Chapter 77: The Transformation of Jia Zhangshi

"Mom, are what you said tonight all true?" After Yan Butgui left, Jia Dongxu asked; this was the first time he felt his mother's greatness.

"Dongxu, from now on work well and pay more attention to safety; you are the mainstay of our family, if you fall, our family will scatter." Jia Zhangshi rarely spoke so seriously with Jia Dongxu.

"Okay, Mom," Jia Dongxu said, his eyes slightly red.

"Huiru, after you give birth, I'll stay home to look after the kids; you and Dongxu work with peace of mind. I don't believe our family, with two formal workers, could have a bad life." Jia Zhangshi said firmly.

"Mom, don't worry, I will definitely work well; you're right, we can't let others look down on our family. In a few years, when Banggeng grows up, we'll still need to find him a wife." Qin Huiru also felt that Jia Zhangshi's change was too great at this moment, but this change was something they all wanted to see, which filled her with hope for the future.

Two months later, Qin Huiru gave birth to a daughter, named Huahua. Because Qin Huiru's nutrition couldn't keep up during pregnancy, Huahua was born very frail. Although Qin Huiru had given birth to a daughter, Jia Zhangshi was a bit disappointed, but she still took care of Qin Huiru through the postpartum month.

Now Qin Huiru has a job, and Jia Dongxu is doing well. This time Qin Huiru gave birth to a daughter; maybe next time she'll have a son.

Qin Huiru also went to Yagangchang to report for work. The trade union knew Qin Huiru had attended junior high school, though she didn't finish; in the 1950s-60s that counted as being educated. To make it convenient for her to go home and feed the child, the union assigned her to the Women's Federation, doing simple tasks like organizing files and registration.

"Qiangzi, Auntie wants to ask you for a favor." Just as Li Qiang got off work and arrived at the central courtyard, Jia Zhangshi stopped him.

"Jia Auntie, what is it you want to say?" During this period, everyone had seen Jia Zhangshi's changes; as long as it wasn't too much, Li Qiang was still willing to help, after all he was now the Household Manager of the Siheyuan.

"Qiangzi, Auntie knows you're capable; I want to ask you to buy a wild chicken or some eggs or such for Auntie. Our family's Huiru just finished her postpartum month and went back to work; these days there isn't much good stuff to give her nutrition, her milk supply is a bit lacking, the child isn't getting enough to eat and cries with hunger." Jia Zhangshi said sincerely.

"Sure, tomorrow I'll ask an acquaintance and see what I can get; I'll bring it back for you." Li Qiang felt Jia Zhangshi's request wasn't excessive, and helping a little was no trouble.

"Then thank you, Auntie; take this money first, and if it's not enough, Auntie will give you more later." Jia Zhangshi took out twenty yuan and handed it to Li Qiang; this was the first time she had voluntarily given money to someone.

"Fine, then I won't stand on ceremony." Li Qiang took the money without being polite.

"Then I'll trouble you," Jia Zhangshi said with a smile.

"You're welcome."

"What's wrong with you? Did you pick up money?" Zhou Rong looked at Li Qiang returning with a smiling face and asked curiously.

"Happier than finding money," Li Qiang said with a smile.

"Tell me, what made you so happy?" Zhou Rong also became interested.

"Just now in the central courtyard, Jia Zhangshi asked me to buy two chickens or some eggs, saying it was to nourish Huiru, and she even gave me the money first," Li Qiang said with a smile.

"I've also heard this from Yu Li and the elder sister-in-law. During this period, Jia Zhangshi seems like a different person; her attitude when speaking to everyone has improved. Now that Huiru is working, she helps at home with the kids and has started doing housework, and everyone suddenly feels a bit unaccustomed to it. Wasn't there a saying before: 'Whether the Siheyuan is chaotic or not, Jia Zhangshi decides.' Her transformation has suddenly made everyone feel a bit unaccustomed." Zhou Rong said with a smile.

"Nobody is born entirely bad; Jia Zhangshi's earlier bullying and meddling might have been her survival tactic. Before liberation, a woman trying to raise Jia Dongxu would have been left with nothing if she didn't use some means—how often are families wiped out? Yi Zhonghai has cut ties with her family, which probably also drove her change. Remember, every time Jia Zhangshi bullied and meddled before, Yi Zhonghai smoothed things over for her. Now Jia Dongxu has become a third-level worker, and Huiru has a job, which has given her hope for life." Li Qiang analyzed.

"What you say makes sense; nobody is born evil. No matter how Jia Zhangshi was before, as long as she's improved now, that's enough. As the great ones said, we allow comrades to make mistakes, but we must also give them a chance to correct them." Zhou Rong said philosophically.

"Her transformation has made our Siheyuan much quieter, and relations between neighbors have become more harmonious. After all, we're just ordinary folks; as long as we can live a stable life, who wants to be arguing all day?"

"Yeah, I reckon if Director Wang knew about her change, he'd be pleased too, and likely by year's end the title of 'Civilized Siheyuan' will belong to our courtyard again." Zhou Rong said with a smile.

"I don't care about those things; as long as everyone can live peacefully, that's enough." Li Qiang truly didn't care about such empty honors.

"That's where you're wrong. Everyone knows how the 'Civilized Siheyuan' title came about before—it was Zhonghai and his lot cheating their way up. This time it's earned honestly. Ordinary people have a sense of fairness in their hearts; you can't dampen everyone's enthusiasm."

"Don't worry, after all I am the Household Manager of this Siheyuan; seeing the neighbors get along makes me happy, I couldn't possibly pour cold water on everyone." Li Qiang said with a smile.

The next day after work, Li Qiang brought back two old hens, twenty eggs, and five catties of rice to the Siheyuan.

"Qiangzi, where did you get all these good things?" Yan Butgui looked at the items on Li Qiang's vehicle, eyes shining, and asked.

"Butgui, this is Jia Auntie's commission for me to find someone to buy; she wants to nourish the Jia family's sister-in-law." Li Qiang explained.

"Jia Zhangshi has really come to her senses," Yan Butgui sighed.

"Qiangzi, thank you," Jia Zhangshi had been waiting at the moon gate of the central courtyard; seeing Li Qiang return, she immediately went up to meet him.

"Jia Auntie, I deliberately had a friend get two old hens for you; you can raise them, and they'll lay an egg each day. Just feed them some vegetable leaves normally. Here are twenty eggs and some rice; if the sister-in-law can't come back to nurse the child, you can cook some rice porridge to supplement the child."

"Qiangzi, Auntie thanks you; yesterday the money Auntie gave you wasn't enough, was it? Tell me how much more you need and I'll give it." Jia Zhangshi said with reddened eyes; this was the first time she felt others' respect and care for her.

"No need, Auntie; I just bought what your money could cover." Li Qiang said with a smile.

"Qiangzi, Auntie thanks you." Jia Zhangshi isn't stupid; now it's the second half of 1961, she knows her twenty yuan definitely couldn't buy all this; Li Qiang saying that in front of Yan Butgui is to save her face and also intentionally help their family.

Jia Zhangshi's guess was correct; Li Qiang really doesn't care about her trivial trifles, as long as she changes. He's willing to help Jia Dongxu manage the household well, and regardless of whether it's the Jia family or anyone else, as long as they live decently, Li Qiang is ready to lend a hand. He doesn't have great ability—he can't undertake grand tasks like saving the nation—but he can still do this small thing of helping the neighbors.