Chapter 1116: Twisted Logic Also Has Logic

"It rained a lot a few days ago, I was very afraid of the room getting damp, after Shanying and her children moved away, your grandfather burned the fire kang and heating for a full day."

The old lady held Li Ning in her arms and pampered him, watching Liu Yin and Gu Ning tidy up the quilts, and chattered: "They are all newly sun-dried."

"Is it Fei Shanying's own luggage? Didn't use Xuewu and their quilts, right?"

Liu Yin spread the kang quilt, knelt on it and swept it with a broom, which was considered finished.

The old lady put Li Ning on the kang, watched him roll and play, and explained with a smile: "No, don't you know Fei Shanying's person?"

"Most polite, and also most careful, doesn't take advantage of people at all."

She handed the pacifier to Li Ning's hand, pursed her lips and said again: "When she came, she felt embarrassed, it was still Guodong and the others who persuaded her."

"Xuewu also said," Liu Yin sat on her legs and spread the small quilt for her grandson, explaining: "Said to let her Third Aunt come to the back courtyard to do the confinement."

"Wasn't it thinking at the time, she brought two children alone, and Wen San'er was not at home."

"Isn't it, if it wasn't taken care of when it was so close, who could she count on?"

The old lady shook her head slightly and said: "Also truly heartless, no one left in the mother's family, that's fine, Wen San'er still has two sisters—"

"Didn't come to see her even once?"

Liu Yin said in surprise: "This is a biological nephew, Biaozi's mother didn't come to see her?"

"Why else say life is lived to the end, don't want to leave any thoughts at all."

The old lady sat on the edge of the kang, clicked her tongue and shook her head and said: "Even if Wen San'er was useless before, and had no ability, this is already married and having children."

"Yo—didn't know at the time," Liu Yin frowned slightly and said: "I just said when breastfeeding, a room full of people, all from our side, I didn't feel embarrassed to ask her at the time."

"She doesn't say, never says this," the old lady nodded and said: "Not one family, don't enter one door, look at Wen San'er."

She raised her eyebrows and said: "Looking at the appearance of being happy and having no trace, but has self-esteem, and is a person who wants to be strong, said he sent a letter to her, telling Fei Shanying not to treat herself badly."

"This is telling Fei Shanying not to associate with his sister's family anymore?" Liu Yin understood and nodded and said: "Hot face sticking to cold buttocks, if you can't get along, look down on each other, really don't force yourself together."

"Is it Li Wenbiao who didn't tell the family?"

Gu Ning tidied the hair by her ear, and called Ji Yuxiu who came back together to get on the kang.

Ji Yuxiu interrupted: "I heard Guodong and the others teasing and saying, said Li Wenbiao also didn't associate with the family, didn't say anything about this side."

"It's disheartening. Back when he used to hang out with Li Xuewu, I heard him muttering about it in private."

Liu Yin explained: "At that time, they were fifteen or sixteen, didn't understand anything, before Xuewu went to be a soldier, he whispered with a few people in the family, saying his dad and mom didn't look down on him, only favored his second brother."

"Seems to be the case," Ji Yuxiu nodded and said: "After he and his third uncle earned money, they didn't tell the family, the two sisters' families thought the uncle and nephew were really down and out to the point of picking up scrap, it's funny and helpless when mentioned."

"Xuewu said Biaozi hardened his heart and wanted to break off relations with the family."

Liu Yin helped her grandson change his diaper, and explained in her mouth: "It was still Biaozi's wife who was sensible, came back during the New Year last time, and told Biaozi to go to the family to see, and threw some money."

"Why else say, not one family, don't enter one door."

The old lady helped on the side, nodded and said: "Wen San'er knows what kind of virtue his two sisters have, and depends on his nephew."

"Can't say that the two had long ago discussed hiding it from the family, if there was really family affection, the two wouldn't have neglected the care for the family."

"If it's not biological dad and biological mom, biological sisters are not close anymore, the two also saved that heart, peacefully, just live their own lives well."

She raised her hand and said: "Isn't Fei Shanying that meaning, she must have sent a message to Wen San'er, saying she is doing confinement here, his two sisters can't not know, and not one came."

"She is such a refined person, if this matter wasn't mentioned to Wen San'er, wait until they come back, don't know how the sisters will edit her."

Liu Yin helped her grandson change his diaper, held her grandson and coaxed, and said: "Look, Biaozi doesn't say it, but they live in the same street, if that side doesn't care anymore, sooner or later they will know."

"When they stick up, Biaozi and Wen San'er are not at home, how should Fei Shanying receive them?"

"Moving back home from here, also has this meaning, right?"

Ji Yuxiu is a person who can speak and talk, can talk to her mother-in-law and the old lady, at this moment she took the words and said: "Living here for a long time, those relatives came, saw it and it was hard to explain."

"Isn't it, asking around in this courtyard, wouldn't they know whose house she lived in."

The old lady pinched the child's little feet, teased Li Ning with a smile, and said in her mouth: "And helping in the recycling station, bringing the child."

"If others want to come and find her, she can close the door and pretend not to know, but if they come to make trouble here, what should she do? Afraid of finding trouble for Xuewu."

Gu Ning just listened to them talking, and didn't interrupt, unless asked about her because of the child.

The family matters her mother-in-law and the others talked about, in Gu Ning's ears, were like a kind of profound and troublesome social science, with experience, theory, and practice.

"Working and breastfeeding the child, tired or not?"

Seeing the second sister-in-law's silent appearance, Ji Yuxiu took the initiative to ask her: "Did mom make delicious food for you, did she abuse you?"

"Go—teasing your second sister-in-law?"

The old lady patted Ji Yuxiu lightly with a smile and said: "Looking at Ning, he is tired."

"No, mom and Jingru help, I just come back to feed a few times at night."

Gu Ning saw her son reaching out to hold her, so she took the child from her mother-in-law's arms and said: "There are a bit many surgeries now, but it's okay."

"Ning has hardships and doesn't say, mom only has heartache, naturally has to make delicious food, supplement more, healthy and healthy."

Liu Yin touched her grandson's little feet with a smile, and said to Ji Yuxiu: "When you give birth to a child, I will do the same for you."

"Quickly don't, I see Second Sister-in-law is fat," Ji Yuxiu said with a smile: "If you say you will make delicious food for me, Eldest Sister-in-law will be jealous."

"You just know how to fan the flames—"

The old lady likes the third grandson's wife very much, and is very intimate in her words on weekdays.

Although Ji Yuxiu and Li Xuecai haven't married yet, the two get along very well, and the whole Li family treats Ji Yuxiu as a daughter-in-law.

She patted Ji Yuxiu's thigh and said: "Look at your Second Sister-in-law secretly pinching you later."

"Second Sister-in-law can't," Ji Yuxiu doesn't look like a daughter-in-law in the Li family, but rather like a sister-in-law.

She leaned against Gu Ning's shoulder and teased: "Second Sister-in-law, will you secretly pinch me?"

"No, do I still need to be secret to pinch you?"

Gu Ning also has a lively side, but she shows very little of it, she lacks a sense of security.

Getting along with Li Xuewu for a long time, she had the feeling of being protected, so sometimes she would joke with Li Xuewu privately, and even act like a spoiled child.

She didn't spend much time getting along with the Li family, but the old lady and her mother-in-law had gone to her home to help take care of them, so there was no defense psychologically.

Then there is the relationship between sisters-in-law, Zhao Yafang is a straightforward person, don't look at her having some calculations with her mother-in-law and her brother-in-law, but getting along with a sister-in-law like Gu Ning, she never calculated.

Ji Yuxiu is young, her mind is lively and agile, she is the most likable, and she has been taken care of by the Li family like Li Xue on weekdays.

The three sisters-in-law have different personalities, but getting along is complementary, friendly and close.

The old lady and Liu Yin naturally want to see the daughters-in-law getting along peacefully and friendly, and at this moment they were teased by the conversation of the two and laughed loudly.

Ji Yuxiu laughed and didn't give up, but teased Li Ning who was looking at her with a blank look in her second sister-in-law's arms, saying she wanted to hold him and leave.

Li Ning didn't know what was going on, was a bit shy being watched by everyone, drilled back into his mother's arms, and his little feet were shaking hard.

"Look, who is this family, who came home—"

It was lively in the room, and then Li Xuewu's voice came from outside the window: "Is it Li Shu's home, Li Shu is home."

"Dad—"

Li Shu curiously looked at this room, she hadn't lived here for many days.

When Fei Shanying lived here, the old lady brought her to visit during the day.

Little she didn't understand very well why she lived in this house before, gave it to Third Aunt Grandma, and now it's her family back home.

Li Xuewu calls Wen San'er Third Uncle, calls Fei Shanying Third Aunt Grandma, then Li Shu naturally has to call Fei Shanying Third Aunt Grandma.

This generation relationship was still arranged from Old Biaozi's side, ever since Li Xuewu came back, when the brothers met, they arranged it like this.

After each had achieved success in their careers and started their families, they valued the relationship of generation even more, without rules, there is no square, especially the family relationship management mode like the recycling station.

Of course, now this kind of relationship is also weakening with the expansion of the recycling station's business.

The most obvious, and the beginning, is that the Thirteen Taibao gradually left the front-line work positions and followed the brothers to roam the rivers and lakes.

For them, Li Xuewu still has that attitude, never trusted them, but wants to give them the opportunity to prove themselves and realize themselves.

Trust is not given, it is earned by oneself, and trust is not for a lifetime, one must use a lifetime to establish one's personality and confidence.

Just now in the inverted room, dinner ended, Li Tang and Wen Yuan were making trouble to sleep, He Zhuang also started to yawn, the two big ones were still okay.

So, Shen Guodong arranged for the boys to send Fei Shanying and her three children home, Diliya and Zhao Yafang held the children and went home first.

Li Shu loves liveliness, finally caught up with not going home tonight, and the inverted room was so lively with so many people, she didn't want to go back to the back courtyard at all.

So, the old lady, Liu Yin, and Ji Yuxiu sent Gu Ning and her child back to the back courtyard, and she stayed in the inverted room chattering.

Catching up with Yu Li returning from the club, plus Qin Huairu bringing Banggeng, she didn't want to come back to the front courtyard even more, it was so lively.

While listening to her dad and the others chatting and drinking tea, while being held in Yu Li's arms and being close, teasing her, and Banggeng jumping around like a monkey.

Yu Li's work in the club is getting more and more, so she rarely comes back for dinner at night.

Sometimes she is too busy, she doesn't even go home, anyway, she is alone.

Before, she still had scruples about the Yan family, her heart was holding a breath, not reconciled, or fighting for breath, this house was earned back by her, how could she live in it.

But ever since Yan Jiecheng died, the fire and resentment in her heart dissipated, even if she saw the Yan family again, saw Ge Shuqin, she didn't have that kind of embarrassment and cold eyes.

Therefore, alone, living in such a big and good house, also lost the motivation.

It's not as lively as the club side, the mansion is big, the rooms are many, the facilities are good, and there are many people, want to live wherever you want, especially after the guest house in the back courtyard opened, sleeping on that side is more comfortable.

However, this is her home after all, the thought after she married into this big courtyard.

Saturday shouldn't have come back, because tomorrow is the weekend, the club will be very busy.

Just caught up, finished her work early, ate dinner at the restaurant and came back, really didn't know Li Xuewu's family also came back.

Seeing Li Shu was like nothing else, held her in her arms and kissed her, teased her, and said whispers.

Li Shu also has feelings for her, the old lady, Liu Yin, none of them avoided her, the small clothes and small shoes Yu Li made for her, the family all said they were for Li Shu, who made them for her.

Plus Li Shu comes to this side often, often can see Yu Li, so she is really close.

She calls Yu Li Little Aunt, just like when Li Xuewu wasn't married before, in the recycling station store, the old lady brought her, accompanying Yu Li to sell goods and organize goods every day, endless words.

Even now, the clothes on Li Shu's body are mostly prepared by Yu Li, and they are not bought, Yu Li made them herself.

On Qin Huairu's side, it's another look.

Qin Huairu has her own children, and they are not small, taking care of them with her mother-in-law makes her feel tired, where does she have the heart to take care of Li Shu's side.

Another point, living in this courtyard, she had told her mother-in-law long ago, it's impossible to be like Yu Li without scruples, showing what love for the house and its crow.

Look at Qin Huairu for life, also for that little heartbeat in her heart, having that kind of relationship with Li Xuewu, even her mother-in-law took the initiative.

But to say really having that with Li Xuewu, or the relationship getting closer, don't say she has self-knowledge, Li Xuewu couldn't want her.

Even her mother-in-law wouldn't allow it, sleeping together privately, can only say the relationship is good, at least the face has to be passed.

Really don't care about the face, it means Qin Huairu doesn't have the heart to raise children and mother-in-law, is planning to go far away or leave home and business, do you say Jia Zhangshi is anxious or not.

Therefore, look at Qin Huairu sticking to Li Xuewu, maintaining in work, ambiguous in personal relationship, but at home, towards Li Xuewu's family, she is very cautious, easily won't show it.

It's okay to make clothes for Li Xuewu, if it's making clothes for Li Shu, she will absolutely not do it.

This is the rule and bottom line, she herself understands what she has, what she wants, what she needs to pay, what things she can't covet.

Treating Li Xuewu well, caring and obedient, even if she invited that one home, Jia Zhangshi wouldn't care, even clapping and welcoming.

But only cannot exceed Li Xuewu, caring for Li Shu, caring for Li Xuewu's family.

Of course, this kind of care and maintenance has nothing to do with daily getting along, it's two different things.

Qin Huairu became a cadre of the guest house, and her prestige in this courtyard was gradually established, even sometimes when there was something in the courtyard, even First Master had to call her to help handle it.

Couples arguing, disputes between neighbors, First Master comes out to talk about the men, Qin Huairu persuades the women, and the order of this courtyard is maintained.

Front, back, middle, outer four courtyards, living with more than a hundred people, how can there be no arguing or bickering.

Even couples have times of arguing and bickering, let alone these neighbors.

Seven people in an office can make eight groups, there is also closeness and distance between neighbors.

Just like in this Sihe Academy, naturally divided into front, back, middle, outer four courtyards, neighbors have lived for decades, naturally the feelings are good.

Not only feelings, but also taking care of each other, even helping to watch the house counts as taking care.

Catching up with neighbors who are easy to talk to, with good personalities, getting along is more harmonious than relatives.

Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors, this is not said when persuading a fight, this is a true manifestation of the relationship.

For example, the middle courtyard, Sha Zhu's family and First Master's family get along well, Sha Zhu and Yushui have to work, where is there so much time to serve confinement.

Diliya sat in confinement when the weather was still cool, wasn't it First Aunt who took care of it more.

First Master and his wife had no children in their lives, and had thoughts about Sha Zhu, mainly thinking about supporting the elderly after getting old.

It's just that Sha Zhu didn't have a spark with Qin Huairu, and Li Xuewu introduced Diliya, and had his own children, making First Master extinguish the thought of matching the three families in this courtyard to live together.

However, his care for Sha Zhu is true, the relationship between the two families is even better.

First Aunt often goes to the upper room to help Diliya, and also likes the child He Zhuang.

Now the child is big, Diliya and Fei Shanying exchange to look after the child during the day, even taking care of the recycling station store, First Aunt has to follow to the inverted room to see the child, pamper and pamper.

Wait until night, Sha Zhu's family doesn't open fire at home, so there are few times calling for dinner, mostly after being busy at night, calling First Master and First Aunt to sit at home, chat, drink tea, count as gathering together to be lively.

The reason is the child He Zhuang.

First Master also likes children, just afraid that Sha Zhu will think too much, so he is reserved.

Seeing Sha Zhu take the initiative to greet him, he let go, every time he held the child he was smiling, especially when Sha Zhu taught the child to call grandpa, he was even happier.

There are also those who don't get along, even if they live in the same courtyard, there are always temperaments that don't match.

For example, the Li family in the front courtyard and the Yan family opposite.

The two families didn't get along very well before, quite having the mind of living opposite and wanting to compare.

Yan Fugui is a people's teacher, Li Shun is a doctor, Hou Qinghua is a housewife, Liu Yin is also a housewife, both families have three sons and one daughter.

Coincidentally, the children are of similar age.

What kind of temper Yan Lao Kou has doesn't need to be said, only wrong names, no wrong nicknames, not only the Li family, he is like that with everyone, not afraid of being cold, not afraid of being cold.

Li Shun's family, because of the previous business of medical clinic and pharmacy, went through several movements, very low-key in life, mostly doing good deeds to seek a good reputation.

Hou Qinghua is a talkative one, several times in her youth she came to talk to Liu Yin, seeing Liu Yin not chatting about family matters, thought she looked down on her.

The hostesses of the two families didn't come together, the men were busy with their own work, so the relationship was very average, especially after the children grew up, not comparing men's work, but starting to compare children.

Of course, the relationship like the Li family and the Yan family is not the only pair in the courtyard.

The Yan family is just secretly competing, there are those who don't compete, directly fighting.

So say there are many people and things in the Sihe Academy, and the relationship is messy, a spark can fight for half a day.

Then are there any good relationships between front and back courtyards?

Naturally there are, especially work relationships or interest relationships, mutual care is a common thing.

The recycling station in the West Courtyard is open, Sha Zhu's family of a few people all eat in the inverted room.

Li Xuewu is rising rapidly, Yu Li and Qin Huairu hooked up with him, and others flattered him, and there was a new order and new relationship in the courtyard.

Does Qin Huairu get along well with the Li family?

Actually, don't even think about it, just Zhao Yafang giving birth, she invited Jia Zhangshi to help, do you say the relationship between the Jia family and the Li family is good or not?

Although the Li family gave money, there are so many old ladies in the courtyard, why didn't Li Xuewu invite others to help?

Is Jia Zhangshi good at taking care of children? Or is she three-headed and six-armed without sleeping, taking care of everything?

Neither, it's Qin Huairu getting along well with Liu Yin on weekdays, getting along well with the old lady and Zhao Yafang, so the two families come and go a lot.

Just the way the Li family lives, if it weren't for a "rebellious son" Li Xuewu, it would be impossible to have so much contact with people in the courtyard in the second half of his life, let alone have good relationships.

Getting along well with the Li family is because of Li Xuewu, and not only because of Li Xuewu.

She works in the Red Star Factory, relied on Li Xuewu to get progress, became a cadre, had today's good life, and could hold her head up to be a person.

Not only Li Xuewu, she is also a member of this courtyard, it is originally a neighborhood relationship.

The Li family are all people who live their lives properly, getting along has no bad intentions, and won't take advantage of her, instead there is a lot of care, whoever understands knows how to get along.

Especially after having that kind of relationship with Li Xuewu, the harmony and friendliness with the Li family gave her more choices and retreats.

When she came out of the Li family after work, knowing Qin Jingru and Han Jiankun came, she hurried home, saying the sister was small and heartless, but she was her sister after all, a relative in the city.

The two sisters in the village were also considered capable people, looking good, figure good, housekeeping skills good, how many people begged to want them.

But the heart is high, all thinking about marrying into the city, becoming a city person.

In this year, there are those who marry into the city, but there are not many, all are lucky ones.

Like the sisters Qin Huairu who help each other, that is even fewer.

I married into the city, became the object of envy for everyone in the village, and can still have one more person to share my success and joy, even a younger sister won't work, how many people think like this.

Qin Huairu and Qin Jingru are not biological sisters, but Qin Jingru really has this determination, and also had this luck, catching up with Li Xuewu.

Therefore, now Qin Jingru married a good family, the sister is naturally happy, just thinking about the sisters coming and going more, making the relative relationship closer.

The Jia family has no relatives, Qin Huairu has relatives in the countryside, but they are all poor relatives, can't borrow strength, and before when the man was alive, they often came to the city to pull her.

Even these years they know she is a widow with children, know she is difficult, so fewer people come, otherwise she wouldn't be able to live peacefully.

Even now, she is quiet when she goes home, absolutely dare not publicize, being careful about relatives in the countryside coming to entrust something.

Even borrowing money and grain is unbearable, don't count on returning it, just not coming next time is not dare to imagine.

Qin Jingru, who married in Beijing, is naturally different, the husband's family has a foundation, and both couples can earn money.

The comparison between the two families is about the same, getting along is naturally watching and helping each other, supporting each other.

Therefore, the sister and brother-in-law came, she was happy, didn't think about borrowing Li Xuewu's greeting, and brought them to the inverted room to eat, but prepared a dinner at home properly.

During the meal, the two sisters talked about family matters, chatted about each other's busyness, and also talked about each other's lives.

Qin Huairu asked Qin Jingru, naturally about having children, after all, the mother's family is not anxious, the husband's family is also anxious.

Han Jiankun's family is not a single line of inheritance, but Han Jiankun stands up to support the old mother, even if he is the only man in this family.

Therefore, early branching and leafing is the best response to taking care of the husband's family.

Qin Jingru could talk to her sister, had no scruples, and also talked about work.

Mainly still worried about Gu Ning just giving birth to a child, Li Ning is still small. If she is pregnant, at most she can work for a few more months and then have to come down to raise the fetus.

Li Xuewu certainly can't let Gu Ning suffer, let his mother Liu Yin be tired, still have to invite someone to take care of the family.

Not to say whether this invited person is suitable, whether it is an important relationship, just say from raising the fetus to production, and then to the child being able to let go, Li Xuewu can wait for her during this period?

At least a year or more, the time spent getting along with the nanny found to take care of life is long, not like her, also has feelings.

At that time, use her, or don't use her?

Yes, with Han Jiankun here, Li Xuewu will use her no matter what, Gu Ning also said so, let her rest assured to prepare for having a child.

At that time, if the Li family really has a suitable nanny, how can she be embarrassed to force people to change her back based on Han Jiankun's relationship.

Even if she comes back, she also has to take care of her own child, can't be like now wholeheartedly taking care of Li Xuewu's family.

Qin Jingru privately told her sister that she not only couldn't bear this wage and this relationship, but also couldn't bear this relationship with Li Xuewu's family.

Don't look at just being a nanny in Li Xuewu's family, but also married into the Han family with a salary.

Yes, this doesn't count as a formal job, but 20 yuan a month is real money.

In the Han family, even in front of those relatives, she doesn't feel her identity as a country person is worse than anything.

Even if it's a nanny, that's also a nanny in Li Xuewu's family, Han Jiankun is Li Xuewu's driver, with this relationship of Li Xuewu, the Han family will never dare to look down on her, bully her.

But Qin Huairu also persuaded her, even if she cherishes this wage and relationship again, she can't delay her own life, this kind of dependence has no end, unless she plans not to have children for a lifetime.

Qin Jingru followed her sister's persuasion, and also promised to go back and think about it carefully, and discuss it properly with Han Jiankun to make a decision.

According to Qin Huairu's meaning, children are better born early, whether to have more or less, have to have one first, at least give the husband's family an explanation, and pass on the face.

Said Qin Jingru's matter, Qin Jingru also turned around and cared about her sister's matter.

The two sisters took advantage of the time to wash dishes after dinner, and talked for a long time in the courtyard.

"Just talking about me, what about you?"

Qin Jingru looked at her sister and asked: "Didn't you say a while ago, you want to find another one."

"Why? Is Aunt Zhang unwilling, or do you have any scruples?"

"Where is it so easy to find, do you think you are picking mushrooms, go up the mountain and look around and pick it up."

"Where is it so easy to find? Do you think you're picking mushrooms, where you just go for a stroll up the mountain and find some?"

Qin Huairu sighed deeply when she heard her sister ask about her own affairs, saying: "She didn't say anything, and I know what she means. There's nothing really to be concerned about."

"Is it just that you haven't met the right one?"

Qin Jingru looked her sister over and said: "That can't be right. A deputy section-level cadre, thirty years old—even with three children, you shouldn't be short of men interested in meeting you, right?"

"The way you put it, what have I become?"

Qin Huairu glanced at her sister and said: "It's precisely because of this that I can't meet the right one. Do you know what people are after when they look at me?"

"Furthermore, is the problem just the three children?"

She glanced into the room and said: "At this age, could I just abandon her to live in this courtyard alone? What kind of person would that make me?"

"What? You still want to find a live-in son-in-law? And bring your mother-in-law along to live here?"

Qin Jingru reminded her: "You say the men who want to meet you have ulterior motives, but live-in sons-in-law are all honest. In this city, what decent man would agree to be a live-in son-in-law, even if you are good-looking?"

"Since you have three children, you should just look for someone who also has children and has lost his wife—the kind who is honest, reliable, and can live a normal life."

She urged her sister: "If you really harden your heart and go out to look on your own, with your conditions, you could easily find a young man."

Seeing her sister glare at her, Qin Jingru didn't mind and said with a pursed lip: "But you can't bear to leave the children, right? What kind of person are you looking for?"

"I don't know. I haven't thought it through, haven't met anyone, so I'll wait until I do."

Qin Huairu was also feeling lost herself; how could she answer her sister's question?

While washing the bowls, she said with a look of disappointment: "Or maybe in a few years, I won't even need to look anymore. I'll just spend my life like this."

"Spend your life? Do you think you're seventy or eighty years old now?"

Qin Jingru scolded her: "You're only thirty, the prime time when you need a man's care and love. It's hard enough for you to support this family alone; do you want to keep supporting it for the rest of your life?"

"I'm not saying you want 'that,' but a woman ultimately needs a normal family life."

Qin Jingru knew everything and dared to ask and say anything. She leaned close to her sister and whispered: "Are you and him still..."

Qin Huairu glared at her, but because their family ate late and guests were slow to finish, the two sisters were the only ones talking by the courtyard pool at that moment.

Stopping Qin Jingru's wild talk, Qin Huairu paused, then nodded imperceptibly and said: "It ended a long time ago. What is his status now, and what is mine?"

Glancing at her sister, she lowered her eyes again and said: "Besides, you know how busy he is now."

"I don't see him once a month. Even if I see him at the factory, it's just a passing encounter, a few words at most. There's nothing going on."

"Really? I thought..."

Qin Jingru pursed her lips and shook her head slightly: "That's true, he rarely goes out at night now and goes straight home after work."

"During the time Gu Ning was pregnant and giving birth, he never spent a night away from home. The few times he did were either for business trips, factory events, or meetings."

She frowned, looked at her sister, and asked: "You say he's settled down, but what about Yu Li? Is she really just following his arrangements, working at the club, and no longer in that kind of relationship?"

"How would I know—?"

Qin Huairu shook her head: "I only know that if Yu Li wants to see him, she has to go to his home or come here to block his path. It's been like that several times."

"Hmm, I saw Yu Li; she was heading to his home," Qin Jingru nodded, confirming: "Even on weekends when she goes to the club to handle official business, it's only for half a day."

"So, he has settled down. But what about you? What are you going to do?"

Qin Jingru asked curiously: "Is this how it's going to be? Just neighbors and colleagues from now on?"

"Otherwise what? What are you thinking?" Qin Huairu tapped her forehead and said: "Stop talking about this. My face feels hot just thinking about it."

"Back then he wasn't married, so there was nothing to worry about, but now he has children, so let's just let it be."

"Then don't hesitate—"

Qin Jingru looked at her sister and said: "Since Aunt Zhang doesn't say anything and that relationship is over, you have to think for yourself."

"You're thirty now; it's still relatively easy to find a partner. If you wait until you're thirty-one, it will be a different story."

She urged her sister: "Every year you delay, your psychological burden grows, and it becomes harder to find someone. If you really want to find a good man to live with, be proactive and don't wait."

"If there are any social events or matchmaking activities, sign up proactively."

Qin Jingru nudged her sister and asked: "Doesn't your factory union often organize these? I've heard him mention it at home."

"I am... I'm too embarrassed to sign up," Qin Huairu sighed, looked up at her sister, and asked: "Why does he mention that at home?"

"You don't know him? He just likes to join in the fun and play matchmaker for others."

Qin Jingru pursed her lips and giggled: "He said he was finding a partner for his secretary, which scared the secretary so much that he didn't dare take his car home for a whole week."

"Han Jiankun said that?" Qin Huairu asked amusedly: "Or did he say it at home?"

"Han Jiankun told me in private," Qin Jingru smiled with pursed lips: "He also mentioned it at home, saying that the kid didn't know what was good for him, always dodging and running away from social and matchmaking events."

"Maybe the person already has a partner or someone they like," Qin Huairu said with a laugh: "He's a person who can be very serious when he needs to be, but also very mischievous when he's fooling around."

"Actually, you can't bear to let go either, right? Sister, don't wrong yourself."

Qin Jingru chatted for a bit before looking at her sister seriously: "I've worked at his house for a long time and have some understanding of what kind of person he is. It's not that I'm afraid of a bad influence, but I feel you won't last with him, and it's not suitable."

"It's true that he is sentimental and loyal, but this isn't a lifelong thing, is it?"

She said earnestly: "Gu Ning never asks or cares about how many women he has outside."

"He is also very family-oriented and would never make Gu Ning lose face. If he says he'll be home before ten, he'll call home to let her know if he's even a little late."

Qin Jingru shook her head slightly: "He never lies to Gu Ning, especially after having children. You say you don't see him once a month now; it will be even harder to see him in the future."

Qin Huairu naturally took her sister's words to heart. After washing the dishes, Qin Jingru and her husband prepared to leave, as they had to go home for the night.

So, Qin Huairu took Banggeng and saw Qin Jingru and her husband out before heading to the back-row rooms.

When Li Xuewu returned, a small meeting would definitely be held there, even if Li Xuewu no longer managed the trivial matters here, everyone was used to it.

Qin Huairu wasn't considered part of the recycling station and had nothing to do with the business here, but she was considered "Li Xuewu's person"—not in terms of that relationship, but in terms of status and interests.

The people in the back-row rooms didn't treat her as an outsider either, and they didn't hide anything from her when holding small meetings to discuss business.

Even someone like Wang Yamei, who had worked here for so long, wasn't allowed to attend such small meetings, which showed Qin Huairu's initiative.

She didn't want to gain anything from here; it was just an attitude. In the future, when she had something to discuss with the back-row rooms, she wouldn't need to go through Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu really didn't manage the trivial matters of the recycling station anymore. That evening, he just talked about the situation and the new warehouse. Everyone drank tea and chatted for an hour before dispersing.

She took Banggeng and walked back with Seeing Sha Zhu and Yushui, while Li Xuewu carried Li Shu. On the way, they chatted a few more words about Li Shu.

In the middle courtyard, they all parted ways. Li Xuewu carried the child to the back courtyard, and Seeing Sha Zhu and Yushui went home after watching him leave.

When she and Banggeng returned, the lights in the inner room were already out. Her mother-in-law had already gone to sleep with the two girls, leaving only the living room light on for them.

After washing up and tucking Banggeng in, she returned to the inner room and lay down on the kang.

Before Qin Huairu could fall asleep, her mother-in-law turned over and she heard her say: "Did Jingru talk to you about finding someone else?"

"Mom, you scared me. You're not asleep yet?"

Qin Huairu propped herself up to look at her mother-in-law before lying back down: "It's the middle of the night, why did you suddenly think of asking this?"

"Sigh—I can't really sleep."

Jia Zhangshi sighed, sat up, and looked toward Qin Huairu in the moonlight from the window: "I've been thinking and pondering over and over in my heart, and I just can't let go of your affairs."

"Mom, stop letting your imagination run wild and go to sleep," Qin Huairu urged: "This isn't something you can just wish for, so don't worry about me."

"Besides, we've made it through all these years, and aren't we doing just fine?"

"You say I shouldn't think about it, but how can I not think for you? You're only thirty."

Jia Zhangshi sat there, looking out the window: "I used to force you not to look because I was afraid that if you did, we would suffer and endure hardship."

"Now that I want you to find someone, I'm worried you won't find a good one and will suffer and endure hardship yourself."

She turned her body, looked at Qin Huairu, and exhorted: "Let me tell you, no matter how you look, even if you really find someone and get married..."

"Don't break ties with Li Xuewu. As long as you have a relationship, with this backing, you won't suffer or endure hardship no matter who you find."

"Mom—please go to sleep!"

Qin Huairu felt that her mother-in-law was becoming more and more outrageous. What was she saying? It was too embarrassing.

However, she had to admit that her mother-in-law, who was experienced and had seen much of life, seemed to have a point, even if what she said was twisted...