Chapter 80

Seeing Li Xuewu about to leave, Qin Huaiju twisted her body to block the doorway, tears streaming down her face as she stared at him.

Qin Huaiju knew Li Xuewu was right, but what could she do?

Her monthly wage was 27.5 yuan; her mother-in-law demanded 3 yuan each month for her pension, needed painkillers, and the three children required fine grain.

Banggeng’s tuition for one semester was 2.6 yuan; Xiaodang was the same; Huaihua was about to start school—how could she not let any child go?

Every time Sha Zhu brought meat and dishes home, the aroma of hot food drifted into the room, and Banggeng would cry out for meat.

In these times, whose child wasn’t hungry for meat? Her mother-in-law forced her to beg at Sha Zhu’s house; if she failed, she’d be told she was a worthless mother.

After the first time came the second; the children grew accustomed to it, and each time she had to beg and plead to get it—how else could she bring it back without sacrificing her dignity?

The more often she went, the more Banggeng came to treat Sha Zhu’s things as his own, and started taking them too.

Even so, her mother-in-law guarded her like a thief, terrified she’d have an affair with Sha Zhu—wanting her to be a whore yet also to wear a halo of virtue—where could she go to plead her case?

Helpless tears, heavy with grievance, streamed down her face.

What can I do? I'm like this, and everyone bullies me! If only someone had said one word to help me, I wouldn't be like this.

Li Xuewu, blocked at the door, spoke without mercy—he’d never seen anyone so shameless.

“If you want help, you must stand on your own. Have you ever seen a family like yours with endless fine grain? Who doesn’t have children?”

“Never mind Old Man San’s character—just look at how he manages his household: one man, 32 yuan a month, supporting seven people, and his eldest son is even married.”

Seeing Qin Huaiju still stubbornly blocking him, Li Xuewu no longer cared about offending her.

“Don’t say Old Man Yi never helped you—how many times has Sha Zhu lent you money? How many times has he bought buns from the canteen for you, or cornmeal from outside? How many times have you begged for buns in the workshop? Do I need to name names?”

Hearing Li Xuewu’s words, Qin Huaiju was stunned as if struck by lightning.

Seeing Qin Huaiju stop crying, Li Xuewu said: “Heaven won’t help the self-unreliant. If you want help, you must have dignity. Look at how everyone in the courtyard sees you—what do you want your children to think of you in the future? Are you going to learn from your mother-in-law? Don’t you know how you married in?”

Qin Huaiju blinked through tear-filled eyes and asked: “What can I do?”

Li Xuewu looked at the tear-streaked young widow and said: “Lead by example, educate your children, persuade your mother-in-law. If you can’t teach the children, beat them. If you can’t persuade your mother-in-law, send her back to the countryside—can’t you control them?”

“You earn wages to support the family—why are you afraid of your mother-in-law? Sha Zhu’s leftovers may smell good, but they’re still scraps—wouldn’t you say eating them carries no shame?”

Seeing Qin Huaiju nod, he added: “Your mother-in-law sits idle at home—make her cook, wash clothes, collect matchboxes from the neighborhood. If she refuses, send her back. If she helps, you’ll have less burden; two people earning to raise three children isn’t hard.”

Qin Huaiju understood Li Xuewu’s meaning, but some things she couldn’t bring herself to do.

“I’m about to renovate the house—there’s plenty of work: feeding the masons, cleaning up. If you need help, I’ll give it to you. I’ll also help maintain security at the factory. As long as you don’t cause trouble, no one will dare to harass you—that’s all I can do.”

Li Xuewu treated Qin Huaiju no differently than anyone else—he wouldn’t support the needy like Sha Zhu, giving money for free. He had no agenda like Old Man Yi, nor Sha Zhu’s sentimental nature.

Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach him to fish, and you feed him for life.

Living in this courtyard, when neighbors ask for help, if it’s not too difficult, I’ll lend a hand—but I never do anything beyond my capacity.

I’ll never pretend to be richer than I am—besides, who dares to puff up my face?

Promising to help with security at the factory is just part of the security division’s duty—I can resolve disputes, but never use force or tantrums.

Hearing Li Xuewu would help, Qin Huaiju stopped crying and smiled, repeatedly saying “good.”

Li Xuewu gently urged: “If you don’t stand on your own, Old Man Yi’s relief rations come with conditions; Sha Zhu’s aid has motives; the buns from the workshop come with lustful intentions.”

Qin Huaiju whispered softly: “I know what they want—I know it all...”

This widow was sharp-witted—her heart might be as full of holes as a lotus root.

Li Xuewu wiped the tears from Qin Huaiju’s face and said: “Remember—never show your weakness to others, never tell them your humiliations, because no one will pity you—they’ll only think you’re useless.”

These words stunned Qin Huaiju. In the past, her tearful eyes had been her weapon—but here, with this cold-blooded man, they were useless.

Li Xuewu pointed to the courtyard and said: “That’s enough. Move aside—I need to go home. I’ve been out all day, on a business trip to the Northeast for days, and still haven’t returned. I have to leave again soon.”

The Immortal Wood Miracle

Qin Huaiju quickly stepped aside, and Li Xuewu brushed past her into the courtyard.

Honestly, this young widow really had curves.

Qin Huaiju, eyes and cheeks red, went to the latrine.

Li Xuewu parked his bicycle, lifted the curtain, and stepped inside.

Everyone at home was already lying on the kang, preparing to sleep. Seeing Li Xuewu return, dusty and carrying a vertically bundled package, the old woman in the north room and the others were startled.

Liu Yin sat up, pulling on her coat, and asked: “Why are you back so late? You didn’t even send word. It was your father who got worried, rushed to the factory, and only then learned you were on a business trip—you ran too fast, fell, and bruised your knee. Don’t do that again.”

Liu Yin muttered, then worriedly asked: “Have you eaten? What are you carrying?”

Li Shun had been ready to scold him, but his wife had exposed his own embarrassment—he felt awkward, snorted, turned his side, and pretended to sleep, refusing to look at Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu, smelling of alcohol, replied softly: “Mom, I ate. Afterward, I drank with factory leaders—that’s why I’m late. Sorry for worrying you.”

As he spoke, he tossed the bundle he’d taken from the door onto his own bedding, then gently placed the child in the middle of the eastern kang, between Liu Yin and Li Shun.

Liu Yin kept muttering: “You child, after traveling so long, why didn’t you rest earlier? Why go drinking?... Ah! Is this...!”

Before she finished, Liu Yin was stunned as Li Xuewu opened the bundle to reveal a tiny, porcelain-skinned child.

The child, noticing people watching, waved his little hands and kicked his tiny legs.

Seeing the child was brought home by her son, Liu Yin feared something was wrong and instinctively covered her mouth.

Hearing Liu Yin’s cry, the others in the north room turned to look. Li Shu exclaimed: “It’s a child—still...”

Li Shun, who had been turned away, couldn’t believe it—he spun around, stared at the child for one glance, then leapt off the kang, grabbed his shoe, and swung it at Li Xuewu.