Chapter 42: Qin Huairu is Failing Fast

"So mysterious. Oh, silly brother, I give up on you; you can even give away your own sister's room!" Yushui returned to her room speechless, opened her trunk, and felt delighted looking at the pile of things He Yuzhu had signed in from the system that he didn't need.

"At least you weren't stupid enough to give away all the good things." Yushui was kind and intelligent; she naturally understood Qin Huairu's intentions, but she couldn't say anything. After all, they lived in the same Siheyuan, and furthermore, she had received plenty of care from everyone when she was young.

But this did not mean she had no objections to He Yuzhu spending all his money on Qin Huairu.

His own sister lived in such a shabby state, yet he acted like a big shot in the courtyard all day long.

What He Yushui did not know was that it was fortunate He Yuzhu did not take the blame for Bang Geng like in the TV show; otherwise, if he had the reputation of a petty thief, her marriage prospects would have been delayed.

The next day, He Yuzhu slept in, locked the door, and took Yushui out; after all, the Thief Saint was coming back, and he couldn't leave the door unlocked.

The two of them ate something casual, and by the time they walked to the family apartment building, it was already midday.

"Brother, is this the house you were allocated?" As soon as she entered, He Yushui took off her gloves and scarf, excitedly placing her hands near the radiator to warm them, her whole person filled with excitement.

"Mm, how is it?" He Yuzhu nodded, looking at the furniture that already filled the room, and couldn't help but sigh at Ma Hua's efficiency.

A whole set of newly crafted mahogany furniture, coated with clear lacquer, emitted a rich fragrance of wood.

The pots, bowls, ladles, and basins were also new. In the two bedrooms, one large and one small, there were assembled wooden beds. He Yuzhu pressed down on them firmly; they were very sturdy.

Although he didn't think much of these items by his own standards, he could feel Ma Hua's sincerity, and he naturally accepted the good intentions.

Yushui looked here and there with excitement, took off her Down Jacket—it was truly too hot in the room—and finally sat down in front of the Sewing Machine to try it out.

"Brother, when do you plan to find me a sister-in-law? I really envy her for such a good house." Yushui turned her head back, her arms stretched out to hug the brand-new Sewing Machine.

"What's the rush? I've had one for a long time." He Yuzhu lit a cigarette and tugged at his collar.

"Ah? When did that happen?" Yushui became interested.

"It's a long story. Actually, your brother here had an arranged marriage since childhood," He Yuzhu said with a straight face.

Yushui became suspicious; how come she didn't know about this?

"We were still young then, and she lived right next to us, but she moved away later. Sigh." He Yuzhu flicked the cigarette ash and said in a sentimental tone.

"Then, what happened later? What is her name?"

"It's been too long. I can only vaguely remember her name was something like Yehenara-Di-something-ba."

"Ah? A Manchu? And royalty? No, no, she won't look at you. Besides, Manchus have so many rules; you'd have to pay respects every time you meet. Oh, my silly brother, don't wait anymore, just find a good person and marry her." Yushui's head shook like a rattle-drum, her face full of disapproval.

"Hahaha, I'm teasing you." He Yuzhu burst into laughter; this sister of his was quite cute.

Just then, the door was opened, and Ma Hua walked in with his father and brother, carrying bags and bundles of rice, flour, grain, and oil, along with brooms, mops, rags, and all sorts of things.

"Hey, Master, you're here, and Sister Yushui is here too."

He Yuzhu and Yushui hurriedly stepped forward to take the items and set them aside.

"Uncle, sorry to trouble you, and Ma Jian too. This house is all thanks to your help. Don't leave today; our first meal here will be the housewarming. Yushui, go buy some wine." He Yuzhu handed out cigarettes to each of them, feeling very grateful.

After greeting them, He Yushui quickly agreed and ran out, feeling completely bewildered.

Ma Hua's father was a thin, dry middle-aged man, not tall, with rough hands and a face full of wrinkles; he looked more like he was over sixty. Ma Jian was about the same age as Ma Hua, but just as reserved as his father.

One look and you could tell they were honest people.

Ma Hua's father stood there rubbing his hands nervously, a smile on his face, constantly being polite to He Yuzhu.

Soon, a table of food was prepared, and after a few cups of wine, everyone relaxed quite a bit.

"This furniture is...?" He Yuzhu passed out cigarettes again and asked.

"Hi, it's nothing. You see, my eldest son is getting married next year, so I just made it ahead of time. And there's some of Ma Hua's stuff too, so we just put it all together and brought it over for you. Since they aren't in a hurry to use it, we prioritized you. I hope you don't mind that my craftsmanship is poor," Ma Hua's father said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"This... I won't say any more polite words, Uncle. I toast you. Bottoms up." He Yuzhu was moved and downed a cup of wine in one go.

"Hey, no, no, no, you shouldn't. It should be me thanking you. It's all thanks to you; otherwise, how could Ma Hua have such good fortune?" The old man's face turned even redder, and his tone revealed his gratitude.

"Alright, Uncle, no need for formalities between family. Ma Jian, where are you working now?"

"At a furniture factory, just a manual laborer. After work, I go home and help my father with odd jobs."

"Oh, how much do you make a month?"

"Not... not much."

"Have you become a permanent employee?"

"No, but it should be soon."

Looking at the shy Ma Jian, He Yuzhu nodded. Ma Jian put it nicely, but with more and more workers nowadays, whether he could become permanent was hard to say. After all, carpentry was a skilled trade, unlike later generations where electric tools were complete—electric saws for cutting, nail guns going 'crack-crack'—and it was done.

"Any interest in coming to the Rolling Mill to learn to be a chef?" Looking at the three simple, honest men, He Yuzhu smiled.

"Ah? Me? I... I would certainly like to, but I've never learned..." Ma Jian was overjoyed, then looked at his father and Ma Hua, and stammered.

"Haha, it's fine, as long as you want to. After the New Year, come straight to the small kitchen with Ma Hua. But one thing: at home, you are Ma Hua's older brother, but at the factory, you are an apprentice. Learn well, and I won't treat you unfairly," He Yuzhu laughed, then said in a deep voice.

Ma Jian nodded repeatedly, his face flushed with excitement, thanking him over and over.

"Hurry up and toast your master, or be careful he'll make things difficult for you; he's very petty," Yushui put down her chopsticks and teased.

"Right, eldest son, hurry and toast him. Thank you, Master. If he does anything wrong, you just beat him or scold him hard, it's fine." Ma Hua's father, Ma Jun, also gratefully raised his wine glass, his posture very humble. He had only been grateful for He Yuzhu's care for Ma Hua, never expecting such an unexpected gain.

"Bottoms up."

After the meal, He Yuzhu kept Ma Hua behind and had him find a cart to move all of Yushui's things over.

Yushui also realized belatedly that all of this had been prepared for her. She screamed with excitement and hugged He Yuzhu, spinning him around several times.

"You just live here for now. If the leaders ask, just say we each have a room; I doubt anyone will care. If your living conditions aren't good after you get married, just move here to live. Otherwise, it's just empty and a waste."

"Then what about you, brother?"

"I'll live in the Siheyuan. That's a place worth more than a thousand gold."

Just like that, after Bang Geng was released, he moved into Yushui's room with Huai Hua and Xiao Dang, while Qin Huairu lived in the original room with Jia Zhangshi.

In a flash, more than ten days passed, and it was the sixth day of the first lunar month.

Qin Huairu's health was getting worse and worse, and the bloodshot veins in her eyes were increasing, looking bright red and very frightening. She had been to the Hospital several times, but they couldn't find anything wrong, yet Qin Huairu knew her own body...

Qin Huairu's room was kept with the curtains drawn all day, pitch black, and no one could see inside. Xiao Dang and Huai Hua followed their brother Bang Geng, begging for food from one neighbor to the next. Fortunately, Qin Huairu had plenty of money on hand and subsidized each family a little.

Finally, having no other choice, she entrusted them to Qin Jingru and moved all the grain from the house over there as well.

Usually, one wouldn't see Jia Zhangshi come out; the weather was too cold, and one could only occasionally see Jia Zhangshi sitting in her wheelchair through the window, not moving at all.

During the New Year, Xu Damao did not return home either, remaining hidden in the Hospital and seeing no one.

"Cough, cough, Zhu, Zhuzi, are you there?"

Qin Huairu's weak voice rang out, and He Yuzhu hurriedly went out to meet her.