Jia Dongxu's Suspicion, Huai Hua's Birth

Lin Zhen didn't want to be disgusted.

His own little life with his wife, kids, and a warm kang was going quite well.

If he could avoid getting involved with the Jia family, he would.

Therefore, when Qin Huairu came to him for help, he directly pushed the responsibility onto Jia Zhangshi and her son.

As soon as the mother and son heard it was him they were asking for help, they would refuse 100%.

This way, he wouldn't have to hear Jia Zhangshi scolding him empty-handed after work the next day, after helping with the application.

Qin Huairu also understood the reason behind this.

She sighed and said, "Alright, I'll ask my mother-in-law tomorrow. I came to you because you just applied, so you're familiar with the process."

Lin Zhen smiled and said, "It's fine, Sister Qin. As long as your mother-in-law and husband agree, helping you fill out a form is no trouble."

The next morning.

When Qin Huairu went to the hospital to change shifts, she told her mother-in-law and husband about her idea.

After all, with her having just given birth, the family was even busier. Being able to send Bang Geng and Xiao Dang to the staff kindergarten would truly save a lot of trouble.

Jia Zhangshi said happily, "This is a good idea."

Jia Dongxu suddenly roared, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Qin Huairu trembled all over, startled.

"During this time, my mother and I have been working day and night shifts, and I haven't thought that much. If Bang Geng hadn't mentioned that Lin Zhen's four children all go to kindergarten, I wouldn't have remembered."

"Hmph! Nonsense, did that Lin person tell you?"

"No, Bang Geng did. I went to ask Lin Zhen last night and asked for his help with the application."

"You're talking nonsense! If it weren't for the fact that you're about to give birth, I would have let Mom slap your mouth! Your eyes light up whenever you mention Lin Zhen, and you went to see him at night. Do you already dislike me as a burden?"

Jia Zhangshi also got angry and said furiously, "Qin Huairu, who exactly told you?"

"It was Bang Geng. If you don't believe me, ask him when we get home later!"

Qin Huairu's tears streamed down. She was thinking for the good of the family, but her husband didn't understand and was constantly making baseless accusations.

They had been married for six years, yet he and his mother still treated her like an outsider.

Qin Huairu's heart ached, and she turned to leave the ward to cry in the hallway.

Jia Dongxu angrily said, "Come back! Are you going to find that Lin person?"

Qin Huairu sobbed, "I'm due to give birth in a few days. Even if you want to take your anger out on me, can you wait until after I've given birth? Since marrying into your Jia family, I haven't done anything to betray you, Jia Dongxu!"

Jia Dongxu's face turned ashen.

He knew in his heart that his wife was heavily pregnant now. Even if she wanted to have something with Lin Zhen, Lin Zhen wouldn't be interested.

He just couldn't rest assured and was unwilling to accept it.

He worried that his wife would leave after giving birth to this child, and Lin Zhen was just someone he fantasized would take his wife away.

No matter who Qin Huairu left with, he couldn't bear the consequences.

He was even more unwilling to accept that he was paralyzed from the waist down, having lost the life he should have as a man, possessing a beautiful wife but only being able to look at her.

Therefore, Jia Dongxu, who was already suspicious, jealous, and narrow-minded, wished he could chain Qin Huairu to his side.

Now, when he heard Qin Huairu mention Lin Zhen, he reacted as if he had been doused with explosives.

"Why are you crying? Do you regret marrying me? Do you regret looking down on Lin Zhen when you got engaged? Are you envious of Lou Xiao'e now?"

"Think whatever you want, I haven't wronged you!"

"You say you haven't wronged me, but why did you ask Lin Zhen for help? Why didn't you ask Silly Zhu, Xu Damao, Yi Zhonghai, or Liu Haizhong! You just have Lin Zhen in your heart!"

Qin Huairu cried uncontrollably, "Because he just helped apply for the children in the family, I didn't think that much!"

Jia Dongxu sneered, "You didn't think that I would think so much, did you?"

Qin Huairu cried, "Yes, I didn't expect you to be so petty."

"You dare to call me petty? You've gone too far!"

Jia Dongxu couldn't move right now, otherwise, he would have already reached out and hit her.

Seeing that her son and daughter-in-law's argument was not helping, Jia Zhangshi immediately reprimanded Qin Huairu.

"Are you going to keep this up? Do you want to anger Dongxu to death and then remarry? What are you arguing about? You should listen when your husband speaks, and you're not allowed to talk back!"

Qin Huairu's tears flowed unjustly, "Then what do you say, should the children still go?"

"Ask Silly Zhu to help with the application. From now on, you are not allowed to mention Lin Zhen's name in front of me!"

Qin Huairu lowered her head and cried continuously.

Jia Dongxu added, "Mom, when you go back, go to the steel rolling mill first and tell Silly Zhu, or you can ask First Elder for help too."

Jia Zhangshi nodded and said, "Okay, Mom will go now!"

Jia Zhangshi walked all the way to the entrance of the steel rolling mill and told the person at the reception desk that she wanted to find He Yuzhu.

Five minutes later, Silly Zhu ran out.

"Grandma Jia, what did you need me for?"

"I heard Lin Zhen's four sons all applied for kindergarten. Dongxu wants to apply for Bang Geng and Xiao Dang too. Go to the logistics department later and help fill out a form. See how quickly they can get in. That's all."

Silly Zhu chuckled, "Aren't they going to run around the courtyard anymore?"

"No more. Dongxu's like this, he can't handle it all."

"Alright, what a small matter. You could have just said it in the courtyard. You didn't have to make a special trip."

"Alas, I just remembered."

"Hey? Right, I don't even know how to fill out this form. Why didn't you have Qin Huairu find Lin Zhen directly? Doesn't he know everything?"

Jia Zhangshi's face instantly changed. "Don't mention him. Dongxu said that even if Mr. Lin wanted to help, he wouldn't let him. Only you in this courtyard can help us!"

Silly Zhu laughed, "Heh, so I've become a hot commodity!"

After Jia Zhangshi left, Silly Zhu went to the logistics department alone, his heart filled with complex emotions.

He felt a bit happy and smug, but also a bit disappointed and even a little jealous.

Jia Zhangshi saying he was the only one in the courtyard who could help Qin Huairu made him feel quite pleased.

But he knew that Jia Dongxu was truly wary of Lin Zhen.

Himself? Alas, he wasn't even worthy of Jia Dongxu's suspicion.

He didn't know whether to be happy or disappointed about helping Qin Huairu this time.

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

Half a month before the New Year, Qin Huairu gave birth.

It was a girl.

When Jia Dongxu heard the news, he rolled his eyes and almost fainted.

He had been hoping for a son, so Bang Geng wouldn't be bullied by Lin Zhen's four sons in the future.

Unexpectedly, after giving birth to Xiao Dang, his wife had another daughter.

He was already half-paralyzed, and it was impossible for him to have more children.

The hope of getting a younger brother for Bang Geng was completely dashed.

"Alas... fate! Why did he become an engineer while I'm paralyzed? Why does he have four sons while I only have one!"

Jia Dongxu sighed to the heavens. His junior, whom he once looked down upon, had become someone he could never reach.

"Dongxu, give the second girl a name," Jia Zhangshi advised.

"I won't. Let Qin Huairu name her. She gave birth to the daughter, she can name her!"

Jia Zhangshi ran to Qin Huairu's maternity ward and said coldly, "Dongxu said you can name the second girl yourself!"

After saying that, she slammed the door and left. The nurses all looked askance.

"Alas, it's a new era, how can there still be feudal ideas of preferring sons over daughters?"

"That's right, it's not the mother's fault whether it's a boy or a girl!"

"Comrade Qin Huairu, don't be sad. Your health is important. Please give your daughter a name."

Qin Huairu looked out the window. A locust tree stood bare in the cold winter, and a sense of desolation instantly washed over her.

"Let's call her Huai Hua. I hope she can always live in spring."