r18novel Chapter 1177 The Jia Family is Happy
Chapter 1177 The Jia Family is Happy
Lu Jia felt a surge of emotions—the faint scent of soap on him, fresh and slightly sweet, was not the smell of factory fumes at all; it was clearly the "Friendship" brand that Qin Huairu often used! She suppressed the nausea in her stomach and still smiled as she got up, wanting to pour him a glass of water: "You've really worked hard for our family."
He Yuzhu then remembered that Lu Jia had gone to the hospital for a check-up today, and casually asked, "By the way, how did your check-up go? Is the baby okay?"
Lu Jia was surprised that he still remembered this matter, and a hint of mockery flashed quickly in her eyes—he has another woman in his heart, yet he still has time to ask about the child? But she smiled gently and said, "Don't worry, the doctor said the baby is very healthy, the fetal heartbeat is stable, everything is fine."
He Yuzhu was indeed exhausted. He had been tossing food in the factory kitchen all morning, and his arms were almost numb from all the swinging. In the afternoon, he had helped Director Zhu with socializing and drinking with the leaders. At this moment, he felt like all the bones in his body were about to fall apart. He waved his hand and said, "It's good that you're alright. I'll lie down for a while. I'm too tired."
After saying that, he took off his shoes and lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed). As soon as his head touched the pillow, he began to snore evenly. He was half asleep, and there was even a slight smile on his lips. I don't know what he was dreaming about.
Lu Jia stared at his sleeping profile, her nails digging into her flesh until her knuckles turned white with anger. The thought of him and Qin Huairu being so affectionate in public made her want to drag him out of bed and demand an explanation, to tear off his hypocritical facade. But she held back—it wasn't the right time yet.
She gently stroked her slightly protruding belly, where her hopes lay, the foundation of her existence in this courtyard. Her child was her bargaining chip; she couldn't afford to lose it. These days, she intentionally or unintentionally visited Ran Qiuye, bringing her handmade insoles and saying comforting words, all to make her see her "hardships" and gain her sympathy.
Once Ran Qiuye's heart is completely won over, she'll use her to reveal He Yuzhu and Qin Huairu's shady dealings to Gu Nan. Gu Nan is highly respected in the courtyard and has always been upright; he'll never tolerate such sordid affairs. Then, without her lifting a finger, Gu Nan will step in and see how He Yuzhu and Qin Huairu will ever be able to hold their heads high in the courtyard again!
Lu Jia's lips curled into a cold smile, a calculating glint in her eyes. She picked up the needle and thread and continued sewing the shoe sole, but the stitches were much denser and heavier than before, each stitch feeling like a stab into the resentment in her heart.
Inside the Jia family's house, the air was thick with the smell of smoke mixed with a faint musty odor. Madam Jia Zhang sat cross-legged on the kang (heated brick bed), her back ramrod straight, a shiny old pipe twirling in her hand. The embers in the pipe flickered, casting dappled light on her wrinkled face. Hearing the curtain being lifted, she lazily lifted her eyelids, her wrinkles deepening, and said with a hint of impatient annoyance, "Where have you been all this time? The sun's almost setting, the pot's nearly empty, and you didn't even bother to come back and light the fire? Did you expect this old man to cook for you?"
Qin Huairu had just stepped inside, still carrying a bit of the chill from outside, but upon hearing this, she showed no annoyance. Her face broke into her usual gentle smile, like a sunflower facing the wind. She placed the blue cloth bundle she was carrying on the kang table; the bundle was heavy, making the table creak. Untying the tightly knotted rope, neatly arranged green vegetables were revealed inside, glistening with moisture. Beside them lay two pieces of fatty pork belly, glistening with oil, perfectly marbled with fat and lean, looking incredibly fresh.
"Mom, don't be angry." She explained as she carried vegetables to the kitchen, her voice as soft as cotton. "It's because He Yuzhu's factory canteen was too busy and needed someone to help out. He specifically asked me to help pick vegetables and wash dishes, saying he would pay me some cash as wages. I thought it would help with household expenses, so I went. I came back a little late."
Madam Jia's gaze was already fixed on the two pieces of pork belly. Her eyes widened like saucers, and her earlier anger subsided considerably. She no longer cared what she was doing or how late she would return. She tapped her pipe against the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), ash falling onto the mattress. Without bothering to brush it off, she quickly moved closer to the kang table. Her withered fingers pinched the meat, then she brought it to her nose to smell it. Her face crinkled into a smile, like a dried chrysanthemum: "That boy Zhuzi is so sensible! He knows our family is strapped for cash and always thinks of helping out. This meat looks fresh; it must weigh about two pounds, right? Alright, alright, quickly put the meat away so that Huaihua doesn't see it and get envious. Stew a pot tonight, add plenty of water, so I can have some meat and nourish these old bones."
Qin Huairu responded with an "Yes," then turned and sorted the vegetables into the cupboard. She wrapped the pork belly in oil paper and hid it in the bran at the bottom of the jar—the safest place in the house, to keep out mice. Inwardly, however, she sighed, her smile fading slightly. He Yuzhu wasn't actually short of help; the factory cooks were more efficient than anyone else. He just saw how worried Qin Huairu had been these past few days, her cheekbones practically blushing, and deliberately found an excuse to slip her some vegetables, afraid she wouldn't accept them if given to her directly.
But she couldn't say this to Jia Zhangshi, because she wouldn't understand. She would just slap her thigh and mutter, "My Huairu is really capable," and then go to the courtyard to brag to others, saying that He Yuzhu was eager to curry favor with her Jia family.
Jia Zhangshi was already planning how to stew the meat that evening. Her fingers tapped loudly on the kang table as she muttered to herself, "Add more vermicelli, and some diced potatoes. Stew it until it's very tender, with a layer of oil floating on top. Once it's stewed, let the corn..." She stopped abruptly, her smile freezing—the corn had gone to the countryside and wouldn't be able to eat this anymore.
The room was quiet for a moment. Qin Huairu was adding firewood to the stove. The firelight shone on her face, reflecting the complex emotions that flashed through her eyes: gratitude towards He Yuzhu, helplessness towards Jia Zhangshi, and an inexplicable concern for Banggeng.
"...Let Huaihua and Xiaodang have a couple more pieces." Madam Jia smacked her lips, swallowed the rest of her sentence, and started calculating the bill again. "The remaining broth will be great for making noodles tomorrow morning!"
The flames in the stove crackled and leaped, casting shadows that rose and fell on the wall, much like the indescribable days that passed in this courtyard.
While Jia Zhangshi kept urging Huaihua and Xiaodang to eat more, saying that the children were growing, she kept her chopsticks busy as the pork belly in the pot was bubbling and the rich aroma of meat mixed with the salty and savory flavor of soy sauce filled the room.
The meat in the blue and white porcelain bowl was piled up like a small mountain. The streaky pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat trembled precariously, making one's mouth water. The vermicelli, soaked in broth, was slippery and glistening with oil as it swirled in the bowl.