Lin Zhen frowned.
He had no desire to buy those things for Jia Dongxu.
Besides, he knew Jia Zhangshi's real reason for stopping them.
"Stop making a fuss, Grandma Jia. You really can't manage to buy all those daily necessities. If you don't want me to go, let Silly Zhu go instead. He's careful, better than me."
Silly Zhu said, "Sure. Then let's go, Grandma Jia. I'm happy to run errands."
To his surprise, Jia Zhangshi tilted her head. "I'm not going. You said I can't buy everything, so I can't buy everything!"
Silly Zhu grinned. "Then Sister Qin and I will go."
Qin Huairu went with Silly Zhu to buy daily necessities outside the hospital.
The moment they left the ward, she began sighing repeatedly.
Silly Zhu scratched his head. "What's with that? Didn't Jia Dongxu survive? The compensation money came through too. What are you sighing for?"
Qin Huairu's eyes reddened.
"How are we supposed to live from now on? Dongxu can't work anymore, and I'm about to give birth. My mother-in-law doesn't care about anything. Who's going to look after the family from now on?"
"Hey, hey, don't cry! I can't stand seeing women cry, especially you."
Qin Huairu smiled through her tears. "If my mother-in-law heard you say that, she'd beat me again."
Remembering Jia Zhangshi's viciousness, Silly Zhu could not help getting angry. "What an evil mother-in-law. Such old-fashioned feudal nonsense! Don't worry. From now on, your family's matters are my matters. I may not dare help openly, but I'll help you in secret!"
"How can you help? Dongxu is suspicious and always assumes the worst of people. I'm afraid he'll misunderstand."
"Ha! I stand straight and fear no crooked shadow! Don't worry. You don't have to pay for the hospital supplies this time. I'll cover it!"
Qin Huairu lowered her head. "Silly Zhu, thank you."
"It's nothing. Who told you that you're my sister?"
With just a few words from Qin Huairu, Silly Zhu happily paid up, and pitied her even more.
It had to be said that she was a shrewd woman.
When they returned to the ward,
Lin Zhen took one look at Silly Zhu's smug face and knew that this simp had spent his own money.
The name Silly Zhu truly suited him.
If you did not have money for her to sweet-talk out of you, would Qin Huairu look at you any differently?
Even if you handed all your wages over to Qin Huairu, the Jia family would never appreciate you.
In the original story, Silly Zhu was drained dry by Qin Huairu until the very end.
His three houses were all taken over, and he nearly died without descendants.
He spent his entire life's wages raising Qin Huairu's three children.
Yet Bang Geng, Xiao Dang, and Huai Hua had not the slightest thought of repaying him.
Bang Geng in particular was an even more ungrateful wretch.
If Silly Zhu had not eventually found him a good secure job, he would never have spoken to Silly Zhu.
But Silly Zhu had brought all of this upon himself.
He loved being a simp and was an invincible saint.
He loved hearing people call him a good person and loved using his own things to support his enemies.
He loved even more to provide for others in their old age.
Whether they had sons or not, and regardless of how openly or secretly they had plotted against him before,
in the end, Silly Zhu raised all Three Elders as though they were his own fathers.
In the original story, Silly Zhu's saintly generosity benefited everyone in the courtyard.
The only person he ruined was Lou Xiao'e.
Using Lou Xiao'e's assets to support an entire courtyard was truly absurd beyond belief.
Therefore, after Lin Zhen came to this world, the first thing he did was snatch Lou Xiao'e away.
Leaving both Xu Damao and Silly Zhu bachelors.
In this world,
Lin Zhen only wanted to live a peaceful life with his wife and children.
Then, when the 1980s arrived, he would rely on his assets in Nanyang to dominate the business world.
By now, every skill he possessed had already been maxed out.
Being an engineer was merely the most insignificant part of himself that he had revealed.
At the same time, he was a miraculous physician, master chef, and top martial artist.
He was also a painter and calligrapher, speaker, and scientist.
He had never shown off any of these.
Even his wife Lou Xiao'e only knew that her husband was an all-around genius, not exactly how extraordinary he was.
Lin Zhen was a great recluse hidden in the city.
As long as the beasts in the courtyard did not come causing trouble, he could not be bothered with their daily chaos.
But if those beasts provoked his family,
he did not understand the meaning of magnanimity. He only knew that every grudge had to be repaid.
Today's surgery went fairly smoothly.
At three in the afternoon, Lin Zhen and the other four returned to the steel mill.
That evening, while they were eating dinner, Qin Huairu returned to the Siheyuan.
She had to come back to check on Bang Geng and Xiao Dang, and she was close to giving birth, so she could not stay up all night every day.
After discussing it with her mother-in-law Jia Zhangshi, Qin Huairu would keep watch during the day while Jia Zhangshi kept watch at night.
The moment she entered the Siheyuan, Qin Huairu did not go to First Elder's home to see the two children.
Instead, she lingered for a while outside Lin Zhen's home in the front courtyard.
Lou Xiao'e had sharp eyes and spotted Qin Huairu at once.
Seeing her hovering outside without coming in,
she knew Qin Huairu had something to say that was inconvenient to discuss in front of the children.
She gently patted Lin Zhen's arm.
"Zhen, Qin Huairu is outside. She probably needs to ask you for something. Go see what it is."
Lin Zhen frowned. "Why isn't she asking Silly Zhu? Why did she come to me?"
"Stop guessing. Go take a look."
"You're not going?"
"No. I'm feeding the children."
Lin Zhen put down his chopsticks and bowl. The moment he stepped outside, he met Qin Huairu's eyes.
Qin Huairu lowered her head and hurried out through the gate.
Lin Zhen shook his head slightly and quickly followed her. "Qin Huairu, wait a moment. Didn't I come out? Why are you running off again?"
Qin Huairu turned back. "Too many people in the courtyard listen at walls. I'm afraid someone will gossip and cause a misunderstanding between you and Lou Xiao'e."
"Fine, fine, enough! If you have something to say, say it here. I haven't even finished eating."
Qin Huairu stopped and turned back with a smile. "Lin Zhen, I haven't congratulated you yet. You became an engineer at such a young age."
Lin Zhen's brow furrowed slightly. Qin Huairu, your mental fortitude is truly remarkable.
Your husband was severely injured and nearly died, yet you can still smile without changing expression.
That smile of yours definitely means no good.
Sure enough,
Qin Huairu's next words came with a sigh.
"Others say my eyes are big, but I know myself. They're just blind eyes that can only stare."
Lin Zhen pretended not to understand. "Why bring that up?"
Qin Huairu said, "Look at Lou Xiao'e. She has such good judgment. To be honest, there isn't a woman who doesn't envy her."
Lin Zhen smiled faintly. "That's not the point, is it? What do you need? Go ahead."
"Can you lend me 500 yuan?"
"How much?"
"Five hundred!"
"No! There are six people in my family relying on my small salary. I've only worked for six years. How could I have saved that much?"
Lin Zhen nearly jumped up.
Qin Huairu, you really have an enormous appetite.
What did 500 yuan mean these days?
A large live rooster at the market only cost one yuan.
Pork cost sixty cents per jin, and one cent could buy two eggs.
Even then, only families doing fairly well would be willing to spend money on such things.
Ordinary families used ration coupons to exchange for them.
And you opened your mouth and asked to borrow 500 yuan? Do you take me for some rich landlord?
Never mind that my family spends freely and hasn't saved that much. Even if we had, I wouldn't lend it to you.
After all, I don't owe you anything!
"What are you thinking, Qin Huairu? I'm not Silly Zhu. I don't have that kind of money!"
"I know you do. I won't borrow it for nothing. Help me through this difficult time, and I won't forget your kindness. We're both sensible people. You can do whatever you want."
Before Lin Zhen could answer, a black shadow suddenly darted out from the street corner.
"Oh, heavens! You shameless whore! I caught you red-handed! Neighbors, come look! A loose woman has appeared in our Jia family!"
Before you continue