Chapter 598: Qin Huairu Wants to Remarry

The act of bowing to the workshop director in public.

Strictly speaking.

It can also be considered a kind of means in moral coercion.

The workshop director who had Qin Huairu bow to him had an expression that wasn't very pleasant.

He saw through the little thoughts of that scheming woman.

But because of the other person's bow, and now there are so many people around, he had to follow Qin Huairu's thinking, call Da Liu over, point at Qin Huairu, say that Qin Huairu was looking for her, and gave Da Liu thirty minutes of rest.

Da Liu saw Qin Huairu looking for her.

She was completely bewildered.

She stood there foolishly, racking her brains to figure out why Qin Huairu was looking for her.

After the widow took over the post and entered the Nine Workshop, Da Liu, having witnessed some of the widow's actions and feeling it was not good, in the capacity of an enthusiastic elder sister, kindly advised Qin Huairu several times.

Qin Huairu did not accept Da Liu's suggestions; the two even had a falling out for a while, eventually having no further contact, which lasted until the widow left the Nine Workshop.

When Qin Huairu was cleaning the toilet, Da Liu was working inside the workshop.

When Da Liu went to the toilet, Qin Huairu was cleaning the toilet elsewhere.

Today counts as their first meeting in over ten years, and it was Qin Huairu who actively sought out Da Liu.

The atmosphere was somewhat tense.

They didn't know what to say to each other.

Qin Huairu felt a bit embarrassed, after all she had not accepted the other's goodwill, still resented her for meddling, saying that the other couldn't eat grapes and was just complaining that the grapes were sour.

Da Liu was simply being a bit muddle-headed, thinking that over these years she hadn't interacted with the widow, wondering what she had done to make the widow unhappy.

This silence was eventually broken by Qin Huairu, who greeted Da Liu, calling out "Older Sister Liu."

One does not strike a smiling person.

Since the other party greeted her, Da Liu couldn't give a cold face, so she also returned Qin Huairu's form of address, then shifted the tone to ask Qin Huairu whether she was looking for her for something.

Not having seen each other for over ten years, and even having had an unpleasant falling out, to show up suddenly—aside from having something to discuss, there was no other explanation.

Faced with Da Liu's question, Qin Huairu hesitated a moment, wanting to answer directly, but because she felt embarrassed to speak, she responded with a nod instead.

If it were someone else, they would surely ignore Qin Huairu, but Da Liu is an extremely warm-hearted person; seeing Qin Huairu come to her door, and noticing that inside the Nine Workshop it wasn't a suitable place to talk, she pointed to a nearby secluded corner and told Qin Huairu to follow her there.

Qin Huairu nodded again and followed behind Da Liu, stepping in her footsteps.

This strange scene also left the workers of the Nine Workshop dumbfounded.

They were all somewhat astonished.

Da Liu's warm-hearted nature is well known in the Yagangchang, and Qin Huairu's scoundrel character is clear to all the coworkers; they really can't fathom what would happen when two opposite personalities meet, and they all started speculating.

Opinions diverged.

Each had their own reasoning.

"The widow is acting strange."

"This widow is somewhat off."

There were new apprentices who didn't know Qin Huairu's glorious past, and subconsciously felt doubtful; the widow is quite common, so why is she acting strange?

Nearby, a well-meaning person who knew Qin Huairu's history hurriedly recounted everything that had happened to her in detail.

Upon learning of Qin Huairu's past, those apprentice workers all became indignant, vehemently cursing Qin Huairu, saying outright that she was shameless.

The veteran workers of the Nine Workshop had long been accustomed to this; when they first entered the Nine Workshop and heard those things about Qin Huairu, they too, like the apprentices before them, loudly denounced Qin Huairu.

The only thing now that remains unclear.

is what Qin Huairu is looking for Da Liu to do.

Suddenly I missed Liu Lan; if Liu Lan were here, I'd probably figure out the real reason Qin Huairu is looking for Da Liu in no time.

……

Inside the secluded corner.

No one around.

In this situation.

It was just right for Qin Huairu to apologize to Da Liu.

Qin Huairu, having followed Da Liu to the corner, gave her a deep ninety-degree bow.

This action.

This frightened Da Liu so much that she was at a loss; she hurriedly, with flustered hands and feet, urged Qin Huairu to straighten her back, frankly saying she couldn't afford such grand treatment, telling Qin Huairu to speak up if she had something to ask, and that she would certainly help with anything she could manage, and would try to find a way to help with anything she couldn't.

Qin Huairu silently thought to herself that Da Liu was still as warm-hearted as ever; she didn't want to make things difficult for Da Liu, and following Da Liu's suggestion, she straightened her own back.

She gazed at Da Liu with utmost sincerity.

After a soft sigh.

She solemnly apologized to Da Liu.

"Older Sister Liu, I apologize to you."

Da Liu was like a monk who is eight feet tall and cannot fathom Qin Huairu's pulse.

Apology.

Why is the widow apologizing to her out of the blue?

"I apologize for my previous immature behavior." Qin Huairu met Da Liu's bewildered, uncomprehending gaze, stating her purpose; her tone carried a hint of sincerity, and she wholeheartedly accepted Da Liu's earlier earnest advice—those harsh but truthful words: "Back then you told me to be self-reliant, to learn a skill, to raise my job level, not to rely on a man; you said if my mother-in-law wasn't honest, I should send her back to the countryside, and if she acted shrewish and refused to leave, I should go to the street office and the Women's Federation for help. Bangeng and the others, lacking paternal love, need strict discipline, or else they'll be ruined for life. The facts prove that I was wrong."

Da Liu said nothing.

She didn't know how to comfort Qin Huairu.

As the old saying goes.

Awakening, awakening, having awakened, also just delayed.

Qin Huairu spent a little over twenty years proving that her earlier choice was a mistake.

Names: Qin Huairu. Also maybe "she" is pronoun, not name.

Twenty years.

How many twenty-year periods can one have in a lifetime?

She can now only serve as a loyal listener.

Qin Huairu ignored Da Liu's silence; she now just wants to find someone to talk to, to chat, to share her innermost thoughts.

Names: Qin Huairu, "Da Liu" (i. e., "Big Liu", a nickname for someone surnamed Liu). According to the rules, habitual nicknames are kept in pinyin, so we romanize it as Da Liu and include it in the glossary. Also note the feminine pronoun.

Back then, the things you said to me—I didn't know what was going on; it felt like I'd been possessed, the words went in one ear and out the other. You even said I couldn't stand seeing me do well, that you were envying me. Thinking about it, I realize I was really muddle-headed. Da Liu Sister, to be frank, I only just understood this principle today.

Names: "Da Liu Sister" (Da Liu Jie? Actually "Da Liu Sister" is "Older Sister Liu"? It's a term of address: "Big Liu Sister". It's a nickname plus sister. Should we treat as name? It's a way of addressing a person. The person is Liu, with nickname Da Liu, and sister suffix. According to rules, we keep the person's name in pinyin, and translate kinship words. So "Da Liu Sister" remains "Da Liu Sister". However, "Da Liu" itself includes "Da" meaning "big/older". That's part of the nickname. So we keep "Da Liu". Then add "Sister". So "Da Liu Sister". We'll include "Da Liu" as a name.

Also "I" pronoun.

A hint of helpless bitterness.

It appeared on Qin Huairu's face.

"Am I really that stupid? It took me twenty years to finally understand such a superficial truth, and my whole life just passed by like that!"

(no names)

Da Liu wanted to say something.

Comfort Qin Huairu properly.

But the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back down into his stomach.

"In the whole Nine Workshop, you're the only good person, yet back then I regarded you as a bad person. I remember I even scolded you specially, saying you meddle in other people's affairs, and you didn't even give me the same consideration."

Names: Nine Workshop. Also "I" pronoun.

"It's all in the past; why bring it up?"

Don't know what to say, Da Liu.

That's all I can say.

Whether Qin Huairu is doing well or not, Da Liu knows.

At first it wasn't bad—her looks were still there, someone admired her, she got food and money. Later it fell apart; she daily dealt with waste, her body reeked of stench, her home was a mess, her son was unfilial, her mother-in-law was malicious.

(No specific names; generic terms son and mother-in-law.)

I heard that Qin Huairu's eldest son Bangeng was imprisoned, starting with a ten-year sentence. Her second and third daughters left home one after another, and her mother-in-law Jia Zhangshi, besides being lazy and fond of eating, blamed Qin Huairu for ruining the Jia family's feng shui.

Names: Qin Huairu, Bangeng (eldest son). Also second and third daughters generic; mother-in-law Jia Zhangshi; Jia Family generic.

She is also a miserable woman.

"Things are in the past, but it's also too late. Now, how should I put it? I just want to live for myself once. I've lived in a daze for most of my life, suddenly woke up, and realized I shouldn't continue like this."

(no names)

"That's also pretty good."

"Da Liu Sister, I have two things to ask you. First, I want to apologize for my willfulness back then; I let down your kindness. Second, my deceased husband passed away in 1961; at that time Bangeng was eight, Xiao Dang was five, and Huaihua had just been born. I raised the children, which I consider having done right by him."

Names: Da Liu Sister. Also Bangeng, Xiao Dang, Huaihua. Also "I" pronoun.

That's as far as the talk goes.

Even a fool can see what Qin Huairu means.

Want to remarry.

Want Da Liu to help her find a later-life spouse.

Otherwise she wouldn't have said to Da Liu those words that sound like she wants to remarry.

"Qin Huairu, I understand what you mean. Tell me your conditions, and I'll help you arrange things."

Names: Qin Huairu.

Da Liu's words.

It pierced Qin Huairu's heart.

A widow thinks about her current situation—what conditions could she possibly have? She has no right to set conditions; if the other party doesn't despise a widow, she should just burn high incense.

(No specific names; generic term widow.)

Worrying that if she doesn't mention any conditions, she'll seem insincere.

She thought it over.

She stated a few conditions.

"Da Liu Sister, as you can see, my condition is that I'm willing to live with whoever handles sanitation in the factory, as long as they don't despise me; as for anything else, I have nothing left."

Names: Da Liu Sister. Also "the person in charge of sanitation in the factory" generic.

"Qin Huairu, have you really figured it out?"

Da Liu looked at Qin Huairu, uncertainly asked a question, wanting to get the exact information from her mouth.

Names: Da Liu, Qin Huairu.

Mainly worried that Qin Huairu might act on a sudden impulse.

The happiness faded.

She decided not to remarry.

Qin Huairu also knew what Da Liu meant; she stared at Da Liu and said, word by word: "Da Liu Sister, I'm not joking with you; I truly want to find someone to rely on."

Names: Qin Huairu, Da Liu, Da Liu Sister.

"Alright, I'll let you know when I have news."

"Da Liu Sister, thank you for the trouble."

"What's the trouble? We're all women; if we can help, we should."

…… (ellipsis, no names)

You Fengxia met Shazhu at Bai Xu.

Names: You Fengxia, Bai Xu, Shazhu.

They talked about the upcoming meeting of both sets of parents.

Shazhu thought it over.

He agreed.

Afterwards, he impatiently drove You Fengxia away, telling her to hurry up and go on a date with Guo Jianjun.

Names: You Fengxia, Guo Jianjun. Also "date" generic.

His appearance made You Fengxia find it a bit funny—like an old father eagerly hoping his daughter finds a match, yet feeling heartbroken as if a pig had ruined his cabbage.

Names: You Fengxia. Also "he" refers to Shazhu.

Perhaps because he had raised Shui Shui since childhood, when faced with the helpless You Fengxia, Shazhu felt a deep affection like a father for his daughter.

Names: Yushui, You Fengxia, Shazhu.

Using contemporary slang to describe it.

Totally a daughter's slave.

People familiar with Shazhu all say he treats You Fengxia like his own daughter.

Names: Shazhu, You Fengxia.

You Fengxia likewise sees Shazhu as her own father.

Names: You Fengxia, Shazhu.

The matter of meeting the parents-in-law is so important that they begged Shazhu to step in.

Names: Shazhu.

She felt genuine gratitude toward Shazhu from the bottom of her heart.

Names: You Fengxia, Shazhu

If it weren't for Shazhu extending a helping hand to You Fengxia that day, You Fengxia would very likely have followed the old path of her previous life; for the sake of getting a meal, she could do anything, eventually she got mixed up with Deputy Factory Director Li, and swindled Xu Daming and them out of all their family property.

When it was nearly time to leave, they turned to look at Shazhu.

Shazhu pursed his lips speechlessly and said to You Fengxia, "Why are you looking at me? When have I ever messed up on something I promised you? Rest assured, on the day we become in-laws, I won't embarrass you; besides, even if I did, there's Jianguo and Yushui with you, so you just keep your heart steady and wait to get married."

"Brother, do you think I'm that shallow?"

"You're not shallow, I am; I'm so shallow I wish tens of thousands of dollars would fall from the sky."

Shazhu worried about Bai Xu's future development.

They had been waiting for the loan for a little over a month.

They also felt embarrassed to urge the senior leader.

Being anxious also wouldn't work.

"Are you obsessed with money?"

"How can you say that about me?"

"Xianghong, you shouldn't say that about your brother."

Hearing the commotion, Yu Li, who had nothing busy to do, seeing there was liveliness to watch, walked over with Liu Lan, one after the other, and echoed a sentence.

Shazhu happily straightened his back.

"Take a look."

"Still, my wife dotes on me."

His proud expression lasted only a dozen seconds on his face before Yu Li's following words knocked it into the dust.

"You should remove the question mark at the end and change it directly to an exclamation point."

You Fengxia laughed.

Yu Li laughed.

Liu Lan also laughed.

Only Shazhu had the grimace of someone who had swallowed a dead fly.

"Shazhu, enough, what are you arguing with your sister about? Even if tens of thousands of dollars fell from the sky, how would you spend it if it landed in front of you?"

"The look of someone who thinks Shazhu won't spend money and can't spend it all."

Shazhu's ambition and lofty aspirations were instantly sparked.

"Liu Lan, you underestimate me? Even if it's just tens of thousands, I could spend it if you added another zero—I could first secure a five- or six-story shop covering over a thousand square meters, make it Bai Xu's flagship store, decorate it lavishly so diners feel they're in a palace."

"Oh, cut it out—what, you're not going to say to decorate the toilet in gold?" Liu Lan muttered, looking at You Fengxia, "Aren't you supposed to be on a date? Why are you just standing there? Hurry up, or you'll be late—and that wouldn't be good. By the way, what were you just about to say?"

"Which one of the Jia Family called Xiao Dang has come back?"

Just a moment ago, Liu Lan and the others were still laughing and joking.

The next second they became solemn.

"Xiao Dang has come back?"

They exchanged a glance.

The Jia Family's melons—everyone present has eaten them; Bangeng slept with a widow; the Jia Family sold Xiao Dang; Xiao Dang left home; people said she married a man old enough to be her father.

I thought she would never come back in a lifetime.

But she came back.

Moreover, the timing of her return was so strange.

Because Thus: Thus: Mahua and You Fengxia live in the siheyuan, whatever happens inside is told to Shazhu and the others as a joke.

Although they don't live in the siheyuan, they are fully aware of what happens there.

Recently, the Jia Family has been in great turmoil, and the elderly and middle-aged widows have become opposed to each other.

Jia Zhangshi scolded Qin Huairu for ruining the Jia Family's feng shui, causing the family to end up destroyed and its people dead.

It was bluntly said that Qin Huairu should never have been allowed to marry into the Jia Family; the bad luck she brought killed Jia Dongxu, caused Bangeng to go to prison, caused Xiao Dang to leave home, and is now causing the Jia Family's lineage to be cut off.

Qin Huairu also turned around and scolded Jia Zhangshi.

The Jia Family's quarrel erupted.

At this juncture, Xiao Dang has come back; Shazhu guesses the Jia Family won't be peaceful, and he admonishes Thus: Thus: Mahua and You Fengxia not to pay attention to the Jia Family's trivial matters.

Thus: Thus: Mahua and You Fengxia each nodded.