back, give me a signal immediately so I can come out right away, understand? Don't let anything go wrong."

Xiao Dang patted his chest and assured her, "Mom, don't worry! I'll be sitting right by the wall with my needle and thread. I'll see her as soon as she enters the alley. I'll cough three times loudly, and if you hear me, you'd better hurry up and leave. I guarantee nothing will go wrong."

Qin Huairu then composed herself, straightened her clothes, tucked her hair behind her ears to try to look as natural as possible, and hurried toward He Yuzhu's house in the central courtyard.

He Yuzhu was inside the house wiping his precious iron pot, which he had asked someone to trade for it from the countryside. It was thick and durable, and he had polished it until it shone so brightly that you could see your reflection in it. Hearing the courtyard gate creak open, he thought it was Lu Jia returning from shopping. Muttering, "Finally back! I'll make you some stir-fried cabbage with vinegar and two poached eggs," he grabbed a rag and hurried to the door to greet her.

But when he looked up, he saw Qin Huairu standing at the door. His smile froze instantly, as if he had been frozen in place. He quickly stepped forward and closed the gate halfway, lowering his voice to scold, "Why are you here? Have you gone mad? Lu Jia just went out to buy fabric. She might be back anytime. What if we bump into each other now? How am I supposed to explain this to her? If things really get out of hand, I'll never forgive you!"

Qin Huairu peeked into the courtyard and, seeing that there was no one else inside or outside the house, she relaxed slightly. She reached out and tugged at He Yuzhu's sleeve, her voice barely a whisper: "Keep your voice down! Lu Jia went out to buy fabric; she still has to haggle over the measurements and prices, so she won't be back for a while. Xiao Dang is keeping watch at the alley entrance, it'll be fine. Besides..." Her voice lowered further, carrying a hint of ambiguity, "We've done all sorts of things before, things far more dangerous than this, why are we afraid of this now?"

He Yuzhu was speechless, his face flushed red—yes, he had secretly helped the Jia family countless times before, sending them grain, vegetables, and money, always with a heavy heart. Now he was being so dramatic. He sighed, turned, and walked towards the kitchen: "Sister Qin, I've already saved the vegetables you wanted for you—a small bunch of spinach and a piece of leftover pork belly from yesterday. I've wrapped them up for you. Take them and go quickly, don't delay anything."

A hint of gratitude flashed in Qin Huairu's eyes. She quickly followed and took the blue cloth bag from He Yuzhu. She weighed the heavy bag in her hand and could feel the firmness of the meat inside. She felt a little relieved—she could finally cook a dish with meat for the children that night, even if it was just stir-fried spinach with meat, it would still give the children a taste of meat.

But Qin Huairu wasn't satisfied. Looking at He Yuzhu, she said, "Zhuzi, you know how we are doing. Do you think it's possible?"

Qin Huairu's words were quite clear: she wanted money from He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu wasn't stupid; she naturally understood that Qin Huairu wanted money. But wasn't it enough that she gave her vegetables every day? Now she wanted money too? She really didn't know how to be grateful. "Sister Qin, you know my situation. I really don't have any money right now. When I go out to work again, I'll just give Lu Jia a false account, okay?"