The next day, as soon as work began.
Yi Zhonghai learned that the factory had given special consideration to Qin Huairu's family.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt that finding Lin Zhen to fill in before had been a loss. It seemed that even if he had not meddled, Qin Huairu could still have taken over Jia Dongxu's position.
Had he worried for nothing? And let Lin Zhen fleece him instead?
While chatting with the workshop supervisor, he casually brought up Qin Huairu's situation.
"Ah, Director, Jia Dongxu's passing was so sudden. He left behind a wife, three children, and an old mother. Life really is unpredictable."
The workshop supervisor nodded. "Yes. Most importantly, the youngest child is only a month or two old. The factory takes this matter very seriously."
"Thankfully, the factory let Qin Huairu take over Jia Dongxu's position. Otherwise, it would not have been easy for the two women of the Jia family to raise three children."
"Hahaha, the factory knew about her family's difficulties. The organization had considered it all at the time. On the day after Jia Dongxu suffered his workplace injury, Director Yang said that, no matter what, Jia Dongxu's position had to be taken over by Qin Huairu."
"Ah?!! Th-that's how it was?" Yi Zhonghai froze at once.
The workshop supervisor asked in surprise, "Old Yi, what's wrong with you? You look completely alarmed."
Yi Zhonghai came back to himself and gave an awkward laugh. "Nothing. I was just wondering why Deputy Director Li said Jia Dongxu had to leave his post early because he could not keep up with production."
"Hahahaha, you know Deputy Director Li's personality. He always likes putting pressure on people. Pressure is motivation!"
After the workshop supervisor left, Yi Zhonghai was left standing there, stunned.
Now he understood. Originally, he had wanted to morally coerce Lin Zhen into helping Jia Dongxu for free.
Yet in the end, he had worried unnecessarily and instead let Lin Zhen swindle him out of three months' wages.
Not only had he lost his salary, but the credit and reputation had gone to Lin Zhen.
And he could not publicize the matter either. Otherwise, his image as a kind old man would turn into that of a hypocrite scheming to make others provide for him in old age.
Before, he had only thought he had suffered a silent loss. Now it seemed that he had become a complete sucker.
"Lin Zhen, tell me the truth. Did you really not know that Qin Huairu would be able to take over Jia Dongxu's position no matter what?"
Yi Zhonghai found Lin Zhen and asked in a grave tone.
The moment Lin Zhen saw his expression, he knew this "moral role model" had finally figured it out.
He smiled faintly. "First Elder, we live in the same courtyard and work in the same workshop. I don't know any more than you do. What is it? Did you hear some new information? Why not share it with me?"
Yi Zhonghai frowned. "Hmph, keep pretending. If anything comes up again, don't expect me to come looking for you!"
"Oh! First Elder, I've been waiting for you to say that. You have to keep your word. If anything happens in the future, go find Silly Zhu!"
Yi Zhonghai snorted coldly and left, heading over to Ma Hua's work station.
He asked kindly, "How is it, Ma Hua? Have you gotten used to it?"
Ma Hua smiled. "It's alright. I'll be going back to the cafeteria in a month or so. Whether I'm used to it or not, I'll just treat it as training."
"Then do you know how much Jia Dongxu earned each month?"
"I do. A Level One fitter earned thirty-three a month."
"Hahaha, not bad. Then how much can you earn each month?"
Yi Zhonghai was trying to stir up trouble.
Even though he did not dare openly say that he had given his monthly wage to Lin Zhen, he still wanted to provoke Ma Hua's dissatisfaction.
After all, Ma Hua was currently filling in for a Level One fitter while receiving low pay.
Unexpectedly, Ma Hua was utterly devoted to his Master and caught the meaning behind Yi Zhonghai's words.
He said flatly, "Master Yi, you can't compare things like that. I'm only here to help temporarily; I'm not truly a Level One fitter. My output and proficiency are far behind. I'm only an apprentice who chops vegetables in the back kitchen. Don't try to instill ideas about wages in me. I only want to learn my Master's cooking skills. I'm not interested in anything else!"
Yi Zhonghai pursed his lips and smiled awkwardly. "Not bad. You understand dedication. You are a model for young people. Work hard."
"Yes, sir!"
At lunchtime, Ma Hua hurriedly told Lin Zhen about it.
Lin Zhen found it amusing. Did Yi Zhonghai think a few words could shake Ma Hua?
In the original story, Ma Hua's devotion to Silly Zhu had been no less than Silly Zhu's devotion to Qin Huairu. It could be said that he had reached the level of a shameless simp.
Now that Lin Zhen had taken him as an apprentice, Ma Hua was as loyal to him as a brainless fan.
Yi Zhonghai should save his breath. Since he had morally coerced Lin Zhen, he deserved to lose three months' wages.
Lin Zhen smiled. "Just treat your time in the workshop as having fun. The day you return to the cafeteria, I'll teach you another dish and pass on some tricks for knife work and wok tossing."
"Yes, Master. I'll treat this as training my temperament!"
In the Siheyuan, Qin Jingru quietly came to the Jia family's home that afternoon.
Standing at the doorway, she peered inside and asked, "Sis, are you home?"
"Oh! What wind blew you here from the back courtyard?" Qin Huairu said flatly.
"Hehe, can I come in, Sis?"
Qin Huairu said disdainfully, "Who stopped you from coming in? You were the one who wanted to cut ties with us."
Jia Zhangshi, who was sewing shoe soles, curled her lips as well. "You must be here to ask for something, right?"
Qin Jingru slipped into the room and smiled awkwardly. "Sis, I want to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"What reactions did you have when you were pregnant with Bang Geng?"
Qin Huairu looked at Qin Jingru's stomach, then at her nervous expression, and immediately understood roughly what was going on.
She asked with a cold smile, "You're not pregnant?"
Qin Jingru nodded.
Qin Huairu said flatly, "It's perfectly normal not to get pregnant in the first month. Wait and see next month. Don't frighten yourself by overthinking things."
Qin Jingru said worriedly, "But Damao is waiting for me to give him twin sons. If he finds out I'm not pregnant, he'll definitely blame me. Sis, teach me a trick for conceiving twins."
Qin Huairu was so exasperated that she laughed. "If you want to conceive twins in this courtyard, you should ask Lou Xiao'e. She has had two sets of twins, and Lin Zhen knows medicine too. He knows much more than I do!"
"But hasn't she gone to work at the neighborhood office? By the time she and Lin Zhen get off work, Damao will be off work too. If I go ask, I'm afraid Damao will find out."
"Tch, what is there to be afraid of? It would be fine even if you took Xu Damao with you to ask."
"Then... then forget it. I'll go ask by myself tonight."
After Qin Jingru left in disappointment, Jia Zhangshi sneered. "Xu Damao has done too many wicked things. Who knows, maybe he'll end up without—"
"Mom!"
Qin Huairu quickly interrupted her mother-in-law's curse. "Stop talking. Jingru hasn't gone far yet."
After work, Lin Zhen and Lou Xiao'e brought their four sons home together.
Just as they were about to cook dinner together, Qin Jingru came to the door and asked with a smile, "Cooking?"
Lou Xiao'e smiled. "Yes. Why are you so free?"
"I came to ask you something."
Lin Zhen teased, "What is it? If it's a secret between women, I'll step aside."
"Hey, hey, hey, no need, no need. I need to ask you too."
"Alright, go ahead!"
"Well... well... uh..."
"Say it. Why are you being so vague?" Seeing Qin Jingru's bashful manner, Lin Zhen found it amusing and had already guessed roughly what it was about.
Sure enough, after fidgeting for a long while, Qin Jingru asked quietly, "How can I get pregnant with twin sons too? My period came this month, so it seems I'm not pregnant!"
Pfft~
Lin Zhen and Lou Xiao'e could not help laughing. Qin Jingru had really asked that directly.
Before you continue