Chapter 498: Qin Huairu, Who Sacrificed for Her Son

The next day.

Qin Huairu arrived early at the brigade headquarters.

She wanted to hear what Lao Ma Tou had to say.

Matters must be handled one by one.

Regarding bringing Bangeng back to the city, Qin Huairu prepared to implement it in three stages.

First stage.

Persuade Lao Ma Tou to leave Shi Jiahong's three children behind.

As long as Lao Ma Tou doesn't let the three children follow Shi Jiahong, the task that Jia Zhangshi entrusted to Qin Huairu is half accomplished.

Even a tiger does not eat its own cubs.

As a mother, Shi Jiahong could not possibly ignore her three children; if she alone followed her later husband to the city to enjoy happiness, doing so would ruin her reputation, and her natal family would also lose face before the villagers.

The second stage focuses on one theme.

Divorce.

If Lao Ma Tou keeps the three children, and Shi Jiahong also cannot bear to part with them, we must find a way to persuade Shi Jiahong to divorce Bangeng.

If Shi Jiahong ruthlessly ignores the three children and insists on going with Bangeng to the city to enjoy happiness, she too must divorce Bangeng—a divorce that comes at a cost.

Qin Huairu is prepared to spend money.

How much money to spend?

Or not spend a single cent.

It depends on the concrete results of the first part.

As a notorious schemer in the Siheyuan, Qin Huairu pretended to be casually chatting, learning from the villagers that Lao Ma Tou had gone to the commune yesterday; she guessed he had gone to the commune to discuss bringing Bangeng back to the city.

Today she purposely rose early and appeared before Lao Ma Tou.

Just as she entered the door.

She put on a smiling face and asked Lao Ma Tou: "Brother Ma, what do you think about the matter we discussed yesterday? It's not that I, Qin Huairu, am being petty; it's that the child is not of my own blood, so he will never feel close. Our Jia Family has only Bangeng as a son, and his grandmother longs to hold a great-grandson. Among the three unfilial acts, having no heir is the greatest. We are all parents—please understand my situation as a widowed mother."

Her eyes began to redden.

Playing the pitiful one.

This was a routine Qin Huairu had planned before coming.

She had considered it all night yesterday.

She thought it necessary to pretend to be poor.

Otherwise, Shi Jiahong would lion‑like open her mouth demanding a high price from the Jia Family before agreeing to divorce Bangeng, and the Jia Family would end up losing more than gaining.

Last time, because Bangeng slept with a widow, they demanded a thousand bucks to let it go.

That thousand bucks.

That really would take the Jia Family's life.

It would also ruin Xiao Dang's whole life.

"I guess Jiahong has already got an IUD. As a widow, she can't fool me. I'll speak frankly to Brother Ma: if she goes back to the city with Bangeng, she must remove the device and bear a few children for Bangeng and our Jia Family. Think about it—if Bangeng has his own child and Jiahong has a child with Bangeng, could they still wholeheartedly care for Gou Dan and his two siblings? If they disagree, they'll beat Gou Dan; since they feel no affection, what can you do?"

Qin Huairu's tone.

The more she spoke, the more urgent she became.

Her facial expression was also one of consideration for Lao Ma Tou.

"Anyway, Brother Ma, what you don't see doesn't worry you. Gou Dan and the others are being bullied, not allowed to eat, and at night they sleep in the doghouse—you don't see any of this. The best solution, just as I told you yesterday, is to let Gou Dan and the kids stay with you, Grandfather, so they won't suffer. Having children makes life, makes family happiness. Brother Ma, as your sister‑in‑law, I bear no ill will toward you, nor am I afraid that Gou Dan and the others will go to the city with Bangeng; I am simply laying the facts plainly before you."

"What you say makes sense. Since they're not my own blood, where could I feel affection? If Gou Dan and the others really are being bullied, even as their grandfather I am powerless."

Seeing Lao Ma Tou's attitude loosen a bit.

Qin Huairu decided to strike while the iron was hot.

"Brother Ma, this is what I think: as long as Gou Dan and the others stay with you and fulfill their filial duty, as long as they don't go to the city to suffer, I will take charge—later I will have Bangeng send them some money, whether monthly or as a year‑end lump sum; we'll discuss the amount then, whether ten or twenty bucks. You'll certainly not lose out, and Gou Dan and the others won't be wronged."

Qin Huairu's calculation.

Not bad.

She intended to sway Lao Ma Tou with twenty dollars, but while she was scheming against him, he was also scheming against her.

"Elder sister, regarding Bangeng's matter, come to my house tonight and we'll talk slowly." Lao Ma Tou glanced around and said, "This place isn't suitable for such talk; if Jiahong's natal family overhears, it would be bad for both of us."

Hearing Lao Ma Tou say that.

Qin Huairu was overjoyed.

The worry in her heart finally settled.

Her thoughts afterward.

It seems the focus will be on persuading Shi Jiahong to divorce Bangeng.

……

At noon.

Old Ma Tou, who was eating dinner on the kang, told his wife Ma Liushi to hide in the cool room that evening; he needed the room to have a proper talk with Qin Huairu.

A couple of many years.

How could they not know what scheme Lao Ma Tou had in mind?

This was lust stirring.

Ma Liushi's face showed some embarrassment as she muttered a few sentences softly to her husband.

"Head of the household, Qin Huairu is Bangeng's mother. You're discussing matters with her in our home, yet you want me to hide in the cool room—isn't that a bit improper? With many people talking, if word gets out that you're bullying Qin Huairu, you'll be ruined; then who will I rely on?"

A hint of a cold smile.

It appeared on Lao Ma Tou's face.

He glared at his own wife.

His attitude was very resolute.

"There's nothing inappropriate about it—Bangeng can bully San Mao Lv's wife, so I, the former father-in-law of Shi Jiahong, can turn around and bully Bangeng's own mother, Qin Huairu! This is tit for tat!"

No one should blame anyone else; if you must blame someone, blame Bangeng for giving Old Ma Tou's deceased son, San Mao Lv, a green hat, leaving San Mao Lv unable to rest even in death.

Old Ma Tou didn't believe Qin Huairu would obey.

He also wasn't worried that Qin Huairu would cause a scene.

She's a smart woman; hearing that her conduct at the Yagangchang factory wasn't exactly proper, what's so difficult about going together to Mount Wu?

The initiative.

In Old Ma Tou's hands.

Unless she doesn't want Bangeng to recover.

……

Eight o'clock in the evening.

Qin Huairu, having finished dinner, casually made up an excuse and, under the cover of night, went to Old Ma Tou's house.

Just entered the house.

Then she discovered that Old Ma Tou had casually slid the bolt on the house door.

Qin Huairu's heart suddenly jumped.

Her gaze swept over the room.

She felt that things were somewhat amiss.

On one hand, Old Ma Tou's wife, Ma Liu Shi, was not present; on the other hand, the curtains on the glass had already been drawn.

"Ma Ge, is Sister-in-law not here? Otherwise I'll come again tomorrow."

Qin Huairu stepped forward, intending to leave.

But just as her words fell.

Old Ma Tou seized Qin Huairu's arm, not waiting for her reaction, and pulled her into his embrace.

"Little Sis, you really smell nice."

Qin Huairu was stunned.

Do I smell good?

People at the Yagangchang factory all say Qin Huairu smells bad.

People in the Siheyuan also all despise Qin Huairu.

"I want to bully you!"

Qin Huairu naturally knows the concrete meaning of 'bully'; a hint of fear appeared on her face, she didn't expect Old Ma Tou to be so bold as to bully her in their own home.

Aren't you afraid Ma Liu Shi will catch them in the act?

This is too crazy!

"Ma Ge!"

"Qin Huairu, your son Bangeng bullied my daughter-in-law; how can I not bully you? Nobody should blame anyone else—just blame your son Bangeng for being no good! Among the many sent-down youths, your son Bangeng idles away all day; I know exactly what he's after with Jiahong—he thinks country folk are easy to fool and bully, wants to turn his back and not recognize people, to spout nonsense; keeping him here is his just deserts."

Qin Huairu stopped struggling.

She wasn't thinking for herself; she also had to consider Bangeng.

This time she came.

Isn't it just for Bangeng?

"Strange person, don't try to fool me with empty talk—I'm the kind of person who can do anything, as long as I get something out of it. You just pretend nothing happened, and I can step in to keep Gou Dan and them all here. As for how you talk to Shi Jiahong, that's your business; if you agree, we'll get started; if not, I'll let you go right now."

Old Ma Tou's hand.

Pointed toward the side door.

The tenant's manner.

Made Qin Huairu hesitate.

"Do you keep your word?"

Qin Huairu looked at Old Ma Tou.

She is a widow.

What's there to be afraid of?

Nothing more than worrying about being used up by Old Ma Tou without accomplishing anything.

"You can also not believe me, whatever." Old Ma Tou's face showed a calm confidence of having Qin Huairu under his control, "If you want to leave, I won't stop you; but if you leave and then want to come back, it won't be at this price."

Qin Huairu sighed.

Didn't know what to say.

A few days ago, she took leave and played an unspeakable game with the little Deputy Factory Director Li from the Yagangchang factory; she had thought that upon arriving in the village, these messy, sordid affairs would be over, but she hadn't expected to still not escape them—right before her eyes, this Old Ma Tou also wanted to play a game with her, Qin Huairu, and his words were even more blunt.

Qin Huairu had no standing to negotiate terms with Old Ma Tou.

The initiative.

Not in her hands.

Who made Bangeng do something that left Qin Huairu with nowhere to hide!

If it weren't for Bangeng sleeping with Shi Jiahong, Qin Huairu wouldn't be suffering from both sides.

A hint of bitterness.

Welled up in Qin Huairu's heart.

Hesitated for a moment.

They agreed to this.

Anyway, it's not the first time; it's no big deal.

"Brother Ma, as long as you side with my sister on this matter and let your eldest nephew Bangeng return smoothly to the city, we can discuss anything between us."

"So you agree?"

"Do I have the right to disagree?" Qin Huairu retorted to Old Ma, "I hope Brother Ma won't disappoint my feelings for my son."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of everything; as long as you let me get what I want, I'll let you get what you want and keep Goudan and his three children by my side."

"Light!"

Qin Huairu pointed to the light bulb inside the house.

She had her own concerns.

She didn't want to do these things under the light.

"I'm timid and afraid of the dark."

Old Ma's words made Qin Huairu's teeth itch with anger: "You damn coward, if you weren't such a coward you wouldn't have blocked me at home to do shameful things."

Soon.

Old Ma sprang into action.

Qin Huairu slowly closed her eyes, assuming a relaxed posture.

"Old lady, have you fed our donkey?"

Just as Qin Huairu resigned herself, Old Ma suddenly shouted outside, startling her so she jumped up and shoved him far away.

How did the donkey matter come up again.

No.

Is there someone else in the courtyard?

Originally it was a matter known only to heaven, earth, you, and me.

If an outsider gets involved.

What can we do then?

Qin Huairu was about to lose face.

"Brother Ma." Qin Huairu thought of backing out; this could be done anytime, but not today because there's a third eyewitness. "How about I go back first? We'll discuss Bangeng and Shi Jiahong's matter tomorrow—I won't be back for a while."

"It's fine!"

"Someone's here."

"Your sister-in-law is feeding the donkey."

Old Ma explained in detail.

Only then did Qin Huairu understand the full story of why the donkey matter had come up.

It was a signal.

"Have we fed our donkey? That's the start signal."

"We're feeding the donkey now; that's the continue signal."

"We've finished feeding the donkey; that's the upright signal."

Resign yourself.

Qin Huairu sat on the stool.

The long-neglected stool creaked under the weight.

Ten or more minutes later.

Accompanied by the sound of the donkey having eaten its fill, the latch on the door was pulled aside, and Qin Huairu emerged from the house with a flushed face.

As she was about to leave.

She gave a worried reminder.

"Brother Ma, as we agreed, Goudan and his three children will stay and live with you."

"Bangeng's mother, I'm a man of my word; you can rest assured about what I promised you."

"Then I'm leaving."

Qin Huairu left Old Ma's courtyard and headed toward Shi Jiahong's; last night she had slept at Shi Jiahong's house and met her mother.

Shi Jiahong's mother disagreed with Shi Jiahong going to the city with Bangeng, and also disagreed with Goudan and his companions going, saying they would be bullied.

It's a pity.

As for the Stone Family's affairs, Shi Jiahong's mother couldn't decide; whether to stay or go depended on Shi Jiahong's wishes and also on her father's.

Along the way.

She fumed and cursed.

She mainly cursed Bangeng, loudly invoking his ancestors' eight generations, bluntly saying her current predicament was all due to Bangeng's inaction.

Old Ma had been right earlier: among all those who came to the village to work, why did only Bangeng fall for Shi Jiahong's trick? If he had been upright, he wouldn't have ended up like this—he'd not only be unlucky himself but would also have dragged his mother Qin Huairu into it.

Everything, everything.

It's all because Bangeng went down to the countryside.

If it weren't for an accident, Bangeng would never have come here.

Just because of Bangeng's matter, the Jia Family has already spent at least fifteen hundred, plus the expenses for rushing to repay money related to Shi Jiahong's divorce.

Qin Huairu also gave everything.

The most infuriating thing was Old Ma's foul breath, which nearly made Qin Huairu faint on the spot.

Back home.

In the courtyard she ran into Bangeng, repeating to him what she had just told Old Ma, saying she had arranged everything for him, and that he should try tonight to talk with Shi Jiahong, see what conditions she had, how they could divorce, how much money would be needed, and to bring up as much as possible.

Bangeng turned his head and went back into the house, then went to discuss matters with Shi Jiahong.