Chapter 42: with translation of chapter title

Jia Zhangshi sat on the heated brick bed, the more she thought, the more annoyed she felt. How come so many good things all fell on He Yuzhu's head? He just became a leader not long ago, and now he's also going to marry a wife.

And find a good job for her younger sister.

If these were in her own family, how great that would be—her own grandson wouldn't have to set fire. After thinking it over, she didn't feel it was her own problem; it was all Qin Huairu and He Yuzhu's problem.

Dragging her tired body, Qin Huairu slowly moved into the room. Since joining the Street Cleaning Squad, she has become much more weathered; her once tender skin has become dry and flaky.

Moreover, everyone in her team are elderly, frail women; no one will act as her sucker anymore, and now she can't even eat a full lunch.

Back in the room, seeing Jia Zhangshi's angry look, Qin Huairu showed no reaction. Sitting at home all day, where does all this anger come from? She's not a toad reincarnated.

"Qin Huairu, you came back without even saying hello, not a bit of manners." Jia Zhangshi snorted, "I want to eat an apple—quickly think of a way."

Now wanting to eat an apple, and it's not actually wanting meat, Qin Huairu smiled and asked why she wanted it.

"Now is exactly the time when apples come down; eating apples is good for health." Jia Zhangshi ran up to Character, "Even Character can have some—why don't you buy some back?"

"Who do you think you are, still trying to cozy up to Character?" Qin Huairu sneered, "Just being able to eat coarse grain noodles is like burning high incense, and you still want to eat apples—why don't you want to drink some rat poison instead?"

"All you do is talk back, you can't even manage your child, you're a husband- and son-killing widow."

Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law both said harsh words, and both were so angry that neither ate dinner,

……

These past few days, Character has already gotten into role; after the three of them returned home, I hurried to the kitchen to arrange dinner. Because the ingredients are plentiful, the difficulty is actually not great.

But Character plans to add a little for herself.

Without He Yuzhu's guidance, Character wants to independently complete a dish of pulled-sugar apple. She had eaten this dish several times when she was in Gangcheng, Lu Province, and the sweet taste is deeply etched in her memory.

Moreover, she had specially asked a master for advice.

He Yuzhu, who was drinking tea in the room, soon smelled a burnt odor. He went to the kitchen and saw that the apple had turned into a pile of scraps; the burnt smell was because the caramel color wasn't done right.

"Yuzhu, can this dish still be eaten?" Character felt a bit embarrassed, "The master really taught me this way, but stir-frying it turned out like this."

"It's fine, probably the oil temperature was too high."

At night, of course we can't eat the burnt pulled-sugar apple, but fortunately the pickled ginger that He Yuzhu made a few days ago is still good for eating with rice.

"Yushui, don't feel bad." Character still felt some regret, "My dish didn't turn out well, I can only eat some pickled vegetables."

"This is pretty good." Yushui being able to become a sales clerk already makes her very happy; tonight she'd even be willing to eat chaff.

He Yuzhu tidied up the kitchen trash a bit; this oil and sugar is indeed a shame— in an ordinary household, a week probably wouldn't use this much.

Carrying the trash out the door, after just a few steps he ran into Qin Huairu who was also heading out. She glanced at the trash, and a hint of mockery already appeared on her face.

"Yuzhu, this is just for your wife to practice— such good stuff wasted like this, you don't feel the slightest bit of regret. My cousin's hands are quick; she would absolutely not do this kind of work."

"Yeah, it's not that she's handy— she became a slut on her first day, which is much better than you."

Qin Huairu felt tears about to spill from her anger; she had known He Yuzhu's mouth was sharp, but never used on her before— this time the barrage started, and she could barely take it.

"Just you, a little widow, still trying to hook up with someone?" Jia Zhangshi laughed at the door, unable to contain herself, "You still think you're a beauty— hurry up and get lost, don't embarrass yourself there."

He Yuzhu delivered the trash, took a stroll outside; the deep autumn scenery was still nice, the street trees looked as if they'd been stained by an overturned palette.

Red, yellow, half-red half-yellow.

Plus the distant sunset's glow, he for the first time discovered that the alley's scenery was also this beautiful.

"Yuzhu, what are you staring at so intently?" San Daye popped out from somewhere, "Why don't you hurry home— are you afraid of Character?"

This is a joke; nowadays society's mainstream isn't like that, not like in later times when a man only counts as himself after stopping the car for a moment.

Even working himself to death to put his wife through school, he still gets betrayed by his wife.

"At your age, how can you spout nonsense?" He Yuzhu laughed, "You think everyone is like you."

Seeing He Yuzhu about to leave, he hurried forward and grabbed him, saying he had something to ask him.

San Daye actually dreamed that He Yuzhu could recommend him as a projectionist, but he thought his age was a bit too old, unsuitable for the position; could he let his son go instead?

"Haha, San Daye, you're really good at joking." He Yuzhu shook his head, "What part of yourself do you think is handsome?"

"Yuzhu, you can't be without conscience."

San Daye huffed and puffed for a while, not realizing what he had done for He Yuzhu. Sigh, it's all because he was too greedy; if he didn't want things, maybe there would be some human feeling.

"I helped you find a match, our school's Ran Lao Shi——" San Daye suddenly shouted excitedly.

"I and Ran Lao Shi are friends, and I also didn't meet him through you." He Yuzhu stared at San Daye, "If you keep spouting nonsense, I really won't be polite."

Seeing He Yuzhu clench his fists, San Daye sensibly went home.

"Dad, how did things turn out?" Yan Jiecheng asked anxiously, "You took my ten dollars, you can't just take the money and not do anything."

Seeing his son want the money back, San Daye's face changed instantly, saying his son had no prospects at all, still clinging to ten dollars as if it were a huge sum.

Could that be considered filial to one's parents?

"I give living expenses every month— isn't that filial to you?" After estimating, it seems it wasn't settled, "Hurry up and return the money."

San Daye shifted his eyes, telling his son not to be so anxious; today is just the first meeting, how could it be decided so important in just a few words.

No matter what, they need to talk several times.

"Anyway, it's just ten dollars— if you can't do it, hurry up and return it, otherwise us father and son will tear each other apart, how embarrassing, where will we put our faces in the future?"

As it turns out, the son also planned to tear him apart a bit; San Daye was nearly furious, thinking that if in the future they were to rely on him for old-age support, he'd practically have to send himself to the top of the wall.

Unfilial.

"Our family has had a big thing happen recently, so I decided to collect a bit more meal fees; the second and third are still on the account, to be repaid after they get work."

The stingy San Daye planned to skim a little money, buy some good things to send to He Yuzhu.