Chapter 148: Showdown and instigation

"Jingru, are you full?" He Yuzhu asked.

"En en, full. I've never been so full in my life, and I've never eaten so well. Thank you, Brother Zhuzi," Qin Jingru nodded repeatedly.

"This is just where it is. If you want to eat roast duck in the future, we can eat it every day until you want to vomit when you see roast duck."

"Alright, let's talk about business. Is Qin Huairu your cousin or your cousin?" He Yuzhu asked.

"From my father's side, Qin Huairu is my cousin. Her father and my father are not biological cousins, but cousins in the courtyard;"

"From my mother's side, Qin Huairu is my cousin, but not a biological cousin, but a distant cousin. It's closer than my father's side, so Qin Huairu let me call her cousin," Qin Jingru said.

Qin Jingru didn't know what He Yuzhu meant, so she decided to tell the truth.

"Oh, so that's how it is. I said so. Your cousin Qin Huairu should have told you my general conditions. Let me tell you my detailed conditions again."

"My monthly income is seventy-two. If I take some private jobs, it can be more. I have about two thousand to three thousand yuan at home, of which one thousand five hundred is Yushui's;"

"As for the house, the main room is mine, and the side room is Yushui's. Even if Yushui gets married, that side room is still Yushui's;"

"If we become a couple, the money at home will be kept by you. I'll equip you with three turns and one sound. If there are no coupons, I'll go to the trust store to buy second-hand ones, and I'll equip you;"

"If you are willing to stay at home, then stay at home. If you want to work, I will get you a job at the Rolling Mill, making you a formal worker at the Rolling Mill. The salary is not high, but it is absolutely easy," He Yuzhu said very frankly.

"Really?" Qin Jingru widened her eyes instantly and asked in disbelief.

In this year, a formal job in the city meant changing fate for people in the countryside. Women could change their fate by marrying into the city; men could change their fate by inheriting or buying a job.

Of course, you can also change your fate by going to school. However, Qin Jingru was obviously not the material for school and could only change her fate by marrying into the city.

Qin Jingru never dreamed that she could not only marry into the city but also have a formal job at the Rolling Mill.

"Really. By the way, there is also the bride price. How much bride price did your cousin Qin Huairu ask for back then?" He Yuzhu asked.

"It seems to be ten yuan. Brother Zhuzi, if you can do what you said before, you don't need to give the bride price," Qin Jingru said extremely nervously.

"The bride price still needs to be given. Since Qin Huairu was ten yuan, I'll give you one hundred yuan here. Do you have any other requirements?" He Yuzhu asked.

"No, no, you really don't need to give the bride price," Qin Jingru said.

"Good, you have no problem here. I have a condition. As long as you agree, you will go home tomorrow to open a certificate, and we will get the certificate the day after tomorrow," He Yuzhu said very simply.

"What condition? Brother Zhuzi, just say it. I agree to everything, even if you want to marry a mistress in the future," Qin Jingru was afraid that He Yuzhu wouldn't marry her, so she said hurriedly.

"Don't be nervous. My condition is very simple for you, and that is to break off relations with Qin Huairu. No matter if Qin Huairu asks you to borrow money, borrow grain, borrow meat... even if it's to borrow anything, you don't give it to her;"

"No matter what Qin Huairu says, you don't listen, don't believe. You just treat Qin Huairu as a stranger and don't pay attention to her," He Yuzhu said.

He Yushui, who was listening with her ears tilted, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

He Yushui was actually opposed to He Yuzhu matchmaking with Qin Jingru in her heart. What He Yushui feared was that if the two became a couple, Qin Huairu would desperately suck He Yuzhu's blood.

He Yushui still had to rely on He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu only had that much blood. If Qin Huairu sucked it hard, it would damage He Yushui's interests.

Now, He Yushui saw that her brother He Yuzhu was clearly playing the trick of killing the donkey after the mill, and couldn't help but feel happy in her heart. He Yushui had already imagined Qin Huairu's stinky face.

"No problem! I will break off relations with Qin Huairu

"Alright, it's settled then. Don't go sleep at Qin Huairu's house tonight; just make do with Yushui for the night. It's a good chance for Yushui to chat with you about why I hate Qin Huairu so much."

"Tomorrow morning, I'll take you to Wangfujing to look around, then send you to the station. You go home to get the certificate, and the day after tomorrow we'll register. As for the wedding banquet, I'll go to your house on the weekend to discuss it," He Yuzhu said.

"Okay," Qin Jingru nodded repeatedly.

After He Yuzhu packed up the remaining duck frames, the group leisurely returned to the Siheyuan.

Yan Bugui didn't dare wait at the main gate this time, but instead waited at his own door, pretending to water the flowers.

"Zhuzi, you're back?" Yan Bugui said with a fawning face.

"Back. By the way, this is Qin Huairu's cousin, Qin Jingru. She's staying at my place tonight, in the same room as Yushui," He Yuzhu said.

"Oh, so you two are a match?" Yan Bugui clearly knew about Qin Jingru coming for a blind date.

"Yeah, it's a match, just waiting for the introduction letter," He Yuzhu said.

"Then you have to treat us, Zhuzi," Yan Bugui's eyes lit up as he said this, though in his heart he was thinking about going to find Matchmaker Zhang tomorrow to probe Tian Wenjiao's background and introduce her to Yan Jiecheng.

"Yeah, I definitely have to treat. I'll notify everyone when the time comes," He Yuzhu said indifferently.

He Yuzhu wouldn't actually treat these people to a meal; giving them two candies as a token would be enough.

"Alright, it's a deal. You two went to Quanjude to eat duck?" Yan Bugui's eyes rolled as he asked.

"Yeah, and look, this is the duck frame I brought for Qin Huairu. If you want it, you'll have to talk to Qin Huairu. As long as you can out-talk Qin Huairu, this duck frame is yours," He Yuzhu said, then placed the duck frame in front of Yan Bugui, deliberately shaking it.

Yan Bugui instinctively licked his lips, and his body subconsciously took the duck frame.

After Yan Bugui took the duck frame, he instantly sobered up: "This Shazhu is clearly trying to stir up a fight between my family and Qin Huairu's family."

However, even though Yan Bugui knew what He Yuzhu was doing, he still wanted to take advantage and didn't want to return the duck frame to Qin Huairu.

He Yuzhu indeed thought this way and did exactly that, while also wanting to see the courage of the Yan family and the methods of Qin Huairu.

In the past, the Yan family definitely wouldn't have dared to do this. Back then, Qin Huairu had the Undead Summoning Mage Jia Zhangshi above, the Miraculous Hand Thief Saint Bang Geng below, the Moral Heavenly Venerable Yi Zhonghai on the left, the Siheyuan War God Shazhu on the right, and the Deaf Old Lady standing behind her; she could be said to have everything she wanted.

Now, Qin Huairu had nothing; she was just a standard widow.

It is said that although Yan Bugui is stingy, he still has a bottom line. He Yuzhu just wanted to see if the Yan family had a bottom line and if they would bully Qin Huairu.

After sobering up, Yan Bugui was indeed hesitant. In the midst of this hesitation, San Dama walked out of the house, grabbed Yan Bugui, and pulled him back inside.

"Heh, Yan Bugui and his wife see that Qin Huairu is easy to bully, so they're clearly bullying her. They're really hypocritical. Such people who bully the weak and fear the strong can't be kept," He Yuzhu sneered, deciding to send Yan Bugui away.

He Yuzhu saw it very clearly: Yan Bugui appeared to be struggling and reluctant on the surface, but in reality, he was eager for San Dama to pull him home quickly. As for the battle between the Yan family and Qin Huairu, it would of course be fought by San Dama—woman against woman, after all. Regardless of who won or lost, it couldn't be blamed on Yan Bugui. When the time came, Yan Bugui could again pretend to say he had poor management, and a light sentence would cover up all the faults.

He Yuzhu then gave He Yushui a look. He Yushui nodded and immediately ran into the Zhongyuan, shouting loudly: "Jia Qinshi, come out quickly! San Dama snatched the duck meat and duck frame my brother brought for you!"

Qin Huairu had been waiting for He Yuzhu's return; her family hadn't eaten meat for a long time, and she wanted to take this opportunity to have a meal.

When Qin Huairu saw He Yushui running to the Zhongyuan, her heart skipped a beat, and she vaguely felt something was wrong. When He Yushui shouted, Qin Huairu panicked.

Even more panicked than Qin Huairu was Bang Geng; Bang Geng had waited a long time for this. Bang Geng and Qin Huairu immediately rushed out of the house and ran to the front courtyard.

Before Qin Huairu could speak, He Yuzhu spoke first.

"Sister Qin, this really isn't my fault. I said it was for you, but then... sigh!"

"If it were in the hands of the Third Uncle, I could still snatch it back. But since the duck frame is in San Dama's hands, I can't exactly snatch it, can I? I could beat up the Third Uncle—after all, we're both men, and a fight is normal—but you can't expect me to beat up San Dama," He Yuzhu said, spreading his hands.

"San Dama, open the door! Hurry up and return my family's duck frame!" Qin Huairu patted the door in a panic.

Bang Geng was also screaming wildly outside.

However, no matter how Qin Huairu patted the door outside, or how Bang Geng screamed, the Yan family kept their door tightly shut.

Everyone understood that the Yan family was stalling for time to eat the duck frame. There were many people in the Yan family, so they could finish it in a while.

Three minutes later, San Dama's voice came from inside the house.

"Qin Huairu, why are you in such a rush to pat the door? Are you mourning the dead? Who died in your family? Don't tell me it's Jia Zhangshi?" San Dama shouted loudly and opened the door.

Clearly, the Yan family had already eaten the duck frame clean, which was why they were so confident in coming to open the door.

"You... San Dama, how could you eat all the duck frame and duck meat that Zhuzi gave me?" Qin Huairu asked angrily.

"What do you mean Zhuzi gave it to you? This was given to our Old Yan by Zhuzi. Old Yan, tell her, isn't that right?" San Dama deliberately shouted loudly toward the inside of the house.

"Mom, Dad is already asleep. He has to go to work tomorrow, so don't disturb him," Yan Jiecheng's voice came.

"Oh, since your dad is asleep, let him sleep," San Dama said.

He Yuzhu almost laughed out loud upon hearing this. Yan Bugui was clearly acting like a rascal. And it made sense: for a grown man to argue with a woman, regardless of who won or lost, he would lose face. It was better for a woman to handle such things.

"San Dama, you guys are bullying people too much. Our family is so poor, and we finally waited for Zhuzi to bring back some leftover meat, but you snatched it away..." Qin Huairu began to wail and cry bitterly.

She was playing the "pitiful" card, hoping to evoke empathy from everyone.

Unfortunately, Qin Huairu miscalculated. Over the years, Jia Zhangshi had offended everyone in the Siheyuan, and the people of the Siheyuan had long since seen through Qin Huairu's true colors.

In the past, with Yi Zhonghai's favoritism and Shazhu's physical protection, the beasts of the Siheyuan were forced to cooperate. When Qin Huairu cried, the beasts of the Siheyuan cooperated with their empathy, but it wasn't genuine empathy.

Now, without Yi Zhonghai, and with He Yuzhu awakened, who would still pay attention to Qin Huairu?

"Qin Huairu, you say your family is poor? That's a guilty conscience talking. Everyone present can say that, but only your Jia family cannot."

"In the past, under Yi Zhonghai's coercion, the people in our courtyard donated plenty of money to your family. Why is your family poor? Let's not talk about anything else, just look at Bang Geng. Look at the children the same age as Bang Geng; which one isn't sallow and thin? Only your Bang Geng is fat and strong like a little calf," San Dama sneered.

The crowd also let out a sneer.

It was the same old story: in the past, with Yi Zhonghai and Shazhu around, the people in the Siheyuan could only remain silent. They were just silent, not blind.

"That's right, Qin Huairu, you're being too heartless. You say your family is poor—where is your family poor?"

"Exactly, in the past, Zhuzi's lunch boxes were all eaten by your family. In our Siheyuan, your family was the best off..."

Bursts of discussion arose, and the beasts of the Siheyuan all kicked her while she was down.

Qin Huairu suddenly widened her eyes, discovering that the familiar neighbors had suddenly become so strange, and everyone had a ferocious expression.

"Our Siheyuan is a civilized and advanced Siheyuan. Mutual help is a traditional virtue. It's said that when one side is in trouble, all sides support them. Who doesn't have difficult times? Today, you help others, and when you fall into trouble one day, others will help you too..."

"Bah! In the past, when that old bastard Yi Zhonghai was around, everyone was afraid of retaliation and could only swallow their anger. Now, Yi Zhonghai has eaten a bullet, Yi Dama has run away, and the old deaf woman has gone to the nursing home. You still want to use that old routine to manipulate everyone? You should ask if everyone agrees!" San Dama sneered.

"We don't agree!"

"We don't agree!"

The beasts of the Siheyuan shouted loudly with great excitement.

"Qin Huairu, stop pulling this act in the future. Who doesn't know your family's financial situation? You have Jia Dongxu's compensation money in your hands, and you get a monthly subsidy. Where are you poor?"

"Don't think that just because you cry, everyone will donate money and goods to your family again. Does everyone owe you? Get lost!" San Dama scolded sharply and unceremoniously.

San Dama was very smart to tie herself to the crowd, giving everyone a sense of shared suffering.

The reason everyone felt this way was because the Qin Huairu family's exploitation of them in the past had been too ruthless.

During the famine years, they made everyone donate grain to provide for the Jia family's gluttony. Wasn't that taking everyone's lives? How could everyone not hate the Jia family?

In the past, with Yi Zhonghai around, no one dared to resist. Now that Yi Zhonghai was dead, the only reason everyone hadn't bullied Qin Huairu was because of her strong maternal family.

Qin Huairu still wanted to act as domineering as before, but no one in the Siheyuan would agree to it.

"Qin Huairu, you are truly heartless. From now on, everyone shouldn't call you Qin Huairu anymore; let's just call you the Black-Hearted Little Widow," San Dama sneered.

"Black-Hearted Little Widow—that nickname is good. From now on, Qin Huairu will be called the Black-Hearted Little Widow," Liugen Xifu said.

Qin Huairu was completely stunned. She believed that before long, Qin Huairu's nickname, "Black-Hearted Little Widow," would spread throughout the entire street.

Qin Huairu hurriedly looked for outside help, wanting to get He Yuzhu to intervene, only to find that He Yuzhu was no longer in the front courtyard.

Qin Huairu understood that saying anything now was useless, so she cried and dragged Bang Geng straight to the Zhongyuan, looking extremely aggrieved as she went to find He Yuzhu.

(End of chapter)