Volume 1, Chapter 41: So Petty

If I could borrow money from Silly Zhu, this year would surely be much easier to get through.

However, Silly Zhu’s recent behavior left Qin Huairu feeling uneasy.

"Should I perhaps throw Silly Zhu a little bone?"

Qin Huairu gritted her teeth inwardly.

Though she despised Silly Zhu's lovesick devotion in her heart, for the sake of her family and Banggen, she was willing to let him take a few minor liberties.

...

After taking a bath, Su Jianshe ate his breakfast as usual and walked Chu Yan to the supply-and-marketing cooperative, teasing a dog along the way.

His luck today wasn't particularly good; the daily check-in only yielded a hundred yuan.

Still, it was not a bad haul for him.

After all, the money given to Silly Zhu was effectively recouped.

However, Su Jianshe was intercepted before he even reached the factory.

"Comrade, the task you asked of me has been completed. Shouldn't you hand over the money now?"

Li Lanhua was seen wearing her heavy red cotton-padded jacket once again.

Though it made her look rather bulky, she still possessed a certain allure compared to ordinary women.

A hint of anxiety flickered across Li Lanhua's face, terrified that Su Jianshe might go back on his word and withhold the hundred yuan.

After all, in this era, one hundred yuan was enough to sustain her through a whole year of arduous labor.

"Su Jianshe, if you dare to welsh on the money and make my efforts go to waste, I will surely ruin your reputation!" she thought to herself, a trace of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes.

Yet, Su Jianshe had no intention of defaulting. He simply asked with mild perplexity, "Hasn't only a single day passed?"

A look of disdain crossed Li Lanhua's face as she spoke bluntly, "Though that brother of yours was green, his stamina was poor and he didn't last long—far below the standard of a normal man. If I hadn't stepped in to stop him yesterday, he probably wouldn't even have been able to walk straight."

Sensing that Su Jianshe had likely guessed her true identity, she simply dropped all pretense.

Understanding the situation, Su Jianshe raised the corners of his lips in a slight smile, handed the money to Li Lanhua, and communicated mentally with the system to confirm that this sum, along with others, would be automatically reclaimed soon. After all, this money was originally a system reward, and he knew full well that this woman had initially intended to frame him.

Watching Li Lanhua hurry away, Su Jianshe felt a mix of emotions. "Silly Zhu, oh Silly Zhu, I've truly gone to great lengths for your sake."

The thought that Silly Zhu would, thanks to his "assistance," contract the exact same ailment as his "dear father" brought an involuntary chuckle to Su Jianshe's lips, filling him with a peculiar anticipation for the future.

Night fell, and the chill deepened.

Silly Zhu dragged his heavy feet on the way home, his mind filled with confusion: "Why is Sister Lanhua ignoring me? Didn't we agree to meet today?" He dragged his broom along, utterly baffled.

The mere thought of Li Lanhua's voice sent an inexplicable surge of heat through his body, one that even the severe cold could not quell.

"Could someone be gossiping about me behind my back? No, Sister Lanhua was introduced by an acquaintance, and the blind date went quite smoothly. That night we..."

Silly Zhu's words trailed off abruptly as he caught sight of Qin Huairu approaching with a vegetable basket in the distance.

His gaze was instantly hooked by Qin Huairu's graceful figure, and he swallowed hard without realizing it.

Feeling as though he were beholding a fairy descending from the heavens, he drifted directly toward her.

"Sister Qin, washing vegetables?"

Hearing Silly Zhu's greeting, Qin Huairu felt a flicker of satisfaction, but recalling her plan, her face darkened. Looking as though she wished to avoid him entirely, she turned to leave.

Though perplexed as to why the Jia family's meals had suddenly become so lavish, Silly Zhu felt a wave of unbearable heat pool in his lower abdomen as he stared at Qin Huairu's retreating back.

"Sister Qin, who upset you? Just tell me, and I'll vent your anger for you!"

Silly Zhu looked Qin Huairu up and down with a lecherous expression, making her skin crawl.

A pang of secret alarm gripped Qin Huairu—why was Silly Zhu acting so out of character today?

She wanted to leave immediately, but remembering she would need to borrow money from him in the near future, she suppressed her revulsion and replied with a hint of displeasure:

"Don't call me Sister Qin, I can't afford such a title! Step aside, I have to go back and cook!"

Hearing this coquettish and petulant tone, Silly Zhu was inwardly overjoyed; Sister Qin truly harbored feelings for him after all.

After all, with Jia Dongxu reduced to a cripple, Sister Qin must surely be lonely.

"Look at you, how could I dare? I've just been a bit busy lately!"

"See, the moment I got off work, I came straight to find you!"

Qin Huairu naturally disbelieved him and probed cautiously:

"Didn't they say someone introduced a match for you? You two are joined at the hip all day—did she dump you?"

Unprepared for such a remark, Silly Zhu panicked for a brief second before regaining his composure.

"Sister Qin, you jest. With my looks, who on earth would introduce a match to me!"

Receiving the reassuring reply she wanted, Qin Huairu hurriedly hoisted her vegetable basket and prepared to leave.

Silly Zhu's predatory gaze remained locked onto her, making her feel thoroughly uncomfortable and casting an inexplicable gloom over her heart.

"I'm heading back to cook then, you should eat too!" Qin Huairu said.

"Will do, Sister Qin!" Silly Zhu replied.

Watching her depart, Silly Zhu recalled the years he had invested in her, and then thought of the soon-to-be-deceased Jia Dongxu. His inner fervor flared up, making him desperately wish he could drag Qin Huairu back into his room right then and there.

So engrossed was Silly Zhu in watching Qin Huairu that he failed to notice Banggen glaring at him from a corner.

"I knew that beast Silly Zhu was always eyeing my mom with ill intentions!" Banggen thought darkly. Observing Silly Zhu's salivating expression and connecting it with Su Jianshe's prior words, Banggen fully grasped Silly Zhu's intentions toward his mother.

The thought that Silly Zhu might become his stepfather filled Banggen with blinding rage. Yet, knowing he was no match for the man, he decided to bide his time and wait for an opportunity.

"Silly Zhu, just you wait!" A chilling glint flashed in Banggen's eyes.

Oblivious to it all, Silly Zhu hummed a cheerful tune as he walked home. At that moment, First Aunt returned from fetching water and asked with a frown:

"Silly Zhu, what are you doing standing out here?"

She had the distinct feeling that the atmosphere in the courtyard had turned bizarre lately. Neither Silly Zhu nor Yi Zhonghai greeted people warmly anymore, especially Yi Zhonghai, who had been darting outside over the past couple of days, muttering incessantly about dealing with Su Jianshe. Yet several days had passed, and Su Jianshe remained completely unscathed.

"Oh, First Aunt, am I not even allowed to stand here?" Silly Zhu's retort left her speechless.

Before she could reply, Silly Zhu bolted away toward his home.

"What kind of person is he! He doesn't even stop to think who helped him out in the first place!" First Aunt fumed indignantly, slamming her washbasin heavily into the sink.

With a sharp clatter, she anxiously cradled the basin to inspect it, terrified it might have suffered a dent.

Meanwhile,

Su Jianshe was washing vegetable leaves in hot water while a newly purchased chicken stewed in the pot.

Chu Yan stood nearby with a flushed face, assisting him by handing over seasonings or tidying up bowls and dishes, the two of them thoroughly enjoying themselves.

After bringing Chu Yan back today, Su Jianshe had procured some extra meat.

As winter set in, meat became increasingly scarce at the supply-and-marketing cooperative, and vegetable prices climbed steadily.

Su Jianshe had exchanged some meat and vegetable ration tickets, hoarding provisions in his storage space to tide them through the winter.

Thanks to the timeless nature of the spatial dimension, neither meat nor vegetables ran the risk of spoiling.

"Xiao Yan, it's getting cold and our coal is running low. We need to stock up. How about taking some time off work together to buy some?"

"Alright, we definitely need coal, and our seasonings are almost out too. We'll need to take the ration booklet to get more; I just hope the price hikes aren't too brutal."

Looking worried, Chu Yan stepped outside with Su Jianshe to fetch water.

Along the way, they crossed paths with Yi Zhonghai, who wore a hat, wrapped a scarf around his face, and draped himself in a heavy cotton-padded coat, looking rather bizarre.

He strode silently into the courtyard. Third Aunt attempted to greet him, but he walked right past her, radiating an anger so palpable it could be felt from afar.

Curious, Chu Yan drew closer to Su Jianshe and asked:

"Jianshe brother, did something major happen at the factory? Why does he look so utterly desolate?"

Glancing at Yi Zhonghai's retreating back, Su Jianshe chuckled softly.

How could he not know what was depressing this old codger?

"He's undoubtedly furious that his mistress couldn't take me down!

"It's just a pity this old fellow still has no idea that the Silly Zhu he treats like a son has, just like me, contracted an incurable disease!

"Only when two people share the same affliction can the depth of their bond truly be displayed!"

Ignoring Chu Yan's puzzled expression, Su Jianshe gently ruffled the crown of his wife's head. Seeing her pout in confusion, he picked up the basin of water and stepped indoors.

"Yi Zhonghai, oh Yi Zhonghai, I truly want to see the look on your face when you find out you've fallen ill!"

Thinking of the old scoundrel discovering he had contracted HIV—and that it came directly from his own mistress—Su Jianshe felt a surge of amusement.

What kind of reaction would that old scoundrel have when the time came?

...

Third Aunt stared in utter bewilderment as Yi Zhonghai departed.

"Strange, could coal prices have gone up? Why else would Old Yi be like this?"

"This is troublesome. Vegetable prices have skyrocketed lately, and if coal goes up too, we won't even be able to afford vegetables. I need to figure out a way to hoard some greens quickly!"

...

Upon returning home, Yi Zhonghai yanked off his hat, slammed it onto the table, and squatted down in a fit of fury.

"What's got into you?"

"You look like you swallowed fire, and Silly Zhu is fuming too. Did something happen at the factory?"

First Aunt carried out a dish, looking at Yi Zhonghai in utter incomprehension; he had never behaved like this before.

"Hmph! What does a woman know? Zhu's position was practically within his grasp, it was just a hair's breadth away!"

The thought of the money given to Li Lanhua made Yi Zhonghai's heart ache as if it were being sliced by knives.

A single garment had cost a full ten silver dollars, yet not only had that bastard Su Jianshe failed to be sent to the police station, but she had even turned him away—what kind of nonsense was this?

Too furious to eat, Yi Zhonghai threw himself straight onto the bed and buried his head under the covers.

"What on earth is going on!"

Night fell, and though every household prepared to extinguish their lights and sleep, the residents of the courtyard tossed and turned, unable to find rest.

This winter was exceptionally biting, and every family was scrambling to prepare winter-proofing supplies. Furthermore, the recent situation of First Master Yi Zhonghai had become the focal point of everyone's attention. After all, he was the highest earner in the entire courtyard. Even Su Jianshe, the cafeteria director, only made around fifty-odd yuan a month—not because the director's position paid poorly, but because Su Jianshe had just stepped into the role and his salary had yet to be adjusted. Besides, the perks of being a cafeteria director went far beyond base pay.

As the cold wind whipped through the doors, Third Master阎埠gui's family hurriedly bolted their doors shut, terrified the chill would invade and the warmth escape. All six members of the Yan family gathered around a dim, flickering lamp to hold a family meeting.

Yan Fugui tapped lightly on the table, officially opening the session: "With the freezing weather setting in recently, I'm sure you've all felt it. Our family is facing a severe test; the cold is everywhere, threatening us!" As an elementary school teacher, even a casual family gathering could not rid him of his pedantic phrasing. Though no one showed overt impatience, inwardly they felt their old man was making a mountain out of a molehill.

However, Yan Fugui's next words instantly galvanized everyone's attention: "We have two stoves in this house, and I have meticulously calculated the daily coal consumption for each!" With that, he pulled a tattered, cobbled-together draft notebook from his pocket.

"The records here are crystal clear: when it's freezing, one stove goes in the eldest's room, and the other in ours! Coal and carbon must be budgeted down to the last piece, no waste allowed! Do not light them during the day; only strike a match when banking the fires at night!"

Seeing their father quibbling so bitterly over coal for heating, the family found it bizarre yet silently accepted it, knowing life had to go on. Compliance became their only option.

"Now, hand over your money. Buying coal and vegetables both require cash, so everyone pitch in!"

Hearing his father demand money, Yan Chengzeng said helplessly, "Dad, can you wait a bit? My wages haven't been paid yet, where am I supposed to get money?"

His father retorted, "If you don't contribute, we'll only use one stove. Anyway, your mother and I aren't afraid of the cold!"

Gritting his teeth, Yan Chengzeng ultimately forked over five yuan. Seeing this, the others reluctantly dug out their meager pocket change, turning their pockets completely inside out for fear the old man would demand more.

Satisfied that they truly had nothing left, Yan Fugui slapped the table and declared, "Good! Then our whole family will pull together to weather this hardship. The cold wind can snap trees, but it cannot break our united family! Blow out the lights and go to sleep now, save electricity!"

Words failed them.

Liu Haizhong's household, however, presented a completely different scene.

"I reckon Yi Zhonghai won't last much longer!"

"He's been dressing all weird these past two days and acting so angry—the neighborhood committee must have come after him!"

"The police officers aren't fools; it must be that there are management issues on his end, and he got caught red-handed!"

At this, Liu Haizhong tapped the table. "Once that Yi Zhonghai goes down, this courtyard will be run by me!"

The prospect of Yi Zhonghai's downfall stirred great excitement in Liu Haizhong. After bustling about for most of his life, his sole ambition was to secure an official post, yet he had only managed to crawl as high as the Second Master of the courtyard. Still, being Second Master wasn't too bad; at least he had dozens of households and hundreds of people under his jurisdiction.

With that thought, Liu Haizhong immediately instructed the Second Aunt to heat up half a pot of wine for him, completely ignoring his sons who looked on with eager eyes. In his mind, "If you want good food, hand your money over to your mother first, then we'll make it. Stop staring!"

Hearing this, Liu Guangtian flared up with indignation.

"Dad, my brother is right. If parents don't treat their children well, the children won't be filial either. Who are you going to rely on for support in your old age? In the end, it'll have to be me and my younger brother!"

Emerging from the kitchen, the Second Aunt cut her son off without a shred of politeness: "We're counting on you for support? You can't even cough up any money, what use are you? Off to bed with both of you!"

Glaring with rage, the two brothers turned on their heels and left.

Over at the Jia residence, Jia Zhang was preparing to sleep when she suddenly roared at Qin Huairu, who was busy in the kitchen: "Qin Huairu, what kind of mother are you? My grandson still isn't back, why aren't you out looking for him?!"