Chapter 157: Meeting a Move with a Countermove

Yang Qing watched with repeated cold smiles; this Jia Zhangshi, in countless siheyuan universes, has always been an arrogant, domineering, brainless brute, but now she has started to take the pitiful route.

Even Qin Huairu, who had long been infused by Yang Qing with messages of independence and self-reliance, has once again become Jia Zhangshi's assistant.

If you still think this guy is an idiot, then you are truly an idiot.

Being able to yield and to stand firm—this is talent.

Qin Huairu, who had been duped by him for a long time, can be persuaded by her again, proving that this person's methods are truly clever.

He Yuzhu, upon seeing Qin Huairu's fragile appearance, instantly forgot what she had done to him before.

"Qin Sis is too… cute… hiss…"

Liu Shumin twisted his waist the instant Sha Zhu opened his mouth, performing a 760-degree spin.

Sha Zhu instantly exhaled a breath of cold air, regaining his composure.

He pitifully begged Liu Shumin with his eyes.

Liu Shumin glared at him fiercely; Sha Zhu obediently fell silent and stepped back.

He Yushui watched all this and also felt that this sister-in-law was not bad; at least she could shield their family from outside scheming.

Liu Shumin came out smiling, glanced at Jia Zhangshi's darting eyes, then at Qin Huairu's slightly ashamed face.

"Aunt Jia and Sister-in-law Qin, you're being overly polite."

"Point out a clear path? That's what I'm best at."

"You might not know, but before I married in, my family's situation was like this."

"Today I'll tell you all about it."

"Our family of five: my mother, me, two younger sisters, and a younger brother."

"I used to go to school, relying entirely on my mother's odd jobs for the street to support our family of five."

"Anyone who's done odd jobs knows how hard it is: in good times you earn twenty-plus dollars a month, in bad times just a few dollars."

"Later my younger siblings also needed to go to school; my mother couldn't support us anymore, so I dropped out and worked with her to support the family."

"Afterwards, everyone knew the famine year had arrived."

"The two of us doing odd jobs to support the family were also extremely difficult."

"To make a living, our family of five pasted matchboxes together and washed torn cloth strips…"

"Life was very bitter, but we still got through it, because we knew there were those who suffered even more."

"I'm not saying this to tell you how bitter I am; I want to tell you that, regarding how to support a family, I can say I have rich experience."

"Aunt Jia, I'll now share my experience with you."

"First, the market will have many discarded vegetable leaves that can be collected; wild vegetables are also plentiful now, can be picked and dried for long storage."

"You must often go to the street—jobs like sweeping the streets, cleaning toilets, unclogging drains are still plentiful."

"As for Sister-in-law Qin, I know your health is poor; I think you can paste matchboxes, which can be done at home."

"You can also do some mending work; with a sewing machine you earn more than others."

"Aunt, sister-in-law, what do you think of my method?"

Yang Qing almost couldn't hold back.

Is that what Jia Zhangshi means? She wants you to donate money every month.

Qin Huairu was also dumbfounded; she originally didn't want to come out and embarrass herself, but Jia Zhangshi said, "If you don't want to go, then don't eat—let yourself starve."

She had no choice but to compromise, because after Jia Dongxu returned she still hoped he would help her out, but instead mother and son were of one mind, despising her for staying home and just eating idle meals.

Only then did she come out to act pitiful.

As a result, well, she was clearly arranged by Liu Shumin.

Jia Zhangshi's heart was full of anger; she had performed for half a day, but that wasn't the purpose.

"Cough cough…"

"What the He family said is a method."

"That is, I'm an old woman with illness all over; what work can I do? I'm afraid I'd earn less than I need to eat."

"Someone like me can't compare with you young people."

"Huairu, you're about to give birth; you mustn't overwork, lest moving the fetus cause a miscarriage—these are matters of life and death, cannot be taken lightly."

"So your method isn't really suited to our family's situation."

Afterwards she looked at Yi Zhonghai, her eyes heavy with threatening meaning.

Yi Zhonghai, upon seeing Jia Zhangshi look over, immediately took up the conversation.

"What Jia Zhangshi said makes sense; each family's situation differs."

"Let's just be direct."

"As Dong Xu's teacher, I help the Jia family with ten dollars each month; other capable people also lend a hand, each contributing as they can—what do you all think?"

With Liu Shumin's interruption, many people in the compound gradually came to their senses.

"Your family is having a hard time; you can support yourselves, right? Jia Dongxu's salary can support two kids, right?"

"Now making you work—any excuse you have is just a reason."

Jia Zhangshi waited a moment, felt something was off, and looked toward Yang Qing.

She both bowed and clasped her hands in prayer.

"Commissioner Chen, can you help us a little with the vegetables from your garden that you can't finish eating?"

"Our family will surely thank you properly."

Chen Hong never expected to end up being the one gossiped about.

"As a street worker, it's proper to lend a hand when the masses are in trouble."

"But once she opens her mouth, I'm afraid they'll never be able to shake off this burden in the future."

She still has her mother and younger brother to support back home.

Chen Hong couldn't easily agree, nor could she easily refuse, stuck in a dilemma.

Yang Qing took up the talk, smiling with narrowed eyes as he looked at Jia Zhangshi.

"Old Lady Jia, all the vegetables from our garden have to be turned over to Jiedao; Jiedao, in order to improve everyone's livelihood and develop family farms, has nevertheless run into a massive famine."

If you don't believe me, you can ask the eldest uncle; the eldest uncle has bought some of Jiedao's bonds.

Jia Zhangshi said angrily.

"Your wife is still a Jiedao person, yet you see someone die and don't help—what kind of Jiedao staff are you?"

"I think you just don't want to."

Yang Qing felt pleased upon hearing that, but his expression fell.

"Old Lady Jia, I actually have another good idea."

Qin Huairu looked hopefully at him, and the others also looked hopefully at him.

Yi Zhonghai's heart, however, gave rise to a bad premonition.

Yang Qing said, somewhat excitedly.

"Old Lady Jia, why was it that when you hadn't come back, the couple was doing just fine?"

"If you also come back, they won't be able to get by."

"Is it that you've eaten too much, taking the children's and wife's food, so there isn't enough?"

"In that case, I happen to have a good place to go."

"Old Lady Jia, you're not a rural household registration, are you? Go back to the village; wherever you are, regardless of elders or children, there's work you can do. As long as you show up for work on time, you'll have food to eat."

"I've heard that nowadays many places have communal meals."

As soon as Yang Qing's words fell, the residents of the compound thought, 'Holy shit.'

When it comes to ruthlessness, it's still Yang Qing.

Jia Zhangshi also didn't expect that Yang Qing was trying to kill her.

She went to labor reform, doing nothing but clearing wasteland—she knows all too well what rural life is like.