Chapter 13

After work in the evening, Jia Dongxu had just gotten home when Jia Zhangshi eagerly asked him.

Dongxu, is the steel mill allocating housing again?

I don't know, what's going on? Jia Dongxu was completely puzzled.

He Yuzhu reported to the steel mill today, and the steel mill even allocated the two side rooms next to his family's house to him, Jia Zhangshi said quietly.

He Yuzhu is working at the steel mill, I haven't heard that the steel mill is hiring, Jia Dongxu still looked clueless.

Why don't you ask your master? He might know, Jia Zhangshi said.

Okay, Jia Dongxu also wanted to know whether the steel mill had started hiring; if it really was hiring, he could figure out how to get Qin Huiru into the steel mill, and then the family would have two wage earners, which would be wonderful.

Master, Jia Dongxu went to Yi Zhonghai's home.

Dongxu, you're here, do you have something? Yi Zhonghai asked Jia Dongxu, after all they had returned together from work; now that they had just parted, Jia Dongxu coming to see him must be for a reason.

Master, I heard He Yuzhu reported to the steel mill today.

What did you say? Yi Zhonghai immediately jumped to his feet, excited.

I said He Yuzhu reported to the steel mill today, and the steel mill even allocated the two side rooms next to his family's house to him, Jia Dongxu said.

Who did you hear it from?

Everyone in the Siheyuan knows that.

Old wife, is what Dongxu said true? Yi Zhonghai asked the elder lady.

Hmm, this afternoon He Yuzhu came back with two lunch boxes; Old Yan asked him where he got the lunch boxes, and He Yuzhu said he got them from the steel mill, and he also said he would start working at the steel mill tomorrow. The elder lady recounted the afternoon's events to the master and disciple.

Miscalculated, Yi Zhonghai muttered. He had originally planned to wait until He Yuzhu had no other options, then give him a little food as charity; He Yuzhu and his sister would surely feel grateful, after which he could slowly instill in him respect for elders; over time He Yuzhu would surely not escape his control, but he hadn't expected He Yuzhu to actually go work at the steel mill—wasn't that throwing off his plan?

You haven't heard how He Yuzhu got into the steel mill? Yi Zhonghai asked the elder lady.

According to Third Aunt, this morning Li Qiang took He Yuzhu and He Yushui with him, the elder lady said after thinking.

It's this Li Qiang again, always ruining my plans. Yi Zhonghai now hated Li Qiang in his heart, but he dared not do anything to Li Qiang.

I think it's good that He Yuzhu has a job; at least he can support his siblings. Look at how they've been living lately, and you keep saying you're the elder, always talking about neighbors helping each other, but you won't even give He Yuzhu two steamed buns, the elder lady said resentfully.

What does a woman like you know? Yi Zhonghai certainly wouldn't tell the elder lady his thoughts.

"Master, I want to ask, if the factory is hiring, could you see if you can get Huiru into the steel mill as well?" Jia Dongxu said.

I haven't heard that the factory is hiring; I'll ask tomorrow, Yi Zhonghai said.

Okay, thanks, Master. I'll head back now.

Hmm, Yi Zhonghai grunted. Now He Yuzhu had lost control; even if the steel mill hired workers, Yi Zhonghai wouldn't let Qin Huiru enter the steel mill. If Qin Huiru also entered the steel mill, the Jia family's life would be easier, which is not what he wants. Only if the Jia family continues to have a hard life does it suit Yi Zhonghai's thinking; only then would Yi Zhonghai occasionally help the Jia family, keeping them dependent on him, so he could control the Jia family and control Jia Dongxu to support him in his old age.

To put it bluntly, in the whole Siheyuan Yi Zhonghai is the biggest villain; Yan Butgui schemes for petty gains, but Yi Zhonghai plots against people's entire lives—such a person is too sinister and terrifying. Yet outwardly he appears loyal, honest, kind, and approachable; it is this appearance that makes neighbors let down their guard against him, which is also why in the original drama he could enjoy such high prestige and control the Siheyuan for so many years—the main reason being that he is too good at disguising himself.

The next morning, after He Yuzhu and his sister finished washing up, they happily followed the crowd to the steel mill.

Since He Yuzhu had just started work, the steel mill's leadership's receptions were basically arranged at noon, so after work he brought He Yushui back to the Siheyuan.

He Yuzhu, how was your first day on the job? Yan Butgui saw He Yuzhu coming back with a lunch box again and hurried over to ask.

Pretty good, I'm just a cook; I only need to make the dishes well, He Yuzhu said with a smile.

He Yuzhu, tell Third Uncle the truth: is your job arranged by Li Qiang? Yan Butgui asked quietly.

Indeed, it was thanks to Elder Brother Qiang's help, He Yuzhu did not deny.

I see you brought back two lunch boxes again; how about we have a drink tonight? Yan Butgui said, his face creased with a smile.

Never mind, Third Uncle; the leftovers from the leadership's noon reception aren't even enough for me and Yushui to eat. I'll treat you another time when I have the chance, He Yuzhu refused without even thinking.

He didn't dare drink Yan Butgui's liquor; everyone knew that the last time Yan Butgui mooched a meal at Li Qiang's house and came back with diarrhea. Only He Yuzhu knew that Yan Butgui got diarrhea from eating too much fatty meat and drinking liquor diluted with water, and he himself didn't want to get diarrhea.

Look at what you're saying, kid; Third Uncle, I'm thin and can't eat much, Yan Butgui said, still not giving up.

Another time, He Yuzhu said, then ran straight into the central courtyard; he didn't believe Yan Butgui's nonsense, and even with just those leftovers, there wasn't enough for one person to make a meal.

Dongxu, did your master ask about that today? Jia Zhangshi continued asking Jia Dongxu.

I asked, and the factory simply isn't hiring or allocating housing, Jia Dongxu said disappointedly.

Dongxu, why don't you go talk to He Yuzhu about borrowing one of the rooms he was allocated for our family? Huiru is pregnant now and will give birth soon; then our four of us living in one room will be quite cramped. I asked He Yuzhu that day, and he said one room is reserved for Yushui to live in, and he happens to have another empty one—let him lend that room to our family, how does that sound? Jia Zhangshi began to envy the two rooms newly allocated to He Yuzhu.

I'd say it's not appropriate; my master is the elder of the Siheyuan, it would be better for him to say it, Jia Dongxu said after thinking.

Alright, I'll go with you to find your master, Jia Zhangshi thought Jia Dongxu made sense.

Old Yi, haven't you eaten yet? Jia Zhangshi's natal family came to Yi Zhonghai's home, saw the empty table, and Jia Zhangshi asked with a smile.

Not yet, what brings you two ladies over? Yi Zhonghai asked Jia Zhangshi.

Old Yi, you know our situation too; Huiru is about to give birth soon, and it's really not good for the whole family to be crammed into one room. He Yuzhu was just allocated two rooms, wasn't he? I asked him yesterday. He said one room is reserved for Yushui to live in, and you see he still has an empty one—could you go talk to him about lending that empty room to our family? Jia Zhangshi asked.

This shouldn't be a big problem; I'll go ask for you, Yi Zhonghai thought this really wasn't a big problem, after all the room is empty anyway.

Okay, let's go ask together, Jia Zhangshi was so pleased to hear Yi Zhonghai's willingness to help that her mouth almost split up to the back of her head.

He Yuzhu, are you home? Li Qiang came to He Yuzhu's door and asked.

It's Elder Brother Qiang, come in quickly! He Yuzhu enthusiastically welcomed Li Qiang inside.

He Yuzhu, I'll get you a shoulder bag; this is something I brought back from the army, I don't need it anymore so I'm giving it to you. From now on, when you bring back your lunch box, put it in the bag instead of using a net bag, which looks bad when people see it. Li Qiang handed an earth-yellow shoulder bag to He Yuzhu.

Okay, thanks, Elder Brother Qiang. He Yuzhu knew Li Qiang meant well, so he didn't stand on ceremony.

Is He Yuzhu home? As soon as the words fell, He Yuzhu's door was pushed open, and Yi Zhonghai entered with the Jia family mother and son.

Elder, do you have something? He Yuzhu asked, a bit displeased.

He Yuzhu, the situation is this: your sister-in-law Huiru is about to give birth, and it's indeed not suitable for the whole family to be crammed into one room. The factory gave you two rooms, right? I thought, since it's empty anyway, why not lend one to the Jia family? Yi Zhonghai said righteously.

No loan, He Yuzhu refused outright. The Jia family has borrowed from neighbors plenty over the years, but they never return anything.

He Yuzhu, people shouldn't be too selfish; neighbors ought to learn to help each other, Yi Zhonghai said, launching another moral guilt-trip.

Elder, I want to ask: you're asking He Yuzhu to lend his house to the Jia family—how long do you intend to lend it, and will you charge rent? Li Qiang couldn't stand it anymore and spoke up.

What rent do neighbors need to charge when helping each other? As for how long, it depends on the situation; once Dongxu gets his housing, we'll return it to He Yuzhu. Yi Zhonghai said this while appearing especially guilty.

Elder, do you mean He Yuzhu's house should be given free to the Jia family, and not necessarily for a fixed period? In other words, if Dongxu never gets housing his whole life, does that mean He Yuzhu's house would be lent to the Jia family for life? Li Qiang asked.

"Words can't be said like that. His house being empty is also empty, ah." Yi Zhonghai didn't know how to answer.

"Who said my house is empty? One room I plan to make a kitchen, the other is left for rainwater to live in." He Yuzhu said stubbornly.