Chapter 93: A Humble Name is Easier to Raise

Jia Zhangshi listened to these well-wishes, her mouth stretching into a wide grin: "Thank you, neighbors! Once the child reaches their one-month milestone, our Jia Family will certainly host a proper banquet and invite everyone to celebrate!"

Qin Huairu stood to the side, a happy and shy smile on her face.

Although she had only been married to Jia Dongxu for a few months, she had already completely integrated into this family.

Especially after she became pregnant, Jia Zhangshi's attitude toward her had done a 180-degree turn, changing from her previous nitpicking to her current doting affection.

Jia Dongxu hugged his wife's shoulders, the pride on his face evident: "Huairu has a strong constitution, so the child will surely be healthy. When the child is born, we must give him a grand name, like Jia Desheng!"

"What a good name!" the neighbors echoed one after another, "The 'De' generation, plus the word 'Sheng'—it has a wonderful meaning!"

But then they saw Jia Zhangshi's expression change, her brows knitting into a knot.

"What Desheng, what not Desheng? It's too flashy!" Jia Zhangshi waved her hand, looking disdainful.

"In my opinion, just call him 'Jia Geng', and his nickname can be 'Bang Geng'. It sounds sturdy; a humble name is easier to raise!"

The Siheyuan went quiet for a few seconds; many people's mouths twitched, their eyes darting around, as no one dared to say outright how tacky the name was.

"Bang... Bang Geng?" Jia Dongxu was stunned for a moment, but he soon nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.

"Mother is right, a humble name is easier to raise! Bang Geng, Bang Geng, it sounds sturdy just saying it!"

The smile on Qin Huairu's face stiffened for a moment, but she immediately recovered, though the smile looked somewhat forced no matter how one looked at it.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but upon seeing her mother-in-law's firm gaze, she could only lower her head in resignation.

The crowd soon dispersed, and when He Yuzhu passed by Li Mingyuan, he couldn't help but mutter in a low voice:

"Uncle Li, this name... tell me, what era is this? To still pick such a dirt-cheap name, won't this child be laughed at when he goes to school in the future?"

Li Mingyuan chuckled inwardly; this kid He Yuzhu actually had some insight.

He said calmly: "As for names, it mainly depends on what the parents like." He didn't want to get involved in the domestic trifles of the Siheyuan.

The traces of an era are reflected in such details, Li Mingyuan thought.

That Bang Geng, destined in history to become a scourge of the Siheyuan, was now about to appear.

Although this space-time had already undergone significant changes due to his arrival, some things seemed to still possess a stubborn inertia.

Just when everyone thought the excitement was over, Jia Zhangshi began a new round of performance.

"Sigh, it's just that the place we live is too small." Jia Zhangshi stood at her own doorway and suddenly sighed loudly, "Once the child is born, how can this room be enough? It can't even fit a cradle."

Her gaze "inadvertently" drifted toward the two empty rooms in the corner of the courtyard—the rooms vacated after Yi Zhonghai and Long Laotai were executed.

Li Mingyuan was just about to return to his room when he couldn't help but stop upon hearing this.

He turned to look at Jia Zhangshi and saw the calculating gleam flickering in the old woman's eyes.

"These two rooms are empty anyway, so why not..." Jia Zhangshi's voice was just loud enough for everyone in the courtyard to hear.

Several neighbors looked at each other, all understanding Jia Zhangshi's intentions.

In the evening, hushed discussions could be heard coming from the Jia Family's room.

"Dongxu, look at how wasteful it is for those two rooms to be empty; isn't our family just about to add a new member? Tomorrow, you go to the Street Office and go through the procedures to get those two rooms." Jia Zhangshi sat on the kang, her eyes shining.

"Mother, is this... appropriate?" Jia Dongxu hesitated.

"What's not appropriate about it?" Jia Zhangshi slapped the table, "The original occupants of those two rooms were bad elements who have already been brought to justice; isn't it a waste for them to be empty now? Besides, your wife is pregnant, and we'll need the space once the child is born!"

Unable to withstand his mother's pestering, Jia Dongxu finally nodded: "Alright, I'll go ask at the Street Office tomorrow."

Qin Huairu was silently sewing baby clothes to the side, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes, but she did not voice any opposition.

Early the next morning, Jia Zhangshi dragged Jia Dongxu to the Street Office.

They were full of confidence, feeling that this matter was a sure thing.

"Comrade, our wife is pregnant, and the place we live now is too small, so we would like to apply for the rooms previously occupied by Yi Zhonghai and that Long Laotai." Jia Dongxu stood in the Street Office, feeling somewhat nervous.

The person in charge looked up and glanced at them: "No."

"Why not?" Jia Zhangshi interjected, her voice rising by eight degrees.

"Aren't those two rooms empty right now? Our family is just about to have a baby, and we don't have enough room!"

"Those two rooms have already been arranged; it's not something you can just have because you want it." The person in charge frowned, their tone becoming more serious.

Jia Zhangshi was relentless: "What arrangement? We've lived in that courtyard for so many years, how come we haven't heard of any arrangement? Besides, my family is in difficulty now; shouldn't the state take care of families in difficulty?"

The person in charge's expression grew increasingly unpleasant: "Comrade, please mind your attitude. Those two rooms have been specially arranged by superiors and are not within the scope of the Street Office's allocation. Please return."

"No! I don't believe it!" Jia Zhangshi suddenly sat on the floor and began to wail while slapping her thighs.

"There is no justice! Are we common folk just meant to be bullied? The rooms are empty but we aren't allowed to live in them; what kind of logic is this!"

The other staff members in the office were stunned, and several comrades quickly gathered around to dissuade her.

The person in charge slapped the table with a "bang" and rose, their voice sounding like a thunderclap:

"Enough! Comrade Zhang, please mind the occasion! Those two rooms have already had their purpose determined by superiors and are to be used for staff arrangements. What are you trying to do by making such a scene? Do you have an opinion on the state's decision?"

Only then did Jia Zhangshi realize she had gone too far, and her voice stopped abruptly.

Jia Dongxu's face turned pale, and he hurriedly pulled his mother up from the floor: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, my mother doesn't know any better, we'll leave now, we'll leave now..."

The two of them slunk out of the Street Office, with Jia Zhangshi still unwilling to give up, muttering all the way:

"What kind of lousy Street Office, acting so high and mighty! Aren't they just two broken rooms? They actually said there's an arrangement by superiors... Hmph, I think they were reserved by someone using connections!"

Jia Dongxu was badly frightened and repeatedly tried to dissuade her: "Mother, please lower your voice, it's not good if people hear you. Let's just forget it; we really can't get those rooms."

"Forget it? When has Jia Zhangshi ever admitted defeat?" Jia Zhangshi snorted coldly, her eyes narrowing into slits, "This isn't over!"

Returning to the Siheyuan, Jia Zhangshi looked at the two empty rooms, a persistent gleam flashing in her eyes:

"Dongxu, how about we just move in? We'll occupy them first and see what they can do about it!"

Jia Dongxu shuddered in fear: "Mother, you're going to cause big trouble! It's not like it used to be; this is illegal!"

Just as the mother and son were arguing, two strangers appeared at the courtyard gate—two young men, one tall and one short, dressed in plain clothes, but standing straight with piercing gazes and a brisk gait; one could tell at a glance that they were soldiers.