Chapter 152: Qin Huairu: Trapping Yi Zhonghai

Jia Dongxu only then understood Qin Huairu's meaning, hesitating as he asked.

"What do you mean?"

He felt bitter inside; who knew marrying a rural woman would be so hard? It's all her mother's fault—she found Qin Huairu for him just to save money.

However, you can't blame his mother either; back then marrying a rural woman came with grain rations, just like his mother—she could still get grain from the village then.

But who knew that later, with the communal big pot meals, rural household registration turned from a prized asset into a burden.

Qin Huairu said directly.

"Otherwise, have your mother take out the money."

"Otherwise, when she comes back, she'll go to the street office to look for temporary work, and I'll go to the street office to get matchboxes."

"Otherwise, how are we supposed to get by?"

"Also, now that your mother's back, shouldn't your master show some appreciation—increase our monthly subsidy a bit? After all, we can't have my mother just sleep with him for nothing."

Jia Dongxu got a headache upon hearing that.

"That's easy to handle—you know how stingy our mother is with money; we're already doing fine not giving her any each month, and you still want her to produce money?"

"As for finding temporary work, forget it—you want her to go to work; do you believe she could scold me from the north of the city to the south?"

"Gluing matchboxes is fine, though."

Qin Huairu felt stifled, as if I deserved to suffer.

"Then, given your mother's relationship with the elder uncle, asking for a bit more money isn't excessive, right?"

"Just half a month ago, he still looked at my body—surely he can't get away with it for free."

Qin Huairu, if she didn't bring it up, it would be fine; but once she did, Jia Dongxu clenched his teeth in anger.

"Fine, wait until our mother returns, then have her go find Yi Zhonghai."

"We can't let ourselves starve; since you've taken me as your apprentice but refuse to teach me skills, you deserve to support us financially."

"If he dares not to give, I'll cut ties with him."

He was really angry; Yi Zhonghai had him completely under control, and every time he had to lower his head to beg him.

He dared not make a sound when looking at his own wife's body, feeling utterly stifled.

Seeing Jia Dongxu become tough, Qin Huairu finally felt pleased inside.

"Exactly, we need to pressure him. Initially I still wanted you to maintain a good relationship with him, after all we rely on him. But now I realize he's truly shameless—these days his gaze at me has become increasingly lecherous."

"Yang Qing said it well: evil people need to be polished by evil people."

Jia Dongxu, hearing that Yi Zhonghai was becoming more blatant, still felt indignant.

But upon hearing Yang Qing again, he felt so bitter he couldn't speak.

He felt this wife was being raised for someone else.

"Talk about Yi Zhonghai, talk about Yi Zhonghai—why bring up Yang Qing?"

"Stay away from him, or when our mother returns she'll deal with you—don't come complaining to me."

Qin Huairu gave him a white-eye look.

"Got it, there's so much going on."

She increasingly felt the gap between Jia Dongxu and Yang Qing was widening.

What a pity—we can't sneak into lectures anymore.

Jia Zhangshi really is in the way.

Can't blame Yi Zhonghai for liking to look at Qin Huairu; it's just that the weather is scorching, Qin Huairu is showing off her big belly while wearing too little.

Her fair, big belly exposed, who wouldn't glance twice? Not to mention Yi Zhonghai—even Sha Zhu's eyes kept drifting to her.

The weather is too hot; the house feels like a steamer, so going out to cool off becomes necessary.

Previously, when she went to the back courtyard, mostly women were there, and any petty advantages were taken by Yang Qing.

Now Jia Dongxu won't allow it; they're living in the main courtyard again, with people coming and going—whoever passes by wouldn't glance twice?

She thus became everyone's perk.

A bunch of old women watched her become a joke, didn't expose it, just let things unfold.

Today, another big thing happened.

That is, Yan Jiecheng got married.

Yu Li ultimately couldn't escape the Yan family's clutches.

When the layoff wave hit, unemployed girls became a family burden, and Yu Li ended up as the unlucky one kicked out of her home.

Upon entering the siheyuan, Yu Li didn't know how she felt; this deep-gated grand courtyard would now be her home.

There was no wedding ceremony, no firecrackers, no seeing-off or welcoming of relatives, not even a big red "double happiness" character.

Only a pair of red couplets on the gate of a rear-facing room told her that today she was married.

She felt bitter to the point of unbearable, yet she had to force a smile and laugh at her parents-in-law.

"Dad, Mom."

Yan Fu Gui and San Da Ma laughed heartily.

"Good, good, good—you go in first, I'll go notify people."

Not even a "name-change" red packet was given.

San Da Ma led Yu Li into her new room, which contained a bed, a table, and a cabinet.

On the bed lay two new quilts and two red pillows; on the table were two thermoses—this constituted her dowry.

Yan Jiecheng opened the cabinet, took out the wedding candy, and gave one each to Yu Li and San Da Ma.

"Mom, hold this candy for Jie Fang; when the gift-givers come later, just give each person one piece."

San Da Ma happily took it in her hand.

"This matter, leave it to Mom; you can rest assured."

Saying that, he went out the door and caught Yan Jie Fang, who had been sneaking around outside, red‑handed.

San Da Ma grabbed a handful of candy and handed it to him.

"Sit here; in a while someone will come to give a gift, one piece per person. Don't give too many, and no stealing."

Good fellow, even saved the money for hiring a clerk.

Yan Jie Fang, clutching the candy, sat at the table, one hand holding a brush, the other protecting the candy.

"Mom, don't worry, I definitely can't give any extra."

Yan Jie Kong, Yan Jie Di saw the candy and hurried over.

"Second brother, I want candy, I want candy."

Yan Jie Fang reached out and brushed away the hand that came forward.

"Go away; if you want candy, ask Mom."

"I'm giving this to people."

The two little brats turned toward San Da Ma; San Da Ma was already holding the remaining candy, went into her own room, and hid the candy.

Yan Jie Fang, seeing no one, at a speed faster than thunder, grabbed five or six pieces of candy and slipped them into his trouser pouch.

Gu Ning was the first to be notified, arrived at this moment, and happened to see Yan Jie Fang stuffing candy into his trouser pouch.

Her mouth corner twitched a few times, then she pulled out a coin.

"Note this: Gu Ning's gift money, one coin."

Yan Jie Fang was very competent at this, after all he had learned from Yan Fu Gui, and even sang the offering.

"Gu Ning wishes Yan Jie Cheng and Yu Li a happy marriage; a gift of one coin."

Then he took a piece of candy and handed it to Gu Ning.

Gu Ning took it and then entered the bridal chamber.

Before long, Yan Jie Cheng was blasted out.

The Yan Jie Cheng who was blasted out stood beside Yan Jie Fang, and began to return the offering.

Sha Zhu came over afterward, saw Yan Jie Cheng and teased.

"Ah, the groom is giving such a big gift, then my one coin is quite worthwhile."

Then he slapped a coin to Yan Jie Fang, bragging.

"Quickly, pay respect to brother."

Yan Jie Cheng gave him a cold stare.

"Sha Zhu, don't cause trouble."

He Yuzhu disagreed.

"What does that mean? Others get a gift when they arrive, but I get nothing, right?"

Xu Damao arrived at this time.

He twisted his hips and shoved He Yuzhu aside.

"Step aside, don't delay the crowd's offering."

Saying that, he slapped two coins, making He Yuzhu look bad.

Yan Jie Cheng saw it, "Good fellow, gave too much."

He immediately, cheerfully, bowed to Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e.

"Thanks, Brother Damao, and sister‑in‑law."

He Yuzhu saw this as a complaint about the small amount of money, and his complexion instantly turned sour.

"San Da Ye, that's not how it's done."

"Your family must be crazy about money, huh?"

"Who's disgusted here?"