Jia Dongxu's Lifespan Runs Out, Qin Huairu's Spring Arrives

The Lunar New Year holiday always passes quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was the seventh day of the first lunar month.

Most units decided to officially reopen tomorrow.

Lin Zhen had already taken his wife and child to visit Aunt Liu, and Lou Xiao'e would be able to officially start work tomorrow.

Some positions at the steel rolling mill had actually been operational for some time.

Lin Zhen had also been to the mill several times.

Just as everyone was gearing up to work hard for the year.

Jia Dongxu was pushed into the emergency room by Silly Zhu.

His twisted mindset caused his suspicions to grow daily. Already paralyzed in bed and unable to rest well, his physical condition worsened with each passing day during the holiday.

Qin Huairu, however, seemed numb, no longer arguing back no matter how much her husband scolded her.

Jia Zhangshi knew her son was depressed due to being bedridden, but she was helpless. Jia Dongxu wouldn't listen to any advice.

He couldn't eat or drink for several consecutive days, tormenting himself.

Finally, on the seventh day, his condition worsened.

His original injuries had not healed, and now, with old wounds compounded by mental anguish, he entered a critical state.

Today happened to be the last day of the holiday for everyone in the courtyard.

Thus, everyone came to help.

Jia Zhangshi sat on the ground, clutching her ankle and crying hysterically, while First Aunt tried to comfort her.

Qin Huairu, with tears streaming down her face, held Huai Hua and followed everyone to the hospital.

The most anxious person, however, was Silly Zhu, pushing the cart so fast it seemed about to fly.

Uncharacteristically, First Elder, though his expression was grave and sorrowful, walked unhurriedly with everyone towards the hospital.

Seeing this, Lin Zhen couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

It seemed Jia Dongxu's luck had run out. Even his wife and master had given up on supporting him, his mindset had become one of acceptance. Who could still hold onto his life force?

His mother, Jia Zhangshi?

Jia Zhangshi had been stingy her whole life and was ill-tempered, but she had no blessings to bestow upon her descendants.

If Jia Dongxu had woken up after his industrial accident and realized his shortcomings, not gotten stuck in his ways, and not had a twisted mindset, he might have lived a few more years.

If he had also been more cautious with his words and actions, changed his past harshness and stinginess, become humble and kind, and lived in harmony with his neighbors, it wouldn't be impossible for a miracle to occur.

After all, there was a Transmigrator with a system living in the courtyard.

But if that were the case, he wouldn't be Jia Dongxu anymore.

From childhood, he had inherited his mother Jia Zhangshi's stinginess and narrow-mindedness, which only worsened after encountering misfortune.

Ultimately, he drove his wife to numbness and burned out the last bit of his lifespan.

The hospital's rescue efforts lasted for several hours, ultimately ending with Jia Dongxu's death.

Qin Huairu truly wept this time. It was more like she was saying goodbye to the past, crying for her former life.

In her heart, her husband had already died in the days before the New Year.

Everyone from the courtyard came to offer comfort. Lin Zhen also crouched down and advised, "Please accept my condolences. Look forward; your life is just beginning."

Qin Huairu wiped her tears and glanced at Lin Zhen, Silly Zhu, and Xu Damao.

"You're right. I still have three children and an elder to care for. I can't fall. The three elders, Silly Zhu, Damao, and Lin Zhen, I'll trouble you all to help with Dongxu's funeral arrangements."

Yi Zhonghai said, "Don't worry. Your family is without a man; leave these matters to us."

Liu Haizhong immediately began making arrangements. "Xu Damao and Silly Zhu, start getting the funeral supplies. Lin Zhen, go report to the factory leadership. Old Yan, you're responsible for writing the elegies and keeping the accounts. Old Yi, go contact the funeral home and Qin Huairu's maternal family."

Second Elder took the opportunity to bark orders, enjoying a brief taste of authority.

At this moment, no one bothered to argue with him, and they immediately started to split up and take action.

After Lin Zhen informed the factory leadership of Jia Dongxu's death, the factory immediately approved another batch of condolence money, with Deputy Director Li specifically responsible for the comforting work.

After nearly a week of busyness, the courtyard gradually returned to its usual rhythm.

After Jia Dongxu's death, Jia Zhangshi's attitude towards Qin Huairu changed drastically.

From being a nagging, scolding mother-in-law, she developed a semblance of a mother-daughter relationship.

She began to ask for Qin Huairu's opinion on important matters and helped with cooking.

However, she watched Qin Huairu's relationships with the people in the courtyard even more strictly.

Now, only Silly Zhu could enter the Jia family's home. Others, let alone Lin Zhen, even Yan Jiefang and Liu Guangtian, were not allowed.

But these people didn't visit often anyway.

Although Qin Huairu was a beautiful widow in her twenties, with a wicked mother-in-law sitting at the door, no one wanted to provoke her.

Yi Zhonghai had only delivered a few more bags of cornmeal and was severely scolded by Jia Zhangshi.

"If you're sending things, you should have had First Aunt do it. You, an elder of the same generation as my husband, are trying to get lucky, aren't you? Bah! Don't think this old woman is blind!"

Yi Zhonghai, his face flushed red from the scolding, didn't even dare to glance towards the Jia family's house from that day on.

Liu Haizhong wanted to use this opportunity to establish his authority in the courtyard, thereby suppressing the influence of First Elder Yi Zhonghai and Lin Zhen.

He took it upon himself to help the Jia family. Besides having Second Aunt frequently send things to their home, he also took charge of everything related to Qin Huairu's job at the steel rolling mill.

He was practically becoming the First Elder of the courtyard.

That day, after work, he went straight to the Jia family's house with a form given by the Workshop Director.

"Huairu, quickly, fill out this form. The factory has decided to increase your monthly living subsidy. It will continue until Huai Hua is ten months old, and you'll get an extra hour of rest during lunch after you start working, to give you time to feed the baby."

Qin Huairu, who was feeding Huai Hua, was so happy when she heard this that she rushed out from the inner room.

"Second Elder, is this true?"

Liu Haizhong smiled, "Of course. We can't just leave a baby like Huai Hua at home, can we? I specifically applied for this for you."

Qin Huairu didn't care if Liu Haizhong was telling the truth or just boasting; it was good news regardless. She smiled happily, "Thank you, Second Elder. You're truly a good leader in this courtyard!"

Liu Haizhong loved hearing this and replied with a smile, "It's nothing, it's what Second Elder should do."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jia Zhangshi entered from outside, her face sullen.

She had just returned from the outhouse and had heard her daughter-in-law and Liu Haizhong chatting and laughing inside from a distance.

Upon entering, she saw Qin Huairu holding little Huai Hua, her top still unbuttoned.

And Liu Haizhong was smugly chatting and laughing in front of Qin Huairu.

A surge of anger instantly ignited in Jia Zhangshi's heart.

Slap!

The sound of the slap was so loud it could be heard throughout the front and back courtyards.

"Oh my! Old sister-in-law! You! Why are you hitting me?"

"I'm hitting you, you indecent old man! My daughter-in-law is feeding her child with her chest exposed, what are you doing in here, you old pervert? You have ill intentions!"

"Aiya!!! I was just bringing Huairu a registration form. You, you, you! Why are you making accusations without understanding the situation!"

"Pah! You're just trying to take advantage of a widow. There are two widows in this house, tell me, who are you looking for! Are you looking for me? Come on then!"

"Aiya! My old face!"

Liu Haizhong couldn't stand it any longer. With a red face, he lowered his head and ran back to the backyard.

The shouting had drawn everyone in the courtyard out of their homes.

Lou Xiao'e frowned, "What is Grandma Jia saying? It's so embarrassing."

Lin Zhen chuckled, "Old Liu is too eager to be an official. Now look, just when his influence was slightly greater than First Elder's, Jia Zhangshi's words have ruined it all!"

In the middle courtyard, Yi Zhonghai sneered coldly from inside his room, "Old Liu, you're asking for trouble."