Chapter 176: The Jia and Zhang Clan's Plot Against Yi Zhonghai

The proposal to reduce the quota.

Deputy Factory Director Li did not agree.

That can be said.

Even if the top three heads of Yagangchang were bound together, even if Deputy Factory Director Li were given a titanium-alloy dog's gall, he still wouldn't dare agree.

A lesson from past mistakes.

Jia Dongxu's death caused the annual Yagangchang Workers' Skills Competition to be postponed by several months; everyone, from the top boss down to the temporary janitor, focused all their energy on one thing.

Safety study!

The vigorous Yagangchang hundred-day safety education campaign was launched in full swing.

To cooperate with this safety education activity, the heads of Yagangchang shouted out a simple, easy-to-understand slogan.

Eat your fill and work on safety!

Under these circumstances.

If we really listened to Shazhu's suggestion, on top of the already reduced one-third quota, cutting the supply by another quarter could trigger huge consequences.

Deputy Factory Director Li couldn't bear such responsibility.

As for secondment.

Even less possible.

Everyone is lacking something.

Where would I send you for secondment?

Even if seconded, they'd only do it for the face of Yagangchang's top two leaders; as the First Deputy Factory Director in charge of logistics and security, Deputy Factory Director Li might still have some standing at Yagangchang, but before the leaders of other big factories, he wouldn't count for a scallion.

He's neither the Yagangchang secretary nor the factory director; why would they give him face?

This is one aspect.

On the other hand.

If Deputy Factory Director Li steps forward, other factory leaders will feel unappreciated.

Shazhu thought of a possibility.

Internal strife.

The internal strife between Deputy Factory Director Li and Yagangchang's top two leaders.

In this current shortage, Yagangchang's top two leaders would love to see Deputy Factory Director Li embarrassed, so they can find fault.

Ah!

Shazhu sighed inwardly and shook his head helplessly.

Deputy Factory Director Li opposite also let out a sigh.

Professional matters should be left to professionals; they consulted Shazhu for ideas because it related to cooking, wanting to hear the opinion of Shazhu the head chef, but Shazhu gave them a proposal he himself could never adopt.

"Yuzhu, if I spread what you just said, what do you think the workers would say?"

"I reckon even spittle could drown me." Shazhu livened the atmosphere with a joke, then once again raised the topic of food: "I remember the Security Section has weapons; if necessary, we could organize its people to go hunting—wild boar, rabbits, goats."

"You think I haven't considered that? You came back late, you don't know some things—because of hunting, Yagangchang was once publicly criticized."

Hungry stomach.

That's the crux.

What you thought of, others could think of too—for example, hunting: the factory has the Security Section, the village has the militia, both armed; in a situation where wolves are many and meat scarce, a single wild boar weighing hundreds of catties often triggers a bloody incident.

"Yuzhu, now you know why I won't let those Security Section people go hunting, right? Last time they went, they were stopped straight away by villagers who said the mountain belonged to their commune; even if they caught game, it would have to be handed over; if not, the elders would lie down on the ground, the youngsters would sit, and you'd still get criticized. Sometimes I wonder if we could make food from tree leaves, seeing grass by the road, thinking animals can eat it—could humans too?"

Deputy Factory Director Li was just venting complaints.

But Shazhu opposite him suddenly had an idea.

Think about the present.

And look to the future.

If he weren't a reborn person, he probably wouldn't believe that later generations, to lose weight and pursue so-called green food, would compete with livestock for grass.

Shazhu's restaurant once featured this as its main dish for a time.

Stir-fried tree leaves.

Stir-fried green grass.

Grass once eaten by cattle and sheep is now eaten by people; people wear clothes while animals wear them on their bodies; the son is called Gou Dan, yet the puppy keeps calling each one my baby.

"Li Ge, I have a plan."

Deputy Factory Director Li turned his gaze to Shazhu; perhaps because of the previous quota reduction experience, his eyes held little strong expectation.

Basically, it's that kind of perfunctory 'you go first'.

"You know I've been doing support work outside for five years; in those five years I've done nothing but cook or think about cooking; sometimes in the wild, ingredients run short while the number of people to feed doubles—guess how I managed?"

"Grass?"

"After my research, plants like grass and tree leaves, if added in a certain proportion to the ingredients, can be eaten as food."

"Any side effects?"

"If added in small amounts, there are hardly any side effects; if added a lot, besides diarrhea, there's no major problem."

Deputy Factory Director Li is also someone who can take up and let go.

He then agreed to Shazhu's proposal.

To save face.

He came up with the pretext of learning from the hardworking predecessors.

Put simply.

Remember bitterness, think of sweetness!

Besides the 100-day safety education study activity, Yagangchang added another seven-day activity of recalling hardships and thinking of sweetness.

……

Siheyuan.

Jia Family.

After feeding the two children their milk.

Qin Huairu gazed thoughtfully at Shazhu's house diagonally opposite; not knowing why, whenever she saw Yu Li's face lit with a happy smile, her heart would involuntarily be touched by a faint bitterness.

Jealousy welled up.

She thought that if she had married Shazhu instead of Jia Dongxu, perhaps she wouldn't have so many troubles now.

Under thirty years old.

Yet her husband died.

She was also personally taken by her mother-in-law to the hospital to have an IUD inserted.

In order to scheme against Yi Zhonghai, she adopted a club.

Could it really be fate!

A bitter smile appeared at the corner of her mouth; the object of her envy in her mind shifted from Yu Li to Xu Daming in an instant. Initially, Xu Daming had been ordered to sabotage the match, but she had listened to Yi Zhonghai's words and taken Jia Dongxu as a good match. Xu Daming might be a bit of a playboy, yet he truly treated his wife Lou Xiaoe well, daily treating her as if she were an ancestral deity to be served; it was said he even quarreled with his parents over Lou Xiaoe. If she had married Xu Daming, she would certainly be better off than being stuck here as a widow.

Qin Huairu became the Qin widow!

Just thinking of this term.

Her heart would ache terribly.

One misstep.

Every step a mistake.

Ah!

The sigh that had been in her heart ended up escaping from her mouth.

Jia Zhangshi, sitting beside her, showed a hint of displeasure on her face; as a widow who had been widowed for over thirty years, she clearly knew why Qin Huairu sighed.

Nothing more than lamenting her bitter fate.

Even a bitter fate must be endured.

"Huairu, I do not look down on you, Shazhu, stop thinking about it, for our Jia Family."

The last five words, Jia Zhangshi deliberately emphasized her tone, meaning that Qin Huairu and the Jia Family are like two grasshoppers tied to the same rope—none can escape.

You won't even catch a cold; you should put away those thoughts you shouldn't have. People say even if they weren't married, they wouldn't marry a widow with four kids like you, the canteen team leader at Yagangchang earning over fifty, there are plenty of girls better qualified than you lining up to marry Shazhu; you have no chance.

Every word like a knife.

Every sentence like a sword.

Especially the words 'Marrying a widow with four kids like you—you have no chance,' which struck Qin Huairu like a ten‑jin hammer, hitting her hard.

It made Qin Huairu instantly starkly awake.

Yu Li was an unmarried young woman; during the time Shazhu was away, she truly lived up to the saying 'eldest sister-in-law like a mother'.

She, Qin Huairu, though called a widow dragging four children like oil bottles, was actually a widow package bringing Jia Zhangshi, Bangeng, and their one adult and four small children—marrying her meant six mouths to feed, surely heading for ruin.

What could she use to compete with Yu Li?

Just because you are a widow.

Just because you bring your mother‑in‑law and four children behind you.

Don't pretend to be indifferent.

"Mom, I said before, I will take care of you for life."

"Do you believe your own words?" Jia Zhangshi changed her tone, trying to provoke Qin Huairu, "If you really have the ability, to push Yu Li aside and marry Shazhu, I, the old woman, will not only not stop you from remarrying, I will wholeheartedly support you with both hands and feet; the question is, do you have that ability? Compared to Yu Li, what advantages do you have? You are nothing but shortcomings."

Inside the Siheyuan.

Shazhu's days were first‑class.

If one really managed to hitch a ride on Shazhu's family's good fortune.

Jia Zhangshi would love that.

When Jia Dongxu was alive, the Jia Family's reputation came first; after his death, the Jia Family's reputation gave way to its interests, and as long as there were sufficient interests, Jia Zhangshi could do anything, including personally arranging a match between Qin Huairu and Shazhu, and so on.

She just thought about it.

With Yu Li present.

Why would Shazhu bother with Qin Huairu?

In looks, character, reputation, conduct and so on, Yu Li leaves Qin Huairu behind by many Jiēdào.

The reason for provoking her.

It's just a matter of trying to get a date, whether there is one or not.

If it succeeds, it succeeds.

If it fails, it fails.

She had already made preparations in her heart; otherwise she wouldn't have personally taken Qin Huairu to the hospital for an IUD insertion.

Do they really think Jia Zhangshi has never been a widow?

Throwing a tantrum is one of her ways to protect her interests; it remains her magic weapon for defending her rights. Qin Huairu, whoever she wants to marry, whoever would marry her, must at least gauge the attitude of the tantrum‑expert Jia Zhangshi, which in effect cuts off her path to remarrying.

That is why she kindly comforted Qin Huairu.

That is also a tactic.

Even after her husband died, they don't allow her to grieve for a few days.

Just as Jia Zhangshi's mother‑in‑law once comforted Jia Zhangshi, every word reveals calculation, calculation on how to be a good widow of the Jia Family.

"Shazhu, forget about Qin Huairu; Xu Daming in Hou Yuan is about the same."

Qin Huairu's heart jumped.

She furtively glanced at Jia Zhangshi from the corner of her eye, feeling guilty; seeing Jia Zhangshi still bowing her head, stitching the shoe soles, the stone in her heart finally settled.

That moment.

She really thought Jia Zhangshi had discovered Qin Huairu's secret with Xu Daming.

Shazhu went to support back then; Xu Daming took advantage of the opportunity when Qin Huairu and Jia Dongxu were at odds, and gave Qin Huairu a kind word of comfort.

A spring breeze once!

This matter, known only to you and me in Qin Huairu's heart, even kept Yi Zhonghai in the dark.

She probably wouldn't have thought of that.

There is still one person in the Siheyuan who knows this matter.

Shazhu!

Truly good, brother.

The day after he succeeded, Xu Daming told Shazhu about it.

He had a mind to show off.

More of his thought was to drag Shazhu along to experience it, saying things like 'fertile water doesn't flow into outsiders' fields', the opportunity is rare—once you pass this village there's no such shop.

Angry, Shazhu turned his head and asked the matchmaker to propose marriage to Yu Li.

"Xu Daming's wife is the daughter of a Yagangchang shareholder, a wealthy person; if you cozy up to Xu Daming, through him you can bring Lou Xiaoe's family's belongings into our Jia Family, and I, the old lady, will give you a thumbs-up."

Qin Huairu's heart.

Increasingly cold.

Before, there was nothing, but her head felt dizzy and heavy.

But now, she genuinely felt the sorrow of being a widow.

"A widow's gate attracts much gossip; people previously had no dealings with our Jia Family, and now that I'm a widow, are they muddle-headed to come flocking? You, don't say anything; as I say, whatever kind of life we can live, we'll live that kind of life."

"Shazhu won't do, Xu Daming won't do, then only Yi Zhonghai will do."

Qin Huairu's heart, which had just calmed down.

Again frightened, her heart lifted halfway into the air.

Fortunately, she gritted her teeth.

Only then did the sound of her inhaling cold air not escape her mouth.

She panicked.

What relation Yi Zhonghai has to herself, who Huaihua's father is, and how Bangeng came to be—only the party involved, Qin Huairu, knows.

That saying came true.

She felt guilty.

Many things.

If others don't speak, she herself panics a bit.

"Yi Zhonghai is Dong Xu's master."

"I didn't say Yi Zhonghai isn't Dong Xu's master." Jia Zhangshi stopped her work, turned her head to look at Qin Huairu, and said, "Qin Huairu, what are you feeling guilty about?"

"Your words are too frightening." Qin Huairu thought of an excuse, "He's a grade-eight worker, the Head Steward of the Siheyuan."

I didn't say it wasn't, either.

"Mom." Qin Huairu, forcing herself to calm down, feigned composure and said, "What exactly do you want to say?"

Yi Zhonghai and his wife are childless.

"What's wrong with being childless? Isn't the deaf old lady in the rear courtyard also childless?"

"Qin Huairu, you're usually quite sharp, how did you get muddled now? The deaf old lady in the rear courtyard is childless; she worries that after her death there will be no one to handle her affairs, so she treats Yi Zhonghai as her own son, protecting him; Yi Zhonghai and his wife are also childless, and they also worry about their own afterlife."

Jia Zhangshi brought up the inside story of Yi Zhonghai accepting Jia Dongxu as a disciple, in order to add weight to what she was saying.

"I have something to tell you, but you must not speak of it. When Yi Zhonghai initially took Dong Xu as a disciple, he secretly planned to let Dong Xu handle his after‑affairs, so everything in the courtyard went our Jia Family's way, and in the Yagangchang he everywhere protected Dong Xu. Unfortunately, Dong Xu had an ill fate and died early, so Yi Zhonghai and his wife's plans came to nothing. Do you understand what I mean?"

"You mean, I should go to the Head Steward and say that our Jia Family will take care of their after‑affairs?"

"Hehehe." Jia Zhangshi let out a scornful laugh, "Yi Zhonghai is the type who won't act unless he sees a rabbit—telling him to support the elderly and bury the dead, would he believe it? Yi Zhonghai wouldn't believe it, even if I said it, he wouldn't nod. My meaning is, you got an IUD, and Yi Zhonghai became childless because the senior lady couldn't bear children."

"Mom." Qin Huairu pointed at the photo of Jia Dongxu on the wall, and firmly rebutted Jia Zhangshi, "Dong Xu can see that; you are his mother, his birth mother, and you, in front of your son, are letting his wife do that sort of shameful thing—how would Dong Xu view it? I cannot do that; I, Qin Huairu, want to keep my dignity."

I, Qin Huairu, want to keep my dignity!

It came out almost as a gritted‑teeth hum, each word jumping from the gaps between her teeth.

Her whole being felt a sense of relaxation spreading from inside out.

This was the first time Qin Huairu, since marrying into the Jia Family, had spoken out against Jia Zhangshi with full justification.

"What's the point of keeping face? What's the point of not keeping face? If it weren't to uphold the Jia Family's reputation, would I really have brought you to get an IUD? Dong Xu is gone, the times are like this, Bangeng is growing, the old saying goes: 'half‑grown children eat their poor parents.' There are many people in the household, but you earn little, and the street office hasn't assigned any work to me, the old lady. If we don't think of some other wicked scheme, the kids will likely go hungry. Whether Dong Xu watches or not, it doesn't matter—worst case, when I, the old lady, go down below, I'll kneel before him and apologize; all the faults will be borne by me alone."

Jia Zhangshi's gaze moved from the photo to Qin Huairu's person.

She felt the pressure coming from Jia Zhangshi.

Qin Huairu inexplicably dazed for a moment.

Is this still that shrewish, troublemaking mother‑in‑law?

And these methods—who taught her these? They're utterly depraved; moreover, they prevent you from using righteousness to suppress him.

Oh, the children.

Four children, four mouths crying out for food.