After sitting down again, Sha Zhu asked in a muffled voice.
"Why should I move out just because I took care of Sister Qin's family? Everyone in this courtyard knows that the Jia family, with its orphans and widows, has had a hard time. If anyone is spreading rumors, you can tell them to go and help the Jia family instead."
“Silly Zhu, if these rumors spread too much, it won’t be good for everyone’s reputation. Besides, Master Cai is a very easy person to get along with.”
Seeing this, Liu Haizhong coughed lightly and continued, "This is just a temporary measure. Think about it, there have been too many rumors lately, which is not good for your reputation. Besides, you are only staying for a month."
"Yeah, Sha Zhu, do you know why, at your age, no one's introduced you to anyone?"
Yan Bugui sat down, looking earnest and earnest, "Isn't it all because of your ambiguous relationship with Qin Huairu? There were rumors about it even when Jia Dongxu was still around. Now that Qin Huairu is a widow, do you think everyone will believe that nothing's wrong between you two?!"
Sha Zhu's eyes darted around. "Fine, I can move out, but you'll have to fetch water from the Jia family's water station for the next month."
Sha Zhu has already made up his mind; he'll hide in the kitchen for the next couple of days and order some Qin Huairu.
First, he couldn't bear to see Qin Huairu being bullied; second, he couldn't help her, and if he forced his way in, he would be punished.
So frustrating.
It's good that we move out; at least we won't see each other in the yard.
The group exchanged bewildered glances. No one had expected things to go so smoothly. Sha Zhu had actually agreed to move out for a month! Had the sun set in the north?!
"You can rest assured about that."
Liu Haizhong gestured to Xu Damao to bring out cigarettes for everyone to enjoy. "Yi Zhonghai has already agreed to insulate the well in the courtyard. The residents will take turns getting up early to use hot water to irrigate it, since they have to get up early to fetch water anyway."
Yan Bugui was a little unsure, so he squinted and asked tentatively, "Hey Shazhu, what you're saying now isn't just drunken talk, is it? Don't come tomorrow morning and deny what you said tonight."
"Old Yan, who do you think you are? You're a man of your word."
Sha Zhu took a sip of tea. "If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."
Seeing this, Liu Haizhong didn't stop him: "Okay, then pack up and move in tomorrow. We originally said it was a rental, the rent was one yuan, but we, your third uncle, will each pay three mao for you."
When Yan Bugui heard that he had to pay money, he got a little anxious, but Liu Haizhong glared at him and he swallowed the words he was about to say.
After Sha Zhu left, Yan Bugui said, "What's going on? Why do we have to pay for this?"
"If you let them move out, you should definitely pay for it."
Xu Damao took out his wallet and slapped it on the table. "Three cents for a month of peace and quiet, that's a good deal!"
Yan Bugui stammered as he reached into his pocket: "I, I don't have that much. I only have these two cents, and that's for buying cigarettes."
"Put it here quickly."
Liu Haizhong snatched it from Yan Bugui, saying, "Since we've become the managers of this compound, we have to be prepared to contribute. We can't let Da Bao, a resident, pay for it. Fine, I'll cover the remaining 50 cents."
"Old Liu is generous."
Wang Dabao offered a timely compliment, making Liu Haizhong beam with joy.
The next day, Sha Zhu indeed packed his things and moved away.
In the days immediately following Sha Zhu's departure, Xu Damao would loiter around the yard every day, looking quite smug.
The courtyard seemed much quieter without Sha Zhu.
That evening, Yi Zhonghai stood at the Jia family's door with a small half-bag of mixed flour in his hand.
"Sister-in-law, Huairu..."
With a creak, the door opened, and Qin Huairu came out wearing a coat.
"It's Uncle Yi. Is there something urgent that you need so late?" Qin Huairu said as she put on her cotton-padded coat.
Even in the dim light, Yi Zhonghai could see clearly that when Qin Huairu straightened up to put on her clothes, the two large sashes made him dizzy, instantly making him wish he were twenty years younger.
Jia Zhangshi's voice came from inside the house, "It's Master Yi, come in and talk to him."
"No, sister-in-law, I brought some mixed noodles. I'll give them to Huairu and then head back," Yi Zhonghai said, handing the bag forward with one hand.
"Thank you, Uncle Yi. You still remember our family."
But when Qin Huairu reached out to take it, Yi Zhonghai also reached out with his other hand and firmly grasped Qin Huairu's small hand in his.
Qin Huairu was startled, but after the incident where Yi Zhonghai from the factory had groped her, she was somewhat prepared.
Yi Zhonghai kept his eyes on the movements inside the room while gently stroking Qin Huairu's small hand.
“Huai Ru, if you have any difficulties at home, just tell Uncle Yi. Now that Dong Xu is gone, Uncle Yi will definitely take care of you.”
As he spoke, Yi Zhonghai kept moving his face closer to Qin Huairu's neck, his eyes fixed on the outline of her large blouse revealed by the unbuttoned cotton-padded jacket.
Although Qin Huairu was mentally prepared, her body still stiffened.
Sha Zhu had touched her hand before, but he had never been as bold as Yi Zhonghai in getting this close to her.
"Huai Ru, say something, or your mother-in-law will come out."
Yi Zhonghai whispered in Qin Huairu's ear.
Qin Huairu immediately blushed upon realizing what was happening, and then said, "Don't worry, Uncle Yi, I'll definitely let you know if I have any difficulties in the future."
Yi Zhonghai didn't push his luck, after all, they were still at the Jia family's doorstep. He was just using the darkness to test Qin Huairu's attitude and bottom line.
This test delighted Yi Zhonghai.
Qin Huairu didn't shout or resist, and Yi Zhonghai immediately understood what was going on.
However, he quickly let go of Qin Huairu's hand. "Alright, Huairu, you go in now. I'll head back."
Qin Huairu caught her breath and felt her face was no longer red before carrying the flour bag into the house.
Yi Zhonghai stared intently at Qin Huairu's back, her swaying waist making him restless. No wonder Zhu Zi was captivated; anyone would be mesmerized by her!
Once inside, Qin Huairu, fearing that Jia Zhangshi would notice something was amiss, carried the flour bag directly into the small kitchen at the back.
"It's Uncle Yi! How much mixed noodles did he bring?"
"It weighs about ten pounds."
"Why didn't Old Yi send it over sooner? He only sent it after I was already in bed. I think he had ulterior motives," Jia Zhangshi muttered to herself.
What was said in jest was taken seriously by the listener; Jia Zhangshi's words did indeed startle Qin Huairu.
That's ten jin and two liang of flour; she couldn't refuse.
Qin Huairu was in the small kitchen, her heart pounding for a long time.
She knew Yi Zhonghai had ulterior motives, but for the sake of those ten jin and two liang of flour, and for the sake of the Yi family's ability to barely make ends meet, she could only endure it for the time being.
Silently tell yourself that as long as you hold onto your bottom line, everything will be fine.
But Qin Huairu was conflicted. Sha Zhu's usual care for her family was always aboveboard, but now that they were forced to move out, Yi Zhonghai, who had ulterior motives, was becoming more and more brazen.
She worried that if this continued, she would really not be able to cope.
If I had avoided contacting Yi Zhonghai alone, I doubt the incident of sending him the mixed noodles would have happened.
But if her reputation is ruined, then Madam Jia will not tolerate her at home.
Qin Huairu had a difficult night, tossing and turning until late into the night before finally falling asleep.
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