Chapter 32: Plan

What should I do then?

Chen Hong asked the question she most wanted to ask.

Yang Qing looked around, then spoke softly.

I plan to have you take care of an old lady.

Then, using the old lady's energy, we'll switch our household registration.

Then I'll ask Aunt Wang to arrange a job for you.

Before he could finish, Chen Hong exclaimed in surprise.

What, an old person?

She widened her eyes, looking at Yang Qing in disbelief.

Did you already arrange this for me? Or is this that kind of thing?

She looked at Yang Qing sternly.

Using people like this is wrong; Aunt Wang has been good to us, we can't use her like that.

Yang Qing realized he had spoken too soon, hadn't prepared her mentally, and comforted her.

It's just an idea; if you don't want to do it, we won't— I can support you with odd jobs.

Upon hearing this, Chen Hong hesitated a bit; odd jobs could support her, but it would be very difficult.

She couldn't be that selfish.

Yang Qing knew what she was thinking; this kind of thing that probes a woman's bottom line is dangerous and likely to make her feel insecure.

When a woman loses her sense of security toward someone, that relationship becomes hard to maintain.

He hurried to end the topic, interrupting her deeper contemplation to prevent her from falling into an ethical loop.

This matter isn't convenient to discuss outside; when we get back, I'll explain it to you.

Chen Hong nodded.

If there's no work, I'll just stay home and paste paper boxes.

I can also help others with handicrafts; I'm good at it, and later I'll make clothes for you.

She was almost frightened.

Yang Qing regretted speaking without thinking; the words just came out, and he blurted it out.

With no preparation, and people's morals being so strong nowadays, it's normal to find it hard to accept.

One is an old lady similar to their family, kind of feeling sympathy for one's own kind; the other is an aunt who's been good to me— using them would make anyone feel guilty.

It was me being too presumptuous.

And too abrupt.

Forget it; if we don't use them, I'll just endure some hardship— nothing we can't get past.

The two finished their stroll and returned to the siheyuan.

Without Jia Zhangshi, there was no longer the sight of Qin Huairu washing clothes.

A few elderly people gathered in the sun; upon seeing Yang Qing, they greeted him.

"Yang Qing, you two are back."

Yang Qing nodded and smiled.

"We're back; everyone's here sunbathing."

The deaf old lady laughed and said.

"Yes, when you're old, sunbathing is good for the body."

Yang Qing nodded.

"That's right; I heard from the doctor that sunbathing helps calcium absorption, which strengthens bones and replenishes the body's vitamins."

"I don't fully understand either, but anyway it's good for the body."

"Right, right, the doctor told me the same."

The old lady seemed to have found a kindred spirit.

"Yang Qing, you're really smart, knowing all this."

"Oh, it's just hearsay."

………

As the old lady and Yang Qing talked, Yi Da Ma also joined in.

"Yang Qing, the weather's been nice these days; didn't Lao Yi give you some cloth and cotton coupons?"

"Go make a thinner set of clothes for your wife, change out of what you're wearing, and wash it."

"As a new wife, you can't keep wearing such ragged clothes, or people will laugh."

Upon hearing this, Chen Hong thanked them.

"Yi Da Ma, thank you for your family's help, but we feel we shouldn't take these cloth and cotton coupons; we had planned to return them to you sometime, and today is a good chance to do so."

"Wait a moment, I'll go get them."

As soon as Yi Da Ma heard, she hurriedly rose and grabbed Chen Hong, making her earlier concern seem like she was pointing at the couple— really, it couldn't be said outright.

"Don't, that's our wedding gift to you; just keep it."

"If you return it to us, isn't that like stabbing us in the back?"

Chen Hong hesitated, looking at Yang Qing, who said calmly.

"Then we'll thank Yi Da Ma."

"If anything comes up, just call out."

Chen Hong also said.

I know some handicraft work; if anything needs mending later, just let me know.

Afterwards, the two of them bid farewell to everyone.

After Yang Qing left, the deaf old lady said.

Look, this couple is sensible.

Second Aunt disagreed and glanced back.

I don't think; if they were truly sensible, they couldn't have swindled Old Yi out of that much money.

Long Laotaitai glanced at her.

Was it aimed at Old Yi? No, it was clearly aimed at Jia Zhangshi.

You still gave me a bill?

Today I'll also calculate for you.

Those four rooms—you demolished and sold them; how much money did you get?

Making furniture and adding beds—how much money did you save?

Second Aunt hurriedly interrupted the old lady, embarrassed.

Old lady, that's all in the past; why bring it up?

The deaf old lady chuckled and glanced at her.

I'm just saying this.

Let you understand: they don't owe you; when others can politely say thank you like that, it shows they are broad-minded.

We can't be ungrateful.

Second Aunt waved her hand.

Alright, alright, old lady—I was wrong, okay?

The old lady continued to laugh displeased.

Talking about you, you're still not convinced.

Why is Yang Qing's current house so dilapidated?

Don't you understand?

That's all the misdeeds of Jia Zhangshi.

They want her to compensate some money—how normal is that?

Second Aunt.

That's not Jia Zhangshi's money either.

The old lady glared.

That's Xiao Yi's own fault; they wanted Jia Zhangshi to compensate, and he rushed over—who can you blame?

First Aunt felt embarrassed hearing that; sigh, men's affairs—she can't manage them either.

You really don't understand why they finally wanted to set up a written agreement.

It's just to tell you: this money isn't what they took for themselves; it's compensation for the loss of their house.

They call this sitting upright and behaving properly.

At the same time, it's also admonishing us: when donating, there must be a rule—money can't just be given and forgotten; there must be a procedure.

Who is this aimed at? You don't understand?

Or is it still aimed at Jia Zhangshi?

After his fuss, you don't know how much money you could save.

First Aunt burst out laughing.

Third Aunt got angry: 'Laugh, you're still laughing—wasn't it your family's Old Yi who caused trouble that time?'

We've all been deceived by Jia Zhangshi; we've calculated it—her family has more money than ours.

First Aunt said indifferently.

Blame me? It's because you guys have no brains—you can't even calculate a bill, and you don't limit how money is used.

Qin Huairu, hiding at home, hearing this, felt embarrassed to the point of almost growing a brain.

Her mother-in-law's image in outsiders' eyes is like this.

Actually, nobody likes her.

But they are truly formidable; just like that, they can still make the whole courtyard spin around.

She now finds it a bit hard to evaluate her mother-in-law.

Never mind her; anyway, she hasn't harmed her own family.

No, she almost led Bang Geng astray.

Now, despite lacking a mother-in-law, she's also beaten him several times, and now he's much better.

Sigh, my head hurts—she really doesn't know how to raise kids.

Managing food and drink, she also has to educate them on how to be a person.

It's really hard; the key is that she herself only half-understands, having learned it from her mother-in-law, and the people in the courtyard say she's completely at a loss.

What the hell is this?

Dong Xu is also a mama's boy, useless.

My head hurts.