Chapter 45: Don

Hearing Qin Huaiju speak like this, Lou Xiaoe immediately grew unwilling; seeing Qin Huaiju defend He Yuzhu, she immediately thought of Banggeng’s behavior in the courtyard.

Lou Xiaoe raised an eyebrow and asked: “Qin Huaiju, what do you mean? If not him, who stole the chicken? Could it have been Banggeng?”

Qin Huaiju instantly grew agitated: “What nonsense are you spouting?! Fine, fine, I don’t care about your damn business.”

Qin Huaiju walked out the door after saying this.

This fire clearly wouldn’t die down easily; if she didn’t run now, it would burn her alive.

Seeing Qin Huaiju flee without an answer, Lou Xiaoe pointed at He Yuzhu and threatened: “Just wait, you.”

Erdaye refused to deal with He Yuzhu—of course, he was also afraid He Yuzhu might fly into a rage and hit him.

“Alright, alright, ignore him. Let’s hold the meeting tonight.”

After saying this, both of them left He Yuzhu’s house.

He Yuzhu, seeing this whole chaotic scene, seethed inside but couldn’t vent his anger—he glared and drank his bitter wine alone.

Qin Huaiju returned home and arranged dinner for the family, her mind heavy with worries.

At the dinner table, Qin Huaiju noticed Xiao Dang and Huaihua eating improperly and knew something was wrong.

“What are you staring at? Eat! Banggeng, tell Mom the truth—did you steal Xu’s chicken?”

Jia Zhangshi cast a slow glance at Qin Huaiju and said: “What nonsense are you talking? Is Banggeng the kind of child who’d do that? Really.”

Qin Huaiju, fully aware, pointed at Huaihua and said: “Look at the oil stains on Huaihua’s clothes—still not eating? If she hadn’t already eaten outside, would she be like this?”

Jia Zhangshi knew the truth in her heart but still wanted to protect her grandson, so she asked Banggeng seriously: “Banggeng, tell Grandma the truth—did you steal the chicken?”

Banggeng glanced at Jia Zhangshi and shook his head, putting on a look of grievance.

“I don’t know.”

Jia Zhangshi thought to herself: “Good, he knows how to deny it—my good grandson.”

Jia Zhangshi turned to Xiao Dang: “Xiao Dang?”

Xiao Dang was old enough to understand now and naturally followed Banggeng’s lead.

“I don’t know either.”

Jia Zhangshi thought: “This money-burning girl isn’t bad either.”

She tried asking the youngest, Huaihua: “Huaihua?”

Little Huaihua, eager to express how delicious today’s meal had been, said in a baby voice: “Grandma, my brother’s beggar chicken was so tasty!”

Jia Zhangshi silently cursed: “This money-burning girl—how can she be four and still so clueless?”

Qin Huaiju glared at Jia Zhangshi and pointed at the children: “Look, look!”

Banggeng impatiently defended: “The chicken wasn’t stolen by me—I found it in the front courtyard. If I hadn’t grabbed it, it would’ve run away.”

Qin Huaiju tapped Banggeng’s head and scolded: “You’re always causing trouble! Even if it ran away, what’s that got to do with you?”

Jia Zhangshi shook her head and lectured: “All three of you listen: after dinner, stay home and do your homework. None of you go out.”

Banggeng: “Got it.”

Xiao Dang: “Got it.”

Little Huaihua: “Got it.”

Qin Huaiju was dissatisfied with her mother-in-law’s discipline but had no recourse—this situation had gone too far to undo; she could only lightly smack Banggeng.

“How can you even eat?!”

Widow’s heart, bee’s sting—she knew perfectly well Xu Damao’s chicken had been stolen and eaten by her own children, yet still pretended to be virtuous at He Yuzhu’s house; when He Yuzhu was falsely accused, her thought wasn’t to admit fault, but to prevent He Yuzhu from revealing the truth.

When Erdaye was about to hold the meeting, she could’ve saved He Yuzhu—but when Lou Xiaoe asked, she abandoned He Yuzhu and fled.

Now that He Yuzhu was trapped, with no way forward or back, it seemed natural to pin the blame on him, while she only needed to play the pitiful, innocent widow.

Speaking of pitiful innocence, she should thank Daye—he’s the one who established this persona for Qin Huaiju.

A household without an adult man, a fifty-year-old woman who refuses to work yet demands private money, a hypocritical mother-in-law who insists on being both virtuous and indulgent, children raised fat and pampered, always craving meat, a seductive young widow—how does one manage such a family?

Wanting fine grain and meat every meal—what’s wrong with that? Having a sewing machine—what’s wrong with that? Having a radio—what’s wrong with that?

Her salary is the same as Sandaye’s, and her household has fewer people—what’s wrong with that?

Sandaye doesn’t complain because he’s a fool.

What’s wrong with Jia family mocking Sandaye for being too calculating and stingy?

A kind, selfless He Yuzhu who voluntarily offers stolen food, lends his salary, comforts, seeks revenge, and brings warmth—that’s normal.

Because Daye personally taught He Yuzhu.

Don’t be too selfish in life!

Who could have ill intentions if he delivers grain to a widow at midnight?

A song called “A Secret That Can’t Be Told” for Daye!

By eight o’clock at night, those who worked had returned, and those who studied had returned.

Men, women, young and old gathered in the front courtyard for the irregular “entire courtyard meeting.”

This meeting, led by the three Daye, handled internal matters—public issues and petty household disputes—to uphold the courtyard’s reputation and safety.

Although held in the front courtyard, the Li family carried on as usual.

Liu Yin sewed clothes for Li Xue on the sewing machine; Li Xue and Li Shu read books in the south room; Li Shun sliced ginseng with a cleaver.

lingdian.

Dama had just fed the horse and was now chopping firewood inside.

The firewood Li Xuewu brought back was whole tree trunks, requiring an axe to split.

Fortunately, since they were dead trees, they split easily—no need to dry or air them; they could be burned immediately.

Dama was a carpenter, clever-hearted, with a touch of occupational obsession—a perfectionist. Her firewood was cut to identical lengths and sizes, neatly stacked along the windowsill against the wall, each cut perfectly even.

The Li family was represented at this meeting by Li Laotai, sitting on a stool at the door.

“Attending” meant merely watching the spectacle.

The Li family never caused trouble, and their own affairs didn’t need outsiders’ interference.

So it was always Li Laotai who attended meetings—because she never had to speak, and thus couldn’t be used as a pawn.

No one dared challenge Li Laotai.

Her presence was as good as that of a deaf old woman.

Just as the three Daye sat down at the courtyard’s broken table, Xu Damao placed He Yuzhu’s cold bowl of chicken on it.

Earlier, inside the house, He Yuzhu had already prepared to take the blame for Banggeng—if he didn’t want to, why not simply claim the chicken was leftover from yesterday? Who steals half a chicken? Where were the feathers? He Yuzhu had no time to sneak back and steal it.

So he feared Xu Damao wouldn’t drop it if he couldn’t find the chicken, and that Qin Huaiju’s three children leaving with the chicken couldn’t have gone unnoticed—no one spoke now, but tomorrow the whole courtyard would know.

Remembering Daye’s daily teachings—Qin Jie struggled alone with three children; how heart-wrenching to be scolded over a single chicken; don’t be too selfish in life—kind, wise Daye never lied.

Because a childless man never lies to another childless man!