Chapter 201

Hearing Qin Huairu's words, Jia Zhangshi couldn't help furrowing her brow, somewhat incredulously asking:

"You, you're saying this is true?"

Qin Huairu: "Can I say this falsely?"

"If I wanted to marry, based on my looks, whoever I chose wouldn't be stronger than Shazhu?"

"Shazhu looks so anxious, so ugly, and so coarse, how could I possibly like such a person?"

"Besides, you know, Shazhu had an egg damaged by Xu Damao; whether that function can still be used is still up for debate."

"Back then the doctor said it was highly likely unusable."

"Moreover, if I truly wanted to marry, I would have done so long ago; why wait until now?"

Jia Zhangshi furrowed her brow tightly and said:

"Although what you say makes sense, but how come I notice you're getting so close to Shazhu?"

Qin Huairu: "Why do you have to be so close to him, don't you have a clue yet?"

"Our family of five, relying solely on my salary, would have starved long ago."

"I have to think of a way to get others to help us, right?"

"And Shazhu is the best candidate for that."

"Because he likes me, rest assured, he only likes me one-sidedly, I don't like him at all."

"That is, because he likes me, I can keep him under my thumb, and from time to time he helps us."

"To be honest, if it weren't for his frequent help over the years, our life would probably not have continued."

"If he didn't often bring back leftovers from the cafeteria, could you have gotten so fat?"

Jia Zhangshi became unhappy: "You talk as if only I'm fat, but you're no different."

Qin Huairu: "I don't deny it, but take another look at our courtyard; we won't talk about the distant ones."

"Who is like our family? Who among them isn't pale and thin?"

"But what about our family?"

"You, Bang Geng, plus me—who looks pale? Who is frail?"

"I tell you, this is all thanks to Shazhu."

"So we must absolutely not offend Shazhu."

"Of course, we also don't need to fawn over him."

"Anyway, I'll tell you this: Shazhu is already firmly under my control; you can treat him as you used to, however you like."

"With me around, there's nothing to fear."

"As long as you listen to me, Shazhu will stay like this for life; he probably won't find a wife, and he'll only be able to be our family's long-term meal ticket."

"I've said so much today, so plainly, just to let you know that no matter what I do in the future, it's for our family's good; moreover, an important point is that I will absolutely never be with Shazhu—you can rest assured on that."

Jia Zhangshi thought for a moment and asked: "Are you speaking from the heart?"

Qin Huairu: "Really, just look at my actions."

"Also, you need to understand this: if we don't keep Shazhu tied down, how would he willingly keep helping us?"

Jia Zhangshi: "I hope what you say is true."

"Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite."

Qin Huairu: "What I said is all true; alright, I have something urgent, I'll go out first."

Jia Zhangshi: "It's so late, where are you going?"

Qin Huairu: "Didn't I tell you that last time?"

"Shengli bought a Siheyuan outside and asked me to clean it."

"I only just realized now that I haven't cleaned it for many days."

"If Shengli finds out, he'll surely deduct my wages."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi hurriedly said: "Then go quickly; don't let your wages be deducted."

Qin Huairu nodded, stood up, and walked toward the outside.

Jia Zhangshi watched Qin Huairu's back, still feeling somewhat uneasy.

She still didn't quite dare to believe Qin Huairu's words.

"If Qin Huairu and Shazhu secretly do something like 'Secret Passage Through Chen Cang,' it'll be too late."

A few days later.

"Bang Geng, in a bit you call Grandma to eat."

Qin Huairu picked up her bag and said to Bang Geng, who was eating:

Bang Geng: "Got it."

Xiao Dang: "Mom, you're leaving so early?"

Huaihua: "Mom, you're not eating?"

Qin Huairu let out a long sigh, while holding a steamed bun, she said:

"Isn't today the last day of work?"

"Mom and her coworkers have agreed to finish the work before the year ends."

"You guys eat."

After Qin Huairu left, Xiao Dang looked at Bang Geng and said:

"Brother, go call Grandma."

Bang Geng took a bite of the white flour steamed bun and said:

"No need, Grandma said that as soon as Mom leaves, she'll come."

Xiao Dang: "Brother, didn't Mom talk a lot with Grandma that day?"

I saw her complexion improve; it seems she's not angry with Mom anymore.

But these past few days, why is she arguing with Mom again?

Bang Geng: "Ah, it's just because Mom came back too late that night."

Grandma's started suspecting Mom again.

Just then, Jia Zhangshi came out of the inner room with a sullen face.

Bang Geng looked at her and said:

Grandma, Mom left without eating.

Jia Zhangshi, while serving herself porridge, said angrily:

Just eat your rice.

After serving the porridge, she sat down, glanced at Bang Geng, Xiao Dang, and Huaihua, and said:

You three, listen up.

After school today, you're all going to a classmate's house to do homework.

After finishing homework, you can play at the classmate's house; no one is allowed to come back before dark.

You hear me?

Bang Geng frowned and asked:

What are you trying to do?

Jia Zhangshi glared at Bang Geng and said angrily:

Eat your rice; even a steamed bun couldn't shut your mouth.

Bang Geng muttered angrily:

It seems you were the one who said it first.

That night, Jia Zhangshi was half-believing, half-doubting Qin Huairu's words.

But that night, Qin Huairu went out to meet Lin Shengli in secret and came back a little late.

This made Jia Zhangshi suspicious again.

Jia Zhangshi suspected Qin Huairu went out to fool around with Shazhu.

So, after thinking it over, she decided to pull out a big move today.

A workshop.

Qin Huairu was working.

Shazhu walked in with his hands behind his back.

A worker joked, "Hey, He Shifu, you're not simple at all—just got back to the canteen and you're already missing us."

Shazhu frowned and retorted, "I'm thinking of your aunt-in-law!"

I'm just here to see my wife.

Hearing Shazhu's words, Qin Huairu couldn't help but frown.

This Shazhu is truly clueless; he can't see through my feigned affection, and now he's getting even more sycophantic.

If Lin Shengli heard that, there'd be no end to the misunderstanding.

Shazhu walked up to Qin Huairu, pretending to be angry, and said:

What's going on?

You go out early in the morning without even eating breakfast!

Do I have to buy it for you?

Saying this, he handed Qin Huairu the steamed bun wrapped in parchment paper in his hand, then continued:

Hurry up, eat it while it's hot.

Qin Huairu pursed her lips and said, "Shazhu, stop talking nonsense—who's your wife?"