Chapter 442: Refusing Qin Huairu

Shazhu was really happy.

Since we're not family, she won't enter our home.

The ancients truly do not deceive me.

Jia Zhangshi is shameless.

Qin Huairu also wore a shameless expression, having become the very person she despised.

Shazhu glanced at Qin Huairu and jeered a few times.

If we go by your meaning, Qin Huairu, your mother-in-law can scold my family, even greeting my eight generations of ancestors, and I and my family can only meekly take the scolding? Since the neighbors are all here, let's do as you say: you stand still, I'll imitate your mother-in-law Jia Zhangshi, using exactly the words she used to scold my eight generations of ancestors, applying them to you, Qin Huairu, without changing a single word. If you, Qin Huairu, accept it calmly without getting angry, I will, in front of the neighbors, apologize to your mother-in-law Jia Zhangshi.

You?

Qin Huairu suddenly didn't know what to say.

Jia Zhangshi's foul language when scolding people.

As Jia Zhangshi's daughter-in-law, she had naturally experienced that taste; the scolding was extremely unpleasant. When her parents came to the capital to rely on Qin Huairu, wasn't it because Jia Zhangshi scolded too harshly, driving Qin Huairu's parents away? Even now, the village still spreads the formidable reputation of Jia Zhangshi as a wicked mother-in-law.

She didn't want to get overly entangled with Shazhu on this topic.

She got straight to the point.

My mother-in-law may be completely wrong, but you can't beat her like this. It's not that I, Qin Huairu, am extorting you; I took my mother-in-law to the hospital, the doctor diagnosed what illness, we treat what illness, and the treatment costs—you must compensate me in full.

Jia Zhangshi quickly echoed in agreement.

Yes, yes, yes, let's go to the hospital; you hit my old woman, her whole body aches, I want you to treat her.

Go ahead! Shazhu waved his hand and said, "When going out, it's best to hire a vehicle; definitely don't walk, lest your mother-in-law faint along the way."

Huairu, let's follow Shazhu's advice and hire a vehicle when we go out.

Jia Zhangshi urged Qin Huairu.

She forgot one thing.

No money.

How to hire a vehicle?

How to stay in the hospital?

Qin Huairu saw Shazhu's expression, clearly indifferent; she worried that if Jia Zhangshi went to the hospital, even if they spent money, Shazhu wouldn't cover the cost. The Jia family, already troubled about how to buy the house, would likely become even more financially strained.

Shazhu, aren't you afraid I'll go to the street office to sue you?

Hehe. Shazhu laughed and said, "To be honest, I am indeed afraid, but whether there will be any result, you won't know until you actually file the complaint."

Seeing Shazhu so fearless and confident.

Qin Huairu immediately felt guilty.

Jia Zhangshi also noticed something was off and abandoned the idea of going to the hospital for a check-up.

These times.

Whether in the village or the city.

Fighting and brawling are too common.

The matter between Shazhu and Jia Zhangshi, at most, is just Shazhu slapping Jia Zhangshi twice; that's the result. The cause was Jia Zhangshi scolding Shazhu's entire family, which is understandable, and the resentment stems from Jia Zhangshi's foul mouth.

If it really escalated to the street office or the steel plant...

It would definitely end with both sides receiving fifty blows each.

Two slaps wouldn't warrant detention; even if the police were called, it would at most be a civil dispute, with some mediation and a warning, and they'd be told not to fight again.

Shazhu wasn't the slightest bit afraid.

At this time, even if you smashed the other's head, afterwards bringing two cans of food to their door and saying a few soft words would settle the matter.

Qin Huairu thought it over.

She changed her tone.

She started playing the emotional card with Shazhu.

Shazhu, I'm just saying this casually; I don't really intend to sue you, nor do I have any thoughts of extorting you. We've lived in the same big courtyard for years, seeing each other without raising our heads, and the neighborly feelings are there.

Shazhu didn't want to continue.

Anyway, having slapped Jia Zhangshi twice, compared to her scolding with foul language, I had the upper hand, so I thought of settling things peacefully.

Anyway, I didn't suffer any loss.

Nothing much happened; let's all go back.

Qin Huairu naturally couldn't let Shazhu just leave like that.

The Jia family's house is still in danger of belonging to someone else's surname.

Without a house, even if Bangeng returns, there would be nowhere to live. If we moved elsewhere, what if Xiao Dang returns and can't find a place?

We must stay.

Stay inside the siheyuan.

"Shazhu, wait a moment." Qin Huairu called out to stop Shazhu, "I have something to discuss with you."

"No talk of borrowing money; I have no money to lend to your Jia family." Anticipating what Qin Huairu would say, Shazhu impatiently said to her, "No talk of borrowing a house either; I don't trust the character of your Jia family."

If it were someone else.

Being refused like this.

They would surely think of another way.

Qin Huairu, however, did not do that; it seemed she had already decided on Shazhu.

"Shazhu, distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors; we both live in the central courtyard. I know my mother-in-law owes you, and I apologize here. You also know our Jia family's situation isn't good. Could you lend us some money so we can settle the house matter, lest Bangeng returns with nowhere to live? As a child, Bangeng even asked you for candy."

Qin Huairu shifted the topic.

She started playing tricks.

I heard Weiguo say that he wants an older brother; Bangeng is around twenty, young and strong, and knows how to look after his younger siblings. I think you would definitely like him, so I'll let him be your adopted son, okay? That way, Weiguo and them would also have a brother, and with Bangeng as their adopted older brother protecting them, surely no one would dare bully them.

Qin Huairu, I have no intention of being someone's adoptive father, and Weiguo and them also have no intention of seeking an adoptive older brother. Besides, I have shallow fortune; I cannot afford a well‑behaved, sensible child like Bangeng. You should just give up on this idea. While you still have time, go visit other neighbors' homes, see if they have money, what our two families' relationship was before, what it is now, and what it will remain in the future.

He finished speaking.

Without waiting for Qin Huairu's reply, Shazhu flashed into his own home and forcefully shut the door.

Behind him stood Qin Huairu on the spot, her teeth clenched in anger.

In Qin Huairu's eyes.

Although Bangeng steals chickens and dogs, fights, and even sleeps with widows, he knows how to look after his sister and occasionally shows filial respect to Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi—for example, after stealing Xu Daming's old hen, he knows to bring back the chicken's rear end as a gift for Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu.

This filial nature.

He is practically the embodiment of traditional virtue.

Shazhu not only didn't want such an excellent adopted son, but also showed a look of dreading to avoid him.

What are you doing?

The persistent Qin Huairu was about to step forward to knock on Shazhu's door when she saw a large group of Security Section personnel surge in from outside; then, under the anxious gazes of the neighbors, they rushed to the rear courtyard, and shortly afterward, Liu Haizhong, Liu Guangfu, and Liu Guangtian—father and sons—were led out of the rear courtyard, followed by Er Da Ma wailing bitterly.