Qin Huairu's Predicament, Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place

By ten o'clock that night, the entire courtyard meeting finally concluded.

More or less, the residents had all done their part as neighbors.

In total, 124 yuan, 3 mao, and 6 fen were collected.

First Elder Yi Zhonghai said, "Silly Zhu, take this to the hospital first thing tomorrow morning. I heard Dongxu needs another surgery, so there can't be any delays."

Silly Zhu nodded, "Don't worry, leave it to me."

After the meeting, he returned home.

Lou Xiao'e first coaxed their four sons to sleep.

She sat beside Lin Zhen and chatted about everyday matters.

"Sigh, life is so unpredictable. Qin Huairu is going to be miserable, dealing with everything inside and out."

Lin Zhen asked with a smile, "How can you tell?"

"Hmph, Jia Dongxu always kept an eye on the single men in the courtyard. Now that he's paralyzed, he'll be even more suspicious. From now on, Qin Huairu will have to handle everything. It's no wonder she'll be taking flak from both her husband and her mother-in-law."

Lin Zhen nodded slightly, "You're very smart, your analysis is spot on. Our courtyard will have plenty of excitement from now on."

Lou Xiao'e looked up at Lin Zhen.

She asked with a smile, "Why didn't you donate more money? We're not exactly short on cash. Is it because of Qin Huairu, and you're afraid I'll overthink it?"

Their family truly didn't lack money. Not long ago, they had secretly received word from abroad.

The Lou family's group business in Southeast Asia had taken off.

Lin Zhen and his wife's 30% stake had already grown to the millionaire level.

Although they didn't care about the money, Lin Zhen absolutely would not help the Jia family.

He shook his head slightly, "I just said you were smart, and now you're being silly again."

Lou Xiao'e protested, "How am I being silly?"

Lin Zhen said, "You only know how to be good to others, but you don't know how bad others can be. Aren't you still a bit foolish?"

Lou Xiao'e replied, "Jia Zhangshi has a bad temper, and Jia Dongxu is narrow-minded, but Qin Huairu is a decent person. We should help if we can. I won't be jealous."

What Lou Xiao'e said now was not unreasonable.

For the past few years, Qin Huairu had been diligently raising her children and taking care of her mother-in-law.

She was always very friendly to everyone in the courtyard, truly embodying the image of a good daughter-in-law.

She even often shared parenting tips with Lou Xiao'e.

However, Lin Zhen knew Qin Huairu's true nature.

Her family hadn't faced any major difficulties these past few years, so her ruthless, selfish, and hypocritical nature hadn't yet been revealed.

But that didn't mean she was a good person.

Even if she were a good person, he had no obligation to help her.

After all, she was part of the Jia family.

Setting aside Jia Zhangshi and Jia Dongxu, the factory's compensation and condolences for this work injury meant it wasn't his place to fill any gaps.

"Sigh, my dear wife, Confucius said, 'Repay kindness with kindness, and repay grievances with justice.' The Jia family has never done us any favors, so we can't be a doormat."

Lou Xiao'e smiled, "A woman must obey her father at home and her husband after marriage. Of course, I listen to you. I just mentioned it in case you wanted to help Qin Huairu but were worried about my jealousy. I'm actually relieved you're not helping her."

"Hey! So you were trying to trick me into saying that?"

"Ah~ Hahaha... How would I dare!"

The next morning.

He Yuzhu arrived at the hospital with 124.36 yuan in cash.

Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi had stayed at the hospital all night.

Neither of them had slept a wink, only managing a short nap before dawn.

Seeing Silly Zhu arrive at the hospital, Qin Huairu quickly came out of the ward.

"Silly Zhu, did Bang Geng and Xiao Dang cause any trouble last night?"

"Don't worry, they were very well-behaved with First Aunt."

"Sigh... Why did this have to happen? I'm so worried."

"Don't say that. You must take care of yourself, not just for yourself, but because you have another one on the way. Here's 124 yuan, 3 mao, and 6 fen. The whole courtyard donated it."

"Oh! This... this is too embarrassing."

"It's nothing, we're neighbors after all. I personally put in 50 yuan myself. Xu Damao and that kid Lin Zhen only donated 4 yuan each. Hey, can you believe how pathetic that is?"

"Then... thank you very much."

"It's fine, who told you you're my sister!"

"Then I'll really have to trouble you often in the future."

"Heh heh, that's my honor."

They were speaking softly at the hospital room door, and Jia Zhangshi, inside the room, overheard everything.

The more Jia Zhangshi listened, the angrier she became.

She opened the door and rushed out.

Slap!

She first slapped Qin Huairu hard across the face, then immediately went to hit Silly Zhu.

Jia Zhangshi bared her teeth, looking like she was about to devour someone.

Silly Zhu trembled all over, scared. "You, you, you... what are you doing?"

"I... I... I'll beat you two adulterous sluts to death! My son is still lying in the hospital room, and you're here cooing at the door, saying you'll have to trouble him often, and that it's your honor, ah~ spit!"

Jia Zhangshi spat all over Silly Zhu's face.

Enraged, Silly Zhu's eyes widened, and he reached out as if to hit someone.

Qin Huairu covered her face and cried, "Stop making a scene. This is a hospital. If you wake Dongxu up, you'll be happy!"

Silly Zhu wiped his face, his face ashen with anger.

"You wicked mother-in-law, helping you was more trouble than it was worth! Hmph, don't come looking for me again!"

Silly Zhu left in a furious huff, and Qin Huairu squatted on the ground, weeping.

Jia Zhangshi angrily said, "Cry! You still have the nerve! If I hadn't come out in time, would you have been discussing when to get married?"

Qin Huairu sobbed, "It's not what you think!"

"Do you think I'm blind or deaf? I see clearly and hear perfectly!"

Qin Huairu said, "Right now, the only one in the courtyard who dares to help us despite your misunderstanding is Silly Zhu. If we offend him too, who will help us."

"I don't want anyone's help!"

"Yesterday's surgery used up all our savings, and the factory's compensation hasn't been approved yet. If we don't have anyone to help, Dongxu's surgery today can't happen. Fine, I'll return the money to the hospital, is that okay?"

"Come back!"

Seeing Qin Huairu about to leave, Jia Zhangshi quickly called out to stop her.

"You go pay the bill, and don't mention this to Dongxu again!"

Actually, Jia Dongxu in the hospital room had already been woken up. He wasn't too worried.

If Silly Zhu came, it was fine. As long as it wasn't Lin Zhen.

Lin Zhen was the person he suspected every day and guarded against every night.

Although Silly Zhu and Xu Damao were also bachelors, and they envied his beautiful wife, Qin Huairu didn't think highly of them.

Only when she saw Lou Xiao'e did Qin Huairu's eyes show a complex expression.

Jia Dongxu, being meticulous and suspicious, knew all of this.

He knew his wife regretted rejecting Lin Zhen's marriage proposal back then.

He knew she envied Lou Xiao'e's life.

No elders to serve, doted on by her husband, four obedient sons.

Her husband earned a lot and never controlled her spending, they always had fine grains at home, and meat was on the table every week.

In comparison, Qin Huairu suffered by following him.

She had to raise two children herself and also serve her mother-in-law.

Her husband's salary was low, and except for holidays, they never saw meat in the pot.

Jia Dongxu knew the gap between himself and Lin Zhen.

Qin Huairu was only 25 years old now, and her looks were comparable to Lou Xiao'e's. She could easily catch Lin Zhen's eye.

"Mom, if Silly Zhu comes again, don't chase him away. Our family needs a hardworking fool these days."

"Oh my, Dongxu, you're awake? Don't move, don't move. Mom will help you get some water."

"Mom, what did the doctor say? How long until I can go back to work?"

Jia Dongxu didn't know he was paralyzed yet, and Jia Zhangshi didn't dare to tell him directly.

With red eyes, she stammered, "The doctor didn't say. There's a small surgery today. It takes a hundred days for bones to heal, at least three months."

"Three months is fine, I can endure it. You just need to keep an eye on Huairu and stop her from talking to Lin Zhen. Don't bother with Silly Zhu, he's a fool."

"Yes, Mom will listen to you. I'll definitely keep an eye on that Lin fellow!"

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