Chapter 47: Jia Zhangshi Wants Jia Dongxu to Provide Old-Age Support for Yi Zhonghai

Jia Zhangshi pulled Jia Dongxu to the front of Yi Zhonghai's house and deliberately sighed, her voice loud enough for half the Siheyuan to hear:

"Sigh, what are we to do! Dongxu is about to start a family, but our family can't even afford a decent wedding banquet..."

Yi Zhonghai happened to be resting inside the room; hearing the commotion, he raised his head: "Old sister-in-law, what is this about?"

"Master Yi!" Jia Zhangshi pulled Jia Dongxu over quickly, tears coming as soon as she spoke,

"It's worrying me to death! Dongxu and Qin Huairu have received their marriage certificate, and by rights, they should hold a wedding, but our family is poor, we can't come up with the money..."

Jia Dongxu stood to the side with his head lowered, his face showing both a bit of embarrassment and a bit of helplessness.

Yi Zhonghai put down his water pot and frowned in thought for a moment.

"This is indeed a difficult matter. However, Dongxu works at the factory, his wages should be enough, right?"

"Oh, wages!" Jia Zhangshi slapped her thigh, "He is still an Apprentice Worker, where would he get that much in wages! As his mother, I've played both father and mother to raise him, and now that I've finally looked forward to him starting a family, but this wedding..."

Speaking of this, Jia Zhangshi was a mess of snot and tears, crying most sorrowfully:

"Master Yi, you must help our family's Dongxu! His father died early; you just act as his half-father and help him!"

Upon hearing the words "half-father," Yi Zhonghai's eyes brightened slightly.

He calculated inwardly: He Yuzhu had been snatched away by Li Mingyuan, and with no children of his own, his old-age support remained a big problem for the future.

Now that Jia Zhangshi had taken the initiative to deliver herself to his door, why not take the opportunity to win over Jia Dongxu?

"Old sister-in-law, don't you worry yet," Yi Zhonghai feigned a thoughtful expression, "Dongxu is a good young man; I must help out with this marriage."

Jia Zhangshi's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly wiped away her tears: "Master Yi, your words are like a reassurance pill for us mother and son! Dongxu, why aren't you thanking Master Yi yet!"

Jia Dongxu hurriedly nodded and bowed: "Thank you, Master Yi, thank you, Master Yi..."

Yi Zhonghai waved his hand, his face kind: "Dongxu, you don't need to be so polite with me. Your father is gone, and as an elder, I must take care of you."

He gave Jia Dongxu a meaningful look, "In the future, when you are filial to your father and mother, also remember to be filial to the elders in the neighborhood."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi immediately understood, and hurriedly pulled Jia Dongxu to express their stance:

"Master Yi, rest assured, our Dongxu is the most filial! In the future, when you are old, we mother and son will certainly treat you with filial piety!"

Yi Zhonghai nodded with satisfaction, a gratified smile appearing on his face.

This "deal" had been negotiated quite smoothly, even easier than taking on He Yuzhu.

"How about this," Yi Zhonghai mused, "I will arrange the venue for the wedding banquet; we will hold it in our courtyard and let the neighbors come to join in the fun. As for the money..."

"Don't you worry about the money," Jia Zhangshi said hurriedly, "Although our family is poor, we still need to have some dignity. I will find a way to scrape some together these next few days, and if it really doesn't work, I'll borrow some..."

Yi Zhonghai smiled slightly: "Old sister-in-law, we are neighbors, borrowing money isn't quite appropriate. How about this, I will cover it first, and you can pay it back slowly after Dongxu gets his wages."

"This..." Jia Zhangshi hesitated for a moment, but soon beamed with joy,

"Master Yi, you are truly providing charcoal in snowy weather! Dongxu, did you hear that? Master Yi treats you like his own son!"

Jia Dongxu nodded repeatedly, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

Although Yi Zhonghai had helped solve the urgent need, he always felt there was something wrong behind it.

"Alright, alright, the matter of the wedding banquet is settled," Yi Zhonghai said with satisfaction, "But we still lack a head chef; we need to find someone with good skills..."

Jia Zhangshi's eyes rolled: "How about... asking Li Mingyuan to help? He is a high-ranking leader, maybe he can get some good things..."

A trace of displeasure flashed in Yi Zhonghai's eyes, but he immediately returned to calm:

"Chief Engineer Li is busy, I'm afraid he won't have time. However, Shazhu has learned quite a few skills from him; we can let him be the head chef."

"Shazhu?" Jia Zhangshi curled her lips, "What skills does that kid have?"

Yi Zhonghai said meaningfully: "Auntie Zhang, although Shazhu is young, he learned many good skills from He Daqing. Besides, letting him be the head chef is equivalent to borrowing Li Mingyuan's light; maybe he can even get some good things from Li Mingyuan."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi's eyes lit up instantly: "That would be great! Dongxu, let's go talk to that kid right now!"

The three of them agreed on the wedding banquet matters and prepared to go find He Yuzhu.

"This Jia mother and son are much more sensible than Shazhu," Yi Zhonghai thought,

"For my old-age support, I finally have a reliable candidate."

But thinking of Li Mingyuan's influence on He Yuzhu, Yi Zhonghai frowned inwardly again, "I just don't know if that Li Mingyuan will ruin my good deeds..."

At this moment, Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu had already walked into the courtyard and happened to see Qin Huairu and He Yuzhu talking, a sweet smile hanging on Qin Huairu's face...

……

Qin Huairu turned around and saw He Yuzhu standing there, his face as red as a ripe persimmon, his hands nervously clutching a handkerchief.

Her eyes flashed, and she was secretly surprised that this boy, who looked younger than herself, was actually so bold as to take the initiative to talk to her.

"You must be He Yuzhu, I heard your cooking is very delicious." Qin Huairu said softly, her eyes glancing intentionally or unintentionally toward the direction of Li Mingyuan's house.

Hearing Qin Huairu take the initiative to mention his Cooking, He Yuzhu was instantly overjoyed and stammered:

"Y-yes, I learned a lot from Uncle Li, that... pickled fish, Braised Chicken, I... I can make them all."

"Really?" Qin Huairu tilted her head, revealing a sweet smile, "I've been smelling the aroma of the food from your house for several days now, it's so fragrant."

He Yuzhu felt as if his heart had been struck by this smile; he felt his whole person floating, his brain buzzing.

All the instructions Li Mingyuan had given him were thrown to the back of his mind, and he scratched his head with a silly smile:

"T-that... if you want to eat, I... I can make it for you..."

Qin Huairu looked at He Yuzhu's appearance and understood in her heart.

Although this boy in front of her was not very old, following that capable person Li Mingyuan, his life certainly wasn't bad.

If she could get on good terms with him, she would have one more path for herself in the Siheyuan in the future.

Thinking of this, she smiled even more charmingly: "Really? That's great, I love eating fish the most."

He Yuzhu felt like he was about to fly; facing Qin Huairu's smile, he wished he could immediately conjure up a full Manchu-Han banquet to please her.

"No problem, no problem! Tomorrow, no, tonight I will..."

"What are you doing?!" A sharp shout interrupted He Yuzhu's words.

Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu had returned from Yi Zhonghai's house and happened to see Qin Huairu smiling like a flower at He Yuzhu.

Jia Zhangshi's face immediately grew longer than a donkey's, and she rushed over in two or three strides.