Chapter 256

Qin Huairu thought the neighbors envied the Jia Family's savings, and, adhering to the principle that the Jia Family must not be wealthier than them, she wrote a letter specially summoning the eldest aunt back to the Siheyuan to fetch the money.

Big Aunt again generic. No new.

In her heart, Qin Huairu harshly greeted the enthusiastic neighbors and the big aunt, yet a smile squeezed onto her face as she looked at the big aunt with a beaming grin.

But this smile of hers, in the big aunt's eyes, was as foul as dog dung— the more disgusting, the more disgusting.

They paid no heed to Qin Huairu's false affection.

: same.

Qin Huairu, also the neighbors, and also our family's Lao Yi's money.

Also neighbours generic.

Qin Huiru, Big Aunt. No new.

: same.

: same.

: same.

The Jia Family's life in the Siheyuan could only be described as every step a struggle.

Unexpectedly, the Jia Family's ample wealth was exposed, earning them a reputation as the richest household in the Siheyuan; under these circumstances, the Jia Family could forget about squeezing profits from the neighbors by pretending to be poor.

steel mill (Yagangchang). Also maybe public outrage generic.

: generic.

Jia family. No new.

Bangeng (Bangeng), Jia family, over two thousand yuan (amount). Also arranged marriage to take a wife generic. Also banquet, bride price, three turns and one sound maybe a term? three turns and one sound is a phrase maybe a custom? Not a named entity. So we add Bangeng.

Big Aunt. generic.

Bangeng. Already.

Xiao Dang (Xiao Dang), Huaihua (Huaihua). Also dowry generic.

Even if this money were to be given to the big aunt, only a tiny portion could be given.

Qin Huiru, Jia family, Jia Zhangshi (Jia Zhangshi), steel mill (Yagangchang), courtyard house (Siheyuan). Also mother-in-law generic.

Qin Huiru, Huaihua, Big Aunt. Already.

: same.

Sometimes, being unreasonable works better than reasoning.

: ellipsis.

Jia Zhangshi (Jia Zhangshi). Also small alley generic.

: generic.

The person who stopped her this time was dressed entirely as a rural woman.

In Jia Zhangshi's eyes, a hint of contempt flashed involuntarily.

The woman seemed not to notice Jia Zhangshi's look of disdain, and smiled at her.

big sister generic term of address (like big sister) not a rank; exclude.

: same.

She was moved by the money the woman mentioned.

: generic.

Jia Zhangshi might suspect that the person was setting a trap for her.

Yet, facing the woman before her, Jia Zhangshi let down her guard.

She wore cloth shoes with a torn opening exposing her toes; the left shoe had mud on it, and the right shoe's sole had chicken droppings.

: generic.

: generic.

Jia Zhangshi even noticed, with sharp eyes, a stain on the woman's ankle.

Her legs were covered in patched gray cloth trousers, her upper garment a blue-striped jacket with several patches, and her face showed the dust of travel.

When looking at Jia Zhangshi, the woman's expression wavered between anxiety and hope.

: generic.

"Don't blame me, big sister, I came to the city today to find someone; the head of the household gave me an address, but I never expected the city to have changed so much, it's completely different from when I came to the city over ten years ago."

: generic.

You came to the city today but still rely on the layout from ten years ago— good luck finding anything.

: generic.

: generic.

"I've gotten so lost I don't even know the way, big sister— do you recognize this place?"

The woman handed the slip of paper to Jia Zhangshi.

Jia Zhangshi had attended a literacy class for a period of time.

: generic.

She glanced at it, and indeed knew where the address written on the slip was— an alley not far from where she currently stood.

"Go straight from this place, when you reach the front turn left, then keep going; when you get to the intersection, turn right and continue straight; when you see a half-body statue, turn right and walk ten meters— that's it."

"Big sister, you're truly a good person; I thank you, I bow to you."

: generic.

: generic.

: generic.

Speaking to Jia Zhangshi, he said: "Big sister, logically, since you showed me the way, I ought to follow the head of household's wishes and not let you work for nothing; I want to discuss with you—where nearby is a toilet? Not to use it, but because I came to town today, the head of household worries I might lose my money, so he had me sew the money into my underpants; I need to find the toilet."

Indeed, she is a woman from the countryside.

She hid money in her underpants.

She also had an outhouse.

That's called a toilet.

A look of contempt flashed across Jia Zhangshi's face once again.

She thought for a moment.

It seemed there really was no outhouse nearby; if there was one, it was far away, but that place happened to be not far from the address the woman was looking for.

For the sake of the money.

Jia Zhangshi decided to kindly take the woman.

"After thinking, I'll still take you myself, old woman that I am. Look at you—you clearly didn't hear a word I said."

"Big sister, you're truly divine; I'm not afraid of your teasing—I don't know a single character. Just now, when you spoke to me, it went in one ear and out the other. With you leading me to find the place, I can rest assured; once I get there, I will surely give you." The woman paused, her tone resolute, and said, "I'll give you five cents, big sister."

Even a mosquito is small.

It is also meat.

Who says five cents isn't money?

Jia Zhangshi took the woman's hand and walked toward the address written on the woman's slip.

On the way.

They chatted intermittently.

Mainly, Jia Zhangshi asked questions and the woman answered.

It didn't take long.

Jia Zhangshi then learned the woman's background.

According to the woman's account, her surname is Liu, her husband's family name is Jia, his given name is Ren, and the villagers call her Jia Liushi; she came to the city this time to find someone to see a doctor.

What specific illness.

The woman didn't elaborate.

Undeterred, Jia Zhangshi tried several more times to pump her for information, but to no avail.

The woman gritted her teeth and refused to say anything.

Jia Zhangshi then gave up on trying to pump her for information.

She took the woman to the outhouse, accepted the warm five-cent coin the woman handed over, and watched as the woman entered the small hut beside it.

About three or four minutes.

The woman came out of the small hut.

Before entering, her face bore a worried look; upon exiting, she wore an expression of relief.

Jia Zhangshi also noticed, with keen eyes, that the woman was holding a yellow piece of paper that, from afar, looked like a talisman.

Her heart stirred.

Isn't this the ghost-catching expert I've been desperately seeking?

No wonder the woman refused to speak.

Thinking of the present.

Jia Zhangshi also felt relieved.