Chapter 684
Look! What is that? It's trash!
Chapter 684 Look! What is that? It's trash!
Two weeks later.
Time flies, and more than half a month has passed since Qin Huairu started working at the steel rolling mill.
With her excellent interpersonal skills, she quickly became one of the workers in the workshop.
Qin Huairu truly lived up to her reputation as a "pure and innocent" person when it came to interpersonal relationships.
With her gentle voice, voluptuous figure, and quick wit that makes her instantly likeable, anyone who sees her will be immediately drawn to her.
The male workers eagerly helped her move materials, and the female workers were happy to chat with her.
In just half a month, Qin Huairu was highly praised by everyone in the workshop as a good woman, and her reputation even spread to other workshops.
Unfortunately, these superficial things cannot hide the hidden truth.
Qin Huairu was still waiting for Li Huaide to say that he would transfer her to another job, but she hadn't heard anything yet and didn't know when she would be able to get the news.
Qin Huairu knows herself well. She has a good reputation, but she is not very knowledgeable and still only has a superficial understanding of fitter's knowledge.
After a long day at work, Qin Huairu returned home feeling a little tired.
As soon as I got back, I started preparing dinner. While I was cooking, I smelled the aroma of meat wafting from the yard.
After washing her nose, Qin Huairu's stomach started rumbling, making her feel acidic. She looked down at her stove.
The cornbread was cracked with the coarse grains, the corn porridge was so thin you could see your reflection, and a dish of pickled vegetables sat listlessly in the chapped bowl.
"Bang Geng, come and bring the food!" Qin Huairu carried the food out.
When Jia Zhangshi saw that it was the same old food again, she couldn't help but complain.
"I'm sick of eating this pig slop every day, and it's so disgusting! It's even hard on my butt when I poop! Qin Huairu, are you doing this on purpose? You make this kind of food every day, and you can't even scrape off a drop of oil!"
"Qin Huairu, I'm not trying to criticize you, but other people can cook delicious food after coming home from work. Why can't you do it?"
Qin Huairu glanced at her indifferently and uttered two words: "No money!"
Without even thinking, Jia Zhangshi retorted, "Impossible! I don't believe you don't have money."
Qin Huairu maintained her indifferent attitude: "No money means no money. Want to eat well? Give me the money. You haven't given me any money this month. If you want to eat, go eat at someone else's place!"
"Go ahead if you're not afraid of being criticized!"
"Hey, Qin Huairu, what kind of attitude is this? Is this how you talk to your mother-in-law? I don't believe you're broke. You've worked so many days, how could you be broke? I don't believe it! You must be hiding somewhere."
Qin Huairu maintained the same attitude, glancing at Jia Zhangshi, as if she wanted to get something for nothing and get her money for free.
Think beautiful!
She wouldn't budge an inch, saying, "I just started working and haven't been paid yet. If you don't have money, you don't have money. If you want to eat something, buy it yourself. If you can eat it, then eat it; if you can't, then go hungry."
Qin Huairu's attitude was unbearable for Jia Zhangshi.
She controls the family finances, so Qin Huairu shouldn't be fawning over her and obeying her every whim. How dare she resist?
Jia Zhangshi glared with her triangular eyes, then suddenly pounded her chest and howled.
"Oh my God! I'm so old, and I still have to be bullied by the younger ones. Old Jia, Dongxu, you two come up and take a look."
"I don't care about my age, but I feel sorry for my grandson. He's so young and has to suffer with us. He's growing up and he's not getting enough to eat. What will happen if he doesn't grow tall?"
Qin Huairu listened to Jia Zhangshi's incessant chatter without paying any attention, letting her cause trouble as she pleased, though she inwardly grumbled.
'You talk too much, showing off. If you really care about your precious grandson, then hurry up and hand over the money! Stop just whining and giving nothing.'
"You received all the compensation Dongxu gave you, and you're still trying to take advantage of me? Dream on!"
Although Qin Huairu was inwardly grumbling, she remained expressionless, ignoring Jia Zhangshi's wailing.
Finally, unable to bear Jia Zhangshi's screams any longer, he could no longer endure them.
"Stop arguing! Eat if you want, get out if you don't! If you want meat, wait until I get paid."
They say that, but they don't really think that way.
Upon hearing that her plan had succeeded halfway, Jia Zhangshi continued relentlessly: "When will we get our wages? If we rely on you to cook us meat, we'll starve to death. Look at how hungry you've made us!"
"You've become so thin you look emaciated! Can't you think of something to help?"
Faced with Jia Zhangshi's questioning, Qin Huairu remained calm: "I have no money, so there's nothing I can do. If you want to eat, you have to endure it. What other way is there?"
It's impossible for me to pay money.
"Why don't you ask someone else for some? If not, just borrow it."
Qin Huairu scoffed, "Borrow? You make it sound so easy. These days, everyone needs food. Where am I supposed to borrow from? Why don't you teach me and show me where you can borrow from?"
Jia Zhangshi's face turned ashen after being reprimanded. She knew her place; if she dared to borrow meat from someone else, she would surely be chased out with sticks.
It's impossible for me to go by myself.
"If someone has meat, of course you'll borrow it from them! Don't you have a nose?!"
Qin Huairu didn't even put down her chopsticks: "I smell a delicious aroma. It's coming from Uncle Er's house in the backyard. Given the relationship between our two families, do you think he would lend it to us?"
"Anyway, I can't borrow it. If you want to borrow it, go borrow it yourself. I don't have the face to do that."
After saying this, Qin Huairu finally put down her chopsticks and slapped them against the side of her face.
Seeing this, Jia Zhangshi felt a surge of inexplicable anger and wanted to unleash it on the spot.
But somehow he held back and turned to look at the stick.
"Bang Geng, my dear grandson, do you want to eat meat?"
"Yes! Yes!" Bang's eyes lit up, staring with his big, round eyes.
But then he quickly looked down and said, "But we don't have any meat at home."
Madam Jia Zhang smiled slyly, "We don't have any in our house, but Liu Haizhong in the backyard does, doesn't he? Your mother isn't going because she doesn't love or care about you."
Hearing this, Qin Huairu became anxious: "What nonsense are you talking to Banggeng about? When have I ever stopped caring for him?"
Upon hearing this, Banggeng knew what to do: "Mom, if you don't cook meat for me, it means you don't like me."
"Hmph, I'm never talking to Mom again! I don't love Mom anymore! You're not a good mom!"
Rumbling--
Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She never expected that after all she had sacrificed for this family and her son, it would end like this.
Qin Huairu couldn't help but burst into tears, her tears filled with her grievances.
Jia Zhangshi pressed her advantage: "Qin Huairu! Did you hear that? Your son wants to eat meat, why aren't you going yet!"
Banggeng seized the opportunity to kick her while she was down: "Mom! I want meat! I want meat! If you don't get me meat, I won't like you!"
Xiao Dang, who was standing to the side, was also craving meat, but she wisely kept quiet, though that didn't mean she wasn't watching her.
Looking at the disgusting faces of the family wanting to eat meat, Qin Huairu felt like dying.
Left with no other choice, Qin Huairu could only try her luck at Liu Liuhai's house.
The Liu family knew Qin Huairu had ill intentions as soon as they saw her carrying a bowl.
"Guangtian, close the door!"
"Ah~"
"Bang!" Before Qin Huairu could get close, the door slammed shut.
Qin Huairu was turned away without even saying a word, and was refused entry.
A wave of humiliation washed over her, and Qin Huairu felt extremely wronged. She longed to cry out back then and burst into tears on the bed.
But when she thought of Banggeng not loving her mother and Xiaodang's longing eyes, Qin Huairu didn't dare to run back.
"Sigh~" After composing herself, Qin Huairu could only try to make up for the lack of meat and went to Yi Zhonghai's house instead.
After explaining the situation to Yi Zhonghai, Yi Zhonghai remained expressionless: "The child is just getting hungry. Take two jin of flour over to satisfy his craving. Don't let the child go hungry."
The older woman nodded and scooped some flour for Qin Huairu. "Thank you, sir and ma'am." Qin Huairu had originally come for meat, but since they had given her flour, she didn't say anything more.
He gave an awkward smile and took the flour back.
When Madam Jia saw Qin Huairu return with flour, she angrily threw down her chopsticks and shouted, "Qin Huairu, I told you to get meat, why did you bring flour?"
"White flour tastes better than meat? Are you deaf?"
Banggeng, fanning the flames from the side, shouted, "I want meat! I don't want flour! Mom, I don't love you anymore! I'm ignoring you!"
Qin Huairu, who had initially felt guilty, suddenly flew into a rage and grabbed the stick, ready to hit it.
But Jia Zhangshi stopped her, shouting, "Qin Huairu, what are you doing! Trying to hit my precious grandson? No way! You can't even get meat and you want to hit my precious grandson? How dare you hit a child?"
After saying that, he pushed Qin Huairu away.
"You can't even get meat, yet you want to beat my precious grandson? No way! You don't care about him, but I do!"
Feeling emboldened by his favored status, Banggeng burst into tears in Jia Zhangshi's arms.
"Grandma! I want to eat meat! I want to eat meat!"
Madam Jia said with a pained expression, "My dear grandson! Your mother is useless. I've let you suffer so much. You can't even get a bite of meat."
"Grandma will find a way to get you some meat. Oh, right, Grandma has some meat coupons. So tomorrow Grandma will take you to buy meat, and it will just be the two of us eating it. We won't give any to the others."
"Meat is delicious, meat is good! We won't let them eat any!" As soon as meat was mentioned, Banggeng immediately grinned and became completely oblivious to his family.
Seeing Banggeng like this, Jia Zhangshi nodded in satisfaction.
"Look, your mother is useless. From now on, you'll live with Grandma and she'll definitely eat and drink well."
"Grandma is so good, Grandma is so kind. From now on, I will stay with Grandma and I won't need Mom anymore."
Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu felt a pang in her heart.
Jia Zhangshi gave an evil smile, letting Bang Geng utter his treasonous words.
Seeing the old man and the child looking at her with hatred in their eyes, Qin Huairu couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.
What can she do if she has no money?
Unable to bear the atmosphere, Qin Huairu covered her face and ran out of the house.
Looking at the empty courtyard, Qin Huairu didn't know where to go.
Looking around, if I had to pick a place to go, it would have to be Sha Zhu's. In the past, I've always been successful with Sha Zhu.
Thinking of this, Qin Huairu composed herself, straightened her clothes, and headed straight for Sha Zhu's house.
"Dong Dong~"
"Who?"
It was He Yushui who opened the door.
He Yushui looked at Qin Huairu standing prettily at the door: "Sister Qin, what's the matter?"
There was a hint of distance in his tone.
Qin Huairu forced a smile: "Yushui, is your brother there? I need to talk to him about something."
He Yushui glanced into the house and said, "My brother isn't home, but my sister-in-law is. Why don't you talk to her if you need anything?"
Qin Huairu waved her hands repeatedly: "No need, no need! It's nothing serious. I'll talk to your brother when he gets back!"
He Yushui nodded: "Okay, I'll tell you when my brother gets back."
I thought the matter was over, but then I heard Sha Zhu's voice.
"Little sister, who is it?"
As soon as Sha Zhu uttered his voice, He Yushui stood there awkwardly.
Qin Huairu stared in shock at the girl she had raised, never expecting her to betray her.
Before the two could think too much, Sha Zhu came out wearing an apron: "It's Sister Qin, what's up?"
Upon hearing Sha Zhu's voice, Qin Huairu couldn't help but burst into tears, sobbing as she spoke.
“Zhu Zi, you have to help me. I really can’t go on like this. My kids are crying for meat, and Bang Geng is crying at home right now.”
"You know my mother-in-law. She won't give me money or coupons; she insists on buying meat. I really have no choice but to ask you for help. But you have to help me, okay?"
Qin Huairu's words were truly moving, and Sha Zhu scratched the back of his head, wanting to refuse to help but unsure how to bring it up.
At this moment, Jin Huainu also came over, looking apologetic.
"Sister Qin, we are really sorry. It's not that we don't want to help you, but we have no choice. We've used up all our meat coupons for this month, and we just finished eating them all."
"My family doesn't have a single meat coupon, so I really can't help you. Why don't you borrow from someone else?"
Qin Huairu heard Jin Huainu's voice but remained unmoved, staring at Sha Zhu with tearful eyes.
Sha Zhu really wanted to help Sister Qin, but as Jin Huai said, they had run out of meat coupons and were powerless to do anything about it.
"Sister Qin, please don't say that. I want to help you, but my family really doesn't have any meat coupons left. We've eaten them all today."
Since Sha Zhu had said that, Qin Huairu knew there was really no other way, and instantly gave up the idea of pestering him.
"Okay, I'll go ask again."
After saying that, he left in utter disappointment.
Sha Zhu looked on with a pained expression, while He Yushui felt awkward and guilty.
On the contrary, Jin Huainu looked at Sha Zhu with hatred.
If the family hadn't just finished eating meat, Sha Zhu might have actually helped Qin Huairu.
Qin Huairu looked around again. The Jia family's reputation had been ruined by Jia Zhangshi, and no one would lend her money.
Xu Damao, impossible.
Li Kailang, impossible.
Cui Yuan is even less likely.
I've thought of the front, middle, and back yards, but none of them are possible.
"How about we borrow those four people from the back room?"
These people are not well-acquainted, so perhaps this is indeed a possibility.
Qin Huairu lifted her foot to walk towards the back room, but stopped after taking only two steps.
"Forget it, they're in the same boat as Bai Xiuwen, they're all in debt, how could they possibly have meat?"
Although she said that, she didn't really mean it. Qin Huairu still had her own pride and didn't want the group of outsiders in the back room to see her in such an embarrassing state.
Having borrowed nothing, Qin Huairu had no choice but to go home dejectedly.
Looking at Qin Huairu who returned empty-handed, Jia Zhangshi cursed, "You're like a piece of trash, useless at everything. What good are you? You can't even do this little thing."
'If it weren't for you dying, and Dongxu were alive, none of this would have happened.' Of course, these words could only be said in his heart.
Turning to look at Banggeng, she said, "My dear grandson, Grandma will take you to buy meat tomorrow, just the two of us, okay?"
"Okay! Grandma is the best, we'll have meat tomorrow! I don't want Mommy!"
Banggeng jumped and hopped, leaning against Jia Zhangshi, looking every bit the doting grandmother and filial grandson.
Qin Huairu dug her nails into her palms, remaining silent.
(End of this chapter)