Chapter 170: Being a Widow: The First Point, Shanghuan

What a pretty face, a young widow with lingering charm—if she went to Yagangchang, who knows how many smelly Yagangchang men she'd bewitch.

Jia Zhangshi, stroking Qin Huairu's cheek, wore a dazed expression.

Her tone gave no hint of good or bad, seeming calm and bland, yet Qin Huairu sensed a strong threat.

Compared to Bangeng and Xiao Dang.

Qin Huairu cared even more for Huaihua.

Her heart.

Her heart thumped.

A hint of hesitation rose, worrying that Jia Zhangshi, stimulated by the pain of losing her son, might do something reckless.

Panic was understandable.

After all, she's a woman.

"Mom!"

Qin Huairu's cry of 'Mom' finally gave the calm Jia Zhangshi a different look, and the madness in her eyes faded considerably.

"Dong Xu is dead, yet you can still call me Mom—how rare; I expect before long you won't be able to say that word at all."

There's meaning behind the words.

The shrewd Qin Huairu.

How could one fail to hear the sourness in Jia Zhangshi's words?

She then spouted a mix of truth and falsehood, saying a bunch of things she herself didn't believe.

"Dong Xu, you are my mother; Dong Xu is gone, yet you are still my mother. I can work at Yagangchang, taking Dong Xu's post. If I neglect you, how could I face people? The neighbors would stab me in the back! The workers at Yagangchang would look down on me." Qin Huairu grabbed Jia Zhangshi's hand, showing as much sincerity as she could, "Mom! You were my mother-in-law before, you are my mother-in-law now, and you will remain my mother-in-law."

"Although I know you're lying, my heart still feels warm."

Jia Zhangshi was manipulating Qin Huairu.

Deliberately turning the term 'Mom' from her self-reference into my address.

In other aspects.

Jia Zhangshi might not be as good as Qin Huairu, nor as good as Yi Zhonghai.

But in the matter of being a widow,

Jia Zhangshi's level is that of a patriarch.

Especially in the years after Old Jia's death, all sorts of people were far more complicated than nowadays, and the environment was incomparable to today's.

Jia Zhangshi, newly widowed, was also a charming widow with lingering allure.

She had seen every storm!

"Huairu, nowadays widow remarriage is advocated; there's no old-fashioned saying that a man's death forbids a widow from remarrying, and I'm not an unreasonable person. If you think the other person is decent, someone worthy of entrusting your life to, and you want to remarry, I wholeheartedly approve."

Qin Huairu's heart.

It jumped again.

To her, the Jia family.

It really is a pit of fire.

But she knew that even if she wanted to remarry, she couldn't do so right now.

Just after Dong Xu's death, Qin Huairu took the job earned with Dong Xu's life and threw herself into another's arms; even if she used the identity of a widow seeking happiness as a shield, countless people would still spit at her.

Unless she returns the Jia family's job to the Jia family.

Qin Huairu is unwilling to return the job to the Jia family; it's her reliance for shaking off shackles and becoming the mistress of the house.

There is another, more important factor.

That is Yi Zhonghai!

Outsiders don't know the inside story, but as the party involved Qin Huairu does, and she knows even more what this means for Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhonghai, who had painstakingly planned for his old age his whole life, greatest wish was to have a son to support him in his old age and see him off.

Huaihua's father is Yi Zhonghai, beyond doubt.

The key is Bangeng.

Yi Zhonghai could never let Bangeng call someone else father.

The Head Steward of the Siheyuan, a Level 8 Technician at Yagangchang—either identity could easily handle Qin Huairu.

In other words,

Yi Zhonghai had become a great mountain blocking Qin Huairu's path to happiness and remarriage.

Wanting to remarry,

is really not easy at all.

Moreover, Jia Zhangshi isn't sincerely letting Qin Huairu remarry.

This point,

Qin Huairu still knows this.

The Jia family's house belongs to Yagangchang; if Qin Huairu remarries while bringing her job, Jia Zhangshi would have to move out of the Jia house, but Jia Zhangshi is lazy and fond of eating, everyone in the Siheyuan finds her annoying—how would she survive? Returning to her rural hometown, Jia Zhangshi is unwilling.

All these factors,

Jia Zhangshi is merely using this as a pretext to warn Qin Huairu.

Like the pot calling the kettle black.

They're all playing tricks.

Jia Zhangshi was manipulating Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu was also stringing Jia Zhangshi along.

"Mom, I still say the same thing—I won't remarry."

"Huairu, don't be stubborn—I too came from being a widow, how could I not know what's on your mind?" Jia Zhangshi continued to follow her plan step by step, "My old self doesn't need to manage this, but Bangeng and Xiao Dang are your responsibility; though they are the Jia family's bloodline, after all they are your children, and they call me mother—you know what kind of person I am. They've followed me, and I reckon they won't live past tomorrow. If you take them with you when you remarry, this is the only request I, as an old woman, have of you."

His gaze turned to the portrait of Jia Dongxu placed to the side.

They intended to use Jia Dongxu's portrait as the basis for the discussion.

"I think this is also what Dong Xu would have wanted; if you remarry, even if he's dissatisfied, I'll go underground and tell him—it's nothing to do with you."

Qin Huairu's heart.

Chilly, chilly.

At this time, in this era.

To marry a widow who brings four children from her previous husbands is a super-deluxe "four baggage" package—ordinary people can't afford such a burden; if one does marry, it can only be to someone widowed or of poor circumstances.

It fundamentally cut off every possible retreat for Qin Huairu's remarriage.

Would Qin Huairu dare to remarry without bringing the children?

Jia Zhangshi went to the neighborhood office; the office could scold Qin Huairu to death. Jia Zhangshi went to the steel mill; the mill could actually fire Qin Huairu.

Just three words.

Can't afford to provoke.

Only then did Qin Huairu understand Jia Zhangshi's true intention; she suddenly realized that taking a temporary post at the steel mill was tantamount to binding herself tightly to the Jia family's leaky boat—if she gave up the Jia family job, her remarriage would lose all those conditions and restrictions.

"Mom, we're only half‑fed; if I take these four kids and marry into another family, adding their own children, would this even be a life? I know you worry, you worry I won't support you. Facing Dong Xu, I'll speak frankly: you will always be my mother‑in‑law, and I will see you off."

"If I don't remarry, then I won't."

Jia Zhangshi also knew the matter couldn't be accomplished overnight.

In situations that call for tension.

It's urgent.

In situations that call for relaxation.

We need to relax.

Constant pressure will make the plan possibly fail, producing the opposite effect.

Having reaped certain victory, Jia Zhangshi began the second step of her scheme.

Have Qin Huairu get an IUD!

Fundamentally cut off Qin Huairu's possibility of bearing children.

Thus, once Qin Huairu has an IUD, even if she remarries she won't bear children for her new husband; essentially this guarantees that Bangeng, Xiao Dang and the other two will continue to receive Qin Huairu's maternal love.

If Qin Huairu does not remarry, her having an IUD will also ensure the Jia family doesn't lose face.

If a husband dies, his widow's daughter‑in‑law becomes pregnant a year later—should this ever come to light, the neighbors would laugh their heads off.

What Jia Zhangshi intends to do is exactly what her mother‑in‑law did—she is dealing a vicious blow to widows and daughters‑in‑law.

"Huairu, Mom is asking you this final question: you really won't remarry?"

Looking at Jia Zhangshi, who had suddenly become solemn before their eyes.

Qin Huairu suddenly felt ill at ease, her heart thumping nonstop; she truly had no idea what medicine Jia Zhangshi was selling from her gourd.

A moment later, she was hysterical.

A moment later, she was sincere.

She didn't know which was the real Jia Zhangshi.

She glanced at the four children lying on the bed.

Qin Huairu let out a long sigh.

Even if she wanted to remarry, Yi Zhonghai would not consent.

"I won't remarry—I won't remarry. I'll keep Bangeng and the others; motherless children look like weeds, suffering alongside you. If I take them with me when I remarry, people probably won't like it; if they beat and scold the flesh I've lost, what would I do? Forget it—I won't remarry. Since you managed to raise Dong Xu to adulthood, I can raise them too."

"Ah!"

Jia Zhangshi let out a sigh.

It contained much bitterness and hardship.

Being a widow.

Difficult.

Being a widow with several burdens.

Even more difficult.

"Huairu, you've suffered; the Jia family has burdened you. Rest assured—Mom will go to the neighborhood office tomorrow to see what work is available. The two of us must support Bangeng and the others, raise them to adulthood, and see them marry and have children."

This was Jia Zhangshi's groundwork persuading Qin Huairu to get an IUD.

Once again, it was an old trick of playing the emotion card.

"The conditions at home are already poor, and you've even had twins!" Jia Zhangshi burst into tears, her eyes streaming as she looked at Qin Huairu. "Huairu, Mom is telling you the truth: I truly don't want you to remarry. If you remarry, the Jia family will cease to be the Jia family; if you don't, I feel I've let you down. Huairu, Mom kneels before you."

Taking advantage of the moment when Qin Huairu wasn't paying attention.

Jia Zhangshi fell with a plop, knelt before Qin Huairu, and knocked her head three times—thud, thud, thud.

Truly ruthless.

When a mother‑in‑law kneels and kowtows to her daughter‑in‑law, even doing it three times.

One cannot help but say.

In order to prevent Qin Huairu from remarrying, Jia Zhangshi truly went to great lengths.

Karmic retribution cycles.

Back then, Jia Zhangshi's mother‑in‑law kowtowed to her, saying over and over that the Jia family had burdened her; now it's Jia Zhangshi's turn to kowtow to Qin Huairu, insisting firmly that the Jia family needs Qin Huairu to stay.

As always, it was fast.

Before Qin Huairu could even react to the speed, Jia Zhangshi had already finished kneeling and kowtowing to her.

Mom, hurry up and get up—I'm your daughter-in-law, you're my mother-in-law. How can you treat me like this? I can't bear it.

Translation: "Mom, hurry up and get up, I'm your daughter-in-law, you're my mother-in-law, how can you be like this? I can't bear it."

I can't bear it.

You can handle it—I'm not speaking as your mother-in-law right now; I'm representing the Jia family, specifically Bangeng, Xiao Dang, Huaihua, and Bangchui.

Translation: "You can bear it; I'm not acting as your mother-in-law now, I'm representing the Jia family, representing Jia family's Bangeng, Xiao Dang, Huaihua, and Bangchui."

Bangeng, Xiao Dang, Huaihua, Bangchui

The atmosphere had been vented to the extreme.

The atmosphere had been vented to the extreme.

It's time to make the topic clear.

Translation: "It's time to bring up the topic." Or "We should make the topic clear now." We'll say "It's time to make the topic clear."

Get an IUD.

Get an IUD.

Jia Zhangshi, who had been helped up by Qin Huairu, looked at Qin Huairu and suggested getting an IUD.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi, helped up by Qin Huairu, looked at Qin Huairu and put forward the suggestion of getting an IUD."

Huairu, you said you don't want to remarry, you want to take care of me, your mother-in-law, and also Bangeng and them; Mom knows you're a good person, but Mom was blind before, I gave you dirty looks and caused you much grievance; in front of Dong Xu, Mom apologizes to you and hopes you'll forgive Mom—Mom is just a clueless old woman from the countryside; listen to Mom, after a while Mom will take you to the hospital to get an IUD.

Huairu, you said you don't want to remarry, you want to take care of me, your mother-in-law, and also Bangeng and them; Mom knows you're a good person, but Mom was blind before, I gave you dirty looks and caused you much grievance; in front of Dong Xu, Mom apologizes to you and hopes you'll forgive Mom—Mom is just a clueless old woman from the countryside; listen to Mom, after a while Mom will take you to the hospital to get an IUD.

Qin Huairu froze in an instant.

Translation: "Qin Huairu froze in that instant."

She had thought of everything.

Translation: "She had thought of everything."

She had never considered getting an IUD.

Translation: "She had never considered getting an IUD."

What does getting an IUD mean?

Translation: "What does getting an IUD mean?"

Qin Huairu knew.

Translation: "Qin Huairu knew."

Huairu, don't resent Mom; as widows our life isn't easy, getting you an IUD is for both our Jia family and your own good—you should understand what Mom means; we have no choice, since we are widows, to avoid future embarrassment.

Translation: "Huairu, don't blame Mom; as widows, our life isn't easy, letting you get an IUD is both for our Jia family and for your own good; you should understand what Mom means, there's no way around it—since we are widows, to avoid future embarrassment."

Huairu, don't resent Mom; as widows our life isn't easy, having you get an IUD is both for our Jia family and for your own good—you should understand what Mom means; there's no choice, since we are widows, to avoid future embarrassment.

Qin Huairu lowered her head.

Translation: "Qin Huairu lowered her head."

She didn't know whether to refuse or accept Jia Zhangshi's kindness.

Translation: "She didn't know whether to refuse or accept Jia Zhangshi's kindness."

After careful consideration.

Translation: "After careful consideration."

She still accepted Jia Zhangshi's IUD proposal.

Translation: "She still accepted Jia Zhangshi's IUD proposal."

At worst, we can have it removed later.

Translation: "At worst, we can have it removed later."

"I'll do as you say," Qin Huairu said, then told Jia Zhangshi, "Mom, I'm going to the eldest uncle's house."

Translation: "\"I'll listen to you, \" Qin Huairu said, then added to Jia Zhangshi, \"Mom, I'll go to the eldest uncle's house. \"

the eldest uncle's house

Go ahead, child—I'm watching. Times have changed. Dong Xu is here, so this affection remains; if Dong Xu weren't here, the affection would be gone. As Dong Xu's wife, you can go see the eldest uncle.

Translation: "Go, child; I'm watching you—times have changed, when Dong Xu was alive this affection existed, now that Dong Xu is gone the affection is gone too; as Dong Xu's wife, you may go see the eldest uncle."

Go ahead, child—I'm watching. Times have changed. Dong Xu is here, so this affection remains; if Dong Xu weren't here, the affection would be gone. As Dong Xu's wife, you can go see the eldest uncle.

Then I'll go over.

Translation: "Then I'll be going."

Qin Huairu pushed the door and walked out.

Translation: "Qin Huairu pushed the door and went out."

Watching her retreating back.

Translation: "Watching her receding back."

Jia Zhangshi's face instantly filled with menace.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi's face instantly filled with a sinister look."

Her gaze turned to Dong Xu's portrait.

Translation: "Her gaze turned to Jia Dongxu's portrait."

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Translation: "Tears welled up in her eye sockets."

My son, you just died like this! Rest assured, I will watch over Qin Huairu for you, I will watch Qin Huairu raise Bangeng, Xiao Dang and them; if she wants to remarry, no way—I, an old woman, will drag her along even if I die, making her keep her widowhood for you.

Translation: "My son, you just died like this! Rest assured, I will watch over Qin Huairu for you, I will watch Qin Huairu raise Bangeng, Xiao Dang and them; if she wants to remarry, no way—I, an old woman, will drag her along even if I die, making her keep her widowhood for you."

My son, you just died like this! Rest assured, I will watch over Qin Huairu for you, I will watch Qin Huairu raise Bangeng, Xiao Dang and them; if she wants to remarry, no way—I, an old woman, will drag her along even if I die, making her keep her widowhood for you.

Jia Zhangshi murmured softly, for the first time turning her gaze to the two newborn children, examining them closely.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi, muttering softly, for the first time turned her gaze to the two newborn children, examining them closely."

She furrowed her brow.

Translation: "Her brow furrowed."

She noticed that the two children, though called twins, were clearly off in age.

Translation: "She noticed that the two children before her, though called twins, were clearly off in age."

Generally speaking.

Translation: "Generally speaking."

Bangchui seemed a bit older than Huaihua.

Translation: "Bangchui seemed slightly older than Huaihua."

Looking at the two children, they bore no resemblance to Dong Xu at all.

Translation: "Looking at the two children, they bore no trace of Dong Xu's demeanor at all."

Jia Zhangshi, who had never doubted before, felt a surge of suspicion, and involuntarily recalled the words Dong Xu had spoken to her a few days earlier.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi, who had never doubted before, felt a doubt arise, and involuntarily recalled the words Dong Xu had spoken to her a few days earlier."

"Mom, if something happens to me, go find Shazhu, have Shazhu go find the neighborhood committee and public security,"

Translation: "\"Mom, if something happens to me, go find Shazhu, have Shazhu go find the neighborhood committee and public security, \""

"Mom, if something happens to me, go find Shazhu, have Shazhu go find the neighborhood committee and public security,"

The crucial information that followed.

Translation: "The crucial message that followed."

Jia Zhangshi couldn't remember.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi couldn't recall it."

She pounded her head with her hands.

Translation: "She pounded her own head with her hand."

Suddenly she remembered the letter Dong Xu had given her.

Translation: "Suddenly she remembered the letter Dong Xu had given him."

"Mom, keep this letter safe; if something happens to me, take the letter and go find Shazhu, have Shazhu bring the letter to the neighborhood committee and public security."

Translation: "\"Mom, keep this letter safe; if something happens to me, take the letter and go find Shazhu, have Shazhu bring the letter to the neighborhood committee and public security. \""

The letter!

Translation: "The letter!"

Jia Zhangshi clung to this as her last straw, frantically searching for the letter.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi felt as if she had grasped the last straw, desperately searching for that letter."

Too bad.

Translation: "Unfortunately."

She found nothing.

Translation: "She found nothing."

……

Translation: "……" (ellipsis). We'll output "……" as is.

Shazhu's home.

Translation: "Shazhu's home."

The couple finished their meal.

Translation: "The couple finished their meal."

They chatted aimlessly, off and on.

Translation: "They chatted aimlessly, off and on."

They talked about Yi Zhonghai.

Translation: "They talked about Yi Zhonghai."

They talked about Qin Huairu.

Translation: "They talked about Qin Huairu."

Perhaps because she is a woman, seeing Qin Huairu become a widow yet having four children to support, Yu Li sighed from the heart.

Perhaps because she is a woman, seeing Qin Huairu become a widow yet having four children to support, Yu Li sighed heartfeltly.

"Qin Huairu's life isn't easy,"

Translation: "\"Qin Huairu's life isn't easy, \""

"Daughter-in-law, you're wrong—Qin Huairu's life isn't bad; she's better off than anyone."

Translation: "\"Daughter-in-law, you got that wrong—Qin Huairu's life isn't bad; she's better off than anyone. \""

"You mean Yi Zhonghai?"

Translation: "\"You mean Yi Zhonghai? \""

Shazhu nodded.

Translation: "Shazhu nodded."

With that hypocrite Yi Zhonghai around,

Translation: "With Yi Zhonghai, that hypocrite, around,"

Qin Huairu's life won't be as hard as people imagine.

Translation: "Qin Huairu's life really won't be as tough as people imagine."

"What do you think he's thinking, having you help that widow Qin Huairu?"

Translation: "\"What do you think he's thinking, having you go help that widow Qin Huairu? \""

A widow's gate invites gossip.

Translation: "A widow's gate invites much gossip."

Even if it's a kind-hearted assistance, we must let her, Shazhu's wife, go to help, but the hypocrite keeps urging Shazhu to go help Qin Huairu.

One is a young widow whose husband just died.

One is Shazhu, who just married a wife.

Yu Li thought Yi Zhonghai had ulterior motives.

"I warn you, stay away from that Qin Huairu from now on, otherwise I'll take the child back to my parents' home and you'll never see your son for the rest of your life."

Shazhu's gaze.

It landed on Yu Li's belly.

A faint surprise appeared on the face.

"When did this happen?"

"Can you predict it ahead of time?"

"It got me excited for nothing; I even thought I was going to be a father, but it's not."

What followed was a bunch of irrelevant chatter, sometimes about the eastern family's elders, sometimes about the western family's trivialities.

They were chatting about that.

Jia Zhangshi pushed the door open and walked in.

Shazhu instantly became as confused as a monk two zhang tall, a bit unable to make sense of his own thoughts; Yu Li beside him was even more bewildered.

The Jia Family and the He Family, though both reside in Zhong Yuan, have a relationship akin to enemies.

Strange.

Jia Zhangshi came to the door.

This is really a huge strange thing.

Yu Li recalled that over the past few days, she seemed to have had no disputes with the Jia Family, except for the incident involving Bangeng and Xiao Dang.

Shazhu also had figured out the root of this matter.

The couple had always thought that Jia Zhangshi came to seek revenge for Bangeng and Xiao Dang.