Qin Huairu returned to the room and silently picked up her bowl of soup, continuing to drink.
Jia Zhangshi sneered, "Well? Wasn't I right? You thought you had such standing, but you and that cousin of yours, along with Xu Damao, are all birds of a feather!"
Furious, Qin Huairu set down her bowl, got up, and headed outside.
Jia Zhangshi snapped, "Where are you going now?"
"I'm going to see Lou Xiao'e. Lin Zhen has already left for work by now, but she leaves later, so she should still be home."
"Y-You... why are you looking for him? Before Dongxu died, he said you weren't allowed to associate with his family."
"I'm going to borrow money, not chat. The children are getting bigger every day, and food and clothes all cost money. If I don't find a way, are you going to borrow it instead?"
Jia Zhangshi pursed her lips. She knew perfectly well that with her reputation, she could not borrow even a single cent from anyone in the entire courtyard.
"Then... fine. But you're not allowed to talk too much with Lin Zhen."
"That's an unnecessary worry. I'm looking for Lou Xiao'e because she's the only kind one in the whole courtyard, and the only one who doesn't care about money."
Jia Zhangshi said nothing more, though she also hoped Qin Huairu could borrow some money to help support the family.
"Xiao'e, you haven't gone to work yet?"
"Mm, I'm just about to leave. Are you heading out too, Sister Qin?"
"No, I came to see you about something."
"To see me? What is it? Go ahead."
"Well... we just finished holding a funeral for my family, and things are really tight at home. I wanted to borrow fifty yuan from you. Once I start work and get paid, I'll return it right away."
If this had been half a year ago, even if Lou Xiao'e could not come up with fifty yuan, she would have handed Qin Huairu a few yuan without hesitation.
But ever since Qin Huairu had asked Lin Zhen to borrow money and Jia Zhangshi had cursed them as an adulterer and a loose woman, Lou Xiao'e had always felt somewhat uncomfortable about it.
No woman who loved her husband could avoid feeling jealous.
Lou Xiao'e had never said anything on the surface, but she had already begun to guard against Qin Huairu.
What was more, Jia Zhangshi worried that her daughter-in-law would fail to remain a widow and run away. The person she guarded against most in the entire courtyard was Lin Zhen.
If she lent this money, it would most likely cause another conflict.
Kind-hearted Lou Xiao'e politely refused this time. "Sister Qin, wait until tonight. I'll talk to Lin Zhen. If we have anything to spare at home, I'll have him bring it over to you."
The moment Qin Huairu heard that, she knew there was no chance.
Even kind-hearted Lou Xiao'e, who never cared much about money, wouldn't lend it. Lin Zhen must have told her not to.
It seemed she could not break through Lou Xiao'e alone. If she wanted to get something from the richest household in the courtyard, she would have to go directly to Lin Zhen.
"Then... all right. Talk to Lin Zhen tonight. I'll head back first."
The moment Jia Zhangshi saw Qin Huairu leave full of energy and return completely deflated, she knew the trip had been for nothing again.
"Hmph! You become like the people you follow. When Lou Xiao'e first moved into the courtyard, she was such a good girl, so generous. Now she's as stingy as Lin Zhen. He's the one who taught her that!"
Qin Huairu sighed, "We can't just keep getting things from Silly Zhu alone. The Deaf Old Lady really hates me lately. If our family wants to live more comfortably, we still have to go to Lin Zhen. Mom, can you trust me to ask Lin Zhen for a loan?"
Jia Zhangshi shot her a sideways glance and snapped, "Don't even think about it!"
Qin Huairu sighed, "You just can't get past it. You're afraid I'll abandon you, but think about it—would Lin Zhen leave Lou Xiao'e and his four sons behind just to take me in? I'm borrowing money for our family, and to support you in your old age."
"Hmph! Stop trying to sweet-talk me. Before Dongxu died, he told you not to associate with Lin Zhen!"
"Mom! I'm the one supporting you now, not him. He clapped his hands and left, easy for him, while the five of us were left behind to suffer. If I die someday, I'll go down there and settle the score with him!"
"Peh, peh, peh! Don't talk nonsense! Even if you die, you have to die after me. You can't leave this old woman behind!"
"Then stop controlling me so tightly. I'm borrowing money for this family. If you're worried I won't support you, then starting today, I'll scrimp and save three yuan a month as your retirement money. As long as I'm alive, your doctor visits, clothes, and food won't cost you a penny. Save it yourself!"
Jia Zhangshi asked suspiciously, "Really?"
Qin Huairu immediately got up, went into the inner room, took out three yuan, and placed it in Jia Zhangshi's hand.
"Mom, on this day next month, I'll give you another three yuan. Keep it safe yourself!"
Jia Zhangshi's eyes reddened with emotion. In six or seven years, this was the first time she had truly felt that Qin Huairu was one of the Jia family.
"Ah... I-I'll take it. As long as you don't get too close to Lin Zhen, I... I'll pretend not to see it."
Qin Huairu smiled. "Don't worry. In my eyes, he's not even as good as Silly Zhu."
Jia Zhangshi curled her lips. "Silly Zhu is a fool."
After Lin Zhen got home from work, Lou Xiao'e immediately told him about Qin Huairu borrowing money.
Lin Zhen asked with a smile, "Honey, what do you think? Do you want to lend it to her?"
Lou Xiao'e thought it over. "Strictly speaking, our family isn't short on money. If someone truly had difficulties, forget lending it—we could give it to them directly. But I'm afraid of getting tangled up with the Jia family."
Lin Zhen nodded. "Not just the Jia family—you'll get tangled up with the whole courtyard. Not lending it is the right choice. A gentleman helps in emergencies, not poverty. Qin Huairu may be struggling, but there are still people in the city worse off than her. After Jia Dongxu died, there was basically nothing urgent going on in her family anymore. We're not running a charity hall; we can't handle that much. If she comes to borrow money again, tell her to go find Silly Zhu."
Lou Xiao'e nodded and smiled. "Wouldn't that make Silly Zhu miserable? Having to keep supporting Qin Huairu?"
"You don't know it, but Silly Zhu enjoys it. He's willing!"
Achoo!
Silly Zhu had just taken out a bottle of liquor and had not even opened it when he suddenly sneezed.
"Xu Damao, that bastard, must be talking about me behind my back again. His skin must be itching!"
"What are you talking about? Whose skin is itching?"
Qin Huairu lifted the door curtain and entered the room, tilting her eyes as she gave Silly Zhu a mischievous smile.
Silly Zhu helplessly slapped his forehead. "Hey! Qin Huairu, you come to collect lunch boxes every day. I've worked all day, and you won't even let me have a drink after work?"
Qin Huairu pretended to be angry. "Who said I wouldn't let you drink? Didn't I come bring you some snacks to go with it?"
"You brought me food? Hmph! This definitely isn't good news!"
"Shut up! Isn't it enough that I'm drinking with you?"
As she spoke, Qin Huairu took out a bag of fried peanuts and placed it on the table.
Silly Zhu took one look and laughed. "Didn't I fry these the day before yesterday? I barely ate one meal before they were gone. Bang Geng must have raided them."
Qin Huairu said, "You ate them and didn't put them away properly, yet you dare blame Bang Geng? Didn't I bring them back to you?"
As she spoke, she snatched Silly Zhu's wine cup, tipped back her head, and drained it in one gulp.
Silly Zhu was so frightened that he hurriedly waved his hands. "All right, all right! Sis! My dear sis! If Grandma Jia finds out you were drinking at my place, won't she tear me alive?"
Qin Huairu sighed, lowered her head, and began to cry. "I have no friends left in this courtyard. Qin Jingru wouldn't lend me money, and Lou Xiao'e wouldn't either. Things are so tight at home, and my mother-in-law gives me attitude every day. I... sigh..."
"Oh, come on! Don't, don't, don't cry! It's not that big a deal!"
Whenever Silly Zhu saw Qin Huairu cry, he immediately lost his composure.
"Lin Zhen and Xu Damao are really something. What would it hurt to lend a little money? Rich and heartless! Take these ten yuan first. I can't stand seeing women cry, especially you!"
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