"What else could it be!"
Yan Bugui glanced at Yi Zhonghai and said slowly, "Everyone knows the Jia family's current situation. Jia Dongxu is paralyzed, his mother is unreliable, and Qin Huairu, a woman, has to raise her child and take care of the sick man. It's tough for her. Shouldn't we think about how to help them?"
"Looks like I was judging you by my own petty standards! Old Yan, Old Liu, you two are so magnanimous!!"
Yi Zhonghai paused for a moment, then solemnly said to Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong, "To be honest, I've been thinking about how to bring this up with you all night. I'm thinking that Dongxu is paralyzed, and everyone knows about his family's situation. It's not easy for Qin Huairu, a woman, to support this family all by herself!"
Sha Zhu caught up and said, "I've been helping Qin Huairu for a while now, but look at how suspicious Jia Dongxu is. He doesn't appreciate my kindness at all."
Xu Damao chuckled, glanced at Shazhu while smoking a cigarette, and replied in a sarcastic tone.
"Silly Zhu, everyone in the compound probably knows about your little scheme. You're up to no good. Helping Qin Huairu? How have you helped her? Nobody's seen you hand over your salary to Qin Huairu!"
Just as Sha Zhu was about to retort, Liu Haizhong quickly stopped him: "Da Mao, Sha Zhu, you two stop arguing. The important thing is to talk about the present. I was thinking that each of us should take turns delivering some food to Qin Huairu and Jia Dongxu at the hospital. Every little bit helps."
"Also, we need to find out about Jia Dongxu's work injury situation. This is something that you, Yi Zhonghai, will have to handle."
Liu Haizhong's last words were directed at Yi Zhonghai.
To be honest, Liu Haizhong felt that the cigarettes Yi Zhonghai offered him today were even better than Zhonghua cigarettes. One puff made him feel refreshed, and two puffs made him feel like he was floating on air.
"I'll talk to the factory leaders and see if we can give the Jia family more compensation." Yi Zhonghai nodded in agreement.
"I remember that Qin Huairu could cover for someone like Jia Dongxu, right?"
Xu Damao, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, wrapped his cotton-padded coat tighter around himself. "If Qin Huairu could go to work at the factory, it would alleviate the Jia family's situation, wouldn't it?"
Yi Zhonghai nodded: "Da Mao is right, there is such a precedent, but Huaihua is still too young, I estimate that even if Qin Huairu were to fill in, it would take some time."
"However, I will report this to the leadership. After all, given the Jia family's situation, the factory should take care of them."
As they chatted, they entered the courtyard. Finally, at Yan Bugui's invitation, Liu Haizhong, Xu Damao, Yi Zhonghai, and Shazhu went to Yan Bugui's house to discuss matters related to helping the Jia family.
Before long, Yi Zhonghai's wife, Jia Zhangshi, and other women returned.
However, all of these people went to the Jia family.
Yan Bugui couldn't bear to make tea for so many people, so he directly found cups and bowls, poured some hot water, and let everyone warm up.
Xu Damao spoke first: "Everyone, let me tell you something. The Jia family's situation is right in front of us. Jia Zhangshi is greedy, lazy, and cunning, and Jia Dongxu is now paralyzed. They also have three babies to feed. What do you think we'll do if Qin Huairu is given a worker's status and then she kicks the Jia family out of the house?!"
"Xu Damao, what the hell are you saying?!"
Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu immediately became displeased. "You can eat whatever you want, but don't talk nonsense. Qin Huairu is a very nice woman; she wouldn't do something like what you're saying."
"Not necessarily, you can only know a person's face but not their heart!" At this moment, Yan Jiefang came out of the house. "Think about it, Qin Huairu works all day and then has to take care of this family of several people when she gets home. Who can stand it for long? Take Jia Zhangshi, that kind of old hag who expects to cook for her and have Qin Huairu come home from get off work and have a hot meal. Don't even think about it."
"After a long day at work, I still have to cook and do laundry, then I have to take care of Jia Dongxu's changing, and then there are three kids waiting for me. Just thinking about it makes me want to collapse, let alone her, a woman."
Yan Jiefang's words struck everyone like a heavy blow to the heart.
At this moment, even Sha Zhu, who had just been defending Qin Huairu, fell silent.
How can this be explained? Yan Jiefang's words are perfectly reasonable. Everyone in this compound knows Jia Zhangshi very well. Qin Huairu can only dream of having dinner after work!
If you want to eat, you have to cook it yourself, and you also have to cook it for the whole family.
For nearly ten years, no one has seen Jia Zhangshi near the pool in the middle courtyard when she was washing clothes.
"Just look at Jia Zhangshi's plump and well-off appearance. If you go out and say that your family is poor, how many people will believe you?!" Yan Jiefang continued, not letting up, after seeing that his words had stunned everyone.
"Alright, alright."
Seeing the awkward situation, Yan Bugui quickly waved his hand to stop his second son from continuing: "Let's not talk about this for now. The key now is how to help the Jia family get through this difficult time."
"I think each family should contribute some money and food first, according to their ability, to help the Jia family get through this period of time."
Liu Haizhong pondered for a moment, then looked up at Yi Zhonghai. "Old Yi organized donations to the Jia family too many times before, which has led to everyone being resistant to donating money and grain to them now."
"Old Yi, I'm not making a fuss about this. You can ask everyone if you don't believe me."
Yi Zhonghai blushed slightly, but when he heard Liu Haizhong call him Old Yi, he understood that the other party was truly considering the Jia family's interests.
No matter what past grievances there were, he has to let them go now.
"Old Liu, I accept your criticism. I was wrong before. I really didn't expect the Jia family to encounter such a disaster. It's a complete catastrophe!"
Yan Bugui sighed as well, "That's why even if we organize donations, each household won't contribute much. Besides, the New Year is just around the corner, and there are many expenses; no one is exactly flush with cash!"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
At this moment, Sha Zhu suddenly spoke up: "How about this, I'll make a statement. Salaries are about to be paid, and although my salary isn't much, I'm willing to take out half of it to help the Jia family get through this difficult time."
Sha Zhu's words stunned everyone, and they all turned to look at him.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Sha Zhu chuckled. "I'm just a bachelor, there's no use keeping so much money in my hands, I might as well do some good deeds."
Xu Damao snorted, "Silly Zhu, you're really generous! You probably want Qin Huairu to be grateful to you and throw herself into your arms! Wait, that's not right, you injured your arm and didn't work many days, so half of your salary probably isn't much, is it?!"
"It doesn't matter how much I have. I'm willing to donate half of it. If you're envious, you can donate too."
Sha Zhu glared at Xu Damao and retorted irritably.
Yan Jiefang slumped his face in displeasure: "Alright, so that's what it is. It turns out that a month's salary isn't much. No wonder you're willing to spend it, Sha Zhu."
Just then, the curtain was lifted, and Yan Jiekuang led Wang Dabao in.
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