Chapter 50: Donation

Xu Daming, having been forced into a corner, apologized to the Jia family and then turned and left.

But Yi Zhonghai called out to him, "Daming, wait a moment."

The third item on the agenda.

The donation drive for the Jia family has not yet begun.

He cannot leave.

Jia Zhangshi, in order to disgust Qin Huairu, came up with the idea of having everyone in the siheyuan donate money to buy a sewing machine for the Jia family.

Xu Daming is a member of the siheyuan.

He also has to donate.

"There's one more thing: the donation."

The hypocrite is also handling this donation matter for the first time.

He lacks experience.

He went straight to the point.

If it were the previous life's Yi Zhonghai, he would certainly have resorted to moral blackmail, pressuring people with righteousness.

Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui exchanged a glance, silently seething, both thinking in unison how shameless the Jia family and Yi Zhonghai were—making the siheyuan people donate money just for their own marriage.

If this succeeds,

both families would also profit.

Yi Zhonghai has no children. Liu Haizhong's family has three kids; his eldest son Liu Guangqi is about the same age as Jia Dongxu—whatever the Jia family can do, the Liu family can do too. Yan Fugui's family has four kids: three sons and one daughter; the eldest, though a few years younger than Jia Dongxu and his peers, seems to have gotten engaged first—who says after the founding of the nation you can't have childhood betrothals?

In the blink of an eye, Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui united their front.

Donation.

A good thing.

"When one side is in trouble, all sides support; the siheyuan belongs to all of us, and I think Elder Yi's proposal is fine."

"My attitude is the same as Elder Liu's and Elder Yi's—I can donate."

Yi Zhonghai's heart settled.

He really feared that the two senior managers would oppose him.

Jia Zhangshi also felt relieved.

Shazhu bought a bicycle.

Then the Jia family must have a sewing machine.

This sewing machine is also prepared for Qin Huairu.

Jia Zhangshi blamed Qin Huairu for Jia Dongxu's refusal to marry a working woman from the city, saying that after marrying into the family, Qin Huairu would use the sewing machine to make clothes and earn money.

"I thank the three senior managers, and the Jia family thanks the neighbors."

Shazhu looked on silently as Jia Zhangshi effusively thanked everyone.

In my previous life, there didn't seem to be such a scene.

The Jia family never had them donate money to buy a sewing machine.

The key point is that when the Jia family married Qin Huairu, they indeed added a sewing machine.

Could it be that my rebirth in this life triggered this butterfly effect?

Donate to buy a sewing machine.

Let Jia Dongxu marry a wife.

What good thing are you thinking of?

Why not let us help you into the bridal chamber!

There's a trap waiting for us.

The benefits go to your Jia family.

"What the first, second, and third elders said makes sense; I think this donation is very necessary. Of course, we must act within our means: if a family has spare money and won't go hungry next month, they can donate more; if a family is struggling, they can donate less—whatever amount, it's the thought that counts. We must let those heroes on the front lines know that we behind them care for them, keep them in our thoughts, and hope they return safely."

Xu Daming, wearing a grim face.

His gloomy expression gradually eased.

"Hey, look at me, your silly brother!"

Invisiblely, it defused the Jia family's and Yi Zhonghai's calculations.

Unlike Xu Daming's excitement, the Jia family and Yi Zhonghai felt as if they had fallen into a cesspool, leaving them with nothing but disgust.

The proper donation intended for the Jia family stubbornly turned into this frontline support.

"Shazhu, what are you saying?"

Jia Zhangshi will not let you down.

Either don't speak,

or if you speak, you'll be unable to back down.

"We agreed to donate to the Jia family—how did it become a consolation for the front lines? Dongxu told me that Qin Huairu said our Jia family must have a sewing machine, or else she wouldn't marry."

Jia Dongxu's face turned red with embarrassment.

Qin Huairu never asked for a sewing machine.

This sewing machine was proposed by Jia Dongxu.

He had this idea of getting back at Jia Zhangshi for not letting him marry Qin Huairu.

Whether the Jia family has money or not,

Jia Dongxu knows.

One sewing machine is still affordable.

「Jia Family old woman, what nonsense are you spouting? What donation to your Jia Family? There's no logic in donating to marry a wife. This donation was originally meant for those at the front. 」

The hypocrite hurried to smooth things over.

He resented his own hesitation of over ten seconds; if he had spoken up a step earlier, there wouldn't have been this matter, right?

Shazhu looked at Jia Zhangshi's angry cheeks.

He suddenly savored it in his heart.

Such a Jia Zhangshi is truly the shrewish, unreasonable Jia Zhangshi, and is the proper way to handle the wicked old lady Qin Xinji Bai Lian Huai Ru.

「I worked two days at the scrap station, saw many people, heard many rumors; now across the country, everyone is carrying out this grand activity of donating funds and materials to the front; those in the cultural department donated an aircraft; on my way back today, I was pondering how to bring this up to the three elders— I'm too young, the three managing elders think farther than I do; well, at the Dayuan meeting I just proposed this donation suggestion. 」

Yi Zhonghai finally understood what it means to lift a stone only to drop it on his own foot.

No way.

He could only steel himself to admit this.

As for the Jia Family,

They are thinking of a way.

In front of so many people.

Who dares to refute Shazhu's remarks?

「Little Zhu, if you had brought it up a few days earlier, we might have accepted it. 」

「Old Yi discussed with us two five days ago, saying that all departments and factories were enthusiastically donating to support the front; since this Siheyuan hadn't yet, he thought to take the lead. 」

Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui also echoed Shazhu.

「When the time comes, handing over the money and name to the Jiēdào will be the honor of our Siheyuan. 」

「Still, Zhu considered it thoroughly; we'll do it this way. 」 Liu Haizhong, who wanted to seize the opportunity to grab power, shouted loudly: 「I announce that the Red Star Courtyard's front-line donation activity officially begins; I, Liu Haizhong, donate 100,000. 」

Guang Tian and Guang Fu, sensing the situation, burst into applause.

His father was pleased.

Thus they would each get one less beating.

Xu Daming donated 50,000.

Shazhu donated 50,000.

When it was the Jia Family's turn to donate, Jia Zhangshi stingily threw in a 100-yuan bill.

Everyone's faces looked grim.

Jia Zhangshi was simply blackening the Siheyuan's reputation.

Jia Dongxu, sitting behind Jia Zhangshi, should have realized her behavior had provoked everyone's displeasure, and threw in a 50,000-yuan bill.

Everyone's faces instantly cleared.

During this period.

Shazhu's attention remained fixed on a person named Old Huang.

In his early forties, no wife, no children, silent and reticent, going out early and returning late every day; even some people in the Siheyuan probably didn't know there was still a person named Old Huang living there.

Too transparent.

It fits the spy persona that Stone mentioned.

One is Long Laotaitai.

One is Yi Zhonghai.

Now another Old Huang has been added.

The first two are established personas, letting everyone in the Dayuan know they are good people, while the latter one makes the entire Dayuan forget them.

Need to observe.

Observe carefully.